Melanie Nilles

I'm going to preface this review with a trigger warning for drugging and rape. It's something that needs to be said before someone reads this book and my review and have it bring up horrible memories.

Honestly I wanted to like this book more, but where the author took this book is just... wrong. If you think this book is about Raea, you'd be wrong and that is where most of the fault lies.

Nilles builds Raea up to be a strong character and about 70% into the book.. yeah. So much for that.

We show more find out that she is drugged and then raped by Pallin. While rape isn't a forbidden subject, the way it's handled here is merely to get ELIS bothered. Depowering not only Raea, but making her an object to further Elis's motivations. As this is the catalyst for him to start the ending of the book. It's Elis that get's mad and doesn't listen to Raea, Elis that goes to the motel and Elis that begins the fight with Pallin. Actually this book is about Elis it seems.

But "OH" you say "She finishes it!" That doesn't make up for the fact that she was rendered a 'damsel in distress', 'Elis's "property" that was soiled that he had to fight the honor of', and even is the 'hostage' at the very end. Because really, Elis going after Pallin like that just makes Raea nothing but property, like he owns her. "I have to hurt Pallin because he did that to MY lover/girlfriend/mate."

Another thing is that these angel people are supposed to be SOOOO technologically advanced, yet they fall into the standard gender dichotomies. Nilles writes "he needed the touch of a female," (dehumanizing language) "just as any man did." That wasn't written from the character's perspective either. Also, some of the "any man" out there that I know of prefer the touch of a another man. So these scifi angel people haven't seemed to advance that far yet either.

Overall the book wasn't written badly, however where the book decided to take itself was into territory that it would have been better off just not going there. It could have easily ended that same way without the things happening at the end that seemed to steer the car off the road into "Don't-Go-Thereville" show less

Unfortunately, I could not get into this book. I did not feel anything for the characters. They weren't fleshed out enough to feel real or invoke any kind of emotion from me. The love between Ayali and Draga seemed particularly hollow. I could believe that they were good friends and could perhaps become best friends with a close brother/sister bond, but I could not see them as a couple. Their relationship was very passionless and I felt no chemistry between them throughout the entirety of show more the novel.

I think I could have liked this book better if it had been told solely from Ayali's point of view instead of switching off between her and Draga. Ayali was the one character that I thought I could care about, and if I could have gotten to know her a little better (say, if it was told in first person) I'm sure I could have enjoyed the book much more (I liked her mother, Nori too but she was a pretty minor character).

Ultimately though, I do not think this book is for me. I don't typically read this specific genre with dragons and tribes and such (that's more my brother's thing). However, if I ever come across a copy of Nilles' Starfire Angels I'll definitely pick it up. That series sounds like it's more up my alley.

*I received my copy from Goodreads giveaways. show less

Let me start off by saying this, if you liked Hush, Hush then I think you would like this one. If you hated Hush, Hush I think you would LOVE this one. I didn't hate Hush, Hush but I had mixed feelings about it. This one gave me no mixed feelings. I completely and totally adored it!

I'm not even sure about how to describe it. You think it's paranormal at first but it's more of a sci-fi story. I'll say this much though...I adored it. Melanie's writing style is excellent and she draws you in show more with her fast-paced story development.

The characters are great and a very "real" bunch of teenagers. There are surprises at every turn and the storyline was unique. I really recommend this one to YA and "fallen angel" fans as I think you'll find something totally different and intriquing in this book. show less

This book started out slow for me. I actually thought about putting it down at 50% but I continued pushing my way thru it. It did improve but it was a bit late in the book and not enough. I think my issues were with the characters. They needed much more development for the reader to care. Plus, I didn't like Raea much. She was too weak. I like stronger heroines who fight for what they want or need. She was more willing to stand back and let the boys fight for her. I doubt I will read more of show more this series. show less