Review: Shadows by Paula Weston

Blurb:
It’s almost a year since Gaby Winters was in the car crash that killed her twin brother, Jude. Her body has healed in the sunshine of Pandanus Beach, but her grief is raw and constant. It doesn’t help that every night in her dreams she kills demons and other hell-spawn.

And then Rafa comes to town. Not only does he look exactly like the guy who’s been appearing in Gaby’s dreams—he claims a history with her brother that makes no sense. Gaby is forced to accept that what she thought she knew about herself and her life is only a shadow of the truth—and that the truth is more likely to be found in the shadows of her nightmares.

Who is Rafa? Who are the Rephaim? And most importantly, who can she trust?

Fast-paced and gripping, Shadows, the first book in the Rephaim series, is a standout paranormal romance for fans of Richelle Mead and Cassandra Clare.

Genre: New Adult/ Paranormal>Angels
Series: The Rephaim #1
Rating: 4.5 ☆s

WARNING: THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK. 

Helpful terms you should know in understanding this review:

• Nephilim: the offspring between angels ("sons of God") and human women ("daughter of men"). 
• The Rephaim: an elite group of Nephilims under the leadership of Nathaniel that wishes to redeem themselves to God by hunting Semyaza and the 200 fallen.
• Sanctuary: the Rephaim's mother-ship/HQ at Italy
• Fallen: an angel who rebelled against God (in this case for lust) and was cast out of heaven.

Gaby is coping with the grief and guilt of losing her twin brother in a car crash. The only memories that she has of their time together  before the accident remains suspiciously fuzzy and unclear. Every night she dreams the same dream of her fighting hellion, a form of hell spawn, alongside with a gorgeous guy whom she dubbed Matt. Little did she know that her dream "Matt" is real and takes the form of a nephilim named Rafa, and all the memories of her life is fake.

Upon the arrival of Rafa, Gaby becomes a hot target for all other nephlims demanding to know why she isn't dead. The question of her survival brings about even more questions about Jude's whereabouts. The only thing that Gaby knows since her life's turn a 180 is that she is not who she thinks she is. Her real identity is "Gabe", a century old kickass Nephilim. She and Jude haven't spoken to each other for a decade since they had a fallout about what to do with the fallen and each had chose different sides. What Rafa and the others are trying to find out is what happened after the reunion between Jude and Gabe. They have supposedly disappeared together and died following some lead on where the Fallen had hidden.  

Now Gaby does not know who to trust. She has no memory of her real past. Her former crew hasn't been exactly welcoming to her, thinking that Gaby had betrayed them. Her best friend, Maggie, has been stolen as hostage in return for Gaby's presence. That threat coupled with being tricked by her former boyfriend, Daniel, pushes Gaby towards Rafa for guidance. One problem. She feels an attraction to Rafa, an old frenemy she despised in her other life as Gabe... 

I just summarized for you an understated and brief synopsis of the book.  I can't even begin to describe the whole politics between the fallen, the rephaim, and the demons. There are so so so much more finer details and plot twists that goes behind this book. What to know more? You are going to have to read the book yourself. 
I can't wait to read the sequel Haze, which is coming out in May!!!

FAVORITE QUOTES:
"You know how much cholesterol is in that?'Jason stares at the soaked cake.
Rafa slaps another layer on just to annoy him. 'So? Unless it makes my head fall off, it's not going to kill me."

"He just...appeared.'
Jason and I glance at each other.
'He's that good,'Ez says.
'But he just appeared.'
'Simon.'Ez lowers her voice.'It's night, He's wearing dark clothes, and he's a beautiful black man. It all works to his advantage."