Stacey O'Neale

This review was completed by Amanda Harbin, staff reviewer with the YA Fantasy Guide.I love this series, but I have to say that this was my least favorite of the books so far. Don't get me wrong, I tore through the book like a starving book worm. The writing is fun and engrossing and everything that a reader has come to expect from this author. There were two things that I found very frustrating while reading this book. The first thing had to do with the gushing description of Daniel's gorgeousness, it was kind of annoying. Every time that Luce traveled to a new lifetime and saw Daniel there was the same gushing description and use of the word gorgeous. To be honest after a bit Daniel didn't seem so gorgeous. I get that it was like seeing him for the first time every time but, seriously it was kind of excessive. My second frustration had to do with the world development. First I have to say that I FREELY admit that I might have overlooked something, this may have been explained in previous books and I just don't remember. Anyway, the story kind of got tripped up for me when I was trying to understand Daniel's appearance in each life. Prior to reading this book I was of the impression that he essentially roamed the earth waiting for Luce to reappear. The implications of parts of the story-line in this book are that he is also essentially reborn in every lifetime in which Luce is reborn. Like I said I could be totally off base and maybe I misunderstood the context of the book, but it was a little confusing for me and I spent probably too much time trying to work out the logistics of how his angel life line worked. There was one story line in particular that really threw me off, because she described Luce and Daniel as knowing each other their whole lives and growing up together in the same village. I'm probably over-thinking it, I usually do! Okay, now that that is behind me, here's what I REALLY liked about the book! As I said before the writing is fun and fast paced, like the others in the series it was a tough book to put down and by the end I was kicking myself for reading this one so soon after it came out and now having to wait so long for 'Rapture' (the next in the series) to be released!! I really want to read it now...This story line is one of those that kind of sticks with you long after the last page is turned. The characters make their way into your waking and dreaming moments and you wonder just what it would be like to be a part of their world. This book really attempts to explore the relationship between Daniel and Luce. Luce is on her journey not just to find out why their love was cursed or how to break the curse, she also wants to be sure that the feelings she she experiences are more than just a shallow impression of love. In truth, I'm not sure that the book successfully accomplished making me believe that Luce and Daniel share a deep emotional bond based on more than the Passion of conflict and Forbidden Love, but I appreciate the effort. I appreciated that Luce as a character didn't just want to be bowled over in love and throw every sane thought about relationships out the window. I like that she wanted to know why she felt what she did and that she was willing to do the work to get the answers. Too many YA books throw a fairy tale version of love out and market it as true and ever lasting and it gives a false impression of the experience of love. Luce questioning her feelings for Daniel and Daniel's feelings for her, sets an excellent example and shows that questioning why you love someone doesn't diminish that love. If anything it shows how that love is strengthened by the question.