Angel Eyes
Book I in the Angel Eyes TrilogyÂ
Genre: YA paranormal
publication: May 29th 2012 by Thomas Nelson Fiction
copy received from publisher
(paperback, Ebook, audiobook)
Synopsis from goodreads
Rating:
Once you’ve seen, you can’t unsee. Everything changes when you’ve looked at the world through . . .
ANGEL EYES
Brielle’s a ballerina who went to the city to chase her dreams and found tragedy instead. She’s come home to shabby little Stratus, Oregon, to live with her grief and her guilt . . . and the incredible, numbing cold she can’t seem to shake.
Jake’s the new guy at school. The boy next door with burning hands and an unbelievable gift that targets him for corruption.
Something more than fate has brought them together. An evil bigger than both of them lurks in the shadows nearby, hiding in plain sight. Two angels stand guard, unsure what’s going to happen. And a beauty brighter than Jake or Brielle has ever seen is calling them to join the battle in a realm where all human choices start.
A realm that only angels and demons—and Brielle—can perceive
Yep, I have a thing for Angel Stories. There is just something about Angels that I find utterly romantic, being protected by some unseen forces. Angel stories have to be handled very delicately in terms of religion and church, I do not want to be patronized and I do not like opinions to be forced on me  – in Angel Eyes I found this very nicely balanced!
A Broken Girl and  A Boy to Rescue her…
Bri comes home broken after the time spend at a school in the big City. Something happened to her, which made her come back to live with her father and deal with her grief. Of course, there is this new guy at school Jake, who seems like the sun and might be the one to save her. Bri was tragic, yet she was never overbearing so. In the beginning, we have no idea what happened to her and it’s when she starts trusting Jake that we finally begin to know what filled her with so much grief. Bri and Jake are the perfect pair and they seem to complement each other, they need each other for different reasons and I loved their sweet growing relationship.
Angels, heavenly beautiful Angels…
I loved the Angel Lore in Angel Eyes. They were  displayed exactly how I like to see them. Fierce warriors, there to protect and an underlying warmth – perfectly to feel save around them. When Bri discovers that there are Angels around her, she’s first full of disbelieve but seeing them she cannot deny that there something otherworldly going on! I especially loved the Angels Halo – and this I do not want to spoil for you because I found this a very beautiful described aspect of the story! But looking at the cover now, makes me realized how wonderfully fitting the cover is!
Slow and easy beginning – heavy and fast ending!
The story starts out slow, with Bri and Jake beginning to know each other, and for once I was not repelled by the slow beginning, it was fitting. The intensity builds up slowly and the last part was very action packed and fast. It was nice to connect slowly with the story, the Angels and the two lovebirds. It was actually exciting to see that there was more to the story than I initially thought. The evil plotline surrounding the Demon counterparts to the Angles was fascinating, gripping and intense!
Bri and Jake grew closer and closer together and especially Bri surprised me the way she grew and changed from a grief filled girl to a very determined young heroine who fights for others and for what is right!
Nice – Â but not mind-blowing
Altogether, I really enjoyed this story but it did not fully grab me and suck me in completely. It lacked the final execution in awesomeness. Sometimes, when you finish a book you are sad because the story ended, you are left thinking about the characters even after closing the last page and you are just emotionally invested. Here, these feelings were lacking even though I cannot put my finger on the exact reason why.
Bewitched Rating
Bottom Line
Angel Eyes by Shannon Dittemore is a beautiful addition to the Angel themed stories out there. The Angel lore was beautifully written and the Demons were the perfect evil counterpart. Angel Eyes was a beautiful and touching story with a heroine that grew and changed along her journey. It lacked to get me completely emotionally invested, but I can recommend it to everyone who likes to spend some time with heavenly Angels!
 
 
Additional Notes:
Shannon has a bunch on awesome pictures on pinterest about the cast of her book! I don’t know how it is for you, but I LOVE seeing cast images especially when picked by the authors themselves. And, I think her vision on Bri totalled mirrored my own and Jake is.. cute!!! So, get’t ready for some eye-catching images for you!
 
And with those pretty images I wish you a beautiful Saturday!!!
Much Love,
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I’ve seen this book around and it’s been receiving mixed reviews.
Too bad it didn’t grasp your attention fully. The cast sure is cute. 🙂
Great review, Danny.
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The cast is cute and it is a really nice read and I think it has the potential to be awesome with the sequel!
Danny recently posted..Spring Blog Carnival: Reboot Lounge with Marissa Meyer
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Lovely review. Danny! I have this one for the blog tour and I haven’t read that many reviews on it and I was a bit wary because angel books can sometimes be well… not so good. I’m glad this one has a lore that’s interesting and not too religious-pushy. I also like the sounds of her relationship with Jake which seems more believable than the insta-loves *barf*. The halo things sounds really pretty I love the whole cover and happy it reflects the story!
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I know Angel books can easily just turn out to be ..well, bad. But this one was really nice. it touched slightly the religious aspect but I was never appalled by it which I normally and easily are.
The Halo thing was beautiful!!
Danny recently posted..Spring Blog Carnival: Reboot Lounge with Marissa Meyer
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Lovely review! 🙂
While I always thought that ANGEL EYES sounds interesting, I haven’t read many reviews for it, so I’m very grateful for yours. It sounds like a beautiful story, even though I totally know that feeling of missing the “special dose of awesomeness” without knowing the exact reason – it always drives me crazy. 😀
Thanks for sharing!
Carina @ Fictional Distraction recently posted..Distractive Obsessions #07
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I know isn#t this aweful??? I really was thinking hard and truly couldn’t fully tell why I couldn’t give it a higher rating. There was nothing particularly wrong. I hope you’ll like it 🙂
Danny recently posted..Spring Blog Carnival: Reboot Lounge with Marissa Meyer
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Oh my, another angel story! Oh how I love my angels 🙂
I have not heard of this one, I’m so excited to have another beautiful story to add to my list! Especially one that even mentions their halos, I don’t think I’ve read one that did!
Thank you for such a wonderfully well written review, Danny! I’m in love with this book already!!!
margie c {the bumble girl} recently posted..A Book Tour: Revamped (Angel Creek #1) by Ada Adams (Review/Interview/Giveaway!)
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That makes me so happy!!! I love Angel Stories which is why I picked this one up in the first place… I truly love love this halo idea and I hope you will too!!
Danny recently posted..Spring Blog Carnival: Reboot Lounge with Marissa Meyer
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Great review. I love angels too. I had this on my wishlist with a ? Mark. After reading your thoughts it sounds like a good read but one i will pick up from the library
kimba88 recently posted..The Vanishing Game by Kate Kae Myers
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Yes, library sounds perfect and I hope you will end up enjoying just like I did!
Danny recently posted..Spring Blog Carnival: Reboot Lounge with Marissa Meyer
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I completely agree with your review. I liked the story, but it wasn’t mind blowing or anything. Great review. 🙂
Addie R. recently posted..Stacking the Shelves #1
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Yep, exactly – nice but not mind-blowing 🙂
Danny recently posted..Spring Blog Carnival: Reboot Lounge with Marissa Meyer
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I love it when authors cast their characters for us. So fun.
Angels have never really been my thing, but I do prefer to see them as you do, as fierce warriors.
Missie, The Unread Reader recently posted..Audiobook Review: Lover Unleashed (BDB #9)
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I love that too, while other people like to make up their own mind, often it helps me connecting more with the characters!!
Angels need to be strong and bad-ass , that’s how I like them most!
Danny recently posted..Spring Blog Carnival: Reboot Lounge with Marissa Meyer
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I am with you, Danny, good angel stories are hard to come by. I, too, struggle with the right balance but this one sounds like it works. I also appreciate books that show great character growth, so I am sure I would enjoy this one.
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Bri definitely grew!!! She started dealing with her grief and ended up loyal strong and awesome! Loved seeing this! When an Angel story is more abou church and religion there are not for me, this one dealed with it nicely!
Danny recently posted..Spring Blog Carnival: Reboot Lounge with Marissa Meyer
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Danny-
I haven’t heard or seen this one anywhere! Of course, I’m not really scouting for Angel books. I’m a bit tired of them. But you say this one is different. I can go with them as fierce warriors. I like them like that! (Patch is excluded from all not liking Angels references. Though I’m forgetting what he is right now. Patch can be anything and well you know.) Anyway, that was a good review. You had me up for a “you’ve gotta read this one right now,” but you were honest about it. Thanks for that. Sometimes I’m fine with a book that’s just entertaining and doesn’t stay with me. I’ve got plenty of characters to keep up with anyway. But it was a good story. Maybe it will redeem Angel stories for me (no puns intended).
The girl the author chose looks a lot like the girl on the cover.
Heather
hrose2931 recently posted..Review- The Selection by Kiera Cass
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Maybe I have to clarify a little… these Angels here are nothing like Patch – I mean Patch plays in a different liga of awesome among the Angels.. Right??
Oh and .. no, I wouldn’t say it’s a must read right now. There are other books I would throw at you and force you to read them, like… Sweet Evil and Of Poseidon and Unraveling (just to name the one from the last weeks) but this one is just a nice read 🙂
Danny recently posted..Spring Blog Carnival: Reboot Lounge with Marissa Meyer
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Oh, I got it that it’s not a drop everything and read it book. Totally. But just that it’s an entertaining book. Not like Sweet Evil, Of Poseidon or Unraveling. I got that. Didn’t mean to confuse you!
Heather
hrose2931 recently posted..Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom Blog Tour
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I think I have a tour coming up for this one (possibly…haven’t heard back yet). I had mixed feelings on how I thought it sounded, which I guess it was…just missing something? Now I’m more curious to read it.
Either way that cast!!! 😉
Amanda @ Letters Inside Out recently posted..Spring Blog Carnival: Goldfish Bowl Toss Challenge
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It was a really nice read, no doubt! But, just as I said I have a hard time putting out what I missed, but I enjoyed it in the end! Looking forward seeing how you like it!!
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It definitely sucks whenever the feelings are lacking in a book and it’s definitely hard sometimes to pinpoint why. Even if it wasn’t mind-blowing though, I’m still glad you enjoyed it! I’m curious and really hope I’ll enjoy it when picking it up myself. Great review!
Rebecca (Kindle Fever) recently posted..[Adult] Review & Interview: The Last Girl by Kitty Thomas
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I hate this!!! It’s tough, it’s not the plot, it’s not entirely the characters it was just something and this something hold me back… I’m actually excited reading more reviews to see how others like it 🙂
Danny recently posted..Spring Blog Carnival: Lounging with Marissa Meyer and Jackson Pearce
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Cool cover. I like the idea of the story…just not sure I’m really into angel stories any more. I know Sweet Evil features angels, but you gave it such high praise I went out and bought a copy. Still, I like that the heroine is a ballerina and it takes place in a small town. Great review!
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Oh Julie – Sweet Evil is not completely about Angels, I would rather say it’s a Demon book in the first place. Angels play such a minor role that they are easy to forget. Also, once you meet the Demons and their Kids you don’t care about the Angels anymore :)) lool
and here I am again, talking about Sweet Evil, I got it bad for this book!
Danny recently posted..Spring Blog Carnival: Lounging with Marissa Meyer and Jackson Pearce
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