Raziel by Kristina Douglas
- paranormal romance -
purchased eBook via Amazon
Book Order (Fallen)
- Raziel * * * *
- Demon
- Untitled
Links
Author’s Website : www.kristinadouglas.com
Amazon : paperback / eBook (22 reviews : 3.5 avg)
Add To Your GoodReads TBR List (389 ratings : 3.76 avg)
In Six Words
laugh-out-loud humor almost balanced dark romance
Why did I read this? And am I glad I did?
Felicia @ Geeky Blogger’s Book Blog gave this 4 wine glasses and when I was deciding between two books she recently read, she suggested I read this one. She knows me well 
I really enjoyed this one. This could have been a 5 star book if the romance wasn’t so dark (maybe that’s not the right term because I do like dark romance – I’ll have to explain more in depth later). I don’t remember the last time I laughed out loud as much or highlighted as often! Allie’s sense of humor was perfection!
The book ends leaving you wanting more (not in a cliffhanger kind of way)… until I saw who the next book is about and I think it will be too dark for me at the moment.
Brief Summary
She was just an ordinary mortal . . .
“You’re dead” is so not what Allie Watson wants to hear. Unfortunately, it explains a lot. Like the dark, angelically handsome man who ferried her to this strange, hidden land. The last thing she remembers is stepping off a curb in front of a crosstown bus. Now she’s surrounded by gorgeous fallen angels with an unsettling taste for blood—and they really don’t want her around. Not exactly how she pictured heaven.
. . . until death catapulted her into a seductive world she never imagined.
Raziel is unsure why he rescued Allie from hellfire against Uriel’s orders, but she stirs in him a longing he hasn’t felt in centuries. Now the Fallen are bracing for the divine wrath brought by his disobedience, and they blame Allie for the ferocious Nephilim clawing at the kingdom’s shrouded gates. Facing impossible odds at every turn, the two must work together to survive. Raziel will do anything to defend his spirited lover against the forces of darkness—because Allie may be the Fallen’s only salvation.
- via GoodReads.com
Plot/Pacing/Writing Style
I liked the mythology quite a bit. I thought it was well-developed with just enough based on religious myth mixed with the author’s own twists. There was also a good amount of literary and pop references that I enjoyed. The fact that the main female dies in the beginning of the book was a unique and fast-paced start to a very well paced book. There was plenty of action, character-building, and romance to balance everything out nicely.
*slight spoilers*
Felicia had mentioned having issues with the first sex scene and took points off Raziel’s character score for the encounter going the way it did. While I didn’t like what was done, it wasn’t because of Raziel. I felt sorry for both of them. I could have forgiven it if it was a “can’t wait to have her anymore” thing (since her objections were emotional hold backs and not that she didn’t want him), but he was forced into it against his wishes as well and it sucked the romance out what could have been a perfect finally sexual moment.
Characters
I loved Allie. She was hilarious, realistic, and feisty. She took things exactly how she should have considering her personality. I wish we had learned a little more about her mother and her past, but we knew enough to see that it wasn’t good and that she was less emotional and more pragmatic due to her upbringing. I also loved her profession and how it tied into the story.
I’m glad we got to see parts of the story from Raziel’s POV. Otherwise we might have mistaken him for the cold-hearted, uncaring, never-going-to-love-again hardass he was trying to portray. It was pretty clear that he was in some deep denial. Did I agree with how he handled the situation? Not always. But it did fit with who he was and how he was desperately trying to live his life.
The side characters were extremely well-developed. Sara in particular was a central aspect of the story and paired with Allie’s current and future life perfectly.
Favorite Quotes
Oh I had so many!!
…in truth I’d never been Outdoors Girl. My idea of roughing it was going without makeup.
- ditto, Alli
No one was around to appreciate my feeble wit, but I’d always managed to amuse myself.
- this made me think of Amanda
I left the shower running, on the off chance that whoever was in here had an aversion to getting wet, even as I realized how foolish that was – it wasn’t the Wicked Witch of the West who was threatening me.
- I snorted tea out of my nose with this one.
Recommendations
I’d recommend this to fans of paranormal romance who love to laugh and can handle a darker romance. This wasn’t risque enough to get a warning, but due to the violence and sexual level, I’d say adults only.
I really enjoyed this book, too. I enjoyed the different POVs, and I did feel so sad for both of them. I loved the lore around the Nephilim!
Allie made me laugh several times. I loved when she found out she couldn’t diet anymore—first the horror then the acceptance and then oh give me some food
I thought she was just a perfect all around heroin—snarky, smart, a real size, and freaking out at the right moments in her head but playing it off to everyone else 
Great Review!
I’m so jaded now by that sexual encounter scene. I’ve read so much about it without actually having read the book yet. Every review I have read for Raziel has mentioned it.
I think you are the first to mention that you felt sad for him. That alone renews my interest because I want to find out why.
Very helpful review, T!
I think Allie and I would be definitely be friends, she seems like my kind of girl:) Though the first sex-scene does sound problematic since there’s an issue of consent, the rest of the story sounds really fabulous and I want to read it just to form my own opinion:) Awesome review Tara!
That IS like me. Except my wit is far from feeble, even if no one appreciates it.
I’m interested in this book, even with the first scenes. I want to see what it’s all about.
@ Smash Attack : I loved the lore too! Are you planning on reading the second book?
@ Felicia : I’m so glad you picked this one for me! I really enjoyed it
@ Missie : I really hope you try this one! I think that while I know the scene has gotten a lot of press, it’s not terrible and I like seeing other people’s reactions.
@ Jenny : I would LOVE to be her friend! She was so funny and ending up being a lot more caring than I expected
I’m loving seeing other opinions on the consent issue. Hope you give this one a chance!
@ Amanda (On a Book Bender) : Good point. I didn’t mean to imply that your wit was feeble in any way! You should try this one. I may have already adding it to your TBR
Yeah, Tara, I think this one is actually on my Kindle already.
PS. My wit is so sharp it will cut you.
[...] @ Geeky Blogger’s Book Blog, Christi @ Smitten with Reading, Ash @ Smash Attack Reads! AND Tara @ 25 Hour Books have read, and is also, naturally, on my TBR list. Click on the picture to visit its Goodreads [...]
[...] @ Geeky Blogger’s Book Blog, Christi @ Smitten with Reading, Ash @ Smash Attack Reads! AND Tara @ 25 Hour Books have all read and enjoyed Raziel. Naturally, it went on my TBR list (especially after Tara [...]
[...] — Raziel by Kristina Douglas ****: laugh-out-loud humor almost balanced dark romance | (this book also had a quote that [...]
[...] @ Geeky Blogger’s Book Blog, Christi @ Smitten with Reading, Ash @ Smash Attack Reads! AND Tara @ 25 Hour Books have read, and is also, naturally, on my TBR list. Click on the picture to visit its Goodreads [...]
[...] @ Geeky Blogger’s Book Blog, Christi @ Smitten with Reading, Ash @ Smash Attack Reads! AND Tara @ 25 Hour Books have all read and enjoyed Raziel. Naturally, it went on my TBR list (especially after Tara [...]