There are so many things to like about this novel. First of all, it's incredibly original. I haven't read anything in the YA sector that deals with Latino culture and gangs. While it doesn't dive into that world very explicitly, it does give a decent overview and enough context for you to understand what's happening. It might have been strengthened by a little bit more world building for those who are not familiar. I did grow up in Southern California, and lived in a lot of neighborhoods where this was a factor, so I'm very familiar with a lot of those aspects.

This is a faith-based book, but it doesn't overdo it on the religious jargon or theology. The characters are very real and open about their struggles and short-comings. Faith is messy and complicated because people are, and so I think this really showcases that there's no one right way to come to faith or to embrace it; certainly no one is perfect in their efforts. I appreciated that being represented, especially for teens and young adults who are still figuring things out.

I love the idea of angels as reapers, and it definitely makes for a good fantasy read. Angela and the other Destinas are very likable. Michael is a great character and brings a lot of humor to the story. Shawn embodies the right characteristics for his role in this story, which fit nicely into the plot without feeling contrived. He had good reasons for his decisions.

Other than a lack of strong world building, I also feel like some of the dialogue was a little cheesey at times, and I would have appreciated separation between scenes within a chapter for clarity-sake.

Overall, this was an unique story with action and heart. I'm looking forward to finding out what happens to these characters in part two.