Review | Angelfall #1 by Susan Ee

Summary

It's been six weeks since the angels of the apocalypse destroyed the work as we know it. only pockets of humanity remains. Savage street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night. 

When angels fly away with a helpless girl, her seventeen-year-old sister, Penryn will do anything to get her back.

Review

Angelfall... Just WOW! I am speechless. I finished this book 2 days ago and I was so buzzed to write up a review but after finishing it the RIGHT words to describe this book just wouldn't come. THEY WOULDN'T. But here I am with a long college bus journey ahead of me and BAM I am typing up the review. 

The characters were very likable, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it through Penryn point of view, she was a warrior, not through birth like the angel dough-bags - I will come back to this - but she was made through circumstances, because of her family. To protect them she went to any length to ensure their safety. I guess that's why she took the help of an angel - well fallen angel - to save her sister. To save the one she loved the most. She was bad-ass, and damn that fight scene, if you like a kick-ass, sarky, and a "I don't really give a shit about my appearance even though there's a hot guy with me" kind of girl then this is the book for you.  

And then we have the very mysterious and good looking; Raffe. God damn does he have a sarky side to him too. Penryn and Raffe sure have quite a bit in common. He was a awesome sidekick to have, especially when you in a forest and it's pitch black. Why, you ask? Because he can hear things, see in the damn dark, oh and he has as much of a reason to go after the ones who took Penryn's sister. To get his wings sewn back on. OUCH!! Their duo was an amazing read, they knocked heads but got along. They FRICKING went in a disguise in to the damn angel lair. Well Penryn did - no spoilers *zips mouth shut - DAMN!! 

I can only kicking myself for not reading this book sooner. The moment the parcel came, and I was beaming with joy, this is what my sister said "You might want to buy the second book before you read this" THANKS FOR THE INNUENDO, SISTER. Humph. But I brought it, just to be safe and I didn't dare Angelfall UNTIL it came - yup I played it real safe. The story-line was heart breaking, and just full of action. There's not one moment were you're confused or don't even know what's happening phase and I love that in a book. Susan has done a remarkable job with the first book and I cannot wait to start the second novel. I can only hope that Penryn and Raffe meet again. This novel has a bad-ass protagonist who will get what she wants; her family to safety. An angel on a quest to restore his wings but is there more in store for both Penryn an Raffe? Will they be able to defeat those in their path to complete their quest or will they become part of something far more terrifying. Find out. 

Angelfall - Susan Ee 4 Stars 

Review | Those Above #1 by Daniel Polansky

Summary

They enslaved humanity three thousand years ago. Tall, strong, perfect, superhuman and near immortal they rule from their glittering palaces in the eternal city in the centre of the world. They are called Those Above by their subjects. They enforce their will with fire and sword.

Twenty five years ago mankind mustered an army and rose up against them, only to be slaughtered in a terrible battle. Hope died that day, but hatred survived. Whispers of another revolt are beginning to stir in the hearts of the oppressed; a woman, widowed in the war, who has dedicated her life to revenge; the general, the only man to ever defeat one of Those Above in single combat summoned fourth to raise a new legion; and a boy killer who rises from the gutter to lead an uprising in the capital.

Review

Those Above was a very different read for me, I love reading about Empires and times before the 21st Century and one of my all time favourite is Mistress of Rome by Kate Quinn. I can read that book a number of times and still love it. 

Those Above has a number of unique qualities about it, the characters, their past and the build up to what they all want. Throughout this novel we see the perspective of four characters; the God-Killer, Bas. Reverend Mother, Eudokia. Calla of the Red Keep and Thistle, a boy born in poverty but has so much to learn. At certain points of the novel I felt confused because of the alternating views, from Aurelia to the Roost and many others, that's not all, it felts like four novels put into one book. The characters don't meet one another, don't interact and I was waiting to see more of that, yes at times Bas and the Reverend Mother met, but that was only ONE time. The most interesting view points were from Bas and the Reverend Mother, she is totally bad-ass and I love it. Bas, I need more to read about him, every chapter I finished I hoped the next one would be of his, yup I love his character. I see the reason behind having Calla POV, because she is the only one who works for one of the Eternal, one of Those Above, and was needed in this book. Thistle... I did not see the point of him even being in the novel at first, however after 3/4 of the novel we see a change and one that I feel will impact a lot in the second novel.

The first few chapters were mainly focused on who the characters were, their characteristics and their thoughts on everything going on, but we don't know what's going on until a couple of more chapters. The plot line doesn't change, throughout the novel it keeps the same pace and builds up to next to nothing. Though the plot-line doesn't change much, you want to finish it and makes you want the next book because this novel feels like a build up to something much bigger. And I want to know what that is. We see the characters in their own habits but certain event in the last few chapters change that, characters that are merely a supporting one change, turn on the main protagonist.

Daniel Polansky has done a great job at setting the atmosphere, the battlefields, the parties, the Roost and so much more. I felt the change in each perspective to fit the characters whereabouts and I loved that. Each characters had so many different qualities and that brought something to the novel, despite the slow plot-line, I wanted to know what happens to each of them, how they change and react to events. Though this novel is slow-paced and a tad confusing, I hope the second novel has more action and the main protagonists interact more. I for one will be reading the next novel, because who doesn't like a bad-ass Arch-priestess/ Reverend Mother and a Caracal who hates being called that, also known as Bas.

Those Above - Daniel Polansky 3.5 Stars 

Monthly Wrap-up | March 2015

Is it April already? WHAT?!! When did March come and go? Seriously, we are in the fourth month of 2015. However March had gone pretty swiftly, plus it's my birthday month now *WOOP WOOP*. Okay, so far in March I've been literally waiting for the Easter holidays because Netflix. It was also my blogs 1st blogoversary which you can read about here, it was definitely an amazing feeling to have started something awesome and to have met such extraordinary people. 
Throughout February I had read quite a few books and used March to review them. 

Reviews

The Dolls by Kiki Sullivan - 4 Stars  The Catalyst by Helena Coggan - 4 Stars All Fall Down by Ally Carter - 4 Stars
Yup quite the 4 star reviews there *shrugs*
Ninja Book Swap, yup it was that time of year again and it was awesome just like the first one. I absolutely love this idea and the second time round was even more amazing. You can read my all about here and what I got. 
How was March for you? Also what would you like to see more on The Book Chapter. You can comment below or tweet me at @CrazyBookLover_ 
Happy Reading!!!