Review: "Surrender the Dark" by L.A. Banks

"Surrender the Dark"

by: L.A. Banks

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Pages: 373

Author's Website: http://www.leslieesdailebanks.com/labanks.php

Source: Simon & Schouster in exchange for an honest review

Published: January 2011 by Pocket

 

Goodreads Blurb: 

National bestselling author L.A. Banks’s electrifying new paranormal series is set in a sizzling world where Dark and Light are trapped in an eternal struggle for the fate of mankind. Celeste Jackson has fought all her life against a fog of hallucination and substance abuse, but it’s not until she meets her protector, Azrael, an angel who has left the safety of the Light, that she learns of the evil forces that have been trying to ruin her, and why. A fierce battle for control of the mortal realm is brewing, and only Celeste—with the help of the Remnant, her half-human, half-angel brethren—can stand in the way. Together, Celeste and Azrael must gather an army of sensitives to defeat the dark powers that have ruled humanity for centuries, but time is running out. If Azrael surrenders to his growing desire for Celeste, he risks being trapped among humanity forever. But the longer he stays, the harder she is to resist. To save the world, Celeste must draw on her own dark experiences with addiction to help Azrael overcome the one temptation that could possibly make him an eternal prisoner—his obsession with her.

Darcy's Review:

   This book was so very slow, I could only read 50 pages before switching off to a different book for awhile. I also felt like I was getting preached at while reading this book. When books are about Angels I expect that to some extent, but in this case I also felt preached about eating vegan and organic (I love meat, not going to give it up), drinking (there is nothing like a good glass of wine sometimes), drugs (ok, this one I agree with), and swearing (I don't swear a lot, but sometimes you are in a situation where a good curse word will only do).

When we first met Celeste there isn't a whole lot to like about her, she is a drunk, does drugs, lives with a guy who's main entertainment is beating on her. Really, her life just couldn't get any worse. Things go from bad to worst and Celeste finds herself hitting rock bottom sitting at a bar when Azrael comes in and changes her life. It takes a while for Celeste to believe Azrael and then they are off on their mission, good against evil.

Some of the best scenes of the book were when Celeste and Azrael weren't with a lot of others around. The discovery of food in Whole Foods was one of the light fun scenes in the book. I also loved it when the couple found their way to Aunt Nicey's house. She is such a card and her way of thinking had me laughing. I also thought the scenes with Queen Aziza were interesting. It definitely gave Celeste somethings to think about.

Overall rating: