Review: Angelfall by Susan Ee

Rating: 5
Pages: 255
Publisher: Feral Dream
Series: Penryn & the End of Days
File Under: YA, Apocalyptic, Dystopia, Angels, Badass Heroines, Beautiful Love Story, Badass Heroes, If You Don't Read This We Can't Be Friends, Perfect
Summary from Goodreads:

It’s been six weeks since angels of the apocalypse descended to demolish the modern world. Street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night. When warrior angels fly away with a helpless little girl, her seventeen-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back.

Anything, including making a deal with an enemy angel. 

Raffe is a warrior who lies broken and wingless on the street. After eons of fighting his own battles, he finds himself being rescued from a desperate situation by a half-starved teenage girl. 

Traveling through a dark and twisted Northern California, they have only each other to rely on for survival. Together, they journey toward the angels’ stronghold in San Francisco where she’ll risk everything to rescue her sister and he’ll put himself at the mercy of his greatest enemies for the chance to be made whole again.

I have wanted to read Angelfall for a very long time. But it’s just never happened. Then a friend let me borrow it (along with about 30 other books). I am so glad I got to read it that I am going to buy a physical version for myself.

Excuse me for the not so awesome review. I just love this book and no matter what I say it doesn't give it justice.

General:

I love Penryn’s name.

I enjoy this writing style. It’s short and to the point. It doesn’t take a page to describe a curtain with flowery, useless prose. It gives me exactly what I need and moves on. Plus the pacing is perfect. No dull moments but it's also not obnoxiously action packed. 

The love story. Oh god it’s great! I love the relationship between Raffe and Penryn. It builds. They don’t see each other and fall hopelessly in love. Penryn sees him and realeases she can use him for her benefit. Through getting to know each other they fall for each other. Perfect.

Which brings me to my next point. Penryn is amazing. She is the perfect heroine. She’s a butt kicking survivor that has depth. She is not a shallow pool of a character that we’ve all seen authors turn this type of character into. Reading from her point of view is great too. I typically don’t like first person as many characters’ voices drive me ape shit crazy. But not her. She’s not annoying or stupid. I don’t find myself rolling my eyes or yelling at dumb mistakes like I do with most “badass” heroines. Being in her head was a pleasant reading experience.

Raffe is a great hero. He also isn’t a shallow pool character. He could have also been stereotyped into the cocky smart ass character we have all seen before. But luckily he isn’t and I can’t help but like him and ship the hell out of him and Penryn. 

The ending:

Overall: 

I love this story. It is so addicting. I honestly found it hard to put it down. You have to read this book! I should warn you that some people might find aspects of it very out there. But don’t let that stop you from reading it. It is brilliantly written and exciting. There is never a dull moment. My hat goes off to you Susan.