Book: Angels are Falling by Drethi A
Reviewed by Booksbystarlightandshadows
Rating: 4/5
I loved Indecent Proposal and this definitely scratched my what-if itch! The Aladdin spin was clever with plenty of subtle nods to the story; the Raja mention was my favourite.
Kai is a master manipulator; you know this from the very beginning but the true extent is uncovered slowly through the book. This man is playing the long game for sure! It was a clever plan to target the obstacle instead of his obsession and it worked for him. Amelie was a likeable FMC and her working through her resentment at her situation kept me engaged. Kai has been planning a long time though and knew exactly how to press her buttons; the lunches were cute and I enjoyed the trip to Beirut.
I did feel sorry for Stefan as although he makes some wrong choices, he's not a bad guy. He stepped up for his siblings when his parents died (whilst also grieving himself) and did his best to provide for them. My heart broke when he was missed off his sister's drawing; yes he had been absent for a few weeks primarily by Kai's design but I'd have loved to have seen a bit of questioning or adjusting from his siblings rather than Kai sliding straight into the role. Although Stefan is corrupted by the instant wealth, I liked how he never actually cheated on Amelie as that would have felt like a cop out. It would have been very easy to root for Kai in that respect but instead for me it heightened the conflict Amelie was feeling.
A definite recommend if you are looking for a morally ambiguous standalone where the villain gets the girl!
My interpretation of the star system;
3 stars - I enjoyed it; would read the author again
4 stars - I really liked it; I am invested and definitely want more from this author/series
5 stars - I loved it; I engaged with this book completely until I finished it and it is one I will re-read