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The Reaping Chronicles #1
Inception
The world is in danger. Mankind is sinking deeper into darkness it cannot understand.
Demons are easily capturing souls as they lead men and women down dangerous paths from which there is no return, while Javan, one of the Fallen, seeks an ancient book and the power it promises. If he succeeds, humans — and the world as they know it — will be destroyed.
There is someone who is capable of stopping Javan . . .
If she discovers him in time.
Gabrielle is one of the most powerful angels ever created, her job one of the most important. She has come to Earth to learn more about humans and what influences them, and to fight evil she sees growing at an alarming rate. She soon finds herself carelessly distracted with one human in particular, however. Lucas Watkins holds a promise of peace and love for Gabrielle that she never believed she could have again.
As feelings between her and Lucas become more than she can deny, so do the dangers mounting against him. After discovering who Lucas is, and the choice he faces, she realizes Darkness will come for him through demons and fantastical beings he thought only existed in his imaginings — forcing fairytales to become his reality.
Caught between her new mortal ties and ancient immortal responsibilities, Gabrielle must race against what seems to be an ever-quickening clock to learn what she needs to know, protect Lucas, uncover Javan’s plan, and find a way to stop him and all who live in Shadows.
Things become more complex than she ever anticipated, her decisions more critical, and what begins as a quest for information rapidly places her in an even more crucial position within the longest and most important war ever waged.
Join Gabrielle and her allies in a story of love – past and present – fantastical beings, hidden realms, magic, fate, loss, and the fight of good versus evil.
Demons are easily capturing souls as they lead men and women down dangerous paths from which there is no return, while Javan, one of the Fallen, seeks an ancient book and the power it promises. If he succeeds, humans — and the world as they know it — will be destroyed.
There is someone who is capable of stopping Javan . . .
If she discovers him in time.
Gabrielle is one of the most powerful angels ever created, her job one of the most important. She has come to Earth to learn more about humans and what influences them, and to fight evil she sees growing at an alarming rate. She soon finds herself carelessly distracted with one human in particular, however. Lucas Watkins holds a promise of peace and love for Gabrielle that she never believed she could have again.
As feelings between her and Lucas become more than she can deny, so do the dangers mounting against him. After discovering who Lucas is, and the choice he faces, she realizes Darkness will come for him through demons and fantastical beings he thought only existed in his imaginings — forcing fairytales to become his reality.
Caught between her new mortal ties and ancient immortal responsibilities, Gabrielle must race against what seems to be an ever-quickening clock to learn what she needs to know, protect Lucas, uncover Javan’s plan, and find a way to stop him and all who live in Shadows.
Things become more complex than she ever anticipated, her decisions more critical, and what begins as a quest for information rapidly places her in an even more crucial position within the longest and most important war ever waged.
Join Gabrielle and her allies in a story of love – past and present – fantastical beings, hidden realms, magic, fate, loss, and the fight of good versus evil.
550 pages, Paperback
First published April 30, 2013
8 people are currently reading
2328 people want to read
About the author
Teal Haviland
12 books87 followersI grew up with a love for anything fantastical, outrageous, or romantic. As a teen I spent much of my time writing poetry and children’s stories, but set it aside for two decades before allowing my passion for it to take root (or, as I normally describe it, take over my life). After years of dreaming of worlds where fairies, angels, demons, and shape shifters (to name a few) exist, I finally decided to begin writing my stories down.
Nowadays, I happily spend my writing time penning steamy romance, urban fantasy, and am testing out my horror/suspense writing abilities while feeding my coffee, reading, and book buying addictions (I have to fill that ginormous home library I intend on having one day soon).
Residing in Tennessee with my ridiculously amazing daughter and my four-legged friends, I enjoy photography, travel, reading, music, cooking, daydreaming, writing (of course), and above all spending time with my family and friends.
Nowadays, I happily spend my writing time penning steamy romance, urban fantasy, and am testing out my horror/suspense writing abilities while feeding my coffee, reading, and book buying addictions (I have to fill that ginormous home library I intend on having one day soon).
Residing in Tennessee with my ridiculously amazing daughter and my four-legged friends, I enjoy photography, travel, reading, music, cooking, daydreaming, writing (of course), and above all spending time with my family and friends.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
May 17, 2013
FAN-FREAKING-TASTIC!!!!
OMG... LOVED IT!!!!!!
FULL REVIEW:
*sighs* I am not even sure where or how to begin this review...I am still so wrapped up in Inception that I hope I can clearly explain the amount of LOVE I have for this book.
I guess I can start with what drew me in in the first place....the cover. I remember seeing it and thinking how beautiful the combination of colors were and the alluring figure tying it all together. I knew from that first moment that I had to read this amazing tale.
So, the minute Inception landed in my lap, all I could think about was starting it. With finishing up the book I was reading, I immediately opened up Inception and began my journey in to this stimulating, compelling, exciting, and unique world.
I was instantly hooked, eating up all the details of the world building in this 550 page book. And yes, I said 550 pages. I was a little taken aback when I saw that...but it was so necessary in gaining an understanding of the events that have and will transpire throughout this story.
A tale that revolves around the oldest of battles of good versus evil, we are introduced to Gabrielle; one of the highest ranking angels in heaven, charged with such a taxing duty bestowed upon an angel. But she takes her duty serious and wants to be able to jump in and really help on the front lines of the looming battle that will ultimately decide the fate of mankind.
Now that Gabrielle is back on Earth and racing against the clock, she is really having to adjust and learn about humans and their behaviors pretty quickly. That is when she meets Lucas. The human that changes EVERYTHING for her.
There is sooooo much that I want to tell you...but I don't and won't give spoilers.
So, let me say....Inception is a book that you just can't forget. Even after I finished it days ago, I still feel like I am in the book. Teal Haviland constructed an extraordinary fantastical world that immerses you in to a turmoil that rips at your soul. It is written so eloquently, that the words on the page become more....I could feel what was written. Several times Gabrielle mentions feeling the warm sun on her face and how that made her feel closer to home. Obviously I cannot write it where you can FEEEEEL it, but in the majestic talent of Teal's writing, you are standing there with Gabrielle, looking up, closing your eyes and feeling that warmth too. I love books that lure you in, causing you to completely let go and occupy your every thought.
And not only is Inception brilliantly written, the well-developed characters engage us on a twisted, action-packed adventure filled with surprises, fears, doubts, and a romance that will take your breath away. And don't try and guess how the book will end. Regardless of prophecies and visions foretelling the future, I was utterly shocked at the events that transpired in the last 20% of the book.
My mouth fell open....I just couldn't believe what I was reading...BUT, this is what makes an outstanding book. Drawing you in, feeling the emotions, being a part of the story, and keeping you on your toes...UNTIL...THE...VERY....END!!!!
I can say without a doubt that Inception is one of my top reads of 2013. With the mixture of the fantastical world...i.e shifters, vampires, fae, demons, fallen angels, and of course angels...it is a non-stop, edge of your seat thrill ride that you just don't want to end.
www.tsktskwhattoread2.blogspot.com
OMG... LOVED IT!!!!!!
FULL REVIEW:
*sighs* I am not even sure where or how to begin this review...I am still so wrapped up in Inception that I hope I can clearly explain the amount of LOVE I have for this book.
I guess I can start with what drew me in in the first place....the cover. I remember seeing it and thinking how beautiful the combination of colors were and the alluring figure tying it all together. I knew from that first moment that I had to read this amazing tale.
So, the minute Inception landed in my lap, all I could think about was starting it. With finishing up the book I was reading, I immediately opened up Inception and began my journey in to this stimulating, compelling, exciting, and unique world.
I was instantly hooked, eating up all the details of the world building in this 550 page book. And yes, I said 550 pages. I was a little taken aback when I saw that...but it was so necessary in gaining an understanding of the events that have and will transpire throughout this story.
A tale that revolves around the oldest of battles of good versus evil, we are introduced to Gabrielle; one of the highest ranking angels in heaven, charged with such a taxing duty bestowed upon an angel. But she takes her duty serious and wants to be able to jump in and really help on the front lines of the looming battle that will ultimately decide the fate of mankind.
Now that Gabrielle is back on Earth and racing against the clock, she is really having to adjust and learn about humans and their behaviors pretty quickly. That is when she meets Lucas. The human that changes EVERYTHING for her.
There is sooooo much that I want to tell you...but I don't and won't give spoilers.
So, let me say....Inception is a book that you just can't forget. Even after I finished it days ago, I still feel like I am in the book. Teal Haviland constructed an extraordinary fantastical world that immerses you in to a turmoil that rips at your soul. It is written so eloquently, that the words on the page become more....I could feel what was written. Several times Gabrielle mentions feeling the warm sun on her face and how that made her feel closer to home. Obviously I cannot write it where you can FEEEEEL it, but in the majestic talent of Teal's writing, you are standing there with Gabrielle, looking up, closing your eyes and feeling that warmth too. I love books that lure you in, causing you to completely let go and occupy your every thought.
And not only is Inception brilliantly written, the well-developed characters engage us on a twisted, action-packed adventure filled with surprises, fears, doubts, and a romance that will take your breath away. And don't try and guess how the book will end. Regardless of prophecies and visions foretelling the future, I was utterly shocked at the events that transpired in the last 20% of the book.
My mouth fell open....I just couldn't believe what I was reading...BUT, this is what makes an outstanding book. Drawing you in, feeling the emotions, being a part of the story, and keeping you on your toes...UNTIL...THE...VERY....END!!!!
I can say without a doubt that Inception is one of my top reads of 2013. With the mixture of the fantastical world...i.e shifters, vampires, fae, demons, fallen angels, and of course angels...it is a non-stop, edge of your seat thrill ride that you just don't want to end.
www.tsktskwhattoread2.blogspot.com
May 19, 2013
Inception marks the premier installment of The Reaping Chronicles where Gabrielle The Angel of Karma is sent to play her part in the battle between Light and Dark. People are quickly losing their humanity, so Gabrielle decides to live among mortals in order to understand their desires and motives and ultimately turn the tides and guide people back toward Yahuwah (God). Her quest quickly shifts to protecting a human named Lucas; and together they work toward acquiring the Book of Barabbadon in order to put it into the right hands before it is used to wage a war on Heaven. When this Angel of Karma begins to fall in love with Lucas, their battle against evil becomes more intense as they are used against each other to bring power to the wrong side.
It is quite clear that Teal Haviland’s strength lies in her immaculately descript writing. When I opened the eBook to embark on this adventure, I was a bit taken aback to see it was well over 500 ePages. As I progressed through the novel, it was evident that Haviland truly put a strong emphasis on carefully developing the setting and creating the proper stage for her plot, backdrop and characters. Where she puts a heavy emphasis on infusing a strong religious undertone in her story, she doesn’t allow that to sacrifice the fantasy and paranormal edge she aims to achieve for Inception. With angels, demons, vampires, fairies and dark as well as divine forces, Haviland crafts a perfect blend of fantastical and philosophical in her debut installment of The Reaping Chronicles.
Gabrielle is the main character in this novel. First off, I must admit how pleased I was to see she was portrayed as a female. Her strong sense of character and her fantastical abilities made it fun to witness this story through her eyes as she wielded her powers against evil. I liked how Haviland stayed true to original myths and beliefs, but still managed to create an extremely unique and admirable character through Gabrielle. She owned her stage and maintained a strong presence throughout the entire story.
Lucas commanded quite a presence in this novel. He was strong in character and belief when it came to his feelings about Gabby and overall intentions. As more and more of his backstory and ultimate abilities continued to manifest, he became exceptionally intriguing. He faced several obstacles throughout the novel and in the final scenes we saw a huge shift in the role he will be playing moving forward. I have faith that his character will overcome the evil prophecy he has yet to face.
Where I was quite clear about the role Amaziah played in Gabrielle life, I’m still a bit confused about Sheridan’s motives. I’m curious how her relationship with Gabrielle will continue to evolve and what that means for Gabrielle.
Javan is the perfect villain in this novel. He was cast from Heaven over a century before this story started and this played a huge role in Gabrielle’s existence because he was her eternal partner. I commended Gabrielle’s resolve when she faced him, knowing he would try to lead her toward evil. I’m curious how Javan and Lucas will continue their quest to get, or in Lucas’s case, keep Gabrielle on their side.
Where Haviland spares us the cliché cliffhanger (thank you very much) in her debut installment of The Reaping Chronicles, I feel she managed to develop enough excitement and well-positioned events to intrigue her audience for a fantastical adventure. Well done!
It is quite clear that Teal Haviland’s strength lies in her immaculately descript writing. When I opened the eBook to embark on this adventure, I was a bit taken aback to see it was well over 500 ePages. As I progressed through the novel, it was evident that Haviland truly put a strong emphasis on carefully developing the setting and creating the proper stage for her plot, backdrop and characters. Where she puts a heavy emphasis on infusing a strong religious undertone in her story, she doesn’t allow that to sacrifice the fantasy and paranormal edge she aims to achieve for Inception. With angels, demons, vampires, fairies and dark as well as divine forces, Haviland crafts a perfect blend of fantastical and philosophical in her debut installment of The Reaping Chronicles.
Gabrielle is the main character in this novel. First off, I must admit how pleased I was to see she was portrayed as a female. Her strong sense of character and her fantastical abilities made it fun to witness this story through her eyes as she wielded her powers against evil. I liked how Haviland stayed true to original myths and beliefs, but still managed to create an extremely unique and admirable character through Gabrielle. She owned her stage and maintained a strong presence throughout the entire story.
Lucas commanded quite a presence in this novel. He was strong in character and belief when it came to his feelings about Gabby and overall intentions. As more and more of his backstory and ultimate abilities continued to manifest, he became exceptionally intriguing. He faced several obstacles throughout the novel and in the final scenes we saw a huge shift in the role he will be playing moving forward. I have faith that his character will overcome the evil prophecy he has yet to face.
Where I was quite clear about the role Amaziah played in Gabrielle life, I’m still a bit confused about Sheridan’s motives. I’m curious how her relationship with Gabrielle will continue to evolve and what that means for Gabrielle.
Javan is the perfect villain in this novel. He was cast from Heaven over a century before this story started and this played a huge role in Gabrielle’s existence because he was her eternal partner. I commended Gabrielle’s resolve when she faced him, knowing he would try to lead her toward evil. I’m curious how Javan and Lucas will continue their quest to get, or in Lucas’s case, keep Gabrielle on their side.
Where Haviland spares us the cliché cliffhanger (thank you very much) in her debut installment of The Reaping Chronicles, I feel she managed to develop enough excitement and well-positioned events to intrigue her audience for a fantastical adventure. Well done!
August 6, 2013
I apologize for any misspellings in this, I do not have the book in front of me to check character name spellings and such.
As a starting note, I will mention that I read this entire five-hundred some page book in one day. To anyone considering reading this book, please don't make the mistake I made. This book is much too overwhelming to consume in one day! I might have liked it more had I paced myself.
This book is not nearly as dark as the cover implies it to be. I felt the book was written pretty cheerfully for the most part. I never figured out the title of this book, Inception. Or the cover. Or even the name of the series. And sadly the colored text was NOT doing it for me. My little sister told me it had something to do with grape bubble gum. This bubble gum better be REALLY important in future books. This book had no right to be purple. But thank you for picking a dark purple font instead of a deadly bright color. At least the dark color didn't kill my eyes.
I was very into this book at the beginning. I loved Gabrielle and I liked her angel friends. I particularly enjoyed that Gabrielle was not a helpless angel like I've read in other similar romance books. Unfortunately, the basis of this book is not particularly unique. I've read the female angel falling in love with a male human multiple times... A lot of the same problems arose within the relationship that I was used to, making this book relatively predictable.
I'm going to start out talking about Lucas. He is the main male protagonist in this story, and the love interest of our main character whom he calls Gabby... For whatever reason that agitated me every single time I was in his perspective. However, I think he is a very good character and I like him. If the book had been written 100% in his perspective, I bet I would have given this book five stars just because I loved him so much.
I did enjoy reading other perspectives, such as Javan's and Mara's. I think my problem with this book is while Gabrielle's character started out with a bang being a badass babe and all that, I started to dislike her the further the book went. By 3/4 of the way through the book she was pissing me off and I wanted to throw the book at the wall every single time I read in her perspective. I didn't, because this is a giant book and I might've broken something. Anyway, I'm not sure if it was intended for her to get more annoying, but when a character starts off being awesome, I don't expect her to go downhill and I wasn't liking it.
Javan's perspective was always a nice relief from Gabrielle's. I actually started to root for him to succeed. But I also felt bad for Lucas so I was pretty conflicted about that because I love Lucas.
This book was also very long and dragged out. There were also some random side things that got pushed aside by the plot. I feel like the plot was overwhelming the characters and the romance in this story.
I did like this book. But it frustrated me beyond belief at parts. While I feel I need to read the next book solely because of this book's lack of closure, if Gabrielle continues to , I might legitimately throw the book at the wall. Gabrielle you drive me CRAZY.
Okay. I'm done venting about how much Gabby ticked me off during this book.
I liked the plot of this book. I did not like being unable to properly pronounce half the words. Qalal? WHAT. My brain looked at that word and decided to pronounce it "Kwalawl", which is probably wrong, but whatever. And Yahuwuh, or however it's spelled, was a little confusing too. Is this a play of Yahweh, a word for God? I actually thought it was a typo at first until I kept seeing it.
Now that I'm on the subject of typos, this book had a lot. Most of them were punctuation issues, such as improper quotation marks and periods randomly going after commas like this ,. I saw that multiple times, so it's possible it was on purpose. I also saw too instead of to at least once. This book could've used a little more combing for that.
This book also could've used more editing. It was soooo longgggg. Sometimes I felt like I was trudging through molasses. The info dumps were overwhelming, and I feel like characters and side plots were thrown to the side and forgotten about, when maybe they should've been cut all together.
All in all, the beginning of this book left me excited for action and cool stuff happening that just never came to realization. The disappointment and frustration this book made me feel caused me to have to give this book three stars. However I'll still read the next one, because there was a compelling story and Lucas is like my new favorite fictional person ever. I'll buy myself a stress ball for dealing with Gabrielle being stupid and making me mad. I'll also cross my fingers that the next book is like three hundred pages instead of five hundred.
As a starting note, I will mention that I read this entire five-hundred some page book in one day. To anyone considering reading this book, please don't make the mistake I made. This book is much too overwhelming to consume in one day! I might have liked it more had I paced myself.
This book is not nearly as dark as the cover implies it to be. I felt the book was written pretty cheerfully for the most part. I never figured out the title of this book, Inception. Or the cover. Or even the name of the series. And sadly the colored text was NOT doing it for me. My little sister told me it had something to do with grape bubble gum. This bubble gum better be REALLY important in future books. This book had no right to be purple. But thank you for picking a dark purple font instead of a deadly bright color. At least the dark color didn't kill my eyes.
I was very into this book at the beginning. I loved Gabrielle and I liked her angel friends. I particularly enjoyed that Gabrielle was not a helpless angel like I've read in other similar romance books. Unfortunately, the basis of this book is not particularly unique. I've read the female angel falling in love with a male human multiple times... A lot of the same problems arose within the relationship that I was used to, making this book relatively predictable.
I'm going to start out talking about Lucas. He is the main male protagonist in this story, and the love interest of our main character whom he calls Gabby... For whatever reason that agitated me every single time I was in his perspective. However, I think he is a very good character and I like him. If the book had been written 100% in his perspective, I bet I would have given this book five stars just because I loved him so much.
I did enjoy reading other perspectives, such as Javan's and Mara's. I think my problem with this book is while Gabrielle's character started out with a bang being a badass babe and all that, I started to dislike her the further the book went. By 3/4 of the way through the book she was pissing me off and I wanted to throw the book at the wall every single time I read in her perspective. I didn't, because this is a giant book and I might've broken something. Anyway, I'm not sure if it was intended for her to get more annoying, but when a character starts off being awesome, I don't expect her to go downhill and I wasn't liking it.
Javan's perspective was always a nice relief from Gabrielle's. I actually started to root for him to succeed. But I also felt bad for Lucas so I was pretty conflicted about that because I love Lucas.
This book was also very long and dragged out. There were also some random side things that got pushed aside by the plot. I feel like the plot was overwhelming the characters and the romance in this story.
I did like this book. But it frustrated me beyond belief at parts. While I feel I need to read the next book solely because of this book's lack of closure, if Gabrielle continues to , I might legitimately throw the book at the wall. Gabrielle you drive me CRAZY.
Okay. I'm done venting about how much Gabby ticked me off during this book.
I liked the plot of this book. I did not like being unable to properly pronounce half the words. Qalal? WHAT. My brain looked at that word and decided to pronounce it "Kwalawl", which is probably wrong, but whatever. And Yahuwuh, or however it's spelled, was a little confusing too. Is this a play of Yahweh, a word for God? I actually thought it was a typo at first until I kept seeing it.
Now that I'm on the subject of typos, this book had a lot. Most of them were punctuation issues, such as improper quotation marks and periods randomly going after commas like this ,. I saw that multiple times, so it's possible it was on purpose. I also saw too instead of to at least once. This book could've used a little more combing for that.
This book also could've used more editing. It was soooo longgggg. Sometimes I felt like I was trudging through molasses. The info dumps were overwhelming, and I feel like characters and side plots were thrown to the side and forgotten about, when maybe they should've been cut all together.
All in all, the beginning of this book left me excited for action and cool stuff happening that just never came to realization. The disappointment and frustration this book made me feel caused me to have to give this book three stars. However I'll still read the next one, because there was a compelling story and Lucas is like my new favorite fictional person ever. I'll buy myself a stress ball for dealing with Gabrielle being stupid and making me mad. I'll also cross my fingers that the next book is like three hundred pages instead of five hundred.
October 4, 2013
Where to begin? First off, if I could I would give this book a star for every angel there is in heaven. It was an incredible book to read. With every flip of the page I loved this book more and more. At one point I even started to think that the author, the glorious Teal Haviland, may just be some sort of fantastical creature herself. I still sort of believe that for this is one original story. Never in my many years of reading have I come across such an original story that involves all forms of fantastical beings. So that makes me think that just maybe the author may have a little more insight into the incredible and awe-inspiring than she lets on. ;o) Are you an angel Teal? One that chose to live as a human perhaps? LoL Any who, in all seriousness I loved this book from start to finish. I cannot wait to have my hands on the next one in this series. Please oh please Lord let the release of book #2 come soon!
September 20, 2025
This was the first book I ever read, it was through this book that I found a joy and a love for readng it helped me unlock my love for urban fantasy. This book has since set the standard for every book I have read after . I have read this book 4 more times from when I first read it and it captures me all over again. I loved it and still do , it will forever be in my heart and remain a core memory . The story is well crafted and the imagery she creates is beautiful I saw Gabrielle's world and felt as though I live in it because some parts of if not all of it very much reflects some aspects of reality , the ongoing crisis between what we know as good vs evil .
June 23, 2013
4*s
review posted here...
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Inception is a great start to a new series involving Angels & Demons heading towards the ultimate power play with Earth and humanity as the target. The synopsis is a perfect description of what the book entails as we find Gabrielle, the Angel of Karma aka The Reaper thrust into the human world in an attempt to gain knowledge about why the balance between good & evil is being tipped more towards darkness, why are the humans forsaking the light ? Gabrielle had also been having dreams of a boy, someone she felt she needed to help whilst on earth so whilst doing her angelic duties she decides to see where her dreams fit in. After getting used to her body & her human emotions for a couple of months, her first day at high school is an eye opener in more ways than one, the foremost being the boy from her dreams – Lucas- for when she meets him, she feels an instant connection to him and him to her but acting on that is the biggest taboo for her kind, something that would cause her to become that which was hunted – a fallen – a fate that befell her once beloved – Javen – and now it seems that her time on earth is more important than ever as Javen, Gabrielle & Lucas’s fates are woven together into a plot to over throw one of the most powerful entities there ever was…..and only Gabrielle has the power to stop it.
Gabrielle was a really likable character, fiercely protective & very capable of giving that to others. She is feared and respected wherever she goes, because let’s face it, who would want to anger the Angel of Karma? I really liked her warrior angel side, how others feared her & how she could defend herself, I love a character that doesn’t depend on others. I also liked how she softened when she came to earth too, through experiencing human emotions she gets a sort of balance herself, an understanding of why humans can behave the way they do, how intense they can feel and also how fragile they can be. The love that blossomed between her and Lucas was sweet, in the beginning it seemed as though we were headed towards some insta-love territory and whilst they feel the intense connection, it was handled well and whilst it was very tentative, it still had a sort of forbidden feel to it and that is the best kind of love. I also really liked Phalen and her attitude to everything, a great secondary character that I hope to see more of, along with her shifter friends.
I really enjoyed the storyline, who doesn’t love a story where good versus evil in a battle for supremacy, sprinkled with some forbidden love & topped with some kick ass characters? The world the author has created has the potential to be built upon in future books especially because she doesn’t limit her species to just angels/demons/nephillim which I really liked, plus there are so many possibilities with different realms too. I really liked the big threat of the book, which appears to be the series thread and found it really interesting, I’m really curious to read how that is going to play out and it also had a book long, immediate danger situation that both tie in together so well and introduce us to the larger world in the book. I enjoyed the different pov’s especially Javans, I enjoy getting into the bad guys head, it gives a greater understanding of his actions & his plans but it also helps to witness other emotions that even other characters aren’t privy to, which can even get you to empathise with the bad guy. I was thrilled with the connection between Gabrielle & Javan, again this has tons of potential for further conflict especially with their joint history, how well they know each other’s strengths & weaknesses and both having positions of power…. This relationship is definitely one to watch - but saying that - I did like Gabrielle & Lucas’s love connection too. With most books about angels, there is a tendency to focus on the new emotions & feelings of the visiting Angel which leads to a lot of internal analysis and whilst I totally get why this happens, it just tends to bog things down a bit for me and Gabrielle was guilty of that. I wouldn’t say that it was particularly fast paced & full of action either but there are a good few events that will keep you on your toes and hold your interest, never the less, this book was a really good read and I will definitely be looking out for the sequel.
review posted here...
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Inception is a great start to a new series involving Angels & Demons heading towards the ultimate power play with Earth and humanity as the target. The synopsis is a perfect description of what the book entails as we find Gabrielle, the Angel of Karma aka The Reaper thrust into the human world in an attempt to gain knowledge about why the balance between good & evil is being tipped more towards darkness, why are the humans forsaking the light ? Gabrielle had also been having dreams of a boy, someone she felt she needed to help whilst on earth so whilst doing her angelic duties she decides to see where her dreams fit in. After getting used to her body & her human emotions for a couple of months, her first day at high school is an eye opener in more ways than one, the foremost being the boy from her dreams – Lucas- for when she meets him, she feels an instant connection to him and him to her but acting on that is the biggest taboo for her kind, something that would cause her to become that which was hunted – a fallen – a fate that befell her once beloved – Javen – and now it seems that her time on earth is more important than ever as Javen, Gabrielle & Lucas’s fates are woven together into a plot to over throw one of the most powerful entities there ever was…..and only Gabrielle has the power to stop it.
Gabrielle was a really likable character, fiercely protective & very capable of giving that to others. She is feared and respected wherever she goes, because let’s face it, who would want to anger the Angel of Karma? I really liked her warrior angel side, how others feared her & how she could defend herself, I love a character that doesn’t depend on others. I also liked how she softened when she came to earth too, through experiencing human emotions she gets a sort of balance herself, an understanding of why humans can behave the way they do, how intense they can feel and also how fragile they can be. The love that blossomed between her and Lucas was sweet, in the beginning it seemed as though we were headed towards some insta-love territory and whilst they feel the intense connection, it was handled well and whilst it was very tentative, it still had a sort of forbidden feel to it and that is the best kind of love. I also really liked Phalen and her attitude to everything, a great secondary character that I hope to see more of, along with her shifter friends.
I really enjoyed the storyline, who doesn’t love a story where good versus evil in a battle for supremacy, sprinkled with some forbidden love & topped with some kick ass characters? The world the author has created has the potential to be built upon in future books especially because she doesn’t limit her species to just angels/demons/nephillim which I really liked, plus there are so many possibilities with different realms too. I really liked the big threat of the book, which appears to be the series thread and found it really interesting, I’m really curious to read how that is going to play out and it also had a book long, immediate danger situation that both tie in together so well and introduce us to the larger world in the book. I enjoyed the different pov’s especially Javans, I enjoy getting into the bad guys head, it gives a greater understanding of his actions & his plans but it also helps to witness other emotions that even other characters aren’t privy to, which can even get you to empathise with the bad guy. I was thrilled with the connection between Gabrielle & Javan, again this has tons of potential for further conflict especially with their joint history, how well they know each other’s strengths & weaknesses and both having positions of power…. This relationship is definitely one to watch - but saying that - I did like Gabrielle & Lucas’s love connection too. With most books about angels, there is a tendency to focus on the new emotions & feelings of the visiting Angel which leads to a lot of internal analysis and whilst I totally get why this happens, it just tends to bog things down a bit for me and Gabrielle was guilty of that. I wouldn’t say that it was particularly fast paced & full of action either but there are a good few events that will keep you on your toes and hold your interest, never the less, this book was a really good read and I will definitely be looking out for the sequel.
September 2, 2013
I have to start off by saying how beautiful the cover for this book is. It drew me in the second I saw it and I knew, without even reading the blurb, that I wanted to read this book.
Haviland has created an amazing story, taking mythical and magical beings that we see in so many other books and breathing new life into them. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was well-paced, a little slow at times but never to the point of being boring, in fact, I loved that Haviland didn’t rush through certain mundane bits of the story just to get to the exciting, plots twists. She put so much thought into every aspect of her story and it showed in her fantastic writing. Her characters were all well developed, well-rounded individuals, even the secondary ones, and they each found a place in my heart. I even felt myself warming to a few of the unsavory characters.
Gabrielle was exciting and strong. I mean, she’s the Angel of Karma, it just doesn’t get better than that! She had to endure many struggles throughout the book, and it was exciting to see how she handled herself. Nothing really ever came easy to her, no matter how awesome and powerful she was. She had some major adjusting to do, being in human form – the biggest obstacle was trying to deal with her conflicting human emotions while living by Yahuwah’s rules and then of course the fact that her human form subdued her powers. She also had to deal with the constant change to her state of mind every time she dished out karma. As the story developed, many problems arose, from a dangerous book that could bring about a war between good and evil, to the interference of the Qalal. I was enthralled and couldn’t put this book down, not even for a second. It literally, went with me everywhere I went!
I didn’t entirely warm to Lucas when he first appeared. He was a little immature at times, but then again he was a teenage guy. I knew there had to be more to his story otherwise I couldn’t see why Gabrielle would have fallen for him. However, the more I read, the more I started to like him. His relationship with Gabrielle had an ease about it. Their interactions felt effortless, except for when either was brooding over where their relationship was headed. Lucas was sweet and had a boyish charm, but I have to admit that I kind of really liked the “new” Lucas. I tend to have a thing for bad boys :) He just seemed to really come alive, and I cannot wait for the second book, to see what becomes of him.
There was a plethora of great characters in this book, both good and evil. I really cannot wait to see more of them. I have to give special mention to Phalen though. Aside from Gabrielle, she was awesome. She had this amazing carefree attitude and she loved my favorite flavor of bubblegum, too.
I really enjoyed the fantasy element of this book but there was also a beautiful, spiritual message that spoke to me on a much deeper level. I was entertained but at the same time enlightened and reminded of all the things we take for granted. All the ways in which the human race defiles and desecrates the beautiful life each and every one of us has been blessed with. This story will stay with me for a long time and I can only hope that when Gabrielle looks down on me, my daily dose of karma helps shift her mood to the light and happy side.
Haviland has created an amazing story, taking mythical and magical beings that we see in so many other books and breathing new life into them. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was well-paced, a little slow at times but never to the point of being boring, in fact, I loved that Haviland didn’t rush through certain mundane bits of the story just to get to the exciting, plots twists. She put so much thought into every aspect of her story and it showed in her fantastic writing. Her characters were all well developed, well-rounded individuals, even the secondary ones, and they each found a place in my heart. I even felt myself warming to a few of the unsavory characters.
Gabrielle was exciting and strong. I mean, she’s the Angel of Karma, it just doesn’t get better than that! She had to endure many struggles throughout the book, and it was exciting to see how she handled herself. Nothing really ever came easy to her, no matter how awesome and powerful she was. She had some major adjusting to do, being in human form – the biggest obstacle was trying to deal with her conflicting human emotions while living by Yahuwah’s rules and then of course the fact that her human form subdued her powers. She also had to deal with the constant change to her state of mind every time she dished out karma. As the story developed, many problems arose, from a dangerous book that could bring about a war between good and evil, to the interference of the Qalal. I was enthralled and couldn’t put this book down, not even for a second. It literally, went with me everywhere I went!
I didn’t entirely warm to Lucas when he first appeared. He was a little immature at times, but then again he was a teenage guy. I knew there had to be more to his story otherwise I couldn’t see why Gabrielle would have fallen for him. However, the more I read, the more I started to like him. His relationship with Gabrielle had an ease about it. Their interactions felt effortless, except for when either was brooding over where their relationship was headed. Lucas was sweet and had a boyish charm, but I have to admit that I kind of really liked the “new” Lucas. I tend to have a thing for bad boys :) He just seemed to really come alive, and I cannot wait for the second book, to see what becomes of him.
There was a plethora of great characters in this book, both good and evil. I really cannot wait to see more of them. I have to give special mention to Phalen though. Aside from Gabrielle, she was awesome. She had this amazing carefree attitude and she loved my favorite flavor of bubblegum, too.
I really enjoyed the fantasy element of this book but there was also a beautiful, spiritual message that spoke to me on a much deeper level. I was entertained but at the same time enlightened and reminded of all the things we take for granted. All the ways in which the human race defiles and desecrates the beautiful life each and every one of us has been blessed with. This story will stay with me for a long time and I can only hope that when Gabrielle looks down on me, my daily dose of karma helps shift her mood to the light and happy side.
June 23, 2016
3.5 stars
Upon finishing the first book in the Reaping Chronicles, I have to say, I can't wait to see where Haviland takes us next. With Inception, she has created a fantastical world filled with not only angels and demons, but also brings in vampires, shifters, fae, and other paranormal forces, which was a pleasant surprise. I really enjoyed how she weaved all of these groups together to play an important role in the worldbuilding.
The one thing I can say about Haviland's writing style is that she is very thorough in her descriptions. I always seemed to know what was going on in Gabrielle's mind and was able to really connect with her because I was so attuned to her thoughts and feelings. This book is told from multiple POV's: Gabrielle's, Lucas's, and Javan's. I really liked reading about the struggles Gabrielle faced: trying to discern the difference between her human and angel feelings, trying to determine how far she should let a relationship go with Lucas, and above all watching her try to do her duty as the Angel of Karma and serving Yahuwah.
With Lucas, we see the teenage boy who is falling for this beautiful girl who he can't help but be drawn to and want to be around. Yet, he knows he is somehow different and watching him learn who he really is in the grand scheme of things is very enjoyable.
Javan, however. Oh, Javan. Getting into the mind of your antagonist is SO much fun. Javan is one of the Fallen, but before that he was Gabrielle's Reyah (which is kind of like the equivalent of a soulmate in Heaven). To lose one's Reyah, is a devastating loss that Gabrielle will never quite get over. To read about his thoughts, his goals, and above all his twisted idea that he will be with Gabrielle again really kept me interested in reading his POV. (Even though I was definitely read to get back to Gabrielle and Lucas. And the kissing. Oh, the kissing.)
Without a doubt, watching Gabrielle and Lucas form a relationship is by far one of my favorite elements in the novel. Gabrielle knows it is forbidden, and if she pursues this course with him, she would also become one of the Fallen. Torn between her duties as the Angel of Karma and falling for the boy who haunts her mind, Gabrielle must make a decision where Lucas is concerned, as she knows her time on Earth is limited and a great war is about to break out between the forces of Heaven and Hell.
I've heard some people say they were over books dealing with angels, which saddens me, because there are some really awesome novels out there. This one is no exception. Haviland has done a great job and definitely put a new spin on the Fallen, the forces of good and evil, and yet didn't bog us down with too much lore or overdo the religious themes set in the novel.
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review*
Upon finishing the first book in the Reaping Chronicles, I have to say, I can't wait to see where Haviland takes us next. With Inception, she has created a fantastical world filled with not only angels and demons, but also brings in vampires, shifters, fae, and other paranormal forces, which was a pleasant surprise. I really enjoyed how she weaved all of these groups together to play an important role in the worldbuilding.
The one thing I can say about Haviland's writing style is that she is very thorough in her descriptions. I always seemed to know what was going on in Gabrielle's mind and was able to really connect with her because I was so attuned to her thoughts and feelings. This book is told from multiple POV's: Gabrielle's, Lucas's, and Javan's. I really liked reading about the struggles Gabrielle faced: trying to discern the difference between her human and angel feelings, trying to determine how far she should let a relationship go with Lucas, and above all watching her try to do her duty as the Angel of Karma and serving Yahuwah.
With Lucas, we see the teenage boy who is falling for this beautiful girl who he can't help but be drawn to and want to be around. Yet, he knows he is somehow different and watching him learn who he really is in the grand scheme of things is very enjoyable.
Javan, however. Oh, Javan. Getting into the mind of your antagonist is SO much fun. Javan is one of the Fallen, but before that he was Gabrielle's Reyah (which is kind of like the equivalent of a soulmate in Heaven). To lose one's Reyah, is a devastating loss that Gabrielle will never quite get over. To read about his thoughts, his goals, and above all his twisted idea that he will be with Gabrielle again really kept me interested in reading his POV. (Even though I was definitely read to get back to Gabrielle and Lucas. And the kissing. Oh, the kissing.)
Without a doubt, watching Gabrielle and Lucas form a relationship is by far one of my favorite elements in the novel. Gabrielle knows it is forbidden, and if she pursues this course with him, she would also become one of the Fallen. Torn between her duties as the Angel of Karma and falling for the boy who haunts her mind, Gabrielle must make a decision where Lucas is concerned, as she knows her time on Earth is limited and a great war is about to break out between the forces of Heaven and Hell.
I've heard some people say they were over books dealing with angels, which saddens me, because there are some really awesome novels out there. This one is no exception. Haviland has done a great job and definitely put a new spin on the Fallen, the forces of good and evil, and yet didn't bog us down with too much lore or overdo the religious themes set in the novel.
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review*
October 7, 2015
The Good: The many fantastical beings.
I must admit, I have not read a book that includes half the beings that are part of Haviland's world, but for some reason, it doesn't feel like it's too much (probably due to the amazing storytelling ability of this author). There are countless beings in this story, though a few get much more recognition or attention than others, understandably of course. I love stories with creatures that most would deem unreal, and the way they are brought forth in Inception is done spotlessly. Then again, I may be a bit biased, since I love books like this. Scratch that, Haviland did her thing!
The Better: The character development!
These characters are a handful of ones I've seen developed expertly. Their actions (or lack thereof) and dialogue, reveal just what type of person they are without making the process obvious. It isn't stated outright that this character is this way or that, like I've seen in other books before. No, Haviland treads expertly with her development and I enjoyed reading and learning just who these characters are.
The Best: The various relationships between Gabrielle and those most important to her.
Gabrielle is incarnated as a seventeen year old girl to live a relatively short period of time on Earth to better understand the way humans think and come to conclusions. She immediately encounters feelings and sensations being an angel wasn't possible to her. Her relationship with her Reyah was one that centered on emotional and spiritual connection rather than physical. So, it's safe to say that Javan's falling would tear her apart. One person who helps her feel peace and contentment, apart from Yahuwah, is her mentor/father figure Amaziah. He brings with him the general peace that her fellow brethren all bring, but his energy is much more soothing due to their deeper connection. Their relationship is one everyone longs for in this life, or in her case, another.
Even as she copes with the eternal pain of the loss of Javan, her being a human allows for more distraction from the pain, especially when she runs into the face that results in peace and serenity. Lucas. Their relationship starts off on a light, humorous note, and only escalates from there. They quickly become friends, and soon after much more, but it's not even all physical (surprising when they're teenagers). The emotional connection between the two of them rivals that of her a Javan, despite how short a time they know each other. Seeing that relationship develop into something even deeper is an enriching thing to read and be a part of.
Haviland hit the nail on the head with her Heavenly debut (pun intended). I'm anxiously awaiting her next installment.
I must admit, I have not read a book that includes half the beings that are part of Haviland's world, but for some reason, it doesn't feel like it's too much (probably due to the amazing storytelling ability of this author). There are countless beings in this story, though a few get much more recognition or attention than others, understandably of course. I love stories with creatures that most would deem unreal, and the way they are brought forth in Inception is done spotlessly. Then again, I may be a bit biased, since I love books like this. Scratch that, Haviland did her thing!
The Better: The character development!
These characters are a handful of ones I've seen developed expertly. Their actions (or lack thereof) and dialogue, reveal just what type of person they are without making the process obvious. It isn't stated outright that this character is this way or that, like I've seen in other books before. No, Haviland treads expertly with her development and I enjoyed reading and learning just who these characters are.
The Best: The various relationships between Gabrielle and those most important to her.
Gabrielle is incarnated as a seventeen year old girl to live a relatively short period of time on Earth to better understand the way humans think and come to conclusions. She immediately encounters feelings and sensations being an angel wasn't possible to her. Her relationship with her Reyah was one that centered on emotional and spiritual connection rather than physical. So, it's safe to say that Javan's falling would tear her apart. One person who helps her feel peace and contentment, apart from Yahuwah, is her mentor/father figure Amaziah. He brings with him the general peace that her fellow brethren all bring, but his energy is much more soothing due to their deeper connection. Their relationship is one everyone longs for in this life, or in her case, another.
Even as she copes with the eternal pain of the loss of Javan, her being a human allows for more distraction from the pain, especially when she runs into the face that results in peace and serenity. Lucas. Their relationship starts off on a light, humorous note, and only escalates from there. They quickly become friends, and soon after much more, but it's not even all physical (surprising when they're teenagers). The emotional connection between the two of them rivals that of her a Javan, despite how short a time they know each other. Seeing that relationship develop into something even deeper is an enriching thing to read and be a part of.
Haviland hit the nail on the head with her Heavenly debut (pun intended). I'm anxiously awaiting her next installment.
November 24, 2013
Originally posted at The Solitary Bookworm
Gabrielle is the Angel of Karma. One of the most powerful in Yahuwah’s army. Gabrielle might be strong but she has a lot on her shoulders right now. In addition to that, the imminent danger approaching seems to be unstoppable. How will Gabrielle deal with the catastrophic future when everything and everyone she loves is on the line?
I love the storyline of Inception and I have high hopes for the book. I enjoy a good angel story, a fascinating love story and who can resist a book with a war between good and evil? Everything sounds so tempting and interesting which is why I immediately read the story upon receiving a copy. For the record, I did like the story but to be honest I was bored 50% of it. Don’t get me wrong, Inception as a whole does have potential however I wasn’t liking how it was executed – it felt like it should have been a 2 parter or written with less narration. My boredom is due to the fact that the story was dragging to a certain point and I just wanted the story to move forward.
The first thing you’ll actually notice in the book is that Haviland knows how to write descriptively. She knows how to help readers picture the scenes accurately. I love how Haviland wrote a story with good characters and a world that is familiar yet different in so many levels. But that strength is also her weakness. It will come to a point that you’ll have enough. The outpour of information was too much for me to handle which resulted to me getting impatient and overwhelmed.
Since I already told you what I didn’t like in Inception, let me tell you what I did. Great part(s) in Inception that is very notable is the 1) Diverse characters, 2) Amazing and promising story line and 3) Great ending. The characters as I said are very diverse and multidimensional. They stand out. They have engaging dialogues and thoughts that add to the story more. Count the drama and conflict and you have a great combo. The story starts off shaky but eventually builds up and continues to be heart racing until the very end – and oh, has awesome plot twists too. Lastly, while I do detest cliffhangers I wasn’t bothered with the cliffhanger ending in Inception.
I maybe undecided on how to feel about the story for now due to the issue I mentioned above but I have to admit it does have some interesting and redeeming points. Inception is not an easy story. It has more to it that is undiscovered yet – more complex than what is expected – but I am excited to read what happens next.
Gabrielle is the Angel of Karma. One of the most powerful in Yahuwah’s army. Gabrielle might be strong but she has a lot on her shoulders right now. In addition to that, the imminent danger approaching seems to be unstoppable. How will Gabrielle deal with the catastrophic future when everything and everyone she loves is on the line?
I love the storyline of Inception and I have high hopes for the book. I enjoy a good angel story, a fascinating love story and who can resist a book with a war between good and evil? Everything sounds so tempting and interesting which is why I immediately read the story upon receiving a copy. For the record, I did like the story but to be honest I was bored 50% of it. Don’t get me wrong, Inception as a whole does have potential however I wasn’t liking how it was executed – it felt like it should have been a 2 parter or written with less narration. My boredom is due to the fact that the story was dragging to a certain point and I just wanted the story to move forward.
The first thing you’ll actually notice in the book is that Haviland knows how to write descriptively. She knows how to help readers picture the scenes accurately. I love how Haviland wrote a story with good characters and a world that is familiar yet different in so many levels. But that strength is also her weakness. It will come to a point that you’ll have enough. The outpour of information was too much for me to handle which resulted to me getting impatient and overwhelmed.
Since I already told you what I didn’t like in Inception, let me tell you what I did. Great part(s) in Inception that is very notable is the 1) Diverse characters, 2) Amazing and promising story line and 3) Great ending. The characters as I said are very diverse and multidimensional. They stand out. They have engaging dialogues and thoughts that add to the story more. Count the drama and conflict and you have a great combo. The story starts off shaky but eventually builds up and continues to be heart racing until the very end – and oh, has awesome plot twists too. Lastly, while I do detest cliffhangers I wasn’t bothered with the cliffhanger ending in Inception.
I maybe undecided on how to feel about the story for now due to the issue I mentioned above but I have to admit it does have some interesting and redeeming points. Inception is not an easy story. It has more to it that is undiscovered yet – more complex than what is expected – but I am excited to read what happens next.
June 11, 2013
Wow..just wow! First I have to say I was completely drawn to the cover of this book because it is absolutely gorgeous. But I also have to admit when I first started reading Inception I was a bit nervous because the names in the beginning of the book and its sheer size kind of threw me. I was worried it would be hard to read but man was I wrong! This book flowed so smoothly for me it was an absolute pleasure to read and I found myself taking my time so I didn't miss anything and could absorb everything that was going on. I also quickly realized that they were angels and demons so of course their names would be a bit different. In no time at all I was emotionally attached to Gabby as I watched her struggle with what she knew she needed to do as an angel to save humanity, and her quickly growing feelings for the human Lucas even though she knew they couldn't be together. I was also extremely impressed with all the other creatures and realms involved in this story and hope to see more of them as the series goes on. I especially loved the shifter's realm and all the beautiful detail that was put into it. Besides who wouldn't love some yummy shifters with scottish accents, right? After reading all the incredible detail about the realms, creatures, legends, and even the prophecy I can almost picture an angel whispering all her secrets into Teal's ear for her to put on paper. It makes me think that maybe just maybe all those things on the edges of our dreams or the moving shadows caught out of the corner of our eyes are something more....something we're not suppose to know is there. Teal certainly makes me believe and since the ending of Inception left more questions than it answered I certainly can't wait to see what she has in store for us next! In my opinion absolutely recommended.
May 15, 2013
Inception
“Time. It can shadow what needs to be concealed-forgotten-or cast light on what needs to be revealed. And only as it passes, will we know what we’ve reaped from those things we’ve sown.” –Teal Haviland
I received a copy of Inception by Teal Haviland from Inkslinger book promotions in exchange for an honest review and honestly I’m having trouble putting my thoughts into words. Inception follows the story of Gabrielle, the Angel of Karma, and her journey to understand and save humanity.
Haviland is a good writer. She has the ability to paint a picture with just enough detail that your imagination can pretty much fill in the blanks creating this magical and heavily world where anything and everything can happen.
I enjoyed this story, I did, but I also felt like it dragged on way too long. While I know it takes time to create a world and develop characters I felt like the book didn’t really pick up until chapter 37, which is about halfway through the book. Once we hit chapter 37 things start happening fast and its chaos, not the writing, but the stuff going on with Gabrielle, Lucas, Javan and the rest of characters.
I enjoyed reading chapters from different perspectives. Seeing thing from Lucas’s point of view and Javan’s was especially interesting. I was definitely surprised with how things ended up and what happened with the book. I’m not sure I like the path Lucas seems to be heading, but that’s my opinion. The story in itself was incredibly compelling.
I could have done with fewer descriptions in the first several chapters, but I understand the need to build things up. All in all this was a unique and heavy read, with great character development and a few twists to spare.
“Time. It can shadow what needs to be concealed-forgotten-or cast light on what needs to be revealed. And only as it passes, will we know what we’ve reaped from those things we’ve sown.” –Teal Haviland
I received a copy of Inception by Teal Haviland from Inkslinger book promotions in exchange for an honest review and honestly I’m having trouble putting my thoughts into words. Inception follows the story of Gabrielle, the Angel of Karma, and her journey to understand and save humanity.
Haviland is a good writer. She has the ability to paint a picture with just enough detail that your imagination can pretty much fill in the blanks creating this magical and heavily world where anything and everything can happen.
I enjoyed this story, I did, but I also felt like it dragged on way too long. While I know it takes time to create a world and develop characters I felt like the book didn’t really pick up until chapter 37, which is about halfway through the book. Once we hit chapter 37 things start happening fast and its chaos, not the writing, but the stuff going on with Gabrielle, Lucas, Javan and the rest of characters.
I enjoyed reading chapters from different perspectives. Seeing thing from Lucas’s point of view and Javan’s was especially interesting. I was definitely surprised with how things ended up and what happened with the book. I’m not sure I like the path Lucas seems to be heading, but that’s my opinion. The story in itself was incredibly compelling.
I could have done with fewer descriptions in the first several chapters, but I understand the need to build things up. All in all this was a unique and heavy read, with great character development and a few twists to spare.
July 31, 2013
Inception man what to say about Inception...... this book is simply AMAZING! I mean holy hell I love books that have the age old war going on heaven vs hell good vs evil because you just never know where the author is going to take it. Teal has crafted a world where the reader feels right at home and can feel what the character is feeling.
The world as we know it is in trouble. It is filled with danger from demons walking to and from looking for its next victim to take down the path of destruction. One of the fallen angels Javan is looking for an ancient book that has the power to destroy all of mankind. Once he finds this book he plans on taking over the world with pure evil and destroying what he considers to be pesty little creatures mankind.
There is one person who can save mankind from mass destruction. Gabrielle sits and waits for her time to return to mankind. When she is tasked with finding Javan and destroying him she takes this very seriously. When she returns to earth she is astounded by how mankind is acting and the choices they are making. She is tasked with learning what influences mankind so she and the other angels can reverse this bad that is going on. But Gabrielle soon gets distracted by a human Lucas. Lucas gets Gabrielle's attention and she wants to protect him at all costs.
But there is something very special about Lucas and when Gabrielle finds out she will be caught between saving Lucas and destroying Javan. This is such an EPIC story that had me on the edge of my seat and I was reading as fast as I could because I needed the end I needed to see what happened to Lucas and mankind. Boy I was not disappointed and I need book two like ASAP!
The world as we know it is in trouble. It is filled with danger from demons walking to and from looking for its next victim to take down the path of destruction. One of the fallen angels Javan is looking for an ancient book that has the power to destroy all of mankind. Once he finds this book he plans on taking over the world with pure evil and destroying what he considers to be pesty little creatures mankind.
There is one person who can save mankind from mass destruction. Gabrielle sits and waits for her time to return to mankind. When she is tasked with finding Javan and destroying him she takes this very seriously. When she returns to earth she is astounded by how mankind is acting and the choices they are making. She is tasked with learning what influences mankind so she and the other angels can reverse this bad that is going on. But Gabrielle soon gets distracted by a human Lucas. Lucas gets Gabrielle's attention and she wants to protect him at all costs.
But there is something very special about Lucas and when Gabrielle finds out she will be caught between saving Lucas and destroying Javan. This is such an EPIC story that had me on the edge of my seat and I was reading as fast as I could because I needed the end I needed to see what happened to Lucas and mankind. Boy I was not disappointed and I need book two like ASAP!
May 25, 2013
Gabrielle is one of the most powerful angels ever created. She resolves to live on Earth for six months to discover why humans make the choices they do. They are losing the war against darkness and evil, she needs to figure out why. However, she gets much more then she bargained for when she meets a young human named Lucas. Is it destiny? “Inception (The Reaping Chronicles #1)” is Teal Haviland’s new fantasy novel.
Gabrielle is the Angel of Karma. It is her job to reward and punish humans based off of their actions. She has already lost her Reyeh, an equivalent to a soulmate. She isn’t supposed to be able to fall in love again. Why is she so drawn to Lucas? How important is he to the upcoming battle? Gabrielle soon finds herself in a race against time to understand and save humanity.
Haviland’s novel is complex and engaging. The novel is written from the point of view of multiple characters although it mainly follows Gabrielle. Her attention to detail is refreshing, allowing the reader to become submerged within the story.
My biggest issue with this novel was Gabrielle’s behavior and choices. She is supposed to be thousands of years old, yet she decides to live as a seventeen-year-old human. I found her choice, and her subsequent behavior with Lucas, to be somewhat unrealistic. She should be much more mature then she is. Based off of the novel’s description I was not expecting to read a young adult novel. Haviland is a good writer; with more depth and maturity to her characters this could have been an exceptionally great novel.
Overall I enjoyed “Inception” although I would have preferred characters with more maturity and depth. For those of you looking for a great young adult fantasy novel with a fairytale romance, this is the book for you.
Gabrielle is the Angel of Karma. It is her job to reward and punish humans based off of their actions. She has already lost her Reyeh, an equivalent to a soulmate. She isn’t supposed to be able to fall in love again. Why is she so drawn to Lucas? How important is he to the upcoming battle? Gabrielle soon finds herself in a race against time to understand and save humanity.
Haviland’s novel is complex and engaging. The novel is written from the point of view of multiple characters although it mainly follows Gabrielle. Her attention to detail is refreshing, allowing the reader to become submerged within the story.
My biggest issue with this novel was Gabrielle’s behavior and choices. She is supposed to be thousands of years old, yet she decides to live as a seventeen-year-old human. I found her choice, and her subsequent behavior with Lucas, to be somewhat unrealistic. She should be much more mature then she is. Based off of the novel’s description I was not expecting to read a young adult novel. Haviland is a good writer; with more depth and maturity to her characters this could have been an exceptionally great novel.
Overall I enjoyed “Inception” although I would have preferred characters with more maturity and depth. For those of you looking for a great young adult fantasy novel with a fairytale romance, this is the book for you.
August 14, 2013
Set primarily in present day Nashville, Inception follows an angel named Gabrielle as she transforms into a human to learn what makes them choose between the light and the dark. It is vital that she find out as it looks like the dark is winning. If the demon Javan has his way, not only will the darkness win, but humans will be destroyed entirely.
There is one human, Lucas, who could stop Javan, if he chooses to do so. It’s a race for both Gabrielle and Javan to find him first. What will happen when Gabrielle starts to develop feelings for Lucas, and more importantly for humanity as a whole, which side will he choose, the light or the dark?
Gabrielle is both strong spiritually and physically. Her questioning both her faith and feelings as she continues to experience life in human form is relatable. I found her immediately likeable. The other characters, from Javan to Lucas to the other angels, demons, and fantastical creatures, are dynamic and well developed. I was satisfied with how much I knew about the qualities and backgrounds of secondary characters.
I enjoyed Haviland’s description of Heaven, and having never been to the places where Inception takes place on Earth, I could easily picture them thanks to the wonderful descriptions provided, which were scattered lightly about.
Haviland effortlessly weaves a complex plot into a wonderful story that is at times a riveting page turner and at other times an emotional one. I experienced a whirlwind of emotions and was left with a book hangover that lasted well into the next day.
Inception is easily one of the top books I’ve read all year. I look forward to more of The Reaping Chronicles.
*I received this book from InkSlinger PR in exchange for an honest review*
There is one human, Lucas, who could stop Javan, if he chooses to do so. It’s a race for both Gabrielle and Javan to find him first. What will happen when Gabrielle starts to develop feelings for Lucas, and more importantly for humanity as a whole, which side will he choose, the light or the dark?
Gabrielle is both strong spiritually and physically. Her questioning both her faith and feelings as she continues to experience life in human form is relatable. I found her immediately likeable. The other characters, from Javan to Lucas to the other angels, demons, and fantastical creatures, are dynamic and well developed. I was satisfied with how much I knew about the qualities and backgrounds of secondary characters.
I enjoyed Haviland’s description of Heaven, and having never been to the places where Inception takes place on Earth, I could easily picture them thanks to the wonderful descriptions provided, which were scattered lightly about.
Haviland effortlessly weaves a complex plot into a wonderful story that is at times a riveting page turner and at other times an emotional one. I experienced a whirlwind of emotions and was left with a book hangover that lasted well into the next day.
Inception is easily one of the top books I’ve read all year. I look forward to more of The Reaping Chronicles.
*I received this book from InkSlinger PR in exchange for an honest review*
September 5, 2013
Fantastic first novel! It's hard to find the right words that allow me express just how much enjoyment came from reading this book. Teal Haviland shows just how talented she is and how far The Reaping Chronicles series will go. It makes me antsy to have to wait for further books of the series.
I'd received the first book as an ARC but with a family crisis couldn't complete reading it at an earlier time and for that I'm sorry it delayed my review.
Angels, Demons and otherworld creatures play out a quest for a long hidden book that will bring about the fall of God and heaven.
The main character, the Angel of Kharma, Gabrielle is trying to find a way to influence the good in humankind over the evil to keep the balance of heaven stronger on Earth. To better understand how and why humans behave as they do she convinces the powers that be of her need to spend time on Earth. She not only transforms into a human but as a teenage girl who attends high school. Imagine the pitfalls an angel as a teen girl will face and the emotions that run full throttle at that age.
And then there's the boy, Lucas with whom Gabrielle finds herself befriending, totally taken with him and unable to shake the connection with him. He just so happens to be the grandson of an angel who chose a mortal life and his family mentioned in a prophecy that will have something to do with the before mentioned book and whether or not heaven will fall.
Can't say more, read it. You won't be disappointed.
I'd received the first book as an ARC but with a family crisis couldn't complete reading it at an earlier time and for that I'm sorry it delayed my review.
Angels, Demons and otherworld creatures play out a quest for a long hidden book that will bring about the fall of God and heaven.
The main character, the Angel of Kharma, Gabrielle is trying to find a way to influence the good in humankind over the evil to keep the balance of heaven stronger on Earth. To better understand how and why humans behave as they do she convinces the powers that be of her need to spend time on Earth. She not only transforms into a human but as a teenage girl who attends high school. Imagine the pitfalls an angel as a teen girl will face and the emotions that run full throttle at that age.
And then there's the boy, Lucas with whom Gabrielle finds herself befriending, totally taken with him and unable to shake the connection with him. He just so happens to be the grandson of an angel who chose a mortal life and his family mentioned in a prophecy that will have something to do with the before mentioned book and whether or not heaven will fall.
Can't say more, read it. You won't be disappointed.
July 27, 2013
Inception is a masterpiece of Paranormal for Young Adults and beyond!
It is like Date with an Angel on steroids ! You are drawn into this story as Angel Gabrielle faces a battle that can destroy mankind itself! I fell in love with Gabrielle as her character is portrayed as a very strong young woman who also has one very strong weakness - and that being her love for a striking young man . For Gabrielle this is most forbidden from above. This young man she loves also holds some earth shattering secrets himself. She struggles with her emotions along with uncovering some very dark secrets and evil creatures that threaten the world. Will Gabrielle be able to resist the temptations of love or will she be cast out of Heaven as one of the Fallen with whom she battles with?
Teal Haviland has done her homework on this one. Her knowledge of the angelic kingdom and legendary supernatural creatures makes this story so believable. It is a smooth read and each passage flowed into the other. As an Educational Reading Specialist I would highly recommend this one to be added on the reading lists for upper middle grades through high school. This one is headed to the top!
It is like Date with an Angel on steroids ! You are drawn into this story as Angel Gabrielle faces a battle that can destroy mankind itself! I fell in love with Gabrielle as her character is portrayed as a very strong young woman who also has one very strong weakness - and that being her love for a striking young man . For Gabrielle this is most forbidden from above. This young man she loves also holds some earth shattering secrets himself. She struggles with her emotions along with uncovering some very dark secrets and evil creatures that threaten the world. Will Gabrielle be able to resist the temptations of love or will she be cast out of Heaven as one of the Fallen with whom she battles with?
Teal Haviland has done her homework on this one. Her knowledge of the angelic kingdom and legendary supernatural creatures makes this story so believable. It is a smooth read and each passage flowed into the other. As an Educational Reading Specialist I would highly recommend this one to be added on the reading lists for upper middle grades through high school. This one is headed to the top!
February 4, 2014
I left a pretty decent review on Amazon. I also went through the reviews here just to see what others has thought as well. While the storyline is done really well, I had issues with the characters, mainly, Gabrielle, the main one. I thought this would also be much darker, it was not. It felt somewhat dragged out in places as well. The last quarter of the story, things finally picked up and it was very good. Also, the chapters with the Shifters, what was the point because overall, they didn't have much bearing in the story, unless, it plays out moving forward. The one character I did like was Phelan, Gabrielle's friend, I enjoyed her. I could continue critiquing as this was a long book and I have many thoughts but I will leave like this, although I was disappointed somewhat, the storyline is very good and I will read the next book as I'm interested and I hope that maybe the author will continue in the next one as she did for the last quarter. There is mass potential in this and perhaps I would like to see it written in Lucas' s perspective moving onward.
July 11, 2013
Wow! This book was astonishingly beautiful! This paranormal world feels so real that I can almost believe it exists around us. The angels are glorious & powerful, the humans are brave & curious, and the bad guys are straight out of hell. There are stolen romantic moments that will make your heart swoon, followed by action so intense that it may stop your heart temporarily. There were also several surprises that I never could have imagined. This is definitely a story I want to hear more of. A LOT more of!
July 17, 2013
Gabrielle is one of the most powerful angels ever created, but as the Angel of Karma she needs to find out why her methods are no longer working to get humans to choose the way of good. After a fight to get permission to be reincarnated as a teenage human to figure out how they think she falls in love with Lucas, a love that can never last. While dealing with all of her human emotions and sensations she's never felt before she must make sure she doesn't step over the line and get herself kicked out of heaven.
May 14, 2013
Loved Inception! Couldn't put it down. Not happy that I have to wait for the other books in the series to be written, but happy to know that Teal Haviland has many other books just waiting to be shared with us!
May 15, 2013
Loved this book from begining to end! The best book of the summer if not the year! I can't wait to read more of The Reaping Chronicles! Teal Haviland is one author to keep your eye on. She is sure to reach the top of the Young Adult Paranormal Romance list!
February 4, 2014
I enjoyed the author's deep thoughts in this book. For me, the book was too slow, weighed down with detail and some scenes didn't move the plot forward. I skipped a lot but enjoyed her take on carma.
Read
August 28, 2013review to come
August 15, 2014
ehhhh.....
June 29, 2014
Enjoyed very much the story line and can't wait for the next installment. I'll give my full assessment when I have completed the whole series.
January 4, 2014
Monotonous and overlong. Too much exposition.
November 13, 2014
Review to come, but I can tell you I LOVED IT!!
May 19, 2013
Very good book
If you love angels and action this is the book for you!
If you love angels and action this is the book for you!
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