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The Angel Archives #1
Angel of Ashes
Thirteen-year-old Audie just wanted to escape homeschool...
She didn’t expect to sprout gold wings and crash into a celestial war. The Angel Archives is a coming-of-age, heart-pounding, clean teen fantasy adventure full of fierce friendships, high-flying battles, and one girl’s journey to discover who, or what, she really is.
She didn’t expect to sprout gold wings and crash into a celestial war. The Angel Archives is a coming-of-age, heart-pounding, clean teen fantasy adventure full of fierce friendships, high-flying battles, and one girl’s journey to discover who, or what, she really is.
- GenresYoung Adult
254 pages, Paperback
First published October 2, 2025
5 people are currently reading
47 people want to read
About the author
Erika Kathryn
13 books55 followersERIKA KATHRYN is a published Author and Award-Winning Screenwriter. She's the creator of The Angel Archives series. She has won awards for her Film Screenplays & Television Pilots. Her grandparents were super Swedish, so she infuses the unique Swedish culture and folklore into many of her stories. While she went to East Carolina University to study Serial Killers and Interned as a U.S. Marshal, she fell in love with Writing there. So naturally, when she graduated, she pursued… Marketing. Kathryn has been working for 9+ years as a Marketing Manager for two Performing Arts Centers. She also has a Stage Play published by Next Stage Press. She's a proud member of The Authors Guild.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
January 10, 2026
I received this book from the author to see if I would read and review it.
I'm so glad the author reached out and asked me because I really enjoyed her book. It is a very cute fast paced young adult read. This book has adventure, friendship, battle of good vs evil, and great world building. I really enjoyed the many different species she included as well as the subspecies like with the unicorns. I think that made it more fun and different than a lot of other books. I love that this whole story is being narrated by Cave. He is the human who sees things differently than the angels since he's seeing all this things for the first time.
This is a great read for kids, teens, and even adults. It is very entertaining and something fun to read with your kids. It's silly and fun with some names and descriptions, the pictures are great and I feel they helped show Cave's role in the story, and I adore a book with a map so I can imagine things better. Overall I would recommend this book for anyone looking for a magical adventurous read.
I'm so glad the author reached out and asked me because I really enjoyed her book. It is a very cute fast paced young adult read. This book has adventure, friendship, battle of good vs evil, and great world building. I really enjoyed the many different species she included as well as the subspecies like with the unicorns. I think that made it more fun and different than a lot of other books. I love that this whole story is being narrated by Cave. He is the human who sees things differently than the angels since he's seeing all this things for the first time.
This is a great read for kids, teens, and even adults. It is very entertaining and something fun to read with your kids. It's silly and fun with some names and descriptions, the pictures are great and I feel they helped show Cave's role in the story, and I adore a book with a map so I can imagine things better. Overall I would recommend this book for anyone looking for a magical adventurous read.
February 23, 2013
I was asked to read and review this book by the author.
Audie the Angel and the Angel Army by Erika Kathryn is a cute middle grade read about Audie and her friend Cave, who is narrating the story. Together, they journey to help Heaven in its battle against a traitorous Angel. In Heaven is a lot of other really colorful characters and creatures, which I will not talk too much about so that the reader can discover them him/herself. But suffice it to say that Kathryn has a wild, unique imagination that creates a wonderful world.
I really enjoyed reading this book. Like I said above, the world building is terrific, and this Heaven is definitely the most imaginative that I've ever seen before. The Angel Army is darling, and who wouldn't want a pair of wings after this book? Audie is a sweet character, and Cave has a smart, sassy personality. There are several spots in the book where I laughed out loud-- Kathryn has great comedic timing.
The book could be more polished-- there are some typos that wouldn't get caught by spell check because they are actually words, but not the right ones. Also, it's a little awkward to have Cave as the narrator, since there are a lot of times where he is not in the center of action.
That said, I really enjoyed myself, and look forward to more adventures with Audie and her friends!
Audie the Angel and the Angel Army by Erika Kathryn is a cute middle grade read about Audie and her friend Cave, who is narrating the story. Together, they journey to help Heaven in its battle against a traitorous Angel. In Heaven is a lot of other really colorful characters and creatures, which I will not talk too much about so that the reader can discover them him/herself. But suffice it to say that Kathryn has a wild, unique imagination that creates a wonderful world.
I really enjoyed reading this book. Like I said above, the world building is terrific, and this Heaven is definitely the most imaginative that I've ever seen before. The Angel Army is darling, and who wouldn't want a pair of wings after this book? Audie is a sweet character, and Cave has a smart, sassy personality. There are several spots in the book where I laughed out loud-- Kathryn has great comedic timing.
The book could be more polished-- there are some typos that wouldn't get caught by spell check because they are actually words, but not the right ones. Also, it's a little awkward to have Cave as the narrator, since there are a lot of times where he is not in the center of action.
That said, I really enjoyed myself, and look forward to more adventures with Audie and her friends!
March 19, 2013
Children’s books are generally very difficult to review. You need to give a clear and honest review of the book while keeping in mind that you are not the target audience.
With that said, while I bought this book for my niece, I ended up enjoying it just as much as her. Similar to the way Pixar creates children’s movies for the entire family to enjoy, Audie The Angel is an uplifting tale of courage and self-belief that anyone with a heart will love.
The author, Erika Kathryn, does an excellent job of creating a vivid world of adventure and wonderment. She then fills this world with some interesting and unique characters. The characters are fantastical but relatable, many will share traits with people you know, or use to know when you were that age.
While the protagonist of this tale is indeed an Angel, the story itself is not a religious based one. Erika takes a completely unique view on Angels and delivers a story based on love and friendship without becoming preachy or resorting to religious rhetoric, delivering a story that will speak to anyone, regards of faith.
The tone of the book is absolutely perfect for the material. It can be so difficult to write for an audience that is, in reality, neither a child nor a teenager, instead resting on the line between the two. With a lesser writer a good idea can quickly become a poor one if it is delivered in a condescending tone. Fortunately that is never the case and despite probably being twice the age of the target audience, I never felt as though I was been spoken down to.
I was surprised at first to see that Cave is the narrator of the story, a daring and unique choice that I believe works perfectly. With Cave narrating it gives the reader a different insight to the world these characters inhabit.
The relationship between Audie and Cave is adorable and one that I look forward to seeing develop even further in the next installment. A book can contain dragons, angels and panda bears, but if the characters and relationships fall flat, then the book has little meaning.
Angels, as well as the beautiful mythical world that Erika created, are used to enhance the story and they aren’t a mere gimmick or a crutch to fail back on.
If I were to describe Audie the Angel in one word then it would be a word that I used throughout this review – unique. At a time when everyone is copying someone else, Erika decided to go in a different direction. She took calculated risks that delivered a unique reading experience, not only for my 12 year old niece, but for me also.
While most authors would go with the safe option, Kudos to Erika for her forward thinking and daring risk taking, something that is sorely lacking in all forms of entertainment.
With that said, while I bought this book for my niece, I ended up enjoying it just as much as her. Similar to the way Pixar creates children’s movies for the entire family to enjoy, Audie The Angel is an uplifting tale of courage and self-belief that anyone with a heart will love.
The author, Erika Kathryn, does an excellent job of creating a vivid world of adventure and wonderment. She then fills this world with some interesting and unique characters. The characters are fantastical but relatable, many will share traits with people you know, or use to know when you were that age.
While the protagonist of this tale is indeed an Angel, the story itself is not a religious based one. Erika takes a completely unique view on Angels and delivers a story based on love and friendship without becoming preachy or resorting to religious rhetoric, delivering a story that will speak to anyone, regards of faith.
The tone of the book is absolutely perfect for the material. It can be so difficult to write for an audience that is, in reality, neither a child nor a teenager, instead resting on the line between the two. With a lesser writer a good idea can quickly become a poor one if it is delivered in a condescending tone. Fortunately that is never the case and despite probably being twice the age of the target audience, I never felt as though I was been spoken down to.
I was surprised at first to see that Cave is the narrator of the story, a daring and unique choice that I believe works perfectly. With Cave narrating it gives the reader a different insight to the world these characters inhabit.
The relationship between Audie and Cave is adorable and one that I look forward to seeing develop even further in the next installment. A book can contain dragons, angels and panda bears, but if the characters and relationships fall flat, then the book has little meaning.
Angels, as well as the beautiful mythical world that Erika created, are used to enhance the story and they aren’t a mere gimmick or a crutch to fail back on.
If I were to describe Audie the Angel in one word then it would be a word that I used throughout this review – unique. At a time when everyone is copying someone else, Erika decided to go in a different direction. She took calculated risks that delivered a unique reading experience, not only for my 12 year old niece, but for me also.
While most authors would go with the safe option, Kudos to Erika for her forward thinking and daring risk taking, something that is sorely lacking in all forms of entertainment.
August 16, 2014
1.5/5.0
While the plot line of this story is basically solid and gives plenty of action to draw in young readers, there are so many issues with the writing that the story itself becomes lost.
Read full review in the 2013 May issue of InD’tale Magazine.
While the plot line of this story is basically solid and gives plenty of action to draw in young readers, there are so many issues with the writing that the story itself becomes lost.
Read full review in the 2013 May issue of InD’tale Magazine.
December 15, 2025
Adventurous story involving angels, quests, and high stakes
The book starts off with high stakes and danger with the demise of one phoenix angel and the birth of a new one. When Audie, the new phoenix angel, accidentally breaks the protection barrier her mother set on her home, she is swept off to heaven along with the teenage male doing the lawnwork. At this point, the plot changes from immediate danger to the background as she begins training to be part of an Angel Army, and it takes on a more school-like feel. It's not long before the world-altering danger kicks back in though it never quite returns to the same heaviness from the start of the book. I found the pacing to be pretty solid overall. The journey lets readers explore the world and have some fun despite the enormous stakes.
Throughout the journey, the book's world expands. Angels are also called cloudhoppers in this book's universe. Heaven is big, and the characters are able to travel to a wide variety of landscapes and locations contained in the afterlife. Between the locations and many fantastical creatures, this world felt complete to me.
The friends she makes in the Angel Army and along the journey to rescue the mind-controlled angels prove invaluable to her growth and support. I enjoyed their banter and ingenuity. Audie and Cave are fun lead characters to follow. Having a human interact with the celestial beings and magical creatures adds an extra element of fun to the mix.
While I recognize that I'm outside the target audience, if I were a young teen, I would have enjoyed this book a lot. Therefore, I'd recommend Angel of Ashes, especially for ages 10-14.
Note on AI: The author did NOT use AI to write any part of this book. That is very clear and obvious to me having read the book, as well as stated by the author at the start of the book. I would have liked to see the same commitment when it came to illustrations. The author did state on the copyright page that the illustrations were created through the use of AI rather than a paid human artist.
Age Range: 10+ (Middle Grade)
Language: None
Romance: Very Little. There's a hint of possible romance in the future, but it's mostly just a coming-of-age story right now. Our narrator was attracted to Audie, and another character has good chemistry with her. However, as the characters are all about 13 years old, there's nothing serious, and romance is not a focus.
Christian Theology*: The battle between good and evil is a tale as old as time. There are good angels and fallen angels. The book is not overtly Christian and didactic. I see no conflicts with Christian values. Altogether, it is a pretty solid read that would be fine for most Christians who are fine with fantasy novels. There is one spot where mercy is discussed, and while at first it seems like justice is going to be critiqued, eventually the line between mercy and the need for justice is firmly drawn, which I appreciate.
*Since this book is being promoted as a Christian fantasy with Christian values, I feel it is important to note one line that is problematic: "For some reason on Earth, we were taught to fear witches... but maybe we should have been taught to fear those who burned them" (p. 164). While this is a beautifully written poetic line, it has theological problems. I am not at all condoning witch hunts or burning people at the stake, but I do think it important to note that biblically, the reason we are taught to fear witches is because witchcraft is specifically stated as evil in the Bible (Deut. 18: 10-12, Gal. 5:20, Rev. 21:8). In Jesus, we have no need to fear, but that doesn't mean we should embrace witches or witchcraft or admire witchcraft's practicioners.
**The author provided me with an ARC. All opinions are my own.
The book starts off with high stakes and danger with the demise of one phoenix angel and the birth of a new one. When Audie, the new phoenix angel, accidentally breaks the protection barrier her mother set on her home, she is swept off to heaven along with the teenage male doing the lawnwork. At this point, the plot changes from immediate danger to the background as she begins training to be part of an Angel Army, and it takes on a more school-like feel. It's not long before the world-altering danger kicks back in though it never quite returns to the same heaviness from the start of the book. I found the pacing to be pretty solid overall. The journey lets readers explore the world and have some fun despite the enormous stakes.
Throughout the journey, the book's world expands. Angels are also called cloudhoppers in this book's universe. Heaven is big, and the characters are able to travel to a wide variety of landscapes and locations contained in the afterlife. Between the locations and many fantastical creatures, this world felt complete to me.
The friends she makes in the Angel Army and along the journey to rescue the mind-controlled angels prove invaluable to her growth and support. I enjoyed their banter and ingenuity. Audie and Cave are fun lead characters to follow. Having a human interact with the celestial beings and magical creatures adds an extra element of fun to the mix.
While I recognize that I'm outside the target audience, if I were a young teen, I would have enjoyed this book a lot. Therefore, I'd recommend Angel of Ashes, especially for ages 10-14.
Note on AI: The author did NOT use AI to write any part of this book. That is very clear and obvious to me having read the book, as well as stated by the author at the start of the book. I would have liked to see the same commitment when it came to illustrations. The author did state on the copyright page that the illustrations were created through the use of AI rather than a paid human artist.
Age Range: 10+ (Middle Grade)
Language: None
Romance: Very Little. There's a hint of possible romance in the future, but it's mostly just a coming-of-age story right now. Our narrator was attracted to Audie, and another character has good chemistry with her. However, as the characters are all about 13 years old, there's nothing serious, and romance is not a focus.
Christian Theology*: The battle between good and evil is a tale as old as time. There are good angels and fallen angels. The book is not overtly Christian and didactic. I see no conflicts with Christian values. Altogether, it is a pretty solid read that would be fine for most Christians who are fine with fantasy novels. There is one spot where mercy is discussed, and while at first it seems like justice is going to be critiqued, eventually the line between mercy and the need for justice is firmly drawn, which I appreciate.
*Since this book is being promoted as a Christian fantasy with Christian values, I feel it is important to note one line that is problematic: "For some reason on Earth, we were taught to fear witches... but maybe we should have been taught to fear those who burned them" (p. 164). While this is a beautifully written poetic line, it has theological problems. I am not at all condoning witch hunts or burning people at the stake, but I do think it important to note that biblically, the reason we are taught to fear witches is because witchcraft is specifically stated as evil in the Bible (Deut. 18: 10-12, Gal. 5:20, Rev. 21:8). In Jesus, we have no need to fear, but that doesn't mean we should embrace witches or witchcraft or admire witchcraft's practicioners.
**The author provided me with an ARC. All opinions are my own.
November 14, 2025
What worked:
The opening scene describes the death and rebirth of the only Phoenix Angel on the planet. It’s impossible for two Phoenix Angels to walk the earth at the same time, so Audie never gets to live with her mother. She never leaves her human father’s property until she’s thirteen, and when she finally does, she’s attacked by demons. Audie is rescued by another angel, who transports her to Heaven. Jupiter, a saint, oversees the angels since she’s neutral regarding angel issues. However, Jupiter suspects something evil has infiltrated Heaven and recruits Audie and Cave to help form the Angel Army. Their task will be to identify the evil and help save Heaven.
Cave narrates the story, and he’s the only human character in Heaven. It’s amusing to see some angels resent his presence, while other angels are excited to meet a real human. Audie won’t agree to join the Angel Army unless Cave is part of it, so Jupiter makes him Audie’s historian. It’s traditional for a historian to document the life of each Phoenix Angel, so that becomes Cave’s job. Readers know that Cave’s been smitten with Audie since he first saw her, and he begins to have subtle, jealous feelings. Audie and Luce, another member of the army, seem to be developing an attraction for each other, and Cave doesn’t know what to do.
The threat to Heaven becomes clear about halfway into the book when an elder angel thinks their powers should be used to rule over humans. Audie and her friends know scorpions were stolen and that their venom can make others susceptible to mind control. Readers won’t be surprised when the creatures reappear later in the story. The problem of the elder angel becomes more complicated when the characters realize he’s Luce’s father. Readers may find it hard to understand how a father and son can view the world so differently. The Angel Army is joined by other creatures along the way, and they learn from the fairies that there was once a great war between angels. The two sides battled over the future of angels and the question of ruling over all other living things. It looks like history is close to repeating itself.
What didn’t work as well:
Much of the story is set in Heaven, so readers need to be aware of biblical references. It’s not a big issue, but the main characters are angels. The Angel Army has 11 members, so that means there are a lot of characters to remember. Consequently, the descriptions of Audie’s peers are brief, which makes it harder for readers to make connections. Also, Cave isn’t present for some of the action scenes, and there’s no mention regarding how he’s still able to record what happened in the narrative.
The final verdict:
This book will appeal to lovers of adventure and angels, although any reader can enjoy the author’s imagination. I recommend you try the book for yourself.
The opening scene describes the death and rebirth of the only Phoenix Angel on the planet. It’s impossible for two Phoenix Angels to walk the earth at the same time, so Audie never gets to live with her mother. She never leaves her human father’s property until she’s thirteen, and when she finally does, she’s attacked by demons. Audie is rescued by another angel, who transports her to Heaven. Jupiter, a saint, oversees the angels since she’s neutral regarding angel issues. However, Jupiter suspects something evil has infiltrated Heaven and recruits Audie and Cave to help form the Angel Army. Their task will be to identify the evil and help save Heaven.
Cave narrates the story, and he’s the only human character in Heaven. It’s amusing to see some angels resent his presence, while other angels are excited to meet a real human. Audie won’t agree to join the Angel Army unless Cave is part of it, so Jupiter makes him Audie’s historian. It’s traditional for a historian to document the life of each Phoenix Angel, so that becomes Cave’s job. Readers know that Cave’s been smitten with Audie since he first saw her, and he begins to have subtle, jealous feelings. Audie and Luce, another member of the army, seem to be developing an attraction for each other, and Cave doesn’t know what to do.
The threat to Heaven becomes clear about halfway into the book when an elder angel thinks their powers should be used to rule over humans. Audie and her friends know scorpions were stolen and that their venom can make others susceptible to mind control. Readers won’t be surprised when the creatures reappear later in the story. The problem of the elder angel becomes more complicated when the characters realize he’s Luce’s father. Readers may find it hard to understand how a father and son can view the world so differently. The Angel Army is joined by other creatures along the way, and they learn from the fairies that there was once a great war between angels. The two sides battled over the future of angels and the question of ruling over all other living things. It looks like history is close to repeating itself.
What didn’t work as well:
Much of the story is set in Heaven, so readers need to be aware of biblical references. It’s not a big issue, but the main characters are angels. The Angel Army has 11 members, so that means there are a lot of characters to remember. Consequently, the descriptions of Audie’s peers are brief, which makes it harder for readers to make connections. Also, Cave isn’t present for some of the action scenes, and there’s no mention regarding how he’s still able to record what happened in the narrative.
The final verdict:
This book will appeal to lovers of adventure and angels, although any reader can enjoy the author’s imagination. I recommend you try the book for yourself.
December 16, 2025
👼✨ This book is an absolute delight and the perfect magical escape! 💖
Can you even imagine? Thirteen-year-old Audie just wanted to ditch homeschool, and next thing you know, she sprouts gold wings and literally crashes into a celestial war! I mean, talk about a glow-up! 🌟 This is one of those fantastic clean teen fantasy adventures that totally sweeps you away. It's got everything: high-flying battles, serious danger, and the biggest question of all: who is Audie really?
I loved how the story is all about fierce friendships and discovering your inner strength. Audie's journey is so relatable—even with the whole angel thing!—as she figures out where she belongs. The world-building is just so unique; the author created this vivid, wonderful world full of imaginative creatures and cool places that they call Heaven. And the characters? Audie and her friends in the Angel Army are just adorable, with great banter and ingenuity. Plus, having Cave, the human, narrate the story gives such a fresh, fun perspective! Their budding friendship is just precious!
The best part? It’s an uplifting tale of courage and self-belief that anyone will love. It uses all the amazing angel and mythical world elements to enhance a beautiful story about love and loyalty, never getting preachy. It’s perfect for those in that tricky middle-to-teen age range (or anyone who loves a good magical adventure, like me!). If you need a book that is totally unique and full of heart, grab Angel of Ashes! You’ll be cheering for Audie from the first page! 💫
Can you even imagine? Thirteen-year-old Audie just wanted to ditch homeschool, and next thing you know, she sprouts gold wings and literally crashes into a celestial war! I mean, talk about a glow-up! 🌟 This is one of those fantastic clean teen fantasy adventures that totally sweeps you away. It's got everything: high-flying battles, serious danger, and the biggest question of all: who is Audie really?
I loved how the story is all about fierce friendships and discovering your inner strength. Audie's journey is so relatable—even with the whole angel thing!—as she figures out where she belongs. The world-building is just so unique; the author created this vivid, wonderful world full of imaginative creatures and cool places that they call Heaven. And the characters? Audie and her friends in the Angel Army are just adorable, with great banter and ingenuity. Plus, having Cave, the human, narrate the story gives such a fresh, fun perspective! Their budding friendship is just precious!
The best part? It’s an uplifting tale of courage and self-belief that anyone will love. It uses all the amazing angel and mythical world elements to enhance a beautiful story about love and loyalty, never getting preachy. It’s perfect for those in that tricky middle-to-teen age range (or anyone who loves a good magical adventure, like me!). If you need a book that is totally unique and full of heart, grab Angel of Ashes! You’ll be cheering for Audie from the first page! 💫
January 5, 2026
Cute and Refreshing Mystical Story!
This was an entertaining story, even for an adult! I appreciated that it was clean, and even with the "violent scenes", it was not graphic or gory, but it was still intriguing enough to follow along. Some of the names were silly, like Delulu, but they were perfect for the story and matched the teenage angel storyline perfectly! Augie is a fun character to watch develop, and the pace in which she learned was realistic unlike so many stories. Although the author did skip over the "boring training scenes", there was coverage of the timeframe that had passed and brief training methods that still showed Augie wasn't just suddenly effective at magic in one training session. I have an 11 year old daughter, and she is always on the hunt for a new magical book. It's so difficult to find something age appropriate that still contains the magical elements she loves (she's a huge Harry Potter fan) and this fits the bill. It has the developed magical system that angels use, world building, and even the mystical animals (and dogs, because all dogs go to heaven!). This is a great book for a pre-teen or even an adult who wants a clean magical story.
This was an entertaining story, even for an adult! I appreciated that it was clean, and even with the "violent scenes", it was not graphic or gory, but it was still intriguing enough to follow along. Some of the names were silly, like Delulu, but they were perfect for the story and matched the teenage angel storyline perfectly! Augie is a fun character to watch develop, and the pace in which she learned was realistic unlike so many stories. Although the author did skip over the "boring training scenes", there was coverage of the timeframe that had passed and brief training methods that still showed Augie wasn't just suddenly effective at magic in one training session. I have an 11 year old daughter, and she is always on the hunt for a new magical book. It's so difficult to find something age appropriate that still contains the magical elements she loves (she's a huge Harry Potter fan) and this fits the bill. It has the developed magical system that angels use, world building, and even the mystical animals (and dogs, because all dogs go to heaven!). This is a great book for a pre-teen or even an adult who wants a clean magical story.
January 8, 2026
ARC Review
I really enjoyed the characters and the story the most. The relationship between August and Audie felt genuine and emotional, and the way the fantasy elements (angels, phoenixes, Heaven’s world-building) were mixed with everyday human struggles (parenting, friendship, growing up) made it easy to connect with. The writing style is descriptive and visual—I could easily picture scenes like Evangeline turning to ash or Audie walking on water.
The book rise me interested to find out more about Audie’s powers, her mother’s past, and the mystery of the evil in Heaven. There were also warm, funny moments (like August raising Audie) that made me smile, and tense action scenes that kept me hooked.
There are areas that could me improve or enhance such as the shifts in point of views from third person to first person (Cave’s narrative). It might help make those transitions more clear in the book. Also, the pacing in some chapters can be faster which make me feel a bit long.
Overall I recommend this young adult fantasy with angels, magic and mythology in this adventure stories with humor and heart. The book also have its own creative world building with rules and jobs in an organised realm.
I really enjoyed the characters and the story the most. The relationship between August and Audie felt genuine and emotional, and the way the fantasy elements (angels, phoenixes, Heaven’s world-building) were mixed with everyday human struggles (parenting, friendship, growing up) made it easy to connect with. The writing style is descriptive and visual—I could easily picture scenes like Evangeline turning to ash or Audie walking on water.
The book rise me interested to find out more about Audie’s powers, her mother’s past, and the mystery of the evil in Heaven. There were also warm, funny moments (like August raising Audie) that made me smile, and tense action scenes that kept me hooked.
There are areas that could me improve or enhance such as the shifts in point of views from third person to first person (Cave’s narrative). It might help make those transitions more clear in the book. Also, the pacing in some chapters can be faster which make me feel a bit long.
Overall I recommend this young adult fantasy with angels, magic and mythology in this adventure stories with humor and heart. The book also have its own creative world building with rules and jobs in an organised realm.
October 26, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley and Victory Editing Netgalley Co-op for sending me this book !!!
I was completely inmersed the second I started this book, my inner child was so happy and excited about this fantasy, if I had to describe it I would say it gives Percy Jackson vibes (it was like instead of greek gods children we had angels) with lots of fantastic creatures and sprinklings of HP.
We are following Audie, when she discovers she's a Phoenix and has to embark on an quest to help the angel army (I really loved them, the found family was really cute) with new allies and enemies along the way and liberate Heaven from evil, all of that with the help of her human friend Cave who was the one narrating the story!
I want to continue the angel archives so bad I'll definitely have my eyes on book two.
(Ps: if that was not enough to convince you just admire the beautiful cover, it's stunning!)
I was completely inmersed the second I started this book, my inner child was so happy and excited about this fantasy, if I had to describe it I would say it gives Percy Jackson vibes (it was like instead of greek gods children we had angels) with lots of fantastic creatures and sprinklings of HP.
We are following Audie, when she discovers she's a Phoenix and has to embark on an quest to help the angel army (I really loved them, the found family was really cute) with new allies and enemies along the way and liberate Heaven from evil, all of that with the help of her human friend Cave who was the one narrating the story!
I want to continue the angel archives so bad I'll definitely have my eyes on book two.
(Ps: if that was not enough to convince you just admire the beautiful cover, it's stunning!)
October 31, 2025
Very good clean story for young readers like middle grade! Reminds me of the Precious Moments stories I read as a kid in the best way possible. I read this book to my daughter and even though she’s very young, she seemed to really enjoy it and I will read it to her when she’s a little older.
It was a very easy read and the characters are adorable to say the least. The world the author created is imaginative and beautifully descriptive! It felt like I was actually there with them!
If you have a young reader who likes stories of adventurous angels or have a reader that you’re particular about what they read, this book is for you! I hope you enjoy it as much as I have! Happy Reading!!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
It was a very easy read and the characters are adorable to say the least. The world the author created is imaginative and beautifully descriptive! It felt like I was actually there with them!
If you have a young reader who likes stories of adventurous angels or have a reader that you’re particular about what they read, this book is for you! I hope you enjoy it as much as I have! Happy Reading!!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
December 11, 2025
Thank you to netgalley and victory editing netgally co-op for this arc, which i ultimately decided to DNF at 12%. This book was not for me, and the pacing and character development felt really confusing. Cave was nice and audie, too, but they seemed to be quite attached to each other after only a few hours of limited communication. The plot was intriguing, and I think it could have been great if it had been executed differently. Despite all of that, the start was very well written and sad and intriguing, and I wish the entire book had gone on like that.
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January 12, 2026
Angels of Ashes is a polished, imaginative, and briskly paced adventure.
If you are looking for a high stakes, clean fantasy that you can fly through in a weekend, Angels of Ashes by @Erika Kathryn ✍🏼📚🪽 c pick. It manages to balance a dark, atmospheric world with the hopeful, fast-paced energy that makes Young Adult (YA) fantasy so addictive.
It’s perfect for fans of Shadow and Bone, Harry Potter, Percy Jackson or Cinder and who want a fresh story that respects the boundaries of clean fiction without sacrifice.
If you are looking for a high stakes, clean fantasy that you can fly through in a weekend, Angels of Ashes by @Erika Kathryn ✍🏼📚🪽 c pick. It manages to balance a dark, atmospheric world with the hopeful, fast-paced energy that makes Young Adult (YA) fantasy so addictive.
It’s perfect for fans of Shadow and Bone, Harry Potter, Percy Jackson or Cinder and who want a fresh story that respects the boundaries of clean fiction without sacrifice.
January 3, 2026
Was given a copy of this book to read and I leave a review willingly.
The world building was perfect. I loved all the different magical creatures mentioned in this book.
This is a very clean and good read for YA readers.
I love the art throughout the book and the map as well.
The world building was perfect. I loved all the different magical creatures mentioned in this book.
This is a very clean and good read for YA readers.
I love the art throughout the book and the map as well.
January 7, 2026
I had the privilege to read this book as a ARC reader.
I loved the book was told from the perspective of one of the main characters. The book was a fun easy read full of good world building. For the younger readers who love Magical creatures and a thrilling story, I highly recommend this book.
I loved the book was told from the perspective of one of the main characters. The book was a fun easy read full of good world building. For the younger readers who love Magical creatures and a thrilling story, I highly recommend this book.
July 7, 2013
I realize that this book was intended for younger age groups, but sometimes I find it a bit hard to stop being so critical and remember that the book was not intended for adults. First off, the cover is nice, but I feel it could be a little more dynamic. Still, it is not bad and the colors really do make out a nice, dark yet magical setting. With that said, this book is a little less than I expected. First of all, the main character is nothing less than Mary Sue. For those who do not know what that means, let me explain. It is a character that is perfect in every single way. She is beautiful, good, smart and has no flaws whatsoever. I understand that she is the Phoenix angel, but that does not mean she can’t have a little more personality other than being perfect. She doesn't have to be mean or constantly depressed, but perhaps an insecurity of some sort would have been nice. Anything that would bring her character away from perfection. The other members of the angel army are also a bit too flawless, but at least they have clear personalities and quirks we can relate them to. The character who is telling the story and has a crush on the perfect girl name Audie, is more of a defined character than her... More or less. It really bugs me how much he keeps praising her and talking about how perfect it is and it gets redundant real quick. Other than that, he is at least more realistic and questions things that are going on around him, whereas Audie seems to be OK with being abducted and taken to a totally different world. Not to mention kissing strangers on the cheek that haven’t really done anything to deserve it. It just really confuses me. Audie kisses Abel on the cheek in the first quarter of the book yet I have no idea why. He didn't do her any sort of favor she asked for nor has he helped them with anything in that point of the book. She just assumes he deserves a kiss for existing and taking her away from her father along with Logos. But like I said, Cave, despite his constant praising of his crush that gets a little redundant, is actually a pretty good character because he portraits a real human being who questions things and seems to be worried about the whole "being taken to Heaven scenario" unlike Audie who has just accepted the fact that she might never see her father again or that she might get in some questionable dangers. Another pet peeve that gets to me is that while the settings might be nice for young audiences, the names could have been a bit more creative. Unicorn Island doesn't sound very special. I can let Enchanted forest slide, but Unicorn Island just sounds silly, like the fact that the names of locations in heaven mostly consist of two words with matching capital letters. However, I am not going to say it’s a bad book. For the intended audience, I believe it is simple enough to be understood and I find the abundance of side characters very engaging. I personally love it when there is a lot of characters and find it very entertaining to observe their reactions and conversations with one another. Their personalities differ and I really wish the book would have focused more on just the angel army interacting with each other. My favorite character would have to be Gabi because of her bubbly personality and Darel and Yahel because they seem pretty awesome and well thought up characters, simple but still very amusing. My least favorite characters would be Audie because she is just too bland for my taste and Luce because I simply loathe love triangles. Don’t get me wrong, Luce is actually an OK character, but I just don’t believe a boy at that age would be hitting on a girl like that in the book. There is a lot of action and fight scenes, which is excellent, although I wish they could have lasted a bit longer. The boss battle in the end could have been more and I just don’t feel like it made a big impact. Plus, the antagonist and villains in all are just cartooney bad guys. It would have made the book much more interesting if they had some aspect of their personality or a tragic back story that would make us feel empathy and explain their actions, but they just seem to be evil because... They’re evil. We are given no reason as to why they are evil and the antagonist has the cliched goal of taking over Heaven. The book has quite a few cliches. All in all, it is still a good book for the younger audience. It has nice descriptions and a creative plot which could have used a bit more spice to it. It still fulfills its role as a form of media meant to entertain and I am looking forward to the second book in the series.
August 19, 2013
3.5/5 Stars
This review and many others can be found on my blog - Feed Your Fiction Addiction
[Note: I read both books one and two of this series for this review.]
The Angel Archives is a very fun kids' series that will be sure to please the younger set. My nine-year-old daughter loved this series. In fact, when she was done reading the second book, she rushed down the stairs and said, "Do we have the next book?" She was very distressed to hear that I wasn't sure when the next book was being released! (The storyline of each book does get resolved, but then there is a cliff-hanger intro to the next book)
Here are my thoughts -
What I wasn't crazy about:
Simplistic style.
As an adult, I felt that that Kathryn's writing style was just a little too simplistic. I will say that this didn't bother my daughter one little bit, but it did distract me a bit. On the other hand, this book might be perfect for an older reader who is a somewhat below grade-level reader because, while the difficulty level on these books is relatively low, the story and action would appeal to a pre-teen or young teen audience.
POV.
I also thought that the books suffered just a little bit because they are completely narrated by Cave (Audie's friend who has a crush on her). While I loved his perspective and I thought that it really added something fun to the story to hear his pinings for Audie, it was a bit awkward at times when he had to tell parts of the story that he wasn't there for (he always pointed out that Audie related these things to him so that he could write them down, which kind of took me out of the story a bit). I think I would have preferred if the story had been told from multiple POV's.
Lots of characters.
While this didn't bother me, my daughter mentioned that she found it hard to keep track of so many secondary characters (there are lots of angels who go on the quest to save the angels).
What I loved:
The imaginative view of Heaven.
Kathryn's portrayal of Heaven was incredibly fun and imaginative. There were so many unique settings and characters! One of my favorite examples of this was in the second book when the group ends up in a portion of heaven where rainbows are created by statue people. The rainbows are actually made with millions of balloons filled with colored liquid and dreams. The statue people use the rainbows to deliver dreams to the humans on earth. The gang gets a special treat - they get to slide down into the huge vat of beautifully-colored balloons. What kid wouldn't love that idea? This was just one example - there were many more creative characters and settings that were incredibly appealing!
Cave and Audie.
While I said that I wasn't crazy about the fact that the book was always told from Cave's point of view, that's not because I didn't love Cave himself. He was such an endearing character (he sneezes whenever he gets nervous), and I loved the sweet crush that he had on Audie. I was definitely rooting for him and Audie to get together (I won't spoil whether or not that actually happens). There is a bit of a love triangle between Audie, Cave and Luce, which I think young readers will really like.
Action Packed.
Kids books really need to be action packed in order to hold their attention and this book did not disappoint. The angels (and Cave) met up with so many dangers and challenges and fought with countless enemies. Apparently Heaven is a dangerous place!!
Overall, I thought that this series is a great read for young readers (including young teen readers who read at a bit below grade level). It is fun and inventive and my daughter can't wait to find out what happens next! 3.5/5 stars
**Disclosure: These books were provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given. All opinions are my own***
This review and many others can be found on my blog - Feed Your Fiction Addiction
[Note: I read both books one and two of this series for this review.]
The Angel Archives is a very fun kids' series that will be sure to please the younger set. My nine-year-old daughter loved this series. In fact, when she was done reading the second book, she rushed down the stairs and said, "Do we have the next book?" She was very distressed to hear that I wasn't sure when the next book was being released! (The storyline of each book does get resolved, but then there is a cliff-hanger intro to the next book)
Here are my thoughts -
What I wasn't crazy about:
Simplistic style.
As an adult, I felt that that Kathryn's writing style was just a little too simplistic. I will say that this didn't bother my daughter one little bit, but it did distract me a bit. On the other hand, this book might be perfect for an older reader who is a somewhat below grade-level reader because, while the difficulty level on these books is relatively low, the story and action would appeal to a pre-teen or young teen audience.
POV.
I also thought that the books suffered just a little bit because they are completely narrated by Cave (Audie's friend who has a crush on her). While I loved his perspective and I thought that it really added something fun to the story to hear his pinings for Audie, it was a bit awkward at times when he had to tell parts of the story that he wasn't there for (he always pointed out that Audie related these things to him so that he could write them down, which kind of took me out of the story a bit). I think I would have preferred if the story had been told from multiple POV's.
Lots of characters.
While this didn't bother me, my daughter mentioned that she found it hard to keep track of so many secondary characters (there are lots of angels who go on the quest to save the angels).
What I loved:
The imaginative view of Heaven.
Kathryn's portrayal of Heaven was incredibly fun and imaginative. There were so many unique settings and characters! One of my favorite examples of this was in the second book when the group ends up in a portion of heaven where rainbows are created by statue people. The rainbows are actually made with millions of balloons filled with colored liquid and dreams. The statue people use the rainbows to deliver dreams to the humans on earth. The gang gets a special treat - they get to slide down into the huge vat of beautifully-colored balloons. What kid wouldn't love that idea? This was just one example - there were many more creative characters and settings that were incredibly appealing!
Cave and Audie.
While I said that I wasn't crazy about the fact that the book was always told from Cave's point of view, that's not because I didn't love Cave himself. He was such an endearing character (he sneezes whenever he gets nervous), and I loved the sweet crush that he had on Audie. I was definitely rooting for him and Audie to get together (I won't spoil whether or not that actually happens). There is a bit of a love triangle between Audie, Cave and Luce, which I think young readers will really like.
Action Packed.
Kids books really need to be action packed in order to hold their attention and this book did not disappoint. The angels (and Cave) met up with so many dangers and challenges and fought with countless enemies. Apparently Heaven is a dangerous place!!
Overall, I thought that this series is a great read for young readers (including young teen readers who read at a bit below grade level). It is fun and inventive and my daughter can't wait to find out what happens next! 3.5/5 stars
**Disclosure: These books were provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given. All opinions are my own***
April 16, 2013
Okay…wow. I just finished this book and I’m blown away! The writing for example…I don’t know. It just seems so right and perfect. The dialogue between the characters was amazing and beautifully written. I keep putting bookmarks in random places so I could look at the book later and read some of my favorite parts and quotes!
Audie is not your normal average little girl, she so much more, special even. She caught the attention of everyone she met with her pure beauty and her kind heart. Boys couldn’t help but fall in love with her, especially Cave. Cave was a normal 12 year old boy in the 6th grade that so happens to have a huge crush on the lovely Audie. He thinks that she doesn’t even notice his existence until the day when a man named Logos comes. Appearing from the closet of the classroom Cave hides and sees that the man, Logos, wants to take Audie away for her own protection. She was going to go with him when Cave, who when is nervous or scared sneezes, let’s out a loud sneeze. Now that he saw the man he had no choice but to go with them to this unknown place. It was a big shock when Cave finds out that both he, and Audie, was now in heaven. But it also so happens that the girl he had a crush on, whom he was falling in love with at every moment, was an angel. As they destined further into heaven Cave and Audie find out that Audie was called to heaven to help save it. With the help of Cave and Audie’s new angel friends, her angel army, Audie will have to go against the forces of evil and save heaven before its too late. But with secret evil lurking everywhere, can you really trust anyone? Audie will learn that she is special and soon she will have to use her powers and save the people she has come to love. But love can be tricky. Will Audie fall for the guy she was warned to stay away from? Or will she end up with the boy who secretly loves her? Join Cave and Audie on their journey to saving heaven and finding out who they really are.
Okay this book was amazing! I was so happy when I got this book and immediately started to read it. Not only are the characters and the plot interesting but the writing was fantastic. There were moments when the book characters would say something and I would end up dying of laughter. And then other times the characters, like Audie, would say something and I would really stop and digest what she just said. I found Audie to be such a sweet, kind, and wise character and enjoyed seeing her sassy side as well. Cave is my favorite character!! He was just so adorable! I found his sneezing so cute and funny! This book was outstanding and I had an amazing time reading it. I have a feeling I’m going to be re-reading it a lot! I can’t wait for the next book to be out so I can see what happens on Audie’s and Cave’s next adventure. The author, Erika Kathryn, is a very gifted writer and I am now a big fan! I recommend this book to everyone!
Here are some of my favorite quotes and moments!!
“Out of the ashes shall come fire, out of death shall come life, and out of hatred shall come eternal love.”
“Why you LITTLE- you gave me a WEDGY!” Abel screamed in pain.
“HOLD ONTO YOUR HALOS!” Audie shouted, “This ride is about to get bumpy!”
“What is with these evil Dudes and their thrones!?”
Audie is not your normal average little girl, she so much more, special even. She caught the attention of everyone she met with her pure beauty and her kind heart. Boys couldn’t help but fall in love with her, especially Cave. Cave was a normal 12 year old boy in the 6th grade that so happens to have a huge crush on the lovely Audie. He thinks that she doesn’t even notice his existence until the day when a man named Logos comes. Appearing from the closet of the classroom Cave hides and sees that the man, Logos, wants to take Audie away for her own protection. She was going to go with him when Cave, who when is nervous or scared sneezes, let’s out a loud sneeze. Now that he saw the man he had no choice but to go with them to this unknown place. It was a big shock when Cave finds out that both he, and Audie, was now in heaven. But it also so happens that the girl he had a crush on, whom he was falling in love with at every moment, was an angel. As they destined further into heaven Cave and Audie find out that Audie was called to heaven to help save it. With the help of Cave and Audie’s new angel friends, her angel army, Audie will have to go against the forces of evil and save heaven before its too late. But with secret evil lurking everywhere, can you really trust anyone? Audie will learn that she is special and soon she will have to use her powers and save the people she has come to love. But love can be tricky. Will Audie fall for the guy she was warned to stay away from? Or will she end up with the boy who secretly loves her? Join Cave and Audie on their journey to saving heaven and finding out who they really are.
Okay this book was amazing! I was so happy when I got this book and immediately started to read it. Not only are the characters and the plot interesting but the writing was fantastic. There were moments when the book characters would say something and I would end up dying of laughter. And then other times the characters, like Audie, would say something and I would really stop and digest what she just said. I found Audie to be such a sweet, kind, and wise character and enjoyed seeing her sassy side as well. Cave is my favorite character!! He was just so adorable! I found his sneezing so cute and funny! This book was outstanding and I had an amazing time reading it. I have a feeling I’m going to be re-reading it a lot! I can’t wait for the next book to be out so I can see what happens on Audie’s and Cave’s next adventure. The author, Erika Kathryn, is a very gifted writer and I am now a big fan! I recommend this book to everyone!
Here are some of my favorite quotes and moments!!
“Out of the ashes shall come fire, out of death shall come life, and out of hatred shall come eternal love.”
“Why you LITTLE- you gave me a WEDGY!” Abel screamed in pain.
“HOLD ONTO YOUR HALOS!” Audie shouted, “This ride is about to get bumpy!”
“What is with these evil Dudes and their thrones!?”
April 20, 2013
A seemingly average twelve-year-old girl transfers to a new school, yet again, and soon finds out that nothing about her life ... or past lives ... is ordinary. Audie is pulled into a war only she can end, and must figure out how to win against evil while trying to untangle her feelings for her human friend Cave and the charming angel Luce.
The idea of this book is cute, and I think it will catch young readers' eyes. Situations where other kids are fighting against great power and evil intentions never fail to capture the attention of children who daydream about doing just that. Even better, Audie has friends by her side to help her figure out her past, her new powers, and what she should do next.
Personally,I have to admit that I had a hard time connecting with this book. I think that was partly due to my expectations not meshing with what I actually got. This book is listed as middle grade, however it is much longer than the standard middle grade novel coming in at over 240 pages. The writing style is a mixture between narration, which using goes more with early readers than middle grade, and simplistic dialog and internal thoughts. The characters are also 12 years old, which is on the bubble of YA literature, but the story is too young for YA readers. It doesn't quite fit in either category, which makes it hard to recommend to either group.
The area I had a hard time with was Kathryn's version of heaven. Many readers have particular ideas about heaven, and for me, magic forests and mermaids seemed more like a fantasy world than heaven. It was difficult for me to feel immersed in the setting, which affected my ability to feel engaged in the story overall.
I think the storyline itself is cute and will attract readers. The length may be a problem for very younger readers, though. Katheryn provides interesting moments and excitement with the training and the relationships. I don't categorize divine power and magic in the same category so I didn't enjoy the new abilities as much as I could have, but other readers may have no problem with that and truly enjoy this aspect. Audie's feelings for both Luce and Cave provide more conflict, but it will appeal more to older readers more toward the YA age group than middle grade.
Another issue that may trip readers up is that the editing is not as good as it could have been. In many places it affected the readability of the story and proved to be distracting. I think this series has potential, but I would hope to see future books in this series have a length more appropriate for middle grade readers, cleaner editing, and more a more age appropriate style and language.
Check out my other reviews on The Edible Bookshelf
The idea of this book is cute, and I think it will catch young readers' eyes. Situations where other kids are fighting against great power and evil intentions never fail to capture the attention of children who daydream about doing just that. Even better, Audie has friends by her side to help her figure out her past, her new powers, and what she should do next.
Personally,I have to admit that I had a hard time connecting with this book. I think that was partly due to my expectations not meshing with what I actually got. This book is listed as middle grade, however it is much longer than the standard middle grade novel coming in at over 240 pages. The writing style is a mixture between narration, which using goes more with early readers than middle grade, and simplistic dialog and internal thoughts. The characters are also 12 years old, which is on the bubble of YA literature, but the story is too young for YA readers. It doesn't quite fit in either category, which makes it hard to recommend to either group.
The area I had a hard time with was Kathryn's version of heaven. Many readers have particular ideas about heaven, and for me, magic forests and mermaids seemed more like a fantasy world than heaven. It was difficult for me to feel immersed in the setting, which affected my ability to feel engaged in the story overall.
I think the storyline itself is cute and will attract readers. The length may be a problem for very younger readers, though. Katheryn provides interesting moments and excitement with the training and the relationships. I don't categorize divine power and magic in the same category so I didn't enjoy the new abilities as much as I could have, but other readers may have no problem with that and truly enjoy this aspect. Audie's feelings for both Luce and Cave provide more conflict, but it will appeal more to older readers more toward the YA age group than middle grade.
Another issue that may trip readers up is that the editing is not as good as it could have been. In many places it affected the readability of the story and proved to be distracting. I think this series has potential, but I would hope to see future books in this series have a length more appropriate for middle grade readers, cleaner editing, and more a more age appropriate style and language.
Check out my other reviews on The Edible Bookshelf
March 30, 2013
Audie is a 12 year old girl with remarkable beauty, both inside and out. Always helpful and friendly, never brooding about the fact that she was raised by her father and never knew her mother. Life is seemingly normal until one fateful day when an adventure begins and she learns that she is an angel. Not just any angel either, but a Phoenix Angel, which is the most powerful angel ever known.
The story is told to us not through Audie's eyes, which I found interesting as she is obviously the main character, but through an archived journal of Cave, one of Audie's human classmates and many admirers. Even as an adult I found the characters amusing and the plot interesting without it being too complicated for young readers. I may have rolled my eyes at the immature humor but realize that it would receive peals of laughter from middle schoolers, which is the author's target audience.
If i had to be critical about something, it would be the ending. The author uses one of the most common literary tools that is in use today that is one of my biggest pet peeves. The cliffhanger. I really feel this is unfair to do to kids. There is a sense of accomplishment that comes with reading the last page of a book that a reader is robbed of when they find that they have not actually finished the story. I cannot speak for authors that use this method. Maybe they do it as a way to build suspense for their next book. But the pessimistic side of me says they only do it as a hook to get readers to buy the next book instead of trusting that the characters and/or world they have created is interesting enough to compel readers to WANT to read more. As a mother, it has been very hard for me to get my youngest to read an entire book. She often gets bored or loses interest before she gets to the end. When a child reads an entire book, they deserve that sense of accomplishment instead of the disappointment that can come with cliffhangers.
I have heard that this book is currently being re-edited, which it desperately needs, so I will refrain from complaining about the errors and merely warn readers that are considering purchasing this book to do so from amazon. I personally know that amazon will email a consumer to inform you when a book has been updated and allow you to download the updated version for free. I have never purchased from Barnes and Noble so am not familiar if they have this service as well.
The story is told to us not through Audie's eyes, which I found interesting as she is obviously the main character, but through an archived journal of Cave, one of Audie's human classmates and many admirers. Even as an adult I found the characters amusing and the plot interesting without it being too complicated for young readers. I may have rolled my eyes at the immature humor but realize that it would receive peals of laughter from middle schoolers, which is the author's target audience.
If i had to be critical about something, it would be the ending. The author uses one of the most common literary tools that is in use today that is one of my biggest pet peeves. The cliffhanger. I really feel this is unfair to do to kids. There is a sense of accomplishment that comes with reading the last page of a book that a reader is robbed of when they find that they have not actually finished the story. I cannot speak for authors that use this method. Maybe they do it as a way to build suspense for their next book. But the pessimistic side of me says they only do it as a hook to get readers to buy the next book instead of trusting that the characters and/or world they have created is interesting enough to compel readers to WANT to read more. As a mother, it has been very hard for me to get my youngest to read an entire book. She often gets bored or loses interest before she gets to the end. When a child reads an entire book, they deserve that sense of accomplishment instead of the disappointment that can come with cliffhangers.
I have heard that this book is currently being re-edited, which it desperately needs, so I will refrain from complaining about the errors and merely warn readers that are considering purchasing this book to do so from amazon. I personally know that amazon will email a consumer to inform you when a book has been updated and allow you to download the updated version for free. I have never purchased from Barnes and Noble so am not familiar if they have this service as well.
July 5, 2013
I was sent a copy of this book for an honest review.
I started reading this book knowing that it was intended for a young audience, and that wasn't a problem because I can judge different books accordingly and taking into account the intended audience. It's an entertaining book, but it was a bit boring at some parts and it was way too long. If it made me think it was too long, imagine what a teenager would think while trying to read the book. The story and the message are clearly religious, with lots of religious elements, but it also mixes magic; that makes of the story cuter, but at the same time I think it can get too messy.
The plot is interesting: Audie is a girl who suddenly discovers she is an angel, and not a regular angel, but a very special one. I won't include spoilers, but I will say that she may have an important role to save Heaven from an immediate menace. Audie and an army of other angels who have different powers will try to get to the place where they may find something that will save Heaven from being destroyed.
The characters are described in a way that will make any teenager get hooked or sympathise with them. However, they didn't made me get more engrossed in the story. I found some of them tiresome, especially Cave. Cave is the narrator of the story, since he is the only human in the group and he is in charge of writing the Archives. His instant crush on Audie and the way he talks about it is a bit ridiculous and made me roll my eyes quite a lot. It's impossible to feel sympathy or relate to him.
Entertaining story for teenagers, although I would recommend that the book gets one more edit. Poor edition makes reading difficult sometimes and it makes it more difficult to feel engaged in the reading.
I started reading this book knowing that it was intended for a young audience, and that wasn't a problem because I can judge different books accordingly and taking into account the intended audience. It's an entertaining book, but it was a bit boring at some parts and it was way too long. If it made me think it was too long, imagine what a teenager would think while trying to read the book. The story and the message are clearly religious, with lots of religious elements, but it also mixes magic; that makes of the story cuter, but at the same time I think it can get too messy.
The plot is interesting: Audie is a girl who suddenly discovers she is an angel, and not a regular angel, but a very special one. I won't include spoilers, but I will say that she may have an important role to save Heaven from an immediate menace. Audie and an army of other angels who have different powers will try to get to the place where they may find something that will save Heaven from being destroyed.
The characters are described in a way that will make any teenager get hooked or sympathise with them. However, they didn't made me get more engrossed in the story. I found some of them tiresome, especially Cave. Cave is the narrator of the story, since he is the only human in the group and he is in charge of writing the Archives. His instant crush on Audie and the way he talks about it is a bit ridiculous and made me roll my eyes quite a lot. It's impossible to feel sympathy or relate to him.
Entertaining story for teenagers, although I would recommend that the book gets one more edit. Poor edition makes reading difficult sometimes and it makes it more difficult to feel engaged in the reading.
October 17, 2014
When you think of Heaven, what do you think of?
I think a lot of people would envision pearly gates, angels sitting around on clouds, that sort of thing.
Now ask Audie and Cave what it’s really like.
Guess what? It ain’t perfect.
And why? Evil has found a foothold in the Land of Perfection. And it’s taking over the south part of the land. Creatures you wouldn’t expect in eternal bliss are becoming a regular sight, and the Elder Angels are starting to act strange.
Audie is sought on Earth to be brought to Eternity, and Cave, her love-struck admirer, finds a way to go along for the ride–literally. Neither of them have an inkling of what’s going on, and are both surprised to find out that Audie is a Phoenix. She has powers beyond her wildest dreams, not that she had ever dreamt of such a thing in her life.
It’s up to her and her hastily-formed Angel Army, each with powers and abilities of their own, to put their heavenly home to rights once again. With a rallying cry of “Have faith in me”, they fight against the foes that try to block their journey to rescue the Elder Angels.
But will they be able to make it in time? There are so many seemingly impossible obstacles–but this is where faith has its finest hour.
I love books like this. An army intent on accomplishing the good, while fighting both the evil from without and the uncertainty from within. The author gives her Angel Army some very exciting and suspenseful tasks, and it is so satisfying to see how they get through them. From beginning to end, they lean on each other, bolstering each other’s courage and faith–both in themselves and in each other.
It’s not only a great adventure story, it’s a good lesson on the value of friendship.
I think a lot of people would envision pearly gates, angels sitting around on clouds, that sort of thing.
Now ask Audie and Cave what it’s really like.
Guess what? It ain’t perfect.
And why? Evil has found a foothold in the Land of Perfection. And it’s taking over the south part of the land. Creatures you wouldn’t expect in eternal bliss are becoming a regular sight, and the Elder Angels are starting to act strange.
Audie is sought on Earth to be brought to Eternity, and Cave, her love-struck admirer, finds a way to go along for the ride–literally. Neither of them have an inkling of what’s going on, and are both surprised to find out that Audie is a Phoenix. She has powers beyond her wildest dreams, not that she had ever dreamt of such a thing in her life.
It’s up to her and her hastily-formed Angel Army, each with powers and abilities of their own, to put their heavenly home to rights once again. With a rallying cry of “Have faith in me”, they fight against the foes that try to block their journey to rescue the Elder Angels.
But will they be able to make it in time? There are so many seemingly impossible obstacles–but this is where faith has its finest hour.
I love books like this. An army intent on accomplishing the good, while fighting both the evil from without and the uncertainty from within. The author gives her Angel Army some very exciting and suspenseful tasks, and it is so satisfying to see how they get through them. From beginning to end, they lean on each other, bolstering each other’s courage and faith–both in themselves and in each other.
It’s not only a great adventure story, it’s a good lesson on the value of friendship.
June 21, 2013
Audie, nor her human friend, Cave, knew she was an angel. When a stranger comes to take Audie to Heaven, she is stunned. Cave accidentally sees the man (named Logos) taking Audie and Logos decides he has to take Cave now, too. Logos brings the kids to Unicorn Island in Heaven to meet 8 young Angels that make up the Angel Army. Audie and Cave join them and start training. When the elder Angels get hypnotized so that they become evil, the Angel Army realizes that they are Heaven’s only hope!
This was a very good book! I liked reading about the journey through Heaven the army takes because it really brought the team together and it teaches about teamwork. Cave and Audie are GREAT characters! I like how they sort of fit right in with the other angels. The whole premise of Heaven was interesting. Ms. Kathryn really captured the feelings of Heaven and her description of Heaven was very vivid. It was cool that everything was free and there were mythical creatures (like unicorns and fairies). I wish Heaven was like that in real-life (I say that because no living person knows what Heaven is like) and it sounds kind of cool. I like the villains too. They were very good bad-guys! ;) The plot was sometimes a little predictable, but in some places I was totally surprised. I think the book is written well so that boys and girls would enjoy this book! The cover art was OK. It’s kind of hard to read the title against the background. The story is a clean read and it is appropriate for all ages.
**NOTE I got a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was a very good book! I liked reading about the journey through Heaven the army takes because it really brought the team together and it teaches about teamwork. Cave and Audie are GREAT characters! I like how they sort of fit right in with the other angels. The whole premise of Heaven was interesting. Ms. Kathryn really captured the feelings of Heaven and her description of Heaven was very vivid. It was cool that everything was free and there were mythical creatures (like unicorns and fairies). I wish Heaven was like that in real-life (I say that because no living person knows what Heaven is like) and it sounds kind of cool. I like the villains too. They were very good bad-guys! ;) The plot was sometimes a little predictable, but in some places I was totally surprised. I think the book is written well so that boys and girls would enjoy this book! The cover art was OK. It’s kind of hard to read the title against the background. The story is a clean read and it is appropriate for all ages.
**NOTE I got a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 29, 2016
Audie the Angel and the Angel Army (The Angel Archives, vol.1), written by Erika Kathryn, is intended for middle grade readers and has clean language. Audie is a twelve-year-old girl who learns she is not only a girl, but also an angel, after she is whisked off to heaven. There she is instructed in all manner of things to develop her innate skills which she didn’t even know she had. Audie is needed to help save heaven.
The one telling the story is a twelve-year-old boy who has very romantic feelings for Audie, and who ends up being taken along because he witnessed the moment when another angel comes to transport Audie to heaven.
Erika Kathryn has taken great liberties and is very imaginative in her portrayal of heaven and angels. She also uses humour and has developed characters who are very human in personality – except for Audie who is depicted as being perfect in every way – but who have angel abilities, albeit unusual ones. Young readers will probably be quite amused and interested in the story which includes drama, battles, and rivalry. Also, there are ten fun trivia questions in the back of the book to test the reader’s memory on what is in the book.
It would have helped had the author referred to a thesaurus while writing this book and had better editing to catch the things she missed. There are some misspelled words and a few words which have entirely different meanings from what Erika Kathryn obviously intended.
Audie the Angel and the Angel Army (The Angel Archives, vol.1) by Erika Kathryn is the beginning of a series.
The one telling the story is a twelve-year-old boy who has very romantic feelings for Audie, and who ends up being taken along because he witnessed the moment when another angel comes to transport Audie to heaven.
Erika Kathryn has taken great liberties and is very imaginative in her portrayal of heaven and angels. She also uses humour and has developed characters who are very human in personality – except for Audie who is depicted as being perfect in every way – but who have angel abilities, albeit unusual ones. Young readers will probably be quite amused and interested in the story which includes drama, battles, and rivalry. Also, there are ten fun trivia questions in the back of the book to test the reader’s memory on what is in the book.
It would have helped had the author referred to a thesaurus while writing this book and had better editing to catch the things she missed. There are some misspelled words and a few words which have entirely different meanings from what Erika Kathryn obviously intended.
Audie the Angel and the Angel Army (The Angel Archives, vol.1) by Erika Kathryn is the beginning of a series.
June 24, 2013
I won this book through Ensconced in YA. I'm so privileged I did. It was a beautiful story took me on a journey back to my childhood when I believed in fairies, unicorns and magical things like that in the story. It was very well written and loved all the characters especially liked the fact they had a human in the mix also and Audie was so nice and beautiful it made the story wonderful to read. It was good against evil which keeps you interested in the book also. Love the description of heaven everything free and all things beautiful. So much happened in this book it's captivating. Great work Erika Kathryn can't wait for the other books. My two daughters will be reading this in future and I know for sure they will love the book just as much as I did. Highly recommended.
December 16, 2012
I don't normally read "middle grade" fiction. I don't normally like things about Angels. I was provided a copy of this book to review and I was not sure I was going to enjoy it since I haven't been a pre-teen in some time! The book is an appropriate length for the age group and won't be too short nor too long. It flows really well. It's wholesome. I really like the author's take on what is in Heaven..everything from mermaids to fairies and unicorns. I especially liked the visit to the zoo and the dog park. The ending will leave you wanting to read more of Audie and her travels. I just wish book 2 was available now.
March 19, 2013
I have to say that at first I thought this would be a typical paranormal young adult romance, but I was pleasantly surprised! This book is very original. Extremely likable characters are depicted in this story. I found it very difficult to put down until I had finished the entire book. The characters, their abilities, and their struggles were well developed and intriguing. I highly recommend this book and the fabulous author.
June 16, 2013
I've always had a love for fairy tail books, not sure if its because the world is what it is today and I secretly wish for more or what but I have to be honest, this book was spot on, one of my top five favs.... Incredible character build and usually authors lose them sometimes in books like these, but great job keeping them on target. It's a must read from me, pass it onto a friend or buy it for a niece or nephew.
March 29, 2013
This book was so adorable! It's definitely a great fit for middle schoolers! Teachers and parents will LOVE it. The imagination put into every little detail was fantastic. The characters were so fun and quirky, but I really don't want to spoil to much for you. Everything about this book will be enjoyed thoroughly, and I can't wait for everybody else to read it and enjoy it as much as I did!
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