Strange Angels

Dru Anderson has grew up knowing about "The Real World." With "the touch" she helps her dad hunt the things of nightmares and fairytales but suddenly she finds herself alone. The Real World reaches out and closes around her making her realize that she is more than she ever thought. She is a precious and dangerous rareity in The Real World, Dru can't trust anyone. On the run and constantly in danger, Dru shows that she is like most teenagers, confused about boys, surly, with some very special skills. I can't wait to see where Dru ends up next.

This book is a spine-tingling, nail-biting ride from the first word. Holy. Cow. I couldn't put it down. Dru is tough, courageous, and haunted. Graves is smart, funny, and loyal. And Christophe? Hmm ... I haven't decided if any of us should trust him yet.

This book has a breakneck pace. Some readers might want a bit of rest between action/tension/things going crazy-wrong. There was one action scene near the end that happened so fast, I'm still unsure exactly HOW it happened. Fair warning--there are action scenes, some graphic-ish violence, and language. It isn't overwhelming, and it's appropriate to the story, but might not be right for younger or more sensitive readers.

I loved this and can't wait to read more of this series.

Reader reviewed by Lia

Dru Anderson is used to many dangerous and impossible situations. She's been hunting creatures of the Real World with her dad ever since she can remember. But when her dad is turned into a zombie from a mission gone wrong, Dru is on her own. She finds unexpected allies as she tries to find her dad's killer because now he's after her.

First off I loved Dru's character. She wasn't one to sit on the sidelines while guys fought her battles for her. She was a strong independent character that doubted herself sometimes, only making her more realistic and likable. Graves was my favorite character because even though he was scared, he was always by Dru's side. This book had non-stop action with all kinds of supernatural creatures. The writing was engaging as was the plot. I finished the book in a day. The story was suspenseful, and I can't wait to read the next installment.

Reader reviewed by Ceaira

"Strange Angels" is an incredible book. I was not able to put it down once I started. It is captivating from beginning to end. So far, I have read the 3 books in the series and they have not been disappointing. Dru Anderson is a strong, independent girl who fights to live on a everyday basis. I strongly suggest reading this book, as well as "Betrayls" and "Jealousy" that come after it. You will not be let down if you are looking for an adventure.

Reader reviewed by Patty

Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow was a truly mesmerizing book.  The story revolves around Dru...who has a foot or more in what she calls the Real World.   She has been surrounded by mystery and almost madness for most of her life.   She and her father are hunters of evil.   This evil might include werewolves and sort of half werewolves and vampires and zombies.   This is the only life that Dru knows.   She has become sort of a seer and helper to her father.   She can sense things that are going to happen and this helps her father in his quest.  The sad side of Dru's life is that her mother is dead and she and her father literally live out of boxes as they move from one place to another...one rented house after another...as her father hunts.  Dru relies on her father and always knows that whatever he is doing...he will always come back to her...until one evening when his return is something quite unexpected.  Strange Angels is a truly exciting and absorbing book.

Reader reviewed by Steph B.

Just finished reading Strange Angels. I have to say it took
me longer then usual to read this book. It starts out with a spout of
action then seems to drag along until you get to the end. The story is
of a teenage girl Dru who goes hunting for things that go bump in the
night with her father. Right off the bat her father gets turned into a
zombie and Dru is forced to kill him. From there the story really slows
down and has random spurts of action. You do meet a couple other
characters like Graves but details on his history are vague. At times
it was hard to read because of it's choppy pacing, I caught myself
going back several times trying to figure out what I just read. To me
it seemed like the book didn't really start to probably the last third
of the book when you meet Christophe. I will probably read the second
book because I am curious about what happens to Dru and Graves. If you
can get past the slow development I think the second book will make up
for with hopefully more action and a smoother reading. If you like
Twilight there is a good chance you will enjoy this one.

Reader reviewed by Lizzy

This is going to be a fairly short
review, because I'm not really sure how to express my feelings about
this book. I was hesitant about reading this book after I read a few
reviews, but I picked it up anyway. I liked the sound of the premise,
so I thought "why not?".

I liked the book, and I definitely
sympathized with Dru. It sucks beyond all reason to become an orphan
and have to deal with the things that go bump in the night coming after
you. Personally, I know that I wouldn't be able to keep my cool, or
sanity, if my dad showed up at my door Zombie-ified.

While I
thought the beginning felt slow, I definitely felt myself get sucked
into the book after Graves befriended her. It felt like that was when
all the action really started, and things started coming after her.
When Dru finally started asking questions about what happened to her
father she met Christophe (a half-human, half-vampire), who has some of
the answers she was looking for. I'm personally a fan of Graves,
probably because he's the outcast. He is also trying to get by on his
own, and has developed some street smarts to get him through.

I'm
looking forward to the sequel, which promises to hold more action, and
some suspense. Of course, I'll also be reading it to see who wins in
Graves v. Christophe.

Reader reviewed by WilowRaven

Have to say, I was a little skeptical at first - Zombies? Monster
hunters? My first thought was, darn it, another cheesy horror book. I
was so wrong! Not in the least bit typical. Yes there are zombies, as
well as other baddies but the story is amazing! Some new twists on old
ideas. The action is fast paced with enough real life scenarios to hold
your interest. I really liked Dru's inter voice - funny at times,
always truthful. She is tough but isn't immune to the things that are
happening to her. She's scared but still spunky - she's lonely but
determined.

I feel in love with Dru's new found friend Graves. His friendship never
wavers even when faced with possible death at the hands of creatures
that previously had only existed, for him, in myth and legends.  For
Dru, battling these horrors are second nature. Her grandmother and
father have taught her well. But now, everything has changed. Her
grandmother is gone and her father failed. She knows she shouldn't
trust anything someone from The Real World tells her, but when the
mysterious Christophe appears, she has no choice.

 

I did not want this book to end! The sequel - Betrayals - is due out in November.

A great YA fantasy, action book - highly recommended.

5 stars.

Reader reviewed by Julie H

Dru Anderson and her father have spent a lot of time chasing things that most people don't know exsist, the things that "go bump in the night".  Dru's mother died when she was five and before travelling around the South Eastern part of the US with her Dad, she lived with her Gran in the Appalchias.  There, Dru learned a bit about folk remedies and the "touch" they shared, to be able to ferret out some of these evil beings.  Now, Dad has taken her up to the Dakatos, in the middle of winter, no less.  She's enrolled in another new school, where so far, her only friend is a Goth-like kid named Graves who sits in front of her in class.  It doesn't take very long in their new digs before one day, Dru's father doesn't return home from his beast hunting.  Dru turns to Graves for help.  Her father has left her well-trained and she comes off as very tough, but does she have the ability to keep them both alive? 
I would mention I feel this is for older teens. Definitely not all pretty like Twilight.  I know it's done as a plot device to show how tough Dru is, but she swears alot (there is more than occurrence of the f-word) and she drinks Jim Beam (alone, in her kitchen).  This is only tempered a bit by Graves inisistence that they return to school and not skip!  He wants his GED so he can go on to college and make some real money.  You know what they say about the best-laid plans... By the end, I decided I am definitely looking forward to the next book in the series, called Betrayls, out in late fall.

Reader reviewed by Jessica

"Strange Angels" tells the tale of rough and tough Dru Anderson who has always stuck with her father, hunting down the creatures which are part of the Real World. Everything has been alright until one night when Dru is alone, and a zombie attacks the house, looking for her. Shocked to find that the zombie is actually her father, Dru is forced to take care of him like she has with every other monster they have come across.

Thinking she is safe, Dru befriends Graves, a goth boy without any true friends. The pair of them team up and explanations slowly are given to Graves about the real world as more and more attacks from different creatures are targeted at them. As the mystery of Dru's past and her mother unfold, she finds out that what she had once known and clung to was a lie, and that her family puts more the just the "fun in dysfunctional," per Dru's own words.

In a shocking and lighting paced tale, "Strange Angels" is exciting and thrilling, leaving the readers at the edges of their seats as they read more and more about what is to come of Dru and Graves. A true science fiction/fantasy novel with the twist of vampires, "Strange Angel" will keep you reading until the end, and leave you begging for more.