Review: World After by Susan Ee (Penryn & the End of Days #2)

Title: World After by Susan Ee

Published: November 21^st, 2013 by Skyscape

Format: eBook

Source: Purchased for Kindle

Genre: Paranormal | Dystopian

Age group: Young adult

Grade rate: A-

When a group of people capture Penryn's sister Paige, thinking she's a monster, the situation ends in a massacre. Paige disappears. Humans are terrified. Mom is heartbroken. Penryn drives through the streets of San Francisco looking for Paige. Why are the streets so empty? Where is everybody? Her search leads her into the heart of the angels' secret plans where she catches a glimpse of their motivations, and learns the horrifying extent to which the angels are willing to go. Meanwhile, Raffe hunts for his wings. Without them, he can't rejoin the angels, can't take his rightful place as one of their leaders. When faced with recapturing his wings or helping Penryn survive, which will he choose?

My Review

Like the rest of the world I LOVED Angelfall.  It took forever to get book two, and unlike it usually happens to me with sequels, I couldn’t wait to read World After.  It was not as good as its predecessor, but good nonetheless.

Penryn is still our kick-ass hero.  Sorry, but there is no better way to describe her.  She is loyal, stubborn, strong, fearless, smart, caring; in short, she’s awesome.  After she comes back from the dead (almost literary), she is trying to reconcile her past with the crude reality of the world after the angel invasion and with Paige has become.  Nothing is getting easier for anyone, but we learned a lot about angel politics, crazy scientists, Paige, and future plans. 

Raffe (insert *sigh* here) is one hot angel.  He’s loyal to Penryn (the only one on his side) and trying to find out what the heck happen with the rest of the angels, while still wearing demon wings.  I think my disappointment with World After strives from the fact that Raffe and Penryn were NOT together for most of the book.  It seems like once they were (maybe after 2/3^rd?) the story became so much better.  

The chemistry between Penryn and Raffe is absolutely amazing!  Even if it is forbidden for an angel and a human to be together, and they are fully conscious of the fact, they can’t help what they feel.  I hope that the next books have more time of them together.

The characterization is great.  I love Dee and Dum, and their reliability to Penryn.  Penryn’s mom is still crazy (there’s no cure for her kind of crazy!), but she’s still smart and her survival skills are uncanny; also she tries to keep her daughters safe the only way she knows how. 

The plot and world building of this book is outstanding.  You don’t know what to expect or when, it’s in constant horrific motion.  This book is not for the faint of heart as the angels are even more ruthless and the mad science experiments are getting crazier by the minute. The writing is impeccable and easy to read (even when it’s not easy to digest what’s actually happening!).   

It seems like Penryn & the End of Days will be a five book series, and of course it will take years for us to know the ending, but I wish the best for Penryn, Raffe and the rest of the World After.  I can just hope that the next book won’t take two years to be published.

Some quotes for you:

“I look up to say something but he puts his finger to my lips and whispers, “Don’t talk. You’ll just spoil my fantasy of rescuing an innocent damsel in distress as soon as you open your mouth.”

“It is painful to see that people prefer a bad guy who looks like an angel to a good guy who looks like a

demon.”

“I kick him in the face point blank with my high heel.

He wasn't expecting that.

The Angel flies back off the stage.

"It really is you,"says Raffe.”

“My only thought is that I am not going to end up truly dead this time in Raffe’s arms. I am not going to be one more wound on his soul.”

“He glares at me. "I've had to watch you die once, isn't that enough?"

"All you have to do is make sure it doesn't happen again." I give him a sunny smile. "Simple."

"The only thing simple is you. Stubborn little..." His grumbles fades to a point where I can't hear them, but I suspect they're not compliments.”

About the cover: This one is not as pretty as Angelfall, but then again, these are Raffe’s new wings.  Nothing is pretty in the World After.

Top Ten Books On My Winter TBR

By 'Winter' I think it means the books that I'm planing on reading in the next few months.  So here it goes:

1.  This Song will Save Your Life by Leila Sales - I already started this one, just need to finish.

2.  Where She Went by Gayle Forman - I read If I Stay quite a while ago and I have to read Adam's story soon.

3.  Pawn by Aimée Carter - I loved her Goddess Test series and I've heard this one is wonderful. 

Stacking the Shelves #64

Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews in which we feature all the book goodness that we received, borrowed or purchased during the previous week. All links are to Goodreads.

I didn't do a STS post last week because I was super busy and I didn't have too many new books either. I hope all of you in the States had a wonderful Thanksgiving and an even better Black Friday ;)

Purchased (or Free) for Kindle

My Own Mr. Darcy by Karey White - In love P&P, enough said.

World After by Susan Ee - Angelfall was absolutely amazing and I cannot wait to read its sequel.

Boyfriend from Hell by E. Van Lowe - Not sure how I found this one, but it sounds really good and the cover gorgeous.

Trouble by Samantha Towle - This NA book sounds really good too.

The Waking Moon by T.J. McGuinn - Recommended to me in Goodreads.

Night of Cake & Puppets by Laini Taylor - This is Daughter of Smoke & Bones 2.5, I need book three ASAP!  I love this series :)

Purchased Books

After Dead by Charlaine Harris - I still haven't read the last book in the series, but I got this kind of epilogue for when I do.

For Review

Defy by Sara B. Larson - I had this book as a my WOW a little while back and I got this one from Netgalley. Thanks!

What's stacking your shelves this week?

Waiting on Wednesday: World After by Susan Ee (Peryn and the End of Days #2)

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine in which we have the opportunity to let others know about books that we are eagerly waiting for.

Title: Wold After by Susan Ee

Published by: Skyscape

Release date: November 19th, 2013

When a group of people capture Penryn's sister Paige, thinking she's a monster, the situation ends in a massacre. Paige disappears. Humans are terrified. Mom is heartbroken.Penryn drives through the streets of San Francisco looking for Paige. Why are the streets so empty? Where is everybody? Her search leads her into the heart of the angels' secret plans where she catches a glimpse of their motivations, and learns the horrifying extent to which the angels are willing to go.Meanwhile, Raffe hunts for his wings. Without them, he can't rejoin the angels, can't take his rightful place as one of their leaders. When faced with recapturing his wings or helping Penryn survive, which will he choose?

Why I want to read it:  If you read Angelfall you don't need further explanation.  If you haven't, feel free to read my review and then proceed to get the book and start reading right away.  Seriously, what are you waiting for?  Angelfall is such an incredibly good book, so different and after its ending I cannot wait for World After!

What are you waiting for this week?

Top Ten Books I've Read so Far in 2013

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme created by The Broke and the Bookish

I haven't read nearly as many books this year as I would like and yet, it was really hard to limit myself to ten books :)

1.  Just One Day by Gayle Forman - My goddness is this one good!  Truly an amazing story of growth and self discovery. See my review here

2.  Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi - I adore dystopian and, although it took me forever to read this one (thanks Hannah!), I will make up the lost time in undying love.  See my review here

3.  Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers - I swear that LaFevers can do no wrong.  Even if you have never read historical fiction, you should give this series a try, you will not regret it!  See my review here

4.  Sweet Peril by Wendy Higgins - This is one of the best sequels ever!  I adore Kaidan and the story and everything else. So, so good :)  See my review here

5.  Parasol Protectorate by Gail Carriger -  So this is more than one book since I finished books #2 - #5 this year.  Outstanding world building, characterization and writing makes this an amazing (adult) series.  The best of Steampunk!  

6.  The Collector by Victoria Scott - Oh Dante, how I love thee!  A wonderful book with wonderful characters.  See my review here

7.  Obsidian by Jennifer Armentrout  - I know, I know... why did it took me so long to start the Lux series!  Another bad boy that I adore, an alien story like no other.  See my review here

8.  Shadow & Bone by Leigh Bardugo - I love to read fantasy and this book is one of the best in the genre.  Amazing story full of magic, incredible characters and an ancient fight of good and evil!  See my review here

9.  Angelfall by Susan Ee - Another unique dystopian mixed with angels and the struggle for survival.  So awesome!  See my review here

10.  Goddess Inheritance by Aimée Carter - A fit conclusion for a beloved series, everything that I wanted and then some. See my review here

11.  Crown of Embers by Rae Carson - This is definitely one of my favorite series of all time!  Eliza is one of the best heroines ever written, I cannot wait for book three!  See my review here

Sorry I went over guys, but I couldn't bring myself to shorten the list!  

What's in your Top Ten this week?

Top Ten Books I Thought I'd Like More / Less Than I Did

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme created by The Broke and the Bookish

Here are five books I thought I I'd like More and five that I thought I'd like less:

More

1.  The Fault in Our Stars by John Green - I was doubtful at first because I expected a very sad book (I mean, children with cancer!).  I 'm glad I read this book, because, although it was sad, it was also incredibly good.

2.  Angelfall by Susan Ee - I was hesitant to read another angel book. But this dystopian is absolutely amazing!

3.  Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson - I think I was unsure about this one because I really don't like the cover, BUT this series is SO good. I fell in love with the story and with the awesome heroine.

Top Ten YA Dystopian Characters

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme created by The Broke and the Bookish

Hi gorgeous people!  Sorry that I've been missing in action for the past few days, but I had company and was busy with all the cleaning, cooking and entertaining.

Here are my Top Ten for this week:

1 & 2.  Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark - The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is one of best series I've ever had the pleasure of reading.  I love everything about it, and Katniss and Peeta are my favorite characters in it.  I admire their strength and the endurance of their love. 

3. Linden Ashby from the Chemical Garden series by Lauren DeStefano - DeStafano is a very talented writer because the character that I like most from this series is not the protagonist or her so-called love interest, but the alleged bad guy.  That's right, I really like Linden, even if he's spineless and  blissfully ignorant. 

4 & 5.  Penryn and Raffe from Angelfall by Susan Ee - I absolutely love this one!  Such an amazing story (see my review here), so unique and raw.  Penryn is an incredible heroine, brave, loyal, smart, and all around awesome.  Raffe is just Raffe *sigh*

6. Chase Jennings from Article 5 by Kristen Simmons - You have to admire a man that would do anything for love (I sure do).  That's what Chase is all about.  I reserve my judgement of Ember until I read the next book, I really didn't like her until the very end of this book. 

7 & 8.  Four and Tris from Divergent by Veronica Roth - Do I really need to explain this couple's awesomeness? Thought not... 

9.  Saba from Blood Red Road by Moira Young - It is truly amazing what a person can do and become in order to survive and to defend their loved ones. Saba grew as a fighter and as a human being to defend her family.  

10. Trella from Inside Out Maria Snyder - Trella is another fighter, against ignorance and against conformity and became the face of change in a very confined space. 

What's in your Top Ten this week?

Review: Angelfall by Susan Ee (Penryn & the End of Days #1)

Title: Angelfall by Susan Ee

Published: May 21^st, 2011 by Feral Dream

Format: Paperback

Source:  Library

Challenge(s):  Dystopian

Grade rate: A+

It’s been six weeks since angels of the apocalypse descended to demolish the modern world. Street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night. When warrior angels fly away with a helpless little girl, her seventeen-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back. Anything, including making a deal with an enemy angel. Raffe is a warrior who lies broken and wingless on the street. After eons of fighting his own battles, he finds himself being rescued from a desperate situation by a half-starved teenage girl. Traveling through a dark and twisted Northern California, they have only each other to rely on for survival. Together, they journey toward the angels’ stronghold in San Francisco where she’ll risk everything to rescue her sister and he’ll put himself at the mercy of his greatest enemies for the chance to be made whole again.

My Review

Oh. My. Goodness.  I can’t find words to describe how awesome Angelfall is!  Nonetheless, I will try my best to describe it for you.

Angelfall has been in my TBR list for a long time and then, last week I saw a great review in another blog (I can’t remember which) that made me put it on hold at my local library.  I devoured it in no time :)   Okay, let’s start with Penryn.  First, let me say that I’ve ever heard this name before.   Penryn is an amazing character, she reminds me a bit of Katniss (from The Hunger Games), in the sense that they are survivors.   She will do anything to keep her loved ones safe in a world that’s been turned up-side-down in a very short span of time.  Due to a schizophrenic mother, she was trained in different forms of self-defense from a young age; she also feels she is in charge and the protector of her little unusual family. 

Raffe is the wingless angel that Penryn rescues in order to help her find her sister (no spoilers, this is in the synopsis).  He is physically perfect, lighter and bigger than humans and willing to sacrifice a lot to get his wings back.  Pernyn and Raffe form an uncomfortable alliance based on need and a sense of loyalty that grows between them. 

The characterization is amazing.  I couldn’t help but fall in love with Penryn and Raffe and suffer with them through every trial.  Penryn’s mom is some kind of crazy and a little abusive, I cannot imagine growing up like that, but it does make for a good survival skills.  My heart brakes for all of them, especially for Paige, Penry’s little sister.

The plot is incredibly good.  This is dystopia at its best.  A story based on angels that descend to Earth to destroy humanity.  These are celestial beings that are not fluffy or angelic, but ruthless and cruel.  The entire world goes to heck in a matter of weeks; with unreliable electricity, no food and gangs taking over the streets.  It’s amazing how people go crazy so fast!  The politics of angels is very complicated and I can’t wait to understand what’s going on (although I have my suspicions). Angelfall is not for the weak of mind.  It is dark, way dark.  The survivors have to see and suffer many horrors, not only from the angels, but from fellow humans.  The writing is astounding; so, so good.

The ending was sort of a non-ending for me.  I hope that Raffe and Pernyn find each other again and soon.  I’m still reeling from the last few chapters, it’s all so unfair.  I’m glad I read Angelfall this year, as book #2 in the series, still untitled, is not due for publication until the fall of this year (with the projected five books, it means I will be waiting for the series to end for a few more years!).

Here are some quotes for you:

“Oh, please. Your giant head is getting too big for this forest. Pretty soon, you’re going to get stuck trying to walk between two trees. And then, I’ll have to rescue you” I give him a wary look. “Again” – Penryn to Raffe.  

“I lean into his strength until I realize what I’m doing.  I pull back abruptly. I don’t have the luxury of leaning on anyone’s strength, least of all an angel’s.  My shoulder feels cold and vulnerable once his warmth is gone.” – Penryn

“You should know” he says. His whisper is low enough that even angels probably can’t hear it beyond the background noise of conversations in the corridor. “I don’t even like you”.  – Raffee to Penryn

 About the cover:  Gorgeous!

Stacking the Shelves

Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews in which we feature all the book goodness that we received, borrowed or purchased during the previous week. All links are to Goodreads.

I didn't shared my books with you last week, so this is two week's worth.  As you know I am trying to save for the trip to BEA, but I have to confess on having the best luck lately as I won some amazing books.  Also, May is turning out to be an incredible month for YA books and it's been SO hard to now buy anything (you know I had to break down, right?)

For Review 

The Selection by Kiera Cass - I won this book from Goodreads.  Thank you so much to Harpen Teen for the ARC, I've been dying to get my hands on this one!

Purchased for Kindle

Awakening by Karice Bolton - I'm not sure how I found this book, but it's likely that I saw it in another blog :)  


The Seeds of Wither by Lauren DeStefano - This is a sampler of the book, and includes a short story about Rose as well as other goodies. 


Angelfall by Susan Ee - I've had really good luck with books about angels lately, this one had a great rating in Amazon and I couldn't resist the cover!

Purchased (physical books)

Insurgent by Veronica Roth - Need I say more?

Library

Article 5 by Kristen Simmons - I got this one in audio book format and I already started listening.  A pretty bleak dystopian...

Won 

Abandon and Underworld by Meg Cabot - I won this pair from Amber @ Down the Rabbit Hole, thank you!  I really enjoyed Abandon and I can't wait to read the sequel :)


The Mother-Earth Series Omnibus by Alan Tucker - I won this drom the Your Voice Matters Giveaway.  Looks like a really good fantasy.

That's it for me guys (I did pre-ordered a few books that will arrive next week).  What is stacking your selves this week?

Please come celebrate Reading with ABC's first Blogiversary with me!  Click here for the giveaways and remember to check often as I will post more giveaways throughout the month.