“I will do anything to keep you safe. Anything.”
— Penryn's determination to protect Paige.
Archivist's Choice
Angelfall
Susan Ee (2011)
Genre
Fantasy / Young Adult / Romance
Reading Time
288 min
Key Themes
See below
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In a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by angels, a determined teenage girl forges an uneasy alliance with a wounded warrior angel to rescue her kidnapped sister from the very beings who destroyed their world.
Synopsis
Six weeks after angels destroy the modern world, seventeen-year-old Penryn Young struggles to survive with her wheelchair-bound mother and younger sister, Paige. When warrior angels abduct Paige, Penryn vows to rescue her. She meets Raffe, a warrior angel with broken wings, and reluctantly forms an alliance: she will help him reach the angels' stronghold in San Francisco to find new wings, and he will help her find Paige. Their dangerous journey through a ruined Northern California forces them to rely on each other, navigating deadly scavengers, mutated humans, and other threats. As they get closer to the angels' citadel, Penryn discovers the terrible experiments the angels are conducting on humans, including her sister. Raffe faces his own brethren, risking further injury for a chance to be made whole. Penryn infiltrates the angels' stronghold, fights in a brutal arena, and confronts the forces holding her sister captive. She makes a desperate escape, sacrificing her safety to protect Paige. Afterward, she must cope with the changes in her sister and her lingering connection to Raffe, as the world continues its descent into chaos.
Reading time
288 min
Difficulty
Medium
Pacing
Fast
Mood
Dark, Suspenseful, Gritty, Romantic, Hopeful
✓ Read this if...
You enjoy post-apocalyptic settings with a strong, resourceful female protagonist, a dark atmosphere, and a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance.
✗ Skip this if...
You prefer lighthearted fantasy, dislike violence or body horror, or are not keen on a dark and gritty world.
Plot Summary
The Abduction and the Broken Angel
Six weeks after the angels' apocalypse, seventeen-year-old Penryn Young, her mentally ill mother, and her wheelchair-bound younger sister, Paige, struggle to survive. While seeking supplies, they see a brutal angelic fight. In the chaos, angels snatch Paige. Desperate, Penryn chases them and finds one of the angels, Raffe, critically wounded and wingless on the ground, his magnificent wings severed. Believing he might lead her to the other angels and Paige, Penryn decides to take Raffe captive, intending to use him as leverage to find her sister.
A Reluctant Alliance
Penryn, armed with a sword and a fierce will, forces the injured Raffe to travel with her. Their journey is dangerous, as they move through a landscape ravaged by both angels and human scavengers. Raffe, initially arrogant and dismissive, slowly begins to rely on Penryn for his survival, as his injuries are severe. Penryn, despite her deep distrust of angels, grudgingly tends to Raffe's wounds and protects him from other threats. Their shared goal—reaching the angels' stronghold in San Francisco—binds them in a precarious, mutually beneficial, and increasingly complex partnership.
Encounter with the Scavengers
While traveling through the desolate landscape, Penryn and Raffe are ambushed by human scavengers led by Obadiah. They are taken to the scavengers' camp, which is filled with terrified captives and grisly violence. The scavengers, especially Obadiah, are obsessed with the angels and their power, and they plan to use Raffe's severed wings for a dark ritual. Penryn is horrified by their brutality and the prospect of their own impending doom. She realizes that escaping this human threat is as important as facing the angels, and she must work with Raffe to survive.
The Escape and the Feast
Penryn and Raffe escape the scavengers' camp using Penryn's quick thinking and Raffe's strategic guidance, despite his weakened state. They continue their journey toward San Francisco. However, their path leads them to a disturbing scene: angels feasting on what looks like human flesh. This gruesome discovery horrifies Penryn, reinforcing her view of angels as monstrous and barbaric. Raffe, though visibly affected, offers little explanation, deepening the mystery of the angels' true nature and their intentions for humanity.
The Pit and the Resistance
Seeking shelter and information, Penryn and Raffe find a hidden community of human survivors living in tunnels beneath the city. This resistance group, led by Dee-Dum, fights against the angels. They are wary of Raffe, an angel, but Penryn vouches for him. Here, Penryn learns more about the angels' reign of terror and the resistance's efforts to survive. The group provides them with supplies and a temporary safe haven, but also shows the immense danger of heading into the angels' domain.
The Angelic Citadel
With the help of the resistance, Penryn and Raffe infiltrate the heavily guarded angelic stronghold, a transformed San Francisco. The city is now a fortress, with angels patrolling the skies and streets. Raffe, despite his wingless state, uses his knowledge of angelic architecture and customs to guide them. Penryn is overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the angelic presence and the stark contrast between their majestic appearance and their brutal actions. Their mission is clear: find Paige and retrieve Raffe's wings, which he believes are within the citadel.
The Winged Doctors
Inside the citadel, Penryn and Raffe uncover a horrifying wing laboratory where angels, called 'winged doctors,' conduct grotesque experiments. They see angels being dismembered and reassembled, and humans being experimented upon. Penryn's search for Paige leads her to a shocking discovery: Paige is not just a captive but has been subjected to angelic experimentation, transforming her into something monstrous and powerful, with black, leathery wings. This devastates Penryn, making her realize the true extent of the angels' cruelty and her sister's horrifying fate.
Reunion and Betrayal
Penryn finally finds Paige, but her sister is no longer the innocent child she remembers. Paige, now immensely strong and ferocious, struggles with her new nature, shifting between recognizing Penryn and primal, angelic instincts. Raffe, meanwhile, seeks his wings, guarded by the angel Uriel. He confronts Uriel, his former subordinate, who reveals that Raffe's wings were taken as punishment for his defiance. The tension between Penryn, the transformed Paige, and the angels grows, leading to a confrontation that threatens to tear them apart.
The Arena and the Duel
Raffe is forced into an angelic arena, a brutal spectacle where angels fight to the death. He fights another angel, showing his warrior prowess even without his wings, using skill and cunning. Penryn, horrified, watches, her priority shifting to protecting Paige, who is unstable and prone to violent outbursts. The arena fight distracts the angels, allowing Penryn to navigate the chaos and try to escape with Paige. The scene highlights the angels' barbaric entertainment and Raffe's desperate fight for his life and honor.
The Escape and the Sacrifice
Amidst the chaos of the arena and the ensuing angelic infighting, Penryn, with the now-winged Paige, makes a desperate escape. Raffe, having retrieved and reattached his wings, aids their escape. However, the reattachment is not perfect, and his wings are still damaged. As they flee, Raffe makes a crucial sacrifice, fighting off pursuing angels to give Penryn and Paige a chance to get away. They escape the citadel, but the future remains uncertain, with Paige's transformation and Raffe's lingering injuries creating new challenges.
The Aftermath and New Beginnings
Having escaped the angels' stronghold, Penryn and Paige find themselves in a world still ravaged by the apocalypse. Paige struggles to control her new angelic abilities and monstrous urges, making their situation precarious. Penryn is torn between her love for her sister and her fear of what Paige has become. Raffe, though with his wings again, is still recovering and dealing with his own internal conflicts. The book ends with Penryn, Paige, and their mother on the run, facing an uncertain future, but with a new understanding of the angels and their own resilience.
Principal Figures
Penryn Young
The Protagonist
Penryn transforms from a girl solely focused on survival into a leader who challenges angelic authority and ultimately fights for the humanity of her sister.
Raffe (Raphael)
The Protagonist/Love Interest
Raffe learns humility and empathy through his interactions with Penryn, questioning his species' actions and finding a new purpose beyond angelic hierarchy.
Paige Young
The Supporting
Paige transforms from a vulnerable child into a powerful, yet conflicted, being, representing the horrifying consequences of angelic interference.
Penryn's Mother
The Supporting
Her character remains largely static in terms of her illness, but her presence highlights Penryn's burden and resilience.
Obadiah
The Antagonist
Obadiah remains a static antagonist, serving as a representation of humanity's descent into barbarism.
Dee-Dum
The Supporting
Dee-Dum's arc is minor, primarily serving to introduce the resistance and provide context for the angelic threat.
Uriel
The Antagonist/Mentioned
Uriel remains a static antagonist, serving as a direct challenge to Raffe's objectives.
Themes & Insights
Humanity vs. Monstrosity
This theme explores what it means to be human in a world ruled by powerful, often cruel, angelic beings. Penryn constantly questions the angels' humanity, or lack thereof, seeing their brutality and experiments (like those on Paige). Conversely, human scavengers, particularly Obadiah, show that humanity can also commit monstrous acts. Paige's transformation into a winged, powerful being blurs these lines, forcing Penryn to reconcile her sister's humanity with her monstrous appearance and instincts. This suggests that true monstrosity lies in actions, not form. Raffe's journey also reflects this, as he deals with his own species' cruelty.
“Maybe it's not the monster that's the monster. Maybe it's us.”
The Nature of Family and Loyalty
The bond between Penryn and Paige drives the narrative, showing the unwavering loyalty and sacrifice within family. Penryn's relentless pursuit of Paige, despite the dangers, exemplifies this. Even their mentally ill mother, in her own fractured way, shows fierce protectiveness. This theme extends to Raffe, who, despite his angelic nature, develops loyalty to Penryn, and faces questions of loyalty within his own angelic hierarchy. The story suggests that family, whether by blood or by choice, is an important anchor in a chaotic world.
“I will find my sister, no matter what it takes.”
Survival and Adaptation
The entire premise of Angelfall is survival in a post-apocalyptic world. Penryn's resourcefulness, her ability to wield a sword, and her pragmatic decision to take Raffe captive are all acts of survival. Both humans and angels must adapt to new circumstances; humans like the resistance group adapt by living underground, while angels like Raffe must adapt to vulnerability. The novel constantly reminds readers of the harsh realities of this new world, where food, shelter, and safety are constant struggles, and only the most adaptable can hope to endure.
“When the world ends, it's not the pretty people who survive. It's the ones who are willing to get their hands dirty.”
Loss of Innocence and Disillusionment
The angelic apocalypse itself means a global loss of innocence. For Penryn, her childhood is violently stripped away, replaced by the grim realities of survival. Her encounter with Raffe and the angels' true nature shatters any ideas of divine benevolence, replacing it with disillusionment and horror. Paige's transformation is the most poignant example of lost innocence, as she is irrevocably changed from a vulnerable child into something powerful and terrifying. The world itself has lost its innocence, replaced by fear, violence, and a pervasive sense of dread.
“There are no good angels. There are no bad angels. There are only angels.”
Plot Devices & Literary Techniques
The MacGuffin: Paige's Abduction
The central object or person that drives the protagonist's motivation.
Paige's abduction by angels serves as the primary catalyst for Penryn's journey and her alliance with Raffe. Penryn's fierce determination to rescue her sister propels the entire plot forward, forcing her into dangerous situations and unlikely partnerships. Without Paige's disappearance, Penryn would not have encountered Raffe, nor would she have ventured into the heart of the angels' stronghold. It establishes the emotional stakes and gives Penryn a clear, compelling objective.
The Unlikely Alliance
Two characters who are naturally opposed are forced to work together.
The forced partnership between Penryn, a human survivor, and Raffe, a powerful but injured angel, is a classic unlikely alliance. Their initial distrust and animosity gradually evolve into a complex bond of mutual reliance and grudging respect. This device generates conflict, humor, and opportunities for character development as they are forced to overcome their prejudices and work together to survive the dangers of their world. It also sets the stage for the developing romantic tension.
Foreshadowing: Paige's Transformation
Hints or clues about future events in the story.
The initial abduction of Paige by angels, combined with the general atmosphere of fear and the hints of angelic experimentation, subtly foreshadows her eventual horrific transformation. There are also moments of unease and strange descriptions of the angels' intentions that, in retrospect, point towards the gruesome fate awaiting Paige. This builds suspense and makes her eventual reveal more impactful, as the reader has been subtly prepared for something terrible to happen to her.
World-Building Through Conflict
The world's rules and history are revealed through character interactions and challenges.
The shattered, post-apocalyptic world of Angelfall is not explained through lengthy exposition but revealed organically through the challenges Penryn and Raffe face. The dangers of scavengers, the scarcity of resources, the nature of angelic power, and the existence of human resistance groups are all encountered as obstacles in their journey. This method immerses the reader directly into the brutal reality of the world, making the stakes feel immediate and tangible without heavy-handed explanations.
Critical analysis
Notable Quotes
“When you're a warrior, you're a warrior. You don't get to pick and choose your battles.”
— Raffe's pragmatic view on their situation.
“Maybe love is a product of habit. Or memory. Or maybe it's just a chemical reaction.”
— Penryn's internal reflection on the nature of love.
“Sometimes, the only way to save someone is to let them go.”
— A harsh truth Penryn considers regarding her family.
“We're all just trying to survive, aren't we? In our own ways.”
— Penryn's observation about humans and angels.
“The world is not a safe place, Penryn. Not anymore.”
— Raffe warning Penryn about the post-apocalyptic world.
“It's hard to be normal when your world has gone insane.”
— Penryn grappling with the new reality.
“He looks like an angel, but he's a devil. She looks like a human, but she's a survivor.”
— A description of Raffe and Penryn's contrasting natures.
“Fear can be a powerful motivator. It can also be a paralyzer.”
— Penryn's thoughts on the impact of fear.
“Sometimes you have to be the monster to fight the monsters.”
— A grim realization about the choices in their world.
“My wings are gone. My sword is broken. And you are the only one who can help me.”
— Raffe's vulnerability and reliance on Penryn.
“Hope is a dangerous thing. It can make you do stupid things.”
— Penryn's cynical view on hope in their dire situation.
“Even the most beautiful things can be deadly.”
— Penryn's observation about the angels.
“We're not so different, you and I. We both want to protect our own.”
— Penryn's realization of a common ground with Raffe.
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Key Questions (FAQ)
Penryn's primary motivation is the rescue of her younger sister, Paige, who is abducted by angels. This event immediately forces Penryn and her mother out of their apartment and into the dangerous post-apocalyptic world, compelling Penryn to pursue the angels responsible for Paige's disappearance.
About the author
Biography coming soon.
