Chris White (4)

Airel is the type of character I would have loved to have as a high school friend. The thing I loved most about her was her quirky sense of humor. I was shy and backward in high school and someone like Airel would have helped me out of my shell. Why do I say this? As a teacher, I have two very close friends I work with. Both of them are quite a bit like Airel in the humor department. Since working with them, I have come out of my shell quite a bit. Airel has a typical teen life along with show more her best friend Kim, until… Yes you knew there had to be an “until” in there. Michael Alexander is the new boy at school. Airel has already had one “run in” with him. It is obvious as you read that these two will become a couple. You would think that he would choose the most popular girl in school instead of Airel. His reasons for choosing her becomes clear as the story progresses.

The setting to this story is unique. The reason is that it is actually two stories in one. The first setting is the modern day setting in Boise, Idaho with Airel. Then we venture into 1250 B.C. Arabia and meet Kreios, a fallen angel. Although there are two stories told here they flow together smoothly and all connections are made as needed. The reader doesn’t get lost along the way. The suspense is heightened because of this type of story line.

I was surprised by how much I really, really liked this book. I have not jumped on the whole “fallen angel” bandwagon, just as I didn’t jump on all of the vampire stories that came out after Twilight. This is not your typical fallen angel story. It is one that has left me breathlessly waiting for the next one in the series. Hurry up please!!! It is also one that I will purchase in physical form as I was sent an e-book from the publisher. I am so glad they contacted me so that I can recommend this to my friends and my students. I have been hearing through the blogosphere that people are in love with the cover so they can’t wait to read the book. I actually read the description and accepted the review copy before I saw the gorgeous cover. I am glad that it happened this way. I was doubly blessed with finding a book that was as beautiful on the inside as it was on the outside. This is a must read if you are going to read any book this coming year. I have to say, the two “male” authors captured the essence of a teenage girl quite believably. This is what will sell it not only to teens, but also to adults who love to read YA. Well done!!! show less

I guess I don't even have to mention it because everyone already has... NOPE!! I will anyways!!
I can't help but to express my gushing on the book cover. The cover is totally GORGEOUS!! And at first, it will be the main reason you purchase the novel and after the first few chapters you'll feel glad that you did, and in the end you'll be gushing over the cover even more because it really plays well into the story.

In Airel, there are 2 stories being told; the point of view of Airel the lead show more character, a teenage girl who is coming of age and is still in High School, and Kreios one of The Fallen, a warrior, a grief-stricken husband, a loving father,....and a killer? (you have to find that out for yourself) ^_^

The story is slow at first which can be bewildering and has the tendency of having you feeling lost. But it then builds up its momentum and the two (becomes three towards the middle) stories really come together.
What stood out the most for me was that I really love the style of writing. There were beautiful metaphors, the story is well detailed to the point of feeling as if your seeing the story unfold before you and is emotionally grasping.
If your reading this review prior to reading Airel, to reduce confusion, keep in mind that Airel's point of view is on the present, and Kreios is in the past (a prequel to what's to come later on as your read).
The 2 stories come out as unrelated to each other but will eventually correlate and have you feeling like you should have predicted that, but didn't. =) It was a cool "Ah Ha!" moment. I enjoyed how unpredictable the story is.
From the written hands of 2 male authors for a story based on the female POV, Aaron & Chris did an astonishing job. They still have me tripping over as to how great their written work is.

Note to self: must read their other novels.
You will understand more clearly once you've read Airel. I'm having a hard time putting it in words. A novel that has me stammering for words on its credibility per se.

Close to the end the two stories will merge together into the present.
The ending WILL pull on your heart strings. I cried on and off throughout the novel, and as to how the authors chose to end Airel (Book 1) was just perfect. A cliffhanger, but not too bad that it would have you yelling out "What! That's it!?" LOL I cant wait for Book 2.
I've read many stories on young adult (YA) love and Airel deserves to be among the best. It will have your heart feeling as if it's on the edge of a cliff.

I am definitely re-reading Airel once it comes out as a physical copy. I made the mistake of reading on and not writing down some truly stunning quotes.

Question yourself:

Does love really have its boundaries?

Can love truly be as strong as they say, that even God and The All Evil not even matter?

Could you go against EVERYTHING you know, to forfeit your LIFE for that someone...without the certainty of its future?

-Even the Immortals are put to the question by their own hearts.-

A Must Read!!
Special Thanks to Author Aaron Patterson for allowing me to do a Read & Review of Airel!! show less

First of all, I have GOT to say what a GORGEOUS cover this book has!!! I fell in love with it and truly judged this book by it's cover! Both the cover and the book itself is worthy of so much praise. Now, with that out of my system, what can I say about this book with out giving away the plot? These male authors have taken a wonderful plot line, amazingly created characters full of fantabulous personalities, and whipped up an incredible story that readers, young and old, will fall in love show more with!!!

Airel is a gorgeous character. Not just because her character becomes more beautiful, but because of her story. It is one of a coming of age story, and I loved Airel's telling of it. She tells it in modern day teenage version and then she tells it through an ancient telling of fallen angels and love. I truly found this particular way of telling her story to be so incredibly down. Both parts of the story weave together in a perfect fit, and capture the reader, mind, body and soul.

I am happy to say that this novel is one of my favorites of it's kind. I never thought I could read a novel like this and be so swept away! I am always willing to try new books, but I usually steer clear of this kind of novel. Not anymore! Not when I can be so engrossed into the character's story, like I was with the beautiful Airel, that before I know, it's over. I kept turning the pages , wanting to, no-NEEDING, to know what was going to happen next.

As you can see, I am trying my best to tell you that you MUST get this 5 star (beyond 5 hundred stars!) novel by incredibly talented guys, WITHOUT giving away the entire story! This is a perfect novel for your young read-a-holic this summer. Not only will they fall in love with the cover, but they will fall in love with Airel, Michael and Kreios. A mix of love, history, fallen angels, and a whole lotta of amazing reading, this book and it's ending will leave you absolutely HUNGRY for more work from Chris and Aaron! I can't wait! show less

It was certainly a very interesting book, and had a lot of potential. I liked Airel. She had a very lively personality and seemed very likable from the start. Her comments and thoughts were at times, funny and witty. Plus the mystery behind the murder with Airel stuck in the middle was also quite interesting as well.

So, for me, the first third of the book was pretty good. Then we hit the parts taking place way back in ancient history in Arabia. Ok, I was able to read this. At first it was show more very awkward, but trying to find the connection was difficult as not many clues were given and you’re wondering what the heck does this have to do with Airel in the first place. I didn’t mind reading about Kreios. It certainly had a really good historical fantasy feel to it. There’s plenty of action in this part, but I can’t help but feel that sometimes it was a bit dry, and dragged through.

Then Airel meets Michael Alexander. They do seem to make a cute couple but their feelings between them just seem so artificial and you often stop and wonder if teens really act that way when they’re going out. From other young adult books I’ve read, Airel and Michael just don’t fit that mold. They just seem a little, well too perfect, and cliche. Although Michael does seem to be every girl’s dream come true for a boyfriend, there’s just something so robotic about him and you think to yourself; ‘wait a minute, guys don’t act like that!’ so even though it might have been nice to read about a couple that may act totally out of the norm, at least give it some realistic edges a bit, it just can’t be all rosy and lovey dovey all the time they’re together.

The ending took me by surprise, and thought it was a very interesting twist. However I just felt that to get to that great ending, I had to read through endless pages of plot that just did not sit well with me. It was a bit dry, and at times I thought, just a bit preachy when it came to learning where Airel was really from.

I think I’ll pass on this series. I felt bogged down by reading this and was forcing myself to finish. Although the ending felt like a great reward to putting up with the hundreds of pages of rather dry plot, I think although it had great ideas and plot elements, the whole putting it together could have been much better. show less