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Flaming Dove

by Daniel Arenson (Goodreads Author)

3.6 of 5 stars 3.60 · rating details · 93 ratings · 29 reviews

The battle of Armageddon was finally fought... and ended with no clear victor. Upon the mountain, the armies of Hell and Heaven beat each other into a bloody, uneasy standstill, leaving the Earth in ruins. Armageddon should have ended with Heaven winning, ushering in an era of peace. That's what the prophecies said. Instead, the two armies--one of angels, one of demons--hu...more

Kindle Edition, 293 pages

Published August 19th 2010

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Aug 03, 2012 Juli Rahel rated it 4 of 5 stars

This has to be one of the most original story's I have read. The idea's not only great, but also well executed. Laila is a half-angel/half-demon, born after Armageddon. During Armageddon the human race became largely extinct and angels and demons battled it out in Jerusalem, Israel. Being a half-demon Laila can't live in Heaven with the Angels, but because she's a half-angel as well she can't live in Hell.

At the beginning of the book Laila returns to Jerusalem, where both Heaven and Hell are try...more This has to be one of the most original story's I have read. The idea's not only great, but also well executed. Laila is a half-angel/half-demon, born after Armageddon. During Armageddon the human race became largely extinct and angels and demons battled it out in Jerusalem, Israel. Being a half-demon Laila can't live in Heaven with the Angels, but because she's a half-angel as well she can't live in Hell.

At the beginning of the book Laila returns to Jerusalem, where both Heaven and Hell are trying to get her to join them, hoping that with her on their side they can end this war. Years ago Laila almost married Beelzebub, now leader of the forces of Hell. What side will she join if the victory of either side will make Earth inhabitable for her?

I really enjoyed this book. I was familiar with most of the "Biblical" characters, such as Beelzebub, Raphael etc. I really liked Beelzebub's character, because Arenson really investigated the angel aspect of the 'fallen angel' concept. How would a fallen Angel feel, leading armies of demons? He loved Laila, perhaps because he saw the same conflict inside her. Laila is a complex character as well. I love the relationship she has with her wolf, Volkfair. Maybe because I am a sucker for wolves, but he actually is important to her character development.

I already said how ingenious I think the idea for the story is, but I just wanted to say it again, in more detail. Stories about angels and demons aren't anything new, but this was something different. Not only does it give palce to epic battles, which Arenson already mastered in 'The Gods of Dream'. but also gives him the possibility to show his skill in analysing and developing his characters. Laila's flashbacks wo then she was young are a great wat of getting to know her more and explain how she became who she is. I also enjoyed Bat El, :aila's sister. She's the perfect angel, pious, beautiful and strong. Yet during the book she not only starts to question her own feelings and morals but also those of Heaven and hell.Also, may I say I love Laila's mantra, which is at the beginning of this review. I think everyone has a little something they say to keep their spirits up, but mine definitely isn't as epic or impressive as thins one.(less)

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Jan 06, 2012 Misty Baker rated it 5 of 5 stars

When I was a teenager I was fascinated by angels. Not the puffy-winged-halo-sporting type, more the Archangel-wrath-of-God type. The fact that there was a whole army of sword wielding higher beings blew my mind. The more I read, the more I needed to read, and before I knew it I was knee deep in biblical reference material and spouting angelic tales to any poor soul that would listen. Now… like every other one of my unique (and sometimes warped fascinations) my futile need for warrior-angel infor...more When I was a teenager I was fascinated by angels. Not the puffy-winged-halo-sporting type, more the Archangel-wrath-of-God type. The fact that there was a whole army of sword wielding higher beings blew my mind. The more I read, the more I needed to read, and before I knew it I was knee deep in biblical reference material and spouting angelic tales to any poor soul that would listen. Now… like every other one of my unique (and sometimes warped fascinations) my futile need for warrior-angel information wained and I moved on, (If I remember correctly Al Capone was next on the list) but one thing is forever certain; once a junkie always a junkie. That being said, I will ask you now to imagine my excitement when I read the blurb for Daniel Arenson’s new novel “Flaming Dove” and discovered it is basically the literary version of “Avenging Angel Crack.”

Life on Earth hasn’t been the same since Armageddon. A battle that was supposed to bring peace and happiness instead brought confusion, desolation, and for Laila a whole lot of anger. Being the daughter of an Angel, and the rape victim spawn of a Lucifer Laila, (more than anyone,) finds herself at a loss. Not wanting to take sides in the inevitable battle for Earth’s holy possession she roams the woods like the outcast she has unknowingly made herself. But sometimes hiding is not enough. As the armies of Heaven and Hell search for their pawn, Laila finally realizes something… until she can accept her demon/angel ways, she will never be able to accept her fate in the history of the world.

Having read (and reviewed) Arenson’s work before I was almost certain I would enjoy it. I am no stranger to fantasy (duh) and Arenson (more than most) has a genuinely unique way of storytelling, but even with the expected rapture, the quick reading, and unwillingness to put my Kindle down what I didn’t expect was to: gasp, sigh, grit my teeth, cuss my Kindle and cry.

This was not just a story about an emotionally lost half-breed girl. It’s was more than epic battles and avenging angels. It was the discovery of ones self, the inner battle between good and evil. It was about accepting our fates, understanding our future, and blazing our own paths to happiness… regardless of our ancestry. This was a story about choosing your own way of life.

Now… I’m sure your next question is “Misty, how in the hell can you wrap all of that up in 294 pages?” and to that I say “It’s simple.” Perfectly executed inner dialogue. Off the charts characterization, and battles so intense that even the smallest of deaths left a dent in the reader’s armor. If there were flaws I failed to notice. If there were holes, I must have taken a different path, because to me… “Flaming Dove” is what a fantasy novel should strive to be.

Happy reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: Michael may be made of stone, but in the end… everything can be broken.(less)

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Mar 06, 2011 Natasha Larry rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and as soon as I downloaded the image for this cover I was blown away. I could waste an entire review just on this cover. This is-hands down-the best e-book cover I've ever seen in my life. I should stop, because we all know you judge books by the cover, but I'll give a quick peek-a-boo before you go and nab it.

The first thing I have to say about Daniel Arenson's writing, is his style stands out above all else. Some writers restrict th...more

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Nov 04, 2010 Alice Yeh rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: hide-and-read-reviews

In Flaming Dove, Arenson weaves an absorbing tale of the ultimate example of internal conflict: a being part angel, part demon, and fully belonging nowhere. In her quest for a home, she becomes caught up in the ongoing battle between Heaven and Hell for dominion over the Earth, knowing that a win from either side would lead to her death. He places his heroine in quite the predicament!

Laila rises to the task admirably, causing the reader to root for her despite the impossibility of her goals. The...more In Flaming Dove, Arenson weaves an absorbing tale of the ultimate example of internal conflict: a being part angel, part demon, and fully belonging nowhere. In her quest for a home, she becomes caught up in the ongoing battle between Heaven and Hell for dominion over the Earth, knowing that a win from either side would lead to her death. He places his heroine in quite the predicament!

Laila rises to the task admirably, causing the reader to root for her despite the impossibility of her goals. The complexity of her character — unpredictable, angry, impulsive, loving, and lonely — makes her personality stand out when it could easily have been swallowed up by a face-paced storyline and rapid-fire action sequences. Similarly, Bat El and Beelzebub are thoroughly explored, calling into question the belief that the two represent opposite ends of the spectrum. There is a humanization of the major players here that draws out a reader's compassion. I was flipping each screen with a combination of anticipation and dread, knowing that there was no way for everyone to wind up happy.

One of the risks in writing about angels and demons is the polarization effect: characters are depicted as being wholly good or wholly evil. In Arenson's world, however, the angels have their own hedonistic tendencies, while the demons are barbarians with a heart. He capitalizes on these traits, creating a storyline filled with internal conflict, betrayal, and sacrifice, with thousands of unnamed casualties tossed in for good measure. I almost missed my bus stop a few times as I focused on satisfying the itch to find out how everything would be resolved. I finished the novel satisfied with the course of events and the open doors that the author left.

A second challenge in writing about angels and demons is dealing with readers' preconceived notions based on Judeo-Christian theology. Some circumvent this by leaving faith and God out of the equation, creating an alternate environment in which these beings exist and fight one another in an age-old battle of good versus evil without the oversight of an omnipotent, all-powerful being. Arenson, however, takes a different route entirely, referencing angels such as Michael and Gabriel and turning them into flawed protagonists. While this is an innovative approach, it greatly diminished my ability to believe in the book.

In Judeo-Christian theology, sin is sin, regardless of the magnitude of the transgression. Within this framework, therefore, it is unlikely that adultery and drunkenness would be so easily overlooked by the same God who threw fallen angels out of Heaven for their rebellion. Equally difficult to swallow is the lack of human involvement, as the war being waged is over souls, not burned up land. That Bat El's actions were never punished, or even really addressed, is still a source of incredulity, as is the acceptance of the plethora of lies told by those who are supposed to be good. Still, I gave the author some creative license to pick and choose aspects of religion that suited his needs. After all, this world was his; I just wish that someone would explain to me from where Laila obtained all those bullets and grenades.

There were many passages in this book that were written well, drawing the reader into the unfolding drama and rapidly pushing the story forward. Even so, there were also areas where the information presented became redundant. For instance, multiple references might be made to a character's current location when it has already been established where he or she is. This might not have been as noticeable had the same word, such as amphitheater, not been used each time and in back-to-back paragraphs. The author also favored the word "maw" throughout the novel, and it started to lose its impact by the fourth or fifth instance of its use.

Stylistic preferences are subjective, but another issue that I had was grammatical in nature: the confusion of direct object pronouns and subject pronouns. An example of this would "It was her" instead of "It was she." This came up several times, and while it's understandable in dialogue, I was still bothered by it when it occurred outside of quotation marks.

Overall, this was a fascinating fantasy novel. The plot moves along quickly, the sequence of events makes sense, and the development of the characters along the way adds depth to an action-filled tale.(less)

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Apr 23, 2011 Caleb Blake rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-reads

I wanted to like this book and as a story it was brimming with promise. It's for that reason alone that it's attracted a 3 star rating from me; afterall - it's the story I usually sign up for.

This is a post-armageddon novel following the ongoing and bloody war between angels and demons for supremacy of the earth. Laila, half-demon and half-angel, becomes the pivotal pawn in a battle between two angels who are also brothers: Michael, leader of the angellic hosts and Beelzebub, fallen angel and ru...more

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Mar 11, 2013 R. Mac Wheeler rated it 5 of 5 stars

I must state up front, that as a writer, I am a much more critical reviewer than any casual reader. And, because I'm not a regular reader of this genre, I can't say it is a five star per MY tastes…but I am certain a reader of epic or dark fantasy will agree this is a five star work.

Preamble stated to be fair. Now I'll rate per my normal thought process.

Setting (4 stars) The reader will smell the brimstone and fire, sense the decay and rot, visualize in the sky the black, bat-winged demons, and t...more

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Nov 04, 2010 Debra Martin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Armageddon. Angels vs. Demons. Good vs. Evil. These are the themes in the author’s new book, “Flaming Dove.” But, for me, the book was much more than these larger-than-life themes. I found the relationships especially those of Laila, the half-angel, half-demon, had with Beezlebub, Michael, Bat-El and even Zarel, The Demon Queen, were what propelled the book forward and kept me turning the pages. Mr. Arenson did a magnificent job in portraying Laila – her wants and desires, her sorrow and ultimat...more Armageddon. Angels vs. Demons. Good vs. Evil. These are the themes in the author’s new book, “Flaming Dove.” But, for me, the book was much more than these larger-than-life themes. I found the relationships especially those of Laila, the half-angel, half-demon, had with Beezlebub, Michael, Bat-El and even Zarel, The Demon Queen, were what propelled the book forward and kept me turning the pages. Mr. Arenson did a magnificent job in portraying Laila – her wants and desires, her sorrow and ultimately her anguish at what her life had become. She is a sad tortured soul. Everyone wants a piece of Laila except for her ever-faithful wolf, Volkfair. It is to Volkfair that Laila pours her heart out -- from her tragic childhood to her current struggle to find some peace and a place to call her own. This is where the author shines and makes Laila come alive in the reader’s mind.

Being half-demon half-angel means she does not belong in either Heaven or Hell, but that doesn’t stop each side from trying to woo Laila to their side. Her power could turn the tide in the 27-year long war that continues after Armageddon failed to produce a clear winner. Beezlebub, King of Hell, and Archangel Michael, Heaven’s highest-ranking angel, would say anything to win her loyalty. There is no black or white or good vs. evil here, only shades of gray. Demons are not all bad. Angels are not all pure and good. Beezlebub plays on their former love affair, while Michael continually reminds her of her angel side and her responsibility to her sister, Bat El. Laila doesn’t want to help either one of them because it won’t matter which side wins the war, she will lose her temporary home on Earth, the only place she has found a modicum of peace.

There are many twists and turns in the story that continually surprised me, but I have some slight criticism. The author needs to trust his readers more. There are too many character descriptions that are repeated over and over along with countless instances of dripping fangs. All of these become distracting after awhile.

Without spoiling the ending, I will say that the climax is exciting and unexpected. Everything you want in a novel. This book is a fun read, but on a deeper level it makes you think--nothing is purely black or white, good or evil, it’s much more complicated than that. It takes a talented author to make you ponder these things long after you finish the book. I highly recommend “Flaming Dove” and look forward to reading more books by Mr. Arenson.(less)

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Nov 21, 2010 Gaby rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: angel, demon, paranormal, read-2010

Posted at http://oh-my-books.blogspot.com/2010/...

The Armageddon has taken place, and now angels and demons are fighting for the Earth.

In the middle of this fight is Laila, the half angel, half demon. Her only place to live is Earth, since the light at Heaven or the hellfire at Hell would burn her.

Laila was an intriguing character. Since the begging of her story, we know she isn't interested in this war. It doesn't matter to her who wins, since she would still die. She only cares for her wolf,...more

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Dec 10, 2010 Lauren Burd rated it 4 of 5 stars

Laila’s blood wars within her. Her mother an angel and her father a demon, she wanders the earth after Armageddon has arrived. Both factions seek her assistance in ending the stalemate between heaven and hell. All she seeks is a place to belong.

I was torn between giving the book 3 or 4 stars. I wish you could give a 1/2 star. For me this story is a sad one. Laila is a tragic character and very well written. The plot is a new take on the very old story of Armageddon. Even the devil gets a makeove...more

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Nov 18, 2010 Luis L rated it 5 of 5 stars

This was an absolutely fantastic book. I really really enjoyed it. I loved it so much I kept quoting it to my wife. Beelzebub was one of my favorite characters. He had so many different personalities, with trying to be romantic, sweet, mean, funny. He was awesome. The book was pretty much non-stop action with a few flashbacks about the characters, but it never slowed down the pace of the main story line. The ending caught me by surprise as well. I never expected it to end the way I did.

I always...more

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Dec 26, 2010 E.J. Stevens rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010, fallen-angels, fantasy, fiction, goodreads-authors, magic, paranormal, read-in-2010, speculative-fiction, supernatural, urban-fantasy, dark-fantasy, paranormal-suspense

Laila is born of angel and demon, her mixed blood a curse that bars her from both Heaven and Hell, so she must fight for the one place she calls home...earth. Flaming Dove is an action packed urban fantasy that dares to challenge the reader to question the traditional roles of good and evil. The apocalypse has come and gone, but the war between Heaven and Hell continues. Earth is a wasteland where angels and demons slaughter each other with no regard for human life. Heaven and Hell are deadlocke...more

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Oct 09, 2010 Michelle rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal, angels, demons, urban-fantasy, reviewed

Angels vs. Demons Smackdown! Armageddon has taken place--now the fight continues and the winner takes Earth. Enter Laila, half-demon and half-angel. She cannot live in either Heaven or Hell. In Heaven the godlight burns her demon half and in Hell the hellfire burns her angel half. She is exiled to Earth where she is alone except for her constant companion, a wolf named Volksfair. If Heaven wins then the Earth will be filled with godlight. If Hell wins then the Earth will be filled with Hellfire....more Angels vs. Demons Smackdown! Armageddon has taken place--now the fight continues and the winner takes Earth. Enter Laila, half-demon and half-angel. She cannot live in either Heaven or Hell. In Heaven the godlight burns her demon half and in Hell the hellfire burns her angel half. She is exiled to Earth where she is alone except for her constant companion, a wolf named Volksfair. If Heaven wins then the Earth will be filled with godlight. If Hell wins then the Earth will be filled with Hellfire. Either way…Laila dies.

Both Heaven and Hell want to recruit her for their own agenda. But Laila has an agenda of her own. If she stays on Earth she will eventually perish in either the godlight or hellfire so she hatches a plan to take over Hell, rid it of hellfire, and make it her home. In order to do this she must kill Beelzebub, who is a fallen angel and the ruler of Hell. He is also the brother of Archangel Michael. Can she bring herself to kill her former lover who she almost married?

I wasn’t immediately invested in this story. It took about 1/3 of the book before I started to get interested. I found the world that the author created to be interesting, but not intriguing. The story takes place 27 years after Armageddon and few humans are left around the world. In fact, this story had only one significant human character that is minor to the story and introduced late in the book. The entire cast of characters consists of either angels or demons. That’s not a bad thing and I actually liked it. Another thing I liked is the way the story blurs the line between good and evil, Heaven and Hell, friends and enemies.

At times I felt the prose and dialogue were a little overdramatic and other times the story seemed to be to having an identity crisis. It didn’t know if it wanted to be a serious dark fantasy or something a little lighter. Occasionally, the dialogue and narrative would switch from a more serious and formal tone to something more modern and casual, such as Laila saying “Owie” after falling to Earth in a battle with a demon that almost kills her. Owie? Laila of the night. Laila of the shadows. Laila of tears and blood. Laila who has fallen and rises again, etc. This Laila says “owie”?

This is probably just a quirk of my own personal preference, but the one other thing that bothered me about the dialogue is the use of the word “dad” instead of “father” or maybe in the case of a demon, “sire”. Dad just seems too casual and human and it didn’t seem to go with the overall tone of the book. There was one scene where Bat El (Laila’s sister and an angel) uses the word dad to refer to Gabriel, her father. This is the only time it felt appropriate because it was a more personal moment.

The character of Laila was probably the most interesting to me, but I also found myself getting interested in Beelzebub as well. However, I couldn’t make out if he was a bad guy or good guy in bad guy’s clothing. Sometimes he was gentle and kind and at other times he would do something really twisted (yeah, I know…ruler of hell and all that). The only other character that I liked was a minor character, Nathaniel, an angel who lost his wings and an eye in battle with a demon and was relegated to patrol Earth. You first meet him at the beginning of the story. He is a jaded and gritty character and one of the few that came off as credible.

There is a light romantic element in this book. The love scenes are short and behind closed doors. This worked fine later in the book but I felt the first scene between the two characters was pivotal and would have benefited from a little more attention to the emotion and intimacy of the scene.

Overall, I liked the book but I’m not doing cartwheels over it. It wasn’t a pager turner for me and I wasn’t compelled to get back to it when I had to stop, but when I was reading it I enjoyed my time with the book once I got in to the meat of it. The ending seemed to be a cliffhanger leading to another book, but I can’t say for sure.

http://indieparanormalbooksreviews.bl...(less)

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Oct 17, 2012 Linda rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review was originally posted on Big Al's Books and Pals review blog on 06/28/2012.

The first character we are introduced to is Nathaniel. He is a jaded and gritty angel who had lost his wings and an eye fighting an arch-demon during the battle of Armageddon. He was my favorite angel and he drew me in. This story though is about Laila, both forces of Heaven and Hell think having Laila on their team will finally turn the tide in their favor.

When Laila returns to Jerusalem and finally chooses a...more This review was originally posted on Big Al's Books and Pals review blog on 06/28/2012.

The first character we are introduced to is Nathaniel. He is a jaded and gritty angel who had lost his wings and an eye fighting an arch-demon during the battle of Armageddon. He was my favorite angel and he drew me in. This story though is about Laila, both forces of Heaven and Hell think having Laila on their team will finally turn the tide in their favor.

When Laila returns to Jerusalem and finally chooses a side, she has her own agenda and refuses to follow orders. She will not let her fate be decided for her. Her only friends are Volkfair, a very large black wolf, who fights by her side, and Bat El, her innocent and pious angel sister, who has only been on earth a few months and serves as a captain in Michaels' army. We learn of their relationship through flashbacks that are easy to follow. Humans are a rarity now and seldom mentioned. It was easy to feel the angst and exhaustion of the characters. God seems nonexistent, except to Raphael, who seems to be in the story only to remind us that God exists in all things.

The characters are complex, fully developed, and well drawn; the plot is unique and flowed well. I enjoyed the tongue in cheek dialogue that served to lighten some scenes. The battle scenes were epic with tens of thousands of angels and demons, narrated with descriptive prose. The settings were vivid around Jerusalem, Caesarea, Masada and the Sea of Galilee. The ending was a bit surprising with a twist to leave us something to ponder and open enough for perhaps a sequel.

Arenson did get a bit repetitive in a few places describing angel wings and demon wings, but not enough to remove a star or lessen my enjoyment of the whole story. This story may cause you to rethink or reevaluate your concepts of good and evil. If you can not handle spitting, cursing, hard edged angels, or devils who have a heart and react with some humanity this book may not be for you.

**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **(less)

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Jul 20, 2012 Blodeuedd Finland rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: apocalyptic

I am a bit torn really, I really liked the book, but the thing is, I hated the end. I am sure many will say, but the end was perfect! Just as it should be. Well not in this girl's book. It made me sad and angry.

The world was just, wow, so cool. Earth is almost destroyed, almost no humans around as they are all dead. Instead demons and angels fight each other in a war going on 27 years. I liked the world, the angels, the demons. All strength and weaknesses.

The main character Laila is both and ca...more

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May 19, 2011 Laura rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebook, fantasy, post-apocalyptic

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I hate it when I don't like a book, but aside from the cover, which is awesome, I'm having a hard time coming up with something I liked about this one. And I'm not saying that to be mean - judging by other reviews of this book, plenty of people like it, so I'm going to chalk this one up to not being my cup of tea, especially since I enjoyed Arenson's Eye of the Wizard.

The first minor annoyance I had with this book is that Arenson repeated himself again and again and again. Phrases, words (words...more

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Mar 28, 2011 Tobyann Aparisi rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: any one that loves a good vs evil story

Recommended to Tobyann by: first reads

I won this book in the good reads/first reads give away. This is the first book in a while that really had me fully absorbed. I love the thought of this book. Angels fighting demons. Then along comes a character we would not expect and she is strong, beautiful, tormented, loving, a soldier, and a fighter for man and wolf. This was an amazing read and every step of the way it was fun, exciting and riveting. The characters are well put together that you feel invested in them and can imagine their...more

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Nov 29, 2010 Shelleyrae at Book'd Out rated it 3 of 5 stars

Recommended to Shelleyrae by: Daniel Arenson

Shelves: blog-reviews

Flaming Dove is a dark fantasy that pits angels against demons in the battle for supremacy on earth. However as the battle rages, the distinction between good and evil blurs, epitomised by the dual nature of Leila, a half angel, half demon. After twenty seven years, weary from the unforgiving conflict, both sides hope that Leila will deliver them victory.
Banished from God's grace and abandoned by Hell, Leila searches for a place to call home among the wasteland that is Earth. Leila's bleak and l...more Flaming Dove is a dark fantasy that pits angels against demons in the battle for supremacy on earth. However as the battle rages, the distinction between good and evil blurs, epitomised by the dual nature of Leila, a half angel, half demon. After twenty seven years, weary from the unforgiving conflict, both sides hope that Leila will deliver them victory.
Banished from God's grace and abandoned by Hell, Leila searches for a place to call home among the wasteland that is Earth. Leila's bleak and lonely existence provokes a sympathetic response from the reader, even while she proves she is more than able to take care of herself. Leila's desires are seemingly simple, a wish for acceptance and belonging, but her very nature means that this will always be denied despite her admirable struggle to achieve this aim. Arenson portrays both Leila's internal and external conflict well, through both thought and behaviour.
As a half breed, Leila emphasises the schizm that is present in all of Arenson's characters. Arenson has humanised the iconic symbols of good and evil to communicate his basic premise that neither people nor situations are inherently, nor completely, good or evil.
The angels, including Michael and Gabriel are not only righteous avengers but are also flawed with an odd vulnerability. They may believe that they are fighting on the side of right but recognise their hypocrisy. Neither is Beezlebub a being of evil, but instead a creature motivated by revenge and bitterness for what he feels is an unjust punishment, who is also capable of a suprising charm, and affection for the women in his life. For me, Bat El is the character that I found the least credible, her change in personality and behaviour didn't track for me.
Arenson's imagery for both character and place are detailed and evocative. I particularly enjoy his descriptions of the crumbling streets in the battle scarred towns. I do feel the narrative could be tighter in places, as at times it is melodramatic and repetitive. I also felt that Arenson's dialogue is often inconsistent with the character or situation. While Laila is prone to dramatic declarations, "I am Laila of the night, godlight and hellfire..", she also refers to Lucifer as Dad, and Bat El trades quips with Beezlebub who promises "no funny stuff", the disparaty in language is jarring for me.
Despite the focus on the internal conflicts of the characters, there are action packed scenes as demon hordes and angel warriors face each other in battle which Arenson skillfully describes with lashings of godlight, trails of demonfire, dripping fangs and bloodied courage. These are well written and introduce tension and excitement into the story.
I think this is a story that will appeal to both male and female fans of the genre. Arenson has written a creative and entertaining fantasy with an unexpected conclusion. While I had some issues with the writing, I enjoyed the story elements of Flaming Dove, with its complex characters, epic conflict and thought provoking examination of good versus evil.
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Dec 13, 2011 Jessica rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: could-have-potential, supernatural-angels

I thought there was a lot of potential with this world, but there were too many points where the narration felt like it dragged a bit. I was also tripped up a couple times by seeing the same phrase or way of describing things multiple times, which made the descriptions feel a little stunted.

Depth was given to all the characters but the dialogue started to feel a little heavy-handed and dragged out. Honestly, I think this book has amazing potential. I think that if the editor had been a little m...more

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Oct 20, 2010 Tracey Alley rated it 3 of 5 stars

Daniel Arenson has written a really unique and quite entertaining book. As a Christian, even if a slightly esoteric Christian, I found some of Daniel's characters a little hard to identify with and make that wholehearted connection so necessary to really enjoy a novel. His angels are flawed and conflicted, his demons are not all that bad. Take out the Christian element of it and you're left with a very exciting, page-turner that is well worth reading. His fluency and pace are quite amazing and f...more

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Aug 25, 2012 Shannon McRoberts rated it 3 of 5 stars

This was a quick read and it had some interesting twists. Not my typical book, but I got it for free and thought the synopsis was interesting. Too bad for Heaven and too good for Hell is this kind of theme. If you like books about angels and demons this is great.

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Jun 25, 2012 Shawna Hansen rated it 4 of 5 stars

I like Laila's story but It all feels muddled. Just when I get interested the story switches to another character and I don't really want to be distracted from Laila. Love the characters surrounding Laila, but I wish the story had stayed by her side.

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May 27, 2011 Anna Penwick rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle-books-to-lend

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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May 27, 2012 Chloe40 rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-read-2012, books-read-on-kindle

Good Read.

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Dec 02, 2012 Emilie added it

loved it

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Dec 16, 2010 Dawn Judd rated it 5 of 5 stars

There are good books. There are really good books. And then there are the books you can't tear yourself away from. This is one of those books. Daniel's descriptions so vivid and alive that you feel like you're right there. I loved it from the first few sentences and enjoyed it to the end. There are very few books that can hold your attention through every single word, but this one can. It is an amazing story that I plan on reading again and again.

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Jan 19, 2011 Lady Danielle aka The Book Huntress rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Fans of angel/demon fiction

Shelves: angels, demon, antihero, warrior-woman, ebook, outcast, dark-fantasy, christian-lore, angsty-read, tormented-heroine, apocalyptic-postapocalyptic-dystopi, 2011-reading, bbb-review

Rating 4.5/5.0 stars.

For a full review, check the Bitten by Books website: http://www.bittenbybooks.com/

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May 03, 2012 Lyndi marked it as try-again-later

Freebie for Kindle from Amazon.

I've only read three chapters so far. But the book is really interesting and I'm curious to see where things go. I just can't really get into the story right now. I think I'm more in the mood for a trashy romance and this book is going to make me think too much right now. So I'm DNFing for the time being, maybe try it again in a couple weeks.

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Oct 02, 2010 Daniel Arenson added it · (Review from the author)

My dark fantasy novel. I hope you enjoy it! You can learn more about Flaming Dove at DanielArenson.com.

1 like · like · see review

Aug 23, 2012 Carolyn Green rated it 4 of 5 stars

Verg good book

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May 19, 2013 Sam Jr. rated it 3 of 5 stars

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Fantasy > Paranormal

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Fantasy

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Paranormal > Angels

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Paranormal > Demons

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Fantasy > Urban Fantasy

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Fantasy > Supernatural

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Apocalyptic > Post Apocalyptic

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Fantasy > Dark Fantasy

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Fantasy > Magic

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About Daniel Arenson

Born in 1980, Daniel Arenson is an author of fantasy fiction, from epic to dark and surreal.

He began his career writing short stories. He sold his first story, "Worms Believe in God", in 1998. Since then, dozens of his stories and poems have appeared in various magazines, among them Flesh & Blood, Chizine, and Orson Scott Card's Strong Verse.

Five Star Publishing, an imprint of Gale, publishe...more

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Quotes from Flaming Dove

“I am Laila, of the night. I have walked through godlight and through darkness. I have fought demons and I have slain angels. I am Laila, of the shadows. I have hidden and run, and I have stood up and striven. I am Laila, of tears and blood, of sins and of piety. I am Laila, outcast from Hell, banished from Heaven. I am alone, in darkness. I am Laila, of light and of fire. I am fallen. I rise again.” — 5 people liked it

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