From Back Cover: Armed with the power to control the ancient elements of Earth and Fire, sixteen-year-old Griffin is determined to complete his apprenticeship and rise to the rank of Terrae Angeli. But first, he must overcome a brutal past if he is to survive in this world. Will the perseverance of his mentor and the love of a mortal girl give Griffin the courage he needs to face the monster still haunting him?My Rating: 4 hearts
Thoughts on the Novel: Griffin Rising by Darby Karchut has its own unique take on the mythology surrounding angels, and introduces readers to the Terrae Angeli, a race of angels with free will that live on earth, control the elements and guard humans. Despite the fact that the story involves angels, the ability of the Terrae Angeli to have agency allows their actions to be similar to those of humans and thus, the novel becomes one of a boy learning to gain self-confidence, healing from an abusive past and falling in love.
Thoughts on the Novel: Griffin Rising by Darby Karchut has its own unique take on the mythology surrounding angels, and introduces readers to the Terrae Angeli, a race of angels with free will that live on earth, control the elements and guard humans. Despite the fact that the story involves angels, the ability of the Terrae Angeli to have agency allows their actions to be similar to those of humans and thus, the novel becomes one of a boy learning to gain self-confidence, healing from an abusive past and falling in love.
What I particularly loved about Griffin Rising was the strong characterization and prominent presence of parental figures. Too often, YA novels lack parents or feature dysfunctional families, but that isn’t the case in Griffin Rising. Through flashbacks and journal entries, the reader can see how Basil helps Griffin transform from a boy terrified of his Mentor to one who is spunky and easily cracks jokes. Karchut does a great job developing the bond between Basil and Griffin from Mentor-Tiro to that resembling father-son, and it is this relationship that is the best part of the story. Karchut though also makes Mr. and Mrs. Heflin, the parents of Griffin’s girlfriend Katie, secondary characters, and so readers get to see them act like average parents and be protective of Katie, set a curfew for her and make her do chores.
A solid debut, I’m looking forward to learning more about Basil’s past and seeing what happens next to Griffin in Griffin’s Fire, the sequel to Griffin Rising.
Griffin Rising will be released by Twilight Time Books on June 28, 2011.
Comments About the Cover: I like the simplicity and the use of the colours brown and orange in the cover because Griffin is an angel who controls the elements of earth and fire. Even though I think it looks interesting, I’m not sure what the symbol – I know the creature is a gryphon – is supposed to mean however.
This ARC was received from the author in exchange for an honest review.
