Review: Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow

Title: Strange Angels
Author: Lili St. Crow
Genre: Young Adult
Release Date: 05/14/09
Summary:

Dru Anderson has been “strange” for as long as she can remember. She travels from town to town with her father, hunting the things that go bump in the night and eat the unwary. It’s a weird life, but a good one -- until it all explodes and a zombie busts into her new house.

Alone, terrified, and trapped in an icy town, Dru’s going to need every inch of her wit and training to stay alive. Can she trust the boy who is just a little too adult -- and just happens to get bit by a werwulf? Or the strange blue-eyed boy who tells her she’s heir to a long-forgotten power? Can she even trust her own instincts?

Because Dru is not the first in her family to be killed by the darkness of the Real World. The monsters have decided to hunt back -- and now Dru has to figure out who to trust, who to fight, and when to run. And not incidentally, she has to figure out how she’s going to get out of this alive.

And she has to do it by sundown, or it’s all over...

Plot: 3.5 Stars
My favorite part of this book was the scary factor. Whether it be zombies, werewolves, or vampires, they were all frightening. And the paranormal creatures had interesting twists that set them apart from other novels. There were definitely a lot of twists and turns in this novel that completely took me by surprise. I just wish the ending had had a bit more action. It seemed like the book had been revving up for a crazy showdown, and the ending didn't quite live up to that. But the ending definitely leaves you wanting the next book without being a cliffhanger.

Pace: 2.5 Stars
This was one of those books that falls into that dreaded slump around two-thirds of the way through. The beginning of the book comes at you really fast and hooks you within minutes, but the pace definitely starts to slow down once you've been hooked. It seemed like Dru spent a little too much time thinking things through or complaining or reminiscing, instead of actually doing them. There were also certain phrases that she used that really stuck out and seemed a little weird and forced, and because of that, Dru's overuse of them really stood out.

Characters: 3 Stars
Dru was a very interesting character. I loved that she was tough, but also felt fear when the moment required it. Too many young adult protagonists aren't frightened of the monsters when any normal person would be. It helped make Dru feel more real. I wish we could've learned more about Dru's parents. It felt like we were shown they're habits and told how they would've reacted, but we don't really learn that much about them.

Cover: 3 Stars
I love shiny covers because they really catch my attention. But this cover is a little too dark to be so shiny. From many angles, you can't really see much of the image. If the actual image were a little brighter or had more contrast, it would hold up more underneath the shine. But other than that, the cover is great. The model chosen is exactly how I pictured Dru. Stark was a very interesting character, and I definitely hope to see more of him in the next book.

Overall: 3 Stars

Disclosure: I bought this book for my own enjoyment.