Giveaway provided by Macmillan Children's Publishing Group via Zeitghost Media

One copy of HADES by Alexandra Adornetto

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

HALO book trailer

Previous books in the series:

1. N/A

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