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Aestrangel the Fallen
Hell hath no fury like an angel scorned!
Aestra, favorite teenaged angel of The Lord, has been sent to Earth to ensure that high school senior, Jake Parker, pursues the correct path. He is teetering between two options that may seem innocuous, but only one will lead him to positively impact the lives of millions of humans.
But what happens when the heart chooses love over responsibility? For Aestra, one fateful night will set into motion a chain of events unforeseen by even her infallible Creator.
Aestra, favorite teenaged angel of The Lord, has been sent to Earth to ensure that high school senior, Jake Parker, pursues the correct path. He is teetering between two options that may seem innocuous, but only one will lead him to positively impact the lives of millions of humans.
But what happens when the heart chooses love over responsibility? For Aestra, one fateful night will set into motion a chain of events unforeseen by even her infallible Creator.
214 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 29, 2024
1 person is currently reading
12 people want to read
About the author
Maria DeVivo
22 books87 followersMaria DeVivo writes horror and dark fantasy for both a YA and adult audience. Each of her series has been Amazon best-sellers and have won multiple awards since 2012. A lover of all things dark and demented, the worlds she creates are fantastical and immersive. Get swept away in the lands of elves, zombies, angels, demons, and witches (but not all in the same place). Maria takes great pleasure in warping the comfort factor in her readers’ minds – just when you think you’ve reached a safe space in her stories, she snaps you back into her twisted reality.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
November 17, 2023
Can I give this ten stars?!! This books was great! I loved all the characters and I can't wait to read the next book!! Which I'm doing in just a few minutes!
April 21, 2025
So, first of all, I did enjoy this book. It grabbed my attention right away and pulled me along.
It just also made me want to smack my forehead every few pages.
I like the flavor — I was expecting something in the vein of Supernatural, and it does occupy a similar sort of place. The main character narrates in almost buffyspeak, which I could get on board with, I guess. It at least made sense for the character.
To me the most interesting characters were Malek and Ruth. I honestly would have loved more Ruth — can we get a whole book about her? My main complaint about her is that she doesn’t do very much? She’s meant to be a guide and handler, and I would have loved more moments of her sitting with Aestra sipping cocoa and figuring out the human condition. We get one moment of this and I loved it! And then Ruth is just… not doing much until she’s all like “you need to leave right away!!! But actually leave when you already, you’ll know when the time is right, haha.”
There are the elements of a good story here. But bluntly, I feel the book needed a couple more drafts before it was ready.
Let’s talk about Jake. Aestra goes insta-love with Jake because he… has beautiful eyes? Jake who likes poetry and doesn’t really have any other personality other than he’s nice? Jake meets Aestra his senior year of high school, knows her for the space of ONE high school project (so like… two weeks?), kisses her while dating someone else, sleeps with her one time (immediately after breaking up with his girlfriend), and somehow she affected him so deeply that he tells all his grandkids about her. There is not much reason given for why she affected him so strongly. (I honestly thought the reveal was going to be that they knew each other in a past life or something, the way Jake got so obsessed with her for no reason and kept talking about knowing her from somewhere) No wonder his wife threw the necklace away; I would have, too, if my husband kept going on and on about his high school girlfriend.
Jake going to college is supposed to be SUCH a world changing decision that the angels send… a rookie angel out to make sure it goes right. And then we don’t really see much from that. He was a great teacher. Ok. I love teachers, and this might have paid off emotionally if we got to see more of the impact. See him having the urge to teach while he is a teenager, see some actual examples of what happens that his students change the world. (We get a couple of comments from students about how great he was, and that’s it) It honestly felt like the author just wanted there to be this high stakes mission for Aestra and didn’t really know how to make it super important. But why did it need to be high stakes at all?
This really boils down to my broadest gripe about the book — the author does a lot of telling instead of showing. The most infuriating one of these is the bloody poem. Jake writes a poem for Aestra, one that comes up multiple times throughout the book and which gets him huge applause from a high school class (which let me tell you, is an amazing feat). What is this amazing, life changing poem? What profound words does our love interest write? We don’t know. The author never actually wrote the poem. We talk alllll about the poem but never see it.
There is a scene where Aestra gets into a fight with another teenager. She goes apeshit and slams the girl’s head into the concrete. All right, cool, she’s never experienced rage. I’m digging it.
Then the girl’s muscly friend freaks out and attacks Aestra, and decides that right now while his friend is lying on the sidewalk probably needing a trip to the hospital, he’s going to stick his hand up Aestra’s shirt and grab her boobies. Why? He has shown no interest in this leading up to this point. I suspect the reason why is just to give Aestra more angst in the next chapter.
And THEN, Jakey boy hears about the two attacking Aestra, insists he’s going to go out and kill them. Aestra talks him down, and boy oh boy she does a good job because like a year later he’s chatting with these two people on FaceTime and planning on going to Europe with them? Huh? I thought you loved Aestra???
Aestra is apparently the first angel since the Nephillim to sleep with a human… which I find hard to believe. She is ~*SUPER Unique*~ and has some strange connection to humans! So we are told, but really we only ever see her having a profound connection to exactly one human. I don’t get why she needed to be so “unique”; all that we needed was for her to be so invested in Jake that she loses her shit. If we had just made her connection to Jake more emotionally rewarding for the reader, I feel like the plot would have made more sense.
Then she goes all suitably teenage angst and obsesses over Jake to the point that the Creator himself has a come to Jesus moment with her and she goes all SUPERANGST at him and he banishes her to Hell/limbo? Hahaha ok. I can buy it.
I like Aestra turning to the dark side, but woah, she’s going to go MURDER all of her one true love’s descendants???? I feel like there were a couple of steps missing for me to buy that leap.
I don’t know. I did enjoy it, but it’s been a while since I finished a book that made me sigh in frustration every two pages. It kept bouncing between “oh i like that!” to “what the actual f”.
Also wtf is a lunchbox hand?
It just also made me want to smack my forehead every few pages.
I like the flavor — I was expecting something in the vein of Supernatural, and it does occupy a similar sort of place. The main character narrates in almost buffyspeak, which I could get on board with, I guess. It at least made sense for the character.
To me the most interesting characters were Malek and Ruth. I honestly would have loved more Ruth — can we get a whole book about her? My main complaint about her is that she doesn’t do very much? She’s meant to be a guide and handler, and I would have loved more moments of her sitting with Aestra sipping cocoa and figuring out the human condition. We get one moment of this and I loved it! And then Ruth is just… not doing much until she’s all like “you need to leave right away!!! But actually leave when you already, you’ll know when the time is right, haha.”
There are the elements of a good story here. But bluntly, I feel the book needed a couple more drafts before it was ready.
Let’s talk about Jake. Aestra goes insta-love with Jake because he… has beautiful eyes? Jake who likes poetry and doesn’t really have any other personality other than he’s nice? Jake meets Aestra his senior year of high school, knows her for the space of ONE high school project (so like… two weeks?), kisses her while dating someone else, sleeps with her one time (immediately after breaking up with his girlfriend), and somehow she affected him so deeply that he tells all his grandkids about her. There is not much reason given for why she affected him so strongly. (I honestly thought the reveal was going to be that they knew each other in a past life or something, the way Jake got so obsessed with her for no reason and kept talking about knowing her from somewhere) No wonder his wife threw the necklace away; I would have, too, if my husband kept going on and on about his high school girlfriend.
Jake going to college is supposed to be SUCH a world changing decision that the angels send… a rookie angel out to make sure it goes right. And then we don’t really see much from that. He was a great teacher. Ok. I love teachers, and this might have paid off emotionally if we got to see more of the impact. See him having the urge to teach while he is a teenager, see some actual examples of what happens that his students change the world. (We get a couple of comments from students about how great he was, and that’s it) It honestly felt like the author just wanted there to be this high stakes mission for Aestra and didn’t really know how to make it super important. But why did it need to be high stakes at all?
This really boils down to my broadest gripe about the book — the author does a lot of telling instead of showing. The most infuriating one of these is the bloody poem. Jake writes a poem for Aestra, one that comes up multiple times throughout the book and which gets him huge applause from a high school class (which let me tell you, is an amazing feat). What is this amazing, life changing poem? What profound words does our love interest write? We don’t know. The author never actually wrote the poem. We talk alllll about the poem but never see it.
There is a scene where Aestra gets into a fight with another teenager. She goes apeshit and slams the girl’s head into the concrete. All right, cool, she’s never experienced rage. I’m digging it.
Then the girl’s muscly friend freaks out and attacks Aestra, and decides that right now while his friend is lying on the sidewalk probably needing a trip to the hospital, he’s going to stick his hand up Aestra’s shirt and grab her boobies. Why? He has shown no interest in this leading up to this point. I suspect the reason why is just to give Aestra more angst in the next chapter.
And THEN, Jakey boy hears about the two attacking Aestra, insists he’s going to go out and kill them. Aestra talks him down, and boy oh boy she does a good job because like a year later he’s chatting with these two people on FaceTime and planning on going to Europe with them? Huh? I thought you loved Aestra???
Aestra is apparently the first angel since the Nephillim to sleep with a human… which I find hard to believe. She is ~*SUPER Unique*~ and has some strange connection to humans! So we are told, but really we only ever see her having a profound connection to exactly one human. I don’t get why she needed to be so “unique”; all that we needed was for her to be so invested in Jake that she loses her shit. If we had just made her connection to Jake more emotionally rewarding for the reader, I feel like the plot would have made more sense.
Then she goes all suitably teenage angst and obsesses over Jake to the point that the Creator himself has a come to Jesus moment with her and she goes all SUPERANGST at him and he banishes her to Hell/limbo? Hahaha ok. I can buy it.
I like Aestra turning to the dark side, but woah, she’s going to go MURDER all of her one true love’s descendants???? I feel like there were a couple of steps missing for me to buy that leap.
I don’t know. I did enjoy it, but it’s been a while since I finished a book that made me sigh in frustration every two pages. It kept bouncing between “oh i like that!” to “what the actual f”.
Also wtf is a lunchbox hand?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 17, 2024
Get a box of tissues ready for chapter 19!
A Christian Fantasy revolving around Aestra the Angel and her Calling on Earth, Jake. Whilst the author at one point tries to imply all religions are covered by The Creator, this is definitely a Christian religion-based book with all that entails about Angels, Lucifer, God Himself, and so on.
The plot is a pretty standard one when it comes to Christian Fantasy and much of the human characters are similar to other high-school YA Fantasy books. The difference comes with the interaction of an Angel living as a Human with all the emotions that entails in a teenage body.
The formatting, spelling, and grammar are good with only a few mistakes here and there - nothing to detract from the story. The pace is also good as the author has divided the story into three acts of seven chapters each, with each act referring to a different aspect of the overall story. This works well and gives a nicely timed place to take a break should you not be one of those readers who cannot put a book down like me lol.
This was an enjoyable read with some interesting characters and an unexpected ending as we await the continuation of the story with book two. The next installment has made it onto my TBR that's for sure.
A Christian Fantasy revolving around Aestra the Angel and her Calling on Earth, Jake. Whilst the author at one point tries to imply all religions are covered by The Creator, this is definitely a Christian religion-based book with all that entails about Angels, Lucifer, God Himself, and so on.
The plot is a pretty standard one when it comes to Christian Fantasy and much of the human characters are similar to other high-school YA Fantasy books. The difference comes with the interaction of an Angel living as a Human with all the emotions that entails in a teenage body.
The formatting, spelling, and grammar are good with only a few mistakes here and there - nothing to detract from the story. The pace is also good as the author has divided the story into three acts of seven chapters each, with each act referring to a different aspect of the overall story. This works well and gives a nicely timed place to take a break should you not be one of those readers who cannot put a book down like me lol.
This was an enjoyable read with some interesting characters and an unexpected ending as we await the continuation of the story with book two. The next installment has made it onto my TBR that's for sure.
February 13, 2024
There's nothing quite like a tale of an angel gone bad. Aestra is a loyal and pure angel who is on her first calling mission to Earth as a teenager. However, humanity will taint her and betrayal will banish her.
Aestra is placed in the wrong place at the wrong time with an evil force destined to make her fail her mission. But did she fail? Unfortunately, her indiscretion on Earth changed her human and angelic life as she knew it and her punishment is restrictive and unfair. My heart bled for Aestra as she did what she was told to do at any cost, but then she fell in love. Her frustration and grief are warranted and her future is bleak as she makes a grim choice with terrible consequences.
The author's writing is addictive and the story is captivating. I can't wait to see what is in store for Aestra because the cliffhanger is a doozy!
The supporting characters are intriguing and mysterious and I hope to see some of them in the next installment.
Overall, this dark fantasy will pull you in and shake you up. It's complex and emotional with a stirring story about Heaven and Hell.
Thank you to Ms. DeVivo for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.
Aestra is placed in the wrong place at the wrong time with an evil force destined to make her fail her mission. But did she fail? Unfortunately, her indiscretion on Earth changed her human and angelic life as she knew it and her punishment is restrictive and unfair. My heart bled for Aestra as she did what she was told to do at any cost, but then she fell in love. Her frustration and grief are warranted and her future is bleak as she makes a grim choice with terrible consequences.
The author's writing is addictive and the story is captivating. I can't wait to see what is in store for Aestra because the cliffhanger is a doozy!
The supporting characters are intriguing and mysterious and I hope to see some of them in the next installment.
Overall, this dark fantasy will pull you in and shake you up. It's complex and emotional with a stirring story about Heaven and Hell.
Thank you to Ms. DeVivo for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.
March 19, 2024
To start off I loved the book, it was hard to put down and now it is one of my favorites. I chose to read this book due to it being themed around Angels which is one of my favorite things to read about. I also love the cover it fits the story perfectly. This story honestly made me cry at times and I was not expecting that ending. It's different than other Angel books I have read and I defiantly recommend reading it.
Rest of review contains Spoilers
My least favorite character has to Summer reasons why is her beating on Aestra from jealously. My Favorite characters are Jake and Aestra; Jake because his unconditional love for Aestra and Aestra because it's a given. The Saddest moment in the book has to be when Jake ceases to exist.
Rest of review contains Spoilers
My least favorite character has to Summer reasons why is her beating on Aestra from jealously. My Favorite characters are Jake and Aestra; Jake because his unconditional love for Aestra and Aestra because it's a given. The Saddest moment in the book has to be when Jake ceases to exist.
June 1, 2023
I have read other works by DeVivo, including The Dawn of the Blood Witch. This story is very different but the writing and story are just as wonderful.
It is a story of an angel who becomes human (a teenager) and has to deal with human emotions (those of a teenager). It’s not easy trying to manage her emotions while also trying to achieve her calling for the Creator. The writing is clear, the story is amazing, and I cannot wait to find out what happens next for Aestra. I really enjoyed the character of Malek because I think he is deeper than what Aestra thinks.
That ending… oh my!
Cannot wait to read more.
It is a story of an angel who becomes human (a teenager) and has to deal with human emotions (those of a teenager). It’s not easy trying to manage her emotions while also trying to achieve her calling for the Creator. The writing is clear, the story is amazing, and I cannot wait to find out what happens next for Aestra. I really enjoyed the character of Malek because I think he is deeper than what Aestra thinks.
That ending… oh my!
Cannot wait to read more.
September 23, 2023
This being the first book in the series, it obviously had alot of explanations for the world the author is creating. Some of it might not make sense until the end, but that, to me, made the story very interesting.
This a story of Heaven and Hell, the illusion of free will, and how even angels can become blinded by human emotions. It's good versus evil on a large scale, but at the heart of it, it's good versus evil within one being.
The path of Aestra's choices has brought her to a point where yet another choice must be made. The consequences of this choice could have repercussions that the entire world will suffer.
I will admit that by the time I finished this book, I was totally onboard with the choice she made, but I am also hoping that she finds her true self & not what others want her to be.
This a story of Heaven and Hell, the illusion of free will, and how even angels can become blinded by human emotions. It's good versus evil on a large scale, but at the heart of it, it's good versus evil within one being.
The path of Aestra's choices has brought her to a point where yet another choice must be made. The consequences of this choice could have repercussions that the entire world will suffer.
I will admit that by the time I finished this book, I was totally onboard with the choice she made, but I am also hoping that she finds her true self & not what others want her to be.
August 18, 2023
Could not put this book down. Maria wrote this beautifully. Right off the bat I was intrigued, and that feeling didn’t ever wane. The odd way Maria has the angel, Aestra, think felt perfect in the context of the world of this book. Everything was described so well, even non-tangible things I was able to envision. The story moved well and, of course, I was left with questions, but I imagine they will be answered with the subsequent books. I can’t wait for the next installment!
October 25, 2023
This is the first book I've read from Maria DeVivo, and I honestly loved it. Her writing is fluid, beautiful, so easy to get lost in the story. This book shows the duality of good versus evil, angel versus human, free will versus destiny... Aestra's emotions are so real. Maria DeVivo beautifully writes about what truly means to be human, and how capable we are of love and hatred.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 12, 2023
I was so completely taken by this story, this writing, this angel. As a reader I was deeply immersed in every emotion and emotional struggle presented to our beloved Aestrangel as she grappled with humanity, her love, and her faith. What a wonderful origin story, what fantastic writing, what a beautifully conflicted angel. I cannot wait to read more of Aestrangel's story!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 15, 2023
This slow-paced, twisted tale of how one of the Creator's most perfect and beloved creations, a guardian angel, became an avenging angel for Lucifer. “Aestrangel the Fallen” is a complicated, messy, and emotional story of love. This is a very unique read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 13, 2025
Aestra is a Guardian angel who gets to close to her charge. She has teenager feelings and makes some foolish choices. I like the story. It is a fast paced read. It pulls on your heart strings. Great characters and world visuals. Leaves you wanting more.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 15, 2023
Great book! I think this was a very unique story and I can’t wait to see what is next for Aestrangel….although after reading the prologue as the epilogue I’m not too sure she’ll ever find her humanity or see Jake again :/ Either way, it was very enjoyable and definitely a page turner!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 9, 2024
Angels are a cool paranormal character that often go underrated and this story does a great job of making them cool!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 25, 2023
I got to be an ARC reader and loved this book!!
December 5, 2024
I liked this book! I finished it in a day. Idk how I feel about the ending yet though. It did make me cry so bonus points for that! 😂 I’m going to buy the next one soon!
September 18, 2023
This was a twisted tale on how angels live their lives and interact with us humans and help them throughout something they are struggling with.
It took me a bit to get into the story but once
This was a very complex emotional story that was messy and heartfelt. I hope she can find her humanity again.
It took me a bit to get into the story but once
This was a very complex emotional story that was messy and heartfelt. I hope she can find her humanity again.
January 27, 2025
You have to read this series; just do it. Through most of the first book you’ll be like okay, what’s so incredibly unique, then the end happens and your mind is blown, heart ripped out, can’t believe the author had the guts to do what no author dares to and you’re not sure if you have the guts to continue but then you do and you transform and become stronger for having read this series… do it!
October 21, 2024
This book is beautifully written from start to finish! I could NOT put it down! Everything is so descriptive and immerses you in the moment. Everything from characters, to scenery, to story line were absolutely flawless. Definitely looking forward to reading more books by Maria soon!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews