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Enlighten #1
Swords & Stilettos
Zoe Jabril needs to devise a kick-ass plan to save the world ASAP. Otherwise, Armageddon starts the day she turns eighteen—and if that happens, everything is going to hell. Literally.
She could be any other 17-year-old attending parties and checking out cute guys—except she discovers her best friend is a Guardian Angel and the boy she crushes on is a Nephilim, both sent to protect her from the demons who want her dead.
Now Zoe has to deal with growing feelings toward the Nephilim, who spreads a strange electrical current through her body every time he touches her. And she’s under constant attack from Demons, trying to stop her from fulfilling the a girl will be born who will unite Angels, Nephilim, Fairies and Werewolves to battle evil. Then she has to control newly found talents if she’s to prevent the devil from escaping Hell.
She could be any other 17-year-old attending parties and checking out cute guys—except she discovers her best friend is a Guardian Angel and the boy she crushes on is a Nephilim, both sent to protect her from the demons who want her dead.
Now Zoe has to deal with growing feelings toward the Nephilim, who spreads a strange electrical current through her body every time he touches her. And she’s under constant attack from Demons, trying to stop her from fulfilling the a girl will be born who will unite Angels, Nephilim, Fairies and Werewolves to battle evil. Then she has to control newly found talents if she’s to prevent the devil from escaping Hell.
290 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 20, 2015
211 people are currently reading
1227 people want to read
About the author
Kristin D. Van Risseghem
26 books369 followers**JOIN MY EXCLUSIVE VIP LIST **
https://www.kristinvanrisseghem.com/n...
USA Today bestselling and Award-Winning, Kristin D. Van Risseghem grew up in a small town along the Mississippi River. Currently, Kristin lives in Minnesota with her husband and a pomsky named Elise. She also loves attending book clubs, going shopping, and hanging out with friends. She has come to realize that she absolutely has an addiction to purses and shoes. They are her weakness and probably has way too many of both.
In the summer months, Kristin can usually be found lounging on her boat, drinking an ice cold something. Being an avid reader of YA and Women's Literature stories, she still finds time to read a ton of books in-between writing. And in the winter months, her main goal is to stay warm from the Minnesota cold!
Kristin's books are published by Kasian Publishing LLC.
https://www.kristinvanrisseghem.com/n...
USA Today bestselling and Award-Winning, Kristin D. Van Risseghem grew up in a small town along the Mississippi River. Currently, Kristin lives in Minnesota with her husband and a pomsky named Elise. She also loves attending book clubs, going shopping, and hanging out with friends. She has come to realize that she absolutely has an addiction to purses and shoes. They are her weakness and probably has way too many of both.
In the summer months, Kristin can usually be found lounging on her boat, drinking an ice cold something. Being an avid reader of YA and Women's Literature stories, she still finds time to read a ton of books in-between writing. And in the winter months, her main goal is to stay warm from the Minnesota cold!
Kristin's books are published by Kasian Publishing LLC.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 178 reviews
May 6, 2016
Thank you to Kasian Publishing & Kristin D. Van Risseghem for my copy of the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book was beyond cringe like seriously I was shutting one eye while squinting with the other making myself read on at some parts it was that cringey, yet I loved the rest of it! Yeah, it was super awkward at times but I still wanted more of the story and to hear about all these amazing characters that Kristin has graced us with.
Zoe Jabril is your typical teenager trying to get through the last of her school years with her drop dead gorgeous best friend Kieran by her side, until one day she and Kieran are attacked by two men which lead to Kieran's big secret... Oh for sakes of the angel who would have guessed?! *wink wink nudge nudge* Zoe starts to learn she is meant for the greater good of mankind and all in its path dun dun DUN! (dramatic enough?) no, not yet not while prom is around the corner and with one hot stranger here to stay what could be more important? Your life?! COURSE NOT!
So the book screams YA cliché from the beginning until the end and there is no way of getting away from it. I have read the same thing over and over again yet I still seem to get captivated and I need to know what's going to happen in this one, is it any different? will it end up like the rest?! The book, however, does remind me of The Mortal Instruments, a werewolf, an angel, fairies, an awkward love triangle and the painfully annoying leading lady who I cannot stand. I really did enjoy the other characters, they were awesome!
Zoe is annoying, I actually wanted to shake her until her head fell off!! Who actually says to a guy I need some girl time to talk about guys? It's so unnatural I just wanted her to stop in her tracks and never show herself to me in the book again. HOWEVER, I absolutely adore the rest of the characters! Who wouldn't love two hot males with raging testosterone falling over each other for you? Then a third appearing with animal written all over him? Kirstin has made something special with these leading males, I don't know who I like more... maybe Kieran? AHH, our puppy?! Well done Kirstin well done indeed. I have read this kind of stuff far too many times yet something about these guys and our Sidelle I just can't stop loving.
Ok so there is one thing I really can't let go of, and I mean really can't let it go... it's that bad. Our sizzling hot bad boy Nephilim who oozes sex appeal plays The Wanted - I'm Glad You Came... the words speak to him... she starts to cry at the words... he passes her a tissue... are you kidding me? What is he an 8-year-old girl lip syncing in front of his bedroom mirror? I then manage to get over this HUGELY CRINGEY moment then to be presented with yet another... He starts to play One Direction - What Makes You Beautiful... they didn't speak... he played that song especially for her... they sit in silence... NO NO NO NO NO! He is some kick ass hot bit of ass and this killed him for me, why Shay? Why?!!!
If you love a good ole YA classic cliché and can handle massively awkward moments with I can't live without you style love, this book is for you 110%. Will I be reading on in the series? Of course, I am hooked on our other characters, give me more right this second! You have played the game well Kirstin I hope you can keep my attention.
Please check out my blog www.amandaminnockx.tumblr.com thanks :)!
"I elbowed his side. "I think you have an admirer." He chuckled then ran his hand down his body. "That may be true, but I don't think she can handle all things Shay."
This book was beyond cringe like seriously I was shutting one eye while squinting with the other making myself read on at some parts it was that cringey, yet I loved the rest of it! Yeah, it was super awkward at times but I still wanted more of the story and to hear about all these amazing characters that Kristin has graced us with.
Zoe Jabril is your typical teenager trying to get through the last of her school years with her drop dead gorgeous best friend Kieran by her side, until one day she and Kieran are attacked by two men which lead to Kieran's big secret... Oh for sakes of the angel who would have guessed?! *wink wink nudge nudge* Zoe starts to learn she is meant for the greater good of mankind and all in its path dun dun DUN! (dramatic enough?) no, not yet not while prom is around the corner and with one hot stranger here to stay what could be more important? Your life?! COURSE NOT!
So the book screams YA cliché from the beginning until the end and there is no way of getting away from it. I have read the same thing over and over again yet I still seem to get captivated and I need to know what's going to happen in this one, is it any different? will it end up like the rest?! The book, however, does remind me of The Mortal Instruments, a werewolf, an angel, fairies, an awkward love triangle and the painfully annoying leading lady who I cannot stand. I really did enjoy the other characters, they were awesome!
Zoe is annoying, I actually wanted to shake her until her head fell off!! Who actually says to a guy I need some girl time to talk about guys? It's so unnatural I just wanted her to stop in her tracks and never show herself to me in the book again. HOWEVER, I absolutely adore the rest of the characters! Who wouldn't love two hot males with raging testosterone falling over each other for you? Then a third appearing with animal written all over him? Kirstin has made something special with these leading males, I don't know who I like more... maybe Kieran? AHH, our puppy?! Well done Kirstin well done indeed. I have read this kind of stuff far too many times yet something about these guys and our Sidelle I just can't stop loving.
Ok so there is one thing I really can't let go of, and I mean really can't let it go... it's that bad. Our sizzling hot bad boy Nephilim who oozes sex appeal plays The Wanted - I'm Glad You Came... the words speak to him... she starts to cry at the words... he passes her a tissue... are you kidding me? What is he an 8-year-old girl lip syncing in front of his bedroom mirror? I then manage to get over this HUGELY CRINGEY moment then to be presented with yet another... He starts to play One Direction - What Makes You Beautiful... they didn't speak... he played that song especially for her... they sit in silence... NO NO NO NO NO! He is some kick ass hot bit of ass and this killed him for me, why Shay? Why?!!!
If you love a good ole YA classic cliché and can handle massively awkward moments with I can't live without you style love, this book is for you 110%. Will I be reading on in the series? Of course, I am hooked on our other characters, give me more right this second! You have played the game well Kirstin I hope you can keep my attention.
Please check out my blog www.amandaminnockx.tumblr.com thanks :)!
"I elbowed his side. "I think you have an admirer." He chuckled then ran his hand down his body. "That may be true, but I don't think she can handle all things Shay."
March 10, 2016
Seventeen year old Zoe Jabril's life was pretty ordinary until one day she and her best friend, Kieran, are attacked by two strange men. When another handsome boy, Shay, joins the fight Kieran and Shay overcome the attacking men but when their bodies poof out of existence Zoe gets her first glimpse into a world she never knew existed.
Kieran and Shay explain to Zoe that they have been sent to protect her because when she was born it was believed that Zoe is a baby that was foretold in a prophecy that is going to save the world. Kieran himself was assigned to be Zoe's best friend and is actually her Guardian Angel while Shay is Nephilim and has been protecting Zoe from afar. The men that attacked, a pair of lesser demons sent to kill Zoe.
The Guardian, a Sword, & Stilettos is another series that should have easily have been a five star read for me with so many elements that I love, with Angels, Nephilim, Demons, Fairies and Werewolves all involved I knew that I was going to enjoy the story and it even started off reminding me a bit of the Mortal Instruments series which I love.
Unfortunately there are a few things that brought my rating down a bit in this book. First was Zoe herself, she's almost eighteen but yet the character was seriously lacking any maturity for someone of that age. We start off with being attacked by demons and her reaction is oh look at the cute guy with the sexy eyes. Really it took me until about half way through the book before I learned to tolerate her naivety and boy craziness and begin to actually enjoy the plot. Also, there are just some things in the book that seem a bit off as if the author is out of touch with teenagers in general, such as Zoe is about to turn eighteen but yet not a senior yet in high school?
I would also warn readers of the usual we must have a bit of a love triangle and the insta-love involvement in the plot. I tend to overlook these things but I know a lot of people would dislike either or both. My only complaint was I think Zoe would at least think for a couple of minutes on how her insta-love connection is with a guy that is old enough to be her grandfather but of course as I said, she thought he was cute. Hopefully Zoe will gain some maturity and depth to her personality as the series continues as it does have potential to be a good one.
In the end I decided to go with 3.5 stars for The Guardian, a Sword, & Stilettos, some flaws to it but if they were worked out the story could be a fun ride.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
Kieran and Shay explain to Zoe that they have been sent to protect her because when she was born it was believed that Zoe is a baby that was foretold in a prophecy that is going to save the world. Kieran himself was assigned to be Zoe's best friend and is actually her Guardian Angel while Shay is Nephilim and has been protecting Zoe from afar. The men that attacked, a pair of lesser demons sent to kill Zoe.
The Guardian, a Sword, & Stilettos is another series that should have easily have been a five star read for me with so many elements that I love, with Angels, Nephilim, Demons, Fairies and Werewolves all involved I knew that I was going to enjoy the story and it even started off reminding me a bit of the Mortal Instruments series which I love.
Unfortunately there are a few things that brought my rating down a bit in this book. First was Zoe herself, she's almost eighteen but yet the character was seriously lacking any maturity for someone of that age. We start off with being attacked by demons and her reaction is oh look at the cute guy with the sexy eyes. Really it took me until about half way through the book before I learned to tolerate her naivety and boy craziness and begin to actually enjoy the plot. Also, there are just some things in the book that seem a bit off as if the author is out of touch with teenagers in general, such as Zoe is about to turn eighteen but yet not a senior yet in high school?
I would also warn readers of the usual we must have a bit of a love triangle and the insta-love involvement in the plot. I tend to overlook these things but I know a lot of people would dislike either or both. My only complaint was I think Zoe would at least think for a couple of minutes on how her insta-love connection is with a guy that is old enough to be her grandfather but of course as I said, she thought he was cute. Hopefully Zoe will gain some maturity and depth to her personality as the series continues as it does have potential to be a good one.
In the end I decided to go with 3.5 stars for The Guardian, a Sword, & Stilettos, some flaws to it but if they were worked out the story could be a fun ride.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
October 4, 2016
Thank you NetGalley and Kesian Publishing for accepting my request and providing me a copy in exchange of an honest book review.
3 of 5 stars
The Guardian, A Sword, & Stilettos is the book one of the Enlighten series.
It is written on two POVs; mostly on Zoe’s and sometimes on third.
This book is a fantasy. Yes I can see it but I can’t f-ing feel it! I see that this book is mainly all about mythical creatures which perfectly fits for its genre. But this one is so cliché. And it didn’t gave me neither the feels nor satisfaction that I always get when I’m reading a fantasy book.
The beginning of the story already showed how cliché this story will be. I already saw that scene on The Mortal Instruments. It’s not perfectly the same but it’s also like that. And aside of that, it doesn’t also have a strong voice. Reading it bores me. And almost everything is so dull.
There are just only three (3) things that I liked when I’m reading this this book:
First is the Love interests. I love the pairs in this book. Especially the love triangle between the two hot and sizzling male creatures and an ordinary girl. Yes, it’s definitely cliché and I already saw that on so many popular books or movies but still, there’s something special on them. It actually made me jealous at some point! I mean, who wouldn’t want to be in that same situation just like her (the ordinary girl) – just except all the running, hiding, and fighting of the demons? Who wouldn’t? And the real feelings and intentions of both men are just so pure you would really want to read and feel them for so many freaking times. And mind you, not only this triangle but also all pairs in this book has the story you must watch for! Each will really find a place in your heart.
Second is the Title. The meaning of the title! Yes! I already figured it out without even reaching 50% of the book. I had never felt so excited figuring out a book’s title because I can’t find a reason why figured it out but this book’s excites me! I mean, it feels like a puzzle that I am slowly solving without me even realizing. That was fun. The Guardian, A Sword, & Stilettos just perfectly makes sense! It’s just that I think, there’s something missing. And it’s just also sad that the consequence of having to know the meaning of the title of this book had brought me into some kind of terrible and sad conclusions. But I really like Miss Kristin’s idea to have The Guardian, A Sword & Stiletto as the title.
Lastly, are the Other characters. Yes, the “other characters” and NOT the main character. I don’t like Zoe Jabril, the main character. She is just so typical. Like reading typical ordinary girls are already used so many times so what else do I need to expect from this girl aside from her hidden powers? I like Shay and Kilean, also because they are the hot and sizzling creatures I am talking about earlier. They are both not typical in their own different ways. I mean, they just both can catch the heart of their female readers easily. Their characters are so interesting. Also Sidelle, the popular shopaholic girl friend of our Zoe Jabril. I just love her she’s so entertaining even though she is not meant to bring humor still, her existence is also a big contribution to this book. Also Vash, even though Vash reminds me of Jacob from the Twilight series, he’s still different. And I just love him being his own kind of territorial. He’s scary but also soft like a pup to me specially when the topic of his “mate” is being talked about. He is also interesting.
Without these three, I think I would not have even finished this book. And sure enough, I would not have enjoyed it. So this book is fortunate enough to have these three things.
This story has been a mix of The Mortal Instruments, Twilight, and Carry On for me (it’s just that it doesn’t contains that much magic like Carry On by Rainbow Rowell). Good vs. Evil, angels, demons, fairies, werewolves, and a prophecy, everything was just already used for like soooo maaany freaking times. I can almost recall some certain scenes/parts from another book when I’m reading it. I just hope Miss Kristin Risseghem had came up into more unique and convincing plot or twist. And not something dull like this.
I really hate reading books – especially fantasy – with cliché plot. But maybe we can see what the next books in this series can offer.
3 of 5 stars
The Guardian, A Sword, & Stilettos is the book one of the Enlighten series.
It is written on two POVs; mostly on Zoe’s and sometimes on third.
This book is a fantasy. Yes I can see it but I can’t f-ing feel it! I see that this book is mainly all about mythical creatures which perfectly fits for its genre. But this one is so cliché. And it didn’t gave me neither the feels nor satisfaction that I always get when I’m reading a fantasy book.
The beginning of the story already showed how cliché this story will be. I already saw that scene on The Mortal Instruments. It’s not perfectly the same but it’s also like that. And aside of that, it doesn’t also have a strong voice. Reading it bores me. And almost everything is so dull.
There are just only three (3) things that I liked when I’m reading this this book:
First is the Love interests. I love the pairs in this book. Especially the love triangle between the two hot and sizzling male creatures and an ordinary girl. Yes, it’s definitely cliché and I already saw that on so many popular books or movies but still, there’s something special on them. It actually made me jealous at some point! I mean, who wouldn’t want to be in that same situation just like her (the ordinary girl) – just except all the running, hiding, and fighting of the demons? Who wouldn’t? And the real feelings and intentions of both men are just so pure you would really want to read and feel them for so many freaking times. And mind you, not only this triangle but also all pairs in this book has the story you must watch for! Each will really find a place in your heart.
Second is the Title. The meaning of the title! Yes! I already figured it out without even reaching 50% of the book. I had never felt so excited figuring out a book’s title because I can’t find a reason why figured it out but this book’s excites me! I mean, it feels like a puzzle that I am slowly solving without me even realizing. That was fun. The Guardian, A Sword, & Stilettos just perfectly makes sense! It’s just that I think, there’s something missing. And it’s just also sad that the consequence of having to know the meaning of the title of this book had brought me into some kind of terrible and sad conclusions. But I really like Miss Kristin’s idea to have The Guardian, A Sword & Stiletto as the title.
Lastly, are the Other characters. Yes, the “other characters” and NOT the main character. I don’t like Zoe Jabril, the main character. She is just so typical. Like reading typical ordinary girls are already used so many times so what else do I need to expect from this girl aside from her hidden powers? I like Shay and Kilean, also because they are the hot and sizzling creatures I am talking about earlier. They are both not typical in their own different ways. I mean, they just both can catch the heart of their female readers easily. Their characters are so interesting. Also Sidelle, the popular shopaholic girl friend of our Zoe Jabril. I just love her she’s so entertaining even though she is not meant to bring humor still, her existence is also a big contribution to this book. Also Vash, even though Vash reminds me of Jacob from the Twilight series, he’s still different. And I just love him being his own kind of territorial. He’s scary but also soft like a pup to me specially when the topic of his “mate” is being talked about. He is also interesting.
Without these three, I think I would not have even finished this book. And sure enough, I would not have enjoyed it. So this book is fortunate enough to have these three things.
This story has been a mix of The Mortal Instruments, Twilight, and Carry On for me (it’s just that it doesn’t contains that much magic like Carry On by Rainbow Rowell). Good vs. Evil, angels, demons, fairies, werewolves, and a prophecy, everything was just already used for like soooo maaany freaking times. I can almost recall some certain scenes/parts from another book when I’m reading it. I just hope Miss Kristin Risseghem had came up into more unique and convincing plot or twist. And not something dull like this.
I really hate reading books – especially fantasy – with cliché plot. But maybe we can see what the next books in this series can offer.
August 17, 2015
Zoe Jabril is a typical teenage girl, or at least that is what she thought before she found out that her best friend is an angel and that he was assigned to watch over her. That should be enough oddity in the life of one young woman but it's only the tip of the iceberg for Zoe. After being attacked by demons, Zoe learns that she is destined to bring the Enlightens together and bring an end to the Devil's plot to take over the world. That's a lot for anyone to handle, especially when one has prom to worry about and the mean girls at school just won't leave you alone.
As you may have guessed from the description, The Guardian, A Sword & Stilettos is YA. When I pick up a YA book, I expect a lack of maturity and experience from the protagonist but Zoe takes the cake. The devil is sending demon assassins to kill Zoe and what is she concerned about? Well, finding the perfect prom dress naturally and of course her first kiss. If that were not enough, Zoe keeps bringing up learning to defend herself but somehow never gets around to that, what with all the angst about which of her immortal male love interests to choose from.
Speaking of immortal love interests, I have to say for the record that the idea of an 80 year old Nephilim and an ancient angel in love with and pursuing a 17 year old girl because she is the chosen one is just wrong. First off, both Shay and Kieran have been watching over Zoe since the day of her birth and when she became a teenager, they both suddenly began to feel an attraction to her. Ummm creepy, in fact, super creepy. Zoe does actually call Shay a stalker but still yet continues in her relationship with him because - well - woo woo naturally. Shay causes her to tingle, so the fact that he watched her from the cradle and is actually old enough to at the very least be her grandfather is supposedly no big deal. Had the nature of Zoe's relationship with Shay and the age difference actually been something Zoe actively thought about and tried to negotiate, I could have tolerated it better. Instead, what we got was Zoe angsting about the fact that she has feelings for Shay and not for her best friend. I suppose I should simply be thankful that VanRisseghem didn't drag out the love triangle for too long.
If you can get over the creepy pedophile type feeling of both Shay and Kieran, there's also the issue that they read like teenage boys. Yes, in terms of immortals they are young but neither one of the two should actually sound or feel like they fit in at high school. On their first date, Shay even plays a One Direction song for Zoe. What teenage boy listens to One Direction, let alone a Nephlim who has been alive for eighty years? When Shay was 17, WWII was just starting. How does someone like that relate to One Direction? It's ridiculous and feels like Van Risseghem was just trying to squeeze in some youthful references. Look, teenagers are just as diverse as adults and perhaps Van Risseghem should spend some time with a few to get a better sense of what they are like. Yes, some are going to be obsessed with the latest boy band and prom while others are goal oriented and have real awareness of this world. All in all, much of Van Risseghem's characterisation feels forced, unrealistic and trite.
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As you may have guessed from the description, The Guardian, A Sword & Stilettos is YA. When I pick up a YA book, I expect a lack of maturity and experience from the protagonist but Zoe takes the cake. The devil is sending demon assassins to kill Zoe and what is she concerned about? Well, finding the perfect prom dress naturally and of course her first kiss. If that were not enough, Zoe keeps bringing up learning to defend herself but somehow never gets around to that, what with all the angst about which of her immortal male love interests to choose from.
Speaking of immortal love interests, I have to say for the record that the idea of an 80 year old Nephilim and an ancient angel in love with and pursuing a 17 year old girl because she is the chosen one is just wrong. First off, both Shay and Kieran have been watching over Zoe since the day of her birth and when she became a teenager, they both suddenly began to feel an attraction to her. Ummm creepy, in fact, super creepy. Zoe does actually call Shay a stalker but still yet continues in her relationship with him because - well - woo woo naturally. Shay causes her to tingle, so the fact that he watched her from the cradle and is actually old enough to at the very least be her grandfather is supposedly no big deal. Had the nature of Zoe's relationship with Shay and the age difference actually been something Zoe actively thought about and tried to negotiate, I could have tolerated it better. Instead, what we got was Zoe angsting about the fact that she has feelings for Shay and not for her best friend. I suppose I should simply be thankful that VanRisseghem didn't drag out the love triangle for too long.
If you can get over the creepy pedophile type feeling of both Shay and Kieran, there's also the issue that they read like teenage boys. Yes, in terms of immortals they are young but neither one of the two should actually sound or feel like they fit in at high school. On their first date, Shay even plays a One Direction song for Zoe. What teenage boy listens to One Direction, let alone a Nephlim who has been alive for eighty years? When Shay was 17, WWII was just starting. How does someone like that relate to One Direction? It's ridiculous and feels like Van Risseghem was just trying to squeeze in some youthful references. Look, teenagers are just as diverse as adults and perhaps Van Risseghem should spend some time with a few to get a better sense of what they are like. Yes, some are going to be obsessed with the latest boy band and prom while others are goal oriented and have real awareness of this world. All in all, much of Van Risseghem's characterisation feels forced, unrealistic and trite.
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July 11, 2015
Review Copy from Author for more visit Literary-ly Obsessed
This just wasn’t for me; this book came across as too similar to other YA novels such as The Mortal Instruments, Fallen, The Iron Fey and Twilight.
Seventeen-year old Zoe, like many heroines thinks she leads a normal, simple life when in fact she has been prophesied to end the war against evil in a world filled with angels, demons, werewolves and fairies. Zoe’s best friend Kieran is an angel and is tasked with protecting her with his life, the same is also expected from Shay; a nephilim. Zoe must wait until her 18th birthday in which the ‘heavens mark’ will appear and she will wield powers like no one before her, she’s not angel nor nephilim but something else, which makes her truly dangerous in the eyes of the Devil who will stop at nothing to destroy her.
The book showed such great promise early on with an awesome friendship, unrequited love and a hot new bad boy in town, however it slowly developed into an insta love romance with the word ‘soul mate’ being tossed around. It was this and the mentioning of music such as One Direction and The Wanted that maybe should have came across as trendy/current but instead added a little too much cheese and eye rolling for my taste.
For me the best part of this book were the secondary characters, I really loved Sidelle the fairy and her obvious boyfriend/ex-boyfriend Finn. They have great chemistry and a humorous back and forth; I would absolutely love for a book to be written about these two.
There wasn't enough going on to become fully invested in this book because it mostly centred around Zoe, predicting what she is and what powers she will possess and the obvious romance with Shay. Although the ending of this book has been perfectly set up for the next, which promises exciting things to come. The future of this series promises for a more action and hopefully a love interest for poor Kieran. This was a good start for a debut novel that I hope will flourish in the future.
This just wasn’t for me; this book came across as too similar to other YA novels such as The Mortal Instruments, Fallen, The Iron Fey and Twilight.
Seventeen-year old Zoe, like many heroines thinks she leads a normal, simple life when in fact she has been prophesied to end the war against evil in a world filled with angels, demons, werewolves and fairies. Zoe’s best friend Kieran is an angel and is tasked with protecting her with his life, the same is also expected from Shay; a nephilim. Zoe must wait until her 18th birthday in which the ‘heavens mark’ will appear and she will wield powers like no one before her, she’s not angel nor nephilim but something else, which makes her truly dangerous in the eyes of the Devil who will stop at nothing to destroy her.
The book showed such great promise early on with an awesome friendship, unrequited love and a hot new bad boy in town, however it slowly developed into an insta love romance with the word ‘soul mate’ being tossed around. It was this and the mentioning of music such as One Direction and The Wanted that maybe should have came across as trendy/current but instead added a little too much cheese and eye rolling for my taste.
For me the best part of this book were the secondary characters, I really loved Sidelle the fairy and her obvious boyfriend/ex-boyfriend Finn. They have great chemistry and a humorous back and forth; I would absolutely love for a book to be written about these two.
There wasn't enough going on to become fully invested in this book because it mostly centred around Zoe, predicting what she is and what powers she will possess and the obvious romance with Shay. Although the ending of this book has been perfectly set up for the next, which promises exciting things to come. The future of this series promises for a more action and hopefully a love interest for poor Kieran. This was a good start for a debut novel that I hope will flourish in the future.
August 29, 2018
Swords & Stilettos, the first book in Kristin D. Van Risseghem’s Enlighten series, is one of those books to have caught my attention quite a few times. As someone who enjoyed an interesting angel read, I was more than willing to see if the book would deliver all I had hoped for.
In truth, this book wasn’t quite what I had expected. It was interesting enough, but it did not blow my mind. I want to know what happens next, I’ll certainly be giving the next book a read, but I’m in no rush to find out how everything comes together. My curiosity exists, but it is not that powerful.
I think my biggest issue is that it fell into the young adult trap I find myself unable to enjoy. You see, a lot of the book seemed to focus upon high school drama. There were interesting supernatural elements thrown throughout – and I really want to find out more in the future books – yet the majority of the story seemed to get stuck dealing with all the high school drama. I would have preferred less of the drama and more of the action.
As I’ve said, though, although I wasn’t crazy about this one I am interested in seeing where things go from here. There were plenty of things introduced in this one, and I’m curious as to how everything plays out. I’ll be crossing my fingers that the future books in the series pick up the action and deliver the full potential.
In truth, this book wasn’t quite what I had expected. It was interesting enough, but it did not blow my mind. I want to know what happens next, I’ll certainly be giving the next book a read, but I’m in no rush to find out how everything comes together. My curiosity exists, but it is not that powerful.
I think my biggest issue is that it fell into the young adult trap I find myself unable to enjoy. You see, a lot of the book seemed to focus upon high school drama. There were interesting supernatural elements thrown throughout – and I really want to find out more in the future books – yet the majority of the story seemed to get stuck dealing with all the high school drama. I would have preferred less of the drama and more of the action.
As I’ve said, though, although I wasn’t crazy about this one I am interested in seeing where things go from here. There were plenty of things introduced in this one, and I’m curious as to how everything plays out. I’ll be crossing my fingers that the future books in the series pick up the action and deliver the full potential.
May 21, 2015
This is such a fun story with a great voice! The characters and the plot keep you reading till the very last page, and it leaves you wanting the next book (and the next, and the next)!
There is a character for everyone, and they're each full of personality. It's plot driven, which I love, and I didn't see several things coming (which I love even more).
I was lucky enough to read this book in several stages, and I am so happy to be able to finally give it an official review!
I can't wait for the next installment. I'd recommend, and have, and ill definitely read the whole series.
There is a character for everyone, and they're each full of personality. It's plot driven, which I love, and I didn't see several things coming (which I love even more).
I was lucky enough to read this book in several stages, and I am so happy to be able to finally give it an official review!
I can't wait for the next installment. I'd recommend, and have, and ill definitely read the whole series.
November 9, 2020
Swords and Stilettos is by far the absolute worst book I've ever read in my life. The content quality is reminiscent of bad fanfiction, the writing style is garbage, the dialogue is so cringey I had to physically set down the book and take a deep breath multiple times, and the fleshing out of the characters very accurately captures that of cardboard cutouts.
Every second of this was awful and I'd do it again in a heartbeat
Every second of this was awful and I'd do it again in a heartbeat
May 10, 2020
I'm not the biggest fan of angel books, yet I keep reading them! This one was better than others I've read. Zoe is a great character who holds her own, she seems smart and confident, that is- until she learns about angels and secrets. Then her constant questioning got annoying. I mean, I understand why but as she's supposed to be learning, I couldn't keep track.
This mix of angels vs demons is a good concept and works well to add drama to an ordinary setting but adding werewolves and fairies felt too much.
I did enjoy the story and I do have the sequel in my collection which I will read. I really want to see Zoe gain her full powers as was prophecised. Hopefully there will be less confusion and more action!
This mix of angels vs demons is a good concept and works well to add drama to an ordinary setting but adding werewolves and fairies felt too much.
I did enjoy the story and I do have the sequel in my collection which I will read. I really want to see Zoe gain her full powers as was prophecised. Hopefully there will be less confusion and more action!
March 29, 2015
A wonderful YA tale that takes you right in for the ride. Can't wait to read the other books in the series!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 10, 2015
2*
The Guardian, a Sword, & Stilletos is a ya/teen novel. It plays on the fantasy genre and follows Zoe, our protagonist who finds out she is destined to fulfill a world saving prophesy. She has a best friend Kieran, whom she later finds out is an angel and is in fact in love with her. However bad boy and half angel Shay comes in the picture and steals her heart as her potential soulmate instead. Both have been appointed to look over her as her 18th B-day is destined to reveal what she truly is and if she is capable to make true to the prophecy. Not only that, but her best friend is a faerie and is ordered by the summer court to guard her as well.
So overall, this book has been a flop with me. I really have not to much to say about it other then that I had to force myself to read on. The writing is mehh. The characters, specially Zoe, are shallow. I wanted to gag every time Zoe and Shay had a scene and the behaviors of all these characters are so far fetched it was bordering on ridiculous. I've lost count on how many times I rolled my eyes to the point the people on the bus I commute with must have thought I was having an aneurism.
We are talking eternal beings here (or with a longer lifespan) and the fact that they are all googly eying Zoe who is a pretentious 17yo with the mind set of a hormonal 12yo who constantly needs girl talk to analyze her bad ass macho car driving nephilim sugar daddy 4x her age, is crazy. The fact that said girl is her faerie friend who is eons old and cant wait to get that gossip is equally as farfetched.
It cant be that bad right? I will humor you with the below quotes:
~ His smile was quit, thoughtful. "Maybe I'm just being selfish. He had his chance with you in the past, and he blew it. Now I'm here, and I want your future." What does a girl say to that?
(The correct answer is nothing, you run like hell wondering where the hell he picked that line up once you found out he has stalked you your whole life)
~ She'd always been pretty, but wow. When I studied her now, she was a human sized Tinkebell. I had no idea how she'd react to that comparison.
~ "You are my problem!' she exclaimed. "You're just an average girl- maybe even below average- and you have no special qualities. your parents aren't rich, and you don't even wear the right clothes."
And my favorite out of all of them:
~ I couldn't take my eyes off him. He opened the door an helped me in, and my eyes followed his body as he walked around the front of the car. He started the engine and 'What Makes You Beautiful' by One Direction flowed from the speakers. We didn't speak, and when it ended, he smiled. I knew he'd played the song for me.
(There is no way in hell you can convince me anyone would have willingly played that song)
Ahem, okay. So overall there is not a whole lot of action other then hand holding and kissing and Zoe whining about her doubts and boys. And anyone looking for a gripping story will need to look elsewhere ( I can highly recommend Angelfall if your into angels or Whirl if your into prophecies and kick ass girls acting their age).
Would I recommend it?
No..
August 17, 2017
Rating: 2 stars
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of Swords and Stilettos from the Rachel E. Carter YA book club on Goodreads!
Alright, I'll be starting this review on a more positive note.
This was a very quick read. Its 290 pages were written in a way that made it super easy to read it through on high speed, which I liked. But gods, this book was cringe-worthy.
May 11, 2015
The earth told them of her birth.
Zoe, your typical teenage girl, is thrown into a battle of good and evil. Everyone believes she’ll be the savior of the world as we know it. To further complicate matters, she learns that her lifelong best friend, Kieran, is actually her guardian angel. With demons hunting her every move, she has to rely on others to keep her safe.
But when she meets Shay, a nephilim, she is instantly smitten. From the second she laid eyes on him, it was hard to think of anything else. His brilliant wings, muscular physique, and electrical touch are irresistible. Luckily, she gets to spend lots of time with her new beau, as he’s assigned to guard her too.
Between Kieran’s attraction to her, her budding new romance with Shay, and the whole battling evil thing, “Life is complicated all of the sudden.”
All the while still dealing with typical teenage stuff like homework and hormones. Not to mention The Triangles, a group of snobby girls who serve better as bullies than Barbies.
Zoe eventually finds that she has extraordinary powers too, but an Ordinary shouldn���t have those abilities. Maybe she isn’t as average as she once imagined?
I loved this book. The characters were well developed, and the pace was fantastic. I was sad when I got to the last page. I’ll definitely be reading Kristin’s next books. Fans of Lauren Kate’s FALLEN series will also enjoy this.
Team Kieran!
Zoe, your typical teenage girl, is thrown into a battle of good and evil. Everyone believes she’ll be the savior of the world as we know it. To further complicate matters, she learns that her lifelong best friend, Kieran, is actually her guardian angel. With demons hunting her every move, she has to rely on others to keep her safe.
But when she meets Shay, a nephilim, she is instantly smitten. From the second she laid eyes on him, it was hard to think of anything else. His brilliant wings, muscular physique, and electrical touch are irresistible. Luckily, she gets to spend lots of time with her new beau, as he’s assigned to guard her too.
Between Kieran’s attraction to her, her budding new romance with Shay, and the whole battling evil thing, “Life is complicated all of the sudden.”
All the while still dealing with typical teenage stuff like homework and hormones. Not to mention The Triangles, a group of snobby girls who serve better as bullies than Barbies.
Zoe eventually finds that she has extraordinary powers too, but an Ordinary shouldn���t have those abilities. Maybe she isn’t as average as she once imagined?
I loved this book. The characters were well developed, and the pace was fantastic. I was sad when I got to the last page. I’ll definitely be reading Kristin’s next books. Fans of Lauren Kate’s FALLEN series will also enjoy this.
Team Kieran!
February 3, 2016
This book was well written and a fun concept filled with all sorts of magical creatures hidden in plain sight. I love when a story incorporates fantasy into the real world, it gives it such a magical feeling. It started off with really good promise and I did find myself intrigued by the story, but then things got convoluted with an ‘instalove/soulmate’ plot. While everyone dreams of their love at first sight moment, let’s be real, it hardly ever happens.
I’m not sure the cover was well suited for the YA genre in the sense that if I had seen it at the bookstore, I wouldn’t have been drawn in to pick it up, I would have suspected it had been misplaced. It looks like more of an adult fiction, a Debbie Macomber or Maeve Binchy style cover.
I liked the secondary characters more than I liked the main characters. I would sooner have picked up a book about Sidelle than Zoe. I do want to see where this story will go, and hopefully more action. I also would love to see more of Kieran he was one of my favorites. It had a promising start and would definitely read the second book.
Read the full review: http://yafangirlreviews.com
I’m not sure the cover was well suited for the YA genre in the sense that if I had seen it at the bookstore, I wouldn’t have been drawn in to pick it up, I would have suspected it had been misplaced. It looks like more of an adult fiction, a Debbie Macomber or Maeve Binchy style cover.
I liked the secondary characters more than I liked the main characters. I would sooner have picked up a book about Sidelle than Zoe. I do want to see where this story will go, and hopefully more action. I also would love to see more of Kieran he was one of my favorites. It had a promising start and would definitely read the second book.
Read the full review: http://yafangirlreviews.com
May 19, 2015
Let me begin by saying I'm not a YA reader. It just isn't my preference. So, why five stars? When I do read YA, I mainly look for whether the author can keep my attention. And trust me, my attention span is short! Not only did this book do that, I found it difficult to put down. I downloaded it to my Kindle Sunday afternoon and finished it today, two days later!
The plot, in my opinion, was closely related to Twilight. An angel, a half-angel, a wolf, a fairy, demons, and humans. Oh, and a few love connections. There were some revelations and battles, and a few almost-racy scenes. But they were all well written. The best part for me was the ease of which I could picture scenes as I read them.
As a side note, I don't quite trust Shay. I don't know why, but I don't. This will make more sense if you read the book.
The plot, in my opinion, was closely related to Twilight. An angel, a half-angel, a wolf, a fairy, demons, and humans. Oh, and a few love connections. There were some revelations and battles, and a few almost-racy scenes. But they were all well written. The best part for me was the ease of which I could picture scenes as I read them.
As a side note, I don't quite trust Shay. I don't know why, but I don't. This will make more sense if you read the book.
October 30, 2016
It was ok, but I thought I would like it a lot more than I did.
The plot was interesting enough, but at times it made me want to cringe. Out of the characters, I couldn't really take to Zoe as she really annoyed me. I kept hoping that she would get better, but sadly she didn't. Kieron, was my favourite. I just found him interesting and wished that he had been in it more. Sidelle, was OK and I liked it when she was in the story.
Despite being disappointed, I still think I would carry on with the series as I'm curious to see what happens.
Would I recommend? People who like young adult/fantasy stories might like this.
The plot was interesting enough, but at times it made me want to cringe. Out of the characters, I couldn't really take to Zoe as she really annoyed me. I kept hoping that she would get better, but sadly she didn't. Kieron, was my favourite. I just found him interesting and wished that he had been in it more. Sidelle, was OK and I liked it when she was in the story.
Despite being disappointed, I still think I would carry on with the series as I'm curious to see what happens.
Would I recommend? People who like young adult/fantasy stories might like this.
November 15, 2016
This book was a perfect read for me. Romance, action, a bit of angst thrown in. It pulled me in right from the first chapter. The characters were likable and fun. Keiren is my favorite but that because I like the loyal friend types :)
As a previous review stated, it is a bit cheesy at places, but I happened to like cheesy. The part about the One Direction song was a bit much. That being said, it is a YA book and this sort of scene is one my younger daughter loves to read about.
Great start for a series. Do I recommend. YES. Will I read the rest of the series? YES. I'm definitely not stopping here. Over all, a well executed story with unique and fresh twist on "beings".
As a previous review stated, it is a bit cheesy at places, but I happened to like cheesy. The part about the One Direction song was a bit much. That being said, it is a YA book and this sort of scene is one my younger daughter loves to read about.
Great start for a series. Do I recommend. YES. Will I read the rest of the series? YES. I'm definitely not stopping here. Over all, a well executed story with unique and fresh twist on "beings".
June 15, 2015
Received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
Totally awesome. Loved it. It's busy, it's action packed and it's busting at the seems. You would think with so much going on in a book, it would ruin it. well, not this one. It keeps you on your toes and keeps you guessing. It's defiantly an attention holder. It all just fits perfectly and flows through the book. Nothing is left out, you know each of the characters part in the book. If you like paranormal romance then this is a book for you. A great debut novel.
Totally awesome. Loved it. It's busy, it's action packed and it's busting at the seems. You would think with so much going on in a book, it would ruin it. well, not this one. It keeps you on your toes and keeps you guessing. It's defiantly an attention holder. It all just fits perfectly and flows through the book. Nothing is left out, you know each of the characters part in the book. If you like paranormal romance then this is a book for you. A great debut novel.
April 4, 2016
Loved it.. If you like mortal instruments you will love this.. An ordinary girl who finds out she is far from ordinary.. But the chosen one to save the world..
May 7, 2015
This book was fantastic! Nice pacing, good on grammar, and an overall great story!!!
November 19, 2019
Zoe is a high school student just trying to finish her last year in school. She has a best friend Kieran who is a hottie by her side when they both stumble upon a demon and her hottie friend fights him off. Soon after life as Zoe knew it changes forever and she has to face these demons as well as a prophecy.
I will say that the story was very slow at the beginning but once it picked up pace it was very good and I enjoyed it. Will be continuing this series to see what happens next.
I will say that the story was very slow at the beginning but once it picked up pace it was very good and I enjoyed it. Will be continuing this series to see what happens next.
July 29, 2017
LOVE!!! Great new series! Can't wait to read the next installment in this ya paranormal romance featuring angels, demons, shifters, and fae! Five glittery stars!
February 6, 2017
I VOLUNTARILY REVIEWED A COPY FROM THE RACHEL E. CARTER YA BOOK CLUB ON GOODREADS.
Okay.
"Swords & Stilettos"
Where should I even begin?
Let's just start with Zoe. Who - at least for me - was literally a cookie cutter version of a typical YA protagonist. Complete with angles, insta-love and a love triangle. Of course.
But don't take what I'm saying to be a jab at this book. I enjoyed the characters, no matter how odd they were (YASSSS SHAY AND I LOVE STAR WARS) and I did enjoy the magic and action. I just couldn't get behind Zoe herself.
Not that she was bad or annoying or anything. It was just a bit too cliche for me.
So instead, I'm going to pretend that she wasn't and get right into things.
The opening of the story lied to me. At least, that's how it felt.
She said she was shivering.
It's like summer outside.
And she's wearing a dress.
And I thought they were outside but they were at the coffee shop (???).
The descriptions needed to be more clear about what was going on and where they were. Honestly, she gets this huge cut on her arm and I don't even remember that happening except that she fell and thinks she broke her arm.
Which threw me for a loop and I had to re-read the entire passage and discovered only the blister on the back of her foot.
Okayyyyyy
Weird.
But that was the pattern for the rest of the book. I kept reading something and then would be automatically confused as to how that happened.
Then there was the insta-love. The "zap" of electricity every time they touched. It kind of made sense why but it didn't and I was left like ummmmmmm..... okay.
But the world was a bit more... odd than usual.
There were angels and demons and nephalim. And fairies.
And werewolves.
And apparently witches are real too.
And there's this prophecy that she's the Redeemer.
But to be honest when I read the prophecy I was confused by it too. Like, is she supposed to kill everything or just demons? I mean, don't get me wrong, it wasn't this confusing for the entire book. Just like the first 100 pages or so. So, like, half of it.
I definitely enjoyed the characters, though, even if they were filled with pretty much every cliche possible, and I did like the way the book ended (YOU WILL FIND almost NO SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW!!!) but I wanted her to have some sort of reaction to all of this. Instead she kind of goes with the flow.
Like I'm sorry, if I just found out my BFF is an angel and never told me I would beat them up. Or at least yell at them. Extensively.
But nothing. She's just like "Oh, okay, let me go home and eat dinner with my family but not really and then let the strange boy who give me fuzzy electric feelings into my room and then take me for a magic carpet (wing) ride"
Do you see where I'm going with that?
Because that's literally how it felt.
Overall, the story might have been cliche but it was super fun and easy to get into, pulling me along for the ride. The writing wasn't bad at all, just the descriptions needed work. The world needed more expanding but I understood where we were at all times. I loved the characters but they were awkward for a large portion of the time or just bizarre. Like, they were all friends with her because of the prophecy. So none of them would've been her friends is that hadn't been the case.
As for originality? I gave that a full star. It was definitely... something.
(The full breakdown is below)
Well, I have to admit, that was an interesting way to start off my day.
I'm intrigued enough to want to know what happens next and whether Sam, the devil, (sorry, Supernatural ruined that and I couldn't stop laughing that the Devil's name is Sam) will win. But probably not because it's a typical YA book.
I just would like to know what happens next.
Story: 1/2
Characters: 1/2
World: 1/2
Writing: 1/2
Originality: 1
Okay.
"Swords & Stilettos"
Where should I even begin?
Let's just start with Zoe. Who - at least for me - was literally a cookie cutter version of a typical YA protagonist. Complete with angles, insta-love and a love triangle. Of course.
But don't take what I'm saying to be a jab at this book. I enjoyed the characters, no matter how odd they were (YASSSS SHAY AND I LOVE STAR WARS) and I did enjoy the magic and action. I just couldn't get behind Zoe herself.
Not that she was bad or annoying or anything. It was just a bit too cliche for me.
So instead, I'm going to pretend that she wasn't and get right into things.
The opening of the story lied to me. At least, that's how it felt.
She said she was shivering.
It's like summer outside.
And she's wearing a dress.
And I thought they were outside but they were at the coffee shop (???).
The descriptions needed to be more clear about what was going on and where they were. Honestly, she gets this huge cut on her arm and I don't even remember that happening except that she fell and thinks she broke her arm.
Which threw me for a loop and I had to re-read the entire passage and discovered only the blister on the back of her foot.
Okayyyyyy
Weird.
But that was the pattern for the rest of the book. I kept reading something and then would be automatically confused as to how that happened.
Then there was the insta-love. The "zap" of electricity every time they touched. It kind of made sense why but it didn't and I was left like ummmmmmm..... okay.
But the world was a bit more... odd than usual.
There were angels and demons and nephalim. And fairies.
And werewolves.
And apparently witches are real too.
And there's this prophecy that she's the Redeemer.
But to be honest when I read the prophecy I was confused by it too. Like, is she supposed to kill everything or just demons? I mean, don't get me wrong, it wasn't this confusing for the entire book. Just like the first 100 pages or so. So, like, half of it.
I definitely enjoyed the characters, though, even if they were filled with pretty much every cliche possible, and I did like the way the book ended (YOU WILL FIND almost NO SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW!!!) but I wanted her to have some sort of reaction to all of this. Instead she kind of goes with the flow.
Like I'm sorry, if I just found out my BFF is an angel and never told me I would beat them up. Or at least yell at them. Extensively.
But nothing. She's just like "Oh, okay, let me go home and eat dinner with my family but not really and then let the strange boy who give me fuzzy electric feelings into my room and then take me for a magic carpet (wing) ride"
Do you see where I'm going with that?
Because that's literally how it felt.
Overall, the story might have been cliche but it was super fun and easy to get into, pulling me along for the ride. The writing wasn't bad at all, just the descriptions needed work. The world needed more expanding but I understood where we were at all times. I loved the characters but they were awkward for a large portion of the time or just bizarre. Like, they were all friends with her because of the prophecy. So none of them would've been her friends is that hadn't been the case.
As for originality? I gave that a full star. It was definitely... something.
(The full breakdown is below)
Well, I have to admit, that was an interesting way to start off my day.
I'm intrigued enough to want to know what happens next and whether Sam, the devil, (sorry, Supernatural ruined that and I couldn't stop laughing that the Devil's name is Sam) will win. But probably not because it's a typical YA book.
I just would like to know what happens next.
Story: 1/2
Characters: 1/2
World: 1/2
Writing: 1/2
Originality: 1
August 16, 2016
The Guardian, a Sword, & Stilettos (Enlighten #1) by Kristin D. Van Risseghem
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author and Booklover Catlady Publicity in return for a fair and honest review.
Many thanks!
Another thrilling new entry into the YA Fantasy realm hits home in author Kristin D. Van Risseghem's "The Guardian, a Sword, & Stilettos (Enlighten #1)",
a brand new adventure featuring ancient prophecies, angels, demons, and a whole lot of teenage angst. Here is the official description of the
book.
Zoe Jabril could be just another 17-year-old girl attending parties with her friends and checking out cute guys—except her best friend is a
Guardian Angel, and the boy she crushes on is a Nephilim, half-angel, both sent to Earth to protect her. A high school classmate happens to be
a trendsetting shopaholic fairy. And now there’s a new werewolf in town.
Zoe has to deal with her feelings toward Shay, who spreads a strange electrical current through her body every time he touches her. Now Zoe is
under constant attack from demons, trying to kill and stop her from fulfilling the Prophecy: a girl will be born who will unite the Enlightens
to battle evil. Then on top of that, between boring homework and drama with girls at school, she has to control new found talents if she’s to
prevent the devil from escaping Hell.
What really stood out to this reviewer was how fast the action turned up in the story. Within a few pages the reader is introduced to three of
the main characters, is thrown into a high-octane, life or death situation, and introduces a heated new romance. The characters themselves, mainly
the protagonist Zoe, shows a tremendous amount of character growth through the novel. She goes from a naive, love-struck teenage girl to a
strong, powerful woman, and through the story's plot she more than proves herself worthy of being this series protagonist. The sheer volume of
mythology showcased in this first book is amazing, and the vast amount of different supernatural entities in this series is sure to remind a lot
of readers of the Shadowhunter sage written by the incredible Cassandra Clare.
Overall, this is a phenomenal first entry in the Enlighten series by Kristin D. Van Risseghem. It maintains the quality writing the YA genre has
come to know and love over the last few years, and the abundance of creativity is felt in every sentence by the author. It's filled with commonplace
teenage drama, while incorporating the supernatural realm in a very real and natural way. This is a must read for YA fans out there, so be sure
to pick up your copies of "The Guardian, a Sword, & Stilettos" today!
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author and Booklover Catlady Publicity in return for a fair and honest review.
Many thanks!
Another thrilling new entry into the YA Fantasy realm hits home in author Kristin D. Van Risseghem's "The Guardian, a Sword, & Stilettos (Enlighten #1)",
a brand new adventure featuring ancient prophecies, angels, demons, and a whole lot of teenage angst. Here is the official description of the
book.
Zoe Jabril could be just another 17-year-old girl attending parties with her friends and checking out cute guys—except her best friend is a
Guardian Angel, and the boy she crushes on is a Nephilim, half-angel, both sent to Earth to protect her. A high school classmate happens to be
a trendsetting shopaholic fairy. And now there’s a new werewolf in town.
Zoe has to deal with her feelings toward Shay, who spreads a strange electrical current through her body every time he touches her. Now Zoe is
under constant attack from demons, trying to kill and stop her from fulfilling the Prophecy: a girl will be born who will unite the Enlightens
to battle evil. Then on top of that, between boring homework and drama with girls at school, she has to control new found talents if she’s to
prevent the devil from escaping Hell.
What really stood out to this reviewer was how fast the action turned up in the story. Within a few pages the reader is introduced to three of
the main characters, is thrown into a high-octane, life or death situation, and introduces a heated new romance. The characters themselves, mainly
the protagonist Zoe, shows a tremendous amount of character growth through the novel. She goes from a naive, love-struck teenage girl to a
strong, powerful woman, and through the story's plot she more than proves herself worthy of being this series protagonist. The sheer volume of
mythology showcased in this first book is amazing, and the vast amount of different supernatural entities in this series is sure to remind a lot
of readers of the Shadowhunter sage written by the incredible Cassandra Clare.
Overall, this is a phenomenal first entry in the Enlighten series by Kristin D. Van Risseghem. It maintains the quality writing the YA genre has
come to know and love over the last few years, and the abundance of creativity is felt in every sentence by the author. It's filled with commonplace
teenage drama, while incorporating the supernatural realm in a very real and natural way. This is a must read for YA fans out there, so be sure
to pick up your copies of "The Guardian, a Sword, & Stilettos" today!
August 31, 2019
‘Swords & Stilettos’ is the first book I read from Kristin VanRisseghem and I really enjoyed it. At the beginning of the book some parts reminded me of ‘Hush, Hush’ series by Becca Fitzpatrick and ‘Sweet’ series by Wendy Higgins. Even though I enjoyed those series, I started preparing myself for disappointment because if it goes the same way, it is not really hard to guess what will happen next but I kept reading to see what would happen and I am glad I did. This is the first book I ever read that has Angels, Nephilim, Fairies and Werewolves in it all together and I LOVED IT :)
So back to ‘Swords & Stilettos’, our heroine Zoe is a 17 years old high school student. Her life is pretty normal until the day she and her best friend Kieran got attacked by two guys. Everything changes for Zoe after the attack because she starts to realize that nothing is like it seems. After the attack Kieran comes clean and explain Zoe that she is destined to save the world and unite angels, fairies and werewolves for the upcoming war. Kieran also explains her that he and Shay, who helped Kieran to fight with attackers, were sent to protect her. Kieran is her Guardian Angel and Shay is Nephilim who was assigned to protect her from afar. With the frequent demon attacks coming her way she finds out more and more about her friends and her powers. With the war getting closer, their 3 people team starts to expand to 5 with the addition of Sidelle and later Vash. Sidelle is one of Zoe’s close friends who is also a fairy and Vash is a werewolf :) I am telling you story gets better and better towards the end. There is also a love triangle between Zoe-Shay-Kieran and I am totally team Kieran :) . First book ends with a big reveal that makes you want to start reading the 2nd book right away or at least that was me at 3 am and I was going to buy the second book right away but unfortunately it doesn’t have a kindle addition :(
Overall, I really enjoyed ‘Swords & Stilettos’ and loved Kieran, Shay, Sidelle, and Vash. If you enjoyed Lauren Kate’s ‘Fallen’ series, Becca Fitzpatrick’s Hush, Hush’ series and/or Wendy Higgins’ ‘Sweet’ series, you will enjoy this book. If you are looking for an entertaining, easy and fast to read story that is filled with almost all supernatural beings ‘Swords & Stilettos’ is just for you.
Would I recommend this book: Yes.
Would I re-read this book: Yes.
Would I read future books by this author: Yes.
e-book kindly provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The review was originally posted on: https://miathebookaddict.wordpress.com/
So back to ‘Swords & Stilettos’, our heroine Zoe is a 17 years old high school student. Her life is pretty normal until the day she and her best friend Kieran got attacked by two guys. Everything changes for Zoe after the attack because she starts to realize that nothing is like it seems. After the attack Kieran comes clean and explain Zoe that she is destined to save the world and unite angels, fairies and werewolves for the upcoming war. Kieran also explains her that he and Shay, who helped Kieran to fight with attackers, were sent to protect her. Kieran is her Guardian Angel and Shay is Nephilim who was assigned to protect her from afar. With the frequent demon attacks coming her way she finds out more and more about her friends and her powers. With the war getting closer, their 3 people team starts to expand to 5 with the addition of Sidelle and later Vash. Sidelle is one of Zoe’s close friends who is also a fairy and Vash is a werewolf :) I am telling you story gets better and better towards the end. There is also a love triangle between Zoe-Shay-Kieran and I am totally team Kieran :) . First book ends with a big reveal that makes you want to start reading the 2nd book right away or at least that was me at 3 am and I was going to buy the second book right away but unfortunately it doesn’t have a kindle addition :(
Overall, I really enjoyed ‘Swords & Stilettos’ and loved Kieran, Shay, Sidelle, and Vash. If you enjoyed Lauren Kate’s ‘Fallen’ series, Becca Fitzpatrick’s Hush, Hush’ series and/or Wendy Higgins’ ‘Sweet’ series, you will enjoy this book. If you are looking for an entertaining, easy and fast to read story that is filled with almost all supernatural beings ‘Swords & Stilettos’ is just for you.
Would I recommend this book: Yes.
Would I re-read this book: Yes.
Would I read future books by this author: Yes.
e-book kindly provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The review was originally posted on: https://miathebookaddict.wordpress.com/
September 8, 2016
What can I say here that would do this book justice? It is a strong start to a great series and I can't wait to see what the author has in store for us. Zoe is a kind, nice young woman who is there for her friends when they need her. She really tries to help everyone around her. That makes me like her more, because you can tell she genuinely cares for others.
The action starts right away for Zoe and you get thrown right in to a world she didn't know was there. Her best friend, Kieran, is not who she thought he was and she meets Shay. Her feelings for him are definitely different to what she feels for her best friend. I love how it seems to go slow but at the same time it doesn't for them. I hate books that just go from "Hello I am so and so" to "I love you to the moon and back" without any real reason. You get a good reason with these two. Yes, you can say I am Team Zoe and Shay. What can I say, I love love, lol.
The story unfolds for you brilliantly and I can't wait to see what happens next for them. Downside, cliff hangers. OMG, I hate them but they are how you get through so many series. They have to make you want to come back for more!
Another mark against this one, though it's a small one for me and I so replaced it with my own ideas, is the music choices in this book. Seriously, I an a huge music fan and I could have so found better songs to express how they feel in certain places. Don't get me wrong, The Wanted is a good band, for teenagers, but they are not a group I would sit and listen to and cry over. Seriously!? And then One Direction?! I am not even going to touch that one. I am not a teenager, but even I know there are songs out there that appeals to teens that are so much better then what was pocked here.
I will definitely be back for more with this series.
The action starts right away for Zoe and you get thrown right in to a world she didn't know was there. Her best friend, Kieran, is not who she thought he was and she meets Shay. Her feelings for him are definitely different to what she feels for her best friend. I love how it seems to go slow but at the same time it doesn't for them. I hate books that just go from "Hello I am so and so" to "I love you to the moon and back" without any real reason. You get a good reason with these two. Yes, you can say I am Team Zoe and Shay. What can I say, I love love, lol.
The story unfolds for you brilliantly and I can't wait to see what happens next for them. Downside, cliff hangers. OMG, I hate them but they are how you get through so many series. They have to make you want to come back for more!
Another mark against this one, though it's a small one for me and I so replaced it with my own ideas, is the music choices in this book. Seriously, I an a huge music fan and I could have so found better songs to express how they feel in certain places. Don't get me wrong, The Wanted is a good band, for teenagers, but they are not a group I would sit and listen to and cry over. Seriously!? And then One Direction?! I am not even going to touch that one. I am not a teenager, but even I know there are songs out there that appeals to teens that are so much better then what was pocked here.
I will definitely be back for more with this series.
August 13, 2016
The Guardian a Sword & Stilettos,
By Kristin D.Van Risseghem.
( Source: I received this book from BookLover CatLady Publicity, In exchange for my opinion and honest review. )
Zoe is just your average 17 - year - old teenager, living an ordinary life. Or so she thought. Her best-friend is a Guardian Angel, and she is totally crushing on a Nephilim aka Half- Angel. Both who have been sent to earth to keep Zoe safe.
Zoe has more to deal with when her classmate and girlfriend turns out to be a fairy, and a hot new guy turns up at school who just happens to be a werewolf.
Zoe has these new feelings to deal with towards Shay. And needing to cope with demon attacks which are out to kill her to stop her from fulfilling a prophecy.
Zoe finds she has much to comprehend as she needs to learn her new found talents to prevent Hell on Earth.
The clock is ticking with her looming eighteenth birthday.
Just wow... I can honestly say I completely and thoroughly enjoyed this book. What a brilliant story!
This book is written with such grace and class. I am so glad to have found Kristin D.Van Risseghem, who is a new Author to myself. I love finding great new Authors!
The Guardian a sword & stilettos is so worth Five stars. It has everything I love about Paranormal reads. Angels, Nephilim, Demons, Fairy's ( which I must say are absolutely brilliant in this story! ) even Werewolves. Kristin gives you so much. Every one of these spiritual & magical beings is intricately woven into this story each one possessing such character you can't help but adores them. There is certainly a character for everyone!
The story is action packed, so it captivates the reader's attention, and you will find you can't put it down!
Awesome read. I'm heading onto book Two straight away to continue Zoe's story.
I completely recommend this book.
By Kristin D.Van Risseghem.
( Source: I received this book from BookLover CatLady Publicity, In exchange for my opinion and honest review. )
Zoe is just your average 17 - year - old teenager, living an ordinary life. Or so she thought. Her best-friend is a Guardian Angel, and she is totally crushing on a Nephilim aka Half- Angel. Both who have been sent to earth to keep Zoe safe.
Zoe has more to deal with when her classmate and girlfriend turns out to be a fairy, and a hot new guy turns up at school who just happens to be a werewolf.
Zoe has these new feelings to deal with towards Shay. And needing to cope with demon attacks which are out to kill her to stop her from fulfilling a prophecy.
Zoe finds she has much to comprehend as she needs to learn her new found talents to prevent Hell on Earth.
The clock is ticking with her looming eighteenth birthday.
Just wow... I can honestly say I completely and thoroughly enjoyed this book. What a brilliant story!
This book is written with such grace and class. I am so glad to have found Kristin D.Van Risseghem, who is a new Author to myself. I love finding great new Authors!
The Guardian a sword & stilettos is so worth Five stars. It has everything I love about Paranormal reads. Angels, Nephilim, Demons, Fairy's ( which I must say are absolutely brilliant in this story! ) even Werewolves. Kristin gives you so much. Every one of these spiritual & magical beings is intricately woven into this story each one possessing such character you can't help but adores them. There is certainly a character for everyone!
The story is action packed, so it captivates the reader's attention, and you will find you can't put it down!
Awesome read. I'm heading onto book Two straight away to continue Zoe's story.
I completely recommend this book.
August 13, 2015
You should read this book. If you think Twilight had potential but focused too much on the love triangle, read this book. If you like YA fantasy but feel like "the chosen one" is too stereotypical for you to really love a book, then read this book. If you like well developed and interesting characters, guess what? Read this book.
This book first caught my attention when the author asked me if I'd like to review it. I was expecting more of the usual fantasy romance--chosen one who's automatically ready and willing to be chosen, a love triangle, a focus solely on the Chosen One with no development for anyone else, then Wham-bam-thank you ma'am the day is saved and everyone goes back to their normal lives.
I was pleasantly surprised. Kristin writes a well formed, real teenage girl (with hormones) who suddenly finds out that she's supposed to save the world and No One thought to tell her until demons started trying to cut her head off. Like any teenager, Zoe appreciates a fine body, but made me give a sigh of relief when she quickly shut down a would-be love triangle with telling one of the boys that she likes him, but not that way, and he should grow a pair and act adult about it.
What I also love: that feeling when you get when not everything is resolved and you look down and there's only 10% of the book left. I got that feeling. I ached for more to read. I need to find out what happens next and I'm excited for the next book.
That is the mark of a good author. This book stuck in my mind and had me jumping off the bed to tell my husband how good that book was and how glad I was to read it.
So read this book. And then read the next one. And then keep an eye out for more because I get the feeling Risseghem is going places.
This book first caught my attention when the author asked me if I'd like to review it. I was expecting more of the usual fantasy romance--chosen one who's automatically ready and willing to be chosen, a love triangle, a focus solely on the Chosen One with no development for anyone else, then Wham-bam-thank you ma'am the day is saved and everyone goes back to their normal lives.
I was pleasantly surprised. Kristin writes a well formed, real teenage girl (with hormones) who suddenly finds out that she's supposed to save the world and No One thought to tell her until demons started trying to cut her head off. Like any teenager, Zoe appreciates a fine body, but made me give a sigh of relief when she quickly shut down a would-be love triangle with telling one of the boys that she likes him, but not that way, and he should grow a pair and act adult about it.
What I also love: that feeling when you get when not everything is resolved and you look down and there's only 10% of the book left. I got that feeling. I ached for more to read. I need to find out what happens next and I'm excited for the next book.
That is the mark of a good author. This book stuck in my mind and had me jumping off the bed to tell my husband how good that book was and how glad I was to read it.
So read this book. And then read the next one. And then keep an eye out for more because I get the feeling Risseghem is going places.
August 17, 2016
This is a very different book. Zoe is 17 and up to all the normal teenage activities. Her best friend is Kieran, who turns out to be a Nephilim (??-Yup! You and me both!) Half angel half man, sent to protect Zoe who turns out to be rather special. An enjoyable YA novel for those who enjoy a little fantasy amongst the pages. There are the usual fights, special powers and different characters, most of whom are likeable (apart from the baddies of course!).
Possibly a “Marmite” book- you love it or you hate it. The characters are well incorporated into “normal” life so you are a little surprised at who turns out to be “one of them” at times. I enjoyed this book throughout until it came to the ending which left me rather wanting. It came to a conclusion much quicker than I would have liked (just my thoughts) and feel that another chapter to reduce the pace and give us more about what is likely to come in the next book would have made for a better finale.
An easy short (3hr) read not just perhaps for the YA audience- Twilight readers were not all YA!
I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for an open and honest review
Possibly a “Marmite” book- you love it or you hate it. The characters are well incorporated into “normal” life so you are a little surprised at who turns out to be “one of them” at times. I enjoyed this book throughout until it came to the ending which left me rather wanting. It came to a conclusion much quicker than I would have liked (just my thoughts) and feel that another chapter to reduce the pace and give us more about what is likely to come in the next book would have made for a better finale.
An easy short (3hr) read not just perhaps for the YA audience- Twilight readers were not all YA!
I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for an open and honest review
October 24, 2015
Zoe Jabril could be just another 17-year-old girl attending parties with her friends and checking out cute guys—except her best friend is a Guardian Angel, and the boy she crushes on is Nephilim--both sent to Earth to protect her. Zoe's classmate happens to be a trendsetting shopaholic fairy. And now there’s a new werewolf in town.
Also, she could be the chosen one.
Between boys, homework, and drama with girls at school, she has to control new found talents if she’s to prevent the devil from escaping Hell.
What a fun story! I really liked Zoe's teen voice. I also thoroughly enjoyed watching two insanely hot guys fight over her. (Isn't that every girl's dream?)
But what I enjoyed most about this story was watching all the beings in the world being revealed. There are so many different creatures involved, each one with their own magic system. The picture painted is of one intense and fun magical world. It hints at a next book, that should be full of some really fantastical magic!
Also, she could be the chosen one.
Between boys, homework, and drama with girls at school, she has to control new found talents if she’s to prevent the devil from escaping Hell.
What a fun story! I really liked Zoe's teen voice. I also thoroughly enjoyed watching two insanely hot guys fight over her. (Isn't that every girl's dream?)
But what I enjoyed most about this story was watching all the beings in the world being revealed. There are so many different creatures involved, each one with their own magic system. The picture painted is of one intense and fun magical world. It hints at a next book, that should be full of some really fantastical magic!
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