Note: I received complimentary copies of these books in return for my honest reviews.
Book Description: When Candra Ember wakes up in hospital after a dangerous encounter with a red-haired woman, she is shocked to discover that seeing a winged boy wasn’t her imagination. Candra is exposed to a world of rivalry and sacrifice she never knew existed, and the aftermath of a war to save humanity thousands of years ago. Soon she finds herself relentlessly stalked by Sebastian, a beautiful and arrogant Watcher Angel and romantically pursued by his darkly seductive rival, Draven. Ultimately, dubious about her own goodness, Candra’s very existence compromises a tentative peace in the city of Acheron.
I have to admit that I didn't choose to read these books; they sort of just fell into my lap after another reviewer was unable to read them for the blog tour. I was a little worried because a.) I had never read a book about angels and I wasn't sure if the material was something I would enjoy and b.) I was on somewhat of a tight schedule and if it turned out I didn't enjoy the books I probably wouldn't be able to finish them on time. It turned out that my worries were for nothing. I'm happy to report that I absolutely loved both books and practically devoured them in no time at all.
Ember by Carol Oates introduces readers to Candra Ember. She seems like an average eighteen-year-old; she certainly thinks of herself that way as the novel opens. After an encounter with a mysterious red-head and a fall that should have killed her, she awakes in a hospital without a scratch on her. How did she survive? And who was the strange boy she remembered staring at her while she was loaded into the ambulance after her fall? ...And why did he have wings? That's were the mysteries begin and this list continues to grow throughout the book. There are so many twists and turns and questions that I just couldn't stop reading. I HAD to find out what was going on and what was going to happen next. There was no question about that.
Carol Oates writes beautifully. She paints each scene skillfully enough to make the reader feel as though they are a part of the story instead of just a bystander. When writing about angels it would be easy to fall into a corny plotline and even cornier dialogue, but Ms. Oates doesn't fall victim to this. She keeps the genre fresh by making her angels surprisingly relatable and keeping the story moving forward without it dragging relentlessly.
I'm not easily surprised by the course that most plots take but I found myself continually surprised by this one. Just remember that things aren't always as they seem!
Jessa's Rating for Ember: 4 out of 5 stars
Book Description: Candra Ember used to dream of saving the world one person at a time. She never expected to become an angelic weapon and the last hope in the battle against ultimate darkness.
Falling for a Nephilim wasn’t part of Sebastian’s plan. Distraction is something he can’t afford when his rival, Draven, wants what Sebastian has.
Lies, manipulation, and corruption are twisting the lives of the citizens in Acheron. The Arch is missing from Heaven, and a demon is intent on claiming the city. At a time they should be growing closer, grief and paranoia is driving Candra and Sebastian apart.
If the price of restoring the Watchers to Heaven is a human soul, who deserves to be saved?
Review: Iridescent by Carol Oates is the continuation of the story that began in Ember. The gang is faced with a new foe: the soul stealing Lilith, who possess a powerful weapon and is bent on taking over the earth as her own.
After finishing the first book in the series, I couldn't wait to jump right into this one. There was no lull in the action - it began as soon as the story opened. I felt a little more trusting this time around, like I knew the characters better and could easily predict which direction the plot would move in. Boy, was I wrong! This book had just as many twists and turns as the first. If anything, it was even more intense, more taut, than the first book was. I found myself on a neverending emotional roller coaster during the book's final chapters.
The ending was satisfying in a way, but I also felt it was more than a little rushed. I actually thought I had inadvertently skipped a chapter, even going so far as to go back a few pages to make sure I hadn't. With the author's gift of detailing scenes, I was disappointed by this sudden lack of information, but it didn't really hurt my opinion of the book. In the end, I still found it to be highly enjoyable and was sad to see it come to a close. Without a doubt, another winner for Carol Oates.
Jessa's Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.
Buy your copy of Ember HERE or buy a copy of Iridescent HERE.
NOTE: This post originally appeared on Once Upon A Book HERE on October 18th, 2012.
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