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Angelfire
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First there are nightmares.
Every night Ellie is haunted by terrifying dreams of monstrous creatures that are hunting her, killing her.
Then come the memories.
When Ellie meets Will, she feels on the verge of remembering something just beyond her grasp. His attention is intense and romantic, and Ellie feels like her soul has known him for centuries. On her seventeenth birthday, on a dark street at midnight, Will awakens Ellie's power, and she knows that she can fight the creatures that stalk her in the grim darkness. Only Will holds the key to Ellie's memories, whole lifetimes of them, and when she looks at him, she can no longer pretend anything was just a dream.
Now she must hunt.
Ellie has power that no one can match, and her role is to hunt and kill the reapers that prey on human souls. But in order to survive the dangerous and ancient battle of the angels and the Fallen, she must also hunt for the secrets of her past lives and truths that may be too frightening to remember.
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Start ReadingBook Information
Angelfire
Description
First there are nightmares.
Every night Ellie is haunted by terrifying dreams of monstrous creatures that are hunting her, killing her.
Then come the memories.
When Ellie meets Will, she feels on the verge of remembering something just beyond her grasp. His attention is intense and romantic, and Ellie feels like her soul has known him for centuries. On her seventeenth birthday, on a dark street at midnight, Will awakens Ellie's power, and she knows that she can fight the creatures that stalk her in the grim darkness. Only Will holds the key to Ellie's memories, whole lifetimes of them, and when she looks at him, she can no longer pretend anything was just a dream.
Now she must hunt.
Ellie has power that no one can match, and her role is to hunt and kill the reapers that prey on human souls. But in order to survive the dangerous and ancient battle of the angels and the Fallen, she must also hunt for the secrets of her past lives and truths that may be too frightening to remember.
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Reviews
It was all right, but really nothing special in terms of the writing. The premise and the twist at the end was good and pleasing and all that--how the twist was carried out was well-written--but beyond that, I wasn't particularly impressed. At all.
I think what bored me was the waiting in the story. There was the sense that something was about to happen, soon-ish, but couldn't happen yet, not yet, not yet. And yes, it worked with the plot, but it left me with a sense of stalled potential. Furthermore, a lot of the motivations and decisions that drove the characters to do something changed on a dime, which was irritating and difficult to forgive. I don't think I'll read the second book when it comes out, and I certainly won't spend money on it if I do.
Not recommended for advanced readers. Middle-schoolers, and even high schoolers. Fans of Twilight would probably also enjoy Angelfire.
I think what bored me was the waiting in the story. There was the sense that something was about to happen, soon-ish, but couldn't happen yet, not yet, not yet. And yes, it worked with the plot, but it left me with a sense of stalled potential. Furthermore, a lot of the motivations and decisions that drove the characters to do something changed on a dime, which was irritating and difficult to forgive. I don't think I'll read the second book when it comes out, and I certainly won't spend money on it if I do.
Not recommended for advanced readers. Middle-schoolers, and even high schoolers. Fans of Twilight would probably also enjoy Angelfire.
Courtney Allison Moulton's debut, Angelfire, is a fast-paced, action-packed thrill ride of a book, with a little side of romance thrown in for good measure. Ellie, who is just about to turn seventeen, has been experiencing nightmares of creatures who are hunting and killing her, nightmares so realistic they almost seem to verge on memory. But, they're just nightmares, right? No harm can from them, right? She keeps thinking that, until she meets one of the creatures while she's awake. And the mysterious boy, Will, who comes to her rescue that night may just hold the key to her memories and who and what she is, because Ellie is actually more than she knows. The creatures hunting Ellie are reapers, and they've actually been hunting Ellie for centuries, and Will has been her guardian for centuries. In turn, Ellie has been hunting and killing reapers for centuries, as well. How and why Ellie has been around for centuries, and why she can't remember these centuries, is all part of the mystery of who she truly is.Courtney Moulton has created a heroine in Ellie who may seem a little too frail and unsure of herself at the beginning, but who grows into her own as a strong and forthright protagonist. At the beginning of the book, I just assumed that this was going to be your typical YA paranormal romance with your mystical being du jour (in this case, angels). I have to be honest, I enjoyed the opening of the book, but slowly grew to dislike Ellie as a whole. She seemed a little too whiny for my liking. However, I started to really think about it. Ellie just turned seventeen. She's still in high school, and she just discovered that she's a centuries old killing machine. But right now, she's still just seventeen (How is she centuries old and just turning seventeen at the same time you ask? Read the book and find out!) She's still just figuring out who she really is as a person, not just this killing machine. So of course, she's confused and is a little against the whole idea of having to be this thing that she doesn't want to be, and just wants to be a normal teenager. Once I came around to her understanding of who she is versus who she wants to be, her behavior seemed so much more in line with her teenage self. Add in the possible attentions of two different boys, and you have yourself a girl with a lot on her plate, all at once!There is plenty of adventure in this book. There are several fight sequences between Ellie and the reapers, and they are very detailed and highly choreographed. In fact, there seems to be almost no let up on Ellie with the fighting, and you begin to wonder if the poor girl is ever going to have a chance to catch her breath!The mythology that Moulton is creating with Ellie and the reapers and angels is quite unique and I really love how she is working in so many time periods into Ellie's past. For a debut book, Moulton is certainly packing quite a bit of research and information into her book and making for a really interesting read.So, long story short, Moulton completely won me over with her writing and her characters. This is a strong debut from an author that I am anxious to see more of in the future.Recommended!
Nice try. Wanna be Buffy, with a whole lot of Christianity and the icky sort of romance thrown in. The idea is quite good, but unfortunately the author fails to paint the characters in interesting colors, let alone show their development. All in all it's pretty boring and predictable.
WOW
I love this book so much! Definitely my favourite book!
LOVED it!!!!!!!!!
Awesome plot, except I feel really bad for Will.
I mean he deserves to have a life he wants instead of having to protect Ellie and getting hurt all the time. But really good book! Can't wait for the next one!!!!!?
Awesome plot, except I feel really bad for Will.
I mean he deserves to have a life he wants instead of having to protect Ellie and getting hurt all the time. But really good book! Can't wait for the next one!!!!!?
An exciting mystery strait from the beginning, nightmares, de'ja'vu monents, and epic fighting sequences.
When I first started reading I was like, Oh great mysterious eye contact just like every single other YA book I have been reading lately. I was pleasantly surprised this book definitely stands on it's own. It took me a little bit to get hooked because I wasn't feeling very genuine about Will yet, he just seemed, MEH. I gave it a few chapters and he started to get his groove and then I started getting into the story.
I like that even though Ellie is this bad-ass fighter she is still totally trying to be just a normal teenager. I also want to know what the hell is up with her dad, he has to have something to do with something, and probably not a good something. I don't like him at all. I did like the chemistry between Ellie and Will, it was gradual not like an immediate OMG I LOVE YOU. I was thankful for that.
I liked the world int his book most of all. I am fascinated by biblical legend and myth, probably because of my own religious affiliations, but I really enjoyed the way Ms. Moulton laid out her lore carefully and constructed it so everyone could understand it. I think the world that Ellie lives in is what will keep this book out of the "every other YA book" category. Will definitely watch for book two.
I like that even though Ellie is this bad-ass fighter she is still totally trying to be just a normal teenager. I also want to know what the hell is up with her dad, he has to have something to do with something, and probably not a good something. I don't like him at all. I did like the chemistry between Ellie and Will, it was gradual not like an immediate OMG I LOVE YOU. I was thankful for that.
I liked the world int his book most of all. I am fascinated by biblical legend and myth, probably because of my own religious affiliations, but I really enjoyed the way Ms. Moulton laid out her lore carefully and constructed it so everyone could understand it. I think the world that Ellie lives in is what will keep this book out of the "every other YA book" category. Will definitely watch for book two.
She is the only one who can kill the forces of evil. With the help of her guardian, she, a teenage girl with amazing strength, will protect humans from Hell's efforts on earth. Her name is Buffy. Oh wait, no, it's not. Ellie, her name is Ellie. The vampire slayer. Wait, wrong again. She is the Preliator and slays reapers. Whatever, same difference.
There is no way this book would exist without Buffy; even I (who does not gamble ever) would pretty much be willing to lay down money that Moulton was a fan of the show. The main difference between the two stories is that Ellie reincarnates, rather than the powers being reborn in different girls. Also, her guardian is young-looking and hot. And her friends do not help her in her battle or know anything about it.
On the other hand, Ellie, like Buffy, dates the 'good' version of the creatures she kills. Without any other really important character, the book feels like what Buffy would be with just Buffy, Angel and the "I love you, but we can't be together" thing. Oy. Ellie also seems to experience a ridiculous amount of trouble in her battles before winning no matter the difficulty of the enemy being fought (which always seemed to be the case on Buffy too). Gotta keep the battles interesting right? Only, it's not so cool when the supposedly bad ass heroine drops her sword in EVERY SINGLE FIGHT.
I also had trouble taking a heroine seriously when she chooses to dress like a skanky nurse for Halloween. She's really one of those girls? You want to dress slutty on Halloween, fine, but at least use some creativity! Don't just buy a package from a costume labeled sexy nurse, cop, devil, witch, etc. Ellie also will delay practice for battle to put makeup on. A girl like this just is not going to survive very long in this gig. Additionally in the not a smart fighter category is that she continually talks her guardian into not standing watch. Bad plan. In the real world, this would backfire so hard.
While somewhat entertaining, Angelfire does not stand out for me. Buffy fans will find it a weak copy and lament the loss of the excellent ensemble cast which made Buffy so fabulous. Nevertheless, expect this to be pretty popular with teens.
There is no way this book would exist without Buffy; even I (who does not gamble ever) would pretty much be willing to lay down money that Moulton was a fan of the show. The main difference between the two stories is that Ellie reincarnates, rather than the powers being reborn in different girls. Also, her guardian is young-looking and hot. And her friends do not help her in her battle or know anything about it.
On the other hand, Ellie, like Buffy, dates the 'good' version of the creatures she kills. Without any other really important character, the book feels like what Buffy would be with just Buffy, Angel and the "I love you, but we can't be together" thing. Oy. Ellie also seems to experience a ridiculous amount of trouble in her battles before winning no matter the difficulty of the enemy being fought (which always seemed to be the case on Buffy too). Gotta keep the battles interesting right? Only, it's not so cool when the supposedly bad ass heroine drops her sword in EVERY SINGLE FIGHT.
I also had trouble taking a heroine seriously when she chooses to dress like a skanky nurse for Halloween. She's really one of those girls? You want to dress slutty on Halloween, fine, but at least use some creativity! Don't just buy a package from a costume labeled sexy nurse, cop, devil, witch, etc. Ellie also will delay practice for battle to put makeup on. A girl like this just is not going to survive very long in this gig. Additionally in the not a smart fighter category is that she continually talks her guardian into not standing watch. Bad plan. In the real world, this would backfire so hard.
While somewhat entertaining, Angelfire does not stand out for me. Buffy fans will find it a weak copy and lament the loss of the excellent ensemble cast which made Buffy so fabulous. Nevertheless, expect this to be pretty popular with teens.
I loved this book. Its fast paced and action packed! Loved the fact that it has a kick-ass heroine and Ellie is a really easy character to like. I was hooked right up to the last page. Can not wait till the second one comes out.
Update.
This is my third time reading it and I love it more than ever :)
Update.
This is my third time reading it and I love it more than ever :)
Almost immediately in Angelfire, we learn that Ellie is an ancient, sword-wielding warrior, reincarnated into a teenage girl. She is thrown into a world where she must fight or die. Alongside her mysterious guardian, Will, she faces off with Reapers — hellbeasts who send souls to hell — and uncover something that may be powerful enough to consume her soul. She struggles to remember her past and how to use her power while still dealing with the mundanity of school, keeping up with friends, a turbulent home life and her inexplicable attraction to Will.
I like the premise of the story — I was attracted to the idea of a kick-ass, sword-wielding girl who fights evil — but while reading, I sometimes had trouble connecting with it. Ellie is a likable character, but she has a stiff narrative voice. I wasn’t captivated by her monotonous descriptions of fighting the Reapers or her musings about Will. I sometimes found her reactions unbelievable and had a hard time understanding her.
I liked the characters, even though I found most of them to be underdeveloped. Kate, Landon, Rachel, Evan and Chris seemed only to serve as a reminder that Ellie is still a normal girl; they grounded her in her human life while Nathaniel, Lauren and Will represented her life as a warrior against hell. I would’ve liked to see some development in the relationship between Ellie and her parents, especially her dad. There was a lot left untouched
I wasn’t completely enthralled with the story, but I was propelled by my desire to know who or what Ellie was and how certain things fit into her life. I found that what I enjoyed most was examining the possibilities. The backstory is thorough, but some things lacked a reasonable explanation, leaving a lot to question. Fortunately there were some answers, and I found that many of my approximations were correct . The writing was not bad, but it lacked in some ways, it could’ve been more vivid. I reserve judgement on any spelling and grammatical errors — I am aware that the copy I read was an advanced uncorrected proof — I cannot comment on that.
I enjoyed the story overall and am interested in finding out what happens next. I would read more from this author .
3.5/5
I like the premise of the story — I was attracted to the idea of a kick-ass, sword-wielding girl who fights evil — but while reading, I sometimes had trouble connecting with it. Ellie is a likable character, but she has a stiff narrative voice. I wasn’t captivated by her monotonous descriptions of fighting the Reapers or her musings about Will. I sometimes found her reactions unbelievable and had a hard time understanding her.
I liked the characters, even though I found most of them to be underdeveloped. Kate, Landon, Rachel, Evan and Chris seemed only to serve as a reminder that Ellie is still a normal girl; they grounded her in her human life while Nathaniel, Lauren and Will represented her life as a warrior against hell. I would’ve liked to see some development in the relationship between Ellie and her parents, especially her dad. There was a lot left untouched
I wasn’t completely enthralled with the story, but I was propelled by my desire to know who or what Ellie was and how certain things fit into her life. I found that what I enjoyed most was examining the possibilities. The backstory is thorough, but some things lacked a reasonable explanation, leaving a lot to question. Fortunately there were some answers, and I found that many of my approximations were correct . The writing was not bad, but it lacked in some ways, it could’ve been more vivid. I reserve judgement on any spelling and grammatical errors — I am aware that the copy I read was an advanced uncorrected proof — I cannot comment on that.
I enjoyed the story overall and am interested in finding out what happens next. I would read more from this author .
3.5/5
Seventeen-year-old Ellie Monroe learns from a boy named Will that she is actually the reincarnation of an ancient warrior known as the Preliator. Apparently each time she falls in battle against the demons known as the reapers, she is reborn again. Will is actually her protector who has been with her through the ages and looks for her reincarnation each time she is killed.I felt that I was being lectured to throughout which should have been corrected with good editing. Also the main character Ellie was just irritating. Sorry, but this could have been done much better, unfortunately an opportunity lost to make a really strong and believable female character.
Although this story is outside my usual genre, I genuinely enjoyed it. Ellie felt very real to me as an ordinary seventeen year old suburban girl thrust into extraordinary circumstances and discovering extraordinary things about herself. She seemed a real teenager, not an adult's idealized concept of what a teenager should be. The creatures she faces in battle each have a distinct personality and motivation, which lends more interest than a world populated by generic bad guys who are defined only by their species' characteristics. And I'm not entirely certain all those she's opposing *are* irredeemably bad guys. While developing the mythology of this world and revealing the challenges Ellie faces, the author has been ambiguous - perhaps even devious - and left us with plenty of mystery to uncover in the remaining two books of this series. I'm looking forward to the journey.
Average.
Or maybe “ordinary” is a better descriptor for this book. I wanted to like it, but there just wasn’t enough that was different or special or extraordinary enough to keep my interest. Honestly, it’s a fine paranormal romance and I’m sure there are legions of teen girls/women who will really enjoy it, but for me, the spark wasn’t there.
I’m realizing that I don’t connect with Angelfire, as well as the reason I don’t feel like finishing it, is that I’m more excited to get back to watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which I’m only now watching. If Moulton is not a diehard Joss Whedon fan, I’ll be very surprised because the influence and mirrored tone is obvious.
Sadly, the story never developed its own distinct and distinctive style. It’s too much a watered down Buffy—without the great dialogue and fun but keeping all the teenage romance and angst intact—for me to be interested in the substitute while I’m still discovering the real thing.
So I’m going to finish this review quickly so I can get back to Season 3 Episode 15: Consequences.
Or maybe “ordinary” is a better descriptor for this book. I wanted to like it, but there just wasn’t enough that was different or special or extraordinary enough to keep my interest. Honestly, it’s a fine paranormal romance and I’m sure there are legions of teen girls/women who will really enjoy it, but for me, the spark wasn’t there.
I’m realizing that I don’t connect with Angelfire, as well as the reason I don’t feel like finishing it, is that I’m more excited to get back to watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which I’m only now watching. If Moulton is not a diehard Joss Whedon fan, I’ll be very surprised because the influence and mirrored tone is obvious.
Sadly, the story never developed its own distinct and distinctive style. It’s too much a watered down Buffy—without the great dialogue and fun but keeping all the teenage romance and angst intact—for me to be interested in the substitute while I’m still discovering the real thing.
So I’m going to finish this review quickly so I can get back to Season 3 Episode 15: Consequences.
Angelfire is one of the latest YA books that features angels and demons, and a mysterious boy and a heroine that are thrust into this strange and dangerous world. Unlike most books, which focuses mainly on a core romance, Angelfire combines action and a strong mythos that really is Buffyesque and I had a great time with reading this book.
Ellie Monroe is haunted with vivid and terrifying dreams of demonic creatures attacking her which soon begins to affect her schoolwork and her home life. Her home life is is no better with her parent’s constant fighting and the increasing emotional detachment of her father. But her life changes when she encounters a strange boy called Will who soon tells her they have known each other for centuries and that he is her guardian and that she has a power and the knowledge to fight against demons. Of course she finds this totally preposterous, but soon realises that she is a warrior of mysterious origins who reincarnates again and again throughout the centuries with the same body and memories and a gift of Angelfire that only harms reapers (demons).
However the gap of time since her last death and resurrection is the longest yet, and Ellie can only recall snatches here and there. With the help of Will she must regain her lost memories because they hold knowledge on how to fight the demons threatening an Armageddon on Earth.
Angelfire is a fun and an engaging read, and was refreshing to read because it focused more on the action with a well thought out mythology and a strong heroine. There was a lot similarities with Buffy the Vampire Slayer, with a heroine who has to balance high-school, a social life and fighting demons. There is also a core romance with a mysterious boy, but fortunately he doesn’t sparkle in the sunlight but sports some nifty tatts instead, and provides support and guidance with fighting against reapers who are demons who are determined to bring on the Armageddon.
Elle’s rediscovery of her past and skills were some of my favourite scenes from the book. I especially liked the flashbacks which featured different historical periods and settings and reflected a much darker and almost inhuman Ellie which compared to her current incarnation of a more vulnerable and ordinary scared girl, and who is definitely more human confronted with this new knowledge which was an interesting juxtaposition. I suspect that this will be explored further in future books about Ellie’s evolution which I will definitely look out for.
I think Moulton’s grasp of Reapers and Archangels was well thought out and imagined. However, I wished we got more of their backstory instead of the brief glimpses. I also did find at times that Ellie’s torn feelings of trying to maintain a normal teen life was a bit frustrating, not because she has to, but she seems to dismiss and ignore the danger she was in. She definitely seem to verge on too stupid to live moments once or twice.
I also found that her father’s anger and growing outbursts throughout the book hints at something more but I wished this was explained more because it was too vague and the subplot was ignored later in the second half of the book, when Ellie and Will go off on a trip to stop the reapers gaining advantage.
The romance, however was a highlight of the book. It never overpowers the book and like Ellie’s regaining her knowledge and memories of her past, the love story compliments the action and adds to the emotional growth. I do have to say the twist at the end of the book especially the repercussion it has to Will and Ellie’s future relationship was great! And I did not expect to see that.
Angelfire is a great start to a series. It has a lot of potential that focuses a lot more on adventure and action instead of a angsty romance, although it does provide a great love story. I know there is a slew of books right now that feature angels and demons but if you fancy something that is more action packed with a capable and likable heroine then Angelfire is definitely one I would recommend.
Ellie Monroe is haunted with vivid and terrifying dreams of demonic creatures attacking her which soon begins to affect her schoolwork and her home life. Her home life is is no better with her parent’s constant fighting and the increasing emotional detachment of her father. But her life changes when she encounters a strange boy called Will who soon tells her they have known each other for centuries and that he is her guardian and that she has a power and the knowledge to fight against demons. Of course she finds this totally preposterous, but soon realises that she is a warrior of mysterious origins who reincarnates again and again throughout the centuries with the same body and memories and a gift of Angelfire that only harms reapers (demons).
However the gap of time since her last death and resurrection is the longest yet, and Ellie can only recall snatches here and there. With the help of Will she must regain her lost memories because they hold knowledge on how to fight the demons threatening an Armageddon on Earth.
Angelfire is a fun and an engaging read, and was refreshing to read because it focused more on the action with a well thought out mythology and a strong heroine. There was a lot similarities with Buffy the Vampire Slayer, with a heroine who has to balance high-school, a social life and fighting demons. There is also a core romance with a mysterious boy, but fortunately he doesn’t sparkle in the sunlight but sports some nifty tatts instead, and provides support and guidance with fighting against reapers who are demons who are determined to bring on the Armageddon.
Elle’s rediscovery of her past and skills were some of my favourite scenes from the book. I especially liked the flashbacks which featured different historical periods and settings and reflected a much darker and almost inhuman Ellie which compared to her current incarnation of a more vulnerable and ordinary scared girl, and who is definitely more human confronted with this new knowledge which was an interesting juxtaposition. I suspect that this will be explored further in future books about Ellie’s evolution which I will definitely look out for.
I think Moulton’s grasp of Reapers and Archangels was well thought out and imagined. However, I wished we got more of their backstory instead of the brief glimpses. I also did find at times that Ellie’s torn feelings of trying to maintain a normal teen life was a bit frustrating, not because she has to, but she seems to dismiss and ignore the danger she was in. She definitely seem to verge on too stupid to live moments once or twice.
I also found that her father’s anger and growing outbursts throughout the book hints at something more but I wished this was explained more because it was too vague and the subplot was ignored later in the second half of the book, when Ellie and Will go off on a trip to stop the reapers gaining advantage.
The romance, however was a highlight of the book. It never overpowers the book and like Ellie’s regaining her knowledge and memories of her past, the love story compliments the action and adds to the emotional growth. I do have to say the twist at the end of the book especially the repercussion it has to Will and Ellie’s future relationship was great! And I did not expect to see that.
Angelfire is a great start to a series. It has a lot of potential that focuses a lot more on adventure and action instead of a angsty romance, although it does provide a great love story. I know there is a slew of books right now that feature angels and demons but if you fancy something that is more action packed with a capable and likable heroine then Angelfire is definitely one I would recommend.
Recommended Angelfire is the first book in the Angelfire trilogy. The main character, Ellie, is portrayed as a normal teenage girl, with average grades and a group of close friends. Soon, she meets Will who she feels that she has known for a very long time. As the story unfolds, Ellie’s powers begin to get stronger. The reader finds out that Will is Ellie’s guardian angel and that Ellie has been reincarnated in many bodies since ancient times. Ellie and Will are very close and hints of romance are sprinkled throughout the story. They have to fight evil in order to prevent Satan from building up an army to destroy humanity. Characters such as the Vir, Enshi, Ragnuk, Lucien and Bastien are part of Satan’s plan to bring human souls into the Grim.Ellie has been indestructible throughout time and as she grows older she begins to remember snippets of her previous life. However, Satan is getting stronger and if the Enshi are released, Ellie may be destroyed and her soul will forever be lost. One part of Ellie are her action packed adventures, and the other side of Ellie is the struggle to remain normal and hang out with her friends. There is a lot to keep track of in this first book. Many characters are introduced, with several story lines going on. There are a lot of biblical references like the archangels Gabriel and Michael, the Nephilim who were on earth but were wiped out of existence by God (when Noah built his ark). For the reader that can keep up, the plotline is rather exciting. The reader is hoping for a romantic connection between Ellie and Will. As they get to know each other better, some complications arise and the reader has to wait for the next book to see what happens.This is a Michigan author, so it was exciting that the story was set in Bloomfield Hills. The girls drove to Detroit, Pontiac, West Bloomfield and Commerce Township. I think that local connection will appeal to readers at our Bloomfield Hills school ☺ Even better, they go shopping at Somerset! I think this book will appeal to girls who enjoy other paranormal novels. There are references to drinking, sex and some profanity. But nothing really inappropriate for maybe 7th (?) – 12th grade. I would promote this with a Michigan authors display, a paranormal display. The references to angels and the bible are well researched and seem accurate. There were some reader reviews that were not very positive because of the writing. This is the authors first book, and most people would read this for entertainment value (not literary value). But I found it to be very readable. The action was gripping and the romantic element made it exciting. So overall, I enjoyed it and I would recommend it to public and school libraries as additional purchases.
My fingers squeezed the cool, familiar helves as the scents of silver and old blood flooded my heightened senses.The swords felt right in my grasp, like hugging an old friend.The monster began to circle me, growling low and releasing an unearthly hiss. Its eyes were bottomless pits of blackness set deep into its deformed, terrible skull. I stared right back into those eyes without fear or hesitation.I moved with the creature so that it was never at my back, and in a voice that did not seem my own I challenged the beast: “Come for me.”
Plagued with nightmares of monsters and death, Ellie finds herself face to face with Will, who claims that he has been her Guardian for five-hundred years and that she is the Preliator, the only one keeping the balance in favor of good and away from the evil determined to bring on the next Apocalypse. Together they must stop the reapers before they find the key to destroying Eliie, forever.
I am on the fence about this book, I am unable to decide if liked or disliked it. This series has the potential to be really intriguing, and it is nice to see more female leads that are strong. Ellie is still growing as a character, so she has not completely reached her strength yet and I look forward to seeing how she develops. Will, her guardian and love interest, sometimes put me in the mind of Edward from the Twilight series. I also thought that some of the male characters are just creepy. The most compelling thing about this book was the action scenes, and the creativity that Moulton put into creating such kick-ass sequences was incredible. I could have done without a few things, such as Will repeatedly saying, "I'm your Guardian" and such. However, overall this book would appeal more to the teen audience.
Plagued with nightmares of monsters and death, Ellie finds herself face to face with Will, who claims that he has been her Guardian for five-hundred years and that she is the Preliator, the only one keeping the balance in favor of good and away from the evil determined to bring on the next Apocalypse. Together they must stop the reapers before they find the key to destroying Eliie, forever.
I am on the fence about this book, I am unable to decide if liked or disliked it. This series has the potential to be really intriguing, and it is nice to see more female leads that are strong. Ellie is still growing as a character, so she has not completely reached her strength yet and I look forward to seeing how she develops. Will, her guardian and love interest, sometimes put me in the mind of Edward from the Twilight series. I also thought that some of the male characters are just creepy. The most compelling thing about this book was the action scenes, and the creativity that Moulton put into creating such kick-ass sequences was incredible. I could have done without a few things, such as Will repeatedly saying, "I'm your Guardian" and such. However, overall this book would appeal more to the teen audience.
When I originally heard of this book, I had saw a fan's rendition of the way they thought Will would look. I was immediately drawn to his green illuminated eyes and before reading anything else I decided I HAD to read this book because I wanted to know who this character was. And low and behold, I wasn't disappointed. All the characters in this book were easy to connect with and made me keep wanting to know about everything they were doing. Overall, this was a great debut from Moulton. She has a great writing style that allowed for easy reading and a clear understanding of all the information in the story. Her writing also allows for the easy connection to all the characters. I also enjoyed the fact that the stereotypical things you see in YA books were nonexistent. There was no love triangle (she handled Landon the RIGHT way) and there was no "insta-love." It took awhile before Will and Ellie kissed. The only thing that was close to the YA stereotype was the forbidden love, but the fact that Will actually was willing to take heed on it and didn't just say "Oh forget it," like in many of the others, it made me happy. Another thing I loved about her writing was the fact that it was action packed. I was hooked to the book because of the non-stop action throughout the story. I mean there was a reaper fight in almost every scene. (The boat scene and her birthday party scene.......OMG I was wide eyed the entire time!) The only thing I did not like about the book, was the fact that Ellie seemed sooooo naiive. All these things were happening to her yet she still couldn't believe what she was. And then all these things were happening to her yet she still wasn't trying her hardest to fight. She was relying on memories to help guide her to fight. I would've been trying to practice alllllll the time. Especially if I had things like reapers big as minivans coming after me. I just found it awkward that she didn't care as much. But overall, this book was amazing. Now I'm on the hunt to find the next book in the series, "Wings of the Wicked," because my library doesn't have it. I recommend this to anyone that may have a love for angel books but cannot find a good one.
Ellie has nightmares of fighting strange creatures. As it turns out Ellie is a reincarnated soul that battles demons. When she dies in one life she is reborn in new one. She is allowed to come to the age of 17 where she should “reawaken” and remember her purpose as well as her previous lives.Ellie was away longer than usual before being born. She also isn’t reawakening. Her “guardian angel” Will, is able to “wake her up”, but her memory of previous lives is very slow to return…as are her demon hunting killing skills. Ellie is also fighting her purpose…after so many human lives she is reticent to give up her humanity to fight demons full time. Then, there are the feelings she is developing for Will. UGH! Why does life have to be so hard?I’ve had this book since it came out and for the life of me I can’t figure out what took me so long to read it! It’s one of those “sit down and hold on” roller coaster rides that I read in one glorious sitting. Lots of action (demon killing), lots of unrequited love, and lots of new angel mythology.I loved the idea of Ellie being reincarnated and allowed to come of age before her past was reawakened in her. What a neat concept. It reminded me of “Incarnate” by Jodi Meadows, except that Jodi’s characters remembered their previous lives from birth. I also can appreciate a strong female lead character, even though Ellie is so torn between her human side and her “purpose”. I think she tries to do a good job of balancing, even though some people around her think her human side is a weakness.Then there is Will and his being bound to protect and serve Ellie even when he totally disagrees with her choices. He manages to compromise and create balance as well. And it’s that balance that allows them to work so well together. But then after working together for like 600 years, I would think they would have the whole thing down pat.I look forward to see where Moulton goes with the next installment. Still lots of questions about why Ellie took so long to reincarnate and she still isn’t remembering everything. Also…what do the demons have planned and what the hell is up with Ellie’s Dad?!?!?
Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton is an incredible debut novel that sets up what is sure to be an exciting series. Ellie, our heroine, is a well-adjusted, financially well-off teenager... or so she thinks. Once her power is awakened, strange things begin happening to Ellie, and poor Marshmallow (her car) always seems to catch the crap end of her battles with the reapers. Her mother is incredibly supportive and very rational. She's the kind of mother that every teenager wants, but no teenager has. Her father, however, is a nightmare.Ellie's friends are believable and funny, and even though they have no idea what is going on with her, they still try to be supportive. Kate and Ellie's friendship is displayed wonderfully throughout the novel, but even though Kate has been Ellie's best friend since Ellie was born, Will is the only person who really knows her. Will is her protector, and he has been with her for thousands of years. He knows Ellie better than she knows herself, and because of him, she is able to continue her fight to protect humanity.Angelfire is one of those novels that I lost myself in. I could not put it down either time that I read it. Ellie grows as a character, and by the end of the book, I felt that she was actually comfortable in her own skin. Her relationships with her friends, family, and Will also change over the course of the story, and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens with them next. While the novel ends nicely, and there are no obvious cliffhangers, there are still some questions left unanswered. Throughout the whole book, there were hints that something is amiss with Ellie's father, but that question wasn't answered in Angelfire. I hope that it's answered in Wings of the Wicked, which is due out on January 31, 2012.
If you are looking for a book with a kick butt heroine and a whole lot of heart-pumping action, then this is the book for you!I’ve really wanted to read Angelfire for a while now, and I’m glad that I didn’t wait any longer because it was FABULOUS!The story starts out with Ellie just trying to live and have a normal teenager’s life. Problem is, she’s tormented every night by horrific, VERY realistic nightmares, and her parents are really worried about her. They’ve even sent her to counseling because Ellie’s nightmares have caused major dysfunction in their home.One day, when Ellie is at school she sees a boy who looks oddly familiar to her, and who is…ahem, *cough, cough*…TOTALLY HOT! Anyways, this TOTALLY HOT boy (Will) seems to be everywhere. And then one night, after her parents get into a huge fight (right after midnight and is now her birthday), Ellie wanders outside their home to get some fresh air and…surprise…she stumbles into HOT Will!Will turns out to be Ellie’s HOT guardian angelic reaper, and he tells her that every time she dies, she’s reincarnated into a new human body. And each time she’s reincarnated, Will MUST always find her again in order to protect her. But why?! It’s because Ellie is a serious, kick-butt demon fighter, and she’s the only human who can produce the demonfire (out of two wicked swords) necessary to kill the demon reapers who prey on human souls! Doesn’t that rock?And after reading this totally awesome book, I’m MORE than a little excited to pick up my copy of Wings of the Wicked because I think that’s going to rock too!
Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton has been on my TBR pile forever! I kept putting the ebook on hold at the library, receiving it, then not having time to read it due to internship/dissertation/review ARCs, etc. I finally made sure to clear some room in my schedule so I could get to this one and I'm glad I did. :DAngelfire is the kind of book that's great for fans of fantasy series with a romantic angle. There's a lot going on in Angelfire, from the angel mythology, fatal monsters and fight scenes, hot guys, a divine mission to save souls and, of course, high school drama. I often think that books like this aren't particularly skilled at integrating the whole I-want-to-be-a-normal-teen aspect, but Angelfire does. Ellie's high school friends and scenes get quite a bit of page time. Enough for me to feel a connection to those characters without taking away from the rest of the plot.The plot is pretty high stakes too. It's a classic "Save the world, one soul at a time," type thing...and, oh, by the way, the bad guys have finally found a way to defeat the awesome good guy (or in this case, girl). It was a race to the finish to find out which side would complete their mission first. Could the bad guys release the ultimate evil or could the good guys dispose of it before the bad guys got a chance? Good stuff.There are also some random things in the book that brought a true smile to my face. First off, Marshmallow? That's just about the coolest car name ever. Especially because of the description of the car. It fits. Second, any author who can make a Super Trooper reference is good in my book. If you don't know what I'm talking about, shame on you.Overall, Angelfire was an enjoyable read. I'm excited to continue the story with Wings of the Wicked.Final thoughts: Borrow.
Recently I've finally read some of the books that have been sitting on my shelf for a while, but that I just hadn't had the chance to get to, and I'm really wishing that I'd picked some of these books up earlier! Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton is most definitely one of those books! It was probably my favourite book that I read this summer!I really loved all of the characters in this book. I felt like there was such an amazing, diverse cast of characters that were a lot of fun to read about. I really liked Ellie's friends and the way that they interacted with one another. They seemed like normal teenagers who liked to have fun a goof around and I felt like they allowed Ellie to keep that little bit of normalcy in her life, which I really liked.As I just mentioned, one of the things that I liked about Ellie was the fact the she tried to keep at least some aspect of her life normal. She was pretty much thrown into a world of fighting Reapers and I think that over all she handled this huge shift in her life quite well. I fell like she was a really strong character and the way she handled his giant change was just one of the many ways that she demonstrated her strength. Outside of the whole Reaper hunting thing, I also felt like Ellie was a pretty relatable character, which is definitely something that I look for in a book. If I can't relate to a character in at least some way, I can find it difficult to for a connection with the character, but this was not an issue at all with Ellie. Ah, Will. I'm not quite sure why, but I really have a thing for guys in books named Will. Don't ask me why, I just do and Angelfire's Will was no different. One of the many reasons that I liked him, as I'm sure is also the case for many others who have read this book, was the fact that he was hot. What can I say, I love a hot love interest! But he also had a ton of other qualities that I really loved as well. First and foremost, he was so loyal and caring towards Ellie, he literally lives only for her and is willing to do whatever it takes to keep her safe and alive, while at the same time helping her accomplish what she is meant to do. His loyalty towards his job as her guardian is also one of his flaws, I think. He has to put Ellie's life above all else and is willing to sacrifice his own, and even Ellie's, happiness to do so, which kind of sucked.As a whole, Angelfire was an awesome book! Probably one of my favourites of the whole summer! Courtney's writing was great, the plot was fast paced and exciting, and I really loved all of the characters! I honestly can't wait to get my hands on the sequel and see where Will and Ellie's relationship goes as well as what's in store in the Reaper-hunting department. If you haven't read Angelfire I would definitely recommend picking it up, I loved it and I hope that you will too!
'Angelfire' is a killer debut novel. Going in to this book I didn't know what to expect. All I knew is that it had to do with reapers which is pretty darn awesome, so I dived right in.It's about a girl named Ellie and a guy named Will. Ellie is one of the best heroines I've ever read about, she is the reincarnation of an ancient warrior and every time she dies, she just gets born again. I just loved her, she was kinda amazing. Now, onto Will, I loved Will also. I think I loved every single character in 'Angelfire'. They were all so amazing!The story was just so original! Have you ever heard of a book about reapers? I know I hadn't before 'Angelfire'. The plot will keep you on the edge of your seat. The action in the book was just enough to grasp the attention of the male audience, while the romance will keep the females attention.The writing for me wasn't anything special, but when the writing didn't keep my attention the plot and characters did.I will most definitely be picking up anything else Moulton writes, and so should all of you 'cause it's truly amazing awesomeness. Mostly.
This book bored me and I couldn't slog through to the end. Though it does get a bonus point for mentioning my hometown, Commerce Twp., Michigan and having the main character live in Bloomfield Hills, MI. Not enough YA characters live in Michigan and that is a FACT! But the book was like eating cardboard and expecting it to taste like chocolate. Just my personal opinion.
Ellie is having nightmares every night. Nightmares she pretends to her parents have gone away. Nightmares of monsters, terrifying creatures attacking her.Now, with the appearance of 'just call me Will," a mysterious boy who seems to show up out of nowhere, Ellie's nightmares seems to be coming to life. At first she's able to convince herself the nightmares are sill just that, dreams but soon she has to face that fact that they're actually happening.Will hasn't started appearing in her nightmares, her nightmares have become real. Will, a teen boy she feels like she already knows awakens an ancient power inside Ellie.Ellie is more than just a wealthy teenage girl shopping for designer dresses for her seventeenth birthday party and anxiously awaiting the new car she's going to get for said birthday. The car isn't the only thing Ellie's going to get on her birthday--Will is also going to return her powers on her birthday. Powers that will awaken lifetimes of memories reminding her how she's the one powerful enough to kill the creatures lurking in the dark lately, the same ones from her nightmares. The ones that happen to be very, very real.Angelfire has a lot of lore in it (think season five and six of Supernatural, maybe) which--for whatever reason-is making it hard for me to summarize . . .It's really kind of great because of that, though, because it takes an average girl, a la Buffy, who enjoys being popular and spending time with her friends, throws in this mysterious, kind of enchanting supernatural-y guy with big news of 'you're not exactly average.'Then now-not-so-average-girl has to figure out being the one girl who can fight these big nasty things with being the fun teenage girl with friends and things to do. All this while trying to learn this ins and outs of the world no one else knows exists, who's the biggest bad and how to stop them from killing her and Mr Mysterious Guy . . . who just might present romance potential.See, kind of like Buffy in the big points. But really different when reading/watching :)I really liked that Ellie was a fun girl who loved her pretty dresses and parties while this was a supernatural book. It might just be my reading choices but a lot of books seem to have girls that are able to fight (even with powers given to them) hate fashion or anything girly.The evil beings having hierarchy and names, etc. reminded me of Supernatural here, but I loved it because a) I love Supernatural (hey, I do!) and b) it helped me keep some of it straight--I'm really hoping some of this is recapped in book two because I don't know if I'll remember all of it!One aspect of the story also had me really wanting to rewatch a certain season of Angel!While I have compared this book (or at least parts of it) to Buffy, Supernatural, and Angel, don't think that Angelfire is only a mash-up of existent paranormal TV shows put into book form. Angelfire is still very original and highly creative. In fact, if you enjoy any of those TV shows, you've lucked out because now there's a book series you'll enjoy!Really looking forward to book 2 in this series!
A super dark and intense debut packed with lots of action, mystery and fantasy elements. Angelfire isn’t your average angel story, it’s captivating and debut author, Courtney Allison Moulton takes on mythology with a riveting plot.The author has created an eerie and alluring world of angel’s, demons and reincarnation. It’s so engrossing; I found it hard to put down. The plot isn’t original but the contents and quality of the writing is and what stood out to me most was the action. The action can be described as being very intense, rapid and descriptive. I liked the character developments. Ellie is a strong protagonist that can really kick butt. When she meets Will, a boy who holds the secrets to her past, her life is changed drastically. Ellie is a Preliator, a mortal who has the power to kill reapers. Although at times, she finds herself wishing to be a normal teenager. Ellie undergoes a transformation as her powers awakens, as she starts understanding her purpose in life she becomes stronger, powerful and determined to fulfil her destiny. Despite being a Preliator, she refuses to give up her humanity. Will is attractive, charming and also, Ellie’s guardian. He’s a great guy and is completely faithful to Ellie; he sticks around and comforts her when she is down. Will also has great fighting skills; he challenges Ellie and cares deeply about her too. Together he and Ellie, stop the evil that is threatening to end the world.The attraction between Will and Ellie is undeniable but also forbidden because he is her guardian but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t any entertaining parts. I’m excited to see how their relationship develops in the future.The story itself was just so engrossing, be sure to read it! Despite this book being super fantastic, there are still many unanswered questions, so be sure to look out for the second installment, Wings of the Wicked. Rating: 5 out of 5
"It's never easy to be chosen, never easy to be called...I can see the writing on the wall, I can't ignore this war, at the end of it all, who am I living for?" (-Who Am I Living For by Katy Perry). Life. Death. Life. Ellie has been fighting the same war for centuries now, as the reincarnation of a fierce ancient warrior. Life and death, it's been the same cycle over and over again, until now. Adrenaline and action everywhere, I took Angelfire in with hunger and excitement, full with the utmost love for this book.Let me set this down on the table--er, blog--Ellie is a kick and bad ass character. I rooted for her from the beginning to the end. She is someone who can use her head--and two bad ass khopesh swords--and she's one who will never give up. If any of the reapers messed with her, they'd be in heaps of trouble. She can kick their ugly reaper butt, literally. While Ellie has such a big responsibility as the Preliator, she ends up falling for Will. Now come on, who wouldn't? Sexy, tough, gorgeous, sexyyy... Will has the traits of a kick butt partner and at the same times, those of a great love interest. It's hard to be the protector of an ancient warrior who reincarnates all the time, having to find her all over again and at the same time fall in love with her. Their relationship was in sync and it developed at the right pace, that I totally relaxed and was satisfied about it. Great partners and great lovers. Being able to kick butt comes with a lot of action. Sometimes, action scenes are really hard to put down into words, just the way you want it to be. Country Allison Moulton got past that and delivered the most visual and detailed descriptions of the fighting scenes. You could practically hear Ellie's khopesh swords swipe the reaper or hear Will's knuckles come in contact with a reaper's jaw. Hell yeah, that's epic. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that the action scenes were WAYY EPIC.This is one of the best debuts I've read. Remarkable plot, writing, and characters, Angelfire and Courtney Allison Moulton deserve all the love I have for this book. I hope the next book matches up, if not tops, this one.
Angelfire... wow!!! I loved this book! I loved these characters. I was so happy that Ellie was a strong-minded independant character. And Will... wow... he's just great!! I love him! He's not the typical YA paranormal character and has his own sustenance. The action scenes are always in the right spots and so well detailed, I felt part of it! It did remind me a bit of Mortal Instruments but not to the extent that it felt a carbon copy. It's hard to write a YA paranormal romance novel these days without crossing the lines or concepts of others as they are all so similar. But, I still felt Angelfire was a standout and I will be counting the days until the sequel is out. Also, if you haven't done so, check out the official website because the illustrations and gorgeous!!
Angelfire throws us right into action within the first few chapters which I love, like I always mention. Courtney writes natural and realistic fight scenes. The fight scenes were my second favorite scenes, nothing can out beat make-out scenes.Courtney described situations using real life examples, such as using the T-rex in Jurassic Park the movie to describe the way an animal growls and moves. This way, many scenes or situations were easy to understand and picture. Many quotes she wrote reminded me of things I used to say in high school and other things were just hilarious.Will…gorgeous, gorgeous Will! He is the one of the best love interests out there in the young adult world! Will and Ellie are perfect together. Of course they have their ups and downs, confusion, and morals seem to get in the way often.The only problem I found with Angelfire was the world Courtney built for us was confusing to me at times. Many times I thought about re-reading portions of the book before I moved on. I didn’t because I thought in my head “I shouldn’t have to re-read paragraphs, I should be able to understand on the first read.” Courtney has a great imagination to come up with this world and the creatures were new and exciting. This could only be me that had this problem, but of course I had to mention it. By the end of the book, I did understand the world more.I still have many questions rolling around in my mind about this book and I cannot wait to have them (hopefully!) answered in the second book.