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Immortal City #2
Natural Born Angel
Life exploded for Maddy Montgomery when she found out she was half-Angel and was catapulted into a world of paparazzi and fervent adulation that comes with being a celebrity Angel. Now she must juggle her ordinary existence - graduation, family, friends - with the intense demands of being in the public eye as heartthrob Angel Jackson Godspeed's girlfriend.
Then Maddy is offered the chance to become a Guardian. This means entering into dangerous and high stakes training, with no guarantee that she can succeed, and with a host of jealous full-blood Angels undermining her every move. More than that, it means leaving her mortal life behind - forever - and allying with the Angels at a time when their relationship with humans has never been more volatile.
When an anti-Angel bombing kills dozens of innocent people, it sets into motion a chain of events that will turn the city of Angels into a city of turmoil. Maddy and Jacks must choose sides... even if that choice makes them enemies.
Then Maddy is offered the chance to become a Guardian. This means entering into dangerous and high stakes training, with no guarantee that she can succeed, and with a host of jealous full-blood Angels undermining her every move. More than that, it means leaving her mortal life behind - forever - and allying with the Angels at a time when their relationship with humans has never been more volatile.
When an anti-Angel bombing kills dozens of innocent people, it sets into motion a chain of events that will turn the city of Angels into a city of turmoil. Maddy and Jacks must choose sides... even if that choice makes them enemies.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2013
About the author
Scott Speer
3 books706 followersScott Speer is a movie and music video director and a graduate of the University of Southern California's School of Cinema Television. He has directed music videos for artists such as Will.I.Am, Jordin Sparks, and Ashley Tisdale and is currently directing Step Up 4. Scott lives in Los Angeles, California.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 363 reviews
May 25, 2013
I don't like Tom. First of all, I want to know why any series where the couple gets together in the first book, has complication in the second? Can't they just have a bad guy they need to kill or a war to win and be done? Do they have to have the side problem of one of them (or both) having confused feelings about someone else? Why!?
Secondly, Maddy seems like a different person. Sure she seems stronger and more confident, but she doesn't seem like herself. And Jacks is definately a completely different person. What happened? Is it the pressure? Or the War? Or not having wings? What is it?
Thirdly, I want to know why Scott Speer had Maddy side with Tom the first time. Sure i can see the reasons behind it, but isn't love suppose to triumph everything? Couldn't Maddy try to solve the situtation from the inside?
Lastly, I really don't like Tom. IS HE INSANE? Does he think he can just tell Maddy he loves her and she'll say it back? She better not, because i think we all know she really, truly loves Jacks. Tom just needs to not exist anymore. I don't like him, he messing with one of my favorite couples, and now we have to wait a year for the third book to come out. DIE TOM. DIE.
Sadly, at the rate the books going, she's going to choose Tom and leave Jacks depressed until the last book or something. I just hope I'm wrong. This book could've been so much better.
Oddly enough, when i read it i didn't know whether i should throw it at the wall, scream, or cry...
Secondly, Maddy seems like a different person. Sure she seems stronger and more confident, but she doesn't seem like herself. And Jacks is definately a completely different person. What happened? Is it the pressure? Or the War? Or not having wings? What is it?
Thirdly, I want to know why Scott Speer had Maddy side with Tom the first time. Sure i can see the reasons behind it, but isn't love suppose to triumph everything? Couldn't Maddy try to solve the situtation from the inside?
Lastly, I really don't like Tom. IS HE INSANE? Does he think he can just tell Maddy he loves her and she'll say it back? She better not, because i think we all know she really, truly loves Jacks. Tom just needs to not exist anymore. I don't like him, he messing with one of my favorite couples, and now we have to wait a year for the third book to come out. DIE TOM. DIE.
Sadly, at the rate the books going, she's going to choose Tom and leave Jacks depressed until the last book or something. I just hope I'm wrong. This book could've been so much better.
Oddly enough, when i read it i didn't know whether i should throw it at the wall, scream, or cry...
April 27, 2013
ANNOUNCEMENT: The much-anticipated angel novel of the decade has ARRIVED! Jackson Godspeed's 'THE SHOE IS ON THE OTHER FOOT' now available worldwide!
It's so nice to know that you and your boyfriend can share near-death experiences and still have relationship issues. It keeps things comfortable, doesn't it? Knowing that he's such a hot,insecure egotistical jackass who needs a good bitch slap mess. And that when you need him to be there for you the most...he bails.
The words of Beyonce's Run The World float through my mind at this point: 'To other men that respect what I do please accept my shine.'
You know, there's nothing worse than a hypocritical guy. Especially the kind that love life when the spotlight's on them, but not so much when the girl's the one doing all the shining. And when you find one you'll be all:
The first book was a nightmare for Maddy - she had to put up with being Jackson's 'human' girlfriend, the paparazzi, him being in the spotlight, him being busy with interviews, photoshoots, etc, horrid ex-girlfriends, matters of life and death, and more. But she stayed by Jackson's side. And he was so sweet, too. He let her know that she mattered to him, first and foremost.
And you would expect that if the SHOE WAS ON THE OTHER FOOT Jackson would step up to the plate, right? That he would allow Maddy to have her turn in the spotlight with a total lack of jealousy and 100% support.
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha...no.
Instead he's like the green-eyed PMS monster. He doesn't attend functions, avoids her, acts grumpy as and then has the audacity (god I love that word - it sounds so Austen-y), the AUDACITY to blame her!!
And then we come to the cliffhanger.
Where Jackson gives her an ultimatum. Because he thinks he has the freaking right to.
And he doesn't even let her get a darn word in edgewise. Just like a typical guy.
Plus he already made her decision for her; he's just informing her of the turn of events without even considering that maybe, just maybe, she has a MIND OF HER OWN AND WOULD LIKE TO MAKE HER OWN CHOICES. That may she has a life outside of Almighty Jackson The-Sun-Shines-Through-My-Ass Godspeed. That maybe she is kind, sweet and compassionate.
Jackson: You're on the side of the angels.
Maddy: Jackson will you just listen to me-
Jackson: ARE YOU OR AREN'T YOU?!
Maddy: Jackso-
Jackson: MAKE A DECISION!
Me: Let me show you how it's done *moves Maddy aside*
Jackson: YOU ARE ON THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS!
Me:
Show some spunk Mads! FEMALE POWER!!
And Tom is one delicious little fighter jet (lol, 'cause he's a pilot get it?!). I look forward to seeing the role he plays in the next book. I love that bit when he stalks up to Jackson and defends Maddy:
'"You might want to appreciate what you have, rather than take it for granted like everything else in your life," Tom said, mere inches from Jackson's face.'
*swipes eyes* Oh, Tom:
Overall, I enjoyed this book immensely and am now emotionally scarred until Book 3 comes out :)
It's so nice to know that you and your boyfriend can share near-death experiences and still have relationship issues. It keeps things comfortable, doesn't it? Knowing that he's such a hot,
The words of Beyonce's Run The World float through my mind at this point: 'To other men that respect what I do please accept my shine.'
You know, there's nothing worse than a hypocritical guy. Especially the kind that love life when the spotlight's on them, but not so much when the girl's the one doing all the shining. And when you find one you'll be all:
The first book was a nightmare for Maddy - she had to put up with being Jackson's 'human' girlfriend, the paparazzi, him being in the spotlight, him being busy with interviews, photoshoots, etc, horrid ex-girlfriends, matters of life and death, and more. But she stayed by Jackson's side. And he was so sweet, too. He let her know that she mattered to him, first and foremost.
And you would expect that if the SHOE WAS ON THE OTHER FOOT Jackson would step up to the plate, right? That he would allow Maddy to have her turn in the spotlight with a total lack of jealousy and 100% support.
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha...no.
Instead he's like the green-eyed PMS monster. He doesn't attend functions, avoids her, acts grumpy as and then has the audacity (god I love that word - it sounds so Austen-y), the AUDACITY to blame her!!
And then we come to the cliffhanger.
Where Jackson gives her an ultimatum. Because he thinks he has the freaking right to.
And he doesn't even let her get a darn word in edgewise. Just like a typical guy.
Plus he already made her decision for her; he's just informing her of the turn of events without even considering that maybe, just maybe, she has a MIND OF HER OWN AND WOULD LIKE TO MAKE HER OWN CHOICES. That may she has a life outside of Almighty Jackson The-Sun-Shines-Through-My-Ass Godspeed. That maybe she is kind, sweet and compassionate.
Jackson: You're on the side of the angels.
Maddy: Jackson will you just listen to me-
Jackson: ARE YOU OR AREN'T YOU?!
Maddy: Jackso-
Jackson: MAKE A DECISION!
Me: Let me show you how it's done *moves Maddy aside*
Jackson: YOU ARE ON THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS!
Me:
Show some spunk Mads! FEMALE POWER!!
And Tom is one delicious little fighter jet (lol, 'cause he's a pilot get it?!). I look forward to seeing the role he plays in the next book. I love that bit when he stalks up to Jackson and defends Maddy:
'"You might want to appreciate what you have, rather than take it for granted like everything else in your life," Tom said, mere inches from Jackson's face.'
*swipes eyes* Oh, Tom:
Overall, I enjoyed this book immensely and am now emotionally scarred until Book 3 comes out :)
April 25, 2013
QUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE?????????????
?
Pero que mierda!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tiene que ser una jodida broma!!!!!! Como hacen eso!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nope voy a calmarme, >.< Joder en estos momentos simplemente odio al autor de este libro, Ademas :
Tom
Maddy
Jason
EL JOD*** FINAL
?
Pero que mierda!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tiene que ser una jodida broma!!!!!! Como hacen eso!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nope voy a calmarme, >.< Joder en estos momentos simplemente odio al autor de este libro, Ademas :
Tom
Maddy
Jason
EL JOD*** FINAL
February 20, 2013
BookNook — Young Adult book reviews
My enjoyment for Natural Born Angel is all over the map, and that's one of the reasons why I was so unsure about how to rate it (and I'm still kind of unsure). That means, it's time to whip out the ol' Enjoyment Graph so you can get a sense of how I felt while reading the book:
My Enjoyment Levels — Monitored
As you can see, things started out strong. I was really excited to dive into the book, and when Maddy decided to become a Guardian, I was pumped! But any time the book swerved away from Maddy and onto Detective Sylvester, I lost interest. I just couldn't bring myself to care about his investigations or the Angel politics. But then when we would go back to Maddy's (or Jackson's) chapters, my interest would spike again. But towards the end of the book, I started to even dislike Maddy's chapters.
One of the main reasons why I'm so unsure about this book is because Maddy and Jackson start to have relationship problems. Jackson has lost the ability to fly (possibly forever), so when Maddy decides to become a Guardian, Jackson is jealous. He's not only jealous because she can perform Guardian duties and he can't, but also because she is now the center of attention media-wise. I do think that these doubts and problems are realistic, but they still made me not enjoy the book as much. It completely makes sense that Jackson would be upset when his whole world changes, and would resent Maddy a little for stealing the spotlight from under him. But I hated that it had to come between them. Just because it's realistic doesn't mean I enjoy reading about it.
And with a wedge driven between Maddy and Jackson, we get.... a love triangle. See that huge drop off at the end? That was the love triangle (I don't really think that's a spoiler because it's pretty obvious that it's developing from early on).
I think that the only problem writing-wise is how much Scott Speer relied on television news announcements to explain the politics and other big events. Because news is essentially "telling" or reporting, it felt like we were always being told what was happening in the world rather than being shown what was happening. A few news announcements now and then would be fine, but it seemed like every big event was given to us in the form of Maddy watching it on TV and the author writing out the television announcement. We never saw anything develop in the actual world around us.
But despite my annoyances, there were still some interesting points in the book. Once the investigations and all that jazz got "solved" I was actually really interested in it (see huge spike near the end of the graph). There were some extremely intense moments and things overall really got amped up a notch. Prior to this point, the book felt a little slow moving, but suddenly it was all a whirlwind, and I loved it! I feel like the series is headed in a very cool direction and I'm looking forward to seeing how it plays out. I particularly like the role that Jackson will play!
There is definitely a good vs. evil war coming, and people are picking sides. Maddy, in particular, is torn in the middle. As half-human, half-Angel, she doesn't know which side to give her allegiance to.
Natural Born Angel wasn't a perfect book, and I definitely enjoyed Immortal City more. But at the same time, I don't think Natural Born Angel was particularly a bad book. The problem was simply that it was riddled with problems and information that I personally did not care for. I'm one of those girls that hates it when relationship problems dominate a book. Have one or two fights—fine. But to have the whole book be one distanced relationship? That's not for me. I really fell in love with Maddy and Jackson in Immortal City and I just hate that they were so separated throughout Natural Born Angel.
But I am super curious to see how things play out. Assuming the horrible love triangle gets shot down fairly quickly, I am confident that the third book will be better than this one.
March 14, 2013
This book was originally reviewed on The Book Hookup.
**I received a copy of this book via NetGalley but that did not influence the review**
I was pretty excited to start this book since I loved the first one, Immortal City. I’ll admit it, it didn’t hurt that I pictured Jacks as Alexander Skarsgård so I was totally in love.
The Story: Natural Born Angel picks up about 10 months after the first book left off. Maddy was about to go off to college, but an event changes those plans. She knows in her heart she has to accept the angels’ offer to try and become a Guardian. If she can become a Guardian she will have a chance to make a real change in how things work. At the same time Jacks is still nursing his wounds, both physically and emotionally. He also takes a back seat as Maddy becomes more famous than him. I was surprised at how his pride affected him so much.
At the same time there are many other things going on, and we learn more from Sylvester, the detective, as he tries to uncover who is making attacks. Those parts were a bit slow for me but I knew they were an important part of the story.
Hero and Heroine:
Maddy appeared to be selfless in this book, but somehow she just came across as so self absorbed in this installment. I don’t know why Jacks still cared for her. I was hoping that she would have a break through and realize the path she was going down, but that never happened.
Jacks: While I couldn’t get enough of this sexy beast with eyes only for Maddy in the first book, he totally went on a downward spiral in this story. I just wanted him to “man up” because his sissy-ness was not attractive. However, everyone is allowed to have bad days, and I kept turning the pages hoping he would have a fresh burst of confidence.
The Romance: The chemistry was zilch in this book. Then the introduction of a love triangle….blah. I just thought it went from meh to ugh.
Twists and Turns: I was also hopeful for more twists and turns, but the story here also seemed one dimensional. No complicated plot and honestly I found it tough to read through the detective sections.
Final Thoughts: So, why with my tough criticism is this still 3 stars? Well, the first novel started out so well and I had truly loved the idea of it all. I’m hoping this is just the second book fail and the third installment can pull it out again. AND Jacks is also another reason to love this series. He is sexy and his pride was wounded, but I have a feeling his comeback will be bigger and better than before. He was the best guardian angel out there for a reason, he just needs to get his mojo back. Maddy too needs to take a step back and remember what is important to her. I really do think it’s in her.
Rec it? Would I rec it? Yes, but I certainly wasn’t falling over myself like I was in the first book. Hopefully it will get tied up in the 3rd book and make this one worthwhile.
**I received a copy of this book via NetGalley but that did not influence the review**
I was pretty excited to start this book since I loved the first one, Immortal City. I’ll admit it, it didn’t hurt that I pictured Jacks as Alexander Skarsgård so I was totally in love.
The Story: Natural Born Angel picks up about 10 months after the first book left off. Maddy was about to go off to college, but an event changes those plans. She knows in her heart she has to accept the angels’ offer to try and become a Guardian. If she can become a Guardian she will have a chance to make a real change in how things work. At the same time Jacks is still nursing his wounds, both physically and emotionally. He also takes a back seat as Maddy becomes more famous than him. I was surprised at how his pride affected him so much.
At the same time there are many other things going on, and we learn more from Sylvester, the detective, as he tries to uncover who is making attacks. Those parts were a bit slow for me but I knew they were an important part of the story.
Hero and Heroine:
Maddy appeared to be selfless in this book, but somehow she just came across as so self absorbed in this installment. I don’t know why Jacks still cared for her. I was hoping that she would have a break through and realize the path she was going down, but that never happened.
Jacks: While I couldn’t get enough of this sexy beast with eyes only for Maddy in the first book, he totally went on a downward spiral in this story. I just wanted him to “man up” because his sissy-ness was not attractive. However, everyone is allowed to have bad days, and I kept turning the pages hoping he would have a fresh burst of confidence.
The Romance: The chemistry was zilch in this book. Then the introduction of a love triangle….blah. I just thought it went from meh to ugh.
Twists and Turns: I was also hopeful for more twists and turns, but the story here also seemed one dimensional. No complicated plot and honestly I found it tough to read through the detective sections.
Final Thoughts: So, why with my tough criticism is this still 3 stars? Well, the first novel started out so well and I had truly loved the idea of it all. I’m hoping this is just the second book fail and the third installment can pull it out again. AND Jacks is also another reason to love this series. He is sexy and his pride was wounded, but I have a feeling his comeback will be bigger and better than before. He was the best guardian angel out there for a reason, he just needs to get his mojo back. Maddy too needs to take a step back and remember what is important to her. I really do think it’s in her.
Rec it? Would I rec it? Yes, but I certainly wasn’t falling over myself like I was in the first book. Hopefully it will get tied up in the 3rd book and make this one worthwhile.
June 5, 2019
I like the Immortal City series by Scott Speer much more than I ever expected to. It's quite addicting and book two, Natural Born Angel, is no exception. There's a lot of fast-paced action and I enjoyed getting a first hand look at Maddy's training. With everything she's learned since the end of the first novel, she's a bit different this time around, as is Jacks. The only aspect I wasn't as interested in was the love triangle, but that's really to be expected from me. Anyway, I can't wait to read the finale, Battle Angel, and I hope we'll get to see more of the world aside from Angel City aka Los Angeles.
April 26, 2013
ahem....WHAT;OKASDFIOYS,/.EMPOAISUDGJHAERSK/LPFHJDGSI;H ahem.. i think i have controlled myself... oh no actually i haven't
^^^ that is exactly how my face looked like when i finished. you can't book like that! i mean what the hell? Man i thought we were friends, i thought we understood each other!
I need to calm down for a moment....
Alright i am sort of calm..not really but i will do my best for this review.
"Maybe Not" by Cat Power is my song choice for this song, and if you aren't sure what the hell i mean by that, it is just to give an overall feel of the book, and in this reference it is just an overall of the book, no specific thing like i do sometimes. Anyways....
This is a Sequel, if you didn't know that already so fair warning i will talk about stuff that happened in the first book that might be considered "spoilers" from the first book, so if you haven't read the first book well go do that because it was amazing, just like this book. So there is my fair warning to those who don't know this series if you do know this series, i don't do spoilers often and i do i hide them so you are safe, lets continue.
I think that i love Scott Speer and hate him right now. As Immortal city was crafted beautifully and intelligently the same goes for Natural Born Angel. I am going to say for first thoughts: I loved this book, i will admit there was a lot of times i wanted to throw it across the room, or i wanted to cry until my eyes fell out but passionate responses in my book always equal a good thing. My heart was exploding with love at some moments, and crushed to pieces the next.
Plot: Sorry kids, the romance is a little faded in this, well sort of...Scott did the biggest no-no for most people and introduced a new boy, *gasp*! well get over yourselves, because it was so beautifully done, and so RIGHT for the book that i didn't mind it, and even if you hate love triangles it really isn't one of those cheesy ass ones that you are just yelling at the girl to pick a boy and get over it. I can't even describe how amazing it was done, it was just yeah amazing. The action and suspense/mystery that we had from the first book with the serial killer of angels, is continued on in this book there seems to be new players on the board who we don't know who are, and there is some strange a happenings going on around the world that our favorite Detective is looking into. While Maddy is working on becoming a Guardian, i will admit i was sort of annoyed with how fast things seem to be happening for her, and i was really mad at her for along time because one of the main...you know what save the rant for characters sorry this about plot...okay anyways a lot is going on in this book and even if you want to throw it across the room to get a point across, well you won;t because you will NEED to know what happens next and grudging bring is back into your loving embrace and read on.
Characters:
Maddy: I loved her in the first book (unfortunately i didn't actually start doing reviews and all this jazz until long after i read the first book but i get to mention my love for her now). I loved Maddy is was strong in her convictions, she always believed in what SHE believed in, she didn't have to have the approval of anyone on the outside, she did what she thought was best for her and for what she thought would be best for the good of others. I loved her because her down to earth attitude and for the fact that she never needed to be accepted by the "whole". Unfortunately my awesome Maddy seemed to start to lose herself in this book, and i understand why it was done but i guess i was hoping that none of it would go to her head, but i could that it did. I would never fault her entirely but she does deserve some fault....she started to turn a little inconsiderate to certain people and that is what broke my heart about her. In the end she though returned to the girl i that i loved, honestly Maddy is one of my favorite heroines. :)
Jacks: Oh Jacks...i was scared that when he lost one of his wings, and i knew that it would take some serious miracle working in order for him to get back into Guardian shape, and if it didn't happen within the first few chapters of the book i knew what would happen to him, he would turn bitter, and unfortunately he did, even when he was trying to be loving and all that jazz, it seemed he just couldn't take Sylvester's advice to heart. I was hoping that would get a glimpse of old Jacks, of the Jacks that became a better person- i am sorry Angel - because of Maddy at the end, unfortunately i am not entirely sure that we do. But i despite myself i still love him, and i still want to know more about him. I am not ready to give up on him.
Tom: the new boy, the new human boy. Brought in to help Maddy learn how to fly, as he is a pilot. I found myself regrettably falling for him as well. I hate (in that hate that i actually love it) that Scott Speer made me fall in love with these two boys. And yeah....There isn't much i want to say about Tom because i refuse to do spoilers about him. But there is Tom.
The ending...to say i am pissed is an understatement. mother of all cliffhangers...well its up there. God dammit. And there is just so much unresolved that i feel like i am about to have an ulcer thinking about it...well do i think this feeling at the end is worth reading the book right now? HELL yes i do. Go read ya crazies i don't even know why you are looking up reviews you know Scott is amazing writer, and these characters are amazing, and the plot is amazing... so to sum it up in the quickest way possible... AMAZING.
Alright i am going to make this short and sweet. I do reviews, on a blog. oh no i am that a-hole, well get over it, because at least i am doing it now, after my very full review, so if you are looking for a book to read after you read this one, or you have read this one and you are looking for something well i review a lot of indie books, so you should give them some lovin' the deserve it...so here is the link it check it out if you want.... http://theviolethourbookreviews.wordp... we appreciate you!
^^^ that is exactly how my face looked like when i finished. you can't book like that! i mean what the hell? Man i thought we were friends, i thought we understood each other!
I need to calm down for a moment....
Alright i am sort of calm..not really but i will do my best for this review.
"Maybe Not" by Cat Power is my song choice for this song, and if you aren't sure what the hell i mean by that, it is just to give an overall feel of the book, and in this reference it is just an overall of the book, no specific thing like i do sometimes. Anyways....
This is a Sequel, if you didn't know that already so fair warning i will talk about stuff that happened in the first book that might be considered "spoilers" from the first book, so if you haven't read the first book well go do that because it was amazing, just like this book. So there is my fair warning to those who don't know this series if you do know this series, i don't do spoilers often and i do i hide them so you are safe, lets continue.
I think that i love Scott Speer and hate him right now. As Immortal city was crafted beautifully and intelligently the same goes for Natural Born Angel. I am going to say for first thoughts: I loved this book, i will admit there was a lot of times i wanted to throw it across the room, or i wanted to cry until my eyes fell out but passionate responses in my book always equal a good thing. My heart was exploding with love at some moments, and crushed to pieces the next.
Plot: Sorry kids, the romance is a little faded in this, well sort of...Scott did the biggest no-no for most people and introduced a new boy, *gasp*! well get over yourselves, because it was so beautifully done, and so RIGHT for the book that i didn't mind it, and even if you hate love triangles it really isn't one of those cheesy ass ones that you are just yelling at the girl to pick a boy and get over it. I can't even describe how amazing it was done, it was just yeah amazing. The action and suspense/mystery that we had from the first book with the serial killer of angels, is continued on in this book there seems to be new players on the board who we don't know who are, and there is some strange a happenings going on around the world that our favorite Detective is looking into. While Maddy is working on becoming a Guardian, i will admit i was sort of annoyed with how fast things seem to be happening for her, and i was really mad at her for along time because one of the main...you know what save the rant for characters sorry this about plot...okay anyways a lot is going on in this book and even if you want to throw it across the room to get a point across, well you won;t because you will NEED to know what happens next and grudging bring is back into your loving embrace and read on.
Characters:
Maddy: I loved her in the first book (unfortunately i didn't actually start doing reviews and all this jazz until long after i read the first book but i get to mention my love for her now). I loved Maddy is was strong in her convictions, she always believed in what SHE believed in, she didn't have to have the approval of anyone on the outside, she did what she thought was best for her and for what she thought would be best for the good of others. I loved her because her down to earth attitude and for the fact that she never needed to be accepted by the "whole". Unfortunately my awesome Maddy seemed to start to lose herself in this book, and i understand why it was done but i guess i was hoping that none of it would go to her head, but i could that it did. I would never fault her entirely but she does deserve some fault....she started to turn a little inconsiderate to certain people and that is what broke my heart about her. In the end she though returned to the girl i that i loved, honestly Maddy is one of my favorite heroines. :)
Jacks: Oh Jacks...i was scared that when he lost one of his wings, and i knew that it would take some serious miracle working in order for him to get back into Guardian shape, and if it didn't happen within the first few chapters of the book i knew what would happen to him, he would turn bitter, and unfortunately he did, even when he was trying to be loving and all that jazz, it seemed he just couldn't take Sylvester's advice to heart. I was hoping that would get a glimpse of old Jacks, of the Jacks that became a better person- i am sorry Angel - because of Maddy at the end, unfortunately i am not entirely sure that we do. But i despite myself i still love him, and i still want to know more about him. I am not ready to give up on him.
Tom: the new boy, the new human boy. Brought in to help Maddy learn how to fly, as he is a pilot. I found myself regrettably falling for him as well. I hate (in that hate that i actually love it) that Scott Speer made me fall in love with these two boys. And yeah....There isn't much i want to say about Tom because i refuse to do spoilers about him. But there is Tom.
The ending...to say i am pissed is an understatement. mother of all cliffhangers...well its up there. God dammit. And there is just so much unresolved that i feel like i am about to have an ulcer thinking about it...well do i think this feeling at the end is worth reading the book right now? HELL yes i do. Go read ya crazies i don't even know why you are looking up reviews you know Scott is amazing writer, and these characters are amazing, and the plot is amazing... so to sum it up in the quickest way possible... AMAZING.
Alright i am going to make this short and sweet. I do reviews, on a blog. oh no i am that a-hole, well get over it, because at least i am doing it now, after my very full review, so if you are looking for a book to read after you read this one, or you have read this one and you are looking for something well i review a lot of indie books, so you should give them some lovin' the deserve it...so here is the link it check it out if you want.... http://theviolethourbookreviews.wordp... we appreciate you!
August 22, 2019
While Jacks attempts to cope with the loss of his wings (he mainly mopes), Maddy decides to train to be a Guardian. She is met with contempt by her fellow classmates and need outside help to learn to fly - enter human pilot, Tom. Jacks grows more distant and Maddy begins to rely more on her friendship with Tom. Meanwhile, anti-angel politics begin to separate the angels further as they lose human support. Also, strange accidents are occurring around the globe. Slyvester believes they are signs of a prophecy coming to life.
IDK. This book manages to have components that I dislike a great deal (like the incessant name dropping and creation of a love triangle from nowhere), but at the same time, I have gotten wrapped up in the good vs. evil battle looming. So, it's an equal mix of things I like and dislike, thus the average rating. However, my interest in continuing this series is waning. I may put book 3 on my TBR, but I'm in no hurry to get to it.
IDK. This book manages to have components that I dislike a great deal (like the incessant name dropping and creation of a love triangle from nowhere), but at the same time, I have gotten wrapped up in the good vs. evil battle looming. So, it's an equal mix of things I like and dislike, thus the average rating. However, my interest in continuing this series is waning. I may put book 3 on my TBR, but I'm in no hurry to get to it.
January 21, 2019
In the book, Maddy is adjust to life as an angel and the fame that comes with it. She has become one of the biggest angel since she is the only half-angel and half-human. She is also starting her training to become a guardian. Her boyfriend Jackson has had a hard time dealing with his wings and him feeling that he will never be able to fly again. This book takes place about a year after what happened in the first book and takes you through a year of maddy’s life in the book. This is the second book in the series and the first book is called Immortal City. I like that maddy is getting trained to become a guardian. I also like the first at the end of the book and what happens at the end of the book is lightly teased throughout the book. I liked and I do not like how they ended the book. I do not like Tom and you know in the beginning of the book what is going to happen with him and Maddy. The book can be boring at time and can become uninteresting at points. Some of the chapters really kept me interested and wanting to read more of the book. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes any of the other books Scott Speer had written and has read the first book in the series, Immortal City. I would also recommend this book to any young readers.
January 30, 2016
*minor spoilers from book one*
This was a disappointing sequel to Scott Speer's Immortal City.
Unlike the first book there was no light-heartedness or fast paced action just inane political arguments between humans and angels as well as a underwhelming detective POV.
Maddy must choose to either go to university or start her guardian training. Jacks is still unable to use his wings and he overlooks Maddy becoming increasingly popular in the media spotlight which leads to animosity between the couple. Both human and angel governments have been corrupted and there are still demon sightings around Angel City. Maddy meets a pilot who teaches her how to fly and she can't help but have feels for him. Maddy must choose between Angels and humans as they are on the brink of war.
Maddy was self absorbed and distracted in this book. I know she had a lot on her mind but her boyfriend really needed her to support him and that just didn't happen. She was interesting in photo shoots, events and fashion when in the previous book she almost mocked the Angel life style. Her best friend wasn't in this book at all, Gwen was so funny and I can't believe she didn't act as Maddy's side kick in this one! The men in her life were overwhelming, I didn't like this symbolism between human and angel at all. Choosing between two men and two species are totally different situations!
The pacing of the book was so slow, previously I enjoyed Sylvester's POV but he was a bore in this book. Nothing seemed to happen to any of the characters that was particularly interesting apart from Maddy's first save. I did like how she stuck to her views on protection and that she saved Lauren as well as standing up to the angels in the end but it all seemed like a little to late when she got round to expressing her views publicly.
This was a disappointing sequel to Scott Speer's Immortal City.
Unlike the first book there was no light-heartedness or fast paced action just inane political arguments between humans and angels as well as a underwhelming detective POV.
Maddy must choose to either go to university or start her guardian training. Jacks is still unable to use his wings and he overlooks Maddy becoming increasingly popular in the media spotlight which leads to animosity between the couple. Both human and angel governments have been corrupted and there are still demon sightings around Angel City. Maddy meets a pilot who teaches her how to fly and she can't help but have feels for him. Maddy must choose between Angels and humans as they are on the brink of war.
Maddy was self absorbed and distracted in this book. I know she had a lot on her mind but her boyfriend really needed her to support him and that just didn't happen. She was interesting in photo shoots, events and fashion when in the previous book she almost mocked the Angel life style. Her best friend wasn't in this book at all, Gwen was so funny and I can't believe she didn't act as Maddy's side kick in this one! The men in her life were overwhelming, I didn't like this symbolism between human and angel at all. Choosing between two men and two species are totally different situations!
The pacing of the book was so slow, previously I enjoyed Sylvester's POV but he was a bore in this book. Nothing seemed to happen to any of the characters that was particularly interesting apart from Maddy's first save. I did like how she stuck to her views on protection and that she saved Lauren as well as standing up to the angels in the end but it all seemed like a little to late when she got round to expressing her views publicly.
Read
April 14, 2013I can't wait to read about Maddy and Jack again !!
And for the wings I'm hoping for something like Jack's with the glow, maybe color pink 'cause Jack's is blue ...
*******
Review:
Waaaaaaaaa! I don't know what to say, Maddie is the best.
In this book Maddy underwent through her guardian training, being a half-angel half-human she has gone through a lot of hardships from those who don't approve of her as an angel. From Vivian an Angel from Australia even though she made a lot of things that are mean to Maddy she just kept her cool. She didn't let anything break her composure, even though they say that she wouldn't be able to fly, she prove herself by doing her best until she perfected her flying with the help of Tom.
While Jack in the book is mostly jealous, envies Maddy's popularity and not the one that we loved in the first book. He always get irritated whenever Maddy's popularity outshine's him and mostly he's not there to support Maddy in this book. I don't know, but i don't like Jack now, he's angel this, angel that in the book. He even want Maddy to take the sides of the angel at the war even though he knows that Maddy's only been an angel for a year and he put a lot of pressure for it. He didn't think of Maddy's feeling at the issue. All he cares about is being an angel, their divine place on earth and his self-ego. Yes, maybe he went through a lot because he was not able to fly but i think that it's not worse to sacrifice his relationship with Maddy.
And for the last chapter of the book I realy shouted like "Whattt????? Where's the next page? The next book?"
For my opinion I thin that Maddy should choose humanity, for her choice. Than siding with those Angels who only cares about their money.
And for the wings I'm hoping for something like Jack's with the glow, maybe color pink 'cause Jack's is blue ...
*******
Review:
Waaaaaaaaa! I don't know what to say, Maddie is the best.
In this book Maddy underwent through her guardian training, being a half-angel half-human she has gone through a lot of hardships from those who don't approve of her as an angel. From Vivian an Angel from Australia even though she made a lot of things that are mean to Maddy she just kept her cool. She didn't let anything break her composure, even though they say that she wouldn't be able to fly, she prove herself by doing her best until she perfected her flying with the help of Tom.
While Jack in the book is mostly jealous, envies Maddy's popularity and not the one that we loved in the first book. He always get irritated whenever Maddy's popularity outshine's him and mostly he's not there to support Maddy in this book. I don't know, but i don't like Jack now, he's angel this, angel that in the book. He even want Maddy to take the sides of the angel at the war even though he knows that Maddy's only been an angel for a year and he put a lot of pressure for it. He didn't think of Maddy's feeling at the issue. All he cares about is being an angel, their divine place on earth and his self-ego. Yes, maybe he went through a lot because he was not able to fly but i think that it's not worse to sacrifice his relationship with Maddy.
And for the last chapter of the book I realy shouted like "Whattt????? Where's the next page? The next book?"
For my opinion I thin that Maddy should choose humanity, for her choice. Than siding with those Angels who only cares about their money.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 5, 2012
Natural Born Angel --
I was so excited to get this book, I loved the first book! This one was didn't meet my expectation, it was a little slow and predictable. Still a good read but it was missing the suspense that the first one had.
In this book Maddy did get stronger. She starts to believe in herself more, yeah there are some hard times when she is doubting herself but she has every reason too. There are people out there that don't like that she is half human half angel and all the attention she is getting. Everything is a little rocky with Jacks. But she doesn't give up, she gets stronger and let's the life of an angel suck her in. Then she starts flying lessons with Tom and things start to look up.
Tom is sweet, but stubborn, kind of closed off at first. He is handsome, a pilot and is getting her to open up and he sees himself opening up to. He is hard on her and she needs it, he doesn't sweet talk or give her false hope he tells her how it is.
And then there is Jacks. He is so amazing in book one, willing to give it all up for love and then in this book he is like an ice cube. He is starting to become closed off, distant and keeping is own kind of secrets. It's not like he can open up to Maddy, she is the new "it" girl and he is in the shadows. He is starting to become bitter and you can kind of guess how it is going to go down.
Through this book there is the ups and downs but overall a good read. The inevitable happens, there is a war brewing between humans and angels, and demons and humans but what side will Maddy take? Jacks? And all the other angels. Who will Maddy side with Tom or Jacks I guess we will have to wait and see!!!
Shelved as 'sequels-to-read'
August 20, 2012Hmm.. I didn't think I'd ever say this about an agel-related book, but I honestly can't wait for Scott Speer's new book Natural Born Angel to come out! I hope the storyline stays as interesting as the first novel and did I mention.. That. Cover is sooo preety ! (:
Over & Out, T xx
Over & Out, T xx
October 22, 2013
THIS is why I hate LOVE TRIANGLES!!!
After reading the book...
I just.. Speechless.
Okay..
*Getting brain in order*
Okay, so lets start with this book is just amazing. Scott Speer DEFINITELY improved from the first book! (Someone reads their reviews. Well done.)
There was still a couple of mistakes with grammar but not as much as the first book and which I easily overlooked.
THANK GOD! The alternate POVs have been sorted out! Phew. Because that was annoying the crap out of me in the first book. Yeah it was still different character POVs, but they were much more ordered and clear.
And I get it now why the dark angels look weird and deformed fire ball things. Cleverly played..
So he got hisshit sorted! BRAVO!
SPOILERS AHEAD!
Maddy
Character improvement! She grew some balls!
At some points I find she was getting a little too big for her boots (which is understandable, due to being a nobody to 'Americas Sweetheart'), but also her neglect towards Jackson, which yeah he didn't help himself either.. But I'll get into that later. However, as she became guardian, she came back to her true self with wanting to change things between the protection for pay angel thing; which catapulted after her first save, showing the world she can save two mortal lives at once, under protection or not. Which is why I didn't like Jackson being a bastard to her really about it when he knew what she wanted to do from the beginning and knew who she was, not an angel to leave an innocent to die just because the victim can't afford it. So.. Back off! Your being a bastard in this book. And I understand Maddy's decision to side with the mortals too, but... at the cost of their relationship? No.
So now were onto.. Jackson
I still love Jacks.. Don't get me wrong, Jacks... wasn't nice in this book. But I understand why he was like that. It's hard for him to lose his wings, fame and fans when you've been brought up with it your whole life, so it's understandable that he would be resentful towards Maddy who's taken his limelight. But still.. He was less present in this book I thought, probably with the whole secret with his wings. But.. Why couldn't he tell Maddy? I get it that she was preoccupied with life of fame and events, but Jacks has lived a life like that. He KNOWS how busy the schedule is and should understand she's not use to it. However, he left partied in the first book for her, I expected the same for him. I'm disappointed in you Maddy. Despite that, he could have come out and told her about this new wing treatment. It didn't seem to be top secret? She was trying to be supportive throughout the first wing treatments, so I don't understand why he didn't tell her? Which, ultimately, started the distance between them. I felt that both characters were being selfish and too preoccupied with their lives, but I saw glimpses of Maddy which I loved from the first book. Whereas I couldn't really see Jacksons traits I fell in love with originally which ultimately pushed me towards Tom.
Tom
I'm surprised by how quickly I've fallen for Tom. A new character who's made a big impact. I really like his introduction. I didn't expect him to become a main character with how he was introduced. He's a fighter pilot who Maddy was assigned by Susan, one of her professors, to help her improve her flying. He immediately didn't take any of her crap and seemed quite put out with having to help her improvements. But after finding out she's becoming a guardian in just two weeks, and with Jacks not being there for her at the moment, she went to Tom for help. And after a flight session, they open up and become close friends, with feelings developing unnoticed between them until a kiss.
No matter how much I like this guy, I think there's something fishy about him. How he immediately showed his dislike for angels, and if so why he agreed to train her from the request of an archangel? And what was the deal/favour he made with Susan to help train her which he keeps won't telling Maddy till the time is right? Hmm.. And also at the very end how he admits his love for her. Okay, don't get ahead of yourself there buddy! I get it, there is something between you both, but love? Maybe with a bit more time. She's just broken up with Jacks and I'm not ready to let him go!
I hate love triangles.. 0_o
I never know who to choose!
And the cliffhanger!!! The next book better be out soon is all I'm saying.. Oh what? Not till August 28th, 2014?!!
NOOOOOOOOOO!
After reading the book...
I just.. Speechless.
Okay..
*Getting brain in order*
Okay, so lets start with this book is just amazing. Scott Speer DEFINITELY improved from the first book! (Someone reads their reviews. Well done.)
There was still a couple of mistakes with grammar but not as much as the first book and which I easily overlooked.
THANK GOD! The alternate POVs have been sorted out! Phew. Because that was annoying the crap out of me in the first book. Yeah it was still different character POVs, but they were much more ordered and clear.
And I get it now why the dark angels look weird and deformed fire ball things. Cleverly played..
So he got his
SPOILERS AHEAD!
Maddy
Character improvement! She grew some balls!
At some points I find she was getting a little too big for her boots (which is understandable, due to being a nobody to 'Americas Sweetheart'), but also her neglect towards Jackson, which yeah he didn't help himself either.. But I'll get into that later. However, as she became guardian, she came back to her true self with wanting to change things between the protection for pay angel thing; which catapulted after her first save, showing the world she can save two mortal lives at once, under protection or not. Which is why I didn't like Jackson being a bastard to her really about it when he knew what she wanted to do from the beginning and knew who she was, not an angel to leave an innocent to die just because the victim can't afford it. So.. Back off! Your being a bastard in this book. And I understand Maddy's decision to side with the mortals too, but... at the cost of their relationship? No.
So now were onto.. Jackson
I still love Jacks.. Don't get me wrong, Jacks... wasn't nice in this book. But I understand why he was like that. It's hard for him to lose his wings, fame and fans when you've been brought up with it your whole life, so it's understandable that he would be resentful towards Maddy who's taken his limelight. But still.. He was less present in this book I thought, probably with the whole secret with his wings. But.. Why couldn't he tell Maddy? I get it that she was preoccupied with life of fame and events, but Jacks has lived a life like that. He KNOWS how busy the schedule is and should understand she's not use to it. However, he left partied in the first book for her, I expected the same for him. I'm disappointed in you Maddy. Despite that, he could have come out and told her about this new wing treatment. It didn't seem to be top secret? She was trying to be supportive throughout the first wing treatments, so I don't understand why he didn't tell her? Which, ultimately, started the distance between them. I felt that both characters were being selfish and too preoccupied with their lives, but I saw glimpses of Maddy which I loved from the first book. Whereas I couldn't really see Jacksons traits I fell in love with originally which ultimately pushed me towards Tom.
Tom
I'm surprised by how quickly I've fallen for Tom. A new character who's made a big impact. I really like his introduction. I didn't expect him to become a main character with how he was introduced. He's a fighter pilot who Maddy was assigned by Susan, one of her professors, to help her improve her flying. He immediately didn't take any of her crap and seemed quite put out with having to help her improvements. But after finding out she's becoming a guardian in just two weeks, and with Jacks not being there for her at the moment, she went to Tom for help. And after a flight session, they open up and become close friends, with feelings developing unnoticed between them until a kiss.
No matter how much I like this guy, I think there's something fishy about him. How he immediately showed his dislike for angels, and if so why he agreed to train her from the request of an archangel? And what was the deal/favour he made with Susan to help train her which he keeps won't telling Maddy till the time is right? Hmm.. And also at the very end how he admits his love for her. Okay, don't get ahead of yourself there buddy! I get it, there is something between you both, but love? Maybe with a bit more time. She's just broken up with Jacks and I'm not ready to let him go!
I hate love triangles.. 0_o
I never know who to choose!
And the cliffhanger!!! The next book better be out soon is all I'm saying.. Oh what? Not till August 28th, 2014?!!
NOOOOOOOOOO!
May 5, 2013
It seems that I have been reading a lot of books that are more of Filler and Build-Up books lately than normal. Natural Born Angel does continue on from the first book, Immortal City, and it does have a couple good action and important type of stuff happening in it. But it just seemed to be missing that "umph" you used to get in books. I still enjoyed this second installment, but it was a little difficult to get through at times.
***POSSIBLE SPOILER*** ***ALSO DO NOT READ IF YOU DIDN'T READ FIRST BOOK***!!!
This book is set up a little later than the end of the first book. Maddy, the main female character, decides to become a Guardian Angel in Angel City instead of going on to College. And because she is half Human, half Angel, she is trying to deal with the Angels discrimination with her while training to be a Guardian in the hopes to change a couple of things in the way that the Angels are doing them. Jacks, the main male character, of course had lost his wings at the end of the first book. So he is struggling with getting them back/working and becoming a Guardian again. So, while both Maddy and Jacks are trying to deal with their own personal agenda, you don't get much of their "love story" that the first book had. (But, you will get A LOT of dialog on their thoughts.) You will also continue to follow Detective Sylvester while he tries to figure some "things" out that are going on in Angel City and around the world. (This part of the story also has A LOT of information and can make you cross your eyes.)
***END OF POSSIBLE SPOILER***
Sooo, there are a lot of switching around in the narrators and scenes. You will experience the trials of each of the 3 main characters and be introduced to a couple more new main characters. There are a couple of areas that are intriguing in the book, but overall, it's just not as good as the first one. There are even a couple of areas that threw me for a loop to the point where I had to literally stop reading and go back and try to figure it out. In the end, I didn't really figure it out because it just seems that Scott had skipped over something while "jumping ahead" in the story.
I really do hope the 3rd book will pick back up with the full grab and hold your attention scenario the first book did. And honestly, the Cliff Hanger Scott gave us at the end of this book, I really don't think it will be any other way. Hopefully, we won't be disappointed.
All in all, I still recommend this book and suggest you read the first book before this one. I am really looking forward to the 3rd book and hope Scott will post an update on it soon!
***POSSIBLE SPOILER*** ***ALSO DO NOT READ IF YOU DIDN'T READ FIRST BOOK***!!!
This book is set up a little later than the end of the first book. Maddy, the main female character, decides to become a Guardian Angel in Angel City instead of going on to College. And because she is half Human, half Angel, she is trying to deal with the Angels discrimination with her while training to be a Guardian in the hopes to change a couple of things in the way that the Angels are doing them. Jacks, the main male character, of course had lost his wings at the end of the first book. So he is struggling with getting them back/working and becoming a Guardian again. So, while both Maddy and Jacks are trying to deal with their own personal agenda, you don't get much of their "love story" that the first book had. (But, you will get A LOT of dialog on their thoughts.) You will also continue to follow Detective Sylvester while he tries to figure some "things" out that are going on in Angel City and around the world. (This part of the story also has A LOT of information and can make you cross your eyes.)
***END OF POSSIBLE SPOILER***
Sooo, there are a lot of switching around in the narrators and scenes. You will experience the trials of each of the 3 main characters and be introduced to a couple more new main characters. There are a couple of areas that are intriguing in the book, but overall, it's just not as good as the first one. There are even a couple of areas that threw me for a loop to the point where I had to literally stop reading and go back and try to figure it out. In the end, I didn't really figure it out because it just seems that Scott had skipped over something while "jumping ahead" in the story.
I really do hope the 3rd book will pick back up with the full grab and hold your attention scenario the first book did. And honestly, the Cliff Hanger Scott gave us at the end of this book, I really don't think it will be any other way. Hopefully, we won't be disappointed.
All in all, I still recommend this book and suggest you read the first book before this one. I am really looking forward to the 3rd book and hope Scott will post an update on it soon!
February 18, 2013
3.5/5 it wasn't a filler book but I just didn't love it nearly as much as the first one. And that ending! Not cool.
EDIT: I really wanted to write a good, full review on this book on my blog. But I realized that I'm too mad about this sequel to Immortal City to give it a full, descent, and well-rounded review. It had very few high points, all of which have left me.
What I didn't like: The first thing that made me mad about this book was that Speer completely skipped over the best part of a sequel, and that's what happens to the relationship right after what happened in book 1. The aftereffects of book 1 were skipped over, and any drama was already over with. It just really annoyed me that Speer skipped over one of the most important parts of a good series.
The second thing is that there was a love triangle. Now, if the author had written a good love triangle, I wouldn't be complaining. But I never liked the other guy (like at all) and I couldn't understand what drew them to each other. So Natural Born Angel contracted the dreaded sequel syndrome where the guy from the first book is never there. Jackson and Maddy had such chemistry in Immortal City, and that was NOWHERE in this book. Like I said before, the author skipped over the early parts of their relationship; the parts where we get to know the guy and the two of them as people.
Those were my two biggest issues. They have completely clouded anything that I could have liked about this book. And I couldn't even be offended (in a good I-can't-wait way) by that crazy cliffhanger because I was so mad about everything else. Anyway, I think that I'm still going to read the third book if there is one, because I know that Maddy and Jackson are going to end up together in the end. But hopefully the third book will be better than this.
EDIT: I really wanted to write a good, full review on this book on my blog. But I realized that I'm too mad about this sequel to Immortal City to give it a full, descent, and well-rounded review. It had very few high points, all of which have left me.
What I didn't like: The first thing that made me mad about this book was that Speer completely skipped over the best part of a sequel, and that's what happens to the relationship right after what happened in book 1. The aftereffects of book 1 were skipped over, and any drama was already over with. It just really annoyed me that Speer skipped over one of the most important parts of a good series.
The second thing is that there was a love triangle. Now, if the author had written a good love triangle, I wouldn't be complaining. But I never liked the other guy (like at all) and I couldn't understand what drew them to each other. So Natural Born Angel contracted the dreaded sequel syndrome where the guy from the first book is never there. Jackson and Maddy had such chemistry in Immortal City, and that was NOWHERE in this book. Like I said before, the author skipped over the early parts of their relationship; the parts where we get to know the guy and the two of them as people.
Those were my two biggest issues. They have completely clouded anything that I could have liked about this book. And I couldn't even be offended (in a good I-can't-wait way) by that crazy cliffhanger because I was so mad about everything else. Anyway, I think that I'm still going to read the third book if there is one, because I know that Maddy and Jackson are going to end up together in the end. But hopefully the third book will be better than this.
May 12, 2013
Disappointing. :/
I don't understand Maddy. She is getting ready to go to college, then has one vision, changes her mind and decides to become a Guardian. She has nobel ideas that she can somehow change the Protection for Pay system where only the rich can afford to be saved, yet she's not proactive about it. We never see her fighting for this cause she supposedly believes so strongly in. Great ideas are pointless without action.
While I enjoyed her and Jackson's developing relationship in book one, the magic is lost here. In fact, I thought it was going somewhere completely different than how it actually turned out. After his enlightening conversation with Detective Sylvester, I thought Jacks would start to realize what's important, while Maddy seems to be losing sight of it. I thought maybe he would see her pulling away and would try to bring her back.
However, that doesn't happen at all, though in my opinion it would have made for a more compelling story. They hardly ever spend any time together except to maintain their image as a happy couple in public, though neither sees it that way. I no longer understood why they are together.
Actually, I found Detective Sylvester's storyline to be far more interesting than Maddy/Jacks. The whole book could have been around him, and I would have been happier.
And that ending. Dumbest. Cliffhanger. Ever. I don't even care how it's resolved.
I don't understand Maddy. She is getting ready to go to college, then has one vision, changes her mind and decides to become a Guardian. She has nobel ideas that she can somehow change the Protection for Pay system where only the rich can afford to be saved, yet she's not proactive about it. We never see her fighting for this cause she supposedly believes so strongly in. Great ideas are pointless without action.
While I enjoyed her and Jackson's developing relationship in book one, the magic is lost here. In fact, I thought it was going somewhere completely different than how it actually turned out. After his enlightening conversation with Detective Sylvester, I thought Jacks would start to realize what's important, while Maddy seems to be losing sight of it. I thought maybe he would see her pulling away and would try to bring her back.
However, that doesn't happen at all, though in my opinion it would have made for a more compelling story. They hardly ever spend any time together except to maintain their image as a happy couple in public, though neither sees it that way. I no longer understood why they are together.
Actually, I found Detective Sylvester's storyline to be far more interesting than Maddy/Jacks. The whole book could have been around him, and I would have been happier.
And that ending. Dumbest. Cliffhanger. Ever. I don't even care how it's resolved.
Want to read
January 2, 2013Why do I do these things to myself? Or in this case think about doing these things to myself. I just named Immortal City one of my worst books of 2012, it killed brain cells, there's no possible way it could get any worse! And therein lies the problem, I have to know...is it possible that it could get worse? Maybe it doesn't help that the author is kind of hot, I don't want him to be such a crappy writer! Yet, it is so. It's killing me!
August 10, 2018
"Neither Angel nor Man Can Escape Their Destiny. That Is Both Their Gift and Their Curse."
That has me pondering for a few moments. Both Man and Angel fell from heaven.
In this book, both Maddy and Jacks are separated by their emotions and fame. Maddy's fame is blinding her from why she wanted to become a guardian angel in the first place. To save people no matte of status. Fame is getting to that girl's brain. Jacks finds out he may never fly again, that alone is heartbreaking for him and seeing his girlfriend soak in the (his) spotlight doesn't make it better. They both stop talking and really seeing each other for a lot of the book. Introducing Tom, a pilot helping Maddy with her flying. This is a love triangle technically, but because Maddy and Jacks are not speaking to each other, him being there doesn't both me at all. Jacks has too lost who he is.
The ending was left with a cliffhanger!!!!!! UGH. But I have the next book, so it's not as annoying as waiting for it.
That has me pondering for a few moments. Both Man and Angel fell from heaven.
In this book, both Maddy and Jacks are separated by their emotions and fame. Maddy's fame is blinding her from why she wanted to become a guardian angel in the first place. To save people no matte of status. Fame is getting to that girl's brain. Jacks finds out he may never fly again, that alone is heartbreaking for him and seeing his girlfriend soak in the (his) spotlight doesn't make it better. They both stop talking and really seeing each other for a lot of the book. Introducing Tom, a pilot helping Maddy with her flying. This is a love triangle technically, but because Maddy and Jacks are not speaking to each other, him being there doesn't both me at all. Jacks has too lost who he is.
The ending was left with a cliffhanger!!!!!! UGH. But I have the next book, so it's not as annoying as waiting for it.
August 31, 2019
Ugh, I liked this book but it kind of fell into the second book syndrome.
Natural Born Angel ended up annoying me. Whether it was little subtle digs/comments or it was the ending overall - I was just annoyed. Which is weird because I really liked Maddy and Jack in the first book. It just sucks that I didn't really like them as a couple this time around. It didn't help that Jacks was just falling into shit that I predicted. Ugh.
I hate triangles and this whole ending was giving me those terrible vibes. Ugh, again.. ugh - I just can't. I wanted to like this book and I thought I was getting into the same groove with it all but I wasn't. Throughout the book, I liked some parts but most of this book just ended up annoying me. I honestly have no idea what to talk about other than I'm annoyed that I need to read the next book. Only to know what the hell is going to happen between these three. Other than that, I just don't care.
ALSO, I hate hitting the R button 100 times just to get the damn letter. eff this. no moe r's
Natural Born Angel ended up annoying me. Whether it was little subtle digs/comments or it was the ending overall - I was just annoyed. Which is weird because I really liked Maddy and Jack in the first book. It just sucks that I didn't really like them as a couple this time around. It didn't help that Jacks was just falling into shit that I predicted. Ugh.
I hate triangles and this whole ending was giving me those terrible vibes. Ugh, again.. ugh - I just can't. I wanted to like this book and I thought I was getting into the same groove with it all but I wasn't. Throughout the book, I liked some parts but most of this book just ended up annoying me. I honestly have no idea what to talk about other than I'm annoyed that I need to read the next book. Only to know what the hell is going to happen between these three. Other than that, I just don't care.
ALSO, I hate hitting the R button 100 times just to get the damn letter. eff this. no moe r's
March 22, 2020
DNF @30%
It just didn’t hold my attention and i don’t feel like forcing myself to read it
It just didn’t hold my attention and i don’t feel like forcing myself to read it
November 17, 2013
***Spoiler Alert***
I cannot review this book without adding spoilers from the previous book so if you haven't, don't read beyond this point! Look for 'Immortal City' the first book in the series.
I know I've said this before but again it is true for this book too. I have been eagerly waiting for 'Natural Born Angel' as I absolutely loved the first book in the series and still holding to the opinion that Scott should make it an AMAZING major motion picture!
With Natural Born Angel, I was waiting to see Maddy bloom and to see how she adjusts to he new life that came crashing down on her. What I did not expect ever was to Maddy to end up more famous than Jackson!! What I liked about Maddy was even with all the fame she was still that Old Maddy that we know and love from the first book but soon you think the fame is getting to her head even though she disagrees . I felt she wasn't paying much attention to Jackson and their relationship and with Jacksons problem he needed that support, especially after he gave it up all for her. Also I didn't feel that love that she had for Jackson as much as the first book and sometimes I'd even doubt if it was there in the first place :(
The book had a more sad atmosphere than 'Immortal City' and I felt depressed most of the time particularly for Jackson. I hardly saw him happy which made me kinda sad and I just kept waiting for him to laugh or smile truly and something to finally work out for him but I was left disappointed. I was also surprised with the emotions that he felt and some of them were quite selfish which was very different from the Jackson we know from the first book so it was a dramatic change that I don't think worked well with the character we learned to love. He became more distant and I think Maddy has a big part in the changes he's going through so I began to dislike her slightly for what she was putting him through. That was kind of surprising as I've hardly got to that point of disliking the protagonist which was probably one of the reasons I didn't enjoy the book much.
Although there was a new way that the story was heading, there wasn't much action, adventure that encouraged me to read further so I felt that it was dragging which I really hoped it wouldn't. The only thing that kept me going was remembering how good the first book was and I was always hoping that I would begin to like it as I read on.
The introduction of Tom was a major turn for the story, added a bit of spice and I liked that there was some normal ness in the story instead of Maddy being angel crowded all the time. Also that he wasn't angel-obsessed made me like home even more but I did feel at ones he could be really harsh. I liked the way Scott Speer developed his character and we weren't bombarded of his personality at once and that he changed throughout the story and opened up a bit more from the closed, stone character earlier on.
And guess what else we got introduced to? You guessed it! Love triangle! We read about a love triangle in this story but I don't think Speer was able to create it well. It was very annoying and conflicting and it just came out of nowhere and I really hated that he added this to the story as it wasn't needed and the plot could have been more enticing using a different method that the fans of the story would like. I started to dislike where he story was heading and the characters I knew didn't seem like themselves anymore so I think love triangles don't work as much with an introduction of a new character but I think that has to be some kind of link between them from the beginning.
I liked the ongoing plot of the war between Angels and Humans and with Maddy being half-human half-angel she had that difficult decision to make of whose side should she choose. Those conflicts and problems built Maddy's character and I think she began to realise the true meaning of who she is and what her responsibilities were.
The story wasn't very mysterious and I had kinda guessed the ending during the middle of the story and there were no surprises or secrets that would have made it more enjoyable. Very predictable.
Overall it was a good story but the reason I think I was disappointed was because I had high expectations after reading the first book. I like that the story ended at a cliffhanger which means I definitely will be reading the next book because maybe this is all working up to something awesome so I wouldn't want to miss out!
I cannot review this book without adding spoilers from the previous book so if you haven't, don't read beyond this point! Look for 'Immortal City' the first book in the series.
I know I've said this before but again it is true for this book too. I have been eagerly waiting for 'Natural Born Angel' as I absolutely loved the first book in the series and still holding to the opinion that Scott should make it an AMAZING major motion picture!
With Natural Born Angel, I was waiting to see Maddy bloom and to see how she adjusts to he new life that came crashing down on her. What I did not expect ever was to Maddy to end up more famous than Jackson!! What I liked about Maddy was even with all the fame she was still that Old Maddy that we know and love from the first book but soon you think the fame is getting to her head even though she disagrees . I felt she wasn't paying much attention to Jackson and their relationship and with Jacksons problem he needed that support, especially after he gave it up all for her. Also I didn't feel that love that she had for Jackson as much as the first book and sometimes I'd even doubt if it was there in the first place :(
The book had a more sad atmosphere than 'Immortal City' and I felt depressed most of the time particularly for Jackson. I hardly saw him happy which made me kinda sad and I just kept waiting for him to laugh or smile truly and something to finally work out for him but I was left disappointed. I was also surprised with the emotions that he felt and some of them were quite selfish which was very different from the Jackson we know from the first book so it was a dramatic change that I don't think worked well with the character we learned to love. He became more distant and I think Maddy has a big part in the changes he's going through so I began to dislike her slightly for what she was putting him through. That was kind of surprising as I've hardly got to that point of disliking the protagonist which was probably one of the reasons I didn't enjoy the book much.
Although there was a new way that the story was heading, there wasn't much action, adventure that encouraged me to read further so I felt that it was dragging which I really hoped it wouldn't. The only thing that kept me going was remembering how good the first book was and I was always hoping that I would begin to like it as I read on.
The introduction of Tom was a major turn for the story, added a bit of spice and I liked that there was some normal ness in the story instead of Maddy being angel crowded all the time. Also that he wasn't angel-obsessed made me like home even more but I did feel at ones he could be really harsh. I liked the way Scott Speer developed his character and we weren't bombarded of his personality at once and that he changed throughout the story and opened up a bit more from the closed, stone character earlier on.
And guess what else we got introduced to? You guessed it! Love triangle! We read about a love triangle in this story but I don't think Speer was able to create it well. It was very annoying and conflicting and it just came out of nowhere and I really hated that he added this to the story as it wasn't needed and the plot could have been more enticing using a different method that the fans of the story would like. I started to dislike where he story was heading and the characters I knew didn't seem like themselves anymore so I think love triangles don't work as much with an introduction of a new character but I think that has to be some kind of link between them from the beginning.
I liked the ongoing plot of the war between Angels and Humans and with Maddy being half-human half-angel she had that difficult decision to make of whose side should she choose. Those conflicts and problems built Maddy's character and I think she began to realise the true meaning of who she is and what her responsibilities were.
The story wasn't very mysterious and I had kinda guessed the ending during the middle of the story and there were no surprises or secrets that would have made it more enjoyable. Very predictable.
Overall it was a good story but the reason I think I was disappointed was because I had high expectations after reading the first book. I like that the story ended at a cliffhanger which means I definitely will be reading the next book because maybe this is all working up to something awesome so I wouldn't want to miss out!
July 17, 2014
3.5 Stars
This review will be available on my blog as of 7/18:
Like a lot of second books that come on the heels of a great first book, Natural Born Angel doesn't quite live up to its predecessor, but there is still a ton that this book does right.
First, the book summarily deals with Maddy's decision to become a Guardian within the opening pages of the book and I think it was handled really well. That she was going to decide to become a Guardian was never really in question - cover art, title, and nature of the genre aside, this was the only choice possible that would have allowed for growth of the character. And yet, Speer shows respect for his character. When she makes her decision, it feels right for the character and you could see her character doing.
Second, and I know this sounds kind of odd, but I like that the leadership for both the Angels and the Humans are assholes. By the end of the book, Maddy is asked to pick a side and honestly, it's not an easy call. I mean, okay, no one wants the earth destroyed, but when you're choice is between Angels who are using Maddy for PR purposes and don't want to save anyone who can't afford it and humans who want to throw Angels in jail if they so much as show off their wings simply because they're a part of the capitalistic NAS...it's a tough one. Add in the fact that even the human who has been of the biggest help to Maddy has clear and obvious anti-Angel bias doesn't help either. It's rare to see YA that does have this balance to it, as opposed to the obvious Good and Evil
Finally, I like that this book does show a deterioration in the relationship between Maddy and Jackson. Speer's day job is in Hollywood (in fact, he's Excutive Producer of Step it Up: All In) and he uses that to craft a relationship falling apart that is too painfully Hollywood. The first book the press were all about Jackson. Jackson, Jackson, Jackson and Maddy was a curiosity. In this book we watch Jackson fade from relevance, to the point where he's no longer even invited to events while it's become Maddy, Maddy, Maddy. It's not an uncommon way for relationships in Hollywood to come to an end. I honestly and legitimacy felt bad for Jackson here as he tried to find new purpose as he slowly recovers from the events of the last book. I really gained a lot of sympathy for him, even as I lost some for Maddy as you can definitely see her lose a piece of herself in the new life sytle (though without question, her heart is still firmly in its place)
On the downside, I do have two major complaints:
Once Maddy does start to train, it's pretty trite high-school cliche stuff. Jealous classmates, she's an outsider, etc. It may make the experience relatable to the core YA audience, but it's old hat and these sections are easily the dullest part of the book. And second, as much as I liked the realistic faltering of their relationship, I really do think the book suffered for having Maddy and Jackson apart for so much of it. Where as the first books was really their story, this book was her story, and I genuinely missed the chemistry of the pair. On top of that, many of her solo sections were the bits of her doing press junkets or training and it's just not that interesting. I really do wish Jackson could have been a larger part of the story.
We're coming upon the finale in a few weeks here, and I hope that Speer is able to strike a better balance this time around. What made Immortal City so great was that sense of freshness and the feeling that something different was being done. This is decidedly a much more conventional novel and I think the book does lose something for that.
It's still a good and enjoyable read, but it's hard to not be at least a little disappointed with it.
This review will be available on my blog as of 7/18:
Like a lot of second books that come on the heels of a great first book, Natural Born Angel doesn't quite live up to its predecessor, but there is still a ton that this book does right.
First, the book summarily deals with Maddy's decision to become a Guardian within the opening pages of the book and I think it was handled really well. That she was going to decide to become a Guardian was never really in question - cover art, title, and nature of the genre aside, this was the only choice possible that would have allowed for growth of the character. And yet, Speer shows respect for his character. When she makes her decision, it feels right for the character and you could see her character doing.
Second, and I know this sounds kind of odd, but I like that the leadership for both the Angels and the Humans are assholes. By the end of the book, Maddy is asked to pick a side and honestly, it's not an easy call. I mean, okay, no one wants the earth destroyed, but when you're choice is between Angels who are using Maddy for PR purposes and don't want to save anyone who can't afford it and humans who want to throw Angels in jail if they so much as show off their wings simply because they're a part of the capitalistic NAS...it's a tough one. Add in the fact that even the human who has been of the biggest help to Maddy has clear and obvious anti-Angel bias doesn't help either. It's rare to see YA that does have this balance to it, as opposed to the obvious Good and Evil
Finally, I like that this book does show a deterioration in the relationship between Maddy and Jackson. Speer's day job is in Hollywood (in fact, he's Excutive Producer of Step it Up: All In) and he uses that to craft a relationship falling apart that is too painfully Hollywood. The first book the press were all about Jackson. Jackson, Jackson, Jackson and Maddy was a curiosity. In this book we watch Jackson fade from relevance, to the point where he's no longer even invited to events while it's become Maddy, Maddy, Maddy. It's not an uncommon way for relationships in Hollywood to come to an end. I honestly and legitimacy felt bad for Jackson here as he tried to find new purpose as he slowly recovers from the events of the last book. I really gained a lot of sympathy for him, even as I lost some for Maddy as you can definitely see her lose a piece of herself in the new life sytle (though without question, her heart is still firmly in its place)
On the downside, I do have two major complaints:
Once Maddy does start to train, it's pretty trite high-school cliche stuff. Jealous classmates, she's an outsider, etc. It may make the experience relatable to the core YA audience, but it's old hat and these sections are easily the dullest part of the book. And second, as much as I liked the realistic faltering of their relationship, I really do think the book suffered for having Maddy and Jackson apart for so much of it. Where as the first books was really their story, this book was her story, and I genuinely missed the chemistry of the pair. On top of that, many of her solo sections were the bits of her doing press junkets or training and it's just not that interesting. I really do wish Jackson could have been a larger part of the story.
We're coming upon the finale in a few weeks here, and I hope that Speer is able to strike a better balance this time around. What made Immortal City so great was that sense of freshness and the feeling that something different was being done. This is decidedly a much more conventional novel and I think the book does lose something for that.
It's still a good and enjoyable read, but it's hard to not be at least a little disappointed with it.
August 21, 2014
The glitz and glam of an Angel celebrity-driven world has dulled and plummeted to doom. That's not only the plot of this second installment in the Immortal City series, but also my assessment. While the originality of Protection-for-Pay Guardian Angels was refreshing in the first book, it marked the potential downfall as well.
"We regret to inform you that we will not intercede on the humans' behalf in this conflict with the demons."
When an Archangel, a leader of guardian angels, says such, it's not only hard to believe because their supposed divine purpose is protect, but it's also impossible to become invested in any of the main characters—who are all angels. The earth-bound angels' apathy is on par with their supposed doctrine in Immortal City, yet it deteriorates the relationship between characters and readers—which should be avoided but is inevitable in such a world of beings who are unwilling to save others without a paycheck. Call me crazy, but I want to like the characters, you know?
When paired with other angel statements like "Angels are the greatest force of good the world has ever seen" ... well, it makes me want to tear off their wings and shove it down their throats.
I didn't agree with the policy of angels only willing to save those who could afford protection, and I disliked all their arrogance, but I had hopes and saw characters who could lead the way to change in the the first book. Now, with this installment and the abrupt 180s of those characters, I am no longer Team Angel.
And while I might have been in awe of the world created, I couldn't wait for this book to end. The rules of the angels' society lacked consistency; the mandates and consequences found in the previous book didn't apply in this one. Actually, any kind of consequence was absent. Besides the rift opened by the previous villain at the end of book one and Maddy becoming a guardian, the characters' cause-and-reaction that should drive the plot and character development was missing here. Everything happened to them, not because of them. The sensory description and wonderful third-person narration that allowed us to glimpse other characters dragged. A love triangle was added. I'm not against them and could see how it reflected opposing sides and the physical and metaphorical choice of choosing one person/race/principle over the other, but it came out of nowhere. Like many events in this novel, it felt contrived. I will admit I found myself rooting for the new guy, but his declaration of love was abrupt, to say the least.
That's just it—with this installment, I was thrown into all different directions from the first book. Everything changed. While I enjoy the idea and potential, I didn't like the angels or the main male protagonist (or the female at times, for that matter), I didn't feel the love story or even the MCs' relationships (which was almost non-existent), and I didn't like the narration or much of the storytelling in this one.
I felt the author wrote himself into a corner, made worse by extinguishing the hope of the storyline and the sides of characters we had grown to like.
Readers looking for a completely different take on angels might enjoy this series. It is pretty great with parallels of our sensational- and media-driven society. But unless angels are put in their place and the triumph of humanity and compassion is shown (or someone can convince me that an alternate ending is just as uplifting and can be found, completely amazing) in the next novel, I probably won't be reading book three.
"We regret to inform you that we will not intercede on the humans' behalf in this conflict with the demons."
When an Archangel, a leader of guardian angels, says such, it's not only hard to believe because their supposed divine purpose is protect, but it's also impossible to become invested in any of the main characters—who are all angels. The earth-bound angels' apathy is on par with their supposed doctrine in Immortal City, yet it deteriorates the relationship between characters and readers—which should be avoided but is inevitable in such a world of beings who are unwilling to save others without a paycheck. Call me crazy, but I want to like the characters, you know?
When paired with other angel statements like "Angels are the greatest force of good the world has ever seen" ... well, it makes me want to tear off their wings and shove it down their throats.
I didn't agree with the policy of angels only willing to save those who could afford protection, and I disliked all their arrogance, but I had hopes and saw characters who could lead the way to change in the the first book. Now, with this installment and the abrupt 180s of those characters, I am no longer Team Angel.
And while I might have been in awe of the world created, I couldn't wait for this book to end. The rules of the angels' society lacked consistency; the mandates and consequences found in the previous book didn't apply in this one. Actually, any kind of consequence was absent. Besides the rift opened by the previous villain at the end of book one and Maddy becoming a guardian, the characters' cause-and-reaction that should drive the plot and character development was missing here. Everything happened to them, not because of them. The sensory description and wonderful third-person narration that allowed us to glimpse other characters dragged. A love triangle was added. I'm not against them and could see how it reflected opposing sides and the physical and metaphorical choice of choosing one person/race/principle over the other, but it came out of nowhere. Like many events in this novel, it felt contrived. I will admit I found myself rooting for the new guy, but his declaration of love was abrupt, to say the least.
That's just it—with this installment, I was thrown into all different directions from the first book. Everything changed. While I enjoy the idea and potential, I didn't like the angels or the main male protagonist (or the female at times, for that matter), I didn't feel the love story or even the MCs' relationships (which was almost non-existent), and I didn't like the narration or much of the storytelling in this one.
I felt the author wrote himself into a corner, made worse by extinguishing the hope of the storyline and the sides of characters we had grown to like.
Readers looking for a completely different take on angels might enjoy this series. It is pretty great with parallels of our sensational- and media-driven society. But unless angels are put in their place and the triumph of humanity and compassion is shown (or someone can convince me that an alternate ending is just as uplifting and can be found, completely amazing) in the next novel, I probably won't be reading book three.
April 27, 2013
After slaving away at her uncle’s diner and studying hard to get the marks required to get into college, Maddy Montgomery is faced with a choice. Her dream school or the chance to train at the top-secret Guardian school. Going from the anonymous high school student to being the world’s number one It-Girl in less than a year, Maddy also has to navigate her new-found popularity and balance her new professional life with her relationship with the oh-so dreamy, Jackson Godspeed. Life will never be the same and Maddy needs to work out what she wants and where her allegiance lie before the war between Angels and Humans decides for her…
Natural Born Angel has so much going on – it’s fantastic! We get to see some Guardian training, the rise of a new dangerous enemy and the fantastic Former Angel, Detective Sylvester, is around again trying to save the world (this time with some help from Mark and Jacks). I loved the way that this novel managed to be describing a fantastical concept (like Angels on Earth) and have it mirror modern-day life - prejudices, terrorism and elitism. This book reminded me of a film in terms of how it is set up and in some ways I think this would make a better film than novel. There isn’t a lot of emotion evident and I think had I been watching actors they would have been able to bring the intensity that these characters in the novel couldn’t.
I had high hopes for this novel. I loved the concept of Immortal City and the dark underbelly of the Angelic world. This book is a breath of fresh air with regards to the action. There is no chance of getting stuck in a characters thoughts because this book is about what’s happening now – happening to Maddy, to Jacks and to the world in general. And whilst I liked the different style of storytelling I felt like it was a missed opportunity. We skip a year from where the first novel ended to a time when Maddy is well established in a relationship with Jacks. She’s almost come to terms with her new-found Angelic state and she’s handling the fame like a professional.
What disappointed me most about Natural Born Angel was the romance. I don’t need romance to enjoy a good book and this is one of those stories that I think was trying a bit too hard with the relationships. Maddy and Jacks have lost any sort of chemistry they shared in the first book and there’s a new element that made this book go from a suspenseful action fantasy novel to just another clichéd teen romance… but even then the romance was unbelievable and flat.
Overall – there are some great things about this book and some not-so great things too. IF you loved the first book I think you’ll enjoy where Speer takes Maddy and the others in this instalment. Will I be reading the next Immortal City novel? Absolutely! But I think I’ll go in with slightly lower expectations than I had for Natural Born Angel.
Natural Born Angel has so much going on – it’s fantastic! We get to see some Guardian training, the rise of a new dangerous enemy and the fantastic Former Angel, Detective Sylvester, is around again trying to save the world (this time with some help from Mark and Jacks). I loved the way that this novel managed to be describing a fantastical concept (like Angels on Earth) and have it mirror modern-day life - prejudices, terrorism and elitism. This book reminded me of a film in terms of how it is set up and in some ways I think this would make a better film than novel. There isn’t a lot of emotion evident and I think had I been watching actors they would have been able to bring the intensity that these characters in the novel couldn’t.
I had high hopes for this novel. I loved the concept of Immortal City and the dark underbelly of the Angelic world. This book is a breath of fresh air with regards to the action. There is no chance of getting stuck in a characters thoughts because this book is about what’s happening now – happening to Maddy, to Jacks and to the world in general. And whilst I liked the different style of storytelling I felt like it was a missed opportunity. We skip a year from where the first novel ended to a time when Maddy is well established in a relationship with Jacks. She’s almost come to terms with her new-found Angelic state and she’s handling the fame like a professional.
What disappointed me most about Natural Born Angel was the romance. I don’t need romance to enjoy a good book and this is one of those stories that I think was trying a bit too hard with the relationships. Maddy and Jacks have lost any sort of chemistry they shared in the first book and there’s a new element that made this book go from a suspenseful action fantasy novel to just another clichéd teen romance… but even then the romance was unbelievable and flat.
Overall – there are some great things about this book and some not-so great things too. IF you loved the first book I think you’ll enjoy where Speer takes Maddy and the others in this instalment. Will I be reading the next Immortal City novel? Absolutely! But I think I’ll go in with slightly lower expectations than I had for Natural Born Angel.
July 18, 2017
First of all, I absolutely loved Immortal City , so I was really quite excited to read Natural Born Angel. I felt the first book of this series was a really fresh concept, and not something I had expected from an angel book, and I loved it.
So naturally when I found out it was a series, and this was the next book in the series, I was expecting more of the excitement and originality like the first. This didn't really happen for me.
First of all, I felt like the characters underwent drastic personality changes. I mean yes, I understand Jacks can't fly, and I understand his mood swings. And I understand for Maddy, learning she was half-angel, and the celebrity status it earned her, that things would change as well. BUT, I think it went to an extreme, to the point where I could barely recognize either of the characters I had grown to love in the first book. It just didn't always feel honest between them like it did before, and I didn't find it completely believable in such a short time for them. Yes, I know it was necessary to get the book to the point where it was at the end, but that doesn't mean I have to like it, or find it believable.
Honestly, I felt like it took at least 200-250 pages for this book to get truly exciting and back to the pace I was expecting. My biggest problem was it felt like a rather cliched young adult book. I found it far more predictable than it should have been, and while I enjoyed some of the suspense, and the action when it got going, it just wasn't enough. It was far too much of a formulaic second book in a young adult series. I had such high hopes, and was really quite disappointed with the end result. However, I am excited to see where it goes, and while I have been fairly tough on this book, in the end I still give it 3 stars. If you read, and liked, Immortal City I would still recommend Natural Born Angel , but I just wouldn't going with high hopes that it'll live up to the first one, because I really didn't think it did. On that note, I will still be reading the next book, whenever it comes out, because I am still attached to the characters, and I look forward to seeing what choices they make and where that takes them.
So naturally when I found out it was a series, and this was the next book in the series, I was expecting more of the excitement and originality like the first. This didn't really happen for me.
First of all, I felt like the characters underwent drastic personality changes. I mean yes, I understand Jacks can't fly, and I understand his mood swings. And I understand for Maddy, learning she was half-angel, and the celebrity status it earned her, that things would change as well. BUT, I think it went to an extreme, to the point where I could barely recognize either of the characters I had grown to love in the first book. It just didn't always feel honest between them like it did before, and I didn't find it completely believable in such a short time for them. Yes, I know it was necessary to get the book to the point where it was at the end, but that doesn't mean I have to like it, or find it believable.
Honestly, I felt like it took at least 200-250 pages for this book to get truly exciting and back to the pace I was expecting. My biggest problem was it felt like a rather cliched young adult book. I found it far more predictable than it should have been, and while I enjoyed some of the suspense, and the action when it got going, it just wasn't enough. It was far too much of a formulaic second book in a young adult series. I had such high hopes, and was really quite disappointed with the end result. However, I am excited to see where it goes, and while I have been fairly tough on this book, in the end I still give it 3 stars. If you read, and liked, Immortal City I would still recommend Natural Born Angel , but I just wouldn't going with high hopes that it'll live up to the first one, because I really didn't think it did. On that note, I will still be reading the next book, whenever it comes out, because I am still attached to the characters, and I look forward to seeing what choices they make and where that takes them.
May 29, 2013
**LANGUAGE USAGE**
I loved the first book, and when i found out there would be another i was completely siked about it. Than i started to read it and my frustration went to depths never before.
I understand how people are saying Jacks became a different person but i mean COME ON PEOPLE. HE JUST LOST HIS WINGS! You guys don't understand that his whole life was in front of the media, being the prodigy and its hard to adjust when your just THROWN out of it and your girlfriend takes the lime lite. He was their for Maddy to the best of his ability, do you blame him? How would you feel if you were say Zac Efron and then your normal girlfriend is suddenly all anyone cares about and you aren't even invited to a party that you always are invited to but your girlfriend becomes the center stage? Cause if that happened to me i'd be damn well hurt.
Lets get onto Maddy shall we? I was actually really excited for her to be a guardian angel when the TIME WAS RIGHT I definitely did not enjoy the fact that because they wanted to restore the trust in angels they fucking promoted her!? NO and then she got mad when Jacks wasn't there, like honey what do you expect? His life is horrible and you want him to show up so you can brag about being promoted even though you don't deserve it? no
Next tom, first off who the fuck do you think you are? Like honestly you can't say i love you to a persons girlfriend when you knows they've been in love for over a year. And you sure as hell do not have the right to ask Maddy if she feels safe with Jacks, OF COURSE SHE FEELS SAFE THAT IS HER MOTHERFUCKING BOYFRIEND AND YOU ARE A PILOT THAT SHE JUST MET A FEW MONTHS AGO. YOU HAVE NO RIGHT Also how the fuck are you going to keep calling her a human when you know she is a GUARDIAN ANGEL obviously she is not a human if she has wings, can fly, is an angel, goes to angel school, does not hang out with humans other than you and kevin. and yet you insist she is a human. no Get the mother fucking fuck out of here.
In all i enjoyed the book but the frustration i had at times was through the roof! I really wanted to punch a hole in a wall multiple times but the story line is of course amazing. I can't wait for the third book.
3.5 round up as a favor.
I loved the first book, and when i found out there would be another i was completely siked about it. Than i started to read it and my frustration went to depths never before.
I understand how people are saying Jacks became a different person but i mean COME ON PEOPLE. HE JUST LOST HIS WINGS! You guys don't understand that his whole life was in front of the media, being the prodigy and its hard to adjust when your just THROWN out of it and your girlfriend takes the lime lite. He was their for Maddy to the best of his ability, do you blame him? How would you feel if you were say Zac Efron and then your normal girlfriend is suddenly all anyone cares about and you aren't even invited to a party that you always are invited to but your girlfriend becomes the center stage? Cause if that happened to me i'd be damn well hurt.
Lets get onto Maddy shall we? I was actually really excited for her to be a guardian angel when the TIME WAS RIGHT I definitely did not enjoy the fact that because they wanted to restore the trust in angels they fucking promoted her!? NO and then she got mad when Jacks wasn't there, like honey what do you expect? His life is horrible and you want him to show up so you can brag about being promoted even though you don't deserve it? no
Next tom, first off who the fuck do you think you are? Like honestly you can't say i love you to a persons girlfriend when you knows they've been in love for over a year. And you sure as hell do not have the right to ask Maddy if she feels safe with Jacks, OF COURSE SHE FEELS SAFE THAT IS HER MOTHERFUCKING BOYFRIEND AND YOU ARE A PILOT THAT SHE JUST MET A FEW MONTHS AGO. YOU HAVE NO RIGHT Also how the fuck are you going to keep calling her a human when you know she is a GUARDIAN ANGEL obviously she is not a human if she has wings, can fly, is an angel, goes to angel school, does not hang out with humans other than you and kevin. and yet you insist she is a human. no Get the mother fucking fuck out of here.
In all i enjoyed the book but the frustration i had at times was through the roof! I really wanted to punch a hole in a wall multiple times but the story line is of course amazing. I can't wait for the third book.
3.5 round up as a favor.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 18, 2013
Argggghhh!!!! This is probably the one main reason I hate reading books before they come out because when you finish it, you have to wait longer for the next book to come out. This book made just think how I wish I waited.
This book continues down the road a little where the main character Maddy is about to go to college but she has the difficult decision of opting out and becoming a guardian just like her boyfriend Jackson. I kind of new what her decision was going to be but I didn't know how it was going to play out. Just let me tell you that there were some ups and downs.
Maddy is an amazing character. She is humble, sweet, caring, but she does end up getting carried away with all the publicity and it starts to go to her head. At this part, all the reasons why I fell in love with Maddy in the first part all went down the drain. I kept thinking to myself that this girl needed to be slapped and quick. As the novel did progress, the Maddy that I came to love in the first book came back but now she had to make the biggest decision of her life.
Now Jackson, this stuck up person who thinks he is the goddess of all angels, for sure needed to get a reality check. In the first book we recall him getting seriously hurt (sorry if this spoils anything) and he is temporarily set aside in the world of being a guardian. With him being placed to the sidelines we start to see a new attitude come alive...one of I would say jealousy and yes I can see why but he starts to lose who he is as a person and this starts to create tension in his relationship with Maddy.
Now going to the relationships in this book. Let me just say a love triangle has officially formed. Drama just entered the battlefield and it is going to be messy. With the struggle between humans and angles, Maddy is going have to decide which side she cares more for. Her old life where there are people who she cares for, or her new life where the love of her life stands.
Scott Speer caught my full attention with his first novel and this one just blew me away. Leaving me speechless and wanting more, The Immortal Series is one that no reader should ever pass up the chance to read. This book will deliver a punch leaving you begging on your knees for more.
I give it 5 bites
April 7, 2013
Review Courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy
Unlike most YA novels that feature angels, the Immortal Angels series doesn’t hide these beings from the masses, it turns them into celebrities complete with paparazzi, commercials, and magazine interviews. It’s a cool concept that could have been even cooler if the human celebrity reaction to the angel craze was explored as well.
Picking up ten months after IMMORTAL CITY, NATURAL BORN ANGEL follows half-angel Maddy as she tries to navigate the complex and chaotic life of a celebrity angel. Maddy is soon swept up by the indulgent angel lifestyle and forgets the more humanitarian reason she decided to become a Guardian (to help the poor) and alienates the surprisingly insecure Jackson when her fame begins to eclipse his. By the time human pilot, Tom, was introduced to help Maddy learn to fly, I was ready for her to ditch the increasingly whiny and depressed Jackson.
Since so much focus is on Maddy coping with being in the limelight, other, more interesting activities happening around Maddy were left to the wayside. The sections of NATURAL BORN ANGEL from Detective Sylvester’s point of view were very intriguing and advanced the plot more so than anything involving Maddy (who views most of the angel attacks and human-angel conflict from news sources). At times I kind of wished Sylvester was the main character so we could find out more about him and the demons appearing to wreak havoc.
NATURAL BORN ANGEL has a unique take on angels and shows a lot of potential for juicier plotlines than it delivered. The book ends on a cliffhanger with a serious choice for Maddy in light of the brewing human-angel war. Hopefully the next Immortal Angels book pulls the focus away from the catty celebrity culture and focuses more on the mounting tension between of conflict for humans and angels while fixing the poorly executed love triangle.
Sexual Content: Kissing
Unlike most YA novels that feature angels, the Immortal Angels series doesn’t hide these beings from the masses, it turns them into celebrities complete with paparazzi, commercials, and magazine interviews. It’s a cool concept that could have been even cooler if the human celebrity reaction to the angel craze was explored as well.
Picking up ten months after IMMORTAL CITY, NATURAL BORN ANGEL follows half-angel Maddy as she tries to navigate the complex and chaotic life of a celebrity angel. Maddy is soon swept up by the indulgent angel lifestyle and forgets the more humanitarian reason she decided to become a Guardian (to help the poor) and alienates the surprisingly insecure Jackson when her fame begins to eclipse his. By the time human pilot, Tom, was introduced to help Maddy learn to fly, I was ready for her to ditch the increasingly whiny and depressed Jackson.
Since so much focus is on Maddy coping with being in the limelight, other, more interesting activities happening around Maddy were left to the wayside. The sections of NATURAL BORN ANGEL from Detective Sylvester’s point of view were very intriguing and advanced the plot more so than anything involving Maddy (who views most of the angel attacks and human-angel conflict from news sources). At times I kind of wished Sylvester was the main character so we could find out more about him and the demons appearing to wreak havoc.
NATURAL BORN ANGEL has a unique take on angels and shows a lot of potential for juicier plotlines than it delivered. The book ends on a cliffhanger with a serious choice for Maddy in light of the brewing human-angel war. Hopefully the next Immortal Angels book pulls the focus away from the catty celebrity culture and focuses more on the mounting tension between of conflict for humans and angels while fixing the poorly executed love triangle.
Sexual Content: Kissing
April 4, 2013
I waited a long time to read Natural Born Angel and when I did read it I was both happy and sad. The first book took me by storm and I could not put it down and read it in four hours because I had to see where it was going but NBA really had me stumped. First I love when you e sequel and they glaze over some things from the first book and you get to see why that person said or did that but with this book it did not happen so I found myself going back and checking and making sure I did not miss anything. Then secondly I love love love love triangles but this one seems I don't know I am really not feeling it. I need to see what happens in book three to make my decision on the triangle.
Maddy is a half angel living her life and having fun. She has her boyfriend and her family and her friends. She loves school and she loves everything that comes being her. She sometimes struggles with being with her boyfriend Jackson because let's face it ladies he is gorgeous and everything you want in a guy. So Maddy is living a carefree life until she is offered a guardian position. This position will mean that Maddy will have to train and sometimes the training will be hard and dangerous. She will also have to give up her humanity and she is not so sure she wants to do that.
Should Maddy give up her humanity at a time when the angels and humans are getting ready to go to war? Is it smart to risk her life in these dangerous times? What exactly is she giving up? What will she gain? Where does Jackson fit into all this? These are a few of the crazy questions that kept circling in my mind while I was reading this book. I felt really bad for Maddy and would not like to be her because I am not sure what decision I would make.
Maddy is a half angel living her life and having fun. She has her boyfriend and her family and her friends. She loves school and she loves everything that comes being her. She sometimes struggles with being with her boyfriend Jackson because let's face it ladies he is gorgeous and everything you want in a guy. So Maddy is living a carefree life until she is offered a guardian position. This position will mean that Maddy will have to train and sometimes the training will be hard and dangerous. She will also have to give up her humanity and she is not so sure she wants to do that.
Should Maddy give up her humanity at a time when the angels and humans are getting ready to go to war? Is it smart to risk her life in these dangerous times? What exactly is she giving up? What will she gain? Where does Jackson fit into all this? These are a few of the crazy questions that kept circling in my mind while I was reading this book. I felt really bad for Maddy and would not like to be her because I am not sure what decision I would make.
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