Beloved Purgatory (Fallen Angels, Book 2) by Katherine Pine

     Beloved Purgatory by Katherine Pine
          Kindle Edition: $2.99
          Paperback Edition: Not Available
          Length: approx. 315 pages
          Reading Level: older YA
          Beloved Purgatory on Amazon (opens in a new window)

More cover talk. I really enjoy the change in color scheme from one book to the next. In my mind, the green of the first book represents Oz's importance to Devi, what he can offer, etc. The purple featured on the cover of this book seems to indicate the increased importance of Forneus, especially by the end of the book. It really makes me wonder what the cover of book three will be, when it's released. I'm thinking possibly white or blue, something to indicate Camael? We'll have to wait and see. Allegedly, book 3 is due out this year, so I'm watching Amazon closely.

Beloved Purgatory picks up right where After Eden left off. And I mean RIGHT where it left off. They're still in the car after Devi's encounter with Onoskelis, heading back home. Devi thinks she knows Oz's biggest secret-that she is destined to kill him. She's wrong. And when Forneus taunts her with the promise of not only freeing her father's spirit, but finding Kai, what will she do to protect all that she loves? In book 2, we learn what it truly means for Devi to be without a spirit- and it's more than anyone bargained for.

The second book in the series maintains the momentum of the first, and as more is revealed, more questions arise. Forneus becomes more than just a literal handsome devil-we learn why he truly wanted Devi to stay away from Azazel. It's not just because he doesn't want Oz to die. He really, truly cares for his friend. Both Forneus and Camael become more prominent characters, and each becomes more interesting in his own unique way.

There still isn't technically a love triangle, but there's an interesting dilemma between Devi and Camael that weighs on her relationship with Oz. She has no love for the angel, but his light, the light of Heaven, calls to her in a way she cannot refuse, and each time she falls into it, she feels like she's betrayed Oz, whom she truly loves.

With everything that happens in this book, everything that happened in book one almost feels like exposition. This seems to be where Pine truly wanted to be with her story. She wanted to show that heaven and hell are more than just good and bad. There is no black and white. Forneus is a devil, yes, but is he truly evil? Camael is an Angel, but is he fully good? And Devi is caught between the two, with only Oz on her side. But with his own secrets, she can't be sure. Heaven and hell are in a tug of war for Devi's soul, and in this book we finally find out why. And it's nothing Devi or Oz could've imagined.

Along with all the heavy stuff, there's the added fun of more shape-shifting Oz, Halloween, and pancake shenanigans.

Devi's mom goes from mostly-absentee to almost completely absentee, which should be problematic, but I just couldn't bring myself to care. There is just SO MUCH going on, that the plot flies by.

And yet, it took me over a week to finish this book. I'm not entirely sure why, because I do love it more than the first one. Maybe it's because of the Internet, which is a cruel, distracting mistress. I don't know. So, my reading of book 2 was a little fragmented, which is making this review pretty hard to write. Between that, and the fact that the last thing I want to do is spoil any of the fun, I can only speak in vague terms.

If you read book 1, I highly doubt you'll skip book two. But if your feelings on After Eden were a little ambivalent, I really recommend giving book two a shot. It has all the best parts of the first one, and few of the lackluster parts. And the ending of this one even feels like an ending! Which is probably why we're still waiting on the third installment-it wasn't written yet.

Book 2 will make you eager for more, and then you'll be stuck in the waiting game, just like me.

-Kayla
   

After Eden (Fallen Angels, Book 1) by Katherine Pine

     After Eden by Katherine Pine
          Kindle Edition: $0.99
          Paperback Edition: Not Available
          Length: approx. 319 pages
          Reading Level: older YA
          After Eden on Amazon (opens in a new window)

Let's talk about the cover for a sec. I can't decide how I feel about it. On the one hand, it's beautiful; simple and clean, no frills. On the other, it also seems...amateur? I'm not sure that's the word I'm looking for, but there's something about it that indicates it's not from a major publisher. Thoughts?

Devi knows something that most humans don't. Angels are real. She knows this, because six years ago, she watched one take away her twin brother. Every day, she's haunted by the heavenly glow that took Kai away, and the memory that she didn't do anything to save the person she loves most. Still, despite knowing about Angels, she never dreamed that there were demons, too. Until she meets one, and everything she thought she knew is turned upside down.

After Eden is the debut from author Katherine Pine. As of right now, she has two books published, the other one being the sequel, which I will review in the next post. In the blurb, I describe this as an older YA reading level. Near the end, the story does get rather violent, which certainly lends itself to the rating. But, as Devi is a fan of romance novels, there is a LOT of innuendo. Some is more blatant than others, but the innuendo and sexuality is usually in reference to the romance novels, not between Devi and her love interest, Oz. This book was one of the first in a slew of "theological romance" (as I have dubbed them) novels that I've purchased. There seems to be a trend in indie novels right now to write about Angels, Fallen Angels, etc. Mainstream novels still seem to be firmly entrenched in the dystopia/sci-fi realm, which is fine by me. Maybe the indie trend is a harbinger of what is to come? Anyway...

This is one of those books that I totally forgot I even had until I went back through my Kindle history. So, because I forgot it even existed, naturally I forgot how much I enjoyed it. I absolutely FLEW through it. I started reading it right after I wrote the review for Eden and I nearly finished it that night. But then I stopped, because, y'know, sleep is important. So I finished it within the next day or two. Yes, it's short, fine. But it's also a gripping read, one that keeps the pages turning. And the quotability, oh my! While Eden was quotable in a philosophical way, After Eden is quotable because it's just funny. Yeah, it waxes philosophical sometimes, because of all the theology that's thrown at the reader, but Oz is just funny. Again, yay for Kindle pre-highlighting the best quotes for me.

Unlike many other books where a central part of the plot is romance, there is no triangle to be had here. It's just Devi and Oz, only having eyes for each other. If there's a third wheel, it's Oz's precocious cat, Princess. No, really. Unfortunately, this novel, like so many other supernatural romances, has one of my pet peeves: the characters fall madly in love in no time flat. I mean, I get it. There are supernatural forces at work. Great. But I don't buy it. The only time I buy short-term LOVE is in Kresley Cole's Immortals After Dark series, because she gives explicit (and I do mean explicit) reasoning for it.So, in this book, when Oz and Devi are hopelessly devoted after hours, much less days, it kind of makes me question things. This isn't to say, however, that the relationship is without its issues. Trust me when I say that there are PLENTY of issues for Devi and Oz to contend with, and they just pile up as the story moves on.

The writing, in terms of descriptions especially, is beautiful. Everything in the story, from the town to the characters, are described in breathtaking detail. Even better: not once is Oz referred to as an Adonis. I also applaud Ms. Pine on the cultural diversity that is apparent in the story. Devi is part Indian (from India; not Native American) and so we actually have an explanation for her black hair, other than the author thinks it makes the heroine mysterious. Devi's best friend, Kim, is Asian, so readers are given a head start in imagining her features. And Oz is...well, he's otherworldly. I especially love the descriptions of his eyes, because they are varied and interesting and give a great picture. My favorite is the use of "malachite" because it is so incredibly apt.

At times the characters (namely Devi) are believable, and yet other times they seem almost schizophrenic. While I understand that there is a LOT happening in their lives, what with life-or-death, end-of-the-world scenarios happening, the mood swings are insane. One minute, Oz and Devi are bantering, sharing sexy innuendo, whatever, and the next, one of them is crying or distant or pissed. Reasons are given, yes, but they don't always seem justified to me. That's not to say they are NEVER justified, but sometimes it seems to be out of left field. I wouldn't say, however, that the characters, Devi included, are dynamic. But they aren't necessarily static, either. Maybe the transformation will be more apparent by the end of the series, but right now, everyone seems to be carrying on more or less the same way they always have. There are enough small variations, however, to keep them from falling flat.

Stories about Fallen Angels are tricky. Or, really, any story that is in any way theological in nature. There is a LOT of background that needs to be given. Genesis, the Fall, Heaven, Hell, Life, the Universe, and Everything. It's a lot of information. And, at times, this story does fall into the trap of getting preachy. I'm sure it's not intentional, but it happens. But After Eden has an ace up its sleeve with Oz. He is so human, but yet so otherworldly. And hearing his story, it doesn't go overboard with the whole "God is Good" thing. In fact, there is definitely some resentment. As a reader, I totally empathized with Oz. We are always told that "life isn't fair," but it's never been more true than in the case of Pine's demons. And what a departure from standard-fare demons they are! These aren't necessarily disfigured beasts; in fact, they're quite tragic, even before their curse is revealed. These guys (and girls) just can't catch a break.

Like many YA novels, this one is told from a first person point of view. Devi is an interesting narrator, because, as a reader, I feel that I picked up on a lot of things that she missed. Which kind of creates a situational irony, where you're just begging for Devi to get it already.

The grammar is pretty solid, with only a few issues here and there, like homophones and wayward apostrophes. They become a little more numerous near the end of the story, which I find interesting and makes me wonder if she was just rushing or something wacky. The formatting of the story is fine, with no memorable issues. And, something I truly appreciated from an indie novel, the chapters were navigable on Kindle, meaning I could skip from one chapter to the next without having to page through if necessary.

I really enjoy most aspects of this book. Oz is a totally swoon-worthy romantic lead, and yet so tragic. Devi is an interesting narrator. And the other characters, the ones I can't reveal... They offer major transformations for the other characters in a hugely important way. The pacing is steady, and I never feel torn between wanting more main plot vs. romantic plot. My hands-down biggest issue with the book is the end. It feels unfinished. Yes, there is a sequel, but the way it happens almost feels as though books one and two were written in one fell swoop, and Pine decided that this was the most convenient place to split the two. So, there is no real resolution, the book just kind of...ends.

For 99 cents, this book is definitely worth a buy, and, of course, a read. It needs a bit of housekeeping before it could become a "big house" published book, but it is still enjoyable. It's witty, a little sexy, there's suspense, and an ethereal quality that makes it something...new. So go for it. After Eden, read After Eden.



(see what I did there?)


Happy reading!

-Kayla

Eden by Keary Taylor

     Eden by Keary Taylor
          Kindle Edition: $3.99
          Paperback Edition: $13.00 (new)
          Length: 422 pages
          Reading Level: YA
          Eden on Amazon (opens in a new window)

Before I delve into the land of synopsis and review, take a moment to look at that cover. LOOK AT IT. Isn't it terrible and beautiful, like Galadriel when she goes all bonkers when she was offered the Ring? (Yes, yes it is.) This is really exceptional cover art for an "indie" book, I must say.

The world has ended. Or, it might as well have. When a cure for pretty much everything goes horribly awry, humans are transformed into the Cybernetic fallen with nothing more than a single touch. In Eden, 30-some survivors live in fear of the fallen. Eve is one of these survivors-found when she was a young teen, naked, bloody, but unharmed. Now she is one of the main guardians of the group. Eve has always felt a little distanced from everyone else, but she's always attributed it to her lack of memories from before the Fall. Post apocalyptic life is all she's ever known. But things start to change when refugees make their way to Eden.


Eden is Keary Taylor's first book (to the best of my knowledge) outside her Fall of Angels series, which I will be reviewing at a later date. It's pretty firmly YA, with the more adult elements coming from violence rather than sensuality, though there is a major romance plot/subplot. When I bought this book, I was on a huge dystopia kick, and it did not disappoint.

Have you ever re-read a book and had a completely different experience with it? Noticing new things, altered feelings about events, etc? This book is a great example of that for me. When I finished it the first time, for example, I thought Eve made the wrong decision regarding the Epic Love Triangle (to be discussed later). This time around, I actually saw and cataloged all the hints to why she made the decision she did, and I was happier for it. I love it when books have a high re-readability. And great quotes. There are certainly some good ones in this story, and yay for Kindle, because it pre-highlights the popular ones!

So, the Epic Love Triangle. Holy crap, you guys. Edward and Jacob have NOTHING on West and Avian. Gun to my head, I wouldn't know who to pick. Considering the refugees show up relatively early in the book, the Epic Love Triangle develops slowly but steadily. Even, dare I say it, naturally. Each man has his perks and drawbacks, and Eve feels something for both of them, but the feelings are different. Which, let's face it, is totally true to life. Some reviewers on Amazon feel that the Epic Love Triangle is a little overblown. Or a lot overblown. Now, while I see where they are coming from, I have to disagree. The reasoning becomes clearer at the end of the book, when all things are said and done. Or, at least, the reasoning makes more sense after the Big Reveal. (Trust me, these capital letters are completely necessary.) And hey, most YA stories have a love triangle (epic or not) because if there's a romance element, it's generally more interesting to have complications of some sort.

Eve starts off kind of obnoxious, I'll admit. I mean, she's not whiny like some other female protagonists, like one whose book I've already mentioned in a roundabout way, but she's just... different. Again, this makes sense after the Big Reveal, but for the first portion of the book, at least until the refugees show up if not longer, she's really hard to relate to. Like I said before, she's distanced from humanity, and you can really feel the disparity in the early parts of the book. But oh, God, is she a dynamic character.(Quick English Lit lesson- dynamic characters develop, change somehow. Static characters are constant, never changing. Usually it's secondary characters that are static, but not always [i.e., the aforementioned not-mentioned book]) The Eve from the beginning of the novel is so vastly different from the Eve in the final moments, they're hardly recognizable as the same person. The other major characters, and Epic Love Triangle members, West and Avian, are also dynamic, though the transformation isn't quite as noticeable than Eve's. There are some great secondary characters, too, like Sarah, who isn't there enough for my taste. I liked her a lot, for how little she was there.

When I first told my fiancee about this book, he completely dismissed it because of the premise. Viral pandemic? Sure, no problem. Cybernetic infection? No way. But here's the thing- it's fiction. Taylor wasn't trying to get to science-y with it, throwing facts in left and right to later disregard them (a la Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Write in the comments if you'd like an explanation). She wanted to give a new twist on an old, familiar theme. Never mind the fact that a timeline isn't fully established, so we, as readers, have no way of knowing exactly how far in the future these events are. So, yeah. It's a little far fetched that after a single touch people become homicidal robots. It's very Borg-esque. But it's not the how, or even the why of the infection that matters. It's how the people deal with the aftermath. It's not the cybernetic condition that is compelling, it's the human one.

As far as the mechanics of the story goes... Except for one chapter near the end, the entire novel is from Eve's perspective. Which is kind of great, after the Big Reveal. (There's so much more I could say about so many of these topics, but I don't want to spoil anything. Maybe if I get readers here, I could do a book club or Q&A or something. I dunno.) The chapter that isn't Eve is from an omniscient third person, and gives interesting insights into other characters. I would like to read a version of this book from those perspectives, too.

The grammar and formatting is solid, only a handful of errors throughout the manuscript. Most of them seemed to come at the end, which is probably in part from Taylor's excitement to finish the novel. I imagine I'll have the same problem when I get to that point in mine.

I'm a huge fan of this book. The characters and the plot are interesting, and it's nice to read something with no supernatural influence. I won't call this a quick read, though it isn't complicated. 422 pages is, after all, nothing to sneeze at. But if you get as immersed in stories as I do, it will feel much quicker than it is. I'm hoping that it's only a matter of time until this story gets picked up by a major publisher, like HarperCollins or an equivalent. I truly feel this book is worthy of widespread reading.

So, please, read this book. I hope you love it. I really do. I hope it makes you think, makes you wonder, "What would I do? How would I survive? Could I be anything like Eve?" If it does, I'm glad. If not, I'd like to hear your opinion. I'm always eager to debate.

It's only 4 bucks, so really, you have no excuse.

Read, and enjoy.

-Kayla

Destined by Jessie Harrell

   

     Destined by Jessie Harrell
          Kindle Edition: $2.99
          Paperback Edition: $9.99 (new)
          Length: 370 pages
          Reading Level: YA
          Destined on Amazon (opens in a new window)


The long and short of it: Psyche is chosen by Aphrodite to be her ceremonial daughter, as Helen of Troy once was. To avoid previous mistakes (cough, Helen, cough) Aphrodite arranges a marriage between her "daughter" Psyche and her son, Eros (known as Cupid in Roman myth). Naturally, they hate each other. Psyche refuses the marriage, as does Eros. Aphrodite is insulted, and leaves Psyche to her own devices. She then tells Eros that, for the slight, he is to use his arrows to make Psyche fall in love with someone wretched. He has a much harder time with his task than he thought he was, as he manages to rationalize each potential terrible husband away. Eventually he makes a decision, and approaches Psyche, where he finds her sobbing on a bench after being passed over for marriage in favor of her sister. He whispers her name to his arrow, preparing to shoot, and then he scratches himself with the tip, thus cursing himself.

What follows is the turbulent story of how they try to get their "happily ever after," all the while evading Aphrodite, suitors, jealous sisters, and numerous other obstacles.


Destined is a YA romance-type debut novel by author Jessie Harrell. It's a bit different from most things I'll be reviewing on the blog, so I figured it would be a good introduction to everything. In this novel, the reader is given a modern re-imagining of the Greek tale of Eros and Psyche. Eros and Psyche on Wikipedia (opens in a new window)

Unlike many other Greek re-tellings or re-imaginings or anything else, Harrell attempts to keep the subject matter current, yet true to its roots by keeping the timeline the same, but updating the language style. So, while the characters are, in fact, living in Ancient Greece, the language is like that of any other modern novel. This can be either a blessing or curse, depending on personal opinion. It adds an element of depth and intrigue to the story, however, there is also the risk of the reader losing immersion in the story by some anachronistic phrases.

For the record, I love Greek mythology. I'm a nerd, and I feel that our life could be much more entertaining, if not interesting, if we still gave credence to these beliefs. So I went into this story, strangely enough NOT knowing the source material, but accepting this story as a reasonable telling of events.

As with any other reboot, re-telling, re-imagining, whatever you want to call it, there are bound to be discrepancies between the original source. And there are. Most of them can be easily ignored, such as the number of sisters, the nature of curses, etc. I did not find these to be problematic, largely because, again, I was unfamiliar with the source text. I did, however, have a problem with the mix of Greek and Roman names for various deities. They are all fairly solidly Greek, but I was confused when the goddess Ceres was mentioned. This is because Ceres is the Roman name. Had Harrell used the Greek variation, Demeter, I would have been more familiar. This seems such a small thing, but as someone who is familiar with much Greco-Roman mythology, it is a point of contention. For me, anyway.

The manuscript itself is very clean, with few grammatical errors. The dialog is...interesting. At times it seems typical of a mythology-styled novel. It isn't chock full of "thy" or "thou" or any of that craziness, but the grammar is very proper, and contractions are few and far between. Other times, though, particularly with Psyche and her friend Alexa, the dialog is strikingly modern. As mentioned earlier, while I applaud the attempt of Harrell to inject something contemporary into an old tale, when juxtaposed with the proper, borderline archaic language, it can be a little jarring.

The narration style is interesting, as it switches between first and third person with regularity. When the narrative follows Psyche, it is in a first person perspective, so the modern dialog  fits in rather seamlessly. Conversely, when Eros is the "narrator" the tone becomes that of a limited omniscient third person. Each chapter is prefaced by the name of the character being followed, and they switch as frequently as every other chapter. This difference in narrative style is extremely helpful in the event that one overlooks the chapter heading, as it offers a distinct difference. I, of course, would never skip such a thing. (cough)

Overall, Destined is a quick, fun, quirky read that can be, dare I say it, educational and informative, given the appearances of multiple deities. While I don't see this novel being on the NY Times bestsellers list anytime soon, it is still a valiant debut by Harrell. There is clearly a wealth of talent here, and I look forward to reading future works by this author.

If you like Greek mythology at all, in any way shape or form, give this book a read, and think about how interesting our lives could be if we attributed a different deity to each aspect of daily life.

-Kayla