Reading at Dawn - Book Review Blog

Halo had been on my to-read list for some time, so when I finally snatched up a copy, I was very happy to get the chance to read it.

Blurb from Goodreads: Three angels- Gabriel, the warrior; Ivy, the healer; and Bethany, the youngest and most human- are sent by Heaven to bring good to a world falling under the influence of darkness. They must work hard to conceal their luminous glow, superhuman powers, and, most dangerous of all, their wings, all the while avoiding all human attachments.

Then Bethany meets Xavier Woods, and neither of them is able to resist the attraction between them. Gabriel and Ivy do everything in their power to intervene, but the bond between Xavier and Bethany seems too strong.

The angel’s mission is urgent, and dark forces are threatening. Will love ruin Bethany or save her?

The good: Halo is beautifully written, and the Romeo and Juliet style story (which is perhaps a little obvious in it's allusions), is alluring and left me with a gooey feeling. I love a good romance, and while the angel/demon paranormal aspect of Halo is important, it really feels like a romance at heart. The characters' relationships form slowly, creating a sense of believability that a lot of YA romance lacks. Bethany is an appealing protagonist, especially as her naivety puts her in some interesting situations. As for Xavier... other than being perhaps a little too perfect, he's very likable, and I couldn't help rooting for him the whole way through.

The not-so-good: This is a long novel. Not necessarily in word count, although it is 484 pages, but in terms of actual story. The real conflict in the story doesn't actually start until over half way through the novel, when another character is introduced. I feel like the novel could have been a third shorter at least, even though the slow start does play on the relationship of Bethany and Xavier. The fact that the novel ends on a cliffhanger only compounded my feelings on this, because I was left wondering if the next novel could have been combined with this one in order to provide a more conclusive ending.

Overall: Halo may not be the best novel for anyone who wants an action driven, fast paced plot, but it is a great read and the characters and their relationships make it worthwhile. 7 out of 10 from me.