Books about vampires are a dime a dozen, ditto with angel stories. Nikki Kelly tried something a little different with Lailah, she brought the two together and what resulted was an powerful, unique niche story. Lailah (Francesca - Cessie) is a lost soul. She's seventeen years old and doesn't have friends or family. All she understands about herself is she doesn't age, she's somehow immortal. She has visions or glimpses of her previous existences. They don't make any sense because there are gaps or blackouts. Over her past lives, she remembers only one constant, a man's face who frequents her dreams. Then, one night after coming to the aid of a young man, he ends up leading her to this man in her dreams - Gabriel. Lailah is confident Gabriel is the one with all the answers. Together, the two young man lead Lailah on a journey of self discovery, a wild, dangerous ride culminating in an unforgettable battle of good and evil at the end. 
 Set mainly at and around Europe, I knew right away this was going to be different. Writing style is free flowing, easy to read and follow. Pacing is moderate, spiking to a wickedly rapid pace near the end. The book is written in a first person narrative from the unwavering voice of our female heroine, Lailah. 
 Lailah begins the book somewhat meek and introverted. She likes to blend in and makes no attempts to make herself stand out in a crowd. She's on a quest for answers. Her life is a mystery, a big puzzle she wants to put together. As the story progresses, she experiences a journey of self discovery. During her quest, at times I was frustrated with her stubbornness. I appreciated her bravery, resilience and ability to find true self. 
 Jonah, a second generation vampire, is a little sketchy in the beginning. I didn't really believe he was trustworthy. He came off as reckless. I wasn't completely sure where his allegiance lied. As I learned more about his past and experienced his faithfulness in many faces, he slowly grew on me. In the end, I almost think I liked him more than Gabriel. 
 Gabriel is an angel who is crazy enough for Lailah he continues to search the earth for her each and every time she passes. Initially, he frustrated me with his cryptic nature. I had a strong hunch he was hiding the truth from Lailah. I just didn't know why. He seemed like a fair person. I also appreciated his compassion for the second generation vampires. In the end, once everything falls out, his character made a lot more sense. 
 In the beginning I didn't fall head over heals in love with this book. I was a bit miffed at the confusion surrounding Lailah. It frustrated me that Gabriel had all the answers, but he wouldn't just reveal his secrets right away. At first it also felt like a story where romance was going to be the main focus. Plus, the apparent love triangle forming between Jonah-Lailah- Gabriel, seemed contrite and didn't interest. 
 About a third of the way into the book, everything changed for the better and I became hooked. The world building involved great complexity. This book is very unique with its vampire and angel lore. There are pure vampires, second generation vampires, angels and of course fallen angels. Worlds appear in dimensions, with three known: Heaven, Hell and the human world. Most of this was divulged by Gabriel in a telling, not showing sort of fashion. A device I'm not a huge fan of. One aspect I did appreciate was how the author used Lailah's rehashing what she had gleaned from Gabriel in her thoughts later, when she was trying to piece things together. These rehashing moments helped me digest everything a bit easier. By the end of the story, I was turning each page with bated breath. I couldn't wait to get all the answers. The mystery behind who/what Lailah really was heated up and it kept me on edge. I was able to figure out some of what was going on, but there were plenty of unexpected twists and turns. The story wraps up very nicely, without cliffhangers. I would say this could be read as a stand alone novel. I'm excited to see where the next book will take me. 
 I'd recommend this to readers looking for something unique and different. If you like battles of good versus evil this is a perfect fit. Paranormal fans will appreciate this story for the way it brings together vampires and angels in an impacting and exciting fashion.