Review {24} Angel Burn

AUTHOR: L.A. Weatherly

SERIES: Angel #1 | OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES: Angel Fire #2 Angel Fever #3

PUBLISHED: May 24th 2011 by Candlewick

ACQUIRED: Own

EDITION: Hardcover, 449 pages

CATEGORIES: Young Adult, Angels, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Romance, 3 Star Rating, Angel Series, Candlewick Publishing, Review, Retro Review

RATING: 3.00/5.00 | GOODREADS RATING: 3.98/5.00

WHAT IT'S ABOUT:  They're out for your soul.

And they don't have heaven in mind...

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 than Willow herself does. 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.

MY THOUGHTS: There is a special place in my heart for angels. I love them - good or bad - so when I saw this book I knew I wanted it.  The premise was intriguing in itself as well, and struck me as a unique concept. I was very interested to see Weatherly's take on angels, especially because it had absolutely no mention of religion anywhere in the synopsis, which pleased me as well because a lot of times I want a good angel story without being preached to or bombarded with religious thoughts, ideals, etc.

The story moves quickly enough considering for a decent portion the main characters are holed up in a cabin high in the mountains. What I like is that the beginning gives us a lot of background but does so quickly yet isn't inadequate or rushed at all. I don't have any major problems with the story line other than how fast Willow and Alex's relationship goes from loathe to love. And it's of the gross, mushy, omg get a room variety.

The characters are engaging, again I mention the relationship between Willow and Alex - the love they share does seem sincere, but maybe just a little bit forced. Of course they are also in a position and situation that most teenagers would never be in, so maybe under the circumstances it is understandable. I would've, however; preferred a slower progression into the "I love you's". The other characters were enjoyable as well. Willow's mom, Raziel, Sophie, Aunt Jo and Lailah are all distinguishable and integral to the story. 

Angel Burn follows a recurrent fad in YA books where the chapters are alternating narrative with the main character in the first person POV and then other characters in the third person. I personally love this, and hope that it catches on because I think it makes for a great way to personalize and get to know all of the characters without just the main characters take on everyone. Otherwise, the writing is fine, overuse of adjectives from time to time, but an easy, simple style otherwise.

As far as the ending, I think that it is what it is. There could've been more, but it is sufficient as it is. It definitely left me wanting more - and I've already purchased the sequel!

WHO I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO: Anyone looking for a non-religious (but there is presence of what I'd say is a cult) angel story that fully embraces both good and bad. It's jam-packed with action, mystery, romance, and will keep you on the edge of your seat guessing what'll happen next!

SIMILAR READS: Mercy by Rebecca Lim | Awakened by Ednah Walters | Finding Sky by Joss Stirling | Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton | Fallen Angel by Heather Terrell

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Lee Weatherly has been born in 1967 and grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas, USA. She lives with her husband in Hampshire, England, where she writes, goes on walks, collects frogs and has a cat named Bernard.

L.A. Weatherly is the pseudonym for Lee Weatherly. Another pen name she uses is Titania Woods.

Happy Reading!
Laura