As an Angel of Death, Lailah often saw the darker side of life. After the great fall, when one third of Heaven’s angels fell from grace, she and six other angels expressed doubts and were damned for their words. They became Rebel Angels, beings who had the desires of humans with a fraction of their angelic powers. When she came upon Nate, he and his family had been ambushed. A demon had trapped their souls and Lailah freed them. But it was not Nate’s time for death, so Lailah watched over him until he was rescued. She continued to watch over him but once he healed, she knew she had to let him go and continue with her quest to rediscover life’s splendor.

Nathaniel’s life changed when his family was destroyed. His guilt and anger for his own survival, along with the visions of angels and demons drove him into a depression. Eventually he must once again take up the reins of leadership, but danger surrounds the household and he must discover who and what threatens the remainder of his family. Can he trust the two strangers, even if one of them looks just like the vision that saved him after the ambush?

When Sariel, the Prince of the Order of Gregori, the first angels created, asks for her help, Lailah and Nate are once again thrown together. This time, he will know she is real and not a figment of his imagination. Can he overcome his grief and discover his abilities in time to save Lailah and the rest of his family from Enos, a Demon who is obsessed with Lailah?

Rebel Angels 3: Splendor and Darkness is another hit! The story of Lailah and her search for the splendor of life will draw you in and keep you hooked. Ms. Friberg weaves a story of angels and demons and the fight for power in both Heaven and the Underworld. The characters are very well developed. I especially liked the fact that Lailah and her fellow Rebel Angel, Daniel, feel the desires of man. This obviously made for great sexual encounters. She and Nate are explosive together. In addition, Nate is her perfect counterpart, feeling the injustice of her sentence and willing to fight even the archangel Michael for her. This also emphasized the depravity of the demons and their sexual needs. The pace of the story, along with the great secondary characters, makes this a truly good read. Even though this is the third in the Rebel Angels series, you would have no problems following the story. In fact, after reading this one, you’ll more than likely want to go back and read the others.

Reviewed by: Trang