Review of "Dark Halo"

Rating: 4 Stars

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Review:  The final installment of Shannon Dittemore's "Angel Eyes" trilogy is aptly titled "Dark Halo." It is the darkest of the three novels, with the Prince of Darkness himself making appearances with lies and bargains.  At times, the plot is as chilling as the icy blue eyes on the cover.  Dittmore packs spiritual lessons into her story, but her use of action and imagery keeps the book from ever feeling preachy.  Tension is at an all-time high in "Dark Halo" as the angelic army battles the demonic army above Stratus. There are some much needed lulls in the action as mysteries from the previous novels are solved, with some surprising realizations. 

"Dark Halo" chilled me more than "Angel Eyes" and "Broken Wings." It is a culmination of the forces of darkness and light, with fear and temptation showing even more strength.  While darkness is a strong opponent, light and love prove even stronger.  Brielle's struggle with her celestial vision reaches a pinnacle in the final novel. While it allows her to see the beauty of faith and worship, it also reveals to her the disturbing images of suffering.  As is often the case in real-life, the bad often overshadows the good - in our minds and in the media.  Dittemore directly connects the common emotions of fear and temptation to evil.  It is a theme that weaves throughout the trilogy, even more tangibly in "Dark Halo."  The demons that are present throughout the series are formidable and overtly evil.  But the Prince of Darkness hides his evil behind beauty.  Both he and his promises are alluring and disguised to trick the mind. Dittemore saves the earthly manifestation of the Prince of Darkness until the final novel, when Brielle's emotionally and spiritually exhausted.   Although Brielle has seen the beauty of angels and the strength of faith, she finds her defenses weakened to temptations that will destroy her life. The Dark Halo is a weighty reminder of Brielle's encounter with the devil and her struggle to resist his promises. 

Shannon Dittemore compels readers to take the seemingly supernatural events of her "Angel Eyes" novels and compare them to reality. "Dark Halo" concludes the series with a message of promise and the impetus to fight darkness and conquer the barriers that try to hide true beauty.

I received a complimentary e-copy of this novel from Thomas Nelson. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed above are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Summary from Thomas Nelson: One halo brought sight to Brielle. Another offers sweet relief from what she sees.

Brielle can’t help but see the Celestial. Even without the halo, the invisible realm is everywhere she looks. It’s impossibly beautiful—and terrifying, especially now. Because a battle rages above Stratus, Oregon.

The Terrestrial Veil is ripping, and demons walk the streets past unseeing mortals. Dark, sticky fear drips from every face, and nightmares haunt Brielle’s sleep.

Worst of all, Jake is gone. The only boy she’s ever loved has been taken by the demon, Damien. When she receives instructions from the Throne Room leading her to Jake, she unknowingly walks into a diabolical and heartbreaking trap.

Now she’s stranded in a sulfurous desert with the Prince of Darkness himself, and he’s offering her another halo—a mirrored ring that will destroy her Celestial vision. All she has to do is wear it and she’ll see no more of the invisible world. No more fear. No more nightmares. No more demons. It’s a gift. And best of all: it comes with the promise of a future with Jake, something the Throne Room seems to be taking from her.

Will Brielle trade the beauty of the Celestial and the truth of the world around her just to feel ordinary again?

Review of "Broken Wings" by Shannon Dittemore

Rating: 4.5 Stars

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Review:  "Broken Wings" is the anticipated second novel in Shannon Dittemore's "Angel Eyes" trilogy.  Dittemore employs more powerful imagery in "Broken Wings" and digs deeper into the celestial realm of angels and demons.  There are scenes that I can only describe as chilling, and sometimes I had to limit my reading to the daylight hours versus bedtime. From the first scene, set in the dark depths of Abaddon, a sense of foreboding begins to thread its way through the pages. The forces of evil are stronger and more prevalent, but the heavenly forces also make their presence more visible. The once quiet town of Stratus is soon a battlefield in the war of good versus evil.  Lurking danger and lingering mysteries drive the plot forward until an ending that leaves me anxious for the final novel in the series.  

Dittemore's characterization of fear was particularly powerful in "Angel Eyes."  Fear remains a tangible and pervasive weapon of evil in "Broken Wings." Through Brielle's eyes, Dittemore shows how quickly fear can overtake and paralyze us and spread to others.  We are all engaged in our own personal battles with fears, but the "Angel Eyes" trilogy shows it in a new perspective.

Like with "Angel Eyes," I found myself pulled into the lives of Brielle and Jake and the challenges surrounding them. Dittemore adds new dimensions to Brielle's relationships with her father and Jake. There is more insight into Brielle's background and her deceased mother. While some questions are answered, new mysteries arise, awaiting a resolution in the next book. Brielle's faith is new and definitely tested in "Broken Wings."  Although Brielle is gifted with Celestial vision and has witnessed the glory and power of angels and the decay of demons, she still questions God's ultimate plan.  Her doubts make her a real and relatable character; and the reader can learn with Brielle that even humans with "broken wings" can fight against the negative forces in the world. 

I highly recommend "Angel Eyes" and "Broken Wings" to young adults and adults. They are equally engaging reads with romance, action, and depth.  

I received a complimentary e-copy of this novel from NetGalley, courtesy of  Thomas Nelson. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed above are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Summary from Thomas Nelson: Angels with wings of blade. Demons with renewed sight. And a girl who has never been more broken.

Brielle has begun to see the world as it really is, a place where angels intermingle with humans. But just when she thinks she’s got things under control, the life she’s pieced together begins to crumble.

Her boyfriend, Jake, is keeping something from her. Something important.

And her overprotective father has turned downright hostile toward Jake. Brielle fears she’ll have to choose between the man who’s always loved her and the one who’s captured her heart.

Then she unearths the truth about her mother’s death and the nightmare starts. Brielle begins seeing visions of mysterious and horrible things.

What she doesn’t know is that she’s been targeted. The Prince of Darkness himself has heard of the boy with healing in his hands and of the girl who saw through the Terrestrial veil. When he pulls the demon Damien from the fiery chasm and sends him back to Earth with new eyes, the stage is set for the ultimate battle of good versus evil.

Brielle has no choice. She must master the weapons she’s been given. She must fight. But can she fly with broken wings?

Read an Excerpt:

Review of "Angel Eyes" by Shannon Dittemore

Rating: 4.5 Stars

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Summary from Thomas Nelson: Once you’ve seen, you can’t unsee.

Brielle went to the city to chase her dreams and found tragedy instead. She’s come home to shabby little Stratus, Oregon, to live with her grief and her guilt . . . and an incredible, numbing cold she can’t seem to shake.

Jake’s the new guy at school. The boy next door with burning hands and an unbelievable gift that targets him for corruption.

Something more than fate has brought them together. An evil bigger than both of them lurks in the shadows nearby, hiding in plain sight. Two angels stand guard, unsure what’s going to happen. And a beauty brighter than either Brielle or Jake has ever seen is calling them to join the battle in a realm where all human choices begin.

A realm that only angels and demons—and Brielle—can perceive.

Review: Angel Eyes is an exciting debut novel by Shannon Dittemore that will leave readers eagerly anticipating the sequel.  You definitely don't have to be a young adult reader to enjoy the characters, plot, and message.  Like popular mainstream fantasy novels, Angel Eyes transcends age boundaries with an action-packed plot and appealing characters.  Dittemore blends these elements with a strong Christian message that is unique and thought-provoking without being preachy.  Vampires and wizards are replaced by angels and demons in the classic, but very real battle, of good versus evil.  

Although I am typically drawn to historical fiction novels, I do enjoy fantasy novels like Harry Potter and The Hunger Games.  Angel Eyes certainly ranks with those books, and I was drawn into the plot from the beginning.  There are plenty of danger and action-sequences to keep the story moving along, but there are also introspective moments that provide dimension to the plot and its characters.  Dittemore tells the story from the perspectives of two teens, Brielle and Jake, as well as an angel and a demon.  Each character offers different insights into the "Terrestrial" world and the "Celestial" world.  The demon's perspective was the most disturbing and slightly graphic of the four, but clearly illustrated the poisons of greed, hatred, and fear. 

Dittmore's depiction of fear is particularly relevant to readers since it is something that most of us deal with to some extent daily.  Whether or not events in the Celestial realm play out like they do in Angel Eyes, the novel provides an illustration of how our human weaknesses can be turned into instruments of evil.  Just like Jake and Brielle, we engage in battles of good versus evil daily whether mentally, emotionally, or physically. Reading Angel Eyes, opened my eyes to the fact that something as ordinary as fear can spread, multiply, and lead us down the wrong path. This message is important for young adults facing the pressures of growing up, but it is equally important for adults. 

Angel Eyes is a story about faith, wrapped in a covering of a fantasy-action novel.  The beginnings of a love story also flow throughout the plot, providing a respite from the fighting and danger.  But it is all of the elements together that make me ready for the second and third novels.
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I received a complimentary copy of this book from LitFuse through their book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed above are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

About Shannon: Shannon is a wife and mother. A sister. A daughter. A friend. She was raised in Northern California by her parents-pastors of their local church and constant figures of inspiration.

As a youth, Shannon traveled with an award-winning performing arts team, excelling on stage and in the classroom. As a young adult, she attended Portland Bible College, continued acting, and worked with an outreach team targeting inner-city kids in the Portland-Metropolitan  area.

It was in Portland that she met her husband, Matt. They were married in 2002. Soon after, they took the reins of the youth ministry at Living Way Community Church in Roseville, California where they continue to serve in that capacity. In October of 2004, their son Justus was born, followed by their daughter Jazlyn, born in 2008. 

Find out more at www.shannondittemore.com

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