Ember by Carol Oates

When Candra Ember wakes up in hospital after a dangerous encounter with a red-haired woman, she is shocked to discover that seeing a winged boy wasn’t her imagination. Candra is exposed to a world of rivalry and sacrifice she never knew existed, and the aftermath of a war to save humanity thousands of years ago. Soon she finds herself relentlessly stalked by Sebastian, a beautiful and arrogant Watcher Angel and romantically pursued by his darkly seductive rival, Draven. Ultimately, dubious about her own goodness, Candra’s very existence compromises a tentative peace in the city of Acheron. (Goodreads.com)


4/5 Stars


Unfortunately, due to user error and a family emergency my original review seems to be lost at the moment, so I am going to have to write you a new one.  I apologize for the delay in getting this out to you all.


If you are a fan of paranormal romance who is looking for a story that will pull you in and never let go, then Ember if definitely a book you won't want to miss!  Carol Oates not only creates an alternate world that is both vivid and engrossing, but her characters are ones that you will want to know everything about.  While the romance takes a little while to pick up the tension that is created between Candra and Sebastian makes putting the book down quite difficult.  
The plot itself is expertly written.  The twists and turns add to the mystery of who Candra really is.  Besides being a great romance Ember is also a story of self discovery, as Candra comes to grips with her own purpose.  I am a sticker for strong female protagonists and loathe a weak main character.  Candra, while naive and young, is also strong and beautiful.  I loved the way in which she was written and the fact that I truly cared about what would happen to her.  As for Sebastian and Draven?  They definitely had my attention.  Hot is about the best word I can use to sum those two up.
Luckily, Ember is the first in a series, so now that all of the groundwork is laid I cannot wait to find out what happens next!  Hopefully the wait won't be too long!!!!