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The Fallen #1
Raziel
Kristina Douglas’s sexy new series introduces a realm of fallen angels and ruthless demons, where an eternal rebellion is brewing . . . and one unsuspecting woman can change the fate of the Fallen forever.
She was just an ordinary mortal . . .
“You’re dead” is so not what Allie Watson wants to hear. Unfortunately, it explains a lot. Like the dark, angelically handsome man who ferried her to this strange, hidden land. The last thing she remembers is stepping off a curb in front of a crosstown bus. Now she’s surrounded by gorgeous fallen angels with an unsettling taste for blood—and they really don’t want her around. Not exactly how she pictured heaven.
. . . until death catapulted her into a seductive world she never imagined.
Raziel is unsure why he rescued Allie from hellfire against Uriel’s orders, but she stirs in him a longing he hasn't felt in centuries. Now the Fallen are bracing for the divine wrath brought by his disobedience, and they blame Allie for the ferocious Nephilim clawing at the kingdom’s shrouded gates. Facing impossible odds at every turn, the two must work together to survive. Raziel will do anything to defend his spirited lover against the forces of darkness—because Allie may be the Fallen’s only salvation.
She was just an ordinary mortal . . .
“You’re dead” is so not what Allie Watson wants to hear. Unfortunately, it explains a lot. Like the dark, angelically handsome man who ferried her to this strange, hidden land. The last thing she remembers is stepping off a curb in front of a crosstown bus. Now she’s surrounded by gorgeous fallen angels with an unsettling taste for blood—and they really don’t want her around. Not exactly how she pictured heaven.
. . . until death catapulted her into a seductive world she never imagined.
Raziel is unsure why he rescued Allie from hellfire against Uriel’s orders, but she stirs in him a longing he hasn't felt in centuries. Now the Fallen are bracing for the divine wrath brought by his disobedience, and they blame Allie for the ferocious Nephilim clawing at the kingdom’s shrouded gates. Facing impossible odds at every turn, the two must work together to survive. Raziel will do anything to defend his spirited lover against the forces of darkness—because Allie may be the Fallen’s only salvation.
355 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 25, 2011
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9521 people want to read
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May 27, 2011
This book captivated me. It started out kind of strange, with the shifting 1st person POVs, and the fact that the heroine gets hit by a bus at the beginning of the story (not a spoiler, trust me). But, I have to say, I couldn’t stop reading. It’s the honest truth that I would read the phone book if Anne Stuart wrote it. When I heard she had written a fallen angel paranormal romance (under a pseudonym), I was there. I mean, she’s the Queen of Bad Boy Heroes. She didn’t disappoint me with Raziel, the book or the character!
Story:
Anne Stuart takes the legends of fallen angels and spins her own version. I can’t say I liked all the theological doctrine behind it. I really dislike the whole “God’s on vacation” premise that seems to be very popular in secular supernatural fiction based on Angels and Judeo-Christian legends. In this case, God pretty much washed his hands of the humans, and left them under the control of his lead angel, Uriel. Uriel is a cold, unforgiving, disdainful regent, who thinks of the humans as a mistake. He dislikes the Fallen about the same, if not more. He has hatched plans to make their eternal lives miserable, and has plans to end them all. Uriel doesn’t show up in this story, but his machinations are readily apparent.
Our heroine is a woman who grew up with a puritanical religious mother (a Jew by birth and rearing who becomes a Fundamentalist Christian). She makes Allie believe that she is nothing short of the spawn of the devil, forcing her zealous form of Christianity down Allie’s throat until she chokes on it. As a result, Allie is an atheist who writes Old Testament mysteries that debunk the religion. So it’s pretty hard to believe that she’s dead, and an angel is taking her to her resting place. Especially an angel that is too gorgeous to be believed, with striated black/silver eyes, long tawny hair, and perfect chiseled features. And his wings (rolls eyes in ecstasy). Blue-black and lush! Heavenly! Yeah, Raziel is some kind of gorgeous, and she doesn’t see his wings at first. She doesn’t like him much, and he doesn’t seem to like her either, but then he saves her at the last minute when it turns out she’s supposed to be thrown in the fires of hell. And he almost dies in the process, because the Fallen are exquisitely sensitive to fire. Allie spends the night sleeping next to her sick angel rescuer, hearing the screams of the horrible Nephilim (fallen angels who have become ravening, cannibalistic beasts), all around her, and shell-shocked that this is actually happening.
The next day, they are rescued by a group of men who turn out to be Raziel’s brethren, other Fallen angels who dwell in a compound called Sheol with their human wives. Allie doesn’t want to be stuck in this weird place with its patriarchal rules, and she doesn’t want to be close to Raziel, who inspires feelings in her that make her vulnerable, and Allie doesn’t like being vulnerable. However, she is soon to discover that she is his bonded mate, and destiny is not something she can laugh at.
I started this story not knowing at all what to expect. This is one of those books you have to read with an open mind. It’s different. The writing style is a lot more conversational, and less action and focus on the sexual attraction between the couple, that is typical in most paranormal romance (that’s there, but it is on slow simmer until it boils over).
I found myself utterly seduced by this story. I really liked how Ms. Douglas (Stuart) uses the angel theme in this book. It was kind of odd at first, the idea that the angels have to drink blood, how they take human wives who die before they do (although they live longer lives), and cannot have children. How they are essentially trapped in their own compound, other than when Uriel calls them to escort certain humans to their afterlife destination. This story made me care about the angels, feel bad for the Fallen. That they fell because of their love and attraction to humans and humanity, their tendency to question Uriel’s orders. Of course, I had to put my own beliefs about angels and God out of the picture when I read this, because they are different from the concepts in this novel. But, for a fiction world, it was very interesting.
As far as supernatural themes, angels are in my top three (with faerie and werewolves). I love when a book does angels really well--bringing a new dimension to the concept, and giving me a novel way to look at them. I loved how Ms. Douglas showed the angels with their human wives, how their bond was very powerful and beautiful, but there is a poignancy because being the wife of an angel doesn’t grant immortality. It may prolong one’s life, and leave it relatively free of illness, but eventually they die, always childless, and the angels keep living, mourning all their wives over the millennia.
The Characters:
Allie :
Allie was pretty annoying, quite frankly. She was a bit too much the Sex and the City-type heroine for me at first glance. Shallow, hard, unsympathetic. She seemed to be the type of heroine to make her life more difficult than necessary. She didn’t seem to get that she was dead, and that she was surrounded by real angels, and she couldn’t go back to her life. I understand that this was a lot to take in, but her defiant determination to believe in nothing supernatural got kind of old, especially with the evidence right in front of her. But then she actually became likable as the story progressed. I saw that she was wearing armor. It’s pretty tough growing up with rigid, unloving parents. Her determination not to believe was her way of fighting back at her mother, who loved God more than she loved her daughter. For her to be in a scenario where she was actually dead, surrounded by supposedly mythical creatures probably would be a lot to take in. And I liked that she stepped up when her help was needed, more than once. I admit I liked that she was tough and mouthy. She needed to be, with a mate like Raziel. Honestly, Allie was more of a chick-lit type heroine than I would have liked, but she ended up being a heroine I could root for.
Raziel:
Raziel is yummy with a cherry on top. He’s also ageless, and kind of sad. After all, he had been cursed by God for his sin of disobedience, cursed to never have children, and to be a blood-eater (blood drinker). He is the picture I would have of a fallen angel that is not evil. Sad, lonely, a stranger without a home, exiled from heaven. He put up barriers against Allie at the beginning, having lost his wife in the past, going through that heartache, and determined not to face it again. But, she worked her way through those barriers. And when she does, look out!
Allie and Raziel:
Their relationship starts out contentious, as they really don’t like each other, even though they find each other attractive. They actually wanted to be rid of each other, and were both working to find a way to achieve their mutual goal. However, over the time that Allie stays in close proximity with Raziel, they can no longer ignore their bond, which turned out to be destiny, pushed away by their mutual fears of intimacy.
I liked that this was a paranormal romance where there wasn’t the instant ‘mine’ moment. Now don’t get me wrong. I love the whole mine/fated mate concept. Even though it wasn’t instant, boy did we get that ‘mine’ aspects in spades. Even the growly jealous expressions (loved those). Possessive hero lovers, fear not. All I’m saying!
The relationship development between Raziel and Allie felt authentic. Raziel and Allie aren’t warm and fuzzy characters, so they grow on you as they grow on each other. I could see why each didn’t want to be in love, because love hurts, especially when ultimate loss and disappointment (on Raziel’s part) is almost guaranteed, and feeling that you will never be good enough (on Allie’s part—her mother didn’t love her, why should anyone else)?
I liked the tension between Raziel and Allie. I think this showed up very well considering that it was first person. With 1st person POV, it is harder to see both sides of the relationship, which is why I was glad that we got shifting POVs. And the intimate point of view just worked for this story, in my opinion. Normally I don’t like 1st person love scenes, but these love scenes were very good--heightening the intimate aspects, actually.
I really loved the way Raziel took Allie flying, how he wrapped her in his wings during intimacy (which is something that the angels do with their mates). Oh those wings were so gorgeous and beautiful. I can just imagine flying around in an angel’s arms. Not likely to happen, but at least I can read about it.
This book gave me the post-reading glow! I can see how it wouldn’t work for others, and there were things that I felt were less successful than I’ve read in other paranormals. But there is a distinct, irresistible feel this book. In cooking, they use the term ‘mouth feel’. I look at books similarly. Some books just have good ‘book feel’. They taste good during the read, and they cause this power release of happy reading endorphins, and this is one of them. If I had time, I’d probably reread it right away to get more happy juice. But my tbr pile calls. I’m glad that the next book comes out soon!
Story:
Anne Stuart takes the legends of fallen angels and spins her own version. I can’t say I liked all the theological doctrine behind it. I really dislike the whole “God’s on vacation” premise that seems to be very popular in secular supernatural fiction based on Angels and Judeo-Christian legends. In this case, God pretty much washed his hands of the humans, and left them under the control of his lead angel, Uriel. Uriel is a cold, unforgiving, disdainful regent, who thinks of the humans as a mistake. He dislikes the Fallen about the same, if not more. He has hatched plans to make their eternal lives miserable, and has plans to end them all. Uriel doesn’t show up in this story, but his machinations are readily apparent.
Our heroine is a woman who grew up with a puritanical religious mother (a Jew by birth and rearing who becomes a Fundamentalist Christian). She makes Allie believe that she is nothing short of the spawn of the devil, forcing her zealous form of Christianity down Allie’s throat until she chokes on it. As a result, Allie is an atheist who writes Old Testament mysteries that debunk the religion. So it’s pretty hard to believe that she’s dead, and an angel is taking her to her resting place. Especially an angel that is too gorgeous to be believed, with striated black/silver eyes, long tawny hair, and perfect chiseled features. And his wings (rolls eyes in ecstasy). Blue-black and lush! Heavenly! Yeah, Raziel is some kind of gorgeous, and she doesn’t see his wings at first. She doesn’t like him much, and he doesn’t seem to like her either, but then he saves her at the last minute when it turns out she’s supposed to be thrown in the fires of hell. And he almost dies in the process, because the Fallen are exquisitely sensitive to fire. Allie spends the night sleeping next to her sick angel rescuer, hearing the screams of the horrible Nephilim (fallen angels who have become ravening, cannibalistic beasts), all around her, and shell-shocked that this is actually happening.
The next day, they are rescued by a group of men who turn out to be Raziel’s brethren, other Fallen angels who dwell in a compound called Sheol with their human wives. Allie doesn’t want to be stuck in this weird place with its patriarchal rules, and she doesn’t want to be close to Raziel, who inspires feelings in her that make her vulnerable, and Allie doesn’t like being vulnerable. However, she is soon to discover that she is his bonded mate, and destiny is not something she can laugh at.
I started this story not knowing at all what to expect. This is one of those books you have to read with an open mind. It’s different. The writing style is a lot more conversational, and less action and focus on the sexual attraction between the couple, that is typical in most paranormal romance (that’s there, but it is on slow simmer until it boils over).
I found myself utterly seduced by this story. I really liked how Ms. Douglas (Stuart) uses the angel theme in this book. It was kind of odd at first, the idea that the angels have to drink blood, how they take human wives who die before they do (although they live longer lives), and cannot have children. How they are essentially trapped in their own compound, other than when Uriel calls them to escort certain humans to their afterlife destination. This story made me care about the angels, feel bad for the Fallen. That they fell because of their love and attraction to humans and humanity, their tendency to question Uriel’s orders. Of course, I had to put my own beliefs about angels and God out of the picture when I read this, because they are different from the concepts in this novel. But, for a fiction world, it was very interesting.
As far as supernatural themes, angels are in my top three (with faerie and werewolves). I love when a book does angels really well--bringing a new dimension to the concept, and giving me a novel way to look at them. I loved how Ms. Douglas showed the angels with their human wives, how their bond was very powerful and beautiful, but there is a poignancy because being the wife of an angel doesn’t grant immortality. It may prolong one’s life, and leave it relatively free of illness, but eventually they die, always childless, and the angels keep living, mourning all their wives over the millennia.
The Characters:
Allie :
Allie was pretty annoying, quite frankly. She was a bit too much the Sex and the City-type heroine for me at first glance. Shallow, hard, unsympathetic. She seemed to be the type of heroine to make her life more difficult than necessary. She didn’t seem to get that she was dead, and that she was surrounded by real angels, and she couldn’t go back to her life. I understand that this was a lot to take in, but her defiant determination to believe in nothing supernatural got kind of old, especially with the evidence right in front of her. But then she actually became likable as the story progressed. I saw that she was wearing armor. It’s pretty tough growing up with rigid, unloving parents. Her determination not to believe was her way of fighting back at her mother, who loved God more than she loved her daughter. For her to be in a scenario where she was actually dead, surrounded by supposedly mythical creatures probably would be a lot to take in. And I liked that she stepped up when her help was needed, more than once. I admit I liked that she was tough and mouthy. She needed to be, with a mate like Raziel. Honestly, Allie was more of a chick-lit type heroine than I would have liked, but she ended up being a heroine I could root for.
Raziel:
Raziel is yummy with a cherry on top. He’s also ageless, and kind of sad. After all, he had been cursed by God for his sin of disobedience, cursed to never have children, and to be a blood-eater (blood drinker). He is the picture I would have of a fallen angel that is not evil. Sad, lonely, a stranger without a home, exiled from heaven. He put up barriers against Allie at the beginning, having lost his wife in the past, going through that heartache, and determined not to face it again. But, she worked her way through those barriers. And when she does, look out!
Allie and Raziel:
Their relationship starts out contentious, as they really don’t like each other, even though they find each other attractive. They actually wanted to be rid of each other, and were both working to find a way to achieve their mutual goal. However, over the time that Allie stays in close proximity with Raziel, they can no longer ignore their bond, which turned out to be destiny, pushed away by their mutual fears of intimacy.
I liked that this was a paranormal romance where there wasn’t the instant ‘mine’ moment. Now don’t get me wrong. I love the whole mine/fated mate concept. Even though it wasn’t instant, boy did we get that ‘mine’ aspects in spades. Even the growly jealous expressions (loved those). Possessive hero lovers, fear not. All I’m saying!
The relationship development between Raziel and Allie felt authentic. Raziel and Allie aren’t warm and fuzzy characters, so they grow on you as they grow on each other. I could see why each didn’t want to be in love, because love hurts, especially when ultimate loss and disappointment (on Raziel’s part) is almost guaranteed, and feeling that you will never be good enough (on Allie’s part—her mother didn’t love her, why should anyone else)?
I liked the tension between Raziel and Allie. I think this showed up very well considering that it was first person. With 1st person POV, it is harder to see both sides of the relationship, which is why I was glad that we got shifting POVs. And the intimate point of view just worked for this story, in my opinion. Normally I don’t like 1st person love scenes, but these love scenes were very good--heightening the intimate aspects, actually.
I really loved the way Raziel took Allie flying, how he wrapped her in his wings during intimacy (which is something that the angels do with their mates). Oh those wings were so gorgeous and beautiful. I can just imagine flying around in an angel’s arms. Not likely to happen, but at least I can read about it.
This book gave me the post-reading glow! I can see how it wouldn’t work for others, and there were things that I felt were less successful than I’ve read in other paranormals. But there is a distinct, irresistible feel this book. In cooking, they use the term ‘mouth feel’. I look at books similarly. Some books just have good ‘book feel’. They taste good during the read, and they cause this power release of happy reading endorphins, and this is one of them. If I had time, I’d probably reread it right away to get more happy juice. But my tbr pile calls. I’m glad that the next book comes out soon!
November 5, 2016
Edit after reread:
It's really strange how I have a completely different opinion on this book now. Maybe I just got used to the angel/vampire combo that was weird when I first encountered it. I don't know. But I really enjoyed this one, the world building and the romance as well. Great humor, witty too. Me likey.
I LOVE fallen angels, well, they don't even have to be fallen, just angels is enough for me :) But I didn't like the vampire/angel combo in here, it just doesn't go together in my head. But OK, I got used to it and the story was good, but nothing special, Raziel and Allie were good, but again, nothing special, I didn't root for them to be together, I just read so I could finish
What I did like - the story with the angels, a whole new view to it, with an archeangel bad guy, and the fallen ones trying to free Lucifer to lead their army :) I think Lucifer might even be a good guy in all this lol, so I really liked all that :)
I'm off to read the second book, hope it's better :)
It's really strange how I have a completely different opinion on this book now. Maybe I just got used to the angel/vampire combo that was weird when I first encountered it. I don't know. But I really enjoyed this one, the world building and the romance as well. Great humor, witty too. Me likey.
I LOVE fallen angels, well, they don't even have to be fallen, just angels is enough for me :) But I didn't like the vampire/angel combo in here, it just doesn't go together in my head. But OK, I got used to it and the story was good, but nothing special, Raziel and Allie were good, but again, nothing special, I didn't root for them to be together, I just read so I could finish
What I did like - the story with the angels, a whole new view to it, with an archeangel bad guy, and the fallen ones trying to free Lucifer to lead their army :) I think Lucifer might even be a good guy in all this lol, so I really liked all that :)
I'm off to read the second book, hope it's better :)
October 12, 2016
Boredom :(
Raziel is the first installment in Kristina Douglas's adult urban fantasy series titled The Fallen. I like angels. I like vampires. Reading about angels that drink blood? WINNER!
It just bored me to tears. I wasn't expecting the blood sucking element so my interest was grabbed during those parts but unfortunately it didn't last. Personally, I can't recommend this one based on my own experience but I encourage you to read some more positive reviews and weigh the pros and cons for yourself. Good luck!
My favorite quote:
"Evil came from within, just as love and beauty did. Evil was the price humans paid for being alive."
10/2/16:
Reading this as part of Gotta Have Romance With A Kick Group Reads!
Raziel is the first installment in Kristina Douglas's adult urban fantasy series titled The Fallen. I like angels. I like vampires. Reading about angels that drink blood? WINNER!
It just bored me to tears. I wasn't expecting the blood sucking element so my interest was grabbed during those parts but unfortunately it didn't last. Personally, I can't recommend this one based on my own experience but I encourage you to read some more positive reviews and weigh the pros and cons for yourself. Good luck!
My favorite quote:
"Evil came from within, just as love and beauty did. Evil was the price humans paid for being alive."
10/2/16:
Reading this as part of Gotta Have Romance With A Kick Group Reads!
August 2, 2022
Blah, I super dislike when every page of a book contains a swear word, when it is not full sentences. Call me prude but I think swearing all the time is so not necessary. And the fact that the main characters LOVE to swear was tiresome to me.
This was a very so so book. The heroine was very silly in the beginning and it took me very long to get used to the story as a whole. It did end in a better mood, the plot developed by then and thats the only reason why I am giving it a 3 stars.
This was a very so so book. The heroine was very silly in the beginning and it took me very long to get used to the story as a whole. It did end in a better mood, the plot developed by then and thats the only reason why I am giving it a 3 stars.
February 4, 2011
3.5 Stars
Allie Watson has just died and has been pulled back from the flames of hell by a dark and mysterious man. Now she finds herself in a place that is hidden from the world. This is the home of the Fallen, beautiful angels who fell from heaven and are now cursed to drink blood, and they see her as an intruder into their world. Raziel felt something wasn't right when he saw that Allie would be going to hell so he saved her and brought him back to his home. Even though he was the one to save her, he doesn't want Allie there. She awakens feelings in him he thought were long gone and he isn't happy about it. The other Fallen don't want her there either and believe it his her fault that the Nephilim have found their home and are trying to find a way in to kill them all. Raziel and Allie will need to work past their differences if they are to survive the impending attack because Allie may be the Fallen's only hope for survival.
The story of the Fallen was interesting and my favorite part of the book. Raziel and his fellow Fallen were once angels in heaven that were sent to earth to teach humans tasks. The more time they spent on earth the more they started to feel and wanted things like love and sex. For this they were not only cast out but they were hunted by the Nephilim, which are made by the angel Uriel to not feel anything and to follow his command. They soon became flesh eating monsters. A tentative peace was made between Uriel and the Fallen as long as they would escort some souls, like Allie, to where they belonged once they died. The Fallen have destined mates that they love and bond with. The Fallen do have to drink blood but they aren't vampires. They take only from their mates or the Source, a female who is able to provide nourishment to unbonded angels without them getting sick. The Fallen are the actual "good guys" so to speak in this series. Uriel has basically become power hungry and he wants to destroy the Fallen by going after what means most to them, their mates. It feels a little odd not to be rooting for the side of heaven but the Fallen are really the ones looking out for us and I couldn't help but root for them.
I didn't care for the characters as much as I did the story. Raziel has had many mates and the loss of the last one has him not wanting another. Deep down he knows that Allie is his destined mate but fights it by being very cold and distant to her for most of the book. For Allie she didn't want to be trapped in Sheol, their home, but she did have feelings of lust towards Raziel. The man is physically gorgeous but I couldn't get past how rude he was towards her and I don't know how Allie was able to forgive him for the harsh things he said. They were missing an important emotional connection that even though they ended up together, it was never found. Raziel's fellow angel and leader Azazel also had a hard and not so warm and cozy feeling to him but when he was alone with his mate Sarah, he almost felt like a different character because of the love he has for her and it felt genuine. Unlike Raziel and Allie.
The Fallen: Raziel takes a story that's been told before and adds a twist that makes it feel fresh and even better. I liked that Allie was strong willed and wouldn't let Raziel intimidate her into being what she was not. It's was fun to read this modern woman surprise this male who is use to his women being more traditional and obedient. Raziel has an unshakable loyalty towards his brothers and I'm always a sucker for someone who sticks by their family no matter what. I just didn't care for the two together and their mating felt like it came out of the blue. The story does start out pretty slow and takes a good part of the book to get going so this may not be for readers who need constant action and a faster moving story to keep them interested.
-Stephanie
Allie Watson has just died and has been pulled back from the flames of hell by a dark and mysterious man. Now she finds herself in a place that is hidden from the world. This is the home of the Fallen, beautiful angels who fell from heaven and are now cursed to drink blood, and they see her as an intruder into their world. Raziel felt something wasn't right when he saw that Allie would be going to hell so he saved her and brought him back to his home. Even though he was the one to save her, he doesn't want Allie there. She awakens feelings in him he thought were long gone and he isn't happy about it. The other Fallen don't want her there either and believe it his her fault that the Nephilim have found their home and are trying to find a way in to kill them all. Raziel and Allie will need to work past their differences if they are to survive the impending attack because Allie may be the Fallen's only hope for survival.
The story of the Fallen was interesting and my favorite part of the book. Raziel and his fellow Fallen were once angels in heaven that were sent to earth to teach humans tasks. The more time they spent on earth the more they started to feel and wanted things like love and sex. For this they were not only cast out but they were hunted by the Nephilim, which are made by the angel Uriel to not feel anything and to follow his command. They soon became flesh eating monsters. A tentative peace was made between Uriel and the Fallen as long as they would escort some souls, like Allie, to where they belonged once they died. The Fallen have destined mates that they love and bond with. The Fallen do have to drink blood but they aren't vampires. They take only from their mates or the Source, a female who is able to provide nourishment to unbonded angels without them getting sick. The Fallen are the actual "good guys" so to speak in this series. Uriel has basically become power hungry and he wants to destroy the Fallen by going after what means most to them, their mates. It feels a little odd not to be rooting for the side of heaven but the Fallen are really the ones looking out for us and I couldn't help but root for them.
I didn't care for the characters as much as I did the story. Raziel has had many mates and the loss of the last one has him not wanting another. Deep down he knows that Allie is his destined mate but fights it by being very cold and distant to her for most of the book. For Allie she didn't want to be trapped in Sheol, their home, but she did have feelings of lust towards Raziel. The man is physically gorgeous but I couldn't get past how rude he was towards her and I don't know how Allie was able to forgive him for the harsh things he said. They were missing an important emotional connection that even though they ended up together, it was never found. Raziel's fellow angel and leader Azazel also had a hard and not so warm and cozy feeling to him but when he was alone with his mate Sarah, he almost felt like a different character because of the love he has for her and it felt genuine. Unlike Raziel and Allie.
The Fallen: Raziel takes a story that's been told before and adds a twist that makes it feel fresh and even better. I liked that Allie was strong willed and wouldn't let Raziel intimidate her into being what she was not. It's was fun to read this modern woman surprise this male who is use to his women being more traditional and obedient. Raziel has an unshakable loyalty towards his brothers and I'm always a sucker for someone who sticks by their family no matter what. I just didn't care for the two together and their mating felt like it came out of the blue. The story does start out pretty slow and takes a good part of the book to get going so this may not be for readers who need constant action and a faster moving story to keep them interested.
-Stephanie
September 21, 2014
I was kinda worried about this book. The reviews were so mixed. But seriously I thought it was so funny. There were a couple of times where I almost dropped the book from laughing. Maybe I am just easy to please. lol
Raziel is a fallen angel. One day Uriel wants him to transport a women who has died. But he gets more than he bargained for thats for sure. The book opens with his thinking about how he never wants another mate and the damn job he has to do that day. Allie is running late. Stops to grab a hot dog on the way to the bank and see gorgeous Raziel not knowing who and what he is. Poor girl steps off the curb and dies.
The funny thing about this book was the banter between Raziel and Allie. Raziel was such an ass to her. No one wanted her around when Raziel saves her and brings home. No one expect for the women. I kinda felt bad for her being the outcast . The dirty looks all the time. The way that the author made it seem like things aren't what we thought they would be in real life , like good and evil was interesting. Uriel was not what I thought he would be and neither was Lucifer. Although they were not in this book just mentioned. I enjoyed how she made things different in this book verses other books with fallen angels. I am such a sucker for angel books. So overall for me it was funny, hot lovin, plenty of angry fallen angels and just enough action. I look forward to the next book.
Raziel is a fallen angel. One day Uriel wants him to transport a women who has died. But he gets more than he bargained for thats for sure. The book opens with his thinking about how he never wants another mate and the damn job he has to do that day. Allie is running late. Stops to grab a hot dog on the way to the bank and see gorgeous Raziel not knowing who and what he is. Poor girl steps off the curb and dies.
The funny thing about this book was the banter between Raziel and Allie. Raziel was such an ass to her. No one wanted her around when Raziel saves her and brings home. No one expect for the women. I kinda felt bad for her being the outcast . The dirty looks all the time. The way that the author made it seem like things aren't what we thought they would be in real life , like good and evil was interesting. Uriel was not what I thought he would be and neither was Lucifer. Although they were not in this book just mentioned. I enjoyed how she made things different in this book verses other books with fallen angels. I am such a sucker for angel books. So overall for me it was funny, hot lovin, plenty of angry fallen angels and just enough action. I look forward to the next book.
February 25, 2013
02 FEB: Foreigners do it better!
Too many books, too little time, so I DNFed this one.
This story had so much potential: it has angels, fallen and not, demons, interesting settings... Unfortunately, I just couldn't make myself read more. I didn't like either character and the pace of the book is so damned slow!
I read so much monologue and inner thoughts to last me months! Who the hell cares of your comfort food and why do you have to talk a whole page about it?! And after that you go on describing other crap as well? Why?
Raziel is an a-hole, the bad kind... After he left her sleeping on the floor for over an hour and considered leaving her there till she woke up, well, imagine me throwing something out the window and deleting the thing from my laptop. That's not his only problem, but that stayed with me.
Allie isn't better. She's self centered and keeps talking about her problems with her mom, like we need a reminder in every chapter. Newsflash: we all have problems you crazy chick!
The characters felt flat and, to me, were uninteresting. The writing style was too introspective and the constant jumping between view points didn't entice me to read more. All in all I won't be picking this book up again, nor will I try the others in the series.
Too many books, too little time, so I DNFed this one.
This story had so much potential: it has angels, fallen and not, demons, interesting settings... Unfortunately, I just couldn't make myself read more. I didn't like either character and the pace of the book is so damned slow!
I read so much monologue and inner thoughts to last me months! Who the hell cares of your comfort food and why do you have to talk a whole page about it?! And after that you go on describing other crap as well? Why?
Raziel is an a-hole, the bad kind... After he left her sleeping on the floor for over an hour and considered leaving her there till she woke up, well, imagine me throwing something out the window and deleting the thing from my laptop. That's not his only problem, but that stayed with me.
Allie isn't better. She's self centered and keeps talking about her problems with her mom, like we need a reminder in every chapter. Newsflash: we all have problems you crazy chick!
The characters felt flat and, to me, were uninteresting. The writing style was too introspective and the constant jumping between view points didn't entice me to read more. All in all I won't be picking this book up again, nor will I try the others in the series.
November 15, 2012
No, I just couldn't do it. One more read into Allie's POV and I'd happily toss myself out my window just to get away from the damned book. Frustrated is an understatement when it comes to how I felt about it. And I had such high hopes too. I mean, come on, a twist on the Angel PNR genre, where angels feed on blood and need sex to sustain themselves? Count me in! But, man if I didn't want to pull my hair out.
In the beginning of the book, we're introduced to Raziel, one of The Fallen. It says, they exist in Sheoul, hidden from everyone and everything. Because of their fall, Raziel and the others were fated to endure an eternity in Sheoul. As well as being cursed with becoming blood eaters and needing sex to sustain them, and yes, they have fangs. I liked Raziel, he was a brooding character, but I got some laughs from him. Another of the Fallen I liked was Azazel, though I didn't get a chance to read his story, much. He's the guy you just love to poke at because he's always so moody ^-^ And he's the Alpha, what he says goes.
Unfortunately, the thorn on my side and the reason I just couldn't finish reading the book, was Allie Watson. Human, recently deceased, and all around pain in the ass. She didn't seem quite so bad in the beginning, but the more the story focuses on her, the more the little things start to surface and become frustrating. The woman wasn't smart; she was a snob. She wasn't spirited; she was anoying. And apparently she's so damn dense she can't tell that Raziel just doesn't want her around, doesn't want to talk to her, and yet there she is following him, and talking. Rambling like a 5 year old on a sugar high, but she was doing it purposefully to be annoying. It wasn't cute, and I was not amused -.-
There was too much feminism coming from Allie, every time she didn't agree with how the Fallen and their wives lived, she'd result to insults. Such as "sexist bastards" or shit along the lines of "I am woman, and I have rights" *eye roll* Please. It wasn't necessary to integrate so much feminism. *Sigh.. I couldn't see Raziel's interest in the woman, and it was so obvious that neither did he. First chapters he mentions "she's nothing special", a few pages later he contradicts himself saying he was intrigued by her. Then he follows with his first observation, trying to ignore her, only to want to fuck her later on. Confused much? Smh.
The plot of the story? I didn't get to it. One hundred twenty-three pages of Allie Watson complaining about the "sexist bastards" and trying to cope with the fact that they're not human, but angels, and that she's dead. Of course I wasn't expecting her to accept it all in stride and simply move on, but seriously? The pace is slow and it gets you no where at all.
I'm disappointed, I wanted to learn more of the Nephillim. They are the soldier angels that were sent after the first who fell, and along the way or for one reason or another, they fell as well. With their fall, came a curse. They were to live off flesh and live in darkness. I just wish there'd been more on them before I had to put the book down.
In the beginning of the book, we're introduced to Raziel, one of The Fallen. It says, they exist in Sheoul, hidden from everyone and everything. Because of their fall, Raziel and the others were fated to endure an eternity in Sheoul. As well as being cursed with becoming blood eaters and needing sex to sustain them, and yes, they have fangs. I liked Raziel, he was a brooding character, but I got some laughs from him. Another of the Fallen I liked was Azazel, though I didn't get a chance to read his story, much. He's the guy you just love to poke at because he's always so moody ^-^ And he's the Alpha, what he says goes.
Unfortunately, the thorn on my side and the reason I just couldn't finish reading the book, was Allie Watson. Human, recently deceased, and all around pain in the ass. She didn't seem quite so bad in the beginning, but the more the story focuses on her, the more the little things start to surface and become frustrating. The woman wasn't smart; she was a snob. She wasn't spirited; she was anoying. And apparently she's so damn dense she can't tell that Raziel just doesn't want her around, doesn't want to talk to her, and yet there she is following him, and talking. Rambling like a 5 year old on a sugar high, but she was doing it purposefully to be annoying. It wasn't cute, and I was not amused -.-
There was too much feminism coming from Allie, every time she didn't agree with how the Fallen and their wives lived, she'd result to insults. Such as "sexist bastards" or shit along the lines of "I am woman, and I have rights" *eye roll* Please. It wasn't necessary to integrate so much feminism. *Sigh.. I couldn't see Raziel's interest in the woman, and it was so obvious that neither did he. First chapters he mentions "she's nothing special", a few pages later he contradicts himself saying he was intrigued by her. Then he follows with his first observation, trying to ignore her, only to want to fuck her later on. Confused much? Smh.
The plot of the story? I didn't get to it. One hundred twenty-three pages of Allie Watson complaining about the "sexist bastards" and trying to cope with the fact that they're not human, but angels, and that she's dead. Of course I wasn't expecting her to accept it all in stride and simply move on, but seriously? The pace is slow and it gets you no where at all.
I'm disappointed, I wanted to learn more of the Nephillim. They are the soldier angels that were sent after the first who fell, and along the way or for one reason or another, they fell as well. With their fall, came a curse. They were to live off flesh and live in darkness. I just wish there'd been more on them before I had to put the book down.
August 5, 2014
2.75 Stars
Dropped at 56%
NO GIRL, NO.
One time the author said to me...
"Let me tell you about this book that I'm about to write with great background story, lots of potential, but here's the kicker, NOTHINGS GOING TO HAPPEN, HEHEHEHE sounds good right??"
Yep, true story.
Dropped at 56%
NO GIRL, NO.
One time the author said to me...
"Let me tell you about this book that I'm about to write with great background story, lots of potential, but here's the kicker, NOTHINGS GOING TO HAPPEN, HEHEHEHE sounds good right??"
Yep, true story.
July 6, 2014
ขอออกตัวก่อนเลยว่า ... ตอนก่อนที่หนังสือเล่มนี้จะออกนั้น เราได้ให้ความสนใจกับซีรีส์ชุดนี้มาก ซึ่งซีรีส์ชุดนี้เป็นผลงานของ Kristina Douglas หรือ Anne Stuart นั่นเอง คิดว่าหลายคนคงรู้จัก
เนื้อเรื่องจะเกี่ยวกับเทวดาตกสวรรค์ที่ลงมาทำหน้าที่นำส่งดวงวิญญาณผู้หลงทางในโลกมนุษย์นั่นเอง โดยหนังสือเล่มนี้จะกล่าวถึง 'ราซิเอล' เทวดาหนุ่มรูปงามที่ 'อัลลี' นางเอกของเรื่องเห็นแล้วเนื้อตัวร้อนฉ่า ปราถนาคลั่งไคล้ในตัวพระเอกจนอยากจะขึ้นเตียงด้วย
ความสนุกของเนื้อเรื่อง เราคิดว่าสนุกอยู่พอสมควรนะ พระเอกเป็นเทวดาตกสวรรค์ โดยยูริเอลเป็นจ้าวแห่งเทวดาที่ทำหน้าที่ตัดสินมนุษย์ว่าควรจะขึ้นสวรรค์หรือลงนรก แล้วก็ทำหน้าที่เป็นตัวแทนของพระเจ้าซึ่งยูริเอลกำลังจะหาทางกำจัดพวกพระเอกโดยส่งเนฟิลิมออกมาเพื่อไล่ล่าเหล่าเทวดาตกสวรรค์
คาแรคเตอร์ของพระเอกเชื่อว่าคงถูกใจใครหลายๆคนแน่ พระเอกออกแนวปากร้ายนิดๆ เซ็กซี่ๆ แล้วก็เข็ดขยาดกับความรักครั้งเก่า ไม่อยากรักใครอีกแล้วเพราะกลัวความเจ็บปวด จนนางเอกเริ่มเข้ามาในจิตใจแล้วทำให้พระเอกหวั่นไหว เรื่องราวจึงดำเนินต่อไปเรื่อยๆจนถึงจุดไคลแม็กซ์ที่ทำให้ทั้งคู่ต่างยอมรับความรู้สึกของตนเอง
เอาล่ะ ... มาถึงตรงส่วนบทเลิฟซีนหรือการอธิบายเรื่องบนเตียงระหว่างพระนางนั้น เรื่องนี้ไม่ได้มีการตัดทอนเนื้อหาออกเลย เพราะหลังอ่านจบเราเอามาเปิดเทียบกับฉบับอังกฤษจึงพบว่าคนแปลแปลตามต้นฉบับเป๊ะๆ ไม่ได้ตัดทอนตรงไหนเลยแม้แต่น้อย
สำหรับใครที่คิดจะหานิยายโรมานซ์แนวเหนือธรรมชาติมาอ่าน เราขอแนะนำเรื่องนี้ ถือว่าเป็นเรื่องที่อ่านเพลินได้สนุกเรื่องหนึ่งเลยทีเดียว
ขอติตรงการแปลนิดนึงที่ยังมีบางจุดที่อ่านแล้วรู้สึกยังไม่ค่อยไหลลื่นหรือมีอารมณ์ร่วมกับฉากนั้นๆเท่าที่ควร แถมเนื้อเรื่องตอนท้ายๆที่ดูรีบๆไปหน่อยเหมือนพยายามจะทำให้จบเล่มซะงั้น ทั้งๆที่สามารถนำประเด็นตรงนั้นมาเล่นน่าจะเข้าถึงอารมณ์มากกว่านี้ เพราะในหนังสือตอนบทท้ายๆมันดูห้วนๆ เหมือนไม่มีความสำคัญแต่เราว่ามันเป็นไคลแมกซ์ตอนนึงของเรื่องเลยก็ว่าได้นะ
เนื้อเรื่องจะเกี่ยวกับเทวดาตกสวรรค์ที่ลงมาทำหน้าที่นำส่งดวงวิญญาณผู้หลงทางในโลกมนุษย์นั่นเอง โดยหนังสือเล่มนี้จะกล่าวถึง 'ราซิเอล' เทวดาหนุ่มรูปงามที่ 'อัลลี' นางเอกของเรื่องเห็นแล้วเนื้อตัวร้อนฉ่า ปราถนาคลั่งไคล้ในตัวพระเอกจนอยากจะขึ้นเตียงด้วย
ความสนุกของเนื้อเรื่อง เราคิดว่าสนุกอยู่พอสมควรนะ พระเอกเป็นเทวดาตกสวรรค์ โดยยูริเอลเป็นจ้าวแห่งเทวดาที่ทำหน้าที่ตัดสินมนุษย์ว่าควรจะขึ้นสวรรค์หรือลงนรก แล้วก็ทำหน้าที่เป็นตัวแทนของพระเจ้าซึ่งยูริเอลกำลังจะหาทางกำจัดพวกพระเอกโดยส่งเนฟิลิมออกมาเพื่อไล่ล่าเหล่าเทวดาตกสวรรค์
คาแรคเตอร์ของพระเอกเชื่อว่าคงถูกใจใครหลายๆคนแน่ พระเอกออกแนวปากร้ายนิดๆ เซ็กซี่ๆ แล้วก็เข็ดขยาดกับความรักครั้งเก่า ไม่อยากรักใครอีกแล้วเพราะกลัวความเจ็บปวด จนนางเอกเริ่มเข้ามาในจิตใจแล้วทำให้พระเอกหวั่นไหว เรื่องราวจึงดำเนินต่อไปเรื่อยๆจนถึงจุดไคลแม็กซ์ที่ทำให้ทั้งคู่ต่างยอมรับความรู้สึกของตนเอง
เอาล่ะ ... มาถึงตรงส่วนบทเลิฟซีนหรือการอธิบายเรื่องบนเตียงระหว่างพระนางนั้น เรื่องนี้ไม่ได้มีการตัดทอนเนื้อหาออกเลย เพราะหลังอ่านจบเราเอามาเปิดเทียบกับฉบับอังกฤษจึงพบว่าคนแปลแปลตามต้นฉบับเป๊ะๆ ไม่ได้ตัดทอนตรงไหนเลยแม้แต่น้อย
สำหรับใครที่คิดจะหานิยายโรมานซ์แนวเหนือธรรมชาติมาอ่าน เราขอแนะนำเรื่องนี้ ถือว่าเป็นเรื่องที่อ่านเพลินได้สนุกเรื่องหนึ่งเลยทีเดียว
ขอติตรงการแปลนิดนึงที่ยังมีบางจุดที่อ่านแล้วรู้สึกยังไม่ค่อยไหลลื่นหรือมีอารมณ์ร่วมกับฉากนั้นๆเท่าที่ควร แถมเนื้อเรื่องตอนท้ายๆที่ดูรีบๆไปหน่อยเหมือนพยายามจะทำให้จบเล่มซะงั้น ทั้งๆที่สามารถนำประเด็นตรงนั้นมาเล่นน่าจะเข้าถึงอารมณ์มากกว่านี้ เพราะในหนังสือตอนบทท้ายๆมันดูห้วนๆ เหมือนไม่มีความสำคัญแต่เราว่ามันเป็นไคลแมกซ์ตอนนึงของเรื่องเลยก็ว่าได้นะ
February 17, 2011
Didn't enjoy this one much, too slow paced for my liking. Basically about a group of fallen angels called the Fallen. It's about Allie who had an accident and died. So Raziel was the appointed angel to escort her soul to the 'next' place.
But for what ever reason, he couldn't let her go and ended up taking her to his home. And hence she lived there and experienced and learned the everyday lives of the Fallens. Not much of a going on really, more of a background introduction for future installments, I guess.
They had an attack from their enemy one night and Raziel was so afraid of Allie's safety. But it got me thinking, could she get hurt and die... again? How many deaths was she entitled to?? And she actually bled in the assault. I mean for a dead girl, she sure was wholesome...
But for what ever reason, he couldn't let her go and ended up taking her to his home. And hence she lived there and experienced and learned the everyday lives of the Fallens. Not much of a going on really, more of a background introduction for future installments, I guess.
They had an attack from their enemy one night and Raziel was so afraid of Allie's safety. But it got me thinking, could she get hurt and die... again? How many deaths was she entitled to?? And she actually bled in the assault. I mean for a dead girl, she sure was wholesome...
April 13, 2011
Quick & Dirty: Well written with a solid plot, Ms. Douglas delivers a unique world with an unforgiving villain and chilling danger.
Opening Sentence: I am Raziel, one of the twenty fallen angels spoken of by Enoch in the old books.
The Review:
Raziel is a fallen angel. Cursed by God, he doesn’t have many options. Raziel serves Uriel by escorting the dead to their final destination: heaven or hell. Unfortunately, Allie’s number has been punched. Raziel sets out on just another delivery assignment when he realizes that something isn’t right. Not wanting to mistakenly condemn her to hell, Raziel pulls Allie back from the deadly and fiery abyss. He never expected to feel a connection between them, let alone expose his fellow fallen brethren to danger. Raziel battles to save Allie from the forces of darkness and figure out her role in the fate of the Fallen.
I’m actually surprised that I ended up liking this book as much as I did. The beginning grabbed my attention, but the pacing of the story dragged for the first half of the book. Kristina Douglas (aka Anne Stuart) crafted a story with just enough of an edge to standout in the increasingly crowded fallen angel genre. Raziel is the first story that I’ve read in awhile where I didn’t really know what to expect from the characters. In this case, I think it worked well with the character and story development. Ms. Douglas masterfully delivers a few twists and turns, witty dialogue and sizzling sexual tension.
The story is told in first person with alternating POVs between Raziel and Allie. Not every author is successful in pulling this off, but Ms. Douglas did an excellent job. While I had a hard time connecting with Raziel’s character, I still felt he added a lot of depth to the story. On the one hand Raziel was very cold and dispassionate about his circumstance, yet he cared very much about human life and his fellow fallen angels. Even with his detached demeanor, I liked his character. His behavior and actions felt plausible. Raziel and Allie are very stubborn, unyielding and principled, so it’s little wonder that it took some time for them to really click. A few elements of the story aren’t perfect, but there’s no denying the captivating story of these fallen angels.
Allie is one of those characters that you either love or hate. For me it was the latter because I found her extremely annoying. She has some redeemable qualities that allowed me to warm up to her towards the end, but what I initially thought was cute about her in the beginning quickly wore off. I also had to suspend disbelief about the emotional connection she was supposed to have with Raziel. I think in some sort of twisted and accidental way, their relationship developed an intimate and possessive vibe, but it never really translated into emotion for me.
In addition to the writing, the worldbuilding and mythology are well crafted. The Nephilim are flesh eating monsters created by Uriel, driven solely to follow his every whim and command. I don’t want to give too much away, but the battle between Uriel and the Fallen is certainly intriguing.
Overall, Raziel is an enjoyable read. With vivid descriptions, intrigue, fearless and devastatingly handsome fallen angels, you won’t regret falling to this dark and dangerous world. The excellent writing will keep readers turning pages long into the night.
Notable Scene:
The Nephilim rose up over me, so close I could see the maggots living in its skin, and the smell of blood and death was enough to make me gag. If I was lucky, it would rip off my head – it would be quick, rather than having my stomach and intestines clawed out – and I wondered if I could get away, run far enough up the stairs to jump, as I’d promised Raziel.
The creature had a hideous open hole for a mouth, and the double sets of teeth were jagged, sharklike, made for tearing flesh, and I wasn’t going to scream, I wasn’t, even when it reached me. Its hands were deformed, more like pincers, razored and bloody, and I slashed at it, blindly, severing one of them. It didn’t react, coming closer, and its remaining claw made a horrible clacking sound. I clutched the sword, prepared to fight to the death.
The Fallen Series:
1. Raziel
2. Demon
FTC Advisory: Simon & Schuster provided me with a copy of Raziel. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. In addition, I don’t receive affiliate fees for anything purchased via links from my site.
Opening Sentence: I am Raziel, one of the twenty fallen angels spoken of by Enoch in the old books.
The Review:
Raziel is a fallen angel. Cursed by God, he doesn’t have many options. Raziel serves Uriel by escorting the dead to their final destination: heaven or hell. Unfortunately, Allie’s number has been punched. Raziel sets out on just another delivery assignment when he realizes that something isn’t right. Not wanting to mistakenly condemn her to hell, Raziel pulls Allie back from the deadly and fiery abyss. He never expected to feel a connection between them, let alone expose his fellow fallen brethren to danger. Raziel battles to save Allie from the forces of darkness and figure out her role in the fate of the Fallen.
I’m actually surprised that I ended up liking this book as much as I did. The beginning grabbed my attention, but the pacing of the story dragged for the first half of the book. Kristina Douglas (aka Anne Stuart) crafted a story with just enough of an edge to standout in the increasingly crowded fallen angel genre. Raziel is the first story that I’ve read in awhile where I didn’t really know what to expect from the characters. In this case, I think it worked well with the character and story development. Ms. Douglas masterfully delivers a few twists and turns, witty dialogue and sizzling sexual tension.
The story is told in first person with alternating POVs between Raziel and Allie. Not every author is successful in pulling this off, but Ms. Douglas did an excellent job. While I had a hard time connecting with Raziel’s character, I still felt he added a lot of depth to the story. On the one hand Raziel was very cold and dispassionate about his circumstance, yet he cared very much about human life and his fellow fallen angels. Even with his detached demeanor, I liked his character. His behavior and actions felt plausible. Raziel and Allie are very stubborn, unyielding and principled, so it’s little wonder that it took some time for them to really click. A few elements of the story aren’t perfect, but there’s no denying the captivating story of these fallen angels.
Allie is one of those characters that you either love or hate. For me it was the latter because I found her extremely annoying. She has some redeemable qualities that allowed me to warm up to her towards the end, but what I initially thought was cute about her in the beginning quickly wore off. I also had to suspend disbelief about the emotional connection she was supposed to have with Raziel. I think in some sort of twisted and accidental way, their relationship developed an intimate and possessive vibe, but it never really translated into emotion for me.
In addition to the writing, the worldbuilding and mythology are well crafted. The Nephilim are flesh eating monsters created by Uriel, driven solely to follow his every whim and command. I don’t want to give too much away, but the battle between Uriel and the Fallen is certainly intriguing.
Overall, Raziel is an enjoyable read. With vivid descriptions, intrigue, fearless and devastatingly handsome fallen angels, you won’t regret falling to this dark and dangerous world. The excellent writing will keep readers turning pages long into the night.
Notable Scene:
The Nephilim rose up over me, so close I could see the maggots living in its skin, and the smell of blood and death was enough to make me gag. If I was lucky, it would rip off my head – it would be quick, rather than having my stomach and intestines clawed out – and I wondered if I could get away, run far enough up the stairs to jump, as I’d promised Raziel.
The creature had a hideous open hole for a mouth, and the double sets of teeth were jagged, sharklike, made for tearing flesh, and I wasn’t going to scream, I wasn’t, even when it reached me. Its hands were deformed, more like pincers, razored and bloody, and I slashed at it, blindly, severing one of them. It didn’t react, coming closer, and its remaining claw made a horrible clacking sound. I clutched the sword, prepared to fight to the death.
The Fallen Series:
1. Raziel
2. Demon
FTC Advisory: Simon & Schuster provided me with a copy of Raziel. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. In addition, I don’t receive affiliate fees for anything purchased via links from my site.
June 30, 2015
This book was a lot of fun because it was just enough wrong to be entertaining. Vampire fallen angels? That is just all kinds of twisted, sick and wrong! Yes, please!
So, we begin with Raziel, a fallen angel whose job is to escort Allie into her afterlife destination. But, when he sees that she is condemned to hell, he pulls her back and saves her. So, he is stuck with her. And, he doesn't like her - he doesn't like humans at all. He's kind of a prick.
But, that's okay, Allie - whose full name is Allegra, yes, Allegra, like the allergy pills, I kid you not! ... anyway, Allie is kind of a shallow, self-absorbed be-otch, so you don't have to waste your tears over Raziel's jerkiness. As a matter of fact, they are kind of a match made in heaven... or in Sheol, which is where they live, for some reason. Yeah, your bible knowledge may actually hurt you in this case. Well, actually, you can get pretty offended if you go there.... so, just don't go there. It's fantasy.
So, in Sheol, there are all these hunky fallen angels that have human wives. And, of course they drink their blood. I mean, naturally. They are vampire angels after all. So, one wife, Sarah, is this awesome, wise and calm leader of the women and she takes Allie under her wing. She is just sure that Allie is the perfect woman for Raziel, the jerky vampire fallen angel.
As they are sitting in Raziel's perfectly white apartment, having "girl time" in this insanity, Sarah tells Allie:
"Raziel tends to see things as either black or white...He'd probably hate it if you painted anything." She grinned."Just let me know if you want some help."
I laughed. "Do you want to make his life a living hell?"
"No, dear. That's going to be your job."
Sarah's trolling them. You go girl!
And, of course, there are flesh-eating zombie nephilim. Didn't I mention them yet? Yeah, they are trying to get in to Sheol to rip apart and eat everyone. As usual.
Plus, as an added bonus, there is lots of sex. Not surprising. You don't write a book about hot vampire fallen angels without including sex.
So, we begin with Raziel, a fallen angel whose job is to escort Allie into her afterlife destination. But, when he sees that she is condemned to hell, he pulls her back and saves her. So, he is stuck with her. And, he doesn't like her - he doesn't like humans at all. He's kind of a prick.
But, that's okay, Allie - whose full name is Allegra, yes, Allegra, like the allergy pills, I kid you not! ... anyway, Allie is kind of a shallow, self-absorbed be-otch, so you don't have to waste your tears over Raziel's jerkiness. As a matter of fact, they are kind of a match made in heaven... or in Sheol, which is where they live, for some reason. Yeah, your bible knowledge may actually hurt you in this case. Well, actually, you can get pretty offended if you go there.... so, just don't go there. It's fantasy.
So, in Sheol, there are all these hunky fallen angels that have human wives. And, of course they drink their blood. I mean, naturally. They are vampire angels after all. So, one wife, Sarah, is this awesome, wise and calm leader of the women and she takes Allie under her wing. She is just sure that Allie is the perfect woman for Raziel, the jerky vampire fallen angel.
As they are sitting in Raziel's perfectly white apartment, having "girl time" in this insanity, Sarah tells Allie:
"Raziel tends to see things as either black or white...He'd probably hate it if you painted anything." She grinned."Just let me know if you want some help."
I laughed. "Do you want to make his life a living hell?"
"No, dear. That's going to be your job."
Sarah's trolling them. You go girl!
And, of course, there are flesh-eating zombie nephilim. Didn't I mention them yet? Yeah, they are trying to get in to Sheol to rip apart and eat everyone. As usual.
Plus, as an added bonus, there is lots of sex. Not surprising. You don't write a book about hot vampire fallen angels without including sex.
June 19, 2012
I have always enjoyed tremendously books about Angels...
There's just something so intriguing about them, something extremely captivating. But Fallen Angels are even more interesting. Why wouldn't we want to analyze the reasons that made a 'superior' being fall from perfection? To comprehend that maybe perfection comes from imperfection, to see them craving more, as we mere humans do. I can't help to be fascinated about them. I adore to read their mixed feelings, the consequences of doing things they should never even think about.
Well this series didn't disappoint me.
I always treasure this type of series, where feelings are more intense and profound. It is for me a great challenge to find a book that makes me see everything in a different way, that makes me reevaluate affairs I consider indisputable. And the In this series we definitely see a darker side of things. I LOVED THAT! But more than anything I adored how this author made me analyze things, see more of them, things I would never consider to judge and study otherwise. Those are the type of reads I enjoy the most, the ones where the characters go deep.Most authors in this genre are predictable and follow a pattern. I really cherish how original and different this story was from everything I have been reading lately.
There's just something so intriguing about them, something extremely captivating. But Fallen Angels are even more interesting. Why wouldn't we want to analyze the reasons that made a 'superior' being fall from perfection? To comprehend that maybe perfection comes from imperfection, to see them craving more, as we mere humans do. I can't help to be fascinated about them. I adore to read their mixed feelings, the consequences of doing things they should never even think about.
Well this series didn't disappoint me.
I always treasure this type of series, where feelings are more intense and profound. It is for me a great challenge to find a book that makes me see everything in a different way, that makes me reevaluate affairs I consider indisputable. And the In this series we definitely see a darker side of things. I LOVED THAT! But more than anything I adored how this author made me analyze things, see more of them, things I would never consider to judge and study otherwise. Those are the type of reads I enjoy the most, the ones where the characters go deep.Most authors in this genre are predictable and follow a pattern. I really cherish how original and different this story was from everything I have been reading lately.
March 28, 2012
Didn't finish. What to say about this book? The answer is fuck. From the beinning of the book all I read from the both POV is fuck. Explains:
Raziel: Thinks: It has been a long time since I got laid. But enough, got to go to work collecting death souls and dumping them in hell or heaven. Oh, I am late better go before my scarey fuck up boss fires- er kills me.
Allie: Thinks:Hurry I am late.
Later: Allie dies and Raziel collects her soul. Saves her from hell.
Some slow boring stuff happens.
Allie: He is a vampire/ angel, creepy.I don't know anything.But he is soo seexy, look at his body.What if-Wait, what am I thinking I will never let him touch me.But still-What a body. (Drools )(acts slow and stupid)
Raziel: God, humans are slow and annoying. I don't want a mate. DO YOU HEAR THAT WORLD I DO NOT WANT A MATE! But look at Allie she is so fine, makes me want- Wait, I don't want to mate. But...(acts cold and distant)
After a few chapters of this I give up, where is the real plot. The tension between the characters were none, they were simply stated.
Do the world a favor Raziel and Allie take a cold bath or do it so that we can get on what the plot. Why so much drama we all know you are attracted to each other!
I am hard in reviewing this book because I wanted to like it, but no. I give up.
Raziel: Thinks: It has been a long time since I got laid. But enough, got to go to work collecting death souls and dumping them in hell or heaven. Oh, I am late better go before my scarey fuck up boss fires- er kills me.
Allie: Thinks:Hurry I am late.
Later: Allie dies and Raziel collects her soul. Saves her from hell.
Some slow boring stuff happens.
Allie: He is a vampire/ angel, creepy.I don't know anything.But he is soo seexy, look at his body.What if-Wait, what am I thinking I will never let him touch me.But still-What a body. (Drools )(acts slow and stupid)
Raziel: God, humans are slow and annoying. I don't want a mate. DO YOU HEAR THAT WORLD I DO NOT WANT A MATE! But look at Allie she is so fine, makes me want- Wait, I don't want to mate. But...(acts cold and distant)
After a few chapters of this I give up, where is the real plot. The tension between the characters were none, they were simply stated.
Do the world a favor Raziel and Allie take a cold bath or do it so that we can get on what the plot. Why so much drama we all know you are attracted to each other!
I am hard in reviewing this book because I wanted to like it, but no. I give up.
August 15, 2015
I thought this book would never end, and it was less than 200 pages on my e-reader. Let me preface this by saying I had no problems with vamp-angels or angel-vamps, however you want to look at it, they call themselves "blood-eaters." That seemed to be off putting for a lot of people, but it was just another paranormal-y thing to me. The problem I had with the book it was sooo boring. I didn't like the heroine, it's all from her POV (I think, I'm trying to purge my memory of ever having read this) and all she does is ramble, ramble, ramble. I hated being in her thoughts. She's all hot over Raziel, even though she's dead and doesn't have any security in life or afterlife, all she can think about is mauling Raziel. Raziel wants nothing to do with her, even if he secretly lusts for her, and he's a wooden character. All the other Fallen hate her. But the heroine doesn't let any of that stop her from getting into Raziel's pants. Amongst all this lusting, there's an overall arching story/plot, it's boring as well. I did finish this book and the ending was just as fluttery flowery HEA, except in one of those 'life is so perfect, omg, sugary overlord, my love' ways.
Don't let the abs on the cover fool you, this book is more boring than doing situps to get such abs.
Don't let the abs on the cover fool you, this book is more boring than doing situps to get such abs.
June 18, 2011
I hate that I have this "disorder" for finishing books even if I really didn't like them. Sadly, this book fell into that category and it was a long four days trying to complete this. Usually, I can find several things within a story that are high points and i just couldn't with this, The world building left a lot to be desired and I'm not sure I could even begin to explain the setting at all. The romance was heavily lacking and even at the end, I still wasn't 100% sure the hero wanted to be with the heroine. The writing was just.....not good. I could see that there were some parts thrown in there for humor, but I wasn't laughing. Possibly the worst part of all was the extremely confusing pov. This is told from both the h/h's pov, but in first person and it drove me nuts trying to figure out who I was reading about!!! The ending was poorly executed and I was left with absolutely no desire to read the next one. Sadly, 2 stars, and that's only because I'm a nice girl.
June 10, 2011
Hmmm, well I have mixed feelings about this book. It really hooked me about a quarter way into it. For the majority of the book, Allie drove me bananas, but her actions were drowned out by the utter hotness of the angels, most especially Raziel. I really liked him in this book, and I also kind of have a thing for Azazel. The world is interesting, though I have a bit of a hard time reading books about angels...I'm deeply religious and sometimes feel a little put-off by author's interpretations. I will definitely read the next book!
June 13, 2011
Fantabulous! Loved it!
December 8, 2021
So. Boring.
The female main character Allie is so shallow and irritating and the main male character is obsessed with having sex with her. As soon as he meets her, he can't stop talking about how much he wants to bang her. Like okay we get it already. Maybe they make a good match, I just didn't want to read about them.
There's not much action and the pacing was slow. A lot of the story is inner dialogue which make it difficult to get through. I will say that the idea of fallen angels cursed to be vampire-like is interesting and I liked the Nephilim being bad and creepy.
The female main character Allie is so shallow and irritating and the main male character is obsessed with having sex with her. As soon as he meets her, he can't stop talking about how much he wants to bang her. Like okay we get it already. Maybe they make a good match, I just didn't want to read about them.
There's not much action and the pacing was slow. A lot of the story is inner dialogue which make it difficult to get through. I will say that the idea of fallen angels cursed to be vampire-like is interesting and I liked the Nephilim being bad and creepy.
July 6, 2013
Raziel (Fallen (Pocket Books)) Raziel By Kristina Douglas was much better than I had expected. I usually don't have much luck with books about angels, with the exception of Angelfall and now Raziel, apparently winged hotties are just not my thing. There were some elements of this book that reminded me of Angelfall which I LOVED, and which initially drew my interest in reading this book. Raziel is definitely for adults and has some pretty detailed erotic scenes which I was so happy to find were not overdone and cheesy as in so many adult books (I thought they were actually quite well done). The main character, Allie's new and uncomfortable shoes distract her to the point that she doesn't notice the huge bus bearing down on her until it is too late and she finds herself standing next to what must be an angel? demon? vampire? He informs her that she is dead and he is there to escort her to heaven. This doesn't work out exactly the way Raziel, her fallen angel escort, has planned, however, and now he has to explain to the other Fallen why he has brought this human woman to Sheol to live among them. Allie would like an explanation about this as well because she's not really sure what she's doing living among these terrifying, grumpy, gorgeous creatures but she's fairly certain she doesn't quite fit in. Meanwhile, the Nephilim are at the gates and if they break through, it will certainly be a bloodbath. While there were some parts that were almost painfully slow, Raziel was still an satisfyingly entertaining read. I guess I like my angels to be more the dark, apocalyptic, dangerous type instead of all goodness and light. The background of the Fallen and their ongoing conflict with Uriel and search for Lucifer was original and one of the most interesting parts of the story. I'm looking forward to learning where the author takes it in the sequel because the ending left a lot of unanswered questions. This is certainly a series I'd recommend for fans of the genre.
March 22, 2011
This is another book written in first person, ah, but with a twist. The hero and the heroine are covered in this format. Can you say PERFECT?? I loved this book. The hero Raziel is a fallen angel, who is cursed to immortality on earth, along with his fallen brethren. The heroine, Allegra/Allie, is an author of Old Testament mysteries with a very secular sarcastic bent. They meet when Allie gets hit (and I mean splatted) by a NYC bus. If you have a dark sense of humor, this is your book. These people cuss like sailors. I was laughing so hard, I snorted. The others of Raziel's kind and their bonded mates are much more reserved and pious. These two sound like something out of Pulp Fiction and the contrast is hilarious.
This book also offers up some really interesting spins on known theology beliefs. After reading a few chapters I was scratching my head going "Maybe she's got something there." Plus she references Kevin Smith's movie Dogma, which is one of my all time faves. It's almost like "Sex in the City" meets the Black Dagger Brotherhood. The sex scenes, well let's just say these guys save their warm and sweet for smores cause wall bangers are more their style. I pre-ordered the second book due out in 6/2011 before I wrote this review. It was just that damn good.
This book also offers up some really interesting spins on known theology beliefs. After reading a few chapters I was scratching my head going "Maybe she's got something there." Plus she references Kevin Smith's movie Dogma, which is one of my all time faves. It's almost like "Sex in the City" meets the Black Dagger Brotherhood. The sex scenes, well let's just say these guys save their warm and sweet for smores cause wall bangers are more their style. I pre-ordered the second book due out in 6/2011 before I wrote this review. It was just that damn good.
August 16, 2015
This is HONESTLY, my favourite book of all time.. I could not put it down I literally felt drawn in- it was AMAZING! I fell in love with the characters; the writing and I cannot think of a single flaw whilst reading this glorious masterpiece, you may think I'm over exaggerating but really.. I'm not. I have forever loved fallen angels/ angels or anything of the sort, and this was perfect, everything I wanted and needed in one book I just can't stop thinking about it! Arghh, the ending was absolutely beautiful, Anne you have forever changed my life.
November 6, 2019
Allie lleva un día infernal y todo porque no es capaz de llegar a tiempo a ningún lado. La suerte es que ya todos están acostumbrados. Además sus tacones están matándole los pies. Pero serán esos mismos tacones quienes provoquen un cambio radical en su vida. De repente se encuentra siendo llevada por un ángel al infierno, hasta que ese mismo la rescata.
Raziel no sabe porque ha salvado a Allie pero sabe que tampoco la puede mantener en Sheol para siempre. Lo único que tiene que hacer es ser capaz de evitar la atracción que siente por ella... Pero es más fácil decirlo que hacerlo.
Mi nota en realidad es 3'5.
La historia estuvo muy bien, estaba muy bien planteada y eso pero al mismo tiempo siento que hay cosas que han pasado muy rápido. Por ejemplo lo de Sarah. No quiero decir nada porque si no spoilearia todo pero me pareció que fue demasiado rápido. No me lo esperaba y en el fondo, aún con lo mal que me cae Azazel, me dio pena.
También me dio pena la propia Allie, que no sabía si iba o venía, que no sabía que iba a ser de su vida y si quería aceptar su nueva vida (o muerte claro).
Me encantó el final cuando ella hizo todo por Raziel, y no me esperaba para nada lo de Sammael. Hablaba tan mal de las esposas pero si yo no recuerdo mal, él también tenía una.
El caso es que siento que he acabado el libro y al mismo tiempo no he acabado la historia. Hay final feliz pero al mismo tiempo siento que no lo ha sido a pesar de que los protagonistas están juntos y eso. No se, me ha gustado pero al mismo tiempo siento como que no ha terminado, no sé si me he explicado bien 🤣
Raziel no sabe porque ha salvado a Allie pero sabe que tampoco la puede mantener en Sheol para siempre. Lo único que tiene que hacer es ser capaz de evitar la atracción que siente por ella... Pero es más fácil decirlo que hacerlo.
Mi nota en realidad es 3'5.
La historia estuvo muy bien, estaba muy bien planteada y eso pero al mismo tiempo siento que hay cosas que han pasado muy rápido. Por ejemplo lo de Sarah. No quiero decir nada porque si no spoilearia todo pero me pareció que fue demasiado rápido. No me lo esperaba y en el fondo, aún con lo mal que me cae Azazel, me dio pena.
También me dio pena la propia Allie, que no sabía si iba o venía, que no sabía que iba a ser de su vida y si quería aceptar su nueva vida (o muerte claro).
Me encantó el final cuando ella hizo todo por Raziel, y no me esperaba para nada lo de Sammael. Hablaba tan mal de las esposas pero si yo no recuerdo mal, él también tenía una.
El caso es que siento que he acabado el libro y al mismo tiempo no he acabado la historia. Hay final feliz pero al mismo tiempo siento que no lo ha sido a pesar de que los protagonistas están juntos y eso. No se, me ha gustado pero al mismo tiempo siento como que no ha terminado, no sé si me he explicado bien 🤣
May 21, 2012
Not bad, but it could be better
So my quest to find a fulfilling adult angel series continues, which heavily factored into my decision to read Raziel, Book 1 of The Fallen series. Allie Watson, a modern working woman in the city, bumps into a handsome stranger during her morning commute. All is well until she steps off a curb...into the path of a bus. She next finds herself in a different land and confronted once again by this stranger.
It turns out he is Raziel, a Fallen angel who guides the souls of the newly deceased to heaven or hell as ordered by the supreme being, Uriel. But once it comes to Allie, everything goes according to plan until the gates of hell surprisingly open for her and Raziel instinctually pulls her back, though he doesn't really understand why. Lost with nowhere to really take her, he brings her to his home in Sheol, a land for other Fallen angels and their mates. It may not be safe for her there either as the other angels blame her for the inevitable consequences that will befall them for Raziel's disobedience. They must fend off Nephilim, demonic monsters from hell that are working to break down the gates of Sheol and wreak havoc. And day by day Allie proves herself to be less ordinary as she breaks down the barriers of Raziel's heart, much to his chagrin.
This was a short read, but it's another book where not a lot ends up happening. I felt like it had a lot of potential with the world building, but they spend a lot of time merely discussing how Uriel and the Nephilim will be a problem. There was just too much talk and not enough action until the tail end.
The angels must drink blood in order to sustain themselves, but they consider themselves "bloodeaters" as opposed to "vampires" though Allie can't really figure out the difference. I found this overlap amusing, if not convenient to subtly offer something that vampire fans might connect with if they aren't strictly into angels.
Raziel and Allie have decent chemistry, though it isn't smoldering and you shouldn't expect much out of the starting gate. The relationship manages to build throughout the book fine enough though. We do see some focus shift to Raziel's friend (a fellow angel) and his mate, Azazel and Sarah. That was certainly an interesting dynamic since the angels age much slower than their mates. Sarah looks like she could be Azazel's mother, so there is some shock value there. Sarah and Allie develop a good rapport with one another and I enjoyed their fraternizing (or is it sororizing?) throughout the story.
So all in all, not a lot happens yet I'm still sort of interested in the world and where things can go next. It's an ongoing series that does change the central character from book to book. It looks like Azazel is up next; hopefully that promises a better read. Considering the short length of these books, I actually feel pretty good about continuing on with this series since it's not a huge investment of time.
Review also posted to Amazon.
So my quest to find a fulfilling adult angel series continues, which heavily factored into my decision to read Raziel, Book 1 of The Fallen series. Allie Watson, a modern working woman in the city, bumps into a handsome stranger during her morning commute. All is well until she steps off a curb...into the path of a bus. She next finds herself in a different land and confronted once again by this stranger.
It turns out he is Raziel, a Fallen angel who guides the souls of the newly deceased to heaven or hell as ordered by the supreme being, Uriel. But once it comes to Allie, everything goes according to plan until the gates of hell surprisingly open for her and Raziel instinctually pulls her back, though he doesn't really understand why. Lost with nowhere to really take her, he brings her to his home in Sheol, a land for other Fallen angels and their mates. It may not be safe for her there either as the other angels blame her for the inevitable consequences that will befall them for Raziel's disobedience. They must fend off Nephilim, demonic monsters from hell that are working to break down the gates of Sheol and wreak havoc. And day by day Allie proves herself to be less ordinary as she breaks down the barriers of Raziel's heart, much to his chagrin.
This was a short read, but it's another book where not a lot ends up happening. I felt like it had a lot of potential with the world building, but they spend a lot of time merely discussing how Uriel and the Nephilim will be a problem. There was just too much talk and not enough action until the tail end.
The angels must drink blood in order to sustain themselves, but they consider themselves "bloodeaters" as opposed to "vampires" though Allie can't really figure out the difference. I found this overlap amusing, if not convenient to subtly offer something that vampire fans might connect with if they aren't strictly into angels.
Raziel and Allie have decent chemistry, though it isn't smoldering and you shouldn't expect much out of the starting gate. The relationship manages to build throughout the book fine enough though. We do see some focus shift to Raziel's friend (a fellow angel) and his mate, Azazel and Sarah. That was certainly an interesting dynamic since the angels age much slower than their mates. Sarah looks like she could be Azazel's mother, so there is some shock value there. Sarah and Allie develop a good rapport with one another and I enjoyed their fraternizing (or is it sororizing?) throughout the story.
So all in all, not a lot happens yet I'm still sort of interested in the world and where things can go next. It's an ongoing series that does change the central character from book to book. It looks like Azazel is up next; hopefully that promises a better read. Considering the short length of these books, I actually feel pretty good about continuing on with this series since it's not a huge investment of time.
Review also posted to Amazon.
February 1, 2013
With little knowledge of angles I set out trying to find some “Awesome!” story that has plenty of romance but is nicely blended with believable myths. “The Fallen: Raziel” was exactly what I was looking for. The main characters are, a more than attractive angel named Raziel, and Allie the strong, defiant and strikingly beautiful woman that will change the lives of all of the Fallen Forever!
I am always cautious when it comes to reading new authors, because pretty much anyone can get published now-a-days. Which can be a way to find new talent but you can also get the people who REALLY cannot write. Kristina Douglas is not new to the writing business, and it shows! Ms. Douglas’s writing has a very refreshing way of gripping the reader and pulling them into her exquisite world of Angelic men and woman that have the ability to change the fate of the entire planet.
Anyway, now on to the more exciting part of this review. Where I drool over Raziel and his Iridescent blue wings. First off, yes this book is as good as it looks! No, “The Fallen: Raziel” isn’t like any book you have read before. It starts with the Female lead “Allie Watson” stepping out in front of a cross-town bus. She isn’t really alive anymore but she also isn’t dead. With the pleasure Raziel ignites in her there is no way she could be dead. But I’m getting ahead of myself.
Raziel is there to ferry Allie over to the after-life but for some reason he pulls her back from the gates of hell at the very last possible moment. He knows there will be “hell” to pay for not giving up Allie’s soul to Uriel - “The archangel who never fell, who never failed, who serves the Lord in his awful majesty, smiting sinners, turning wicked cities to rubble and curious woman to pillars of salt.” The one who waits, for The Fallen to make that final mistake, which will end their existence here on Earth- But for some reason Raziel can’t bear to let this enchanting woman go.
He brings Allie back to Sheol, the place that has sheltered the Fallen and their human wives for centuries. This is where the story really picks up, the Nephilim are at the gates that guard the Fallen’s sanctuary. The Nephilim are the creatures cursed to walk the planet with a craving for human and fallen flesh. Which as you can guess causes a lot of problems.
Throughout this book I found that the combination of characters that practically jump off the page, grab you buy your hair and pull you into the story, and the fight to protect the human race and the wives of the Fallen, Kristina Douglas leads the reader down a road that no one will ever return from. I think that if you find yourself wanting more out of a book, or that you just can’t resist the temptation of fallen angels than you really, REALLY, need to read The Fallen’s debut book “Raziel”!
I am always cautious when it comes to reading new authors, because pretty much anyone can get published now-a-days. Which can be a way to find new talent but you can also get the people who REALLY cannot write. Kristina Douglas is not new to the writing business, and it shows! Ms. Douglas’s writing has a very refreshing way of gripping the reader and pulling them into her exquisite world of Angelic men and woman that have the ability to change the fate of the entire planet.
Anyway, now on to the more exciting part of this review. Where I drool over Raziel and his Iridescent blue wings. First off, yes this book is as good as it looks! No, “The Fallen: Raziel” isn’t like any book you have read before. It starts with the Female lead “Allie Watson” stepping out in front of a cross-town bus. She isn’t really alive anymore but she also isn’t dead. With the pleasure Raziel ignites in her there is no way she could be dead. But I’m getting ahead of myself.
Raziel is there to ferry Allie over to the after-life but for some reason he pulls her back from the gates of hell at the very last possible moment. He knows there will be “hell” to pay for not giving up Allie’s soul to Uriel - “The archangel who never fell, who never failed, who serves the Lord in his awful majesty, smiting sinners, turning wicked cities to rubble and curious woman to pillars of salt.” The one who waits, for The Fallen to make that final mistake, which will end their existence here on Earth- But for some reason Raziel can’t bear to let this enchanting woman go.
He brings Allie back to Sheol, the place that has sheltered the Fallen and their human wives for centuries. This is where the story really picks up, the Nephilim are at the gates that guard the Fallen’s sanctuary. The Nephilim are the creatures cursed to walk the planet with a craving for human and fallen flesh. Which as you can guess causes a lot of problems.
Throughout this book I found that the combination of characters that practically jump off the page, grab you buy your hair and pull you into the story, and the fight to protect the human race and the wives of the Fallen, Kristina Douglas leads the reader down a road that no one will ever return from. I think that if you find yourself wanting more out of a book, or that you just can’t resist the temptation of fallen angels than you really, REALLY, need to read The Fallen’s debut book “Raziel”!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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January 24, 2011I'm going to start right off and say that I am not going to star rate this book. I'll explain in a minute. The story is very interesting. The world is built mostly around what most people think about the old testament but with a few changes. The fallen are the archangels with the exception of Uriel. They have been cursed to fear the nephilim who were created to wipe the fallen and their mates from existence. They also fear Uriel who seems to enjoy making them miserable and actually seems like the devil himself. I really enjoyed this alternate world to what we usually hear and I found it very imaginative. I also enjoyed Raziel. Even though he was brooding and taciturn most of the time, it fit with his character and when he lightened up, it was fun to see. I also enjoyed Allie most of the time. Once in a while she did seem whiny, but hey, if I was put in a situation where I had very little if no say at all, I'd probably be whiny too (I hang my head in that confession).
Okay, I'm sure you are still curious why I won't rate this one. It is because of one scene that I cannot stop thinking about. It is one scene that really has me not totally liking this book. Since it is a spoiler, I will mark it as such here...
*Spoiler*
There is a scene in which Raziel must determine if Allie is evil. One way is to have sex with her. So, he uses his powers on her to make her strip. She says no and don't in this instance. She knew what he had in mind, but not why. She is frightened and he has sex with her. She enjoys it because she really wanted to have sex with Raziel. So, I feel this is a rape scene with the excuse that she really wanted it. Sorry, but I just can't see it any other way.
*End Spoiler*
Without this scene, or it changed, I would have really enjoyed the whole book. My only other criticism is that the last chapter could have been left off this book and put at the beginning of the next.
Ah, so there is my dilemma. One scene upset me, but I enjoyed the creativity of reinventing this world. I just don't feel right dismissing that scene, nor do I feel right in judging a book solely on one part I didn't like. So, how do I rate it? I decided not to and let you decide for yourself. *sigh* Will I read the next in the series? Yes, I will. I just don't think the author saw that scene in the same way that I did.
Okay, I'm sure you are still curious why I won't rate this one. It is because of one scene that I cannot stop thinking about. It is one scene that really has me not totally liking this book. Since it is a spoiler, I will mark it as such here...
*Spoiler*
There is a scene in which Raziel must determine if Allie is evil. One way is to have sex with her. So, he uses his powers on her to make her strip. She says no and don't in this instance. She knew what he had in mind, but not why. She is frightened and he has sex with her. She enjoys it because she really wanted to have sex with Raziel. So, I feel this is a rape scene with the excuse that she really wanted it. Sorry, but I just can't see it any other way.
*End Spoiler*
Without this scene, or it changed, I would have really enjoyed the whole book. My only other criticism is that the last chapter could have been left off this book and put at the beginning of the next.
Ah, so there is my dilemma. One scene upset me, but I enjoyed the creativity of reinventing this world. I just don't feel right dismissing that scene, nor do I feel right in judging a book solely on one part I didn't like. So, how do I rate it? I decided not to and let you decide for yourself. *sigh* Will I read the next in the series? Yes, I will. I just don't think the author saw that scene in the same way that I did.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 26, 2011
This book was FANTASTIC! I really loved it! I should have written the review right away so it was fresh in my head!
Here is the description from goodreads
Kristina Douglas’s sexy new series introduces a realm of fallen angels and ruthless demons, where an eternal rebellion is brewing . . . and one unsuspecting woman can change the fate of the Fallen forever.
She was just an ordinary mortal . . .
“You’re dead” is so not what Allie Watson wants to hear. Unfortunately, it explains a lot. Like the dark, angelically handsome man who ferried her to this strange, hidden land. The last thing she remembers is stepping off a curb in front of a crosstown bus. Now she’s surrounded by gorgeous fallen angels with an unsettling taste for blood—and they really don’t want her around. Not exactly how she pictured heaven.
. . . until death catapulted her into a seductive world she never imagined.
Raziel is unsure why he rescued Allie from hellfire against Uriel’s orders, but she stirs in him a longing he hasn't felt in centuries. Now the Fallen are bracing for the divine wrath brought by his disobedience, and they blame Allie for the ferocious Nephilim clawing at the kingdom’s shrouded gates. Facing impossible odds at every turn, the two must work together to survive. Raziel will do anything to defend his spirited lover against the forces of darkness—because Allie may be the Fallen’s only salvation.
This book was really different and enchanting, pick it up and give it a try!
Here is the description from goodreads
Kristina Douglas’s sexy new series introduces a realm of fallen angels and ruthless demons, where an eternal rebellion is brewing . . . and one unsuspecting woman can change the fate of the Fallen forever.
She was just an ordinary mortal . . .
“You’re dead” is so not what Allie Watson wants to hear. Unfortunately, it explains a lot. Like the dark, angelically handsome man who ferried her to this strange, hidden land. The last thing she remembers is stepping off a curb in front of a crosstown bus. Now she’s surrounded by gorgeous fallen angels with an unsettling taste for blood—and they really don’t want her around. Not exactly how she pictured heaven.
. . . until death catapulted her into a seductive world she never imagined.
Raziel is unsure why he rescued Allie from hellfire against Uriel’s orders, but she stirs in him a longing he hasn't felt in centuries. Now the Fallen are bracing for the divine wrath brought by his disobedience, and they blame Allie for the ferocious Nephilim clawing at the kingdom’s shrouded gates. Facing impossible odds at every turn, the two must work together to survive. Raziel will do anything to defend his spirited lover against the forces of darkness—because Allie may be the Fallen’s only salvation.
This book was really different and enchanting, pick it up and give it a try!
February 13, 2011
2.5 Stars
This book had potential, it really did! The storyline was there, it was interesting, but it felt a bit under developed. The pace of this book is SLOW. It really only got interesting to me towards the end, which is the only reason I might consider reading the next in this series if it comes out. Might.
Allie was not my type of heroine. She was a bit self centered and at times annoying. And I think the author could've been a bit more creative with how she dies. I mean, of all the ways someone can get killed accidentally, I don't particularly like the "her high heel got caught and she fell right in front of a bus!".
I did like seing Azazel's POV. Before that I thought he was an ass but then I liked him a bit. I did like Sarah but its sad that the wives only live a bit longer than a human but they still die. So does that mean Allie will never die again since she's dead already?
Raziel is a bit stubborn, however sexy. But I didn't really feel the connection between him and Allie.
This book had potential, it really did! The storyline was there, it was interesting, but it felt a bit under developed. The pace of this book is SLOW. It really only got interesting to me towards the end, which is the only reason I might consider reading the next in this series if it comes out. Might.
Allie was not my type of heroine. She was a bit self centered and at times annoying. And I think the author could've been a bit more creative with how she dies. I mean, of all the ways someone can get killed accidentally, I don't particularly like the "her high heel got caught and she fell right in front of a bus!".
I did like seing Azazel's POV. Before that I thought he was an ass but then I liked him a bit. I did like Sarah but its sad that the wives only live a bit longer than a human but they still die. So does that mean Allie will never die again since she's dead already?
Raziel is a bit stubborn, however sexy. But I didn't really feel the connection between him and Allie.
February 24, 2011
I picked this up at the AFFES bookmart ( Military store ) just by chance really...I was in a rush saw the sexy cover and the name caught my attention so I grabbed it and headed home. A day later I finally got around and started reading. By the 4th Chapter I was glued to the pages I couldn't put it down....so as my amazing kids were taking mac and cheese and throwing it at me and my brand new carpet I still read and answered their questions lol I just finished it 13 hours later!! I FREAKING LOVE IT SO MUCH I WANT TO JUST KISS IT lol Her writing is amazing and I love that she used words that had my airhead self looking up in my dictionary lol. It was truly re-freshing for me. Allie is a kick ass chick and I loved her and Sarah. Azazel's story is next and I'm counting down the days till June!!!
I tell everyone READ THIS ITS AMAZING!
I tell everyone READ THIS ITS AMAZING!
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