Rise from Darkness - Ciara Knight

Rise from Darkness, Battle for Souls
by Ciara Knight

Format: ebook provided by Bewitching Blog Tours for review

Alexander Lorre gives new meaning to the term “tormented teen”. He’s a newly fallen angel, which means he has the self-control of a three-year-old, the hormones of a teenager and the strength of an angel. When he rescues Gaby Moore from drowning, the chemistry between them is undeniable. With a local demon threatening Gaby’s life, he struggles to find a balance between remaining close enough to protect her but distant enough to control his desires.

As danger draws closer, Gaby uncovers shattering secrets that will lead to an ultimate choice. Will she fight alongside her father, an earthbound hunter killing fallen angels and demons, give into the demon blood coursing through her veins and join the demon world, or save the man she loves from both? The first two choices damn her, but the last one could destroy them all.

Gaby is a teen girl who has recently lost her mother in a car accident.  Her father has some mysterious and dangerous job for the government, and they move a lot.  Gaby never really gets the opportunity to form close bonds with anyone.  Her dad works a lot and she basically raises herself.  But she has her artwork, and that can be her safe haven in the storm, so to speak.

The very first chapter of this book made my chest tighten up.  Gaby has gone into the water for a swim, trying to cleanse her mind.  She gets flipped around in the water, a bit disoriented… then she hears some laughter, sees swimming shapes around her.  It was some very powerful imagery and a perfect introduction into the rest of the book. 

Gaby finally makes two new friends in Alex and Sammy.  They are fallen angels are here to protect her.  But why would she need protection?  Well it seems Gaby has also drawn the interest of a demon – Forras.  The thing is, Gaby doesn’t realize anyone is anything other than what they seem.  Sammy and Alex are impossibly wonderful to her, even if Alex is a bit standoffish at time.   Forras is an overbearing jerk, along with the rest of his friends on the football team.

I really enjoyed reading this story.  The twists and turns of the plot were fantastic, as you watched everything unfold in front of you.  Alex and Gaby begin to have a crush on each other.  You get a bit annoyed with Alex because he is obviously hiding something, and sometimes he acts like a bit of a jerk.  But then you get to go inside his head for a bit and everything becomes clear to you.  There are so many secrets in this story that when the truth of everything finally starts coming out you find yourself finally exhaling! This is definitely one of those stories where not everything is as it seems; nothing is just black and white.  The surprises were fantastic and definitely made this book all that much more interesting.

I loved getting to know all of these characters.  Even Gaby’s father, who just seems like an alcoholic who isn’t really present for his own daughter’s life, has some amazing growth inside these pages.  There is definitely more than meets the eye with this man.  I look forward to reading the next book and finding out what is in store for Gaby, as there are some definite game changing and life changing events that happen to her in this story.  Just imagine going from every day normal life to finding out there are angels and demons among us, and not only that – you’re dating one!  Oh, and your best friend is one, your dad fights them, your mother had something to do with it all too – and on top of everything else, there is more to you than you even knew yourself!

Be sure to check out my interview with author, Ciara Knight, HERE