Review: Griffin Rising by Darby Karchut

Griffin Rising

Written by Darby Karchut
Release Date: June 28, 2011
Published by Twilight Times Books
 *Arc copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review


Summary from Goodreads:
"For Griffin, it’s time to angel up.
Armed with the power to control the ancient elements of Earth and Fire, sixteen year old Griffin is determined to complete his apprenticeship and rise to the rank of Terra Angeli.
But first, he must overcome a brutal past if he is to survive in this world. Will the perseverance of his mentor and the love of a mortal girl give Griffin the strength he needs to triumph over the monster still haunting him?"

My Thoughts:

This was a really heartwarming book!  Darby Karchut's debut novel is not only about Guardian Angels, but on a deeper level it seems to be about the journey of self discovery.  Griffin's story had me wiping my eyes at times and laughing out loud at others.  The story chronicles Griffin's journey from the tragic start of his apprenticeship as a Terrae Angeli or Guardian Angel to his final test, the Prolieum.  I am a huge fan of Angel-themed books and this one is fantastic!  It was a fresh take on Guardian Angels and had such an original storyline mixed with memorable characters.  Darby Karchut did an incredible job developing these characters.  Griffin was just so darn lovable!  He was battling the emotional demons stemming from his abusive past with his first Mentor, but lucky for Griffin, he was placed with a new Mentor named Basil.  Basil had a loving and capable hand where Griffin was concerned and this enabled Griffin to emerge from his shell and blossom into what he was destined to be.  Griffin's vulnerability was endearing and his dedication to his destiny was admirable.  The changes that take place in Griffin are no doubt in response to Basil's patience, understanding, and the father figure relationship he forged with Griffin.  I really enjoyed the banter between the two of them too.  It had me snickering throughout the book!  Griffin also goes through another change when a new family moves in across the street.  Much to Griffin's liking, the family has a daughter the same age as him- and she is cute!  Griffin falls for the new girl (Katie) and the romance that sparks between them was both sweet and innocent.  It brought me back to how it felt to be a young teen discovering love in all its awkward glory! 

I liked the manner in which Darby Karchut wrote the book.  Each chapter was a journal entry from one of the main characters (Griffin, Basil, or Katie) and this type of story structure really seemed to allow the reader to get to know each character on a deeper level.  The story ended with a surprising twist that left me craving the next book in the series in a big way!  I would highly recommend this book to all that enjoy Angel stories!  It is a really quick read that should appeal to young teen readers as well as adult readers!  Congrats to Darby Karchut on a wonderful debut!