FALLEN

Author: Claire Delacroix ISBN: 9780765359490 10/2008 PARANORMAL Publisher: TOR

The Eyes of the Republic are Everywhere. When her estranged husband's mysterious death is declared an accident, Lilia Desjardins knows that it is a lie. She leaves all she knows to risk the dark heart of the Republic—only to find that she herself has been targeted by forces unknown. Adam Montgomery will do anything to complete his earthly mission, even if he has to tangle with the enigmatic Lilia Desjardins. But when his contact is murdered and he must rely on Lilia’s silence to save him from the slave dens, Adam knows that his wings were only the first sacrifice required of him. As danger and intrigue surround them, Lilia and Adam realize that they must work together—body, mind, and soul—in order to save the world.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Claire Delacroix's futuristic novel, FALLEN, is a tender romance amid an eerie thriller. There is much to keep the reader intrigued, including romance, mystery and a bit of the paranormal. The story was told in a way that made the paranormal parts seem not only likely, but even inevitable for our future.

In Delacroix's future world, the government, now referred to as "the Republic," has taken over to the point where only a person's thoughts are truly private (not too hard to imagine this happening). Even the technology in this world has become as oppressive as it is helpful (once again, no trouble relating). The earth has been run down to the point where outdoor exposure in some areas is fatal. Birth defects have created a new minority called "shades." All this has made it necessary for angels to give up their wings and enter the world to offer help. The angels, if discovered, will be confused as shades, and this will lower their status to the point that they will have even fewer rights than the "norms."

Adam is one of these angels, posing as a cop in the city of Gothem. Lilia is a norm with a frightening secret. She and Adam are both on opposite sides of the same mystery.

The romance part of this romance/mystery/thriller worked well. Lilia and Adam butt heads in the beginning, both kind of getting in each other's way. In spite of this, there is a strong attraction. I felt that the romance was initially a bit contrived, in that Lilia's reactions to Adam are extreme. Delacroix uses conflict between the two to increase the romantic tension, but I felt Lilia's anger was unwarranted for the situation. Maybe she simply hated him because he was a cop? I don't know. It's not clear, but this was the only time I felt manipulated in the reading. However, the rest of the romance is really good, although I would have liked more of it.

The mystery had me hook, line, and sinker as did the paranormal thriller part of it. I was so wrapped up in the story by the time I was half way into the book, the romance was in the backseat. I really cared about what was going to happen, not to mention that I liked the characters. Parts of the story are chilling. Delacroix put enough of real human nature in the characters to make what is happening seem really plausible.

FALLEN is a very entertaining read with just enough romance to keep a girl happy.

Joanne Shaeffer