Thursday, November 3, 2011

Archon-Sabrina Benulis

Archon


Sabrina Benulis

Harper Voyager, Dec 27 2011, $22.99

ISBN: 9780062069450



Having spent two years in an asylum, Angela Mathers remains haunted by angels. Her only respite from the nightmares is her paintings that depict the dark visions that have possessed her mind for years.



Although she knows as a blood head with her dark red hair, she can never be normal; she hopes to find relief from her gloomy dreams as a student at the Vatican's West Wood Academy on the isle of Luz. However, instead some insist she is the prophesized reincarnation of the dead angel Raziel expected to arise as the Archon tool of the Angels to change the world and most likely eradicate mankind. Angela is attracted to Kim, which turns raging witch Stephanie into her enemy. Neither woman is aware of Kim’s dark secret.



This is an entertaining gothic young adult fantasy starring an intriguing heroine whose vivid visions of the world has displayed by her art will remind readers of paintings by Bosch and Munch. As the only developed character (though more background would have helped), Angela keeps the too chaotic story line somewhat focused in spite of too many changing viewpoints. Still Sabrina Benulis paints an extremely grim apocalyptic world in which angels possess a different value system than humans.



Harriet Klausner

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