Griffin Rising Review

Title: Griffin Rising
Author: Darby Karchut
Publisher: Twilight Times
Published: June 28, 2011
Genre: YA, Paranormal
Pages: 174
Source: Author

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?

Griffin is an angel in training, and he's on his way to great things. However, no matter how far he reaches or to what new heights he reaches, Griffin can't forget the torment of his first mentor, Nicopolis. Terra Angeli have the gift of free will, and Nicopolis used his to torment and tear Griffin down. His new mentor, Basil, however is a perfect complement to Griffin and the two are finally reaching their stride when a new family moves in across the street with a girl that catches Griffin's eye. Is angel training, a haunting past, a bright future and a potential love interest too much for one young angel to handle?

There is such a predominance of paranormal stories on the market today, that finding an original idea is an increasingly scarce thing to come by. Truly, the nature of the market is dominated by different realms of paranormal beings, so finding a story that can stand a part is great. Griffin Rising definitely sets itself apart with a unique, sweet and intriguing spin on angels among us. Author Darby Karchut has created a heartwarming novel about first loves, the truth and strength that lies within all of us and the ability to overcome adversity that just happens to involve a great and unique angel plotline. Griffin Rising is definitely a book that will delight all ages and keep readers entertained.

Griffin Rising, though a slim book, contained a perfectly executed plot with a well-developed cast of characters and story arc that kept me hooked. Griffin was a lovable character with a bit of everyone in him in the sense that everyone can relate to a piece of his story. Though young, he's on the cusp of discovering his true self, and as a reader, I felt invested in his journey. Watching his interaction with Katie, the girl across the street and Basil, his mentor, it all rang true and felt genuine. What truly made Griffin Rising stand out, however, was the manner in which it was written. With each chapter written as a journal entry from either Griffin, Basil or Katie, I had the opportunity to truly get to know each character and, in a sense, gain a new insight into the other characters through their eyes. This could easily have been a downfall for Griffin Rising, but it was executed so well that the book was made all the more powerful for it.

Overall, Griffin Rising was a brilliant book. Fun, engaging and enriched with sweet sentiment and great characters, it will transcend the young adult genre. I give it a 4.5 out of 5, only because I wanted the story to be longer, and I highly recommend this for YA, MG and adult readers, especially those who enjoy paranormal stories with a lot of heart and soul.

I received this book free of charge from the author in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.