A Temptation of Angels

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Author(s)

Michelle Zink

Publisher

Dial Books for Young Readers

Genre(s)

Paranormal

Age Range

12+

Release Date

March 20, 2012

ISBN

0803737262

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Even angels make mistakes in this page-turning epic romance...

When her parents are murdered before her eyes, sixteen-year-old Helen Cartwright finds herself launched into an underground London where a mysterious organization called the Dictata controls the balance of good and evil. Helen learns that she is one of three remaining angelic descendants charged with protecting the world's past, present, and future. Unbeknownst to her, she has been trained her whole life to accept this responsibility. Now, as she finds herself torn between the angelic brothers protecting her and the devastatingly handsome childhood friend who wants to destroy her, she must prepare to be brave, to be hunted, and above all to be strong, because temptation will be hard to resist, even for an angel.

Even angels make mistakes in this page-turning epic romance...

Editor reviews

2 reviews

A Strong Heroine in a Paranormal Romance...How Refreshing!

November 18, 2012

Overall rating

3.3

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On the surface, this book was poised to frustrate me endlessly: a special snowflake heroine with violet eyes, the murder of parents, angels, and a love triangle. Actually, though, Zink dealt with most of these in a manner that I deemed perfectly acceptable, so, if you've been considering this book but unsure, you may want to give it a go.

Angels have not been my favorite subset of paranormal fiction by any means. Too often they serve as a platform by which the author can serve up their religious viewpoints to unsuspecting young readers. Thankfully, A Temptation of Angels ranks with the grouping of angel fiction that makes no attempt to say anything whatever about religion, along with Daughter of Smoke and Bone, which I read earlier this week.

Though I obviously liked her omission of any real look into where the angels precisely came from or who they were working for, I would have appreciated a bit more elucidation into how the Keepers function on earth. Having finished the book, I'm not entirely certain what normal operations as a Keeper entail. What really boggles my mind, though, is how they come into being. I really couldn't get a handle on any of this from the few mentions they got. For once, I would have liked more infodumping.

What I really appreciated about A Temptation of Angels was Helen, and the way the boys treated her. Though I didn't initially think too much of her, she grew on me. She refused to let herself be left behind or ignored. The boys bossed her around much of the time, but only because she really didn't know what she was doing. If she picked up a needed skill, she would be accorded respect for that. When she had a better idea, they listened to her. Unlike so many YA boys, they did not view her as lesser solely for being a woman. Though she does spend a lot of time being lifted and caught, I suspect that, down the road, she would build up her strength and no longer require or accept that help. As a heroine, Helen was constantly growing, unwilling to be anyone's dependent, which is a wonderful message for teenage girls.

Yes, there is a love triangle, but I do need to give Michelle Zink props for not adding Darius into the mix. Things would have been so much worse had she been torn between Darius and Griffin as I initially feared. The triangle between Griffin and Raum made more sense, given that she had feelings of slightly different natures for the two, which could be complicated and nigh indecipherable to an innocent sixteen year old, new to the world of romance. In fact, were it not for the instalove, which grows naturally enough but in too short a time span (just a couple of days), I would probably be pretty okay with how all of this went down, especially since Helen was in control of herself throughout and making her own thoughtful decisions.

Zink's writes well, so far as sentence structure goes, which was another plus. I didn't however get a sense of the time period, and was surprised to note that it was a historical several chapters in. Perhaps that's my own failing, but, even once I knew, something about the book read as modern for me, though I really could not say why. The story does have the slower pace of most historicals, so beware of that.

For those who dearly love paranormal romances and can bear another instalove love triangle, Michelle Zink's novel will likely not disappoint. Even I, tired as I am of instalove, thought Zink's novel was quite enjoyable.

Christina Franke, Staff Top 10 Reviewer 677 reviews

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User reviews

5 reviews

Overall rating

3.6

Plot

3.4(5)

Characters

3.6(5)

Writing Style

3.8(5)

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Hobbitsies Reviews: Very interesting story, a bit meh romance

May 14, 2013

Overall rating

3.3

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A Temptation of Angels by Michelle Zink was completely different than what I was expecting. The concept was super interesting and I really enjoyed the fast paced story, although I never really connected with the characters.

I think it's super hard to create an original and interesting story involving angels lately, but Michelle Zink totally did it with style. I loved the idea of Keepers and the wraiths and the light jumping and all the various things that went into the angelic beings that Michelle Zink presented us with.

And A Temptation of Angels is action packed. Even though it's like 400+ pages, it actually goes by pretty quickly and it starts off with a bang too. There were some parts that a dragged a little but overall, the story was interesting.

I was a bit meh on the characters and romance though. Well, mostly the romance. I liked Griffin at first, and I liked Raub at first too, but then when the love triangle started appearing, I wanted it to stop.

Because the only boy I wanted her with was, of course, the one who would never be involved with her. SIGH. And also it was a bit too quick in my opinion, but I think things were a bit different in the time period A Temptation of Angels took place.

I was also a bit disappointed by the lack of setting. A Temptation of Angels took place in LONDON. YAY LONDON. But for the first 300ish pages, the story basically rotated between four different settings with no major descriptions of London, which made me a bit sad.

But, despite my qualms about the romance and the lack of setting description, I did enjoy the originality and quickpacedness of A Temptation of Angels by Michelle Zink. I'll definitely be picking up the sequel, if there will be one - anyone know?

Tara Gonzalez Top 100 Reviewer 68 reviews

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Hobbitsies Reviews: Very interesting story, a bit meh romance

December 21, 2012

Overall rating

3.0

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A Temptation of Angels by Michelle Zink was completely different than what I was expecting. The concept was super interesting and I really enjoyed the fast paced story, although I never really connected with the characters.

I think it’s super hard to create an original and interesting story involving angels lately, but Michelle Zink totally did it with style. I loved the idea of Keepers and the wraiths and the light jumping and all the various things that went into the angelic beings that Michelle Zink presented us with.

And A Temptation of Angels is action packed. Even though it’s like 400+ pages, it actually goes by pretty quickly and it starts off with a bang too. There were some parts that a dragged a little but overall, the story was interesting.

I was a bit meh on the characters and romance though. Well, mostly the romance. I liked Griffin at first, and I liked Raub at first too, but then when the love triangle started appearing, I wanted it to stop.

Because the only boy I wanted her with was, of course, the one who would never be involved with her. SIGH. And also it was a bit too quick in my opinion, but I think things were a bit different in the time period A Temptation of Angels took place.

I was also a bit disappointed by the lack of setting. A Temptation of Angels took place in LONDON. YAY LONDON. But for the first 300ish pages, the story basically rotated between four different settings with no major descriptions of London, which made me a bit sad.

But, despite my qualms about the romance and the lack of setting description, I did enjoy the originality and quickpacedness of A Temptation of Angels by Michelle Zink. I’ll definitely be picking up the sequel, if there will be one – anyone know?

Review originally posted on my blog http://hobbitsies.net/2012/03/a-temptation-of-angels-by-michelle-zink/

Tara Gonzalez Top 100 Reviewer 68 reviews

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More MG than YA

October 19, 2012

Overall rating

3.3

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A Temptation of Angels by Michelle Zink
Release Date: On Shelves NOW!
ARC received from Michelle Zink and Dial Books
Reviewed by: Middle Sis Jenn
The Sisters Say: Alluring and Charismatic

Thank you to Michelle Zink and Dial Books for this book and the pretty bookmark. I just love the cover---her eyes are gorgeous and draw you right in!
Before I had my baby boy, I taught 8th grade Literature and all the students had to read novel outside of class each six weeks. It was supposed to be something they would enjoy, and I found, that like me, many of my female students loved paranormal romance novels and they always wanted to know what book they should read next. However, middle school libraries are very strict with what books they will purchase; so many of the ones I had read would not have been found in our library. But A Temptation of Angels would have been perfect for them as it was more middle grade than YA. Michelle Zink creates a fun paranormal world, full of good and evil, angels and demons, love and betrayal.

So…I’ll start with what I enjoyed. I was sucked in from Chapter 1 when Helen’s parents are killed and she is sent to Griffin and Darius. I loved the mystery surrounding the murder and the mystique surrounding both of the brothers. (I do wish I would have known how old everyone was—somehow that was left out and I felt like it should have been a big deal). I really loved how Griffin became attached to Helen-wanting to protect her.

Their relationship was probably the best part of the book. I love the small innuendoes that Griffin would put out there about wanting to be closer to her an enjoying their bodies flushed up against each other. While I wanted more romance (and far more details), I will say that the romance was perfect for a middle grade book (like I had mentioned earlier). I was sweet and subtle, with many romantic kisses, but nothing beyond that. I do hope that the next books step up a bit on the steamy romance, though.

The blurb talks about Helen being caught between Griffin and Raum (the childhood friend), and that was something that really drew to want to read the book. I love books where there is a good “bad guy.” There was so much potential here, and I did like Raum, but I wish there would have been more of him. I wanted to find myself screaming, “Who should she choose??” But, I found myself strictly in the Team Griffin territory because there wasn’t enough intensity between Helen and Raum. I’m crossing my fingers that there will be in the next installment.

I enjoyed the world that Michelle set up, although I wish there would have been more details about the world and less about Helen’s normal, everyday actions. I found myself wondering about the time period—it was obviously in the far past (like the 1800s) because it was inappropriate for Helen to be seen holding hands with Griffin. Plus, she had to take a bath in a basin in her room. But, beyond that, there wasn’t much detail about the world. I would have loved to have seen more into the reality around Helen. On the other hand, there were too many details about Helen’s simple actions—walking from place to place, hiding in corners, etc. I felt that the book could have easily been 50 pages shorter without all the extra simple details.

Overall, this was a fun and quick read that I know the younger YA crowd would enjoy. Personally, I like more steam and more fierce action that what was there, but I still enjoyed the relationships and idea of the world. I would recommend this book to anyone who has a younger teenage girl who enjoys paranormal romance books.

Jennifer Howard McCoy Top 50 Reviewer 108 reviews

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lacking

May 17, 2012

Overall rating

3.7

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I enjoyed reading this book but i think it is a bit predictable.

Helen wanting revenge, falling for one of the brothers, someone dying and so on...

It was a bit of a drag and i hope it has a sequel or something because the end was a bit lacking to me.

But, i still liked it.

Kenny Top 100 Reviewer 48 reviews

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Sexy Victorian Steampunk Lite with Angels!

May 04, 2012

Overall rating

4.7

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I thoroughly enjoyed this read. Looking forward to more!

Good Points

A worthy and enthralling read. I loved the atmosphere of Zink's Victorian London setting and the mythic, angelic underbelly. Although wingless, these angels, assigned as Keepers of the Earth and by nature, protectors of humanity, must face a greater evil than they know while tracking down an unknown killer among them.

This is the first angel book I've read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. What a great introduction and a great read. Thank you, Michelle, for writing a compelling and intricate story that tugs the reader along and remains elusive, like smoke at the beginning of each chapter.

I would recommend this to anyone, and appreciate the fact that while it was edgy and sexy, and for Helen, it was surely a temptation to be surrounded by so many choices, there was nothing gratuitous and inappropriate as well. A younger reader could enjoy this as well without concern.

I look forward to the next books in this series (please be more than one), and I am also eager to read the Prophecy of the Sisters series as well. Sorry I am coming late to that party, Michelle. Fortunately, I did come. A lovely story. I can't wait to see where you go next, although I have a few suspicions.