Hades (Halo (Feiwel & Friends Hardcover)) [Englisch] [Gebundene Ausgabe]

This book picks up right where it left off. Beth and Xavier are happy to be together, Ivy is still learning the ropes of human life, and Gabriel is still cool and collected. Life is pretty good for the angels, but happiness rarely lasts forever. Not long into the book, Beth is captured by Jake, a fallen angel, and taken to Hell aka Hades. Jake admits to wanting Beth from afar, that she makes him feel something more. Beth does not take kindly to this, she responds by fighting the whole way. She also meets quite a few interesting characters, from a woman who sold her soul to save a friend to a previously selfish girl who gives up her chance at freedom to save Beth from the literal Hounds of Hell.

Beth gets in plenty of trouble in Hades, one would imagine an angel wouldn't be well-behaved in that place. Jake actually saves her multiple times, her friends try to keep her out of trouble and provide her with some comfort. Beth's good intentions get her into trouble in Hades, one time too many. They say the road to Hell is paved with good intentions...how true that saying is in this book.

Beth is a fun character to read about. She is very...pure, the author portrays her as wanting the best for others. She is determined, sometimes foolish, serene, and strong. The reader does not see too much of Xavier in this novel, but Xavier still very obviously loves Beth. He is just as handsome and caring as ever. Gabriel is still the cool one of the bunch, taking everything as it comes. Ivy is slightly more excitable, she'd do anything to save Beth. Jake is the evil angel with the handsome exterior, he is charismatic and too suave for his own good. The reader will enjoy getting re-acquainted with these characters and getting to know the secondary characters better.

This book was fast-paced, interesting, and fun to read. The author writes very smoothly and the transitions are far from choppy. This book is recommended to young adults/teens-especially those who enjoyed Halo.

4 Stars

*complimentary review copy provided, this does not affect my opinion in any way*

I do not like angel-themed urban fantasy/paranormal romance. I consider it hugely disrespectful to use actual religious content for "hawt teen boyz!" fantasies.

And since I spent most of "Halo" wishing that the characters would burn in hell, I expected to enjoy Alexandra Adornetto's second book. Sadly, "Hades" amplifies most of what I despised about the first book (particularly the moronic teenage angels and drippy "Twilighty" romance), and adds in some truly gagworthy new additions (oh look, a prince of Hell is in LUV with the heroine!).

A seance on Halloween night lets an evil spirit into the world, and then Jake Thorn tricks Bethany into coming into Hell with him... on a motorcycle. Yeah, it has the lake of fire and tortured souls, but Adornetto is more interested in Hades' sexy clubs, five-star hotels, and large quantities of designer clothing. I am not kidding about any of this.

Why has Jake done this? Why, he's madly in love with Bethany and wants to marry her, and Bethany is moping because she can't see Xavier. Eventually, a plot device allows Bethanny to astrally project into the human world, where the other angels can't see her. Since half the book has gone by with nothing much happening, it is revealed that her kidnapping may herald the Apocalypse.

"Hades" is a perfect example of why theology and shallow teen romance will never mix. The plot is a mushy, drippy, cloyingly sentimental "New Moon"-style story, with most of the narrative being about poor Bethany and how sad she is. And since paranormal romance is all about love triangles, she tries to cram one -- Bethany is SO pure and wonderful that even a fallen angel can't resist her ("Hell's a whole lot brighter with you in it").

But occasionally Adornetto tries to shoehorn in some philosophical or theological points, and it just BURNS because it's so very shallow. I mean, she wrote a story where an ANGEL gets dragged into hell on a MOTORCYCLE. Oh, and Hell? The place where the damned are eternally tormented? Well, 98% of the time, it's depicted as being less unpleasant than Las Vegas.

The writing is every bit as bad as you can imagine. Adornetto tries to make a cool, contemporary depiction of hell, but it ends up being cringeworthy -- for instance, Satan is referred to as "Big Daddy." And her plot is riddled with idiotic plot holes, ghastly romantic prose (you'll end up wanting to poke out Xavier's "turquoise" eyes), and a painfully shallow knowledge of... everything. Is Adornetto even aware that Hell is not a physical place?

As for Bethany, she's one of the worst heroines I've ever seen. She's supposed to be one of God's angels -- you know, an ageless timeless being of pure intellect -- but she's spineless, whiny, prissy, clueless, awash in hormones and quick to give in to peer pressure. And she's also painfully passive, just sluggishly reacting instead of doing anything herself.

"Hades" is perfectly named -- reading it is like spending a few hours in hell. Ghastly writing, theology-rape, and a heroine who needs to be ditched by Virgil right over the pit.

I was suckered in by the cover, I think. It's so pretty what with the see-through wings and the lightning strike and the opposing colors. But there wasn't enough between that pretty to hold my interest.

Unfortunately, while the premise is relatively intriguing, it doesn't live up to its promise. The main character, Bethany, is bland and sugary-sweet. Not the type of character I enjoy. I prefer them to be spicy and sassy, brave enough to kick butt when necessary but kind to small children and puppies. Bethany's supposedly in love with her human, Xavier, and is living her happily ever after with him, having defeated the demon Jake. But, alas, he tricks her onto his motorcycle and drags her, cackling (or, that's how I pictured it anyway) down to his abode in Hades where he'll make her his demon queen.

Really, Bethany? Tricked onto the back of a motorcycle by someone you defeated in a prior book? What about Xavier, who you supposedly love? Come on, girl. Get a spine.

About halfway through, I couldn't take it anymore. This one was a DNF (did not finish) for me. But I'll put it on my classroom shelf -- I'm sure someone will love it!