If you're nostalgic for YA paranormal mixed with the dark fantasy elements of Shadowhunters and the surfer girl vibes of Blue Crush, AoWaS might be right up your alley!
One second, the sounds around River are white noise, the next it’s like the world is speaking to her directly. It started when she was eight—right after her mom was swept away by a rip current, never to be seen or heard from again. She assumes that the Voices, as she calls them, are a figment of her grief. But they’re real, and despite the fact that she doesn't even have her license or diploma, they’re certain she’s the one who will deliver Earth from darkness.
When River’s connection to the Voices abruptly shuts off at her school’s graduation party, it’s a step towards the normalcy she’s craved. But when a demon chases her off campus, a werewolf tries to eat her at a bonfire, and Source magic manifests at her fingertips, the Voices aren’t there to explain. Instead, a mysterious hunter named Ryder is—
Her fate was whispered in the tides...
he has clues about her identity they unravel together, although she feels like he’s unraveling her in the process. Caught in the middle of a centuries-old battle between two warring supernatural realms, to save humanity, River must find the Voices and unlock a part of her past she’s buried since that fateful day with her mom.
If her own self-loathing, and the ultimate betrayal, don’t stop her from wielding the power of love and acceptance.
Angel of Water & Shadow is the first novel in The Book of the Watchers, an upper YA paranormal series with a new adult lean and a dark fantasy feel. A fresh twist on angels and demons, where the line between reality and fantasy is blurred, this debut is full of forbidden love, heart-dropping betrayals, and learning how to turn tragic endings into new beginnings.
Perfect if you loved the fast-paced plot of The Mortal Instruments, the moody first-person POV of Twilight, and the dark fantasy vibes of Fallen.
blue crush meets shadowhunters
Angel of Water & Shadow is not *exactly* fade to black, which is where the lean towards New Adult comes in, but it's definitely not spicy or overly graphic—there's a few scenes that involves passionate kissing and one with bare upper bodies but it's brief. If you'd like to skip these scenes, you can still enjoy the story!
They are: the second half of chapter 18 (when River and Ryder go on on the Ferris Wheel) and chapter 25.
Please note this book contains content that might be upsetting to some readers, including violence, mature language, sexual content, alcohol abuse, sexual harassment, anxiety, auditory hallucinations, depression, and suicidal ideation. It is not intended for anyone under the age of 16.
If you’ve read Angel of Water & Shadow and are looking for more insight into our resident bad boy Ryder, a little heartbreak, and a whole lot of leather and angst: this scene delivers.
SPOILER ALERT: It takes place during the final battle, so fair warning: if you haven't read the book, it will contain spoilers.
Four archangels called the Watchers have guarded Mortal Earth from demons since the beginning of time. Discover which angel you are and uncover your power.