Bex 'n' Books: Spotlight 7 Review & Giveaway: Destine by Katherine Polillo

Michelle Cross is an average, seventeen year old girl growing up in a small town in New Jersey. Up until her senior year, her life has consisted of a rather unglamorous existence. Her closet friend Cami has been by her side since kindergarten, she has a loving if somewhat absente father, and a mother who is unique to say the least. Michelle’s mother was diagnosed with schizophrenia when she was twelve years old, and ever since then she has had delusions of angels and demons battling over her only child. Michelle accepts her mother’s delusions as schizophrenic ramblings, until a handsome new boy finds her at school. Little by little Michelle’s world is turned upside down. The new boy claims to be the Archangel Gabriel cast from heaven, her best friend falls for the Antichrist, and come to find out Michelle’s mother has seen it coming all along. So instead of being consumed with prom and graduation, Michelle finds herself battling the evils of Hell in her small town. The four horsemen of the apocalypses have descended on her high school and with the help of Gabriel, her very own angel; she must stop the events leading to the apocalypse. What surprises Michelle even more than her role in saving humanity is the love that develops between Gabriel and herself. Can their love bridge the world between heaven and earth? Can Michelle stop the powers of Hell in time? Michelle and Gabriel find themselves the pawns in a very dangerous game between an ancient power with a mysterious message and Satan himself.

I really loved the concept for the plot of Destine, especially the setting, the range and build-up of action and the sweetness of the romance. The protagonist, Michelle, is a likeable character who in many ways is the epitome of normalcy. This really helps the reader relate to her character and cheer from the side lines as she progresses and develops so beautifully.

There are many curve balls thrown Michelle’s way, some are a complete shock, some are simply heartbreaking, and all are most definitely well-constructed and developed in the narrative. What is a notable achievement with the novel Destine is that it’s not laced with spelling and grammatical errors. This is so very refreshing; it allowed me to really become enraptured in the characters and their journeys.

I really enjoyed this novel from start to finish. There were a few times that I questioned Michelle’s reaction to the situations that she found herself in, yet I was able to talk myself into a justification and reasons for her responses. I highly recommend this book to YA paranormal, fantasy & romance enthusiasts.