Series: Angel, Book One
Publisher: Usborne
Format: Paperback
Published: 1st October 2010
Number of Pages: 506
Book: Bought
Genre:Urban Fantasy, Dark Romance, Paranormal, Romance, Magic, Thriller, Suspense, Action-Adventure, YA
Recommended Age: 12+
Contains:Swearing, Violence, Alcohol References
No Drug References
Author's Site: L.A. Weatherly
Willow knows she’s different from other girls. And not just because she loves tinkering around with cars. Willow has a gift. She can look into people’s futures, know their dreams, their hopes and their regrets, just by touching them. She has no idea where she gets this power from…
But Alex does. Gorgeous, mysterious Alex knows Willow’s secret and is on a mission to stop her. The dark forces within Willow make her dangerous – and irresistible. In spite of himself, Alex finds he is falling in love with his sworn enemy.
Utterly intoxicating and deeply compelling, Angel is an epic tale of love, destiny and sacrifice.
Review:"I work for the CIA," [Alex] grimaced. "Or worked, probably. My job was to hunt down and destroy angels. I was told that you're one. And instead you're..." He trailed off, eyebrows lowering. "Like nothing I've ever seen before…”
Alex's whole life has been about hunting, ever since his mother died. She was killed, actually. By angels. Yep, you heard right: angels killed his mother and now he's an AK (Angel Killer).
Because angels aren't like they are in the bible. They aren't pure and they aren't good and they aren't loving. They are monsters, plain and simple. In fact, the only good kind of angel is a dead angel.
Which is why Alex is so confused when he's sent to kill Willow.
Willow's life is almost as... unique as Alex's: not only is she obsessed with all things car related, not only is her mother trapped in her own world and completely withdrawn, Willow is psychic. She has a gift - can see people's thoughts, futures and feelings whenever she touches their hand.
This is how she first sees an angel. She knows they are wrong, evil, bad; knows the truth, just like Alex. Well, at least she thought she did...
So when he turns up to kill her and learns what she really is, starts to fall for her, Alex is torn. He is literally falling for the enemy, whether she knows what she is or not...And all the while, the angel invasion is about to explode - big time...
It's taken me forever to get to Angel. I really don't know why: it's so up my alley! I mean angels and hunters and crazy psycho angel freaks who try to kill you. How could a girl resist? And yet I did. For so, so long. And God am I ticked off at myself for that! Angel was such a brilliant book - fast-paced, addictive, exciting and so bleeping awesome! I just zoomed through it, gobbling it all up as fast as I possibly could. Oh, how I loved it! Gimme Angel Fire - like, stat!
Alex. Oh how I love him! Cute hunters are always a favourite of mine, thanks to Supernatural and the Winchester brothers. The hot guys in Buffy's Scooby Gang don't hurt either! But I'm talking about Alex now. Alex was so, so sweet - hard as nails, kickass, but so sweet and caring too. I absolutely loved him to pieces!
I loved Willow too, obviously. Not as much, of course, but I did love her! Willow was a brilliant heroine: strong, tough but caring and warm and loving. She was also really, really quirky and odd - "Queen Weird" indeed! And I loved her uniqueness - I do love lead girls who don't conform!
And the relationship between Alex and Willow? Oh, I loved it! The way it was so tense and chemistry-fuelled to begin with, as they kept each other at arms-length. And then the way they grew closer: so, so cute and sweet! And so real too - so believable. And they were just so perfect together: they completed each other, totally corny as that sounds. Plus their banter was hilarious! At times though... well, it was so sickly it felt like I was drinking Coke with added sugar through strawberry laces and liquorice. Don't get me wrong, I love them together. It's just... a little less sickliness? A little less cheese? Maybe please?The other characters? Just as freaking amazing! I mean, even the bad guys - even the angels - were totally real. I mean, I hated their guts, but they were all real.
I loved loved loved the writing! How we had so many amazing different POVs: Willow's in first person, and then Alex and even some angels' in third. The way it jumped could confuse people to begin with and throw them off, but I absolutely loved it to pieces. I mean, I'm a huge huge fan of split perspectives, so this book was like my dream come true. I loved that I could get into everyone's heads. Alex was the one I was especially intrigued by, though. Not cause I love him or anything, of course...
The plot? So cool! It was so fast and suspenseful and exciting! There was action non-stop - well, apart from the desert thing, where much of afore-mentioned sickliness occurred. Also, some of the things I saw coming. But none the less, this book and this plot was totally addictive - I was racing towards the end, desperate to know what would happen. The ending, while pretty explosive, wasn't the huge face down I think I was expecting. But it still left me desperate for more and that's all you really want isn't it?
Besides, OMG, the angel stuff in this book were so freaking kickass! So very very different! I mean, the idea of angels being bad, feeding and poisoning humans? Of their world dying so they came here? Of a band of assassins known as Angel Killers? Of all the aura chakra things? Just ohmifreakinggod!! So totally awesome it's untrue! One of the coolest angel myth stuff out there! I mean, check this extract out…!
"When an angel feeds off someone, the effect is toxic," he said. "One of the things that happens is that the person perceives the angel as wonderful and kind. Another is that it damages them in some way - causes some sort of disease, or mental illness. MS, cancer, whatever. The more the person's energy is drained, the more severe it usually is." pg197
Squee!
So yes. Angel wasn't perfect. But it was amazing. It was totally addictive and great fun and awesome. And man I loved it. And I am absolutely freaking desperate for Angel Fire. As in, if I don’t get it, like, yesterday I’m gonna go crazy!
Star Rating:
4 Out of 5
4 Out of 5
Read this book if you liked:
Fated by Sarah Anderson
Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
Fallen by Lauren Kate
Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
Fallen Angels by Katherine Pine
Challenges It's Taking Part In:
Happy Reading
Megan