Customer Reviews

Knight Angels: Book One: Book of Love

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This mindless piece of fluff wasn't even a guilty pleasure. Nasty habit of judging a book by it's cover, I suppose. I finally broke down and bought this, excited to give it a try. Really. There were little irritating things about it from the beginning. Emily makes a comment about her dead father in front of her sister and mother on the way to school on monday, and supposedly two days later, has regrets about comments she made "this morning". Bruises that Wes gave Emily on her hips showed 'below' the hem of her skirt. I get it, she dresses slutty, but how short is *that* skirt. I wouldn't have been as bothered, if those weren't just the tip of the iceberg.

Who is Max? I don't know. He was traumatized by the death of his parents and himself, so he refused to pass on, thus, in this world, becomes an angel. Who does what exactly? Helps people pass on? When? Around wooing the girl he loves? Why does he love her? It was something in her eyes, when her father died. Why? Who knows. Who is Max besides the man who loves Jane? I don't know, no one does. Why did Greg kill his family? Because he thought his mommy didn't love him. Because she had an affair with an alchemist. That was one of the thinnest plots I've ever read. I didn't get it. She said she loved him, she apparently treated him the same as his fraternal twin brother Max, but he still kills them. Because they didn't love him enough. What?

Anyway. I'm not sure why the author bothered writing the two tiny excerpts from the mothers point of view. She was about as clueless as any parent in any G rated kid movie. She couldn't be bothered to tell a snake bite from the flu, really. There was a little bit of effort to turn her into a deep, single parent who really wanted to know her kids. I don't know why when they just turned her into a little nitwit at the end, anyway.

I was really irritated by Wes. His character wasn't all bad, I felt like I knew him the best. But he was supposedly Jane's friend for many a year, since they were wee kids. But to love her sister, Emily, he had to basically shirk all love and respect for Jane. Love doesn't work that way, and it was silly to me. The author basically had him call Jane a boring, selfish girl, and Emily was way cool. He was completely understanding of Max's ability to love her better, even though he'd loved Jane his whole life. His ability to switch gears was unrealistic. I laughed out loud when he had to look to Max for reassurance when telling Emily he loved her. If he doesn't know, maybe he shouldn't be telling her.

The whole idea that Magick isn't even special, anyone non-magick can learn magick, robbed the book of any real sense. I wasn't exactly onboard with the idea of traumatized ghosts turning angel, the little to no information on shape shifters, and the lack of insight on mind readers. So to just toss in the idea that just any old joe shmoo could manipulate the supernatural world took away any "magick" the story could have held.

The end was about at Vampire Diaries caliber. They used an "Angel manual" to figure out that Angel's enemies were snakes. Anyway. Snakes can kill angels. K, so. I'm not exactly sure about that last page or two, but I guess the point of this series is to humiliate Max, or assassinate Jane's family to get to Max. I'm definitely on the edge of my seat. Yep.

All sarcasm aside, the book was poorly edited, poorly written, and the character development and plot were amateur. I have a hard time believing the other reviews were written by people who actually read the same book I did.

The book starts out intruiging, but then it starts to get boring and cheesy and predictable. The characters are distinct, but not particularly new, interesting, or likable, especially Jane, who is selish and mean and annoying. Emily is mildly more likable than Jane, but she doesn't have as big a part in the story as Jane, and her personailty is twisted by the supposed baddie of the book, Greg, who is totally uninteresting and cliche. I mean, the guy who kills his family because he thinks they don't love him as much as his shining star of a twin brother? Not to mention the fact Greg is the "evil twin." Riiight. Never seen that before.

As for Max...he's all right, I guess. He has no life of personality outside of his obsession with Jane, who he fell in love with when she was a little girl and he...well...wasn't. If that isn't creepy, it's so corny I'm practically blowing popcorn out of my ears. And the dialogue Max has...? Um. Lovestruck idiot, much? Jane can insult him until the sky falls and he'll never get mad at her.

Wes is extremely boring. Although I liked the idea of a shapeshifter that can turn into anything; that was cool and fairly original. His sudden realization that Emily is the sister he loves and not Jane was random and unbelievable, as well as...silly. I don't see them together, don't see their connection. I don't see Jane and Max's connection either.

The book is sooo long. By the time I was halfway through, I was bored with both the characters and the story. It had no...emotion. I felt nothing when I read it.

There are also a lot of grammatical/formatting errors that are rather distracting.

*3.5 stars*

This story has a very unique style to it. Instead of the traditional style of chapters, Book of Love is separated by different character point of views. There were quite a few points of views in this story, four of them being the main characters. I was worried in the beginning that with this many characters, I was bound to be confused. But that wasn't the case. Ebner established each character's voice and I was quickly back in the character's head during each of their point of views. I do think that a few of the smaller character's points of view could have been cut out though.

What I really enjoyed about the various point of views was it allowed the reader to see how one character looks to the other character's eye. We all view others in a different light, and Book of Love shows that. This allowed the characters to be more dimensional. I also like that this allowed for the reader to get to know the character's secrets sooner. From the beginning, we get to see why Jane is shut off, why Emily acts like a troubled teen, What's up with Wes' sudden pains, and what interest Max has in Jane. My favorite character was Emily. I felt there was a bit more to her than the other characters and she surprised me more. And I can't go without pointing out the similarities between Max and Greg and the Salvatore brothers. Not that I am complaining. Sexy brother who enjoys being bad plus sexy brother struggling to be good will always be a winning combination in my book.

While I enjoyed the interesting characters, I felt that some of this 'world' was missing. I think this is because I assumed with a series title like "Knight Angels" that it would have a bit more action in it. The idea of Magick plays a big role in this book and I wanted to see more of that sooner. I wanted to know more of this dark group of beings trying to take over and destroy everything good. I get this in the ending, but I wanted more of it sooner. But going by the last part of the book, it looks like I'll be getting what I want in the sequel. That makes me excited for it.

Book of Love is a good start to a series with lots of potential. If you like stories that are character driven and a variety of awesome supernatural elements (angels, shape-shifters, mind-readers...), then you will enjoy this first book in the Knight Angels series.

Incorporating several intriguing elements and seamlessly navigating multiple perspectives, Knight Angels is a fantastic addition to fantasy and supernatural books. With a well balanced mix of romance, action and back story, this book will carve its own niche in an ever advancing genre. All the characters are introduced early, some seen through the eyes of another before the reader is able to see inside their head. Ebner does a fantastic job showing how one person views another is not always right and the assumptions they make- and therefore the reader takes on- can not always be taken at face value.

Jane is a prominent character throughout the book, driving a large part of the action. She is an intriguing mix of self importance, independent and alone. Her family situation is a gloomy one, leaving her to feel as though she has to take care of both her mother and out of control younger sister. Dependent on but also taking advantage of her neighbor's intense devotion and infatuation with her, Jane is a character the reader will feel mixed emotions for from the start. The access given into her head, however, helps pull her out as sympathetic. She develops smoothly throughout the book, showing skepticism when it's necessary and even resisting things she has some proof to the truth about.

Emily is Jane's sister, fitting into the druggie stereotype and enhancing it with her black and revealing clothing styles. She flaunts her seeming lack of chastity, often earning her free pills. Through Jane's eyes, she is an immediate turn off but as with her sister, the access granted into her mind help twist the reader's perspective of both her and her reasons for wanting and needing the constant drugs. Emily is a very different personality than her sister but the underlying connections they share is clear. Though they fight and push away more than help and appreciate each other, the love is constant. Her special abilities play a large in both the person she's become and the way the story plays out and though it isn't a unique ability, Ebner handles it fantastically.

Wes is the neighbor, in love with Jane and too blinded by it to see past Emily's rough exterior. Battling his own demons and unknown occurrences, he finds himself in some interesting situations. As the story progresses, he becomes a highly sympathetic character and his abilities are also handled smoothly, fitting into not only the present but a part of the backstory as well. He is loveable and tender but also fiercely protective and loyal.

Max is different from the others but having portions of the story set in his perspective add a fantastic element to the entire story. He's the supernatural creature yet he isn't completely shrouded in mystery. His history and reasons for being in Glenwood are known to the reader before the other characters know, adding a bond not often seen in supernatural books. His history is a fantastically developed one, still playing a large role in the present and Ebner unfolds everything at a steady pace.

This book is filled with twists and the romance never washes out the mystery and plot. In some places, it even drives everything. Ebner is certainly skilled at building her characters and world, and the thought and development that went into the entire book is very evident. The writing is strong, crafting vivid and fluid imagery and evoking intense emotions. The switches between character mindsets also comes across smoothly, tying up one before moving on to another or switching at the right moments to a new perspective on the same events. The reader will feel a strong bond to all four characters rather than one.

Intertwining both new and often used supernatural elements, multiple character mindsets, and striking writing make Knight Angels a superb reading experience. Emotional and entertaining, engaging and endearing, this book will hold appeal for a range of readers. The plot is fantastically well developed and the book ends in a way to tie up much of the current events while still leaving things open for the next installation. Strong characters help drive this book more, making it an overall hit and certainly one that comes with high recommendation.

If by any chance ever had your doubts against self published books, Knight Angels Book of Love will make you forget them. Knight Angels narrates the story of: Jane, Emily, Wess, Max, Greg, Erik and Sarah. This circle of friends and family is bound by supernatural forces and the secrets among them. The chapters are narrated in different POVs where each character's "voice" shines for their singularity and contrast. Even though the Angel Theme has been recently explored in young literature, Knight Angels breaks the stereotype not only on narration format, but also in the story's structural format that results a little bit darker than what's being considered commercial at such moment. What's interesting about the story is that it is composed by a supernatural world where human characters are key pieces in the story. Angelology in the story is not that complex, but more conventional. However, regarding the mystery where the forces of heaven, earth and hell collapse, it's certainly elaborated. Abra Ebner is an author not afraid to explore taboo topics like drugs, sexuality, hate, among others and I consider this respectable. It's worth pointing that her storytelling skills are excellent. Story's romances are certainly different and maybe one of them a little controversial. Knight Angel Book of Love is the first chapter of a promising series where as a reader you'll be able to look with different eyes self published material and where the supernatural world is not only inhabited by angels or demons, but much more ... and way beyond.

Are you a fan of Angels, be they guardians or fallen? Do you root for the shape shifters and sympathize with the mind readers in the stories you've read? Do you ever wish you could see the future and know how you and your friends and family will die...or at least perhaps when? Well if any or all of these questions interest you, look no further because Abra Ebner has it all. It's like one stop shopping with Book of Love (Knight Angels #1), Ebner leaves almost nothing out.

Readers get four main narrations and perspectives in this tale. First we have Jane, who I would consider to be our main character because everything seems to revolve around her or circles back to her in some fashion. Poor Jane has it tough, she lost her dad when she was young and witnessed the death firsthand. Now she's overwhelmed by death. She's seeing it everywhere, when she's awake and having a conversation with friends, and she's even seeing it when she sleeps. Why you ask? She doesn't have the first clue but someone may be able to enlighten her. And if that wasn't enough to handle as a teenager, her mother has made her responsible for her screwed up sister Emily.

Emily in my opinion has the classic tag line attached to her; "don't judge a book by it's cover." She appears to be a rebellious girl who dresses in the stereotypical goth fashion, with her skirts too short and her makeup too heavy. She's also acquired the reputation of having an addiction to taking pills in order to get high. Look a little deeper though and Emily has a secret just like Jane does. Emily may not be consumed by death but she's overwhelmed all right. She's a mind reader. Any thought anyone has and Emily can hear it, whether she wants to or not. The only way she can get a little peace and quiet is to numb herself with the assistance of pharmaceuticals, and why not play the part if she knows that's how everyone already sees her right? Will she ever be able to confide in any one and try to go without the help of the drugs?

Emily's not the only one in need of a confidant. Poor Wes, forever to be the boy next door that will only ever be the best friend to Jane, whom he's loved for as long as he's known her. Just like Emily he needs someone to turn to, he's in pain...literally and he doesn't know why. His body feels like it's growing too fast for him to catch up with and he's going to need help fast, he just don't know what kind. Will Emily and Wes lean on each other or will his pining over Jane drive Emily away?

And if that isn't enough for readers, Ebner introduces us to two brothers that couldn't be more different. Max epitomizes all that is good and noble, saving Jane's life all those years ago forever bound the two of them together. She's his whole world, he loves her and will do anything to protect her. And protection is something she's going to need with his brother Greg gunning for her. To him it's all just a game. Cause enough heartache and destruction and soon the world will be his for the taking.

Can Jane, Max, Emily and Wes overcome all that's going on with them in order to drive Greg away? How far will things go and who will be hurt along the way? Ebner's writing is fabulous and intriguing and downright addicting. She hooked me from start to finish and I can't wait to read on in the Book of Revenge (Knight Angels, #2).

There are two charectors who really ruined this for me: Wes, and her little sister. Wes is supposed to be in love with Jane, yet he keeps saying all these bad things about her. How selfish she is and blah blah blah. Also, one minute he loves her, then her sister, then her again. He is so indecisive he is an unbeleivable charecter. Her sister is the druggy, rude to her family and friends, and difficult just to be difficult. But she can read peoples minds, so of course all of that can be forgiven. All of a sudden Jane, who has few friends, all of whom treat her like crap. She watched her father die. She has had horrible nightmares every night for the past 10 years. She has given up her life to protect her sister and keep her out of trouble. All of this, and she is the spoiled, selfish sister. Seriously? If it weren't for these two, I can deffinetly see it being a good book. But they both ruined the entire thing for me.

A remarkable book where Abra has not only been able to bring to us a profound story, but let us bond with the characters on a one-on-one level more than I have felt with other authors. The closeness I felt at times with the characters was just indescribable! This makes a story so much better! I am eagerly awaiting my arrival of Knight Angels~Book of Revenge!

As the story goes, when Jane was young, she was in an accident with her father, killing him. She should've died too. Yet, she remembers someone pulling her out to save her. An angel. It had to be an angel because there was no way she should have survived that day.

Now, Jane, her mother, and sister struggle in present times. Jane being the good daughter, Emily being the daughter on drugs and quite promiscuous, constantly trying to push Jane's buttons as well. Jane knows that their mother has so much stress on her shoulders that Jane tries to handle Emily herself instead of leading her own life.

Here is where it gets interesting... Since the accident, Jane can see when people die. Just by looking at them, she can tell. What she doesn't know is that Emily can read minds. And the boy next door... well, he has some strange things going on with him he can't quite understand. Emily decides to help Wes figure out whats going on.

Now, there's two new guys at school, Max and Greg. Good vs. Evil. Max is drawn to Jane and can't seem to help it. Yet, Greg seems to be too. It's now time for all the secrets to come out. Neither Max nor Greg are what they seem to be...

They have a very, very long history.

This is a wonderful love story full of twist and turns and challenges. It's everything I've come to expect from this talented author. I think teens and adults alike will enjoy this. The story pulls you in from the first page. This book is narrated by multiple characters. The way it's written is unique and it also allows a deeper look into the personalities of the characters. I also think that the magickal elements brought into the story were done well and thoroughly explained. It all made sense and left the reader feeling that it could be real. I can't wait for the next book.

Even though I really liked the concept for this book, I had my reservations when I started reading The Knight Angels because I had just read a book with multiple characters narration that gave me a little trouble. But The Knight Angels' narration was really great and I can't see how this story could have been told differently.

We live this fabulous story from many perceptive, but mainly from five different ones:

Jane: Older of two sisters who lived a near-death experience when she had a car accident with her father (who passed away) at age 7. She was left with rather odd talents.

Emily: Jane's younger sister is 16, troubled and taking drugs. She's closing herself from everyone around her with goth style and loud music, but this is all an act to hide something bigger.

Wes: Both girls neighbors, Wes is an orphan living with his elder adoptive parents. He is deeply in love with Jane, but he also have issues of his own.

Max: He died almost a century ago in a tragic event and he is now an angel, roaming the earth for unclear reasons, but they are clearly tied to Jane.

Greg: Max's twin brother, Greg also died the night Max did, but he stayed behind for much darker reasons. He craves for power and will do anything to reach his goal.

All of them are going to high school together, trying to find their path, all of them involved in complicated relationships, but Jane, Emilie and Wes will discover that there is more to this world than what eyes can see. They are all key elements in a Magick world. Their fate could change History.

I really loved this book for many reasons, but I think the main one was that for the first time ever, I could relate to one of the main characters, namely Jane. Of course I don't have any special powers, but her family issues really hit home, so her feelings felt true to me. And it got me wondering if Emily's point of view was how the other side of the fence felt when I've been in a similar situation.

I'm talking about Jane, but all characters emotions felt right on point, so definitely two thumbs-up to Abra for that.

The plot itself unfolds at a steady pace and you are wondering for quite a while what are each characters ability and how does it affect the story? The puzzle pieces eventually fit together brilliantly when characters learn more about themselves and their powers. It isn't easy for them as they are all confused in a maelstrom of emotions and it makes it all even better, to see them doubt and seek answers.

This book explores a very interesting perceptive on death, unfinished business and true love. Constantly putting it's characters in a challenging position, questioning their beliefs and values.

They will wonder who are their friends, whom can they trust. They will make mistakes, but will they get a second chance? When your life is on the line, the risks are high.

I liked the end, I think everything wrapped-up very nicely and I find myself craving for more. I really want to know what's next for our bunch of teenagers! I strongly suggest you pick this book: it's passionate and mysterious, be ready for a paranormal and emotional rollercoaster ride. You won't be disappointed!