Finale by Becca Fitzpatrick

Series: Hush, Hush (bk. 4)

Genera(s): Paranormal Romance

Subjects: supernatural, angels, mystery, love

Setting: Cold Water, Maine

POV/Tense: 1^st person, past tense: Nora Grey

Age/Grade Level: Teen

Length: 454 pgs.

HC/PB: Hardcover originally, now Paperback

List Price: $9.99

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Summary/ product description:

“Will love conquer all?

Nora and Patch thought their troubles were behind them. Hank is gone and they should be able to put his ugly vendetta to rest. But in Hank's absence, Nora has become the unwitting head of the Nephilim and must finish what Hank began. Which ultimately means destroying the fallen angels - destroying Patch.

Nora will never let that happen, so she and Patch make a plan: lead everyone to believe they have broken up, and work the system from the inside. Nora will convince the Nephilim that they are making a mistake in fighting the fallen angels, and Patch will find out everything he can from the opposing side. They will end this war before it can even begin.

But the best-laid plans often go awry. Nora is put through the paces in her new role and finds herself drawn to an addictive power she never anticipated.

As the battle lines are drawn, Nora and Patch must confront the differences that have always been between them and either choose to ignore them or let them destroy the love they have always fought for.”

My Review:  Still feeling horrible for waiting so long to complete this series. What an awesome final book Finale was. It was definitely a grand Finale to remember. IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THE WHOLE SERIES, DO NOT READ THIS REVIEW!!!!!!

Nora became a Nephilim at the end of Silence, and took an oath to lead Hank’s Nephilim army. Nora as a Nephilim is so awesome! I did not really think she would become one. I was hoping that she’d get some abilities, but I just never thought the author would make it happen. It made me think of Bella from Twilight becoming a vampire, or Kate in the last book of Amy Plum’s Revenant series. It’s not like her appearance changed. She’s got enhanced strength and speed as well as mind-speak and mind-tricking. Her physical attributes are much weaker than natural born Nephilim, but her mind-tricking is actually much stronger.

I can’t get enough of Patch. I’m going to miss him. I want Becca to continue to write awesome male love interests like him. I read Black Ice and Dangerous Lies, both with awesome romances. Patch has truly influenced Becca’s other male leads. Nora’s definitely one of the best YA paranormal protagonist I’ve read too.

The chemistry of the romance in this book is the kind that causes people to blush while reading it. It’s like Juliet and Warner in Shatter Me (Tahereh Mafi), or Layla and Roth in White Hot Kiss (Jennifer Armentrout). There’s a bad-boy love interest that does some questionable thing, but wants to do the right thing and protect and encourage the female lead, which ends up saving him in the end.

If you loved this series like I did, then I definitely recommend series like Fallen (Lauren Kate) and Unearthly (Cynthia Hand). I still need to finish the Fallen series. I love angel books. Before they got popular, I loved them I bought a lot of them and then ended up putting them off. I’m just glad I finally completed this amazing series.

Cover Art Review: I’ve always loved the covers in this series. I love the model who’s supposed to be Patch. I love the contrast and the rocky shore.

Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick

Series: Hush, Hush (bk. 3)

Genera(s): Paranormal Romance

Subjects: supernatural, angels, mystery, love, memory, amnesia

Setting: Cold Water, Maine

POV/Tense: 1^st person, past tense: Nora Grey

Age/Grade Level: Teen

Length: 438 pgs.

HC/PB: Hardcover originally, now Paperback

List Price: $9.99

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Summary/ product description:

“WHEN SILENCE IS ALL THAT'S LEFT, CAN THE TRUTH FINALLY BE HEARD?

Nora Grey can't remember the past five months of her life. After the initial shock of waking up in a cemetery and being told that she has been missing for weeks - with no one knowing where she was or who she was with - she tried to get her life back on track. Go to school, hang out with her best friend, Vee, and dodge mom's creepy new boyfriend.

But there is this voice in the back of her head, an idea that she can almost reach out and touch. Visions of angel wings and unearthly creatures that have nothing to do with the life she knows.

And this unshakable feeling that a part of her is missing.

Then Nora crosses paths with a sexy stranger, whom she feels a mesmerizing connection to. He seems to hold all the answers...and her heart. Every minute she spends with him grows more and more intense until she realizes she could be falling in love. Again.”

My Review:  I feel like a bad fan. Not because I didn’t love the book (I did), but because I waited so long to read this. This is the first time I read the third book, Silence. It’s been sitting on my shelf since it came out in 2011. It’s an autographed copy. I met the author twice. She’s awesome. Now I’m one book away from finish this series once and for all. I can’t completely recall what happened previously in Crescendo. I remember Hush, Hush because I have the graphic novel. Since Nora herself can’t remember the past five months because of amnesia, I kind of felt like I was figuring things out along with her.

I think the amnesia was an interesting choice for this book. It almost felt like a first book in a series. I’m not saying you shouldn’t read the first 2 books first. I still LOVE Patch. Nora couldn’t remember him. She actually runs into him a few times. He goes by a different name and is very secretive. Patch is so sexy. He’s one of my favorite male love interest characters of all time. He makes my heart flutter a little.

There’s just so much awesomeness in this book. I love the angel and nephilim stuff. The mythology, the powers. I love the setting. Maine definitely sets a great mood for a story like this. I loved the ending too. Nora is so badass now. She’s not helpless and I don’t think she’s a Bella knock-off. Patch is definitely way better and cooler than Edward. Now I’m going to read Finale. If you never read Hush, Hush, you are missing out. Also I recommend anything by Becca Fitzpatrick. She really makes thrilling stories.

Cover Art Review: I’ve always loved the covers in this series. I love the model who’s supposed to be Patch.

A Radiant Sky by Jocelyn Davies

Series: A Beautiful Dark (bk. 3)

Genera(s): Paranormal Romance

Subjects: angels, good vs. evil, magic, abilities, supernatural, love, visions, destiny

Setting: River Springs, Colorado (present day, but River Springs is based off of Boulder, CO)

POV/Tense: 1^st person, past tense, Skye’s POV

Age/Grade Level: Teen

Length: 360 pgs.

HC/PB: Hardcover

List Price: $17.99

Publisher: HarperTeen

Summary/ product description: “Since the night of her seventeenth birthday, Skye has been torn between two opposites: Light and Dark, the Order and the Rebellion, Devin and Asher.

But her decision shocked both sides—because she chose neither.

With the help of her friends, Skye forges her own path, setting out to gather an uprising of Rogues. The treacherous and elusive half-angels may be the key to maintaining the balance of fate and free will. But completing the mission her parents left unfinished is more difficult—and dangerous—than she could have imagined. And doing so comes at a cost: Her greatest love may now be a lethal enemy. Because it’s not just the Order that sees her as a threat who must be eliminated. The Rebellion does, too.

And both sides will do whatever it takes to win.

Dark days lie ahead, and if Skye is to survive, she’ll need to rely on her extraordinary powers and the strength of her will. Because she has a future—and a love—that’s worth fighting for.

The sweeping, darkly romantic story that began with A Beautiful Dark and gathered intensity in A Fractured Light comes to a thrilling conclusion in A Radiant Sky.

My Review: I love this series so much and I’m so sad that it’s over. It’s pretty much one of the best angel book series I’ve read. I compare this series to Unearthly by Cynthia Hand since they’re both set in such beautiful places and have hot guys. I love Colorado and visited it in 2003. It’s such a beautiful place and I love reading books with setting I’ve been to (although River Springs is not real and based off of Boulder). 

This series is very character driven. Skye’s narration is spot-on and she definitely is unique and realistic. She’s sometime funny and has a lot of heart. I love the part where she comes down stairs and grab a cucumber to de-puff her eyes. I thought that was hilarious. And how she and her friend get along. Cassie and Dan has such a great relationship. They’re so cute together and they tease each other. Cassie joined the prom committee and it was kind of hilarious how Dan and Ian both made fun of prom. Ian is also a great character. I really wanted him to be loved because her seemed left out a lot, but he definitely played a big role in this book.

 I also thought Devin was doing well for just having joined the Rebellion. He wasn’t into creating chaos, but he wanted freedom. I really wish that there was more Asher in this book. Toward the end we get more of him, but I really wanted more romance. Raven, who was an enemy in the previous books, becomes a great asset and friend to Skye. She sarcastic and sometimes mean, but ultimately want to help Skye with her new group that stand between the Order and Rebellion. I also like Aunt Joe and all the new Rogues we get to meet. There’s a character called Earth. She’s likes the sister Skye never has. I really loved her. She’s a smart kid.

In a Radiant Sky, there isn’t as much romance as the previous books, but there’s a lot more action and magic. I really love how Skye has come into her power. She has wings now and can fly. She has control over the elements and has vision of the future. She’s very powerful and she has great friends that support her. I love all the magic in this series. The flying scenes were some of the best parts. Sky changing the weather was also cool. Colorado has such moody weather. Is thunder really just angels bowling, or being angry? Sky can make that rain go away. Seems like an ability I’d want. 

This book has been an epic and thrilling conclusion to one of my favorite series. It was very emotional for me. I cried a few times, both tears of joy and sadness. This book gave me all the feels. (Not as much as Boundless by Cynthia Hand though.) This book was a true The End Is Near kind of read and Sky stop the end of the. She and her groupies, a ragtag teem of teens, angels and Rogue, must save the universe from destruction. The balance between chaos and control, fate and freewill is in her hands. The ending is a battle of epic proportions and a conclusion to remember.

I recommend this series to fans of angel books like: Unearthly by Cynthia Hand, Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick, Fallen by Lauren Kate, Halo by Alexandra Adornetto, Angel Burn by L.A. Weatherly, Embrace by Jessica Shirvington, Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz, Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton, and other paranormal romance stories.

Cover Art Review: I love the cover, by the model’s pose seems a bit unnatural. I like the aurora colors and the silver dress.