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Angels of Chaos #1

Angels of Chaos

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I was raised to fight the war between demons and angels. Earth is their battleground, and half-angels like me have one job:

Live for Heaven, die for Earth.

But I’ve never been big on following the rules. When I steal an angelic relic to save my dying best friend, I find myself facing down my ex-boyfriend – the worst of the angels – on a dark city street.

I can't escape this male with the gorgeous face, angel's wings, and nightmare soul. As he tries to track down where I hid the relic, I find myself trapped with three of his other victims: a sexy demon and my two psychopathic former besties.

But war is coming for us all. Prisoner or free. Angel or scum.

What if our only chance to survive is with each other?

212 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 12, 2021

259 people are currently reading
616 people want to read

About the author

May Dawson

112 books1,580 followers

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5 stars
330 (51%)
4 stars
178 (27%)
3 stars
100 (15%)
2 stars
21 (3%)
1 star
7 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
Profile Image for Rhiannon Chillingworth.
834 reviews220 followers
January 2, 2022
Maybe 2022 is the year of finding RH I enjoy, as colour me surprised that I quite liked this.

The world building is you general angels vs demon fare, with poor humans caught in the middle, and Brianna is definitely a super special lady who's milkshake brings all the boys to the yard, but I didn't mind it.

The four guys are their own separate entities and have varying level of relationship with her, Brian manages to just about toe the line of a tough-ass bitch, but isn't too annoying about it, and the chemistry was good. I liked the reveal at the end, so we'll see where the next book goes/
Profile Image for Heather Gilbert.
1,774 reviews85 followers
May 21, 2021
4.5 Rounded Up
When I saw that Angels of Chaos was an author partnership between the talented May Dawson and Alexa B. James, I got really excited. If you have read anything by either of them, then you know you are in for a treat. Dawson has a tendency to weave multiple plot lines and complex characters into an intricate tapestry, while James adds the heat (not that Dawson doesn't, it's just a touch different) and a wealth of dark tones to any narrative. A treat indeed.

I really enjoyed this book, speeding through it in one sit-through. It drops you into the middle of the action, leaving breadcrumbs of the world for you to pick up and put together as you go along. The Angels and Demons are fighting (obviously) in a war that neither side can really gain traction on. The Angels, needing fodder and weapons, created the Nephilim, half-human, half Angel, hybrids that are tougher than their human parents, but not as tough as their Angel ones. In other words, they are the perfect Red Shirts in a war they didn't cause but now are required to fight in. It's a bit more complicated than that, but that is a rough framework to go off of.

Add in a dash of betrayal, heaps of repressed lust, miscommunication, lost love, and hidden powers - and you have the setup for a delish tale that flows well from beginning to its cliffhanger end. I'm eager to see where this goes, and what Noah's ultimate goal is.

Perspective:
First Person, Multiple POV

Ending Type:
Cliffhanger

Rating:
R - Adult (Plenty of cursing, intimacy, and violence to be had)

Romantic Dynamic:
FMMMM

Heat Level:
Inferno

Character Age Range:
20+

My Final Verdict on Angels of Chaos

A well-done offering that will probably hit 5 stars when book 2 drops - if it keeps going on the obvious trajectory. While Book 1 is dramatic and even traumatic at points, the reveal at the end sets up book 2 to be just as bad@ss, but also fun. I can't wait to see where it goes!
Profile Image for Saint Fitz.
270 reviews
January 22, 2022
I really couldn’t get into this character or this book. Worldbuilding needed work to make me feel the utter desolation of life in a world where Angels and Demons played out their petty arguments using humanity as their playground. I felt little by way of tension or romance (in spite of being told these characters were attracted to one another) so overall, this was just a so so read for me. I wish I’d spent more time in Brianna’s head and that her emotions came into play more than her “tough girl act.” I understood she had to be tough, but it didn’t feel nuanced, complex, or layered (and no, having Gemma there didn’t fix it, either).
Profile Image for Dee . .
128 reviews12 followers
November 11, 2021
Yassss, I am here for this series! Shade is mine. I licked him first. Not my favorite cover, but both authors knocked it out of the park for me with this book.
The jury is still out on Noah. I like him, but I don't like him.
I liked that the authors chose to blur the lines between good and evil, and that things weren't so cut and dry between Angels and Demons. Book 2, gimme.
Profile Image for Debbie Eyre.
5,893 reviews116 followers
May 15, 2021
This is just brilliant! A steamy reverse harem romance where both the angels and demons are hot, dangerous and a little bit deranged. I mean who wouldn’t want to read this! It’s fast paced and action packed and has a very addictive storyline. Our female mc is a totally kick ass Nephilim who finds herself in a tricky situation surrounded by old friends , enemies and demons. Throw in twists and turns to make your head spin and some excellent world, building and you have one hell of a read!
Profile Image for RLbooks (in and out).
992 reviews479 followers
May 18, 2021
Angels of Chaos was an edge of my seat, don't want to put my kindle down, awesome read when I've been stumbling through the majority of books I've read lately. This first book in a new series blew me away and I'm glad I listened to the mastermind behind The Naughty Book Box blog and dove in to this baby.

To start, this is a multi-POV book that I'd say is medium burn. Brianna is a kick-butt, sometimes snarky, still caring, and fun to read FMC who has what's shaping up to be several interesting and varied love interests. There are two Nephilim ex-besties (twins too), a new demon friend, and her ex-boyfriend who's an angel. This motley crew all end up in a prison together, although the angel is on the "right" side of the law vs. the rest of the group. I liked the set-up in this book to introduce the world, the characters, and some of the conflict. There is steam in these pages along with simmering tension. Some characters are definitely hiding things, for Noah we get hints of what he's hiding which is necessary or I think we'd hate him too much, but instead we get to see his conflict.

The book does end on a large cliffhanger BUT book 2 is already up for pre-order so there's that. I haven't read a co-write from these two authors before (not sure if they've written together before or not) but I thought the story flowed fantastically and I'm excited to see what's in store for these characters (hopefully unravelling of secrets, some more emotions and steam, and kicking ass).
Profile Image for Charlotte.
3,956 reviews61 followers
May 15, 2021
Flaming Hell!! What a bloody brilliant start to this series. I literally inhaled this book in one day. I was completely absorbed by it.

Brianna (FMC) is a thief and a Nephilim who gets herself put in prison when a job she's trying to do to help her sick friend - Gemma goes wrong. Only this prison is no holiday camp. Run by sadistic angels and inmates that are not exactly friendly. Brianna has all of that to contend with as well as 3 Ex friends - Noah and twin brothers - Ryland & Beckett who are not completely happy to see her again. Although everything is not so black and white there. One example of that being Shade. Swoon.............. he definitely steamed up my kindle!! Then again so did Ryland & Beckett. Oh and what the flaming hell was that ending??? I seriously wanted to punch someone after reading that one, lol. This book certainly has it all and it was just a brilliant read. I can't wait for book 2 now
Profile Image for thenerdybookworm_.
1,641 reviews67 followers
May 21, 2021
Angels of Chaos was fantastic!! An awesome start to a brand new series by May Dawson and Alexa B. James.

Brianna is a thief and a kicka** nephilim—half human, half Angel—all she wants is to make sure her BFF is taken care of. So she take takes a job that would help her BFF for life. Unfortunately she gets caught and ends up in an Angel prison. While there she learns some things about her past…

I loved Brianna, she cares deeply for those she loves and she’s fierce. The men in her life are hot and I can’t wait to see the developments in all of their relationships in the next book.

I was sucked in from beginning to end. It was non stop action, with lots of steamy smexy times. I can’t wait for book 2!!
Profile Image for Christina Luberts.
2,767 reviews7 followers
May 17, 2021
Take a journey of a half angle and Nephilim. Follow Brianna as she does her job and gets caught, yes she is the best but not everything is for sure. Now in prison what will she do when her old crew is there? Who can she get on her side? If she does can she trust him? So follow all the twist and turns.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for MandyViolete.
1,053 reviews1 follower
May 14, 2021
First I want to say whattheeverlovefwasthatbackthere! And then I was to RAVE about the start of this amazing and spectacular new series!! Stop what you’re doing and read this book! Seriously! No matter what you like you’re going to love this. Hot, action, intrigue, feels, it has everything and I LOVE IT!!!
199 reviews2 followers
May 20, 2021
I enjoyed the book. I haven't read too many books where the MFC gets thrown in jail. I like her bravado even if she is scared and I think Shade is my favorite. Looking forward to the next book.
Profile Image for Nikki.
906 reviews82 followers
January 19, 2022

⌨ Cᴏᴍᴘʟᴇᴛᴇ Sᴇʀɪᴇs Rᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ & Rᴀᴛɪɴɢ ⌨

Rating and Review


Rating: 3 Stars

This trilogy was so disappointingly average. Now, I don’t consider average to be a bad thing, which is why I’m emphasizing the “disappointingly” part.

I feel like this is another cookie-cutter reverse-harem paranormal story, where the FMC is a nobody who turns out to be a special snowflake meant to save the world. I don’t have a problem with overused story elements—I will re-read the same tropes and character archetypes over and over—but I need the authors to compensate for the tedium with above average storytelling…which wasn’t the case for this trilogy.

The writing, world building, character development, story arc, and pacing left much to be desired.

I just felt so disconnected from the story by the end of book two.

The biggest disappointment was the fact that the war between demons and angels—which was the underlying issue and origin to every single conflict throughout the three books—was resolved less than a month following the moment that the FMC decided she would end it. WTF. This war was decades old—older than the FMC. SHE WAS ABLE TO DEFEAT BOTH THE ANGELS AND THE DEMONS?!?!

I don’t want my barely coherent ramblings review to be the reason that someone doesn’t give this series a chance, as this is mostly to help future me remember this series, and to help distinguish it from the many other books I read.

Book Details


Title: Angels of Chaos by May Dawson, Alexa B. James
POV(s): Multiple—First Person
Interconnected Series: Yes—Trilogy
Standalone: No
Cliffhangers: Books #1-2
HEA:
Relationship: Reverse Harem
Genre(s): Paranormal Dystopian Romance
Triggers:
Tags/Tropes:
❖ Ex-Boyfriend
❖ Former-Best-Friends
❖ Grew-Up-Together
❖ Hate-Due-to-Misunderstanding
❖ Nephilim-Angels-Demons
❖ Prison-Setting
❖ Sassy-Heroine
❖ Seperation (2 years)
❖ Unknown-Parentage
Profile Image for Ines.
1,325 reviews47 followers
May 11, 2021
I always start a review with a couple of sentences describing what the book is about, but this time I really have to start with saying how blown away I was by this book. This story grabbed me from the start, pulled me in and didn't let go until I finished the last sentence.

Brianna is a 20 year old half-angel, bred and raised to fight in a war between angels and demons. When she steals the grace of an angel to help her sick friend, she is caught by her ex-boyfriend and sent to prison. In prison she gets reacquainted with her former best friends, two slightly crazy twin brothers, and she meets a sexy demon who seems to be drawn to her.

There is a lot I loved about this book: the characters, the story-line, the way nothing seems truly black or white, ... Brianna is a strong FMC who fights for herself and the people she cares about, but there is a hate-love dynamic between her and all the guys in the story. I like the fact that those feelings remain between some of the characters, looking forward to how they will evolve through the rest of the series.

I definetely recommend reading this book! It ends in a cliffhanger, but the kind that just makes you excited to find out when the next book comes out, and not the kind that makes you bang your head against the wall.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Book Addict.
1,563 reviews
May 8, 2021
Oh man what a wild ride this book is! These two talented authors have written a bloody marvelous book...as soon as I started reading I was completely engrossed and 100% invested in the story. Brianna is such a great FMC...tough, powerful, mysterious but with that touch of vulnerability and caring. Then we bring in the makes...Slade the demon, yes please darkness, Beckett dark and dangerous, Rhyland the other chaos twin, loyal, dangerous snd funny, all three are completely devoted to Brianna and I love reading their relationships developing more and more. Then there is Noah...well I am on the fence with him, he will need to grovel to get back in the tram! This book just introduced us to this unique universe and let us meet the characters that are going to go through so much more together in upcoming books. I cannot wait to read more...this is just the type of book I expect from one of my favourite authors...combine in Alexa B James and what a dynamic duo these two are! Highly recommended.
Profile Image for Naurarwen.
1,022 reviews8 followers
May 21, 2021
Wow, so I can't even put into words exactly how much I loved this book! It's an interesting world the characters are in. The angels are fighting demons and the angels have bred with humans to make Nephilim to fight for them. The angels live in luxury while the Nephilim pretty much live in hell. Brianna is the main character of this story and lives with her friend Gemma who is inflicted with one illness that can affect the Nephilim, making her week. Brianna takes all sorts of jobs to try and cover the medication Gemma needs, when really if an angel would give up part of their Grace it could help her in the long term.

There's one job that Brianna could do, that really could help her friend but it doesn't help when she gets herself caught and sent to prison. With the threat of being sent to the front line which is a death sentence for anyone sent there.

It's an epic rollercoaster ride from start to finish and I was totally there for it. I can't wait to see what happens in book two!
82 reviews
May 14, 2021
So May Dawson books are an automatic must read for me. I am never disappointed with her work and this collaboration is no exception! I just started reading and didn’t stop. Before I knew it, it was all over and I have an devastatingly long wait for book 2! What a cliff! Take what you think you know about angels and demons and be prepared to have that turned on it’s head. I’m still not sure who the good guys are! This is such an intriguing story with such interesting characters. I love Brianna - She’s pretty badass but with a softer side and I love every one of her men! The Multiple POVs give an insight into each character’s thoughts and motivations and brings all of their interactions together. Brianna was a lucky thief with a good motive, until she wasn’t so lucky. Her prison time had me pretty tense! But what is going on with Brianna now? Where will they be taken? What happens next??! Gah! I NEED book 2!
Profile Image for Jessica Robbins.
2,598 reviews50 followers
May 22, 2021
*I received a free copy of this book which I voluntarily chose to write an honest review for.

In the interest if full disclosure I must admit that I totally love both of these authors. So when I saw they were writing a series together I squealed in happiness for awhile. I was not disappointed in the slightest as the story evolves. We meet Briana a nephilim who works as a thief to survive as well as to buy medicine for her BFF to help out. She agrees to a very dangerous job that will have massive consequences if she gets caught. The job almost went perfect until an angel from her past just happens to be there leading to her getting caught and thrown into prison. Once there a few other friends from the past are there leading to one interesting team up I must admit. Makes for a fast paced read full of surprises at every turn. I totally loved it so I give it 5/5 stars.
Profile Image for Andrea Thompson.
534 reviews8 followers
August 24, 2021
This is my first book of May Dawson 's that I have read even though I own several of her books and have the rest on my wish list. and my first Alexa B.James . I am so sad that it had taken me so long! This was a FANTASTIC book! I LOVE Angel romance books! These two authors worked really well together. The story flows really well and the world building was so good and well done that you hardly noticed it was a part of the story! The Characters were very unique and I loved seeing their take on Angel and Demons...so interesting. Brianna is a tough kickass theif and a half Angel half human. She gets caught and snt to prison and there she runs into her old crew who she thought abandoned her. Noah, and twins Beckett and Rhyland. Oh and her sick best friend Gemma. This book really has it all! Steam, action, angst, good vs evil...but who really is the evil ones 🤔 I am so on tow book two!! HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND this one!!!
Profile Image for Stan Hutchings.
1,335 reviews21 followers
May 23, 2021
Brianna is a tough Nephilim in an earth devastated by the war of Angels versus Demons. While trying to get Grace from the Angels' hospital to cure her sick friend, Gemma, she is captured by an old flame, Noah, an Angel, put into jail where she finds her other previous friends (now enemies) Rhyland and Beckett are imprisoned. Slowly they realize they were mistaken about each other, thinking Noah and the Angels deceived them. Bri makes friends with Shade, a Demon, and finds she can telepathically communicate with him. Some hot sex as Bri, Rhy, and Beckett bond. Noah has a plan for them. Bri grows a pair of black wings after Shade's blood drips on her injury. The book comes to a cliffhanger conclusion as Bri and her team are captured by Noah and taken somewhere, TBD in the next book.
Profile Image for Kathy L..
801 reviews16 followers
June 20, 2022
Addicting!!

I only picked this up to have something to read while out at the beach, but I was hooked from the start! I could not and did not want to put this down. It’s a short book that can be read in a couple hours or so but it was plenty good!
I did not realize it was a trilogy, so it does end with a cliffhanger. But I did not see that cliffhanger coming at all! Now I’m invested and need the rest of the story.
Btw…Shade is by far my favorite. He is everything the others aren’t and everything Bri needs. I mean, I get she doesn’t have to choose, but Shade is still better. Noah is definitely at the bottom of the list. I don’t care for the reasons he does what he does. He will still be my least favorite of the four.
Profile Image for Kira Bell.
258 reviews
May 6, 2021
What a great beginning to a new series by May Dawson and Alexa B. James. A story based on love, hate, bonds and trouble from start to end. Our heroine Brianna is one who loves deeply, is incredibly loyal and will do all possible to protect and help the ones she loves. Thinking she has been on her own due to her 3 friends deserting her at a time of conflict, she finds that's not the whole truth. It is a great story showing that those viewed as evil may be good and those viewed as good may, in fact, be bad. Love the line blurring and all the conundrums that are involved.
I am definitely hooked and will be anxiously awaiting the next book in the series.
Profile Image for Noemi.
1,287 reviews
May 10, 2021
Brianna is a nephlim. To survive and protect her best friend Gemma she steals from the angels. One day she is caught and ends up in prison where she meets three friends who betrayed her in a previous heist, and a demon. No matter how much time has passed, their bond is still present and now they need to find the truth of what really happened to make them drift apart if they want to survive, especially as Brianna is more than a nephlim as she has always thought.

It was a really interesting read, and I'm curious to find out more about Brianna and what happened that night.

I was kindly provided with an ARC by the author, but I'm leaving a voluntary and honest review.
Profile Image for Cat the bookworm (semi hiatus ish).
920 reviews179 followers
May 17, 2021
Holy shit. HOLY SHIT. This isn't a book, it's a wild tornado of conflicting emotions and pure action. I still can't believe I finished already and THERE'S NO SEQUEL OUT YET.

Let me try and get a grip and tell you about the book. Brianna, a half-angel, gets caught by her ex (an angel) while stealing. In prison, she meets 2 of her former best friends, and befriends a demon (Shade. I call dibs on him). Together, the form a plan to escape. And trust me when I say, nothing (and nobody) is as it seems at first.

Brilliant start of a new series, well done world building and an off the charts adrenaline-high. I literally can't wait for the story to continue, hurry up Ms Dawson!
8 reviews3 followers
May 17, 2021
I was skeptical at first with the angel/ demon blurb I’ve read but once I started I couldn’t stop. I’m not surprised as with May Dawson writing with another author, the writing is phenomenal and I can’t even tell the difference between them.
The plot at the end intrigues me as it leaves on a cliffy, leaving you wanting more.
Noah, a full blooded angel imprisons Brianna and her ex best friends who are twins, are angry at her for believing she left them during a heist but Brianna is confused as she believes they all left her.
War is upon them and they need to start trusting one another to get through it.
Another must read novel!
Profile Image for Galina Sulaiman.
2,352 reviews6 followers
August 6, 2021
Angel, demon queen

A angels are the bad guys, but then so ate the demons type book. Angels breed the half breed Nephelims to fight as fodder in their war. So our fmc is one her besties and ex disappeared after a job gathering relics and grace for an ill friend. After 2 years she has to do another job to help her friend, is caught, it seems her ex was an angel. She gets put in prison. Her 2 besties there think she betrayed them. Danger abounds and a demon prisoner repeatedly saves her.
Her ex treats her like poop, at times cruel but protected his ex besties. Now he's just cruel again, or is he?
Profile Image for Destiny Bridwell.
1,719 reviews36 followers
September 6, 2021
I received a copy of this book for a fair and honest review. This is a battle between heaven and hell and angels and demons. The characters are a mix of both side. The worldbuilding added to the story without weighing down the flow of the story. That is something that I am finding rarer to find in books. Brianna steals a relic and wants to use to heal a friend. She goes up against her ex-boyfriend who want her to tell him where the relic. She is sent to prison where she finds the crew she thought has abandon her, but here she learns several truths. She will have to discover for her own who really is the side of evil.
Profile Image for Rachel Goelz.
89 reviews
May 10, 2021
Brianna is half human and half angel. Nephillium are born to fight the war against the demons for the angels. Brianna is trying to save her best friends life by stealing from the angels and gets caught. She is forced to confront the men of her past when things go terribly wrong. Are they friend or foe? Who can she trust? The chaos twins? The old flame who turns out to be an angel working for her captors? A demon who seems to have a connection with her which terrifies her? They are all seemingly nice to look at to add to the fun. I'm obsessed with this new series! Must read!
Profile Image for Kirsty.
237 reviews3 followers
May 17, 2021
War, chaos, love, betrayal, angels, nephilim and demons....

First off, I can't wait for book 2. Like really. This is a brilliant first book intro to the lives of Bri and her friends /enemies/lovers. A story of love, loss, innocence and deception, betrayal and utter devotion. The eternal war between Angels and demons, those made to be caught in between in a war where the lines between good and evil are crossed on both sides. I absolutely loved this book, loved it. Can't wait for book 2.
Profile Image for Caroline Doig.
5,452 reviews49 followers
May 17, 2021
This is an amazing start to this new series and I can’t wait to read book 2. Brianna is a Nephilim her best friend gets really sick so she goes to steal some grace from a angel but she gets caught by her ex boyfriend. Brianna is thrown into prison where she meets up with her childhood friends who only want to kill her because she betrayed them well Brianna see’s it as a little betrayal, then Brianna meets a sexy psychotic demon named Shade who Brianna is very drawn to. I loved this story and the characters and I definitely recommend this book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews

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