Title/Author: Angel Star
by Jennifer Murgia
Publisher/Year: Lands Atlantic Publishing 2010
Why I Read This Book: Either Christina or Katelyn at PAYA. I can’t recall.
How I Got This Book: I bought it at PAYA
When I was younger I loved the idea of a guardian angel– some graceful, beautiful creature that invisibly flies around me and leads me away from danger–which is something I definitely needed as a self proclaimed klutzy child. Or I’d think of some motherly figure like Monica on Touched By An Angel. Thanks to Jennifer Murgia my made-up picture of a fairy-like angel has been absolutely shred to pieces and replaced by a movie star quality, grade A hunk! I am certainly not complaining.
Angel Star by Jennifer Murgia revolves around Teagan, a high school girl who gets picked on by the resident “Mean Girls” group at school and isn’t too popular, but she’s got her best friend and her mother on her side. The normalcy of her life is shattered when Garreth, the new mysterious eye candy of the school, shows up and directs his attention towards her. Immediately smitten with him, as if she’s known him all along, she starts spending time with him and finds out that he bears the mark of an angel–an eight point star. Her perfect fairytale romance is maimed as she learns that “where there is light, dark follows” and she finds herself in the midst of a battle between that light and darkness that will alter her life and those around her.
As I mentioned in my Sleepless review, I’m new to the paranormal romance genre. I’ve always thought of it as teen vampires and werewolves and have been pleased to know that it contains much more than that. I know that there ARE paranormal romance books out there that contain angels (Hush, Hush) but I haven’t read them so this is fresh to me!
Having been able to study some angelology in my undergraduate studies, it is always interesting to see the different portrayals of angels in books and movies! I think in some cases books/movies throw angels or other unique creatures into a storyline to spice things up but what you really have is a used up old storyline that could easily be replaced by some other fantastical type of creature and be just the same. Murgia did not fall into this trap. She created her storyline with depth and a rich exploration into the study of angels filled with interesting symbolism and meaning. This was one thought-provoking novel!
I really liked Teagan and found that she was real and strong but not perfect. She wasn’t too stupid to function and she wasn’t needy but she seemed to have a good head on her shoulders but had the capability to make mistakes and to fall blindly sometimes–as I’m sure all of us woman have done at some point in our lives! I found the plot to be paced pretty well–just as soon as I felt a lull in my reading–I found myself sitting straight up with my finger itching to keep turning those pages.
Now on to the imperfections that I would be remiss if I did not mention. I don’t know if this is typical of alot of YA paranormal romance as I’m not well-read (or just the ones I’m reading) but what is with people falling head over heels the first time they see someone? Fantasy or not, it irks me. Where is the natural development of the relationship–the discovery, the curiosity, the little tiffs, etc. I understand they had a “connection” but I’d like a little anticipation surrounding the forming of a relationship. Although, I’m sure other people love this element of the book but it isn’t for me. Another minor problem for me was that sometimes things seemed to wrap up too easily for me. It wasn’t a huge problem but I did wish that some of the action lasted a little longer with more of a struggle.
Overall, I found it a fun and suspenseful read that had me contemplating the good and the bad that is inherit in all of us and our propensity to sometimes get caught in that blurred place where the two meet–that place where the allure of each is a force field pulling at our being and our sense of self. I will most definitely be reading the next book in the series when it comes out in 2011.
Rating- 4 stars– Angel Star by Jennifer Murgia is must read for paranormal romance/fantasy lovers. I think that if you aren’t really into the paranormal romance genre you might still find this enjoyable if you are looking for a book with a good plot that will keep you on the edge of the seat.
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thebookfairyhaven says
I'm with you on the head over heels thing. It drives me up the wall. Not only that, when they do, they become completely paralyzed with stupidity whenever they're around the hot love interest.
Really enjoyed reading your review by the way – I wasn't too interested in this book at first, but the more I read about this, the more it intrigues me.
Jamie says
I'm glad I'm not the only one that is a little put off by that. I mean, I do understand that it is fantasy and it is fiction and things can happen however they want. But,I feel like it makes it seem normal. I'm all about getting to know a guy. I mean, yes, sometimes people do fall in love at first sight but that is pretty rare and a relationship will never work staying at that shallow level.
mummazappa says
Ah, this one's on my list, I want to read it soon. I know what you mean about that instantaneous falling in love thing, although I do recall falling instantly, madly in love (infatuation) as a teenager on occassion 🙂
Jamie says
Mummazappa– You do make a great point! I guess I'm just thinking about it from the perspective of a 24 year old woman and I know that most of the time it isn't healthy and it doesn't really work out like that. All of the guys that I instantly fell in love with in high school..it never worked. It lasted like a week when I realized that they were big idiots..hot..but idiots! lol
I think maybe there needs to be balance…reading those stories of falling in true love so fast can make you have unrealistic expectations. I used to have those same unrealistic expectations about how a boyfriend should woo a woman from movies–it was always those big flashy things that they would do on the movies to surprise the girl. That rarely happens in real life! Sometimes love is just quiet!
lol now that I've ranted..
lisa :) says
I, too, grew up with many of the same guardian angel sentiments you mentioned so this one sounds like a nice twist on traditional thoughts.
In regards to the instantaneous love phenomena, I guess I've always chalked it up to author's just not wanting to plug the time into the relationship development aspect of the story. I think sometimes building things up like that can slow down the pace of a suspense/action oriented novel although there are some authors that handle the balance really well. I think sometimes this is why I like reading series, because the author is a little less rushed and relationship progressions can seem a little more natural.
Peep says
Hey, I never finished this one, but your review makes me want to rethink that decision.
As far as the love at first sight question? I don't know… It happens, but it's not that frequent. In fact, one of the reasons why i stopped reading this one was her instant attraction to him.
I definitely think it needs time to grow. I especially like it when they hate each other first!
elizabeth says
Wow. This book sounds absolutely amazing. Thanks to you, I will be adding it to my wishlist.
Here from CEP.
Jessi E. says
I've seen this book around but never really found out what it was about. This makes it sound interesting and definitely worth a read. I do not love it when paranormal romances include love at first sight, but I just chalk it up (depending on how well it is written) to the fact that maybe we WOULD fall in love with these paranormal beings on first site… ?? Who knows.
Heather says
Hah! The whole 'falling in love too fast' was mentioned in an earlier post on the blog hop!
I completely agree… it's not just a trend in Paranormal YA romance, it seems to be a trend in YA romance in general. I find little reason anymore why main characters fall in love with each other. I think I'm more shocked when an author sets up a really good reason why they fall in love.
It's always, "Wait… wait… did that author make them fall in love in a believable way?!"
Shocking!!!
New follower here!
Mrs. DeRaps says
Yes, I know that you mean about the love-at-first-glance that seems to have overtaken all sorts of otherwise reasonable and rational characters. It's kinda yucky, but if the plot is otherwise good, it's worth it for me to read it. Thanks for your review!
Here from the CEP.
brandileigh2003 says
I know what you mean about Teagan– she is easy to relate to b/c of it.
I wish my GA was hunky like that!
Thanks for the review.
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Brandi from Blkosiner’s Book Blog