Book Review: Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins

Title: Sweet Evil

Author: Wendy Higgins

Publisher: HarperTeen

Publication date: May 1, 2012

Softcover: 464 pages

Stand Alone or Series: Series–this is the first in a series.

How I got this book: Galley from HarperTeen.

Why I chose this book: I’m very intrigued about stories that center around angels and demons, and this book was no exception.  I read the synopsis and couldn’t wait to delve in.

Synopsis:

Embrace the Forbidden.

What is there were teens who lives literally depended on being bad influences?

This is reality for sons and daughters of fallen angels.

Tenderhearted Southern girl Anna Whitt was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people.  She’s aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but it isn’t until she turns sixteen and meets Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage and her willpower is put to the test.  He’s the boy your daddy warned you about.  If only someone had warned Anna. 

Forced to face her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns?

Review:

What to say about Sweet Evil?  Well, I’m going to be honest.  THe first part of the book, though very addicting, left me skeptical.  It just seemed so unbelievable.  And yeah, it’s fiction, but even paranormal books should be somewhat believable.  So I was tempted to just drop the book right there. 

Luckily, the writing was pretty addicting.  The style was the sort of cleaness that I love.  That probably doesn’t make sense, cleaness of writing.  But the gist of it is that the writers knows where they are going, and they’re not just leading the reader around in endless loops.  Hoorah!

I love the passion in this book–that Kai and Anna don’t just fall in love all willy nilly.  There’s some doubt, some fear, some confusion.  All of these emotions linger throughout the book.  You think they’re sparkig, but you’re no 100% sue.  By the end of the book though, it all leaves you breathless, and you’re rooting for them. 

While the idea behind the story wasn’t wholly original (angels and demons), the author puts her own style and a twist on it that makes it completely new. I didn’t know what was going to happen next. I’m sure we can all agree that predictable books are no fun. Sweet Evil kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time.

            And did I mention it’s addicting! I think I did, but I’ll tell you again. I seriously could not get enough of this book. I was up late at night reading, and had to finally force myself to put it down so I could get some shut-eye.

          So yes, this book was a winner. Now I have to wait another year for the next installment (sad face).  
   

Oh, one last thing that I forgot to mention. The protagonist, Anna. At the beginning of the novel, I hate to say it, but she was annoying. She was very goody-goody, perfect, and all things that make you roll your eyes. I was a little put off by this, and didn’t really like her at first. But as the novel progresses, you becomes more realistic and her perfection starts to break away. I’m not saying being good is boring, just that perfection is unrealistic and impossible. I don’t want to read about a teenage girl who is perfect, because I’ll just scoff and toss the book aside.

    Farewell, folks!