Review: Griffin Rising by Darby Karchut

Griffin Rising
Author: Darby Karchut
Publication: Twilight Times Books (April 14, 2011)


Description: For Griffin, it’s time to angel up. 

Armed with the power to control the ancient elements of Earth and Fire, sixteen year old Griffin is determined to complete his apprenticeship and rise to the rank of Terra Angeli.

But first, he must overcome a brutal past if he is to survive in this world. Will the perseverance of his mentor and the love of a mortal girl give Griffin the strength he needs to triumph? 

My Thoughts: What a great story! I picked it up and couldn't put it down until I had finished to book. Now, I really want the sequel Griffin's Fire (which isn't out until April 2012) because I need to know what is next for Griffin.


Griffin was such a wonderful character. He begins as a small, frightened boy who has been abused by his first Mentor Nicopolis. He begins to blossom and become a confident young man with a great sense of humor when he is moved to his new Mentor Basil. Basil is training him to be a terrae angeli by building up his confidence and working on his skills. His strengths are Earth and Fire which are nicely complimented by his Mentor's Wind and Water. They make a great team rescuing humans. But Griffin never forgets that he will be tested in a Proelium when he is sixteen to see if he remains a terrae angeli or has to become a human.


This story which is mainly told in Griffin's, Basil's and Katie's journal entries talks about his life and how his life changes when a young girl named Katie and her family move in next door. He is her first boyfriend and she is his first girlfriend. Their relationship exhibits all the signs of first love. It would be a perfect relationship if only Katie believes in angels -- but she doesn't at first. Their relationship is also complicated by Nash Baylor - the football star who also has a crush on Katie. Nash is jealous of Katie's relationship with Griffin. 


Nicopolis is also a problem for Griffin and Basil. Basil and Nicopolis were Tiros together and have disliked each other ever since. Terrae angeli have free will and Nicopolis has used his to become a cruel bully. He has it in for Griffin. And he is the one who is chosen to supervise Griffin's Proelium...


This was an exciting and entertaining story that I am eager to share with my middle schoolers and high schoolers. It was great entertainment with a positive message.


Favorite Quote:

I would rather deal with a twenty car pile-up. On the interstate. In a blizzard. With food poisoning, even, rather than taking a fifteen-year-old Tiro shopping. He whined the entire time and refused to purchase anything but jeans and tee shirts. Jeans, I might add, that hang halfway off his bum. He's going to look quite ridiculous during a rescue when his pants fall down.

I received a copy of the print book from the author for review. It is available at the Kindle Store in an ebook version now. The print version will be available in June 2011.