Author David Estes kindly sent me a digital copy of Angel Evolution, book one of the Evolution Trilogy.

When Taylor meets Gabriel at college, she is in awe of the subtle glow that surrounds him. No one else, not even her best friend, seems to notice. Something about him scares her.
Is all as it appears? While Taylor struggles for answers, she finds herself in the middle of a century old war centered on one miraculous revelation: evolution.

Review:

**minor spoiler alert**

Let me say up front that I did like the book. I want to say that up front because I also have some complaints, gripes, criticisms. For one, Taylor and her best friend, Sam, have a certain innocence that appears contrary to their age. They are university freshmen, but Sam still interrogates Taylor excitedly over whether she is going to kiss her new boyfriend or not. I remember being a freshman, and a kiss was simply pase — 0r maybe I just hung out with the wrong type of girls. Either way the point is highlighted by the fact that, though Estes handles it delicately, Taylor quickly moves beyond kissing Gabriel. No one makes a big deal of this though. I belabor this rather small point for a reason. As is fairly common in YA books, the progress of Taylor and Gabriel’s relationship takes center stage in this book, largely eclipsing the danger threatening the entire human race.

Estes works hard to present Taylor as a quirky, knows her own mind, individual that most modern girls will identify with. I know I did. He also goes to some length to establish the strength of her gut instincts, how rare they’re wrong, and how she has learned to listen to them. She they goes right ahead and ignores them completely for the sake of a pretty boy. That she is aware of her own actions only makes it less believable. Unfortunately I feel like I could say the same sort of thing for both Gabriel and, his nemesis, Chris too.

Gabriel is presented as a smart, dedicated, goal oriented ‘angel’ on a mission, but with almost no provocation he falls in love and willingly throws away everything important to him. The problem is that it feels like this was a very sudden decision. There was no build up, and very little questioning of his situation or values before the decision is made.

Similarly, Chris is a clever, strong ‘demon’ trusted with an important mission that he doesn’t appear to actually complete, or even try to complete. Despite the risk to Taylor and all of humanity he doesn’t even try to engage or warn her, not even once. He takes the stance of an observer and suddenly against his (and Gabriel’s) very nature develops a peaceable, wait and see relationship with his enemy.

Now to end on a positive note, what I did like was the Carollian focus on the importance of names and titles. Should you trust someone simply because he has  a name that you’ve been taught is innately good and inspires positive feelings, despite all evidence to the contrary? Could you learn to trust someone who bore the title of an evil, despicable individual? How many kindnesses would it take before he could come out from under the shadow of his name? The whole scenario forces the reader to question their own beliefs.

Estes’ writing is also crisp and clear. It is a pleasure to read. While I have some serious complaints about the character development of Angel Evolution, it is still a story worth reading and I would recommend it for teenagers.