Raziel

3.5 STARS!

Review provided by Black Lagoon Reviews:

The Fallen: Raziel, the first installement in Kristina Douglas's The Fallen series, is a wonderful paranormal romance that has a lot of potential. Filled with romance, action, and a highly developed mythos, this novel proves to be a complex new spin on the currently popular fallen angel trope.

I must admit, that after reading the first chapter I was utterly hooked. Douglas's writing style is so wonderfully descriptive it set the scene of Allie's demise with such cinematography that I could literally see it unfolding in my mind. Though, at the beginning, I must admit that I was quite hesitant about the altering first person point of views switching between Raziel and Allie, but the show more execution was perfectly done. Instead of being confusing, the voice of the characters blending beyond the point of recognition, I was pleased to find that the voices instead were quite distinct and that each characters' perspective offered a differing and enlightening insight into the situation. In truth, Douglas's ability to delve inside the minds of her characters and give the reader the sensation of actually tagging along within their thoughts was a unique and enjoyable experience. The seemingly random flow of thoughts and feelings offered up so many ways in which to entangle the readers in the world of Sheol and the battle between the Fallen and the Nephilim. These conflicting POV's also served wonderfully in building the hesitant, unwanted connection between the two characters, developing it in such a way that the simmering connection was an endearing cause for suspense and drama.

The characters themselves were extremely interesting. Allie is a strong and very determined woman use to being in control of her life and adapting to any situation. The fact that she is drawn into a situation prophesied by her zealot mother, only adding to her anger and outrage at being held prisoner in a situation she barely understands with creatures she thought couldn't possibly exist. She's truly a firecracker though with her snarky need to antagonize Raziel, it definitely created an amusing 'survival' tactic that I often had to smirk at. Raziel too was an extremely interesting character; his insight into the history of the Fallen and how they came to be cast from above was enthralling. The altered perception of Lucifer as a hope rather then the ruler of the Underworld was a nice twist of pre-established belief that I can't wait to see further explored. However, while his past may be a point of interest the stoic demeanor he tries to wrap around himself leaves him a bit cold throughout the novel. He spends most of his time brooding and fighting his connection to Allie interested in....well, not much. He mainly occupies his time by searching for the Morning Star as a means of overthrowing Uriel, and ferrying souls to the Otherside. And brooding...did I mention that? But, despite his lack of emotions, I found him to be quite a complex character. Beneath the veneer he tries desperately to clutch at his emotions are still extremely evident in his actions, whether he chooses to accept it or not. In fact, the pairing of these two polar opposites added a lovely friction to the tale, sparking life into an otherwise lifeless Raziel and giving a place to belong to Allie who never really fit anywhere in life.

The complex new mythos that Douglas created for this novel helped to round out the wonderfully developed world to perfection. The vampiric attributes to the Fallen and the zombie like need of the Nephilim added a wonderful twist that was unusual and enjoyable. I was also quite entranced by the settings that the author conjured for Sheol, the simple atmosphere wonderfully detailed and articulated. The sense of being shrouded in mist in a place within the world but seperate from it was perfectly realized.

Yet, while I liked the novel there was still so much about it fell a little flat for me starting with Uriel. He's a mysterious enemy that never really shows up, the stories of his wrath and hatred of pretty much all things never really adding up to much else besides just that, stories. His plans for the Fallen and Allie are very ambiguous throughout, the question of if he actually knew Allie was Raziel's intended mate is up for debate. Like so much else, the actual depth of his involvement in her being assigned to Raziel to be disposed of and Raziel's realization that Uriel was harshly condemning souls to Hell, it just all leaves a lot of questions that were never answered. Personally, I like my villians to actually be present in the novel. But, instead we get a zealot minion to wreak his havoc for him...and as far as villains went, this novel definitely lacked in that department as well. In truth, I was a little disappointed when the story finally climaxed to reveal the traitor because it was so anti-climatic. The battle to defeat the traitor a half hearted attempt on both the side of good and evil. (I really don't want to spoil the novel, so I'll leave it at that.) My other issue was that after Raziel finally came to accept his bond with Allie, he was still so distant. The emotional quality, in both of them really, seemed to lack despite the obvious connection. As far as romance novels go, I definitely like to see my hero and my heroine have a little more passion in them. The somewhat blasé attitudes were a little off putting.

In the end, this was definitely a good start to a new series that holds a lot of potential for future novels. And it definitely offered up a little bit of everything one could want in a novel: romance, epic battles, and a huge freaking cliff hanger that makes you want to scream. And really, what more is there?

Note: Novel provided by the publisher via GalleyGrab show less

It has happened again. And with a book, I picked up at the library simply on cover value alone (I mean, look at that... yum, right?) I had my first book binge in a while. I sat down with the book expecting to read a few chapters and ended up devouring every last detail, word, and imagery painted by the masterful Kristina Douglas in a matter of hours. Why was I so intrigued?

Raziel is unlike many of the angel books out there today, most of which are young adults. This is completely an ADULT read. This story is weaved from biblical studies and turned into this complete fantasy world that doesn't come off too preachy (hard to do with most biblical based books). In Douglas's world, the Fallen are not the demons that most religions deem them show more as, instead they are merely angels who fell in love with human women and fell from grace because they followed their heart. Instead of heaven being ruled by a mighty but forgiving God, God has handed the reins down to a patsy named Uriel, who has twisted all the lessons and teachings of the mighty ruler into a corruption. Everyone, even those with meager sins, are hell bound for their grievances. The tale as old as time of power corrupting even the seemingly incorruptible.

Enter Allie. Allie an Old Testament murder mystery writer is killed and then sentenced to hell. Raziel is the Fallen angel presented with the task to transport her to her eternal resting place, so to speak. Upon realizing that Allie was to be sent to hell and not heaven, Raziel risks his own life to save her. This is the catalyst that starts the whole downward spiral of the Fallen.

Allie is brought back to the Fallen's compound to await judgment on what to do with her and in her time there she must face the realization that all the things she wrote in her fictional writings was more true than she would have thought. Also, she struggles to fight a confusing and intense connection with the dark and brooding Raziel. In many instances, Raziel was almost too harsh with Allie. Instances where Allie rallied behind anger and stubbornness, I would have curled up in a ball sobbing and asking "why are you being so mean to me?!" I actually found myself crying at certain things Raziel said to Allie in his resistance of her.

The tug-and-pull of their relationship coupled with the impending Nephilim attacks and the evil Uriel biding his time and spinning his wheels to bring an end to the Fallen, Raziel was a whirl wind of action, romance, wit, and even some comedy. It was a surprise to me, how elegantly written it was and how well the biblical facts flowed with the fantasy world. I could not put this book down and I cannot wait to get my hands on the sequel even though I have a feeling it will be a love story of a different Fallen (as so many paranormal romance series are) instead of a continuation of Allie and Raziel's complicated relationship. Either way, I have my coffee poured, the pillows of my reading area fluffed, and I am ready to dive into the fantastical world of the Fallen once more!

Review Posted on: http://www.ladybugliterature.blogspot.com show less

After I finish a book, I usually write the review immediately, pouring all my thoughts out onto the page. With this book I finished and then had to sleep on it before I could write anything down. Now that I am sitting here typing it, I am still not sure how I feel about it. There were a lot of elements to the book that were different from other paranormal romance titles I have read and I am not sure if I like them.

For example, in paranormal romance the perspecive usually goes back and forth between the lead male and female role but remains in the third person. In Raziel the alternative views were told from the first person. It was a little confusing at times and I did not like having to double check who’s perspective I was seeing the show more world from at any given time.

Another problem for me was the romance itself. It was slow building, which did not bother me, but by the time the two characters actually give into what they are feeling things seemed to progress a little too quickly. By the end of the novel, I was not even really sure Raziel was truly in love with Allie and I don’t know if she felt it from him either. They were bonded, but I did not feel any more than that. I think if we did not have to wait until page 200 to see characters explore their emotions further then they could have developed a relationship a little more naturally.

One more thing, the women The Fallen fall in love with are human, so they grow old and die eventually. Then after a period of mourning The Fallen usually fall in love again eventually. I am just not sure how well that idea sits with me, it probably should not irk me but it does. I know happily ever afters aren’t always in the cards, but in this world it definitely isn’t. Especially if you are the human mate of a Fallen angel. I am not sure how content I would be if I were one of those women and therefore that aspect of the book bugged me a little.

The story itelf does have a lot of potential and I am intrigued by the world. I did enjoy this book, but I am still a little hesitant as to whether or not I will enjoy the series as a whole. The next book is called Demon and comes out later this year. I am going to give it a shot and read it, hoping to be more captivated by The Fallen and the world they live in. show less

Quick & Dirty: Well written with a solid plot, Ms. Douglas delivers a unique world with an unforgiving villain and chilling danger.

Opening Sentence: I am Raziel, one of the twenty fallen angels spoken of by Enoch in the old books.

The Review:

Raziel is a fallen angel. Cursed by God, he doesn’t have many options. Raziel serves Uriel by escorting the dead to their final destination: heaven or hell. Unfortunately, Allie’s number has been punched. Raziel sets out on just another delivery assignment when he realizes that something isn’t right. Not wanting to mistakenly condemn her to hell, Raziel pulls Allie back from the deadly and fiery abyss. He never expected to feel a connection between them, let alone expose his fellow fallen show more brethren to danger. Raziel battles to save Allie from the forces of darkness and figure out her role in the fate of the Fallen.

I’m actually surprised that I ended up liking this book as much as I did. The beginning grabbed my attention, but the pacing of the story dragged for the first half of the book. Kristina Douglas (aka Anne Stuart) crafted a story with just enough of an edge to standout in the increasingly crowded fallen angel genre. Raziel is the first story that I’ve read in awhile where I didn’t really know what to expect from the characters. In this case, I think it worked well with the character and story development. Ms. Douglas masterfully delivers a few twists and turns, witty dialogue and sizzling sexual tension.

The story is told in first person with alternating POVs between Raziel and Allie. Not every author is successful in pulling this off, but Ms. Douglas did an excellent job. While I had a hard time connecting with Raziel’s character, I still felt he added a lot of depth to the story. On the one hand Raziel was very cold and dispassionate about his circumstance, yet he cared very much about human life and his fellow fallen angels. Even with his detached demeanor, I liked his character. His behavior and actions felt plausible. Raziel and Allie are very stubborn, unyielding and principled, so it’s little wonder that it took some time for them to really click. A few elements of the story aren’t perfect, but there’s no denying the captivating story of these fallen angels.

Allie is one of those characters that you either love or hate. For me it was the latter because I found her extremely annoying. She has some redeemable qualities that allowed me to warm up to her towards the end, but what I initially thought was cute about her in the beginning quickly wore off. I also had to suspend disbelief about the emotional connection she was supposed to have with Raziel. I think in some sort of twisted and accidental way, their relationship developed an intimate and possessive vibe, but it never really translated into emotion for me.

In addition to the writing, the worldbuilding and mythology are well crafted. The Nephilim are flesh eating monsters created by Uriel, driven solely to follow his every whim and command. I don’t want to give too much away, but the battle between Uriel and the Fallen is certainly intriguing.

Overall, Raziel is an enjoyable read. With vivid descriptions, intrigue, fearless and devastatingly handsome fallen angels, you won’t regret falling to this dark and dangerous world. The excellent writing will keep readers turning pages long into the night.

Notable Scene:

The Nephilim rose up over me, so close I could see the maggots living in its skin, and the smell of blood and death was enough to make me gag. If I was lucky, it would rip off my head – it would be quick, rather than having my stomach and intestines clawed out – and I wondered if I could get away, run far enough up the stairs to jump, as I’d promised Raziel.

The creature had a hideous open hole for a mouth, and the double sets of teeth were jagged, sharklike, made for tearing flesh, and I wasn’t going to scream, I wasn’t, even when it reached me. Its hands were deformed, more like pincers, razored and bloody, and I slashed at it, blindly, severing one of them. It didn’t react, coming closer, and its remaining claw made a horrible clacking sound. I clutched the sword, prepared to fight to the death.

The Fallen Series:

1. Raziel

2. Demon

FTC Advisory: Simon & Schuster provided me with a copy of Raziel. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. In addition, I don’t receive affiliate fees for anything purchased via links from my site. show less

This book was awful! I couldn't stand either one of the leading characters. She was vain and selfish while he was supposed to be powerful and broody but came off as obstinate and boorish.
I get so annoyed with authors who try to do the "I lust after her but I don't want to get hurt again" thing. It's overused and tedious to read.
I skipped page after page of Allegra and Raziel arguing.
And the vampiric angel thing has also been overdone.
The only thing that kept me reading besides the fact that I'm desperate for a new series, was that Allie had some humorous thoughts on her situation like how she thought of the wives of the fallen blood sucking angels as the Stepford Wives.
I'd say don't bother reading this. It bites.

Raziel (Fallen (Pocket Books)) Raziel By Kristina Douglas was much better than I had expected. I usually don't have much luck with books about angels, with the exception of Angelfall and now Raziel, apparently winged hotties are just not my thing. There were some elements of this book that reminded me of Angelfall which I LOVED, and which initially drew my interest in reading this book. Raziel is definitely for adults and has some pretty detailed erotic scenes which I was so happy to find were not overdone and cheesy as in so many adult books (I thought they were actually quite well done). The main character, Allie's new and uncomfortable shoes distract her to the point that she doesn't notice the huge bus bearing down on her until it show more is too late and she finds herself standing next to what must be an angel? demon? vampire? He informs her that she is dead and he is there to escort her to heaven. This doesn't work out exactly the way Raziel, her fallen angel escort, has planned, however, and now he has to explain to the other Fallen why he has brought this human woman to Sheol to live among them. Allie would like an explanation about this as well because she's not really sure what she's doing living among these terrifying, grumpy, gorgeous creatures but she's fairly certain she doesn't quite fit in. Meanwhile, the Nephilim are at the gates and if they break through, it will certainly be a bloodbath. While there were some parts that were almost painfully slow, Raziel was still an satisfyingly entertaining read. I guess I like my angels to be more the dark, apocalyptic, dangerous type instead of all goodness and light. The background of the Fallen and their ongoing conflict with Uriel and search for Lucifer was original and one of the most interesting parts of the story. I'm looking forward to learning where the author takes it in the sequel because the ending left a lot of unanswered questions. This is certainly a series I'd recommend for fans of the genre. show less

Raziel (Fallen (Pocket Books)) Raziel By Kristina Douglas was much better than I had expected. I usually don't have much luck with books about angels, with the exception of Angelfall and now Raziel, apparently winged hotties are just not my thing. There were some elements of this book that reminded me of Angelfall which I LOVED, and which initially drew my interest in reading this book. Raziel is definitely for adults and has some pretty detailed erotic scenes which I was so happy to find were not overdone and cheesy as in so many adult books (I thought they were actually quite well done). The main character, Allie's new and uncomfortable shoes distract her to the point that she doesn't notice the huge bus bearing down on her until it show more is too late and she finds herself standing next to what must be an angel? demon? vampire? He informs her that she is dead and he is there to escort her to heaven. This doesn't work out exactly the way Raziel, her fallen angel escort, has planned, however, and now he has to explain to the other Fallen why he has brought this human woman to Sheol to live among them. Allie would like an explanation about this as well because she's not really sure what she's doing living among these terrifying, grumpy, gorgeous creatures but she's fairly certain she doesn't quite fit in. Meanwhile, the Nephilim are at the gates and if they break through, it will certainly be a bloodbath. While there were some parts that were almost painfully slow, Raziel was still an satisfyingly entertaining read. I guess I like my angels to be more the dark, apocalyptic, dangerous type instead of all goodness and light. The background of the Fallen and their ongoing conflict with Uriel and search for Lucifer was original and one of the most interesting parts of the story. I'm looking forward to learning where the author takes it in the sequel because the ending left a lot of unanswered questions. This is certainly a series I'd recommend for fans of the genre. show less