New Fantasy Books- Angelfall Dazzles
New fantasy books can be a challenge. But no sooner was I into the story then I saw this was not like the dozens of new fantasy books with angels crowding the websites these days. The purple prose of the latest crop of new fantasy books was missing in this one. This gal can write! I was sucked in almost before I turned the first page. Like many new fantasy books I have been seeing, this one has a familiar location. The place is here, probably not too far in the future. It could be tomorrow. The apocalypse has come – in the form of warrior angels. They have descended to Earth with a terrible task – vengeance.
But in the beginning we meet three lonely survivors. Penryn lives in Silicon Valley with her mother and younger sister. They have somehow survived the first days, or maybe even weeks, of the changed world order.
In contrast to many new fantasy books, the characters here are remarkably real. Penryn is the caretaker of a schizophrenic mother and her young sister in a wheelchair. Gangs have taken over the streets, nothing is safe and since things like electricity are touch and go life has gotten much more complicated. Heck – it’s also gotten more dangerous.
The Beginning of the Journey
When Angels take Penryn’s younger sister captive, the journey begins to get her back. Our heroine is plucky in the same way that Buffy is, with that inability to think that she may not succeed. And what can I say about Raffe – our mysterious angel that Penryn nurses back to health after witnessing his wings destroyed.His tough guy ways and sarcastic language are hiding something more vulnerable inside, and we all know it.
But the storyline and even the characters would just be another amongst the recent crop of new fantasy books displaying angels if it weren’t for the amazing writing. Back histories of characters are laid out carefully, without the usual heavy handedness that is so common in many of the new fantasy books these days.
In the end Penryn and Raffe make a journey to San Francisco, Angel HQ, to find her sister. Along the journey, they come to know and understand each other better. Yes, there is romance. What would any new fantasy books be like if they didn’t have romance? But it built slowly from their growing understanding. None of this instant romance for these two!
A Romance that Builds
This is one of those new fantasy books that know where to end the journey as well. We know the characters are moving towards HEA, but luckily it won’t be easy. I have been looking through quite a few of these angel fantasies in the recent bunch of new fantasy books I need to review. Most of them lean heavily on biblical references, but I find it a relief that although there may be some, it is not overwhelming here.
The journey to San Francisco is filled with small heroisms. Like many of the great new fantasy books, the sense of hope smells good. This book could have fallen into the dark and doom trap of so many of the young new fantasy books, especially the new fantasy books that deal with the subject of angels. But the author stays true to her intentions.
This is one great example of the best of the new fantasy books showing up these days. When it comes to great adventure with just enough romance, Angelfall has all the right elements to make a page turner that will keep you glued to the book to the very end.
