Audio Review ~ Revelation ~ Randi Cooley Wilson

Revelation by Randi Cooley Wilson
The Revelation Series #1
Narrated by: Jorjeana Marie
Release Date: January 5, 2016 (audio)
Genre: New Adult, Paranormal Romance
Source: Tantor Media audio CD, for review in exchange for an honest opinion
Rating: 2 Bookworms
Challenges: #2016NewRelease, #COYER B2B
Goodreads

Synopsis
Eve Collins starts her freshman year at college blissfully unaware that one revelation will challenge everything she's believed to be true about her family, life, and future, and right in the midst of it all is Asher St. Michael. Mysterious and aloof, Asher is appointed to protect Eve at all costs. Bound by his oath of loyalty to mankind, loving her is forbidden. Dark and enigmatic, Gage Gallagher may be even more dangerous to Eve than the demonic army that hunts her. Caught in the middle of a centuries-old war, Eve must choose sides knowing that the wrong choice will cost more than just her life. Can Asher and Eve fulfill their destinies, or will their love destroy everything?

This is rather a hard review for me to write. I requested Revelation for review in audio because the synopsis intrigued me and the book had gotten great reviews. Unfortunately, it didn't work all that well for me. I'm going to break it down into what worked and what didn't work for ease in disseminating my thoughts and feelings. Here goes...

Worked (sort of)

• The premise - I'm a fan of angel vs demon, heaven vs hell stories. That one girl was the key in the upcoming battle - the one who might save the world - I was intrigued to say the least
• The worldbuilding - I enjoyed the ways in which Cooley Wilson used archangels, demons, fae, and GARGOYLES to inhabit the story and I liked the abilities being explored. In some ways they were familiar, but in others she made them unique.

Didn't Work

• The writing - I appreciate detail and I adore words but this was a cacophony of description. A smirk is a smirk - no further description needed. If a character is responding snarkily, the dialog should be sufficient in conveying that - I don't need to be told.
• The MC's inner dialog - mostly her inner exclamations got irritating
• The reasons behind the forbidden romance didn't make sense to me. If you feel strongly for someone, doesn't that increase your desire to keep them safe?
• The narrator - she couldn't hold an accent. I was never quite sure who was speaking because of this. It was distracting and took me right out of the story.
• The MC behaved immaturely quite often. I understood she was only 18 but she went from seeming relatively mature to having a tantrum and that was distracting.
• Inconsistencies - along with the inconsistent behavior of the heroine, the hero was also inconsistent (I can't stay away...I *must* stay away), drinking but the characters are only 18...

I think this may be a case where I'd have enjoyed the story a little more had I read it rather than listened. I think the flaws were magnified in audio. I'm not sure I'll continue the series. But again, this book has many rave reviews so while it didn't work for me, it might work for you.