Review: Scala (Angelbound, #2)

Author: Christina Bauer
Series: Angelbound, #2
Published: May 13th 2014
Publisher: Ink Monster, LLC
Format: ebook, 160 pgs
Source: Publisher for review
Buy: Amazon

Nineteen-year-old Myla Lewis has transformed into Great Scala, the only being with the power to move souls out of Purgatory and into Heaven or Hell. Trouble is, a magical object called Lucifer’s Orb is limiting Myla’s abilities. If she tries to move a soul, the Orb’s forcing her to send that spirit straight to Hell.

So, what’s a girl to do? Send innocents to the fiery down-under?

No way. Myla’s gone on a supernatural strike. No souls go anywhere until the Orb’s history. It’s the right thing to do, but Purgatory’s Soul Storage buildings are turning into time bombs. No spirits are moving out, while millions keep coming in. Myla’s determined to find the Orb and send the innocent to Heaven, but she’s running out of time. Soon, the containment fields will burst, releasing a mob of homicidal ghosts.

With Soul Storage ready to explode, Myla’s got enough on her plate without her old enemy, Lady Adair, causing problems. Adair is launching an ingenious campaign to take away everything that Myla holds dear, including Myla’s Angelbound love, Prince Lincoln.

Between their clever ideas and toe-curling kisses, Myla and Lincoln are fighting back. But will they beat the clock or lose everything to Adair’s devious schemes?

Well, my good people, Christina Bauer did it again. Angelbound was such a huge surprise for me last year. I requested it on a whim and practically inhaled it in one sitting, only to end up anxiously biting my nails while waiting for the sequel. Not that Bauer left us with a cliffhanger or anything. She’s not one of those authors, you know.

And quite frankly, it isn’t only the lack of cliffhangers that make Bauer and her series stand out. Everything about Angelbound is different, from the heroine, the romance, and her hilarious sidekick. The worldbuilding, while fairly simple, is also very interesting. Bauer does an excellent job in creating a challenging world for Myla.

In Scala, that worldbuilding becomes far richer in details. Since Myla is responsible for all the souls in Purgatory, we need to learn how everything functions. And since Myla is being attacked politically, the relationships between realms are very important. However, while it may sound a bit complicated at first, rest assured that Christina Bauer delivers it all painlessly. Being in Myla’s world is very easy, and spending time in her company is always such a delight.

The very best part of these books is, of course, the romance. Unnecessary romantic drama isn’t something Bauer does and I admire her greatly for it. Instead, we have soul mates, true partners and friends. Myla and Lincoln understand each other and support each other through everything. Lincoln is not one of those book boyfriends that conveniently disappear when push comes to shove. He follows Myla everywhere and she does the same for him.

There were some parts of this sequel that seemed a bit rushed. So many things were happening at once and the pacing was so fast, we barely had time to absorb and think things through. But even through those frantic scenes, Myla’s fabulous sense of humor served as a great tension reliever. And let me tell you, our Myla has matured so much! She isn’t one of those heroines that gain powers only to whine about them. She doesn’t indulge in self-pity and being indecisive is completely foreign to her.

I will conclude with this: I adore this series. Even with a somewhat inferior second book, it’s definitely worth your time. I’ll be stalking Netgalley for arcs of Armageddon, that’s for sure.

A copy of this book was kindly provided by the publisher for review purposes. No consderations, monetary or otherwise, have influenced the opinions expressed in this review.