Sweet Evil

By: Wendy Higgins

Narrated by: Erin Mallon

Length: 11 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's summary

Embrace the Forbidden...

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 16 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?

©2012 Wendy Higgins (P)2012 HarperCollins Publishers

LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!

What made the experience of listening to Sweet Evil the most enjoyable?

The characters are full and developed. I just loved the whole idea.

What other book might you compare Sweet Evil to and why?

It reminds me a bit of Daughter of Smoke and Bone, but of course not exactly. Same rich story telling though.

What does Erin Mallon bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I like the way she brings the characters to life with her tone of voice.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

YES!

Any additional comments?

Just read it/listen to it!! You won't be able to put it down.

wow just amazing

this was a crazy awesome book. the narrator did a great job. I was changing to every word. the author has a great imagination and was very creative. this book was very original. I would totally recommend anyone to read or listen to it.

AMAZING!!!

Where does Sweet Evil rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This book is at the TOP of my list but I have yet to compare it to Sweet Peril. I read Sweet Evil in 2 days I could not put the book down. I hope that Sweet Peril is just the same.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Sweet Evil?

The best part of the book was the New Years party because it was thrilling and created this magnetic attraction to my hands which caused me to read it all in one sitting!

What about Erin Mallon’s performance did you like?

The reading was amazing! Erin created the characters perfectly and there accents spot on. I hope that in Sweet Peril that Erin Mallon reads the book. If someone else reads the book the book will not be as enjoyable.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This book made me laugh and have more emotions than I ever felt in any book. The book came alive to me like I was in it and I was blown away by Wendy Higgins ability to write like she did!

Any additional comments?

I have high expectations for Sweet Peril and I think that they will be meet because I was amazed by the first book.

Doctor's Notes Review

Any additional comments?

I have been meaning to get to the series for a while now so I finally decided to listen to the audio and I was not disappointed. The author created a unique world set in this town in Georgia and I loved it. I think my favorite thing I liked about the audio is the southern accents that we got to hear from the characters. We start this book out by meeting Anna who we learn has no clue what she really is but she will soon find out and her world will never be the same. I loved the concept the author created in this story of having Anna be a child of a fallen angel. We quickly learn that Anna will have a lot to contend with because she has no clue who she or what she may become. Anna soon meets Kai and she learns that she be attracted to danger and all that may come with it.



As the story continues Anna and Kai start to spend more time together and this is where I fell for the hotness that is Kai. Oh my when you talk about bad boy you have to put in that category because he is so hot and alluring and you are instantly trapped in his spell. I think I was even more attracted to him because the narrator pulls off his voice so well. It really fits with who he is a a person. Anna soon sets out on a quest to learn more about what she is and that means she gets to spend even more time with Kai and she also gets to learn about her past and who her parents were. I have to say when Anna meets her dad I instantly liked him even though you know he is a bad guy and not someone you should like. I loved how protective of Anna he was though and the way he was really letting her make her own decisions about who she would become. He helped teach her but didn’t push her in a certain direction. In that aspect Kai was also a huge help to her because he taught her so much she didn’t know. As we continue into the book you really start to see Anna blossom from the shy kindhearted girl to one that is a lot tougher and way more sure of herself and I loved every minute of it.



Overall this book was way more than I expected it to be because to be honest I think I kept putting it off because I was expecting the typical angel tale but it was so much more. This was a story about finding out who you are,forbidden love, growth and becoming who you were meant to be. I loved all the scenes with Anna and Kai because they had amazing chemistry and it really didn’t feel forced like most books try to make it . The author created an awesome tale of their start of a romance along with enough action mixed in that it made for a great read. The narrators did a phenomenal job and I kept finding myself lost in this world that I didn’t want to leave it. I found myself trying to find any moment to keep listening and I highly recommend this one to others. I personally can’t wait to get the time to listen to the next book in the series and I am so glad the whole series is released so that I won’t have to worry about a wait.

Amazing

I love this book so much it is my new favorite! I am dying for the 4th book to come out!

Wonderful!

Best book I have listened to yet! Great story and VERY well performed. Loved it! I highly recommend this book.

Angels vs Demons... eventually

Would you consider the audio edition of Sweet Evil to be better than the print version?

Only because of the accents. Except that the European accents were pretty terrible.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Hmm probably Copano. He just seems so chill. And if he likes Anna, then that works for me.

Have you listened to any of Erin Mallon’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I haven't and I don't know if I particularly enjoyed her performance of this. Maybe I just don't like southern accents.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me roll my eyes a lot. And worry for Anna a bit, but other than that, nope.

Any additional comments?

The last two or three chapters, things finally got interesting and fun. But then it ended.

Great YA twist on Angels (Nephilim)

I definitely enjoyed this story. Definitely a different take on angels and demons. A very enjoyable YA.

16 year old Anna Whitt is a good girl who doesn't know much about her parentage other than she was adopted. So grateful for her adoptive mother Patty, that Anna always did what she was supposed to do. She made good grades, didn't drink or do drugs and always strived to be honest. Anna was "special" or "weird as others called her but she tried her best to fit in. Anna could tell people's moods because she saw their aura. Also, Anna remembered being born and all the words spoken from her mother's womb. She knew she was something more than human, but she didn't know what.

One day, she went to hear a local band with her best friend Jay, and there for the first time she met someone, drummer Kaidan Rowe, who didn't have a visible aura. Anna had finally met someone like her. she felt inexplicably drawn to the Kaiden and she knew he had answers to help her unlock the truths about herself.

Kaiden opened her eyes to world of Nephilims. Kaiden showed her how to unlock her five senses which were heightened due to her heritage as a daughter of a fallen angel (demon) and an angel.
Anna learns that the earth was divided under the rule of 12 Dukes of Hell. Each Duke specialized in a specific sin and worked to tempt the citizens in their area to indulge in that particular sin. Anna's father, Belial, was the Duke of Substance Abuse--both Drugs and Alcohol. Thus, his daughter Anna was required to influence people to use and abuse substances.
Likewise, Kaiden's father as the Duke of Lust, and Kaiden was required to work in his father's region promoting lust.

But something happens between Anna and Kaiden, and it causes them to fight their particular nature. But it is hard, very hard to go against your nature!

I listen to this book in one sitting. Engaging, but such angst and Kaiden and Anna clearly wanted each other. Love is a good emotion, so I can see why it is forbidden to them. Great world building. I can't wait for the next book.

Fantastic Book !!

Would you listen to Sweet Evil again? Why?

Yes i would great story line and great romance that you'd want to hear again !

Who was your favorite character and why?

hmm i do love all of them ...kai but i have to say i come to like him more in the second book sweet peril :D

Which scene was your favorite?

when anna and kai go on a road trip !

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

YES !!

Any additional comments?

an awesome series and you won't be disappointed !

Engaging and Enjoyable

I've largely avoided the flood of half-angel/half-demon YA fiction that's hit the market in the last few years. When the sticky subject of religion is broached in YA fic it seems to be either too preachy and pushing the authors' agenda or thrown in as a plot point to make the protagonists seem 'deep'.

That being said, I honestly can't even tell you what compelled me to give "Sweet Evil" a go! I definitely mustn't have read the Audible summary above because reading it again now to keep my review spoiler-free it sounds likes trite, clichéd nonsense.

In reality, "Sweet Evil" was a well written and enjoyable read.

At no point did I feel like the religious aspects were preaching or being glossed over which was really refreshing and speaks to great skill in the craftsmanship of the novel.

Similarly, the characters were very well drawn and the relationships were enjoyably authentic. The author managed to keep virtuous Anne true to herself AND realistic never selling her out as soon as she got an eye-full of the hot bad-boy like so many other YA books do.

I've seen complaints in reviews about a lack of action and resolution. If you've read any of my other reviews you know I'm scathing about these kinds of transgressions but honestly, I was completely satisfied with "Sweet Evil".

Looking back I guess a lot of 'stuff' didn't happen and, given the supernatural bent, a lot of explaining had to be done through expository dialogue. There was however, never a time when I felt bored or discontent. New information was always coming through, new developments with characters and relationships were always happening and I found the whole book enjoyable.

Sweet Evil didn't end with a cliff-hanger (an absolute no-no for me) and I'm happily moving straight onto Book 2.

Highly recommended.