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| Image credit: shannondittemore.com |
Title: Angel Eyes
Author: Shannon Dittemore
Series: Angel Eyes Trilogy, Book One.
My Rating: 4.5/5
Book Description:
Brielle went to the city to chase her dreams and found tragedy instead. She’s come home to shabby little Stratus, Oregon, to live with her grief and her guilt . . . and the incredible, numbing cold she can’t seem to shake.
Jake’s the new guy at school. The boy next door with burning hands and an unbelievable gift that targets him for corruption.
Something more than fate has brought them together. An evil bigger than both of them lurks in the shadows nearby, hiding in plain sight. Two angels stand guard, unsure what’s going to happen. And a beauty brighter than Jake or Brielle has ever seen is calling them to join the battle in a realm where all human choices begin.
A realm that only angels and demons—and Brielle—can perceive.
My Thoughts:
Angel and Demon novels seem to be in demand right now, particularly in the young adult genre. While it's not normally the type of novel I would pick up of an afternoon I was struck with the beautiful cover of Angel Eyes and was absolutely blown away with this little gem of a book.
As the chapters in the book switch between the characters, both humans, angels and demons the reader is able to get a glimpse of the story-line from all possible angles something I haven't seen so beautifully controlled since reading Frank Peretti's works. The dark themes that run through the novel are carefully handled and rather than feeling disturbed after setting the book down I felt oddly released? If that is the right word.
Dittemore's characterisation, the way she allowed you into Brielle's thoughts, to experience first-hand her breakdowns, her emotions, her fears and her absolute typical human reactions (I really love it when a character reacts in a way and you sit there thinking 'Yep, good girl/boy I would have done the same thing') were brilliant. I am not typically fond of novels written in first person but I really thought Dittemore used it to her advantage.
Considering I haven't read any other YA novels in this vein before I am not sure how Angel Eyes stacks up when pitted against others. Having said that one thing I will mention is that the 'angels' in Angel Eyes are in fact 'angels' as apposed to some of the other popular novels which tend towards the 'nephilim' or 'halflings'.
If you're frequenting the YA section of the library, interested in jumping into the fantasy genre or have been looking for a Christian spin on the currently popular topic of angels and demons I highly suggest Angel Eyes. I will definitely be passing it onto my sister as I await book two to arrive in the mail.
As the chapters in the book switch between the characters, both humans, angels and demons the reader is able to get a glimpse of the story-line from all possible angles something I haven't seen so beautifully controlled since reading Frank Peretti's works. The dark themes that run through the novel are carefully handled and rather than feeling disturbed after setting the book down I felt oddly released? If that is the right word.
Dittemore's characterisation, the way she allowed you into Brielle's thoughts, to experience first-hand her breakdowns, her emotions, her fears and her absolute typical human reactions (I really love it when a character reacts in a way and you sit there thinking 'Yep, good girl/boy I would have done the same thing') were brilliant. I am not typically fond of novels written in first person but I really thought Dittemore used it to her advantage.
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| Apology? Hello! But his mouth closes, and he pulls his hand away. With his index finger he carves a single word into the misty fog his hand left behind: Sorry. It's backwards, of course. -Angel Eyes, page 17. |
Considering I haven't read any other YA novels in this vein before I am not sure how Angel Eyes stacks up when pitted against others. Having said that one thing I will mention is that the 'angels' in Angel Eyes are in fact 'angels' as apposed to some of the other popular novels which tend towards the 'nephilim' or 'halflings'.
If you're frequenting the YA section of the library, interested in jumping into the fantasy genre or have been looking for a Christian spin on the currently popular topic of angels and demons I highly suggest Angel Eyes. I will definitely be passing it onto my sister as I await book two to arrive in the mail.
