Griffin Rising: Book One

Griffin #1

by Darby Karchut

2014 - RE-RELEASE

All you need is one person who believes in you.

Armed with the power to control the ancient elements of Earth and Fire, sixteen-year-old Griffin is determined to complete his apprenticeship and rise to the rank of Terrae Angeli.

But first, he must overcome a brutal past if he is to survive in this world. Will the perseverance of his kindly Mentor and the love of a mortal girl give Griffin the courage he needs to face the monster still haunting him?

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

206 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 15, 2011

About the author

Darby Karchut is an award-winning author, former teacher, and compulsive dawn greeter. Her many books include DEL TORO MOON (middle grade fantasy series) and ON A GOOD HORSE and THE HORSE WHO CARRIES THE STARS (middle grade contemporary). She is the recipient of the Colorado Book Award, the High Plains Book Award, the Western Writers of America Spur Award, and the Will Rogers Medallion Award. A native of New Mexico, she now lives in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains where she runs in blizzards and bikes in lightning storms. When not dodging death by Colorado, Darby can be found wrangling words. Visit the author at www.darbykarchut.com and follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Owl Hollow Press. She is represented by Terrie Wolf of AKA Literary Management.

Reviews

[Nic · Rating 3 out of 5]

Griffin Rising is quick and enjoyable read that is filled with plenty of laughs, action and adventure and heart warming moments.

Darby Karchut's writing style was easy to read despite the changing narration. It went from the present to past and also there was also journal entries from Griffin, Basil and occasionally Katie. The pacing flowed wonderfully and it is the type of book that you can just relax into. The plot is also had a good balance of paranormal and coming of age story. However sometimes I did lose a little interest when I put it down but I am not sure if that was was more of a case of me than the actual story. It felt younger than what I normally read and that was what I struggled with throughout the story.

Griffin and Basil are entertaining and endearing characters. I love their witty banter and their relationship was the highlight of the book for me.

“And what does your father do?” Man, even the dad’s good-looking, she thought.
“He’s an angel. So am I.” Griffin grinned. “Cool, huh?”
“Wh …what?”
“We’re a type of angel. My dad and I.” He straightened and flapped his arms up and down to illustrate his point.
Dropping a spring roll back into the sack, Basil reached over and pinned Griffin’s hands to his side, yanking him away from the door. “What the bloody he … heck are you doing?” he said under his breath. Smiling, he continued loudly, “my apologies. It’s only a silly family gag, miss. Please ignore him.” Basil elbowed Griffin further down the hall, trying to ignore his snickering. “Well, we’d best let you get back to work. Thank you.” He nodded good-bye and shut the door on the bewildered girl. Gathering up the bags in one hand, he turned with a scowl.
“Hey, it’s just a joke.” Still laughing, Griffin flapped his arms a few more times as he lead the way to the kitchen, the salty sweet aroma of chow mein wafting around them.
“Wave them again, and I’m duct-taping them together.”

There is also a tiny bit of young love in this story that was super sweet.

Overall, a good solid debut. Darby Karchut is definitely an author to watch out for.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars - Great book

I was sent an ARC of Griffin Rising a year ago, right at the time my life was thrown a curve ball and I went from reading 5 or 6 books a week to just one. Unfortunately that meant Griffin Rising did not get reviewed as I had planned. I finally picked this book up yesterday and was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. It's a quick read so I easily made it through it in one afternoon.

Terrae Angeli or guardian angels are the main characters in Griffin Rising. I loved the original take on angel lore that the author came up with. The originality of the storyline and storytelling made it stand out so that I didn't feel like I was reading just another young adult cookie cutter paranormal book. The story was entertaining and engaging and I connected with the characters. I especially liked the relationship between Griffin and Basil.

This is a book that I can recommend without hesitation. I consider it a clean read (although it does have some violence). I'm looking forward to reading the sequel Giffin's Fire.

Content: Clean

[Carmel (Rabid Reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed by Rabid Reads

Griffin Rising is a great coming of age novel full of life lessons that are cleverly disguised as an angel adventure story. I connected with each character on a deeper level because of their journals entries which were fun yet insightful. I really enjoyed the contrasts between Griffin's struggles as a teenager and as an angel's apprentice. At times, Fin would demonstrate a level of maturity that was well beyond his years while as others it was clearly evident that he is still just a kid. Darby Karchut hit a home-run on her first try as an author in this genre!

The relationship between Griffin and his mentor, Basil, is what stood out the most in my eyes. Fin's first mentor is the perfect example of every foster child's worst nightmare. Nicopolis is not only mentally and physically abusive but he's also rooting for his apprentice to fail. Needless to say, it's not a healthy environment to grow up in. Then Basil enters Griffin's life and everything changes for the better. It takes a while for Fin to fully trust and open up to his new mentor. No surprise there but it's the young angel's transformation at Basil's hands that made this book really stand out for me. I also liked the fact that Griffin ends up having a loving father figure in his life. Too many Young Adult novels paint the parents in a bad light. It was nice to be reminded that there are good ones out there and what a difference being raised in a loving household can make.

I loved reading the journal entries of the different characters. They allowed me to get into their minds and to truly know them. Basil and Griffin both keep journals and it was interesting to see how their points of view differed on the same topics. Every problem had a teenage and adult perspective. As a result, I understood both sides of an argument better. It reminded me of my teenage years and of how convinced I was that I was right and that my parents were wrong. Now I know better (Just don't tell them I said that)! I also really enjoyed the teenage wit. Griffin may be a guardian angel to-be but he's still a smarty pants!

The ending was bittersweet for me. At first, the chain of events left me jumping with joy but that moment was fleeting. Everything came crashing down and I was left with a monster of a cliff hanger. Darby Karchut not only wrote a killer debut novel but she also made her readers a promise of more greatness to come. I've already added Griffin's Fire to my to-be-read list! This book has something for everyone regardless of your age. The angel mythology is well done, the teen angst is adeptly portrayed and there's even a bit of young love. I adored Griffin Rising and can't wait for the next installment!

[Savannah (Books With Bite) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book! I love the whole angels concept in books and this book blew me away with it. It had everything that a paranormal book needs. Great plot, and amazing characters that triumph till the very end.

The plot of this book is amazing. I really enjoyed it and got into quickly. The main characters Basil and Griffin really where a set of characters that I fell in love with. First off, Basil is a great mentor. He knew what was going on with Griffin and he saved him from it. I like that he knew what Griffin went through and did not pressure him. He worked with him, slowly gaining his trust and re-building it, even in the hardest times. I love that Basil took Griffin under his wing and held him there whenever Griffin fought back. Griffin, my heart went out to the guy. He has been through so much abuse and it was hard for him to trust. Griffin had a lot to learn and get through. He was a tough character who was able to get back on his feet.

The plot twist of this book was cool. I enjoyed watching Griffin grow into a man and even fall in love. I loved watching him happy and smiling for once. He had some heart-ache, but I for one as glad that past quickly. I don't like to see Griffin sad.

Ms. Karchut wrote an exhilarating book! It is an engrossing book that picks you up right away. I am hoping that in the next book, I can learn more about what happen with his angel test and see more of Griffin. I can only hope that the future that lies with Basil and Griffin will be a good one!

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review originally posted at: http://supernaturalsnark.blogspot.com...

Actual Rating: 3.5/5

MY THOUGHTS
Griffin Rising introduces us to a race of Earth Angels, or Terrae Angeli, separated from the Celestial Angels in both the powers they possess and in their ability to have free will, thereby rendering them characters capable of making mistakes, their every flaw endearing them to us as we recognize our humanity reflected back at us regardless of their supernatural powers. Though Basil and Griffin can bend different Elements to their will, it is the low key moments of mentor to student and father to son interaction that keep us interested, their day to day dynamics both so humorous and touching the paranormal element often fades to the background as the shining joy of a boy recovering from an abusive past radiates from the pages. This is a story that combines a crushing responsibility with the levity of witty banter, mixes moments of teenage awkwardness with the developing maturity that accompanies such a daunting purpose, and illustrates how the word "angel" is not always so easily defined.

Griffin and Basil are the true highlight of this story, their bond a treat to watch slowly form as Griffin begins to heal from past psychological wounds, Basil's patience carefully drawing him from a shell the hand and barbed tongue of a another mentor forced him into. Added to the emotional mix is Griffin's romantic interest in Katie–a relationship that progresses at a refreshingly normal pace, complete with countless minutes and hours spent wondering how the other feels and if their interest might be reciprocated. Though a romance does enter the picture, the familial connection is not forgotten or overshadowed as Basil has many an amusing moment in having to deal with both a Guardian Angel apprentice and a smitten teenage boy, creating a well-rounded tale with strong relationships that span multiple dimensions.

Because Ms. Karchut has created such enjoyable and animated characters, we can't help but want to know more about them, wishing for a few extra details about their respective pasts as well as the history of the Terrae Angeli in general. We know Griffin's history with Nicopolis was brutal, but we are more told than shown that time in his life, and he recovers from it seemingly very quickly when the story's timeline suddenly jumps ahead three years until he reaches sixteen. Additionally, the presence of several journal entries from Griffin, Basil, and eventually Katie is a bit distracting as we long for the events mentioned in those excerpts to happen in real time, those fleeting moments pulling us out of the story for a just a few quick lines before we are dropped back in. The thoughts and musings in the journal passages do not necessarily provide any profound insight into the characters, and they might have easily been worked into the main storyline so events could have progressed more smoothly.

Overall however, Griffin Rising is a strong debut from Ms. Karchut, her characterization impressive and her storytelling engrossing. We are given a complete tale, left with things not wrapped up perfectly, but yet nicely concluded with just enough unknown to force us to make a note of the sequel's release date. Hopefully, the next book will delve deeper into the history missing from this tale so that we will have a more balanced understanding of the world, the Angel hierarchy, and the future for both Basil and Griffin.

Rating: 3.5/5

[Kathy Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Griffin is a young Terrae Angeli (what we know as guardian angels) who lived his first three years with a terrible Mentor who abused and belittled him. When he was 13 Basil became his Mentor and helped him learn to trust again, to use his elements Earth and Fire, and to be a good guardian angel. Then a girl moves in next year and Griffin experiences his first romance. But the evil first Mentor isn't finished with him as he schemes to make him fail his test for angel. Great story and great new myth.

[Maxine Mathew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Terrae Angeli, the angels of earth, act as the guardians of mortal humans. They control the four elements of earth, air, fire and water- using them to save the mortals. Unlike the angels of heaven, they have free will. They can make choices just like humans which can be for good or bad. Griffin is one of them.

Thirteen year old, Griffin, is stuck with a cruel and an unforgiving mentor, Nicopolis. Just when he was on the verge of giving up, Griffin is taken away from Nicopolis as an apprentice to Mentor Basil. Basil has a tough job on hand - taking Griffin out of his shell and gaining his trust. Three years later,Griffin is a confident and jovial sixteen year old and is becoming quite an accomplished apprentice. Masquerading around as a normal teenaged boy, he is eager to explore the earthly part of him. Now that he is sixteen he is ready to take the Proelium- a battle between an apprentice and a mentor. If Griffin loses in the battle, he will be doomed to become mortal. Will he be successful in the battle, especially since Nicopolis is the mentor he has to fight in the Proelium?

Griffin Rising is the first book I have read that revolves around angels. Though angels themselves are closely connected to various religions, Griffin Rising does not give the impression of a book related to any religion or god. This makes the book more inviting to a wider audience. As far as the story is concerned, the author doesn’t keep the ending of Griffin Rising much of a secret. We know most of the facts of the book just by reading the first chapter. This doesn’t stop this book from being a thrilling and an edge-of-the-seat read. The author has spun the story in such a way that the reader will remain hooked to it. Like most of the fantasy books for young adults, this book too has humour, action and drama. I loved the fact that along with the third person narratives we get a chance to peek into the minds of Basil, Griffin and Katie through their journals. This makes them more relatable and real.

When we first encounter Griffin, he has a very low self esteem and flinches at even a little sound. His new mentor, Basil, tries his best to get Griffin to trust him. That too he finds difficult. The Griffin of three years in the future that we meet after a few chapters is confident and shares a father-son like relationship with Basil. These two aspects of Griffin may be totally opposite to each other yet these two sides together define him. Even after he starts trusting others and becomes surer of himself, he is haunted by the idea of facing his old mentor again. The scars of his childhood refuse to go away. Maybe that is why the author makes Griffin face Nicopolis, his cruel old mentor, in the Proelium so that he is able to overcome his fears. We also see him exploring the earthly side of himself. When Katie, a girl of his age, shifts to his neighbourhood, he is confused about his feelings first. He knows he likes her but the fact remains that while he is a Terrae Angeli, she is a mere mortal. At such times Basil is the one he looks up to, to clear his confusion and to understand his feelings. Basil is also the person who plays a crucial role in the transformation of Griffin from an introvert and a nervous boy to a brave and open person. With his intensive training and caring nature Basil makes Griffin into one of his best apprentices. He may be strict occasionally, that too only for Griffin’s good and to nudge him towards the right path. Even Nicopolis holds a lure to his character that is difficult to ignore. He may be present in some scenes only, yet he makes his presence felt. He is perfect in the role of the cruel, cold and power hungry mentor. Unfortunately, as compared to these characters I found Katie dull. I was disappointed that the author chose to make Katie a damsel-in-distress rather than give her some "spunk". Her weak and dreamy character failed to make an impact with me. This can be because of the fact that I am a bit partial to girls who can stand up for themselves. However it cannot be ignored that she is always encouraging to Griffin and truly cares about him.

Griffin Rising is a book that makes its impact felt. Even days after I finished reading this book, I found myself replaying the events of the book. Griffin Rising is sure to stick around my head for quite some time. I am really looking for the next instalment of Griffin Rising and I hope it may be just a little bit longer than this book.

Overall:
An exhilarating and adrenalin-pumping ride

Recommended?
Yes, to all young adults who love fantasy and especially to the fans of the Percy Jackson series.

[Kit · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book surprised me. It sounded like an interesting concept- a young angel training to become a full blown guardian angel, while also trying to navigate life as a regular 16 year old. The book started out slow for me- it jumped from the present to 3 years in the past and back a few times. Those leaps lost me a bit at first, I found myself flipping back and forth to make sure I knew where I was and who I was reading about. Especially given that Griffin refers to both Nicopolis and Basil as mentor and they refer to him as both Griffin and Tiro. It took me a minute to become comfortable with the names and titles. Once I got that though (and it really didn't take long)the story really clicked along.

I loved the character Griffin and his relationship with Basil, a man who took him in as a apprentice when Griffin was broken, both physically and mentally. It's their relationship that really made the book for me. They seem exactly like what they are- they are student and teacher, but they are also family. Basil rescued Griffin and helped rebuild him into a confident teen who is ready for his final test before becoming a Guarduan Angel. I liked that they were dealing with all this extra stuff, saving lives, training, keeping Nicopolis from ruining it all, and yet at the heart of their relationship they were dealing with really normal father/son type things. Dating, manners, run of the mill teenage attitude problems, etc.

Katie, the girl next store, or in this case, across the street, was a great character as well. She was a new girl who didn't suffer from insecurity. She knew who she was and what she wanted and I really felt like her comfort with herself rubbed off on Griffin who was so used to second guessing himself. Katie's, parents Lewis and Helen, were also pretty great. Lewis is a professor at the nearby University who specializes in, you guessed it, Angels. With this family, after some initial awkwardness, Griffin and Basil find a safe haven. A place where they don't have to pretend to be something they aren't, a place where they are accepted. It's fabulous.

I'm going to take a little detour here and talk about something I really love about this book. I'm probably going to go off on a tangent, but humor me for a minute. This book had one thing that I find so lacking in other YA backs. Good, supportive, and loving parents. So often we see absentee parents or abusive ones, and we see our main charecters, generally teens, struggling to not only deal with whatever issues they have (Vamps, werewolves, any number of paranormal oddities) but also with really crappy homelives. They have no one to turn to except for a few friends and ultimately their significant other- whose love is all encompassing. It's all very wonderful and romantic- but why do we have to have these horrible parents? This book goes the opposite route and it was so refreshing. Yes, Griffin had a horrible time wih his first mentor Nicopolis, he was abused and left broken. For three years he suffered, and then...Basil. Basil who is compassionate and understanding, supportive, sympathetic and patient. He is willing to put the time in to make Griffin into not just a good Angel, but a good man. We see much of the same with Katie's parents. They are fiercly protective of her when they think she's been hurt or is in danger, but they are also accepting and tolerant and teach Katie to be careful of judging someone just because she's skeptical of who they might be. In this case, an Angel. All three parents in this book are loving to their children and also respectful of them as people. I can't say enough about how much I loved that about this book. Because those parents are out there too, and they are there to help their children through the rough times, and I was extremely glad to see them get their due here.

Okay then, tangent over, moving on...
Now that all that is out of the way, I have to say that this books is fun and full of adventure and humor and has a twist at the end that I didn't think the author would have to go guts to go for. I can't wait until the next book in this series comes out to find out where Griffin goes from here.

Review originally posted at www.areadersramblings.blogspot.com

[RoloPoloBookBlog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy crap, Batman! I don’t know where Darby Karchut has been (actually I do, I read the author info) but I can tell you, she is a welcome addition to the world of young adult writing! Her first-in-a-series novel Griffin Rising was a fantastic read that had me hooked at page one of the prologue.

Griffin Rising is a novel that follows Griffin (DUH!), a young Tiro or apprentice who is learning the skills necessary to serve the world as a Terrae Angeli or guardian angel. This particular caste of angels is completely earthbound and often blends into society at large which allows them to better perform their jobs. For the most part, the guardians look just like other humans but unlike the humans they protect, they have a unique skill set which requires training and years of practice to master. Griffin Rising traces Griffin’s life and training with his mentor Basil, a lovely British Terrae Angeli who comes to love Griffin as if he were his own. When Basil first encounters Griffin he finds a thirteen year old boy who has been abused by his first mentor, Nicopolis; Griffin is scared and virtually untrained despite his innate ability to control both earth and fire.

Rather than bogging the reader down in the minutiae of the training years, Karchut advances the story three full years following the meeting of Basil and Griffin. At this point, Griffin is sixteen, a funny and talented apprentice who is able to fully participate in rescue missions alongside Basil, and totally smitten with Katie, the girl across the street. It is in these aspects that the reader will find one of the novel’s greatest strengths: characters that are real and completely accessible to readers of all ages. Karchut establishes early on that the Terrae Angeli must blend into the human world. To support this she had to create characters that the reader could understand and fully relate too. Mission accomplished! Throughout the book there is humor, witty conversation, moments of anger, anguish and tension, as well as moments of fun and pure joy - all emotions that the reader can certainly identify with. Add to this the complete and utter likability of Griffin, Basil, Katie, and her parents and you have a wonderful cast of fully developed characters whose story you eagerly follow.

Rest assured dear reader there is drama aplenty in Griffin Rising as well. All Terrae Angeli apprentices must, at the end of their three year training period endure a wicked and awful test known as the Proelium. Unfortunately during the performance of his Proelium, Griffin’s tortured past comes back to haunt him in the form of Nicopolis. Oh Nicopolis, how I hate you!! This is yet another of the book’s great strengths, the level to which you find yourself actually hating a character. Thank you Darby Karchut for making me wish evil, awful, and vile things to happen to a guardian angel – I feel so good about myself now 

At the end of the day, Griffin Rising is an excellent book by an exciting new author in the young adult world. Take the time to read the information following the end of the novel: you will find that Karchut is an extremely well-educated writer who thoroughly researched her topic before setting pen to paper. Her research and preparation has paid off! Griffin Rising is an extremely well written first novel with strong characters (both likeable and not) an intriguing plot, and the potential to be an outstanding series. My only complaints about Karchut’s novel: 1) it ended and 2) the next book in the series Griffin’s Fire is not slated for release until April of 2012.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Griffin has many of the same troubles as other 16 year-old boys. He's trying to figure out how to deal with the opposite sex, namely his girlfriend, Katie. He has to work with a body that is going through changes, as well as trying to figure out his place in the world. Also, as the fall semester comes to an end, Griffin is facing his final exam, one that might just kill him.

Griffin is not a typical teenager. He's part of a race called Terrae Angeli (literally, "Earth Angels"). Griffin is an apprentice, and to pass his final exam--the Proeleum--Griffin will have to outwit and, in essence, fight his way past his original mentor, a Terra Angelus named Nicopolus, who absolutely hates him.

This book reminded me somewhat of Rachel Vincent's "Soul Screamers" series in the way it combines characters on the supernatural fringe--Terrae Angeli are the lowest order of Angels, and the bean sidhe are neither gods nor demons--whose purpose is to interact with humans.

I liked the way "Griffin Rising" author Darby Karchut showed how Griffin's relationship evolved with his kindly new Mentor, Basil, and how a little kindness and sympathy went a long way toward helping Griffin develop, both as a Terra Angelus and a teenager (albeit a potentially immortal one with power over fire and earth, as well as the ability to fly, and The Might, which is just capital-p Power).

(If nothing else, Ms. Karchut manages not to mangle written English the way my last two sentence/paragraphs did.)

I'm not a YA person, as a rule. However, when my friend Kelly recommends a particular YA book, I trust her judgment. She is my all-knowing YA book maven.

Anyway, this was a fast, enjoyable read. Although it's been quite a long time since I was in the Young Adult target audience, I think young teens or tweens, even, would enjoy this. There is a little violence, and some smooching, but I don't recall there being any real profanity (a "pissed" or two, as in "Mom will be pissed, not "I just pissed"), or anything else objectionable. (This ain't "Clerks 2," by a longshot)

It's my weekend, and as soon as I finish typing this, I'll start on the sequel, "Griffin's Fire." That's probably as good a recommendation as I can give it.

[Beverly McClure · Rating 5 out of 5]

Would you like to have a guardian angel watching over you? If so, then curl up in your favorite reading spot and enter the world of Griffin, a Tiro or Terrae Angelus in training, and his Mentor Basil, Terrae Angelus. “Terrae Angeli exist only to serve as guardians to man.” They are earthbound. They have free will, like man. Their powers align to the Four Elements: Wind and Water, Earth and Fire. Like man, they also can be destroyed.

Griffin begins his training to become a Terrae Angelus under Nicopolis, a cruel Mentor who beats Griffin and finds fault with everything he does. When Griffin is thirteen earth years of age, Nicopolis accuses him of trying to ruin his status by failing all his lessons. If Nicopolis decides to end Griffin’s apprenticeship, Griffin will be kicked out of training and become a mortal. Luckily Flight Command finds another Mentor for Griffin, which is the best thing that could have happened to him. Under Basil, his new Mentor, Griffin experiences kindness and a gentle, though stern, teacher, one who doesn’t give praise often, but is serious when he does.

Author Darby Karchut’s debut novel has a little of everything: humor, suspense, and danger. Toss in young love when new neighbors with a pretty daughter Griffin’s age move into the house across the street and Ms. Karchut has written a book that will please most everyone, male and female, young and old. How can romance survive when the girl who captures Griffin’s heart doesn’t believe in guardian angels and says they remind her of “creepy stalkers?” Will Griffin and Katie be able to overcome their differences? Will Griffin win his Proelium, the battle where he becomes a Terrae Angelus? You’ll be turning pages to find the answers.

Through journal entries from Griffin, Basil, and Katie we witness their inner thoughts, adding a neat touch to the story. I wasn’t ready for this story to end. I’m happy to report that we’ll get to read more about Griffin in future books. Having a boy for the main character will appeal to male readers, but there’s plenty here for female readers too. This is a splendid first novel. I’m looking forward to reading more from this talented author.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was approached a few months back by the author to read and review Griffin Rising on my blog. Up until that point I had not even heard of this book. I'm really glad that the author approached me, if she hadn't I might have missed out on a PHENOMENAL debut YA novel. Griffin Rising is what my co-workers and I refer to as Awesome Sauce. Let's put it this way, the "Awesome Sauce" list is REALLY short....The Hunger Games trilogy, No Mercy, Mercy Kill and Griffin Rising are it.

What I really liked about Griffin Rising is that the book is actually a coming of age story disguised as an angel adventure. Once I started reading I was instantly attracted to characters, even the evil Nicopolis. I also felt that I was better able to connect with the characters via their journal entries. I really enjoyed at the contrast that Darby brought to the character of Griffin. I enjoyed following Fin through his struggles as not only an angel apprentice, training for his ultimate test, but also a teenager. At times Griffin showed that he was wise beyond his years and at other times he was kind of a smart ass and your "typical" teenager.

One of my favorite parts of the whole book was the actual relationship between Griffin and his Mentor Basil. Basil comes into Griffin's life after Griffin is removed from his former Mentor Nicopolis who happened to be extremely abusive and rooting for Griffin to fail (Nicopolis sounds like a real winner!). When Basil enters Griffin's life everything starts to change for the better. But it still takes Griffin a long time to start opening up to his new Mentor.

Then not long before Griffin is scheduled to take his test a mortal teenage girl, Katie, moves in across the street. A sweet teen love develops which adds a whole new dimension to the story. That is when things get real interesting between Basil, Griffin and their new neighbors.

Shortly before Griffin's test, Basil receives word that Griffin's past is going to come back to haunt him. Does Griffin pass his ultimate test? To find out your going to have to pick up a copy of Griffin Rising.


Rating:


5+/5

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

wristband giveaway and full review at http://fireandicephoto.blogspot.com/2...

Griffin Rising was a surprisingly enjoyable debut about the use of free agency and overcoming an abusive past. It's a mixture of action, myth and young romance perfect for middle grade to young adult readers. Angel in training Griffin is 13 years old and stuck with an evil mentor, Nicoplolis who has less than orthodox training methods. Like all Tarrae Angeli, Nicopolis is bound to earth, and has the right to choose, but he uses his power in an abusive way and young Tiro, student, Griffin is the recipient.

Fast forward three years and you are at Chapter one of Griffin Rising. Now age 16, young Fin has a new mentor named Basil who takes the ashes of the past and builds up a stronger angel that can control the elements. The two of them are master and student, father and son. Their relationship is based on respect and trust- a model of functional parenting.

Griffin as a lot to learn to become a guardian angel saving humans in danger so Basil recommends a journal. Readers get an inside glimpse to three character's entries which makes Griffin Rising a personal and layered read.

Just as our young hero is beginning to gain some self confidence, a new family moves in across the street to become a slight distraction. Kate is Griffin's age, her parents Lewis and Helen professors at the local University specializing in angel lore. Their family is grounded, tight knit, a great example. The interactions of both Kate and Griffin with their parents were some of my favorite parts of this book.


I would recommend Griffin Rising to all readers ages 12 and older as there is some minor violence. It stuck with me for several days after I finished because of the depth the author builds into her families and characters. Darby Karchut takes a very original slant on angels based on an ancient manuscript and brings it into the modern day every day life of two teenagers falling in love. Thanks so much to the author for sending us a copy as well as a wrist band which we are giving away to you our readers at Fire and Ice.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you ever wondered if there are angels among us? Guardian angels, who help us during all those times we get into trouble? If it seems like a miracle that you survived a bad car accident, maybe it was.

And what if one of those angels looked like a sixteen-year-old boy and lived across the street?

Griffin is an apprentice angel, still hoping to earn his wings (figuratively speaking – this type of angel does not have actual wings). His gifts are fire and earth, and his curse is a mentor named Nicopolis. For three years, he suffered gross abuse at the hands of an angel who has the same free will as humans, and uses it badly. By the end of those three years, he is a failure, unable to use his gifts properly, and afraid of his own shadow. Nicopolis wants him cast among the mortals, but Basil steps in to give Griffin the guidance he needs.

This is a love story, partly about the love between a young person and his father figure, and partly about the more traditional love between Griffin and the girl across the street.

Griffin is a character you can’t help but like, even when he has his normal teenage mood swings. He quite simply cares too much, and is willing to put himself at risk to ensure that others are safe. All this, despite being so badly mistreated early in life.

My only reservation about this book was the first-person journal entires from three different characters’ points of view. I think this is the reason I found the first half of the book a bit slow to read — but I couldn’t put the second half down!

This is the first book in a series, and so I’ll say this much about the ending – it left me hanging! I have to know more.

I recommend this to those who loves young adult fantasy.

www.christineamsden.com

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed by Theresa L. Stowell for TeensReadToo.com

According to The Manuscript of Aidan, Abbot of Kellsfarne, written in 1144, there are nine known classes of angels. However, he suggests that there may be another group: the Terrae Angeli. The members of this group may be a Sage, a Guardian, a Mentor, or a Tiro. They serve human beings as guardian angels, and they can die.

When Basil is assigned to take over the Mentorship of a thirteen-year-old Tiro, he is appalled to find that the previous Mentor, Nicopolis, has abused Griffin to the point that the boy hoards food and cringes when Basil moves wrong. Over the next three years, Basil must teach Griffin not only how to save humans who are in dangerous situations, but he must also help Griffin overcome the results of Nicopolis' abuse.

As Griffin grows up, he trains for his Prolieum, a trial by combat which will allow him to either become a full-fledged angel or result in turning him into a mortal. Unfortunately for Griffin, Nicopolis will be his opponent in this test.

Will he be able to overcome the memories of his earlier treatment - or will he fail and become a mortal?

Karchut provides a varied narrative as the story is told from a third-person point of view in some cases and from Basil's or Griffin's journal entries in other places. The change in view allows readers added insight into both of the main characters' thoughts and feelings, and it allows for additional background information that aids the plot to be filled in without interrupting the storyline. Another positive aspect of the story is the romantic subplot for readers who want more than just action.

[Annie McElfresh · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Thoughts:

This novel really grew on me. I've read a lot of angel books this year, but GRIFFIN RISING was unlike any of the other angel YA novels I've read lately. The main character suffered throughout a lot of abuse from his first mentor Nicopolis in the beginning of the novel. Basil couldn't have come into the picture soon enough and saved Griffin from his current situation. It kind of reminded me of the 3rd Karate Kid movie for some reason, where the mentor was out to purposely hurt his pupil and the good mentor comes in and saves the kid.

The love story between Kate and Griffin was totally sweet. Romance makes or breaks a book for me and this adventurous story had just the right balance for this plot. The moments between Kate and Griffin were some of my favorite in the whole book.

The other think I enjoyed about this novel was the presents of parents, which rarely happens in young adult stories. Most of the time the parents are non-existent.

Read this one if you want an angel book with a different spin.

More Reviews: Reading, Writing and Waiting

[C. McKenzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Darby Karchut will give you a good laugh and a good read. Griffin is an engaging character and Finn is wonderful. Follow their journey as Griffin learns the about being an angel and Finn learns about all things Griffin. Enter their world and enjoy.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Review coming.

I have two words for this book: Soul Food!

[Terry Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the action in this story! Great debut! Will be looking to read more from this author.

[Mundie Moms & Mundie Kids · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed Darby's debut book, Griffin Rising. I liked that Darby owns her mythology, as she takes a popular topic and recreated it by giving it a unique spin. Her angel mythology, lore and history especially with the Terra Angeli, really make her story appealing.

Darby's writing style fit the story and I felt it flowed well, as the story starts out in the present and then goes back three years and is mixed with journal entries from Griffin and Basil. In doing so I was able to understand Griffin more and see how he grew from a broken 13 yr old who was training with a ruthless mentor, to seeing how much he's grown in the last three years while training with his new mentor Basil, when the story jumps back to the present. The journal entries are woven into the storytelling, and allowed me to gain a better understanding of each of the main characters, including Katie, the love interest.

What makes this angel book unique, is that Griffin isn't just an angel training to be a Guardian Angel, he's also a teenager who's trying to figure out life in the human world. Seeing that struggle with learning to put a horrible past behind him, falling in love for the first time, learning to trust others, and finding himself makes him relatable. Basil and Griffin have an amazing chemistry. Griffin is such a broken character, but with Basil, he slowly changes over time and I absolutely loved their relationship.

I may sound like a broken record player when I say this (as I've mentioned this a few times recently), but Griffin Rising has something that I think is absent in a lot of YA books and that's strong parental characters. Not that all YA books will have nor need parental figures in them, but being a parent I have found that I expect a lot more out have these characters and I want them to step up to the plate more so than the other characters. In this case Griffin's mentor Basil does just that. Basil really takes over and becomes not only a caring, loving mentor to Griffin, but he helps him learn to trust again and he proves to me him that not all mentors are as brutal as Nicopolis. My heart really broke for the abuse that Griffin went through in the beginning (which isn't overly graphic, but the picture is painted to get an understanding of how ruthless Nicopolis is and how much Griffin grows as a character). Along with Basil are Katie's parents. They are what I deem typical responsible parents who care about their daughter as they except their daughter to follow rules, and be responsible and yes, they even give her a curfew (gasp, something I had and hated while growing up).

I enjoyed reading Griffin Rising. There's a lot of great elements to the plot that kept me engaged with it's action, lore, rich history, character growth as well as dynamics and a little romance that doesn't over take the story. Most of all, I like that I don't walk away feeling this is just "another angel" book. Darby adds the right amount of creativity to her story that makes it stand out among the angel books. I'm really looking forward to reading it's sequel. I would recommend picking up a copy of the book when it's out this summer.

[Katieb (MundieMoms) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed Darby's debut book, Griffin Rising. I liked that Darby owns her mythology, as she takes a popular topic and recreated it by giving it a unique spin. Her angel mythology, lore and history especially with the Terra Angeli, really make her story appealing.

Darby's writing style fit the story and I felt it flowed well, as the story starts out in the present and then goes back three years and is mixed with journal entries from Griffin and Basil. In doing so I was able to understand Griffin more and see how he grew from a broken 13 yr old who was training with a ruthless mentor, to seeing how much he's grown in the last three years while training with his new mentor Basil, when the story jumps back to the present. The journal entries are woven into the storytelling, and allowed me to gain a better understanding of each of the main characters, including Katie, the love interest.

What makes this angel book unique, is that Griffin isn't just an angel training to be a Guardian Angel, he's also a teenager who's trying to figure out life in the human world. Seeing that struggle with learning to put a horrible past behind him, falling in love for the first time, learning to trust others, and finding himself makes him relatable. Basil and Griffin have an amazing chemistry. Griffin is such a broken character, but with Basil, he slowly changes over time and I absolutely loved their relationship.

I may sound like a broken record player when I say this (as I've mentioned this a few times recently), but Griffin Rising has something that I think is absent in a lot of YA books and that's strong parental characters. Not that all YA books will have nor need parental figures in them, but being a parent I have found that I expect a lot more out have these characters and I want them to step up to the plate more so than the other characters. In this case Griffin's mentor Basil does just that. Basil really takes over and becomes not only a caring, loving mentor to Griffin, but he helps him learn to trust again and he proves to me him that not all mentors are as brutal as Nicopolis. My heart really broke for the abuse that Griffin went through in the beginning (which isn't overly graphic, but the picture is painted to get an understanding of how ruthless Nicopolis is and how much Griffin grows as a character). Along with Basil are Katie's parents. They are what I deem typical responsible parents who care about their daughter as they except their daughter to follow rules, and be responsible and yes, they even give her a curfew (gasp, something I had and hated while growing up).

I enjoyed reading Griffin Rising. There's a lot of great elements to the plot that kept me engaged with it's action, lore, rich history, character growth as well as dynamics and a little romance that doesn't over take the story. Most of all, I like that I don't walk away feeling this is just "another angel" book. Darby adds the right amount of creativity to her story that makes it stand out among the angel books. I'm really looking forward to reading it's sequel. I would recommend picking up a copy of the book when it's out this summer.

[Aimeekay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me just start off by saying that this was a very good read. It was fresh and unique. I love supernatural stories, and this one wasn't your typical Vampire or Werewolf novel which seems to be all the rage these days. Now don't get me wrong I love me a good Vampire or Shifter novel, but Karchut's take on Angels that walk amongst us is something I haven't seen in a while and not only was it well written, but it also made me want to delve deeper into Angelic lore on my own. That alone is a pleasant surprise. It made me interested in Angels the way I was interested in Vampires the way I was when I read my first Vampire novel. Some of her story even has it's roots in The Celestial Hierarchy, a manuscript from the fifth century. Which makes me want to go give a look see at that also.
As for the story itself, her characters are well rounded and I really started to become interested in where they were going. I also loved the way she worked the main characters 'journal' entries into the body of the book. I felt it helped give a deeper insight into how the characters themselves were feeling and dealing with the extraordinary events that are going on around them. I also liked the way she showed how Griffin began to heal emotionally once he was taken under wing (no pun intended) by Basil. The only flaw I really found with the novel itself is that Katie and her family seem to take the revelation of Griffin being an angel a little to easily. But then again this isn't a full fledged adult novel. In my personal opinion there are a lot of YA novels out there that try to be too adult. I read for many reasons. But one of the main reasons is to get lost in a story and when I do I want to see those characters have a happily ever after, even if my rational adult mind knows that sometimes happily ever anywhere isn't all it's cracked up to be. The best stories for this type of ending are in my opinion YA, when the characters are still young enough to not have to have dealt with that much of the 'real world'. I'm not saying that Griffin and Katie have an easy road by any means. Especially with Griffin's nemesis seeming to win out at every turn. But it was still sweet. No love triangles, no heart wrenching decisions. (at least not yet in the series, although as Griffin and Katie progress into adult hood I am sure there will be some) And Katie and Griffins new found love is teenage romance at its purest. Unconditional. I hope Karchut sticks with that.
Ok done on my own personal rant. Back to the review.
Yes this is a YA novel. Following that form it it's main hero is a young teenager struggling to deal with teenage problems, as well as deal with his own supernatural abilities. Yes there are some romantic scenes. But nothing more than PG at the most. I would definitely hand this book over to a teenager without any qualms about them being exposed to anything that they aren't already going through. I think that this series has the potential to be one to remember. I am eagerly awaiting the next installment. And rooting for Griffin to succeed even though he seems to have an entire legion of angels set against him. (hope that wasn't too much of a spoiler.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Griffin Rising we meet Griffin, the namesake of the story. He’s a young angel-in-training living with a cruel Terrae Angeli mentor. He beats him, starves him, verbally torments him, you name it. I don’t actually remember now how it came about that he left the cruel mentor and got Basil as his mentor but that was his saving grace. Basil is kind, fair, and patient, which is exactly what Griffin needs to help him overcome his past. Together they work hard on Griffin’s training and prepare him for his make or break test, his Proelium. This decides whether he can become a fully fledged Guardian Angel or be forced to become mortal. Along the way he meets Katie, who has just moved in across the street. They soon begin a sweet relationship that helps Griffin focus on what he has to face.

Griffin Rising is book 1 in a YA fantasy series. I would say it’s aimed at early teens, rather than late teens as the content is very child friendly. Griffin’s curse word of choice is “Fire”! I found this to be a little confusing before I realised that’s why he was saying it and not because he wanted to shoot fire, since this was one of his special powers.

As I started reading the prologue to the book I honestly didn’t know if I wanted to continue reading. I just didn't like the writing style at first. I carried on though and was pleased to see that I actually found the book quite enjoyable. The story uses diary extracts from Griffin, Basil, and Katie. I liked this, it meant that all the normal internal monologue that a character has wasn’t needed, we already knew how they were feeling. I liked reading things from Basil’s point of view. Most books don’t focus on the parental figure so it was good to see how Basil perceived things and to get a feel of his love for Griffin.

The story was well written, I can’t argue with that and wouldn’t want to take anything away from the author who I think did a great job. I just think that I didn’t love the book, but I did like it. I hope that makes sense! I read a lot of YA books that cover most genres but I think the main difference is that they mostly border on to mature YA whereas Griffin Rising was for me right at the other end, just nudging itself in to the YA bracket.

I wasn’t too sure if I liked the ending or not. I’m hoping that some of the things that I felt were unfinished or unanswered will be resolved in book 2. There was something that happened at the end that I felt was unfair and the perpetrator wasn’t held accountable or questioned to find out the full story. Neither was the person it involved allowed to give their side. Not a great example to give to younger readers but if those things are ironed out in book 2 then I can let that go.

So, I know that this review sounds like I’m bashing the book but I’m honestly not. I did like it and I think the writing was good, the characters likeable, and I might even read book 2 to see if I can find out the answers to those questions I have. I would recommend this to the lower end of the YA audience, I think they will really enjoy it.

[Missy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Griffin is an angel in training, and he's on his way to great things. However, no matter how far he reaches or to what new heights he reaches, Griffin can't forget the torment of his first mentor, Nicopolis. Terra Angeli have the gift of free will, and Nicopolis used his to torment and tear Griffin down. His new mentor, Basil, however is a perfect complement to Griffin and the two are finally reaching their stride when a new family moves in across the street with a girl that catches Griffin's eye. Is angel training, a haunting past, a bright future and a potential love interest too much for one young angel to handle?

There is such a predominance of paranormal stories on the market today, that finding an original idea is an increasingly scarce thing to come by. Truly, the nature of the market is dominated by different realms of paranormal beings, so finding a story that can stand a part is great. Griffin Rising definitely sets itself apart with a unique, sweet and intriguing spin on angels among us. Author Darby Karchut has created a heartwarming novel about first loves, the truth and strength that lies within all of us and the ability to overcome adversity that just happens to involve a great and unique angel plotline. Griffin Rising is definitely a book that will delight all ages and keep readers entertained.

Griffin Rising, though a slim book, contained a perfectly executed plot with a well-developed cast of characters and story arc that kept me hooked. Griffin was a lovable character with a bit of everyone in him in the sense that everyone can relate to a piece of his story. Though young, he's on the cusp of discovering his true self, and as a reader, I felt invested in his journey. Watching his interaction with Katie, the girl across the street and Basil, his mentor, it all rang true and felt genuine. What truly made Griffin Rising stand out, however, was the manner in which it was written. With each chapter written as a journal entry from either Griffin, Basil or Katie, I had the opportunity to truly get to know each character and, in a sense, gain a new insight into the other characters through their eyes. This could easily have been a downfall for Griffin Rising, but it was executed so well that the book was made all the more powerful for it.

Overall, Griffin Rising was a brilliant book. Fun, engaging and enriched with sweet sentiment and great characters, it will transcend the young adult genre. I give it a 4.5 out of 5, only because I wanted the story to be longer, and I highly recommend this for YA, MG and adult readers, especially those who enjoy paranormal stories with a lot of heart and soul.

I received this book free of charge from the author in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

**Be sure to check out the signed copy giveaway on my blog.You have until April 15, 2012 to enter!!

http://tracyshappybookshelf.blogspot....




I was so very excited to finally get my hands on this one. First off this was my first ebook, read on my new Ereader. And this was my very first ARC copy given to me by an author for review...thank you so much Darby! And? I am bouncing right now. I so, so, so loved this book! All I can say is, Darby Karchut, where were you when I was 14? This is an awesome middle grade book, but I'm 40 and I still loved it!!

I was not too sure in the beginning if I liked the narration as it flowed into the journal entries, but after the first one? I was hooked. We get a look into the two main characters Griffin and his mentor Basil and also later in the story Griffin's neighbour/girlfriend, Katie, through their journal entries. These journal entries added so much to the story. There is so much humor in this book and there were many laugh out loud moments for me. Katie's first journal entry after meeting Griffin, is priceless!!

I have to say though that the main reason I love this book so much? The relationship between Griffin and Basil. It is so real, so human, so loving, so natural, so...everything. I don't know how you could not fall in love with Griffin. He is such a great character. We see him grow from this broken, shell of a boy, at the hands of his original mentor, Nicopolis, to the loving, strong, cheeky, funny young man he becomes thanks to Basil's love and devotion. I want to adopt Griffin.

Then there is Basil. I love Basil. He is such a strong, loving, amazing mentor/father figure to Griffin. He made me laugh just as much as Griffin. It's funny, aside from the British accent? I kept picturing Nicolas Cage in The Sorcerers Apprentice. Not sure why, but I love Basil. He is just that cool.

I love the mythology of this book as well. I have read other angel books recently and quite frankly, some of them have been quite cheesy. Not in this case! This book was more than just a story about angels though. It is a coming of age story, a love story. The growing relationship between Griffin and Katie is very sweet. And although, Katie may not have been as strong a character as Griffin, I found her very believable and likable in her own right. And Katie's best friend, Carlee? This is my daughter! Non-stop, motor mouth.

The only negative thing? This book is not officially released until June! How long must I wait for more Griffin and Basil??? But another positive? The ebook addition is now available at Amazon and Barns and Noble. If you have a middle grade boy or girl who enjoys reading? Go grab it. Or if you are an adult looking for a fast, fun, hilarious, touching read? Go grab a copy of the ebook or wait for the hard copy this summer!

[Amelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted on The Authoress: Book Review and More.


A very promising debut. There are pros and cons with both writing style and plot but there’s something in the characters that makes me anticipate the next book’s release.

I love the archetypical hero’s story. It’s what makes me love stories like Harry Potter and Eragon. Griffin is an earth-angel who is realizing the heart of his situation: human versus angel. While he struggles to figure out the balance, he’s haunted by a jaded past. His struggles and obstacles were the perfect challenge for him and created a very enjoyable story.

I rooted for Griffin 100%. What really grabbed me about him was his humor because I’m a sucker for funny guys, but also his sensitivity (girls love a guy in touch with his emotions) and his loyalty. Griffin’s passion for saving people didn’t come off as cliché as I had started to fear it would.

As I read, I started to dread the romance. I was afraid that it would turn out to amount to several pages worth of description about what drew them to each other. But besides the initial, Wow, he/she’s pretty cute there wasn’t much to drag down their relationship. I actually began to cheer for Katie because she’s wasn’t a complete girl about some things.

“Fire, you’re fast! I almost didn’t beat you,” Griffin gasped. “Notice I said almost.”

”Well, I let you win. Frail male ego, you know.”

Excerpted from the ARC edition, page 84

I mean, I wanted to smack her about some things but otherwise, I liked her attitude.

The one thing that bothered me was Nash. The kid was way too much the archetypical bully. Griffin’s reactions were good (Go Griffin!) but the whole thing with Nash just didn’t fly well with me. I could see it coming a mile away and he didn’t put a lot of originality into the story. And the final confrontation between Nash and Griffin just annoyed me because Griffin was such an idiot about it.

In terms of writing: it was rough but I liked the way it was set up—half journal entries, half narrative. The plot was straightforward and I think the story could have been greatly lengthened if more detail and depth had been added.

However, I loved Griffin’s story. I blew through this story so fast; I was sorry to finish so quickly. Now I can’t wait for the sequel! I can see a lot of potential in Darby Karchut’s style. I can see that with time and practice, she will flourish into a household YA name.


This ARC was received in exchange for an honest review.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really heartwarming book! Darby Karchut's debut novel is not only about Guardian Angels, but on a deeper level it seems to be about the journey of self discovery. Griffin's story had me wiping my eyes at times and laughing out loud at others. The story chronicles Griffin's journey from the tragic start of his apprenticeship as a Terrae Angeli or Guardian Angel to his final test, the Prolieum. I am a huge fan of Angel-themed books and this one is fantastic! It was a fresh take on Guardian Angels and had such an original storyline mixed with memorable characters. Darby Karchut did an incredible job developing these characters. Griffin was just so darn lovable! He was battling the emotional demons stemming from his abusive past with his first Mentor, but lucky for Griffin, he was placed with a new Mentor named Basil. Basil had a loving and capable hand where Griffin was concerned and this enabled Griffin to emerge from his shell and blossom into what he was destined to be. Griffin's vulnerability was endearing and his dedication to his destiny was admirable. The changes that take place in Griffin are no doubt in response to Basil's patience, understanding, and the father figure relationship he forged with Griffin. I really enjoyed the banter between the two of them too. It had me snickering throughout the book! Griffin also goes through another change when a new family moves in across the street. Much to Griffin's liking, the family has a daughter the same age as him- and she is cute! Griffin falls for the new girl (Katie) and the romance that sparks between them was both sweet and innocent. It brought me back to how it felt to be a young teen discovering love in all its awkward glory!


I liked the manner in which Darby Karchut wrote the book. Each chapter was a journal entry from one of the main characters (Griffin, Basil, or Katie) and this type of story structure really seemed to allow the reader to get to know each character on a deeper level. The story ended with a surprising twist that left me craving the next book in the series in a big way! I would highly recommend this book to all that enjoy Angel stories! It is a really quick read that should appeal to young teen readers as well as adult readers! Congrats to Darby Karchut on a wonderful debut!

[Between the Covers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed by Christin for Between the Covers

A lot of angel books have flooded the market recently, and hence there is a risk of stories becoming repetitive. However, in Griffin Rising, Darby Karchut found a way to make the story of a young guardian angel both original and enjoyable.

Griffin has been training for years to pass his Proelium and become a guardian angel. His early years were anything but easy; he was forced to endure harsh conditions set by a cruel Mentor. But all of that changes when a new Mentor, Basil, takes over Griffin's training. Slowly Griffin comes out of his shell, learning to master his Elements and even assisting on missions. But when a new family moves across the street, Griffin suddenly has another interest other than angelic matters - the new girl, Katie. As if rescue missions and worrying about his Proelium weren't enough, now Griffin has to contend with his first feelings of love. But what happens if Katie finds out what he is? And worse...what happens if Griffin doesn't pass his Proelium and he becomes mortal?

I enjoyed following the different developments during this story, not only Griffin's progress as an angel but also his budding relationship with Katie. I really liked how this story unfolded - it began with the present day, then showed Griffin's time with his first mentor, and then came back to the present. I also loved Griffin's interactions with Basil, which were by turns touching and amusing. Basil and some of his sayings were highly amusing and really helped to bring the story to life. Furthermore, I appreciated the way the relationship between Griffin and Katie was constructed; being fifteen, they actually had parental rules in place and there was not the "insta-love" or "insta-lust" that sometimes creeps in. And the first kiss between the two might be one of the sweetest first-kiss scenes I have read in a while.

One of the only issues I had with this book was that it was short - the story was so engaging that I wasn't ready for it to be over when it was. Also, the ending was definitely not what I was expecting. I'll be curious to see how things are resolved in the next book.

Darby Karchut has taken angel lore and made it her own, weaving a story that I didn't put down from start to finish. I'm looking forward to Griffin's Fire!

[Nickie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won a free paperback copy of 'Griffin Rising' through a blog giveaway. I was in no way compensated for this review.

'Griffing Rising' follows Griffin, a teen who is actually a Terrae Angeli (guardian angel capable of manipulating earth and fire). As a boy, he is trained by the sadistic and abusive Nicopolis, who beats him and starves him whenever Griffin fails one of his tasks. Eventually, Nicopolis gets so frustrated with Griffin's performance that the boy is shipped off to Basil to continue his training.

But Basil is everything Nicopolis is not -- honest, kind, patient, and gentle. Griffin finally receives proper training, but fears his Proelium, a test that determines whether he will take his place alongside other guardian angels or have his powers taken away and become a mortal. Does Griffin have what it takes?

What I liked about this book:
Griffin and Basil are completely loveable characters. They're both honest, brave, and true, and even though there are missteps along the way, their devotion to their job as guardian angels and to each other is clear.

Griffin's character growth was nicely handled. He came from an abusive background, and much of the book focuses on Griffin learning how to trust Basil and how to have confidence in his own abilities.

'Griffin's Rising' has a unique structure. Diary entries from various characters are included in the beginning of each chapter, but the story itself is told in the third person. At first, I found the diary entries a little weird, but as I read farther through the book, I actually enjoyed the technique. The diary entries let us see inside of each character's head without resorting to the dreaded 'head-jumping' that can happen in third person narratives.

What I didn't like about this book:
The prologue and the first chapter were really hard to get through. I think I started this book four times before I was actually able to make it all the way through.

The prologue shows a scene right before Griffin's Proelium, and I kept thinking I had picked up the wrong book in the series, and that I'd missed the first book. I go a little crazy when I have to read things out of chronological order!

Final verdict:
Give this one a shot, and push through that prologue. This is a solid 4 star book that starts a bit slow, but is well worth the reading.

[Christin (Portrait of a Book) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of angel books have flooded the market recently, and hence there is a risk of stories becoming repetitive. However, in Griffin Rising, Darby Karchut found a way to make the story of a young guardian angel both original and enjoyable.

Griffin has been training for years to pass his Proelium and become a guardian angel. His early years were anything but easy; he was forced to endure harsh conditions set by a cruel Mentor. But all of that changes when a new Mentor, Basil, takes over Griffin's training. Slowly Griffin comes out of his shell, learning to master his Elements and even assisting on missions. But when a new family moves across the street, Griffin suddenly has another interest other than angelic matters - the new girl, Katie. As if rescue missions and worrying about his Proelium weren't enough, now Griffin has to contend with his first feelings of love. But what happens if Katie finds out what he is? And worse...what happens if Griffin doesn't pass his Proelium and he becomes mortal?

I enjoyed following the different developments during this story, not only Griffin's progress as an angel but also his budding relationship with Katie. I really liked how this story unfolded - it began with the present day, then showed Griffin's time with his first mentor, and then came back to the present. I also loved Griffin's interactions with Basil, which were by turns touching and amusing. Basil and some of his sayings were highly amusing and really helped to bring the story to life. Furthermore, I appreciated the way the relationship between Griffin and Katie was constructed; being fifteen, they actually had parental rules in place and there was not the "insta-love" or "insta-lust" that sometimes creeps in. And the first kiss between the two might be one of the sweetest first-kiss scenes I have read in a while.

One of the only issues I had with this book was that it was short - the story was so engaging that I wasn't ready for it to be over when it was. Also, the ending was definitely not what I was expecting. I'll be curious to see how things are resolved in the next book.

Darby Karchut has taken angel lore and made it her own, weaving a story that I didn't put down from start to finish. I'm looking forward to Griffin's Fire!