Halo of the Damned by Dina Rae
Publisher: Eternal Press
Genre: Dark Paranormal
You can purchase Halo of the Damned on ebook or paperback from Amazon or Barnes & Noble. More reviews available on Goodreads. There is a separate giveaway for a paperback version of this book on Goodreads that you can enter from Oct 1-31st. You can read my reviews of other books by Dina Rae: Be Paranoid Be Prepared and Bad Juju.
Giveaway:
Click HERE to enter the giveaway for an ebook version of Halo of the Damned as well as a $10 gift card to Amazon.com. Giveaway is opened internationally. There will be one winner.
Review:
Overview: Halo of the Damned is the third book I’ve read from Dina Rae and she sure does have a very signature way to her writing. It’s raw, extremely unpredictable, and compelling from the first page to the last. The dialogue and writing feel over-dramatic at times, and the way her books are written feels like Dan Brown or Tim LaHaye. I like how each of her books tackle a different genre – this one is a dark thriller. I like how this book is about a devil religion unique to this book – which means Catholics are spared from the corrupt priest stereotypes. It’s dirty, but not gory. A great Halloween read for those who like their “evil” without too much scare.
Characters: Like in her other novels, there is a huge cast of characters with distinct personalities. With such a large amount, there isn’t much character development for many of the characters, but they will leave you guessing from scene to scene. Joanne is the star of the novel and she is both a recovering drug addict and an ex-con. I like how her view of the world was more jaded than the typical heroine and how she didn’t fall madly in love instantly with the first male who showed interest in her. There is a little bit of a love triangle, but honestly, one of the men was way out of his league in trying to get her. The romance is very underplayed and the plot definitely hog most of the spotlight. One person I couldn’t stand was Marie – as she in no way resembled a 6-year-old in her mannerisms behaviors, or vocals. I think her character would have been more convincing if she was at least 12 or 13.
Plot: It could be viewed as a good or bad thing, but many of the scenes are revisited by different characters. Scene A might be told in Joanne’s POV and end in a cliffhanger. A chapter or two later, Marcus will pick up the same scene either explaining the events leading up to Scene A or the events that happened because of Scene A. Halo of the Damned is definitely a non-linear story, but surprisingly the pacing of the novel is strong even when the information in the book is familiar to the reader.
Ending: Thankfully this was not a cliffhanger. I could see the potential for a series involving many of the characters, but even as a stand alone this book has a satisfying ending. There’s a few twists that happen during the path of the book and I had a general idea of what would happen at the end – but there was no predictability to the actions of most of the characters. Overall though, it was a good read. A “light” read for those who like “dark” books.
Grade: B+
This is great book for those who wants something different in the paranormal genre.
Book Description:
A chain of advertising agencies, a new breed of humans, and a fallen angel to worship… Andel Talistokov is known for his slick advertising agencies across the globe. He is a fallen angel that uses advertising as a weapon for Satan’s work. His growing power emboldens him to break several of Hell’s Commandments. Furious with his arrogance, Satan commands him to return to Hell after finding his own replacement. Yezidism, an ancient angel worshiping religion, quietly expands throughout the West. Armaros appears as a guest of honor during their ceremonies. He mates with young women to produce nephilim, a mixed race of humans and angels. They are alone and unprepared for their supernatural power. Joanna Easterhouse, a recovering drug addict, steps out of prison shortly after her mother’s fatal accident. She and her sister, Kim, unravel their mother’s secretive past. Intrigued, they learn their bloodline is part of a celestial legacy. Both worlds collide. Halo of the Damned is a horrifying tale that weaves research together with suspenseful twists and turns.
About the Author:
Dina Rae is a new author here to stay. As a former teacher, she brings an academic element to her work. Her three novels, Halo of the Damned, The Last Degree, and Bad Juju weave research and suspense throughout the plots. Her short story, Be Paranoid Be Prepared, is a prequel of sorts to The Last Degree, focusing on the James Martin character. Dina also freelances for various entertainment blogs.
Dina lives with her husband, two daughters, and two dogs outside of Chicago. She is a Christian, an avid tennis player, movie buff, and self-proclaimed expert on several conspiracy theories. She has been interviewed numerous times in e-zines, websites, blogs, newspapers, and radio programs. When she is not writing she is reading novels from her favorite authors Dan Brown, Anne Rice, Stephen King, Brad Thor, George R.R. Martin, and Preston & Childs.
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