End of Days by Susan Ee Book Review

This final installment of Penryn and the End of Days series didn't have me reeling as I start the book unlike when I first opened the first book (Angelfall) which I devoured in one sitting.

Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Angels, Dystopia
Authors: Susan Ee
Series: Penryn and the End of Days #3
Date Published: May 12, 2015
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Edition: 1st edition
ISBN-13: 9781444778564
Size: 336

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End of Days is the explosive conclusion to Susan Ee’s bestselling Penryn & the End of Days trilogy.

After a daring escape from the angels, Penryn and Raffe are on the run. They’re both desperate to find a doctor who can reverse the twisted changes inflicted by the angels on Raffe and Penryn’s sister. As they set off in search of answers, a startling revelation about Raffe’s past unleashes dark forces that threaten them all.

When the angels release an apocalyptic nightmare onto humans, both sides are set on a path toward war. As unlikely alliances form and strategies shift, who will emerge victorious? Forced to pick sides in the fight for control of the earthly realm, Raffe and Penryn must choose: Their own kind, or each other?

Review

Once in a while, I have to put the book down not because there's so much to take but I feel weary reading. I don't know why the excitement tapers on me. I did finish it within 2 days while I did some back-reads of Angelfall in between pauses to remind me how I was so engrossed with the story. The experience was not unexpected. I remember grumbling over Lauren Kate's Fallen series finale, Rapture, and DNFing (Did Not Finish) Becca Fitzpatrick's Hush Hush finale, Finale and feeling nothing over Thomas Sniegoski's Fallen series.

Still, with my experiences of reading books about fallen angels including books by authors like Cassandra Clare, J.R. Ward, and Laini Taylor, I expect this finale book to take me by storm as Angelfall was the best ever book I've ever read about fallen angels. I don't think this book delivered when it comes to my expectations.

I've read somewhere that before the 2nd book (World After) was even released that Susan Ee planned the series to be comprised of 5 books. I don't mind putting on hold the ending had that plan been executed. I would love to suffer missing Raffe because of the adage, "Absence makes the heart grow fonder." It's not just about waiting for the next book, it's also about feeling Penryn's sentiment for Raffe when he's not by her side. I would love to experience that emotional dam with Raffe. *Le Sigh.*

So much could have been done for the emotional development not just between Penryn and Raffe but with the readers as well. With the series ending in three books, I felt that the story has been rushed.

One can interpret the biblical Apocalypse in so many ways or perhaps take the bible literally. With all the books I've read, I'm always surprised with every author's creativity. While the emotional tension felt lacking, the plot delivers. Susan Ee's imagination never failed to amaze me.

Don't get me wrong, this book is amazing. Still there are things that need to be addressed.

I'm disappointed with how Susan Ee named members of Raffe's warrior angels, the Watchers. She could have apt for fallen angel names like Beliel's. Instead, she chose kiddie toy names like Cyclone, Flyer, Howler, Hawk, among others, that for the first time, her biblical credibility wavered. She could have made up angel names on her own similar to the Catholic-issued list of fallen angels say like Kromwel, Lithiel, or Hazdur.

Moreover, it's so bizarre that in this story, the Pit Lords (or what used to be members of Lucifer's army) are way stronger than the angels or archangels for that matter. It's saying as if when the Apocalypse does come, angels will stand no chance against demons. Still, whatever was done, it was apt to end this lovely story.

As I close the book, I was overcome by deep sadness. I would love to cry like I did for Harry Potter but I wasn't able to. Still, I'm awashed by this sense of grief not just because the series has finally ended but Beliel keeps popping up in my head. To me, he's the one who has given the greatest sacrifice of all. His struggle is harsher than Fallen series' Cameron Briel (by Lauren Kate). I might not get over this feeling for a week.

I hope you won't get affected with the possible negative things I've written here. It's better if you just keep your mind open for anything in this book. And it's way much better if you reread the first two books before opening this one so you'll see how everything in the series has been planned (unlike in Harry Potter where I think deus ex machina abound). I assure you, the story is awesome.