BLACK WINGS: Black Wings Book One - Christina Henry

From the back of the book: As an Agent of Death, Madeline Black is responsible for escorting the souls of the dearly departed to the afterlife. It's a 24/7 job with a lousy benefits package.
Maddy's position may come with magical powers and an impressive wingspan, but it doesn't pay the bills. And then there are her infuriating boss, tenant woes, and a cranky, popcorn-loving gargoyle to contend with.
Things start looking up, though, when tall, dark, and handsome Gabriel Angeloscuro agrees to rent the empty apartment in Maddy's building. It's probably just a coincidence that as soon as he moves in demons appear on the front lawn. But when an unholy monster is unleashed upon the streets of Chicago, Maddy discovers powers she never knew she possessed. Powers linked to a family legacy of tarnished halos.
Powers that place her directly between the light of Heaven and the fires of Hell...

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BLACK WINGS has been on the WWBL since I read the first glowing review on Dark Faerie Tales (http://darkfaerietales.com/review-black-wings-christina-henry.html)

Then many more glowing reviews after that confirmed that I needed to highlight it as a soonest get. But I didn't get it until a few weeks ago at the now defunct Orchard Books (dadgum economy)

I made up for my slow pace of purchasing it by mowing through it pretty much as soon as it got home with me.

What I love about urban fantasy is the myriad of premises that are out there to explore and BLACK WINGS series has to be one of the coolest storyline and set of characters.

Madeline's career path took a swerve when she inherited her position as an escort for souls of the newly deceased to the Door, which apparently leads to the Afterlife.

One of the funny (to me) aspects of Maddy's life as an Agent of Death was that Death as an organization is as red-tapey as any other bureaucracy. There's paperwork to file, a Hall of Records to keep track of departed souls and their decision to either go through the Door or be stubborn for whatever reason and remain on Earth as a ghost. There are Agents and Supervisors with quotas to fill. See? Red-tapey like other bureaucracies.

Maddy's buddy, Beezle, is a gargoyle after my own heart. His two favorite foods are popcorn and chocolate. He's ornery, a wee bit grumpy, and cares for Maddy. I want a gargoyle like Beezle.

There are quite a few twists and turns and holey crappe moments throughout the story. Read this highly recommended book and find out for yourself. And I really can't wait to read the next in series, BLACK NIGHT. I feel a shopping trip coming on.....

Five sparkly Agent of Death diamonds.....