I enjoyed the majority of this book. It wasn't amazing, but I was entertained. The whole finale though, (starting at the time one of the characters embarks on a quest), I thought was pretty weak, and I disliked it much more than I liked it. Poor character decisions, circumstances swerved so negative for a while it felt like a horror novel or something rather than a romance, the bad guys seemed especially one-note evil, some kinda lame "revelations", changes in magic that felt like they were pulled out of a hat, events just seeming particularly unlikely. So it ended on a sour note for me. But it was okay otherwise okay (a fair mix of good and bad), that I'm still giving it 3 stars overall. ( )

Well, now I am worried. If Gena is going to be using the AotD series to preach her religion, I'm not going to read the series. I just hope that LotU doesn't go this route! If Gena keep going for the Christian-inspired romance, I'm done.

This book was just way too prosthelytizy. I mean, given the steaminess of her other books, it feels weird that there are like two sex scenes that come at the end of the book and only after the couple is married. And they're super super vague! No actual descriptions of sex happen in the book, just vague references to it.

The book is clearly just a vehicle for talking about god. The whole message is about the importance of faith - and unbelievers are punished. Laila has too much fear and not enough faith in "The Most High and His Divine Brilliance And Love And Perfection, etc etc" so she dies. All of the battle scenes and messaging about demons, it's all about preaching Christianity. So disappointing. If I want to be preached at, I will read specifically Christian romance - which is what this should be shelved under. I won't be reading more of this series (unless someone tells me the next isn't preachy) and I can only hope she doesn't ruin LotU by using it as a platform to push her religious views on her readers.

Also, honestly, her world-building here has just gone haywire as well. The end, with Nicola becoming a Sent One, seems random and poorly explained or justified. There's a lot of moments when I felt like she decided she wanted to make a point and reconstructed the world to fit that, rather than having things develop organically based on the way the world had already been designed. I guess there are just a few things that felt manufactured or forced or lacking context... Not sure how to explain it really, just some stuff felt flat. ( )

In this Angel series I noticed while there is a love story the "heat" has been turned down a bit. Can't say that I don't enjoy it. A refreshing change so that you get more of the love story and the bonding of the Sent One and his mate.
Koldo....I love the thought of this big, bad warrior being "brought to heel" but a tiny fragile woman. One who shows him true strength using love, forgiveness, and respect. He might have been sent to protect her and help her heal but as anyone who loves knows, love heals all who feel and cherish that love.
Nicola, admire the fact with all that she has been through she can still find the beauty in life and the world. Her twin, Laila, is giving up and yet she won't let it drag her down or give up on her sister. From the sounds of what Koldo is physically most folks would probably run the other way yet all she could see was his beauty and heart. (Slight nod at the "don't judge a book by it's cover" lesson there Mz. Showalter?)
Now there were some very interesting things revealed about other characters we found in the LOTU series...William the Ever Randy, who would have thought that would be his secret? (Won't spill the beans on the grounds that's something that you need to discover for yourself, and what it does to your perception of William) Axel...who is he and just what is his deal? Also the sighting of Kane in NYC...what is that foreshadowing...more Lords visiting this series?
So yes, this more a story of the angst of falling in love and trying to be worthy of the love than a hot romance with action.
( )

Traumatized angel/sickly human, all kinds of preachy you reap what you sow, let go hate message. Small flashes or mentions of char from Lords of Underworld
( )

Well, now I am worried. If Gena is going to be using the AotD series to preach her religion, I'm not going to read the series. I just hope that LotU doesn't go this route! If Gena keep going for the Christian-inspired romance, I'm done.

This book was just way too prosthelytizy. I mean, given the steaminess of her other books, it feels weird that there are like two sex scenes that come at the end of the book and only after the couple is married. And they're super super vague! No actual descriptions of sex happen in the book, just vague references to it.

The book is clearly just a vehicle for talking about god. The whole message is about the importance of faith - and unbelievers are punished. Laila has too much fear and not enough faith in "The Most High and His Divine Brilliance And Love And Perfection, etc etc" so she dies. All of the battle scenes and messaging about demons, it's all about preaching Christianity. So disappointing. If I want to be preached at, I will read specifically Christian romance - which is what this should be shelved under. I won't be reading more of this series (unless someone tells me the next isn't preachy) and I can only hope she doesn't ruin LotU by using it as a platform to push her religious views on her readers.

Also, honestly, her world-building here has just gone haywire as well. The end, with Nicola becoming a Sent One, seems random and poorly explained or justified. There's a lot of moments when I felt like she decided she wanted to make a point and reconstructed the world to fit that, rather than having things develop organically based on the way the world had already been designed. I guess there are just a few things that felt manufactured or forced or lacking context... Not sure how to explain it really, just some stuff felt flat. ( )