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Fallen Angel #1
Fallen Angel
Death is coming for me and it seems like all I have left in this world are things that I know and things that I may never understand.
I know that angels are trying to kill me, but I'm not sure why they want me dead.
I know that I'm afraid to die, but I wonder if dying could possibly hurt more than living.
And most of all, I know that I feel love beyond all measure for a beautiful demon boy, but I don't know if he loves me back.
I know that angels are trying to kill me, but I'm not sure why they want me dead.
I know that I'm afraid to die, but I wonder if dying could possibly hurt more than living.
And most of all, I know that I feel love beyond all measure for a beautiful demon boy, but I don't know if he loves me back.
352 pages, Paperback
Published May 8, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
May 2, 2016
***I received an ecopy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review***
Initial Thoughts:
When David Lamour (author of Fallen Angel) emailed me and asked if I would like to read and review this novel, I was cautiously ecstatic. Debut authors, as with anyone and anything, can be a hit or a miss. The premise of the novel was intriguing, and I knew if done correctly it would be right up my alley. I read the summary and reread the email, all the while checking for grammatical errors, and decided to give this one a shot. To say the least, I was excited yet skeptical, going into this novel.
Spoilers!
A few chapters into this book and I was in utter disbelief. The writing style, grammar, plot layout, all the technical elements I look for when determining the caliber of an author’s writing, far exceeded my expectations. I kept waiting for there to be a slip up, a misstep, or a poorly placed plot device. When I found none chapter after chapter, my excitement for this novel grew until I became a raving, giddy little reading reviewer. I began telling my friends what I was reading, how much I was enjoying myself, and how blindsided I felt by the quality of the craftsmanship used to create this novel.
Now for the nitty gritty: This novel follows a girl named Evelynn (Eve for short) as she deals with the instantaneous deaths of both her mother and father. She is forced to move to a small town with her aunt and uncle, and quickly catches the eye of the town’s star quarterback (Brandon). Initially, I groaned inwardly at this relationship, until I learned that our star quarterback had some substance and was more than just a pretty package. He had goals and aspirations beyond just tossing an inflated sack of air around (and he hand makes swords with his dad in his spare time)! I’ll be honest, the sword creation and the quality of Brandon’s moral character is what sealed the deal for me. I decided from that point on that he could stay, although I knew he wouldn’t last as our main love interest.
Here we began to form a love triangle. It was reminiscent of Bella, Edward, and Jacob, but not in an unlikable or plagiarizing way. Evelynn acquired a tutor; the smoking hot, mysteriously smart, kind of bad boy, Helel. Helel is playful, powerful, and attempts to show only a surface level of amusement or attraction to Evelynn. That is, until he comes to her rescue and saves her life. This novel did deal with a close encounter rape, so trigger warning for those who may be affected by such a scene.
As the summary of this novel announced, it follows the story of good and evil, Adam and Eve, angels and demons. I loved how this book flipped all the traditional and biblical norms on their heads, while staying true to what is literally written in the bible. Each chapter is headed off with a quote from either the book of Genesis or another related book from the bible. These quotes all tied in perfectly with what was going on in the chapter, and shed a little extra light on our characters’ motivations. I could not get enough of the warped deconstruction of the creation story and was forced, within myself, to create new definitions and subcategories of what it meant to be good or evil.
Conclusion:
My face hurt from smiling so much while reading all the interactions between Helel and Eve. Although some of the actions or revelations in the novel were predictable, others left me in the dust. This novel had action, love, mystery, history, and a new take on morality. I was beyond thrilled while reading it, and was in disbelief at how much I was enjoying myself. I was secretly waiting for the next chapter to disappoint me and it never did! I have decided to commit to this series, and will be anxiously anticipating the arrival of the next books!
Rating:5/5
Initial Thoughts:
When David Lamour (author of Fallen Angel) emailed me and asked if I would like to read and review this novel, I was cautiously ecstatic. Debut authors, as with anyone and anything, can be a hit or a miss. The premise of the novel was intriguing, and I knew if done correctly it would be right up my alley. I read the summary and reread the email, all the while checking for grammatical errors, and decided to give this one a shot. To say the least, I was excited yet skeptical, going into this novel.
Spoilers!
A few chapters into this book and I was in utter disbelief. The writing style, grammar, plot layout, all the technical elements I look for when determining the caliber of an author’s writing, far exceeded my expectations. I kept waiting for there to be a slip up, a misstep, or a poorly placed plot device. When I found none chapter after chapter, my excitement for this novel grew until I became a raving, giddy little reading reviewer. I began telling my friends what I was reading, how much I was enjoying myself, and how blindsided I felt by the quality of the craftsmanship used to create this novel.
Now for the nitty gritty: This novel follows a girl named Evelynn (Eve for short) as she deals with the instantaneous deaths of both her mother and father. She is forced to move to a small town with her aunt and uncle, and quickly catches the eye of the town’s star quarterback (Brandon). Initially, I groaned inwardly at this relationship, until I learned that our star quarterback had some substance and was more than just a pretty package. He had goals and aspirations beyond just tossing an inflated sack of air around (and he hand makes swords with his dad in his spare time)! I’ll be honest, the sword creation and the quality of Brandon’s moral character is what sealed the deal for me. I decided from that point on that he could stay, although I knew he wouldn’t last as our main love interest.
Here we began to form a love triangle. It was reminiscent of Bella, Edward, and Jacob, but not in an unlikable or plagiarizing way. Evelynn acquired a tutor; the smoking hot, mysteriously smart, kind of bad boy, Helel. Helel is playful, powerful, and attempts to show only a surface level of amusement or attraction to Evelynn. That is, until he comes to her rescue and saves her life. This novel did deal with a close encounter rape, so trigger warning for those who may be affected by such a scene.
As the summary of this novel announced, it follows the story of good and evil, Adam and Eve, angels and demons. I loved how this book flipped all the traditional and biblical norms on their heads, while staying true to what is literally written in the bible. Each chapter is headed off with a quote from either the book of Genesis or another related book from the bible. These quotes all tied in perfectly with what was going on in the chapter, and shed a little extra light on our characters’ motivations. I could not get enough of the warped deconstruction of the creation story and was forced, within myself, to create new definitions and subcategories of what it meant to be good or evil.
Conclusion:
My face hurt from smiling so much while reading all the interactions between Helel and Eve. Although some of the actions or revelations in the novel were predictable, others left me in the dust. This novel had action, love, mystery, history, and a new take on morality. I was beyond thrilled while reading it, and was in disbelief at how much I was enjoying myself. I was secretly waiting for the next chapter to disappoint me and it never did! I have decided to commit to this series, and will be anxiously anticipating the arrival of the next books!
Rating:5/5
April 25, 2016
An e-copy of this book was sent to me in exchange for an honest review.
First and foremost, I have to say that I am a sucker for anything having to do with angels and demons, so when the author emailed me asking if I wanted to review this book, I jumped right on it!
And, I was pleasantly surprised with the incorporation of the mythos. Normally, when author's change the mythology in order to better fit their story, I get frustrated beyond belief. Luckily, that wasn't the case here, as Lamour didn't change the biblical story in use, per say, but added on to it and explained why things happened the way they did.
Of course, I'm being as vague as possible as to not give anything away
I think the biggest highlight of the story for me were the characters. They were hysterical--from our protagonist, Evelynn; to our boy-crazed best friend, Brooke; and, my personal favorite, the charming, adorable Brandon.
Not to mention the dork that is Conner. Seriously, I need more of him in my life.
There are a few things in the story that I found to be a bit convenient, though. I can't give too much away, unfortunately. But there were a couple things that happened and made me scratch my head and go "What are the odds?"
There is also an extreme amount of predictablity. Like the reason Evelynn is being hunted by the angels, to the identity of her mysterious, super gorgeous new boyfriend.
And boy was there some insta-love in here. From both ends of the triangle. It's implied that Evelynn already knew Brandon before the story even began, but the fact that he was basically in love with her from the get-go was still a little jarring.
Helel's end wasn't that much better, though it was Evelynn who seemed to fall straight into love with him from their first meeting.
If we're choosing sides, though, I'd definitely have to go with Brandon. Their relationship just felt a lot more genuine in my opinion. Not to mention he is literal boyfriend goals. He's such a gentleman!
There were also a couple of other additions to this love pentagon. Chelle, who has a thing for Helel, and Cynthia, who has a thing for Brandon. Their characters weren't greatly explored, though, as Evelynn quickly cast them both aside bitchy competition.
As far as enjoyablility went, it was fairly good. It was very nostalgic to me, as I haven't read a paranormal romance since my early high school years. Unfortunately, as I've grown older, I've noticed it's gotten harder to get behind the romance between a human and mythical/paranormal creature. And this was no exception.
Honestly, I was fine with it until one scene. One little scene that most paranormal romance books have--the confession. Where Helel tells Evelynn that he's a demon.
And she has no reaction.
I think out of all the creatures, I'd be the most petrified if I found out I was dating a demon. I'd haul my butt right back to church and repent.
But I digress.
This story, while not the most original, is still an enjoyable read with characters that will leave you laughing out loud. If you are looking for a quick, simple read, I definitely suggest checking this out!
First and foremost, I have to say that I am a sucker for anything having to do with angels and demons, so when the author emailed me asking if I wanted to review this book, I jumped right on it!
And, I was pleasantly surprised with the incorporation of the mythos. Normally, when author's change the mythology in order to better fit their story, I get frustrated beyond belief. Luckily, that wasn't the case here, as Lamour didn't change the biblical story in use, per say, but added on to it and explained why things happened the way they did.
Of course, I'm being as vague as possible as to not give anything away
I think the biggest highlight of the story for me were the characters. They were hysterical--from our protagonist, Evelynn; to our boy-crazed best friend, Brooke; and, my personal favorite, the charming, adorable Brandon.
Not to mention the dork that is Conner. Seriously, I need more of him in my life.
There are a few things in the story that I found to be a bit convenient, though. I can't give too much away, unfortunately. But there were a couple things that happened and made me scratch my head and go "What are the odds?"
There is also an extreme amount of predictablity. Like the reason Evelynn is being hunted by the angels, to the identity of her mysterious, super gorgeous new boyfriend.
And boy was there some insta-love in here. From both ends of the triangle. It's implied that Evelynn already knew Brandon before the story even began, but the fact that he was basically in love with her from the get-go was still a little jarring.
Helel's end wasn't that much better, though it was Evelynn who seemed to fall straight into love with him from their first meeting.
If we're choosing sides, though, I'd definitely have to go with Brandon. Their relationship just felt a lot more genuine in my opinion. Not to mention he is literal boyfriend goals. He's such a gentleman!
There were also a couple of other additions to this love pentagon. Chelle, who has a thing for Helel, and Cynthia, who has a thing for Brandon. Their characters weren't greatly explored, though, as Evelynn quickly cast them both aside bitchy competition.
As far as enjoyablility went, it was fairly good. It was very nostalgic to me, as I haven't read a paranormal romance since my early high school years. Unfortunately, as I've grown older, I've noticed it's gotten harder to get behind the romance between a human and mythical/paranormal creature. And this was no exception.
Honestly, I was fine with it until one scene. One little scene that most paranormal romance books have--the confession. Where Helel tells Evelynn that he's a demon.
And she has no reaction.
I think out of all the creatures, I'd be the most petrified if I found out I was dating a demon. I'd haul my butt right back to church and repent.
But I digress.
This story, while not the most original, is still an enjoyable read with characters that will leave you laughing out loud. If you are looking for a quick, simple read, I definitely suggest checking this out!
April 25, 2016
3.5 stars
I was sent an ecopy of this novel by the author in exchange for an honest review.
I really ended up enjoying Fallen Angel! If you are looking for some sort of comparison, it felt like a mash between Angelfall by Susan Ee and White Hot Kiss by Jennifer L. Armentrout. All in all it was a really refreshing and fun read.
I have been looking for a book to read, that is fun and fast paced. This definitely did not disappoint. The characters were really good, I liked how Brandon was built as a character,Evelynn developed very nicely as a character, and Helel was really attractive and he did add some comic relief to the story.
The writing was fabulous! It kept me interested, it was gripping, and fast paced and overall fun to read. I loved how David made mundane things extra special.
I loved how demons and angels were woven in. I liked how the author played with the theme of Good vs Evil. I enjoyed how religious aspects were woven in, like the bible references at the beginning of each chapter and how he brought stories from the bible onto the table.
My only issues with this book were with the main character and her back and forth between both boys.
I would recommend this book definitely! It was an excellent debut novel, and I am looking forward to seeing what David will bring forth in the future! If you enjoy faced-paced and enjoyable books, if you love a book that will give you so many feelings, I would suggest reading this book. The twists were great, the plot was entertaining. For such a small book it had so much packed into it, which I really appreciated it.
Thank you again to the author for sending me an e-copy! All opinions are of course my own .
I was sent an ecopy of this novel by the author in exchange for an honest review.
I really ended up enjoying Fallen Angel! If you are looking for some sort of comparison, it felt like a mash between Angelfall by Susan Ee and White Hot Kiss by Jennifer L. Armentrout. All in all it was a really refreshing and fun read.
I have been looking for a book to read, that is fun and fast paced. This definitely did not disappoint. The characters were really good, I liked how Brandon was built as a character,Evelynn developed very nicely as a character, and Helel was really attractive and he did add some comic relief to the story.
The writing was fabulous! It kept me interested, it was gripping, and fast paced and overall fun to read. I loved how David made mundane things extra special.
I loved how demons and angels were woven in. I liked how the author played with the theme of Good vs Evil. I enjoyed how religious aspects were woven in, like the bible references at the beginning of each chapter and how he brought stories from the bible onto the table.
My only issues with this book were with the main character and her back and forth between both boys.
I would recommend this book definitely! It was an excellent debut novel, and I am looking forward to seeing what David will bring forth in the future! If you enjoy faced-paced and enjoyable books, if you love a book that will give you so many feelings, I would suggest reading this book. The twists were great, the plot was entertaining. For such a small book it had so much packed into it, which I really appreciated it.
Thank you again to the author for sending me an e-copy! All opinions are of course my own .
March 18, 2016
I was asked to beta read this book by the author but my opinion is my own. I would never recommend a book if I didn't honestly like it. Thanks again to David for letting me read his work beforehand.
Fallen Angel is a great book. The story is captivating and I like how David moves the plot.
The book is about a young New York girl who moves to her uncle and aunt in Montana after her parents death. She has difficulty to adapt to the small town life but that changes quickly after she meets some new friends.
The story is richly filled with a lot of paranormal elements like angels and demons. The whole backstory is constructed very well and I just enjoyed to read this book a lot.
The female protagonist Evelynn is likeable realistic and grounded and I think it's great that she is not portrayed as a weak girl things are happening to. No, she takes matters in her own hand and don't let herself be pushed around by boys or other things.
The love interest were nicely portrayed and though I'm not the biggest fan of love triangles I do love how the author decided to make it special and not like every other love triangle. It was realistically written and I could understand the actions and the emotions of the characters.
There was action and romance and always something going on and I was never bored by the story.
The only thing that I was worried about was that the story is too much like Twilight. And after finishing it I still have to say that it has some similarities to Twilight but not too much. Fallen Angel is more mature and the characters are more realistic and the story is still super original. There'll always be some similarities to books in the same genre so I don't care.
All in all I highly recommend checking out Fallen Angel as soon as it is available. It's a great YA book and I think a lot of people would enjoy it. And I'm excited to read the second book!
Fallen Angel is a great book. The story is captivating and I like how David moves the plot.
The book is about a young New York girl who moves to her uncle and aunt in Montana after her parents death. She has difficulty to adapt to the small town life but that changes quickly after she meets some new friends.
The story is richly filled with a lot of paranormal elements like angels and demons. The whole backstory is constructed very well and I just enjoyed to read this book a lot.
The female protagonist Evelynn is likeable realistic and grounded and I think it's great that she is not portrayed as a weak girl things are happening to. No, she takes matters in her own hand and don't let herself be pushed around by boys or other things.
The love interest were nicely portrayed and though I'm not the biggest fan of love triangles I do love how the author decided to make it special and not like every other love triangle. It was realistically written and I could understand the actions and the emotions of the characters.
There was action and romance and always something going on and I was never bored by the story.
The only thing that I was worried about was that the story is too much like Twilight. And after finishing it I still have to say that it has some similarities to Twilight but not too much. Fallen Angel is more mature and the characters are more realistic and the story is still super original. There'll always be some similarities to books in the same genre so I don't care.
All in all I highly recommend checking out Fallen Angel as soon as it is available. It's a great YA book and I think a lot of people would enjoy it. And I'm excited to read the second book!
April 25, 2016
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this. The first couple of chapters I was feeling like it was going to be very slow, I thought I was going to hate the main character, I knew there was going to be a love triangle. It felt predictable. However....I was wrong!! I loved this!!
I got really into the characters and the plot. It felt very contemporary at first. I think it was after we met Helel (who is gorgeous!) that I said out loud, "oh, wait! It's a supernatural book!" I generally forgot, which I think is a good thing. The battle with the angels and the demons felt very original to me. The fact that we are rooting for the demons to win is something different. The epilogue reminded me of a scene from Game of Thrones, or something of that genre, because I can just imagine it happening on screen.
This début novel was amazing. I really need more. I found myself thinking about it, when I was supposed to just be thinking about my university assignments. Everything about this just made me so happy. I really hope a sequel is written, because I this just made me so happy. David Lamour is so creative, and has a beautiful writing style. I am so excited for more
I got really into the characters and the plot. It felt very contemporary at first. I think it was after we met Helel (who is gorgeous!) that I said out loud, "oh, wait! It's a supernatural book!" I generally forgot, which I think is a good thing. The battle with the angels and the demons felt very original to me. The fact that we are rooting for the demons to win is something different. The epilogue reminded me of a scene from Game of Thrones, or something of that genre, because I can just imagine it happening on screen.
This début novel was amazing. I really need more. I found myself thinking about it, when I was supposed to just be thinking about my university assignments. Everything about this just made me so happy. I really hope a sequel is written, because I this just made me so happy. David Lamour is so creative, and has a beautiful writing style. I am so excited for more
May 22, 2016
2.75/5 stars. Video review to come.
May 8, 2016
2.75/5
This ebook was sent to me for free by the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and accurately represented in this review.
Fallen Angel is the first book I’ve ever been sent for review. As such, I felt not only an overwhelming sense of excitement to get into it but a feeling of obligation to read it quickly and take in as much as I could.
David Lamour’s debut novel, the first in an upcoming series, follows a girl named Evelynn as she struggles to either acclimate to or escape from the tiny Montana town she was forced to leave NYC for following the death of her parents. She is forced not only to adapt to a new way of life, deal with the unexpected deaths of her parents, and immerse herself in the small town’s social groups, but contend with the fact that there are angels on earth, they want her dead, and she has no idea why. Fortunately for her, there are two hot young men vying for her heart and fighting to keep her alive.
I will say that this story was interesting. I’m definitely not the target audience, as I tend to gravitate more towards YA with slightly more mature themes and writing styles, but I think that it would be perfect for a 15-, 16-, or 17-year-old. Parts of the book were strongly reminiscent of Twilight, Hush, Hush, and even Jennifer L. Armentrout’s books. There was also something about the book that made it compulsively readable: Though I had my problems with the story, I found myself thinking about it when I’d put it down and wanting to pick it back up when I was doing other things.
I did have a few issues with the story. Most of them involving the utilization of my least favorite tropes to tell the story…
- Instalove. This novel relied heavily on the Bella Swan, everyone-is-in-love-with-the-new-girl-even-though-she-didn’t-do-anything trope. Immediately upon her arrival, Evelynn is set upon by star quarterback (trust me, the fact that he was the school’s star quarterback was beat over my head throughout the story) Brandon, who falls for her at first sight and despite her obvious lack of interest. Then she meets the illusive Helel, a shockingly gorgeous boy she stalks through the library when she first comes in contact with him. Both of these boys are instantly into her, profess their love and devotion to her without any real relationship development, and are willing to do anything for her. Which leads us into our next trope…
- Love Triangle. Though Evelynn is clearly more interested in one boy she instaloves than the other, she does ultimately fall for both of them and is forced into choosing between them while simultaneously fighting for her life as the wrath of heaven rains down upon her.
- Mean Girls. I’m still not sure where this one came from. I hate the mean-girl-is-a-mean-girl-just-because trope to start with, but this one makes even less sense than that. Cynthia, the mean girl, is never actually mean. We are first introduced to her as she shows up unexpectedly at Evelynn’s aunt and uncle’s house to offer Evelynn a coveted spot on the cheer squad and welcome her into their social circle, then gives a (genuinely) friendly warning that she and Brandon have been on-again/off-again for years and not to mess with him. This warning is perfectly reasonable and a rather common interaction between females in small towns; I am a female in a small town, so that’s where I’ve gathered my information. Evelynn, for whatever reason, immediately expresses to the reader that she does not like Cynthia and then spends the rest of the book intentionally antagonizing the other girl, leading Brandon on to do so, all while Cynthia does nothing to retaliate. The only reason we know that Cynthia is mean is because Brooke says so, once, vaguely, without telling us why she feels that way.
My main struggle with this book initially was the mythos. Growing up in a strict Catholic family, I’ve had the Bible stories drilled into my noggin since infancy and found it difficult initially to open up to the alternative version of events introduced in this novel. I feel like that is something that should be taken into account by anyone going into this story, especially anyone raised with religion as I was, as it can be a bit jarring and even offensive to some.
I also had some issues with the way things were introduced. At times, it felt like characters and situations were mentioned at the beginning of a chapter because they were about to be thrown into the story as a quick side plot – kind of like a one-off episode in a consecutive TV saga. I also felt that, at times, the dialog was too much, especially with Helel, but I’m sure some people loved it, so I’m not going to pick at it.
I think the thing that got to me most, though, was how helpless Evelynn was. Only at one point in the novel is she not protected, defended, rescued, or shielded by someone else without disastrous consequences. She has no agency, constantly relying on the boys to save her. She also lost her clothes far more often than I would have liked, making me extremely uncomfortable. I also would be lying if I said I didn’t skim the last chapter, as it had a case of Allegiant syndrome where I wanted it to stop, but it kept going.
That being said, the actual storyline does have a lot of promise. Evelynn is a spunky character who clearly has a lot of fight in her that will hopefully manifest more in the rest of the series. The battle has just begun and the epilogue leads me to believe that the next book will be all kinds of epic. Lamour’s writing style is actually very beautiful, his descriptions usually spot-on and eloquent.
While this book may not have been my cup of tea, mostly because I’m a bitter old woman, I definitely think this series has an eager audience, I can’t wait to see how far this author goes with experience, and I actually do want to read the next one.
This ebook was sent to me for free by the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and accurately represented in this review.
Fallen Angel is the first book I’ve ever been sent for review. As such, I felt not only an overwhelming sense of excitement to get into it but a feeling of obligation to read it quickly and take in as much as I could.
David Lamour’s debut novel, the first in an upcoming series, follows a girl named Evelynn as she struggles to either acclimate to or escape from the tiny Montana town she was forced to leave NYC for following the death of her parents. She is forced not only to adapt to a new way of life, deal with the unexpected deaths of her parents, and immerse herself in the small town’s social groups, but contend with the fact that there are angels on earth, they want her dead, and she has no idea why. Fortunately for her, there are two hot young men vying for her heart and fighting to keep her alive.
I will say that this story was interesting. I’m definitely not the target audience, as I tend to gravitate more towards YA with slightly more mature themes and writing styles, but I think that it would be perfect for a 15-, 16-, or 17-year-old. Parts of the book were strongly reminiscent of Twilight, Hush, Hush, and even Jennifer L. Armentrout’s books. There was also something about the book that made it compulsively readable: Though I had my problems with the story, I found myself thinking about it when I’d put it down and wanting to pick it back up when I was doing other things.
I did have a few issues with the story. Most of them involving the utilization of my least favorite tropes to tell the story…
- Instalove. This novel relied heavily on the Bella Swan, everyone-is-in-love-with-the-new-girl-even-though-she-didn’t-do-anything trope. Immediately upon her arrival, Evelynn is set upon by star quarterback (trust me, the fact that he was the school’s star quarterback was beat over my head throughout the story) Brandon, who falls for her at first sight and despite her obvious lack of interest. Then she meets the illusive Helel, a shockingly gorgeous boy she stalks through the library when she first comes in contact with him. Both of these boys are instantly into her, profess their love and devotion to her without any real relationship development, and are willing to do anything for her. Which leads us into our next trope…
- Love Triangle. Though Evelynn is clearly more interested in one boy she instaloves than the other, she does ultimately fall for both of them and is forced into choosing between them while simultaneously fighting for her life as the wrath of heaven rains down upon her.
- Mean Girls. I’m still not sure where this one came from. I hate the mean-girl-is-a-mean-girl-just-because trope to start with, but this one makes even less sense than that. Cynthia, the mean girl, is never actually mean. We are first introduced to her as she shows up unexpectedly at Evelynn’s aunt and uncle’s house to offer Evelynn a coveted spot on the cheer squad and welcome her into their social circle, then gives a (genuinely) friendly warning that she and Brandon have been on-again/off-again for years and not to mess with him. This warning is perfectly reasonable and a rather common interaction between females in small towns; I am a female in a small town, so that’s where I’ve gathered my information. Evelynn, for whatever reason, immediately expresses to the reader that she does not like Cynthia and then spends the rest of the book intentionally antagonizing the other girl, leading Brandon on to do so, all while Cynthia does nothing to retaliate. The only reason we know that Cynthia is mean is because Brooke says so, once, vaguely, without telling us why she feels that way.
My main struggle with this book initially was the mythos. Growing up in a strict Catholic family, I’ve had the Bible stories drilled into my noggin since infancy and found it difficult initially to open up to the alternative version of events introduced in this novel. I feel like that is something that should be taken into account by anyone going into this story, especially anyone raised with religion as I was, as it can be a bit jarring and even offensive to some.
I also had some issues with the way things were introduced. At times, it felt like characters and situations were mentioned at the beginning of a chapter because they were about to be thrown into the story as a quick side plot – kind of like a one-off episode in a consecutive TV saga. I also felt that, at times, the dialog was too much, especially with Helel, but I’m sure some people loved it, so I’m not going to pick at it.
I think the thing that got to me most, though, was how helpless Evelynn was. Only at one point in the novel is she not protected, defended, rescued, or shielded by someone else without disastrous consequences. She has no agency, constantly relying on the boys to save her. She also lost her clothes far more often than I would have liked, making me extremely uncomfortable. I also would be lying if I said I didn’t skim the last chapter, as it had a case of Allegiant syndrome where I wanted it to stop, but it kept going.
That being said, the actual storyline does have a lot of promise. Evelynn is a spunky character who clearly has a lot of fight in her that will hopefully manifest more in the rest of the series. The battle has just begun and the epilogue leads me to believe that the next book will be all kinds of epic. Lamour’s writing style is actually very beautiful, his descriptions usually spot-on and eloquent.
While this book may not have been my cup of tea, mostly because I’m a bitter old woman, I definitely think this series has an eager audience, I can’t wait to see how far this author goes with experience, and I actually do want to read the next one.
May 2, 2016
3.5 *s...
The author sent me a PDF version of this YA fantasy book in exchange for an honest review.
Fallen Angel is the story of Evelynn, a girl who moves to Montana to live with her aunt and uncle after the death of her parents in New York. After enrolling at a local high school, she finds herself in demand by the popular crowd and the hunky quarterback Brandon immediately takes a liking to her, falling prey to cheerleaders’ jealousy. She befriends a quirky witty nerd called Brooke who cunningly sets her up on a date with Brandon but Evelynn has set her sights elsewhere on the beautiful mysterious Helel in her AP History class. When Helel agrees to help Evelynn with her revision, an obsessive infatuation comes over her. However, Helel is the image of perfection and as we all know, things that seem too good to be true very seldom are.
“It wasn’t like when I was a kid playing tag with my parents in Central Park and I could run into the protective circle of a hula-hoop lying on the ground and call it ’base.’ There was no base in the real world and my father was not waiting to put my on his shoulders and carry me home.”
Perhaps the first criticism I would like to make is the character of Evelynn herself. Regular readers and viewers of Alex’s Fiction Addiction will know that I don’t like female protagonists to be passive, submissive creatures. Unfortunately Evelynn is exactly this for most of the book. However, there are certainly women and girls of this nature in the real world, so she is by no means unrealistic. She just isn’t the sort of heroine that particularly warm to. At several points, I want to say to her “For God’s sakes, stop whining”. I also didn’t really like the way she seemed to treat those who clearly loved her and were there for her. Although, she did address this herself in one of the diary passages saying that she felt guilty, which I was pleased about. She also manages to find some strength at the end, when she realises what other braver characters are sacrificing.
Helel on the other hand was a wonderfully crafted character who I liked from his first appearance. I’ll admit that my feelings perhaps mirrored Evelynn’s in terms of the insta-love stakes. With the knowledge that Fallen Angel is a paranormal/fantasy book, I had my suspicions about this beautiful enigma right from the off but that certainly didn’t stop me from falling for his charm. In fact, it made me realise in the end how easy it is to be tempted and to fall from grace.
Other characters who I loved were of course Brandon and Brooke. At the beginning of the book, I wasn’t sure about Brandon and judged him incorrectly as the typical jock but later events quickly turned that impression around and I was in fact in tears during his last scene. Unfortunately, there wasn’t enough of Brooke for me. She was perhaps the only female character I could relate to whole-heartedly and therefore I did miss her a lot in the second half.
Lamour’s writing is simple and straight to the point. There is quite a lot of repetition, especially near the end, which did get a little jarring at times. However, the action scenes during the climax kept me absorbed enough that it didn’t take anything away from the reader experience. Also, there isn’t much in the way of lyricality and poignancy within the text itself. In fact, the below passage, which is right at the beginning of the book, stuck with me throughout because it was so beautifully written.
"I love libraries, the rows of information and well-crafted stories carefully organized by category and author name, accessible to anyone who made the effort to open the tomes and spend some time in the minds of the people who gave countless hours of their lives to create them. I loved all kinds of books but had always been drawn to fiction the most. I was captivated by the worlds created in one person's imagination and how all that was required of me to walk in that world and share the journey was to turn the page and read. I suppose I inherited my love for the written word from my father who always insisted that books were not made of dead trees but instead were made out of living things that sometimes loved, sometimes bled and other times soared through the sky on the wings of angels. I also enjoyed the fact that libraries, unlike much of the world, were always quiet places with few distractions."
Fallen Angel is bursting with Christian mythology and allegory. In fact, the entire plot gears towards the creation story and the complex notion of good versus evil. The last third of the book is focused solely on the age-old battle between angels and demons. More than that, it explores what it is to be an angel, demon or indeed a fallen angel. It twists the accepted ideology of angels representing truth and salvation and demons temptation and corruption. The idea that nothing is ever all-good or all-evil rings out so strong and it is the message that is left at the end.
“There is light in every darkness and darkness in every light.”
With a cast of beautiful brooding males and frustrating swooning females, perhaps the Twilight fandom is the most obvious group to recommend Fallen Angel to. However, I am not a fan of Meyer’s series at all and I definitely enjoyed Lamour’s book much more. It shares many tropes with Twilight but it has a lot more substance. I believed in the characters more and became more involved with the story. I would recommend it to anyone who loves YA angels and demons stories who can deal with a small helping of teenage drama alongside.
The author sent me a PDF version of this YA fantasy book in exchange for an honest review.
Fallen Angel is the story of Evelynn, a girl who moves to Montana to live with her aunt and uncle after the death of her parents in New York. After enrolling at a local high school, she finds herself in demand by the popular crowd and the hunky quarterback Brandon immediately takes a liking to her, falling prey to cheerleaders’ jealousy. She befriends a quirky witty nerd called Brooke who cunningly sets her up on a date with Brandon but Evelynn has set her sights elsewhere on the beautiful mysterious Helel in her AP History class. When Helel agrees to help Evelynn with her revision, an obsessive infatuation comes over her. However, Helel is the image of perfection and as we all know, things that seem too good to be true very seldom are.
“It wasn’t like when I was a kid playing tag with my parents in Central Park and I could run into the protective circle of a hula-hoop lying on the ground and call it ’base.’ There was no base in the real world and my father was not waiting to put my on his shoulders and carry me home.”
Perhaps the first criticism I would like to make is the character of Evelynn herself. Regular readers and viewers of Alex’s Fiction Addiction will know that I don’t like female protagonists to be passive, submissive creatures. Unfortunately Evelynn is exactly this for most of the book. However, there are certainly women and girls of this nature in the real world, so she is by no means unrealistic. She just isn’t the sort of heroine that particularly warm to. At several points, I want to say to her “For God’s sakes, stop whining”. I also didn’t really like the way she seemed to treat those who clearly loved her and were there for her. Although, she did address this herself in one of the diary passages saying that she felt guilty, which I was pleased about. She also manages to find some strength at the end, when she realises what other braver characters are sacrificing.
Helel on the other hand was a wonderfully crafted character who I liked from his first appearance. I’ll admit that my feelings perhaps mirrored Evelynn’s in terms of the insta-love stakes. With the knowledge that Fallen Angel is a paranormal/fantasy book, I had my suspicions about this beautiful enigma right from the off but that certainly didn’t stop me from falling for his charm. In fact, it made me realise in the end how easy it is to be tempted and to fall from grace.
Other characters who I loved were of course Brandon and Brooke. At the beginning of the book, I wasn’t sure about Brandon and judged him incorrectly as the typical jock but later events quickly turned that impression around and I was in fact in tears during his last scene. Unfortunately, there wasn’t enough of Brooke for me. She was perhaps the only female character I could relate to whole-heartedly and therefore I did miss her a lot in the second half.
Lamour’s writing is simple and straight to the point. There is quite a lot of repetition, especially near the end, which did get a little jarring at times. However, the action scenes during the climax kept me absorbed enough that it didn’t take anything away from the reader experience. Also, there isn’t much in the way of lyricality and poignancy within the text itself. In fact, the below passage, which is right at the beginning of the book, stuck with me throughout because it was so beautifully written.
"I love libraries, the rows of information and well-crafted stories carefully organized by category and author name, accessible to anyone who made the effort to open the tomes and spend some time in the minds of the people who gave countless hours of their lives to create them. I loved all kinds of books but had always been drawn to fiction the most. I was captivated by the worlds created in one person's imagination and how all that was required of me to walk in that world and share the journey was to turn the page and read. I suppose I inherited my love for the written word from my father who always insisted that books were not made of dead trees but instead were made out of living things that sometimes loved, sometimes bled and other times soared through the sky on the wings of angels. I also enjoyed the fact that libraries, unlike much of the world, were always quiet places with few distractions."
Fallen Angel is bursting with Christian mythology and allegory. In fact, the entire plot gears towards the creation story and the complex notion of good versus evil. The last third of the book is focused solely on the age-old battle between angels and demons. More than that, it explores what it is to be an angel, demon or indeed a fallen angel. It twists the accepted ideology of angels representing truth and salvation and demons temptation and corruption. The idea that nothing is ever all-good or all-evil rings out so strong and it is the message that is left at the end.
“There is light in every darkness and darkness in every light.”
With a cast of beautiful brooding males and frustrating swooning females, perhaps the Twilight fandom is the most obvious group to recommend Fallen Angel to. However, I am not a fan of Meyer’s series at all and I definitely enjoyed Lamour’s book much more. It shares many tropes with Twilight but it has a lot more substance. I believed in the characters more and became more involved with the story. I would recommend it to anyone who loves YA angels and demons stories who can deal with a small helping of teenage drama alongside.
April 18, 2016
I would give it 4.5 if I could!
I got hooked since the first page. Even though it was kinda slow at the beginning, I ended up LOVING it!
And Helel - every single conversation Evelynn had with him made me smile and wish I had a boy like that.
What can I say... I cannot wait for the next part of the series!
I was sent a copy from the author in exchange of an honest review.
I got hooked since the first page. Even though it was kinda slow at the beginning, I ended up LOVING it!
And Helel - every single conversation Evelynn had with him made me smile and wish I had a boy like that.
What can I say... I cannot wait for the next part of the series!
I was sent a copy from the author in exchange of an honest review.
July 20, 2016
*I received this book from the author to review, however all opinions are my own**
Update: YouTube review is live!
First off, I am a sucker for anything that references/retells Genesis and/or Paradise Lost. Fallen Angel plays with this well-known story and while it does take some liberties with adjusting the mythos to fit the storyline, it does so in a way that's recognizable and aware.
Overall, I enjoyed Fallen Angel, though it feels a bit unfinished to me. The story is a familiar one, reminiscent of Twilight or the like, but the angelic twist puts a fresh spin on tropes that are common in this type of story. It's a tried and true story, and good for a simple & quick afternoon read. I think I might have devoured it more were I part of a younger audience, but I found it enjoyable none the less.
A bit about the unfinished bit: I really did enjoy this book, but it felt almost like a skeletal outline. There's clearly some thought put into the story and mythos of its world, but it felt like every chapter just skimmed the surface. The basic story structure is there, but there were so many missed opportunities to add more complex layers without convoluting the story. As it stands, it feels very simplistic and basic. Good, but simple. The writing itself may have something to do with this — it's written well; solid. Lamour has command of his words, but they simply tell the simple story without giving much deeper insight. The book really needs some more layers and I think it could really shine.
Some awesome things:
Side characters: Honestly, the side characters stole the show. Brooke is Evelynn's hilarious and boy-obsessed best friend. And Brandon is the utterly likable football-star-next-door. I won't spoil too much, but I wish we would've either seen both of them throughout the course of the story more, or they would've gotten more satisfying roles to play.
Some not-so-awesome things:
Instalove: Yep. It's full of it. Evelynn falls in love with Helel the moment she sees him. Yawn. Not to mention the love triangle that really doesn't need to exist.
Evelynn: She's spunky, but that fire never really comes to life. She's passive and kind of boring, never really doing anything throughout the course of the story. It's the other characters that kept me turning the page.
Side-story ditching: A lot of small details are laid out early on in the story that feel like foreshadowing. Except they're not. They just kind of fizzle and disappear. I think this is largely a result of not really exploring any of these elements in depth or amping up the actual writing/story itself, but it left me feeling disappointed. Evelynn spends a good chunk of the first part of the book lamenting not being able to return to her hometown and school, which only gets brought up later as a "Do I have enough reason to stay or should I go?" thought without much weight. Her guardians feel like an obligations and not actual realistic characters, and the news story of the Four (a criminal gang) made me excited for the possibility of the Four Horsemen (how perfect would that be!?) — but no. There were lots of missed opportunities because these ideas were simply hinted at and never built upon.
It's not a bad read and with some polishing I think could really shine. For now, it's an acceptable breezy weekend piece if you're looking for something to fill the Twilight void.
Update: YouTube review is live!
First off, I am a sucker for anything that references/retells Genesis and/or Paradise Lost. Fallen Angel plays with this well-known story and while it does take some liberties with adjusting the mythos to fit the storyline, it does so in a way that's recognizable and aware.
Overall, I enjoyed Fallen Angel, though it feels a bit unfinished to me. The story is a familiar one, reminiscent of Twilight or the like, but the angelic twist puts a fresh spin on tropes that are common in this type of story. It's a tried and true story, and good for a simple & quick afternoon read. I think I might have devoured it more were I part of a younger audience, but I found it enjoyable none the less.
A bit about the unfinished bit: I really did enjoy this book, but it felt almost like a skeletal outline. There's clearly some thought put into the story and mythos of its world, but it felt like every chapter just skimmed the surface. The basic story structure is there, but there were so many missed opportunities to add more complex layers without convoluting the story. As it stands, it feels very simplistic and basic. Good, but simple. The writing itself may have something to do with this — it's written well; solid. Lamour has command of his words, but they simply tell the simple story without giving much deeper insight. The book really needs some more layers and I think it could really shine.
Some awesome things:
Side characters: Honestly, the side characters stole the show. Brooke is Evelynn's hilarious and boy-obsessed best friend. And Brandon is the utterly likable football-star-next-door. I won't spoil too much, but I wish we would've either seen both of them throughout the course of the story more, or they would've gotten more satisfying roles to play.
Some not-so-awesome things:
Instalove: Yep. It's full of it. Evelynn falls in love with Helel the moment she sees him. Yawn. Not to mention the love triangle that really doesn't need to exist.
Evelynn: She's spunky, but that fire never really comes to life. She's passive and kind of boring, never really doing anything throughout the course of the story. It's the other characters that kept me turning the page.
Side-story ditching: A lot of small details are laid out early on in the story that feel like foreshadowing. Except they're not. They just kind of fizzle and disappear. I think this is largely a result of not really exploring any of these elements in depth or amping up the actual writing/story itself, but it left me feeling disappointed. Evelynn spends a good chunk of the first part of the book lamenting not being able to return to her hometown and school, which only gets brought up later as a "Do I have enough reason to stay or should I go?" thought without much weight. Her guardians feel like an obligations and not actual realistic characters, and the news story of the Four (a criminal gang) made me excited for the possibility of the Four Horsemen (how perfect would that be!?) — but no. There were lots of missed opportunities because these ideas were simply hinted at and never built upon.
It's not a bad read and with some polishing I think could really shine. For now, it's an acceptable breezy weekend piece if you're looking for something to fill the Twilight void.
March 17, 2016
Fallen Angel was such an amazing story. It was easily one of the most imaginative books I have ever read. I didn’t know what to expect when I was asked to beta read this book. I was both pleasantly surprised and rewarded by the experience.
The story is told from the perspective of a female high school senior. It's amazing how well the author, a male, was able to capture the female perspective. He really did an absolutely incredible job with that. I was also very happy to see that he did not make the female character completely helpless and dependent on the men in the story. Evelynn may have been outmatched at times with the situations she encountered, but she fought back every step of the way. I loved that about her.
The inner dialogue was done as well as I’ve ever seen it done. I could really feel what the protagonist was feeling. The story was told from her perspective and I loved the voice in her head. There were parts that were sad, parts where I laughed out loud and other parts that were as intense as any I have ever read. It all came across as genuinely believable. Bravo.
This book was action packed with twists that I didn’t see coming until they happened. That is such a rare thing with most books. Also unlike many books that have lots of useless “filler” between important events, Fallen Angel always had something happening that kept it entertaining every step of the way. Every chapter was essential to the story and a thrill to read. No filler here.
The romance felt real. With both of the boys. I still can't decide who's team I'm on. I don't want to pick.
I have my fingers crossed for a spinoff with Dax and maybe Brooke too. They were such amazing characters in their own ways. I silently cheered every time Brooke made an appearance and sometimes not so silently. I probably cheer about as well as she does. That's an inside joke for those who have read the book.
This story was so amazing that I read it in two days. I couldn’t put it down. At one point I went three chapters really needing a break. I couldn't stop. It was that good. I can’t wait for the next one in the series. I would love to be picked to beta read again.
Fallen Angel is one of the most imaginative, fast paced and well written stories I have ever read. Easily 5 stars!
The story is told from the perspective of a female high school senior. It's amazing how well the author, a male, was able to capture the female perspective. He really did an absolutely incredible job with that. I was also very happy to see that he did not make the female character completely helpless and dependent on the men in the story. Evelynn may have been outmatched at times with the situations she encountered, but she fought back every step of the way. I loved that about her.
The inner dialogue was done as well as I’ve ever seen it done. I could really feel what the protagonist was feeling. The story was told from her perspective and I loved the voice in her head. There were parts that were sad, parts where I laughed out loud and other parts that were as intense as any I have ever read. It all came across as genuinely believable. Bravo.
This book was action packed with twists that I didn’t see coming until they happened. That is such a rare thing with most books. Also unlike many books that have lots of useless “filler” between important events, Fallen Angel always had something happening that kept it entertaining every step of the way. Every chapter was essential to the story and a thrill to read. No filler here.
The romance felt real. With both of the boys. I still can't decide who's team I'm on. I don't want to pick.
I have my fingers crossed for a spinoff with Dax and maybe Brooke too. They were such amazing characters in their own ways. I silently cheered every time Brooke made an appearance and sometimes not so silently. I probably cheer about as well as she does. That's an inside joke for those who have read the book.
This story was so amazing that I read it in two days. I couldn’t put it down. At one point I went three chapters really needing a break. I couldn't stop. It was that good. I can’t wait for the next one in the series. I would love to be picked to beta read again.
Fallen Angel is one of the most imaginative, fast paced and well written stories I have ever read. Easily 5 stars!
April 23, 2016
3.75*
That plot twist DAMN.
I was given an ebook copy of Fallen Angel in exchange for an honest review.
Firstly this book was so faced paced and packed a punch, despite the fact that it is only 218 pages long! The writing I also really enjoyed and I felt like the whole book flowed really well from the very first page.
In terms of characters, I loved loved loved Evelyn as a main character. She was aware of what made her happy and what made her unhappy and the actions she took reflected that, and this is something a lot of main character in YA urban fantasy books don't usually take into consideration. I also really enjoyed the range of characters in this books, such as the cute quarterback Brandon, the hot and moody Helel (who is now my new favourite book boyfriend) and Chelle the bad-ass bitchy girl everyone secretly wants to be.
The plot of this book also really surprised me as at the beginning of the book the plot focuses on Evelyn and her trying to fit into a place she doesn't really want to be however, the plot twist in the second half of the book totally took me by surprise and I enjoyed how the plot evolved throughout the book.
The author also weaved well known mythems (small section within a larger myth) into the plot of this book which I enjoyed immensely.
My favourite part of the whole book was how the author described angels and fallen angels. They are not described as white males with white hair and halos. They are an array of ethnic groups and as these fallen angels were some of the first being on earth in terms of creation, it emulates the idea that everyone, of all colors, sizes and sex, are equal. And this to me is so important.
The only issue I did have with this book was that when one of the characters finds out that angels and demons are real they did not question the authority of it.
I would recommend this to anyone that enjoyed who enjoyed a quick, fast paced book that is full of angst and a jaw dropping plot twist.
I very much enjoyed reading this book and would like to thank the author again for my ebook review copy!
That plot twist DAMN.
I was given an ebook copy of Fallen Angel in exchange for an honest review.
Firstly this book was so faced paced and packed a punch, despite the fact that it is only 218 pages long! The writing I also really enjoyed and I felt like the whole book flowed really well from the very first page.
In terms of characters, I loved loved loved Evelyn as a main character. She was aware of what made her happy and what made her unhappy and the actions she took reflected that, and this is something a lot of main character in YA urban fantasy books don't usually take into consideration. I also really enjoyed the range of characters in this books, such as the cute quarterback Brandon, the hot and moody Helel (who is now my new favourite book boyfriend) and Chelle the bad-ass bitchy girl everyone secretly wants to be.
The plot of this book also really surprised me as at the beginning of the book the plot focuses on Evelyn and her trying to fit into a place she doesn't really want to be however, the plot twist in the second half of the book totally took me by surprise and I enjoyed how the plot evolved throughout the book.
The author also weaved well known mythems (small section within a larger myth) into the plot of this book which I enjoyed immensely.
My favourite part of the whole book was how the author described angels and fallen angels. They are not described as white males with white hair and halos. They are an array of ethnic groups and as these fallen angels were some of the first being on earth in terms of creation, it emulates the idea that everyone, of all colors, sizes and sex, are equal. And this to me is so important.
The only issue I did have with this book was that when one of the characters finds out that angels and demons are real they did not question the authority of it.
I would recommend this to anyone that enjoyed who enjoyed a quick, fast paced book that is full of angst and a jaw dropping plot twist.
I very much enjoyed reading this book and would like to thank the author again for my ebook review copy!
March 15, 2016
Actual rating 4.5 stars.
I was asked to beta read this book by the author and guys...I had SOO much fun reading this. It was a roller coaster from start to finish and I cannot recommend it enough, it was just so great.
The characters were wonderful and refreshing, especially the love interest(s) That is right guys. Not all teenage guys are moody bad boys who treat you like trash then randomly become perfect overnight! They were both wonderful and adorable and I loved them. The angel aspect of this book was very well done and the mythology weaved about them throughout this book was awesome. The descriptions were also very well done and I just really enjoyed this a lot!
Thanks so much to David Lamour for asking me to beta read this! I had a great time :)
My Booktalk - https://youtu.be/SwOtGDNpqGg?list=PLw...
I was asked to beta read this book by the author and guys...I had SOO much fun reading this. It was a roller coaster from start to finish and I cannot recommend it enough, it was just so great.
The characters were wonderful and refreshing, especially the love interest(s) That is right guys. Not all teenage guys are moody bad boys who treat you like trash then randomly become perfect overnight! They were both wonderful and adorable and I loved them. The angel aspect of this book was very well done and the mythology weaved about them throughout this book was awesome. The descriptions were also very well done and I just really enjoyed this a lot!
Thanks so much to David Lamour for asking me to beta read this! I had a great time :)
My Booktalk - https://youtu.be/SwOtGDNpqGg?list=PLw...
March 9, 2016
What a GREAT book. Very descriptive and easy loving characters. This book moves with a quick pace. It is truly a page turner. Characters become "loved" and you are not sure who you want to end up with the girl. Such an emotions of love, cheering on and compassion for each character. Truly an AMAZING read! I definitely recommend this book!!!
April 24, 2016
I was sent a copy of the novel by the author in exchange for an honest review. The writing is great. The idea behind the story I consider is very original. I'll post a review on my YouTube Channel this week.
June 12, 2016
NO SPOILERS:
**I was asked to read this ARC novel in an exchange for an honest review, all my thoughts below display accurately how much I enjoyed this book (video review coming soon!)
Fallen Angel, by David Lamour, follows the story of Evelynn, a teenage girl who has had to move from the hustle and bustle of New York City to live with her aunty and uncle in a sleepy, local town of Montana. Between adjusting to a new school, getting comfortable with the fact that her parents will never be able to guide her through life and be a part of major events as she grows up, is obviously a struggle for a newly orphaned high school girl. Not only has she got to come to terms with these thoughts, but she also has to overcome the knowledge that there are angels who have made their way to Earth- and are on a mission to kill her. Thanks to a new, mysterious good-looking teenage boy seeking her attention, the two develop a certain kinship in order to prevent Evelynn from being murdered in cold blood by the not-so-holy angels.
I must say that this YA genre isn’t really my cup of tea. If I was asked to read this book perhaps 2-3 years ago, I have a feeling I would of liked it. I suggest that teens aged around 12-14 should give this book a go. The writing is not so complicated, and the story has an initial intriguing plot line. However, I was brought to the attention that the novel had many stereotypical YA romantic tropes, such as immediate insta-love and a good old turbulent love triangle.
I got many Twilight vibes when reading this book, and the premise of the story is not un-like the Penryn and the End of Days series by Susan Ee. It also reminded me of the Lux series by Jennifer L. Armentrout, unfortunately I just simply enjoyed the characters and interrelationships in those books more. Which I think was the factor that let down for me of this book.
I found Evelynn a very flat and two-dimensional character, with no sense of self-defense whatsoever. I find it important for female strength to be presented in YA novels. I thought at the beginning that Evelynn would perhaps have some character development over her arc and find these qualities herself over the course of the book, but that was not the case. I’m praying that this will happen in the following books. Evelynn did have a lot of potential and I hope that she will not feel the need to depend on the men in her life and support herself in the coming series.
Another thing I felt a bit alienated by, was the strong sense of religion that stimulated the source material of this book. With me not being religious myself, and growing up in an atheist household, I found that I didn’t connect with the plot of this book and couldn’t make references between Biblical aspects of the story.
In saying that though, I believe that the following books in the series have major potential. The climax of the novel definitely pulled you into the scenes and had you rushing to finish the book. The ending was satisfying and set up some key plot points that I hope Lamour will tackle in the sequel.
All in all I rated this book, 2.5/5 stars.
**I was asked to read this ARC novel in an exchange for an honest review, all my thoughts below display accurately how much I enjoyed this book (video review coming soon!)
Fallen Angel, by David Lamour, follows the story of Evelynn, a teenage girl who has had to move from the hustle and bustle of New York City to live with her aunty and uncle in a sleepy, local town of Montana. Between adjusting to a new school, getting comfortable with the fact that her parents will never be able to guide her through life and be a part of major events as she grows up, is obviously a struggle for a newly orphaned high school girl. Not only has she got to come to terms with these thoughts, but she also has to overcome the knowledge that there are angels who have made their way to Earth- and are on a mission to kill her. Thanks to a new, mysterious good-looking teenage boy seeking her attention, the two develop a certain kinship in order to prevent Evelynn from being murdered in cold blood by the not-so-holy angels.
I must say that this YA genre isn’t really my cup of tea. If I was asked to read this book perhaps 2-3 years ago, I have a feeling I would of liked it. I suggest that teens aged around 12-14 should give this book a go. The writing is not so complicated, and the story has an initial intriguing plot line. However, I was brought to the attention that the novel had many stereotypical YA romantic tropes, such as immediate insta-love and a good old turbulent love triangle.
I got many Twilight vibes when reading this book, and the premise of the story is not un-like the Penryn and the End of Days series by Susan Ee. It also reminded me of the Lux series by Jennifer L. Armentrout, unfortunately I just simply enjoyed the characters and interrelationships in those books more. Which I think was the factor that let down for me of this book.
I found Evelynn a very flat and two-dimensional character, with no sense of self-defense whatsoever. I find it important for female strength to be presented in YA novels. I thought at the beginning that Evelynn would perhaps have some character development over her arc and find these qualities herself over the course of the book, but that was not the case. I’m praying that this will happen in the following books. Evelynn did have a lot of potential and I hope that she will not feel the need to depend on the men in her life and support herself in the coming series.
Another thing I felt a bit alienated by, was the strong sense of religion that stimulated the source material of this book. With me not being religious myself, and growing up in an atheist household, I found that I didn’t connect with the plot of this book and couldn’t make references between Biblical aspects of the story.
In saying that though, I believe that the following books in the series have major potential. The climax of the novel definitely pulled you into the scenes and had you rushing to finish the book. The ending was satisfying and set up some key plot points that I hope Lamour will tackle in the sequel.
All in all I rated this book, 2.5/5 stars.
May 10, 2016
An e-copy of this book was sent to me in exchange for an honest review.
Let me begin by saying that I've been in quite a reading slump the past 2-3 months and am pleased to say that this novel succeeded in putting me back in my reading groove! (Thank you Lamour!) I enjoyed the overall contemporary feel of the book, as well as the unique little twists on traditional biblical stories (and of course the epic-ness of angels and demons) However, there were a few aspects of this novel that irked me a bit.
To begin with, there is MAJOR insta-love! A love triangle takes place (which I don't mind), but the insta-love is literally present in every point of this triangle. After finishing the book, I started to question whether it's due to predestination, but either way, it was quite annoying due to the fact it enabled me to truly connect to the characters at hand.
Secondly, everything is quite predictable. I always enjoy the element of surprise, so I was a bit disappointed whenever my theories were correct.
Lastly, we did not get enough time with our side characters! (okay, maybe I'm being a bit picky here). Connor, Brooke, and Chelle are on the top of the list of characters that I definitely want to see more in the future books in this series. They add an extra dose of spunk and humor in this story that is much appreciated!
Overall, this was a very fun, easy, and enjoyable read. I loved the quirky little scenes, as well as the dark turn it took towards the end. Looking forward on seeing how this story progresses.
Let me begin by saying that I've been in quite a reading slump the past 2-3 months and am pleased to say that this novel succeeded in putting me back in my reading groove! (Thank you Lamour!) I enjoyed the overall contemporary feel of the book, as well as the unique little twists on traditional biblical stories (and of course the epic-ness of angels and demons) However, there were a few aspects of this novel that irked me a bit.
To begin with, there is MAJOR insta-love! A love triangle takes place (which I don't mind), but the insta-love is literally present in every point of this triangle. After finishing the book, I started to question whether it's due to predestination, but either way, it was quite annoying due to the fact it enabled me to truly connect to the characters at hand.
Secondly, everything is quite predictable. I always enjoy the element of surprise, so I was a bit disappointed whenever my theories were correct.
Lastly, we did not get enough time with our side characters! (okay, maybe I'm being a bit picky here). Connor, Brooke, and Chelle are on the top of the list of characters that I definitely want to see more in the future books in this series. They add an extra dose of spunk and humor in this story that is much appreciated!
Overall, this was a very fun, easy, and enjoyable read. I loved the quirky little scenes, as well as the dark turn it took towards the end. Looking forward on seeing how this story progresses.
April 20, 2016
I can't believe how much I enjoyed this book. It follows the traditional YA troupe format but even then I loved it. It's cause I connected with Evelynn pretty quickly. This book has brought me back from my reading slump!
Review:
The concept and idea of story was very captivating to me. Angels, fallen angels and demons. Throw a little romance and magic and I am sold.
This book is fast paced and captivating, Lamour does a swell job keeping you attached the story. I personally finished the story in a day and a half because I just couldn’t put it down. The only reason I did not pull an all nighter was because I had Uni the next morning.
This is a debut YA novel and it follows all the YA troupes that most young adult novels follow. Thankfully, it was not super cheesy because Lamour makes his concept of Angels and Demons unique. He also gave his leading lady a delicious character development. She became a different person from begging to end and I ATE THAT RIGHT UP.
Full Review at: http://www.simplyallytea.com/2016/05/...
Review:
The concept and idea of story was very captivating to me. Angels, fallen angels and demons. Throw a little romance and magic and I am sold.
This book is fast paced and captivating, Lamour does a swell job keeping you attached the story. I personally finished the story in a day and a half because I just couldn’t put it down. The only reason I did not pull an all nighter was because I had Uni the next morning.
This is a debut YA novel and it follows all the YA troupes that most young adult novels follow. Thankfully, it was not super cheesy because Lamour makes his concept of Angels and Demons unique. He also gave his leading lady a delicious character development. She became a different person from begging to end and I ATE THAT RIGHT UP.
Full Review at: http://www.simplyallytea.com/2016/05/...
May 5, 2016
I really enjoyed this! I loved the angel/demon aspect and the religious undertones. I really liked Evelynn as a character and how strong she was. I also found myself rooting for Brandon (even though I probably wasn't supposed to...I tend to do that). I liked that he played an important role, when he could have easily been cast off as a side character. This book reminded me a lot of the Twilight Saga in that it involves a human girl with a paranormal boy with an unexplained attraction and ending with a big war that was necessary to save the girl. David's writing was really great and he moved the plot along quickly. I really liked the storyline of what happened to Evelynn when she walked home from a party. That was good. Overall, a really solid book and I can't wait to continue and read the sequel!
*This book was sent to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. These thoughts and opinions are strictly my own.
*This book was sent to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. These thoughts and opinions are strictly my own.
April 23, 2016
I absolutely LOVED this book...
First of all, the love triangle in this book was perfect. David took two equally amazing guys and had them battle (not literally, of course) for Evelynn's heart. Sometimes "love-triangles" can be eh. But I really enjoyed it in this book. The main character was really likeable. She wasn't annoying, and I overall loved her as a character.
I had never read an Angel/Demon book before. I think he wrote it really well and kept it fun. I think a lot of people would enjoy reading this.
Here's my YouTube review:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMnCA...
First of all, the love triangle in this book was perfect. David took two equally amazing guys and had them battle (not literally, of course) for Evelynn's heart. Sometimes "love-triangles" can be eh. But I really enjoyed it in this book. The main character was really likeable. She wasn't annoying, and I overall loved her as a character.
I had never read an Angel/Demon book before. I think he wrote it really well and kept it fun. I think a lot of people would enjoy reading this.
Here's my YouTube review:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMnCA...
June 7, 2016
I was sent this book for review and it did not disappoint!! This was such an interesting take on the biblical story of the creation of our world with Angels, God and Adam and Eve. Very cool!!
April 23, 2016
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Thank you to David Lamour for offering this book in exchange for a review.
Fallen Angel has a great background story consisting of a creative spin on the Bible. I really liked the idea of it, although the execution was kind of meh. Why, you ask?
Because this book was a lot like Twilight. Instead of Vampires, it's Angels and Demons. There was just too much that happened that reminded me of Twilight that made it feel more like it was a replica of that but with slightly different characters. The cover, for starters, is similar. The story, city girl moves to small town/country, doesn't care about sticking around until she instantly falls in love with someone she shouldn't, gets involved in a ridiculous love triangle between the two hottest guys in school, blah blah blah.
No, really.
After the tragic loss of her parents, Evelyn is forced to move to small town Montana where people don't even lock their doors. Big change for a girl from NYC. She despises it there, and only looks forward to going back. But then the star quarterback *groan* vies for her attention even though she keeps avoiding him. Eventually they end up on a date through some trickery by Evelyn's friend, hence causing Evelyn to be hated throughout the school's female population. But then, in order to go back to NYC, she has to enroll in a AP class, and her tutor is a stunning male with electric eyes that sear her to her soul, causing her to rethink her entire life choices. For the first time she considers not going back to NYC but staying in Small Town, USA to be with him. And when he saves her from sure death, but displays his own terrible secret, she accepts him and his dark truth. Immediately.
However, I give a thumbs up on the Author's part because even if it is a remake of Twilight, it's better. The insta-love is vaguely explained when you find out I do like that Evelyn is not a useless main character and actually can stand her ground, put up a fight, and However she is kind of catty and irritating as she is prone to be territorial over Brandon even though they are not together.
Overall, there were parts of the story I was interested and intrigued by, but others not so much. This is a book that I would have picked up if I had read the synopsis, but wouldn't have enjoyed it as I originally would have thought. I gave it three stars because it was okay overall, but not something I would read again, or continue with the next books in the future because even with the different view of the Angels and Demons, it still is too much like Twilight for my personal taste. If you are a fan of Twilight, this should be the next book on your TBR.
If I was to read a book about Angels, I would reread the Angelfall series by Susan Ee.
Fallen Angel has a great background story consisting of a creative spin on the Bible. I really liked the idea of it, although the execution was kind of meh. Why, you ask?
Because this book was a lot like Twilight. Instead of Vampires, it's Angels and Demons. There was just too much that happened that reminded me of Twilight that made it feel more like it was a replica of that but with slightly different characters. The cover, for starters, is similar. The story, city girl moves to small town/country, doesn't care about sticking around until she instantly falls in love with someone she shouldn't, gets involved in a ridiculous love triangle between the two hottest guys in school, blah blah blah.
No, really.
After the tragic loss of her parents, Evelyn is forced to move to small town Montana where people don't even lock their doors. Big change for a girl from NYC. She despises it there, and only looks forward to going back. But then the star quarterback *groan* vies for her attention even though she keeps avoiding him. Eventually they end up on a date through some trickery by Evelyn's friend, hence causing Evelyn to be hated throughout the school's female population. But then, in order to go back to NYC, she has to enroll in a AP class, and her tutor is a stunning male with electric eyes that sear her to her soul, causing her to rethink her entire life choices. For the first time she considers not going back to NYC but staying in Small Town, USA to be with him. And when he saves her from sure death, but displays his own terrible secret, she accepts him and his dark truth. Immediately.
However, I give a thumbs up on the Author's part because even if it is a remake of Twilight, it's better. The insta-love is vaguely explained when you find out I do like that Evelyn is not a useless main character and actually can stand her ground, put up a fight, and However she is kind of catty and irritating as she is prone to be territorial over Brandon even though they are not together.
Overall, there were parts of the story I was interested and intrigued by, but others not so much. This is a book that I would have picked up if I had read the synopsis, but wouldn't have enjoyed it as I originally would have thought. I gave it three stars because it was okay overall, but not something I would read again, or continue with the next books in the future because even with the different view of the Angels and Demons, it still is too much like Twilight for my personal taste. If you are a fan of Twilight, this should be the next book on your TBR.
If I was to read a book about Angels, I would reread the Angelfall series by Susan Ee.
July 21, 2016
Don’t you just love the cover of this novel? It is totally amazing. Angels and demon, what’s not to like about this combination. I really enjoyed the character of Helel and I loved his whistling. I kept looking for it to pop up as I knew that he would be making his appearance soon and that excited me. He was a calm and fierce character. He was calm in his actions and he was confident as he went after the things that he wanted. He was fierce; his actions were intense and deliberate. Evelynn, I liked that she was your everyday teen. Her voice rang true, nothing complicated or fake about her, she was real. I really enjoyed this novel, I felt connected to the characters and I had a hard time putting this novel down once I got started. I highly recommend this novel if you enjoy this genre. I am looking forward to book #2 and hopefully that will be soon.
Evelynn now lives in a small poke town, where traveling a few blocks in either direction would you have embracing the whole town. She misses NYC. Her aunt and uncle have now become her guardians as her parents have passed away, leaving her a senior in the “backwoods of Montana,”not exactly what Evelynn had planned. Swimming was her sport of choice but now that’s not an option as football takes center stage. Brooke, her new closest friend secretly sets up a blind date with the quarterback from the football team. Cynthia has warned Evelynn that she and the quarterback have something going on and she should back off but Brooke thinks otherwise. Evelynn doesn’t want to start anything as she plans on not sticking around. The blind date was a success and the friction begins as the girls fight amongst themselves for power. In the library, Evelynn hears whistling. Annoyed but intrigued, she investigates and finds the most gorgeous blue eyes over the top of the library’s bookshelf. Not quick enough, she can’t find whose eyes they belong to before the library clears out but the image of those eyes stay with her. Falling behind in class, she needs a tutor. Hands are raised and the teacher chooses Helel. He is the boy with the gorgeous blue eyes. Evelynn is now torn between these two gorgeous men in her life. Oh, she is such a flirt! She is having more fun than she imaged with her new girlfriends and hanging out with these two guys. The story gets a dramatic push as she attends a party hoping to run into one of the boys. Its events that occur after this party, that she begins to realize that, perhaps life in a small town in Montana is more adventurous than she thought.
I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Evelynn now lives in a small poke town, where traveling a few blocks in either direction would you have embracing the whole town. She misses NYC. Her aunt and uncle have now become her guardians as her parents have passed away, leaving her a senior in the “backwoods of Montana,”not exactly what Evelynn had planned. Swimming was her sport of choice but now that’s not an option as football takes center stage. Brooke, her new closest friend secretly sets up a blind date with the quarterback from the football team. Cynthia has warned Evelynn that she and the quarterback have something going on and she should back off but Brooke thinks otherwise. Evelynn doesn’t want to start anything as she plans on not sticking around. The blind date was a success and the friction begins as the girls fight amongst themselves for power. In the library, Evelynn hears whistling. Annoyed but intrigued, she investigates and finds the most gorgeous blue eyes over the top of the library’s bookshelf. Not quick enough, she can’t find whose eyes they belong to before the library clears out but the image of those eyes stay with her. Falling behind in class, she needs a tutor. Hands are raised and the teacher chooses Helel. He is the boy with the gorgeous blue eyes. Evelynn is now torn between these two gorgeous men in her life. Oh, she is such a flirt! She is having more fun than she imaged with her new girlfriends and hanging out with these two guys. The story gets a dramatic push as she attends a party hoping to run into one of the boys. Its events that occur after this party, that she begins to realize that, perhaps life in a small town in Montana is more adventurous than she thought.
I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.
April 26, 2016
*** I was sent a copy of this book for an honest review***
3.5 Stars
When her parents die, Evelynn is forced to leave her home in New York City and move in with her Aunt and Uncle in a small town in Montana, leaving everything she knows and loves behind. Evelynn is struggling to adjust to her new life, dealing with the trauma of her parents' death, and her hostile feelings towards her Aunt and Uncle when her life takes an unexpected twist for the worse, and she is forced to face a more pressing issue between life and death, and angels and demons.
I highly enjoyed this book, and was pleasantly surprised with where the plot headed. This book was chilling, creepy, and suspenseful, keeping me on the edge of my seat for a majority of the book. The writing was excellent and kept me constantly intrigued, wanting to learn more about what was going on, and is the main reason I found myself so invested in this story.
The pacing of this book is also phenomenal. I was always highly entertained with what was happening, and needed to find out what was going to happen next.
Despite being invested in the plot, I really did not feel invested in the characters. I was not a huge fan of Evelynn, as she was constantly relying on others to do things for her, was running back and forth between her two love interests, and was reluctant to face the pressing issues at hand. And because of these things, I found her hard to connect to. Moreover, when she firsts learns of angels and demons, Evelynn comes to accept their existence and the situation they have forced her into without hesitation. I found this strange and a bit unrealistic. By the end of the book, however, Evelynn definitely became much more independent and willing to take her fate into her own hands.
Despite my dislike of Evelynn, there were two characters that I loved. I absolutely loved Brooke and Brandon! The two of them gave the book a more lighthearted and humorous tone, which was definitely necessary to break up the darker parts of the book. I wish that we got to see more of them in this book (especially Brooke!), but because this is the first book in the series I am positive we will get more of them in the upcoming novels.
I would recommend this book if you are a fan of paranormal romance, enjoy reading about angels and demons, or if you are looking for a quick read.
3.5 Stars
When her parents die, Evelynn is forced to leave her home in New York City and move in with her Aunt and Uncle in a small town in Montana, leaving everything she knows and loves behind. Evelynn is struggling to adjust to her new life, dealing with the trauma of her parents' death, and her hostile feelings towards her Aunt and Uncle when her life takes an unexpected twist for the worse, and she is forced to face a more pressing issue between life and death, and angels and demons.
I highly enjoyed this book, and was pleasantly surprised with where the plot headed. This book was chilling, creepy, and suspenseful, keeping me on the edge of my seat for a majority of the book. The writing was excellent and kept me constantly intrigued, wanting to learn more about what was going on, and is the main reason I found myself so invested in this story.
The pacing of this book is also phenomenal. I was always highly entertained with what was happening, and needed to find out what was going to happen next.
Despite being invested in the plot, I really did not feel invested in the characters. I was not a huge fan of Evelynn, as she was constantly relying on others to do things for her, was running back and forth between her two love interests, and was reluctant to face the pressing issues at hand. And because of these things, I found her hard to connect to. Moreover, when she firsts learns of angels and demons, Evelynn comes to accept their existence and the situation they have forced her into without hesitation. I found this strange and a bit unrealistic. By the end of the book, however, Evelynn definitely became much more independent and willing to take her fate into her own hands.
Despite my dislike of Evelynn, there were two characters that I loved. I absolutely loved Brooke and Brandon! The two of them gave the book a more lighthearted and humorous tone, which was definitely necessary to break up the darker parts of the book. I wish that we got to see more of them in this book (especially Brooke!), but because this is the first book in the series I am positive we will get more of them in the upcoming novels.
I would recommend this book if you are a fan of paranormal romance, enjoy reading about angels and demons, or if you are looking for a quick read.
April 23, 2016
So I was sent this book in exchange for an honest review- which is what this is.
I would like to give a HUGE thank you to David Lamour for asking and sending me this to read! It was such a treat and exactly what I needed!
Fallen Angel was everything I hoped it would be and more. The concept of this was very unique, what I would describe as YA Paradise Lost (without all the epic poetry and pages upon pages of Lucifer moping).
While the writing was simplistic- in the way that is was very straightforward- the biblical symbolism was very present and added tremendously to the text. The elements of this book (angels, demons, biblical references) were very clearly researched and thought out and I LOVED the take David took on the creation story from Genesis, he has really taken something that has been translated and retold over and over and really made it his own. The pace of it was just right, it was a smooth consistent pace which I really liked.
The way the book is narrated is a really interesting take, I was immediately enticed by the Preface and the Prologue set up some major context clues for readers making the concept of the text fleshed out and consistent.
As this is the first book in the series I won't spend too much time on this but I do wish the characters were a little more fleshed out. I think what David has done with the characters so far is great and as the series goes on I am positive that he will continue to build onto the characters. I feel like Helel was the only main character that was really fleshed out and looked at and a huge part of that is because we receive the most information as the book continues. I do have to say that David hit the nail on the head with Evelyn in regards to her age, it is not often that I read about a 17 year old character acting like a 17 year old girl in fantasy, she is all insecurity and anxiety and I loved it. But like I said David did leave himself a lot of room to further these characters which will be cool because then we can see the characters really grow and develop and I am a lover of character development.
Anything more I have to say will be said in my Review video of this book which I will link https://youtu.be/wh6UW2nfzFQ
GO READ IT NOW
I would like to give a HUGE thank you to David Lamour for asking and sending me this to read! It was such a treat and exactly what I needed!
Fallen Angel was everything I hoped it would be and more. The concept of this was very unique, what I would describe as YA Paradise Lost (without all the epic poetry and pages upon pages of Lucifer moping).
While the writing was simplistic- in the way that is was very straightforward- the biblical symbolism was very present and added tremendously to the text. The elements of this book (angels, demons, biblical references) were very clearly researched and thought out and I LOVED the take David took on the creation story from Genesis, he has really taken something that has been translated and retold over and over and really made it his own. The pace of it was just right, it was a smooth consistent pace which I really liked.
The way the book is narrated is a really interesting take, I was immediately enticed by the Preface and the Prologue set up some major context clues for readers making the concept of the text fleshed out and consistent.
As this is the first book in the series I won't spend too much time on this but I do wish the characters were a little more fleshed out. I think what David has done with the characters so far is great and as the series goes on I am positive that he will continue to build onto the characters. I feel like Helel was the only main character that was really fleshed out and looked at and a huge part of that is because we receive the most information as the book continues. I do have to say that David hit the nail on the head with Evelyn in regards to her age, it is not often that I read about a 17 year old character acting like a 17 year old girl in fantasy, she is all insecurity and anxiety and I loved it. But like I said David did leave himself a lot of room to further these characters which will be cool because then we can see the characters really grow and develop and I am a lover of character development.
Anything more I have to say will be said in my Review video of this book which I will link https://youtu.be/wh6UW2nfzFQ
GO READ IT NOW
September 12, 2016
After the frustration of trying to keep refilming a video review of this like I originally planned, I’m going to just do a written review of this!
*I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
I originally wanted to read this because it deals with angels and demons, a theme I don’t see much of anymore. I enjoyed Fallen Angel for the first part, but there were some things that made me not enjoy it like I thought I would.
Things I liked:
Characters: Let me just tell you that I really liked Evelynn—I thought she was sassy at times and there were so many times that I had to put the book down because she said something so sarcastic and I was laughing so much. I really loved Brandon and Brooke, Evelynn’s best friend (although she just kind of disappears), and thought they worked well in the story.
Plot: With the exception of certain elements of the plot, I really liked the different take on the creation story. Each chapter header has a bible verse that reflects the content in each chapter, and I found I really enjoyed this element and found it heightened my enjoyment of it.
Things I didn’t like:
Instalove: There’s a love triangle in this book, and while that isn’t a problem for me, the fact that at every single point of the triangle there was instalove was. It’s assumed that Evelynn already knows Brandon, but it wasn’t fleshed out in the beginning. Once we knew more about the characters I got more invested in their romances, but at first it was a bit of a shock for me.
-Evenlynn basically spends the first half debating if she should stay in Montana or go back to New York, even going so far as to still maintain the academic standard to transfer back to her last school. There aren’t really any arguments about this with her guardians so I was confused as to why it was such a big issue if it wasn’t really discussed.
-I felt that there were hints to bigger things later on, but they were never revisited.
Overall, I enjoyed this and I’m interested in seeing where the story goes from here!
*I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
I originally wanted to read this because it deals with angels and demons, a theme I don’t see much of anymore. I enjoyed Fallen Angel for the first part, but there were some things that made me not enjoy it like I thought I would.
Things I liked:
Characters: Let me just tell you that I really liked Evelynn—I thought she was sassy at times and there were so many times that I had to put the book down because she said something so sarcastic and I was laughing so much. I really loved Brandon and Brooke, Evelynn’s best friend (although she just kind of disappears), and thought they worked well in the story.
Plot: With the exception of certain elements of the plot, I really liked the different take on the creation story. Each chapter header has a bible verse that reflects the content in each chapter, and I found I really enjoyed this element and found it heightened my enjoyment of it.
Things I didn’t like:
Instalove: There’s a love triangle in this book, and while that isn’t a problem for me, the fact that at every single point of the triangle there was instalove was. It’s assumed that Evelynn already knows Brandon, but it wasn’t fleshed out in the beginning. Once we knew more about the characters I got more invested in their romances, but at first it was a bit of a shock for me.
-Evenlynn basically spends the first half debating if she should stay in Montana or go back to New York, even going so far as to still maintain the academic standard to transfer back to her last school. There aren’t really any arguments about this with her guardians so I was confused as to why it was such a big issue if it wasn’t really discussed.
-I felt that there were hints to bigger things later on, but they were never revisited.
Overall, I enjoyed this and I’m interested in seeing where the story goes from here!
June 15, 2016
-Actual Rating is 4.5-
[I was sent an e-copy to review by the author. All opinions are my own.]
I had previously seen the cover for Fallen Angel somewhere before (I can't remember where specifically) and didn't think much of it to begin with. When David (the author) emailed me to review it for him, I decided to look at the synopsis and found it to be vague but still giving me enough info to make me curious as to what actually happens. I then went on to look at previous reviews and was pleasantly surprised to find how Fallen Angel has gotten quite high ratings which made me very eager to dive in.
As soon as I read the prologue I was immediately hooked! The pace of the book was perfect despite how short the novel is, managing to cover aspects of action, romance, mystery, plot, and character development all really well.
At first I felt like Fallen Angel appeared to almost come across as the cliché paranormal high school story; however as the story went on, I found that actually it wasn't and instead took on this whole unique plot of its own, leaving me clueless as to what could happen next.
There was one point in the novel where I was getting annoyed at how the main character of Evelynn didn't ask questions which delved deeper into why/what was going on, but found that as it got further and further on, why exactly the explanations aren't given until later on (some anyway, as there are still further questions that can be explored later on in the series) are where they are, has been set out perfectly, keeping the reader intrigued to read on but at the same time somewhat satisfied with how little we know.
Lastly, David uses an interesting technique of incorporating the written forms of 3rd person, 1st person, and diary entries all within the novel to a successful measure.
I can't wait to get my hands on the sequel!
Video review to come. (channel linked in my bio)
[I was sent an e-copy to review by the author. All opinions are my own.]
I had previously seen the cover for Fallen Angel somewhere before (I can't remember where specifically) and didn't think much of it to begin with. When David (the author) emailed me to review it for him, I decided to look at the synopsis and found it to be vague but still giving me enough info to make me curious as to what actually happens. I then went on to look at previous reviews and was pleasantly surprised to find how Fallen Angel has gotten quite high ratings which made me very eager to dive in.
As soon as I read the prologue I was immediately hooked! The pace of the book was perfect despite how short the novel is, managing to cover aspects of action, romance, mystery, plot, and character development all really well.
At first I felt like Fallen Angel appeared to almost come across as the cliché paranormal high school story; however as the story went on, I found that actually it wasn't and instead took on this whole unique plot of its own, leaving me clueless as to what could happen next.
There was one point in the novel where I was getting annoyed at how the main character of Evelynn didn't ask questions which delved deeper into why/what was going on, but found that as it got further and further on, why exactly the explanations aren't given until later on (some anyway, as there are still further questions that can be explored later on in the series) are where they are, has been set out perfectly, keeping the reader intrigued to read on but at the same time somewhat satisfied with how little we know.
Lastly, David uses an interesting technique of incorporating the written forms of 3rd person, 1st person, and diary entries all within the novel to a successful measure.
I can't wait to get my hands on the sequel!
Video review to come. (channel linked in my bio)
September 18, 2016
I still wasn't sure why the angels wanted me dead, but I was all too aware that there was nothing I could do to stop them from killing me.
My rating for this book : 3 stars
First of all, huge thanks to the author, David Lamour, for sending me a free copy of this book for me to beta read and review. Now, if I had to be honest, I went into this book not expecting myself to enjoy it much. Let's just say I haven't had a good experience in the past with books surrounding fallen angels and such...
However, this book turned out to be a pretty fun read. I think what I enjoyed the most was probably David's writing style. With debut authors, I tend to get a bit skeptical as I read their first book, but from the very beginning, the plot flowed smoothly and the writing was simple and enjoyable.
On the other hand, I have to say that I highly did not enjoy the romance aspect of this book. Insta-love is a huge turn-off for me and this book had that, so that pretty much sucked. I also was not fond of Evelynn, our dear protagonist. I found her selfish and did not really like her as a character, but I guess that leaves room for improvement and character development for future books.
Now, for the magical/mythical(or whatever you want to call it) elements in this book, I have to first put out the fact that I am a Christian and I stay firm with my beliefs. This book creates its own twist to Christianity origins. Despite the fact that I strongly disagree with the story that David has spun, I must say that he did create a rather interesting twist in the tale. I was highly intrigued while reading this book.
Overall, Fallen Angel was a good read, minus the couple of factors that cut points from it. It reminded me of Twilight, so for fans of the series, definitely do give this one a go!
May 15, 2016
I loved David Lamour's writing style as it was so descriptive and I could really picture every location, character etc. The images were so clear in my head it was like watching a film.
I also loved the characters, especially Brandon as he was so lovely and caring towards Evelynn. When I read a book I like to get attached to the characters and I definitely did throughout this one. In the fighting scenes I was kept on the edge of my seat throughout, worrying what could happen to some of the characters. The suspense was insane and I just couldn't stop reading.
The only character that annoyed me some of the time was Evelynn because I found her to be really indecisive about what she wanted, however this wasn't too much of an issue for me as I was still kept gripped throughout. I also found it a little strange how Evelynn reacted to finding out about the demons and angels. She didn't seem too panicked or scared or even that confused, whereas I think those would be the reactions to finding out that piece of information.
The whole storyline was so intense and kept me interested the whole way through. I flew through this book and I haven't just sat down and read most of a book in one sitting in a while so I must have been hooked!
Overall I found this book highly enjoyable and I can't wait for the rest of the series to be released. I don't want to have to wait to find out more about these characters and where the storyline is heading. And even though I've read all of Fallen Angel, I'm still terrified for some of the character's safety!
I also loved the characters, especially Brandon as he was so lovely and caring towards Evelynn. When I read a book I like to get attached to the characters and I definitely did throughout this one. In the fighting scenes I was kept on the edge of my seat throughout, worrying what could happen to some of the characters. The suspense was insane and I just couldn't stop reading.
The only character that annoyed me some of the time was Evelynn because I found her to be really indecisive about what she wanted, however this wasn't too much of an issue for me as I was still kept gripped throughout. I also found it a little strange how Evelynn reacted to finding out about the demons and angels. She didn't seem too panicked or scared or even that confused, whereas I think those would be the reactions to finding out that piece of information.
The whole storyline was so intense and kept me interested the whole way through. I flew through this book and I haven't just sat down and read most of a book in one sitting in a while so I must have been hooked!
Overall I found this book highly enjoyable and I can't wait for the rest of the series to be released. I don't want to have to wait to find out more about these characters and where the storyline is heading. And even though I've read all of Fallen Angel, I'm still terrified for some of the character's safety!
April 21, 2016
I was asked by the author for an honest review!
I read this book over the span of a month, and I really liked it. I liked how down to earth Evelynn was and how understanding she was through the whole history behind what was happening! I like and disliked the history behind the Angels and Demons with the connection to the Bible and Genesis. Brandon would have been the best boyfriend to any girl. I felt so much sympathy for him for falling for a girl he can never have. He was the best guy friend for any girl to have. He made a sword to defend her! He was just amazing to her when Helel wasn't. Kind of like Jacob was to Bella in Twilight. Helel has a mysterious factor throughout the whole book but I liked him from the start. He was so intriguingly dark and secretive. Everything that happened to Evelynn throughout the story I feel like she reacted very realistically! The Angels and Demons had the coolest aspects in how the Angels were bad and the Demons were good.I love everything about the world David built. I liked David's writing style and everything about the story! I only feel a little ify about how much it connects to the bible and the creation of the world. Overall this book was amazing! I recommend this book to the fans of The Mortal Instruments and Twilight. P.S. The battle scene is epic!
From,
Averyreadsalot
https://averyreadsalot.wordpress.com/...
I read this book over the span of a month, and I really liked it. I liked how down to earth Evelynn was and how understanding she was through the whole history behind what was happening! I like and disliked the history behind the Angels and Demons with the connection to the Bible and Genesis. Brandon would have been the best boyfriend to any girl. I felt so much sympathy for him for falling for a girl he can never have. He was the best guy friend for any girl to have. He made a sword to defend her! He was just amazing to her when Helel wasn't. Kind of like Jacob was to Bella in Twilight. Helel has a mysterious factor throughout the whole book but I liked him from the start. He was so intriguingly dark and secretive. Everything that happened to Evelynn throughout the story I feel like she reacted very realistically! The Angels and Demons had the coolest aspects in how the Angels were bad and the Demons were good.I love everything about the world David built. I liked David's writing style and everything about the story! I only feel a little ify about how much it connects to the bible and the creation of the world. Overall this book was amazing! I recommend this book to the fans of The Mortal Instruments and Twilight. P.S. The battle scene is epic!
From,
Averyreadsalot
https://averyreadsalot.wordpress.com/...
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