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The Day the Angels Fell #2

The Edge of Over There

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The captivating sequel to the award-winning The Day the Angels Fell


Before the Tree of Life, everything in Abra Miller's life had been predictable. But after the Tree and the lightning and the angels, everything felt tenuous, like holding a soap bubble in the palm of her hand. She spent years looking for signs of that other world, waiting for it to break through. When it didn't, her friendship with Sam Chambers grew cold and distant, and they both wondered how any of it could actually have happened.

Four years later, 16-year-old Abra's long-delayed quest to find the next manifestation of the Tree of Life is renewed when she sees a woman walking up the road--a woman who looks exactly like Sam's dead mother. The woman directs her to New Orleans where she will find the grave of Marie Laveau, one of seven gateways between this world and Over There. As Abra enters The Edge of Over There and begins her pursuit of the Tree once more, she doesn't know whom to fear or whom to trust. But she's starting to think that some doorways should never be opened.

384 pages, Paperback

First published July 3, 2018

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Shawn Smucker

24 books485 followers

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5 stars
122 (47%)
4 stars
94 (36%)
3 stars
27 (10%)
2 stars
10 (3%)
1 star
3 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews
Profile Image for Shawn Smucker.
Author 24 books485 followers
May 22, 2018
It always feel a little strange rating my own books, but if you have as much fun reading it as I had writing it then I'll be very pleased. One thing I loved about this book is how it veered off and followed Abra. I guess that's all I'll say for now. Enjoy!
Profile Image for Maddy.
114 reviews121 followers
July 25, 2018
Wow. This book was absolutely amazing. I grabbed a review copy at the last minute and honestly didn’t know what to expect. I loved the cover and the blurb sounded intriguing so I decided to give it a try. I’m so glad I did because I just loved it. I read it in less than 48 hours which is fast for me.

This author is an amazing story teller. I was immediately drawn in and I read it every chance I got. The writing is just so good and the author has such a way with words. This book will take you an an adventure full of action, mystery, and a race against the clock.

I haven’t read the first book in this series, but I’ll definitely be going back to it. It really wasn’t confusing to read as a stand-alone. Some things were left in the dark which I loved because it had that mystery feel to it, but it was never confusing. This book kind of reminded me of a Frank Peretti’s book, which I loved because he’s one of my favorite authors.

Guys, this book is amazing. The story is told so well and immediately draws you in. I definitely recommend it!

*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts are my own*

*I have an extra copy of this book that I am selling. It’s a brand new hardback and I’m selling it for $10 plus $3 shipping. Private message me if you’re interested.
Profile Image for catherine ♡.
1,702 reviews171 followers
May 18, 2018
I didn't read the first book - I didn't know there was a first book, so I definitely felt a little confused by this at first. But I actually really enjoyed this, and I definitely really liked how the author set up the book in a way that provided background knowledge and didn't leave me completely lost. Everything was super interesting and original; I do think I'll be going back to the first book and reading it because I absolutely love the world that the author created. There were definitely a lot of characters which may be a bit difficult to keep up with, but I really loved how they all had their own stories and personalities.
Profile Image for J.D. Sutter.
285 reviews26 followers
Read
May 23, 2019
Wow. I can't believe I didn't see that twist at the end coming but I really had no clue. But it totally makes sense.
Profile Image for Patty Zuiderwijk.
643 reviews9 followers
June 7, 2018
First and foremost I want to thank the author and Netgalley for sending me an e-book to review.

Honestly, I did not know this was a sequel until I was already sucked into the story, so thumbs up for that.

The spoopy creeps that Abra's dream gave me, made sure that I continued reading and needed to find out more about K.N. , the other characters and of course the Tree of Life.

The book is filled with all sorts of fantastical mystery elements that really matched the writing and story telling and the world building style I can only describe as poetical, the only book I would compare this with would be Strange the Dreamer. If you did not like that book though, don't let it scare you off, like I said before, the story will make sure you want to keep reading.
Profile Image for Ivory.
102 reviews57 followers
March 25, 2020
“Fear always come with a door, a door that leads straight through”
“ Hope can last a long time, longer than we expect or imagine. Even after you think it’s gone, the smallest of things can bring it back.”
I loved the concept of the series. I very much enjoyed the first book however, the second book didn’t spark my interest. The writing was good, I just felt that book 1 was able to throw all the punches and book 2 was left trying to get up off the mat. I really wanted to get the same page turning feeling I had while reading “The Day the Angels Fell” unfortunately, it just didn’t happen and that’s ok.
Profile Image for Susie Finkbeiner.
Author 11 books998 followers
January 3, 2019
I had the honor of receiving an advanced copy of this book from the publisher. There were no conditions and no expectation that I give a positive review.

And yet, here I am, giving The Edge of Over There a RAVING review!

Complexity of plot, three dimensional characters, lyrical prose. This book had me enchanted as much as the first in the series, The Day the Angels Fell. Smucker weaves a tale expertly.

I cannot wait for the third story in this series!
Profile Image for Dawn.
781 reviews86 followers
April 23, 2019
I like fantasy. I enjoy science fiction. The premise of this novel intrigued me; especially since it fell into the sci-fi/fantasy genre. This book fell short for me though. I wanted to like it. I really did. But to be honest, it really didn't hold my interest. Maybe because it's book 2, and I didn't know that. Maybe it's because my current reading mood is mystery/suspense, or light-hearted reads. I don't know. All I know is that this one was a struggle to read.



I didn't connect with the characters. In fact, I got a little bit lost in the changing perspectives. Unlike one of my current reads, the changing perspectives weren't all first person. But the entire time I was reading it, I felt like I was missing big pieces of the story.



This is one book that just wasn't for me. Others may enjoy it, and if the positive reviews on Amazon are any indication, others do enjoy it. I didn't hate it, I just feel rather blah about it.



I received a copy from the publisher to share my honest opinion about it. I was not required to like the book, only to share my honest opinion. My thoughts and opinions are my own.



Rating - 3 stars
Profile Image for Alison McLennan.
16 reviews22 followers
June 30, 2018
I’ve read loads of YA fiction, and there are elements most books have in common. Young heroes and heroines, the dark power of a sinister opponent, overwhelming odds against victory. What sets this book (and it’s predecessor, The Day the Angels Fell) apart from the rest is its constant, pervasive aura of suspense. From the first sentence, it feels as if revelation waits around every corner, that something deeper is happening than the sum of words on a page. This is the best kind of writing, because it awakens the part of me that once saw adventure and danger in the most mundane places. It had me reading breathless, devouring the story even as I wished it would last longer. I will be eagerly awaiting the next volume in this riveting series.

(I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher. There were no conditions and no expectation that I give a positive review.)
Profile Image for Patty Zuiderwijk.
643 reviews9 followers
December 9, 2018
First and foremost I want to thank the author and Netgalley for sending me an e-book to review.

Honestly, I did not know this was a sequel until I was already sucked into the story, so thumbs up for that.

The spoopy creeps that Abra's dream gave me, made sure that I continued reading and needed to find out more about K.N. , the other characters and of course the Tree of Life.

The book is filled with all sorts of fantastical mystery elements that really matched the writing and story telling and the world building style I can only describe as poetical, the only book I would compare this with would be Strange the Dreamer. If you did not like that book though, don't let it scare you off, like I said before, the story will make sure you want to keep reading.
Profile Image for Lisa.
462 reviews31 followers
June 30, 2018
I'm not the kind of person who gushes, but I'll make an exception for this book. I finished reading it hours ago and I'm still freaking out about the ending and how overall stunning the writing and story were. I really liked the first book in this series and I LOVED this story. Get your hands on it!

(I read an advance copy of the book provided by the publisher.)
Profile Image for Matt.
1,025 reviews
July 18, 2020
This was another walk-the-dog audiobook.I gave it one dog's worth of listening and sadly it didn't pass the test. I couldn't get into the plot. Hell, I couldn't even figure out where it was going in the 45 minutes I listened to it. The story jumped around and lost me. May be this is a good one for some of you out there, but for me it got the trash can.
Profile Image for Erin Lehman.
18 reviews1 follower
July 5, 2018
I enjoyed the first book in this series (The Day the Angels Fell), so I eagerly pre-ordered The Edge of Over There. Let me tell you, Shawn has outdone himself! This book is beautifully written and engrossing; I read it in just a few days. The characters are well developed, and the plot weaves together in a way that kept me engaged until the end. I highly recommend you read this book (after you read The Day the Angels Fell... otherwise, you may be confused)! I'm already looking forward to the next one! (Please tell me there will be a next one soon...) Enjoy!
Profile Image for Andrea Stoeckel.
3,119 reviews132 followers
June 10, 2018
“If you don’t know where to go or what to do, here is what I would recommend: go as far as you’re able and do what you can. The rest will happen. I promise. The rest will always happen.”

Abra has passed on after a life worthy of a hero. Samuel was gifted with the “keys” when her husband settled her estate. The thing is, for him, they don’t seem to “work” for Sam because he really doesn’t know everything...and he’s afraid he can’t do anything because he’s so old

Enter Mr. Henry who relays the story of Abra and Leo and a second Tree planted on The Edge Over There. Through a fascinating tale that builds an amazing world rooted in the myths of many peoples, Smucker relays what might happen if the balance of time and understanding gets skewed one way...or the other.

“Fear always comes with a door, a door that leads straight through.“

This book is the follow up to last year’s “The Day the Angels Fell”:a compelling look at what might happen when good and evil confront each other over the course of lifetimes in a rural family. Called a YA, I actually saw it as a NA-new adult- genre book that might feel like a type of paranormal fable. And proves to me the old adage that there really are only a few stories that keep getting reworked. That’s not a bad thing when it’s done well. Smucker’s breadth of eclectic knowledge shines through and makes “ The Edge Over There” a riveting worthy sequel. Highly recommended. 5/5

[disclaimer: I received this early copy from NetGalley. I am solely responsible for the views presented here]
Profile Image for J.D. DeHart.
Author 9 books46 followers
June 5, 2018
This is my second time visiting the world established by this author. Something about the writing brings to mind authors like Ray Bradbury and Neil Gaiman. It’s not every day a reader encounters a book like this, and I will gladly return for another entry by this author.
Profile Image for Tara.
Author 2 books133 followers
October 31, 2019
I just recently re-read/listened to this novel through audio-book. The writing was again enviable with its unique blend of POVs and timelines. The real standout in this story was the world-building for "over there". So vivid, and eerie, and intriguing in details that allow you to be right there with Abra, and Leo and Ruby. Loved and highly recommend to young and old.
Profile Image for Chris Jager.
538 reviews21 followers
June 21, 2018
I didn't think I could like this book more than The Day the Angels Fell. But I did. I read it in a day and it left me wanting more books by Shawn. If you like Neil Gammon, you should check out Shawn's books.
1,287 reviews
April 10, 2019
The Edge of Over There is the sequel to The Day the Angels Fell by Shawn Smucker. This is a blend of fantasy and dystopia fiction written for young adults. This is considered a Christian story, but contains no Bible scripture or outright Christian teaching. There are some references that could be referencing Heaven and Hell. The story is filled with adventure and suspense and tells of the difference between good and evil.
The story starts in Deen with Abra and Samuel in the hospital following an event that killed a man and destroyed a Tree of Life. A mysterious woman visits Samuel and leaves a note for Abra. Years later, Abra is chosen to enter the tomb of Marie Laveau and kill yet another tree. The trees are believed to produce fruit, that if eaten will enable to the person to never die.
As a young girl, Ruby is very ill and her father is willing to do anything to help her and keep her away from her mother. He is given instructions to take only his daughter and a plant inside the tomb of Marie Laveau in New Orleans He is to plant the tree and the leaves will heal his daughter. He leaves behind a ten year old son to fend for himself until his mother returns.
Having not read the first book, I struggled with understanding the beginning of the book. This may have some impact of my feelings for this book. The one thing that stands out to me in this story is after Abra looks through the telescope over the river, she wishes she hadn't. What she saw was so beautiful “for the rest of my life it's the only place I will ever want to be.” For an mature young adult that enjoy reading about spiritual warfare, this might be a great choice. I would advise against young people reading this book as there are some parts that are just scary, such as the Frenzies that take place and the souls screaming with speed through the Passageway.
I received a copy of this book from Revell Publishing, this is my honest review.
Profile Image for Amy.
95 reviews11 followers
June 24, 2018
A couple of things first...
1) I hate reading books on my Kindle app on my phone (but due to this being an advanced ebook copy from the publisher, my only choice for reading it right now was on my Kindle app).
2) I rarely read fiction because it either bores me to death or takes over my life until I finish the book.

With that said, I read the first book last summer (The Day the Angels Fell) and now the 2nd (The Edge of Over There). I read this mostly in a day’s time (despite the dislike of reading on my Kindle). It fell under the “couldn’t put it down and it took over my life” category pretty easily thanks to the author’s method of switching back and forth between characters’ points of view and stopping at a cliffhanger each time he switched. I kept reading and reading because I wanted to see what was going to happen to each person and then boom, I was done. And sad that I was done....aka I can’t wait to see what happens to the characters next!

My recommendations:
- read the first book first...this one ‘could’ stand alone but is more enjoyable if you read them in order (think Star Wars, Hunger Games kinds of series)
- this is YA, but I would recommend it for anyone 10-11 and up. It’s clean (no swearing or sex) and fairly an easy read. An advanced reader under 10 might be fine but may end up having many questions about death, which is not necessarily a bad thing...I’m just letting you know. I also enjoyed the Hunger Games trilogy and read all of those books in a day’s time as well.
- there are faint biblical undertones in this storyline, but not in a brazen “you must believe this” kind of way. Think CS Lewis and his Narnia.

Overall a mesmerizing, well-written, and thought-provoking book. I seriously can’t wait for the next installment to be released!
Profile Image for Hanna Anderson.
9 reviews
June 22, 2018
Shawn Smucker's The Edge of Over There is the second book that follows The Day the Angels Fell, a series geared toward young adults. Other than a few biblical elements scattered throughout I would not have classified this as a Christian book. This work includes characters that are angels, demons, humans, and the offspring of angels/demons. If you are looking for a good book to strengthen your walk with Christ or to help teach you biblical truths this is not the book for that. This is purely an action fantasy.


That being said, I could not put this book down! After discovering it's lack of Jesus-centeredness I proceeded reading it for the entertainment value. Because of my own personal preferences, it had been a very long time since I had read a book so rich with description. Mr. Smucker writes with the kind of descriptive language that can make the reader "feel" the spring breeze or "taste" the lucious fruit. The adventurous tone combined with fantastic settings and memorable characters kept me heavily engaged into the story as it unfolded.


The book follows Abra, Sam, and Leo, each on a different path and in some cases in different times, as they are affected by the appearance of a Tree of Life and Abra's mission to destroy it with the help of light angels and the hinderance of dark angels. Although this book makes fantasy out of some biblical passages it does touch on themes includeing heaven, hell, God's provision, courage under fire, and the consequences of the fall in the Garden of Eden.


I do not recommend this as a Christian book because of how far removed it is from biblical truth, like no mention of Jesus Christ anywhere. However, this book is so esquisitely written and had me entirely engrossed into the journey of Abra that it left me wanting more. I gave it a high rating of 5 stars because anyone who can write as well as Mr.Smucker definitely deserves it.


Book provided courtesy of Baker Publishing via the Interviews and Reviews program.
Profile Image for Janna Craig.
634 reviews5 followers
July 9, 2018
I really enjoyed this one, even more than the first book. The fantasy elements were stronger here, and I really loved the dual story line of Leo/Ruby and Abra.

Both books in this series addressed death and how the main characters dealt with it, but I felt more of an emotional connection to it this time. In The Day the Angels Fell, I hadn’t known Sam’s mom long enough to feel any genuine grief for her death, other than to empathize with what Sam must be feeling. In this book, though, one of the characters who dies is one that I felt like I knew, so I felt the death personally, as well as empathizing with the ones who were left behind.

And man, Beatrice was CREEPY. Well done with that, Shawn. I was kind of expecting nightmares last night...haha.

All in all, this was a strong second book and I’m excited to read the third when it comes out.
Profile Image for Georgann .
1,023 reviews34 followers
September 5, 2021
Very satisfactory follow up to The Day the Angels Fell by Shawn Smucker . I'd happily read another follow up but I can't seem to find one... Really a book for anyone as the Christian part of it is remarkably subdued so I would recommend it to anyone of any or no faith who likes fantasy.
Profile Image for Charles.
385 reviews
September 2, 2019
This is the sequel to "The Day the Angels Fell" and was just as exciting as the first book! I enjoy the author's descriptive writing style. This book follows Abra through her many adventures on her quest to find the Tree of Life. It further explores the concept of death as a gift. The author has a talent for creating a wonderful, imaginary world that I won't soon forget. It is an amazing story!
Profile Image for Ticcoa Leister.
Author 2 books20 followers
July 26, 2018
The Edge of Over There dabbles in dystopian and fantasy with spiritual themes that are recognizable without being overpowering (something I highly value in fiction).
📖
It is reminiscent of works by Madeline L'Engle and Lois Lowry (that alone makes me swoon).
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I can't say enough about this book and its companion, The Day the Angels Fell.
📖
It's one of those books that I couldn't decide whether to dive deep and read quickly or float through slowly, so I did both. Sometimes you need to dive deep, then break the surface and float for bit to catch your breath.
📖
Grab this book. It's SO good.
Profile Image for Melissa.
15 reviews6 followers
April 22, 2019
Another book from Shawn Smucker that I couldn't put down! Well-written YA fiction that has shades of CS Lewis or Madeline L'Engle. This was a very satisfying follow up to The Day The Angels Fell.
Profile Image for Rachel.
Author 25 books203 followers
July 3, 2019
Smucker has a very lyrical, evocative writing style that I definitely liked.
Profile Image for April.
235 reviews11 followers
June 18, 2018
A very well-written book. The writing was definitely the best part of this book for me as I got completely lost in the story like I did the first book. The characters were also enjoyable and I can't wait to read more from this author.
Profile Image for Alison McLennan.
16 reviews22 followers
June 30, 2018
I’ve read loads of YA fiction, and there are elements most books have in common. Young heroes and heroines, the dark power of a sinister opponent, overwhelming odds against victory. What sets this book (and it’s predecessor, The Day the Angels Fell) apart from the rest is its constant, pervasive aura of suspense. From the first sentence, it feels as if revelation waits around every corner, that something deeper is happening than the sum of words on a page. This is the best kind of writing, because it awakens the part of me that once saw adventure and danger in the most mundane places. It had me reading breathless, devouring the story even as I wished it would last longer. I will be eagerly awaiting the next volume in this riveting series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews

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