Review: Angelfall (Penryn & the End of Days, #1)

Author: Susan Ee
Series: Penryn & the End of Days, #1
Publisher: Skyscape (self published work)
Release: Aug 28th 2012
Source: Purchased
Pages: 288 (ebook)
( Amazon | 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 can’t believe how long it took me to uncover Angelfall from my pile of TBR reads, 250 days to be exact. If not for Aneta’s recent review, it would still be buried among my kindle books with a slim chance of being rediscovered on its own. It is hard to imagine now what it would be like to miss this book for real, though I doubt it would be anything other than regretful.

Before I take you any further, I must confess that rarely do I find gratification in reading paranormal or apocalyptic fiction, mostly because they fall victims to cliches rather quickly, but rest assured that Angelfall is a whole new ball of wax and a delightful exception to the usual letdowns. It is by far one of the most captivating books I have ever read and can be easily placed amidst my favorite reads of all time. I can tell you with absolute certainty that I will come back for this book again and again, if not just for its sheer brilliance and grittiness. It has the kind of magic that would make you forget everything except to keep turning the page and suddenly you will find yourself lost deeply in this uniquely set post-apocalyptic world where angels are evil and the human race is in despair. 

The story unfolds as Penryn tries to take her family somewhere safe and less populated rather than being sitting ducks at their home. In this savage land that was Silicon Valley, gang activities threaten their lives more than anything else, except angels, for they are not the kind and protective creatures we have envisioned them to be, but merciless devils which harbor pure destruction. With her sister taken by these ruthless superhuman beings and a wounded angel with no wings, not only is Penryn's own survival at stake, but also her sister's, and she is ready to risk everything to get her back.

Penryn is a marvelous protagonist and a true heroine whose courage shines through in the toughest situations. She is fierce and stubborn, never giving up and never backing down. Her strength and loyalty are both realistic and convincing considering the responsibilities she has been carrying on her shoulders. As we get to know more about her and her less fortunate family situation, it is only natural for us to feel empathetic toward her and become ever so slightly worried about the difficulties she must now face, though soon enough we would realize that defeat was never something in her nature.

It is no surprise that I fell hard for Raffe, his alluring personality something I undoubtedly relish, even though his kind is solely responsible for all the suffering and devastation on earth. In fact, often times I found his sarcastic sense of humor absconded with my heart rather effortlessly, leaving me transfixed to the pages craving for more. His relationship with Penryn, an intimate bond that has the potential to manifest into something much more entrancing, is infused with unrelenting emotions. I'm glad that this underlying romance never took over the plot; instead, it was woven into the story seamlessly, yet just enough to cause a slow burning sensation that would reach straight down to your heart.

Angelfall is a book I can confidently recommend to anyone. Regardless of any prejudice or suspicions you may have, this is a reading experience you must all savor first-handedly. It agonizes and frustrates me deeply that I can't finish this series right this instant. The fact that I have to part ways with Penryn and Raffe makes the ending almost insufferable to read, but I will try my best to bear the yearning as I know our reunion would soon to come.

My Rating: ★★★★★ (5 stars)