MY REVIEW:
Breath of Angel, book one of The Angelaeon Circle series by Karyn Henley is a fantastical tale about angels, immortals, nephilim, shapeshifters, sylvans, dwarves, and the mere mortals who interact with them. Featuring Melaia, a chantress who witnesses a violent murder and soon finds herself pulled into the ancient blood feud between the evil immortal Rejius and his brother Benasin. Melaia soon learns that the legendary songs she has sung her entire life have more truth in them than she ever imagined and that everything she knew about herself was about to change.
While not an epic fantasy in the tradition of such greats as Lord of the Rings or Chronicles of Narnia, Breath of Angel is nevertheless an interesting and entertaining tale. I might have wished for a bit more description of the settings but I was nevertheless able to imagine them fairly well. More character development would also have been nice to help the reader become more invested in the story. Hopefully we will learn more about Trevin in Eye of the Sword.
A tale of loyalty, bravery, and sacrifice, Breath of Angel teaches some valuable lessons about life as it entertains. I would recommend it for most teens. It would probably be a great summer diversion.
This book was provided for review by Blogging for Books a service of the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
The stranger’s cloak had fallen back, and with it, a long, white, blood-stained wing.
When Melaia, a young priestess, witnesses the gruesome murder of a stranger in the temple courtyard, age-old legends recited in song suddenly come to life. She discovers wings on the stranger, and the murderer takes the shape of both a hawk and a man.
Angels. Shape-shifters. Myths and stories—until now.
Melaia finds herself in the middle of a blood feud between two immortal brothers who destroyed the stairway to heaven, stranding angels in the earthly realm. When Melaia becomes a target, she finds refuge with a band of angels attempting to restore the stairway. But the restoration is impossible without settling an ancient debt—the “breath of angel, blood of man,” a payment that involves Melaia’s heart, soul, and destiny.
Click here to download chapter one of Breath of Angel.
Praise for Breath of Angel
“Karyn Henley spins a lyrical young-adult tale of mythical and legendary beings, of reimagined angels and terrifying malevolents, in a small kingdom where the world’s fate rests on a young priestess’s shoulders.”
—Kathy Tyers, author of Shivering World and the Firebird series“Karyn Henley’s novel starts with a jolt, grabs the reader by the collar, and doesn’t slow down one minute. This author infuses her text with imagery, suspense, and a cast that will appeal to all ages. In addition, it has a feeling that I can only describe as “folklorish,” with all the best elements that come with that—music, magic, and mystery. I think it’s destined to become a classic.”
—Kathi Appelt, author of The Underneath, National Book Award finalist, Newbery Honor Book, PEN USA Award“This lusciously written fantasy has it all: epic battles, earthbound angels, immortal humans, and a bright, engaging heroine. Henley’s young priestessturned-warrior is forced to put her past together like a jigsaw puzzle with pieces so sharp they cut. Her story is nearly impossible to forget, so readers will be eager for more!”
—Louise Hawes, author of Black Pearls: a Faerie Strand, AAUW Juvenile Literature Award nominee; Gold Award, Hall of Fame, teensreadtoo.com
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Award-winning author Karyn Henley has written over 100 titles, which include a mix of children’s books and articles, parent-teacher books, articles, and curricula, and preschool musicals and CD’s/DVD’s of original music for children. An accomplished songwriter, Karyn has been a Dove Award nominee, and received a regional Emmy Award as Music Composer for a Christmas television special. She has traveled worldwide speaking to parents and teachers and entertaining children and their families in storytelling/active movement sessions and concerts.
A graduate of Abilene Christian University (BSEd), Karyn received a Master’s of Fine Arts degree in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts in 2004. She lives in Nashville, Tennessee.
