Naomis Gift (Angel Eyes Book 1)

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Her year-old daughter Jocelyn is caught "fighting," and Margot convinces Jos to demonstrate her power on her. In Jacksonville, Florida, a year-old orphan named Allie practices her power at the cemetery and when good and ready, returns home to exact revenge on her sexually abusive foster father, a pastor. Following a voice she hears in her head, Allie hits the road. Allie bought a sleeping bag early on from Goodwill. It smells but she airs it out every morning and it hasn't rained hard yet.

She's been enjoying the journey, though her belly is empty most of the time and her feet are sore. There have been mornings she's woken just past dawn and seen the hard, bright edges of the trees and path drawn fresh by the morning sun and felt the light glittering in her lungs and she's been glad to be there. Once, there was a gray fox that kept pace with her for three days, walking a few arm lengths away, never coming close enough to touch but never drifting too far away either, except to take a rat once, returning with the body soft in her mouth and the blood on her muzzle.

Allie said to the voice: Is she a sign? And the voice said: Keep on trucking, girl. While Allie takes refuge in a Catholic convent along with a growing number of runaway girls cast out of their homes for their power, Roxy Monke--whose father is feared crime lord Bernie Monke--goes on a raid for retribution in her mother's murder and demonstrates her considerable talent for stopping the hearts of her enemies. After CNN calls Tunde and offers to buy his videos, he drops out of school and heads to Riyadh, where right place and right time turns out to be a riot of tens of thousands of Saudi women he films marching through the city, without their male escorts.

Worldwide fame ensues and Tunde promotes himself to documentarian of the new world order. One year later, women have taken cities in the Third World. Teenage girls have shown an ability to awaken the power in older women. Mayor Cleary promotes a policy of abstinence--just don't do it--among girls but unknown to her constituents, sneaks out at night to develop her own power. The Mayor has big plans. So does Allie, who goes by the name "Eve" at the convent and shown an ability to heal misfit girls who haven't learned how to channel their energy.

Picking and choosing the stories of the Bible that apply to women's liberation or power, she begins to preach a realigned gospel, and heal, earning the name "Mother Eve. She drafts Roxy as her top soldier in time to repel a raid by law enforcement. When a woman is beaten and jailed by the police, Mother Eve leads a march to the police station that draws tens of thousands of women ready to kill or die at Mother Eve's command.

Donations pour in from around the world. Back in the States, a blogger known as UrbanDox grows followers. The great change in the tide of things has been good for UrbanDox. He'd been blogging his mean-spirited, semi-literate, bigoted, angry rhetoric for years but, recently, more and more people--men and, indeed, some women--have started to listen.

He'd denied over and over again being tied to the violent splinter groups that have bombed shopping malls and public parks in half a dozen states now. But, if he's not linked to them, they like to link themselves to him. One of the recent accurate bomb threats contained simply an address, a time and the web address of UrbanDox's latest screed on the Coming Gender War. Everything good about The Power occurs in the first third of the book.

As a new matriarchy sweeps the globe, Alderman imagines repressive regimes felled, sex trafficking eradicated and boys warned not to leave the house alone and never after dark. Religious doctrines recalibrate along myths featuring divine women. What Would Happen If Women Took Over is not a theme I'd seen explored in a big new novel and the dread and unease as this new order develops generates tension in the early going.

Angel Eyes

While I was reminded of The Twilight Zone throughout the first third of the book, Alderman slips and falls when faced with the task of expanding her uncanny twists into a novel. The most fully developed character is the only male--Tunde--who finds his human rights assailed in Bessapara and his work appropriated by an ex-girlfriend. The young Nigerian self-taught war correspondent is also at the center of the most satisfying action in the story. Alderman's female characters are archetypes--the avenging angel, the ambitious senator, the gangster's daughter—acting out plots.

Alderman doesn't have the capacity to introduce compelling characters or invest the reader in their fates, the way Stephen King can. It was hugely disappointing to see the conceit of a female dominated planet--where men scramble for equal rights--devolve into a routine smackdown of religious cults, drug traffickers and a civil war in a fake country right out of The A-Team. I was bored by all of the international intrigue and felt the best option might've been a short story centered on a runaway like Allie making her way across a country slipping into a new order.

The Power isn't a bad novel, but it just wasn't the story I wanted to see. View all 40 comments. Nov 30, jessica rated it liked it. View all 14 comments. I think I'm going to give up on literary awards. The plot sounded so intriguing. Young girls around the world began developing 'the power', or essentially being able to shoot lightning from their palms.

This discovery leads to a great event known as The Cataclysm, after which women become the dominant sex in society. It's fairly classic speculative fiction territory. However, what may have done quite well as I think I'm going to give up on literary awards. However, what may have done quite well as a classic half-hour Twilight Zone episode is here stretched out into a page novel. My personal favourite character was Margot, a woman running for election before the Cataclysm.

As great as Margot was, that did not make up for the fact that she was possibly the only character who I actually warmed to in this novel. Many of the other characters particularly Allie and Roxy just seemed to meld together in my mind and I had trouble trying to separate all of the threads. However, all of these reservations seem moot when one asks the question: The book seems to switch between Young Adult to international thriller to literary fiction in as little time as the turn of a page.

It reads like several very different books stitched together. I will admit that since this won the Bailey's Prize I was expecting something more along the lines of Atwood's literary dystopias but instead I was given a Twister board of genres being spun by Suzanne Collins.

Much like Withnail's famed exclamation that he and Marwood had gone on holidays by accident, I seemed to be reading The Hunger Games by accident. However, what do I know?

My edition came with a whole second cover behind the first cover just absolutely plastered in praise. In fact, every blank space on this book is populated by a glowing review or a showy tagline. I applaud the publicity team behind it, they really went above and beyond. However, I was left feeling bored by this novel. The plot isn't very compelling, which was demonstrated by my unwillingness to pick up this novel again whenever I put it down. However I did power through - an effort which I now view as somewhat pointless.

This isn't a one-star review because I didn't hate this book, it was merely just overwhelmingly second-rate. This whole novel is meant to be written five-thousand years in the future, yet at one point a character makes a movement that is compared to the moves of John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever.

My Grandfather’s Blessings

So we are meant to believe that the only thing in all human history which survived the Cataclysm and the five-thousand years of life afterward was the disco movie Saturday Night Fever? View all 12 comments. Lawrence White Great review. That Travolta line really grated for me too, so bizarre 2 hours, 50 min ago. Aug 24, Susanne Strong rated it it was amazing Shelves: There are some novels that you feel, from the tips of your fingers, all the way to the bottoms of your toes. This is one of them. All at once, something happens, something strange, something inexplicable and yet, one by one..

A feeling simply overtakes them and they strike out at everyone who has wronged them. She feels the thing like pins and needles along her arms. Like needle-pricks of light from her spine to her collarbo 5 Completely Rad and Rockin Stars. What can she do with it you ask? You are in pain and you cannot move. When girls come into their power, it is visible to all, through a skein on their necks. What starts out as girls trying to stop boys from overstepping, from harassing them, becomes something else entirely. Now known as Mother Eve, she oversees everyone and everything.

Roxy is a gal with sass. Her family is unlike most: She is the best and brightest and her abilities are unmatched. Tunde is a photographer. Once things go haywire.. Their paths converge at different points in time and after that, well, all hell breaks loose. At times, I shifted, edgy, uncomfortable, eyes wide - amazed. Then, unexpectedly, the corners of my mouth would haphazardly curve into a smile, in complete bewildered awe. Then I was horrified at myself for my inability to control my own reactions and scared by what was transpiring, I simply shuddered.

There is one scene, that I cannot unsee, one scene, that I admit got to me. And yet, it is sheer brilliance. I cannot help but be astounded. If the dominant roles shifted and girls and women ruled the world, what would happen? Would boys and better yet, men, submit or would they fight back? Kudos to Naomi Alderman for her foresight, her storytelling and her amazing characters. Thank you to my friend Susan for the recommendation! You were right, I'm so glad I read this. Published on Goodreads, Amazon and Twitter on 8. Feb 22, Bradley rated it it was amazing Shelves: I think I've just stumbled upon one of those "Important Works" I keep saying is so necessary.

No UF fluff with magical women or post-apocalypse SF nonsense where it's mostly about shocking us about the brutality of man against woman. It seems that's mostly what it is, these days. Indeed, what we've got here is a careful and complex study of all the gender roles turned on its head, slowly, surely, and irrevocably. We have women getting the power to shock the living shit out of anyone and teach t I think I've just stumbled upon one of those "Important Works" I keep saying is so necessary.

We have women getting the power to shock the living shit out of anyone and teach this power to any other woman. Throw that wrinkle in today's worldwide culture, and suddenly we have a really ugly war of the sexes on a scale that's horrifying. All the abuses of power, of violence, of insanity, is now going to be returned to the sender.

I'll be honest, I loved the grand build-up of this reversal of power, thought the justice of it was delicious as hell. But it's another thing to see the justice turn to insanity. The practice of power for power's sake.

Who were Ruth & Naomi?

To see women roaming the streets looking to abuse a stray man who was just looking for it, to have training camps to make women all stronger, to destroy anything that gets in their way. It still seems like justice. All those nasty patriarchies and misogynists getting their due was FUN.

Until women become fully as bad as the men always were. Or as we assume men always were. The book also brings up the question of archeology in a wonderful way, fast-forwarding years into a culture where women have all the power and men are treated exactly the way women are treated today.

With intellectual dishonesty, prejudice, ignorance, and the assumption that things were always as they were now, that men in armies are a joke or a sexual fantasy that could never have been true, like some of us may say Amazonians are today. That all the ancient statues destroyed depicting men as warriors back then must have been a grand joke or not what it seems. That the author, a man, ought to change his name to a woman's for the publication of the book to lend it credence.

And this last bit happens throughout this novel, lending it an inevitable and horrific outlook on the nature of the real problem. It's as Adler says. Those with power abuse it. Those with power over others need to have someone to USE it on. This is the root of the disease. I've often thought and agreed with certain authors who bring up the possibility that women DID have the power in our ancient pasts, thousand years ago, the statues being the only evidence I really have. I liked to daydream about what lost societies, full cultures, civilizations in our own deep pasts might have been like before time eroded everything.

There really is no reason not to believe we've been through this exact same cycle many times, always suffering the same hubris and error in thinking. The weak inherit the earth, and then the new weak inherit the earth, and then the new weak inherit the earth. It's humbling, this turning of the wheel. But back to the novel. It's extremely well written and painful to witness and thought-provoking and even delightful at times. Easily one of the very best novels of it's kind, being obviously gender-centric, sociological, and quite entertaining on the character level.

The skein of power is almost secondary to the story. It's all about turning the tables. I totally recommend this book for everyone. It's just that brilliant and should be required reading for anyone in the discussion of what it means to be a woman OR a man. Let's open our eyes! View all 28 comments. This was sort of like: I didn't love it.

I admired it, to be sure, and it def left me totes curious about inquiring into this author's other works. But as many other eloquent reviewers have already noted, it left me wanting in a few key areas. I'm all for su This was sort of like: I also agree with other reviewers that some of the main characters were more interesting and fleshed out than others: And finally - yes, I completely agree with other reviewers that it's unrealistic, and reductive, that every single woman in the world promptly responded in basically the exact same way to the massive global change in circumstances, regardless of the myriad variations in culture, religion, age, etc.

This seemed kind of anti-feminist to me, actually, and sort of offensively essentialist on many levels. For me, this sort of defeated the purpose of the entire dystopian novel project. Because, I don't understand the point of going through the pains of constructing a dystopian novel if your ultimate purpose is just to say that, even with different people in power and different means as an end to that power, things would all wind up in exactly the same shitshow as they currently are. Isn't the whole beauty and, well, Power, of the dystopian format that, below the unrelenting grimness, there shimmer the faint vestiges of hope that things could be different, better?

I mean, sure, you could just go with the whole Absoute Power Corrupts Absolutely thing and leave it at that, and while there's some truth to this, I think there's a little more nuance to the story, and that little more nuance is a lot more interesting to consider. After consideration, I'm lowering the review to 2 stars to better reflect the level of reading enjoyment or non-enjoyment, I guess. I admired the project but appreciated the actual product only to a 2. Apr 13, Paul Bryant rated it it was ok Shelves: What a horrible mess of a book.

One might hope — when did an electric eel ever run for president? Yes, women can now send out shocks which cause anythin What a horrible mess of a book. Yes, women can now send out shocks which cause anything from a mere pinpick to an obliterating agony lasting hours, so from then onwards the balance of POWER get it??? Yes, a feminist revenge fantasy.

I want to read that. If so empowered, would women be as fascistically inclined to dish out pain and subservience to men as heretofore men have been to women? There are so so so many rather more ordinary scenarios I wanted to see explored under the new regime — what would happen to women in prison? What about the revolution in male consciousness required? View all 22 comments. Dec 22, Thomas rated it it was ok Recommended to Thomas by: I feel so sad giving this book such a low rating because it had so much potential.

It follows three female-identifying characters and one male-identifying character who reside in a world where girls and women have the power to produce electricity and hurt, torture, and kill people. This newfound ability brings about an amalgamation of changes, including political power plays, shifts in male-female relationship dynamics, and the burning question of girls' and women's new place in society.

The Pow I feel so sad giving this book such a low rating because it had so much potential. The Power portrays a host of challenging situations and scenes, including sexual assault and political warfare. This book had so much unfulfilled potential. I love the premise, because it invites so many nuanced questions and discussions within the realm of feminism.

What are the implications of empowering women just so they act more like men? As bell hooks writes , patriarchy has no gender, so what happens when one gender or sex gains power over their oppressors? What are the psychological benefits and costs of having this power? Unfortunately, these questions are only explored in the most rudimentary of ways in The Power.

While violence has a place in this world for sure, the book could have featured so much more. The commentary on gender dynamics, too, mostly took form in pithy one-liners with gender reversals that did not relay much nuance or insight. My second main disappointment with The Power centers on its characters. They all felt one-note, interchangeable, and lacking in any depth that would motivate us to invest in them.

His manner towards the young girl gleaning on his land is benevolent. Ruth seems to be wearing an extraordinary padded hat to shield her pale skin from the sun. There is not the slightest attempt to portray the story in its historical setting; the story has been transplanted to the Protestant Netherlands — quite right too, since it is a timeless and universal story. It is night, a dim landscape, with only the moon bathing the land in its light.

Boaz is clearly asleep, cradling his head on his arm, but Ruth is not. Her eyes are open, her breasts visible and the expression on her face shows that she, God bless her, is up to mischief. It is easy enough to paint a scene in broad daylight, but here the landscape is shrouded in darkness. Even so, Chagal has brought the moment vividly to life. Her face is bright with expectation — this is a pivotal moment in her life. When Boaz wakes in the morning on the threshing floor, he sees Ruth lying beside him.

A red sun throbs in the top right hand corner in this paean to love and sexual joy. Ruth and Boaz wake in the morning, together on the threshing floor during harvest time. They are surrounded by sheaves of grain, signs of prosperity and a plentiful future. Both of them seem to be naked — Chagall has no doubts about what has occurred the night before, even if the Bible demurs on this point.

Ruth is a happy woman, and Boaz positively soars. On the left side of the painting Ruth cradles her son Obed. Her breast sags at the opening of her bodice, and the baby, now full of warm milk, dozes quietly. On the right side despite what Wikipedia says!! Salmon has the staff, hat and garb of a traveller, reminding the viewer that he accompanied Moses on part of the trek from Egypt, and was commissioned by Moses to be Prince of the Tribe of Judah, from which Jesus would come. There is a straight line between Salmon, who knew Moses though only when Moses was very old and Salmon was very young and was present at the birth of the Israelite nation — right through to Obed, who would be the grandfather of King David.

What a joyful swirl of humanity!

The figures twine together so harmoniously you can hardly tell where either one of them begins and ends, even though each has its own distinctive colors. As it should be with a family. Harmony in Nature, with a glowing sun behind and green swaths beneath their feet. There was a famine, and the family of a woman called Naomi went to Moab to look for food. While they were there, all the men in the family died, and the women had to fend for themselves.

Naomi, being the matriarch of the group, told the young women, including Ruth, to head for home. She would do the same, parting company with them. One of them refused to leave her — a young Moabite and therefore an outsider called Ruth. She stuck like glue. Where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people and your God my God. Where you die, I will die and there I will be buried. When they got there, they had very little else besides their wits. Ruth decided she would help glean the barley in the fields, to feed herself and Naomi and to get a store of grain for winter.

Boaz was an ideal match for any young woman — single, well respected and rich. When he saw Ruth, it was love at first sight. He made a bit of an idiot of himself, trying to help her, getting extra grain for her, protecting her, seeing she was well fed. It was clear to everyone that love was in the air, but how to nudge him into proposing? The older woman stepped forward, telling Ruth exactly what to do. Ruth had the good sense to listen.

She perfumed herself, dressed in her most becoming clothes, and waited at the threshing floor until Boaz had eaten a good meal — a man with a full stomach was always more amenable. Boaz was only too happy to oblige. Soon after, they were married, and Ruth had a son, Obed, who was the father of Jesse, who was the father of King David. So Ruth, once the destitute outsider, became the great-grand-mother of a king. Naomi, who had lost her husband and two sons, now held her little grandson close, becoming his nurse.

They went into the country of Moab and remained there. When they had lived there for about ten years, 5 both Mahlon and Chilion also died, so that the woman was left without her two sons or her husband. May the Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. Do I still have sons in my womb that they may become your husbands? Even if I thought there was hope for me, even if I should have a husband tonight and bear sons, 13 would you then wait until they were grown? Would you then refrain from marrying?

No, my daughters, it has been far more bitter for me than for you, because the hand of the Lord has turned against me. Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. Where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God. May the Lord do thus and so to me, and more as well, if even death parts me from you! They came to Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest. She came and gleaned in the field behind the reapers. When Jake began to talk to her, Brielle became a much more likeable character.

It was very nice when chapters came along with Brielle having happier moments, mostly thanks to Jake then she would feel guilty for feeling happy, which made me sad again for Brielle. I may not have known what happened to her friend, but Brielle deserves to be happy! As for Jake, he is such a sweet guy! I loved how much he wanted Brielle to be happy again and how he kept trying to make her happy!

There is a romance in this book. As expected, it's between Brielle and Jake. I liked their relationship and I did think it was sweet. It wasn't insta-love, so that's a plus. Though, I'm a bit meh on it. It didn't knock my socks off or give me butterflies. It was just there. The pacing is a bit slow and the romance is okay, but the characters and action-packed ending make up for it. I'm a little bit unsure about reading the next book, only because my library does not have a copy.

If you are a fan of angel books, then you should give this book a try!

Mar 06, Brooklynn N. Gibbs rated it it was amazing. Angel eyes is about an eighteen year old girl who had faced plenty of tradgety. Coming home from a s chool in a big city to come to terms with her emotions in the small town she was born and raised in. But things arent what they seem to be, and she quickly tumbles head first into a secret world nobody knows about. All because of the new boy at school. This book came across to me as a book about getting over your past.

In a way, I was right, buts its so much I had conflicted f Angel eyes is about an eighteen year old girl who had faced plenty of tradgety. I had conflicted feelings about picking this story up and reading it.

In a way, im glad I did. Angel Eyes is a love story, and its about Brielle, the main character of the book, coming to terms with her faith. I loved how the characters were portrayed, and how the emotions ran deep. I started to cry during the first chapter! The sorrow wwas held in check by bits of witty humor and action, and its all wrapped in a blanket of mystery.

It quickly turns from a story about a hurting girl when Jake, the new boy, is inserted into the story. He automaticaly becomes 'The guy with a lot of fan girls' and I honestly wish that I culd have gotten more into depth with his story. He rivals Brielle, in my mind, for the hero spot. Hes storng and compassionate, and portrayed with such fiery faith, that the world should prepare for fanclub.

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Can anyone say, "Bye-Bye Edward? I loved the way emotions were portrayed, and how it affected each and every one of the characters. The world that Brielle sees is undoubtly beautiful and vividly detailed, and Im proud to say I got an inlet into that world. Overall, Angel Eyes is a captivating read that will leave book lovers breathless, in tears, holding thier hands to their hearts, and viciously anticipating the sequal, where we will once again glimpse the celestial world that so mayb people everyday long to see.

I tried with this one, guys. I love all of the possibilities they explore, from the Miltonian to the Biblical. Unfortunately, Dittemore failed pretty hard in that respect. Not even a third of the way in, I kind of just checked out because there was a moral lesson going on in a public school on how not to end up in a Christian hell. New guy who comes to school who makes fun of her yet they have instant chemistry? View all 5 comments. Feb 28, Kara Swanson rated it it was amazing Shelves: Shannon knows what she's doing, in so many aspects of this book.

From the YA genre, and nailing a character who is both relatable, and very unusual she's a tortured dancer who's best friend was murdered. Definitely not your average female character! Not to mention that her main guy character is blissfully unusual too--and totally relationshipgoals. However, Shannon's representation of the spiritual realm has by far been my favorite, and the most unique that I've read.

From having her angels equipped with three sets of wings, to incorporating the idea of a halo into the story in a way that totally works, I loved every second of it. Angel Eyes is one of those novels that not only is intriguing, engrossing and amazingly well written, but its also very thought provoking. It widens your view of the world around you, and the God who has orchestrated every step we take. It also is a book about healing, and touches on real-life issues that many christian authors shy away from.

Add on top of that that Shan is one of the sweetest people ever, and you absolutely have to read this book: I've been busy saving pennies for the next one! Feb 15, Kara rated it really liked it. Angel Eyes by Shannon Dittemore Review by Kara Grant Brielle's a ballerina who 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. Jake's the new guy at school. An evil bigger than both of them Angel Eyes by Shannon Dittemore Review by Kara Grant Brielle's a ballerina who went to the city to chase her dreams and found tragedy instead.

Two angels stand guard, unsure what's going to happen. And a beauty brighter than either Brielle or Jake has ever seen is calling them to join the battle in a realm where all human choices start. A realm that only angels and demons-and Brielle-can perceive from Amazon. My review It takes one devastation to change the life you know. It only lasts a moment, but it can affect you for a lifetime. Have you ever experienced something that traumatized you later on? Her best friend is gone and life will never be the same again. No matter what her friends, her father, and the community do to comfort her and welcome her home from Portland, she is still racked with guilt and grief.

She has been traumatized and the first part of the book is about her coping with that grief. Symptoms of this grief are: This book takes place from three point-of-views: What does a human see when wearing an angelic halo? This book has all of that and gives the perspective from all three types, human; angel; and demon. The setting of this story takes place in both the terrestrial realm earthly and the celestial realm spirit. I also greatly enjoyed her experience of the spiritual realm, the romance between her and Jake and I was relieved to discover that Jake is not an angel even though he was raised by one.

Here is an excerpt that I found to be an accurate description of fear and how it affects people: He transfers to the Celestial and turns his eyes to the room at the end of the hall. Jake sits on his bed, facing the girl. A fog rises like steam from the muck and settles heavily around them. From under her blond hair, the clingy substance oozes, running the length of her body. Her hands shake, desperate to be rid of it. Fear is pooled on the floor of his room, but is not content with only two victims. Like a heat-seeking missile, it runs into the hall looking for someone, anyone to attach itself to.

If human beings could only see the manifestation of such a weapon, they would understand how it paralyzes, literally holding them captive with the glue of it. Like every being of light, Canaan hates fear. Only celestial eyes can see it for what it is. Like tar, but icy and alive. It clings and oozes. It weighs down its victims until they are either frozen in a trench of indecision or worse—they make the first possible move, no matter how unwise, simply to rid themselves of it.

They can inflict it, to be sure, but the tragedy of fear is that since the Fall, humans have held it inside their very being and can unleash it, even unwittingly, on themselves and on others. I was very satisfied with how Angel Eyes ended. It was a clean story overall. Her mom dies when Brielle is young and that is another form of grief she has to deal with despite having no memory of this parent. She evolves from being victimized—to learning the truth about the God she initially rejects—to becoming a vital part in the battle for His glory. And the truth shall set you free.

This book will be available in May from your preferred retailer. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Mar 28, Allison rated it really liked it Shelves: Very interesting and thought-provoking! I never really thought about spiritual warfare, and the way Shannon Dittemore wrote about it was very well done.

Can't wait for the next two books in the series! Apr 02, Katie rated it really liked it Shelves: Angel Eyes surprised me - in a good way. Having seen the title, the cover image, and the publisher, I knew to expect a religious thread throughout the story. Indeed, many serious subjects were addressed: While some themes were more heavy-handed than others, they were very apropos given the subject.

Struggling with extreme grief and guilt in the aftermath of the brutal murder of her best friend, Brielle returns home Angel Eyes surprised me - in a good way. Struggling with extreme grief and guilt in the aftermath of the brutal murder of her best friend, Brielle returns home from the bright lights of New York City to a podunk little town, where she can't seem to shake the chill from her bones - or her soul.

I can't imagine losing a close friend to such a horrible end, and feeling that I was responsible for it all on top of that! I could feel the depth and darkness of Brielle's grief consume me, as she wandered through her hometown and old high school as a ghost of her former self. I kept waiting for someone, anyone, to step in and help this poor girl. Then, Jake entered the picture. At first, I wasn't sure exactly what role Jake would play in Brielle's life.

He was a bit stalkerish in the beginning, and I admit, I sighed a little when he became the "new hot guy" at school that only had eyes for Brielle. However, as I got to know Jake better, I found him to be charming, genuine, and even a little swoon-worthy. He and Brielle developed a natural rapport and their relationship blossomed slowly and sweetly. I liked how Jake's steady presence and patience urged Brielle to come out of her shell a bit more, as she basked in the sunshine of his warmth - both literally and figuratively.

However, Jake couldn't protect Brielle from everything, or everyone. The thread of mystery that ran throughout the story was certainly intriguing, and I found myself cringing every time Brielle and Jake came in contact with Damien, the main protagonist. This guy is seriously creepy! When Brielle's spiritual eyes are opened to the Celestial realm via a mysterious gold band, gifted to her by Jake, she witnesses the beauty of the heavens and the corruption and darkness that threatens to overtake all that is good in her world.

She quickly learns that not everyone and everything is who or what they seem. Toward the end of the book, a battle of epic proportions between the hosts of good and evil had me on the edge of my seat. While an earthly battle was being waged, a celestial battle was also ongoing, and every time I thought the battle was finally over, another blow was made. I held my breath quite a few times.

Even though things seem to settle down in the end, within the last pages, there were quite a few cliff-hangers that made my imagination run wild. Shannon Dittemore certainly knows how to make her readers turn the pages! Ultimately, what I loved most about Angel Eyes was the way the subject of fear was addressed. Fear paralyzes and seeks to destroy. Fear leads to despair and despair leads to destruction - of our minds, our hearts, our bodies, and our souls. Fear has no place in our lives. The absence of fear is faith - whether it is in a higher power, in ourselves, or in others.

This is a message from which we can all learn, whether or not we are religious or spiritually-minded. Angel Eyes offers a unique, entertaining spin on the typical angel lore, and further impresses with multi-dimensional characters and an intriguing plot line. The story is told from the POV of three characters: Brielle, Jake, and Damien. While some POVs were more entertaining than others, they all served to make me more familiar with the motives of each charater.

There were quite a few questions that came to mind while reading Angel Eyes that were left unanswered, and now I am anxious to read the second installment in the series, Broken Wings , which is set to debut in February Kudos to Shannon Dittemore, whose debut novel surpassed my expectations and raised the bar for other similar stories! Jun 02, Courtney Storybook Slayers rated it liked it. More reviews at Rondo of a Possible World: YA Book Reviews Angel books happen to be hit or miss with me since most revolve around the same pretext.

Weary about reading Angel Eyes, but completely captivated by the cover, my senses took over and brought me to reading the book. Ultimately, I was not disappointed with the novel. When you first start into the book, you noticed scenes that are commonplace in YA genre no matter it be contemporary, paranormal, urban fantsy--it's present in the many book More reviews at Rondo of a Possible World: When you first start into the book, you noticed scenes that are commonplace in YA genre no matter it be contemporary, paranormal, urban fantsy--it's present in the many books published out there.

The "new girl" effect. Though Brielle was from the town, she moved away and came back. Still covered in that "new girl" persona. Not to mention there's a new guy and the connection between the two instanly commence. It's the unlimate young adult cliche. Though it's not a beginning that wowed me or a unique one at that, the plot does expand upon that notion and gets much more intersting. Alternation POVs serves its purpose to expand upon the novel and speed up the flow, though some parts tended to drag for me, and you get a a first person v.

Even though I felt it would have been better if all the POVs were arranged as first, the third person does a nice job with description and the villain being subjected to a POV, it's interesting to watch the plans and idea unravell while your reading in. As you can expect from an angel book, there is biblical refrence and scripture refrence and it tends to get pretty heavy during the later part of the novel.

I do go to church sometimes though I don't find myself very religios, I do enjoy the religious portions in this novel though some parts did seem too heavy for me to enjoy. It's not a bad thing at all though, it's purpose does since Brielle is suffering from the death of her best friend, another common that popps up in YA, and starts to question her faith and whether God exists. Even so, the novel does not sway an opinion of belief onto you, which is a wonderful thing, it does not force any belief system down onto you, it is merely purposeful to the plot and I liked that a lot.

When diving into an angel themes novel you tend to estimate what lore is going to be expanded upon. It's all there but the underlying twist and immiganation that sets Angel Eyes apart happened to excite me and kept me facinated. It's hard to shake up common lore, espeically about angels, beings that have been talked about and read though so much history. Even so, Dittamore does a wonderful job with the description of the beliefs and does have you excited whith descritptions and explaniation. Definitely one to give the benefit of the doubt to, Angel eyes deserves a nice placement in the genre.

The divine angelic lore and characters that don't fall flat, defintiely a novel to check out. Jun 08, Anatea Oroz rated it liked it Shelves: This review is also posted on my blog, Anatea's Bookshelf. Angel Eyes is yet another book that features angels, but it has very unique plot which I find very refreshing.

It was a little bit too slow in the beginning and it doesn't pick up until almost half of the book, but the other half was great and I really enjoyed it. The story begins when Brielle comes back to her hometown. Her best friend Ali died and she's trying to get over her guilt and her grief.

One day she gets caught This review is also posted on my blog, Anatea's Bookshelf. One day she gets caught up in a storm, and while trying to get home as fast as she can, she runs into the new guy, Jake, and then she breaks her ankle. They decide to wait until the storm calms down, but Jake somehow heals her ankle, and after that the book picks up its speed, and things finally start to happen. Shannon Dittemore put a lot of time into her characters. They were all well developed, and we know everyone's background story. Brielle is a very relatable character and Jake is such a sweetheart.

I took an immediate liking to him. He was the guy who was there for Brielle when she needed someone to talk to. I liked the romance between Brielle and Jake but it seemed to focus a little bit too much on the two of them and sometimes it put the plot in the second plan. But still, it was very sweet. There was a connection between them, but it wasn't that kind of instant-love with them, they learned to be comfortable around each other, and the romance came later. There were alternate POV's in the book. We have Brielle, Damien and Cannan. At first, I found it confusing to read from Damien's or Cannan's POV, but later I came to appreciate it as it helped me to understand the plot.

Overall, I enjoyed Angel Eyes and I can't wait to read the sequel. Blog Twitter Facebook Instagram Pinterest May 27, Tee loves Kyle Jacobson rated it it was amazing Shelves: Thank you to YA Bound for allowing me to be a part of this tour. I have read a lot of books about Angels and Demons but Shannon has created a world where you feel like you are right there with the characters. Brielle is a unique character in this story.

She returns home after her friend is murdered. She blames herself and feels like she could have done something to stop it from happening but little does she know things or people are lurking in the background. When she is confronted with the thing Thank you to YA Bound for allowing me to be a part of this tour.

When she is confronted with the things that go bump in the night she is not sure how to handle things. Her life feels like it is closing in on her until she meets Jake. Jake is a great character in this story. Jake can heal with his hands and as he and Brielle get close things start to kick off. A secret world is revealed and Brielle will have to trust Jake or walk away. What will Brielle do in the end? Will she follow her heart or will she allow the devil to sway her to his side.

This story is a breath of fresh air and it allows the reader to see both good and evil and see what the consequences are for choosing evil. Brielle will have to face some hard core facts about God and Lucifer and when she meets Lucifers child she will have to decide if she will listen to him and be swayed to his side or will she chose Jake and the Angels. Come along for an adventure that is sure to tug at your heart.

Love angels this book is for you. Love demons this book is for you. Which Team will you be on Team Jake or Team Damien? Feb 16, Lindsay Cummings rated it it was amazing. Like a lot of my author friends, I don't do book reviews anymore. Before I start said gushing, I have to talk about how lovely the author is. I'm even more pleased that the woman can write like nobody's freakin business. This Like a lot of my author friends, I don't do book reviews anymore. When I started the book, I figured it would be good. But I didn't realize just HOW good.

From the first page, Shannon's writing style showed through, and it is gorgeous. Words that made me drool. Her characters are so real you feel like you know them. The main character, Brielle, was wonderfully done. I felt her pain like it was my pain, and the journey the reader goes through with her is so perfectly executed. There's a sexy boy, who kept me turning pages because the connection between the two of them was so well done. That's enough gushing for today, agreed? I won't talk about what happens in the book, because I want you to read it and fall in love with the story like I did.

The second book finally has a cover, too, and it's so pretty! Mar 18, Cara rated it really liked it Shelves: I really liked it, but I am also a fan of Christian fiction. The story itself was a pretty cool use of theology and angels. Brielle is having a bad year.

‘Ruth’s Story’, Thomas Matthews Rooke, 1876

She was away at school when her best friend was killed.

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