Customer Reviews

Fallen

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I don't like giving bad reviews, but this book is just not what it appeared. I expected something hot or romantic, suspenseful or magical, and instead I got a science fiction piece that read more like a historical then a futuristic.

The Plot:

Montgomery is an angel sent on an earthly mission, under the guise of working for the police. Lilia is a woman trying to solve the mystery of her husband's murder. Both have information that the other wants, and share a mutual and growing attraction.

The Redeeming Parts:

It's obvious the author put a lot of time and imagination into this book. She does a fair job of creating an interesting world and developing interesting plot lines.

The Problem:

As said above this book is not what it seems. Because of the futuristic setting, you expect some technical information and world-building. But instead we are inundated with repetitive passages describing the state of this future world--the laws, government, society, technology, science, all sort of half explained over and over again. It's confused, vague, ridiculous, and boring.

And weirdly enough it actually seems more historical then futuristic at times. Women are severely oppressed in the name of their own protection. Prejudice is a legally protected concept--the 'shades' a group of people with birth defects, are not even allowed the courtesy of names. This is not what I wanted to read about.

If you like futuristic science-fiction, this is the book for you. But do not pick it up expecting a nice hot paranormal romance--it falls short.

Fallen is not at all what I expected from reading the back cover blurb, I saw that the heroine was a Shade hunter and the leading man a fallen angel, so I was expecting a paranomal romance. Instead Fallen is a romantic futuristic suspense with some paranormal elements. The Fallen in the title does refer to the fallen angels working behind the scenes to save the world from evil. At the center of the conspiracy leading to the world's downfall, are the S.H.A.D.E.S, a group of humans who have mutated as a result of postnuclear events and who are essentially slave laborers in their rigidly controlled society.

Fallen is the first book in a series, with more Fallen angels to come. The story itself was an eclectic mix. There are some familiar futuristic elements in the world that Delacroix has created, with the repressive `big brother' government and opressive codes governing women's behavior. Though throwing in the angels and the appearance by an evil supernatural element gives this a odd twist. But I liked the angel masquerading as police dectective Adam, shorn of his wings struggling to fulfill his mission without the information or experience necessary to succeed. At the same time Adam must try to avoid attracting attention of the government, because to be labeled as different would mean a loss of freedom or death. I also liked the shade hunting scientist Lilia, who courts danger as she gets closer to the truth behind the `accidental' death of her husband - the details surrounding his fate just don't ring true. Like Adam, Lilia has some very interesting secrets of her own.

I enjoyed Fallen even though it took me a little bit into the story to get past my initial expectations. Overall I did like the characters and the offbeatness of the story, and I will be looking forward to the next book since the plot also included the amusing introduction to the next fallen angel poised to take the spotlight. If you liked Delacroix's writing style here, she also has a more conventional paranormal romance series starring dragonshifters which she pens as Deborah Cooke.

Lilia Desjardins is convinced that her husband was murdered and has set out to find the truth. Her search takes her into dangerous situations and her investigation has not gone unnoticed by the Republic or the handsome police officer Adam Montgomery. Adam is an angel who has volunteered to go to earth for a mission and will do what it takes to complete it. He is attracted to Lilia and they both soon realize that in order to find their answers they will need to work together.

It took me a while to get into this book, not because I didn't like it but because it wasn't what I expected. This book felt more Sci-Fi than Paranormal Romance. It is set in the future after there have been nuclear attacks. People born with birth defects are labeled as Shades. Shades are looked down upon and are not even considered humans. Lilia is a Shade hunter. Instead of turning them in and having them become slaves or medical experiments, she takes them to the circus where they are paid, allowed to have names and a sense of normalcy. I really liked Lilia's compassion towards the Shades and the strong opinions she has for those who mistreat them. Adam is set on fulfilling his mission so he can get his wings back and go home. Of course the arrival of Lilia in his life starts to make him change his mind. I didn't care too much for Adam's character. I did not dislike him but he just felt kind of bland. He did his duty whether it was for the police department or his mission and that's about it. I had a hard time feeling the love between Lilia and Adam. I knew they lusted for each other and their scenes together were hot but it didn't come off as love to me. Maybe if they appear in future books, I might change how I feel about it.

In the future the rights for women have taken a giant step back. The government has said it is woman's clothing that is to blame for sexual attacks so they are required to be completely covered from head to toe when in public. No veils are required but are highly recommended. I liked reading how Lilia walked the fine line of this ridiculous law. Also, every move you made is watched by the government. There is no such thing as privacy in future depicted in Fallen.

There is a supernatural element to Fallen of course with the angels. They are coming to earth to try and help save us from the corrupt who wish to cause more suffering for profit and greed. There were some interesting twists and what the Shades are put through and how they are treated really tugs at your heart. This was an interesting start to a series I look forward to continuing.

Really more of a 3 1/2 stars book. Interesting setting, great characters. But at times it was hard to follow. It was such a complex new world that it took some adjusting. Good writing though and interesting characters and plot so going to see what happens in book 2.

This is about the future - post nuclear America, where science has gone even more corporate.

It was an exciting plot twister up until the end, and the ride was very worthwhile. The characters were enjoyable - I liked the spitfire heroine. Her spitfire reminded me a little of the captain from the TV series Firefly, but more feminine obviously. I liked the religious element of it- how some truths about the universe just are, rather than prescribing to the religious customs of the day. Though the subjugation of women is a big part of "security measures" in the future. I liked that touch of "A Handmaiden's Tale".

The closest recent reference to another romance novel is he Dante Valentine series by Lillith St. Crow. This novel is much more focused on the science instead of fantasy, but is a lot easier to read as a futuristic romance. There is some, but not a lot of new vocabulary or technology to explain. I like this as a stand alone, and will probably read the sequel when it comes out next spring.

Lilia Desjardins knows that her husband's death wasn't an accident. Unfortunately no-one else agrees with her, perhaps because she's viewed with suspicion by members of the Society for Nuclear Darwinists. In the year 2099 and following several nuclear detonations, people are assessed as 'norms' or as 'shades', shades having mutations and being restricted as an underclass which suffers under a form of slavery. Lilia's notoriety rests on her discovery of 'Angel-shades', mutant humans with angel-like wings. Her mission now is to get to the bottom of her husband's death but it is proving more difficult and dangerous than she could have imagined, particularly when she comes to the attention of policeman Adam Montgomery.

Adam isn't your average policeman. He knows a great deal more about the angel-shades than Lilia originally realises and he has a lot of his own secrets to keep. As he and Lilia find themselves working together to find the killer of several people who have links with Lilia, they have to decide whether to trust one another and what Adam will do at the end of his mission.

The post-nuclear world of this book was really well written with some interesting details. The central plot kept me guessing although I did find some of its conclusions rather unlikely. The central romance took a back seat to the action but was reasonably believable. Overall the strong point of this book was the setting and plot and the author has clearly set us up for a sequel.

Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book © Helen Hancox 2008

I usually do not read anything labled "romance", however, I was drawn to the book description. The book is not typical for that genre and anyone that likes steampunk and some of the urban fantasy books will most likely enjoy Fallen. I admit to gagging a bit at some of the "he stared into her eyes" type sections but that is me, not the writers fault. I do not have a romantic soul lol.

I think Fallen will appeal to a very broad audience. I loved it and can not wait until the sequel.

Kept putting this book off for the sake of reading my others. I was skeptical at first, but once I read the prologue, I was hooked. The characters, settings and all around plot was great. This is truly a book for one that uses the imagination while reading !!

I'd just like to start out by saying that I absolutely loved FALLEN, the first in the fallen angel trilogy by Claire Delacroix. Set in the year 2099 in the city of New Gotham 'the old city was devastated by nuclear bombs', the hero and heroine of the story work to complete their respective missions, despite interference from the Republic, a government that rules by fear and appears to be without compassion for humanity. In this edgy world, the Republic tracks people electronically, women are forced to wear corsets and long hair to comply with decency codes, and there's a new slave society of 'shades,' humans who have genetic defects caused by radiation. It's into this gritty existence that Adam Montgomery descends, an angel who voluntarily gives up his wings in order to help humans.

Lilia Desjardins is a shade-hunter for the circus, harvesting the condemned souls before the Republic can get them and consign them to horrible fates. On a quest to learn about her husband's death, she leaves her home in the frontier and travels to the dark urban center, looking for answers. Courageous and determined, she risks radiation exposure in the old city, seems to leave a trail of dead bodies in her path, and clashes with New Gotham Police detective, Adam Montgomery. Lilia is at the same time annoyed with, and intrigued by, Montgomery, who is a by-the-book cop one moment, and a sexy rebel the next. She can't decide if he's part of the watchful Republic, or a man she can trust with her darkest secrets.

Montgomery is also on a mission, to save humanity. When Lilia appears at the police department with 'palm' images of a dead shade from the old city, he takes notice. When he learns that she is somehow connected to his own personal investigation, he is determined to learn her secrets. As more bodies are discovered, including Montgomery's earthly contact and mentor, all the evidence points to Lilia as the murderer. Luckily, Montgomery, whose talent is reading humans, senses that Lilia is innocent.

Montgomery and Lilia must work together to figure out why she's being framed, who the real murderer is, and uncover a malevolent plot that threatens death and destruction, all while evading the watchful eye of the Republic. Their mutual attraction is present from the beginning, but as they grow closer, Montgomery and Lilia's sizzling chemistry and developing emotional connection put them in danger of caring more about each other than they should.

I highly recommend FALLEN to any reader. I typically don't read paranormal or urban fantasies, but since I like Delacroix's other work 'she also writes under Claire Cross and Deborah Cooke', I took the chance I'd like this too. And I did -- so much so that I read it in one sitting! I very much look forward to the second book in the fallen angels' trilogy.

In 2099, the eyes of the Republic are everywhere. But are they really wearing the pseudoskin - or is the Society of Nuclear Darwinists? Lilia Desjardins's husband's death was deemed an accident from exposure to too much radiation, but Lilia strongly suspects murder. Adam Montgomery is aiding her investigation, but he also has his own assignment - and a divine one at that.

I had no idea how awesome this would be. I was just expecting angels, but decided to pick up the book because it recently won an award. The world-building is simply amazing, with technological and medical advances, but devastating corruption and conspiracy. From the Society conference in New Gotham, to the netherzones and the circus, life is bleak but the author's imagination is stunning. The plot is engrossing, though I was more interested in the investigation than in the angels. The characters didn't really appeal to me, which prevents me from declaring this a five-star read, but FALLEN is pretty damn close. I can't wait to read more of this world, and am desperate to get my mitts on the following novels in the series: GUARDIAN and REBEL. Science fiction romance fans should love this.