PROMOTION & REVIEW - THE ANGEL KNIGHTS BY MARY TING

The Angel Knights
Prequel Novella
by
Mary Ting

Title: The Angel Knights

Author: Mary Ting

Series: The Chosen Knights Series

Release Date: 8th March 2016

BLURB from Goodreads

Michael and Claudia’s decision to move back to Crossroads was to keep their children safe, but they can’t escape who they are. Their children, Zachary and Lucia, were destined to be demon hunters—Venators. From the age they were able to hold a sword, they were trained to become the best and to ensure they would become leaders one day. 

All is peaceful throughout the land until the Fallen and demons’ presences were felt in the between and on Earth. As the Venators investigate these locations, they will quickly learn how dangerous their lives are. Hearts will be broken. Teammates will lose their lives. And they will face obstacles which will test their faith. 

As danger grows, the fear of fallen angels and demons regrouping has the Divine Elders on pins and needles. Now, Zachary and Lucia, along with Uncle Davin, must prepare themselves—mentally and physically—to live on Earth to investigate where the focal point of evil resides before it’s too late.

Goodreads Link

PURCHASE LINKS

Amazon US

Amazon UK

INITIAL THOUGHTS

I readily admit that I adored the Crossroads Saga and totally fell in love with Mary Ting's version of heaven and the afterlife too. As you do when you love a series I became attached to the characters of Michael and Claudia, as well as Davin. . . .then came Michael & Claudia's twin's Zachary and Lucia. After reading Eternity the fourth and final book in the Saga I was a little lost wondering where I would be able to get my "Angel Fix" read. To be totally truthful  the "Angel" genre is not one I would say I am a great fan of. . . .but I find these books written by Mary Ting irresistible, you really develop a kind of affection for the characters. 

MY REVIEW

So, how did I come about this prequel? I do follow Mary Ting on Facebook etc and saw her new updated "heavenly" (ok pardon the pun!) Crossroad's Saga book covers and commented how much I loved them. Then Mary messaged me and told me there was Crossroads Saga spin off series called The Chosen Knights, and that there was a prequel novella ready to be reviewed straight away. Mary asked if I'd like to read it and I, of course said yes please! thinking the prequel and new spin off series a great idea's and exited to catch up with all the characters, I thought were gone forever.

When I read this novella there was no cover for the prequel. . . . .  .so as yet I cannot pass opinion on the cover.

The prequel is told from the point of view of Lucia for the majority of the book though there are a couple of chapters from the point of view of Claudia and then Michael.

So some time has passed since we last visited the characters of Michael & Claudia, naturally they seem to have hardly aged in any way at all. Their twins are now 17 years old and have been training to be Venators since they can remember. Their mentor is the fun loving, "everything human" expert Davin, who is still as full as mischief as ever!

So to the plot. . . there's a "disturbance" in Insula, the place which is between HEaven and Earth. It is the first sign of any trouble reported since the birth of Michael & Claudia's twins.

We learn the twins have been on many scouting missions and have been training for a possibly inevitable battle if/when evil rises again. It seems the fallen and the demons are being even more sly than before using the fragrance of flowers to hide their distinct pungent smell. Both veteran Venators Michael, and Davin agree they can sense that something bad is coming their way. Zach & LUcia are just two of many newbie trained Venator's that will have to search out the evil that is gathering and lurking amongst the humans etc. 

To say this is a prequel there is plenty of action, fighting with swords, wings, crossbows and more. I enjoyed the description of "mission" that Davin came up with to set the twins against their parents. . . .which I think is brilliantly written and show both the parents and the twins learn from. The parents now know how skilled their angelic children have become and the twins learn they still have many defense and offense techniques to perfect. 

It is clear in this prequel that life has adapted since the arrival of the twins. Michael and Claudia are parents, where as Davin acts as what I would describe as a combination of an older brother/uncle!

We learn in this part of the story that Davin, Zach and Lucia are to be sent on a special mission to integrate themselves in a small place in Hawaii. The twins are excited they get to observe humans so closely and will have to adopt a facade of being human, which means going to school, learning to drive and wearing jeans! Naturally Michael and Claudia have mixed feelings about their twins going out into the big wide world and being exposed to humans, the fallen and demons!

Katherine hints at something really interesting within this novella, she is talking to the twins prior to them setting off with Davin on their big mission and she makes a comment that she wouldn't be surprised if one of the twins had inherited Claudia's special gift.

I think Mary has really developed the twins into complex characters in their own right, as well as them being the offspring of Michael and Claudia. Zachary, named after Michael's father, is the eldest sibling by minutes and he doesn't let Lucia forget it. Zach take's after his father Michael in that he is strong, protective yet caring of those around him especially his sister. Lucia is the more emotional of the twins, she struggles more with her human side, but is still a fiercely brave fighter when the need arises, perhaps Crossroad Saga fan's would say Lucia favour's her mother's likeness and temperament. It will be interesting to read what other Crossroad Saga Fan's think.

There is an incident in the prequel that strongly hints at what is to come later in this spin off series... Davin, Michael, Zach, Lucia, along with the rest of their team Jude, Victoria and Isaac are on an investigative mission when they are set upon by demons and the fallen, sadly a member of their party is killed by a demon called Mortem. During the attack and ensuing fight Mortem also grabs Lucia and admires how she is brave, and feisty. Mortem also says he senses something "other" about her. Thankfully the Lucia ends up being safe and sound but things could have gone very differently if the experienced Michael and Davin had not been on hand.

Caleb and Victoria are also already on a mission in this prequel returning with more grim news and an ominous feelings of foreboding doom ahead.

I could seriously go on forever and ever about this prequel. . . . .what on earth will I be like when I am reading and reviewing The Chosen Knights. This prequel promises so much more to come next! This prequel leaves you with so many questions as well as thoughts and idea's of what may happen next!

So did I enjoy the prequel? I loved it! Would I recommend the prequel? Yes it is a MUST read for all Crossroads fans, though you could read this series first if you wanted, and then read the Crossroads Saga later. I certainly recommend reading both series.

Would I want to read more of this Series? Yes please. I was addicted to the Crossroads Saga, and Mary has done it again, I am hooked into this new spin off series already after just the prequel!

Would I want to read other titles by Mary Ting? Oh I have read some of Mary's other titles, I really enjoyed reading From God's, which is the first in her Descendant Prophecies Series. I do want to read more of this series too, I just really need more hours in a day to dedicate to reading all the books I wish to.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Oh Wow! Oh No! Great prequel, certainly made me want to read more of this series. Loved catching up with Claudia, Michael, Davin, Caleb and Victoria as well as meeting their children Zachary and Lucia and their "team" of Venator's.
Looking forward to this new series but dreading the fact there is a new war on the horizon between the Fallen & the Demons and the Venator's! That sort of implies there will be losses on both sides, so we may be saying a sad farewell to some favourite characters . . .. but then there's all the action of the forthcoming war, as well as following Davin, Zach & Lucia's mission too. . . and learning more about Caleb & Victoria's mission too.
So many possibilities for both new, newer and older characters.