Sweet Evil (Sweet Evil, 1) Paperback – May 1, 2012

Where to begin on this review, I do not really know. This novel made me feel so many things and was very thought provoking as a human and as a mother. It was a very well written novel with a wonderful story. The subject matter was very dark and questioned human nature to its core. Is there evil and good in all of us? Is there only evil or only good? Is there a way to fight against that evil or ignore the good for that instant gratification that evil sometime provides. Though the subject matter was dark, the theme was one of hope. Like Dumbledore says in the movie version of Sorceror's Stone, "Happiness can be found even in the darkest of time, when only one remembers to turn on the light." That's true here too. These characters are being faced with pure evil and are constantly bombarded with the 7 deadly sins personified. However, hope arrives in the form of a sweet, southern girl by the name of Anna. She teaches the children of the Dukes of sin, that you always have a choice no matter what even if you come from the darkest of darks.I fell in love with all of the characters in this novel especially Anna and Kaidan. Anna is a praise-worthy heroine, who fights for those she loves no matter the cost. I loved watching how she dealt with the war battling out inside of her between her angel and fallen heritages. When she meets Kaidan, the whole story takes a on a new light. Kaidan is the King Of Bad Boys! Seriously guys, you know how we like our broken bad boys, but let me tell you, they don't get any more bad or broken than Kaidan. However, there is a sweet, sadness inside of him that makes him so appealing! I could see the battle ragging inside of him slowly tearing him apart. He is oh so redeemable and all of you will fall fast and hard for him!I can't wait to see where Wendy takes us in the coming novels. There are so many great themes and Sweet Evil was so amazing that I am overflowing with aniticipation for the next installment! I loved, loved, loved this book. It's a beautiful love story that will leave you proud, inspired, hopeful yet heartbroken at the same time. It's a definite must read for me! However, I do need to say, if you like all of us on the YA-Sisterhood are not teenagers and enjoy YA novels, then I would definitely say pick this book up! But, if you are a parent looking for books for your teen to read, then I would suggest you read this first and decide at what age you think this book is appropriate. The "content" doesn't push the boundaries, but some of the "subject matter" is mature dealing with the repercussions of the 7 deadly sins and knowingly leading other teens into these sins. I just want to put a caution out there on that front. It does make for some great discussions no matter what your age though! I loved it all!

*Three and a Half out of Five Stars*I stored Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins away on my "to-read" list in May 2012. I didn't end up reading past its first page until October 2013. There was no particular reason for this wait. It was just that book that kept slipping down my list, losing its place to long-awaited sequels, school assignments, and whim reads of the moment.But I wasn't feeling well the other day, and, (once I'd thoroughly secured my place as most boring college student on the planet by getting into bed at 9:30 on a Friday night), I finally decided to download it to my Kindle.I didn't turn off my reading light until 3:00 AM.Sweet Evil follows good-girl Anna Whitt through the ups and downs of high school, romance, friendship - and the discovery that she's the product of an angel-demon relationship.The mythology of Sweet Evil was what first attracted me to it, and it didn't disappoint. Higgins creates a world in which demons live among us in secret, cajoling humans into lapses of sin and misery, and their own Nephilim children into carrying on the family business. Although definitely not a heavy read by any means, Sweet Evil definitely has a bit of cultural relevance. The paranormal plotline didn't live in its own vortex, separated from everyday life.The characters worked in the novel's favor for the most part, as well. It was easy to see Anna (the sheltered, human-raised daughter of Substance Abuse) and Kaidan's (the son of Lust) respective backgrounds in their personalities. Kaiden especially, although I initially worried he'd fall into the familiar mold of dark, handsome, cocky paranormal love interest, pulled at my heart. Mostly for empathy-related reasons. Partly because he, well, completely lives up to his heritage. As Anna thought upon meeting him, he's "HOTT" - too hot for merely one "t." (That goes for the content of the book as well, by the way. Definitely a more mature young adult novel.)There were moments when Anna seemed a bit inconsistent to me, but, for the most part, I thought she made a likable protagonist. Perhaps not always the most believable - her wavering between temperance and self-indulgence grew a bit inconsistent at times -- but sympathetic. She flickered from resolving to save her virginity for a committed relationship to attempting to sleep with Kaidan (who has no choice but to be about as uncommitted as a guy can get). From resisting alcohol into giving into her dad's demands that she learn more about it. Sure, there were reasons for both those cases. They just, like several other plot points, seemed sort of contrived.Now for the minor characters. No complaints over Kai and Anna's friends - they were all fairly fleshed out. Patti, Anna's adopted mother, irked me a bit more, as did Anna's biological father Belial (AKA the demon in charge of Substance Abuse). It felt at points like Higgins was simply using them to carry the plot into a particular direction, rather than paying attention to character development.Like when overprotective Patti agrees to send her daughter on a cross-country road trip with a Nephilim boy she's met exactly once. Another justified, but contrived plot point.Nevertheless, the only real problem I have with Sweet Evil has more to do with organization than anything. The road trip between Kai and Anna -- as forced as its beginning felt - actually worked fairly well for the first half of the novel. The twinges of insta-love lingering around their first meetings bugged me, but the road trip solidified a believable bond between them. Then the second half of the novel came. They returned home; Kaidan to the "work" his father forces on him (he gave me so many more Finnick Odair feels than I ever thought possible), Anna to her adoptive mother. Then to learning more about her own responsibilities as a member of the Nephilim. This, too, in itself, worked in terms of plot and even character development. It just felt like it came from a different book. The first and second halves of Sweet Evil seemed very much divided from one another. I almost wish that Higgins could have found a way to expand on each and actually turn each half into its own novel - but, at the same time, that would likely have added a good deal of unnecessary bulk.The latter half of Sweet Evil might not have seemed as separate from the first to me if Higgins hadn't chosen to introduce a love triangle. The needless staple of the young adult romance genre. Still, it wasn't the triangle itself that I disliked. It actually made sense that Kopano would feel a pull towards Anna, and she to him. And they had much more in common, if not nearly as much chemistry, than she's had so far with Kaidan. Yet, as realistic and understated as it was, the love triangle was still jarring. Jarring and unnecessary. Maybe the next book will show its purpose, but, at the moment, I wish that Higgins had chosen to focus on developing friendship between Kope and Anna, rather than possible romance.Tropes and occasional forcedness aside, Sweet Evil was a fingers-glued-to-the-book, swoon-worthy read. I doubt I'll reread it any time soon, but I'll definitely get my hands on the sequel at some point. And, hopefully, it will take me far less than a year this time.

Bought it for my niece birthday and she loves it. She’s a loves reading

Perfect, gripping YA fantasy story. I never wanted to keep the book down. I recommend for the age group of above 15 years. Book available in good condition. Easy to read 😃

Strano ma coinvolgente! La trama è molto diversa dal solito ma ammetto che mi è piaciuta. Mi è piaciuto anche il protagonista maschile al contrario di quella femminile che ho trovato super piatta e noiosa

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve read this series but I fall in love with it every time. And I can’t believe it’s never been made into a movie or TV show.Sweet Evil has everything I love about YA; forbidden romance, first love, great friendships, laughter and banter between friends, Angels & Fallen Angels/Demons, Nephilim and a high stakes journey for Good vs Evil.I loved Wendy’s fresh take on Fallen Angels and their Nephilim children and incorporating the 7 Deadly Sins in with them. The whole badge concept and the fact that a Nephilim’s whole existence is to be bad influences on human souls! I never once felt bored learning about their lives and history, it was such an interesting and exciting history. I was glued to the pages.The romance in this book is one of my all time favourites. I just get so invested in their story every time. The fact that their relationship is forbidden and can have deadly consequences if they get caught, just makes me love their time together even more. Those stolen moments are just that more sweet. I think Anna and Kai are the perfect balance, her sweet, kind hearted nature evens out his very bad boy ways.There’s nothing I don’t love about this amazing series. I will forever reread The Sweet series over and over again and never not feel like I’m experiencing it all for the first time. Whenever I’m in the mood for a good YA romance that can make swoon and have a pretty much constant smile on my face, this is the book I go for always.

SWET EVIL is so forbiddingly well written that I can't imagine anyone ever setting this book aside for more than a few minutes after starting it. Well, I needed to for bathroom and kitchen breaks, but believe me, I would have read straight on from beginning to end if that was possible.Anna is one heroine I could almost 100 % identify with. A very rare occurance. She's the good girl, shy and very emotional about everything.That Anna is one of a kind adds thrill and curiosity to the story. She is angel and demon all at once. Having an angelic mother and a demonic father. Everything's new to her and she has yet to find her destiny and place in life. How evil does she have to be to survive the Dukes constant supervision and how much evil might kill the goodness that makes her the person she is?Kaidan, our male protagonist, is pure dynamite. Erasing every other book boy from my dreams. Well, as the son of Pharzuph he knows how it's done. Ladies, get ready to be expertly seduced! Kaidan Rowe is attractive, sexy and even if he would never admit it, he has a heart and is very capable of using his brain and not only..yeah, you know.The contrast between Anna and Kaidan is enormous at first look. He is the bad boy, having to have as much sex as possible to please his demonic father of lust. Anna is the angelic good girl. You'll see them being together is an explosive combination. Anna will be tested and also Kaidan has to face who he really is.I like how much Wendy Higgins extracts from her characters and gifts to us readers. Her characters are made of awesome!There was one teeny tiny thing that bugged me though. Wendy Higgings incorporated a few German sentences, which I really appreciate. More foreign languages in YA English books, please! But somehow the phrase got mixed up and wasn't translated correctly. I guess it just slipped through the edits.What would SWEET EVIL be wihout the big evil? Wendy Higgins spins a story of sins and acts of kindness. Goodness battleling evil. So there's no way round meeting the various Dukes of sin and all the bad in the world. Quite entertaining I say. Expect to read a lot about inappropriate behaviour, much cussing, cheating, sleeping around etc.There's a list of the Dukes and their offspring at the end of the book, so don't worry if you can't remember all the names and attributes after their first mention.Up until a few days ago Wendy Higgins hadn't been sure if there would be another book in the SWEET EVIL series. The news: Harper signed her for a trilogy. So there will be two more books after SWEET EVIL!! I can hardly contain my excitement.THE VERDICTSWEET EVIL – A seductively delicious treat!This book was so much more than I'd hoped it would be. Kaidan and Anna's connection is sizzling hot. The entire cast is so brazenly charismatic and wonderful. The challenge to ever get that book out of my mind is on! It's a real joy for sinners and a dare for saints! SWEET EVIL makes you want to be both!