The time has come for Aaron Corbet, the eighteen-year-old son of an angel and a mortal, to face his worst enemy. Verchiel, the fallen leader of the Powers, is determined to defeat the prophecy that foretold Aaron's power over all the Fallen. And to do this, he intends to kill Aaron, hoping that the removal of such a "blight" will restore Verchiel in the eyes of the Creator.
Aaron has been training for this showdown, working to understand and control the awesome force that resides deep within himself. He knows he will win. After all, Verchiel has taken away everything and everyone who ever meant anything to Aaron.
He has nothing to lose...until Verchiel introduces Aaron to his long-lost father.
Thomas E. Sniegoski, often credited as Tom Sniegoski is the author of more than two dozen novels for adults, teens, and children. His teen fantasy YA series Fallen was adapted into a trilogy of monstrously successful TV movies by ABC Family Channel. His other books for teens include Sleeper Code, Sleeper Agenda, and Force Majeure, as well as the upcoming series The Brimstone Network. The author's first adult novel, A Kiss Before the Apocalypse, hit the shelves in 2008, with its sequel, Dancing on the Head of a Pin to be released in 2009.
Sniegoski's work for younger readers includes Billy Hooten: Owlboy, and the fantasy quartet OutCast, which he co-authored with Christopher Golden. OutCast is in development as a film at Universal. Sniegoski and Golden have also collaborated on the adult dark fantasy series The Menagerie, and multiple creator-owned comic book series, including The Sisterhood, which is being prepped for a feature film by InterMedia, and Talent, currently in development at Universal after a major bidding war.
As a comic book writer, Sniegoski's work includes Stupid, Stupid Rat Tails, a prequel miniseries to international hit, Bone. Sniegoski collaborated with Bone creator Jeff Smith on the prequel, making him the only writer Smith has ever asked to work on those characters. Sniegoski and Golden also wrote the graphic novel BPRD: Hollow Earth, a spinoff from Hellboy.
Sniegoski was born and raised in Massachusetts, where he still lives with his wife LeeAnne and their Labrador Retriever, Mulder. Tom recently completed the new young adult novel, Legacy, which is set to be released in October of 2009.
In the end, Aaron learns a lesson that so many Christians (I say Christians specifically because of the concept I'm bringing up is a basic tenet of that religion) never seem to be able to grasp. He finally understands that it is not his place to judge, even his most horrible enemy, an angel who has murdered thousands, including Aaron's dearly-loved foster family. He finds the strength to send his enemy back to be judged by He who's responsibility it is, within the dictates of the religion and this story. There is a lot we could all learn from that, Christian or not. A lot of this world's woes derive from people who feel it is their right and responsibility to judge and control others, in small ways and it large.
For some strange reason, this book brought me back to when I recently re-read Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle In Time. Reading it as an adult made me realize that this book and the subsequent A Swiftly Tilting Planet had helped me form so many of my basic ideas of right and wrong, fighting against not only evil but also despair, the powers of love and forgiveness, the danger of self-delusion, and that our actions can have consequences that we can't even imaging, so make them count. The stories are completely different, but these themes resonate in this series as well. If people reading these books, especially young people, could take these message to heart, it could create some positive change in the world.
Last questions: Can we earn redemption through good works? Should true repentance be enough? Are some crimes to heinous to be forgiven at all?
This book contains a sweet love story that began in fits and starts in earlier books. It is nicely appropriate for kids, focusing on emotions and responsibility. After all, in the middle of the world falling apart there isn't time for much more anyway!
I still adore the dog. The little mouse was also sweet. I enjoyed the human healer's role as well.
The MOST serious question (probably only to me) of the whole series: Would I really like it if my dogs could talk to me? Would I feel even more guilty for when I'm not able to be with them or to give them everything they want? Or would it be the joy of communion and deepening of friendship this series portrays. Guess I'll never know...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I'm actually under big impression even if my rating don't show it. These days book market is full of paranormal romances for YA and I thought I've heard everything that can be said about fallen angels. But Thomas Sniegowski proves that this topic can still be entertaining and fresh.
His books - because this is supposed to be my opinion on the whole series 'The Fallen' - are really enjoyable and interesting. Great fight scenes, believable characters - which is kinda difficult when you deal with the angels and fast going (but not too fast which is worth mentioning - there are no 'short-cuts') plot. It was a real pleasure and it was a real journey. All books create great story, which is parted in very good way. My poor English dictionary can't express how satisfying it was, to read books with such good structure - you can actually see where is the exposition and where the action is rising and when the resolution comes. And that applies to one book as well as to the whole series!
Why it don't have 5 stars? It's hard to explain... I guess it was too easy to put the book down. If it was really good, that would happen and if you ever laid your hands on book that you couldn't let go until you literally devoured it, you know what I mean.
I strongly recommend it to everyone who likes clear story without bad written side stories, characters acting like a real persons and want to see angels otherwise that as 'star-crossed lovers' of some human girl.
Awesome!!! I loved the ending, it was magnificent. What I really really really liked about this series was it was pretty clean. Except for general cursing, it was a pure read, one you dont find anymore. You know that literature is good, when an author can write a story without the use of graphic sex, or lanuguage. In its whole, I loved this series.
Reckoning is the fourth book in The Fallen series written by Thomas E. Sniegoski and centered on Aaron Corbet, who on his eighteen birthday learned that he is a nephilim – a human/angel hybrid.
Aaron Corbet is now struggling with the knowledge of his true parentage: that Lucifer, the greatest sinner, first of the Fallen, Satan himself, is his sire. Aaron has accepted his destiny as the Redeemer chosen by God to be able to forgive the Fallen for their sins and send them back home to Heaven.
He also becomes more comfortable and familiar with his angelic powers. With the demise of Belphegor, he is now the protector of the citizens of Aerie. They know he is the son of the Morningstar, and are aware of how powerful his angelic nature is, yet given the circumstances of his parentage, some of the citizens are torn and do not know if they can trust him.
Vilma Santiago, the woman Aaron loves, is not able to cope with her angelic transformation, and Aaron must find a way to help merge both her human and angelic natures. To do this, Aaron must find the last of the angel sorcerers known as the Malakim to help save her or else face the unthinkable decision to put her down like a rabid animal.
Meanwhile, Verchiel is rapidly deteriorating, and he becomes more demented and full of rage. He has captured Lucifer Morningstar and through magical means, attempts to unleash the sins of the father upon the world, all the hatred, rage, and sorrow, which is buried deep within the center of Lucifer's being by the Creator.
Reckoning is written rather well. The narrative continued inexorably onward and Sniegoski continues with his interesting take on angels and nephiliim. However, his interpretation of Lucifer Morningstar's revolt and fall from grace seems a tad lackluster – it is difficult to believe that angels could be so petty or insecure. However, his story since is fall is rather interesting – it's been a long and difficult road for him.
Verchiel is an interesting character, reminiscent of religious cult leaders that have turned mad with power. His interpretation of the compassion of God is narrow and used to suit his own ends. However, Sniegoski could have given the reader a reason, or rather, a believable one, for the changed from loyal Power to insane and twisted angel.
All in all, Reckoning is written rather well and is a somewhat good continuation to what would hopefully be a wonderful series, which I plan to continue in the very near future.
I want to like this series, I really do, especially since I baught the whole thing in paperback a year or two ago and can't get my monet back. But oh how I wish I could.
Again some of the visual is described quiet nicely, but the characters are beyond boring/annoying/horrible that I just want to chuck the whole thing in the nearest trash. The only one I actually like is Lucifer's pet mouse. They should base the rest of the books on him instead.
We have Vilma, who for some reason blames Aaron for her being a Nephilim, like he was the one who knocked up her mom eighteen and change years ago.
Aaron is so unbelievably whiny. Oh poor me, my girlfriend is going insane and my dad started this whole mess... Well, she can ~maybe blame him for that... He is so annoying I just want to cry.
He wakes up from a mini coma, in hurry to get to good old Lucy, because he met him in a dream and knows he can't hold off much longer. But does he hurry? No. He goes to snuggle with his comatosed girlfriend, while waiting for people who wants to join him, just to tell them that they can't join... So you guessed it, he was too late. Luckily Lucifer isn't an asshole and actually took back the hell that was released inside of him... Yeah, that's a thing
We are introduced to the Malakim, the closest thing to God without actually being God, seconds before they are killed. Then there are the Achron's who I'm not really sure what they are supposed to be. I though they were humans at first, but apperantly that was wrong.
I did like the way Verchiel was stopped and that's worth 2 stars
Aaron has rescued Vilma but Verchiel is still out there plotting to destroy not only Aaron, the fallen angels, and the Nephilim, but also the whole Earth. He plans to do that by releasing all the evils of Hell which are pent up within Lucifer Morningstar. To succeed at this plan, Verchiel must steal the knowledge from the Malakim and force the Archons to recreate the ritual. Meanwhile, Vilma's struggle with her angel half is out of control and the leaders of Aerie try to convince Aaron her only hope is to die before she kills them all. Aaron is also struggling with the knowledge that his father is the source and instigator of the Heavenly battle. Luckily, Aaron finds precious help from Gabriel, his yellow Lab, and Raphael, the last of the Malakim. Everything comes to a head in a huge battle at the St. Athanasius Orphanage where a tiny mouse plays a vital role. I enjoyed this book as it tied up all the loose ends of the four book series. Gabriel again was my favorite character with his sense of humor and courageous ferocity. And I really don't even like dogs.
Buku terakhir dari seri The Fallen...dan semua teka-teki akhirnya terkuak disini, menciptakan sebuah awal baru bagi dunia.
Sang pemimpin Kekuatan, Verchiel, masih berupaya melaksanakan perintah Tuhan untuk "membersihkan" dunia ini dari pengaruh jahat para malaikat terbuang pimpinan Lucifer. Ia selangkah lagi mencapai tujuannya, Lucifer, sang malaikat terbuang pertama telah ada dalam genggamannya. Namun, seperti telah diceritakan di buku sebelumnya, tindakan Verchiel telah melampaui batas, bahkan dia berusaha membunuh Aaron (sang tokoh utama kita) yang diramalkan oleh para Malakim (perpanjangan tangan Tuhan), sebagai sang pengampun dosa para malaikat terbuang. Verchiel, yang akhirnya merasa tindakannya telah terlanjur basah akhirnya menyadari bahwa Tuhan telah tak lagi berada di pihaknya, sehingga dia mencetuskan misi baru, yaitu melawan Tuhan, membunuh para Malakim dan yang paling utama, menghancurkan dunia dengan cara melepaskan neraka (yang berada dalam diri Lucifer).
Sementara di Aerie, kota para nephilim, Aaron dipusingkan oleh kekuatan angelik yg ada di tubuh Vilma, gadis pujaannya, sehingga untuk menyadarkan Vilma, Aaron harus menemui sang Malakim tersisa. Saat pertemuan itulah, terkuak ramalan yg telah diramalkan sebelumnya, dan yg paling utama ialah harus Aaron sendiri yang melawan Verchiel dalam menghalangi tujuan Verchiel untuk menghancurkan dunia.
Ending buku ini sangat tidak terduga, siapa yang menyangka kalau anak buah Verchiel berguguran hanya gara2 ketidaksengajaan tindakan dari tikus teman dari Lucifer. Siapa sangka pula kalau ternyata Vilma benar2 out of expectation. Namun tetap ada pelajaran yg dapat diambil, dimana sikap memaafkan itu harus selalu ada dalam diri kita, kepada siapapun...ya,siapapun.
Aaron has rescued Vilma but Verchiel is still out there plotting to destroy not only Aaron, the fallen angels, and the Nephilim, but also the whole Earth. He plans to do that by releasing all the evils of Hell which are pent up within Lucifer Morningstar. To succeed at this plan, Verchiel must steal the knowledge from the Malakim and force the Archons to recreate the ritual. Meanwhile, Vilma's struggle with her angel half is out of control and the leaders of Aerie try to convince Aaron her only hope is to die before she kills them all. Aaron is also struggling with the knowledge that his father is the source and instigator of the Heavenly battle. Luckily, Aaron finds precious help from Gabriel, his yellow Lab, and Raphael, the last of the Malakim. Everything comes to a head in a huge battle at the St. Athanasius Orphanage where a tiny mouse plays a vital role. I enjoyed this book as it tied up all the loose ends of the four book series. Gabriel again was my favorite character with his sense of humor and courageous ferocity. And I really don't even like dogs.
aeron makin hebat di sini.. misi awalnya dia nyari malakim (malaikat yg pny sihir gitu) buat nolongin vilma yg kekuatan angeliknya hampir ngalahin sisi manusiawi nya. si vilma ini gak bs ngontrol kekuatan nephilim-nya, hampir nyelakain org2 aerie lainnya..
lucunya, si malakim yg tinggal satu-satunya ini (gara-gara verchiel ngebunuh 2 lainnya) bocorin masa depannya aeron. hihi. aeron bakal dapet anak-anak yg cakep!
abis itu, aeron ketemu ama ayah biologisnya. hmm, d buku 3 udah pada tau kan ya malaikat yg jd ayahnya aeron?
di sini, pertarungan akhir aeron vs verchiel.
verchiel serem abis deksripsinya di sini. hiiyyy..
The conclusion of Aaron Corbet's story is my favorite of the series. Aaron has learned who his father is and is now reluctantly accepting his powers. He ends up in a battle against the Angelic Host who have decided to undo the Word of God and unleash Lucifer's punishment although that would create a hell on Earth.
Beautiful book, even with all the ugliness it contained. The final battle, the final forgiveness, and some pretty heavy sadness at the very end. I would love to read more of Aaron and Vilma, it would be nice to see how they might have to do another readjustment to be able to fit in again.
Katanya buku terakhir seri ini hmmm jujur gw ga dapet feelingnya, sama seperti waktu nonton serialnya yang cuma beberapa episode trus males lanjutin. Berarti masih belum dapet buku tentang malaikat/nephilim yang cocok dengan selera
It was a quick ending. I liked the book but I feel like the ending was rushed. I wished there were more of details and explanation. But the series was good. Looking forward to the continuation of it.
cool...although i'm not really comfortable with the idea of lucifer as someone like that...i think that the ending is great...i love the ending for verchiel...as well as for lucifer...