I loved this series when I first read it almost a year ago, I was ecstatic at finding an angel series that I could take seriously. But now, my appreciation has taken on a whole new respect once again at rereading Penryn & the End of Days.

Ohmygod.

I've fallen in love all over again. Fallen harder even.

This series is freaking unreal.

“I've never killed anyone before. What frightens me isn't that I'm killing someone. What frightens me is how easy it is.”

17 year old Penryn Young from Silicon Valley is badass. Yes people, she is a tough cookie but she has a heart of gold, usually...For precaution from her unstable and unpredictable mother, Penryn has been taught in the arts of self defense and such, so we see her in action as she uses her instinct and training for survival.

With an absent father, a schizomanic mother and a disabled sister, Penryn has a hefty weight on her shoulders.

Now the apocalypse. Sounds crazy? Even stupid? Most books I've read portraying about similar scenarios turn me off this sort of plot completely. But with such a strong character as Penryn you can't help but go along and take everything as Susan Ee portrays it as in this version of events.

So our story begins 6 weeks post - apocalypse, where Penryn and her family decide to leave their home to find refuge in the wild, away from the gangs who now lute anywhere they can due to the wreckage of the area.

And of course, the chance of coming across an angel.

Some books have portrayed them as godly, holy, graceful, and indeed evil.

In the world as Penryn now knows it as, World After, the angels are the enemies. Their arrival has destroyed Earth, and has brought civilization to it's knees.

A close encounter with a group of angels that night throws Penryn into a situation where she must travel to the heart of the enemies' nest, the aerie, to bring her family together again.

And she will do what must be done. Which includes a daring plan to use an angel to get her there.

“I knew from the start that your loyalty would get you killed. I just never thought it would be your loyalty to me that would do it.”

Raffe. I can't give much away because his character is awesome and we learn a lot about him, especially once we reach the aerie. And then all hell breaks loose.
We first meet Raffe injured and half conscious, when Penryn comes across him. He's a skillful warrior and he has a stature that is refined and recognised. Reluctantly he agrees to help Penryn with his wings at stake.

“A sense of humor is one more thing I don't think angels should have. The fact that his sense of humor is corny makes it even more wrong.”

Ohmygod the wit in this book is just perfect. It just rounds off Penryn's character nicely. She's still only 17 and we see her in many scenarios where she can hold her own. And even though she can make mistakes, she does what she thinks is right the best way she can. She's not a hero, she only wants to save her family, but by the end of the book, Penryn ends up in something much bigger.

“Sometimes, as we're stumbling along in the dark, we hit something good.”

Raffe and Penryn. *sigh* Their relationship is...just so damn perfect. Would I call it a relationship? Because well, there isn't any in that sense, but the comradery they both sense after helping each other out can only win the other's admiration. The way their personalities and wit hit off each other also bonds them as in the end we see so much more.

Then there's the part where it is a sin for an angel to fall for a Daughter of Man.

“But the fire can be tempting.”

Oh yes indeed Raffe :3

This was a weird review, but Penryn & the End of Days! Such a likeable series in my point of view. Most of us who know it have enjoyed it and it is well known as a success in the notoriously disappointing angel genre.

I really loved the author's writing. A great combination of description and dialogue and a good sense of the plot and story and characters.

One of my favourite series for sure.

“I never thought about it before, but I'm proud to be human. We're ever so flawed. We're frail, confused, violent, and we struggle with so many issues. But all in all, I'm proud to be a Daughter of Man.”



Review 6/5/14
I was so happy to find a decent 'angel' book series, I really loved Angelfall. Penryn is fairly smart and strong given the situation with the angels. I loved her crazy mother and the way she acted for her sister. Raffe is also a good character. It's only at the end of the book that we realise how he really feels. There are decent action scenes and plots.