The Fallen

The Fallen (Original Numbering) #1

by Thomas E. Sniegoski

Orphan Aaron Corbet discovers the truth about his destiny and his role as a liaison between angels, mortals, and powers both good and evil.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Angels, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Fiction, Supernatural

268 pages, Paperback

First published March 5, 2003

About the author

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.

Reviews

[Nikki ☾ · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was so boring, nothing interesting really happened. I am not looking forward to the others but I already purchased them years ago so I am going to suck it up and read them. They will 100% be going into my yard sale pile once I am done. I really have nothing good to say about this book. Read it and and see what you think. Oh and doesn't the guy on the cover look like Stephan from the Vampire Diaries?? So I just found out that is Stephan and this book is a movie??? Crazy!

[Briar's Reviews · Rating 1 out of 5]

What feels like eons ago, The Fallen by Thomas E. Sniegoski was a VERY popular book among my classmates. Me, being the closer Avril Lavigne-esque bookaholic, decided I was not going to read what the popular kids like. Now that it's 2019, I decided that it was time to see what all the fuss was about... and I was right in my original decision.

I did not enjoy this book. It was well written and truly intriguing, but I just couldn't get into it. I was going to DNF this book, but I decided to finish it off and send it on it's merry way to a Christmas Adoption (some teenagers were looking for presents, and I'm sure that age group would like it more than me).

It felt like a stereotypical YA novel - angels, nephilim and magical powers with one guy being the most special - but it felt very, very slow. I'm a fast paced kinda girl, so this book made me feel bored.

My biggest positive for this book was that the descriptions and building plot was marvelous. It was truly awesome to read how Thomas was building up this series, but it felt like that - part of a series and not an initial stand alone. Books that build up for a bigger universe tend to fall flat for me - I need a good initial story to pull me in and hook me.

My biggest pet peeve was the dog incident. If you read the book, you know what I'm talking about. I just... nope. Big nope for me. No matter if it's a happy ending or not, that hurt wildly and I put the book down for DAYS because of it.

Overall, I'm glad I picked the book up to see what all the hype was about but it just wasn't for me!

One out of five stars.

[Janie Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not know what to expect with this book. I love angel stories ever since reading Angelfall. So take that story and add some darker elements to it and you have The Fallen. It was pretty fast paced for the most part, but it was also pretty dark and violent as well.

In this book we have Aaron who has his 18th birthday and who also is hearing strange voices in his head. Fearing he is going crazy he is not able to confide in anyone, not even his foster parents of whom he lives with. He then meets Zeke, who seems to know everything about him him, but can he show Aaron the way?

I thought the world building in this book was good. I find books surrounding fallen angels, really intriguing, and what peoples takes are on this subject. I think the Author did well developing both our good and bad angels in this stories. One thing I notice though is that no one writes about the events that cause the angels to fall, the war that goes on causing all this turmoil in heaven. This story gets the closest to that and I really liked that part of it. I also like the darker elements to this story, the ruthlessness of the antagonist really adds to the tale.

So now for the characters, Aaron, he was a little annoying. I know the things he was told was a lot to take, but I think he needed to be a bit more accepting of things. I think because he was not so accepting it made him look ignorant and weak. He did get better the further the story goes, and I hope in book 2, he becomes even more aware of who he is and what he was meant to become. Verchiel was the perfect antagonist. He was evil, ruthless and sadistic. I really found myself feeling so much hatred and anger towards him. There are plenty of characters to both love and hate in this story.

I recommend this to anyone who loves angel stories if you like a more gritty, dark take on the subject. I am pretty sure this should be more adult than YA just based on the dark elements and the violence alone. I look forward to the rest of the series.

[Chicareview · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally everything was working out for Aaron, his foster family really loved him. He was in his senior year and had a bright future and even the cutest girl in school was finally paying him attention. But on his eighteen birthday everything starts to change for him, suddenly he can speaks any languages known to men and he can understand his best friend named Gabriel, his dog. Soon he learns that he's not like any human but Nephilim, half human, half angel who's part of ancient phophecy, a few would want to help him but a powerful group of Angels called The Power wants him and the ones of his kind death.

The first installment of the Fallen series. Is one of hell of a ride. Sniegoski wrote a story which is very easy to read and very entertaining. Is almost impossible not too like Aaron and very painful to see how his life turns into a living hell.

The Fallen is a light yet but a very interesting story combined with a variety of complex theologies and the final product is very pleasant. I can't wait to read the second part.

If you are in need to change of books "vampire, wolf or anything other fantasy creature" genre this would be a great start.

[Cameron · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've tended to avoid the YA surge of urban fantasy as revisiting teen angst is something I leave for watching the more comically ameliorative episodes of Buffy, but every once in a while I will dip back into those dank waters and find a fun novel such as Sniegoski's. I was first drawn to this title through some oddly convoluted Goodreads recommendation and the angel imagery of the cover. Being fairly obsessed with angelic images, I ordered the book, thinking that the story was likely not going to elicit much enthusiasm from me. As one might gather from my rating, I was pleasantly surprised.
The story follows Aaron Corbet, and yes, he has his issues like any teenager, but what makes him redeemable to me is that he isn't a massive whiner about it. He is a shy kid, stuck with a bad start being bounced from foster home to foster home, but finding his footing in a good place with a good family, attempting to make the best of himself and his life. When he starts having bizarre dreams and then suddenly develops linguistic capabilities allowing him to understand what his goofy yellow lab is telling him and that the cute Brazilian girl he likes thinks he's cute too(!), events escalate until he is being hounded by heavenly Powers intent on removing his stain from the earth.
This stain you ask? Apparently Aaron is a Nephilim, recounted in Genesis 6:1-4 as the offspring of mortal women and angels (I suppose all the gonadically female angels were relegated back up in Heaven?). Not only did they do the nasty with the human women, but they also apparently taught humans bad things like how to beat the crap out of each other in full scale war and gave women make-up (see, angels cannot be utterly straight to be able to pass on such a skill, they must be bisexual or pansexual). So Aaron is supposedly one of these half beings, made all the stranger when an angelic protector enters the scene proclaiming he is "the One." No, not of the Matrix variety, although there is some spectacular aerial combat near the end so...
This novel lays the groundwork for several follow-up novels, and ABC Family made a TV movie of it. I just hope a particular scene near the end made it into the movie, so I'm going to head over to Netflix right now to request the DVD...

[Mikella Etchegoyen · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, I rented this move from the RedBox called Fallen, staring Paul Wesley (you know, the guy who plays Stefan on Vampire Diaries) because I remember hearing about it a long time ago when it was on ABC Family. Yeah, it turned out to be a six hour mini-series-esque movie trilogy. Three two hour movies. All about the Fallen (fallen angels) and the one Nephilim (child of a mortal and an angel) with the power to redeem them.

I really enjoyed the movies, but I wasn’t really paying attention to the fact that it was based on a book series. I didn’t realize it was until I found the two volume editions at Target, each volume holding two of the four books in the series.

Of course, I bought both volumes and dipped right into the first book aptly titled The Fallen. It took me awhile to come back and finish it, but I really enjoyed the first book. I kind of wish I had known about and read the books before seeing the movie version, because I spent far too much time thinking about was and wasn’t included in the movies and what was changed entirely. But I liked having a face for the characters. Either way, I’m happy to continue with the rest of the series.

And a little more of Gabriel, the dog who has the best personality, would be the best. He’s hilarious and I love him more than even Aaron.

[Wendy Holliday · Rating 3 out of 5]

If Becca Fitzpatrick and Lauren Kate didn't read this before they wrote their books and added all the ridiculous and unneeded unrealistic teen romance, I would be shocked. This was published years before either of Fallen and Hush, Hush, and frankly, it is geared towards a different audience.

I liked that there were NOT paragraphs literally describing the shape and leanness of chest muscles. Also appreciated was the lack of smirks, knowing glances, half-smiles, and all that silliness.

This one, while not zip-bang exciting, has a story that I can look forward to without a bunch of lusty teenagers longing for their next angel/wholesome girl make out session.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is fast paced, and it is very easy to like the main character, Aaron. I love that a dog plays a big role.

It is very much like his more recent book, A Kiss Before the Apocalypse. I can't decide if it's distracting or enjoyable. I generally like when a premise is created and carried throughout different books by an author. I did enjoy Apocalypse and the premise. Some of the questions raised:

-- What happens to angels when G-d stops talking to them?
-- Will we/they recognize His messages when they do come?
--Does He really have a plan? Why do people have to suffer? Is it worth it if some can be redeemed?

[Eva · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gue cukup menyukai genre2 supranatural berbasis mitologi Judeo-Christian semacam ini; malaikat dan iblis muncul dimana2, pendeta komat kamit, dan berbagai mantera dalam bahasa Latin. Mungkin ada orang2 yang menganggap ini sejenis penghujatan. Tapi menurut gue justru ini cukup fun dan nggak melenceng ngawur, means mereka masih tetap berjalan dengan sejenis penghormatan terhadap Allah Bapa, Yesus Kristus, dan Roh Kudus.
Tetralogi The Fallen sendiri sebenernya bisa disetarakan dengan Percy Jackson, meskipun diangkat dari mitologi yang berbeda. Tapi secara garis besar dua novel ini memiliki keserupaan; tokoh utama yang ternyata memiliki ayah supranatural dan karenanya terlibat dalam berbagai konflik paranormal.

The Fallen mengangkat makhluk nephillim sebagai basic berceritanya. Nephillim sendiri adalah keturunan campuran antara malaikat dan manusia. Jangan tanya sama gue bagaimana dua spesies itu kawin mawin, kalau kalian bisa menerima vampir-manusia bisa memperanakkan dhampir maka seharusnya tidak akan jadi masalah dengan nephillim.

Jadi begini mitologinya; di era Antediluvian sesudah Adam dan Hawa diusir dari Eden dan mulai memperanakan anak2 manusia, rupa2nya malaikat2 Tuhan tergoda dengan kecantikan makhluk2 fana tersebut kemudian bermain api asmara. Konsep malaikat yang membangkang ini berasal dari mitologi Judaism dan diperkuat oleh ayat dalam kitab Wahyu. Totalnya ada 200 malaikat yang membangkang (mereka disebut Grigori), gimana caranya mereka dapat angka sepasti ini, yah gue kagak tau juga. Namanya juga mitologi, setiap agama selalu punya mitologi yang kagak masuk akal kalo dilihat dari kacamata sains, Kristen juga termasuk lah ya. Tapi pan gue menganut Kristen, ya gue percaya dengan mitologi ini.
Dari dosa malaikat ini maka muncullah Nephillim, ras yang memiliki kekuatan seperti malaikat tapi juga membawa dosa asal manusia sehingga generasi darah campuran ini mengotori dunia dengan perangai buruk mereka (terang ajalah, absolute power corrupts absolutely.) Ibarat game The Sims, susunannya udah terlalu kacau untuk dibenahi akhirnya Allah mengirimkan banjir besar untuk menata ulang dunia yang udah terlalu kacau; dari sanalah muncul legenda Air Bah.

Itu mitologi yang dikenal setidaknya dari Wikipedia yang gue baca. Tapi dalam novelnya agak sedikit berbeda meskipun premisnya kurang lebih sama, Air Bah sendiri tidak disebut2; tapi Allah juga gondok dengan tingkah laku malaikat yang justru mengajarkan manusia berbagai hal yang malah merusak, ditambah lagi pemberontakan yang dipimpin malaikat Lucifer. Akhirnya Allah membentuk tim elite yang disebut The Power yang fungsinya untuk mendisiplinkan para malaikat yang mbalelo dan pada akhirnya Lucifer berhasil dikalahkan dan para tentaranya kocar kacir.
Masalahnya, the damage has been done dan keturunan Nephilim keburu merambah kemana2 ditambah lagi malaikat2 nyang diusir ini juga ternyata get busy dengan nambah populasi Nephilim dengan mbikin anak juga. Satuan ini akhirnya ditugaskan untuk menghapus jejak2 dosa para malaikat dan sekaligus memburu pemberontak tersisa yang bersembunyi diantara manusia.

Di sinilah Aaron Carter berperan. Dia seorang nephilim tanpa dia sadari, kebanyakan nephilim biasanya tidak sadar mengenai identitas mereka sampai usia mereka remaja; soalnya mereka selalu menjadi yatim piatu. Di dalam dunia The Fallen, buah cinta antara manusia dan malaikat justru berakibat fatal karena tidak ada satupun ibu yang selamat dari persalinan mereka. Nephilim is hard to deliver (for real!)

Aaron Carter bukan tipe remaja berandal klise yang marah pada dunia. Dia cowok baik2 yang introvert dan ingin masuk universitas bagus. Dia memiliki orangtua angkat yang penuh cinta, seorang adik tiri yang menderita autisme yang juga sangat dia sayangi, plus seekor labrador yang setia. Tentu saja kebahagiaan ini tidak berlangsung selamanya.

Pada ulangtahunnya yang kedelapan belas, berbagai hal menimpa Aaron; mimpi2 misterius, sakit kepala yang mengerikan, ujian sejarah yang menyebalkan, dan mendadak dia bisa memahami ucapan cewek idamannya, Vilma, yang berbincang dalam bahasa Portugis. Mulanya dia mengira dirinya terkena gegar otak akibat sakit kepala yang menggila, tapi ketika dia mulai memahami ucapan anjingnya, Gabriel, Aaron tahu ada yang tidak beres.
Adalah Ezekiel, seorang gelandangan sinting yang mengungkapkan indentitas Aaron yang sebenarnya. Ezekiel sendiri bukan gelandangan biasa, ribuan tahun yang lalu dia termasuk rombongan malaikat yang disebut Grigori yang diusir dari Eden karena berhubungan dengan manusia, dan mengajarkan yang enggak2. Di buku sendiri dibilang dia mengajarkan seni bersolek sehingga membuat manusia jadi narsis, nama aslinya sih Gadriel.
Aaron baru mempercayai ucapan Ezekiel ketika dia secara 'tidak sengaja' membangkitkan Gabriel si anjing yang nyaris tewas ditabrak mobil. Lebih dari itu, dia memberikan Gabriel semacam intelejensia yang tidak ada sebelumnya.

Pada akhirnya Aaron tahun bahwa dirinya adalah mesiah bagi para malaikat terbuang, ramalan mengenai kedatangannya sudah dinubuatkan sejak ribuan tahun yang lalu. Dengan kata lain, Aaron memiliki hak surgawi untuk mengampuni kalau kalian bisa paham maksud gue.
Tentu saja ide pengampunan bagi pemberontak2 langit ini tidak sejalan dengan pemimpin The Power, Verchiel, yang beranggapan bahwa makhluk2 ini tak layak mendapatkan pengampunan dan sepantasnya dimusnahkan. Oleh karena itu keberadaan Aaron merupakan ancaman sehingga dia diburu habis2an.
Verchiel terbukti tidak mendalami konsep Kristen mengenai Iman-Harapan-Kasih, sehingga dia membunuh semua orang yang menghalangi jalannya. Mula2nya dia membunuh psikiater Aaron yang ingin menyelidiki kemampuan memahami multi-bahasa yang dimiliki Aaron secara mendadak, sesudahnya dia membunuh orangtua angkat Aaron dan menculik adik tirinya, Stevie.

Aaron yang murka akhirnya menemukan kekuatannya dan mencoba memerangi Verchiel, tapi tentu saja dia bukanlah lawan bagi malaikat berusia ribuan tahun dengan spesialisasi bertempur. Dia hampir saja tewas kalau saja tidak ada kilat besar yang menghantam Verchiel dan menjatuhkannya, di situlah Aaron menemukan bahwa Tuhan Allah merestui keberadaannya sehingga dia memulai pelariannya sekaligus perjalanannya untuk mencari malaikat2 terbuang yang mendambakan pengampunan.

Dan karena gue sebelumnya bilang ini adalah tetralogi, maka masih ada tiga buku lagi untuk dibaca. Selamet yee...

Oke... sebagai peringatan, buang jauh2 konsep kalian soal malaikat yang welas asih macam Dewi Kwam Im, atau malaikat yang jadi hiasan pohon natal dan pernak pernik interior dari porselen bertampang imut nan cantik. Malaikat dalam novel ini merupakan konsep mentah malaikat dalam mitologi Judeo-Christian yang sangat ganas dan kalo boleh gue bilang... fucking badass. Ingat film Legion yang ehm... sampah banget itu? film kacau yang menampilkan malaikat dengan sepasang sayap anti-peluru dan bersenjatakan sub-machine gun, bisa merasuki manusia dan mereka mengenakan jubah besi macam Saint Seiya? Yup, that kind of angel. Cuman yang ini nggak bisa merasuki manusia sih.
Seperti yang gue bilang, ini bukan novel cewek. Adegan kepala terpenggal, sayap dipatahkan, orang terbakar hidup2, malaikat pemabuk yang suka merokok, orangtua angkat yang dihanguskan dalam hitungan detik bertebaran dimana2. Tentu saja yang paling gue suka adalah pertempuran udara dengan pedang menyala2. Oh come on, it soooo kick ass!!

Gue membaca novel ini seperti gue membaca komik shonen, tutup pintu logika dan iman (cuman kalo lagi ngebaca doang.)
Itulah kenapa gue bilang The Fallen mirip2 Percy Jackson, sebab Thomas E. Sniegoski memperlakukan mitologi malaikat-Nephilim-Allah ini seperti Rick Riordan memperlakukan dewa2 Yunani. Malaikat punya kepentingan sendiri, bertempur di kalangan mereka sendiri dan manusia... well, humans just... humans. Sebab lebih sering manusia yang kena susah atau malah terbunuh akibat konflik surgawi ini.
Anyway.. ada beberapa konsep seperti messianism dan pengampunan di sini, which is not bad menurut gue. Bukankah orang Kristen mempercayai itu semua?

Gue menganggap novel ini seru dan satu selera dengan gue; mungkin tidak mengetuk pintu hati, mengharukan dengan dramatisasi, atau dipenuhi romantisasi yang membuat kalian ingin segera pergi ke wedding bridal terdekat dan memilih gaun pengantin. Tapi gue menyukainya.
Aaron Carter adalah tipe cowok baik2, dia bukan cowok pemberontak atau yang terus2an mengeluhkan nasibnya sehingga mau tidak mau gue kasihan dengan nasibnya dan membenci Verchiel yang menjadikan rencana Tuhan sebagai alasan untuk melakukan aksi brutal.

Anyway, it's a fun read to spend the night.

[James Tullos · Rating 3 out of 5]

I somehow got a copy of the 1st 2 books in 1 and didn't realize it, so the ending came abruptly. That one's my fault though.


Weak 3 stars.

[Gwenn Wright · Rating 1 out of 5]

The very long drive from StL to AZ did provide enough time to finish reading Sniegoski's "Fallen". I have to say, this cover that Amazon.com shows makes a lot more sense than the one on the book I bought. That one has an angel boy with no shirt on which makes it look like a book geared toward females of the species. But it's a story about angelic battles and flaming swords that cook your insides. That is not typical "boy gets girl" stuff. It was ok. The end of it was so offensive to me I nearly quit reading it. Likening Aaron Corbet to Christ (for the sake of the fallen angels) just went too far. The theology in it was ridiculous. You know what? Unless you're going to get it right, stay away from religious topics. And history. And science. If you're not going to do your research don't write. And if you're going to take so much creative license, I don't even want to read it. It's the same reason I hate adaptations that don't stick to the original story. The writing was ok. The talking dog was annoying after awhile. It just wasn't my favorite. This book....the plot was shallow and then there was this big battle and then it was over. Granted, I know there will be a second book, but the first one was way too shallow for me. I don't know if I can objectively review books that dabble in Christianity. It's another one of those things where the author got the Message mixed up and that can effect someone's perception of Christ and the Gospel and I ain't hip to that jive.

[Maddie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was meh. I really appreciated all of the death though XD It's realistic. That probably makes me a really sad person, but what can I say. Makes for something different. The main aspect of this story that I really enjoyed was Aaron and Gabriel :D Dog-best-friend. I mean, I did enjoy the whole budding romance, especially because it wasn't between a geek and a popular person, but rather two average students. When Aaron came into his Angel form and kicked all that butt I was just groaning in exasperation. Why does this always happen? The Chosen One trope. Hate it. And of course the bad guy would still live. Kind of intrigued to see where the rest of the books take me though.

[Colleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I want to give this book 1 star because I am so mad about the way Sniegoski ended it. I don't think Aaron's adoptive parents should have died and then worse - to have the Powers take the autistic child...errr

I am sure that I am completely biased because I worked with autistic children when I practiced psychotherapy and I know the absolute trauma that would occur if the child saw his parents die and then have strangers take him away.

I think the ending of the book was unnecessarily violent. I can understand the need to have Aaron break away from his previous life to follow his "destiny" but there were a lot of other ways to make that happen. ERRRRRR.

[Clearani Luh · Rating 3 out of 5]

well first time i saw this cover , i believe that the story will be good . and when I start to read this book. omg my first though is "aaron a cool boy ever" beside lucas ross (boy in evernight story's). ok and when i knew that he is nephilim it really amazed and gorgeous :) . and you know who is the one who I really like :D yeahhh gabriel. :D omg it is the best dog ever. cute , nice, kind and love aaron and could have conversation with aaron , but the annoying one is the power and the leader of the power --'' gosh i wish i could break his arm become a peaces of glass :D soo this book is pretty to read

[Trish · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was written before Kiss Before the Apocalypse, and is aimed at young adult rather than adult, but the world view/cosmology is pretty consistent. However, I have to say it had a higher body count/collateral damage than I might have expected for its target audience. Not as good, but I'll probably read at least one more in the series as it has potential.

[Linda (un)Conventional Bookworms · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book! A pretty tough awakening for the Nephilim in this book, a lot of danger, and not understanding what's going on. Very exciting, and heart-touching at the same time.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good beginning novel! Really enjoyed it!

[Jenny · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️

Trigger warnings: child abuse, abuse/mistreatment of an autistic person, animal abuse, violence, torture, murder, gore

Yikes. This reeks of early 2000 tropes, is badly written AND uses an autistic child as a plot device 😬

I like angel and nephilim stories, when they’re well executed. This shitshow was everything but. And that’s not even counting all the offensive ableist and sexist language.

The writing could be a masterclass on what NOT to do when you start writing: overuse of adverbs, head hopping, verb tense changes, too many underdeveloped characters, etc.

I had the double edition of Fallen and Leviathan, because the library didn’t have only book one, but I switched my reading edition on Goodreads because there’s no freaking way I’m reading book 2! I had plenty enough of Aaron’s boring self and crappy adventures.

And if I hadn’t already given up by the (completely unrealistic, even for urban fantasy) final battle, it got so preachy in the end my eyes rolled back far enough to hurt.

I’d also like to point out that there was a lot of inconsistencies with the angels here vs legit everything else. This felt like the Twilight of angels, without the romance cause the small, tiny, minuscule bit of romantic storyline fell completely flat.

[Kathy Davie · Rating 3 out of 5]

First in the Fallen urban fantasy series for young adults and revolves around Aaron Corbet, a newly awakened Nephilim.

My Take
The start to this was very confusing, although it certainly did up the tension. I couldn't read fast enough to try to figure out what was going on. But all it does is set up the tension for what will happen once you get past the prologue.

That was disgusting. I don't care if Zeke is an angel, fallen or not. He killed Gabe! Just to make a point! And it does weird things to Gabe.

It's one thing for Verchiel to kill the Nephilim just as they come into their power, but he does it with total disregard for collateral damage. He doesn't care how many innocent humans die.

Where is God in all this? Supposedly, the Powers are killing in his name and God is allowing Verchiel and his followers to destroy anyone they want. How, in God's name, is this justice?

All right, just how dimwitted is Aaron? He keeps getting all this information, and even when Stevie has his "fit", he still refuses to believe. He refuses to act.

I'm just not sure about this series. I had expected more from Sniegoski after his Remy Chandler series... I do like his characters---except for Aaron's dimwittedness---and the scenario is certainly an interesting twist. Who'd'a thunk that God's angels could be so cruelly vicious?

The Story
It starts with confusing dreams, and then, just after a horrid headache, he suddenly can understand any language of any living thing on the planet. Then men start appearing to him and telling him he's a Nephilim. That he has a destiny to save fallen angels.

This isn't right. He's in his last year at school. He's supposed to be applying to colleges, finding scholarships. Not talking to dogs or understanding every language on earth!

The Powers have escalated the violence. Verchiel fears the fulfillment of a prophecy. Of a Nephilim "who would be the key to reuniting those who had fallen from Heaven with their most holy Father".

The Characters
Aaron Corbet just turned 18, he's in his senior year at school, he has a great foster family, and now he's hearing voices. Gabriel is the dog he rescued. Lori Stanley is his foster mother; Tom is the foster father; and, Stevie is their autistic, natural son. The Stanleys are very decent people who treat Aaron as if he were their own.

West Lynn Veterinary Hospital is where Aaron works after school. Michelle is the veterinary assistant; Dr. Kris Bufman is the vet. Dr. Michael Jonas is the counselor Aaron saw when he first came to the Stanleys. Vilma Santiago is a very popular girl in his school who recently transferred in from Brazil. Turns out she's fascinated by angels. I suspect she's another Nephilim.

Ezekiel is a Grigori and he cruelly forces Aaron's powers. Camael is a former Power, who has turned from Verchiel's path. Lucifer Morningstar got greedy and began the Great War. Turns out John Milton's Paradise Lost wasn't fiction...

Samuel Chia, Samchia is his angelic name, is a wealthy Hong Kong businessman. And one of the angels who would not choose a side in the war Morningstar initiated. A Grigori. Joyce Woo is the human who manages his business affairs.

Verchiel is the leader of the Powers. A psychotic who believes he can interpret God's will. He despises humans, referring to them as monkeys, animals. He doesn't care whom he destroys. Humans. Angels. His own troops. If he were human, he would be arrested for war crimes. Hadriel, Cassiel, Uriel, Sammael, Tufiel, and Sabriel are other Powers. Kraus is a blind human healer whom Verchiel forces to serve him.

Nephilim are the rare children born of angels and human women (who usually die in childbirth). The Powers are secret police, God's storm troopers, and their job is to destroy what they believe is offensive to the Creator. Only, they've gone overboard. Grigori are angels who fell. They fell too in love with helping humans. Originally sent to keep humans out of trouble, the Grigori began teaching them more. About fire, weapons, astrology, makeup, reading the weather. In return, the humans taught the Grigori about drinking, sex, and smoking.

The Cover
The cover is perfect as Aaron is just a high school kid in his jeans jacket, but one with his destiny illuminating the wings that will be his in a brilliant golden yellow glow.

The title starts the first installment as well as introduces the name of the series. And it's all about the Fallen angels.

[Kristen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I struggled with reading this book. I read a lot of the YA stuff. And lately, I have really been enjoying the stuff related to angels. This was hard to read though for me. I think for 2 primary reasons.

First, I read somewhere the the author got started in comic books. If that's true - I totally see it. The abruptness with which chapters jumped between our main character, Aaron, and others was hard for me to handle. The character development was almost non existent. In fact, there were a number of chapters where we met characters and they died - in the same chapter. That's all we ever seen of them. It was, I think, intended to provide background. Or context so that we see that the "Powers" (real original name for them by the way) are really scary and should be taken seriously. But we sort of know that all along. Aaron is the one who needs to know that but since these chapters don't have anything to do with him or people he knows (for the most part), those chapters feel very wasteful. Additionally, there is a lot that is left unsaid. I think if I had a lot more bible knowledge/knowledge on the "lore" of angels it might have helped. I think. But the jumps and the use of these disposable characters felt very comic book like. If there were artwork to go along with it, the chapters might have been more interesting.

The second reason I struggled with this book was the religiousness. It's sort of tone, but it was more then that too. It's like the story itself should be one that is discussed in a theology class. I don't mind the theology of angels, but it's as if the plot itself is really about believing in God and having faith. And when I picked this book up, I thought it was just another YA book with an angel theme/spin. I didn't expect to feel like I was sitting through the homily at my church (a roman catholic one - I say that for context).

The plot goes something like this: boy is a half angel/half human; there are "bad" angels who believe they are doing God work by killing all the Nephilim; Aaron is a special Nephilim (and I can guess who his father is after the first time it's commented about how powerful he is, so why not just spit that out instead of pretending like that's some big dark secret); Aaron needs to embrace the angle half of himself and then he will save the "Fallen" angels who are stuck on earth and can't get to heaven because of their sins. We have the typical "bad" guys: the Powers. Lead by Verchiel who is so evil it was almost comical to think that he is an angel (and the line he says towards the end to God about why he's been forsaken... REALLY? am I supposed to believe that an angel that evil really can't see it? Pleeeaaasssseeeee say it ain't so!) and the guy we aren't sure to trust or not (Camael) and the faithful companion to Aaron (that is really the only interesting/original part - his faithful friend is a dog. But, given the changes to the dog when Aaron heal him, he's more intelligent so it's hard to continue to think of him as a dog throughout the end of the first and all of Levithan). And we are left with a tragic event that forces Aaron to chose whether he is going to accept or reject his true self as a Nephilim. Add in lots of religious theory and some fairly gruesome deaths and there you have it.

At 272 pages, it's a fairly short read too. So, there isn't a whole lot of room for character development. But it certainly would have been nice to have some. When the battle at the end happens, I barely felt sad for the characters that are lost (and I didn't feel at all sad about the characters we loose in the beginning because the author never even attempts character development for those folks - as mentioned earlier) - because we barely know the characters. Even Aaron isn't really all that well developed. Zeke certainly isn't - he comes and goes quickly. I felt like if there had been pictures to go with the story you might know more about him. The author tells us very quickly that he's a loner. There's a whole whopping 2 scenes with him at school...? How does that really tell me anything? It introduces us to Vilma but she is promptly set aside and we get very few scenes with her (although, I read this in the re-released double with Levithan - which will get barely 1 star, and I see that we will end up seeing more of Vilma in the next installment, but I am not sure I care enough to pick it up, especially after reading Levithan).

The end of this book leaves the reader totally hanging off a cliff. I think it was smart to re-puiblish this with Levithan, but Levithan was bad enough that I probably won't bother with the next two (maybe they should have put all 4 together and just charged a little more - then I would have spent more money and that's probably the only way they would ever get me to finish the series). And since we really don't have much additional resolution or information even after Levithan, well, I was unsatisfied.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book as I was checking out various YA publisher websites for forthcoming releases. Apparently SimonPulse is re-releasing this four-book series in two megavolumes. I'm not sure what it was that tipped me off that it was a re-release as I hadn't heard of this author/series before, but something about the covers (very similar to the re-covering of Christopher Pike's Last Vampire / Thirst No. 1: The Last Vampire, Black Blood, Red Dice, with the white cover)... maybe it was also that it mentioned there being two books in the volume. So I looked in my library catalog and there it was!

The cover of this (2003) edition harkened back to my early days of YA reading, back in the mid-nineties, although even in the mid-nineties this cover would have been old-fashioned. There was the "tagline" under the title (The Fallen: "there but for the grace...") that was completely nonsensical. There was the blurb after the author's name, implying that because he had written Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Monster Book (with Christopher Golden), this was a sure hit. Hmm... And it also looked like SimonPulse had already re-released these books back in 2007 with better covers that are reminiscent of a Buffy/Roswell/Supernatural novelization. But it's never too late to get more mileage out of a repackaging, especially since this book's subject is angels, and with a slew of new YA books dealing with the angelic (Fallen, Hush, Hush), why not? I am actually a bit surprised that I had never heard of this series before, but anyway...

Aaron, a foster kid with a temper, has just turned 18, and his life has just turned very weird. Not only can he understand foreign languages, he can hear what his dog is saying as clear as if the animal was speaking English. At first he thinks he's going crazy, but then he encounters a strange man who says Aaron is Nephilim - the son of a fallen angel and a mortal woman. Suddenly Aaron and his family are in the midst of an angelic battle, and Aaron must call upon his newfound powers to survive.

I am not sure how teens today will like this series, given the lack of romance - there is a possibility in the future of something blossoming, but most of the book involves Aaron's struggle to understand the weird events in his life and the warring factions of angels who are trying to track him down. Boys would like it, but I doubt they'll be the ones picking it up. Maybe teen girls are getting tired of romance and will enjoy the fast pace of this story - I know I did, but that might be because it reminded me of those days of yore when not every YA book was a paranormal romance in disguise. This could have been better written, and maybe the re-release will involve a major rewrite to evoke that thin thread of romance, but this first incarnation was fun to read and I think I will have to find out what happens next. Unfortunately, I'm going to have to buy the re-release, since the second book of the series, Leviathan, is lost or missing at every library I have access to.

[Ella Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thoughts on The Fallen was that it was great because all the characters had interesting traits and the book didn't go into too much detail but it didn't have too little detail. This book is about how a boy named Aaron thinks he's going insane because he starts hearing voices and he can understand all different types of languages. Aaron has difficulties trying to get people to understand but the only person he has told is his therapist, Mr. Cunningham.

The main character in this book is Aaron. In my opinion he is the most interesting character in the book because he figures out that he can understand all languages, even animals! I think the person Vilma is interesting too because she is the most popular and prettiest girl in Aaron's high school. Aaron has the biggest crush on her, even though Aaron isn't popular Vilma likes him which I think is suspicious. My least favorite characters in the book were Aaron's mother and father. Even though they aren't mentioned in the book that much I don't like them because they are foster parents and he has been in more than just one or two foster homes, he has been to four foster homes.

I decided on reading this book because my sister told me it was one of the best series she read. After she said that I decided to read it for school and I defiantly want to read the second one. One of my favorite parts about this book is when Aaron is in his home and he smelled smoke coming from the hall, "The smell suddenly hit him. Smoke., And not the kind he desperately craved. Something was burning. He rose from his bed and walked barefoot across the room to the door... Panic gripped him, not for his own safety, for he was almost sure the flames could not kill him, but for the safety of the other poor souls who called the Osmond their home."(pg 189) This was one of my favorite parts because I didn't know if he or his family could make it out alive. I think it was very wonderful that he risked his life to save people that he loved.

An important symbol to the story would be wings of an angle because throughout the book angels appear to either help to make Aaron's life easier or make Aaron's life more difficult. This is important because the angels make the plot mysterious and suspenseful.

[Myvampfiction · Rating 5 out of 5]

review by SarahBella

*Warning: possible spoilers ahead.*

The Fallen 1 (which contains both The Fallen and Leviathan) is an amazing story about Nephilim, fallen angels, and absolution. The Powers are an elite force of angels, doing God's bidding on Earth. During The Great War of Heaven, Lucifer and his followers were cast out of Heaven, destined to walk the Earth among the mortals, until the time that The Powers searched them out and destroyed them.

While they were on Earth, they ‘consorted’ with humans and created Nephilim. In addition to fallen angels, The Powers also hunt and eradicate anything that ‘offends God’ – including Nephilim and other mythical beasts.

If you don’t want to read minor spoilers, don’t read passed this point.

On Aaron Corbet’s eighteenth birthday, he starts to go crazy – at least, that’s what he thinks. When he runs into a fallen angel masquerading as a human, though, things begin to get clearer. Aaron is Nephilim, and the voices he is hearing- and the new languages he speaks- are manifestations of his angelic side blossoming.

When The Powers come for Aaron, he is aided by two fallen angels – Zeke, who told him what he is, and Camael, once the leader of The Powers. With their help, Aaron survives the attack, but the story truly begins when the Leader of The Powers, Vercheil, kidnaps Aaron’s foster brother and holds him hostage. Aaron is now faced with the challenge of hunting down Vercheil and rescuing Stevie.

His adventure is epic, filled with monsters and beasts the likes of which only a god could create. The characters in it are loveable and strangely relatable considering that they’re not human beings. You know from the beginning exactly who you want to win – which is something I love – but you’re never quite sure which way any battle is going to go.

The imagery is vivid and the writing descriptive. You can imagine the battles as they take place around you. All in all, these books are a must read! The Fallen gets 5 out of 5 fangs!

[Todd · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanna say, 3½ ★'s...
This book surprised me. I bought the omnibus version of the book with book 1 & 2 because I liked the cover:


I wasn't sure if I would really like the story or not, but I have to admit that the story was pretty good. I especially loved the stuff with Gabriel the dog. I really liked that Aaron not only understands all languages, but had full conversations with his dog, Gabriel. That was super cute.

I was kind of sad they didn't go more into Aaron's love interest, Vilma. She seems important in some way. The way she draws the attention of the angels as well as Aaron himself. The characters were pretty decent. I really hope the next book explores more into Aaron's ability to talk to animals. I wish they would have expanded that part more; it would have been funny to see more of what his ability can do with his working at a vet hospital. OMG it was soo sad that they killed his foster parents! I totally was not expecting that. I figured there would be some sudden, last minute miracle that would swoop in & save his parents. It makes me sad for Aaron... But that is probably part of the book's appeal; part of the reason I enjoyed it.

This book has an overall calm enjoyment about it. I will not obsess over this series like I have other books. But, I really enjoyed it. It was rather in a more endearing way. I want happiness for the characters who seemed to go through so much. Even before the whole nephilim thing took hold, the kid had a difficult life. Being in foster care at-all tells us that. I will definately read the following books to the series end. And I will recommend the story to others.

[Milkweed Augustine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now that I finally read ther es tof this review for "THE FALLEN" [The Fallen] Part I" I knew I liked it for a reason. It is highly benedictive of my own nonfiction book of rare religious prophesies that is now in the clutches of the Holy Vatican-"The Milkweed Prophesy; Epitaph of the Apocalypse." It describes great and graphic prophetic visions as said, which are likened to my own book just mentioned. The author, I personally believe, is highly sensitive and knowledgeable of the world, but just as vitally said, about the inner margins loitering there within himself, hence why he can radiate such a defining exploitation of his prophesies of the warlike realm in which he now lies. A great and highly interesting read, which I highly anticiapte. I feel honotred to see something closely related to my own work, but although not yet knowing whether these vision are real or imagined, seethe with something that already defines a realistic taint. My book, the above mentioned in the Vatican, a true story, to the bitter and glorious end, was redundently told through a lifetime of testaments from God Himself, but well combined with circumstances that interconnected perfectly, hence granting them even further warrant and powerful thesis sta tements with prophetic and apcolyptic insight that was th oroughly acknowledged by the Holy Catholic Church as reality and perfection told by a very rare "living" conduit."
A wonderful review and I can't wait to read it!!
THUMB'S UP!

Lama Milkweed L. Augustine PhD
author of 14 books, artist, pacifist leader, religious leader

Also known as Her Holiness;
The Most Venerable Lama Rimpoche, Miss Prof. Milkweed L. Augustine PhD DD
author of 'The Milkweed Prophesy; Epitaph of the Apocalypse," and recently "Casino Child; King of the Slot Machines." CO 2014.

[Jenna]

THIS IS LITERALLY ONE OF THE BEST SERIES I HAVE EVER READ

I was really shocked to see there were negative reviews on the book, calling it boring. I don't understand how this book can fail to intrigue. It has romance, it has action, and most importantly, requires the reader to have a look inside themselves.

I have read this story until its very last page, to which point I was practically a drug addict struggling to find my next fix. This book is truly a gem and I have never read anything quite like it. It explores uncharted territory in terms of the religious commentary. I am not going to reveal anything in this reveal, but I am feeling really nostalgic just thinking about it.

For those who still believe this book to be typical Becca Fitzpatrick, let me tell you this book grinds that book into a slobbering, meaningless soapie.

The TV series was terrible and extremely inaccurate. But I don't blame the producers for chopping it up to be less offensive to Christians, but still, it's a sad translation of the book.

(also, I might want to mention I WILL be spoiling for future books. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED)

Examples of these book to movie sins include: Aaron's family surviving the initial attack, Wilma being kidnapped after her Aunt gets murdered in the same way Aaron's family was supposed to, The Powers realised their mistake, Lucifer is a bad guy, Hell is a physical place, etc. etc.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had trouble getting through this book.
Mostly becuse 90% of it is exactly like the movie, which obviously isn't the authors fault, but also because all the spelling and grammar mistakes. Which again isn't the authors fault, but the editors.

It's a good book though.
Sniegoski takes existing lore and makes it his own, and makes you believe in the world he creates.
I'm convinced that Angels, fell in love with humen females and created a new breed, Nephilims.

We get to know Aaron Corbett, an orphan who lives with his foster parents Tom and Lori, and their seven year old son, Stevie.
Just as he is about to turn eighteen he starts having these horrific nightmares of kids his age being hunted down and slayed. Turns out the reson he has always felt different from everyone is that he WAS in fact different than everyone.

With the help of a quirky fallen Grigori named Ezikhiel, the former Powers Commander Camael and his Labrador Retriver Gabriel he learns of the ancient prophecy that shows all the signs to be about him, and they go about to teach him to control his powers.

Something like that. He's a Marty Stu. But that's okay.
Think every Angel book you've read, minus the love story.

It's an easy read, and worth the time spent.


I wouldn't be surprised if a certain female writer in a similar genra has stolen many ideas from this series, from what I've heard it wouldn't be the first time.

[Trinity · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay I would really like to give this book a 3.5 stars. It was a wonderful spin on the fallen angels.

Aaron Corbet was just a regular teenage boy, with a bad childhood. He never knew his father and his mother died giving birth to him. Since then he's been funneled through the system until finally landing in the Stanley household. Now, having a home, he has become a top notch student, carries on an after-school job and has a loyal companion (his dog Gabriel). This all suddenly changes when he turns eighteen. For some reason that he cannot explain, he begins to understand the words his crush is speaking, in Portuguese. He understands exactly what his dog wants. Not only that, his dog can understand him.

Thinking he's crazy he seeks out the help of his childhood psychiatrist. This does nothing but confuse Aaron more. It's not until he is forced to save the life of the "person" he loves most that he realizes there is something truly special about himself.

I can understand why some people won't like this novel. It is VERY enriched in Christianity. Not exactly a popular subject. But people have to understand, where there are angels, there is God. Angels, Demons, the fallen, anything of that nature has it's roots in Christianity and to ignore that would be to undermine or negate the subject you have chosen to write about. Just sayin'.

[Ben Truong · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Fallen is the first 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.

Raised in foster homes, Aaron Corbet discovers on his eighteenth birthday that he is one of the Nephilim, who are children of angels and mortal women. Aaron initially resists the notion, but a fallen angel presses him into service in their battle against the Powers, who make it their mission to destroy Nephilim and fallen angels.

Eventually, the fallen angels try to protect Aaron because they believe he is the prophesied one that has been foretold a thousand years ago, who will reunite them and return them to the angelic realm – heaven.

All in all, The Fallen is written rather well. Sniegoski’s writing is at best workmanlike, and any underlying theology or philosophy seems well hidden. Sniegoski did a remarkable job on developing both the good and bad angels and the conflict between them. The fallen angels living and hiding from the Powers that seek out to destroy them and their hope in Aaron Corbet is portrayed nicely.

All in all, The Fallen is written rather well and is a good start to what would hopefully be a wonderful series, which I plan to continue in the very near future.

[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

Orphan, Aaron Corbet thought his life had finally settled down with the Stanley family after being shipped from foster home to foster home all his life. That was until his 18th birthday when he started understanding languages he never knew and his Labrador retriever started talking to him. Freaked by his new abilities Aaron resists what Zeke, a fallen angel, tells him about his destiny. That his is the child of an angel father and human mother, called a Nephilim. Those angels who seek relationship with humans are banished from heaven,called Fallen angels. There are a group of angels, called The Powers that went around killing all the Nephilim children, believing them to be monsters and it being God's will for them to be killed. Now, The Powers are back and searching for the Nephilim that a prophet says will be able to reunite the fallen angels with heaven. The Nephilim being Aaron. After blowing off Zeke, Aaron comes in contact with Camael, once a part of The Powers, but now is here to protect Aaron from The Powers killing him so that he can fulfill the prophecy. However, Aaron denial doesn't last long when an attack occurs at his house that causes him to accept his fate if he wants to survive. Once Aaron accepts his new found power, well, his story has just begun.