Early Book Review: No Angel

Author: Helen Keeble

Publication Date: October 8, 2013

Publisher: HarperTeen

Rafael Angelos just got handed the greatest gift any teenage boy could ever dream of. Upon arriving at his new boarding school for senior year, he discovered that he is the ONLY male student. But what should have been a godsend isn't exactly heaven on Earth.

Raffi's about to learn that St. Mary's is actually a hub for demons-and that he was summoned to the school by someone expecting him to save the day. Raffi knows he's no angel-but it's pretty hard to deny that there's some higher plan at work when he wakes up one morning to discover a glowing circle around his head.

Helen Keeble's debut novel, Fang Girl, has been praised for its pitch-perfect teen voice, and VOYA called it "refreshing and reminiscent of Louise Rennison's Confessions of Georgia Nicolson series." No Angel brings you angels and demons like you've never seen them-complete with the wry humor of Vladimir Tod, sinfully irreverent romance, and some hilariously demonic teenage dilemmas.

“I’m going,” she whispered, her black eyes burning with passion, “to kill you.”

“You killed the Headmistress!” Most students would have said that with at least some pleasure, however guilty, but Krystal sounded entirely horrified. Her voice shot up an octave. “You killed the Headmistress!”

“That makes sense,” Faith said thoughtfully. “You can’t have a halo if you’re acting like a demon.”

I was doing my best to be Faith’s guardian angel. Now who was going to be mine?

I first discovered my love for author Helen Keeble with her debut release last year, Fang Girl. I picked it up just in time for my birthday last year and Halloween, and I finished it within the course of a day. So of course when I realized that she was releasing another book this October, I jumped at the chance to read it. I am in love with her writing style and her knack for creating truly hilarious and endearing main, and secondary, characters. This book follows Rafael Angelos, as he ventures off to start a new school that, until this point, was only open to girls. You would think that Rafael has landed in paradise, being the only boy in an all girl’s school. But this school wasn’t exactly what Rafael expected it to be. He learns he is an angel during his time there, and realizes that good vs. evil is only the beginning!

Raffi is such a strong leading character that I immediately loved! Keeble writes Raffi in such a witty and whimsical way that readers cannot help but fall for his inevitable charm. I already mentioned that Rafael finds out he is an angel while at this school, but this also came with physical changes as well. For instance, the halo that has magically sprouted above his head. I could picture all of this happening minute by minute, and I found myself laughing out loud more than anything. He has the absolute funniest lines in the entire book! Keeble also delivers in the laughter department!

The friends that Raffi meets while at St. Mary’s are just as thrilling and entertaining as Raffi! Faith, Krystal, and Michaela make up Raffi’s posse and assist him in warding off demons that have made their way into the school. We do see a little romance amongst the group, but I don’t want to give away which one Raffi falls for. At some moments while reading, it was a little hard for me to guess which girl I thought it would be. Although, I had a pretty good guess from the start.

This is another awesome Halloween read from Helen Keeble!

***A copy of this book was sent to me by the publishers at HarperTeen in exchange for my honest review***