Angel Eyes by Shannon Dittemore

          Why would a righteous God allow bad things to happen to good people?

          Eighteen-year-old Brielle Matthews searches for the answer to this question in Shannon Dittemore’s intriguing new novel, Angel Eyes.

          While dealing with the grief brought upon her by a recent tragedy, Brielle must decide what she believes and who she can trust. Her story brings new meaning to the verse from Ephesians 6:12 which says, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

           From page one of this book, I was drawn to Brielle’s story. Shannon’s writing flows like poetry; her descriptions are detailed and her characters are well developed. I felt like I knew Brielle, and I could easily relate to her struggles and shortcomings. The first half of the book does have a Twilight-like tone to it, which I have to admit was a little distracting as I compared Shannon’s Brielle to Stephanie Meyers’ Bella. After the initial similarities, however, I was able to move on and get more into the story, seeing Brielle as her own character, and not merely a photocopy of Meyers’ creation.

          I enjoyed the historical background Shannon used for the foundation of her story. I also thought it was unique that she moved from first-person narration (Brielle) to the third person for two other characters. Seeing the story from an antagonist’s point of view was especially interesting, and I felt it provided a depth to the story that otherwise would not have been there.

In addition, I appreciated the gradual development of the relationship between Brielle and the character of Jake. Rather than falling into an intense and passionate whirlwind romance from the beginning, Shannon allowed their relationship to develop at a realistic pace. I did not feel uncomfortable at all with their interactions, and I respected that Shannon refrained from conforming to the world’s standard of a more physically involved romance. With that said, I would recommend that parents exercise caution when allowing younger readers to view this book simply because I felt some of the other content and subject-matter was not suitable for children or teens.

          Overall, I enjoyed the story and plan to continue with this series as the next books are released. I am giving it four out of five stars, docking a star only because I feel this book has been put in the wrong category, intended for young adults, but more appropriate for a more mature audience. In the end, the story was imaginative and thought provoking, pushing the limits of human understanding and offering up challenging questions relating to faith and belief in God. I would recommend this book to adults who enjoy science-fiction and fantasy, and I would place it on a shelf alongside the writings of authors such as Frank Peretti and Ted Dekker.