I can't make it through this one. It is just too over the top cheesy and ridiculous. The plot seemed interesting and had definite potential, until it was completely obliterated by a cringe worthy über insta-love and a somewhat silly take on angel/demon lore.

I was excited for this book at first. I liked the way the short chapters seemed to clip along and we got more and more glimpses into the secrets Maren's mom had been keeping. I didn't really connect with Maren, and the writing seemed a bit awkward and juvenile, but the secret society/mysterious possibly supernatural aspects were intriguing. And then we met Gavin and learned about the whole angel deal and things started to go down hill real fast.

I liked the angels vs. demons thing at first. It seemed to mostly follow the traditional biblical narrative, which I thought would be nice because at least it's familiar and not a whole different world to learn. However, the angels in this book really seemed to align more with traditional fairy lore. Which was kind of weird for me. Just make them fairies then instead.

What really killed the book above all else for me was the crazy insta-love though. It was insane. Even when Maren thinks Gavin is a full fledged demon, possibly a serial killer, or mentally deranged, she still can't shut up about how hot his and how she wants to be with him. It's insane. Especially with how much she keeps telling herself how he could be crazy or evil or a serial killer. But oh well, he's super hot. *eye roll* And once she finds out he's an angel she's thinking about how she's falling even more in love with him within a couple pages. It was so uncomfortable and awkward and not at all fun to read about. There were also some seriously powerful Twilight parallels here. And I'm not one to say that about every paranormal romance. I felt like some of the conversations and passages were taken directly from Twilight and reworded for this.

While the relationship was like a Twilight fast forward, the angel/demon battles and The Abbey reminded a lot of the Mortal Instruments series, and the Scottish setting felt like nothing more than nod toward the current popularity of Outlander. Especially because the setting and culture didn't feel particularly well researched or well done. The premise was interesting, but I just couldn't get in to it.

I liked the main character and narrator Maren well enough. She was a strong and brave character, although a little too naive at times and she was too quick to trust others. She also took too long to accept some of the things that were happening around her even though she had dreams that predicted the future. Her relationship with both Gavin and Joy were a little too instant. Also she had just moved to Scotland to live with her grandparents, but there was no lamenting or missing her old life in the states, except when she thought of her mom. No mention of her friends and life back home. It was like she didn't exist until she arrived in Scotland. I hate that. It makes it hard to relate to the character, and doesn't make them feel like a real person.

The other characters were fine, but not as fleshed out as I would like. I really struggled with liking Gavin, Maren's 'forbidden' love interest. Beside the good looks, he didn't really seem to have a personality. Graham was also extremely good looking, but at times his character didn't make sense. He shows up at the beginning of the story, then briefly to rescue her from his cousin and then at the end. He didn't really seem to be part of the story, even though he played a major role at the end.

I liked the story line of The Abbey, the secret society that Maren's parents belonged to. That sounded way cool, even though they seem to get a lot of people killed. Their secret headquarters were way awesome, underneath London and hard to get to. Maren's abilities were also interesting, her seeing the future and some other things I won't reveal. I also enjoyed the setting of Scotland, I love that country and always enjoy reading books set there. I had some issues with the flow of the plot. It just didn't flow well for me. Also, Maren would meet random people who would then disappear from the story, but suddenly they were the person she needed to talk to the most to help with a problem. It was just weird.

Even though I had some issues with the story, I think it has potential and I think there are teens that would really enjoy it. I also had a hard time putting it down, even with the issues.

Lots of comparisons have been made about this book - "Da Vinci Code," "Twilight," etc. But I don't think that's fair to "Toward A Secret Sky." Because this book is a charming, scary, romantic, tale all in one.

Readers looking for a nice YA beach/rainy day read with a bit of a twist, look no further.

Maren's mother has just died (her father long passed) and now she's been sent to Scotland to live with her grandparents. As she settles in to life in the Highlands, she discovers that her parents or anything but boring computer nerds, like she thought. They were members of a secret organization which helps protect the world from demons, with the help of angels. And Maren has met her very first angel (a total hottie). While she is digesting all of this, her new hometown is in trouble plagued by a mysterious illness which causes people and animals to go insane. Karen sets off to save her friends and family, while trying to make sense of her new reality.

This book was a cute, fun read that was just a great time from start to finish. The setting is amazing and even though the storyline contains some very serious and at times pretty scary components you'll find yourself laughing, sighing, etc., right along with Maren.

And Maren really is a great heroine. She is sassy, but vulnerable in a relatable way. She isn't some lofty, supermodel who catches the hunky guy - she goes through so much and comes out unsure of the right way to do things. She's not perfect, and I liked her more for that.

Also, I like the potential for more stories in the future. Heather Maclean sets up the story so that it can continue on in tons of amazing locations and situations - Istanbul, Paris, Rome, Shanghai, etc. There's so much ore out there waiting to be explored in this new world.

Speaking of which - my only complaint is that the book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger! Now I have to wait to continue this story! But I'll definitely be back, and I recommend getting started reading this book to catch up!

First of all, I want to start this review by saying that, I had anticipated the release of Toward A Secret Sky and when the opportunity to join the blog tour for it arose, I could not resist entering. Don't get me wrong but, I knew I was going to love it as soon as I started reading! It's definitely my kind of book - if that makes sense whatsoever - and I'm so glad that I got the chance to read it sooner than I had originally planned!

Moving on to the plot itself. It had my attention as soon as I finished reading the first paragraph and with every page that I turned, things got even more intense. I had that amazing feeling of excitement throughout the whole book and it made me eager to keep reading in order to learn how the story would progress and what would eventually happen. I feel like it's been a while since I've read a Fantasy/Paranormal book and enjoyed it this much or even better, loved it.

I also loved the characters introduced in this book! Maren was kind of naive sometimes and in denial of what was happening around her but, I really enjoyed reading this story from her perspective and seeing her develop throughout it. She seriously had me holding my head and covering my eyes because I could not, for the life of me, predict what she'd do and where she would end up because of it. I felt this rush of adrenaline every single time and it was like the pages were turning into a movie inside my head. They were so vividly described and filled me with an anticipation that I always welcome and find more than exciting in books! She's also very loyal and deeply cares for her loved ones, something that I always love and appreciate.

Gavin on the other hand was a force to be reckoned with. Of course he's gorgeous, brave and all kinds of wonderful. No doubt there! He deeply cares for Maren but is torn between love and duty. He's definitely boyfriend material if you ask me though. Just saying. Problem is, Maren is going to become a target if anyone learns that he's actually in love with her. Which complicates things much more and of course, I'm up for it.

The romance was to die for. It was definitely insta love so, I'm not sure whether everyone will enjoy it as much as I did. I personally do not have a problem with insta love romances. Quite the opposite actually. My heart is too romantic to be bothered or even annoyed by them. Of course that doesn't mean that I always have to enjoy them. Depends on their beginning and further development. Gavin and Maren's romance was definitely on the swoon worthy and very interesting side. Insta love doesn't necessarily mean that, they get to be together in the end, or at all. And in this case, their relationship is so much more complex than anyone - including me - would have thought.

The writing was pretty great and descriptive. No question was left unanswered and I immensely enjoyed the flow of the story itself, which in my opinion is very important. It was also fast-paced - my favorite - and kept me on edge with its unexpected twists and very unpredictable nature. I could not stop reading and I seriously did not expect anything less. Last but not least, the secondary characters of the book, which I'm not going to name because of obvious reasons, made things even better and contributed to the book in their own way. They were very likable and easy to connect to, making the experience of reading even better.

Overall, Toward A Secret Sky is a unique and fascinating tale of secrets, set in a world where coincidences do not exist, nothing is certain and nobody can be trusted. Perfect for fans of both action and love at first sight, it will grab your attention and you won't be able to stop reading until there aren't any more pages left!

To conclude this review, I want to say that, the ending did break my heart. Not only that, but it also tore it into pieces, stomped on it and left me wondering whether I'll ever be able to put it back together. Talking about it will make things worse for me and obviously spoil anyone who hasn't read it so, I'll just keep that one to myself and rant about it until I see an announcement for the sequel. There is going to be one, right?

Loved this book so much. Edge of my seat the whole way. A new world that I have never read about before. Enjoyed it

A deliciously intriguing story that can’t help but be devoured. An adventure that needs to be read again and again just to let it all sink in.

Maren Hamilton is seventeen and has just watched her mother be buried. She is now left all alone and is sent to live with her grandparents in Scotland. That wouldn’t be so bad except she had never met them. It is hard enough fitting in at a new school, let alone one in a new country. Just when Maren thinks she is starting to relax and feel like it could be home, she receives some of her mother’s things from her work, including an encrypted journal that makes her realize she never really knew her mother or others around her. Now, she is in danger along with anyone she gets close to. One by one, she pieces together the clues left by her mother but not before her small town becomes the victim of something evil. Maren needs the help of Gavin, her newly appointed guardian angel, who she has quickly fallen in love with even though it is against all rules. He may be her angel but they are also dealing with demons and forces of evil the likes of which she could never have imagined. Before all is said and done, Maren will learn some of the hardest life lessons and hopefully come out the other side alive and better for it, or maybe not.

I thoroughly enjoyed everything about this book. There was just the right amount of action, romance, suspense, drama and even supernatural to keep me hooked throughout. All of those together can sometimes be a difficult combination but it worked here flawlessly. Maclean did an excellent job of bringing these characters, and the different settings, to life in a dramatic and beautiful way. The main setting in Scotland is set up mostly by Gavin, which I liked. This is the kind of story that I can see fans of the Twilight series falling in love with. There is a lot of push and pull between the characters, especially Maren and Gavin; they want to be together but know it isn’t permitted. When you have characters in this kind of situation it can become tiresome with the back and forth, but for some strange reason it worked here. Maybe it was because nothing felt forced. The characters did what they would naturally do and it showed with the way it came across on the pages. All I must say is there better be another book to follow because I want more. The ending wrapped things up nicely but also left it open easily for another to come. I highly recommend this to young adults looking for a thrilling supernatural read that will leave them wanting more well past the last page.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

4/5

Towards a Secret Sky is a mash of the Mortal Instruments and Twilight. It tells a story of a young girl whose mother dies under mysterious circumstances and she now has to move to a remote town in Scotland. Here she meets a mysterious stranger Gavin, but not all is what it seems. Soon she is immersed in a world full of intrigue, murder, secret organizations and demons.

I was a little hesitant when I started the book. After all I am no longer a teen and first love feeling are very intense. However, as I continued reading the book I was reminded of all the great feelings Twilight brought to me when I was reading it as a teen. This book was like re-living all of those feelings so I would like to thank the author for that, and I am definitely looking forward to book 2.

However, the circumstance that our main character is thrown into...I really wanted to hug her and get her some therapy because man, not often does the main character experience this much loss. Be prepared to feel very frustrated for her.

The only reason why I did not give the book 5 stars is it's VERY HEAVY in Christian values. And yes I know some of you will tell me so was Twilight. However, Twilight did not shout it at you, or recount the Ten Commandments because the main character kissed a boy. I understand that when dealing with angels and demons it will be heavy in Christianity but maybe tone it down? I think it might actually turn away some readers who would otherwise really like the book.

Otherwise the book is very fast paced, entertaining, fun, and devastating all at the same time. If you are looking for a book with teen romance, adventure, mystery and travel then this is the book for you.

It’s a good thing Scots have a good sense of humour, because this depiction of Scottish traditions is the very reason why Brits dislike Americans so much. As a North American who has lived in the UK (including Scotland), I know these culture differences. You don’t have to tell me that crisps and chips are different and that they drive on the wrong side of the road. People know this. We’re not exactly covering new ground here. Tell me all about the rolling hills and how gorgeous the land is. Give me atmospheric weather and bagpipes on street corners. You can’t introduce a protagonist who a.) is an outsider and b.) insults clotted cream, chips, and haggis all in one sweep within the first few pages. It’s just not a particularly good way to endear any British readers to the narrative. And in fact, this is incredibly offensive to Brits in general, who do take pride in their clotted cream and fish and chips, and Scots for their haggis. Also, in the full year I lived in Scotland, I don’t think I encountered a single public restroom you had to pay for. I just don’t need this terribly predictable American-centric view on Scotland because it’s not doing anything productive or kind to the setting.

Great idea, but terrible execution. The character development was abysmal. The storyline was good in theory but it just ended up being ridiculous. There were so many plot holes and so much jumping around. Also everyone seemed oddly okay with all the supernatural occurrences. This could have been good, but it wasn't. It could possibly be saved by the next book in the series, but I have my doubts.

4.5
3/23/17: Marren has had it rough. Her father died before she was born and her mother just died from a "freak" accident. Shipped off to Scotland to live with her father's parents, she's ripped away from everything she's known and found familiar. She's pretty upset about it until she runs into a gorgeous stranger in the woods by the name of Gavin. Things only get better when she makes an upbeat loyal friend who helps her navigate the perils of high school in Scotland ( read demons, lords, bullies, etc.)

Marren would be miserable if not for her every spotting of Gavin. There's just something different about him. Unwordly. Join Marren as she is thrust into a world her parents hid from her. Marren navigates through the paranormal with a little clumsiness, a little trust, and a lot of courage (also a lot of insta-love on her side.)

Marren started out as the stereotypical YA female who loses her parents and is shipped off to who knows where paranormal community. She instantly obsesses over said hot paranormal mysterious guy who is nice but then is all like STAY AWAY FROM ME IT'S DANGEROUS. Gavin, luckily, does not keep this up for long though, don't worry.

Side characters were adorable if not a little undeveloped. The bonds between Marren and her friends developed out of no where in my opinion (same can be said between Gavin and Marren, btw) and kind of left my head spinning.

The book was interesting but REALLY got interesting around half way through when Gavin and Marren travel to London. All the plot points after are just: BOOM BOOM BOOM. I couldn't put the book down!!

Overall, the only thing really lacking was the relationship between characters. The end of the book set up perfectly for the sequel and I NEED IT RIGHT NOW. PLEASEEEE!!

<b>DNF at %20</b>

I'm honestly so disappointed right now. I had really high hopes for <i>Toward a Secret Sky</i> and was so excited when I got the ARC, but from the first chapter I knew it would be a letdown. There were so many great reviews for this book and I cannot for the life of me imagine why.

The writing is juvenile and simplistic to the point of being condescending (like I don't know what drinking your tea 'black' means and need you to explain it...are you serious?) and I legit have <b>NO TIME WHATSOEVER</b> for a book that treats its readers like they're idiots. Even if I'd read this at 14 years old I would have found it juvenile.

The characters are one-dimensional at most and Maclean obviously did little to no research on Scotland before writing this since everything she describes is just Scot stereotype nonsense.

If you're 12 or enjoy your stories simple and stupid then by all means have at it but otherwise I'd not waste your time or money.

<b>Thank you to NetGalley and Blink for the opportunity to R&R</b>

Not awful but not great either. The plot lacked originality (angels/demons), some characters fell a little flat, could have used more world building, and I thought the way the angels/demons identify one another (seeing each other's breath, really?!) was a tad ridiculous. I think there was potential here for a good story but as is it was disappointing.
*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!*

We are at war. Anyone who tells you differently is lying.

We follow the story of Maren, a seventeen-year-old girl, whom recently lost her mother to a mysterious death. Having no immediate family left, she moves to Scotland, and lives with her estranged grandparents. From the beginning, we know that something otherworldly is at work. Strange dreams of premonitions assault Maren, and to her horror, come true.

Just when she thinks things can't get stranger, she happens upon a gorgeous man in the woods, who turns out to be an angel. The enduring stranger pulls Maren out of the foreboding shadow of her mother's death, and reinvigorates her curiosity. However, the undeniable and budding chemistry between them is forbidden.

As events ensue, death and chaos, wrought by the hands of demons, descends upon the small Scottish town. With the protective Gavin watching over her, Maven discovers mysteries about her parents' pasts, and unravels secrets of her own, in the battle between good and evil.

---------------------------------------------

I shouldn't say I was quite surprised with liking this book, because it interested me from the get-go. I will say that I was pleasantly surprised with how well it was written, and how enjoyable it was. I do feel it could have been a 500+ pager, as there were areas that were skimmed over, rather than discussed in detail. For many people, the information given may satiate their appetite for detail. I, however, am a detail hog, and felt that those bothersome areas should have been explored further. I could thoroughly dissect these areas, but will refrain to keep the spoilers at a minimum.

The overall pace of the read was steady. At times, I felt it to be rushed and choppy. There were several scenes which could have transitioned into the next more coherently. By no means am I saying the writing was bad, it is just a product of the fact that more was needed to make those transitions happen more smoothly.

Character Breakdown:

Maren: Along with her insta-love for Gavin, I had some issues with her character. She was relatively consistent when considering her emotions, and I felt for her at times. But her role changes drastically, and somewhat unrealistically at times. This is one of those areas where I believe the author could have gone into (much) more detail, in explaining more about her backstory, and how certain traits came to be. But, we must make due with what we are given. Almost immediately, we know there is something special about her because of the prophetic dreams she experiences. Then, the fact that she meets, and mutually falls in love with her guardian angel only increases her odds. However cliche the "unique" and "special" heroine is in today's young adult fantasy genre, it is a necessary attribute to when considering what is needed for Maren to overcome.

Gavin: A drop-dead gorgeous angel warrior? I tend to think of angels (especially warriors) as, well...terrifying? Call me a traditionalist. Anyways, I don't have much to say about him. He's kind, thoughtful, and predicatively protective. Out of his love for Maven, he pushes boundaries and risks everything for her safety: everything a guardian angel should do, and more.

Graham: I didn't foresee his role once he came on the scene--that's all I will say. I believe I enjoyed his character most, and the lesson that accompanied him: true nature cannot be disguised by propriety. Yes, he is a bona fide creeper, (and every other synonym close to the term appropriate to describe a rapist--which is basically what he is.) However, his face-value deception completely embodied everything that a demon is; cunning, ruthless, merciless, selfish...the list goes on. It is because of his subtle cunning that made his character work so well.

*One recommendation, don't get too attached to characters.

The ending is left open, setting the scene for a definite sequel. I'm looking forward to the next installment, to know how the tale ensues between Maren and Gavin.

(Unrelated and personal side note: I really wish something other than Maman had been featured as a significant symbol. I have a hard enough time just seeing spiders. I don't need them in my books, too.)

Vulgarity: none (YAY!)
Sexual content: some - We are discussing virginity-stealing demons here.
Drugs: Date rape drug is used for obvious intentions, but nothing more than that.

3.5 stars.

I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Overall this book was actually pretty good. The characters had depth. You couldn't help but feel for the main character for everything she has had to go through. The descriptions were very vivid so I was able to picture the places. I do plan on reading the next one as it is sorta set up for a sequel. However, let me say, if none of all that good had happened I would have stopped reading it for the instalove. Now I don't mind instalove I think it is cute when it is warranted but....oh so much but....this one was almost unbelievable. All of a sudden they were just in love. Like you didn't 'feel' that part between them. It was just magically there. I just wish that could have been better or this book have rated a few more extra stars.

DNF @ 90 pages

I made in ninety pages in before I just gave up. Skimming through the rest of the book only confirmed my theory – this book and I were not destined to have a happy relationship. Whilst Toward a Secret Sky has a fantastic premise – orphans, secret organisations, Scottish Highlands – the actual story was severely lacking. It reminded me of a less compelling Twilight with secret codes and angels and demons instead of vampires (ripping off The Da Vince Code and The Mortal Instruments simultaneously), but the same nauseating sense of insta-love and a special snowflake protagonist.

The writing felt underdeveloped and rushed – the reveals in those first ninety pages felt hurried and unconvincing. At no point was I invested in Maren’s character or her story. Instead of feeling sympathy for the death of mother I just felt bored – bored of her narrative, her experiences in Scotland, and her obsession with Gavin. We are simply told that Maren is cursed/unlucky and feels like an outsider, without any evidence to back it up – yes, her parents are dead and that is tragic, but many people lose parents, it doesn’t make you cursed or some kind of harbinger of death. Even though this is fiction it still needs to be convincing and I can't remember the last time I felt so unconvinced by a story.

Maren's interactions with Gavin had me laughing out loud with their idiocy – it is not logical to become obsessed with or fantasise about some guy you’ve just met because he’s hot, even less logical to find yourself wanting to kiss him, be with him, just be near him, even though he’s acted like an asshole, just because he’s hot. I’m not buying it; it’s a disservice to teenage girls to suggest that that is all they care about, that they are that shallow, especially when they have just experienced the massive emotional trauma and upheaval that Maren has. I’m actually fairly pissed off that this book didn’t live up to my expectations because it could have been so good.

I seem to be in the minority with this as the reviews are overwhelmingly positive, so I can only say it might be for you – there is always the possibility that the writing becomes more compelling and the plot more developed but I am not willing to find out. Maybe it is just me, maybe I’m too old or too cynical, but I sadly found no enjoyment in Toward a Secret Sky.

DNF at 68%

Oh how I WANTED to like this book. The blurb sounds cool, the cover is decent, and it started out great! I love Scotland, so that was a bonus. This should have been an awesome YA espionage novel.

.... And then it was ruined by adding angels and demons and instalove.

I like angels and demons just fine. I even liked Gavin when he was a cute, mysterious boy in the woods. But once the instalove hit, my eyes were rolling and I was groaning. (And I'm not even someone who hates instalove all the time! Just when it doesn't work - like here!)

The plot was all over the place. There was so much going on and a lot of it didn't seem to have to do with anything. Characters would disappear and reappear as it was convenient for Maren.

I don't normally review or rate DNF books, but at 68% I think I have a good idea of what this book is like. And for me, not good. I'm only giving 2 stars for the very beginning.

Middle grade/young teen readers might enjoy this one, but for those who are looking for a little more depth and cohesiveness for the story, this is a no go.

While skimming through books this cover caught my attention with its stormy sky, highland hills and secret emblem floating above what I consider to be Celtic lettering. With this said, I read the description; ping #1 for me was it looked to take place in Scotland, so I assumed it had the 'Scots humor' I adore, and hoped MacLean would be endearing readers to the rugged Scotland I've come to know. Ping #2- Secret International Organization= mystery and intrigue, right? Ping #3- twisted labyrinths and famous cathedrals. So far, before I even cracked a page, I wanted to read this book!

Cracking open said book, I can honestly say it's a page-turner. MacLean's writing hits each story beat perfectly, each chapter starts with a hook and ends with a hook, which in turn equals 'page-turner' a.k.a loss of sleep if you're reading at night.

MacLean hit on all my pings marvelously; it does take place mainly in Scotland with the secondary cast of characters weaving in the Scot's humor, vocabulary, and daily living nuances of uprooting to a new country. Maren's grandparents and new friends she makes help the readers understand what it would be like to suddenly find oneself in another country.

Maren, the 17 yr old who starts her story with the loss of her mom and immediate relocation to Aviemore, Scotland to be under the care of her grandparents, states the major differences between living in the US and Scotland succinctly with the large and small differences: language barriers, food choices, music availability, internet woes, phone challenges, etc. I love this, but then I'm an adult and have experienced US vs. the World differences in various countries.

Gavin, the hero of our story, is truly our hero as he does a lot of saving of Maren when needed, which is often. Gavin's character is a type of angel, but a very young one. He's also the hot Scot and we're first introduced to him while he's hunting in a kilt--great way to unexpectedly meet a hero, right? I found Gavin's role to be a bit of an enigma though. The more I read, the more I found Gavin's character to be confusing; in one scene he's more like a standard young man, then the next he's almost all knowing. I can understand that when it comes to romantic relationships this would be a new thing to him, being an angel in which MacLean explains Gavin has never been 'in love'; it seemed like Gavin was a little too much like the waves on the beach with his knowledge and lack of knowledge flowing in and out instead of a steady movement forward as the book proceeded. Maybe this is the authors way of explaining how confusing love can be? As for love, my favorite line regarding the attraction factor is from Maren: Forget I ever met him. Short of getting a lobotomy, I had exactly zero chance of succeeding at that.

As for the story line itself, I would explain it as Buffy melds with James Bond. We've got the supernatural, superpower element of good vs. evil and the international men [and women] of mystery who are licensed to kill. There's plenty of fast paced action mixed in with the underlying mystery of nightmares of foresight, disembodied screeching and in true Bond fashion, a cast of characters whom MacLean has no problem exterminating and replacing with new blood.

Overall, I give this a two thumbs up for it's great pacing, plotting, and story beats which carry the reader swiftly through the book. I believe the young adult readers will enjoy this, but fair warning, this is definitely geared for the female readers who love action and not so much sappy, wimpy high school love stories.

If you liked Thief of Lies by Brenda Drake then you will love Toward a Secret Sky. It had so many of the same vibes (and even a character named Gia!) Supernatural - human partnerships, different realms colliding, darkness and light battling, a uniquely gifted girl protagonist thrown into her destiny. What's not to like, huh?
The opening chapter roped me in with mystery, voice, plot, premise, and the pace remained steady throughout.
There were a few suspend beliefs moments for me, and a few plot holes. The story/plot development was not as developed as I like it to be, but I think this may be a result of being written for a younger side of YA.
The Scottish atmosphere, UK accents, references and language differences all made a pretty fun environment. There was a bit of the instalove romance between the two protagonists considering how many times they had met, but honestly, if I met Gavin, the same thing might have happened.
All in all, it was a fun read, lovely descriptions, and I think teens everywhere will adore it!

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

My review: First off a quick thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me this ARC.

This book caught my attention because of its beautiful an stunning cover. I love it so much. The summary sounded really intriguing because I'm such a sucker for a good romance.


This book is amazing. It has a great plot and amazing characters. I absolutely adore the authors take on demons and angels.


So we have our main protagonist, Maren. She's strong and brave, basically your average female protagonist. What I love about her though is that she has a "guardian." A guy that saves her. That may sound weird but let me explain. Most of the books being published now a days are with a female protagonist that saves herself and practically everyone else as well. And that's great and all, I'm a strong believer that we shouldn't be put down because we're female, but I really do like books where the female gets rescued by her love. Especially because the guy saving her is an angel and angels are the only one's that can kill demons (so at least there's a good excuse as to why the boy saves the girl.)


Then there's Gavin. He has to be one of my favorite characters. He's strong and determined. He seems like a jerk at the beginning but there is a good reason behind it!


There ware two things that I didn't really like about it. The first is that it's so sappy. I love romance, I can't stand a book without it. Throughout the book I found myself squealing giddily (which is a good thing for me.) But I also found myself cringing from how over dramatic some things were. I can't give an example because spoilers suck but this is defiantly a book for people who love romance and not a book for people who don't.


The second thing is that something's seemed forced. It might've been me but something's didn't seem like they flowed naturally.


I love the cliff hanger though and I'm really hoping there's going to be a second book.

For the majority of this book I thought I would for sure date it 5 stars. I was loving it and couldn't get enough. It seemed like a unique story; nothing like what I've read already. This book had me questioning all characters and wondering who could be a demon? Then, about the time Maren and Gavin are trying to save Hunter, I started to have questions about some of the plot lines. I needed more information to really understand. I kept waiting for those questions to be answered but I never got them answered. I still loved the book but because I didn't get all the information that I felt I needed, I had to bump it to a four star rating. Overall this was a great book with the potential for more and I really hope there are other books following this story line with Maren entering the Abbey to save Gavin.