Angelology by Danielle Trussoni

Imagine, if you will, that the story in Genesis of children born to fallen angels and human women was true: after one passing reference in the Bible, these "giants," called Nephilim, disappeared from view. Or did they? Danielle Trussoni's Angelology explores the nefarious influence the Nephilim have had on history since the Flood, killing and oppressing with wanton and inhuman cruelty. To combat their hold on human civilization, scholars have obsessively studied the Nephilim, forming angelological societies dedicated to freeing humanity from Nephilistic control. At the center of this struggle is the Lyre of Orpheus, which originally belonged to Michael the Archangel, and which was given to the fallen angels in their prison beneath the Rhodopes Mountains in the Balkans. This celestial instrument has the power to manipulate matter, and in the hands of the Nephilim, it could cause unimaginable destruction. It's up to one young woman, a nun in a convent in upstate New York and heir to a long heritage of angelological families, to piece together the puzzle of the lyre's whereabouts and prevent the Nephilim from realizing their own devices.

I was very intrigued by the premise of the novel, and found myself quickly engrossed. The style and the narrative structure, making much use of flashbacks and epistolary features, are quite reminiscent of Elizabeth Kostova's novels, particularly The Historian. Ultimately, however, the climax of the novel feels rushed and the reader isn't given sufficient detail to clearly follow the final events. Points of view switch with abandon and there are no markers to guide the reader through the pivotal last pages of the story. That being said, if you prefer your books with nebulous finales and like to imagine for yourself the ultimate outcome, this book may be a good candidate for your list. Trussoni's world is fully realized and features compelling characters--for the most part.

The Heroes of Olympus, Book One: The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan

For those of you out there who have read the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan, this new continuation of those books was one I couldn't pass up. I really enjoyed the updating of the Greek mythos by transplanting the gods and demigods to America, and the positive life lessons and encouragement Riordan gives to his young readers as he addresses topics like ADHD, dyslexia, and self-image.

That being said, The Lost Hero picks up a few months after the end of the Titan War as recounted in The Last Olympian, the final book in the Percy Jackson series--though we don't know that at the start. The book opens with a teenage boy named Jason awaking in a school bus surrounded by people he doesn't know. Oh, and he's got complete amnesia, and only knows his own name because the girl sitting next to him claim's she his girlfriend, and the guy across from her is supposedly his best friend. After being attacked by vengeful wind spirits, Jason, Piper, and Leo are transported to Camp Half-Blood, where Jason discovers he and his friends feature in a new Great Prophecy, and that while his fellow campers are Greek demigods, he may be the offspring of the Roman incarnation of a particular deity. The kids race across the States to accomplish their task, each wrangling with their own inner struggles as they attempt to fulfill their destiny. Did I mention that Percy Jackson is missing? Uh oh.

This book is amazing. Riordan really outdid himself in expanding his universe and deepening the mystery of his earlier Percy Jackson novels. Bringing out the Roman side of the Greek gods and goddesses was also a stroke of genius, allowing for an even more complicated picture of the interaction between the gods and mortals. I particularly enjoyed the teens' visit to Quebec City, given that I lived there for a while, and note that the cover depicts the Chateau Frontenac in Old Town Quebec, where a certain god of the winds has set up residence in the penthouse suite.

All in all, an excellent read, particularly for fans of Greek mythology and those who enjoyed the Percy Jackson books.

Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

I've been eagerly awaiting this book--the second in a projected quartet called The Caster Chronicles--since I read the first volume, Beautiful Creatures, back over the summer. I was so eager, in fact, that when I arrived at the Union Station Barnes & Noble, the booksellers had yet to put the books out on the shelves. It was, after all, the first day the book was available for purchase.

The books are set in a sleep Southern town in South Carolina, where the grits are cheesy and the people wave Confederate flags, and everything is always the same. Ethan Wate, the youngest scion of a family that's been holed up in the same town for generations, dreams of getting away until he meets Lena Duchannes, a mysterious girl who's come to live with her creepy uncle, the town's resident social pariah and enigma. As Ethan and Lena begin a relationship, Ethan learns more and more about Lena and her uncle's secrets, the town's shady history, and his own family's closeted skeletons. With endearing characters, vivid settings, and an original "universe" (for the fantasy/sci-fi novice, that refers to the rules and conventions of a fictional world), readers get sucked into Ethan and Lena's lives and find themselves thinking about this unlikely couple even when the book is finished.

Like I said, I was super excited for Beautiful Darkness to come out. So, did it live up to my expectations? Definitely. Plenty of surprises, twists, and unexpected appearances made this next book a thrilling and exceptional read. For those who have read Beautiful Creatures, some people we thought were dead aren't--or aren't exactly. Other characters who we thought we understood aren't quite all they previously appeared. And the secrets of Gatlin have only gotten deeper and more impenetrable. No more spoilers!

A Must Read for everyone, particularly if you haven't gotten into this series yet. Pick up Beautiful Creatures and get your rear in gear!