Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton -- Review

Title: Angelfire

Author: Courtney Allison Moulton

Hardcover, 464 pages

Published February 15th 2011 by HarperCollins / Katherine Tegen Books

Series Angelfire #1

Characters: Nathaniel, Kate, Ivar, Lauren, Bastian, Will, Geir, Ragnuk, Cadan, Ellie Monroe

Setting: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

Speical Note: ARC/Galley Review 

Plot:

This debut, the first novel in a trilogy, is achingly romantic, terrifying, and filled with blistering action.

When seventeen-year-old Ellie starts seeing reapers - monstrous creatures who devour humans and send their souls to Hell - she finds herself on the front lines of a supernatural war between archangels and the Fallen and faced with the possible destruction of her soul.

A mysterious boy named Will reveals she is the reincarnation of an ancient warrior, the only one capable of wielding swords of angelfire to fight the reapers, and he is an immortal sworn to protect her in battle. Now that Ellie's powers have been awakened, a powerful reaper called Bastian has come forward to challenge her. He has employed a fierce assassin to eliminate her - an assassin who has already killed her once.

While balancing her dwindling social life and reaper-hunting duties, she and Will discover Bastian is searching for a dormant creature believed to be a true soul reaper. Bastian plans to use this weapon to ignite the End of Days and to destroy Ellie's soul, ending her rebirth cycle forever. Now, she must face an army of Bastian's most frightening reapers, prevent the soul reaper from consuming her soul, and uncover the secrets of her past lives - including truths that may be too frightening to remember.

My Thoughts:

OMG is Ellie a bad ass! She helps define strong female YA protagonist. I can't tell you how many books I've read lately with a supposedly "strong" female character. but she only turns out being snarky. Not the sword wielding, reaper slaying chick that Ellie is. She will decapitate a reaper in a minute, just saying. LOL

Now, let's talk about Will. *Sigh* He's awesome. Stoic. Strong. Most importantly HAWT. He comes on the scene like most of our typical YA fantasy/paranormal make love interests--all mysterious like, but there are a few things that distinguish him from the pack. Number one, like Rose and Demetri in Vampire Academy, Will is Ellie's trainer AND he's older, which adds a little forbidden tension in it's self. Two: he's tatted. The only YA guy I can think of off hand--that I love--is seth from the Wicked Lovely series. And he might have only been human, but he was a very swoon worthy one. Will is definitely a guy I want to read more about.

The relationship between Ellie and Will is intense. There where so many times I could just feel how much they wanted to kiss each other and didn't, which is a huge part of the reason I finished this one in two days. I wanted them to admit their feelings for each other. Also, I was hooked by the mystery of where they lovers in one of Ellie's past lives or maybe even all of them. I won't give away what happens there, because that might ruin for those of you that hate spoilers. LOL

The only issue I had with novel was Ellie went from normal teen girl, worrying about designer clothes and cars, to an angelfire sword swinging reaper death machine pretty quick. But I guess, in her defense, if I had reapers, which are basically demonic beasts, trying to kill me I'd let instinct take over, too. Her memory comes back in flashes, so there are a TON of flashbacks. Flashbacks help back up why is is suddenly able to remember her power--other than Will just touching her forehead and bringing a little back at a time--but there where so many. Sometimes they pulled me away from the current story. Seems like they may be important for upcoming novels though.

Over all I gave this one 5 stars on Goodreads. I just had too. Any book that makes me negate sleep earns that one. So read this one if you like older love interests, TONS of action, and a little forbidden romance!! I personally can't wait for book 2!! Kudos on an awesome book Courtney!!