I initially received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. However, I loved it so much I had to buy it (and it was only $0.99!!). At first the book seemed like it was going to move really slowly and that nothing of much interest was going to happen. Boy was I wrong!! I normally don't like romances, but I don't consider this book to be a typical romance. This book is a paranormal fantasy with romance added in. I really, really enjoyed Gaia and Gabriel's relationship. It was beautiful, tragic, forbidden, charming, real, and downright entertaining. It was really hard to believe that this was the author's first book and I was hard pressed to find any errors in the book. I highly, highly, highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone. I will be adding this author to my stalking list. There are certain parts of Shattering Halos I really enjoyed; the final battle, Cassiel and the strength of the love between Gabriel and Gaia. However, there were some elements which I either felt were not fully thought through, or just unnecessary. For example the sex scenes where Gaia is promised pleasure that could possibly kill her, fall short of even communicating this. I understand that the author may have wanted to keep her book relatively 'clean' but surely there is some way of writing about a couple's earth shaking sexual experience without being explicit?I think that despite her accident being the first time she sees Gabriel, the trauma she may have suffered as a result of this is only referred to once. Nearly losing your life and grieving for people who have died instead of you would surely be a long process, even if a guardian angel helped numb your pain, but I feel like Sunniva Dee passes over this too quickly.I love the way in which the author uses alternate first-person narrators, but she has taken the unusual decision that one of these is a character outside of the romantic relationship. Gaia and Cassiel's contrasting views offer the reader a more rounded version of events, especially as Cassiel is the anti-hero with a warped sense of humour! Sunniva Dee's descriptions, particularly those of settings, are vividly detailed, allowing us access into the angelic world she has imagined. I really enjoyed the final chapters in which the fighting between heavenly and fallen is given to the reader in short sharp bursts, from both the narrators viewpoints. This keeps us thinking quickly, with no time to tear away from the action.This is good escapist fiction and I really hope that the Halos sequel is Cassiel's story!
What do You think about Shattering Halos (2014)?
Reminds me of I Will Wait For You by Pirrung. I am always fascinated by these kinds of books.
—mvang303
