Personal Demons [Paperback]

***May contain spoilers***

While I had seen this book here and there in the blogosphere world for some silly reason I never had any inclination to read it, however when I saw a few glowing reviews of both it and its sequel a few weeks back I was convinced. And now after having read it, I can only shake my head at my earlier stupidity. This book exceeded all of my expectations and is hands down one of the most satisfying books I have read in quite some time.

While this book possesses some characteristics that almost always drive me crazy when reading YA paranormal books (ie. love triangles, the female lead constantly playing with both boys hearts, a somewhat slutty best friend, etc.), I did not find that these bothered me one bit. Why? Because Lisa did everything in an entirely unique and un-cliched way.

Frannie was such a well-developed character (unlike those mindless female leads which seem to pop-up in YA books more than I would like) and could hold her own (seriously, after reading about her kick-buttness I kinda want to study Judo). As for Luc? Well, I think that he is definitely up there with Jace, Dimitri, and Jay (and I must admit that typically I am all over angel-boys, so to like demon-boy more than angel-boy? Inconceivable!) . I love when male leads are unafraid to show their emotions and boy, was he full of them!

If I had to pick one thing to criticize about this book it would have to be Gabe's personality. While he did have one, I personally didn't feel that it was quite as developed/ in-your-face as Luc's. I just had a bit of difficulties seeing why Frannie was so attracted to him when, in my opinion, he showed so little of himself.

All in all, this is by far the best YA book I have ever read that involves angels (and let me tell you, I have read quite a few. Angel obsession? You bet!). I cannot express to you how much I loved this book. You must read it (and once you start it I guarantee that it will only take you a few hours to finish because you will be unable to put it down!).

I've read a lot of reviews that said Frannie was an annoying character. At the time I was thinking: how bad can she be? But after I read the book I understood what they meant. Frannie as a character started out as good. She had her flaws and good points but later on just kept having these mood swings and just became an all around irritating and annoying character. For example she gets angry at someone for doing something she did too. Which is very hypocritical of her. I didn't like Gabriel either he just didn't seem to have much of a personality, liking Frannie and being an angel seemed to make up his entire personality.

I thought Luce had a good personality though, I enjoyed his sarcasm and humor. He was a good character. That is, if he was a teenage boy. But being over a millennium year old demon, you'd think he would have had a little more insight. And although Gabriel doesn't have his own a point of view in the book, I can say the same - for what I've seen of him so far. Not all the character were horrible I did like Luce besides that one point and I did enjoy reading about Riley and Taylor, Frannie's two best friends.

The book goes back and forth between Luce and Frannie's point of views. And they didn't seem to have much of a different voice honestly and at times I found myself getting mixed over who's point of view I was reading.

The book wasn't all bad otherwise I would have gave it a one. I didn't like the romance between Frannie and Gabriel, mainly because Gabriel didn't have much of a personality. But I did enjoy the romance between Frannie and Luce. It seemed real and not forced or shoved in your face. I also really loved the close relationship between Frannie and her grandfather, you just don't see much of that in books anymore. Like family isn't important at all.

It was an overall good read and the plot kept me interested. I will probably read the next book, Original Sin, but if Frannie's character doesn't improve by than I can't say much for reading the book after Original Sin.

I can't stand this book.

First I was really looking forward to it, thinking it might be like Fallen or Hush, Hush, but it is not even close.

Basically there's an annoying girl who keeps acting like she's really innocent, while she plays two guys, a fallen angel and a good angel. Both guys fall for her, there are lots of near-seduction scenes, the really really bad guy comes, and the two angels have to work together to protect her. Except it takes more pages and is really boring and over-played.

This is possibly the worst teen book out there today.