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The Last Archangel #1
The Last Archangel
Xandir has been exiled to earth until the end of time. But when his cherub trainee disappears, Xandir makes a deal with rogue angels and giants that could restore life to the mortal woman he loves and end his assignment as a destroying angel in exchange for helping them bring about the end of the world and all of mankind.
288 pages, Paperback
First published July 14, 2011
366 people want to read
About the author
Michael D. Young
70 books166 followersThough Michael grew up traveling the world with his military family, he now lives in Utah with his wife, Jen, and their three children, where he creates online curriculum for Brigham Young University. He is a graduate of BYU and Western Governors University with degrees in German Teaching, Music, Educational Leadership, and Instructional Design. He enjoys acting in community theater, podcasting, playing and writing music, and spending time with his family. He played for years with the Bells on Temple Square and is now a member of the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square.
He is the author of the novels in The Canticle Kingdom Series, The Last Archangel Series, the Chess Quest Series, and the Penultimate Dawn Cycle (The Hunger), the Wonderful Week for a Quest Series, as well as several non-fiction works, including An Advent Carols Countdown, Sacred Days, Sacred Songs, The Song of the Righteous, As Saints We Sing, and The Song of the Saints. He has also had work featured in various online and print magazines such as Bards and Sages Quarterly, Mindflights, Meridian, Nugent Magazine, The New Era, Keeping Tab, Allegory, Liahona, and Ensign.
He is the author of the novels in The Canticle Kingdom Series, The Last Archangel Series, the Chess Quest Series, and the Penultimate Dawn Cycle (The Hunger), the Wonderful Week for a Quest Series, as well as several non-fiction works, including An Advent Carols Countdown, Sacred Days, Sacred Songs, The Song of the Righteous, As Saints We Sing, and The Song of the Saints. He has also had work featured in various online and print magazines such as Bards and Sages Quarterly, Mindflights, Meridian, Nugent Magazine, The New Era, Keeping Tab, Allegory, Liahona, and Ensign.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
September 13, 2015
***Originally posted to: Bookish Blog
Three words: hot, intriguing, heavenly.
The Last Archangel is one of those fun-to-read books. There is something sweet and fascinating about it that keeps you turning the pages until you hit the back cover. I was surprised at how much I liked this book. I mean, sure the cover art is absolutely and undeniably gorgeous, and I was drawn to this book from the very first moment I laid my eyes on it, but the blurb didn’t sound all that good to me. It’s definitely not the best blurb I’ve seen and it doesn’t do this book justice. So let me give you an advice, dear readers, skip the blurb and go straight for the real thing. For many, reading the first few pages will be a step into the unknown. It is, however, a step that will result in the reader falling instantly under the spell of a very talented author as he weaves a spellbinding and highly entertaining story.
The plot was insane, twist upon twist and action packed, up until the final pages. The world building was exceptional, too! I just love the mythology and the vast variety of characters, from Angels and Demons to Giants and even a Yeti (oh, right, sorry – a Yearti!). In the beginning the plot treads appeared to be rather loosely, if at all, connected with each other and the whole storyline seemed a bit haphazard. I admit, I didn’t know where Young was going with it. Thankfully, his storytelling was captivating enough to keep me tearing through the pages to find out more. And it was so worth it!
Michael Young introduces a brilliant cast of protagonists. Xandir’s character was just so intriguing and three-dimensional that it was hard not to get caught up in his story. He might be an Angel, but he’s far from perfect. He can be quite snarky and short-tempered. He’s not good at following rules and he almost never obeys the orders, which, of course, often gets him into serious trouble. He’s stubborn and self-confident. Most importantly, he will stop at nothing to help those who are important to him. Following his adventures was fun! And then there’s also Eden. For a big part of the book it was her story that captivated me the most. At first she seemed weak, naïve and even a bit whiny at times, but as we go deeper into the story and we get to know her better, we begin to understand that what initially seemed to be weak-mindedness, is in truth a great emotional sensitivity and thoughtfulness. Her character really grew on me.
One more thing that deeply impressed me was the beautiful and unique setting of the story. Thanks to Young’s impressive imaginativeness we get to travel to the lost city of Atlantis, we witness the destruction of Pompeii, we stand at the gates of Heaven and we plunge deep into Hell. It’s a real treat for anyone who enjoys well-written fantasy. And how about that ending?! I truly hope that there is more of this story so be told!
Three words: hot, intriguing, heavenly.
The Last Archangel is one of those fun-to-read books. There is something sweet and fascinating about it that keeps you turning the pages until you hit the back cover. I was surprised at how much I liked this book. I mean, sure the cover art is absolutely and undeniably gorgeous, and I was drawn to this book from the very first moment I laid my eyes on it, but the blurb didn’t sound all that good to me. It’s definitely not the best blurb I’ve seen and it doesn’t do this book justice. So let me give you an advice, dear readers, skip the blurb and go straight for the real thing. For many, reading the first few pages will be a step into the unknown. It is, however, a step that will result in the reader falling instantly under the spell of a very talented author as he weaves a spellbinding and highly entertaining story.
The plot was insane, twist upon twist and action packed, up until the final pages. The world building was exceptional, too! I just love the mythology and the vast variety of characters, from Angels and Demons to Giants and even a Yeti (oh, right, sorry – a Yearti!). In the beginning the plot treads appeared to be rather loosely, if at all, connected with each other and the whole storyline seemed a bit haphazard. I admit, I didn’t know where Young was going with it. Thankfully, his storytelling was captivating enough to keep me tearing through the pages to find out more. And it was so worth it!
Michael Young introduces a brilliant cast of protagonists. Xandir’s character was just so intriguing and three-dimensional that it was hard not to get caught up in his story. He might be an Angel, but he’s far from perfect. He can be quite snarky and short-tempered. He’s not good at following rules and he almost never obeys the orders, which, of course, often gets him into serious trouble. He’s stubborn and self-confident. Most importantly, he will stop at nothing to help those who are important to him. Following his adventures was fun! And then there’s also Eden. For a big part of the book it was her story that captivated me the most. At first she seemed weak, naïve and even a bit whiny at times, but as we go deeper into the story and we get to know her better, we begin to understand that what initially seemed to be weak-mindedness, is in truth a great emotional sensitivity and thoughtfulness. Her character really grew on me.
One more thing that deeply impressed me was the beautiful and unique setting of the story. Thanks to Young’s impressive imaginativeness we get to travel to the lost city of Atlantis, we witness the destruction of Pompeii, we stand at the gates of Heaven and we plunge deep into Hell. It’s a real treat for anyone who enjoys well-written fantasy. And how about that ending?! I truly hope that there is more of this story so be told!
July 5, 2011
I was impressed with the writing in this book. Michael D. Young was able to fashion a story with a great plot and many mythological and biblical characters.
Xandir is a destorying angel. He is banished from Heaven for being a fence sitter and not following the rules. He does not have a clean slate and has had a forbidden relationship with a woman from Pompeii. His love for her fuels many of his decisions for the good and the bad. He is given an apprentice and finds himself in a situation to save his love and the apprentice and not let everything conflict, then he is told to guard a human. This helps lead to a very action packed book. Xandir tries to do everhting at once, succeeds and fails all at the same time.
Eden is trying to rescue a failing marriage. She and her wonderful friend Judy are trying to place the pieces together and figure out what happened to the husband who changed personalities and left her. Their journey is very interesting and dangerous. They are part of the story of the war happening between Heaven and Hell.
I enjoyed the book, but I wish there were more scenes with Eden and Judy. I understand why the story focussed more on Xandir and I hope that there will be another installment with Eden as a more prevalent character.
Thanks Michael for sending me a copy of the story to review. I look forward to reading more books from him. I didn't realize that I have his other book "The Canticle Kingdom" sitting on the bookshelf in my home unread. I will definitely be dusting it off and getting to it as soon as I can.
Xandir is a destorying angel. He is banished from Heaven for being a fence sitter and not following the rules. He does not have a clean slate and has had a forbidden relationship with a woman from Pompeii. His love for her fuels many of his decisions for the good and the bad. He is given an apprentice and finds himself in a situation to save his love and the apprentice and not let everything conflict, then he is told to guard a human. This helps lead to a very action packed book. Xandir tries to do everhting at once, succeeds and fails all at the same time.
Eden is trying to rescue a failing marriage. She and her wonderful friend Judy are trying to place the pieces together and figure out what happened to the husband who changed personalities and left her. Their journey is very interesting and dangerous. They are part of the story of the war happening between Heaven and Hell.
I enjoyed the book, but I wish there were more scenes with Eden and Judy. I understand why the story focussed more on Xandir and I hope that there will be another installment with Eden as a more prevalent character.
Thanks Michael for sending me a copy of the story to review. I look forward to reading more books from him. I didn't realize that I have his other book "The Canticle Kingdom" sitting on the bookshelf in my home unread. I will definitely be dusting it off and getting to it as soon as I can.
July 15, 2011
I was drawn in to this book by the summary and the cover. It looked like a unique and interesting read, and it absolutely was. Xandir is an angel that has been sentenced to exile on Earth until the end of the world. When someone with questionable motives presents Xandir with an opportunity to hasten the end of his exile, Xandir is faced with a difficult choice. Throw in his new apprentice cherub Jerom and a woman he Xandir was assigned to be guardian over, and Xandir quickly has his hands very full.
This was a very enjoyable book. I found the beginning to be a bit confusing, but the story quickly found it's legs. It was a great read full of action and danger. Xandir was wonderfully ambiguous. He describes himself one time as a "fence sitter," and I think this is accurate in a good way. He is complex in his reasoning, but he never becomes someone you can't sympathize with. I also thought Eden's story felt a bit unconnected to Xandir (aside from his assignment as her guardian angel), but this was all tie together in the end in ways I did not imagine.
I think what the author did best for me was create some fabulous characters. Jarom, Xandir's new apprentice, was fantastic! I was definitely left wanting to know more about him. Eden's friend Judy was another great person. She was able to be strong, supportive, and fierce all at once. I also adored Yearti. I don't want to say too much and spoil anything, but Yearti was awesome.
This book had all the makings of a great book. If you want action, adventure, and even a little romance, look no further. I felt like this was a unique concept with some surprises in the plot. The characters are probably the most enjoyable part of the book. They are extremely memorable, and help to make this book a very fun read!
Galley provided by publisher for review.
This was a very enjoyable book. I found the beginning to be a bit confusing, but the story quickly found it's legs. It was a great read full of action and danger. Xandir was wonderfully ambiguous. He describes himself one time as a "fence sitter," and I think this is accurate in a good way. He is complex in his reasoning, but he never becomes someone you can't sympathize with. I also thought Eden's story felt a bit unconnected to Xandir (aside from his assignment as her guardian angel), but this was all tie together in the end in ways I did not imagine.
I think what the author did best for me was create some fabulous characters. Jarom, Xandir's new apprentice, was fantastic! I was definitely left wanting to know more about him. Eden's friend Judy was another great person. She was able to be strong, supportive, and fierce all at once. I also adored Yearti. I don't want to say too much and spoil anything, but Yearti was awesome.
This book had all the makings of a great book. If you want action, adventure, and even a little romance, look no further. I felt like this was a unique concept with some surprises in the plot. The characters are probably the most enjoyable part of the book. They are extremely memorable, and help to make this book a very fun read!
Galley provided by publisher for review.
July 7, 2011
The first seven chapters in this book is pretty slow, there’s a lot of information and much dialogue. The characters are presented and you get to know them slowly. It’s a bit confusing, but it clears out towards the end even though some things are still a little vague and confusing towards the end. For example: Xandir is told to protect Eden at any cost, but he simply disappears and never really sees any consequences. We are told there will be consequences if he fails this, but then out of nowhere a whole army of angels storms in to protect Eden. The book never explains why all the angels come to protect her.
Complete review can be found here: http://www.thelonelybookclub.com/revi...
Complete review can be found here: http://www.thelonelybookclub.com/revi...
July 15, 2011
Such mixed feelings with this work. The author created an intricate world. At times it seemed like parts were well researched, other times the liberties he took with religion and mythology gave me the impression he didn't research at all. I don't know. I'll have to reflect on this.
Expect my full review July 18, 2011 on my blog: http://wp.me/pPz8s-1uJ
Expect my full review July 18, 2011 on my blog: http://wp.me/pPz8s-1uJ
August 25, 2018
This book was decent. Not my favorite story, but still fairly interesting. The story was good, but the writing a little rough and the premise was a little questionable. Still enjoyed it pretty well overall though.
June 10, 2011
I was... intrigued... by the synopsis. The idea of giants and angels put this wacky cartoon like image in my head. But, I kept an open mind, thinking, let's see how this goes. It was an interesting read, and an interesting story.
There are two (sort of) separate story lines that come together about a third of the way through, but it feels tangential because while the characters come together, they do so only briefly. And they come together again at the end, in preparation for at least one other additional book. At least I assume that the author intends another book, since it's not stated that this is part of, or the start of, a series. I will address the few problems I had with the plot, but to start, let's see if we can't summarize the plot a little better then the synopsis.
Eden's husband flipped a personality switch and went all weird on her. And then disappeared. She's trying to find him. She enlists the help of her friend Judy and the two start a search. And they begin to encounter some bizarre and creepy things, like demonic snakes and demon hell fire. It's clear from the start that Eden's husband is going to be found to have been possessed by a demon. And Judy, in their travels ends up facing some life altering changes herself. And we learn, that Eden needs some special protecting and gets assigned a special guardian angel. How things with her end, well, that would spoil things. But Eden, her search, and the demonic changes are one story line.
Then we have Xandir. He's an angel who was punished for something in heaven long ago. His current mission is to dole out justice or mercy to those who deserve it. His story line is clearly the much more complicated one. And, it's the one with a few holes and takes up the majority of the book. Xandir's mission changes (and I don't really get why) part way through the book. He ends up assigned as Eden's guardian angel. Meanwhile, however, he is convinced by some giants to help steal a seed from a tree located on an island sitting at the jaws of hell. To accomplish this mission he needs to detour to the Himalayas to see the Yearti and has quite a number of adventures on the island (which according to this story, is the island that inspired the story of Atlantis). And, at the end, Xandir's story comes together with Eden's. I won't reveal how, but it shocked me on some levels and on others, I was waiting for it to happen. I knew it had to, I knew we had to get an explanation as to the title of the book, I just wasn't sure exactly how it was going to happen.
A few things that I would have liked to see explained better - Xandir is told that he has to protect Eden at all costs, but he simply disappears and never really sees any repercussions as a result. We are told that there will be repercussions if he fails, but, when suddenly an army of other angels show up to protect Eden, it's all glossed over. I also was a little lost when Jarom assumed Xandir's debt and that lets them escape the island again. And then, we know that he access to the island is conditioned on not letting anyone go, but when Tobias's deal comes to light... again, no repercussions. And why can some of those who are possessed survive and others can't? And then the references to the names of demons when the group of the demons get together - there seems to be a relationship between some of them but it's not entirely evident what that relationship is. I ended up re-reading a bit to see if I missed something.
The giants weren't the comical giants my mind conjured. They weren't entirely not comical though either. I mean the magma ship? It made me chuckle. And I am not exactly sure I see how one individual new baby giant will propagate the race (isn't one of each required? I am not biologist or medical doctor, but....)
Anyway, there was some action (avalanche, fighting with giants, demon snake battles, fires, etc.). And there is definitely a little theology. There's some personality in some of the characters - Xandir, Li'l Halo and Judy for example. The ending felt a little abrupt (and some of imagery in the end was a little disturbing to me). But, overall, it was an enjoyable story, something different even for stories around angels since the introduction of giants was a unique idea. I just wish I was prepared for what was really a cliff hanger.
It was a good story - and wet my appetite to see how the world will be saved from evil. Hope there is a second book!
There are two (sort of) separate story lines that come together about a third of the way through, but it feels tangential because while the characters come together, they do so only briefly. And they come together again at the end, in preparation for at least one other additional book. At least I assume that the author intends another book, since it's not stated that this is part of, or the start of, a series. I will address the few problems I had with the plot, but to start, let's see if we can't summarize the plot a little better then the synopsis.
Eden's husband flipped a personality switch and went all weird on her. And then disappeared. She's trying to find him. She enlists the help of her friend Judy and the two start a search. And they begin to encounter some bizarre and creepy things, like demonic snakes and demon hell fire. It's clear from the start that Eden's husband is going to be found to have been possessed by a demon. And Judy, in their travels ends up facing some life altering changes herself. And we learn, that Eden needs some special protecting and gets assigned a special guardian angel. How things with her end, well, that would spoil things. But Eden, her search, and the demonic changes are one story line.
Then we have Xandir. He's an angel who was punished for something in heaven long ago. His current mission is to dole out justice or mercy to those who deserve it. His story line is clearly the much more complicated one. And, it's the one with a few holes and takes up the majority of the book. Xandir's mission changes (and I don't really get why) part way through the book. He ends up assigned as Eden's guardian angel. Meanwhile, however, he is convinced by some giants to help steal a seed from a tree located on an island sitting at the jaws of hell. To accomplish this mission he needs to detour to the Himalayas to see the Yearti and has quite a number of adventures on the island (which according to this story, is the island that inspired the story of Atlantis). And, at the end, Xandir's story comes together with Eden's. I won't reveal how, but it shocked me on some levels and on others, I was waiting for it to happen. I knew it had to, I knew we had to get an explanation as to the title of the book, I just wasn't sure exactly how it was going to happen.
A few things that I would have liked to see explained better - Xandir is told that he has to protect Eden at all costs, but he simply disappears and never really sees any repercussions as a result. We are told that there will be repercussions if he fails, but, when suddenly an army of other angels show up to protect Eden, it's all glossed over. I also was a little lost when Jarom assumed Xandir's debt and that lets them escape the island again. And then, we know that he access to the island is conditioned on not letting anyone go, but when Tobias's deal comes to light... again, no repercussions. And why can some of those who are possessed survive and others can't? And then the references to the names of demons when the group of the demons get together - there seems to be a relationship between some of them but it's not entirely evident what that relationship is. I ended up re-reading a bit to see if I missed something.
The giants weren't the comical giants my mind conjured. They weren't entirely not comical though either. I mean the magma ship? It made me chuckle. And I am not exactly sure I see how one individual new baby giant will propagate the race (isn't one of each required? I am not biologist or medical doctor, but....)
Anyway, there was some action (avalanche, fighting with giants, demon snake battles, fires, etc.). And there is definitely a little theology. There's some personality in some of the characters - Xandir, Li'l Halo and Judy for example. The ending felt a little abrupt (and some of imagery in the end was a little disturbing to me). But, overall, it was an enjoyable story, something different even for stories around angels since the introduction of giants was a unique idea. I just wish I was prepared for what was really a cliff hanger.
It was a good story - and wet my appetite to see how the world will be saved from evil. Hope there is a second book!
June 4, 2011
Michael Young’s book The Last Archangel was action packed. It had everything a good paranormal fantasy book needs to have: good story, interesting characters and so many mythological creatures you can only dream about! There were angels, demons, cherubs, old Greek creatures, giants, Achillians, characters from Christian mythology – you name it and it was in that book!
It was an exciting read with two parallel storylines and it had very good twists in the story, so the first 100 pages still do not know how these two stories will be connected. I really liked this book!
Regarding the plot:
Meet Xandir, an archangel who has been banished to share Justice and Mercy on Earth. He is an angel who decides when to destroy or save people. That is task until the end of the time. Everything changes when he gets an apprentice – cherub by the name of Jarom. Xandir and Jarom are tricked into a situation where they need to work with Giants – who have been enemies to angels. From there the plot takes heights and speed which makes reading this book an adventure.
Meet Eden Fortuna, whose husband Daren starts acting weirdly and violently and one day just informs Eden that he is leaving her. Eden finds out that her husband has received messages in a strange language which even her professor Judith does not understand. Eden and Judy start to search what happened to Daren and they end up in a world which they had no idea existed.
Xandir and Eden meet only couple of times during the book, but these meetings are very important for the whole book and bring the storylines nicely together.
I really loved the usage of names in this book; most of the names had a meaning and were suitable to the characters. I know it is just a small detail, but a very good detail.
Regarding the characters:
I have to admit that I liked all the characters in this book.
Xandir was intriguing and likable. Even though he had a heavy luggage to carry due to some actions in his past, he draws a clear line between good and evil. Even if didn’t act accordingly, he found a way back to track to know what is important and what is good for himself and people surrounding him.
I absolutely adored Jarom. He was so sweet and innocent and he was needed in this book to balance Xandir’s actions. I really liked that Jarom took the responsibility which was not his to carry to begin with. Xandir also needed Jarom to complete his mission.
Eden was in my opinion the weaker character in the book. I think she missed some substance and seemed flat. Luckily it was nicely filled with Eden’s professor Judith who I think was actually well written. There was so much spark and courage in her! Judith was definitely one of my favorites in this book.
Generally:
The author really has an eye for details and I think it added to the book as a whole. Especially thinking that there were lot of characters and two storylines to follow, the author did an excellent work with the book. Michael D. Young’s book was a really good surprise to me. This book would also be a good start for the series even though i do not think that is the author's intention.
I would also like to mention the fabulous cover of the book, it is beautiful!
As said, if you like fantasy combined with mythology and action – this book is a must to read!
5 stars out of 5.
Thanks to Cedar Fort and NetGalley for providing me a free galley to read and review.
It was an exciting read with two parallel storylines and it had very good twists in the story, so the first 100 pages still do not know how these two stories will be connected. I really liked this book!
Regarding the plot:
Meet Xandir, an archangel who has been banished to share Justice and Mercy on Earth. He is an angel who decides when to destroy or save people. That is task until the end of the time. Everything changes when he gets an apprentice – cherub by the name of Jarom. Xandir and Jarom are tricked into a situation where they need to work with Giants – who have been enemies to angels. From there the plot takes heights and speed which makes reading this book an adventure.
Meet Eden Fortuna, whose husband Daren starts acting weirdly and violently and one day just informs Eden that he is leaving her. Eden finds out that her husband has received messages in a strange language which even her professor Judith does not understand. Eden and Judy start to search what happened to Daren and they end up in a world which they had no idea existed.
Xandir and Eden meet only couple of times during the book, but these meetings are very important for the whole book and bring the storylines nicely together.
I really loved the usage of names in this book; most of the names had a meaning and were suitable to the characters. I know it is just a small detail, but a very good detail.
Regarding the characters:
I have to admit that I liked all the characters in this book.
Xandir was intriguing and likable. Even though he had a heavy luggage to carry due to some actions in his past, he draws a clear line between good and evil. Even if didn’t act accordingly, he found a way back to track to know what is important and what is good for himself and people surrounding him.
I absolutely adored Jarom. He was so sweet and innocent and he was needed in this book to balance Xandir’s actions. I really liked that Jarom took the responsibility which was not his to carry to begin with. Xandir also needed Jarom to complete his mission.
Eden was in my opinion the weaker character in the book. I think she missed some substance and seemed flat. Luckily it was nicely filled with Eden’s professor Judith who I think was actually well written. There was so much spark and courage in her! Judith was definitely one of my favorites in this book.
Generally:
The author really has an eye for details and I think it added to the book as a whole. Especially thinking that there were lot of characters and two storylines to follow, the author did an excellent work with the book. Michael D. Young’s book was a really good surprise to me. This book would also be a good start for the series even though i do not think that is the author's intention.
I would also like to mention the fabulous cover of the book, it is beautiful!
As said, if you like fantasy combined with mythology and action – this book is a must to read!
5 stars out of 5.
Thanks to Cedar Fort and NetGalley for providing me a free galley to read and review.
July 14, 2012
My review on Ramblings of an Amateur Writer: http://reenajacobs.com/blog/2011/07/n...
I started out very hopeful with this book. The prologue absolutely rocked, and the writing was sound. I have to say, I was quite impressed with the opening. One thing for sure, Mr. Young totally knows how to reel in the reader. If I could categorize this work, I’d call it an action fantasy adventure.
Xandir is the main character with every other chapter is in his viewpoint while throwing in various other characters in between. He’s a different kind of hero from my normal reads: quick to anger, self-centered, short-sighted, and at times quite reckless. Yet he still has a moral drive which compels him to save every day people. It’s quite an odd combination, but in a way, very realistic.
I mentioned other characters. The Last Archangel steps into the mind of quite a few of them: Judy, a college language professor; Jarom, a cherub and Xandir’s apprentice; and Eden, an abused spouse. When I first started getting into the different POVs, I expected each to be a catalyst in the story. What I found was, though they played a part in the grand tapestry, they truly were only single threads. The true story is Xandir and how the way seemingly unrelated plot lines work their way back to his journey, and eventually his final outcome.
I think the idea of having mini-plots and weaving them together to create a grand finale is an awesome idea. I’ve seen some wicked movies use that technique. In The Last Archangel, I think it ended up being the weak point.
When I thought about why, I believe it’s because the characters didn’t have enough interactions to really make me care about their overall predicament, particularly Judy and Eden who seemed to disappear toward the end of the book before reappearing.
In my mind, The Last Archangel was two separate stories which are briefly touched. There was Judy and Eden who had their fight–-a strong enough plot to stand on its own, but the characters lacked the ability to do much about their situation. With virtually no involvement from Xandir, Judy and Eden’s story seemed to be nothing more than filler. Then we had Xandir and Jarom with an entirely different fight–-also a strong plot. Really, I believe if the novel only included Xandir and his predicament (with Jarom as his side kick), the entire story would have been stronger.
So was it a bad story? Not at all. It was quite decent, I would say. In fact, if my reading list wasn’t a million and a half books long, I’d probably read The Last Archangel again just to achieve a better appreciate for the entire story line.
Overall, Mr. Young did an excellent job creating an alternative world loosely based on Christianity and angels. I wouldn’t call it a Christian read because the world he created deviated quite a bit in some areas from the bible and relied on worldly misconceptions. However, it was still quite an interesting interpretation.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for a review
I started out very hopeful with this book. The prologue absolutely rocked, and the writing was sound. I have to say, I was quite impressed with the opening. One thing for sure, Mr. Young totally knows how to reel in the reader. If I could categorize this work, I’d call it an action fantasy adventure.
Xandir is the main character with every other chapter is in his viewpoint while throwing in various other characters in between. He’s a different kind of hero from my normal reads: quick to anger, self-centered, short-sighted, and at times quite reckless. Yet he still has a moral drive which compels him to save every day people. It’s quite an odd combination, but in a way, very realistic.
I mentioned other characters. The Last Archangel steps into the mind of quite a few of them: Judy, a college language professor; Jarom, a cherub and Xandir’s apprentice; and Eden, an abused spouse. When I first started getting into the different POVs, I expected each to be a catalyst in the story. What I found was, though they played a part in the grand tapestry, they truly were only single threads. The true story is Xandir and how the way seemingly unrelated plot lines work their way back to his journey, and eventually his final outcome.
I think the idea of having mini-plots and weaving them together to create a grand finale is an awesome idea. I’ve seen some wicked movies use that technique. In The Last Archangel, I think it ended up being the weak point.
When I thought about why, I believe it’s because the characters didn’t have enough interactions to really make me care about their overall predicament, particularly Judy and Eden who seemed to disappear toward the end of the book before reappearing.
In my mind, The Last Archangel was two separate stories which are briefly touched. There was Judy and Eden who had their fight–-a strong enough plot to stand on its own, but the characters lacked the ability to do much about their situation. With virtually no involvement from Xandir, Judy and Eden’s story seemed to be nothing more than filler. Then we had Xandir and Jarom with an entirely different fight–-also a strong plot. Really, I believe if the novel only included Xandir and his predicament (with Jarom as his side kick), the entire story would have been stronger.
So was it a bad story? Not at all. It was quite decent, I would say. In fact, if my reading list wasn’t a million and a half books long, I’d probably read The Last Archangel again just to achieve a better appreciate for the entire story line.
Overall, Mr. Young did an excellent job creating an alternative world loosely based on Christianity and angels. I wouldn’t call it a Christian read because the world he created deviated quite a bit in some areas from the bible and relied on worldly misconceptions. However, it was still quite an interesting interpretation.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for a review
June 17, 2011
The Last Archangel will definitely not be the last book I ever read from Michael D. Young. This book was a fast, fun, thrill ride embedded with strong messages about love, friendship, courage, and honor.
The story is focused on two main characters, Xandir, an angel who doesn’t always follow the rules and is continually in danger of serious punishment from Heaven’s authority, and Eden, a woman who is having serious difficulty dealing with her failing marriage. Xandir is an angel who tries to do is job and serve Heaven well, but he also has a strong free will that occasionally causes him to make choices that go against what his heavenly superiors have instructed. In a way, he represents all of us who sometimes struggle with good and bad, light and dark. Fittingly, he wields two swords, a black one and a white one. Throughout the entire book, Xandir, is faced with many trials that force him to face his fears, his loss of his beloved, and many enticing temptations. Eden has an unwavering love for her husband which pulls her into conflict with demonic forces that are threatening to take over the world. The way that these two individuals impact each other’s lives gives some great surprises in the story.
Probably my favorite character though, is a little cherub named Jarom. He gets assigned to be Xandir’s apprentice and has more adventure than he ever expected. His perspective is akin to the young innocent farm boy going to New York City and seeing how the rest of the world really lives. The relationship between Xandir and Jarom as they build a friendship is what gives the story some of its most emotional moments.
Young does a superb job of creating a story that mixes all sorts of religious icons such as Heaven, Hell, angels, and demons with mythological creatures and lore such as Atlantis and the Abominable Snowman. Yes, as crazy as it sounds, the Yeti has an intriguing part in this tale. It’s a nice bit of light-hearted fun that gives the reader a chance to pause and gear up for the impending events. Young takes many of these places and characters that we have heard about since we were children and gives them a fresh new perspective. He makes things like Jacob ’s ladder and the road to Hell tangible places that make for some exciting action. The visual imagery we are treated to when the author transports us to these places is one of my favorite parts of the story. It was fun to imagine these grand settings as the author portrayed them.
There are many themes and messages I think any reader can draw from this book. Every person can relate to struggles we face on a daily basis and dealing with the consequences of every choice that we make. The book doesn’t have to be that deep if you don’t want it to be though. Basically, if you want a supernatural thriller filled with plot twists and heart, jump into Michael D. Young’s The Last Archangel.
The story is focused on two main characters, Xandir, an angel who doesn’t always follow the rules and is continually in danger of serious punishment from Heaven’s authority, and Eden, a woman who is having serious difficulty dealing with her failing marriage. Xandir is an angel who tries to do is job and serve Heaven well, but he also has a strong free will that occasionally causes him to make choices that go against what his heavenly superiors have instructed. In a way, he represents all of us who sometimes struggle with good and bad, light and dark. Fittingly, he wields two swords, a black one and a white one. Throughout the entire book, Xandir, is faced with many trials that force him to face his fears, his loss of his beloved, and many enticing temptations. Eden has an unwavering love for her husband which pulls her into conflict with demonic forces that are threatening to take over the world. The way that these two individuals impact each other’s lives gives some great surprises in the story.
Probably my favorite character though, is a little cherub named Jarom. He gets assigned to be Xandir’s apprentice and has more adventure than he ever expected. His perspective is akin to the young innocent farm boy going to New York City and seeing how the rest of the world really lives. The relationship between Xandir and Jarom as they build a friendship is what gives the story some of its most emotional moments.
Young does a superb job of creating a story that mixes all sorts of religious icons such as Heaven, Hell, angels, and demons with mythological creatures and lore such as Atlantis and the Abominable Snowman. Yes, as crazy as it sounds, the Yeti has an intriguing part in this tale. It’s a nice bit of light-hearted fun that gives the reader a chance to pause and gear up for the impending events. Young takes many of these places and characters that we have heard about since we were children and gives them a fresh new perspective. He makes things like Jacob ’s ladder and the road to Hell tangible places that make for some exciting action. The visual imagery we are treated to when the author transports us to these places is one of my favorite parts of the story. It was fun to imagine these grand settings as the author portrayed them.
There are many themes and messages I think any reader can draw from this book. Every person can relate to struggles we face on a daily basis and dealing with the consequences of every choice that we make. The book doesn’t have to be that deep if you don’t want it to be though. Basically, if you want a supernatural thriller filled with plot twists and heart, jump into Michael D. Young’s The Last Archangel.
August 11, 2011
I received this ARC from netgalley.com
I think whoever wrote the synopsis/description of The Last Archangel, did a terrible job at selling this book with a few words. It does not do it justice and it sort of leads the reading into a very misleading way of thinking before they enter the book. With the mention of a ‘love’ some may think is it a Paranormal Romance. However, it is not, and that as a whole makes the book great!
Right of the gate the book begins with very up front, strong, and decedent writing that sort of makes your head go back and your eyes go wide. You are honestly thinking “Wow, this is a real Angel book!” I was immediately gripped from page one, Xandir was one of the most impressively written characters in the whole book. He was the only one I really felt for, wanted to know was ok the whole time I was reading it. The book sort of mind bends you, from Xandir’s story to the story of Eden, a very average mortal woman that is tossed into a very abnormal situation. Pretty much the woman is giving birth to not just the anti Christ but also pretty much the second coming of Jesus. This as a whole is a unique and totally brilliant idea.
I was lead astray a few times with some scenes that seemed to be out of place, and made the pace of the book really lag for me. I found myself putting it down, getting mentally side tracked, and then picking it back up knowing that more was to come. It had this steady rise and fall and for some readers that could be a bit off putting and make someone lose the whole rich point of the story. For me the whole experience of this book was not just original, but amazingly done. I love books about Angels, I don’t think people write about them enough personally, and when they do, they do it all wrong and they lack a really good background to root the storyline in. However, Young took us into actual historical events and made them relevant as far as why these things happened to them.
The one thing I did think was silly was he named the demons in the book, and they had names like the Decepticons in Transformers ‘Dusteater’, ‘Sparkslinger’, just to name a few. I have to admit I did a bit of eye rolling. I do think as a whole, Young needs to lock down his pacing in a book, like I said I got lost in certain bits of it and found myself lagging where normally I just blaze through a book. The story telling needs to improve in future books. With that being said, I do think this story was an amazing idea. The characters had great depth, you cared what happened to them, by the end you were left totally wanting more, and there wasn’t anything to terribly tragic that happened. I would love to know if he will continue this story, I would love to know what happens to Baby Xandir.
I think whoever wrote the synopsis/description of The Last Archangel, did a terrible job at selling this book with a few words. It does not do it justice and it sort of leads the reading into a very misleading way of thinking before they enter the book. With the mention of a ‘love’ some may think is it a Paranormal Romance. However, it is not, and that as a whole makes the book great!
Right of the gate the book begins with very up front, strong, and decedent writing that sort of makes your head go back and your eyes go wide. You are honestly thinking “Wow, this is a real Angel book!” I was immediately gripped from page one, Xandir was one of the most impressively written characters in the whole book. He was the only one I really felt for, wanted to know was ok the whole time I was reading it. The book sort of mind bends you, from Xandir’s story to the story of Eden, a very average mortal woman that is tossed into a very abnormal situation. Pretty much the woman is giving birth to not just the anti Christ but also pretty much the second coming of Jesus. This as a whole is a unique and totally brilliant idea.
I was lead astray a few times with some scenes that seemed to be out of place, and made the pace of the book really lag for me. I found myself putting it down, getting mentally side tracked, and then picking it back up knowing that more was to come. It had this steady rise and fall and for some readers that could be a bit off putting and make someone lose the whole rich point of the story. For me the whole experience of this book was not just original, but amazingly done. I love books about Angels, I don’t think people write about them enough personally, and when they do, they do it all wrong and they lack a really good background to root the storyline in. However, Young took us into actual historical events and made them relevant as far as why these things happened to them.
The one thing I did think was silly was he named the demons in the book, and they had names like the Decepticons in Transformers ‘Dusteater’, ‘Sparkslinger’, just to name a few. I have to admit I did a bit of eye rolling. I do think as a whole, Young needs to lock down his pacing in a book, like I said I got lost in certain bits of it and found myself lagging where normally I just blaze through a book. The story telling needs to improve in future books. With that being said, I do think this story was an amazing idea. The characters had great depth, you cared what happened to them, by the end you were left totally wanting more, and there wasn’t anything to terribly tragic that happened. I would love to know if he will continue this story, I would love to know what happens to Baby Xandir.
November 16, 2011
I was intrigued by the synopsis on NetGalley for this book so requested and am quite glad I did. I really enjoyed it.
As other reviewers have stated, there are two storylines that eventually merge together, but the main story focuses on Xandir, a destroying angel, who must wield the swords of Justice and Mercy.
I enjoyed Xandir's story the most and loved his trip through hell to complete his side of the bargain with the Giants, a race created when humans and angels came together. Along with Jarom, his little cherub apprentice, he has to retrieve something that no-one has done before in order to get back that which he lost many centuries ago. A few nasty and a few funny situations arose and oh how I felt for poor Jarom after spending some time in the Pools. Despite Jarom's inexperience in the world of men, he proves to be a fabulous ally to have in the world of hell.
The other storyline involved Eden, a seemingly ordinary woman whose husband has just left her after weeks of rather bizarre behaviour. She attempts to kill herself only to be saved and then decides her time is not now, so plans to work out what has happened to Deren, her husband. She enlists the help of her professor friend Judy and together they encounter some rather strange and demonic goings on.
At first it wasn't totally clear how these 2 storylines would merge together, but when they did it was an easy merge, but not quite explained. Xandir was made to be Eden's guardian angel, after being told he would be a destroying angel until the end of time and the end of time was not just yet. He abandons his charge quite quickly in order to pursue his own goals - not much of a guardian angel is he? - and Eden soon finds herself in a rather difficult situation. Another group of angels come to her rescue, which I can only presume were sent by Xandir, but he didn't receive any sort of punishment for his deflection despite being told he would. Maybe being an angel lets you off the hook sometimes...
There were a few biblical references, which didn't overly bother me - I just took them to be part of the story about angels. I guess you can;t have a story about angels without some biblical parts, but they definitely didn't seem too preachy to me.
Overall this book was really good and thanks to Michael Young and NetGalley for letting me review it.
As other reviewers have stated, there are two storylines that eventually merge together, but the main story focuses on Xandir, a destroying angel, who must wield the swords of Justice and Mercy.
I enjoyed Xandir's story the most and loved his trip through hell to complete his side of the bargain with the Giants, a race created when humans and angels came together. Along with Jarom, his little cherub apprentice, he has to retrieve something that no-one has done before in order to get back that which he lost many centuries ago. A few nasty and a few funny situations arose and oh how I felt for poor Jarom after spending some time in the Pools. Despite Jarom's inexperience in the world of men, he proves to be a fabulous ally to have in the world of hell.
The other storyline involved Eden, a seemingly ordinary woman whose husband has just left her after weeks of rather bizarre behaviour. She attempts to kill herself only to be saved and then decides her time is not now, so plans to work out what has happened to Deren, her husband. She enlists the help of her professor friend Judy and together they encounter some rather strange and demonic goings on.
At first it wasn't totally clear how these 2 storylines would merge together, but when they did it was an easy merge, but not quite explained. Xandir was made to be Eden's guardian angel, after being told he would be a destroying angel until the end of time and the end of time was not just yet. He abandons his charge quite quickly in order to pursue his own goals - not much of a guardian angel is he? - and Eden soon finds herself in a rather difficult situation. Another group of angels come to her rescue, which I can only presume were sent by Xandir, but he didn't receive any sort of punishment for his deflection despite being told he would. Maybe being an angel lets you off the hook sometimes...
There were a few biblical references, which didn't overly bother me - I just took them to be part of the story about angels. I guess you can;t have a story about angels without some biblical parts, but they definitely didn't seem too preachy to me.
Overall this book was really good and thanks to Michael Young and NetGalley for letting me review it.
July 10, 2011
With an amazing cover, and an intriguing description, I definitely expected to like The Last Archangel. I am thrilled to say that I wasn't disappointed. It was action packed, and filled with an incredibly interesting back story involving things like the lost city of Atlantis, the destruction of Pompeii, and other intricacies involving Giants, angels, and demons.
The one big thing that the description from Goodreads fails to mention is Eden. Eden is a mortal woman who goes through tonnes in this book...and I mean tonnes! I won't spoil it for you though because it is some juicy stuff. To be honest, she wasn't my favourite narrator ever, and I definitely preferred Xandir's parts, but in her situation I can sympathize with how she reacted. At the same time, sometimes I just wanted to smack her. In the end though, I think she came out of it stronger, and judging by the cliffhanger ending, I think she'll have other books to make up for not being the strongest of characters when it came to handling her life choices.
Now onto Xandir. He was awesome! Not always the smartest (but he did have his genius moments lol) or the most patient, and definitely rash at times, but when it came down to getting things done, he was definitely the person to do it. His swords, for justice and mercy were so neat! I love how they're represented on the cover too! I loved reading the parts of The Last Archangel where he narrated. While, I liked Eden's parts, I thoroughly enjoyed getting to see things through Xandir's POV. I liked Jarom too, or Lil' Halo as Xandir called him, he was pretty awesome, and I loved seeing him evolve through his adventures. Just in case anyone is curious, Jarom's a cherub...yup, like Cupid! :D
I thought that The Last Archangel was an awesome story, and it definitely kept me up late at night reading. I encourage everyone who likes a story filled with action to give it a read. Especially readers who like stories that have action and aren't just all about the battle, but about the journey and the evolution that it takes to get through it, too. In fact, this book kind of reminded me of Greek epics in that way. Xandir took on a task and had to go through stages to complete it, kind of like Odysseus on his way back home to Ithaca (not exactly the same, but it had a similar feel),...and as a reader you're lucky enough to get to tag along for the ride :D
The one big thing that the description from Goodreads fails to mention is Eden. Eden is a mortal woman who goes through tonnes in this book...and I mean tonnes! I won't spoil it for you though because it is some juicy stuff. To be honest, she wasn't my favourite narrator ever, and I definitely preferred Xandir's parts, but in her situation I can sympathize with how she reacted. At the same time, sometimes I just wanted to smack her. In the end though, I think she came out of it stronger, and judging by the cliffhanger ending, I think she'll have other books to make up for not being the strongest of characters when it came to handling her life choices.
Now onto Xandir. He was awesome! Not always the smartest (but he did have his genius moments lol) or the most patient, and definitely rash at times, but when it came down to getting things done, he was definitely the person to do it. His swords, for justice and mercy were so neat! I love how they're represented on the cover too! I loved reading the parts of The Last Archangel where he narrated. While, I liked Eden's parts, I thoroughly enjoyed getting to see things through Xandir's POV. I liked Jarom too, or Lil' Halo as Xandir called him, he was pretty awesome, and I loved seeing him evolve through his adventures. Just in case anyone is curious, Jarom's a cherub...yup, like Cupid! :D
I thought that The Last Archangel was an awesome story, and it definitely kept me up late at night reading. I encourage everyone who likes a story filled with action to give it a read. Especially readers who like stories that have action and aren't just all about the battle, but about the journey and the evolution that it takes to get through it, too. In fact, this book kind of reminded me of Greek epics in that way. Xandir took on a task and had to go through stages to complete it, kind of like Odysseus on his way back home to Ithaca (not exactly the same, but it had a similar feel),...and as a reader you're lucky enough to get to tag along for the ride :D
June 18, 2011
I was not able to get through this book… Around about 65% through I forced myself to give up and accept that I couldn’t keep dragging it out… After 2 weeks of trying to get through The Last Archangel, I figured it was safe to quit. I wanted to like this. I really, really did. In theory and summary, this sounds like a book I would end up loving. But in reality, the formula was just too wrong for me.
First I will start with what I liked about this book: It has a very original concept. Never before have I read something that is so rife with culture and mythology. Young definitely did some research for this.… He makes paranormal, seem normal, if that makes sense. Young was able to make me believe that things like angels, demons, giants, cherubs, and Atlantis could actually exist without being seen.
Now, for the things I didn’t like…
(1) This could not hold my attention for more than 10 minutes. It seemed like there was quite a bit of action, but I was unable to fully invest myself in it (and I usually love reading action scenes).
(2) 65% into the book and no love story, no background on this mortal woman he loves so much (well only a little). I just couldn’t feel the passion that Young was trying to portray! I was very disappointed about this. I would have liked to see a passionate love flashback every once and awhile to make me understand WHY Xandir was jumping through hoops to save her.
(3) I felt no connection with the characters and had no desire to see whether they succeeded.
(4) My time spent reading this, was time spent wondering what else I could be reading.
(5) I had to force myself to read.
In conclusion, this book may be worth a shot if you are a fan of angel-themed books, but it definitely was not for me! And don’t read this if you are looking for an epic love story (not that I was, but I hoped it would turn into one). This could have been a great book, but it was lacking in so many different areas that I think it was unable to recover.
First I will start with what I liked about this book: It has a very original concept. Never before have I read something that is so rife with culture and mythology. Young definitely did some research for this.… He makes paranormal, seem normal, if that makes sense. Young was able to make me believe that things like angels, demons, giants, cherubs, and Atlantis could actually exist without being seen.
Now, for the things I didn’t like…
(1) This could not hold my attention for more than 10 minutes. It seemed like there was quite a bit of action, but I was unable to fully invest myself in it (and I usually love reading action scenes).
(2) 65% into the book and no love story, no background on this mortal woman he loves so much (well only a little). I just couldn’t feel the passion that Young was trying to portray! I was very disappointed about this. I would have liked to see a passionate love flashback every once and awhile to make me understand WHY Xandir was jumping through hoops to save her.
(3) I felt no connection with the characters and had no desire to see whether they succeeded.
(4) My time spent reading this, was time spent wondering what else I could be reading.
(5) I had to force myself to read.
In conclusion, this book may be worth a shot if you are a fan of angel-themed books, but it definitely was not for me! And don’t read this if you are looking for an epic love story (not that I was, but I hoped it would turn into one). This could have been a great book, but it was lacking in so many different areas that I think it was unable to recover.
July 9, 2011
The Last Archangel follows Xandir a rebel angel and Eden a women having marital problems. Their stories come together briefly a throughout the book.
Let's begin with Eden's story. Her husband becomes angry and aggressive out of no where. Then just disappears with the only explanation that he found another woman. Eden gets her friend Judy to help her find her husband. On her journey she encounters demons, other scary things, and learns things about herself.
Now for Xandir, his job is distribute mercy and justice as a punishment for something he did in the past. Then for some unexplained reason he is reassigned to be Eden's guardian angel. Then he decides to work for a Giant and steal a seed from a tree in the island of Atlantis to save the woman he believed dead.
There were a few times when I wanted additional information. Examples: Why is Xandir reassigned? They tell Xandir that he must protect Eden at all costs and he just leaves. Shouldn't he get into a little bit of trouble?
I liked how Michael D. Young's writing takes the reader into a behind the scenes on the life of angels and how some are punished for their sins. I enjoyed the mythology and the subject matter.
I would have liked a little more on Xandir love story. I would have liked to understand why he was so willing to give up everything for her. This book was a little hard for me to get through. I was not able to get into the story and care for the characters. I am not saying that the book was bad it was just not for me. I need more romance and better character development.
I recommend this book to those who would like to learn more about angels, an adventure to Atlantis and few demonic battles. If you are looking for romance then this is not the book for you. It does contain an angel risking everything for the woman he loves but this is more about his adventure not about how they love each other.
Let's begin with Eden's story. Her husband becomes angry and aggressive out of no where. Then just disappears with the only explanation that he found another woman. Eden gets her friend Judy to help her find her husband. On her journey she encounters demons, other scary things, and learns things about herself.
Now for Xandir, his job is distribute mercy and justice as a punishment for something he did in the past. Then for some unexplained reason he is reassigned to be Eden's guardian angel. Then he decides to work for a Giant and steal a seed from a tree in the island of Atlantis to save the woman he believed dead.
There were a few times when I wanted additional information. Examples: Why is Xandir reassigned? They tell Xandir that he must protect Eden at all costs and he just leaves. Shouldn't he get into a little bit of trouble?
I liked how Michael D. Young's writing takes the reader into a behind the scenes on the life of angels and how some are punished for their sins. I enjoyed the mythology and the subject matter.
I would have liked a little more on Xandir love story. I would have liked to understand why he was so willing to give up everything for her. This book was a little hard for me to get through. I was not able to get into the story and care for the characters. I am not saying that the book was bad it was just not for me. I need more romance and better character development.
I recommend this book to those who would like to learn more about angels, an adventure to Atlantis and few demonic battles. If you are looking for romance then this is not the book for you. It does contain an angel risking everything for the woman he loves but this is more about his adventure not about how they love each other.
July 11, 2011
Review from www.FreshFiction.com
Life on earth can get a bit boring. Especially when you have been exiled to the planet since what modern people call the ancient times. An ordinary mission to stop a woman from committing suicide opens the door for the biggest adventure that the exiled angel Xandir has had in centuries. He realizes that not everything is as it seems, even when you are an angel.
The Last Archangel is a fast paced adventure with a wonderful back story filled with historical events and theological references. The reader is brought into many worlds with unique and imaginative cultures all their own. We get to peek into the life of cherubs in heaven as well as those who are being punished for their sins on the outskirts of hell. The multiple character point of views gives the reader a chance to decipher the story’s clues from different perspectives. You automatically feel for the main female character Eden, as you watch her dream life fall apart at the seams . The character that was a pleasant surprise to connect with was Xander, the destroyer angel. He not only has the mission of punishing those who deserve justice but he also gives mercy to those who are innocent. He is able to determine which is necessary in the situation put upon him with the help of the swords he always carries with him. The choices he must make throughout the story highlight the fact that everything is not black and white in situations. As the wielder of such powerful tools he must also make decisions that affect the lives of those he is meant to protect.
If you are looking for a story that magnifies the fact that life is filled with choices that will affect others in ways that can be considered good and bad, The Last Archangel is the book for you. It will make you think before you praise or fault those around you for the decisions they have made in their lives.
Life on earth can get a bit boring. Especially when you have been exiled to the planet since what modern people call the ancient times. An ordinary mission to stop a woman from committing suicide opens the door for the biggest adventure that the exiled angel Xandir has had in centuries. He realizes that not everything is as it seems, even when you are an angel.
The Last Archangel is a fast paced adventure with a wonderful back story filled with historical events and theological references. The reader is brought into many worlds with unique and imaginative cultures all their own. We get to peek into the life of cherubs in heaven as well as those who are being punished for their sins on the outskirts of hell. The multiple character point of views gives the reader a chance to decipher the story’s clues from different perspectives. You automatically feel for the main female character Eden, as you watch her dream life fall apart at the seams . The character that was a pleasant surprise to connect with was Xander, the destroyer angel. He not only has the mission of punishing those who deserve justice but he also gives mercy to those who are innocent. He is able to determine which is necessary in the situation put upon him with the help of the swords he always carries with him. The choices he must make throughout the story highlight the fact that everything is not black and white in situations. As the wielder of such powerful tools he must also make decisions that affect the lives of those he is meant to protect.
If you are looking for a story that magnifies the fact that life is filled with choices that will affect others in ways that can be considered good and bad, The Last Archangel is the book for you. It will make you think before you praise or fault those around you for the decisions they have made in their lives.
July 18, 2011
Read my review at Imaginary Reads!
The Last Archangel is a thrilling read. With 2012 close at hand, there have been many new releases foreshadowing the future of mankind, most of them dystopian. This one is fantasy. Told from various perspectives as the plot requires, The Last Archangel incorporates angels, demons, and prophecy into a thrilling apocalyptic read that keeps you guessing as to what will happen next.
I love Xandir's brashness and unique sense of humor. He's been alive and working alone for so long that he doesn't know how to communicate well, but he does have a kind heart. He's loved a mortal woman, he has his own morals, and he keeps his promises. Jarom served as great foil to Xandir. While Xandir is corrupted, Jarom is naive, innocent, and entirely lovable.
The setting was also well developed. Young's depiction of the fallen city of Serche is fascinatingly bleak and gruesome. I was both fascinated and repelled by the sinful state of its inhabitants’ lives. I was unable to put down my Kindle even though it was late at night and not the best time to be reading about the city closest to Hell. I also loved the description of the frozen mountains where the "Yeti" is said to dwell and about the true nature of the furry creature. If I had to hide away somewhere, I would love to visit there (in spite of the freezing temperatures).
While it’s not exactly my kind of read, I like the plot. Yearti, Jarom, and Xanir are my favorite characters, and I’m disappointed me at how the story left me hanging in the end. It means that I have to wait before I get to find out what happens to these guys (and there had better be a sequel!). I recommend this book to fantasy lovers of the older teen and adult audiences.
The Last Archangel is a thrilling read. With 2012 close at hand, there have been many new releases foreshadowing the future of mankind, most of them dystopian. This one is fantasy. Told from various perspectives as the plot requires, The Last Archangel incorporates angels, demons, and prophecy into a thrilling apocalyptic read that keeps you guessing as to what will happen next.
I love Xandir's brashness and unique sense of humor. He's been alive and working alone for so long that he doesn't know how to communicate well, but he does have a kind heart. He's loved a mortal woman, he has his own morals, and he keeps his promises. Jarom served as great foil to Xandir. While Xandir is corrupted, Jarom is naive, innocent, and entirely lovable.
The setting was also well developed. Young's depiction of the fallen city of Serche is fascinatingly bleak and gruesome. I was both fascinated and repelled by the sinful state of its inhabitants’ lives. I was unable to put down my Kindle even though it was late at night and not the best time to be reading about the city closest to Hell. I also loved the description of the frozen mountains where the "Yeti" is said to dwell and about the true nature of the furry creature. If I had to hide away somewhere, I would love to visit there (in spite of the freezing temperatures).
While it’s not exactly my kind of read, I like the plot. Yearti, Jarom, and Xanir are my favorite characters, and I’m disappointed me at how the story left me hanging in the end. It means that I have to wait before I get to find out what happens to these guys (and there had better be a sequel!). I recommend this book to fantasy lovers of the older teen and adult audiences.
September 14, 2011
It seems like a book about a fallen angel sentenced to be the bringer of doom wouldn't be inspirational. Yet somehow, it is. What about a cute little cherub as a sidekick who shoots a pretty mean bow and arrow? Again, it seems a bit of a stretch, and yet, it works. In fact, everything in The Last Archangel works on several different levels.
In addition to the exceptionally imaginative storyline, Young presents some fairly incredible concepts that are not only believable in the framework of the story, but also take it to the next level of originality.
Xandir is an angel punished for his wrongful deeds. What could an angel do to be punished? How about revealing the secrets of Heaven to man. And then there was the matter of entering into illicit relationships with humankind, which created the race of Giants--an abominable race that would have proved the end of humans if left unchecked.
Yeah, I can see why he would be punished. His sentence? To be the Destroying Angel until the End of Time. I'd say that's a pretty stiff penalty. However, he's given two weapons to use. One of Justice and one of Mercy. The trick is that Justice has to be served, yet Mercy cannot be ignored. It's a conundrum to be sure.
To reveal more of the plot would be unfair to the reader. It's really something that is best enjoyed along the way. I will say this: I give it an A+ for pacing. Never once did I say to the book, "I get it, move on already!"
Young isn't afraid to tackle some subjects other authors may shy away from--Heaven, Hell, Angels, Demons and various other religious topics. Does it come across as preachy? No. Does it make you stop and ponder? It should.
When you get this book, you'll want to clear your schedule for the next couple of days. At the very least, leave a note for your loved ones explaining that you're fine, just lost in an excellent story.
In addition to the exceptionally imaginative storyline, Young presents some fairly incredible concepts that are not only believable in the framework of the story, but also take it to the next level of originality.
Xandir is an angel punished for his wrongful deeds. What could an angel do to be punished? How about revealing the secrets of Heaven to man. And then there was the matter of entering into illicit relationships with humankind, which created the race of Giants--an abominable race that would have proved the end of humans if left unchecked.
Yeah, I can see why he would be punished. His sentence? To be the Destroying Angel until the End of Time. I'd say that's a pretty stiff penalty. However, he's given two weapons to use. One of Justice and one of Mercy. The trick is that Justice has to be served, yet Mercy cannot be ignored. It's a conundrum to be sure.
To reveal more of the plot would be unfair to the reader. It's really something that is best enjoyed along the way. I will say this: I give it an A+ for pacing. Never once did I say to the book, "I get it, move on already!"
Young isn't afraid to tackle some subjects other authors may shy away from--Heaven, Hell, Angels, Demons and various other religious topics. Does it come across as preachy? No. Does it make you stop and ponder? It should.
When you get this book, you'll want to clear your schedule for the next couple of days. At the very least, leave a note for your loved ones explaining that you're fine, just lost in an excellent story.
June 3, 2011
An unusual fantasy where parallel stories describe the actions of an Archangel (Xandir) and a human woman (Eden) with her college professor/Linguist friend (Jane), as their respective lives intersect during the coming "End of Time". An interesting description of the challenges that an angel must face and the temptations that he is confronted with over eternity and the prices of a wrong choice. I really enjoyed the innocent Cherub (Jarom) who was assigned to accompany Xandir for his earth mission over Xandir's objections. Suffice it to say, this innocent Cherub is the key to the success of Xandir's mission and the salvation of mankind. I was surprised by the extent of the action and original challenges the characters survived. This is a real page turner with no easy opportunity to set the book aside, too many cliff hangers to enjoy any away time. Admittedly, I have little knowledge of the various titles and rankings of the heavenly hosts or the similar titles and rankings for the banished angels or hosts of Lucifer. This is one of the many skirmishes played out between the armies for Good and Evil with the humans as lucky or unlucky pawns between the warring factions. I enjoyed the tale, especially the human traits of the supernaturals. This story has elements from the greatest story of Good and Evil but, is original in it's telling with surprising elements that compel interest. Definitely worth scheduling time to read!
July 19, 2011
This novel was provided for free by the author for review.
I literally just finished this novel and all I can say is wow. This book has so much depth to it and I found myself getting lost in the world the author has created for these characters. Michael D. Young successfully weaved in historic events in the world's history, our "myths", as well as stories from the Old Testament. (Ex: The Flood, Atlantis, Pompeii). I loved this. It worked so well for the story and was believable as a part of the storyline.
This novel is very action packed. Lovers of actions and heroics, this is definitely a novel for you. There's action literally on almost every single page. It well written and the characters are very well created.
Multiples times in the novel I found myself practically doing a mental double take. There's so much stuff in The Last Archangel that draws you in and constantly makes you wonder what the heck is going to happen next.
The novel as a whole was amazing and the ending did not disappoint. There was quite a twist that I did not see coming and certainly enjoyed. This novel will definitely be a future re-read for me.
I literally just finished this novel and all I can say is wow. This book has so much depth to it and I found myself getting lost in the world the author has created for these characters. Michael D. Young successfully weaved in historic events in the world's history, our "myths", as well as stories from the Old Testament. (Ex: The Flood, Atlantis, Pompeii). I loved this. It worked so well for the story and was believable as a part of the storyline.
This novel is very action packed. Lovers of actions and heroics, this is definitely a novel for you. There's action literally on almost every single page. It well written and the characters are very well created.
Multiples times in the novel I found myself practically doing a mental double take. There's so much stuff in The Last Archangel that draws you in and constantly makes you wonder what the heck is going to happen next.
The novel as a whole was amazing and the ending did not disappoint. There was quite a twist that I did not see coming and certainly enjoyed. This novel will definitely be a future re-read for me.
July 25, 2011
The Last Archangel began with a rocky start. I despise withering women, and Eden definitely falls into that category. There is a counterbalance to Eden in Judy, who is an absolute spitfire but we have to wait a bit before we are introduced to her. What somewhat redeemed this book was the focus on Xandir who is actually an extremely interesting and complicated character. His snark was the highlight of the novel. I found that the Eden and Xandir plot lines were too distant from each other for much of book then suddenly they converge (unsuccessfully in my opinion) at the end. Speaking of the end, Xandir’s “rebirth” was bizarre to me. The Serche portion of the book drags on with the fighting, keys and gates blending together. I wish there had been more exploration of Xandir’s back story, the Atlantis references, and the hierarchy of angels which is alluded to but not explored. In short, there were kernels of inspiration left unsowed. That being said, there is something smart in the story which if developed correctly in the sequel would improve the series immensely.
Overall: B
I do think the cover is STUNNING!
Overall: B
I do think the cover is STUNNING!
July 3, 2011
I really tried to like this book, I did. But I could not just get into it. And that is saying a lot for me as a person who reads constantly. I always do my best to give the book a chance. I forced myself to read half way through and once I found myself constantly re-reading paragraphs, I deceided to set it down. This is my first DNF.
The reason why I could not get into is that while the characters are good, the storyline was not. I had a hard time really stepping into the feel of the story. I love the characters especially Judy and Eden, I could tell right from the start that these two ladies would have a profound affect in the end of the world. As far as the angel part....I am all for biblical parts because I love it. Bibical stuff has always interest me, but these angel were boring. I could not relate nor could I see the characters in my head.
I am sorry that this book did not work out for me the way I intended it. Maybe sometime in the future I will pick it up again and see how it goes.
The reason why I could not get into is that while the characters are good, the storyline was not. I had a hard time really stepping into the feel of the story. I love the characters especially Judy and Eden, I could tell right from the start that these two ladies would have a profound affect in the end of the world. As far as the angel part....I am all for biblical parts because I love it. Bibical stuff has always interest me, but these angel were boring. I could not relate nor could I see the characters in my head.
I am sorry that this book did not work out for me the way I intended it. Maybe sometime in the future I will pick it up again and see how it goes.
July 13, 2011
I loved the cover and it was the first thing that drew me to the book - and I had no trouble getting into the story and really enjoyed The Last Archangel. It's a mix of Paranormal Fantasy and Last Days fiction with some interesting twists in the mix. The story moved right along and brought in some interesting history that played into the plot - i.e. the lost city of Atlantis, the destruction of Pompeii; Giants & Watchers from the Old Testament & 1 Enoch in the Pseudepigrapha just to name a few. And some interesting characters besides Giants like Yearti, an "abominable" Snowmen and demons. Xandir is a cocky destroying angel (most of the time) and an interesting character - one that struggled with his own imperfections and grew on me as I read. I loved Jarom, the cupid-like cherub apprentice, who expertise was making Ambrosia cakes not fighting evil - but steps up to the challenge and saves the day on more than one occasion. All in all a good, fast-paced read I would give it 4 Stars.
October 31, 2011
This book was taken more on a whim rather than reading the bio. The name Last Archangel signified Heaven and Hell and gave me glimpses of something what the TV series Supernatural does. The beginning was quite engrossing, a fallen Archangel set to become the destroyer of the world, an Angel who doesn't like his job, and does it grudgingly. I was dying to see at what turn this Angel turns, will he become evil or something in between. When he makes a deal with Evil's minions to save the woman he loved during Pompei, the story took on an edgier form. I loved the beginning, the middle, just the ending wasn't up to par. It felt like the write fell out of ideas and dredged up the same run of the mill ending, trying to close all the loose ends. Something unexpected was needed to end the unexpected events that had enfolded before. I was quite disappointed by the ending chapters and in truth only read it halfheartedly to finish the book. Read the book to enjoy the beginning and middle, but don't expect a miraculous ending...
July 21, 2011
Reviewed at:Over A Cuppa Tea
Review date: 22 July 2011
Review link: http://cleffairy.com/?p=5748
I was intrigued by the book cover when I picked up this book from Netgalley. The book cover looks very mysterious and looks promising, and yes, the book is mysterious and very well written.
I was amazed with the author’s knowledge and creativity in putting mythology and biblical theme together, and like many good fantasy stories, this book is fast-paced and full of action.
I enjoyed reading this book very much, and definitely wouldn’t mind reading it again some time in the future. Suitable for those who love fantasy and paranormal stories.
I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. I received an ARC of this book from Cedar Fort publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review for this book.
Review date: 22 July 2011
Review link: http://cleffairy.com/?p=5748
I was intrigued by the book cover when I picked up this book from Netgalley. The book cover looks very mysterious and looks promising, and yes, the book is mysterious and very well written.
I was amazed with the author’s knowledge and creativity in putting mythology and biblical theme together, and like many good fantasy stories, this book is fast-paced and full of action.
I enjoyed reading this book very much, and definitely wouldn’t mind reading it again some time in the future. Suitable for those who love fantasy and paranormal stories.
I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. I received an ARC of this book from Cedar Fort publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review for this book.
July 8, 2011
I’m extremely sorry to say that I just didn’t care for this story. The idea of giants was a new concept for me in terms of angel themed novels, and while I really enjoyed the idea, the characters and situations within the novel didn’t spark my interest as much as I had anticipated. While Young is a talented writer, this story itself didn’t pull me in and I struggled to connect with the many characters introduced within the novel. This lack of connection, in and of itself, made the reading of this novel quite difficult for me and, to be honest, I thought about setting the book aside because I wasn’t too interested. Though I did finish the novel...
To read my full review (7/9):
http://bookvacations.wordpress.com/20...
To read my full review (7/9):
http://bookvacations.wordpress.com/20...
July 13, 2011
My thoughts:
I wasn't sure what to expect from this one. An angel as a destroyer?
I am a firm believer that you can't have both Justice and Mercy - interesting considering Xandir's swords.
I was pleased to find that I enjoyed the story very much. I was swept into the story from the very beginning. The characters are wonderful. Cleverly created and original in design, they all come with interesting personalities that I found myself drawn to. I was thrilled with the relationships that develop throughout the story and couldn't wait to get to the end!
The story is well written, entertaining, inspirational, and like nothing else I have read lately.
The plot keeps the reader thinking but is a pleasure to read. I hope to see more from him!
I wasn't sure what to expect from this one. An angel as a destroyer?
I am a firm believer that you can't have both Justice and Mercy - interesting considering Xandir's swords.
I was pleased to find that I enjoyed the story very much. I was swept into the story from the very beginning. The characters are wonderful. Cleverly created and original in design, they all come with interesting personalities that I found myself drawn to. I was thrilled with the relationships that develop throughout the story and couldn't wait to get to the end!
The story is well written, entertaining, inspirational, and like nothing else I have read lately.
The plot keeps the reader thinking but is a pleasure to read. I hope to see more from him!
July 19, 2011
I wanted to like The Last Archangel more than I did. The premise of the story had such promise, but I never felt it was fulfilled. The novel felt disconnected to me, as it jumped from scene to scene and brought in so many different characters. I felt I was on overload trying to keep up a lot of the time.
Now for the good stuff. Some of those many characters were great! Xandir, the not your typical angel, was snarky and defensive - yet still a hero. Eden and Judy were strong female characters, kicking demon butts as they went along. My favorite was Jarom, the small cherub with a mighty spirit. The characters save this novel from being a let down for me.
Now for the good stuff. Some of those many characters were great! Xandir, the not your typical angel, was snarky and defensive - yet still a hero. Eden and Judy were strong female characters, kicking demon butts as they went along. My favorite was Jarom, the small cherub with a mighty spirit. The characters save this novel from being a let down for me.
July 12, 2011
I can't say I love the blurb. This book is so much MORE than that. When I first decided to read it, I wasn't sure what to expect. However, the two paralleling storylines work well together. Each time I was ripped from one and deposited in another, I had a moment of "No! I'm not ready!" followed by "Oh, I've missed you guys."
The action and surprising developments kept me reading and guessing. The end caught me totally off-guard--and I loved it! There was only one section of the book when I found myself wishing I could hurry things along, probably because the rest of the book flew.
There WILL be a sequel, and I can't wait to read it.
The action and surprising developments kept me reading and guessing. The end caught me totally off-guard--and I loved it! There was only one section of the book when I found myself wishing I could hurry things along, probably because the rest of the book flew.
There WILL be a sequel, and I can't wait to read it.
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