Black Wings

Black Wings
by Christina Henry

As an Agent of Death, Madeline Black is responsible for escorting the souls of the dearly departed to the afterlife. It's a 24/7 job with a lousy benefits package.

Maddy's position may come with magical powers and an impressive wingspan, but it doesn't pay the bills. And then there are her infuriating boss, tenant woes, and a cranky, popcorn-loving gargoyle to contend with.

Things start looking up, though, when tall, dark, and handsome Gabriel Angeloscuro agrees to rent the empty apartment in Maddy's building. It's probably just a coincidence that as soon as he moves in demons appear on the front lawn. But when an unholy monster is unleashed upon the streets of Chicago, Maddy discovers powers she never knew she possessed. Powers linked to a family legacy of tarnished halos.

Powers that place her directly between the light of Heaven and the fires of Hell... (description from Amazon.com)

I really enjoyed this urban fantasy. It's the start of a new series and I'm already looking forward to Black Night, which comes out on July 26th. Christina Henry's writing was fast-paced, funny, engaging, and the world building was very well done.

Maddy was a great heroine. She had strength, she had faults, she made me laugh, and she made me cry. Her bewilderment was not so overwhelming that I felt like strangling her...unlike some other female protagonists *cough, cough...Bella...COUGH* that shall not be brought forth as examples. Her sidekick, the lovable gargoyle, Beezle, is one of my new favorites. His love for popcorn made me snort and all I could think of was what it would be like if my dogs could talk. :)

I will say that I am curious to see how all of the romantic entanglements play out in the next few books of the series. Poor Maddy's in love with one guy, engaged to another, and has another hottie (my personal fave) panting at her heels. I'm anxious to see how this all plays out. What's great about this book, though, is that the romance is important, but it is definitely NOT the only plot-line...in fact, it could even be called a sub-plot. Maddy's discovery of who she truly is, how it endangers her, and how it will affect the rest of her life are the true focus of the book.

I tore through this book! If you like urban fantasy, I urge you to pick this one up soon.