Thursday, April 12, 2012

Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins

Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins
HarperTeen
May 1, 2012
Reviewed by: AmyG (big sis)
Sisters say: Sweet, Evil, and Superb

Sweet Evil
What if there were teens whose lives depended on being bad influences? This is life for sons and daughters of fallen angels in Sweet Evil. 
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 it isn’t until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage, and her will-power is put to the test. He’s the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna. 
A cross-country trip to meet her father forces Anna to face the reality that hope and love are not options for her kind. When she confronts her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns?





Where to begin on this review, I do not really know.  This novel made me feel so many things and was very thought provoking as a human and as a mother.  It was a very well written novel with a wonderful story.  The subject matter was very dark and questioned human nature to its core.  Is there evil and good in all of us?  Is there only evil or only good?  Is there a way to fight against that evil or ignore the good for that instant gratification that evil sometime provides.  Though the subject matter was dark, the theme was one of hope.  Like Dumbledore says in the movie version of Sorceror's Stone, "Happiness can be found even in the darkest of time, when only one remembers to turn on the light."  That's true here too.  These characters are being faced with pure evil and are constantly bombarded with the 7 deadly sins personified.  However,  hope arrives in the form of a sweet, southern girl by the name of Anna.  She teaches the children of the Dukes of sin, that you always have a choice no matter what even if you come from the darkest of darks. 


I fell in love with all of the characters in this novel especially Anna and Kaidan.  Anna is a praise-worthy heroine, who fights for those she loves no matter the cost.  I loved watching how she dealt with the war battling out inside of her between her angel and fallen heritages.  When she meets Kaidan, the whole story takes a on a new light.  Kaidan is the King Of Bad Boys!  Seriously guys, you know how we like our broken bad boys, but let me tell you, they don't get any more bad or broken than Kaidan.  However, there is a sweet, sadness inside of him that makes him so appealing!  I could see the battle ragging inside of him slowly tearing him apart.  He is oh so redeemable and all of you will fall fast and hard for him!  


I can't wait to see where Wendy takes us in the coming novels.  There are so many great themes and Sweet Evil was so amazing that I am overflowing with aniticipation for the next installment! I loved, loved, loved this book.  It's a beautiful love story that will leave you proud, inspired, hopeful yet heartbroken at the same time.  It's a definite must read for me!  However, I do need to say,  if you like all of us on the YA-Sisterhood are not teenagers and enjoy YA novels, then I would definitely say pick this book up!  But, if you are a parent looking for books for your teen to read, then I would suggest you read this first and decide at what age you think this book is appropriate.  The "content" doesn't push the boundaries, but some of the "subject matter" is mature dealing with the repercussions of the 7 deadly sins and knowingly leading other teens into these sins.  I just want to put a caution out there on that front.  It does make for some great discussions no matter what your age though!  I loved it all!