Review: Archon

Archon: The Books of Raziel
by Sabrina Benulis 

Hardcover

368 pages
Published December 27th 2011 

by HarperCollins Publishers

Summary:

Angela Mathers is plagued by visions of angels, supernatural creatures who haunt her thoughts by day and seduce her dreams by night. Newly released from a mental institution where she was locked away for two years, she hopes that her time at the Vatican’s university, the West Wood Academy, will give her a chance at a normal life. Unlike ordinary humans, Angela is a blood head — a freak, a monster, the possible fulfillment of a terrifying prophecy of overwhelming death and destruction. Only in Luz, the Vatican’s wondrous enclave, are blood heads accepted and encouraged to discover what kind of powers or special abilities they might possess.

But within West Wood, a secret coven plots, and demons and angels roam the streets searching for the key to open Raziel’s book — a secret tome from a lost archangel. Some are determined to destroy Raziel, while others, like the beautiful Supernal Israfel, one of the highest of the high, wish to free him. And when the Archon — the human chosen to possess the spirit of a dead angel — rises as foretold, they will control the supernatural universe.

Torn between mortal love and angelic obsession, Angela holds the key to Heaven and Hell — and both will stop at nothing to possess her.

Thoughts:

I'm not even sure what genre does this book falls into. Is it horror? Gothic? Religious? Eventhough the main protagonist is a teen, I don't think this should qualify as a YA. Why? It is too complex with lots of violence and religious references that made my head swirl eternally while reading it. There should be some brief explanation in front or maybe a family tree with all the angels, demons and jinns names in it. Yes there are so many of them in this, it's hard to keep track of what's what or who's who.

Likes

But really with the layers of complexity and depth, I rather enjoyed the writing style of the writer. Her intense description of the dark and mysterious state of the island Luz gives me chill by reading it's creepiness. Sometimes I'm even reminded of Stephen King's earlier writings while reading this. The writer has a talent for pulling you in deeper and deeper into the mystery and although I have an inkling who Angela will be in the end, but I really want to know the why and how's of it.

And despite all the religious elements, the concept is very interesting as the angels in this book are both the source of impending doom and saviour. All the characters in this book seemed to have their own agenda and apparently everyone is evil in one way or another.

Dislikes

A novice who sleeps with a student? Goodness me. Yes the sexual moments are rather unsavoury and improper for younger readers. So please read this with caution. They are not explained in detail and you only get a glimpse of it but it's there.

I have rather mixed feelings about this one. I rather enjoyed it but it's very dark and depressing. But it's rather nice to read something so different once in a while.

Recommended for: fans of gothic horror

Verdict: 4 stars.

In my TBR Pile & Dusty Bookshelf  Reading Challenge
Available on: Amazon