Alternate Reality Giveaway: Angels and Demons

Welcome to the first discussion post for Veronica’s and my giveaway extravaganza! Today I’ll be talking about angels and demons in fantasy books. This is a huge passion of mine, and a subsection of the genre that I feel could be developed a lot more. I’m still waiting for my demon-focused trend to come around in YA!

There are three books that I’ll use as my examples today:

Cracked focuses on soul-eating demons and the knights templar (EPIC book, if you haven’t read it – it’s Crewe’s debut novel too!), Angelfall is about the apocalypse, brought on by warrior angels, and Ignite is also about angels, though of the fallen and turned into demons variety. So we have demons, half angel/half demons, and full angels. And all of them are BADASS. So allow me to, in six short paragraphs, explain why you should totally get into angels and demons, and why they’re some of my favorite to read!

Demons

I think the greatest part about having a demon as a main character, like in Cracked with Meda, is that you get a close look at the darker side of humanity. Media is unapologetic about her murderous ways, and it’s so fascinating to have those inverted morals during the narration. Plus, it gave her a lot of depth as she tried to grow and become a better person!

Now demons in general, whether they’re the main characters or the antagonists, are terrifying. I don’t like being scared, but there’s nothing that compares to the chills you get when there is a truly creepy creature in the book – think the first Throne of Glass book kind of creepy. If I ever feel like giving myself the heebie-jeebies, a simple answer is to pull out a demon-centered novel!

Angels

I’m not talking about angels as sweet, cherubic characters. I’m talking about formidable, dangerous, avenging angels. THOSE are the kinds of seraphs I’ll go for! My favorite example comes from Angelfall – Ee’s twist on the angels being the cause of the apocalypse was brilliant. It’s a militaristic presentation of the angels, and it gives so much opportunity for political unrest, and some rebellious under movements – both of which Ee incorporates into her series.

There are a million different (maybe that’s an exaggeration… but sometimes it feels like it) interpretations of angel lore, whether it’s full angels, half angels, humans with wings being called angels – you get the idea. I’m not so much of a fan of the watered down angels, just because when someone says “angel”, I imagine the armies of God – not super humans without wings (sorry Cassandra Clare). I’ll read them, but when I think of a true angel book, something like Angelfall is what comes to mind.

Half Demons, Half Angels

Now what happens when you mix the two? That’s when you find books like Ignite. The main characters are angels that used to be high in heaven, but followed Lucifer after his Fall and slowly morphed into demons. It’s kind of like the reverse of Cracked – the path from good to evil was yet another in-depth look at good and evil in humanity. I really loved seeing that dual personality and the dichotomy of their angelic and demonic natures.

This also makes me think of The Mortal Instruments, specifically City of Glass. *SPOILERS IF YOU HAVEN’T READ IT – HIGHLIGHT TO SEE* I haven’t started City of Fallen Angels, but I’m really interested in seeing Sebastian (I know he can’t possibly be dead) and Jace’s personalities develop more. Both being Nephilim and having the angel blood, but with Seb on the demon stuff and Jace on the angel ichor, I’m hoping that evil/good struggle will start to show up more! Maybe this is just me saying that I love books about good and evil, but with characters being half demon and half angel, that’s a pretty good shortcut to getting that them to come out! 

In Conclusion:

You all should totally read more angel and demon based books. You can find some great themes relating to the inherent villainy or inherent goodness of human souls, you get some amazing warriors or some terrifying foes, and with the mythology, it usually makes for a very solid story!

Spotlight on Ignite

As part of our giveaway, Veronica and I are offering one copy of Ignite by Erica Crouch to our runner up winner. Here’s some more information on the book – take a look!

Penemuel (Pen) fell from grace over a millennium ago, yet there are still times she questions her decision to follow her twin brother, Azael, to Hell. Now that the archangel Michael has returned, threatening Lucifer’s vie for the throne, she begins questioning everything she has always believed.

As Hell prepares for war – spreading a demonic virus and pilfering innocent souls to build an army – the lines separating the worlds blur. Fates erase and the future is left unwritten. Azael is determined that he and his sister will continue to serve as demons together, but for the first time in her life, Pen is not ruled by destiny. She has the freedom of choice.

With choice comes sacrifice, and Pen must decide which side she’s willing to risk everything fighting for: the light, or the dark.

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