Angelfall

In Ee's gritty debut, which stars a heroine with backbone, angels of the apocalypse seek revenge against humans for killing the Archangel Gabriel, and street gangs have taken over Silicon Valley. Seventeen-year-old Penryn lives with (and cares for) her wheelchair-bound sister, Paige, and their paranoid schizophrenic mother. While attempting to escape their apartment to find safety, Paige is kidnapped by an angel. At the moment of the abduction, Penryn meets Raffe, an angel whose wings have been cut off by the angels who take Paige. Hoping Raffe might know where Paige is, Penryn reluctantly nurses him back to health, and the two join forces, traveling to the angels' "aerie" in San Francisco to recover Paige and repair Raffe's wings; along the way, they are captured by a dangerously anarchic army of the human resistance. Smartly conceived details (for example, there's a bounty on angel body parts, turning them into a commodity) feel fresh in this apocalyptic romance that's sustained by well-developed characters, atmosphere, and strong writing. Ee leaves plenty to discover in a planned sequel. Ages 14%E2%80%93up. (Aug.)