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Giving her own spin to the fallen angels' origin story, Sanchez delivers a highly engaging, action-packed narrative revolving around the prophecy of Atar'zul, the celestial halo. Good and evil collide as do war and loyalty in hopes of restoring a long-lost peace, banishing darkness to its rightful place and cleansing "the crown of dark allure."
From the onset, Kyden, the amber-eyed angel, is hunting down demons from the Abyss—the demon realm—while yearning for his warrior days in centuries-old battles. A natural slayer, Kyden has reservations about his role as protector of the humans; in fact, he sees humans as a self-serving, singular-minded, and selfish species. It is his connection first with Shane, his informer, and angel-friend Adinah, that endears him to readers. Then, the collaborative role he plays with aspiring curator Zahra Jenkins adds compelling character development to an already frenetic storyline.
The fantasy centers on the Time Gallery Museum in Boston and the highly anticipated arrival of the ancient relic, the long-awaited Atar'zul. Unbeknownst to the museum heads, Dr. Neeman, the lead archaeologist, is also Zahra's father. He's assured her that he will bring the Atar'zul to the museum for prominent display, thereby earning Zahra a major victory among her colleagues.
While the core of the storytelling focuses on the Dan Brown-esque mystique of this biblical halo, Sanchez seamlessly weaves in a budding romance, deceit in its most unexpected form, and loyalty where none should be found. These themes and plotlines add natural dimensions and depth to each character's development arc, adding further intrigue leading up to a riveting conclusion. Above all else, Sanchez's work is vibrant and thought-provoking, an almost cinematic experience imbued with the right balance of flair, biblical history, engaging characters, and worldbuilding to keep the reader connected throughout.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review