Send Me An Angel--highlighted reviews

As an Agent of Death, Madeline Black is responsible for escorting the souls of the dearly departed to the afterlife. It's a 24/7 job with a lousy benefits package.

Maddy's position may come with magical powers and an impressive wingspan, but it doesn't pay the bills. And then there are her infuriating boss, tenant woes, and a cranky, popcorn-loving gargoyle to contend with.

Things start looking up, though, when tall, dark, and handsome Gabriel Angeloscuro agrees to rent the empty apartment in Maddy's building. It's probably just a coincidence that as soon as he moves in demons appear on the front lawn. But when an unholy monster is unleashed upon the streets of Chicago, Maddy discovers powers she never knew she possessed. Powers linked to a family legacy of tarnished halos.
Black Wings has been on my radar for a while and I finally got to it. This was a quick, enjoyable read. I could certainly tell it is the first of a series as well as one of Christina Henry's earlier novels.  I've read later works in her twist on Alice in Wonderland. She continues to hone her craft.

There was enough 'meat' to this first book, development of an arc and great tension for the romantic relationship that I will definitely pick up the rest of the series.

Final rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Archangel's Enigma is the 8th in Singh's Guild Hunter series.  She continues to build upon the rising tension as Archangel Lijuan plots to kill the Ancient Alexander.

Naasir is the most feral of the powerful group of vampires and angels known as the Seven, his loyalty pledged to the Archangel Raphael. When rumors surface of a plot to murder the former Archangel of Persia, now lost in the Sleep of the Ancients, Naasir is dispatched to find him. For only he possesses the tracking skills required - those more common to predatory animals than to man.

Enlisted to accompany Naasir, Andromeda, a young angelic scholar with dangerous secrets is fascinated by his nature - at once playful and brilliant, sensual and brutal. As they race to find the Sleeping archangel before it's too late, Naasir will force her to question all she knows...and tempt her to walk into the magnificent, feral darkness of his world. But before they can give into their newly developed feelings, they'll have to face unparalleled dangers as the power balance in throughout the world continues to shift.

I really enjoyed this book because they narrative was compelling as was the character development. It is a try mystery/thriller with the addition of romance but was not overtly focused on so much of the sexual dynamic between the potential couple. Sure, the tension and banter is there but there are more important tasks to focus on throughout the journey.

And what an ending!

Final rating: 4 out of 5 stars

REVIEW: A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir

Elias and Laia are running for their lives. After the events of An Ember in the Ashes, soldiers hunt the two fugitives as they flee the city of Serra and undertake a perilous journey through the heart of the Empire.

Laia remains determined to break into Kauf—the Empire’s most secure and dangerous prison—to save her brother, who is the key to the Scholars’ survival. And Elias is determined to help Laia succeed, even if it means giving up his last chance at freedom.

But dark forces, human and otherworldly, work against them. The pair must fight to outsmart their enemies: the bloodthirsty Emperor Marcus, the merciless Commandant, the sadistic Warden of Kauf, and, most heartbreaking of all, Helene—Elias’s former friend and the Empire’s newest Blood Shrike.

I enjoyed this second book. Tahir seems to hit a narrative stride with the pacing and multiple stories developing.  The characters show depth not always found in YA fiction. I particularly found the addition of Helene's voice as Blood Shrike compelling. 

What is most interesting to me is the artful blend of ancient Roman and Middle Eastern influence. I am very intrigued by where the series will go for the third book in 2018.

Final rating: 4 out of 5 stars

REVIEW: Hamilton--The Revolution

Lin-Manuel Miranda's groundbreaking musical Hamilton is as revolutionary for audiences since its debut.  The hip-hop infused story of a poor kid from the Caribbean who fought the British, defended the Constitution, and helped to found the United States. Fusing hip-hop, pop, R&B, and the best traditions of theater, revitalizes Broadway and brings the history of American Revolution to viewers in a far more compelling way than any of us remember enduring in school.

Hamilton is amazing on its own but I have to say it is even more compelling for me since I live in a town named after him. I've been putting off listening to and immersing myself in this musical world, but now I'm hooked. I think the experience is enhanced since I didn't listen before reading this book. I heard the musical influences more clearly having the knowledge from the book already in mind. 

Hamilton-The Revolution also puts the historical context in perspective for fans. Let's face it, learning about the American Revolution in school was a pretty dreadful and boring experience but in this incarnation, it is as exciting as it is information.

I highly recommend the audiobook as narrated by Mariska Hargitay.

Final rating: 4 out of 5 stars

REVIEW: The Lost City of Z by David Grann

For a non-nonfiction reader, The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon is right up my alley.  I love a good historical mystery based on fact and the search for a legendary city of riches speaks to my love of fantasy and classical humanities background.

Grann's narrative explores two parallel narratives. First, a glimpse into the past and one of the 20th century's greatest exploration mysteries: What happened to explorer Percy Fawcett and his quest for the lost city of Z?

In a fateful 1925 excursion, Fawcett, his son and his crew travel deep into the Amazon hoping to discover an ancient lost civilization, rumored to be El Dorado. Thousands before them had died in such a pursuit; however, Fawcett believed he had the scientific facts for success. Never returning, their disappearance is one of explorations' greatest enigmas. Did they perish from disease or another environmental woe? Or, were they killed and/or held captive by an Indian tribe?

Shifting to his own quest for truth, Grann chronicles his own exploration into a treasure trove of diaries and other writings as he embarks on his own journey for answers to this mystery. Readers will be compelled from start to finish as we discover what truths Grann finds along the way.

Overall, I enjoyed this work if a bit long.  If I'm going to read nonfiction, this is the kind I crave. I kept imagining a lost Indiana Jones movie and how Harrison Ford would have ventured through the jungle, escaped multiple dangers and discovered the city only to have to hide its existence once again to save the world from utter destruction! (A bit like Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull but not awful!)

Final rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Follow the author on Twitter: @DavidGrann



#lostcityofz #eldorado #mystery #nonfiction #exploration #history

REVIEW: Sword in the Stacks by Jen Swann Downey

*Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for a fair review*

Expected publication: June 7, 2016

Sword in the Stacks is the second in the juvenile/tween fiction Ninja Librarians series.  Dorrie and her brother, Marcus, have been recruited as apprentices to the Petrarch Library. They'll train to become Lybrarians, a secret society that transcend time and space in order to protect the world from nefarious forces.  The apprentices balance their classwork while assisting the Lybrarians in their quest to find a missing key that might destroy their fortress and place foe, the Foundation, in power.

Dorrie soon learns that a training expedition to 1912 London brings her dangerously close to the enemy and is determined to spy and help the cause; however, any misstep might lead the villains right to the people and places she and her friends are determined to protect.

A drawback is that the series and individual book title are misleading based on what actually transpired throughout the narrative. The cover is eye catching but there aren't actually any ninjas and swordplay is occurs in just a fraction of the story--I can't speak for the first entry in the series. While appealing, readers might experience some letdown if they are hoping for stealthy ninjas. The writing and world building are engaging and deceptively sneaky (which I love). Readers learn about historical figures and events in a fun and creative way.

Check out ALA's Intellectual Freedom Blog for my upcoming post about the book's connection to the larger conversation regarding intellectual freedom.

Overall, this is a cute book for middle grade readers (grades 5 thru 8). There is a great sense of adventure and mystery plus a good deal of humor which will appeal to many young readers. Any history buff or library lover will get a kick out of the premise. I remain of the mindset that anyone who knows a librarians and what we do would consider us superheros and this book does just that. I'd recommend this as a read-a-like for anyone who loved the Magic Tree House or Time Spies books as a younger reader or who enjoy Rick Riordan or even Ink & Bone by Rachel Caine.

Final rating: 3.75/5 stars

Follow the author on Twitter: @jenswanndowney



#ninjalibrarians #swordinthestacks #intellectualfreedom #libraries #middleschool #adventure #humor #history #netgalley

REVIEW: Bomb: The Race to Build and Steal the World's Most Dangerous Weapon

In 1938, a German chemist made a surprising discovery, that atoms split when placed next to radioactive material. Bomb: The Race to Build - and Steal - the World's Most Dangerous Weapon, by Steve Sheinkin, explores how this discovery launched the scientific race which spanned three continents and forever changed the face of weapon capability and warfare.

This title is more than deserving of its accolades.  Bomb was a 2012 finalist for the National Book Awards in Young People's Literature as well as the 2012 Washington Post Best Kids Book of the Year. It also received a 2013 Newbery Honor.

What I found most profound about this book was its writing style.  Typically, non-fiction titles for any age can steer toward dry and boring prose.  However, Sheinkin presents the events is an accessible, fast paced and compelling narrative format. The story-like quality has readers clamouring for more as they seek to discover the conclusion to all the plotting, risk-taking and deceit. This really is an intriguing read for grades 5 thru adult. I recommend the print book but also enjoyed the audiobook narrated by Roy Samuelson.

Final rating: 5 out of 5 stars




#YAlit #nonfiction #history #science #WWII #warfare