A Book Obsession..: Christina Henry

Showing posts with label Christina Henry. Show all posts

Early Review: Lost Boy by Christina Henry

, by KT

Lost Boy by Christina Henry

From the national bestselling author of Alice comes a familiar story with a dark hook—a tale about Peter Pan and the friend who became his nemesis, a nemesis who may not be the blackhearted villain Peter says he is…

There is one version of my story that everyone knows. And then there is the truth. This is how it happened. How I went from being Peter Pan’s first—and favorite—lost boy to his greatest enemy.

Peter brought me to his island because there were no rules and no grownups to make us mind. He brought boys from the Other Place to join in the fun, but Peter's idea of fun is sharper than a pirate’s sword. Because it’s never been all fun and games on the island. Our neighbors are pirates and monsters. Our toys are knife and stick and rock—the kinds of playthings that bite.

Peter promised we would all be young and happy forever.

LOST BOY by Christina Henry was a though provoking read that was incredibly dark and twisted. that kept me horrifyingly hooked from page on. Did I mention dark and twisted? If it's not obvious, despite being a riveting story that kept me engaged from page one, I'm incredibly conflicted about LOST BOY. It was almost too dark. The violence just seemed so much more real and harsh since it involved children. The constant death and injury were brutal enough, but the way they are just ignored by certain characters as status quo, just left a sick feeling in my stomach. Which of course I'm sure was the point, and yet it just felt a little too much for this mother's heart to bear witness to.

Onto the characters. Oh my goodness did the author do a fantastic job with them. Jamie of course was the star of the show in my eyes, with Peter being delegated to a spoiled rotten brat. But even that was just the surface, with much more to Peter than met the initial eye. I won't spoil things, but suffice it to say with each new chapter it was almost as if layers of a veil were lifted from Jamie's eyes, and more of Peter's true colors were revealed. The rest of the cast, be they cannon fodder or well developed side characters, all lent well to this horrifying tale.

All in all, the story is amazingly well written and felt like a real prequel retelling in the truest sense. There's always two sides to a story and this one? THIS is the one I believe. So bravo to Ms. Henry for masterfully changing my perceptions of this well known lore!

(Received a copy from the publisher)

Rating:

Order Links:

Other Reviews:
Gizmo's Reviews
a GREAT read
Carol's Random Life in Books

Black Spring Blog Tour

, by KT

*Where did you get the inspiration for the Black Wings series?

I’d wanted to write a series about a grim reaper, and I had some very vague ideas about that story. At first I thought the protagonist would be male, and that the series would be much darker. Then I heard Maddy and Beezle talking in my head, and they dictated the both the plot and the tone of the entire series.

*How many books do you have planned in the series? Is this the last book? Any hints you can give us for what's in store next?

BLACK SPRING is the last book in the series for now. There is always the possibility that I may return to the series in the future if I feel that there are other stories to tell in Maddy’s universe. I’d like to try my hand at writing something different.

*If your books were to be made into a movie, who would be your top picks for the cast?

I always thought of Michael Fassbender as Gabriel. This is not necessarily because he looks like Gabriel but because Gabriel’s voice in my head always sounded like Michael Fassbender. Other than that I think it’s better to cast unknown actors. That way you see the actor as the character and don’t impose your previously conceived notion of a famous actor on the story.

*Could you tell us a little about the ups and downs you have experienced in publishing?

I’ve actually had a lot more ups than downs. I got very lucky because I was able to sell my first book fairly quickly – it took less than a year. Since then I’ve been able to continue selling new books to my publisher so I’m very grateful that people keep buying and reading them and keeping me in the business J

*What are some of your favorite books in the paranormal or dystopian genres?

I’m a huge fan of Jim Butcher, China Mieville, Joe Hill, Neil Gaiman and Robin McKinley. I also read a lot of mysteries and nonfiction.

*If you could tell readers one thing about yourself or your books, what would that be?

I try out everything Beezle likes to eat in the books. You know, in the name of research.

*What is the craziest or at least most interesting thing you have ever done?

I’m sure the least interesting thing I’ve ever done was work for an insurance company. However, there was an upside – it inspired the never-ending stream of paperwork that Maddy has to deal with at the Agency.

*Just for fun. If you were stranded somewhere but had electricity, what three things other than basic survival supplies, would you have to have?

My slow cooker, a large box of books, and a case of wine.

*Finish this statement: "You'll like the Black Wings series if...

…you like humor mixed with different mythologies and urban fantasy action.

Thanks Christina!

Author Info:

CHRISTINA HENRY is the author of the BLACK WINGS series (Ace/Roc) featuring Madeline Black, an Agent of Death, and her popcorn-loving gargoyle sidekick Beezle: BLACK WINGS, BLACK NIGHT, BLACK HOWL, BLACK LAMENT, BLACK CITY, BLACK HEART and BLACK SPRING. She is also the author of the forthcoming dark fantasy ALICE (summer 2015).

Christina was born in New York and now lives on the North Side of Chicago with her husband and son. She sees no conflict in rooting for both the Yankees and the Cubs. She also enjoys running long distances, eating large quantities of cinnamon rolls, reading anything she can get her hands on and watching movies with zombies, samurai and/or subtitles.

Twitter|Facebook|Blog|Website

Book Info:

A former Agent of death, Madeline Black now has everything to live for, most importantly, her unborn child. But Chicago has become ground zero in a struggle between ancient creatures, and only Maddy can stop the carnage…

The mayor of Chicago has announced a plan to round up the city’s supernatural beings and put them in camps. With her due date looming, Maddy’s best move would be to lay low for a while. But not everyone is willing to respect her privacy. Hounded by tentacled monsters, a rogue shapeshifter, and a tenacious blogger, Maddy turns to her most powerful ally, her uncle Daharan, only to find him missing.

Just when it seems like things can’t get any worse, Maddy gets an invitation in the mail—to Lucifer’s wedding. Turns out everyone has been invited, friends and enemies alike. And with that kind of guest list, it’s highly unlikely there will be a happily ever after.

Amazon The Book Depository

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Early Review: Black Spring by Christina Henry

, by KT

Black Spring by Christina Henry

Black Wings #7

A former Agent of death, Madeline Black now has everything to live for, most importantly, her unborn child. But Chicago has become ground zero in a struggle between ancient creatures, and only Maddy can stop the carnage…

The mayor of Chicago has announced a plan to round up the city’s supernatural beings and put them in camps. With her due date looming, Maddy’s best move would be to lay low for a while. But not everyone is willing to respect her privacy. Hounded by tentacled monsters, a rogue shapeshifter, and a tenacious blogger, Maddy turns to her most powerful ally, her uncle Daharan, only to find him missing.

Just when it seems like things can’t get any worse, Maddy gets an invitation in the mail—to Lucifer’s wedding. Turns out everyone has been invited, friends and enemies alike. And with that kind of guest list, it’s highly unlikely there will be a happily ever after.

Something you don't see too often is a pregnant protagonist in Urban Fantasy novels. Things are just too brutal and action-y so pregnancy and young children always seem to be left out of things in the direct storylines, or at least don't happen until the last epilogue of the series as part of the happy ever after. So, I really enjoyed seeing Maddy being pregnant and dealing with the mess of her paranormal life throughout. It just seemed more realistic as supernatural stuff and mayhem don't just go away after the HEA. It's just that we don't see that stuff, with the writers perhaps choosing to save that HEA and baby stuff untainted. So with Maddy, it just rang more real to me, and I loved it. She's one heck of a power, and trust me, being pregnant doesn't change that one bit. In fact, it may have made her even fiercer, and I was rooting her every step of the way. No delicate flowers here, but one kick butt mama.

I'm still rather surprised at how much Nathaniel has grown on me. If you had asked me at the start of the series if I could see Maddy with him and be happy about it, I would have laughed. That being said, he's come a really long way, and I think the start of the turning point was when he stood by Maddy when everyone else turned their back on her saying she was going too dark. However, at that point he was so desperate for her to accept him that frankly he was a bit of a push over, just going with whatever she said. Sure, he had a bunch to make up for, so it made sense. However, what I loved about his character in BLACK SPRING was that he solidified his back bone, and stood up for what he believed when it came for taking care of Maddy. He refused to always let herself only put her own self in harms way, and fought to be an even partner in their relationship, earning my stamp of approval for them long term. He's exactly what she needs, and I'm happy to see that for this last book.

Wow has this series has been one heck of a ride, and I'm sorry to see it ending. That being said, while most series enders just don't seem to live up to my expectations, but I'm happy to say that wasn't the case here. Sure, I think some of the resolution could have been expanded a bit, and I would have loved an epilogue, but all in all, I feel BLACK SPRING left things in a place that has me largely content. And in the end that's all I ask for in a series, keep me entertained along the way, and leave me satisfied in the end. The Black Wings series delivered, and earns a stamp of recommendation from me for any Urban Fantasy fan.

(Received a copy from the publisher)

Rating:

Order Links:

Other Reviews:
a GREAT read
Gizmo's Reviews
Literal Addiction

Previous Books:
1. Black Wings
2. Black Night
3. Black Howl
4. Black Lament
5. Black City
6. Black Heart

Review: Black Heart by Christina Henry

, by KT

Black Heart by Christina Henry

Black Wings #6

As a former Agent of Death, Madeline Black is no stranger to witnessing violent ends. But being the one to cause them is an entirely different story…

Despite her having saved Chicago from a vampire invasion, the Agency wants to get Maddy off their payroll—permanently. With the deadly Retrievers hot on her trail, she has no choice but to trust Nathaniel to port her to safety. But even the exotic and dangerous world that she winds up in is not as peaceful as she would have hoped. Caught in a turf war between a group of fae and a disturbingly familiar foe, Maddy soon discovers that the twisted plots of her grandfather, Lucifer, and his brothers extend even into this unknown realm.

Now, with enemies gathering on all sides, Maddy’s fate is looking darker than ever. And to protect her unborn son from her adversaries, she may have to tap into a power she hoped never to access…

Even though Maddy is no longer an Agent of Death, her life hasn't gotten any less complicated. In fact, it's her old agency that is the current thorn in her side, and when they send the Retrievers after her, she's forced to escape via a portal Nathanial opens for her. Problem is that portal opens to a world and before long it's apparent she's jumped from the frying pan and into the fire. Everything from the vegetation to the fae inhabitants seem to after her in the decidedly hostile world. But little does she realize that everything is not as it seems, and the world she is on may not be so isolated from her problems back home after all.

BLACK HEART had a very different feel to it than the previous ones in the series due to the fact that Maddy was on her own for most of the book. Typically I'm not a fan of these kind of setting/character changes in a series, but I think this time around it really worked. We got to see Maddy on her own and making her own decisions without the others weighing in. She's been very reluctant and dragging her feet due to her situation. Don't get me wrong, she steps up to do what needs to be done, but she's still somewhat apt to "hide" behind the others as she didn't ask to be thrown into the middle of things. This time around for most of the book she had no one to lean on for support for herself. It was good to see her making decisions solely on her own, which will in turn help her greatly in the future I think as she should have more confidence after this. Perhaps I'm reading too much into things but I think despite the tricky situations, the events of this book were a good learning experience for her, and will really help her character growth.

Just like in the previous books, in BLACK HEART, Maddy is forced to tap further into her darker side to protect herself, her unborn child and the ones closer to her. In my review of the previous book I had largely expressed frustration at how most of her friends seemed to turn their back on her for her choices. Honestly she's been forced into the game and treated as a pawn and all of her actions have been as a direct result of a threat. Luckily however, that lack of support did seem to ease up a bit and hopefully take a turn for the better. Of course only time will tell as we will see if they bail again after the next terrible thing she has to do. Which based on the schemes going on from all the "bigger" players, won't be long. Speaking of those schemes, my goodness were they a tangled weave in this book. By the end I simply had to shake my head impressively at the machinations, they were that twisted and tangled.

Even though this is the sixth installment, the Black Wings series is showing no sign of slowing down. In fact, each new installment promises a solid block of entertainment, and BLACK HEART was no exception. Fans of the series will be more than pleased with this roller coaster of a ride!

(Received a copy from the publisher)

Rating:

Order Links:

Other Reviews:
Koeur's Book Reviews
That's What I'm Talking About
Literal Addiction

Previous Books:
1. Black Wings
2. Black Night
3. Black Howl
4. Black Lament
5. Black City

Early Review: Black City by Christina Henry

, by KT

Black City by Christina Henry

Black Wings #5

Former Agent of death Madeline Black may have been stripped of her wings—but she hasn’t lost her purpose…

When Maddy finally killed her father, Azazel, she thought his depraved experiment died with him. But now Chicago has been infested with vampires immune to the effects of the sun, and the bloodbath is worse than she could have ever imagined. While the Agency refuses to interfere with other supernatural courts, Maddy is determined to do everything within her power to save her city—wings or no wings.

But when the leader of the vampires requests that she turn herself in or risk more deaths, Maddy becomes a target for the very people she’s trying to save. Left with no other choice, she turns to Lucifer, the one creature who has the power to help her. But her grandfather’s aid has always come at a price…

Maddy has had some pretty hard knocks. From losing the love of her life, only to find out she's pregnant with his child, to losing her wings because she refused to compromise her beliefs, she's had a rough go. Yet, she hasn't let any of this stop her from doing what she feels is right, such as destroying her own father before he could release a day-walking vampire hoard upon humanity. She thought she had stop his vile plan, but when vampires start spilling into the streets of Chicago, she knows she was wrong. The death toll is staggering, and Maddy knows it's up to her to bring them down, even if means eliciting the help of her ever scheming grandfather, Lucifer. Nothing with him comes free, but it's a price she's willing to pay to save the people of her city.

I'm always amazed at Christina Henry's ability to step things up a major notch in the action department with each new installment. Just when I think the stakes couldn't get any higher, I am proved wrong yet again. Although to achieve this increase, Maddy's powers also seem to get a boost each time around as well, and I've read several reviews where the reader was rather frustrated with this issue. Normally this would bother me as well, since I'm not a big fan of limitless power, yet in this circumstance it somehow works. Perhaps it is because Lucifer has been telling her all along that she's only begun to tap into her power, so I have been expecting that increase. Another thing that helps balance it out for me is that she does has this amazing power, yet she goes through her "magical well" pretty quickly and must rest for a while to restore it. So while the power itself may be almost limitless, she only has so much of it to use at a time. Also, I think it helps that she is mostly making things up as she goes, and the outcome of her powers is usually a surprise to her as well.

I love just how attached to these characters I have become. In fact, I was completely caught off guard with the heartache in BLACK CITY. I just didn't think there was much of anything Christina Henry could throw at me that would hurt as much as the loss of Gabriel. Yet she did with the slow withdraw of Maddy's friends. I guess I should have seen this coming with Bezzle's hyper criticism of her actions, but I had just assumed they would stand by her decisions. There was only one character who held 100% steadfast, never wavering, and honestly, this character was the last one I would have expected to stick around. It just makes me really angry that the rest of them have become so righteous. Maddy has done the best that she can with the horrible situation and role she has been thrown into. I just don't think they have any right to judge her for doing what is necessary to protect herself and the ones that she cares about. Sure, she has gotten a little bit more proactive in that defense by seeking out some of the dangers before they become too great rather than waiting and giving her opponents the advantage. Honestly, I can't blame her for wanting to stop things before they cause her to lose someone. Considering most of her decisions were made to protect the very people who are accusing her of being "dark side" now, I find it a bit hypocritical. Even though it hurts her, I think in the long run it will be better for her as she needs people who support her no matter what. Here's to hoping that makes a turn around in the next installment.

Just like the rest of the series, BLACK CITY is a thrilling ride from start to finish and I highly recommend it. I personally cannot wait to get my hands on the next installment after that whopper of a cliffhanger ending. I'm not sure how Maddy will get out the mess she's in, but I do know it will be spectacular. Fans of the series will not be disappointed in this latest installment as BLACK CITY only built onto the already fabulous series. This is one Urban Fantasy you won't want to miss!

(Received a copy from the publisher)

Rating:

Pre-order:

Other Reviews:

Literal Addiction

Previous Books:

Early Review: Black Lament by Christina Henry

, by KT

Black Lament by Christina Henry

Black Wings #4

As an Agent of Death, Madeline Black deals with loss every day. But when tragedy touches her own life, Maddy will have to find the strength within to carry on…

Devastated and grieving, Maddy unexpectedly finds hope with the discovery that she is pregnant. But Maddy’s joy is short lived when Lucifer informs her that he wants the baby, hoping to draw on the combined power of two of his bloodlines. Maddy is determined that her grandfather will never have her child, but she’s not sure what she can do to stop him.

Being pregnant is stressful enough, but Maddy suddenly finds herself at odds with the Agency—forbidden from meddling in the affairs of the supernatural courts. When a few of her soul collections go awry, Maddy begins to suspect that the Agency wants to terminate her employment. They should know by now that she isn’t the sort to give up without a fight…

As an Angel of Death, has seen countless souls ferried to the other side, and has become a little numb to the pain and loss associated with it. But all that changed when that loss stuck home and she is left a grieving mess. But there is a small matter of hope with the new life growing inside of her, a happiness that is lessened once Maddy realizes her unborn child would be a mighty temptation for Lucifer. A child of two of his bloodlines would have untold power, and Maddy is determined to keep that from his hands no matter what that takes. Meanwhile, the rest of the courts are still stirring trouble and Maddy has had about enough. This time she'll be taking the fight to them.

This was an incredibly difficult and emotional read for me. Heart ache absolutely kills me in a book, especially when it comes from something as permanent and devastating as death. My heart was in every bit as tatters as Maddy's was, and each time she broke down, my heart bled for her. I cannot count the number of times there were tears in my eyes when everything became too much for Maddy. That being said, the ability to affect my emotions that strongly shows just how good these books are and how real the characters are. If the emotion didn't impact me, well then it wouldn't be worth reading.

After reading Black Lament, my respect for Maddy has seriously ratcheted up another notch. Despite the immense emotional pain she was in, she still found a way to stand strong, especially once threatened. It didn't take long at all for her to go all "Momma Bear" and start eliminating current and future threats to herself and her unborn child. At several points throughout the book, her gargoyle companion, Beezle, seems to worry that she is turning over to the dark side, but I don't have the same worry. Sure she is making decisions she never would have in the past, but her actions are justified by the means. She hasn't sought out the trouble that finds her, she only refused to back down when others wanted to either control or destroy her. Granted, she has become a little more proactive in her defense as she began to take some steps to prevent future attacks rather than waiting to be ambushed, but in all honesty I can't blame her one little bit for that. She has no desire for world conquering and if everyone would just leave her alone, she wouldn't be a threat to any of them.

I have to admit that a part of me didn't want to continue on with this series after the heart shattering ending of the previous book as I just didn't want to face the reality of the horrible changes Maddy would have to face. But in the end it was more than worth it to push through it and keep reading, as Maddy and the gang are still some of my top favorite sets of characters. I highly recommend Black Lament as it is full of both emotion and action that will keep you sucked in from the very start. This series just keeps getting better!

(Received a copy from the publisher)

Rating:

Pre-order:

Other Reviews:

Literal Addiction

Previous Books:

Black Howl (Early Review)

, by KT

Black Howl by Christina Henry

Madeline Black #3

Something is wrong with the souls of Chicago's dead. Ghosts are walking the streets, and Agent of Death Madeline Black's exasperating boss wants her to figure out why. And while work is bad enough, Maddy has a plethora of personal problems too. Now that Gabriel has been assigned as her thrall, their relationship has hit an impasse. At least her sleazy ex-fiance Nathaniel is out of the picture--or so she thinks...

The souls of the dead in Chicago are confused and damaged beyond repair, and it's up to Maddy as an Agent of Death to get to the bottom of things before the situation gets any worse. Meanwhile, her relationship with Gabriel is at a stalemate now that he is her thrall. To make matters worse, her ex-fiance Nathaniel is back with his own agenda. Can't a girl ever catch a break?

Black Howl seemed to be the book of discovery, hard truths, and unwanted revelations. While all of this kept me on the edge of my seat as I was shocked over and over again, it does make it quite hard to review without revealing some pretty big spoilers. Leaving all specifics aside, I will say that I was thoroughly impressed with Christina Henry's ability to completely catch me off guard, making for a very unpredictable read. I never know where things will lead next!

What a mess! Maddy and Gabriel's relationship has never been more complicated than it was in Black Howl. Yes, they had the messy business of her undesired fiance, and J.B.'s interest causing some jealousy issues, as well as the pesky problem of their love being extremely forbidden, due to his designation as a thrall placing him "below" her. However, now that he directly belongs to her, things are even worse. He has no choice but to follow her orders, and let me just tell you that the sparks are flying as a result. There has been so much build up between the two of them that a blow up past the breaking point was completely inevitable. Whether the ending result was positive or negative, well you will just have to read the book to find out.

I had to wait a few days after reading Black Howl to review it because I was too emotionally tied up in the ending events to be able to separate myself enough. I just wouldn't have been able to give the book a fair review. Black Howl was such a roller coaster of emotions with the highest highs, and the most devastating lows that left me feeling more than a little bereft. I'm holding out hope that Christina Henry has some brilliant master plan in store for the future books that will turn things around or somehow lessen the massive blow dealt in this book. Even so, Black Howl was an incredible read from start to finish that only further cemented my love for this series, and I highly recommend it.

(Received a copy from the publisher)

Rating:

Pre-order a copy from Amazon:
Black Howl (Black Wings)

Other Reviews:

a GREAT read

Previous Books:

Black Night

, by KT

Black Night by Christina Henry

Madeline Black #2

Madeline Black is an Agent of death, meaning she escorts the souls of people who have died to the afterlife. Of course, not everyone is happy to see her...

If obstinate dead people were all that Maddy had to worry about, life would be much easier. But the best-laid plans of Agents and fallen angels often go awry. Deaths are occurring contrary to the natural order, Maddy's being stalked by foes inside and outside of her family, and her two loves-her bodyguard, Gabriel, and her doughnut-loving gargoyle, Beezle-have disappeared. But because Maddy is Lucifer's granddaughter, things are expected of her, things like delicate diplomatic missions to other realms.

To think Maddy used to think her life was complicated and unfair when she only had her Agent of Death duties to deal with. Now that she's learned about her heritage and the constant power struggle between the fallen angels, shes a little tired of always being a target, especially from her own family members. Yet she still manages to scrape by. At least that is until the two people she cares the most about go missing, Gabriel and her gargoyle, Beezle. Problem is, she has duties to perform for her grandfather, Lucifer, and she can't shirk them, no matter how much her friends may need her. She'll need to quickly brush up on her diplomatic skills, because she's on her own for this one.

When I had read the description for the previous books I had thought this series was going to be centered around the duties of a grim reaper. However, that aspect of Maddy's life has become a rather insignificant factor when compared to everything else that is going on, especially in Black Night. The intricacies of the world, especially in the political area between all the different powers, are almost staggering as we watch Maddy blunder through, breaking some unknown law at every step. It is a wonder she hasn't been smoted down by now. Then again, it hasn't been for a lack of trying, but that does lead into my biggest irritation with the book. Each new foe she faces is supposed to be some completely unbeatable force, and yet each time she miraculously triumphs. Of course she gets injured, even severely at times, but then one of her companions heals her before she even has a chance to suffer. It just all seemed to come a little too easy, so I never really felt the threat like I should have, which lessened the excitement factor.

While the action may have felt a little blase due to the ease at which Maddy dispatched her enemies, the characterization was anything but. Maddy really has come into her own in Black Night, and while she still has a wicked temper, she has made great strides in controlling it. She's learning when to mind her tongue and when to stand up for what she believes in. No one will be pushing her over anytime soon. As far as the other characters, well I love them almost as much as Maddy. The sexual tension between Gabriel and Maddy was almost palpable, and I can't help hope a miracle happens to somehow allow their forbidden romance. However even as I adore Gabriel, J.B. came to a new light in my eyes in Black Night. There definitely is a lot more to him than I had previously thought, and I genuinely think he does care for her. However there is one character that I love the most all, the ever-hungry, and somewhat surly Beezle, because, come on, who wouldn't love to have a gargoyle as a side kick?

It is books like this one that make choosing a rating very difficult. On one hand I was completely exasperated at the ease that the threats were destroyed, but on the other there is the fact that I am completely head over heels for the great cast of characters. Their interactions kept me thoroughly sucked in throughout the entire read, and made my frustrations much easier to ignore. So I think for the future installments I am just going to go with the assumption that Maddy is going to be outrageously powerful and always come out on top no matter the odds. Even so, Black Night was a entertaining read, and if you enjoyed the previous installment, then you won't want to miss it.

Rating:

Order a copy from Amazon:
Black Night

Other Reviews:

Previous Books:

Black Wings

Black Wings

, by KT

Black Wings by Christina Henry

Madeline Black #1

As an Agent of Death, Madeline Black is responsible for escorting the souls of the dearly departed to the afterlife. It's a 24/7 job with a lousy benefits package.

Maddy's position may come with magical powers and an impressive wingspan, but it doesn't pay the bills. And then there are her infuriating boss, tenant woes, and a cranky, popcorn-loving gargoyle to contend with.

Things start looking up, though, when tall, dark, and handsome Gabriel Angeloscuro agrees to rent the empty apartment in Maddy's building. It's probably just a coincidence that as soon as he moves in demons appear on the front lawn. But when an unholy monster is unleashed upon the streets of Chicago, Maddy discovers powers she never knew she possessed. Powers linked to a family legacy of tarnished halos.

Powers that place her directly between the light of Heaven and the fires of Hell...

Through an ability passed down by her mother, Maddy's duty is to help souls pass on the next world. She's got her own set of magical powers, and even a wicked pair of wings to boot. It is a demanding job that keeps her busy around the clock, unfortunately it doesn't come with a paycheck, and a girls gotta eat. So despite her reservations, she takes on a new tenant for the open apartment in her building. However, things start to get funny when Demons start showing up and Maddy starts to develop new powers. She'll learn more about herself and past than she ever wanted to know as she finds herself in the middle of an eons long power struggle that promises to change her life forever.

I really enjoyed Maddy's character as she is both strong and incredibly vulnerable at the same time. She is very flawed, and quite immature, but not to the point of annoyance as I understood the reasons behind it. She just lacks people skills and patience, which is understandable as she never had anyone to teach her these things, and no reason to ever learn them herself. She's been on her own with no other companions than a surly gargoyle, and her "job" keeps her isolated. She has a boss, but there aren't any real repercussions or threat of dismissal to keep her in "line." So whenever things don't go as she likes, well temper tantrums of epic proportions commence. Even so, as the book went further along, these episodes were far less frequent, showing some pretty major character growth. I look forward to seeing her become more adjusted to the changes in her world, as I think she shows an incredible amount of potential.

By far the best thing about Black Wings was the mythology. In a genre that almost over saturated with similar elements, it is always refreshing to read something that hasn't already been done to death. It really intrigued me how the grim reapers, things that are typically quite terrifying, were actually just regular people who happened to have a power passed down through their bloodline. Add in the Fallen Angels, Demons, and other nefarious creatures and Black Howl's world made for a smashing read. Definitely a fresh read!

Whenever a book has been on my TBR pile for a fair amount of time I am always hesitant to read it. It makes little sense, but I really have to almost force myself to pick up those neglected books as I am irrationally convinced that the book will be no good because I keep skipping over it. Of course, most of my fear is unwarranted because something made me add the book in the first place. However, it still seems to catch me off guard when the book turns out to be as enjoyable as Black Wings was. I just loved all the different elements of the book, and cannot wait to dive more into this world!

Rating: