Rise From Darkness (Battle for Souls) [Kindle Edition]

Ciara Knight (Author)

Book Description

Alexander Lorre gives new meaning to the term “tormented teen.” He’s a newly fallen angel, which means he has the self-control of a three-year-old, the hormones of a teenager and the strength of an angel. When he rescues Gaby Moore from drowning, the chemistry between them is undeniable. With a local demon threatening Gaby’s life, he struggles to find a balance between remaining close enough to protect her but distant enough to control his desires.

As danger draws closer, Gaby uncovers shattering secrets that will lead to an ultimate choice. Will she fight alongside her father, an earthbound hunter killing fallen angels and demons, give into the demon blood coursing through her veins and join the demon world, or save the man she loves from both? The first two choices damn her, but the last one could destroy them all.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Ciara Knight always had a passion for storytelling. At an early age, she wrote several short stories and poems, and in college she started work on her first novel. It wasn’t until late 2008 that she returned to her true passion of writing. Over the past few years, she has penned five novels and joined several professional writing organizations to better her craft. When not writing, she enjoys reading all types of fiction. Some great literary influences in her life include Edgar Allen Poe, Shakespeare, Francine Rivers and JK Rowl-ing. Ciara is happily married and enjoys family time. She has learned to embrace chaos, which is a requirement when raising three boys, and utilizes the insanity to create stories not of this world including, Fantasy, Paranormal, Sci-Fi, and Dystopian Steampunk. Her first love, besides her family, reading, and writing, is travel. She’s backpacked through Europe, visited orphanages in China, and landed in a helicopter on a glacier in Alaska.

Product Details

• File Size: 877 KB
• Print Length: 252 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1937389928
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Turquoise Morning Press (March 18, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B007M4JOQI
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #521,669 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Alex + Gaby = Sweet Love Story! March 19, 2012

By Lynn Rush

Format:Kindle Edition

I really enjoyed this book. Alex is an awesome hero. Stoic, loving, and caring all rolled up into a tough guy who will do anything to protect you. Even if it means making the wrong choice. All he can see is the safety of those he cares about.

Enter the heroine.

Gaby is sweet, tortured, delicate all rolled up into a strong girl. She's faced a lot in her limited years and made it through. I like that in a heroine. Yet she's vulnerable still, which makes her endearing.

Alex and Gaby are a fun couple to read about. I was immediately drawn into their story, anxious to see how things turned out. It's a true YA novel, so there is the teenage angst, which I like in limited dosages, but Ciara Knight's Battle for Souls trilogy is one I'll be following closely!

Nicely done, Ciara.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars A GraveTells Review: Rise From Darkness by Ciara Knight June 7, 2012

By Molly Frenzel

Format:Kindle Edition

Thoughts:
Since the death of her mother, Gaby's life has not been easy. Every night is filled with demonic nightmares, her days spent with worry that her father will come home drunk (again) or tell her they're moving (again). Her way to escape has always been her art, but even that is filled with grotesque images from her nightmares. More than anything, Gaby wants to stay in one place and have a normal teenage life with friends and, hopefully, a boyfriend.

Alexander, a fallen angel, may have been ancient once in Heaven. Now on earth, he's the equivalent of a two year old in a sixteen year old body, complete with all the raging teen hormonal trimmings. He hasn't mastered the ability to control his temper and he's haunted with guilt from his failure to save a woman from death at the hands of Foras, the local head demon. Alex is desperate to find a way back into heaven and discovers it in the form of Gaby; a girl he rescues from Foras.

The attraction between Alex and Gaby was instantaneous and only grows more powerful as Alex endeavours to guard Gaby not only from Foras, but also from himself. The threat of attack from Foras keeps them constantly on their toes and has Alex in a dangerous position as he fights to keep his temper at bay and the anger out of his heart. Though Alex's mission begins with the sole task of protecting Gaby, it evolves into a joint quest of self-discovery, change, and young love.

Reading Rise From Darkness I was transported back to my time as a teenager with a vengeance. Ciara Knight's depiction of teenage love, recklessness, and impulse was dead-on and had me re-living memories of when I went through those same confusing, intense emotions.... It also made me realize that I spent most of the book frustrated that Alex and Gaby couldn't just express themselves to each other.

Memorable Quotes:
Oooo...no he didn't...
"Go, Foras. You've had your fun." Alexander swatted the sand away and stepped forward.
"If you're not having fun, why don't you go away - far away?" Foras glanced at the others and turned back with a grin. "Oh, that's right. You're impotent. You can't get your wings up."

a sniffle worthy declaration...
Alexander cleared his throat as if to get her attention again. "A promise that no matter what happens I'll always do the right thing. A promise I'll remain by your side and never run away. I promise I'll respect your wishes. But most of all I vow I'll love you always no matter what happens."

If you liked Rise From Darkness...
If you enjoyed Rise From Darkness and are looking for more stories of fallen angels and demons don't miss Knight's follow up Fall From Grace, the continuation of Alex and Gaby's story.

Final Thoughts:
I'm somewhat undecided about Rise From Darkness. On one hand, the story was well written, with well-developed characters, and good action sequences. On the other hand, the story just didn't suck me in. I found myself thinking more about my own teen experiences rather than following the story. Which was probably due to the fact that Rise From Darkness was very chaste, drenched in light kissing and longing from afar. Personally I like a little more "action" in my romances.

*Review originally written for GraveTells. No
compensation was received. Read more ›

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars An Enjoyable Read April 26, 2012

By Romancing the Book

Format:Kindle Edition

First Posted on Romancing the Book Blog
Reveiwed By~Aubrey
Review Copy Provided By~Bewitching Book Tour

I don't often read YA novels but when I do I always love them! I really should start reading more. I really enjoyed Rise from Darkness. It had such an interesting world with the perfect mix of paranormal elements and real world issues. I was hooked to this novel from the first page and could not put it down. I wanted to find out what happened next and finished the novel in a couple hours. It really doesn't happen often any more where I'm left guessing what is going to happen next or where I have to really think about what is going on. The storyline in Rise from Darkness is very complex with many secondary characters. It is one of those novels that you want to read more than once because you know you have missed something the first time around.

The main character Gaby has a lot things in her life that she doesn't quite understand and it frustrates her. Her life is not like those around her and she really wishes it was. She never had friends growing up and forget about a boyfriend. Her dad is way too strict for that. Her life completely changes when she meets Alex and his sister Sammy on the beach. They appear to be human but they really are not. Gaby isn't quite human either. Alex and Gaby become more than friends. Their relationship takes a lot of hits that most relationships don't endure but they find a way to stay together.

Rise from Darkness is an excellent first novel in a series where it gives us all the information needed to know what is going on and sets the reader up for future novels and this was all done seamlessly.... I will be looking for the next novel in the series because I'm so anxious to find out how Gaby deals with all the changes in her life. Knight is definitely an author to watch out for! Read more ›

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Great story about fallen angels April 13, 2012

By Liz @ Fictional Candy

Format:Kindle Edition

Gaby is a teen girl who has recently lost her mother in a car accident. Her father has some mysterious and dangerous job for the government, and they move a lot. Gaby never really gets the opportunity to form close bonds with anyone. Her dad works a lot and she basically raises herself. But she has her artwork, and that can be her safe haven in the storm, so to speak.

The very first chapter of this book made my chest tighten up. Gaby has gone into the water for a swim, trying to cleanse her mind. She gets flipped around in the water, a bit disoriented... then she hears some laughter, sees swimming shapes around her. It was some very powerful imagery and a perfect introduction into the rest of the book.

Gaby finally makes two new friends in Alex and Sammy. They are fallen angels are here to protect her. But why would she need protection? Well it seems Gaby has also drawn the interest of a demon - Forras. The thing is, Gaby doesn't realize anyone is anything other than what they seem. Sammy and Alex are impossibly wonderful to her, even if Alex is a bit standoffish at time. Forras is an overbearing jerk, along with the rest of his friends on the football team.

I really enjoyed reading this story. The twists and turns of the plot were fantastic, as you watched everything unfold in front of you. Alex and Gaby begin to have a crush on each other. You get a bit annoyed with Alex because he is obviously hiding something, and sometimes he acts like a bit of a jerk. But then you get to go inside his head for a bit and everything becomes clear to you. There are so many secrets in this story that when the truth of everything finally starts coming out you find yourself finally exhaling!... This is definitely one of those stories where not everything is as it seems; nothing is just black and white. The surprises were fantastic and definitely made this book all that much more interesting.

I loved getting to know all of these characters. Even Gaby's father, who just seems like an alcoholic who isn't really present for his own daughter's life, has some amazing growth inside these pages. There is definitely more than meets the eye with this man. I look forward to reading the next book and finding out what is in store for Gaby, as there are some definite game changing and life changing events that happen to her in this story. Just imagine going from every day normal life to finding out there are angels and demons among us, and not only that - you're dating one! Oh, and your best friend is one, your dad fights them, your mother had something to do with it all too - and on top of everything else, there is more to you than you even knew yourself! Read more ›

More About the Author

Ciara Knight is happily married and enjoys family time. She has learned to embrace chaos, which is a requirement when raising three boys, and utilizes the insanity to create stories not of this world including, Fantasy, Paranormal, Sci-Fi, and Young Adult Dystopian.

Her first love, besides her family, reading, and writing, is travel. She's backpacked through Europe, visited orphanages in China, and landed in a helicopter on a glacier in Alaska.

Please visit her website for information on contests, other novels, and miscellaneous news.

Website: www.ciaraknight.com
Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/Ciaraknightwrites