Author:  Aimee Agresti
Series: (Gilded Wings #2)
Published: March 5th 2013
Publisher:  Harcourt Children’s Books
Categories: Fantasy, Paranormal
 

I received an eARC from Harcourt Children’s Book via Netgalley. Thank you.

Illuminate is a book that took me by surprise. I have little expectations out of it but it turned out to be a pretty good read despite some minor qualms about its pacing. But it did make up for interesting turn of events and while not edgy enough for me but it was still undeniably unique angel story.  So I was pretty excited when I was given a chance to read it in advance (but due to my very busy work it took me a while to finish it). I must say that the pacing was faster than its predecessor.

In Infatuate, Haven and the gang joined a community project. But the it is not what they think it is. The project was just a disguise and the truth of the matter is that is that they are undergoing test if they’re qualified and at the same they are also training. In Illuminate we learned that demons are after their souls and now they must train to protect their souls. To fight for it. And this time the fight is harder than the other time when they interned in a hotel. Haven’s predicament doesn’t end when they narrowly escaped from the creatures who want them the last time.

Of course there’s the still the invisible Mr. Miyagi who helped Haven deciding on things happening around her. Leaving sometimes detailed but mostly vague messages to aid her facing her problems. And to those who are fan of the enigmatic Lucian don’t fret that he’s gone for good because he’s back and sort copying Haven’s guide by also leaving message and telling her that he’s on her side. He’s back to help her, felt like he owes Haven something so this is his redeeming act.

I’m little on the fence with this one. I was sort of glad that my main concern with last book on how repetitive the events were now rectified by highlighting important successive events. Maybe because this time they are no longer on pretenses that they were clueless human and doing normal thing (like being an intern in a prestigious hotel). They were under training of becoming who they really are. So every bit was integral to the plot as a whole.

I thought I’m going to love this book even better now that the romance was fully established with Haven and Lance being together. I don’t know if I liked it that it was minimal and the story focuses more what’s really important but little romance is still a factor to complain. I didn’t get enough of them. If not I was really depressed on how the story end with Lance’s…well, I should not ruined the story for you. But my heart worries for this guy. Haven you must do something.

Overall, it was pleasantly engaging. I sort of felt that the two books were separate unit because I have personal and distinct reason why I love the other and vice versa. But for Gilded Wings fans I think they are definitely going to like it.