Shadows in the Silence

July 1, 2013

Gr 10 Up-This final installment in the trilogy opens with Ellie desperately trying to save her beloved angelic guardian, Will, from the only poison that can affect him: demonic reaper's venom. The resolute heroine teams up with Cadan, the third side of Ellie's love triangle and half brother to Will, to heal Will before the trio sets off to travel the world and hunt down the one relic that will enable Ellie, actually the archangel Gabriel reincarnated as a human teen, to stop the apocalypse. Throughout the series, Ellie is torn between protecting her loved ones, trying to live a normal teenager's life, and playing the role of Preliator in the constant battle against evil. Moulton successfully builds Ellie and Will's star-crossed love to a memorable status; they are perfect for one another, yet the fates are hostile. But Ellie's two worlds do not merge seamlessly. In an attempt to tie up loose ends, the author concludes this Bible-based fantasy series with an odd science-fiction spin that isn't quite effective. Fans will find the overly complex plotline and blood-spattered battle scenes typical, but will be gratified by characters that are more sustaining than usual in this genre.-Jamie-Lee Schombs, Loyola School, New York City

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 15, 2012
This conclusion of the Angelfire trilogy takes readers to Armageddon. Ellie actually is the Archangel Gabriel, apparently female and currently incarnated in Detroit as a teenage girl. Reincarnated many times, Ellie loves Will, her angelic guardian, although he ranks far lower on the heavenly scale than an archangel. After 500 years of unrequited love, Ellie and Will finally consummate their relationship, a decision that lands Will in serious trouble. Their earthly task is to defend humans from demons and to defeat the fallen angels Sammael and Lilith, thus ridding Earth of their evil and saving every human soul from Hell. To effect this, Ellie searches for a powerful relic that will call the angel Azrael for assistance. She learns that if she succeeds, she may never return as a human and even may die. Can Ellie bring herself to sacrifice not only her eternal life, but also her love in order to save the world from damnation? Moulton's prose moves along fairly quickly as she intersperses action-packed battle scenes, each more impossible than the last, with romance, family relationships and a few friendships from the earlier books. The lead and supporting characters come across as standard-issue romance heroes: strong and pure, with emotions, though a few of the minor characters stand out. Of a piece with the rest of the angel books--fans will be happy. (Paranormal romance. 12 & up)

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