Book Review: Angelfall by Susan Ee

Angelfall (Penryn & The End of Days #1)
by Susan Ee
Release Date: May 21st, 2011
Publisher: Amazon Children's Publishing
Genre: YA Fantasy 
Format: Paperback, 283 pages
Source: Liana
Get a Copy: B&N | Amazon

Goodreads Summary: 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.

Locus Magazine, March 2012 Finalist for Cybils Bloggers Award for Best YA Fantasy & Sci-fi Book of the Year 2011

Cindy's Review: Yep. This one is another one of the Liana recommendations. ;D This book wasn't really as bad as I thought it would be. Yes, it involves angels but there was a plot twist. I was really tired of reading about angels, or half-angelsfor that matter, who fell in love with a human. Although this one does have a similar idea, the whole plot thing is different.

"The sky flames like a bruised mango in vivid orange, red, and purple."
I really like this authors writing. She writes so poetic. And so good. ;D 

Penryn - The story starts at the end of the world, where angels are taking over Earth. Ruling Earth. Killing humans. etc. Penryn always thought angels were evil. She still does. When angels took her sister away, she would do anything to get her back. And that involves getting an angel as captive to give her information. 

"The rosy love I'm supposed to feel for her is slashed with black and splattered with gray."
Another example with how Susan's words are so artistic and beautiful.

......okay. I can feel an unfinished review. As much as I tried to like this book, I just can't get to like angels. They annoy me. Sorry guys. I'm sick and tired of angels, vampires, fairies, and anymore of those fictional supernaturals. I think I might need a break from them.

"Skyline Boulevard abruptly ends at Highway...."
Omg. Does this book take place in California? East Bay? Skyline is where my brother got married. LOL. And it leads to my summer school. hmm. But there's no highway 92 around here. 

Raffe -  Although Raffe does sound pretty hot.....

The rating: (1-10): 8
The storyline and plot wasn't so bad, just angels. UGH. 

Happy Reading~ 

Book Review: Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Hush Hush (Hush Hush #1)
by Becca Fitzpatrick
Release Date: October 19th, 2009
Publisher: Simon & Schuster BFYR
Format: Paperback, 391 pages
Source: John Muir Middle School Library
ISBN: 978-1-4169-8942-4
Get a Copy:
      Barnes and Nobles
      Amazon

Goodreads Summary: 

A SACRED OATH
A FALLEN ANGEL
A FORBIDDEN LOVE

Romance was not part of Nora Grey's plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how hard her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch comes along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Patch draws Nora to him against her better judgment.

But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure whom to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is and seems to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.

For she is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost Nora her life.

A SACRED OATH
A FALLEN ANGEL
A FORBIDDEN LOVE

Romance was not part of Nora Grey's plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how hard her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch comes along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Patch draws Nora to him against her better judgment.

But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure whom to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is and seems to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.

For she is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost Nora her life.

Cindy's Review: I guess I was kind of recommended to read this book. I was recommended by this person I know from school, she's not a book person, but she seems so obsessed with it, I might as well give it a try. And  I really like the author's laslt name, Fitzpatrick. LOL.

The Cover: 

Every time I look at the cover, I remember that my friend had met the author and the guy on the cover. Apparently, he's okay looking and that cute. No problem with me. LOL. I'm not super obsessed with this book.

The Characters:

First, I'll introduce the main character, Nora. Nora is a star student, good girl, with a best friend. Her mom is often of town, working while she stays at home alone. Totally a bad idea. Thou shall never leave a teenage kid at home alone. But I can't say anything, because I'm a teenage kid, whose often alone on the weekends. Also, these whole two weeks because of Christmas Break. Okay. Back on track. Nora was teamed up with Patch, the new transfer guy, for biology and have to deal with his mysterious smiles and attitude.

Patch is really a fallen angel. He decided he fell in love with a human and decided to descend from heaven to become a human. But when he descended, he later got caught by the archangels and got his wings chopped off. Then, he became a fallen angel. 

The Plot:

Fallen angels have the desire to control a human body. To go into their body and take control. But they could only do it for one month each year. A Nephilim named Chauncey was unlucky enough to be Patch's human body during the month. 

Nora is in danger. Someone is trying to kill her. Not once, but multiple times. The only problem? The person who is supposed to be killing her is the one she's falling in love with. And there's more. When her supposed killer starts liking her, Nora finds more killers on her track.

Book Comparison:

I don't really have a specific book in mind. I have a subject in mind. Angels. All books about angels and romance. I can even name some. Unearthly by Cynthia Hand s a particular one I reviewed. But there are a whole lot others (I don't remember the titles.)

Book Ending: 

The ending is quite interesting. Final line: You can never get rid of Patch. I can't wait to read Cresendo. Even though I'm not crazy about this series, I don't reading the sequel. ;)

The Bad: 

This doesn't really belong in the bad list, but sometimes, even though every book is unique, there are just too much repeptitives of angel novels. I'm kind of tired of angel books. All of them have romance. And it's always either a fallen angel or a Nephilim. Either way, I'm not exactly gonna put an angel book as my number one to-be-read book, but it'll still be in my list. You get me? Maybe not. I'm kinda lousy at explaining stuff.

The Good:

Ya know, the uniqueness. No two books are alike, but at least Hush Hush isn't too much alike as the other angel books.

The Rating: (1-10): 7.9

Not a bad book. Good writing and everything. But like I said, I'm tired of angel books. 

Happy Reading and Merry Christmas! Or Happy Holidays (for those who doesn't celebrate Christmas)

Book Review: Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

Unearthly (Unearthly #1)
By Cynthia Hand
Released Date: January 4th, 2011
Publisher: HarperTeen
Format: Paperback, 435 pages
Get a Copy:
          Barnes and Nobles
          Amazon

Goodreads Summary: In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees . . . .

Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy.

Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side.

As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?

Unearthly is a moving tale of love and fate, and the struggle between following the rules and following your heart.

Cindy's Review: Yes, Unearthly is another one of those angel books, but it's unique. You know, in all of those angel books I've read, all angels are boys. Well, officially, all angels are boys. But Nephilims (half-angel, half-human) was also all guys. In Unearthly, the main character is a quarter angel. Her mother was a half-angel, half-human while her dad is a full on human.

The Cover:

Yes, there is a dress in this book, but it's not the most important thing. The dress is quite simple, it doesn't fit in my dress category, but there are other things that have caused me to look at the cover. I've read like purple covers three times in a row, and they are like fully purple too.Not just part. The third book I read that has a purple color (which isn't even out yet) even has the purple color name in its title. 

The Characters:

Clara Gardner learned that she is part angel. Or actually quarter angel. Her mother had been a half-angel. Clara moves to a new school because of the vision she has. Every angel (including part angels) gets their lifetime visions and has to complete it. In this case, Clara's vision is about Christian.

Christian is the most popular boy in the school. I think Clara may be falling in love with him. I really don't like his name though. I totally agree with Clara's younger brother, Jeffrey about the name Christian. LOL. Jeffrey sounds hot btw. I'm so random. So anyways, Clara visions that Christian would be in a forest that is burning down quickly from a forest fire.  

Then there's Tucker. Tucker is Clara's new best friend, Wendy 's brother. Tucker has it bad for Clara. Now Clara is like falling for Tucker. I have nothing against Tucker. I mean, if Clara actually ended up with Tucker, I won't scream, laugh, or cry. So yeah. 

Plot/Concept:

What can I say. it's another one of those angel books with a different concept. There's still the romance, but the girl's actually the angel now. Or is it? Well. I can't spoil it all for you. All I can say is, READ THE BOOK!

The Ending:

Of course, Clara doesn't end up with Tucker or Christian yet. It has to go on a series, so I guess, you can kinda call it a cliffhanger?

Rate: (1-10) 8.6

It was a pretty good read, that had kept me interested throughout the whole book.

Time for Quotes:

"So with my luck, I;ll never make it in time to save the boy in the forest becasue my hair will have snagged on a tree branch a mile back."

LOL. Such crazy hair she has.

"Jeffrey is still in a food coma upstairs."

I like the author's choice of words. Food coma. Lmao.

"That's ironic, because I always thought you were the ugliest of all the angels."

Ouch. Seriously though, he totally deserved that.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Vocabulary: 

I actually got some vocab this time.

1. tranquil

tran·quil/ˈtraNGkwəl/
Adjective:
Free from disturbance; calm: "her tranquil gaze"; "the sea was tranquil"

2. derivative

de·riv·a·tive/diˈrivətiv/
Adjective:
(typically of an artist or work of art) Imitative of the work of another person, and usually disapproved of for that reason.
Noun:
Something that is based on another source.

3. epilepsy

ep·i·lep·sy/ˈepəˌlepsē/

Noun:

A neurological disorder marked by sudden recurrent episodes of sensory disturbance, loss of consciousness, or convulsions, associated...

Synonyms:

falling sickness

4. adequate

ad·e·quate/ˈadikwit/

Adjective:

Satisfactory or acceptable in quality or quantity.

Synonyms:

sufficient - enough - suitable - appropriate - fit

5. delinquent

de·lin·quent/diˈliNGkwənt/

Adjective:

(typically of a young person or that person's behavior) Showing or characterized by a tendency to commit crime, particularly minor crime.

Noun:

A delinquent person: "young delinquents".

6. gyrating

gyratingpresent participle of gy·rate (Verb)

Verb:

Move or cause to move in a circle or spiral, esp. quickly.

Dance in a wild or suggestive manner.

7. cryptic

cryp·tic/ˈkriptik/

Adjective:

Having a meaning that is mysterious or obscure.

(of a crossword) Having difficult clues that indicate the solutions indirectly.

I don't exactly have ten vocab words this time, but I hope you enjoy them. :)

Happy Reading~