Double Shot of Paula Weston - Haze and Shimmer

May contain spoilers. Check out my review for Shadows
May contain spoilers for Shadows
Haze The Rephaim Book Two
Written by Paula WestonAngels, Romance, Urban Fantasy
Published May 22nd 2013
384 Pages
Purchased / Text Publishing
Add to Goodreads
★★★★★
Gaby Winters' nightmares have stopped but she still can't remember her old life. Still can't quite believe she is one of the Rephaim, the wingless half angels who can shift from place to place, country to country, in the blink of an eye. That she was once the Rephaim's best fighter. That demons exist. That Rafa has stayed. But most of all, she can't quite believe that her twin brother, Jude, might be alive.

And Gaby can't explain the hesitancy that sidetracks the search for him, infuriates Rafa, and sends them, again, into the darkest danger.
Gaby still can't remember her life prior to reuniting with brother Jude. Having spent the last few days coming to terms with being part of the Rephaim. But now along with Rafa, the two believe that Jude may be still alive, a long shot that both plan on exploring. Gaby now realises that someone had given her memories of her time before the accident, her life being based on lies of her time together with Jude. But Gaby's hesitation to search for her brother doesn't go unnoticed, and Rafa can't help but believe something is holding her back. That something is a someone, twelve year old Dani who has the insight to see into the Rephaim, predicting that it may not only be Zarael and his hellions that are seeking to spill angel blood. A cult of southern women who see the wingless race as nothing more than abominations, have found a way to imprison them within a iron room.

As Gaby is navigating her feelings for Rafa while working with the Outcasts, Rafa's life is in danger when he and Taya are captured, injured and barely clinging to life. But will help be too late to arrive?

Kelly's Thoughts

Haze picks up within moments of where Shadows ended, with Gaby clinging to the idea of Jude being alive. Her relationship with Rafa is complicated, the two dancing around unresolved feelings while Rafa shelters her from the secrets of her former life. The memories of Jude she had clung to are all a ruse, someone having implanted a life that was neither true or her own. She's torn between wanting to find her brother and hesitant that he isn't the same Jude her memories paint him as, even if he is alive. But that's the least of her worries when they discover an iron room that is able to trap the Rephaim, losing any advantage against Zarael's army they may have had. Where Shadows introduces the reader to the world of the Rephaim, Haze is explosive. The intensity between Gaby and Rafa, the anticipation of finding Jude, hoping to discover who implanted their memories and allowed both to grieve for the other, the simmering tensions between the Outcasts and Sanctuary and the mystery that surrounds Mya and what she is keeping from her fellow Outcasts.

The Rephaim series is not only engaging, but beautifully written with a touch of Australian thrown in. From the scent of the eucalyptus to the surf coast of Pandanus Beach, there is something mesmerising about an urban fantasy set in your own backyard. Even being supernatural beings, Paula Weston has created the Rephaim as relatable rather than images of perfection we tend to see in most angel themed young adult. Characters are scarred, both physically and emotionally and the lines between good and evil are blurred within their own society. It's also sex positive, which is seemingly rare within young adult. An agitated character has no qualms about swearing when angry, and Paula Weston should be applauded for infusing much needed realism into what is generally a very demure genre.

The Final Verdict

The Rephaim series is brilliant, swoon worthy, incredibly captivating and goes from strength to strength with each installment. Paula Weston has crafted the perfect urban fantasy slash paranormal romance series, and I'm completely and utterly smitten.


May contain spoilers for both Shadows and Haze
Shimmer The Rephaim Series Book Three
Written by Paula Weston
Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Romance
Published July 3rd 2014
393 Pages
Thank you to Text Publishing
Add to Goodreads
★★★★★
Gaby thought her life couldn’t get more complicated.

She’s almost used to the idea that she's not the teenage backpacker she thought she was. She can just about cope with being one of the Rephaim, a 139 year old half angel, whose memories have been stolen. She’s even coming to grips with the fact that Jude, the brother she’s mourned for a year, didn’t die at all.

But now Rafa, sexy, infuriating Rafa, is being held, and hurt, by Gatekeeper demons. And Gaby has to get the bitterly divided Rephaim to work together, or Rafa has no chance at all.

It’s a race against time, and history. And it may already be too late.
It's been eleven days since Gaby's world was blown apart. She may have twin brother Jude back, but Rafa and Taya have been captured and are at the mercy of Zarael within the iron room, used as bait to capture the twins. Her only chance to save him is to enlist the aid of The Sanctuary and Nathanial, the fallen angel waiting for a sign in order for him to send his Rephaim into battle. Time is ticking away and every moment of indecision, is putting both Rafa and Taya's lives at the mercy of Zarael. Their only connection to the pair comes in the form of twelve year old seer Dani, her insight integral to infiltrating the farm. But with the Outcast and Sanctuary Rephaim all under the one roof once more, tensions are high while the combined forces wait for the Council to come to a decision. A wait that has Gaby highly strung and ready to fight.

But just as the war against Zarael is starting to gather momentum, the two Rephaim sides will come together to fight a common enemy and this time it's personal. The fight is being brought into the human world and Pandanus Beach is set to become a warzone.

Kelly's Thoughts

Shimmer continues only moments where Haze ended, with Rafa and Taya being imprisoned and Gaby desperate to save them both. Where previous book in the series were fast paced and energetic, Shimmer seems to delve more into it's characters of both the Sanctuary, Outcasts and the hierarchy of Angelic lore. It's the first time the Outcasts have returned to the Sanctuary since the group walked out over ten years ago, leaving their fellow Rephaim and Gaby behind. We finally learn why Jude walked away from his sister and Gaby's history with Rafa, which will no doubt provide readers with much needed answers of why the two always seem to navigate towards one another.

But for all their ideals, the Sanctuary isn't the safe haven it claims to be with forces working against the group to drive a wedge between the factions. The twist is deliciously surprising and allows for the loose ends from previous installments to come together before what is forming to be battle between Heaven and Hell on Earth. I love how Shimmer explored character relationships and the difference between Gaby now and her former ego in Gabe, the abrasive and often reckless fighter. Gaby is barely holding it together, only now coming to terms with how she feels about Rafa while she may be on the verge of losing him. Her fragility was so lovely and really endeared me to her character even more so, especially when it's revealed why she chose not to follow Jude when he walked away.

Nathanial was painted as the villain, not wanting to commit to the fight to retrieve Rafa and Taya. His indecisiveness brought together the Sanctuary and Outcasts, all now fighting for a common goal. But the secrets within the walls of the Sanctuary were not only surprising, but added further intensity to a storyline already on the verge of detonating.

The Final Verdict

The Rephaim is by far the most engaging, enthralling and intense urban fantasy series in young adult today. Paula Weston is phenomenal and one of the authors setting the new standard in not only Australian young adult fiction, but young adult worldwide.

20 comments

  1. I do want to read more urban fantasy, and you don't always find that genre within YA. Thanks for sharing - glad you loved these books.

    -Lauren

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    1. Me too Lauren. I love urban fantasy and this series really is among the best I've read so far. I really hope you enjoy it too.

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  2. Double 5 star rating! Awesome. I'm so happy you ended up loving this series, Kelly. I'm still trying to summon enough courage to read Shimmer, as I've been told it ends in a major cliffie. These books has just been so intense, and I love how Paula managed to separate herself amongst the many angel books out there. Fantastic work, these books!

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    1. Go on Joy, take the plunge. Even though it does keep you on the edge of your seat, Burn has already been released, in Australia at least, so the rest of the world doesn't have too long to wait. I absolutely loved the series as well, I knew I would but they far exceeded my expectations.

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  3. Okay, I'm heading over to Goodreads to add this series to my TBR. You've won me over! Two 5 star ratings!? I truly feel as though I'm missing out on something epic. Perhaps this could be the series that pulls me out of this awful reading slump

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    1. Just wait until the finale Claudia, another epic book in the series. I've loved it, passionately and urging everyone to buy the series and enjoy it. It's incredible! I hope so Claudia, this is just the series to do it.

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  4. I'm so glad you're enjoying these books, Kelly! I haven't read past Haze yet, but I'm excited to pick up Shimmer. I love everything you had to say about these books. They are definitely realistic characters and are probably one of the best YA UF books out there. I feel like we need more of in the genre and more people need to read these books.
    Wonderful reviews!

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    1. I completely agree Nick. The series has really rejuvenated my love for urban fantasy. It's been so long since I've binged read a series, but I simply couldn't put these down. And the great thing with the series too, is that you can read each book a year apart because it recaps the events of previous books in the series.

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  5. I need to get back into angelica PNR. I haven't heard of these, but I am so curious!

    Sarah @ One Curvy Blogger

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    1. I can't think of a better and more incredibly series to bring you back to the genre Sarah, I'd love to see what you think of them.

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  6. I am DETERMINED to read these. I was bitter about angel books for a few years after some awful experiences, but these are getting me excited again.

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    1. Me too Christy, like any genre though, there are so many horrid ones out there. I'm so happy to report that this series is awesome. Definitely grab a copy of Shadows and give it a try, you won't be disappointed.

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  7. YO, you have me so excited for this series, like seriously lol. They completely flew under my radar, and since I'm on track with my arcs, I'll be starting sooner than I thought. When you told me there's ' delicious sexual tension ' my ears perked up as if I were a dog, because HELLO you know I'm always down for the sexual heat up in my books girl lol. * wink, wink * I'll definitely be blowing up your DM's when I start to share my reactions with you!

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    1. The sexual tension between Rafa and Gaby is amazing! Among the best I've read Tika. I can't wait to see what you think of it, I'm so excited for you to read them!

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  8. I adore books about angels, demons, hunts etc. Something about the paranormal aspect...? None the less, I really liked The Infernal Devices in that aspect. XD BUT THIS SOUNDS AWESOME OMG. Because a) urban fantasy b) the characters sound great! Lovely review, Kelly <3

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    1. Sadly, I didn't really enjoy that series, I felt it was too similar to The Mortal Instruments. The Mortal Instruments I really enjoyed though. The characters of the Rephaim series are incredible, I think you'd really fall in love with this series Nirvana.

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  9. Ughhh, you guys are gettig all the great books! One day, we're going to have a dystopian/Urban Fantasy/insert speculative genre here set in the Philippines ;) Seriously speaking though, this series sounds great overall. I know for certain that Melanie loved it to bits! And I just read Jasprit's review for one of its book today and how much every aspect of it wowed her, and reading your reviews here just solifidied it. Now I just wish this was available in our bookstore! I would love a physical copy especially with covers like that :D

    Faye at The Social Potato

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    1. Melanie is such an advocate for the series, she definitely convinced me to read it and I'm so glad I did Faye. I loved it. It went from strength to strength with each book, which is pretty rare when it comes to urban fantasy too. Bookstores should be able to get it in for you. I really hope you can pick up a copy, even the eBook edition on Amazon. It's incredible!

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  10. Eek, I had to skim since I haven't read the first book yet. D: But all you Aussie bloggers have been adoring this series, and I am *this* close to stopping my life to read these books!

    "Paula Weston is phenomenal and one of the authors setting the new standard in not only Australian young adult fiction, but young adult worldwide." <-- I AM SOLD.

    Aimee @ Deadly Darlings

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    1. Stop everything Aimee and pick yourself up a copy. This series is beyond fabulous! The banter, the tension and so wonderfully written. I expect a book report on how much you adored it by next week.

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