SynopsisOnly Willow has the power to defeat the malevolent Church of Angels - and they will stop at nothing to destroy her. However, Willow is not alone. She is with Alex, a trained Angel Killer - and her one true love. Together, they must train a new generation of Angel Killers. But as a half-angel, Willow can't help feeling like an outcast, even with Alex by her side. So when a handsome stranger with a tortured past arrives at the AK camp, Willow finds herself inextricably drawn to him.
You can find out more about the series at the Angel website and on twitter: @Angel_Book and now over to L A:
Love Triangles
What’s the appeal of love triangles?From an author’s point of view, the answer’s simple: once a fictional couple confesses their love for each other and feels secure in that love, such as Willow and Alex at the end of Angel, you then have to find other challenges for them to overcome. Much as I adore both Willow and Alex, an entire novel of them happily proclaiming their love to each other would be pretty boring to write – and even worse to read! So bringing in the character of Seb as another romantic interest was a great way to add tension and drive. (Also, Seb can be very persuasive. Once he’d made his presence known to me, there was no way he was not going to be in the story.)
I think that’s why readers enjoy love triangles so much, too. Though logically they might hate the idea of anything threatening Alex and Willow’s romance, deep down that’s exactly what they do want: to experience the delicious agony of things not working out, and then the catharsis of a satisfying payoff. (I won’t give away any spoilers, but I think readers will be happy with how things work out in Angel Fire!) And of course, there’s the added appeal of being able to imagine yourself as Willow, with two gorgeous boys in love with you.
Though I was aware of all that while writing Angel Fire, I also wanted to keep things very real, and not avoid difficult or painful situations. While I loved the Twilight series, for instance, there never really seemed much doubt to me that Bella would end up with Edward. In Angel Fire, I wanted to push things further; to genuinely challenge Willow and Alex’s love with a character Willow is both attracted to and has deep feelings for – and who, in many ways, is absolutely perfect for her. Both Willow and Alex – and Seb, come to that – go through the emotional wringer in Angel Fire; their love is tested in ways they never even imagined.
I loved writing Angel Fire, though as always I became very emotionally involved in the story myself, so that it was a relief to write that final, cathartic scene! I won’t say too much yet about how things might go on to develop in book three, Angel Fever …except to say that I rather imagine we haven’t seen the last of the love triangle yet.
Meanwhile, I hope you enjoy reading Angel Fire as much as I did writing it – and I’ll look forward to hearing whether you’re Team Alex or Team Seb! ;).
Many thanks to L A and Usborne
The previous stop on the tour was at Daisy Chain Book Reviews and don't miss the next stop on Tuesday at Bookbabblers.
Now I HAVE to read this! Brilliant guest post, I really enjoyed reading it :)
ReplyDeleteWhile I agree that having one sappy love scene after another isn't ideal (I actually thought it was a bit much in the first book--they could have fallen in love closer to the end to make it more realistic and less cheesy, though I still enjoyed it), I can't stand love triangles. I actually avoid books that have them. I started Angel Fire, but once I figured out it had a love triangle, I couldn't finish it. They are overdone and unrealistic, and there are other ways to bring challenges into a relationship. I always feel like if I were the guys, I'd end it right there. Who wants to be strung along while they watch their "true love" dither about and try to decide if they really love you or someone else?
ReplyDeleteIt's deceitful and cruel, and I always end up hating the person who can't decide (usually the girl in YA novels).
Okay, I have been waiting for this book for months and I still have another month to go!!!! I finished the first in a day and have read it millions of times over. Its infuriating thinking about what is going to happen. Like first, Alex going on a mission to find out what happened to his brother? As much as I love the brotherly love between Alex and Jake, NO!! Did he not learn his lesson after the LAST time they separated? also, I don't like love triangles. Alex and Willow all the way. No Seb in the equation. But after everything Alex and Willow have gone through I know they are gonna stick through it. Doesn't mean I'm not gonna yell at my book at when they AREN'T together.
ReplyDeleteI haven't got to read Angel Fire yet, but I can't wait until I can. I agree whole heartedly about the love triangle stuff. Don't like them. I only want Alex and Willow. And I am DEFINATLEY going to yell at my book when they aren't together. I seriously hope Alex and Willow will stick together.
DeleteI love love triangles although whenever it happens to get between the characters I get mad and sit the book down telling myself that I won't pick it up again even though I know I will
DeleteI'm alex all the way
When is angel fever coming out?
ReplyDeleteAlex has watched every person he has ever loved die by the hands of angels. He has nothing left except his job, he is an angel assassin. Willow is a psychic, who along with her thrift store wardrobe, has a less than stellar reputation at school. When the most popular girl in school comes to her for a reading she discovers that angels are here on earth and they aren't the good beings that they portray themselves to be. When Alex is assigned to kill Willow he goes to check her out and he immediately knows something is not right. Willow is half human, half angel.
ReplyDeleteTeam Alex all the way to heaven and back!!!! Willows and Alex's relationship has been going on for so long and I would hate to see it end. I do think adding Sebastian into Angel Fire made the book a lot more interesting,but that didn't stop me from now hating the name Sebastian. For the a reason as pathetic as getting in the way of Alex and Willow. ALEX HAS LOST EVERYONE HE LOVES SO FAR, HE CAN'T LOSE WILLOW. (I don't want him too.)
ReplyDeleteI hate love triangle. But I love them if they go my way. I was over the moon when Willow realised that she had NO feeling for Sebastian, in Angel Fire. It made me certain that Willow and Alex were going to be together. Please don't burst my bubble. T.E.A.M A.L.E.X A.L.L T.H.E W.A.Y T.O H.E.A.V.E.N A.N.D B.A.C.k Alex has already lost everyone he loves he can't lose Willow as well. Sebastian needs to find someone else to love because Willows TAKEN
ReplyDelete