by Wendy Higgins
Genre: Young Adult - Paranormal
Publisher: HarperTeen
Published: May 1, 2012
Source: Bought from FullyBooked
Author's website | Goodreads
Embrace the Forbidden
What if there were teens whose lives literally depended on being bad influences?
This is the reality for sons and daughters of fallen angels.
Tenderhearted Southern girl Anna Whitt was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She's aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but it isn't until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage and her willpower is put to the test. He's the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna.
Forced to face her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns?
Nephilim. Fallen angels. Angel x devil. Half-angel,
half-human.
Who hasn’t heard of these words/phrases before? Who? You’ve
been practically living under a rock if you haven’t! These are all recurring themes
and concepts in Young-Adult (Paranormal) fiction.
Bad
News: Some stories have been too cliché, repetitive, and overused.
Good
News: Wendy Higgins managed to mold and form something fresh and unique out
of these.
Wendy Higgins created a world that was hauntingly real. The
ideas contributing to the paranormal side of the book weren’t over the top.
They were smoothly added to the realism of the book that one might wonder and
think if these are all possibly true.
Higgins also managed to polish and restore the rusty,
worn-out, and hackneyed paranormal-angel/demon genre. You can only go to the
bookstore and buy this book and inhale it so fast for you to know the many
twists the author managed to incorporate to the nephilim story of the book.
The protagonist, Anna, was a little careless and naïve at
first, but she managed to pull it off with her character development. The sooo-kind
Anna in the beginning transformed into (not a not-kind-Anna but) a more mature,
caring, and strong character. Kaidan Rowe, despite seeming like the stereotype
“I have a very dark past that’s why I can’t be with you” guy was, in fact,
different. He was definitely cocky and rude but funny and selfless at the same
time. And then there’s Patti! I give her the “one of the best YA mothers”
award.
The romance between Anna and Kaidan really worked out. It
wasn’t cheesy and too perfect, but rather the opposite. Although personally, I
felt that because of it, less action was put in the book. However, the build-up
for the next book was great and I’m absolutely looking forward to reading it!
“I know I’m just a human woman, but so help me, if anything happens to her while she’s with you—”
“I assure you she’ll be in good hands.”
“Mm-hm, that’s part of what I’m worried about.” She pointed at his hands. “Hands off, mister.”
“I assure you she’ll be in good hands.”
“Mm-hm, that’s part of what I’m worried about.” She pointed at his hands. “Hands off, mister.”
THE NUB AND GIST: 4.5 STARS
