Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews

Get ready, American paranormal-romance fans. Published in Australia in 2010, Shirvington's debut is smart, edgy and addictive--and sure to leave readers clamoring for the rest of the series. Seventeen-year-old Violet Eden's mother died in childbirth, leaving her to be raised by her detached, workaholic father. If it weren't for her best friend Steph and her trainer (and secret love) Lincoln, Violet would be very much alone. But on her 17th birthday, everything changes. Though finally being kissed by Lincoln is a dream come true, Violet learns that their romantic involvement is forbidden because he and Violet are both Grigori--half angel and half human. They're destined to be eternal partners in the battle against exiled angels on Earth, and romance would make things far too complicated. Furious with Lincoln for keeping this secret, Violet pushes him away, making room for the dark and seductive Phoenix to take hold of her heart. As a reluctant and conflicted heroine, torn between her desire for normalcy and the awesome responsibility of her newfound power, Violet is a compelling and convincing narrator. The story is rife with action and romance, steering clear of overtly religious overtones that often complicate angel books. A must-read for paranormal fans young and old. (Paranormal romance. 14 & up)

ALA Booklist

Violet Eden's life is generally uneventful stly she hangs out with her best friend, Steph, and her secret crush, Lincoln. But on her seventeenth birthday, her father gives her a cryptic letter from her mother, who died during childbirth, and, shortly after, Violet learns she is half angel, or Grigori. It turns out Lincoln is Grigori, too, and they must protect humans who are being endangered by a new partnership between good and bad earthbound angels. Violet faces betrayals and danger, as well as dilemmas associated with accepting and understanding her unique abilities. Though evoking elements of Becca Fitzpatrick's Hush, Hush (2009), Lauren Kate's Fallen (2009), and Alexandra Adornetto's Halo (2010), this absorbing debut, the first in a series, features an appealing, well-written protagonist; diversely drawn characters; intricate (if somewhat convoluted) mythology; and an exploration of free will versus destiny. While coarse language, some sexual content, and violence gear this more towards mature readers, fans of otherworldly stories will likely enjoy this edgy, suspenseful romance and anticipate its follow-up.

Horn Book

On her seventeenth birthday, Violet--a shy artist with a crush on the unattainable and hot Lincoln--finds out that she and Lincoln are half-angels, and she's destined to be Lincoln's partner in hunting evil exiled angels. When Violet meets the equally hot Phoenix, things get complicated. Twilight fans who prefer snarky, bad-ass heroines will embrace this fast-paced, sexy thriller/romance, first in a series.

Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

Get ready, American paranormal-romance fans. Published in Australia in 2010, Shirvington's debut is smart, edgy and addictive--and sure to leave readers clamoring for the rest of the series. Seventeen-year-old Violet Eden's mother died in childbirth, leaving her to be raised by her detached, workaholic father. If it weren't for her best friend Steph and her trainer (and secret love) Lincoln, Violet would be very much alone. But on her 17th birthday, everything changes. Though finally being kissed by Lincoln is a dream come true, Violet learns that their romantic involvement is forbidden because he and Violet are both Grigori--half angel and half human. They're destined to be eternal partners in the battle against exiled angels on Earth, and romance would make things far too complicated. Furious with Lincoln for keeping this secret, Violet pushes him away, making room for the dark and seductive Phoenix to take hold of her heart. As a reluctant and conflicted heroine, torn between her desire for normalcy and the awesome responsibility of her newfound power, Violet is a compelling and convincing narrator. The story is rife with action and romance, steering clear of overtly religious overtones that often complicate angel books. A must-read for paranormal fans young and old. (Paranormal romance. 14 & up)

School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up-Violet Eden has always disliked her birthday, a sad reminder that her mother died in childbirth. Her 17th birthday is more than sad however; it causes her previously unknown destiny to demand her undivided attention. A gift from her deceased mother and an exposed secret reveal that Violet is Grigori, a hunter of exiled angels who desire to conquer humanity. She must choose whether or not she will embrace her supernatural lot or deny it and try and live a normal human life. Complicating matters is her love for Lincoln, her fated Grigori partner, and her sexual attraction to Phoenix, a mysterious exiled angel. First published in Australia, this initial volume in the series has an abundance of crowd-pleasing elements: an appealing main character/narrator, hunky angels and angel hunters, steamy (but not explicit) lust, and unrequited love. Opening quotations for each chapter from a variety of sources act as effective teasers for the action that follows. There is a little too much telling in terms of world-building, but even that is managed succinctly and without affectation. This title has more than a few Buffy parallels, but that's not a negative; the pace is quick and the writing style clean, with the ultimate battle between dark and light complicated by shades of gray. Violet may be bruised from past trauma, but her mantra, "I don't run and I don't quit," makes her one tough cookie. Young adult readers will be happy to follow her lead into the remaining volumes of this series. Janice M. Del Negro, GSLIS Dominican University, River Forest, IL