Synopsis: This book is aimed at older teenagers (New Adults) and adults. All characters depicted in this work of fiction are 18 years of age or older. When Devlin arrives late for the birth of Eloise O'Conner, he can't believe his best friend has taken over his position as her guardian angel. Though Devlin pleads with him to hand the child's guardianship back over to him, Nathaniel refuses.
The two guardian angels have been friends for thousands of years, but after seeing how vulnerable and sick the baby is, Nathaniel isn't willing to risk her life with a tardy, irresponsible angel. Devlin's new obsession with fallen angels and sexy women seem to be affecting his judgement and Nathaniel believes he'll be too distracted to guard Eloise. Outraged, Devlin accuses Nathaniel of betrayal and threatens to take Eloise back, with or without his approval.
Review:
"But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face." - The Book of Job, 1:11
The fantastically titled Fallen Angel is a story of mid-length that introduces us to three principle characters. Nathaniel and Devlin, who are two angels in the stewardship of the Archangel Michael. There's also Eloise, a young girl they are supposed to protect. Indeed, after a friendship that has lasted thousands of years, this girl is the catalyst that threatens to break the friendship apart.
An angel is supposed to advise, guide, protect. But what happens when an angel's feelings are compromised to the extent that he has feelings for the one he is supposed to protect? Add to this the question of rogue elements within the other angel (I'll let you find out who) and well...all Hell is literally about to be let loose.
I really enjoyed this story. There were a couple of things that niggled me, but perhaps this was a good way to display the characters quirks. For example, Nathaniel and Devlin engage is some rather bratty talk, more akin to being irksome teenagers than superior-than-thou angels. They use some mild bad language too. The more I got into the story, I began to understand why they were created this way by the author. For me, angels perhaps speak more regally and grandiose, but this is my imagine, and not my book. So I applaud the author for taking the more untravelled route with her characters.
I really loved the descriptions of the respective angel's powers. You could literally feel what it was like to be whisked at super-speed into the air. The threat of having an angel's wings burned off for any infraction was real and realised - the author literally put me in their place and that was an uncomfortable place to be.
At times, I wondered what kind of genre this book would fit. Sometimes it felt like a children's story, at others, very New Adult. It crosses genres like fantasy, paranormal romance and thriller.
Some of the best books I have ever read defy genre - and this is perhaps one of them.
I really loved the descriptions of the respective angel's powers. You could literally feel what it was like to be whisked at super-speed into the air.
Despite its relatively short length, there is a lot going on here. The soul searching that the angels literally do is brilliantly done in a long (but never overlong) seen where the soul - not just the life of Eloise is in peril.
For me, the introduction of Eloise is where the story really starts. She adds a dangerous component to the story (through no fault of her own, I might add) and it makes for an engaging read.
Fallen Angel is a prequel that feels like a full length novel. It is perfectly paced and is a great introduction to this author's works.
4.5 stars.
