Title: His Black Wings
Author: Astrid Yrigollen
Publisher: Self-published
Pub Date: November 2012
Format: ebook
Pages: 364
Genre: Fantasy, YA, Romance
Synopsis:
Claren Maidstone has been forced to flee her childhood home after the death of her parents and a vicious assault from a sadistic young man who intends to marry her. Claren changes her identity and finds employment as an assistant to the handsome Fredrick Lowood, a generous yet mysterious benefactor. However, she soon finds out his generosity comes at a price. Fredrick wishes for Claren to befriend his disfigured son who resides in seclusion at their estate, Westwind.
Fredrick Lowood knows what the history books do not teach, that the Grand Council built this new world of peace and beauty on hidden blood and greed. He has plotted for years to bring down the family that enslaved his own people. Suddenly, he has the last living heir in his grasp.
Etrigan Lowood rejects the world that forces him to hide. He is powerful, plagued with a terrible dark beauty: WINGS. It is these wings that carry him out only at night to watch the unwanted intruder in his home. A creature of refined instinct yet little social grace, he is strangely captivated by Claren but knows nothing of how her family's dark past is intertwined with his own . Through their blossoming friendship, Etrigan realizes he still retains his human heart and yearns for Claren's love.
Kurten Wandsworth is the only son of the Mayor of St.Marhen. Kurten lives his life fueled by cruelty and lust. Whatever he wants he takes and he wants Claren to be his wife even it if kills her. Scarred by Claren he hunts her down mercilessly until he can set a trap which she will never be able to escape from.
Trailer:
Rating: 9/10
Source: A digital copy was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much Astrid for giving me a chance to read and review your awesome book!
Cover Talk: I love the cover! I love how the characters are drawn in anime style because it gives the cover uniqueness. And it is very much like I imagined Claren & Etrigan to be.
My Thoughts: I loved this book!! I loved this book so much!!
But I must warn you, my review is not going to be so... 'professional'. I'm having a blogger's block, plus when I read the book I was so engrossed in it that I didn't take any notes. So this will just be me rambling about how much I loved this book.
I started this book at night and I spent my night and most of my morning finishing more than half of the book. And this is how I looked in the end:
I'm not even kidding! I could have taken a picture of myself and shown it to you all but I would've scared you then. Plus I was just too tired to take a picture.
Anyway, from the first page I was hooked! What first appealed to me was the writing. The writing was amazing! It reminded me a little of Jane Austen's... but maybe that's because the only book I've read set in the time period of balls & gowns is Pride & Prejudice. And, even though this was set some time in the future (or that's what I felt), everyone and everything had gone back to the Victorian era. The writing style was really interesting and there was not a moment during the whole book when I found it boring.
The story was really good! The way the author built up the suspense, told the secrets little by little, kept the reader guessing. It was awesome! And the world she built, it was all really real. Like I could see it happening. She really did a great job with the story!
My second favorite thing in the book were the characters, especially Claren. Claren was a strong and independent girl and I saw myself a lot in her. The way she thought was very much like the way I think. She was smart and witty and I loved reading her thoughts! I loved Fredrick! He was such a nice man! I felt sorry for all he had to go through but he had a nice heart and I liked him a lot! I loved Etrigan! He was the most adorable thing ever! Sometimes I wanted to crawl into the book and give him a big hug! He made my stomach flutter and he was really cute! Kurten was one of those characters you just wanted to kill. He was evil. And I did not feel sorry for him at all. I think the book summarizes him perfectly in these words:
Sometimes people become mean because of horrible experiences. It’s a gradual process that hardens
their hearts and minds and forces them to develop a thick skin. In order to survive they must adapt to their harsh surroundings. They in turn become mean. This was not the case with Kurten. Kurten Wandsworth as the favorite and only child in the household was, from the beginning a spoiled, headstrong, bully.
The side characters were likable too. I loved Horace and Dekker! They were so funny and cute! I really liked Mrs. Whitby too.
The only thing that bothered me was the change between first person and third person. At first it was OK when Claren's part was in first person while the other character's were in third person but in the end, during Claren's part, the author kept switching between first & third person which got kinda confusing. I think it would've been better if the whole book would've been written in third person.
Overall, I loved this book! The romance was really sweet, the story was amazing, the writing was awesome and I'd highly recommend it!
But I must warn you, my review is not going to be so... 'professional'. I'm having a blogger's block, plus when I read the book I was so engrossed in it that I didn't take any notes. So this will just be me rambling about how much I loved this book.
I started this book at night and I spent my night and most of my morning finishing more than half of the book. And this is how I looked in the end:
Anyway, from the first page I was hooked! What first appealed to me was the writing. The writing was amazing! It reminded me a little of Jane Austen's... but maybe that's because the only book I've read set in the time period of balls & gowns is Pride & Prejudice. And, even though this was set some time in the future (or that's what I felt), everyone and everything had gone back to the Victorian era. The writing style was really interesting and there was not a moment during the whole book when I found it boring.
The story was really good! The way the author built up the suspense, told the secrets little by little, kept the reader guessing. It was awesome! And the world she built, it was all really real. Like I could see it happening. She really did a great job with the story!
My second favorite thing in the book were the characters, especially Claren. Claren was a strong and independent girl and I saw myself a lot in her. The way she thought was very much like the way I think. She was smart and witty and I loved reading her thoughts! I loved Fredrick! He was such a nice man! I felt sorry for all he had to go through but he had a nice heart and I liked him a lot! I loved Etrigan! He was the most adorable thing ever! Sometimes I wanted to crawl into the book and give him a big hug! He made my stomach flutter and he was really cute! Kurten was one of those characters you just wanted to kill. He was evil. And I did not feel sorry for him at all. I think the book summarizes him perfectly in these words:
Sometimes people become mean because of horrible experiences. It’s a gradual process that hardens
their hearts and minds and forces them to develop a thick skin. In order to survive they must adapt to their harsh surroundings. They in turn become mean. This was not the case with Kurten. Kurten Wandsworth as the favorite and only child in the household was, from the beginning a spoiled, headstrong, bully.
The side characters were likable too. I loved Horace and Dekker! They were so funny and cute! I really liked Mrs. Whitby too.
The only thing that bothered me was the change between first person and third person. At first it was OK when Claren's part was in first person while the other character's were in third person but in the end, during Claren's part, the author kept switching between first & third person which got kinda confusing. I think it would've been better if the whole book would've been written in third person.
Overall, I loved this book! The romance was really sweet, the story was amazing, the writing was awesome and I'd highly recommend it!
Favorite Quotes:
“The most absurd thing of the whole affair was that we were never engaged. He just started showing up Sunday after Sunday and now expected to marry me. I never went out alone (or chaperoned) with him anywhere, I never even smiled at him. If that is all it takes to be engaged then I could have been married off to a hedgehog if it showed up every Sunday.”
“Sometimes people become mean because of horrible experiences. It’s a gradual process that hardens their hearts and minds and forces them to develop a thick skin. In order to survive they must adapt to their harsh surroundings. They in turn become mean.”
“Real love, you cowardly miscreant, is never intimidated, never frightened and is forever.”
About The Author:
Astrid Yrigollen is a vegetarian hoping to go vegan, residing in Marin County, California with her husband, cats and her Debelius Reef Lobster. She is anxiously awaiting the newest member of their family, a dog. Lover of all things anime, she is naturally learning Japanese, her third language. Astrid is a collector of Volks Super Dollfies and is the founder of California Coast Ball Jointed Doll Convention which she co-chairs with her husband. AstridYrigollen.com HisBlackwings.com
What an awesome review.Thank you so much. I will also take a look at the changing of perspectives near the end that you mention. It has been reedited since that copy was given to you so hopefully that fixed it.
ReplyDeleteI am doing a giveaway for The Mosswoods which as been re-edited and revamped with a new cover.Its on Goodreads.
:)
Thank you so much for commenting! I'm so glad you liked the review! :D
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