Hades

Gr 7 Up—There is certainly a need for chaste paranormal romances and middle school girls who loved Halo (2010) will be clamoring for this second title (2011, both Feiwel & Friends) in the trilogy by Alexandra Adornetto. Bethany and her angel siblings are still living in Venus Cove, Georgia, and she is still totally in love with her human boyfriend, Xavier. Trouble ensues when Beth takes a motorcycle ride and ends up in Hell. Once again, demon Jake Thorn is on the scene to stir up trouble. The Australian author does a fair job of capturing the personalities and attitudes of the characters, but her inconsistent southern lilt and mispronunciations make for a frustrating listening experience. The key to any type of fiction that goes beyond the realm of reality is that it needs to be logical within the context and world that the author has built. This book has too many flaws to satisfy perceptive fans. Abundant thesaurus mining is evident in the complex vocabulary, which may make it a good choice for advanced readers. But the flaws will far outweigh the appeal for fans of the genre. Fallen (Listening Library, 2009) by Lauren Kate and Becca Fitzpatrick's Hush, Hush (Simon & Schuster Audio, 2009) are better choices for angel fans.—Genevieve Gallagher, Charlottesville High School, VA