Infatuate

Gr 9 Up—Six months have passed since Haven, Dante, and Lance learned of their angels-in-training status and saved their high school prom from going to Hell-literally. Now the trio goes to New Orleans where they meet up with other teen angels to take part in the next round of training. Mystery and mayhem abound as shape-shifters from the infernal regions, known collectively as the Krewe, are bent on harvesting the angels' powerful souls, and it is up to the angels and their scarcely tried skills to stop their enemies. Agresti pumps adrenaline into nearly every scene so that with a frantic swim in an alligator-infested swamp, shady goings-on in New Orleans alleys, and run-ins with the Prince of Darkness himself, the drama hardly flags. The characters are just as compelling as the action. Haven is a believable heroine. Her ability to know the state of someone's soul by looking at his or her photo becomes stronger. Still, she is filled with normal teenage insecurities. Handsome but devious Lucian seems repentant and wants Haven's help, but can he be trusted? Then, Haven loves Lance, but is he falling for Sabine? The story is steeped in New Orleans culture and lore, from the teens eating at Antoine's to Lucian's portal being in the infamously haunted LaLaurie Mansion. The pulse-pounding, decisive battle takes place amid the gilded chaos of Mardi Gras. A major cliff-hanger ending will have readers anticipating the third volume.—Jennifer Prince, Buncombe County Public Libraries, NC