Whether it’s because I like the idea of an eternal battle between good and evil, or because I’ve been binge-watching Supernatural episodes, I’m not sure, but lately I’ve been drawn to demon hunting books. In terms of content, Catch me When I Fall has the potential for a great series with romance, action, good versus evil, angels, and demons (well, in this case, Nightmares, but they are pretty much demons with less personality). Fans of Lauren Kate’s Fallen will be drawn to Catch me When I Fall. There’s even a hero named Daniel.
Daniel’s been protecting humans from Nightmares (creatures that feed on people’s fears while they sleep) for the last 200 years. He’s burnt out, and ready to risk it all for the idea of eternal nothingness… that is until he’s put in charge of protecting Kayla, a young patient in a psychiatric ward who Nightmares seem to be unusually attracted too. When an attack on Kayla forces Daniel to reveal himself, breaking the first law of Protector of the Night, things begin to get even more complicated.
The plot sounds intriguing, and it is, as well as exciting, but sadly this novel didn’t grip me as much as I had hoped. It is written from Daniel’s perspective, and although he is eternally seventeen, I felt that with 200 years killing nightmares, and given the time period he originated from, he shouldn’t sound like a seventeen year old. His voice just felt off somehow. Kayla, Daniel’s romantic interest had a lot of potential as a heroine, but she spent most of the novel being a passive participant to events. The only time she actually did anything was when she could use her “powers” but I want more out of my heroines. Female characters don’t need to be kick-ass capable like Katniss Everdeen 100% of the time, but they need to take an active role in the plot without relying on magical abilities.
Despite my complaints, Vicki Leigh’s Catch me When I Fall is far from terrible – it just doesn’t rank high on my list of top books I’ve read this year. Fans of the young adult angel/demon genre will enjoy it, despite its flaws.
REVIEWER: JJ McConnachie
Catch me When I Fall, by Vicki Leigh is published by Curiosity Quills Press.