Finding Angel

Toch Island Chronicles #1

by Kat Heckenbach

Angel doesn't remember her magical heritage...but it remembers her. Start with a struggle revolving around the source of magic. Is it genetic--or is it part of your soul? What if someone was using his powers to run experiments based on a complete misconception of the source of magic? Throw in a twisted family tree that's rooted in a centuries' old feud, a painting that (literally) holds the key to the truth, a mysterious and talkative beetle, and an Elven rocker who can play the songs of the stars on an electric guitar. This is the world Angel Mason was born into, thrust out of, and returned to seven years later. To top it off, she must rediscover her identity and save her home from a madman at the same time. Kat Heckenbach's debut young adult fantasy has earned three Compton Crook (finalist), Grace Awards (YA category finalist), and INDIE Next Generation Book Awards (YA category finalist). Readers have compared her writing to that of Cornelia Funke and Madeline L'Engle.Ideal for young teens, older teens, and anyone who loves adventure, mystery, fantasy and magic.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Christian Fiction, Christian

288 pages, Paperback

First published August 28, 2011

About the author

Kat Heckenbach grew up in the small town of Riverview, Florida, where she spent most of her time either drawing or sitting in her “reading tree” with her nose buried in a fantasy novel…except for the hours pretending her back yard was an enchanted forest that could only be reached through the secret passage in her closet… She never could give up on the idea that maybe she really was magic, mistakenly placed in a world not her own…but as the years passed, and no elves or fairies carted her away…she realized she was just going to have to create the life of her fantasies. She shares that life with her husband and two homeschooling kids.

Kat is a graduate of the University of Tampa, Magna Cum Laude, B.S. in Biology. She spent several years teaching, but never in a traditional classroom–everything from Art to Algebra II. Her writing spans the gamut from inspirational personal essays to dark and disturbing fantasy and horror, with over forty short fiction and nonfiction credits to her name.

Reviews

[Lisa Godfrees · Rating 4 out of 5]

Looking for a Christian fantasy novel that isn’t in-your-face Christian? I have the pleasure of recommending this delightful novel. The feel of this novel is like all of the fantasy books I enjoyed reading when I was younger. It transported me back to a time when I longed to have a secret destiny and be called into my own adventure.

Theology: Unseen Creator God

The author actually warned me before I read this book that there weren’t any overt Christian references. What I did find, were several biblical references that were obvious if you are familiar with the Bible:

“Only One stood stronger than she at that moment, and she felt immense joy at being part of His divine creation.”

A character making reference to Psalm 19.

A cryptic inscription: “Bound on Earth as bound in Heaven. Loosen on Earth as loosed in Heaven.”

“But the Elders realized that it was impossible to cleanse your own soul…”

The contrast between funerals for people have “true magic” and those that do not.

An illusion to the Syrophenician woman (the woman at the well) – when the gospel was extended to the Gentiles instead of just the Jews.

A divine plan beyond the comprehension of people…

A character who lives out his faith…

Maturity: G

This book is appropriate for all ages; there is no profanity or sex. The plot is sufficiently complex that it will hold the interest of anyone who loves a good fantasy story. Because its not overtly Christian, it should not be offensive to non-Christians.

Social Issues:

Primarily, this is a good vs. evil book. The protagonist struggles with finding her meaning and place in life. It is the first in a series and is set up well for God vs. culture.

I’m looking forward to reading the second in the series!

[Mara · Rating 3 out of 5]

My copy of Finding Angel was given to me by the Author through Goodreads First Reads giveaway. I was not obligated to write a positive review. This is my full and honest opinion.

Cover Blurb: Yes or No? Yes, I do like it. It's simple yet intriguing - and I love lockets. :-) While it's not exactly indicative of a fantasy novel (I actually thought it was some inspirational tween story when I first saw it), there still is something attention-grabbing about it, and once one reads the story, one can definitely see the "fantasy" in the cover art.

Characters: Despite her name, I really liked Angel as a protagonist. She was curious and not overly emotional. She wasn't constantly flying off the handle at Gregor for not immediately telling her everything, and when she did get angry, for the most part she kept it to herself. Perhaps Angel was a little too quick to accept everything that was happening to her, but given that all her life she had had a sort of "premonition" - a feeling - that things weren't all that they seemed, it was relatively easy to believe that she would come to terms with her new life faster than most people. The only real thing that bothered me was how readily she left her foster family behind, knowing that she may never see them again. I understood her eagerness to find her real parents and to learn about her forgotten past, but she was close to her foster family; maybe she could have shown just a bit more turmoil over her choice? My opinion on Gregor was on and off throughout the book. Overall, I liked him, especially since he's too old to become a romantic interest for Angel, and their relationship settles into brother-sister affection. Gregor was kind and patient and very helpful. But as the story progressed, his temper grew short, and he started getting angry at Angel for no reason. Oh, I understood perfectly well why he was always so upset - I wouldn't expect him to be otherwise, given the circumstances. But he shouldn't have taken it out on Angel, nor should he have dismissed Angel's theory on the Prophecy so swiftly. Still, what's a good character without their flaws, right? In general, Gregor was awesome and I never disliked him, even when he was being a pill. Now for the villains. While Dawric wasn't a "pure awesome" quality villain (few are; villains have to work hard to make it into that category), he worked for Finding Angel. Power hungry, manipulative, and maybe just a bit like Voldemort (in the fact that everyone is convinced he can never return to Toch, when in fact that's exactly what's happened), he has enough cold ambition to be a guy I wouldn't want to meet.

The Romance: Gregor is in love with an Elfin girl, and I admit that I became rather invested in their emotional turmoil. Gregor and Siophra love each other dearly and want to get married, but Siophra's father won't allow it. This is probably my favorite kind of "love against impossible odds" scenario, right next to "our countries are at war." And the Author pulls it off very well.

Plot: Angel can't remember her life from before she was taken in by the Masons, when she was six. All she has is a beautiful silver locket on a charm bracelet, along with five silver letters, which is where she got her name. All her life, though, Angel has been fascinated with fantasy worlds - art and literature and mythology. And though she loves her foster family dearly, she dreams of being in one of those novels herself. When Angel's brother Zack finds a curious beetle and she goes to the library to look it up, she meets the mysterious Gregor, and before Angel knows it, her entire life is turned upside down. Gregor takes Angel to Toch Island - a magical British Isle closed off from the rest of the world because technology interferes with magic. There, Angel remembers her past and realizes her special powers - and discovers that she might be part of an ancient Prophecy. And with Angel's return to Toch Island, an old enemy who once tried to kill her - and was responsible for her escape into the real world - may have returned to finish the job. At first Finding Angel takes a little while to get into the Prophecy and the return of Dawric. For a while, Angel is busy learning how to use magic and her own special Talent - a specific magical ability that everyone is born with. Gregor's is opening portals through trees, and Angel's is an ability to find things no matter where or how far away they are. Hers is a rare Talent, and one that Dawric is desperate to have for himself. But the book doesn't feel slow, because the Author presents the Reader with a fascinating and engaging world. Somewhat reminiscent of J. K. Rowling's universe, Toch Island is a charming and exciting place, with strange creatures, adorable dragons (I really want a pet dragon now!), exotic plants, and bizarre animals. The magic rules even make a bit of sense! At least, as much as "magic rules" can. The Author tries to inject a bit of scientific law, and it somehow works. Once the Prophecy comes into play, events pick up, though not really until the climax. But it never gets boring; that is a word I would not apply to this book. Maybe some Readers will get tired of the pace, but I was all right with it. The world and characters kept me engaged.

Believability: Not applicable.

Writing Style: Third person, past tense. The style was very pleasant, with pretty descriptions, but not an excess of unnecessary detail. I found it to be very relaxing, and relaxing reads are always nice.

Content: None.

Conclusion: As events pass, Angel becomes more and more certain that the ancient Elfin Prophecy is indeed coming true, and they are running out of time before Dawric can be stopped. I'll admit, the Author pulled some fast ones on me. There were a few major twists that I was not wholly expecting. The conclusion of Siophra and Gregor's romance was surprising, as well as who the real villains were, and the very climax itself. The arrival of Angel's parents was rather sudden, but didn't detract from the overall ending. Finding Angel is one of those fantasy reads that is great for the weekend, but also shows a lot of promise as the series progresses. The Author has set up a world that I am eager to learn more about, and a world which she can expand as much as she wants. I found it very easy to care about her characters, and I look forward to reading more of their adventures.

Recommended Audience: Girl-and-guy read, thirteen-and-up, great for Harry Potter and fantasy fans.

[Keven Newsome · Rating 5 out of 5]

The bad news:

Finding Angel felt at times as if influenced way too much by Harry Potter. A child raised in secret, returned to the world of his/her birth by the very person who carried him/her to safety. A prophecy about the return of the villain, thought to have been destroyed trying to capture/destroy the child in the first place, and a certain magical item inheritance a la Deathly Hallows. Not to mention the wonder of discovering a new world of magic. Sure there were a lot of unique spins and new ideas. But for following some of the same paths already blazed by JK Rowling, 45 points will be taken from Heckenbach house.

Finding Angel may feel slow in the middle. After what seemed like a solid start, once everyone reached Toch Island the pace fell to a crawl with plot advancement almost on a drip feed until about 75% through the book. I’m not saying this time isn’t interesting, but it’s more about…well…finding out who Angel is than it is about resolving the fiery opening and the cryptic shadowed intermittent scenes about the bad guy. Is this a good vs. evil story? Or is this a self-discovery story? For trying to juggle two story dynamics such that the pace is affected, 40 points will be taken from Heckenbach house.

Finding Angel may feel like the climax is rushed in comparison. Because so much time is spent in the mid section devoted to “finding Angel,” and because there is so much ticking time-bomb material scattered throughout, when we finally do get to the climax it feels almost rushed and a little lack-luster. With such a build up and so much waiting to get there, I wanted more from the climax. For cheating me the satisfaction I was looking for, 30 points will be taken from Heckenbach house.

The good news:

Finding Angel is fun. The lilting prose of Kat’s YA style is quick and easy to read, giving you a low impact, low challenge, fun read. That being said, there’s enough meaty science, in the vein of Michael Crichton, in here to give one pause for thought if you’re so inclined to analyze such things. But the brilliance of this book is that it is not necessary. If you’re going to read Crichton, you’d better put your thinking cap on or you’ll never get through it. If you’re going to read Heckenbach, your thinking cap is optional. And that’s great, considering it’s YA. Young adults tend to go both directions…full-tilt ADD fun or sit down and think. For a perfect blend of science and noncommittal fun, I award Heckenbach house 50 points.

Finding Angel is difficult to figure out. I value plot lines that are not completely transparent, those that keep readers guessing up to the very end. And though I had a bead on the ending probably earlier than most readers, I know I am not average. Yet, those crucial details that solidified what was going on seemed simultaneously just within reach and completely unattainable until the moment Kat wanted the reader to know for sure. And even then, there was enough ambiguity to think maybe she was about to pull a double-switch. For dragging the reader along by the nose, I award Heckenbach house 50 points.

Finding Angel is exceptionally written. Perfect word choice, perfect sentence structure, perfect timing, and perfect picture forming. Everything flowed effortlessly and seamlessly, giving the reader an experience of witnessing events rather than reading type-copy. For filming a movie with the written word, I award Heckenbach house 60 points.

Assuming my calculations are correct… (60+(50(2)))-(30+40+45)=10X, where X represents the number of stars I should award. I award, Finding Angel 4.5 stars. And since I believe in rounding up, instead of rounding down when reporting these things to entities like Amazon and Goodreads…

5 Stars

Well done, Kat.

[Jeff Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title of Kat Hechenbach's first novel, Finding Angel, is intriguing and becomes more so after you've read the book. One might even argue it's a bit of a misnomer. You expect the story to be about someone looking for Angel and discovering her, a kind of missing person story. But no one is looking for Angel in the story. Angel is the protagonist and point-of-view character. She knows where she is but not necessarily who she is. Gregor is looking for a girl named Anna but finds Angel, who used to be a little girl named Anna. So why isn't this book entitled "Finding Anna" or something else entirely? Finding Angel is Angel's story. She was found wandering a rural road and adopted by the Masons, who also have several other adopted children. Angel's only link with her past is a silver charm bracelet that she was wearing at the time of her discovery. One charm is a heart inscribed with a strange-looking beetle. The other charms are letters: A-N-G-E-L, which the Masons assume spell her name. (We learn later in the story that the E and L charms are out of order.) Gregor takes Angel back to her childhood home on a magical island that is invisible to the rest of the world. She learns that she has magical abilities and that she is a Finder, someone whose most developed magical talent is finding things. But Angel is no longer Anna, not after living with the Mason's for several years. Angel/Anna must discover how she fits into the past and future of her homeland as she forges an identity and finds out who Angel is. Oh, I almost forgot. There is also a homicidal maniac named Dawric who will stop at nothing to find and kill her so he can steal her talent.

Part mystery and part fantasy, puzzles occupy center stage in Finding Angel. The first mystery is Angel's past. She learns that Dawric nearly captured her when she was a young girl but that Gregor used his talent for Gating--creating passages through space to other parts of the world--to send her away from Dawric. Unfortunately, Gregor was not able to follow her through the gate and did not know where he had sent her which is why it took him years to track her down. When Angel returns with Gregor, her parents are gone, looking for her in some other part of the world. The next puzzle is the significance of the charm bracelet, which Gregor tells Angel is a family heirloom that is passed from one generation to the next through the first born. But what is the bracelet's significance? What does it do? Angel finds a vague prophecy in an old book that she believes relates to her as it mentions something about a Finder. Gregor, who is going through a type of Romeo-and-Juliet personal crisis about which he is exceedingly reticent, dismisses her obsession. Casting a shadow over the other mysteries is Dawric, whom Gregor insists is gone, but Angel suspects is closer than Gregor thinks since the prophecy appears to relate to him as well. And finally, there is the jigsaw puzzle that Angel helps Sir Benjamin--a retired professor--assemble in his bookstore.

Magic is commonplace on the island. There are magical items, such as an interpreter lens that renders text in any language. Angel learns to use magic to take care of mundane chores, such as washing the dishes or cleaning up after her puppy. Magic is also put to more dramatic uses, such as Gregor's Gating and Angel's Finding. A professor at the university on the island can make himself invisible while another can tame animals and people. Fantastical creatures abound, including unicorns and various types of dragons which many residents keep as pets. Elves--the Tolkien variety--also inhabit the island.

One of the unique features of Finding Angel is the relationship Heckenbach depicts between magic and science. In most fantasies, magic occurs and is taken for granted. We're not given much explanation of the nuts and bolts of it other then where the power to perform it comes from. Heckenbach delves into the science behind the magic. Gregor alters the appearance of Angel's hair color by "magically adjusting the surface's absorption and reflection of wavelengths" (p. 83). Invisibility comes from bending light rays. When Angel asks Gregor why the left over food on the dishes cannot just disappear, Gregor explains:

"Things don't just disappear. They have to go someplace. First law of conservation of matter. Matter cannot be created or destroyed; it can only change form" (p. 49).

As Heckenbach describes it, magic, like everything else, is answerable to the laws of the physical universe. Magic acts within those laws and uses them, rather than contradicting or stepping outside of them. However, just as Gregor and Angel can magically work within the laws of the universe, those laws can also impinge on their magic. Gregor says that technology interferes with their magic, which is why daily life on the island is so low-tech.

"It's all the waves and particles released by electronic devices. They suppress our magic" (p. 47).

Heckenbach has created a strong cast of characters to complement Angel's story. They have their own concerns and their lives have trajectories independent of Angel. Gregor, for instance, is involved with a young Elven girl named Siophra, whose father has forbidden their marriage. Kalek, Siophra's brother, is caught between his father and Gregor. Angel is more an observer than a participant in Gregor's subplot until Siophra is drawn into the machinations of Dawric and his partner. We even get a sense of Dawric's hopes and dreams although his desires have consumed any sense of morality he may once have possessed and transformed him into a cunning maniac. However, Finding Angel's narrative structure and single point-of-view character limits our exposure to and understanding of some characters. While Angel meets Kalek numerous times, her meeting with Siophra is fleeting. Like Angel, we have to rely on second-hand reports to form an opinion of her. Siophra's father undergoes a transformation from a cruel and unbending patriarch to a damaged and repentant father in the novel's final chapters, but Angel only has contact with him after the transformation.

The story breaks from Angel's point of view in a few mini-chapters that report conversations between an unnamed scientist and an unnamed man whom I assume to be Dawric. I suspect Heckenbach wants to foreshadow the dangers that are encroaching on Angel, but in a fantasy novel, the reader expects danger to be lurking without being told. I would rather see those chapters expanded so that the reader has a lot more information than Angel or cut.

Finding Angel is a good read with a complex story line and enough twists and turns to keep the reader off balance. The final chapter hints at a continuation of Angel's story in a sequel. I'm looking forward to it.

[Krisi Keley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this well-written and original YA fantasy novel about a young teenaged girl, Angel, whose sense of being destined for another life turns out to be literally true, sending her on a magical journey of self-discovery filled with adventure and danger.

In a very general way, the story reminded me of the Harry Potter books – in the sense that it also features a young adolescent character who, though living with a “normal” family, discovers that her real heritage is one of magical talent and that she plays a key role in stopping those who wish to use magic for sinister purposes. In addition, the heroine’s journey introduces her to a host of fantastic talents and creatures and a new world of magical friends where she must learn to employ the power she never knew she had. But these thematic similarities aside – similarities I imagine are pretty key to many YA magical fantasy novels – the author offers a really unique world and a magic that is often more akin to the kind of inherent psychic abilities or gifts found in supernatural novels or TV shows like “Merlin,” instead of the incantational/spell-casting type of magic found in many other fantasy books. For me, this made the story that much more enjoyable, as I find these types of psychic abilities, whether genetic or bestowed as a gift or power, more believable and more able to be rationally-explained – something the author does quite creatively and with an appreciative and respectful view of nature’s beauty and power that doesn’t extend into nature-worship. Some other aspects that set this story apart for me were the wonderful character development, the rich description and a more complex plot that offers a number of unexpected surprises. I also really liked that, though there was some romance, this didn’t follow the common tendency in YA to have the female MC involved in a love triangle or other trauma-filled romantic relationship. Angel’s relationship with Gregor is one of great friendship, realistically portrayed, and all of the other relationships in the book were developed with equal realism and depth.

I can’t say there were any true cons to the pros in this story for me. Sometimes I was little frustrated that Gregor, an otherwise mature, responsible and extremely likeable character, blew off Angel’s concerns and insights too rapidly on more than one occasion, but then each time I remembered that he was an older teen male to Angel’s young adolescent female and realized that expecting him to do anything else probably was unrealistic on my part. Also, though there were a few fairly descriptive scenes of animal-cruelty that had this animal-lover cringing and which I thought could be disturbing to younger YA readers, it may be that others wouldn’t be as sensitive to it as I was.

Overall, I found Finding Angel an extremely enjoyable, original and well-written novel – one that I highly recommend to fantasy fans, both YA and adult. A novel I had on my to-read list too long, I’m now eagerly looking forward to reading its sequel as well as other books by this talented author.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finding Angel tells the story of a teen who is living with a foster family after being found wandering along the road with no memory when she was younger. Her foster family calls her Angel because when she is found she is wearing a charm bracelet and the charms spell out Angel. Her foster family is loving but they don't understand her fascination with fantasy books and creatures. One day she meets Gregor, and when he saves her life, he also brings back some memories. Angel is suddenly whisked away to her homeland and introduced to the concept of Talents. Gregor helps Angel learn more about her talents and tells her about the madman who almost killed her when she was a child.
I loved this story and the unique way that Ms. Heckenbach intermingled magic and science in the Talents. Talents allow the user to change things but not just make things disappear or appear. And Talents aren't an easy fix to everything. For example - when Angel's dog pees on the floor she uses her talents to evaporate the liquid and blow the dirt out the window.
Angel was a great character. She was relatable and came across as a normal teen who loves fantasy. And when she discovers that she is magical, she is appropriately awestruck. Gregor is a wonderful friend to Angel, even though he can be moody and brooding at time. The rest of the characters that Ms. Heckenbach developed were interesting and each character, even if they only played a small part, fit their part perfectly.
The concept of an island hidden from the rest of the world and protected by magic to keep strangers and science out was interesting and gave Ms. Heckenbach a blank slate to work with in terms of setting. Through descriptive scenes and Angel's awe, the reader is able to clearly imagine the wondrous things that are on the island.
The plot flowed smoothly and was a little complex. The readers journeyed with Angel as she discovered her past and met new friends. There is a definite good vs. evil storyline but there are other side storylines - like the complicated relationship Gregor has with his elven relatives. The book had a lot of fantasy, but it also had mystery and intrigue.
I think that YA fantasy lovers will really enjoy this story. But I do want to put a warning - I would not recommend this book for children under 13 because there are some evil things that happen, including death and animals being hurt/killed and experimented on, that might be very scary to younger children.

[James Maxon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having written stories for several anthologies, Heckenbach launched her debut novel “Finding Angel” on Sep 1, 2011. As a homeschooling mother, fantasy lover, and science geek, Heckenbach put her skills into creating the Toch Island Chronicles. There are currently two books released in the series, with Seeking Unseen (Book 2) published a year after the first. Finding Angle is available as a Paperback, eBook, and Audiobook.

Story overview:
Angel knows that her family isn’t related to her by blood, but she loves them just the same. Particularly her younger foster brother. Having been adopted at a young age, and lost her childhood memories, she often wonders what her birth parents are like.

Fascinated by the world of fantasy, whether books or pictures, Angel feels a close connection to otherworldly elements. Not only is she smart for her age, but her recent curiosity over a beetle that her brother found sets her to task. Her mission: to find out what type of beetle it is.

Before exhausting the library’s resources on the subject, Angel meets an oddly dressed boy by the name of Gregor. Little did she know that the beetle was magical, and the boy had been searching for her for years. But most of all, Angel was soon to discover that her love for magical worlds wasn’t based on fantasy at all.

My thoughts:
Cleanly written in the third-person limited narration, I quite enjoyed this story. Some elements of it made me think of Inkheart (by Cornelia Funke), with Gregor’s personality a bit like Farid’s. Only, instead of obsessing over Dustfinger, his eyes were fixated on someone else. Some reviewers likened this book to Harry Potter while others to The Lord Of The Rings. But, magical and elven elements aside, I thought it followed its own path fairly well–standing on its own two feet. If you like a good young adult fantasy, don’t hesitate to give this one a look.

Things to consider:
There is no foul language or sexual situations (considering two teens of the opposite sex live alone together for some time). No excessive violence to speak of, but there are a few scenes regarding death and a few that contain some gory elements. Overall, nothing objectionable that I could detect. I’d recommend this for preteens and older, with a slight emphasis toward girls as the protagonist is female, but boys should also come away feeling significantly satisfied.

[D.M. Dutcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's good for a YA novel, and avoids a lot of cliches while getting a teen girl's voice right. The world is interesting too. I think though the plot is a bit too complex, and the book could have ignored some of the complications to focus on the lot of good things it has.

Angel is a pretty average teen. She likes fantasy animals, likes to draw, loves her little brother Zach, and lives a pretty decent teen life. One day she meets Gregor, and through him is drawn into a hidden magical world. Angel is a denizen of that world, and she now begins both the slow rediscovery of who she once was, and her role in a prophecy centering around her unique Finding talent.

It's interesting, both pre-magical world and after. There's a refreshing lack of cliches in the book-no sassy sidekicks, no love triangles, and a world which shows some real promise. I like the rustic, rural, animal-filled life in the book, and wished it could have been amplified more.

Angel also is well done. She feels like a smart, yet young teen. The normal world sequence that starts the book is just as good at the rest, and she makes for a fetching heroine. Gregor too is different: he's a YA male character who is competent, and when he gets angry or fails, does so in a realistic way. The rest of the characters aren't bad either, and each has enough twists and originality to be memorable.

The only issue I had with this book is that the plot is too complex. Mostly because of a prophecy put into the book. The actual idea of the book and the conflict between heroine and villain stands very well on it own, and the prophecy doesn't add anything to it. It takes away from the book some, as a lot of events need to happen to fulfill it, and it reduces time spent on the characters and world. The conflict between science and magic especially cries out for expansion. I'd also love more of the small-town, island life of the magical world-the idea that technology weakens magic and forces Talented people into semi-reclusive hidden islands really perked my interest.I enjoyed the book.

[Morgan Busse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finding Angel by Kat Heckenbach is a story placed in our world about a girl who discovers she has the magical ability to “find” things. Because of her ability, the villain tried to murder her when she was seven and take her ability (in this story’s framework, if you kill someone with magic, you absorb their magical ability).

Angel is now in her early teens living in a foster home with no memories of her past. But when a young man comes into town, magic starts to happen. Angel finds her way home to Toch Island and begins to remember her past and her magic.

Finding Angel is a YA novel. It’s not very fast pace, but it is filled with interesting magic ideas and twists and turns as Angel unravels the mystery of who she is. And the writing style of Finding Angel reminds me of Madeleine L’Engle’s.

*Spoiler* The only caution I will put in is there is a bit of violence at the end involving genetically manipulated animals (being an animal lover, that was hard to read).

YA is not really my genre of choice, but I know that my younger self would have devoured this book. So I would recommend this book for anyone who loves modern day fantasy or YA fantasy.

[C.O. Bonham · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book for every science geek who's read Harry Potter and pulled their hair out yelling, "Conservation of Energy Harry." Or maybe that's just me.

Though author Kat Heckenbach doesn't go into deep scientific detail she covers enough laws of physics and uses more than enough explanation to give her magic system a believable scientific edge. More then enough to justify the tag line, "Where magic and science collide."

On Toch Island (somewhere off the coast of Ireland) lives a community of Empowered humans. Each member of the community has at least one Talent, a unique power that they excel at. (That's the magic, because these talents are often just taken at face value.) In addition to their talents these humans also have the ability to manipulate matter on the sub-atomic level. (That's where the science comes in.)

I thought the characters were engaging and the pacing was just right to keep the pages turning. I loved the mystery angle, the small pieces of the prophecy falling into place and seeing it all come to pass. It was great fun.

[Teddi Deppner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed this story of a girl discovering her true heritage. Very typical of the "coming of age" YA storyline, but unique enough to be interesting. The way magic works in Angel's world makes so much sense that I am miffed that it's not real. It could totally work like that!

I like that the story isn't focused on a romantic relationship (although there are definitely a couple of cute guys to drool over if you're into that sort of thing), and one of the strongest examples of "love" is the relationship between Angel and her younger (adopted) sibling.

The story flows well and as it unfolds, there is a very enjoyable mystery thriller portion that adds an element of danger. Even though I thought I was pretty clever at figuring stories out, the answer to the whodunit totally surprised me. Gotta give the author credit for pulling the wool over my eyes on that one.

Looking forward to the next book!

[Barbara Brink · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finding angel was a fun novel with a touch of magic. Angel lives in a foster home but never feels quite "at home." Along comes a boy who tells her that actually she doesn't belong. She comes from a magical island where fairies, and dragons and other creatures live undisturbed by the rest of the world. But there is evil on this island as well, lurking and waiting for her return because he needs something that only Angel can provide.
This is more of a middle school age story than YA but older kids would probably enjoy it as well. The magical elements were fresh and fun and Angel and Gregor are strong, likable, role models. There was some slightly graphic killing of magical creatures that may bother more sensitive kids, but overall a good story.

[Matt Wallis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. The writing style is engaging & descriptive without droning on too much. The characters were well developed in a way that I felt as though I knew them by the end of the book. Having been a long time fan of Terry Brooks' writing, I found this to be as engaging and impossible to put down. I am currently looking for the time to read the second in the trilogy and am looking forward to the third! This author was a great find and I look forward to following her as she writes more. Great book!

[K.M. Weiland · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a delightful YA romp, free of many of the genre's recent cliches and objectionable material (a la the Twilight romances). The characters are likable and the stakes high. The plot grows a bit leisurely in places, but the worldbuilding is exquisite: an imaginative fairy land hidden in plain view. The author has done a lovely job of taking standard fantasy tropes and turning on them on their heads to find new originality.

And then, of course, there's the gorgeous cover art!

[Belinda Knight · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really really enjoyed Angel and Gregor's story.. not only were there dragons, which I absolutely adore, but there was also Horatio.. a totally cool and awesome beetle. Never have I been a fan of beetles, but Horatio completely won me over.. :)

I'm definitely looking forward to reading the second book. I can't wait to see what Angel/Anna does with her wish..!

Thank you Kat for a great read, somehow I get the feeling #2 will be even better.

3 1/2 stars for Angel's first story

[AJ]

The book Finding Angel is about a girl who gets adopted after an evil villain Darwic starts a wild fire on the island and Angel gets moved to a part of the world without magic. One day she meets Gregor, who is from the island, and follows him back to the island. She then learns she has a Talent and with Gregor's help, she uses it to Find many useful items. Later into the novel, Angel discovers a prophecy that throughout the novel everyone is a part of.
Also throughout the novel, Angel finds out about Elven and that Gregor has a love life with Siophra that can never happen. After Siophra unfortunately dies, Gregor and Angel find out that she was killed by Randall, who was doing studies on different species and killing animals. By the time Angel and Gregor almost finish the prophecy, they find that the only way to defeat Darwic is by Gregor going to the Realm Beyond.
At the end of the novel Angel is reunited with her parents from the island.
I enjoyed the use of magic and suspense in the novel.
Overall, it was a great book (besides the death and what Randall was working on). I would recommend this book to 6th grade and up due to some death scenes, Randall's lab work, and the way Darwic is described.
I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book (and the sequel) through a Goodreads giveaway. The opinions stated below are my own and were not influenced by the fact that I won this book.

Finding Angel was a magical story about an adopted girl who finds out she can perform magic and may be part of a prophesy. She is rescued by the same boy who helped her escape her magical island, who teaches her how to perform her magic and becomes like a brother to her. It is a pretty classic good versus evil magic type story that was fun, engaging, beleivable. Best of all, the plot has lots of curve balls thrown in to make it difficult to discern what is really going on and who the "bad guy" truly is. I would have loved this book as a preteen or adolescent, and I really enjoyed it as an adult. There was none of the sticky-sweet, unbelievable romance and minimal angsty teen whining that is usually found in YA. As a young adult, I would probably have given this book 5 stars, but as an adult it was a close 4 stars for me. As it stands, I am very happy that the Goodreads giveaway that I won includes the second book, because I am hooked and can't wait to read it!

The good.

1. No silly romance that is pointless to the plot, despite cute boys and girls. Also, minimal whining from said cute boys and girls despite them not being old enough to get into a rated-R movie. There was some angst and whining from the two main characters (Angel and Gregor), but for reasonable things and done in a believable non-annoying way.

2. Heckenbach did a beautiful job with her writing. Not only was it descriptive when it needed to be, but it was also concise when that was called for. I did not feel like she was ever writing words just to sound fancy or to draw out the story. However, I could really picture the people, places, and magic described. This is truly awesome since magic is always a magical, imaginary sort of poof of clouds, but not in Finding Angel. Although I didn't necessarily need all of the scientific explanations given, it was nice to understand how it worked and what rules it followed.

3. Dragons as pets. Normally, that would be enough for a good point, but Heckenbach made it go one step further. In a magical land where having a dragon for a pet is reasonably common, the main character, a 14-year old girl, just wants a slobbery little puppy. This broke my heart in the best way possible. It was one of those insanely real things that I could relate to. I don't care if I moved to the most magical island in the world with the most exotic pets; as a normally-human raised girl, I would just want a kitten. This simple thing really endeared me to Angel and the story as a whole.

The bad.

Really, there wasn't much I didn't like about this book. There were some things that I personally didn't care for, but not much that I thought brought the story down as a whole.

1. The age difference between Angel (14) and Gregor (17) was perfect for helping them build the sibling-like relationship. However, during many times in the book, I had trouble telling an age difference. Angel seemed too mature for a 14-year old, and Gregor would seem too immature for a 17-year old, especially one who had been on his own for ten-ish years and basically raised himself. I appreciated that they weren't in-your-face stereotypical teens, but it seemed a bit unrealistic at times.

2. It also bothered me how Angel essentially forgot about her foster family...except for her younger foster brother. Knowing that she had grown up with this family, blood or not, and that she has no memories of her real family, she sure was fast to leave the house and not give them a second thought. I completely understood her motivation to leave, but she didn't really take the time to think that decision through or reflect on it after she left. On the rare occasions she brought up her life before rediscovering magic, she only talked about how much she missed Zack. I know she probably missed him the most, but did she not miss anything about her other brothers or her foster parents?

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall: 3.5 stars, rounded to four
Finding Angel is the story of a girl separated from her magical heritage. She lives a normal life, until pieces of her past begin to catch up with her. A beetle, a charm bracelet, a boy with silver eyes…they all lead her back to Toch Island, the place of her birth, and her strange powers, which may help Angel solve the mysterious disappearances around the island – or reveal her to the evil man who desperately wants to find her.

This was a light, fun read with unique settings, new twists on the old fantasy elements, and a sojourn into a world where worldviews have consequences.

Concept: 4 stars
On the surface, this is your ordinary science-justified magic story. Dig a little deeper, and you’ll find such delightful creatures as fractal chameleons, modern-day unicorns, and elves with their own rock bands. During my mentoring session with Kat (though it felt more like a chance for us to sit down alone and fangirl about – well, everything) I reflected that when you meet creative people, you rarely fit them with their work on the first try. Perhaps it’s the preponderance of introverted authors, but usually it takes a little while for you to see their creativity shining through. Not so with Kat. When she started talking, I immediately saw through to the mind that created Toch Island – a flamboyant, colorful, I-don’t-care-what-you-think kind of mind.

Plot: 3 stars
Unfortunately, this book suffered from a case of SMS, or Sagging Middle Syndrome. The first third was good. The last third was great. The middle – not so much. For all that it was neatly paced, with things speeding up toward the climax (as they should), I felt Angel spent a little too much time socializing, training, and playing with animals. Of course, this may be due to my allergic reaction anything approaching relaxation or warm fuzzy feelings. Give me TRAGEDEHHH!

That said, I loved the way the clues to the mystery were sprinkled through the story. It was one of those “aw, shoulda seen that coming,” moments.

Characters: 2.5 stars
My favorite books are usually the ones where I can tell you what the characters would do months later. Few live up to that hope – Incarceron, and Outlander, and The Restorer. The trouble with Finding Angel was that I wanted to love the characters – they were unpredictable, they were human, and they drove the story well. However, I had trouble telling their personalities apart, especially the main characters. This is something I suffer from myself. Besides a few overarching characteristics, my FMC often plays hard-to-get and I end up having to make her behave the way she needs to for the sake of the plot. (Odd thing, actually wishing the characters would take the scene and run with it.) But oh well; that’s what development and rewrites are for.

Technical: 3.5 stars
Technical details are not something I pay a great deal of attention to unless there is a profusion of mistakes. I have a rather different method of dealing with them than most. Some people claim to throw the books, or yell, or write the author nasty letters. I sigh. If it’s really bad, it earns a closed-eyed sigh. Woe to the book that elicits such a response! Since I don’t recall any sighing for the duration of this book, I think it was clean of any glaring errors. (This, folks, is why you don’t write a book review months after reading the book.)

Execution: 3 stars
While not the most vivid writing I’ve ever read, the style of Finding Angel is clean, uncluttered work full of unique elements. In future works, greater attention could be paid to expanding the scenes and adding more action – not necessarily swashbuckling action, as I don’t think that would fit – but more action by the characters instead of so much summary. Still, it was a bold, admirable endeavor. Also, the author is delightful. Can I add extra points for the fractal chameleons? Thank you.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. That being said, I honestly had no clue what to expect upon starting this book. Let's just say, I was pleasantly surprised. I finished it within 24 hours of beginning it.

This book follows a young teen, Angel, who is found when she is about 6 years old, just wandering along a dirt road. She is placed with a foster family, and unlike her foster brothers, is never successfully adopted by them. The call her Angel, because of the charm bracelet she is wearing when found. Deep down, she knows she belongs elsewhere, and is meant for something more.

Poor Angel is constantly ridiculed for her fascination with anything magical and mythical. But what she soon finds out, is that it is real! This comes about shortly after meeting a stranger by the name of Gregor who she is drawn to quickly. Gregor saves her life, and by doing so, brings back some memories to Angel, it's in fact, not the first time he's saved her life.

Gregor whisks her away to her homeland, that exists but doesn't. There he gives her the answers she's been looking for the past seven years. There she learns to develop her Talents with his help, and ordinary chores. Yes, chores. Ms. Heckenbach uses not just magic, but science for the Talents. Angel learns to not just make things float, or disappear, but to move the particles around. For instance, moving the air above a plate to below it; hence making it move, or levitate rather, in air up to the cupboard.

This story isn't just about Talents, no. This story is about corruption in a sense. Bad vs Evil. There is an evil, called Dawric that is after the Empowered and wants to take the Talents for himself. Angel and Gregor must find him, (once Gregor believes he is back) and defeat him once and for all.

I enjoyed this book for many reasons. It was an easy read, so perfect for a younger reader, or someone looking for a light read. it was fast paced, which was nice, instead of everything being SUPER drawn out, as so many books can be these days. Don't get me wrong, Ms. Heckenbach did a great job of describing everything. From the elven, to the dragons, to even the magical hidden land. it just wasn't over descriptive or dragging in scenes.

I loved the idea of a magical land with no technological interference. I loved the fact that Ms. Heckenbach intertwined magic with science. There wasn't too much romance, save for the tragic love between Kalek and Siophra. There wasn't too much violence, although there a few deaths, both human and animal alike.

Once I finished this book, I immediately went looking to see if there was a book 2! I was very pleasantly surprised to see that there was! I look forward to reading it in the near future, as I'd love to see what adventures Angel goes on next.

[Katherine Coble · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review opens with three confessions:

1. I love Harry Potter unreservedly and have read those books enough to have whole passages memorised.

2. I don't care for Christian-themed fiction as a rule.

3. I know Kat Heckenbach through an online writing forum.

So I guess I'm halfway biased for this book and halfway biased against it. But you don't care about all that. You just want to know if it's good. The short answer is: yes, very.

The longer answer goes like this:

Because of my love for Potter and my nervousness that comes from spending over a decade dodging Potter wannabes I just wasn't sure I was interested in an orphaned child who learns she has magical powers and is a Big Somebody in an alternate magical universe.

I know, right?!

Add to that the fact that Heckenbach is (like me) ardently Christian and I started to fear we'd be in for a schlocky ride. "Magic makes Baby Jesus cry".

BZZZZZZ. Incorrect. Wrong answer! Challenge your preconceptions.

This story is Heckenbach's own. While it pays homage to Potter (and Tolkein and Rothfuss and Wells and Shakespeare), she has woven together all of these elements with her own scientific and artistic outlook to come up with a tale that stands proudly on its own.

Like Patrick Rothfuss in _The Kingkiller Chronicles_, Heckenbach introduces us to a magic that is as much a science as biology or chemistry. I was tickled to find an author who makes sure her magic makes scientific sense and isn't just using it as a way to get characters in and out of tight spots. That's a much rarer treat in the world of fantasy than you'd think.

There are other treats abundantly throughout the book, including one so magnificently clever and totally awesome that I'll not spoil it for you. I will say when I first read it I shouted "Oh! WELL DONE!!! How cool!!!" right out loud. For that one moment alone the book is worth your time.

Overall I'd put it at 3.75 stars. There were a few things that I didn't like as much:

1. The relationship with her foster family felt a little disjointed and was the one place where I felt like the book was veering into Very Special Episode territory.

2. There is a storyline that is necessary to the overall plot but also seemed kind of out of place. One of the main characters involved in that plotline underwent a bit of a personality shift and was kind of unlikeable after awhile.

But come on. Neither of those are that big of a deal. Not in a book with _dragons_! Cool dragons and even a dragon ki....nevermind. I'll not spoil that either.

If you're still here I'd encourage you to stop reading this review and go read the book. It's a great way to spend some time in a great place.

[H.A. Titus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Storyline: Angel doesn't remember her magical heritage...but it remembers her.

Magic and science collide when she embarks on a journey to her true home, and to herself.

Angel lives with a loving foster family, but dreams of a land that exists only in the pages of a fantasy novel. Until she meets Gregor, whose magic Talent saves her life and revives lost memories.

She follows Gregor to her homeland...a world unlike any she has imagined, where she travels a path of self-discovery that leads directly to her role in an ancient Prophecy...and to the madman who set her fate in motion.

MY THOUGHTS

Cons: the only problem I have with this book that is was too SHORT! :) OK, and I thought that some of it was a little too much horror for a middle-grade novel. Most of the book was fine, but there was just one scene in a laboratory with specimen jars and dissections that I really thought showcased the author's horror side. Maybe I underestimate today's middle graders, but that scene felt a little too much to me.

Pros: The characters are awesome. Angel and Gregor as the main characters are pretty cool, but my absolute favorite character was Kalek, a rocker elf with quite an amazing Talent. I can't tell you anymore because I want readers to discover that for themselves and be as totally in awe of that scene as I was (favorite scene in the book, right there).

And speaking of Talents...I liked the magic system of the world. Each person has a primary magical ability, their Talent, as well as other magical abilities. For example, Angel's mom's Talent was painting pictures, then pulling the object out of the picture (as long as it wasn't alive). Gregor's Talent is making gates in trees to get from one place to another.

The storyline likewise was fun, quirky, and nicely paced. The climax had me biting my nails (after a successful month of not chewing them) and muttering, "I know where this is going--please don't go where I think it is--you can't just DO that! No, no, no!" and the conclusion was extremely satisfying, though tinged with sadness. Though there was no mention of a "God" figure, there were hints, and I'm looking forward to how the author will pull those hints out in further development of the world.

Conclusion: Obviously, I can't talk enough about this book. It's another Splashdown Books release, and probably my favorite to date that they've put out (as well as gaining a spot on my all-time favorite fantasy books list). The writing is great, and the story is one that, while I would hesitate to give it to anyone below 13-14, could easily charm anyone above that.

Rating: five out of five stars.

[Cassie C · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book in Goodreads FirstReads. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.

Actual rating: 3.5 stars

Finding Angel is a wonderful start to what is sure to be a great series. Many reviews said that this was very Harry Potter-esque, but I only saw some slight similarities, and certainly nothing that overshadowed the book. The scenes were richly described, and the story itself was extremely creative. Ms. Heckenbach sweeps you away in her story of Angel and her journey. This book is filled with adventure and suspense, and I recommend this for all fantasy lovers.

Angel was a great lead character, and I felt she handled everything with a great maturity. This was one of the things I loved about her character, as she never threw her hands up and became overwhelmed. Instead she worked to understand her Talent as she wanted to belong in the world she was now in. Angel had great strength and dedication, and her character was very well-developed. Gregor sometimes got on my nerves a bit, but this was only because I felt there were times he was extremely moody. I became frustrated at times because while I don't mind moody (and brooding), he just went over-the-top sometimes. Also, he didn't believe/blew off Angel's concerns and questions at times, which was a little ridiculous to me as he was the one who was looking for her and wanting to help her. Overall though I did like his character, and I was heartbroken for him when we find out more about him and his past.

I would recommend checking this book out if you are a fan of light fantasy novels. This is a wonderfully creative and fun book that takes the reader on an exciting adventure. The ending was full of twists and several heartbreaks that I didn't expect, and left the reader (at least this reader) needing to read the second one as soon as possible (or as soon as she catches up with all the books that have piled up in her room). Don't miss out on this one!

Happy reading :)

[Tahlia Newland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finding Angel is a well-crafted and enjoyable contemporary fantasy for younger teens. I was impressed by the clean style and creative story. It's refreshing to get away from vampires, witches and werewolves. There is magic in this story, but not witches or wizards, simply those with Talents.

Angel is a foster child with wonderful caring foster parents and a little foster brother who she loves dearly. Nevertheless, she doesn't feel as if she really belongs with them. She was found at the age of six wandering along a nearby road with no memory of how she had got there or who her family was.

Enter Gregor, a boy with the Talent of making magical gateways that transport you where you want to go. All he needs is some wood, like a tree. He takes her to a magical island off the coast of Ireland, the place where she lived with her parents before he made a gate and pushed her through it to escape a man who wanted to steal her talent. He has been looking for her since that day, for he had no idea where his gate had taken her.

Angel is a Finder, and the man, Dawric, wanted her to find something that would make him all powerful. Gregor and Angel's parents told everyone that Angel had died to prevent Dawric from looking for her. Now that Gregor has found her, Angel hopes to be reunited with her parents, but discovers that they are in Europe still searching for her after seven years.

What follows is an excellent story that weaves elves, dragons, a singing beetle, a family feud and scientists into a something refreshingly unpredictable, very suitable for the age group and pleasant to read.

I liked the short scenes with Dawric and the scientist set between Angel's scenes. It gave us hints, but never the identity of the scientist, nor were we quite sure what they were up to. I would have liked to have been clearer at the end what their plan actually was, however.

I received this book free from the author in exchamge for an honest review. No guarantee of a positive review was made.

[Mlpmom (Book Reviewer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

First I have to give a shout out to the cover of this book, it is just gorgeous! Something about it is just so appealing and eye catching. I love the details in the wood of the door and the heart charm, so pretty!


Heckenbach has managed to create a loveable, fun magical world in Finding Angel.

I normally don't seek out fantasy reads but this one has had such great reviews I decided I would give it a go and I am glad that I did because this really was a delight to read.

It did start off a little slow with a lot of world and character building but it didn't feel too drawn out and the characters and places were so much fun to learn about that you really weren't bothered by it at all.

Heckenback managed to merge our every day world into one that is very much like our own except for the use of magic and dragons and elves and, well, you get the idea.

And although this is a fantasy read Heckenbach did a wonderful job at making this feel pretty realistic and not too far fetched or unbelievable.

Angel was a great character that was very likeable and I liked how over time she grew into herself and her powers and really managed to hold her own.

The best part is that this really was a nice clean read (there is a part at the end involving animal experiments that is a little rough to read but truly nothing too horrible) that I think would be perfect for a younger audience as well, which is so nice to find in the YA genre since it seems like that just isn't something you find everyday anymore.

Overall I would give this one a very solid 4 Stars and I look forward to reading more of Heckenbach's work in the future.

[Kristen Stieffel · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Finding Angel, Kat Heckenbach creates a community so lovable you wish you could move there. Like some other fantastical worlds we know of, this one exists alongside our own. But one doesn’t need a magic portal or spell to reach Toch Island. You just need the right map. The great thing about this is it leaves the reader with the feeling that you could go visit those magical folk, if only you had the latitude and longitude.

The downside is--within the storyworld--non-magical bad guys can find the island, too. Toch Island isn’t a paradise—they have no iPads there. And it has the same sort of small-town politics that any human settlement might have. But the real threat comes from outside.

From one of us.

Finding Angel is an intriguing tale with a strong, believable young protagonist. As Angel searches for her own lost history, new questions arise and the stakes get higher. The more she learns about the hometown from which she’s been separated for so long, the more she learns about herself.

Her friend and guide, Gregor, is a noble, selfless man mature beyond his years. More mature, as it turns out, than a powerful but selfish elderly neighbor.

Finding Angel is full of intriguing characters--so much so that when you’re not reading it, you’re still thinking about them. Where are they? What are they doing? What will happen next? That’s reader engagement, people.

And when it’s over, you want to go visit again, so you can see how they’re doing. Fortunately, The sequel, Seeking Unseen, is due for release in July. I’m booking my ticket now.

[Wendy C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finding Angel (Toch Island Chronicles #1) by Kat Heckenbach

Finding Angel (Toch Island Chronicles #1) by Kat Heckenbach is a wonderful book about a girl named Angel who thought that she was not where she belonged. Angel was found wandering on the road by herself. She also was found with a charm bracelet that spelled out Angel. Angel loved her foster family but would dream about a worlds filled with wonderful creatures and people full of magic. Angel felt as if she did not belong with her foster family but should be somewhere else.

Angel’s foster family didn’t understand her interest in the whimsical worlds and animals that she read about in her fantasy books. One day she meets a boy named Gregor, who helps her remember who she really is and takes her back to her homeland.

Kat Heckenbach takes you on a spellbinding journey in Finding Angel . Her writing style is descriptive and allows the reader to immerse themselves and feel as if they are a part of this breathtaking world. The characters are well rounded and the storyline is brilliant. I cannot wait to read more of the story.

If you do not read this book, you are really missing out on an amazing imaginative story. It is the type of book once you start reading, you won't stop until you finish the book.

4.4 stars

[Gretchen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finding Angel was one of the two best books I read in 2012. It's a page-turning quest. Angel is a compelling heroine. Gregor may be one of my favorite heroes, ever and I'm a hero-girl.
If you're a Chronicles of Narnia fan, Finding Angel is "that book" where you enter the wardrobe (except that you enter through a hand-drawn gate) and are transported to a world that vibrates with description.
The pace of the story is what catapulted it to the top of my list. I'm not a fan of slow start, action, slight breath, more action (I skim adrenaline moments). I want a story that unfolds smoothly where each page, word, description makes me want to read more. Finding Angel is that story. Angel is brought into a world she knows nothing of and discovers it's beauty, magic, and power through daily chores, visits to town, and her relationship to her cousin, Gregor. While that may sound boring, it's not, trust me. It allows the reader to experience Angel's world through her eyes. Of course, those chores help Angel discover her talents, those visits uncover secrets, and Gregor (insert swoon), his story is what makes Finding Angel exceptional.
The story is even richer for Christians. The faith elements of the story are Easter eggs. They're cleverly intertwined through the story so that when you know what to look for, you find them and smile.

[Kathy Golden · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook version of Finding Angel.

Jeanne Whitehouse is the ideal narrator for this story. She handles the voices of the women and children, well. Her masculine voices, for the most part, are convincing and in some cases, fun to listen to. Her youthful reading voice easily connects readers to Angel’s point of view.

Finding Angel is a Y/A fantasy, every lover of the genre should read. The author is gifted with the ability to offer readers an imaginary island filled with magical animals and plants unlike those they've encountered in other stories.

Angel, the protagonist, is compassionate, intelligent, and someone whose perspective you won’t mind spending time in. The battle between good and evil has twists and intricacies that easily let you know you’re being presented magic in a whole new way. This is the kind of book, you’re bound to enjoy listening to, several times over.


Read my extensive review of this audiobook at:
Just Audiobook Reviews

[Krystine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finding Angel was an excellent introduction to the world of Toch Island, where magic really works, and the world of Angel, the two of which don't always coincide. Angel has been in a foster home in America for a while. Her parents are missing. She likes her foster family, and especially Zach, her little foster brother. The story opens when Angel falls through a tree and meets Gregor, whose family is also gone. Gregor becomes her guide to Toch Island as she learns about her magical heritage, and discovers elves, especially Kalek and his sister. Kalek is an elven musician, and rather hostile and prickly. Gregor has a magical talisman that Kalek's family insists belongs to them, and he's in love with Kalek's sister, which makes Kalek's father even angrier.

Romance, mystery, intrigue and danger dog their footsteps. Threading its way through sinister twists and turns, the plot brings us through death, reunion, and understanding.

An excellent YA read for fantasy-lovers of any age!

[P.A. Baines · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being a curmudgeonly old bloke means I normally steer well clear of YA Fantasy (I am one of three people in the universe who has neither read a Harry Potter book nor seen any of the films). So it was with some trepidation that I downloaded the audiobook and set about "Finding Angel".

My fears were unfounded because Kat Heckenbach managed to pull me in from the opening scene, and she held my interest till the very end. Kat's writing is solid and polished. Her characters are believable and sympathetic. Best of all, the magic is treated as a natural part of the world--as a talent or a gift that people can learn to use. I particularly liked Angel's gift and the way it was subtly introduced early on.

An excellent novel that I highly recommend for younger readers looking for a clean, wholesome adventure with a sprinkle of magic and an ending that makes you want more.