Monday, March 26, 2012

Immortal City by Scott Speer

Release Date: 3rd April, 2012

Publisher: Razorbill

Pages: 336pgs

The Story

Jackson Godspeed is the hottest young Angel in a city filled with them. He's days away from from becoming a full Guardian, and people around the world are already competing for the chance to be watched over by him. Everyone's obsessed with the Angels and the lucky people they protect - everyone except for Madison Montgomery.

Maddy's the one girl in Angel City who doesn't breathlessly follow the Angels on TV and gossip blogs. When she meets Jackson, she doesn't recognize him. But Jackson is instantly captivated by her, and against all odds the two fall in love.

Maddy is swiftly caught up in Jackson's scene, a world of glamour, paparazzi - and murder. A serial killer is on the loose, leaving dead Angels' wings for the police to find on the Walk of Fame. Even the Guardians are powerless to protect themselves in the face of this threat . . . and this time it's up to Maddy to save Jackson.

The Review

A big thanks to Penguin Australia for sending me a review copy of this book!

Even though I was looking forward to reading this book, but in all honesty I still wasn't expecting anything fantastic from it . . . partly because of angels being the main theme and partly because they're becoming a not-so-new popular trend in the young adult market. However with all expectations aside and eating my own words, for this new upcoming author, Scott Speer, I certainly give him many high praises for this novel because he knows how to entertain his readers and quite frankly - to my surprise - this is the best angel book I've ever read in my life. Seriously. It is.

IMMORTAL CITY is the first book of the series and it tells the tale of where angels are literally worshipped by 'ordinary' people (just like you and me) and like all famous people around the globe from the glitz and glamour to the reality shows, they're considered celebrities. But unlike your average angel tale where angels are unknown and hide their identities in secret, in this new and freshing take on the genre, angels are instead paid for their protection services by wealthy citizens and it's considered an honour to be protected by an angel, a Guardian Angel. While everyone is swooning and squealing over SaveTube or are sighing over the hottest and youngest angel in the city, Jackson Godspeed, Maddy on the other hand couldn't care less and when the hottest angel of all and your 'average' teenage girl meet in the strangest circumstances . . . everything changes for them both and the world.

The greatest element of the book was the characters and I just loved every single thing about them - the frustrations they experience, the emotions they feel, the lives they live . . . all of it. I immediately took the liking to Maddy's character in particular, the main heroine of this story, because she's living the simple life, appreciates what she has in that life of hers rather than dwell on her misfortunes and is for the majority of the book unfazed by the Angels within the city. In other words, she's different from most girls. Without needing too much effort, her character was probably the easiest to relate to and she soon became someone I wanted to learn more and more about. Her innocence, her strength, her maturity of most situations . . . I can definitely see many readers loving her also. But then there's Jackson Godspeed, the hottie on the block and whom happens to be the hottest angel in the city. Much like Maddy's character and judging by that awesome name of his, Jackson Godspeed (isn't it an awesome Captain American-like name?) was such a fantastic character and he was just as easy to love as Maddy was. Sure, this Jackson of ours had a large ego of himself but he's basically a celebrity in this book and while a large ego can distract a reader at times, but in this case he was the shining star of the novel and when both of these character's - Jackson and Maddy - lives collide, sparks begin to fly off them and pretty much from then on . . . everything else is a goldmine for me.

If you haven't already noticed my profound love spreading across this review, I can tell you straight off that I'm deeply in love with this book. This review could go on and on - it could you know. This author right here, Scott Speer, is clearly one of those great authors that comes around so unexpectedly and possesses a wonderful talent to pull off something so cliche but mold it into something of his own right. I just couldn't get enough of this world he pulled me into and it actually gave me high hopes for the future of angel novels coming our way. So thank you for that dear author.

Overall, there was never a dull moment in this book and rest assure there is a million love hearts floating above my head as I write this because for once in an angel story, the mythology and the stories of where these celebrity angels came from - the histories and origins behind them all - were so original, detailed and interesting that it took the angel world to a whole new level of EPICness. IMMORTAL CITY is everything you want in a young adult novel. From the glamorous world of the elite immortals to the thriller mysteries that will send you flying on a fast-paced romantic whirlwind, this debut novel is definitely something you sure wouldn't want to miss out on and it has definitely has earned its shiny 5 gold stars from me! It deserves it!

The Rating

5/5 stars

22 comments:

  1. I am so very very very very very (I could go on like this) jealous. Want to read and review this book so bad. You sharing your thoughts about it...and the fab rating make it even worse lol.
    _yay_ @
    BookthatThing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There's not enough praise for this novel. Loved it and hope you enjoy it!

      Delete
  2. Erin! oh wow! 5 stars!! YAY! I soo desperately want to read this , I have begged ..errr... well asked Tina, so hopefully fingers crossed. I don't know that it is, but I just wanna read this book, bad! I love that there was not a dull moment for you and millions of love hearts are floating about....well now I must cross my toes too that Tina sends it..hehe!!!

    MIchelle

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hopefully you get a copy soon! Worth the wait anyhow. ;)

      Delete
  3. Ooh, 5 stars! I always take note when someone rates a book that highly, especially an angel book! I feel so iffy about angel-themed books but you have convinced me to keep an eye out for this!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was iffy about angel-themed books but THIS was excellent.

      Delete
  4. "quite frankly - to my surprise - this is the best angel book I've ever read in my life." OKAY. For reals? That makes me COMPLETELY happy. I mean, a whole five stars and dubbing it the best angel book you've ever read? that seriously means a lot and mostly means that I have to pick up this book IMMEDIATELY. Which I will. Because I'm impressed and intrigued and excited, and I'm secretly ecstatic because I had a really good feeling about this one. :D

    Asher

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. FOR REALS. I haven't come across an angel book that was WOW but this? Seriously I didn't think I would like it and instead . . . I'm obsessed with it. haha. Hope you get to read this book soon.

      Delete
  5. Whoa... what? The BEST angel book you've EVER read?! I was not expecting such high praise! I've seen a lot of mixed reviews for this, but damn Erin... you're making me DESPERATE to read this now!! It's such a unique idea and I am so happy to hear that the mythology and history is well detailed, I love learning all that stuff. And the characters are also peaking my interest... gah. Damn you and your amazing review! haha. SO happy you loved it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yup - the best. Trust me, I never thought I would give this book high praises but . . . loved it and I love being surprised with a book. :)

      Delete
  6. Oh wow! Best angel book? I haven't been ultra excited about this one either, but after hearing that...I am very, very intrigued. Can't wait to start this one now! Thanks for the fab review :).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Liz! Can't wait to hear your thoughts on this one . . . I was truly amazed by it.

      Delete
  7. UH... the best angel book you've read in your life? HELLO. I'm really excited for this one. I was before, and I was reading your review and getting more and more excited and grinning, and nodding and then I got to the bottom and you gave it FIVE STARS?
    EEEEEEEEEEEE! WANT! NOW NOW NOW!

    So the premise reminds me a bit of Nalini Singh's Guilt Hunter books. Angels are celebrities, mysterious, and uber-powerful, and I LOVE this series. SO I'm SUPER excited for a YA take... and then you go write this review.

    I DIE.

    SOUNDS AMAZING! SQUEE!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I couldn't believe I gave the book 5 stars either . . . but it deserved it for me.

      Delete
    2. Seriously SO excited, Erin! Thank you!

      Delete
  8. I really enjoyed this book and I agree that Maddy was an awesome character! A unique angel book for sure. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Glad to hear you enjoyed it too! Maddy was such a delightful character.

      Delete
  9. OMG cant wait for thsi book! Im really really into immortals at the moment! I think they are the new vampire. :) Great review Erin! x

    Ƹ̴Ӂ̴ƷFICBOOKREVIEWSƸ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They are the new vampire. Much better to be honest and this book proves it.

      Delete
  10. Ohhhh I really really loved this book!!! It was soooo good!! I loved the whole world that they created it was so intricate!! Great review :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Anna! Glad to hear you loved it too!

      Delete
  11. I am so jealous of everyone who is reading this book! I'm glad to know that you enjoyed it. I can't wait to pick it up on release day and dive right into it.

    Thanks for an amazing review!

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...