March 4, 2012 
 The 5-star rating is the easy part. This book is so outstanding, in so many ways, that I wasn't in doubt about that from the first couple of chapters on. And it got MUCH stronger in the last 25% or so. 
 The hard part is deciding what I should say about it, even though there is a great deal to be said. The problem is this: most of the items that I want to cover are very difficult to verbalize without overt spoilers. 
 I am going to study the reviews of my friends, and a few others, to see how they did it. Then I will think about what I can contribute to the discussion, and be back with that in a day or two (I hope). 
 For now, let's just say fasten your safety belt, keep an open mind, and prepare for a wild ride that is well worth the turbulence. Just be sure that your most recent meal is well settled before you start, okay? 
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 March 6, 2012 
 Lots of great reviews out there! You can find plot summaries and an abundance of insight there. 
 Here are my thoughts, after a couple days of reflection. For those who haven't read it, this book is awesome but not an easy one to review. For those who have read and reviewed it, you know what I am talking about, and I hope I can measure up to the standard that you have set. 
 Penryn is a beautifully realized example of the strong, smart female protagonist* that we should see much more often in literature than we do. As an aside, I think it is entirely appropriate for goodreads reviewers to take authors to task when they create female leads of a different sort - those who, all too often, embody the opposite extremes. Enough, already with the needy, brainless-twit females who seek out the company of worthless guys, in the full knowledge that they will be dominated and abused! In any genre, but particularly in YA, this is sending precisely the wrong message - in particular, to young women who may well emulate what they read, or think that they can't do any better. 
 Here, Susan Ee shows how powerful a young woman can be when she is stubborn in her loyalty, and can face the most horrific circumstances with unwavering strength and analytical calm**. Armed with these very human attributes, she can think her way out of trouble almost as fast as she gets into it. Her martial arts expertise, and a lot of experience dealing with paranoid schizophrenia in her immediate family, also come in very handy throughout this gripping story. This is a writer with an amazing talent, and Penryn is an awesome creation. 
 Raffe is fascinating in very different ways, both to us as readers and to Penryn. An extremely complex character, his behavior is by turns enigmatic and decisive, strong and vulnerable, vicious and caring, stern/unyielding and gentle/nurturing. Smart as she is, Penryn struggles throughout with his shifting moods and (to her) unpredictable behavior. Yes, she feels that weird fascination/attraction too, but all of that is handled with delightful subtlety and a realistic (well, considering) progression. For the most part, she maintains her focus on getting some useful clues about what she is dealing with. Meanwhile, he is tuned in to most of that, and seems equally determined to maintain her ignorance about him and his motives. For example (quotes are from Penryn's POV and not necessarily in order from the book): 
 "Instead of declaring victory and walking away safe, like any sane survivor, he chases after them into the dark woods." 
 "When he opens his eyes again, they are more black than blue and completely unreadable. Whatever is happening behind those shuttered eyes is now impenetrable." 
 For her part, Penryn struggles to maintain her icy calm, and her hatred of this alien creature whose clan has done so much to devastate her world: 
 "My shoulder feels cold and vulnerable once his warmth is gone. I bite the inside of my cheek to give myself something more demanding to feel." 
 ... "sympathy trickles into me. As different as we are, we are in many ways kindred spirits. We're just two people striving to get our lives back together again." 
 A lot of their exchanges have a definite edge of hostility, as appropriate to the storyline: 
 Raffe: "You humans have always had some kind of herding instinct that seems to bring you together. And this is the largest herd around." 
 Penryn: "Town. Not herd. Towns are for people. Herds are for animals." He snorts rudely in response. 
 But there are moments when Penryn is, understandably, dazzled by the power of the other side: 
 .."despite its practical origins, the total effect is a stunning array of celestial bodies in a seemingly choreographed air ballet. If Michelangelo had seen this in daylight with the sun streaming down from the glass dome, he'd have fallen to his knees and painted 'til he was blind." 
 "I stuff all my doubts down where I can't feel them anymore. This is a lot like leaping over a chasm. If you don't think you can do it, you can't. I step through the door." 
 Looking back at these quotes, I see a feature of the writing style that impressed me throughout. The wording is relatively simple, with very few long words, or even very long sentences. Penryn's first-person narration is presented almost as if she were dictating it in real time, as the events unfold. It has an immediacy that lets you feel very much in the presence of the action. 
 But in that context, there were two points that really hit me as I read. The first was the fact that no sensible reader would want to be anywhere near the grisly action that occupies a sizable fraction of the book. No thanks, I will just sit here in my quasi-fetal position and read the lurid description, that's CLOSE ENOUGH, aaagghhhh! 
 The second really impressive point - about the up-close-and-personal narration - was the sheer intricacy of the storyline, and the many interwoven threads of human and angel characters that moved on and off stage as the story played out. Some of these threads were nicely and deftly resolved; others were clearly spinning out of sight, to (presumably) show up in the next book or two; while still others were sitting right there in front of you at the end, screaming with red-light warnings like this: we REALLY need to get some answers here about this, uh, ISSUE that is just staring at us!! 
 After finishing the book, I reflected a bit on the extremely clever ways that the author combined classical angel mythology/religion, and the intricately twisted vision of angel behavior, politics and culture that she developed here. Wow! First, it got my head turned around and upside down on the whole issue of what angels are all about - and this theme is much more intricately developed than we as reviewers have wanted to say. Read it and enjoy for yourself. Second, it left the author with hundreds, even thousands of avenues open for exploration in the remaining books of the series. Her ability to write a story that comes to closure on a number of fronts, but leaves so many open doors to pass through, was truly mesmerizing and one of the very best features of the book for me. 
 So, I loved it. And like many who have read and reviewed it, I am anxious to see the next installment. But I can certainly appreciate the beauty of what has been done here. A debut novel, an indie production, an incredibly low price, and a marvelously well-written story. It took some serious courage for the author to take this route, and I am very grateful for what she has given us. 
 With all of that said, there is some major gruesomeness in a handful of scenes, and one in particular that has been referred to as 'the tree scene'. So take that into account when deciding whether this might be for you. 
 If you can handle that part: Highest possible recommendation. For me, the author deserves no less. 
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 *I borrowed this phrase and bookshelf label from Kaethe. Where appropriate, I will apply them to books as I read - and gradually, to books that I have previously read and rated. I will do the same with a shelf labeled 'female authors', following the lead of Cindy and others. These are small steps, but in the right direction. 
 **Penryn is the fictional embodiment of what I would call 'functional intelligence'. She has definite, highly ethical goals and sticks to them, with clear vision and a world of smarts. Like Penryn, women have every reason to be proud of their intelligence, and to show no hesitation in using it. It is long past the time to abandon cultural stereotypes that say otherwise. And besides, women as a group show more functional intelligence than men by a rather wide margin. I will have more to say on this point in future reviews.