Halo

Halo
By Alexandra Adornetto
Published by Feiwel & Friends

Ever since the vampire craze hit all the genres of the local bookstores, I had been wondering when someone was going to tackle the subject of angels. Now with this novel as well as Hush, Hush and others, angels have become the next romantic figures of fiction.

Halo is written for teens but, like such thrillers as the Twilight Series by Stephanie Meyer [ The Twilight Saga Complete Collection ], it is perfectly acceptable to be read by adults.

The book begins by setting up a Christian quest by three angels who are brothers and sisters. I never did figure out how they are siblings but since this is only the first book of a series, I suppose that will be revealed in books two or three. Somehow they are watchers for the coming evil and are meant to hold back the darkness in some way. However, the youngest angel just can't help falling in love even though she knows that it is against the rules. The focus of the book really is the budding romance between the two young persons and the danger it puts both of them in when evil begins creeping (in the form of another good looking boy/devil) into the small town of Venus Cove where they now reside.

There are awkward scenes from high school, superficial hints of the afterlife, and plenty of gorgeous young men and women to drool over. The angels must keep their identity a secret and at the same time do their best to protect human kind. One scene that caught my attention is the visit by the three angels to the local Roman Catholic priest not long after they arrive. The priest's first response on seeing them is: "Thank God you are finally here!" No one else seems to see them for who or whose they really are.

However, don't expect a huge Christian message to be conveyed by Alexandra Adornetto. I found much of the angelic knowledge shared by the three angels, Bethany, Ivy and Gabriel to be more of the Left Behind world [Left Behind Series Hardcover Gift Set (Books 1-6)] than Biblical understanding. I found it interesting that they don't seem to have any feeling for humans, much less love. In Halo, falling in love is less about breaking the rules than acting human rather than spiritual. I have a really hard time in equating that kind of world view with the messengers of the God who loved us enough to send God's only son to save the world through eternal life.

This book is worth a good afternoon's read or perhaps something light on a vacation. Don't go looking for any insights into God's messengers. Perhaps it will get you to look twice at others who just might be angels living among us.

Happy Reading!

Amelia

Copyright 2011 Amelia G. Sims