Book Synopsis
“Fans of Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments series will be drawn to Wendy Higgins’s sexy, thrilling Sweet Evil series.
What if there were teens whose lives literally depended on being bad influences? This is the reality for sons and daughters of fallen angels.
Tenderhearted Southern girl Anna Whitt was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She’s aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but Anna, the ultimate good girl, has always had the advantage of her angel side to balance the darkness within. It isn’t until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage and her willpower is put to the test. He’s the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna.
Forced to face her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns?”
Sweet Evil Book Review
Fallen Angel paranormal romances in young adult literature have become a norm of late, but that doesn’t keep new ones from standing out in the crowd. Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins has an addictive quality that will seduce readers of the genre into her compelling series. A romantic page turner, this is one paranormal romance fans will devour right from the start.
The story follows Anna, a goody-goody girl in high school, who doesn’t party or drink, believes in waiting for marriage, and does all her homework. While she’s seemingly angelic, Anna also has a dark side: she feels drawn to drugs. She also has a secret: she can feel what other people are feeling and see their auras. Anna also remembers her own birth where her father told her not to do drugs. There’s something different about her, but what?
Then she meets Kaidan Rowe, the ultimate bad boy who sleeps around with everyone, destroying reputations in his despicable path of destruction. Despite her reservations about his morality, Anna still feels drawn to this mysterious boy in a band. Turns out, he’s kind of like her, and Anna begins to learn about her past. Her father was a fallen angel, a demon, and the children of these demons are meant to work, to tempt humans into sinning. Her father’s particular sin just so happens to be drugs.
But there’s more to the story for Anna has a good side too (unlike the other children of fallen angels). Her mother was a guardian angel, and soon Anna (with her attraction for Kaidan) feels drawn to evil, but still with a strong desire to be good. It’s a conflict that works well for a paranormal romance. While a lot turns me off about Kaidan (he’s just so bad), I do hope that he can find a new path to redemption and that Anna doesn’t give in to his boundless temptations. Certainly, their love story works because bad boys falling for the good girl is a recipe that never gets old…
As villains enter the story (the other fallen angels are pretty awful), Sweet Evil can also get creepy thanks to Higgins’ skill with creating an atmosphere of horror. Overall, this is one series of books that will suck you into its world with seamless ease. If you love paranormal romances like Fallen, be sure to check this one out.
Adaptation Recommendation
Sweet Evil was just meant to be a CW Television series akin to The Vampire Diaries. There’s a unique mythology full of mystery, interesting characters, and a romance to keep viewers coming back for more. The story has such a depth of background that it could easily last a few seasons.
Content Warning: There are some racy scenes in this one though nothing explicit. There’s also underage drinking throughout the book. Both are very important to the story.
Overall Rating
“Hello, Gorgeous.”
Romance Rating
“In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My
feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me
to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.”
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