Raziel by Kristina Douglas (The Fallen #1)
Paranormal Romance
January 25, 2011
Paperback, 384 Pages
Pocket
Reviewed by Mandi
Raziel is the first book in the Fallen Ones series by Kristina Douglas (pen name for Anne Stuart.) It has a bit of a slower start – or maybe just went in a direction I wasn’t expecting. Allie Watson is an author writing old testament murder mysteries. When she steps off a curb late for a meeting, she gets hit by a bus. Fallen angel Raziel is waiting to collect her. When the archangel Uriel tells him it is time to deliver a soul, Raziel must attend. But Allie is not headed for heaven (although you find out she really is a good person). When the flames of Hell start to envelope her, Raziel has a moment of insanity and pulls her out. But to him, flames are poison and he instantly becomes sick. Although Allie has no idea who this man is or what happened to her, she knows he saved her from the flames, and for that she begs for help.
They soon are both in Sheol where the Fallen live. The deadly Nephilim are hunting the Fallen, but have never found their way to Sheol, until now. The wards and gates are keeping them at bay for the moment, but no one knows how long that will last. The Fallen’s goal is to find Lucifer, knowing he will lead the Fallen in a fight against Uriel, but they have searched for a millennia never being able to find him.
In this world, the Fallen are cursed – they must drink blood from the Source, currently a woman named Sarah who is mated to the alpha angel Azazel. The angels live on and on, only able to die from flame or beheading. The women, who have all came to Sheol mated, live a longer life than humans, but are not immortal and they can’t have children. The Fallen are cursed to watch their women die. The other half cursed are the Nephilim, those cursed to eat flesh and these two groups are enemies. The supreme being has given the Fallen a chance to live, as long as they serve Uriel. But that doesn’t stop the Nephilim from hunting them every night.
Allie finally realizes she is dead, and now must explore this new place she is living in. No one trusts her, and most want her returned to Hell where she was suppose to end up. Raziel doesn’t want to become mated to another human, knowing the devastation it can cause when they pass – but he is fighting his destiny. And Allie might play a bigger role in his existence than anyone can imagine.
I enjoyed Allie. At times she comes really close to crossing the line into a heroine who is too sarcastic, but she always seems bring herself back and I ended up really liking her more spunky personality. She accepts she is dead, but she doesn’t always accept what the Fallen angles have in store for her. She pushes their boundaries – especially Raziel’s and it is fun to watch him give it right back to her. Getting his point of view as well, we really get immersed in the Fallen world and how difficult their life has been.
The romance is kind of slow, but by the end I was definitely satisfied. I actually like that things are not rushed – especially with all of the life changes Allie has to go through. She goes from plain author, to dying, to living with scary Fallen angels in a very short amount of time. I also loved the fact that she was headed for Hell and how she easily accepts that. Although she might not trust Raziel completely, or really know what her fate will be regarding the other angels, she knows Raziel will keep her safe. She lives a very matter of fact existence.
“I want to go back.”
”You can’t.”
”Why not?”
”You’re dead.”
”Crap,” I said. And reached for the champagne.
The ending is pretty predictable, but the book still leaves me wanting to know more of what is to come in the future. This is a nice start to a new paranormal romance series.
Rating: B-
Recent Reviews
Paranormal Haven – 3.5/5
Black Lagoon Reviews – 3.5/5
Goodreads
The Fallen:
Raziel
Demon – May 31, 2011
Purchase Links:
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Ooh, I've been wanting to read this one. Thanks for the review! :D
I've heard the "slow start" comment more than once, that would be the only reason I would hesitate on this book…the cover is smokin' hot and might make up for that…LOL
Thanks Mandi!
This is an eye-catching cover. I love reading about fallen angels so this is already on my to buy list.
I read another review of this just last night in which the reviewer found Raziel too rude/cold so didn't buy the relationship as much. Did you feel that way? I think that's just how Anne Stuart (aka Kristina Douglas) writes all her alpha characters though.
I def love Anne Stuart's colder heroes…however, Raziel seems to be much more on the tamer side. He definitely is NOT a witty, charming guy – he is moody and pushes her away because he doesn't want to get attached to a human..but the attraction is present from the start..and worked for me.
I have not thought much about this one, cos I am such a wicked cover lover. And the freaks me out standing there all weird
Hmmm…I'm on the fence with this one. Some aspects sound like my thing and others not so much. I'm not liking that from the short excerpt you provided, that this book is told in 1st person. Plus, the world sounds complicated. Generally I love complicated but this one sounds difficult complicated….I'm thinkin' that I might wait for book two to release before I make my decision about this series.
Thanks for the great review Mandi!
Great review Mandi, but I'm like VFG, the world sounds too complicated. Along with blood drinkers, flesh eaters and the heroine is dead. Sure we're not talking zombies here. And Raziel doesn't want to be mated to a human again, but Allie is dead!
I am passing on this series. Too many other writings I must read.
I love Anne Stuart. (She spit ice at me once) and her stuff is always wonderfully dark. But do I detect first person narrative???? AAAHHHH…
How many series titled The Fallen can the book market stand? The cover also looks like every other series about fallen angels out there.
That being said, I do love Anne Stuart, so I'll probably feel compelled to try this book.
Raziel and I didn't get along too well. He was just such an ass but I did like the book. I'm thinking that since all the intro stuff was done for the series in this book that the 2nd one will be more enjoyable.
Stephanie G
Paranormal Haven
Blodeuedd – LOL..I like the cover!
VFG – There is a lot of world building..I will have to let you know how the second book goes…and yes…1st person. Which took awhile to get into.
Artemis – There are a lot of books out there! LOL.
Beth – um..wow! LOL. Yes…1st person..took awhile to get into it.
Heidenkind – If you read it, lemme know what you think.
PH – I def hope bk 2 will be better..I was surprised to see who it is about.
Nice review, Mandi. Hmmm, I'm not sure if I want to read this one. I've been on the fence for a while now.
I'm attracted to the angel storyline, but I also was a bit turned off when I heard this was a pseudonym of Anne Stuart. She's very hit or miss for me.
And now to find it's First Person…I just don't know.
But it does seem interesting…
See how irritating that is? That's how I've been since I heard it was coming out.
LOL..I would say you better wait to see how book two is…Raziel seems like a more tamer hero than the Anne Stuart historical guys – but it sounds like you are def iffy! :)
Is the series just going to follow those two characters or will it move on to other people?
No..each book is a new angel.
Cool, thanks for letting me know. :)
Although it started slow for me too, I ended up enjoying it. I loved the resistance from Allie and Raziel and how they drove each other crazy w/ lust but wouldn't admit it. ha. I look forward to the rest of the series!