Fallen

by Evangeline Ravencraft

The year is 1888 and the world around Gabriel is changing. London's inhabitants are abandoning their old, superstitious beliefs and turning to science to explain the once unexplainable, making it easier for the ancient Vampire to move about the city streets undetected—until he meets Isabelle. She summons him with her broken heart; her mysterious green eyes searching his, looking into whatever is left of his soul...

Plunged into Gabriel's dark world even before he pulls her near lifeless body out of the river, Isabelle is haunted not only by the death of her son, but by her visions of the stranger wandering the streets of Whitechapel; the killer known simply as "Jack". Seeking solace in her lover's cold arms, they are dragged through history together in a quest to find the truth—the truth about Gabriel, about the killer terrorizing the women of London, and about Isabelle herself, and what her very existence might mean to them all.

Genres: Young Adult, Historical Fiction

334 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2012

About the author

I am married with 4 children and live in the beautiful, rainy, Pacific Northwest. I love it here! The soggy days are great for writing or curling up with a good book, and a cat--we have 3.

I am the author of THE FORGOTTEN. You will see my love of folklore and history on its pages.

I am a historical costume nut and love most any style from any era but I have a special weakness for bustle dresses...and corsets. Anything that makes you 3-4 inches smaller I am all for!

Obviously I love books. I love to read them and I love to write. I am the sort of person who once they pick up a book, must finish it before they possibly go on to do anything else. I am the queen of "Just one more chapter."

Reviews

[Bee☕ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I added this book as TBR last week after reading the book blurb. Evangeline Ravencraft is a local author and this being adult fiction and paranormal (double win), I had to say hello. I was thankful to read this, and in return, give a review.

I read this book in one go, last night. Holy Jack the Ripper, Batman! Insomnia can be a blessing and I didnt want to put it down. This is not your sparkly vampire story and I dont do horror. I loved the balance between the two.

The story was a little slow in the beginnning but it flowed more as the book went on. Somewhere between chapter one and chapter three, I was sucked in completely. (Hehe, I said sucked. Get it? Like vampires suck...okay, then.) I rooted for the good guys, and booed the bad. A few swoony parts. le sigh. (imagine my pupils have have hearts in them right now...oh, yes, they do).

I chatted w/the author abt the editing/writing process. I think there are some things that can be improved, technically...however, I was able to look beyond those things and see the bigger picture. I'm not an editing proficient but I always edit in my brain, even my favorite, seasoned, universally loved authors...so take my comments w/a grain of salt. :)

I dont want to give away the story but I can say this. I appreciated Ravencraft's mix of traditional vamp lore w/out it coming across as too cliched. This was a bit twisty, a bit mystery, and winding through history...of Jack the Ripper. She does it well.

For Fallen being a first book for Ravencraft, she unfolded a lovely story, well articulated, and hopefully not the last we'll see of her (Book 2 is apparently in the works. yay!)

Soooo, headline: twisty, mystery, history, go read...stery.

[Dana Wolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn't my usual genre but I was in the mood for something different so I decided to step out of the box. So glad I did. The character development was excellent and I was immediately drawn into the story. I bonded with Isabel and couldn't help but fall in love with Gabriel. I was delighted with how this author tied this story together with London's infamous Jack the Ripper. Well done! It was quite a let down when I finished reading. To me, that is the test of a great story. I'll be among the first to purchase the next two books in the trilogy!

[Tracy Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished this book and wanted to say that it is a 5-star novel in the making all the way. It was a little slow for me to get into, but part of the way in, it really kicked off. I really liked how the author incorporated some familiar characters and storylines, as well as creating such memorable characters of her own. I will admit that there are some errors, but I sincerely believe with the help of an experienced editor, that this book could really launch the author's writing career. Kudos to you, Evangeline Ravencraft. Keep up the good work.

[Carrie (Book Fairy) Fort · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a perfect story! I loved it! I'll give better review later but if u haven't read this READ IT!

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the cover and sounds great cant wait to read it...

[Sally Rogers-Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book to be thoroughly engaging and can’t wait for the next installment!

Set in Jack the Ripper's London, Evangeline has created an engaging tale of loss and sorrow, hope, love, horror and revenge, with an intriguingly credible explanation of the awful events occurring at the time.

Her main characters are Gabriel, a 500-year-old gentleman vampire who develops an obsession with Isabelle, a bewitching beauty, married to an aspiring physician recently granted the charge of the Queen’s grandson, Prince Albert Victor. With her husband’s career and social status on the rise, Isabelle’s common ancestry and inconvenient grieving for the loss of their only child is becoming an embarrassment to him and his noble family.

Surrounded on every side by very different kinds of monsters, Isabelle is in mortal peril, but she won’t prove the easy victim that everyone expects, for Isabelle has a secret that will foil even their deadliest of plans.

[Melissa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Never received First Reads giveaway copy.

[Daneesha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book needed some serious editing. That said, I was SO mad at the ending! UGH!!!! I enjoyed it.