My Angelfall Book Review - No Spoilers
Plot Summary
Angelfall by Susan Ee is the unputdownable opener to the Penryn and the End of Days trilogy, plunging readers into a brutal post-apocalyptic California where angels are anything but divine saviors. Seventeen-year-old Penryn Young is just trying to keep her family together—caring for her fragile, wheelchair-bound sister Paige and surviving alongside her mentally unstable mother—when a vicious, winged skirmish results in Paige's abduction. Penryn’s only hope is an uneasy alliance with Raffe, a wingless, fallen angel seeking to reclaim his power and place among his own kind. Their road trip-turned-quest is dark, suspenseful, and full of Gothic peril, testing both Penryn’s grit and Raffe’s icy resolve. Along the way, the two confront monstrous experiments, desperate rebels, and shifting allegiances as they navigate a society reduced to chaos. The romantic tension is slow-burning and full of banter, but the stakes always remain focused on family, survival, and trust in a devastated world.
Why I Love This Book
I love Angelfall for its pitch-perfect blend of dystopian darkness, emotional complexity, and reluctant partnership. Penryn is a standout YA heroine—resourceful, loyal, and unwaveringly determined, yet never written as infallible or cliché. The evolving trust and snark between her and Raffe add warmth to their journey through horror, tragedy, and some truly creepy worldbuilding (expect both gore and gallows humor). Rather than relying on instant attraction, the book develops its romance naturally—through hardship, shared risks, and conflicting motives. Themes of hope, integrity, and sacrifice shine amidst the bleakness, while flagging that the narrative won’t always shield readers from gut punches or tough realities. The writing is fast-paced, thrilling, and manages to be both genuinely funny and heartbreakingly raw at times. It’s a fresh and riveting twist on angel lore, family loyalty, and what it means to fight for your future.
Who Will Like This Book
This book is a must-read for YA dystopian fans, lovers of supernatural adventure, and anyone who prefers slow-burn, enemies-to-allies romance over insta-love. It’s especially suited for readers who want a heroine with agency, twisted world-building, and high emotional stakes. The series is suitable for teens and adults: while there are dark, violent, and scary moments, romantic content remains mild—most steamy moments are implied or limited to longing looks and rare, tender interactions. If you’re after “clean” spice levels, real emotional depth, and a journey of survival and healing, Angelfall will absolutely satisfy.
Tagged As
YA, dystopian, post-apocalyptic, fantasy, supernatural, romance, angel lore, slow burn, adventure, series, siblings, found family, enemies to lovers, survival
Steam Level
The romance is emotionally intense—but actual intimacy is minimal and handled via subtle moments, longing, and trust-building, not graphic scenes. There are no explicit sex scenes in the first book, which makes Angelfall ideal for readers who prefer a gripping plot and character-driven romance over steam.
