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

Angelfall (Penryn & the End of Days, Book 1)
riahekans avatar reviewed on + 4 more book reviews


This is a thought-provoking book, wrapped in an end of the world setting. It may seem weird to mix a post apocalyptic world with heavenly beings but now that I think about it, Im surprised this is the first Apocalypses brought by Angels story Ive read, given that anybody whos vaguely familiar with the Book of Revelation knows that angels and the end of world go hand in hand.

Penryn is definitely my kind of gal. She doesnt whine or puts her head in the sand. Instead, she makes the tough decisions and lives with the consequences. She doesnt dwell in the past or the way the world used to be, she knows theres no point in wishful thinking. She doesnt berate herself if she fails and just keeps going. Also, she doesnt let her feelings get in the way of what she needs to do. At one point, Raffe thoroughly humiliates her (I really felt for her) but she composes herself and puts it out of her mind. She doesnt forget it but she realizes that saving her sister is more important than anything else.

With this description, I dont mean to imply that Penryn is a robot or unfeeling but the contrary. She's loyal, loves her sister dearly and resents her parents because shes had to make all the hard decisions and cant count on them. At the same time, she feels guilty about those feelings and tries to do the best for her mother. Shes tough, but sometimes the façade collapses and we can see her vulnerability and realize that shes just a really young woman in an untenable situation.

Although Penryn is only 17-years old, this is really grown-up book. The author doesnt gloss over the terrible consequences of war, the realities of sexual desire or the question about the existence of God. They all have a place within the story and they are very well handled.

All I can say is that this book was terrific and that I cannot wait until book 2. Im sure Ill be pre-ordering it as soon as its available!