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In the Crossfire #1
In The Crossfire
The world as you know it, is gone.
There is a war waging on, greater than any war ever predicted by the human race. They all believed that the end would come by human hands, by bombings, radiation, disease, or through the stripping of all Earth’s natural recourses. But that is not how it happened. It was not by the human hand that the world was destroyed, at least not entirely.
Now humans are hunted. Both demons and seraphs have established their territories where they live here on earth and both have evolved to use humans as their errand dogs. They catch us, trap us, train us, and eventually we die in some horrific way. This is what is left of us.
As for me, well my father was human and my mother one of them, an Angel. I am what they call a halfling, or Nephilim, and I try to survive in this god forsaken place.
This is my world now, or what’s left of it.
There is a war waging on, greater than any war ever predicted by the human race. They all believed that the end would come by human hands, by bombings, radiation, disease, or through the stripping of all Earth’s natural recourses. But that is not how it happened. It was not by the human hand that the world was destroyed, at least not entirely.
Now humans are hunted. Both demons and seraphs have established their territories where they live here on earth and both have evolved to use humans as their errand dogs. They catch us, trap us, train us, and eventually we die in some horrific way. This is what is left of us.
As for me, well my father was human and my mother one of them, an Angel. I am what they call a halfling, or Nephilim, and I try to survive in this god forsaken place.
This is my world now, or what’s left of it.
- GenresFantasyYoung Adult
353 pages, Paperback
First published June 30, 2016
1 person is currently reading
572 people want to read
About the author
Yelena Lugin
6 books71 followersI love to write and love to read. My favorite books tend to be Fantasy/YA.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
December 26, 2016
4.5/5 stars
Trigger Warning: scenes with torture and abuse
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
The world as you know it, is gone.
Humans are being hunted by both demons and seraphs. Sky was not someone who ever thought that she would be captured alive. But she was. She thought she knew who to trust, she thought she knew the truth. She could never have been more wrong. This is Sky’s story.
I would like to thank the outstanding and amazing writer, Yelena Lugin, for contacting me to read and review her book, In the Crossfire. I was immediately enthralled by the title and after reading the summary I know I would like this book...and boy was I right! I was more than right, I absolutely loved reading this book and I can’t wait for the next one, Breaking of Chains. The scenes and descriptions made you feel like you were there with the characters, and the characters themselves were flushed out and were developed very well. If you are looking for a book that is long enough that you will get a full story out of it with amazing characters and writing this is the book for you!
Trigger Warning: scenes with torture and abuse
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
The world as you know it, is gone.
Humans are being hunted by both demons and seraphs. Sky was not someone who ever thought that she would be captured alive. But she was. She thought she knew who to trust, she thought she knew the truth. She could never have been more wrong. This is Sky’s story.
“I was to forever be stuck in this space, in the crossfire of two species who did not belong on earth.”
I would like to thank the outstanding and amazing writer, Yelena Lugin, for contacting me to read and review her book, In the Crossfire. I was immediately enthralled by the title and after reading the summary I know I would like this book...and boy was I right! I was more than right, I absolutely loved reading this book and I can’t wait for the next one, Breaking of Chains. The scenes and descriptions made you feel like you were there with the characters, and the characters themselves were flushed out and were developed very well. If you are looking for a book that is long enough that you will get a full story out of it with amazing characters and writing this is the book for you!
“‘What happened to you?’ Barakiel observed Luke when we stepped off the bus.I was very skeptical of Sky being our main character at first. I felt like we were going to have another girl is better fighter than even the seasoned warriors because she lived in constant threat for a couple years. But it wasn’t that way at all! Sky is of course a great fighter but that's with years of not only being out in the wilderness fighting demons but training with her mother, an angel. Her half angel half human blood, halfling, does make her special and gives her some added strengths, but it also sets her back. Demons want her to hunt down Angels and Angels want to kill her. All of her life she was taught to keep her angel side hidden and fight with her human reflexes. After being kidnapped by the Angels, in particular Nathanial an attractive prince, her secret is even harder to keep. Her character was very complex and continues to develop throughout the book. Following Sky and those she keeps close to her fight to survive kept me on the edge of my seat.
‘Girl fight.’ Heath answered.
And as if Barakiel knew, he turned to me.
‘Well you look fine.’ He said.”
“I will face the world with you, Sky. From the deepest pit of the ocean, to the highest cloud in the sky.”There wasn't another character in this book that I could classify as a main character. I felt like Sky was pretty much our main focus, even her love interest didn’t have a humongous role. I felt like this added to the feeling of abandonment. Books about another creature or species taking over Earth are always given a huge backstory. This is how they took over, this is what they wanted, the world is in shambles, and people are trying to survive in small groups. But, I feel like we never really get to experience our main character feeling truly alone. Being alone and feeling alone are two completely different things. I can be surrounded by people in a room and still feel completely isolated. And we finally get that feeling in this book, we get to see Sky battle the isolation in every chapter, no matter if she was with friends or in the training room fighting demons one on one. She always had that feeling of isolation and that, for me, made the book a hundred times more intense and in a way makes you empathize for her even more.
“‘So, Nathanial, what am I?’ My eyes narrowed, waiting for an answer.One of the main angels we get to meet on a very personal level was Prince Nathanial. He is a very complex and interesting person. Right when you think you have him figured out he goes and switches it up on you. You never know what he is going to do, especially when it comes to Sky. There is always that aspect of uncertainty in young-adult relationships because no one wants to be the first one to admit that they like, or are in love with, the other. But, I feel like Sky and Nathanial had a pretty open relationships. Granted people said things they didn’t mean but all in all they were better than the other young-adult relationships I’ve read. Go figure, an angel and a halfling can have a better relationship than two humans.
He loosed an aggravated sigh, rubbing the back of his neck with a hand.
‘You’re a damn headache.’”
“The sun is out, dark one. You're a coward in the day. Go crawl back into your smelly basement, where you can pretend to be all big and strong.”There wasn’t a set in stone villain throughout the story. At first you think it’s going to be the demons that take over the world but then the angels were cast in a pretty bad light. Then the worst character of all time, Samuel, comes into the picture. He is basically an angel demon hybrid. He looks like an angel, but if you cut him black blood would come seeping out. Rumors spread of Samuel and his sadistic practices, but no one wants to put their head under the dark princes boot. They’d rather turn their head when they hear a girl screaming for help, or walk the other direction when they smell something putrid down one of his hallways. Everyone in the book seems to be wary of him, but no one has the guts to really stand up against him...except for Sky. Sky does have her moments of utter stupidity, and most of those moments are fueled by Samuel. Many people scolded her for her actions but a good amount of the humans and even angels were in awe of her strength. The only comment I have to make is: when you kick an animal, it’ll bite.
“‘Me?’ Surely I had misheard her, I thought she had said I needed a dress.We may not have had another character with a huge role other than Sky, but we did have a great set of secondary characters. Everything from sadistic rapists to an goofy angel that helped Sky get through her tough times. I can’t pick my favorite character from this great cast because I was able to relate almost all of them. Even the bad characters had a couple redeeming qualities, except for Samuel. Some on the honorable mentions were definitely Heath, Barakiel, and Kat. Every character had a unique personality and relationship with Sky that kept the book moving.
‘Well it's not for us.’ Max chimed in.
‘Nawh Max, I’m sure you have a lovely pair of legs.’ Heath winked at him.”
“I’m going to kill Max and Heath, I promised myself, who gives a girl alcohol and leaves her outside in the cold, on a hive, surrounded by deadly angels.”The relationships were some of the best parts of this book. Both the platonic and romantic relationships were changing throughout the story. People you thought would be by your side, change allegiances, and others that you thought would be your enemy turn out to be one of your most valued allies. The relationship between Sky and her love interest, Nathanial, is very...interesting. In the beginning it does have a lot of parallels to other young-adult romances, but as they grew as people, and in turn grew their relationship, things began to change.
“‘He is a fool. And when we are through with you, we will bring him to his knees, and that's something I would really, really love to see.’ The glint in her eye was dangerous.”Yelena Lugin’s writing style is beautiful. It had the perfect balance of description and dialogue. I feel like I focus so much on this balance, but it’s really important. There were a couple moments where you were sucked into this vortex of descriptions, or pages of no dialogue whatsoever. But, all in all the book was well balanced. It flowed well and you felt like you were there with the characters. I read more than half this book in one sitting because it’s so addicting! Experiencing this journey with Sky, Kat, Nathanial, everyone both human and angel. The decision to keep it first person with one POV was a great choice! You never left Sky’s mind, so you saw everything through her eyes. First person changes the reader's view on the story because you are hearing the main characters commentary but that’s what this book needed. It didn’t need a vague overview of clash of worlds, you need a story packed with emotion. Choosing Sky’s voice to be heard throughout the story was one of the best aspects of this book.
“Silently he raised his hand pulling a small leaf that had been tangled in my hair, freeing it. ‘We males seem to be good at screwing with things that are good.’”The plot of In the Crossfire was fast paced and dangerous. Even when Sky was in “safety” I was still on the edge of my seat waiting for a new plot line to pop out of the woodwork, and I was not disappointed. The main plot wasn’t lost behind the other intricate plot points that were woven in over time. You can tell that Yelena Lugin knew where she wanted this story to go and what she wanted to come out of this book. The book was easy to read and gave you a warm feeling inside, perfect for getting out of a reading slump.
“Fear keeps people alive. It shows you your limits.”Overall, this is one of my favorite books on 2016. In the beginning the story line seemed very simple but as the plot line and character grew it started to get more and more detailed. Nothing was over written or explained to the point of boredom, you knew what you needed to know and enough to get you started on your journey. You learned more about the angels and demons taking over the world with Sky as she started to learn more about them. It was a very easy and great way to show rather than tell the reader about the world they were reading about. If you are looking for a well-written book with romance, fighting, angels, demons, and lots of danger this is the book for you. Every time I picked up In the Crossfire my eyes stayed locked to the page and I couldn’t set it down. I will be waiting, impatiently, for the second book to come out. There is so much that was left unsolved and so much more to learn from this world! This is definitely a book you want to pick up.
July 18, 2017
*****You can read my full review here.*****
In the Crossfire is a totally different book than the Aorra series. Crossfire deals with Seraphs and Hellions and how humans are caught in between. In the world of Crossfire, Seraphs and Hellions came to Earth about 40 years before the book takes place. The Hellions needed a world that they could devour, and the Seraphs needed to "protect" the humans; but our definition of protection and their definition of protection are two totally different things. In the eyes of the humans, there are no good guys; even other humans can't be trusted.
A lot happens in the book to build up to what will happen in future books.
Honestly, my favorite part of the book is the love story part of it. I've been needing a good love story and I've been too scared to read Me Before You because I'm not ready to cry my eyes out, so this provided a wonderful romance, or at least the beginning of one, and I'm excited to see what happens next between the characters.
In the Crossfire is a totally different book than the Aorra series. Crossfire deals with Seraphs and Hellions and how humans are caught in between. In the world of Crossfire, Seraphs and Hellions came to Earth about 40 years before the book takes place. The Hellions needed a world that they could devour, and the Seraphs needed to "protect" the humans; but our definition of protection and their definition of protection are two totally different things. In the eyes of the humans, there are no good guys; even other humans can't be trusted.
A lot happens in the book to build up to what will happen in future books.
Honestly, my favorite part of the book is the love story part of it. I've been needing a good love story and I've been too scared to read Me Before You because I'm not ready to cry my eyes out, so this provided a wonderful romance, or at least the beginning of one, and I'm excited to see what happens next between the characters.
July 20, 2016
So what is In The Crossfire?
It's like that one ride in the theme park that scares you just to look at it whilst in the same way beckons you closer and refuses to let you go. You think about it over and over and finally, you step up to the gate and strap yourself in.
Yup, it's a thrill ride.
Buried in and amongst a host of other stories with similar ideas and themes, it's the one sort of experience you won't forget, because going on all the rides, eating all the food, hearing all the noises and searching around every square inch of the theme park, you're looking for that one special moment that you'll remember over and over and over.
Look no further.
This is Sky's story in more ways than one. Yelena Lugin stretches herself, writing in first person, and in the process, perfectly puts the reader in Sky's shoes as she experiences a life-altering disordering event in the very first chapter and lives to ride out the consequences like a roller-coaster on a rail, and, with her, till death do us part (and boy it gets close sometimes), we ride out all the twists and turns of Sky's ascendancy to becoming, well, the perfect character to take a journey with in the messy and scary world Yelena has created for us.
I want to send this to Cassandra Clare and tell her this is how you write an angel book. Yes it has the humor and the romance and the action, but it's the brutality undergirding the tone that I really loved, the fatalistic edge that threatened to ruin every character we've come to love and the dangerous subversion of class politics that taints every conversation as Sky not only tries to gain her footing in a world that feels very broad and ancient and yet still seeds our mind with tons of possibilities for a cataclysmic future, but somehow makes us question the truths Sky finds herself coming to time and again. And, like I said, it's a perfect book one because it carries the ascendancy portion of Sky's character arc perfectly and sets the table, or the board, for a meaty dose of triumph and tragedy in the coming books, hopefully in the vein of Episode IV V and VI.
Big thanks to Yelena for a signed copy. I truly hope everyone who loves this genre, YA high fantasy, angel fantasy, apocalyptic paranormal or high-octane A Game of Wings or whatever you may want to think of it as, checks out this book and supports Yelena as she continues writing this series.
Recommended for everyone.
It's like that one ride in the theme park that scares you just to look at it whilst in the same way beckons you closer and refuses to let you go. You think about it over and over and finally, you step up to the gate and strap yourself in.
Yup, it's a thrill ride.
Buried in and amongst a host of other stories with similar ideas and themes, it's the one sort of experience you won't forget, because going on all the rides, eating all the food, hearing all the noises and searching around every square inch of the theme park, you're looking for that one special moment that you'll remember over and over and over.
Look no further.
This is Sky's story in more ways than one. Yelena Lugin stretches herself, writing in first person, and in the process, perfectly puts the reader in Sky's shoes as she experiences a life-altering disordering event in the very first chapter and lives to ride out the consequences like a roller-coaster on a rail, and, with her, till death do us part (and boy it gets close sometimes), we ride out all the twists and turns of Sky's ascendancy to becoming, well, the perfect character to take a journey with in the messy and scary world Yelena has created for us.
I want to send this to Cassandra Clare and tell her this is how you write an angel book. Yes it has the humor and the romance and the action, but it's the brutality undergirding the tone that I really loved, the fatalistic edge that threatened to ruin every character we've come to love and the dangerous subversion of class politics that taints every conversation as Sky not only tries to gain her footing in a world that feels very broad and ancient and yet still seeds our mind with tons of possibilities for a cataclysmic future, but somehow makes us question the truths Sky finds herself coming to time and again. And, like I said, it's a perfect book one because it carries the ascendancy portion of Sky's character arc perfectly and sets the table, or the board, for a meaty dose of triumph and tragedy in the coming books, hopefully in the vein of Episode IV V and VI.
Big thanks to Yelena for a signed copy. I truly hope everyone who loves this genre, YA high fantasy, angel fantasy, apocalyptic paranormal or high-octane A Game of Wings or whatever you may want to think of it as, checks out this book and supports Yelena as she continues writing this series.
Recommended for everyone.
December 29, 2016
I love this book :)
Got me a little scared but I still like it
Thumbs up, Yelena !!!
Got me a little scared but I still like it
Thumbs up, Yelena !!!
November 19, 2016
Blogreview: http://hedisbookworld.blogspot.nl/201...
* This book was given to me by Yelena Lugin in return for a honest review *
I like this book, but it took me a while for me to get into it. It was fun, romantic at times and aslo thrilling to read. Yelena her writing style is something i like, something that keeps you and doesn't want to let go. I like the theme of the story, it was original but sometimes in the book i had some desiafu's. There were times in the story were i found that i had read something like it before, but that didn't take away from the story that she was trying to tell. I found it enjoyeble and i would centainly read her next book. It left with a cliffhanger and i cant deal with that haha. I need to know whats going to happen next. I also have a feeling about Kat, that she cant really be trusted.. but i dont know why. I hope for her next novel she will give us some more background about the Angels and Demons, her friend but also about Nathaniel and her parents. I would love the get that story!
I would recommend this to anyone who is into stories based on Angels and Demons.
* This book was given to me by Yelena Lugin in return for a honest review *
I like this book, but it took me a while for me to get into it. It was fun, romantic at times and aslo thrilling to read. Yelena her writing style is something i like, something that keeps you and doesn't want to let go. I like the theme of the story, it was original but sometimes in the book i had some desiafu's. There were times in the story were i found that i had read something like it before, but that didn't take away from the story that she was trying to tell. I found it enjoyeble and i would centainly read her next book. It left with a cliffhanger and i cant deal with that haha. I need to know whats going to happen next. I also have a feeling about Kat, that she cant really be trusted.. but i dont know why. I hope for her next novel she will give us some more background about the Angels and Demons, her friend but also about Nathaniel and her parents. I would love the get that story!
I would recommend this to anyone who is into stories based on Angels and Demons.
January 6, 2017
Okay, so, this was not my thing really. As in, my interest in a girl liking a guy but being a badass etc. etc. is very limited. For example, I didn't much care for Throne of Glass or City of Bones. Putting aside that I didn't like the over-arching principle, this was a good read!
It shares similarities with City of Bones, aimed at the same audience, angels fighting demons etc.
I felt this struggled to begin with, and didn't really care for the main character (I have the same problem with Throne of Glass, so if you liked that, it won't be an issue). Weirdly, I found myself mainly caring about the romance here, and that's when the main character became more likable!
Self-published author: As a fellow self published author, I pay a lot of attention to typos, sentence structure, grammar, punctuation, formatting etc. Possibly more than the average reader!
This book really needs another read through by a proof reader. Run on sentences, commas instead of periods, etc. it's not so much that I couldn't continue (yes, I've DNF'd a book when it was too bad, I'm sensitive to these things), but to elevate it to the next level. It wouldn't even be that big of a job as it was CLOSE!
The formatting was also a bit off. The indent of a new paragraph was HUGE (a quarter of the page) - I personally know the trials and tribulations of the Amazon converting software, so I don't blame the author here.
However, I am strongly considering stealing the way the author starts her chapters with the chapter number in the corner, so swings and roundabouts there!
It shares similarities with City of Bones, aimed at the same audience, angels fighting demons etc.
I felt this struggled to begin with, and didn't really care for the main character (I have the same problem with Throne of Glass, so if you liked that, it won't be an issue). Weirdly, I found myself mainly caring about the romance here, and that's when the main character became more likable!
Self-published author: As a fellow self published author, I pay a lot of attention to typos, sentence structure, grammar, punctuation, formatting etc. Possibly more than the average reader!
This book really needs another read through by a proof reader. Run on sentences, commas instead of periods, etc. it's not so much that I couldn't continue (yes, I've DNF'd a book when it was too bad, I'm sensitive to these things), but to elevate it to the next level. It wouldn't even be that big of a job as it was CLOSE!
The formatting was also a bit off. The indent of a new paragraph was HUGE (a quarter of the page) - I personally know the trials and tribulations of the Amazon converting software, so I don't blame the author here.
However, I am strongly considering stealing the way the author starts her chapters with the chapter number in the corner, so swings and roundabouts there!
August 5, 2016
First of all and most important I want to thank the author for providing me a copy of her book! Thank you, Yelena!
That fact has not influenced my rating, I truly love this book!
_________________________________
This intro goes a little further than the synopsis.
The world no longer is what it used to be…
Earth is inhabited not only by humans but also by hellions, same for demons…
There are more than one type of hellions/ demons, there are some that take humanoid form, others that are repugnant things…
But trouble didn't stop there… what came after was not better…
There is also different types of angels, more like positions… there are lower angels but also higher angels, also called Seraphs.
And this war going on between them…
Kat who Sky sees as a sister and Alec as an older brother, are Sky's family since her mother died. Together they try to survive but Sky holds too many secrets.
Everything was fine, despite well angels and hellions attacks, until one day Sky is caught by angels…
There is this angel that is kind to her but can she trust him? Can she trust any of them?
_________________________________
This story is so alive…. The all book is written in Sky's POV.
There are some things, a little ones that bother me a little but those are mere details!
The prologue is so well written, is one of the best descriptions I've ever read. It's really an amazing description of the world situation, the fight between angels, hellions, humans …
I like the writing style, I liked more In The Crossfire than Splintered Fate, that one it's also an amazing book but truth is I had so much joy reading In The Crossfire mainly because of some characters in particular :D
The cast of characters is vast and I loved meeting them all, specially Sky, Barakiel, Nikki, Heathh, Nathan (I have a secret love for this name :) and also Ethan :D) and These ones always found a way to make me laugh or smile. Most of them teasing Sky, the Nikki's girlish moments, Barakiel and Heath provocations…
Sky is definitely an interesting character, seeing her journey up close has been one of the funniest reads.
Sky is an impulsive girl, talks without thinking first, sometimes also acts, she is kind of crazy (when you read the book, you will get why); she feels intensively, normally when she is angry!
The relationships that she builts with the other characters are also so intense in so many ways…
Sky is not the most rightful person, sometimes she doesn't make the wisest choices, she makes mistakes but you she is human!
I specially like that she doesn't try to be a hero, she just wants to protect her family.
_________________________________
<><><><><> Some favourite scenes/quotes <><><><><>
_________________________________
Lately words had been out off my reach and I want to say more for this marvelous book but I feel stuck…
Anyway I'm super excited for book 2 because it is promising!!
That fact has not influenced my rating, I truly love this book!
_________________________________
<><><>The book itself - Introduction<><><>
This intro goes a little further than the synopsis.
The world no longer is what it used to be…
Earth is inhabited not only by humans but also by hellions, same for demons…
Hellions were the first to come, nasty demonic things. Their bodies were twisted, made of death and darkness, they thrived on the destruction and pain that they caused.
There are more than one type of hellions/ demons, there are some that take humanoid form, others that are repugnant things…
But trouble didn't stop there… what came after was not better…
Back then people called them Angels, that is what they saw when they first appeared. They had enormous wings, some made of glowing light and pulsing energy and others of feathers. Their hands, feet, their faces, were like looking in a mirror, just like the humans. Everyone wanted to believe they were saviors for the human race, it was the common hope. But they did not care for the humans, they only cared about killing the Hellions.
There is also different types of angels, more like positions… there are lower angels but also higher angels, also called Seraphs.
Higher angels were stronger, faster, better than their lower counterparts and worse for us. Even their wings were different than the lower angels, who had feathery wings. The higher angels had wings of glimmering energy, and they were able to make their wings vanish. They could walk amongst the humans, looking human.They are most sent only to capture humans not actual killed them… And there's also royals angels. Royal? Yep! Like Kings and Queens? Yep! This one is a first to me and it's really awesome!
And this war going on between them…
They all believed that the end would come by human hands, by bombings, radiation, disease, or through the stripping of all Earth’s natural resources. But that is not how it happened.Humans aren't safe anymore… Humans are caught in the middle, killed, hurt, enslaved, watching the world they knew being destroyed…
In the beginning the humans worked to fight side by side with the angels, their saviors. But Humans were nothing more than simple casualties for the seraphs, and sources of fun for the Hellions.So to one another they are enemies, each one fighting to protect their own kind and destroying the others…
Kat who Sky sees as a sister and Alec as an older brother, are Sky's family since her mother died. Together they try to survive but Sky holds too many secrets.
Everything was fine, despite well angels and hellions attacks, until one day Sky is caught by angels…
There is this angel that is kind to her but can she trust him? Can she trust any of them?
_________________________________
<><><>Thoughts<><><>
This story is so alive…. The all book is written in Sky's POV.
There are some things, a little ones that bother me a little but those are mere details!
The prologue is so well written, is one of the best descriptions I've ever read. It's really an amazing description of the world situation, the fight between angels, hellions, humans …
I like the writing style, I liked more In The Crossfire than Splintered Fate, that one it's also an amazing book but truth is I had so much joy reading In The Crossfire mainly because of some characters in particular :D
The cast of characters is vast and I loved meeting them all, specially Sky, Barakiel, Nikki, Heathh, Nathan (I have a secret love for this name :) and also Ethan :D) and These ones always found a way to make me laugh or smile. Most of them teasing Sky, the Nikki's girlish moments, Barakiel and Heath provocations…
Sky is definitely an interesting character, seeing her journey up close has been one of the funniest reads.
Sky is an impulsive girl, talks without thinking first, sometimes also acts, she is kind of crazy (when you read the book, you will get why); she feels intensively, normally when she is angry!
The relationships that she builts with the other characters are also so intense in so many ways…
Sky is not the most rightful person, sometimes she doesn't make the wisest choices, she makes mistakes but you she is human!
I specially like that she doesn't try to be a hero, she just wants to protect her family.
_________________________________
<><><><><> Some favourite scenes/quotes <><><><><>
_________________________________
Lately words had been out off my reach and I want to say more for this marvelous book but I feel stuck…
Anyway I'm super excited for book 2 because it is promising!!
July 12, 2016
Book: In the Crossfire
Author: Yelena Lugin
Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars
I would like to thank Yelena Lugin and YA Kingdom Book Club for giving me the chance to read this book for free.
The first thing that really drew me into this book was the world. Yelena has created a very complex and dark world that was very attractive to me. I loved all the different levels of demons and the different ways you could kill them. Yelena clearly took the time to make all of these little details fit. I just love the idea of the Seraphs, the Hellions, and the humans all living together in what is a dark society. The book takes place about forty years after the Seraphs and Hellions arrive on Earth, which is perfect. They are still kind of new to the planet, but have been there long enough to establish a rather elaborate system of government.
Sky and her friends are amazing leads. They are all strong fighters, who know how to take care of themselves. Their friendship runs so deep and their closeness makes them stronger, which is why the things that happen between them are kind of shocking to me. I just love how Yelena gives the reader a chance to see these bonds and how these bonds change/remain the same as the events in the book go on. I also love how as the book goes on, Sky learns to see that things may not be as black and white as she first thought and that society is actually a lot more complex than she first thought.
The secondary characters and the male lead are also well done. There are a lot of characters in this one, but I found them all to be very important. One thing that I really liked about this large cannon was how Yelena made them all different. I loved seeing their strengths and weaknesses come out.
Nathan was a great male lead. He seems like a likable enough character, but there is something about him that has me worried. I just don't know if I buy that he is as good as he wants to come across. Samuel is the other character that I'm not too sure about.
There is a little bit of romance in this one, but it is not the sole focus of the book. There is a lot of build up for later books. So, if you are looking for a story that has an ending, don't read this one.
So, why the four star rating? I'm not going to lie. This book just was not a five star rating for me. I loved it, but compared to the other books that I have given the five star, this one just did not make the cut. First off, I did see some small mistakes in grammar and all that fun stuff. Second, everything just seemed to fall in place at the end too easily. Now, things may get rougher in the next book-I really don't know.
Overall, not a bad read. Yelena does have a bright future ahead of her if she keeps putting books out like this one.
Author: Yelena Lugin
Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars
I would like to thank Yelena Lugin and YA Kingdom Book Club for giving me the chance to read this book for free.
The first thing that really drew me into this book was the world. Yelena has created a very complex and dark world that was very attractive to me. I loved all the different levels of demons and the different ways you could kill them. Yelena clearly took the time to make all of these little details fit. I just love the idea of the Seraphs, the Hellions, and the humans all living together in what is a dark society. The book takes place about forty years after the Seraphs and Hellions arrive on Earth, which is perfect. They are still kind of new to the planet, but have been there long enough to establish a rather elaborate system of government.
Sky and her friends are amazing leads. They are all strong fighters, who know how to take care of themselves. Their friendship runs so deep and their closeness makes them stronger, which is why the things that happen between them are kind of shocking to me. I just love how Yelena gives the reader a chance to see these bonds and how these bonds change/remain the same as the events in the book go on. I also love how as the book goes on, Sky learns to see that things may not be as black and white as she first thought and that society is actually a lot more complex than she first thought.
The secondary characters and the male lead are also well done. There are a lot of characters in this one, but I found them all to be very important. One thing that I really liked about this large cannon was how Yelena made them all different. I loved seeing their strengths and weaknesses come out.
Nathan was a great male lead. He seems like a likable enough character, but there is something about him that has me worried. I just don't know if I buy that he is as good as he wants to come across. Samuel is the other character that I'm not too sure about.
There is a little bit of romance in this one, but it is not the sole focus of the book. There is a lot of build up for later books. So, if you are looking for a story that has an ending, don't read this one.
So, why the four star rating? I'm not going to lie. This book just was not a five star rating for me. I loved it, but compared to the other books that I have given the five star, this one just did not make the cut. First off, I did see some small mistakes in grammar and all that fun stuff. Second, everything just seemed to fall in place at the end too easily. Now, things may get rougher in the next book-I really don't know.
Overall, not a bad read. Yelena does have a bright future ahead of her if she keeps putting books out like this one.
June 29, 2016
A first-in-series YA with a strong female role leading you through her life as she lives it! In the Crossfire is a super exciting read, from start to finish! Visioning a world we once knew as home to be spoiled by evil hellions and Angels, you can't help but root for the surviving human race. Mixed emotions stir in the beginning because hope seems far fetched. As you see this world through the eyes of Sky, a unique character in that she was raised human but is part angel-part foreign-part evil? You become empowered by her strength and will to protect her humans and intrigued by those she encounters. I love the way sky grows as a person, human AND angel, throughout the book. She's finding herself, learning her past, and meeting new people! And the Angels, as deceitful as they may be, are very dreamy! Between Sky's crazy life, the sexy Angels, and the nasty demons I couldn't put the book down! I can't wait for the story to continue!!
September 17, 2016
This was a very good book.
Fast read, fun journey.
Fast read, fun journey.
March 15, 2017
"Innocence is a myth, it no longer exists in this world.”
This was a great read :) Everything from the characters to the plot was well done and perfectly paced, entertaining me from start to finish. I loved the challenging and violent world the author created, and her characters were strong and diverse enough to carry it through.
I connected to the protagonist, Sky, immediately. She is strong and brave, a true warrior, but this is in part because circumstances have made her this way. I loved being able to see her flaws and weaknesses as well, and I found her to be both relatable and admirable.
The fighting scenes in particular were favorites of mine. Seriously... Loved that, haha.
The writing itself was lovely as a whole, but this brings me to the only thing that kept In The Crossfire from being a 5 star read for me: a lack of editing. I'm not picky about this usually, but unfortunately in this case, I found myself being distracted from the amount of editorial and grammatical issues (i.e., minor inconsistencies, missing/incorrect punctuation, severe tense mix ups). Due to this being such a frequent issue, I did find it jarring enough to be pulled out of the story quite often.
That being said, the story, plot, and characters were entertaining and unique enough that I devoured this book in just a few nights regardless :)
This was a great read :) Everything from the characters to the plot was well done and perfectly paced, entertaining me from start to finish. I loved the challenging and violent world the author created, and her characters were strong and diverse enough to carry it through.
I connected to the protagonist, Sky, immediately. She is strong and brave, a true warrior, but this is in part because circumstances have made her this way. I loved being able to see her flaws and weaknesses as well, and I found her to be both relatable and admirable.
The fighting scenes in particular were favorites of mine. Seriously... Loved that, haha.
The writing itself was lovely as a whole, but this brings me to the only thing that kept In The Crossfire from being a 5 star read for me: a lack of editing. I'm not picky about this usually, but unfortunately in this case, I found myself being distracted from the amount of editorial and grammatical issues (i.e., minor inconsistencies, missing/incorrect punctuation, severe tense mix ups). Due to this being such a frequent issue, I did find it jarring enough to be pulled out of the story quite often.
That being said, the story, plot, and characters were entertaining and unique enough that I devoured this book in just a few nights regardless :)
July 19, 2016
I love how this whole book makes you question something that most people hear about their entire lives. (At least here in the bible belt of the USA.(Oklahoma that is)) Just the angels being evil in part makes this worth reading to me. Once you add in the awesome writing and great overall story you have an absolute winner in my opinion. The entire story draws you in and makes you see what the future of the world could be like and just how awesome it is. From beginning to end I could barely put it down and the ending just made me hunger to read more of this series. You won't regret reading this!!!
July 12, 2016
Great read from start to finish. Very unique plot & strong female character. Enjoyed her journey,growth, fight for humanity. Looking forward to next in the series.
September 10, 2016
What happens when heaven and hell meet on Earth? Well here's one adventurous, suspenseful interpretation! If you've enjoyed the Shadowhunter series or any dystopian society book, you'll like this one. Filled with characters you love and characters you loathe, you follow a halfling on her journey to self discovery and uncovering family secrets. As she tries to find her place, you'll find hope, suspense, love and wonderment.
September 29, 2016
This novel takes place in a world where life as we know it has been destroyed by the war between Seraphs (Angels) and Hellions (Demons). Humans have found themselves caught between the two fighting on a daily basis just to survive.
Written in the first person we follow Sky as she enters the world of Angels. I can't say I always loved Sky's character nut i typically find secondary characters much more interesting. Other reviews commented on how selfless Sky was but only one instance stuck out to me as selfless and brave. At one point she kept saying how much she wanted to find her friend Kat but I found she was usually more concerned with her love interest then with actively finding her.
That being said I did enjoy the book and several of the secondary characters made me laugh. I will definately read the sequel and I hope to see a character who "betrayed" Sky redeemed as I was rooting for them early on.
Written in the first person we follow Sky as she enters the world of Angels. I can't say I always loved Sky's character nut i typically find secondary characters much more interesting. Other reviews commented on how selfless Sky was but only one instance stuck out to me as selfless and brave. At one point she kept saying how much she wanted to find her friend Kat but I found she was usually more concerned with her love interest then with actively finding her.
That being said I did enjoy the book and several of the secondary characters made me laugh. I will definately read the sequel and I hope to see a character who "betrayed" Sky redeemed as I was rooting for them early on.
September 7, 2022
Sky is a beautifully strong female lead, and boy does she need to fight!
Reading this book was an absolute thrill, all the way through it.
If you're looking for plot-twists that keep your nerves on edge, you've come to the right place!
"In the Crossfire" is an amazing dystopian read with great character development and very interesting lore.
Sky is a character burdened by the hardships of war, needing to navigate a broken world that's been destroyed. Despite her instinct to survive, no matter what, she holds on to her humanity through all of it without loosing sight of who she is.
Betrayal sets her back, but she comes out stronger like a phoenix rising from the ashes.
I recommend this to anyone who enjoys suspense, drama and strong female leads!
Reading this book was an absolute thrill, all the way through it.
If you're looking for plot-twists that keep your nerves on edge, you've come to the right place!
"In the Crossfire" is an amazing dystopian read with great character development and very interesting lore.
Sky is a character burdened by the hardships of war, needing to navigate a broken world that's been destroyed. Despite her instinct to survive, no matter what, she holds on to her humanity through all of it without loosing sight of who she is.
Betrayal sets her back, but she comes out stronger like a phoenix rising from the ashes.
I recommend this to anyone who enjoys suspense, drama and strong female leads!
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