Angels are real.So are demons.Shady Creek gets a whole lot scarier after Julia learns she’s part angel, especially since the only person she can trust is an angel who’s as infuriating as he is attractive.Julia received a necklace containing the songs of the angels from her dad when she was four. When she was eleven, he abandoned her family and the necklace went silent. At seventeen, Julia’s doing … family and the necklace went silent. At seventeen, Julia’s doing everything she can to maintain security for her family, but now her necklace seems to have come to life once again. And that’s not all that’s changing.
When a robber attempts to steal from their diner, the necklace blazes and burns her chest. Pain in her back is nearly unbearable as the thief transforms before her eyes… into something demonic.
Demon after demon threaten Julia’s home, family, and friends, and she realizes there may have been something more behind her dad’s disappearance. And now there may be something–or someone–dangerous after her.
Julia has to accept that she is not quite human. Will her infuriating but attractive Guardian Angel be able to prepare her for the battle to come?
~This book contains a BONUS short story, Before the Ashes: Kari’s Story, plus a sneak peek at When Smoke Rains Down!~
When Ash Rains Down is the first book in Cecelia Earl’s Kingdom Come series. The second book, When Smoke Rains Down, is also available, along with a companion short story and novella. Book three, When Fire Rains Down, and more companion stories will be out in 2018.
“This book packed a lot in and completed the urban-fantasy world building in a way reminiscent of The Mortal Instruments series.” ~Goodreads Reviewer
“The battle scenes were epic, yes really.” ~ OMG Books and More Books YA Book Reviewer
“A fascinating first book in a series that kept me not only excited to read from one chapter to another, but anticipating the next installment as well.” ~ Amazon Reviewer
more
Julia’s family and town is in great danger. Though she doesn’t believe any of it’s real, she’s part angel and has to fight off the demons threatening everyone she loves.
Okay, so Julia isn’t easy to like. She has this obsession with working to better herself and her life and the lives of her family. She thinks money will solve their problems – like having to save every penny to survive. She doesn’t have time for the frivolity of High School – she works several part-time jobs to save money to go to university. Once you understand her motivations, though, Julia is quite real and endearing. She knows that the chances of her being able to go to university are slim, yet she works very hard to make that dream a reality. It’s better than giving up. I’ve read reviews going on and on about how unlikeable and un-relatable Julia is: here’s the thing, she has to work for everything she has, she has to work hard for everything she wants to have, and she has to deal with the meanness and jealousy that sometimes pops its head up when she looks at how easy others have it. It’s part of the storyline: having to overcome temptation to be a good person. It’s also a good theological discussion about what one would do to get what you think you deserve…
What I liked about this story is that Julia actually believes in the higher power she serves. So many other angel fantasy novels present characters who don’t believe in God, which is really sad if you think about it.
The way the community comes together to help one of their own teaches Julia about being truly alive and living her life, about how people aren’t all bad or out for themselves, and how perception colours the way we view the world (people see her as selfless while she’d been seeing herself as selfish).
My favourite line that conveys the discovery and journey Julia is on: “You’re very loved. Remember that. Love is a powerful thing. More powerful, even, than money.”
An enjoyable story. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series.
This is the first book I’ve read by Cecelia Earl and is also the first book in the series called A Kingdom Come. The series is an epic fantasy involving angels, demons, and half angel-half human beings called Hybrids as good versus evil wage war on earth for the souls of humans (called Grace) and heavenly essence of angels (called Glory). If you enjoy young adult fantasy novels, you will enjoy this series.
This first book starts out a bit slowly since the author needs to build her contemporary human world of Shady Creek while having her main character Julia actually realize who she is and what is actually happening around her. The story is written from Julia’s first person limited point of view. Julia is a high school senior who is stubborn, strong, self-sufficient, smart, determined, and loyal yet selfish in her goals and drive and blinded by her own isolationist philosophy and self-righteousness. Cole, Julia’s Guardian Angel, and Nicholas, Julia’s mentor Warrior Angel who needs to train her in angel warfare, take on human forms to protect Julia and try to mentor her even though she resists. I had a bit of difficult time trying to connect with Julia, most likely because I’m far removed from the days of high school. I did like Cole’s character and Nicholas’ character, though their true purpose in Julia’s life was not totally clear in this first installment of the series. There is also the mystery about Julia’s father and what has happened to him as well as what secrets Julia’s mother holds. The plot is full of action-packed scenes as Warrior Angels battle the demons. Some questions about Julia, her father, Cole, and Nicholas are answered in this book but more questions surface as the battle on earth rages on and I suspect I’ll need to read the full trilogy to get all my answers.
I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher via JustReads Publicity Tours and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.