Paranormal Book Club: Angelfall

Welcome to another Paranormal Book Club post! The Paranormal Book Club is a casual book club I do with my friends Rachel, Kristin & DJ, and it came into being because we decided we wanted to revisit (or experience for the first time) a few older YA paranormal/fantasy books together. The first pick for this year was Angelfall by Susan Ee, a book that I'd seen hyped up so much when it first came out but never got around to reading. I'd always been interested in checking it out, so it worked out perfectly that I finally got to read it this year.

Summary: The arrival of the angels marked the start of the modern world's decline, making superstition, street gangs and the fight to just survive all part of daily life. When her younger sister is taken away by warrior angels, Penryn is willing to do anything to get her back -- even making a deal with one of the enemy angels to make their way to the angels' stronghold in San Francisco together.

What were your initial thoughts about the book? Were you excited to read it?

I already alluded to this a little bit at the start of the post, but Angelfall had been on my radar for ages due to the gushing of so many of my bookish pals back in the day. I never did get around to reading it while the series was being published, likely because I had started to gravitate towards reads that were less dystopic or paranormal in feel by then. So, I was really glad that it got picked for one of our reads and I was nervous and excited to read such a hyped book! I'm pleased to report that I did like this book. While it's not a new favorite, the author did a really good job breathing life into her characters, their gritty world and the angelic lore. It's a really compelling story!

What was your favorite quote or passage, and why did it resonate with you?

“I never thought about it before, but I'm proud to be human. We're ever so flawed. We're frail, confused, violent, and we struggle with so many issues. But all in all, I'm proud to be a Daughter of Man." Simply put, this resonated with me because I often find myself thinking along similar lines. I may struggle a lot with my imperfections and flaws and mistakes, but at the end of the day, I'm proud to be the person I am today because of or in spite of all those things.

What character did you relate to the most, and what was it about them that you connected with?

Penryn, primarily because I could relate to how deeply she loved her family. I also appreciated how, even when faced with so many difficulties, she's purpose-driven in pursuit of her goals -- an attitude I've somewhat learned to embrace over the years as well. 

Was there anything you wanted to see more of in the book, like more page time for a secondary character or a plot point you wish was explored more?

I know there are two more books in the series, but since I'm unsure I'll be picking them up (given that i've received the advice that I could probably just... not), I'm going to say that I would love to see more of Penryn and Raffe together doing anything at all.

What are your final thoughts? Would you read this book again and/or continue with the series? Would you read another book written by the same author?

I'm so happy that I can finally say that I've read this book! It was engaging right from the start for me, and I found myself immediately swept up in Penryn's story. I've never read anything quite like it either (at least not in recent memory), which is always a bonus when I pick up a new story -- I like being charmed or surprised! Since this is the first of a series, it stands to reason that I'd be left with quite a few questions (about the characters and the world), so even with my hesitations and after having been told I didn't have to go on, it well may be that I'll eventually continue on with this series. 

If you're interested in finding out what the others thought, check out their posts below:

Hello, Chelly