Before the Tree of Life, everything in Abra Miller's life had been predictable, but after the Tree and the lighting and the angels, everything felt tenuous, like holding a soap bubble in the palm of her hand. She spent years looking for signs of that other world, waiting for it to break through. When it didn't her friendship with Sam Chambers grew cold and distant, and they both wondered how any of it could actually have happened.

Four years later, 16 year old Abra's long delayed quest to find the next manifestation of the Tree of Life is renewed when she sees a woman walking up the road - a woman who looks exactly like Sam's dead mother. The woman directs her to New orleans wher she will find the grave of Marie Laveau, on of seven gateways between this world and Over There. As Abra enters The Edge of Over There and begins her pursuit of the Tree once more, she doesn't know whom to fear or whom to trust. But she's starting to think that some doorways should never be opened.

I have a very hard time connecting with this book. It is supposed to be Christian fiction but I struggled with feeling that it fit into that category. Part of me feels like it is supposed to be an allegory with deeper meaning, but I just didn't feel it or get it. It was just strange and had a very dark side to it. The angels didn't even like being called angels. It was just too dark for me. Maybe I'm not seeing the real meaning behind it, but for me I cannot with a clear conscience recommend it Christian fiction, however if you can put that aside, you may enjoy it as a fiction read.

***Thanks to Revell Reads for providing me with this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Edge of Over There is a Christian supernatural fantasy set in historical New Orleans. It can be read as a stand-alone, but would be better appreciated if read as book two in the series.

The main character is a girl named Abra. In the previous book, Abra received a mission from God to protect any future Trees of Life from the enemy. In this book, she finds herself following mysterious clues in New Orleans and trying to stop the supernatural enemies of God.

This book is difficult to describe because there aren’t many books to compare it to. It is just too bizarre and dark. There are weird supernatural beings that Abra must defeat and portals to another world that is stuffed into the pathway to the afterlife, catching souls who should have gone all the way through. I admire the author’s imagination because this isn’t a story I could have ever thought up on my own.

The most interesting part of the story was the symbolism and the message. One of the messages, which continues on from the previous book, is that death isn’t entirely a bad thing. Eternal life in this sin-filled world would be more like a living hell than a life, and so it is better to believe in God and follow Him into the afterlife. But not all the characters understand that and they accept the offer of eternal life and eternal pleasure, only to be herded along like sheep in a miserable existence in a world between life and death.

Yes, the symbolism was very well-done and made it a fascinating, thought-provoking, and entertaining book.

Content warnings: this book is a little dark and there is some violence.

I received a complementary copy of this book from NetGalley. Everything written is my honest opinion, and I didn’t received compensation for writing them.

TO be honest, I didn't even know that this was part of a series and was the second book in the series. Initially I was apprehensive about reading it because it seemed a bit confusing when the author directly dives into the continuation plot. But apart from that, I actually enjoyed reading this book. I loved the author's style of writing! There are quite a lot of characters but they are written so well! I liked how the author made a significant recaps to the first book so that I got a hang of what was happening. I would definitely pick out the first book in the series to see how it all started.

I absolutely loved the first book of this series and this one was just as enjoyable! The world building and characters are amazing.

Shawn Smucker is a master of suspense! Loved this follow-up to The Day the Angels Fell. Great read for everyone.

Thanks to the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I had no expectations going into this book. I haven’t ever read a book by Shawn Smucker before this one, and I haven’t even read the prequel to this one (didn’t know it existed! xD). BUT The Edge of Over There turned out to be a lovely read, which I really and truly enjoyed!
For starters, the writing style is b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l. It was lyrical and rhythmic and vivid and gorgeously detailed. Combined with the overall story concept, the book in itself was really great. I might have been slow to warm up to it in the beginning, but afterward I couldn’t put it down (couldn’t, but had to :P).
The characters came alive on every page. Abra was a wonderful heroine, although personally I was more invested in Leo and Ruby’s storyline. (That may or may not be because Leo and Ruby are two of my favoritest names in the universe, so naturally, they ended up being my favorite characters. #ThisActuallyHappensAlltheTime) Beatrice and KN were both very intriguing as well… but I don’t mean that as a compliment. Yuck.
I loved the allegory of this story. This is kind of the vaguer, more imaginative type of allegory– the kind which requires some thinking on the reader’s part but in truth turns out to be the most relevant to real life. It was masterfully done, in the fashion of C.S. Lewis. That part as a real gem.
Overall, I’d give it a 4.5 star. I was really satisfied in closing this book. Recommended for all lovers of Narnian allegorical fantasy… and for those who aren’t as well!

I admit I did not finish this book. I thought I had read a lot of it, but was disappointed to see I was only 25% through, and already just so tired of it. I did not realize it was the second book in a series, and I have no idea if reading the first book would have helped or not. From the author's style, I doubt it.

It opens in a very confusing dream (because it doesn't seem like it is taking place on Earth, but you don't know where it is), where someone kills an animal that turns out to really have been a person, but both main characters (Abra and Samuel- which I had to reference from the book because I couldn't even remember) are convinced the other person did it because neither of them could have possibly...and then switches to reality just long enough for us to be confused as to whether Abra is poisoned or something, but not knowing.

And then jumps ahead years where Abra is dead, and continues with a new character following Samuel and eventually ending up going to his house and having coffee together. Even though Samuel feels unsafe with him around. Who is this guy? What in the world is going on???

Then it flashes back to a super long back story which neither of the main characters from the beginning are part of. I was so confused, and did not enjoy any of what I read. It seemed a convoluted mess. There was no chance to get connected to the characters as the time frame and the story kept jumping around. I don't even care what happens.

I don't think I'll be looking for any more books from this author.

I didn’t realize this was the second in a series, and would highly recommend to anyone interested in it that they begin with the first book. While there are enough allusions to the first book here, it’s not enough to have you invested properly in the characters before any real action begins. It’s in the same vein as the dystopian / new age young adult novels that are popular these days. A fan of the Big Easy, I found it humorous that the door to Madame Laveau’s home is what opens the portal. J There are a lot of elements that have been passed down for centuries included in this book, including fantasy, mysticism, and the suggestion of a group of ‘elders.’ For younger readers, some elements of death may be an issue, but for the most part, this is a clean book that doesn’t get graphic. I’d recommend it for ages ten and up.

This is a thought provoking, well written, suspenseful book. This is the first that I have read from this author and I enjoyed what I read. my teen age daughter (17) also enjoyed it. Well written, good character development.

I receieved a copy of this book through Netgalley --- all thoughts are my own.

I thought the first book was just okay. It was nothing special. I gave it 2 stars. I wanted to give the author a 2nd chance to see if his writing had improved. I am sad to say it did not for me. I DNF'ed this book. I pushed myself through the first book but couldn't do it in the 2nd one.

This book is AMAZING!! It made me like the first one better. It is the kind of book you want to read slowly because you want to savor the language and also because you are so emotionally invested in the characters you just can’t take more than a few pages at a time. You need to buy a copy of this to mark up all the amazing quotes and so you can come back to it over and over again.

This book focuses on Abra and we meet some awesome new characters, Leo, Mr. Henry, and Ruby. We also meet some pretty scary new characters, Koli Naal, Beatrice, Jerimiah, and even Amos. The setting, mostly the Edge of Over There, is a tense and wonderful place. I just don’t have words for all the emotions I had reading this book.

Go buy a copy, read it, mark it up, read it again, and wait impatiently for what comes next.

Audio & Print Review. I’m doing things a little out of order because I am writing the review for The Edge of Over There, the second book of the series, before I write the one for The Day the Angels Fell, the first. That’s because I read (both in print and with my ears) both books, back-to-back, in two and a half days. I’m so geeked-up about it that I’m starting at the end.

THE END?! Please, Shawn Smucker, say it isn’t so. As I drew nearer to the close of The Edge of Over There, I switched from listening to the audio book (which I already had increased to 1.25x speed) to picking-up my beautiful print copy so I could gobble up the words more quickly and find out what would happen – I could not have imagined it! That end twist surely guarantees there is more of this series to come. There simply must be.

“The house was like a kind, old man: a little crazy, a little angry, but mostly quiet and reflective. And waiting. Always waiting.”

As with The Day the Angels Fell, the descriptions and figurative language will blow-away the readers. There is a beautiful flow to Smucker’s writing; it’s lyrical and lulls you into the story. Then the imagery sticks to you, immerses you, and holds you tightly within the story. And the characters! Not one is unimportant, and their personalities evoke all kinds of emotions from the reader, including fear and dread that come from a surprisingly tiny package. Upon finishing the stories, I feel exhausted…and invigorated!

Exactly what kind of book is The Edge of Over There? Young adult? Adult? Biblical? Fantasy? Magical Realism? Myth? Yes. Yes, to it all. It’s best not to try wrangling this book into any one box because it’s most certainly not going to stay there. I noted at least a dozen quotes for later consideration because this book will make you think and wonder and dream (nightmare?) a little, too. And if Smucker’s words aren’t enough, every part (there are seven plus an epilogue) begins with a quote to fuel your mind. These quotes come from a wide variety of sources from traditional church hymns and C.S. Lewis to Madeleine L’Engle and Kate DiCamillo. Bonus food for thought.

ABOUT THE AUDIO BOOK. Listening to narrator Adam Verner further draws and keeps you within the story. I listened at 1.25x, mostly because I am impatient, but I can envision someone who wants to savor the story longer (who is not so impatient), who wants to absolutely wallow in the deliciousness of his reading of the book. It’s like the best read aloud story time EVER. But not for the little ones; The Edge of Over There explores some dark places of human nature and evil itself.

The story itself wasn't bad, but the characters fell flat for me.

I liked the world-building though, that was really well done!

But for me to really enjoy a book, I need to feel invested in the characters but I just wasn't.

I love it when the middle of a story gets filled in!

The Tree of Life changed everything. It changed the way Abra saw the world. It changed her relationship with her family. It even changed her relationship with Samuel. On the day Tennin fell and Abra became the next guardian of the tree of life, she started to notice changes around her. It started in the hospital where she and Sam were recovering. That is where she met the next demon taking over the search for the tree. She was even more ruthless than Jinn and more ambitious. She not only wanted here, she wanted over there too. Even with all Abra had learned, nothing could have prepared her for what was going to happen in New Orleans. No one saw it coming or could have guessed what was going to happen.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, even more than The Day the Angels Fell. This one fills in part of the gaps between when Samuel and Abra destroyed the tree and Abra’s funeral, at least one event in particular. The previous book left that section pretty wide open and I’m glad this was the transition to the next phase. I enjoy the way that Smucker is weaving these worlds together to intertwine with popular stories that have been heard concerning different events. I also enjoyed the story of Leo and Ruby and how it tangled into Abra’s story, even though parts of it left me aching. I hope to see more of Ruby in the next book and maybe she can find her way into Samuel’s life. Either way, I’m sure it will be another fantastic read!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

This is a wonderful science fiction series. Both books in the series have been fantastic. I don’t understand why anyone would want to live forever. I would have to help Abra destroy the tree of life. I do understand wanting to use it to make someone healthy again but not to live forever. This has a lot of twists and turns. I received a copy of this book from Revell for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

The Edge of Over There by Shawn Smucker is the sequel to The Day the Angels Fell.  While it would be helpful to have read the first book in the series, it's not essential to do so to understand this story.

A new Tree of Life has been planted, and evil forces have plans to use it for their own ends.  Abra Miller must find it and destroy it, before it can be used for nefarious purposes.  The story is told, not necessarily in sequential order, from Abra's viewpoint, as well as from that of her friend, Sam Chambers.  I don't want to give away anything, as that's the author's place, to tell the story. But I really enjoyed this book.

The story has heroes and villains, adventure and intrigue, and enough suspense to keep it moving along nicely.  It also has elements of Christianity in it, but doesn't beat the reader over the head with religion.  (As a Louisiana girl born and raised, I found the New Orleans/Marie Laveau connection fascinating.)  I'm going to pick up the first book in the series and give it a read, and I'm eager to see where this goes in the third book.

I received an advance copy from the publisher and NetGalley.  All opinions are my own, and I don't say nice things about books I don't like.

If you are looking for a YA book filled with descriptive text and a look at what might be heaven or hell, then check out this series. The first book is The Day the Angels Fell and it is probably best to start with this book. I have not read the first book and while the author does a great job of filling in gaps, I think any reader would have a better grasp on the characters and setting reading that book first.

The book starts with a brief recap of what I can assume was part of the first book. I appreciated that set up because it made a little more sense as I read the book. There is an interesting cast of characters with several story lines. There is Leo, Ruby, and Amos. Ruby is deathly ill and her father, Amos, will do anything to save her, including taking her to "Over There". Leo, her brother, is left behind but he doesn't forget about Ruby and 8 years later is able to try and find her. Samuel and Abra are neighbors and grew up together from the time they were born, their mothers were best friends. There is an even bigger twist about this whole situation at the end that was very intriguing and wasn't anything I expected to read. There are some evil characters that throw kinks into everyone's plans.

The main story is that Abra has a task to fulfill as the keeper of the keys (or the sword that acts as a key). Her story is being told to Samuel because he has inherited them from Abra's husband after her passing but doesn't know what to do with either the sword or the atlas. Only in the telling of this story by Mr.Henry to Samuel, do we learn the truth of what happened to Abra over the course of her life. The story does end abruptly but in a good way because it left me wanting another hundred pages or so to know what happens next.

One of my favorite lines was - "Fear always comes with a door, a door that leads straight through." This could be interpreted so many different ways and I think each reader will take it mean something different.

The author weaves this tale and you do need to pay attention because the various story lines intersect multiple times and while dark at times, there is light and hope you just have to grab hold at various points in the book.

This one was interesting. While I didn't totally agree with all the theology aspect of the story, it was well written and thought provoking.

The Edge of Over There
The Day the Angels Fell #2
By Shawn Smucker

The battle at the Tree of Life changed everything. Destroying the Tree cost Abra Miller her friendship with Sam Chambers and left her with a sword that no one else could hold. And then there is the dream - the dream of that night and the last message that Mr. Tennin left her.

When threats to those closest to her compel her to seek out another Tree Abra travels to New Orleans where she must open and enter a Gateway that the living should never cross. Her journey will introduce her to a young man who has been seeking this very Gateway for years after having lost his own family to it.

But destroying this second Tree of Life that between Here and Over There will take her to the Edge of Over There. But the Edge of Over There is a dangerous place to be - a place of sorrow and pain. With no one to trust Alba is truly on her own and she must destroy the Tree before any eat of the fruit which it bears. And she must withstand the temptations which she will face in this battle.

The Edge of Over There is an interesting book as we are taken to the point where The Day the Angels Fell left off. Sam has received the sword and notes that Alba has been keeping for years and a stranger approaches him. Now this stranger is about to tell Sam about Alba's story, at least a portion of it.

Now if one hasn't read the first book you could probably make it fine through this one though there are references to incidents from the first that will be a bit unclear. This is most definitely Speculative fiction and I think it is better than the first book. Alba is a character that one can empathize and connect with. And I will say I want to know more about what happened between the end of Alba's portion of the story and Sam's portion. Those who enjoy James Rubart or Billy Coffey will most likely be fans of Shawn Smucker's work as they strike me as similar story types. I would love to have this book as a book club selection and get the various takes on just what everything means to the various readers - so this will be getting my vote.

I was provided a review copy of this book by the publisher Revell with no expectations of a positive review ~ All opinions expressed are my own.

The Edge of Over There reminds me why a good fantasy story is so much fun to read!

Although this story is marketed to the young adult crowd, I considered it very enjoyable. One of the things I most enjoyed was the analogy of the mirror. When we look in a mirror, we see a reflection of ourself. As a reflection, our right hand is now on our left side, and our left arm is now on our right side. If we were to look at good in the mirror, would we also see its reflection - its opposite: evil? After all, good could never exist without evil also existing.

Given that analogy, it's no wonder that many things in this story are not as they initially seem. I particularly enjoyed that with characters. When a character is introduced, it is not immediately apparent whether the character is a good guy or a bad guy. But then again - not everything is at it seems.

**The Setting of The Edge of Over There**

In New Orleans, there exists Saint Louis Cemetery No. 1. Within this cemetery is a grave for Marie Laveau. This grave is one of seven worldwide portals into Over There. Personally, I just love that concept. Having the North American portal not just in a cemetery, but in a New Orleans cemetery, seems to advance the imagery of the book tenfold.

Speaking of imagery, the author did a very good job of providing description. For example, when in the presence of the tree of life, I could actually picture it in my mind. Reading a fantasy story without good description is like looking at the stars through a telescope with a dirty lens! The author keeps this lens pretty clean.

**Technically Speaking**

I typically comment on SPAG - spelling, punctuation and grammar. However, the version I read was not the final version, so any SPAG errors are generally moot. With that being said, any SPAG errors were still minimal. In the final version, these errors will likely be nonexistent.

The pacing was edge-of-your-seat good, and the character arcs were also good. Like I said, this is a very good story and fun to read.

If I were to have any complaint about this story, it would be the concept that the story could stand on its own. This is the second book of a series, and according to the publisher, it can stand on its own. In other words, the reader does not have to read the first book in the series to find this book enjoyable. I guess that's true - I did enjoy the story after all. BUT, I think I would have enjoyed it much, much more if I read the first book first.

In my case, I'll be reading the first book second, and then re-reading the second book third.

I know you have a birthday coming up over the next twelve months. Give yourself an awesome gift and read both of these stories!

(I received a free copy of this book from Lone Star Book Blog Tours in exchange for my honest review.)