On a Dark Wing by Jordan Dane

On a Dark Wing by Jordan Dane

Release Date: December 27, 2011
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Rated: YA 13+
Format: eGalley
Source: NetGalley
Buy: Amazon ❘ The Book Depository
Goodreads ● Website

The choices I had made led to the moment when fate took over. I would learn a lesson I wasn't prepared for. And Death would be my willing teacher.

Five years ago, Abbey Chandler cheated Death. She survived a horrific car accident, but her "lucky" break came at the expense of her mother's life and changed everything. After she crossed paths with Death—, by taking the hand of an ethereal boy made of clouds and sky—, she would never be normal again.

Now she's the target of Death's ravens and an innocent boy's life is on the line. When Nate Holden—, Abbey's secret crush, —starts to climb Alaska's Denali, the Angel of Death stalks him because of her.

And Abbey finds out the hard way that Death never forgets.

On a Dark Wing seemed promising, when I first read it's blurb, and it's premise is quite original. It's not often you see Death as a character in books! Well, at least in what I've read. But I have to say, I was slightly disappointed when I read this book. The story was amazing, the plot went along sinisterly, which I totally loved, but it was the characters which potentially ruined the story for me.

I don't know what to say about the main character Abbey. She's got quite a split personality. I really hate the way she treats her dad, like ignores him, even though he feels the pain as well of the mom's death. She pretty much thinks about herself most of the time, and of course her obsession with Nate Holden. Now, I've had quite many a crush over time, but I have never been as fixated on a guy like Abbey. This was kinda creepy, and thought it was a bit exaggerated. She constantly thinks about him, and in the book, that's pretty much most of the time. I don't think there was a time during the novel when Abbey didn't think about Nate.
Tanner was a much better character, a loyal friend to Abbey, and of course, he's absolutely smitten with her. I thought that it was kind of weird (and obvious), that he kept on doing stuff for her. She clearly doesn't think about him as much, and even though it's not on the same level as her crush on Nate, he does keep on repeating what's he's doing in the book is for Abbey. Wow.

Nate on the other hand, was a pretty good character. I liked his struggle, his emotions were real and he had a great personality. As the book was split into two perspectives, I preferred his more over Abbey's.
But by far, I think the best character in this book has to be Death. I love how Death is portrayed, how the birds are symbolic, and that whole "meeting Death" experience when Abbey describes the car crash. He's quite creepy, but you can't help but feel sorry for him. You'll see why if you read the book.

The pace of the story I'm pretty sure was intentional, because it was pretty slow, and the reader knows what's going on with the characters. It's quite thrilling though, because you kinda feel like shouting at the characters that _______ is happening, but obviously they don't see it. Which can be frustrating of course, but I liked how the story unfolded.
The conclusion was when the main action starts. The fast-paced-ness of the book is at this part. I liked how it tied up, there were no real loose ends. I'm pretty sure that this is a stand-alone novel, and that fits perfectly, because I don't know how else the story could continue.

Overall, On a Dark Wing was kind of a hit-or-miss book, and although I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would because of the characters, others will with this dark, "deadly" (I couldn't resist), and unique novel.

If you like this, try...

• Abandon by Meg Cabot ◆ Goodreads
• Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick ◆ Goodreads