Note: This is a sequel to Halo (see my review, here) but can be read as a stand alone book. And the author is still only just eighteen! I’m impressed with her ability, and willing to cut her a lot of slack!Įvaluation: For those looking for some YA books that focus on Christian redemption, this is just the ticket. Why? After reading so many books full of teenage sex, violence, and anomie, it’s sort of nice to read about some kids who believe in goodness and morality. On the other hand, whoever bestowed the human form on her forgot about brains: she is as dumb as they come. Bethany, obsessed with Xavier’s “perfect form” and rock-hard abs, may not have a navel or a life-line, but she sure does have an overload of hormones.

Xavier, otherwise devout and pretty much perfect, calls the Archangel Michael a “douche” (one waits in vain for Michael to slay him right then and there, but he probably knows humans can be total idiots, based on the behavior of these kids if no one else….).

Bethany’s BFF Molly has a crush on the Archangel Gabriel, and when he tries to tell her he doesn’t “love” humans the way she wants him to, she says “I don’t understand, am I not hot enough for you or something?” (probably my favorite example in the whole book of Characters Being Stupid).

The motorcycle Jake drives while on earth has a gas pedal (what? The author didn’t read Motorcycles for Dummies?).

Hades has nightclubs and posh hotels (what’s so bad about that?!!).

You can tell they want to call him Godfather (but that would be combining two words that are probably anathema to them)

Lucifer is called “Big Daddy” by his underlings.

All hell breaks loose.ĭiscussion: There is a lot of silliness and irritation in this book about angels of God versus Satan’s minions, e.g.: Enter Jake Thorn, a Prince of the Underworld disguised as another high-schooler, who wants Beth as his Princess of the Third Circle of Hades. Likewise, the boy Xavier whom Bethany has come to love (in spite of celestial advice against mixing too much with humans) is as beautiful on the outside as he is on the inside.

These angels have taken human form: Bethany is a 17-year-old high schooler, Gabriel is a 20-something music teacher at the school, and Ivy is their stay-at-home charity-organizing sibling. Bethany Church, her brother Gabriel and sister Ivy are angels from heaven who have come to the little town of Venus Cove, Georgia to combat the forces of evil that are threatening to take over in this remote setting.

Halo and hades book series