I’m glad I read the reviews before starting this book because I would have put it down after the first couple of chapters. I did not like Dante. He was everything I detest – arrogant, egotistical, bullying, cocky, shallow, intolerant, stuck-up…the list is long! But he does get better and by the end of the book I was rooting for him. Charlie brings that tiny spark of goodness still lingering in his heart to the fore and he slowly begins to develop a nicer personality without losing the bad boy attitude. It is unfortunate that Charlie, who is beautiful inside (yes, I know!) but not so great-looking on the outside ends up being beautiful on the outside too by the end of the book. I say unfortunate because I was hoping that her inner beauty would blaze its way through either by divine intervention or just because she grew into it…fairytale HEA. But the reason for her physical transformation is crucial to the plot and Dante’s re-evaluation of his ego.
Angels, demons, devils, sins – yet it is suitable for teens.
I really did enjoy this book, however it took some perseverance.
Banished by Bea Turvey
