{Review} Angelfall by Susan Ee
Author: Susan Ee
Publishers: Feral Dream
Pages: 283
Genre: Apocalyptic, Angels
Links: Goodreads | Author's Website | Book Depository
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.
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.
Review
I was not expecting this novel to be so damn kickass! I randomly picked up this novel in my school library just to 'pretend' to read during a reading lesson. Lately I've been feeling very uninspired to read but from page 1 I was hooked. My plan to not read ended up failing!
The apocalypse has begun and who humans once admired as being harbingers of peace, soon changed into messengers of hell. Angels have descended upon earth but not in the way we expected. War has broken out, and humans have to resort to anything just to survive. Even if that means partnering with an enemy angel. Penryn's younger sister has been taken and she will do whatever it takes to get her back.
Susan Ee has created a perfect apocalyptic story-line where you cannot help but be drawn into the war-torn world. It was so awesome reading from the perspective of the main protagonist, Penryn. I swear she is in my top favourite characters because not only was she kick-ass but she had the smarts. She knew how to survive and she had common sense...to an extent. Penryn had a goal and she made sure no one got in the way of her plan, not even a smoking-hot angel. This is so rare in YA now days because main character are always the damsels in distress and they rely on the "overly-attractive" male too much.
An important theme that was present throughout the book was the importance of family. Penryn's mother was a bit on the crazy side (maybe a little more than a bit) but Penryn didn't allow this to deter her from her mission. I think the mother was a really interesting character because it is not often you get a character like this in YA. (It's sort of avoided) Since Penryn was young, her mother had been battling her own "demons". No one knows what exactly she sees but she talks to "them" frequently. Because of her fear of these demons, she enrols Penryn in many self-defence classes which has actually become useful in the situation they find themselves in. I really want to read a novella in the mums perspective as I think it would be really interesting seeing the destroyed world in her eyes.
Susan Ee is an amazing writer. She doesn't shy away from adding graphic detail which I think is important for a novel like this. In so many scenes, I felt like cringing but it made it so much more realistic. I think this book could be translated really well on the movie screen as the whole time I got such vivid imagery of what everything looked like. All I know, is that I never want to be in a situation like this. (Obviously it's an apocalypse!)
To say I was surprised by Angelfall is an understatement. I was greatly surprised and as soon as I finished this novel I bought the first and second one. I cannot wait to begin the next one as I'm sure the next will be even better. If you haven't already read this and you like apocalyptic based novels then you better find the time too. Angelfall has a courageous (and sometimes stupid) protagonist that doesn't let up on the humorous lines. It is action-packed with scenes that get your heart racing, and basically everything you need in a great faced pace novel.
If you missed my last post, click here to see my review for The Maze Runner movie!
About the Author
6 comments
Great to see you loved this one as much as I did Francoise! I love how Penryn wasn't a 'damsel in distress' and the whole book itself was so addictive. Fantastic review :)
ReplyDeleteIt was so addictive! I couldn't put this down. But I'm not sure whether it's because it's my first book in a while after my major books slump.
ReplyDeleteI remember when I first read this one, the first few chapters I was thinking about putting it down. The concept just seemed ridiculous. But luckily I stuck with it and it absolutely blew me away! Her mother was bat crazy, but I loved that it distracted from the main storyline, as it might have become a little too heavy at times. I really need to read book two, which was a preorder and had been sitting on my shelf ever since. Brilliant review poppet, reminds me to pick up the next in the series <3
ReplyDeleteYes I think it would definitely become too heavy. I recently ordered book two so i'm just waiting for that to arrive. As soon as I hear of the 3rd book I'll let you know. Maybe we can do a buddy read.
ReplyDeleteYESS Penryn is definitely a kickass character and I loved her so much! I have read this one twice and I enjoyed it both times, glad to hear you loved it too. World After is awesome as welll, even though there isn't much Raffe in it. HOpe you'll read that one soon!
ReplyDeleteOh no there's no Raffe in it! How will I survive! I really hope this doesn't turn into a love triangle because I can see one forming. You've read it twice, I'm expecting amazing things now!
ReplyDelete