Thursday, November 03, 2011

Review: Halo

Book: Halo
Author: Alexandra Adornetto
Release Date: August 31, 2010
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Pages: 496
Source: KPL
Stars: 3/5
Three angels – Gabriel, the warrior; Ivy, the healer; and Bethany, the youngest and most human – are sent by Heaven to bring good to a world falling under the influence of darkness. They must work hard to conceal their luminous glow, superhuman powers, and, most dangerous of all, their wings, all the while avoiding all human attachments.

Then Bethany meets Xavier Woods, and neither of them is able to resist the attraction between them. Gabriel and Ivy do everything in their power to intervene, but the bond between Xavier and Bethany seems too strong.


The angel’s mission is urgent, and dark forces are threatening. Will love ruin Bethany or save her?


(summary taken from Goodreads)
MY THOUGHTS:

I honestly don't know how to start this review! I loved Halo but I didn't; I enjoyed it but sometimes I found myself skimming paragraphs. But it was a really sweet book overall, so I think it deserves a solid three stars from me!

Alexandra Adornetto wrote the story beautifully, from the angel lore to the super sweet romance (which had me smiling to myself because it was that cute). And that she was only 17 when she started Halo (14 when she wrote her first novel) just blew me away!

Bethany is the kind of character you would love to be the big sibling of. She was so sweet and adorable, albeit a little naive, but that was definitely justifiable. I loved her "siblings" Gabriel and Ivy too, and let me just say that Xavier is a boy to swoon for! He was honestly one of my favourite things about this book!

But the plot was so slow and dragging sometimes that I couldn't get as captivated in it as I wanted to. The villain was only really introduced two-thirds into the book. Still, I finished Halo with a smile on my face and I'm definitely going to read book two to see what's going to happen next!

BUY or BORROW?: Since I'm more of a fast-paced kind of reader, this was more of a book to borrow for me. But if you love angels and super sweet romances, you might like to have Halo and its gorgeous cover on your shelf! :)

-Mimi

20 comments:

  1. I'm not surprised that there are such talented authors who start writing at such a young age. You're only 15 Mimi and your blog posts are some of the best I've read! Halo is def on my TBR, if only because the cover is great. I don't mind a bit of slowness in a book as long as the characters are good :)

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  2. This book really does look sweet, and I've had my eye on it for awhile. I may look for it at the library. Great review!

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  3. I've been wanting to read this one, but I've read very mixed reviews and wasn't sure what to think of it. I think I should just try and it see for myself. Great honest review!

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  4. I know what you mean. I enjoyed most but not all. Still need to get my hands on book 2

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  5. Okay, def going to borrow it. Even though that cover is fab and it would look great on my bookshelf. ;)

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  6. I've heard a lot of similar reviews for this book. Deff going to borrow it someday. Big KUDDOS to the author though for writing this at 17! What an accomplishment.

    Kristan @ Lost Amongst the Shelves

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  7. I can see why this would be slow (almost 500 pages!) and I don't think it's something I'd like either-love the fast-paced as well. Thanks for the review!

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  8. I've heard some mixed things about this book, and I'm a fast-paced person like you, so the slowness at times would probably be problematic for me I think. Still hugely impressive that she wrote this at such a young age though!

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  9. I need to read this ASAP... I had gotten a review copy of Hades, so I bought Halo- but I haven't read it yet! I hate when I loved a book- but didn't. Lol! Only another 'bookie' would know exactly what you mean!! xoxo

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  10. Hmm, I'm still not sure if this would be a book for me or not! I'm super curious, but I'm just not sure if I'd enjoy it. I'll have to think on it some more, that's for sure. ;)

    Great review though! I'm glad you enjoyed it, even if it had you skim a few paragraphs.

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  11. I've heard really bad reviews on this on and really good ones so I'm a bit scared to read it. I also enjoy books that are more fast paced so not sure how I'd do with this. Excellent review! :)

    Giselle
    Xpresso Reads

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  12. I've been very back and forth about reading this book. It's still so hard to decide!

    AWR

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  13. OMG. This book... not so much. FINALLY something we disagree on!!! :) I couldn't stand this book, and the characters were all just plain annoying. This is probably one of the worst angel books I've ever read -_-

    Anna @ Literary Exploration

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  14. I was given this book as gift in March, and still haven't read it. I ADORE the cover, but I wasn't really sure what do with it before your review--thank you!

    Ugh, did you know the author is only 19? That means she was EIGHTEEN when this book was published, which means she SEVENTEEN when she wrote it. That is AMAZING. And I feel old :D

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  15. Mimi, I definitely agree with you about Halo. I borrowed it through the library and kept it for two weeks, because that's actually how long it took me to read it. I don't normally take that long, but with this one I kept putting it down and coming back to it for some reason. Though, I still really enjoyed this one, and I ended up getting an ARC of Hades and I can't wait to read that one. :)

    Suz @ A Soul Unsung
    My WoW!
    My Surprise Halloween Giveaway
    susanhaugland@att.net

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  16. *sighs* I bought this book simple because of its beautiful cover, but still haven't read it. I haven't had the best of luck finding an Angel story I truly liked. But if you think the guy was swoon worthy, then I must give it a try! ;)

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  17. I have read mixed reviews about this book. Yours, let me see clearer that it is an enjoyable book but, of course, it won blow my mind XD.
    Thanks for borrowing susgestion =)

    great review!

    Take care my dear ^^ Happy reading! muah!
    Dazzling Reads

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  18. I confess I don't know if I'll read this book... I really like the cover but the synopsis doesn't blow me away. I think I will wait for your opinion about the sequel.

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  19. THank you for stopping by my dear ^.^

    I actually grew tired of the monochromatic tones and darness I had in my previous design. I like red but actually Blue and Purple are my favorite color XD. But I do want to keep some red n it. I dont want a monochromatic blog anymore. Did you like the red-purple combination? I tried a purple banner but it all look too boring @_@

    LOL! XDD happy reading! muah!
    Dazzling Reads

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  20. I have one sitting on my shelf, but have been nervous to read it :/ I'm always hearing mixed reviews. But your mixed feeling make me want to read it. Just knowing that some part you loved make it less scary and it is a very pretty cover!

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Thanks so much for leaving your thoughts! I love hearing what you have to say, and I always try to comment on one of your blog posts in return! :)

It's really nice to meet you!