End of Days by Susan Ee

Title: End of Days
Series: Penryn & the End of Days #3
Author: Susan Ee
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Release Date: May 12th 2015
Source:Gifted from my awesome co-blogger!

Summary from Goodreads:
End of Days is the explosive conclusion to Susan Ee’s bestselling Penryn & the End of Days trilogy.

After a daring escape from the angels, Penryn and Raffe are on the run. They’re both desperate to find a doctor who can reverse the twisted changes inflicted by the angels on Raffe and Penryn’s sister. As they set off in search of answers, a startling revelation about Raffe’s past unleashes dark forces that threaten them all.

When the angels release an apocalyptic nightmare onto humans, both sides are set on a path toward war. As unlikely alliances form and strategies shift, who will emerge victorious? Forced to pick sides in the fight for control of the earthly realm, Raffe and Penryn must choose: Their own kind, or each other?

Review

AHHH, goodness do I love this series. Without hesitation, Susan Ee drops the reader right back into the crazy dark post-apocalyptic world of the End of Days. End of Days really has a bit of everything; there are intense battle scenes, romantic tension, and a terrifyingly dark setting. 

The romance is picked up a bit more than I was expecting, kind of took me by surprise. As far as characters go, End of Days presents the reader with more background on certain angels and gives old characters some shining roles. The family relationship and unique love within Penryn’s family is one of my favorite parts of End of Days. Every family is unique and expresses love in their own way and I believe Susan Ee captured that extremely well. They are each essential characters to the storyline.

The action scenes are intense and violent at times but fit the plot and mood of the book. There are some unexpected turns and surprising situations that kept me on my toes, always guessing.  The only reason I knock off half a star was a certain part of the story I wish had a bit more development (won't mention more, don't want to spoil it!)

End of Days is a high energy, high stakes, page turning conclusion to the series. It did not disappoint. If you have yet to start this series, get on it :) It is unlike any angel book I have ever read and I mean that as a sincere compliment! 

REVIEW: Boundless (Unearthly #3) by Cynthia Hand

Title: Boundless
Series: Unearthly #3
Author: Cynthia Hand
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: January 22nd 2013
Pages: Hardcover, 448 pages
Source: Library

Summary from Goodreads:
The past few years have held more surprises than part-angel Clara Gardner could ever have anticipated. Yet from the dizzying highs of first love, to the agonizing low of losing someone close to her, the one thing she can no longer deny is that she was never meant to live a normal life.

Since discovering the special role she plays among the other angel-bloods, Clara has been determined to protect Tucker Avery from the evil that follows her . . . even if it means breaking both their hearts. Leaving town seems like the best option, so she’s headed back to California - and so is Christian Prescott, the irresistible boy from the vision that started her on this journey in the first place.

As Clara makes her way in a world that is frighteningly new, she discovers that the fallen angel who attacked her is watching her every move. And he’s not the only one. . . . With the battle against the Black Wings looming, Clara knows she must finally fulfill her destiny. But it won’t come without sacrifices and betrayal.

In the riveting finale of the Unearthly series, Clara must decide her fate once and for all.

---

• Boundless tied the whole series together very well.  I was not left wondering and felt satisfied with the way it ended.  
• Christian.  By the end of the book I was just rooting for Christian, not for him to be with Clara since I was definitely Team Tucker there but for him to just be happy.  He is a good guy and a good friend.  The Clara-Christian friendship was one of the favorite relationships in this book.  I felt like the dynamic and nature while dealing with college and crazy angel wars was well developed and realistic.  Their friendship was not forced by any means.  
• The plot took turns I was not expecting, there were a couple curve balls and I liked that.  Some of the craziness with Angela and trust in old enemies were not anticipated.  It kept the story entertaining.  

---

• While I liked the overall conclusion to the series, parts of this book's ending where not my favorite.  Some of it seemed to be a bit stretch, particularly some of the scenes involving Tucker at the end.  
• Some of the characters (Angela) got on my nerves.  Even though I know there is some reasons for her actions/mood her character was not my favorite.  I just wanted the story to move on from it. 
• The love triangle got to be overwhelming.  It might be that I read the first two books a long while ago and I was just not invested to the characters any longer.  I just felt like I had enough of the back and forth.  

---

Boundless was a fast paced, surprising, and happy conclusion to the Unearthly series. The writing is fantastic and it so easy to just delve into the this world filled with part-Angels.  I would not say this book is the best in the series but it did finish the series nicely.
  

REVIEW: World After (Penryn & the End of Days #2) by Susan Ee

Title: World After

Author: Susan Ee

Publisher: Skyscape

Release Date: November 19, 2013

Pages: 315, Paperback
Source: Purchased

Summary from Goodreads:

In this sequel to the bestselling fantasy thriller, Angelfall, the survivors of the angel apocalypse begin to scrape back together what's left of the modern world.

When a group of people capture Penryn's sister Paige, thinking she's a monster, the situation ends in a massacre. Paige disappears. Humans are terrified. Mom is heartbroken.

Penryn drives through the streets of San Francisco looking for Paige. Why are the streets so empty? Where is everybody? Her search leads her into the heart of the angels' secret plans where she catches a glimpse of their motivations, and learns the horrifying extent to which the angels are willing to go.

Meanwhile, Raffe hunts for his wings. Without them, he can't rejoin the angels, can't take his rightful place as one of their leaders. When faced with recapturing his wings or helping Penryn survive, which will he choose?

---

• WHERE DO I START?! How about with Penryn?  Kickass, loyal, capable Penryn. She ROCKS. I didn't mind being in her head at all. She was practical, smart, independent... 


• It's only natural to mention Raffe now. Oh, Raffe. *sigh*. If you keep kicking all the bad guys asses and being sweet on Penryn, I might never be satisfied loving a a mere human again. Stoppit, dammit. 


• But this book is not a romance! Penryn and Raffe have a few tender moments together but they are mostly apart. Oh but when they are together... *swoon*


• THIS BOOK. Describing this book as dark wouldn't be enough because that word is thrown around so casually BUT THIS BOOK IS DARK. It is scary as all hell, and gruesome and violent, and crazy and just all kinds of DARK things. Those scorpion monster things WILL HAUNT ME. Sadly, Paige will haunt me too. *shudders*


• I have to mention Pooky Bear (the archangel sword). I feel like this sword was a character in a way. I love what Susan Ee did with it and the conversation between Raffe and Penryn over the name made me laugh out loud. 

• So you want to hear about plot and pacing and development and what not, don't you? Well that was also SPOT ON Seriously, this book is just one fast-paced, insane ride of awesomesauce. If you haven't started reading this series yet than WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR.

• WAIT I ALMOST FORGOT TO MENTION THE ENDING. It was EPICCCCCC. 

---

---

So if you couldn't decipher my fangirling (I don't blame you), it would be simplest to say that I liked everything and disliked nothing. This is such a well written, exciting book/series that I recommend it highly. I love Angelfall, I loved World After, and I cannot wait to read whatever comes next. 

BLOG TOUR {Review #80 & Giveaway}: The Morning Star by Tania Penn

Title: The Morning Star
Author: Tania Penn
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: January 10th 2013
Pages: Hardcover, 367 pages
Source: Received from the author for an honest review

Summary from Goodreads:
Being the daughter of Lucifer keeps seventeen year old Dawn Belial busy. For almost her entire lifetime, she has been trying to think of a way to free her Archangel mother, Michaela, whom her father has held captive for centuries. She's also attending high school - balancing trigonometry, history, and recruiting souls for her father along with her wicked half-sister, Venus.

There has been no time for love until she meets mysterious Gabriel, a British exchange student. As they fall in love against their will, she discovers a startling secret about him, and a shocking connection to her mother that changes everything.

“In Case you haven’t guessed, my dad is Lucifer, Satan, Beelzebub, the Devil. Or as he likes to be called, Luc. My mom is also an Archangel. The only female one, in fact. Her name is Michaela. And father has kept her imprisoned for more centuries than I care to count.”

Dawn and her succubus sister, Venus are not your average high schoolers; in their free time they help their father out by recruit souls for his army. In a typical Lucifer fashion, their father is trying to take over the Kingdom while keeping Dawn’s mother Michaela locked away. Michaela was locked away because she chose Ramiel over Lucifer and he just couldn’t get over it. While this whole power struggle is going on, Dawn is just trying to live a semi-normal life and date the mysterious but gorgeous Gabriel.

I had no idea what I was really getting into reading The Morning Star but the summary sounded interesting and I enjoy books about Angels so I figured, why not give it a read. I am so glad I did. The angel aspects of the story had interesting twists, like Dawn having a step mother who is a succubus. The characters while a bit stereotypical at times were perfectly developed.  Lucifer, while being a pretty good father and loving his daughter is described as a beautiful, expensive suit wearing dad. Venus is a tight dress wearing, super flirtatious man eater while Dawn is a bit more reserved.  And Gabriel is supposed to be a swoon-worthy British exchange student.  The love-hate relationship between Dawn and her sister was believable and entertaining; Venus was constantly insulting her sister and bantering back and forth. Gabriel and Dawn had a bit of insta-love but it was mixed with a whole lot of drama that made up for it.

My only reservation about the story was sometimes it was a bit slow and the plot was a little predictable. That being said, it did not bother me too much since there were still twists in the story that left me saying WHAAAT just happened here… On a side note: While this did not affect the amount of stars I gave this book, I do wish there was a better cover. It is just so plain and does not encompass the angels and drama or really do the book justice.

Tania Penn did an excellent job of writing a modern day angel story that is blended with traditional angel lore and high school drama. The Morning Star was a 4 star book; just when I thought the plot was getting predictable I was greeted with a nice unexpected twist. I would recommend this story if you enjoyed The Fallen series and are looking for a bit more of an upbeat story. I will be reading the next one in the series!

About the Author:
Author of debut young adult novel, The Morning Star. Currently working on the sequel, Equinox, as well as a chick-lit, rom-com, slightly sleazy and funny story with a twist, Catching Frogs. And, because I'm loco in the roco, I've got about 12 more on the back burner. When I'm not writing I can be found kayaking, hiking, ninja-training, traveling, and taking a ferry over to the San Juan Islands to search for the elusive creature known as the "Orca." I also am constantly adding ridiculous wants, needs, must-see's and do's to my ever expanding bucket book.

I covet a delicious malbec with a rare steak and make a killer salsa.

GOODREADS | BLOG | TWITTER

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Angelfall (Penryn and the End of Days #1) by Susan Ee

Title: Angelfall
Series:  Penryn and the End of Days #1
Author: Susan Ee
Publisher: Feral Dream
Release Date: May 21, 2011
Pages: 283 pages, Paperback
Rating: 5 Stars

Summary from Goodreads:
It’s been six weeks since angels of the apocalypse descended to demolish the modern world. Street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night. When warrior angels fly away with a helpless little girl, her seventeen-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back.

Anything, including making a deal with an enemy angel.

Raffe is a warrior who lies broken and wingless on the street. After eons of fighting his own battles, he finds himself being rescued from a desperate situation by a half-starved teenage girl.

Traveling through a dark and twisted Northern California, they have only each other to rely on for survival. Together, they journey toward the angels’ stronghold in San Francisco where she’ll risk everything to rescue her sister and he’ll put himself at the mercy of his greatest enemies for the chance to be made whole again.

"There's no denying that this is the real deal, though. Men with wings. Angels of the Apocalypse. Supernatural beings who've pulverized the modern world and killed millions, maybe even billions, of people."

Angelfall was 283 pages of GREATNESS! From page 1 the entire book was go go go, full of action.  Penryn, her sister, and mother need to leave and move to safety away, which is not an easy task with dangerous gangs and killer angels around every corner.  The modern world has been destroyed by the angels of the apocalypse, people fear the angels and each other; there is no real safe place to be anymore.  On their quest to safety, Penryn and her family come across a group of angels fighting. While hiding  behind a car they witness an angel, Raffe, have his wings cut off by dark angels, unfortunately those dark angels see them and kidnap Penryn's wheelchair-bound little sister.

Penryn's unstable and mentally ill mother runs off so Penryn is left with no family, only a broken angel.  Penryn decides this angel and his broken wings could be of use to her and help her get her sister back so she forms a partnership with Raffe.  Raffe and Penryn must make it to the arie,  rescue her sister and  have his wings reattached.  Simple....Right? Only some tiny problems: Raffe is on the outs with the angels, humans want to kill angels, and other creatures are on the loose eating humans.

When I started this book I had no idea what I was getting into.  The destroyed world is described so vividly, it was not hard to imagine the destruction and overall despair of the human race.  Susan Ee does not waste a second building the dark world, intense and action-filled plot.

Penryn: I LOVED Penryn.  Every time she got in a fight, I liked her more! Her fighting skills and the way she takes on guys is pure awesome! She is so tough and stubborn yet has a huge soft spot for her family. 

Raffe: He is an angel without wings, just plain broken.  As much as he wants to hate and not care for Penryn he slowly grows to truly care.

Paige and Penryn's mother: Paige is disabled and in a wheelchair while Penryn's mother is insane, she has violent tendencies and paranoia. The uniqueness of the family makes Penryn a stronger person and forces her to run the family, this atypical dynamic enhances the plot. 

Every detail about the character's had significance and played a part in the story. The angel aspects are done wonderfully; the angels are powerful, strong, and dangerous creatures who abide by their own sets of rules and standards.  Raffe and Penryn's dynamic was perfect and their relationship did not take over the story, it was instead a nice addition.  For being on the shorter end of stories there was no lack of detail or action. I LOVED IT!!

Overall, this was easily a 5 star read.  If I had to describe the whole story in one word, it would be intense.  Angellfall has angels (duh!), dystopian/apocalyptic world, war, and a subtle love story. 

A Fractured Light by Jocelyn Davies

Title: A Fractured Light
Author: Jocelyn Davies 
Publisher: Harper Teen
Release Date: 09/25/2012
Pages: 352 Pages
Rating: 3 stars

Summary from Goodreads
When she wakes up in unfamiliar surroundings, Skye knows something terrible has happened to her. It's not until she hears Asher, the dark, rebellious angel she fell in love with, that the memories come flooding back. She tries to put the past behind her, but she knows she'll be forever haunted by the ruthless betrayal that almost took her life.


Skye returns home, but with the knowledge of who she really is, nothing can ever be the same. As she tests the limits of her newfound powers, Skye discovers that she's capable of far more than anyone could have imagined. Both the Order and the Rebellion want her for their side as war between the factions looms. She can't forget the terrifying truth she now knows about the Order, but something holds her back from embracing the Rebellion.

A Fractured Light picks up right after A Beautiful Dark's shocking cliffhanger ending and is perfect for fans of Lauren Kate's Fallen and Becca Fitzpatrick's Hush, Hush saga

 A Fracture Light is the second book in the Beautiful Dark series; the book begins right where A Beautiful Dark leaves off.  Skye wakes up in the cabin with Asher nearby and the constant reminder of how she was betrayed by Devin.  She returns home, trying to harness her new powers and dealing with the complications of disappearing after Cassie’s accident.  Skye seems to have clearly chosen Asher, yet seems to question that decision when Devin is the only person who can help explain her visions. It is not the typical love triangle but close to, with the typical good vs. bad boy dilemmas (Devin being the Guardian angel and Asher being the Rebel angel).   While the book does not have the intense cliffhanger the first book did, it is clearly left without resolution for the third book. 

I was excited for the second installment of the series yet was unfortunately disappointed.  The book had a slow moving pace, I kept reading and reading hoping for something more exciting to happen.  There was more history given about the Guardians and the Rebels which was a plus.   But it seemed like a filler book with a weaker plot, there was nothing really unexpected or captivating.

Overall the book was average, I am hoping the third book really sums up all the loose ends. I was torn between a 2.5 and a 3 but ended up giving A Fractured Light a 3 because even though it was a bit cliche sometimes I liked the love story between Asher and Skye as well as all the angel aspects of the book.