Covenant

The Books of Raziel #2

by Sabrina Benulis

The haunting gothic tale started in Archon continues-a mesmerizing work of the paranormal in which a young woman discovers that she is caught in a labyrinth of intrigue where angels, demons, and all the creatures between Heaven and Hell will stop at nothing to possess her.

A year ago, Angela Mathers, a talented artist with a tortured soul, enrolled at the Westwood Academy and encountered the angels who haunted her dreams. Then she discovered the dark truth … she is the Archon, a being of supreme power who will determine the fate of the universe. But with such power comes great danger, and for every force seeking to aid Angela there is another burning to stop her. After a scheming demon kidnaps the Book of Raziel, Angela must find her way through a nightmarish game and enter the Door to Hell to rescue her only friend before it is too late.

The perilous fate of both Heaven and Hell rests on her success.

Genres: Fantasy, Angels, Demons, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Fiction, Young Adult

400 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2014

About the author

Sabrina Benulis lives in the Pocono mountains of PA with her husband, daughter, and a spoiled but sweet cockatiel. When she isn't writing or cooking up another story to tell, she's learning to be super Mom.

Her third book in The Books of Raziel series, Angelus, is scheduled for release on February 9, 2016.

Find her on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/SabrinaBenulis

Reviews

[Stacey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Covenant is the second installment in a series about a young woman, the subject of a prophecy that foretells the end of the world. In the prophecy, she is an unknown redheaded person whose destiny will manifest as either the Archon, or the Ruin (unsurprisingly, if she's the Ruin, the world ends). But Angela Mathers is also just a young girl. She lives on an island isolated from the rest of the world, in a sunless city called Luz. There, she attends school with her best friend, Sophie, and other redheaded children, who have all been exiled to the island so the Powers That Be (that is, the human ones) can keep an eye on them, find out who the Archon is, and kill her. The school is recovering from the devastating events of the last book. Angela and Sophie try to put off destiny, but at the Christmas Ball it comes calling - one of the redheads has brought his sister (Angela's friend) back from the dead, and Sophie is kidnapped in the confusion that follows. Angela begins a quest through the labyrinth of the underworld in order to retrieve her, and in the process faces danger and betrayal.

This book felt like a loosely woven sweater, with pulled threads peeking out everywhere, and holes in places. The worldbuilding could have been tighter, more realistic. Throughout, the unanswered or unconvincingly answered questions made it hard to believe in the world. How does Luz really fit into the human world, exiled as it is? Who is Sophie, and why is the story of the Book of Raziel so complicated? Especially: what is the point of the kidnapping of Sophie, and the luring of Angela to Lucifel? Some of the answers to these questions are easy to figure out, but the weak development of the mythology, the backstory, the context stood out. I never really understood these things, although I wonder what a re-read of Archon would do to improve that.

The history behind the conflict between the angels Israfel (troubled ruler of Heaven) and Lucifel (confined ruler of Hell) was revealed slowly as Angela fought her way to the end of her journey, but it didn't really seem to fit. The addition of the Father, the Father's role in events, the history between Israfel and Lucifel, and Angela's journey felt superfluous and disconnected.

Angela's journey through Hell is fraught with tension and danger, as she races ahead of an army of the undead and matches wits with the keeper of the labyrinth. It was exciting, and the pace never lagged. There were some twists and suspenseful moments that had me guessing and turning the pages. However, I felt distanced from her and from what she was going through. Part of this is because I never really became invested in following Angela - I never really empathized with her. Also, I think this section was so quick to read because Hell itself never had much substance. Angela's journey takes very little time (and relatively few pages), and the landscape never felt immediate. To put it another way, instead of riding along with Angela on her journey, I read a book about Angela riding through Hell.

Overall, the scope of the novel felt too big. As exciting and adventurous as it is, the multiple perspectives, three-realm setting, and loosely connected plot meant I never really felt fully engrossed in the novel. Lastly, there is a lack of immediacy to the plot development, characterization, narration, and worldbuilding that makes the novel feel quite two-dimensional.

See Read-alikes at The Book Adventures, starting Saturday, May 29th 2014.

[Sabrina Benulis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to all readers and those who enjoyed/will enjoy the book. :-)

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was actually better than the first book. First of all the cover art is really amazing! The characters are still really flat and boring, but the story for this one actually made a little more sense. I am still confused about many things, but at least this book helped clear some of the things up about the first book with a "story so far" section at the beginning. The world building is still really good as well as the descriptions. The story for this book was better than the first one, there is more action and it feels like there is an actual direction for the story to go. I still don't feel any connection to the characters and I don't feel like the friendship between Angela and Sophia is all that deep. It just feels to forced to be genuine to me. Overall this book still gets a 2 out of 5 stars because the story is still slightly confusing and the characters are boring.

[Lisa Tobleman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here we have the next installment of Ms. Benulis' Gothic Horror series about the end of the universe and the red haired Archon who will herald it all. First, let me say that this world is dark and filled with wonderful ghosts, demons, and angels and is an imaginative spooky take on the whole angels and demons fall From grace story. I had re-read the original book Archon, in great anticipation of this book' release. And it helped me get though some of the more baffling sequences in the Book of Raziel. I do not like it when I have to work to follow threads of a story and try to fill in the blanks. Getting lost in a book, and not in a "Oh my gosh is that the time I forgot to eat" kind of way is not fun. I went back, started over and read it again, and while I was better able to follow the plot the second time round, I still found it rather like clutching at eels for the first two thirds. It tightened up at the end, and the scenes with the angels were very good, but I was left with a vague impression that while I had experienced something new, I was not totally happy about it.

This falls someplace between two and three stars for me.

This is a gothic horror novel, so I expect dark twisty plots, and characters dying or being maimed, but this is a YA novel, not an epic Umberto Eco masterpiece. In the first book you can feel creepy halls, creaky doors and a drafty damp school filled with students in a Revenge meets Harry potter sort of way, this one whipped you from one location to another switching perspectives at odd times, and I never was able to get a clear picture in my head of the scenery.

I had to work very hard at picturing the scenes and it sometimes pulled me out of the story. Most of the book read like small vignettes almost staged like a play with cut scenes between acts. The bits of angel history we get are great, and there are several secrets that are dropped throughout that were terrific, but I just did not like this book as much as the first. It could be suffering from second book syndrome (second in a trilogy) where this book is all about setting the stage for the climax in book three... So, I will buy the third book, and hope for an epic climax, definitely read the first book again before reading this one.

[soda · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Warning: possible spoilers* This is book 2 and does pick up right where book 1 ends, so they do need to be read in order.

A yr has gone by where Angela Mathers discovers she's the Archon. Not the reincarnated Archangel Raziel as expected, but definitely protected by him, and it is she who will determine the fate of the universe (for good or for bad). The half Jinn Sariel/Kim is determined to have Angela kill Lucifel (not Lucifer),and take over her (yes, her) throne. The snake son of Lilith, Python, is determined to stop her. And Angela is determined not to kill her best friend Sophia in order to open up the Book (of Raziel) needed to do what needs to be done.

This is an AMAZING book for a REAL READER! It's so interwoven and intricate. All characters are three dimensional. Angela and Sophia are a perfect example of friendship and sacrifice,and THE example of how intimacy has NOTHING to do with sex.

Kim, while I didn't fully trust him in book 1, shows he goes all the way simply out of love. When Angela is forced to rule by default (albeit if only for the meantime) he says, "You are the Archon, and I am by your side as I promised. You might tell me you don't need me. But I can't deny this desire that burns in me so painfully. If I can't be with you, let me be next to you. Give me that. Look at me, let me kneel by your throne, and I will be happy. It's all that I have". Those are THE most romantic, sincere words that could ever be said to a woman.

THIS ladies, THIS is how a man should speak to you! THIS is how you should be treated! Oh Ms. Benulis, how you have ruined me for men in the real world LOL....

Read this book, and you'll understand what intimacy and love really mean.

I loved the way Troy evolved also. She's not so evil as she seemed in book 1. The reader gets to see a whole other side to her, and it makes her much more likable. I'm loving Juno also - Troy's Jinn niece who is to rule Babylon when she's older. I found myself rooting for both Jinn in this book.

Please hurry up w/ book 3 Ms. Benulis!

[T Loche · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Amazing Story Continues

Think you know what hell is all about? Think again! Think all demons are bad and all angels are good? Think again! With Covenant the story picks right up where it left off in Archon. Once again the author takes us to the amazing imaginative city of Luz where things start to unfold. From there, the main character Angela begins her journey into hell to save her friend, keep the Book of Raziel out of evil hands and stop the universe from unraveling. Now the roller coaster ride begins.

I’m not so inclined to express my opinion about what I read, because everyone’s taste is different. But so far the Books of Raziel series has stood out among all of my other reads because it’s so different in a refreshing way. This book takes me back to past epic fantasies. The imagery, the character interaction and overall imagination is something you just don’t see any more. I liked Covenant so much I really couldn’t put it down and had it finished in a day and a half. I’m literally writing this review as I just finished the book.

If you’re new to the series I suggest you read Archon, the first book, before you read Covenant. While Covenant is the continuation, you’ll probably appreciate it much more after reading Archon. I guess you could just read Covenant, but I think you’ll find it much more satisfying by reading Archon first.

By far, the best part of Covenant for me is the trip into hell. The author creates an incredible vision of hell challenging all the assumptions that you ever had about the place. Once there you’ll confront demons, monsters, trickery and witness battles that will keep you mesmerized and turning pages as fast as you can. For me the third book will be kind of bitter sweet because this fantastic story will end. On the other hand I can’t wait. So, if like me, you appreciate a really good epic paranormal gothic fantasy, then I highly recommend this series.

[Kate McDougall Sackler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Is this a YA book? So much drama! So much crying and scratching/beating/ pounding the ground. I did like that there was a recap of the story so far as it had been a long time since I read the first book. But please, pull yourself together and save the world already.

[Mariah Garell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast-paced and full of suspense

This book holds many critical moments for not only Angela, but Troy, Kim, and others. I am left anxiously awaiting the events of book 3!

[Sabrinadettmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Significantly better developed than the first in the series.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked ‘Covenant’ much better than its predecessor. I couldn’t tell you what was different - the author paced this novel much better but Angela was just as boring and annoying; the creepy sexual overtones still present and many scenes were a little wanting for details. It seems Benulis left some moments open-ended to pave the way for the third and final novel in the series.

All Angela’s attempts to save everyone without consequences were very frustrating. It’s difficult to relate to a character who is beautiful beyond compare, able to summon divine (or demonic) support at a moment’s notice and who survives every dangerous feat she attempts. I appreciated the angels backstories much more this time round and found myself feeling sympathy for who I thought was the series antagonist, Israfel.

I look forward to the next novel.

3 out of 5 Angels Expelled from Heaven.

[Carrie Mansfield · Rating 2 out of 5]

Review first published here: http://gildedlady.wordpress.com/2014/...

an e-ARC was provided through Edelweiss in exchange for fair review.

When I reviewed Archon back in January, I said that the book left me cold. Although I did not empathize with Angela, I thought the mythology that Benulis presented was enough to keep going into Covenant.

On the plus side, I find Angela to be more personable now. On the negative side, it isn’t by much (Troy probably gets more character development than any of the characters in this book and that isn’t saying much.) While always problematic, it can be negated with a strong plot. But…that isn’t happening here either. I hesitate to even call the plot as secondary to the action as it can be summed up as “The Book of Raziel gets kidnapped; Angela goes to Hell to rescue it.” And that is it. Of course there are obstacles and there are fights. I said that Archon felt like it cinematic. It didn’t bother me there, because I thought there was balance. This book, though? It’s almost non-stop action. It’s the kind of thing that works well in a movie, but as a book? Eh. There are some revelations about the Book and about the Supernals, but they shouldn’t difficult for the reader to guess and so they don’t feel as important as they should.

Speaking of Hell, one of my main problems with this book is that Hell isn’t that scary nor is it unsettling. It is a dangerous place, and there is enough there to remind you that it isn’t Earth, but Benulis’ style doesn’t lead to flights of imagination that make you imagine that you are there and I do think that it’s a weakness. This book isn’t try be horror, but if you didn’t know they were in Hell, would the reader be able to tell based on what we’re given? I’m not sure.

Ultimately, like its predecessor, the book is a quick read, but there isn’t a lot to it. Even what I found to be the biggest strength, the mythology, is largely absent in this volume as we only get bits and pieces and not nearly as much. If, like me, you struggled to truly become vested in Archon, you may have trouble with this one. I find that a pity, because as I’ve said in the past, I do think the series has some great mythology to it. It’s just not nearly enough at this point to keep a person going.

Side note: I’d strongly recommend re-reading Archon before picking this up. This is one of those sequels that dives in and doesn’t spend much time reacquainting the reader with its characters or reminding us of their relationships. I will never mark a book down for this, but I do want to mention it because someone new to the series will be completely lost and it even took me a few chapters to settle back in and I read Archon just about two months ago.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five outstanding Hearts!!

A year has passed and Angela is waiting, but she's not sure what she's waiting for. Stephanie has gone insane from not being the Archon after all. It's widely known that Angela is the Archon, but this doesn't make her life any easier. Sophia is still her only friend. Kim has disappeared and she hasn't seen Troy since the fight with Lucifel's shadow. Sophia and Angela are presented by a group of blood-heads that want Angela to be the head of their committee to show that they are nothing to be feared and not freaks, now that the Archon has been discovered. One of those members happens to be Nina's half-brother, who relentlessly pursues Angela. She gives in and joins him at the Christmas ball only to find out that was a trap to kidnap Sophia and lure Angela into Hell where plots are rampant and no one is what or who they seem. Angela has no idea who to trust. Sophia warned Angela that there would be a day they would be forced apart and she was not to follow her into Hell, but Angela cannot turn her back on her only friend. In exchange for the setup on the kidnapping, Nina is brought back to life and joins Angela in this seemingly hopeless quest as does Troy, even though at first it seems more out of duty now that she has returned. The longer they trapeze through Hell though, Troy develops a kind of respect for both Angela and Nina, two humans who are supposed to be so lowly according to Jinn tradition. Can they make it out of Hell alive and with Sophia without disturbing Lucifel? Or what of the plots and games that got her there, does someone want her to disturb the Prince of Hell and finally kill her and take her place on the Throne of Hell?

***Reviewer for Romance Authors That Rock.****

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Covenant was a definite improvement on Archon. The story seemed to flow better and was less confusing overall. There's still plenty of unanswered questions but I expect they'll all be answered in the last book. Covenant was the typical middle book that advances the plot enough to setup the final showdown in the last book.

Unfortunately we didn't get much character development for anyone other than Troy. This book made me like Troy a lot more but I could have done with a bit less of her if it meant a bit more for the other characters. We get a new villain but aside from him being conniving there isn't much else we know of him. It would have been nice to see friendship between Angela and Sophie. We're constantly told they're friends but I never saw anything that spoke of a real, deep friendship between them. It seemed like by constantly telling us they were friends the author hoped we'd just believe it. It's the same with the supposed attraction/love between Angela and Kim. We're always told it's there but never really shown anything that really supports it.

I gave Covenant 4 stars because despite its flaws I had a hard time putting it down. It was enjoyable to read and it did make me eager for the last book.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Again we delve into the life of Angela, who has been born into a legacy that is both feared and hoped for. She is now widely known as the Archon, the destroyer or savior of the world. This second book of the series is as dark as the first. There are sparks of hope towards the end and the tunnel with light is slowly being followed. Angela is almost at the culmination of her destiny. I was very sad for Angela for most of this novel, but I was left with hope that her life will head toward something that will make all of her suffering worth while. I definitely want to read the final installment of this series and find out what happens to the world.

[Mona · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the story as a whole and I especially loved learning more about Troy, and Juno is so cute. But Angela was a mixture of stupid, arrogant, and self conscious throughout the whole book and some of her thoughts didn't make sense. I hated her in this book, which sucks because I loved her personality in the first book.

[Alisha Torres · Rating 5 out of 5]

Science Fiction/Fantasy done darkly right!! The line between "good" and "evil" get so blurred you end up loving to hate all the "bad guys" and hating to love the "good guys"...if you can actually determine who they are. Twists, turns, and no traditional happy endings here.

[Floriel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ci troviamo nell'esatto punto in cui ci trovavamo alla fine del primo libro. Come se non fosse successo niente. Niente di niente.

[Jaclyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Bethany · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

Pretty good. I think I liked it better than the first one but it's hard to say. Happy that the series is almost done. Will probably not keep this series on my bookshelves once I have finished reading them.