June BOTM: ANGELFALL by Susan Ee

[JP]

Our Book of the Month for June is:

ANGELFALL by Susan Ee!!!!


Please read and discuss below.

[Anna]

It's possible I started this last night and then stayed up until all night reading it. I'm not definitely saying that happened... just that it could have. :)

For me, the book was enjoyable but not a home run. I don't want to spoil anything so I'll hold back to two comments.

First, I think Ee did a good job keeping true to the judeo-christian mythology of angels. Good enough that I enjoyed it even though that rarely floats my boat... mostly because that mythology makes God kinda seem like a psychopath. And by kinda I mean utterly devoid empathy and cruel because it's entertaining. Ee does some interesting world building and doesn't pull her punches. I appreciate that in an author.

Second, I am all for old being/young human pairings. I think they can be fun and sexy. And yet, throughout the book, I kept thinking, "really?" He's thousands of years old and she's a baby. A plucky, smart, eminently likable baby. Raffe, I think you might need a therapist. Come to think of it, I think all of the angels might be in need of some time stretched out on a couch working through their "daddy" issues.

I'm curious to hear what other people thought...

[Audrey Jane]

@Anna: haha :) Have you read the sequel yet?
About Raffe; I thought that too, but as you said the same can be said from vampires and werewolves. The angels are definitely weird and I can't figure them out. It would be interesting to have an insider perspective in their angelic community.

Personally my favourite character was by far Penryn's mother. You know something happened or will happen when she's around. Penryn was a likeable heroine. I liked that she was independent and courageous (view spoiler)[and didn't sidetrack from her search for her sister. (hide spoiler)] The romance didn't take central stage. I appreciated that.
I would like to have more background regarding the angelic hierarchic system. And what happened with Raffe's followers? I don't remember anymore. Obadiah is an interesting character, I would like to see more of him in future books.

On a side note, I had to put the book down several times due to the (view spoiler)[gruesome aspects (Penryn's sister is but a child). (hide spoiler)] What did you guys think of it?

(I read the first two books in the series a while ago, it's possible I mixed some things up.)

[Anna]

@Audrey: I haven't read the sequel yet. :)

And the vamps/werewolves are often hundreds (rather than thousands) of years old the humans are usually in their twenties/thirties. Somehow that's always less creepy. One of the few times I've read a really old creature/human pairing that didn't read creepy to me was Meljean Brook's Michael/Andromeda pairing.

I have lots of questions about the angels, but it's reasonable most of them didn't get answered in a first book. Where did Raffe go? Why do they keep (view spoiler)[ referring to how bad it is for an angel to be alone (hide spoiler)]? Why are there so many male angels? Why do the angels have gender? Does Satan exist in this world? They refer to the "pit" which sounds hell-like. Why do (view spoiler)[ the angels obey the Messenger without question EVEN THOUGH NONE OF THEM HAVE SEEN/TALKED TO GOD? They're in the process of wiping out billions of people because... well, it seems like just because. (hide spoiler)] Do angels have free will? Raffe appears too. And were the angels around for the dinosaurs? Or did God plant dinosaur bones for the humor factor? And why is calling a human a monkey an insult of God made humans exactly as they are?

[Audrey Jane]

I need to check Meljean Brooks' books asap :) I was thinking, wouldn't it have been better if Penryn was a bit older and not a teenager? Nalini Singh uses Rafael too as a love interest in Angels' Blood.

Interesting questions. I don't remember how much will be answered in the sequel. I will need to re-read book two before the third book comes out.
Good point about their gender and the male angels. Personally I think they have a free will but they're scared or they just follow the orders without questioning like everybody else. I don't get those angels :p Presumably a lot of the revelations will be kept for the big finale :) In my opinion, angels are as old as the Bible.

[Marcia]

4+ stars! I liked it for the action and the main family; a mentally ill mother and 2 daughters.
I love books about sisters because I never had one but always wanted one. The main characters are interesting and flawed (for good and bad)and even though the plot sounds like it has been done before, I found myself surprised a few times... in a good way. I can't wait to start book two.

I was pleasantly surprised by the insight that Penryn gained about her mother's condition toward the end of the book. I was also surprised on the developments concerning Paige, and while super creepy, i am intrigued on the hows and whys and believe her being a child is part of the intrigue.

In response to a few comments above: first I do believe in this book the angels have free will and many of them have fallen because of said free will. Is it realistic to expect them to be perfect for thousands of years? no, but I guess that is why we have sympathy especially for the Watchers.

Secondly, the "pairing" of Raffe/Penryn is fine with me. First off since he isn't "human" he is not thousands of years old in the "human" sense/idea. Penryn is basically a 17 y/o adult. She is mature in the sense that she has been a family caretaker for many years by this point. She has alluded to the fact that she has been with boys although we don't know if she is sexually active. It seems like the traits that Raffe Is drawn to aren't "sex" related. They are her bravery, loyalty and beauty and I don't think there is anything wrong with a 1000 year old angel noticing/admiring these things about Penryn. those traits triggering something more in the way of deeper feelings in a being that has consciously suppressed these ideas seems like the natural outcome if you ask me. How long is too long for any being to be alone?

[K.]

I attempted to read it. However, I didn't get past page 4. I don't think I was in the right mindset for this book at all. I will attempt reading it again at a later date.

[Audrey Jane]

Marcygold wrote: "4+ stars! I liked it for the action and the main family; a mentally ill mother and 2 daughters.
I love books about sisters because I never had one but always wanted one. The main characters are..."

I like your description of Penryn and Raffe's relationship. It certainly wasn't based on lust and no instant love.

I agree with you on the angels having a free will. I wonder why Raffe was all alone and didn't get more support of other angels questioning the higher authority. Or maybe they didn't dare to take action.

Btw I just remembered something, I thought the end really gripping and hadn't quite anticipated Raffe's reaction.

[Marcia]

I gave up after book 4. This just isn't the series for me.

[Naapio]

^ Marcygold I think you have confused this series with something else, there are only 2 books so far.

And oh boy they are FANTASTIC. I believed I had become too old to read young adult stuff without constantly rolling my eyes, but after starting with Angelfall I realized how wrong I was. It's not the age of characters, it's how interesting they are. A dime in a dozen characters these are not!

I think I enjoy it so much mostly because it portrays a delicous cast of well crafted characters (and none of them whine)! Also the plot keeps surprising me and of course the apocalypse setting is a huge bonus, I have special soft spot for it.