Title: Halo
Author: Alexandra Adornetto
Series: Halo #1
Cover Art: Rich Deas & Tim Hall
Genre: Paranormal YA
Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 496 pages
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Date Published: August 31, 2010
ISBN-10: 0312656262
ISBN-13: 978-0312656263
Review Copy Source: Publisher
Reviewed by: Abigail
Book Description
Nothing much happens in the sleepy town of Venus Cove. But everything changes when three angels are sent from heaven to protect the town against the gathering forces of darkness: Gabriel, the warrior; Ivy, the healer; and Bethany, a teenage girl who is the least experienced of the trio. They work hard to conceal their true identity and, most of all, their wings. But the mission is threatened when the youngest angel, Bethany, is sent to high school and falls in love with the handsome school captain, Xavier Woods. Will she defy the laws of Heaven by loving him? Things come to a head when the angels realize they are not the only supernatural power in Venus Cove. There′s a new kid in town and he′s charming, seductive and deadly. Worst of all, he′s after Beth.
Review
I fell prey to cover lust the instant I saw the cover for HALO. It’s beautiful and romantic, everything I would want in a book about and angel who falls in love with a human. Sadly my disappointment with this book began on the very first page. The author uses to quotes to start her story. One was from Shakespeare, and the other was from…Beyoncé.
Quotes aside, the actually story starts rough. And I mean really rough. The writing was everything I would expect from a book that quotes Beyoncé; overly descriptive and reeking of effort to appear grownup and effortless.
He was on his bicycle with the newspapers rolled like batons in plastic wrap. It was misty and the boy was wearing a hooded jacket. He seemed to be playing a mental game with himself to estimate where exactly he could get each paper to land. The newspapers hit the driveways and verandas with a thud, and the boy smiled smugly whenever he estimated right. A Jack Russell terrier barking from behind a gate caused him to glance up and alerted him to our arrival. – HALO, page 1
The writing did improve slightly as the story progressed, but I still felt like the whole book should have been revised multiple times before going to print. But even that wouldn’t have helped to improve the characters.
The three angels, Bethany in particular, could not be more dull. All of them, even the ancient-but-hot Gabriel acted like two year olds. Perhaps because the author was so young she didn’t know how to portray adults? They whine and bicker and sulk constantly. Considering their divine origins, that behavior felt completely wrong.
And the romance was one of those I see you, I want you, we’re in love instantly things that drive me nuts. Apart from her luminous beauty, I could see anything that would have attracted Xavier to her and vice versa. There is a villain too, complete with cartoonishly bad dialogue and over the top evil plans for Bethany and Xavier.
Overall, the cover for HALO is beautiful and the general story idea has merit, but the writing and characters are cluttered and pedantic. I hate that I’m having to blame all this on the author’s age, but I can’t help but think she should have sat on this idea until she grew out of her teens.
Sexual Content: Kissing. References to sex. Mild sensuality.
My Rating:
2/5
Okay – Somewhat disappointing with significant flaws. Library/swap/borrow if you want.
Click HERE to read an excerpt from HALO
Previous books in the series:
- N/A
Also reviewed by:
I almost said the exact same thing when I read it... Ugh! Darn YA novels and the characters falling instantly in love.
ReplyDeleteAvery
I couldn't even pass the first 100 pages of Halo...I was so bored that i just put it aside and i'm not seeing how i will ever pick it up again.
ReplyDeleteAvery - Why? Why do they always skip the best part of actually falling in love? I don't get it.
ReplyDeleteAnna - It was for review or I would not have finished it. I'm sure she'll get better, but this effort should probably not have been published.
I completely agree with you. I haven't reviewed this one yet, just because I'm hoping with time I'll mellow down on how badly I thought of this book, but it is not working. It is for review...and I couldn't even make it halfway through and I don't think I'm picking it up again.
ReplyDeleteParaJunkee - I have this compulsion to finish what I start, especially for review books, but it was a struggle. I don't blame you at all for not making it to the end.
ReplyDeleteI really fancy this book. I'm sorry you and some of your commenters didn't like it. I'm still going to give it a go, although I'll probably try to borrow rather than buy, just in case :). Hope you enjoy your next read.
ReplyDeleteThe Slowest Bookworm - Maybe try the excerpt first, that will give you a good idea of the writing and help you decide if you want to try the whole book :)
ReplyDeleteI have that compulsion too... Ugh! It is so terrible to have it when you come across a really crummy book series that you don't want to read but literally cannot stop yourself from reading.
ReplyDeleteAs for the falling in love too soon dealio? Maybe they think that teens who read books don't want all of the stuff that leads up to the falling in love, thinking that they will think that stuff is too boring resulting in BAM! instant love (when we would find the stuff leading up to it being a heck of a lot more interesting)- (if that made any sense) that is the only explanation I can think of.
I agree this book was the pits, but the cover is one of the best.
ReplyDeleteThis book was at the top of my TBR pile until I found out the author was a teenager. It then got bumped down to the bottom. I think I might take it off all together now.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely hate when characters go: I don't really know you but I love you, I think your my true love UGHHH!
I won this book and had it high on my TBR, but after reading several less than favorable reviews, I don't think that I'll rush to get to it,either. The cover is fab, though.
ReplyDeleteOne can hope that the next book will be better. For the ending of Halo, I was kind of like , WHAT?!?! How about we flash through the end to nothing really? I finished it mail because I was stuck on a car trip with 9 hours of Dora. SO in the end Halo was a tad bit better.
ReplyDeleteI'm impressed that you finished it Abigail. That is a valiant effort. For myself I say, life is too damn short, and I'm embracing DNFs more and more.
ReplyDeleteUh oh...don't tell me this. I'm getting ready to start this for review. Damn...another YA title bites the dust. I was so hoping that I would enjoy the book. We generally like a lot of the same titles. I will let you know what I think.
ReplyDeleteThanks to your review, I will now put a hold on it in my library.
ReplyDelete... I'm the 62th person?
Avery - Yeah, I don't know why either. Even when I was a teenager, the falling part was my fav. I still remember reading FIFTEEN by Beverly Cleary over and over again when I was eleven because it was my first romantic 'falling' story.
ReplyDeleteRain Maiden - Don't you when the outside always matched the inside? Would make things so much easier :)
Kaza - It's a shame, but I do think the author's age really hurt this book.
Yvonne - I had it on my TBR shelf for over a month and with each bad review I read I got less and less interested in reading it. It took me 3 days to get through and that is insanely long for me.
Teril - By the end I was so beyond caring that the whole note thing was just another cliche with the bad guy back from the dead. I expected it at that point.
Rebecca - I can't bring myself to 'review' a book I didn't read through. It hurts sometimes, but I want to be able to say I actually finished this book and it was lousy from start to finish. I have had a few books that I could not force myself past even the halfway mark and I had to email the authors and let them know I wouldn't be reviewing their books. Maybe I'll revisit the DNF idea in the future.
Angela - if you hated Personal Demons, I can't wait to hear what you think of Halo :) Seriously, I think you might find your Turkey Tale for next year.
Julie - Sorry about that, but I think you'll thank me for it. Not a good book.
This is becoming a good way to cut down my wish list. Another book I won't be reading. Pity the writing didn't match the cover
ReplyDeletedorien_benaets AT hotmail DOT com
Wow!! If I would have read that first paragraph I would have never, ever,put that on my wishlist. Thank you for this review, you saved me my hard earned cash.
ReplyDeleteOh, thank you for the great review Abigail and for including that quote! I've been lusting for Halo ever since I saw its gorgeous cover and it has been on top of my wishlist. Thank you for your detailed review, now I will cross it off my list. What you found frustrating are everything I hated YA novels for, so I will make sure to forget about Halo, I don't need the irritation. Thanks again!!
ReplyDeletedorian-b - I know, I'd rather this cover been put on a better story too.
ReplyDeleteShera - Yeah, it was pretty bad. And that was page 1!
Stella - Me too. I really don't get it. so many YA's fall into they same pitfalls when, as far as I can tell, they are universally hated!
Abigail,
ReplyDeleteSee I really liked this book I began reading it today and couldn't put it down! Some parts could have been better but I loved it just the way it is! So I can't wait to read the next one!
-Abigail/Abbie