I don't have a great deal to say about 'Angel Fire', because it's been a while since I've read it. It's an action-packed and highly emotional sequel to 'Angel #1', picking up right where that piece of passionate angel fire left off.
Stakes are much higher than they were before, and I'm not just talking about character relationships.
Despite 'Angel Fire' being 709 pages long, I zipped through it all in four days, so fast-paced and uncomplicated the writing is. I can't really think of any parts that could have been edited out and nothing in the story or character development would change.
There are POVs of Willow the half-angel heroine, Alex her angel hunter boyfriend, Seb the new boy who is also a half-angel, and Raziel the villainous business angel. These different viewpoints give the story much more depth than it surely would have had if it were told from Willow's perspective alone.
The rural settings, such as in New Mexico, are wonderfully written, and they add tension to scenes - especially those set at night with danger lurking in every corner. Everything is always moving forward in 'Angel Fire', and new settings are exciting to explore along with the squad of characters on a mission to save the world from angels.
Of course, since this is YA and a second book in a trilogy, there is the dreaded love triangle. Or a love square if you include Alex's childhood crush Kara. And of course it can get annoying, but it doesn't get in the way of the overall angel terrorism plot, which is a relief.
And when reading from Seb's perspective I didn't hate him as much as I thought I would before picking up 'Angel Fire'. He is sympathetic, and thinks about his "soulmate" Willow's feelings and considers she already has a boyfriend. He has seen her in his dreams all his life and is convinced she is the only other half-angel in the world, therefore they should automatically hook up. This is nonsense: Both the so-called impossible existence of half-angels and the being-in-love-because-both-persons-are-the-same-species. Other than the obvious, what do they have in common, after all? Seb has an interesting background as well.
Concerning the love triangle, there was a moment towards the end where I was inwardly screaming at the pages "NO NO DON'T DONT! YOU'RE NOT HELPING ANYONE OR ANYTHING!!!". It has to do with the BS cliche of hurting the one you love to protect them - this is seen in so many films and TV shows. Emotional and mental hurt and trauma can cause more harm than the physical kind, writers!
Miraculously, however, in the case of 'Angel Fire' it actually makes sense, and no characters were derailed as a result. So while it was infuriating to read, it did get me more anxious to know how the book would end.
It ends very well, and I didn't hate any of the characters. The only thing is: Willow has some growing up to do. I like her, but there is only so much angst I can tolerate, even from a teenager realistically and passionately in love, and whose family is missing.
'Angel Fire' - A cool and exciting second part in a book trilogy. The writing is as good as in the first book, with many memorable and human characters who go out and do stuff as much as they say and feel stuff.
I do hope that Willow becomes stronger and more self-reliant in the third novel, which I am counting on to be an epic end.
Final Score: 4/5
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