This book was remarkably good. I didn't quite understand the ending, but that may be because I read it so quickly and couldn't put it down. The overall idea of this book and the premise around it was so well thought out. A lot of times when you read a book it is a lot like another book but just different font. This was completely different. It would make a great television series. If a different readers story got told each episode so we learned about their lives before they got where they were...I am still desperate to know more about Eons.

I really liked how this book made you think and challenged what you think you know about life after death. It made you reflect on the whole subject of prayers and what happens next and why some seem to be answered while others go unanswered.

Unbelievably beautiful gut punch of a story. The deep meaning came through despite the simplistic middle grade writing

I have very mixed feelings about this book. It's a debut novel, so I do want to make allowances for the author.

Ipsa is an angel in the Prayer Reading Department. She doesn't particularly like her job, until one day she comes across a prayer that grabs her attention in a mysterious way. Trying to find out more about the human (or 'hopeling') behind the prayer leads Ipsa down a path of massive secrets about her world and about herself.

The concept of the story really appealed to me, and the setting was fresh and imaginative. Ipsa's world is simply called 'Here', and while we might think of it as 'Heaven', there's no deity in the book and no talk of religion, which is a positive for me. Despite the setting, this is not Christian fiction. The mysteries in the story, both about the world and about Ipsa, were interesting and compelling at points. Something I really appreciated is that the motivations of the characters, which were often unclear at first, usually got a satisfying explanation that made it all make sense. On top of that, some of the scenes were deeply emotional and impactful.

That said, unfortunately I also have to note some negatives. The setting, while imaginative, never really solidified for me. I could never picture it clearly, and the first 30% of the book was incredibly confusing, with too many names of departments and corresponding color-coding. The author tries to make sense of the confusion by repeating the information over and over, but I have to admit, if this hadn't been an ARC, I would've abandoned the book after the first 30%. Thankfully, things get clearer and more interesting after that.

Repetition of information, however, remains a problem throughout the book. The structure of the story goes something like this: Ipsa investigates and uncovers some information. She talks to person A about the information. Then she talks to person B about the information. Then she's reprimanded by person C about the information. Repeat. While some of the reveals are genuinely well-done and compelling, the cyclical nature of the conversations made the book feel rather repetitive and static. Very little actually happens -- most of the book is made up of angels talking to each other.

As for characters: I felt that Ipsa was quite a good protagonist. She's flawed but still likeable, and I enjoyed her character arc throughout the book. Most of the other characters, however, feel rather flat, and Ipsa's relationships with them also feel underexplored (with one or two exceptions).

On the whole, the book is a mixed bag. Repetition and tedium are interspersed with moments of genuine emotion and surprise. Some things are left unexplained, while for others we receive a very satisfying explanation. The theme of school shootings is handled in a sensitive way, but not very in-depth. Would tentatively recommend this for mature middle graders who like mystery and can handle difficult themes.

Thank you to Netgalley and Acorn Publishing for the e-ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I have once again been cover-baited.

This was a weird one. I was drawn to the premise but this was nothing like I expected. Ipsa is an angel tasked with reading (but not answering) prayers. She finds this task incredibly dull and tedious, which is exactly how I felt about this book.

Ipsa is strangely apathetic to humans (or hopelings, as they’re called here) until she stumbles upon a prayer she’s not supposed to read. It’s from a fourteen-year-old hopeling boy named Colin living in the aftermath of a school shooting. Ipsa doesn’t know why she’s so drawn to Colin, but she decides she must find a way to help him.

Sadly, an interesting concept and a gorgeous cover didn’t make up for the utter confusion I felt while reading this. I just couldn’t make sense of all the different job departments and corporate terms or the way Heaven is basically just a giant company. I can’t see a kid getting very far with this, either.