ARC Review: World After (Penryn & the End of Days #2) by Susan Ee

Waiting for this book to come out tested my patience in more ways than one. And when it finally came out? It's what I expected and more.

Title: World After (Penryn & the End of Days #2) by Susan Ee
Release Date: November 1st 2013
Published by: Hodder & Stoughton
Source: Publisher
Buy: Amazon | Book Depository

Summary:

When a group of people capture Penryn's sister Paige, thinking she's a monster, the situation ends in a massacre. Paige disappears. Humans are terrified. Mom is heartbroken.

Penryn drives through the streets of San Francisco looking for Paige. Why are the streets so empty? Where is everybody? Her search leads her into the heart of the angels' secret plans where she catches a glimpse of their motivations, and learns the horrifying extent to which the angels are willing to go.

Meanwhile, Raffe hunts for his wings. Without them, he can't rejoin the angels, can't take his rightful place as one of their leaders. When faced with recapturing his wings or helping Penryn survive, which will he choose?

Angelfall managed to surprise me when I read it the first time and World After just sustained that feeling of wanting to get more out of the story. The first book ended in a cliffhanger of sorts, and World After immediately picks up where Angelfall ended. If you were breathless after reading the first book, then I suggest you hold your breath a little more because World After plunges you in another suspense filled, adrenaline pumped story.

I did not expect much from Penryn in this story, my only wish was the consistency in her character as the heroine, but she struggled in a lot of new ways that made me feel sad at times and surprisingly, events in this book showed a different side to her. Readers knew about her devotion and love for Paige, but what if Penryn herself started to doubt that the child with them is not her sister anymore? The dynamics between her small family, with a seemingly lunatic mother and a sister who isn't the same as before changed as they started adopting to the world, and I was so interested to see how Penryn coped with her new reality. I was impressed with how real she felt. That struggle, that doubt that slowly crept inside, the fear, and that deep rooted love for her younger sibling.

The world is still as merciless, dangerous and gritty as it was, and through Penryn's eyes we see what life is like after the world collapsed. What's left of humanity is unkind to Paige, and it's not unwarranted. Everyone is on edge because in the world after, one wrong move and one can lose his life. I can't even begin to describe how much of a hard life it was for Penryn and the rest of the survivors and I liked how it was put into contrast with how easy things were for those who lead them. Penryn's very sanity was put to the test with the things she saw and experienced while on her quest to find Paige. It was horrifying, and though I give applause to the author for making it so, it is shocks me whenever I remember it. Also, where does Penryn's mother fit in the story?

I will admit, one of the reasons why I was determined to read this book was the anticipation I had for that moment when Raffe and Penryn will see each other again. But as always, nothing was easy for Penryn, and she had to go through a lot finally get a chance to meet Raffe. It was one of the defining moments of the novel that took my breath away. Believe me, you will not be disappointed. I was so glad that the familiar tension and attraction between Raffe and Penryn was still there, if not more palpable and obvious. We get to see more of Raffe's past through his sword and know more about Penryn's feelings for him, which was a joy to know because they both kept on guessing what each other felt. The anticipation for their eventual meeting and teaming up again to fight their way through the World After was nothing compared to what happened afterwards! It was, in all sense, so wonderful, romantic, sweet and despite the situation they're in, funny at times.

Susan Ee is just an incredible writer. There has been a slew of disappointing follow-ups for successful first books in anticipated series but the author managed to be consistent with her writing and giving us more of what we expected to happen. It's not just about Raffe getting his wings anymore, it's about saving what's left of the world after it was destroyed. World After paved a good way for the next book in the series, and if you're like me who is extremely satisfied with this installment, readers will be eagerly anticipating the next book. World After is one heck of a read! When you feel pity and sadness for Penryn, Paige and their mother, you will be thrown in a part of the story that'll make you feel scared and shocked and as if those weren't enough, you feel all sorts of warm feelings you shouldn't be feeling whenever Raffe and Penryn cross paths. Just when you thought nothing will faze you in World After, the developments towards the end of this book left me wide-eyed. Wow.

Amazing flow of the story, great pacing and consistent writing from Susan Ee. I want more!

My rating:

Content (plot, story flow, character):

I had to pause and take a deep breath after I've read the last page of this book. I can't believe it ended that way!

Stunning: Worthy of a Goddess' Praise!

Book Cover:
Those wings! I love it!

Angelfall by Susan Ee Feature + Giveaway!

AHA! You think we're finished with Dystopian Domination 2? No!

Today we have a fabulous author whose book created massive waves last year, with her HIGHLY impressive debut! Welcome Susan Ee as our last author for the Dystopian authors leg for our blog event. After this, watch out for the Apocalypsies!

Follow Susan: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Susan Ee is the author of Angelfall (Penryn & the End of Days, Book 1). Her short stories have been in various publications including Realms of Fantasy and The Dragon and the Stars anthology. She is also a filmmaker whose latest film played at major film festivals and on cable TV stations throughout the U.S. She studied creative writing through workshops at Stanford, The Iowa Writers' Workshop and Clarion West.

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I bought, read and reviewed Angelfall in my blog a few weeks ago and here's an excerpt if you are interested:

"Susan Ee presents the readers a new face of the apocalypse. Dangerous, dark to the point of hopelessness. The author was able to draw a dreadful and horrific landscape, a great backdrop for a great set of dynamic characters and very engaging storyline.

I can't really put it into this words but Angelfall is one of the best books I've read in 2011, hands down. It brought back my faith in self-published books, seeing how well-made this one is.

There's tons of action, spine-chilling scenes and heart aching romance. And the plot will just wow you into oblivion. Angelfall will sweep you into a tide of emotions, excitement, fear, hope, love. Susan Ee will make you feel a roller coaster of emotions as she takes you into one astounding ride of a story."

Read the rest of my review HERE.

Angelfall (Penryn & the End of Days #1) by Susan Ee
Add Angelfall to your Goodreads list!

It's been six weeks since angels of the apocalypse descended to demolish the modern world. Street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night. When warrior angels fly away with a helpless little girl, her seventeen-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back.

Anything, including making a deal with an enemy angel.

Raffe is a warrior who lies broken and wingless on the street. After eons of fighting his own battles, he finds himself being rescued from a desperate situation by a half-starved teenage girl.

Traveling through a dark and twisted Northern California, they have only each other to rely on for survival. Together, they journey toward the angels' stronghold in San Francisco where she'll risk everything to rescue her sister and he'll put himself at the mercy of his greatest enemies for the chance to be made whole again.

You can buy the Angelfall ebook for $0.99 via Amazon or Barnes and Noble!

GIVEAWAY TIME! WIN AN EBOOK OF ANGELFALL!

I know you want to! Come on, a fabulous book for free? Want!!! Just fill out the form below and answer the question to make sure your entries count.

Answer this question: If you were an Angel, who would you be and why?


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Review: Angelfall (Penryn & the End of Days #1) by Susan Ee

Amazing.

Fascinating.

Title: Angelfall (Penryn & the End of Days #1) by Susan Ee
Pages: 235
Release Date: May 21st 2011
Published by: Feral Dream
Source: Bought
Buy: Amazon

Summary:

It's been six weeks since angels of the apocalypse descended to demolish the modern world. Street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night. When warrior angels fly away with a helpless little girl, her seventeen-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back.

Anything, including making a deal with an enemy angel.

Raffe is a warrior who lies broken and wingless on the street. After eons of fighting his own battles, he finds himself being rescued from a desperate situation by a half-starved teenage girl.

Traveling through a dark and twisted Northern California, they have only each other to rely on for survival. Together, they journey toward the angels' stronghold in San Francisco where she'll risk everything to rescue her sister and he'll put himself at the mercy of his greatest enemies for the chance to be made whole again.

I will be honest. I wasn't expecting this book to be as well written as it was. But the moment I've read the first paragraph, I know this book will win me over even before I finish chapter one. And it did! The end of the world came and the ones we think will save us brought about Mankind's downfall and destruction in this Post Apocalyptic book. It's about Angels, but not in the way you think it would be.

Penryn had to do what she can for the sake of her family's survival. Because that's what matters in the world at that time. Surviving in a world where either the gangs or the Angels will kill you. The six weeks that led to the apocalypse and destroyed the world has made a warrior out of a seventeen year old girl. The stubborn will to live on, a strong sense of family and love for what's left of it is what made Penryn a character that the readers would love to read. She can be fierce and catty when needed, but she can also just be a teenage girl missing her disabled younger sister. Vulnerable but strong, that is Penryn.

It was easy to figure out just who Raffe is, but that cliched part of the story can be easily overlooked when you take into account the amazing portrayal of Angels Susan Ee made in Angelfall. They certainly weren't sent to Earth to save but to destroy. They're more of a foe than a friend. They're cunning, powerful, frightening, selfish and violent, basically going against all the qualities used to described these winged creatures. But Raffe is intensity personified. A warrior who has fallen from grace but desperate to get back on his feet. He's arrogant and excruciating, a bad boy through and through. But Raffe is different in one sense. He has begun to question the plans the one Above has for the Angels.

Susan Ee presents the readers a new face of the apocalypse. Dangerous, dark to the point of hopelessness. The author was able to draw a dreadful and horrific landscape, a great backdrop for a great set of dynamic characters and very engaging storyline. Combine vengeful Angels with cannibals (mostly children) and demons then you have one heck of a book! But it doesn't stop there. Scene after scene of continuous heart racing action will greet the readers until you can't get enough. It's a race against time for Penryn's sister's life and for the future of a world, a chance to be rebuilt from what it has become. What made me frightened of this book is the cruelty for humans. We consider ourselves superior in a lot of ways, but what happens when we become the prey instead of the hunters? The desperation to live to the point that one will do anything just to put food into the mouths of those starving, for security, for a better life is palpable.

I can't really put it into this words but Angelfall is one of the best books I've read in 2011, hands down. It brought back my faith in self-published books, seeing how well-made this one is. I wish more people would know of this book, because every single minute you'll spend reading it is worth it. There's tons of action, spine-chilling scenes and heart aching romance. And the plot will just wow you into oblivion. Angelfall will sweep you into a tide of emotions, excitement, fear, hope, love. Susan Ee will make you feel a roller coaster of emotions as she takes you into one astounding ride of a story. Honestly, a book this good should be priced more than 99 cents!

My rating:

Content (plot, story flow, character):

WOW.

Stunning: Worthy of a Goddess' Praise!

Book Cover:

Gorgeous!