To Hell, this world is fractured and faithless, perfectly ripe for the picking. Sent by Heaven, Guardians defend against a malevolent onslaught of demonic intrusion. For hundreds of years the nine siblings of the O’Mara family have been engaged in this merciless battle, fighting to protect the souls of all humanity.Heaven and Hell have been waging this infernal war bound only by the rules of a … rules of a contentious accord. On the anniversary of her husband Gabriel’s disappearance, Genevieve O’Mara’s lingering sorrow manifests into a murderous rage unfurled upon a demon. Vengeance is coming, not just for Genevieve, but for all those she loves.
more
(Actual rating: 4.5 stars)
Atonement was everything I look for in a fantasy story!
Filled with high stakes, a constant struggle between Heaven and Hell, and romantic subplots, Atonement was hard to put down.
I loved the O’Mara family. Each character was unique and added to the special family dynamic. Their bond and adoration for each other was incredible and well written, showcasing the authors skill for writing relationships.
As the O’Mara’s world spun out of control, punctuated by demon encounters that put their loved ones in constant danger, the Guardians have to figure out how to save their family and the world from what could possibly be the start of an apocalypse.
My only small complaint was I actually wanted some more backstory on the characters. There was quite a few times I felt almost out of the loop as a reader and I even checked to make sure this was the first book in the series, but I’m sure things will be revealed as the story continues.
I highly recommend this to any fans of fantasy. I can’t wait for the release of book two!
What an extraordinary book! As a rule, I try not to dwell on the pain and suffering that evil causes. I know it does, and that’s enough for me. When I hear mention of demons and hell, I usually push it out of my mind.
JL Rothstein’s Atonement doesn’t allow the reader to do that. Her guardians – the O’Mara family – experience every sort of agony — physical, mental, emotional — as they fight to protect the human race against evil.
In Chapter One, a demon tempts a young woman to kill herself… I won’t say more except that from there, the story only gets more intense. Throughout the book, whenever there’s rage, violence, or despair, a demon or demons are present. Evil causes terrible discord, something we would all do well to remember.
The demons are terrifying, cruel, and relentless.
But there’s also love and laughter. The O’Mara’s are a close and wonderful family. They are each just as relentless in their mission(s), as well as brave and prepared to give up their lives for the good of all. But even in this — and it’s the author’s special gift — even though the guardians aren’t human, they possess very human traits. They make mistakes. They know love, fear, and pain. They exhibit grief, anger, frustration, and joy.
So, it’s not just a story of good versus evil, but a story of family, a story of love. The O’Mara family and their allies are likeable/loveable characters. I was holding my breath through most the book and felt with them every step of the way.
Rothstein shares a generous dose of religious tradition as well as Biblical references. The Four Horsemen from Revelation make an appearance. It’s epic. It’s violent.
It’s brilliant.
Amazing! Well written! Highly recommend!
This was a very well done book from beginning to end. I enjoyed the dynamics of the siblings and the mystery around the missing demon, missing men, and the strange things happening. Even with such a large cast of characters, I never found myself confused nor did I feel any less emotion if something happened to one vs the other. Kudos to the author for that, because that isn’t an easy task.
I thought the world building was detailed and solid. Having rules and limitations on both sides made for interesting confrontations. I’m definitely going to be reading more of this series!
In the timeless battle between Heaven and Hell, humanity stands unaware of the forces, Heavenly, Hellish, and (supposedly) neutral, that fight for our souls. In J.L. Rothstein’s Atonement: Heaven Sent, Guardians are some of the beings sent by Heaven to save humanity from demons and their ilk. Not Angels, as often believed, Guardians still watch over humans and are often charged with individuals to look over them and keep them safe. The O’Mara family has been around for centuries, working as a team to ensure Hellions, Hell Fighters, demons, and more don’t gain a foothold on earth, overstepping their bounds in the ancient Accord with Heaven.
The journey of the O’Maras, and in specific, Genevieve “Gen” O’Mara, begins decades before the story opens when her husband, Gabriel, vanishes from the earth without a trace. Having never gotten over his departure, she harbors anger and resentment that drives her to rash action and brings down calamity upon herself and her family. Her impetuous nature will lead to a greater conflict between Heaven and Hell than they have ever experienced, and the family must fight every minute to stay together and alive. Angels, Arch Angels, Demons, and more will join the fray, turning the tides one way or the other.
Rothstein does an incredible job pacing this story to keep you drawn in and excited. She provides the reader with just enough detail to keep you guessing about what has happened and what will happen next. I couldn’t put the book down, desperate to learn more about the characters as people and the different kinds of beings that live unseen amongst the humans. A fantasy/supernatural writer’s success lies in their ability to create a world and make it feel real. Rothstein’s beings are well thought out and easy to envision, with so many different kinds of creatures to learn about. The tensions between the divine beings and the evil ones is paralleled only by the strain put upon the neutral beings as they try to bot choose a side. Fans of Supernatural or Buffy will get a kick out of this book because, in addition to a fantastical supernatural setting, the characters are real and flawed in a way that makes them all too relatable. Relationships, familial, platonic, and romantic, are woven through the story, keeping both the characters and the reader grounded in the humanness of these supernatural beings, and you will finish desperate for more!
I think the overall plot is great. It’s really catchy -the continuous battle between heaven and hell, and the O’Mara family fighting to save humanity. There were lots of characters and it may take a little time to wrap your head around it all, but once you do, you’ll definitely settle well into the plot. Loved the plot development and primary characters, Genevieve especially. ( trying hard to review without spoilers).
A thrilling read altogether. Definitely recommend!
It’s complicated!
It is complicated. I like the thread of the story and the action! What seemed to be missing was some basic information on the character types, and their paranormal/supernatural abilities and how the different types of characters interacted. I felt like I was constantly missing something, my understanding much more vague than it should have been. Still it was interesting and I finished it.