Angel Trilogy - Book 1 - Angel Burn (Angel)

Angel by L.A. Weatherly

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I saw the cover of this one quite a while ago during the latter part of last year and never really felt so intrigued by it that I had to buy it. When I saw it was being re-released I thought I would give it a try and my oh my, did the term "never judge a book by its cover" find literal application here. I got into this book almost from the very beginning and could not stop reading until I finished it at 2 o'clock this morning. I did not even regret it that I had to get up again at 5 for work! Loved it! Just loved it!

SUMMARY

This is not technically a pre-release book, however as it is being re-released I will stick with the blurp from Goodreads. Willow knows she’s different from other girls, and not just because she loves tinkering with cars. Willow has a gift. She can look into the future and know people’s dreams and hopes, their sorrows and regrets, just by touching them. She has no idea where this power comes from. But the assassin, Alex, does. Gorgeous, mysterious Alex knows more about Willow that Willow herself. He knows that her powers link to dark and dangerous forces, and that he’s one of the few humans left who can fight them. When Alex finds himself falling in love with his sworn enemy, he discovers that nothing is as it seems, least of all good and evil. In the first book in an action-packed romantic trilogy, L. A. Weatherly sends listeners on a thrill ride of a road trip – and depicts the human race at the brink of a future as catastrophic as it is deceptively beautiful.

WHAT I LIKED

Hmmm to start with I really enjoyed the premise of this book which had a new way dark and twisted way of portraying angels. If you are a bit touchy about religion (as some of the reviewers I've read comments from are) you might not enjoy this book. I always say though that it really is fiction and you should enjoy it for what it is, not try and relate it to reality and then critisize it because it does not compare with your idea thereof. I also enjoyed Willow and Alex's characters. Their romance did not just spring up out of thin air like most YA romances these days do. Although they felt attraction for each other mainly they gradually grew into that attraction over a couple of weeks and then realised that the attraction had grown into love. It did not even bother me that it happened so quickly as they were in very stressful situations and they were kinda lonely most of their lives. So viola! The perfect recipe for soulmates! I loved the world created by the author and was sitting at the edge of my chair to know what happens next. Although the author used overly descriptive language some times I find this did not bother me as it normally does and I rather enjoyed some of the descriptions (eg a meal's worth of dishes). Although the ending did disappoint me somewhat, foiled plan and all, it has made me incredibly anxious for the next book and I suppose unexpected endings are the best kind. The transitions between the past and the present were smooth and Alex's character in particular became close to my heart for the live that he had lead.

WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE

I saw some comments in other reviews that the sideline characters were not explored in any great detail and I do agree with that. The main characters are pretty much the only focus through the whole story although I do feel that this was intentional as seemingly the whole world is against them and they are on a lone roadtrip across country. This might have been meant to set this scene and have the reader feel their isolation. I would have liked to get to know some of the others better though. I DID NOT like the switches between the first person and third person narration and this was kind of clumsy. That was the reason why there are not four stars for me in this book.

SO WHAT’S THE VERDICT?

A great read that I would actually spend money on even though I do not like the cover. I cannot wait to read the rest of this series and am dying to know what happens next. Two thumbs up!

WHAT'S NEXT

The next book in the Angel Trilogy is Angel Fire which according to Goodreads is set for release on 1 October 2011. I will be counting down the days.

A BIG thank you to Candlewick Press, through Netgalley for providing this book to me for review.

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