The Fallen – Book 1 in The Fractured Series
Author:
Melissa Barker-Simpson.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars.
Highly Recommended Reading.
Genre: Fantasy / Post-Apocalyptic / Romance.
Even angles are vulnerable, more so in a world reeking of the after-effects of a Demonic War with the Fractured. Here, Zara finds herself entangled in the midst of the next uprising just as someone from her past joins the ranks of the Fallen… someone who couldn’t leave well-enough alone. If not for two rogue protectors Zara’s soul and, that of her ward’s, might be lost forever.
Barker-Simpson caught my eye with this series when she launched the prequel, The Contract, as a novella earlier this year. I love the instant connection I get with Maddison, the witch, and Tobias, the Hympe King, and learning more about their story as it weaves into a larger plot.
I especially enjoyed learning about Zara, Maddison’s ward; a fallen angel with empathic powers that exemplify and reaffirm (even if just for a little while) a belief in guardian angels. Although, toss in a god akin to those revered by the ancient Greeks, blur his lines of fidelity and suddenly nothing is as it seems.
Barker-Simpson’s hints and nudges about certain events that are not fully explained play right in to my love of mystery and the essence of reader-as-fortune-teller. She gives nothing away except a racing pulse and a reason to keep turning the page.
My only reason for not giving The Fallen a perfect score is a personal desire for more. Barker-Simpson has the bones here for an epic fantasy, yet chooses to keep her scenes swift and sharp even as I yearn for another, and yet another bite.
The Fallen is a fast-paced launch into a post-apocalyptic alternate reality where angles, demons and all manner of supernatural pedigree clash as the Fractured claw their way back from expulsion. I can’t wait to dive back into this world with book 2.
By M.J. Moores, OCT. Author. Editor.
Melissa Barker-Simpson has been writing since, well…since she was knee-high to a grasshopper. She often looks back on those earlier stories, and apart from laughing at the heavy-handed drama, or cringing at her inexperience, she is reminded that she has always lived in other worlds.
Melissa’s first novel was published in 2008, and she loves nothing more than working on a new project. The voices inside her head invariably pull her in different directions, so although she try to work on one thing at a time, those who know her would tell you it doesn’t always work!
Melissa has a full-time job which, though it does not involve writing per se, incorporates her love of language. As a British Sign Language Interpreter, she gets to translate information between two languages which is (mostly) fun.
She has two beautiful daughters who bring her great joy. They also keep her grounded, because otherwise she would have her head in the clouds permanently!
Author Links
http://www.mbarkersimpson.wordpress.com
http://www.mbarkersimpson.co.uk
http://www.facebook.com/melissabarkersimpson
http://twitter.com/mbarkersimpson
http://www.goodreads.com/mbarkersimpson
Categories: Book Reviews
infinite-pathways.org 
Thanks for the wonderful review, M.J. I liked your comment about Orion, and he would love it too because he enjoys to give me the run around! It’s also really useful feedback with regard to the scenes. I’ll keep that in mind for book two 😀
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You’re most welcome, Mel! I can’t get enough of your books 🙂
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