Ok, I will have to review two books in the same time. Just because it would have been stupid to review the second volume of Strange Angels before the actual first volume. Since that is how I read them. Why? Because the first volume got lost on the way, did a “little” detour in France and then arrived after a long month and many e-mails to the wonderful people at Bookdepository. They were amazing and patient.
So, here it goes: Strange Angels and Betrayals – Lili St.Crow
I will start by saying that I love the authors pen-name. Don’t know why, but I do.
Dru Knows that the Real World – peopled with ghosts, suckers and zombies – is a frightening place. She’s ready to kill first and ask questions later, so it’s going to take her a while to work out just who she can trust.
Dru Anderson has been “strange” for as long as she can remember. Traveling from town to town with her father to hunt down things that go bump in the night. It’s a weird life, but good one – until in an icy, broken – down town, a hungry zombie bursts through her kitchen door. Dru is going to have to use every inch of her wit and training. Can she stay alive long enough to fall for one – or both – of the guys hungry for her affections? (from the back of the cover)
Ok. First of all, in the first volume is not really clear the “hungry for affections” stuff. But anyhoo!
I loved reading this book for a couple of reasons. One, because I felt like I was reading in a way, Supernatural, where you don’t have a Dean and a Sam. You have a Dru...and Graves...and later Chris (Swoons a little. Second, because Dru is such a great character. You know how adventure books the characters that until that point were mundane and incapable and then suddenly they are freaking fighters? What’s up with that? Dru, has been fighting for most of her life, she is not incapable of throwing a good punch yet she is honestly scared when she finds herself alone and has to keep herself...alive. She is a kid, she admits it, she admits that without her dad and help she can die. For me that was believable. Seriously!
She’s no angel . . .
Poor Dru Anderson. Her parents are long gone, her best friend is a werewolf, and she’s just learned that the blood flowing through her veins isn’t entirely human. (So what else is new?)
Now Dru is stuck at a secret New England School for other teens like her, and there’s a big problem— she’s the only girl in the place. A school full of cute boys wouldn’t be so bad, but Dru’s killer instinct says that one of them wants her dead. And with all eyes on her, discovering a traitor within the Order could mean a lot more than social suicide. . .
Can Dru survive long enough to find out who has betrayed her trust—and maybe even her heart? (from Goodreads just because I got lazy)
Also, the thing that I found brilliant: Yes, you have needs! You may be running for your life, but in that moment you have the need to pee. You don’t see this a lot in books. It’s a whole lot of running and fighting, but you never see a moment, in which the character does anything for his human needs. Cramps and all that. Not to mention shaving her legs. In
“Betrayals” I was in stitches about this one. When Christophe was in her room, and she was all: Ohh, I didn’t shave my legs.
Here you are, mister gorgeous in you room, you in shorts and maybe a little unshaved. Now this is one moment, that girls can actually relate for real with the character.
Graves: Well, I have a soft spot for him. Because he is Asian. I heart Asians! I kinda felt bad for him. He had his whole life figured out, has the brains. And here comes the new chick and completely blows his plan. He’s a nice guy dealing with all the shit that Dru brought with her and nicely shares with him. Kudos to you man.
Christophe: I don't think there isn't a woman reader out there who is not swooning after this guy. I know I am. I like Graves, but Christophe is something else, I figured it must be that apple pie smell he has going on:
"He smelled like smoke too, and under it was the edge of apple pies-spice and goodness. Jesus. Even after all that he smelled like a bakery." Or the danger. Girls like dangerous guys, it's a fact.
"Betrayals" new characters, great addition though I hated Anna and I know I am going to hate her even more in "Jealousy" (No duh! Title says it all). Can't wait to read that one. Hope there won't be any more France detours for my books. I never went to France and I wannaaaaaaaa.
QUOTE TIMEEEEStrange Angels: "Better to be strong than pretty and useless."
"I guess since the groin is the center of a guy's world, he rarely guesses it isn't the center of yours." Betrayals:"
I crossed my arms over my chest. Jeez, it was cold in here all of a sudden. And had he always smelled this good? Was it a cologne? Eau de Christmas Pie?" "My legs were on fire. All of me was burning and my back was a solid bar of pain. But it didn't matter.
What mattered was Graved next to me, also rubbing my back and laughing like he'd just found Christmas in his pants."If I were to give points I guess Strange Angels would gather a total of 4.5 points out of 5. ^_^
PS: The shitty part of reading the second before the first was the fact that I didn't understand the lingo. Like, what in the world was a Svetocha. As well as the many pet names and words Christophe used. That didn't change even after the first book. So after Google-ing like crazy it was the amazing
FORUM that cleared things for me.
And I quote: "Christophe is using a mix of Ukrainian, Russian, and Polish pet names. This is the closest translation:
kochana - beloved; love
milna - a very grown up/seductive way of saying 'sweetie'
skowroneczko moja - my pretty; my beauty
moj maly ptaszku - my little bird
moj ptaszku - my bird
moja ksiezniczko - my princess
malutka - little girl; little one
Ksiezniczka - Princess (from Strange Angels)
Other vocab:
moj boze - my God; dear God
dziekuje - thank you
Dyado Koleda - a mythical/religious character from European stories (from Strange Angels)" I think Dyado Koleda is some kind of Santa. ^_^ Awww Chris!
A.M Bells
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