If you're a regular reader of the blog, you know that angel books aren't my absolute favorite. This may be because I'm a little sketchy on my angelology -- I spent my entire childhood trying to scheme my way out of Sunday School. The angel series I've enjoyed most so far are the Unearthly series by Cynthia Hand and the Personal Demons series by Lisa Desrochers.
But one of my 2012 reading goals is to read widely, so I recently picked up a brand new batch of angel books. Here's what I read:
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All the main characters in these books have dead parents, family secrets, and tough moral choices to face. But all three books are pretty different, too.
Embrace features an angsty heroine who goes through a lot of emotional twists and turns. There's a love triangle. (Yes, the two hot boys fighting over the heroine kind.) And some pretty steamy scenes, if you like that kind of thing.
Temptation of Angels takes place in Victorian London There's a romantic set-up which edges pretty close to a love triangle. Temptation of Angels also has strong suspense elements, and just a touch of steampunkery
Sweet Evil is the one that took me most by surprise. This book is totally off the wall -- in a good kind of way. Wendy Higgins has a hilarious, edgy sensibility that really comes out in her world building, her dialogue, and her plotting. She twists some of the conventions of the angel genre, and has created a relatable yet flawed heroine and a brooding bad boy that I think a lot of readers will root for.
If you love angel books, then you should definitely check these out. Click on the red titles above to add them to your Goodreads.
Don't have time to read everything?
Don't have time to read everything?
I hear you. I've also made you a handy YA Angel Book Selector Flow Chart. Click on that red text to access it on another page of the blog.
Tell me about your favorite angel books in the comments -- I'm ready for more!
And if you love angel books, be sure to stop in for this week's Freebie Friday. *cough Sweet Evil ARC cough*
I really love angel books but it is hard to find ones I really like though. The Unearthly books are one of my favorites. I didn't really care for Temptation of Angels but I have heard really great things about Sweet Evil and cannot wait for my pre-order to arrive!
ReplyDeleteI read Angelfall and really loved it also. A very different take on an angel book, very sci-fi. :)
Let me know what you think of Sweet Evil!!
DeleteSo it sounds like Sweet Evil is the book for me. Funny because that cover would've probably kept me from considering it. I think I am just over the girl in a prom dress theme. Especially a red, mermaid style prom dress:)
ReplyDeleteI'm fine with those covers if there is actually a moment in the book when the girl is sashaying around in a prom dress.
DeleteThere are some party scenes in Sweet Evil and a Halloween party but I can't recall her wearing a long red dress. There's a New Year's party, but she wears a black dress.
Someone with a better memory needs to help me out on this!
I'm not big on Angel books either typically, but I loved Unearthly and Hallowed. I have heard that Sweet Evil is awesome!! I have Embrace that I won from a fellow blogger, but I don't know when I will get to it. Hopefully soon. I have heard it's a good angel book for the non angel book reading person. lol!!
ReplyDeleteHope you like it!
DeleteOMG!!! JEN! EMBRACE?? I DIE.
ReplyDeleteI FREAKING LOVE LOVE LOVE THAT BOOK!!!
Clearly you like books that sizzle!!!
DeleteI just have to say that your flow chart cracks me up! :) I like angel books off and on. I have high expectations sometimes (depending on my mood and the book) and it seems like these fall short a lot. Anyway, I haven't read A Temptation of Angels or Sweet Evil, but I probably will eventually. I really like the covers. I did really like The Immortal City. It has a very different plot from any of the other angel books that I've read. I also loved Unearthly. I have the second book waiting to be read on my shelf.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed it! I had fun making it; maybe I'll do another one with a different theme!
DeleteI had Embrace to read but had to take it back to the library because I didn't have TIME! Arg! I really, really can't wait to read it. And now that you said that Sweet Evil has a brooding bad bad I am sold! Done! Added to the TBR!
ReplyDeleteEnter my giveaway! Maybe you'll win it!!
DeleteWill do! I love Freebie Friday!
DeleteOn I definitely need to read all three of these books. I am buying Sweet Evil tomorrow as a bday gift and i cant wait!!! I am so dying to read it. I have read so many angel books you don't me to get started lol.
ReplyDeleteI think you'll love it!
DeleteI definitely want to read Sweet Evil and A Tempation of Angels. They look so good! I'm not sure if Embrace is right for me.
ReplyDeleteThey were all such different books -- it was fun for me to read and compare!
DeleteI loooove the Personal Demons trilogy :D I still need to read Original Sin. I'm so bad.
ReplyDeleteI want to read those angel books!
I still need to read Embrace. It's on my bookshelf *sigh* and the other two are on my TBR. I'm really, really looking forward to Sweet Evil though :-) Love the flow chart! That was great :-)
ReplyDeleteI have to think about the angel books I've read and I'll get back to you!
I have a bad habit of saying that "angel books just aren't my thing" when I actually have not read any. I do own Cynthia's series, as well as Temptation of Angels. At one point I will make some time for them. I have heard such great things about Sweet Evil though! I think I may in fact start with that one. Or A Temptation of Angels, I love suspense and am intrigued by the steampunkery! haha Great post Jen! :)
ReplyDeleteI want to read all three of these as well! I'm not the biggest angel book fan but I did love Unearthly!
ReplyDeleteI stay away from any type of fallen angel books. I've read a lot about nephlim and haven't been interested. Guardian angel books I like, but the non-romance ones--I don't know if they exist in YA. I recently bought Radiance by Alison Noel. I don't know if you would classify it as angel, but the MC dies an her job is to help lost souls cross over into the afterlife. I hard good things about it.
ReplyDeleteI have a copy of EMBRACE floating around, but I just can't seem to bring myself to read it. It seems like there are a lot of Angel books around.
ReplyDelete