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Herald
Eighteen-year-old Larin Thompson was a product of abuse and neglect, thinking her life couldn’t get anymore complicated than hiding the scars of her past from the eyes of her friends. But the sudden emergence of strange black wings from her body make her previous difficulties seem ...insignificant.
Meanwhile, Azrael, known as “the Angel of Death” by the humans he has sought to destroy, has found a weapon. One that will shift the balance in a war that has raged in the shadows since the dawn of time. Azrael is awakening of an army of vessels – hybrid soldiers who are neither man nor Angel. By capturing them as they awaken, Azrael hopes to strengthen his dark army, and eventually find and unleash his brother, Lucifer, upon the world.
Larin's unique characteristics separate her from other vessels, and the Divine Council takes notice –archangels whose sole purpose has been to protect man from Azrael's sinister machinations. They come to believe she is the Herald of their lost leaders, the Seraphim - powerful beings who could prevent Lucifer’s dominion upon the world once more.
Amidst the chaos and confusion of her new life, Larin finds comfort in one council member in particular: the Archangel, Michael. Pulled towards each other in a way they cannot understand, Larin finds in Michael both a friend and confidante, and perhaps a missing piece of her heart.
Larin is thrust into an ancient battle between good and evil, one in which she will play a pivotal role in either saving humanity or seeing it destroyed. The choice to rise to her place as Herald, leading the Divine Council to the reawakening of the Seraphim, or accepting an enticing offer from Azrael, is suddenly presented.
Larin learns that “good” and “evil” are not as black and white as she was taught to believe. The war will inevitably reach its apex in a battle that transcends Heaven and Earth, either resulting in the return of glorious Eden, or seeing lost forever under a cloak of irreversible darkness.
"Herald is a beautifully written fantasy with original story-telling and memorable characters. It is imaginative, descriptive and addictively page-turning!"
- Sonia Faruqi, bestselling author of The Oyster Thief and Project Animal Farm.
Meanwhile, Azrael, known as “the Angel of Death” by the humans he has sought to destroy, has found a weapon. One that will shift the balance in a war that has raged in the shadows since the dawn of time. Azrael is awakening of an army of vessels – hybrid soldiers who are neither man nor Angel. By capturing them as they awaken, Azrael hopes to strengthen his dark army, and eventually find and unleash his brother, Lucifer, upon the world.
Larin's unique characteristics separate her from other vessels, and the Divine Council takes notice –archangels whose sole purpose has been to protect man from Azrael's sinister machinations. They come to believe she is the Herald of their lost leaders, the Seraphim - powerful beings who could prevent Lucifer’s dominion upon the world once more.
Amidst the chaos and confusion of her new life, Larin finds comfort in one council member in particular: the Archangel, Michael. Pulled towards each other in a way they cannot understand, Larin finds in Michael both a friend and confidante, and perhaps a missing piece of her heart.
Larin is thrust into an ancient battle between good and evil, one in which she will play a pivotal role in either saving humanity or seeing it destroyed. The choice to rise to her place as Herald, leading the Divine Council to the reawakening of the Seraphim, or accepting an enticing offer from Azrael, is suddenly presented.
Larin learns that “good” and “evil” are not as black and white as she was taught to believe. The war will inevitably reach its apex in a battle that transcends Heaven and Earth, either resulting in the return of glorious Eden, or seeing lost forever under a cloak of irreversible darkness.
"Herald is a beautifully written fantasy with original story-telling and memorable characters. It is imaginative, descriptive and addictively page-turning!"
- Sonia Faruqi, bestselling author of The Oyster Thief and Project Animal Farm.
435 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 22, 2019
15 people are currently reading
54 people want to read
About the author
J. Edwards Stone
1 book31 followersFollowing
Biography
J. Edwards Stone ("Jules" to her friends), is a 30-something year old lawyer from Toronto, Ontario. In a past life, she was a classically trained pianist with a penchant for fine wines (okay, maybe she still enjoys the wine on occasion). These days, a couple of very active 3 and 6 year old kids keep Jules a busy gal as she helps them to flex their creative-muscles through art and music. She most enjoys concocting playful tales with them, and hopes to one day see them engage in a passion for storytelling that rivals her own. Jules is the author of two upcoming YA/NA Fantasy series: Children of Fate and A War of Black Feathers. She's also an upcoming children's author with an aim to increase awareness of children's mental health initiatives.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
June 10, 2019
This book is a fantasy about angels, which is my favorite kind of creature to read in books since witches are too overused now. So, I immediately thought I would enjoy this book after seeing its cover and blurb. I started reading it and I, honestly, read it all in two days (two Sundays, not in sequence because I have limited reading time, but, during the week, I kept thinking about the story).
The first ten chapters are absorbing. They are fast, well-written and hook you from line one. You start to wonder how that girl lives her life, you want to know more about her story, and, then, when the angel situation arises, all you want to see is how well she will do in this new situation. It felt real, vivid, like it was happening to me. The other day, I felt a back pain and I thought: OMG, that’s how it was for Larin when she was getting her wings.
When she gets with the other angels, you start to understand how incredible this worldbuilding has been put together. The mythology behind it is amazingly well-researched, to the point I thought: how could the author come up with such detailed structure? The scenarios she paints are emerging and involving. I usually hate descriptions, but one of my favorite scenes was done as a way of describing that felt like I was seeing a picture forming before my eyes.
Although I would have liked that the middle would be a bit faster (I was impatient to see what happened), I devoured the book. I liked to see her training, the way she discovered her new body, the relation with the other angels, and the adventure plot coming together like a puzzle.
Fun, action-filled, greatly developed in every sense, I really enjoyed Herald. I think it’s a gem amongst the fantasy genre. If you’re a fantasy fan, give it a go, especially if you love a strong researched mythology behind each paragraph, well-developed characters, adventure and, of course, a bit of romance.
The first ten chapters are absorbing. They are fast, well-written and hook you from line one. You start to wonder how that girl lives her life, you want to know more about her story, and, then, when the angel situation arises, all you want to see is how well she will do in this new situation. It felt real, vivid, like it was happening to me. The other day, I felt a back pain and I thought: OMG, that’s how it was for Larin when she was getting her wings.
When she gets with the other angels, you start to understand how incredible this worldbuilding has been put together. The mythology behind it is amazingly well-researched, to the point I thought: how could the author come up with such detailed structure? The scenarios she paints are emerging and involving. I usually hate descriptions, but one of my favorite scenes was done as a way of describing that felt like I was seeing a picture forming before my eyes.
Although I would have liked that the middle would be a bit faster (I was impatient to see what happened), I devoured the book. I liked to see her training, the way she discovered her new body, the relation with the other angels, and the adventure plot coming together like a puzzle.
Fun, action-filled, greatly developed in every sense, I really enjoyed Herald. I think it’s a gem amongst the fantasy genre. If you’re a fantasy fan, give it a go, especially if you love a strong researched mythology behind each paragraph, well-developed characters, adventure and, of course, a bit of romance.
June 22, 2019
I'm new to Fantasy but I requested an arc copy after another arc reader raved about it to me, and a fictional book about angels really appealed to me.
I have to say I. LOVED. THIS. BOOK.
I loved it.
Ms. Edwards Stone (is that her full last name? Anyway.) wrote a world I felt completely submerged in. I followed Larin's journey with gritted teeth at times, tears at times (real ones!), and joy at times. The story arc unfolded like a cinematic journey. I imagined myself watching a movie as the Citadel and its world opened up to me and consumed me completely. The protagonist was written with such realism despite the fantasy of it all. I could feel her emotions and see through her eyes as though I was there.
The antagonist captured me with thrilling attention to detail and intricate dialogue.
And Oh! The romantic relationship between Larin and Michael was pure and beautiful. I loved his strength and his surprising vulnerability which complimented Larin's completely.
The ending was CRAZY. It was FANTASTIC. It really makes me desperate to read part two.
Try this book. If you love angels, fantasy, romance, and adventure, this is the book for you.
I have to say I. LOVED. THIS. BOOK.
I loved it.
Ms. Edwards Stone (is that her full last name? Anyway.) wrote a world I felt completely submerged in. I followed Larin's journey with gritted teeth at times, tears at times (real ones!), and joy at times. The story arc unfolded like a cinematic journey. I imagined myself watching a movie as the Citadel and its world opened up to me and consumed me completely. The protagonist was written with such realism despite the fantasy of it all. I could feel her emotions and see through her eyes as though I was there.
The antagonist captured me with thrilling attention to detail and intricate dialogue.
And Oh! The romantic relationship between Larin and Michael was pure and beautiful. I loved his strength and his surprising vulnerability which complimented Larin's completely.
The ending was CRAZY. It was FANTASTIC. It really makes me desperate to read part two.
Try this book. If you love angels, fantasy, romance, and adventure, this is the book for you.
June 24, 2019
I ate this book up in two sittings (two because I had to actually sleep, but would have happily bypassed sleep to finish reading it if I didn't have a day job).
Sooooooooooooooooooooooo good.
This book focuses on the Larin, an 18 year old girl who comes from a rough home life. She has amazing friends who help her understand the good side of people. She seems like she's making it despite the odds when she transforms into a vessel (beings who are hybrid angel and human). She is taken to a world the author created from god-knows-where, it is so amazing. I couldn't believe someone had the imagination to come up with characters and backdrops the way the author managed to do with such amazing execution.
We meet the Citadel residents and army, overseen by Archangels who survived the Great Fall and who created the Divine Council to run the Citadel vessels and stop Azrael, the Angel of Death, from letting his army run amok on earth. The race is on to catch all of these vessels who awaken in the world.
Larin and Michael meet, and their relationship evolved so beautifully. I was totally captivated by their exchanges. I don't want to say too much more without spoiling it, but you'll see why their relationship is so kickass towards the end of the book.
I loved the other archangels too. Raphael, Gabriel, and Uriel were the other "divine council angels" and their dynamics and interactions were really fun to read. The author has a really strong ability to write multi-character conversations. There was no filler or why-are-you-here characters. Everyone and everything had a purpose and was written exceptionally well.
The writing style and prose was strong and flowed really well.
The ending blew me away, for reals. I almost screamed when I reached the end because I wanted MORE NOW!
I'm going to reread this book again. It's categorized as a young adult book but it felt a little more adult given the dark parts of the book, but it can absolutely be appreciated by teens and adults of all ages.
Honestly, it's the best book I have read in a LONG LONG TIME!
Cannot wait for book two and hope it's out soon.
Sooooooooooooooooooooooo good.
This book focuses on the Larin, an 18 year old girl who comes from a rough home life. She has amazing friends who help her understand the good side of people. She seems like she's making it despite the odds when she transforms into a vessel (beings who are hybrid angel and human). She is taken to a world the author created from god-knows-where, it is so amazing. I couldn't believe someone had the imagination to come up with characters and backdrops the way the author managed to do with such amazing execution.
We meet the Citadel residents and army, overseen by Archangels who survived the Great Fall and who created the Divine Council to run the Citadel vessels and stop Azrael, the Angel of Death, from letting his army run amok on earth. The race is on to catch all of these vessels who awaken in the world.
Larin and Michael meet, and their relationship evolved so beautifully. I was totally captivated by their exchanges. I don't want to say too much more without spoiling it, but you'll see why their relationship is so kickass towards the end of the book.
I loved the other archangels too. Raphael, Gabriel, and Uriel were the other "divine council angels" and their dynamics and interactions were really fun to read. The author has a really strong ability to write multi-character conversations. There was no filler or why-are-you-here characters. Everyone and everything had a purpose and was written exceptionally well.
The writing style and prose was strong and flowed really well.
The ending blew me away, for reals. I almost screamed when I reached the end because I wanted MORE NOW!
I'm going to reread this book again. It's categorized as a young adult book but it felt a little more adult given the dark parts of the book, but it can absolutely be appreciated by teens and adults of all ages.
Honestly, it's the best book I have read in a LONG LONG TIME!
Cannot wait for book two and hope it's out soon.
June 22, 2019
I cannot rave enough about this fantastic and poetic journey! J Edwards Stone has a gorgeous style of prose that immediately draws you in and breathes life into both the beautiful story and the amazing world she's built. Larin is a protagonist like no other - thoughtful and sensitive but still harboring a dark side and a good dose of spite. You root for her from the moment the story begins, living for her triumphs and crying for her pain as she copes with her new life as a Vessel.
I loved Raphael and his humor and kindness, but there's great things to be said about all the Archangels (especially Captain SexyPants Michael, Larin's love interest). There's plenty of surprises, from the colorful cast of characters to a plot twist at the 3/4 mark that left me shaken and an ending that's absolutely Blockbuster worthy. I can't WAIT to read the sequel!
I loved Raphael and his humor and kindness, but there's great things to be said about all the Archangels (especially Captain SexyPants Michael, Larin's love interest). There's plenty of surprises, from the colorful cast of characters to a plot twist at the 3/4 mark that left me shaken and an ending that's absolutely Blockbuster worthy. I can't WAIT to read the sequel!
June 23, 2019
In "Herald," J. Edwards Stone has catapulted the genre of young adult fantasy fiction to epic and unparalleled heights. Through Larin, heroine extraordinaire, readers are ushered on an exquisite journey where humans and archangels, heaven and hell, past and present intersect in the most provocative of ways. The pages of "Herald" are deliciously vivid with ancient lore, suffering, betrayal, love and lust and ultimately hope and triumph. The worlds within "Herald" are magnificent and so expertly imagined that one feels effortlessly transported from the very first page. The battle that closes this first book in the "A War of Black Feathers " trilogy is so utterly satisfying that the second and third book can't come soon enough! Hollywood take note, you will find your next Blockbuster in "Herald."
July 10, 2019
I was lucky enough to get to read the beta version of “Herald” and let me tell you, it is amazing. I literally couldn’t put it down, I actually read it while we ate dinner and then stayed up until 2 in the morning to finish it. It was THAT good.
The characters and the entire storyline are so all-consuming, that you will not want to stop reading until it is over. This is not your ordinary YA fantasy, it is so much better. You will fall in love with the characters and this new world that J Edwards Stone has built. It is truly breathtaking. I can’t wait for Book 2!!!
The characters and the entire storyline are so all-consuming, that you will not want to stop reading until it is over. This is not your ordinary YA fantasy, it is so much better. You will fall in love with the characters and this new world that J Edwards Stone has built. It is truly breathtaking. I can’t wait for Book 2!!!
July 14, 2019
Loved this book !!! The story and the characters are just incredible !! The author brought us in this world, where once you start reading, you can't put the book before the end.
And the end, make you want to know more about what will happen !!!
Multiples times, I was really out of breath from what was happening in the story and I was wondering how the author was going to handle the situation and damn, she did it, she put me on my butt with this book !!
I love her writing style, I really can't wait to know more about the story and the characters !!
And the end, make you want to know more about what will happen !!!
Multiples times, I was really out of breath from what was happening in the story and I was wondering how the author was going to handle the situation and damn, she did it, she put me on my butt with this book !!
I love her writing style, I really can't wait to know more about the story and the characters !!
June 10, 2019
Fans of paranormal romance novels rejoice! Herald is a complex and thrilling read that will leave you wanting more. With great character arcs and a unique fantasy world, you can immerse yourself in the adventures of Angels and demons. this novel is perfect for a summer beach read or for snuggling down on a rainy day. You won't be disappointed.
June 22, 2019
Lovable characters and surprising ending!
I got an advanced reader copy of the book. The author does such a great job at sucking us into the life of Larin and her damaged family. I also love the surprise ending. Totally didn’t see it coming. Can’t wait to read book 2!
I got an advanced reader copy of the book. The author does such a great job at sucking us into the life of Larin and her damaged family. I also love the surprise ending. Totally didn’t see it coming. Can’t wait to read book 2!
June 24, 2019
I loved this book!!! Not only was the concept intriguing but it was thrilling to read. The characters are engaging and I could not put the book down. Overall, I would recommend this book to everyone.
June 21, 2019
A great book from an awesome author...well worth the read!! Check out this book!
June 27, 2019
Really cool book with a unique and interesting take on angel mythology. I enjoyed it a lot. Great story with a great plot. I hope this is going to be a long-running series.
June 26, 2019
Loved this! I found Herald to be a rollercoaster of a read. I couldn’t put it down! Well developed exciting story and a sympathetic lead character. This is a great new book from an exceptional new talent. I can’t wait to read the next book.
August 3, 2019
I wasn't going to write a review, I was just going to give it 1 star and forget it. However, there was an issue with the book that has bothered me greatly and since I can't not mention it now, I might as well dump everything else.
What I liked:
- It's a story about angels. I like angels.
- I didn't guess who the informant was.
What I didn't like:
- This particular story about angels. Betrayed by an YA book with a beautiful cover once again. One day I'll learn.
- To expand: Larin is good at everything she does. She adapts to her wings pretty quickly, she managed to fly without any instruction, she even learns to fight right away without much guidance (luckily, we are spared of her actually doing that) because vessels are apparently good at being soldiers. In addition, as soon as they get their wings and learn to fly they also mature super quickly. Shh, you hear that? It's the sound of lazy writing.
- Larin has friends!!! I unironically enjoyed that until about chapter 5 because then we never meet them again. I kept expecting that one of the villains was posing as Gee's date, and in the end, Larin would have had to convince him to join the good guys, but nothing happened. Larin found new friends. She never bothered to learn what happened to the old ones. Not once was she like "hey Mike when you have time could you check on my old friends? Maybe give them a message that I'm fine?" Nah that never happened. Neither were the mass disappearances explained. Who needs realism when you have evil to fight.
- I wanted to like Chase. I did for the most part. But why did he have to be the spare one in the love triangle. Love triangles are my least favorite trope ever. Other bad things I sometimes enjoy but this one just gives me second-hand embarrassment. Guys, you do know there's a type of relationship where you like each other and hang out with each other and it doesn't have to be romantic. it's called friendship. You should try it.
What relationship? You've known each other for like two days. There's nothing to be upset about. You don't even know what his favorite socks look like.
Rejection is never easy, soft or no. Still, I can't understand what exactly is Chase expecting of our heroine. She just lost her family, such as it was and was separated from her two best friends. What should she be doing? Leaping into his arms?
- For all the talk of how everything is not black and white, it's never explored much. The villain's minions "laugh evilly," he lives in a place surrounded by skulls, and when the things get particularly bad, we get blackly evil. I wish I could laugh evilly at how comical this is but I can't and more on that later.
- Too many characters introduced too quickly. I forgot who Grayson was as soon as I read his name. Same with Tristan except halfway through the book I realized he seems to be mildly important to the story and tried to pay attention and then forgot him again.
- Of course, there's romance............................ between an 18-year-old girl and a non-human being who's been around for centuries. And I thought Edward Cullen, the 100 year old virgin, was bad. But wait, there's more.
Turns out Michael doesn't even love Larin for her being her, he loves her because she reminds him of someone. I wish I had the strength to laugh evilly at that. For the most part, I was horrified.
- Ok so the endgame fight happens and Larin is just... Dragged along for the ride? Michael flops her around for a bit? Then sets her down? And then she reports the battle to us in unbroken narrative. She could have just bilbo baggins'ed that shit. If there ever was a good place to switch to 3rd person POV, this was it.
- Now, to the part that has bothered me the most, and why I cannot recommend it to anyone, not even for an evil laugh or two. At the beginning of the story, we are introduced to vessels who have lost their wings. It is a sad moment, and, for a real-life equivalent, it seems to be similar to depression. But fear not. We are quickly informed that they still have their uses. PEOPLE'S WORTH IS NOT CALCULATED ON HOW USEFUL THEY ARE.
Mike......... my broski..... my pal.................. For someone who's meant to unconditionally love people, this seems like a high bar to jump. I can't even begin to explain how fucked up a view like that is. "It's okay, we're not going to give up on you, as long as you're useful to us... My love."
The love triangle has made me uncomfortable as fuck but it was nothing compared to this.
What I liked:
- It's a story about angels. I like angels.
- I didn't guess who the informant was.
What I didn't like:
- This particular story about angels. Betrayed by an YA book with a beautiful cover once again. One day I'll learn.
- To expand: Larin is good at everything she does. She adapts to her wings pretty quickly, she managed to fly without any instruction, she even learns to fight right away without much guidance (luckily, we are spared of her actually doing that) because vessels are apparently good at being soldiers. In addition, as soon as they get their wings and learn to fly they also mature super quickly. Shh, you hear that? It's the sound of lazy writing.
- Larin has friends!!! I unironically enjoyed that until about chapter 5 because then we never meet them again. I kept expecting that one of the villains was posing as Gee's date, and in the end, Larin would have had to convince him to join the good guys, but nothing happened. Larin found new friends. She never bothered to learn what happened to the old ones. Not once was she like "hey Mike when you have time could you check on my old friends? Maybe give them a message that I'm fine?" Nah that never happened. Neither were the mass disappearances explained. Who needs realism when you have evil to fight.
- I wanted to like Chase. I did for the most part. But why did he have to be the spare one in the love triangle. Love triangles are my least favorite trope ever. Other bad things I sometimes enjoy but this one just gives me second-hand embarrassment. Guys, you do know there's a type of relationship where you like each other and hang out with each other and it doesn't have to be romantic. it's called friendship. You should try it.
“Chase,” I whispered, stopping. “I think we -”
“Don’t.”
I stopped speaking and found myself frowning at Chase. There was anticipation in his face, anxiety. He did not want me to say the words. He did not want me to say I could not give him more.
“I think we should go to the flight deck,” he said suddenly, forcibly cheerful. He strode ahead and I looked after him unhappily. I sighed and followed, keeping my thoughts about our prior conversation to myself.
“What’s the flight deck?” I asked wearily. I felt very worn out suddenly, with a fervent desire for the quiet comfort of my room. I put on a brave face and rushed to keep up with Chase, feeling somewhat uncomfortable and sad that our relationship, such as it was, was now hanging precariously close to dissolution. For his sake.
What relationship? You've known each other for like two days. There's nothing to be upset about. You don't even know what his favorite socks look like.
Chase did not seem to take my rejection well, no matter how soft it was, though to his credit he was putting on a brave face.
Rejection is never easy, soft or no. Still, I can't understand what exactly is Chase expecting of our heroine. She just lost her family, such as it was and was separated from her two best friends. What should she be doing? Leaping into his arms?
- For all the talk of how everything is not black and white, it's never explored much. The villain's minions "laugh evilly," he lives in a place surrounded by skulls, and when the things get particularly bad, we get blackly evil. I wish I could laugh evilly at how comical this is but I can't and more on that later.
- Too many characters introduced too quickly. I forgot who Grayson was as soon as I read his name. Same with Tristan except halfway through the book I realized he seems to be mildly important to the story and tried to pay attention and then forgot him again.
- Of course, there's romance............................ between an 18-year-old girl and a non-human being who's been around for centuries. And I thought Edward Cullen, the 100 year old virgin, was bad. But wait, there's more.
“There was only one other who commanded my affections. Once, long ago. She had your heart, and I see her strength in you now.” He finished the last part quietly, searching my face and struggling himself to say something more.
“It is... why I love you... perhaps more than I ever thought possible,” he said softly.
Turns out Michael doesn't even love Larin for her being her, he loves her because she reminds him of someone. I wish I had the strength to laugh evilly at that. For the most part, I was horrified.
- Ok so the endgame fight happens and Larin is just... Dragged along for the ride? Michael flops her around for a bit? Then sets her down? And then she reports the battle to us in unbroken narrative. She could have just bilbo baggins'ed that shit. If there ever was a good place to switch to 3rd person POV, this was it.
- Now, to the part that has bothered me the most, and why I cannot recommend it to anyone, not even for an evil laugh or two. At the beginning of the story, we are introduced to vessels who have lost their wings. It is a sad moment, and, for a real-life equivalent, it seems to be similar to depression. But fear not. We are quickly informed that they still have their uses. PEOPLE'S WORTH IS NOT CALCULATED ON HOW USEFUL THEY ARE.
“Larin has a use, yet. She always has, and always will in my eyes, so long as I breathe,” he said, looking at me a moment. A flash of sadness crossed his face. “She has proven her worth again today when she spoke the words that have given us the answer to the question we have all been asking since she arrived.”
Mike......... my broski..... my pal.................. For someone who's meant to unconditionally love people, this seems like a high bar to jump. I can't even begin to explain how fucked up a view like that is. "It's okay, we're not going to give up on you, as long as you're useful to us... My love."
The love triangle has made me uncomfortable as fuck but it was nothing compared to this.
June 27, 2019
I'm so frustrated - I genuinely wanted to like this book. The premise was great, but the execution... not so much. I did finish it, but not happily. The writing style is simply not for me, and the characters felt particularly 2 dimensional with no real depth. I won’t go in to a really in-depth review but just a few key points from reading it:
Some parts (particularly the first couple of chapters) came across as though the author was working on some sort of Victorian Gothic literature project. Thankfully this faded in later chapters.
'The thing I used as a pillow had long given up its purpose in life, leaving me with only its carcass.'
Throughout the story, the narrators voice just comes across as pretentious, honestly I don’t think that voice is a person I would want to know from quotes such as:
'I was obviously the quiet one'
'My hair was golden blond. Under normal circumstances, you might consider it a beautiful colour'
'my words ringing with richness and melody. They were beautiful even to my own ears, and I smiled'.
Chapter 21 especially contains a few star moments, including:
'Uriel and Raphael looked at me, all blankly.'
'Raphael turned to look at me appraisingly.'
'Michael watched Rafael, frowning, as he regarded me.'
'Raphael regarded me briefly. I could feel his stare...'
'I reluctantly turned and looked at Michael.'
'I occassionally stole glances in his direction'
I could drag up a few more but I think my point is made with that one.
And throughout the story Larin basically knows how to do everything without even trying. It’s all instinct – there’s no failures or worries, no hard work learning how to catch up to what she should know, she just… Does.
2* because I like the theme and the plot had potential if I could get past the narrator’s voice!
Some parts (particularly the first couple of chapters) came across as though the author was working on some sort of Victorian Gothic literature project. Thankfully this faded in later chapters.
'The thing I used as a pillow had long given up its purpose in life, leaving me with only its carcass.'
Throughout the story, the narrators voice just comes across as pretentious, honestly I don’t think that voice is a person I would want to know from quotes such as:
'I was obviously the quiet one'
'My hair was golden blond. Under normal circumstances, you might consider it a beautiful colour'
'my words ringing with richness and melody. They were beautiful even to my own ears, and I smiled'.
Chapter 21 especially contains a few star moments, including:
'Uriel and Raphael looked at me, all blankly.'
'Raphael turned to look at me appraisingly.'
'Michael watched Rafael, frowning, as he regarded me.'
'Raphael regarded me briefly. I could feel his stare...'
'I reluctantly turned and looked at Michael.'
'I occassionally stole glances in his direction'
I could drag up a few more but I think my point is made with that one.
And throughout the story Larin basically knows how to do everything without even trying. It’s all instinct – there’s no failures or worries, no hard work learning how to catch up to what she should know, she just… Does.
2* because I like the theme and the plot had potential if I could get past the narrator’s voice!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 25, 2019
Wow! I had so much fun reading this book I couldn't put it down for even a minute. The cover got my attention and it was a great price, so I thought I would give it a chance. I am so glad I did, because this is my new favorite book. If you love fictional books about archangels, this is the one. It's a bit of everything for everyone: Fantasy, Fiction, Paranormal, Romance, Mystery, Adverture, Drama, Thrills. My favorite part is the not-quite-love triangle. Some authors try to hard to create a cliched love triangle and this author skillfully managed to make it interesting and not obvious. Mind blown overall. I love the Angel of Death, Azrael. I love the Archangel, Michael. I loved Chase and even Iris. I have never sent fanmail before but I felt compelled to send one for the first time, that is how much I enjoyed it (and hopefully I'll get a little scoop on when book 2 comes out!)
Grab this book right now! Trust me, it is my new favorite book.
Grab this book right now! Trust me, it is my new favorite book.
August 19, 2019
Pretty Good
The story, mythology, and backstory were really interesting. For the most part, I enjoyed the characters and the decisions they made. I think there could have been a little more emotional showing versus telling to better ground the characters. There were also some good twists at the end that I didn't see coming. I'm looking forward to reading the next book.
From a writing perspective, I think the manuscript should've gone through at least one more round of deep copy edits. There were countless run-on sentences that ended up confusing the description and/or story at times. Also, there were several times where a word, phrase, or description was repeated close enough it was noticeable and unnecessary.
The story, mythology, and backstory were really interesting. For the most part, I enjoyed the characters and the decisions they made. I think there could have been a little more emotional showing versus telling to better ground the characters. There were also some good twists at the end that I didn't see coming. I'm looking forward to reading the next book.
From a writing perspective, I think the manuscript should've gone through at least one more round of deep copy edits. There were countless run-on sentences that ended up confusing the description and/or story at times. Also, there were several times where a word, phrase, or description was repeated close enough it was noticeable and unnecessary.
July 19, 2019
Title: Herald ARC
Author: J Edwards Stone
Read Dates: June17th-July 19th
Why did I choose to read this book?
-I chose to read this book because it was sent to me by the author plus it's about Angel's which has been my favorite thing to read about since 9th grade.
Did I like it?
-Yes, I loved it. It's a very good book. I liked that it's about an angel and that it was unique/different than the other books I have read. I 100% recommend. I also love the cover it fits the story.
Questions for you:
1. Favorite character?
2. Favorite Angel Book?
3. How likely are you to read this book?
Author: J Edwards Stone
Read Dates: June17th-July 19th
Why did I choose to read this book?
-I chose to read this book because it was sent to me by the author plus it's about Angel's which has been my favorite thing to read about since 9th grade.
Did I like it?
-Yes, I loved it. It's a very good book. I liked that it's about an angel and that it was unique/different than the other books I have read. I 100% recommend. I also love the cover it fits the story.
Questions for you:
1. Favorite character?
2. Favorite Angel Book?
3. How likely are you to read this book?
June 27, 2019
Loved it!!!!!
August 10, 2019
Super enjoyable read. I found myself completely immersed in the world the author created. Really fun. Highly recommend. Just wish part 2 was out.
August 5, 2020
This book was amazing!! I feel like the end was a little rushed but still, it was such an amazing book and I loved it
November 9, 2023
Hi everyone, I received an Arc copy in exchange for an honest review for "Herald," the first novel in "A War of Black Feathers - The Trilogy," By the amazing J Edwards Stone. This novel was well thought out and very well written. The scenes are so well described, that I felt like I was being transported into a different universe. I got attached to the main character and followed her through her own personal growth and in her relationships with the different characters. The story flows very well and the ideas are very clear. However the most important thing is once I started reading it I did not want to stop till I reach the end. The ending was very well executed, and it opens the door for the next adventure. This is the first book of a series and I cannot wait to read the rest. It's a huge 5 stars! And I have to say a MUST in everyone's library.
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