Angelfire (novel series)
Encyclopedia
Angelfire is a series of young-adult urban fantasy
novels by author Courtney Allison Moulton, beginning with the inaugural entry of the same name. The story follows a teenager named Ellie, who learns that she is actually the reincarnation of a powerful warrior, tasked with aiding angels in their battles against demons on Earth. Amidst this conflict, the tale follows her challenges in adjusting to her newfound role.
swords, and an immense power called angelfire, Ellie begins a slow journey of adjustment to her role.
, music
, martial arts
, and Eastern
cultures. Moulton has also noted the influences of R. L. Stine
's Goosebumps
and Naoko Takeuchi
's Sailor Moon
, having grown up a fan of both.
, Moulton became curious about writing a character "who wouldn't stop trying to save the person he loves." This led to the creation of Ellie's longtime guardian, Will. "It's his job to protect her even though she's doomed, but she means more to him than just his charge because he's in love with her. He has always kept this secret from her throughout the centuries because he fears how it might complicate their mission and also because it is forbidden by the one who gave him this responsibility."
Prior to creating Ellie, Moulton developed a fondness for stories about "quirky, but strong heroines who have these enormous supernatural destinies". The story of reincarnation was largely rooted in Eastern religion. Being a longtime horror
fan as well, the author sought to make monsters the primary antagonists. Building upon these elements, she established Ellie as the central heroine in an ongoing conflict between angels and demons. At the beginning of the series, however, Ellie is presented as a spoiled girl with seemingly questionable priorities. Moulton has stated that her protagonist "is a bit of a reluctant heroine at first, but she really steps up to the plate when she needs to."
and Acadian
weapons, ultimately equiping Ellie with a pair of khopesh swords. She has also claimed to draw inspiration from action movies and martial arts, regularly adding her own touch to the finished work. "My characters use a lot of moves I've picked up through watching various martial arts disciplines, but they have many of their own signature moves as well. They each have a bit of their own style, a way of fighting that works best for them and whatever situation they're in."
's "Preliator", the author has stated, "I write most of my fight scenes to this song." She has also noted Leona Lewis
's cover of "Run" while describing the relationship between Ellie and Will. In addition, her Website lists numerous tracks which can be listened to during portions of the story, along with links to services which offer such tunes. 15 of these songs were featured in a weekly contest which preceded the release of Angelfire.
produced a video interview with the author, while an Internet book trailer was also released. Publishers Weekly
reported "strong interest" in the opening novel at the 2010 Bologna Children's Book Fair. In addition, multiple Websites presented contests for advance copies of Angelfire. A large amount of artwork was also created, with several images appearing on bookmarks, cards, the author's Website, and other means of promotion. Many of the images were produced by a DeviantArt
user named Yue Wang, while Moulton herself also contributed illustrations.
. The review called the angelic lore "a bit garbled", and stated that "Ellie can be maddeningly slow on the uptake, but this is one heroine who's happy to take matters (and angelic swords) into her own hands." Kirkus
found the story mediocre, conceding that it had a "convoluted but interesting angel angle", but criticizing it for an overabundance of minutiae, exposition, and action. A review from The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
noted the "intensity and adrenaline" of the action scenes, and stated that "Ellie is likable both as a high-octane heroine and a regular girl coping with family and social drama." The review also called the Biblical mythology "compelling".
The first novel has also received feedback from several young-adult fantasy writers. In an advance review, Cynthia Hand labeled Angelfire "a wild ride and a joy to read." Jodi Meadows applauded the book for exploring both sides of Ellie's life, citing the character's "unwavering loyalty" toward the human friends she protects. She further stated, "I also really, really appreciated that she has to take the time to train, in spite of her natural gifts. And Ellie's friendships remain constant, in spite of a hot supernatural romance budding." She also noted the "exciting" action, and summed up the novel as "solid and mature." Sarah J. Maas
described the reincarnation story as "riveting. Riveting and heartbreaking and beautiful". She concluded that "Angelfire has everything you could want in a YA novel—action, romance, humor, realistic teen behavior, incredible world-building—and a lot more." Author Scott Tracey had similar acclaim for the story, stating that "Angelfire has a little bit of everything".
Urban fantasy
Urban fantasy is a sub-genre of fantasy defined by place; the fantastic narrative has an urban setting. Many urban fantasies are set in contemporary times and contain supernatural elements. However, the stories can take place in historical, modern, or futuristic periods...
novels by author Courtney Allison Moulton, beginning with the inaugural entry of the same name. The story follows a teenager named Ellie, who learns that she is actually the reincarnation of a powerful warrior, tasked with aiding angels in their battles against demons on Earth. Amidst this conflict, the tale follows her challenges in adjusting to her newfound role.
Overview
Angelfire introduces Ellie Monroe, a teenager who discovers that the monstrous beings in her dreams, called reapers, are real. A boy named Will reveals that Ellie is the reincarnation of an ancient warrior known as the Preliator, continuously reborn (after falling in battle) to aid angels in their fight against the reapers. With each reincarnation, she becomes more human, though she fails to remember her past lives. Will also reveals himself to be a mystical soldier sent to assist Ellie, having served as her guardian for centuries. Wielding twin khopeshKhopesh
Khopesh is the Egyptian name of the Canaanite "sickle-sword", in Assyrian known as sappara. Its origins can be traced back to Sumer of the third millennium BCE....
swords, and an immense power called angelfire, Ellie begins a slow journey of adjustment to her role.
Development
Prior to Angelfire, Courtney Allison Moulton's creative background consisted of artwork and photography. She has claimed to draw inspiration from a variety of sources, including filmFilm
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
, music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
, martial arts
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
, and Eastern
Eastern world
__FORCETOC__The term Eastern world refers very broadly to the various cultures or social structures and philosophical systems of Eastern Asia or geographically the Eastern Culture...
cultures. Moulton has also noted the influences of R. L. Stine
R. L. Stine
Robert Lawrence Stine , known as R. L. Stine, and Jovial Bob Stine, is an American writer. Stine, who is called the "Stephen King of children's literature," is the author of hundreds of horror fiction novels, including the books in the Fear Street, Goosebumps, Rotten School, Mostly Ghostly, and The...
's Goosebumps
Goosebumps
Goosebumps is a series of children's horror fiction novels written by American author R. L. Stine and first published by Scholastic Publishing. It is a collection of stories that feature semi-homogenous plot structures, with fictional children being involved in scary situations...
and Naoko Takeuchi
Naoko Takeuchi
is a Japanese manga artist who lives in Tokyo, Japan. Takeuchi's works have a wide following among anime and manga fans worldwide. Her most popular work, Sailor Moon, rose to become one of the most recognized manga and anime products to date.-Early life:...
's Sailor Moon
Sailor Moon
Sailor Moon, known as , is a media franchise created by manga artist Naoko Takeuchi. Fred Patten credits Takeuchi with popularizing the concept of a team of magical girls, and Paul Gravett credits the series with "revitalizing" the magical-girl genre itself...
, having grown up a fan of both.
Conception
While watching a film adaptation of The Time MachineThe Time Machine
The Time Machine is a science fiction novella by H. G. Wells, published in 1895 for the first time and later adapted into at least two feature films of the same name, as well as two television versions, and a large number of comic book adaptations. It indirectly inspired many more works of fiction...
, Moulton became curious about writing a character "who wouldn't stop trying to save the person he loves." This led to the creation of Ellie's longtime guardian, Will. "It's his job to protect her even though she's doomed, but she means more to him than just his charge because he's in love with her. He has always kept this secret from her throughout the centuries because he fears how it might complicate their mission and also because it is forbidden by the one who gave him this responsibility."
Prior to creating Ellie, Moulton developed a fondness for stories about "quirky, but strong heroines who have these enormous supernatural destinies". The story of reincarnation was largely rooted in Eastern religion. Being a longtime horror
Horror fiction
Horror fiction also Horror fantasy is a philosophy of literature, which is intended to, or has the capacity to frighten its readers, inducing feelings of horror and terror. It creates an eerie atmosphere. Horror can be either supernatural or non-supernatural...
fan as well, the author sought to make monsters the primary antagonists. Building upon these elements, she established Ellie as the central heroine in an ongoing conflict between angels and demons. At the beginning of the series, however, Ellie is presented as a spoiled girl with seemingly questionable priorities. Moulton has stated that her protagonist "is a bit of a reluctant heroine at first, but she really steps up to the plate when she needs to."
Combat
Angelfire is noted for cinematic fight scenes. In a review of the opening novel, Books Complete Me called the action "unparalleled in YA". While developing the combat, Moulton researched EgyptianEgypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
and Acadian
Acadia
Acadia was the name given to lands in a portion of the French colonial empire of New France, in northeastern North America that included parts of eastern Quebec, the Maritime provinces, and modern-day Maine. At the end of the 16th century, France claimed territory stretching as far south as...
weapons, ultimately equiping Ellie with a pair of khopesh swords. She has also claimed to draw inspiration from action movies and martial arts, regularly adding her own touch to the finished work. "My characters use a lot of moves I've picked up through watching various martial arts disciplines, but they have many of their own signature moves as well. They each have a bit of their own style, a way of fighting that works best for them and whatever situation they're in."
Music
Moulton has noted music as a significant factor of her work, citing songs which have facilitated her writing. Regarding GlobusGlobus (music)
Globus is the commercial name of a mix of producers, musicians and vocalists from the prominent movie trailer music production company Immediate Music...
's "Preliator", the author has stated, "I write most of my fight scenes to this song." She has also noted Leona Lewis
Leona Lewis
Leona Louise Lewis is a British singer and songwriter. Lewis first came to prominence in 2006 when she won the third series of the British television series The X Factor....
's cover of "Run" while describing the relationship between Ellie and Will. In addition, her Website lists numerous tracks which can be listened to during portions of the story, along with links to services which offer such tunes. 15 of these songs were featured in a weekly contest which preceded the release of Angelfire.
Themes
Prior to the series's debut, Moulton was asked about thematic elements in Angelfire. Her response was as follows:Novels
| Book # | Title | US release | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Angelfire | February 15, 2011 | |||
| A teenager named Ellie discovers that she is actually a reborn warrior, tasked with aiding angels in their fight against demons. Allied with a mystical love interest named Will, Ellie joins the battle, but begins a slow adjustment to her newfound role. | |||||
| 2 | Wings of the Wicked | TBA | |||
| The second installment. | |||||
| 3 | Hymn to the Fallen | TBA | |||
| The third installment. | |||||
Publicity
In anticipation of the series's debut, HarperCollinsHarperCollins
HarperCollins is a publishing company owned by News Corporation. It is the combination of the publishers William Collins, Sons and Co Ltd, a British company, and Harper & Row, an American company, itself the result of an earlier merger of Harper & Brothers and Row, Peterson & Company. The worldwide...
produced a video interview with the author, while an Internet book trailer was also released. Publishers Weekly
Publishers Weekly
Publishers Weekly, aka PW, is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers and literary agents...
reported "strong interest" in the opening novel at the 2010 Bologna Children's Book Fair. In addition, multiple Websites presented contests for advance copies of Angelfire. A large amount of artwork was also created, with several images appearing on bookmarks, cards, the author's Website, and other means of promotion. Many of the images were produced by a DeviantArt
DeviantArt
deviantART is an online community showcasing various forms of user-made artwork. It was first launched on August 7, 2000 by Scott Jarkoff, Matthew Stephens, Angelo Sotira and others. deviantArt, Inc...
user named Yue Wang, while Moulton herself also contributed illustrations.
Reception
In a review of the first novel, Publishers Weekly commended the "clarity of the fight scenes," likening them to moments from Crouching Tiger, Hidden DragonCrouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a 2000 wuxia film. An American-Chinese-Hong Kong-Taiwanese co-production, the film was directed by Ang Lee and featured an international cast of ethnic Chinese actors, including Chow Yun-Fat, Michelle Yeoh, Zhang Ziyi, and Chang Chen...
. The review called the angelic lore "a bit garbled", and stated that "Ellie can be maddeningly slow on the uptake, but this is one heroine who's happy to take matters (and angelic swords) into her own hands." Kirkus
Kirkus Reviews
Kirkus Reviews is an American book review magazine founded in 1933 by Virginia Kirkus . Kirkus serves the book and literary trade sector, including libraries, publishers, literary and film agents, film and TV producers and booksellers. Kirkus Reviews is published on the first and 15th of each month...
found the story mediocre, conceding that it had a "convoluted but interesting angel angle", but criticizing it for an overabundance of minutiae, exposition, and action. A review from The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books is an academic journal established in 1945 by Frances E. Henne at the Graduate School of Library and Information Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The publication is dedicated to reviewing the latest in children's literature...
noted the "intensity and adrenaline" of the action scenes, and stated that "Ellie is likable both as a high-octane heroine and a regular girl coping with family and social drama." The review also called the Biblical mythology "compelling".
The first novel has also received feedback from several young-adult fantasy writers. In an advance review, Cynthia Hand labeled Angelfire "a wild ride and a joy to read." Jodi Meadows applauded the book for exploring both sides of Ellie's life, citing the character's "unwavering loyalty" toward the human friends she protects. She further stated, "I also really, really appreciated that she has to take the time to train, in spite of her natural gifts. And Ellie's friendships remain constant, in spite of a hot supernatural romance budding." She also noted the "exciting" action, and summed up the novel as "solid and mature." Sarah J. Maas
Sarah J. Maas
Sarah J. Maas is an American fantasy author. Her debut novel, Queen of Glass: The Eye of the Chosen, was purchased in March 2010 by Bloomsbury and is slated for a late 2012 release.-Biography:...
described the reincarnation story as "riveting. Riveting and heartbreaking and beautiful". She concluded that "Angelfire has everything you could want in a YA novel—action, romance, humor, realistic teen behavior, incredible world-building—and a lot more." Author Scott Tracey had similar acclaim for the story, stating that "Angelfire has a little bit of everything".