Line #91 Literature/TheFallen


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2
3	A series of young adult fantasy novels written by Thomas E. Sniegoski, ''The Fallen'' tells the story of Aaron Corbet, an OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent who, on his [[DangerousSixteenthBirthday eighteenth birthday]], begins developing strange abilities. He soon learns that he is a {{Nephilim}}, the [[HalfHumanHybrid offspring of an angel and a human woman]]. As it turns out, Aaron isn't just any ordinary Nephilim; according to an ancient prophecy, he is the [[TheChosenOne Redeemer]], the only Nephilim with the power to absolve the sins of {{Fallen Angel}}s and send them back to {{Heaven}}.
4
5	When [[BigBad Verchiel]], the leader of a band of warrior angels known as the Powers, kills his foster parents and kidnaps his autistic younger foster brother Stevie, Aaron is forced to leave his hometown with Camael, former leader of the Powers who believes in the prophecy of the Redeemer and becomes Aaron's [[{{Mentors}} Mentor]], and his pet dog Gabriel who, after Aaron uses his powers to heal him, can talk.
6
7	The series consists of seven books:
8
9	* ''The Fallen'' (released 2003)
10	* ''Leviathan'' (released 2003)
11	* ''Aerie'' (released 2003)
12	* ''Reckoning'' (released 2004)
13	* ''End of Days'' (released 2011)
14	* ''Forsaken'' (released 2012)
15	* ''Armageddon'' (released 2013)
16
17	In 2006, ''The Fallen'' was adapted into a miniseries that aired on ABC Family.
18	----
19	!!General tropes:
20
21	%%* AnyoneCanDie
22	* AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence: Any angel that Aaron redeems is returned to {{Heaven}}.
23	%%* BlessedWithSuck
24	%%* TheCallKnowsWhereYouLive
25	* TheChosenOne: Aaron is the Redeemer, a {{Nephilim}} foretold to be able to forgive {{Fallen Angel}}s of their sins and return them to {{Heaven}}.
26	* DangerousSixteenthBirthday: Once Aaron turns 18, his life starts to change drastically.
27	%%* DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu
28	%%* DisappearedDad: [[spoiler:Lucifer]] is this to Aaron.
29	* DistressedDamsel: Vilma, before she [[TookALevelInBadass takes a level in Badass]].
30	* FlamingSword: Not just limited to swords, either. Angelic weapons, [[spoiler:barring that of Wormwood]], take the form of that weapon out of fire. The user visualizes the weapon, and it becomes manifest in whatever form is best suited to that user's needs. However, each angel or Nephilim has their own weapons. Other weapons include [[BatterUp baseball bats]], axes, [[TheStraightAndArrowPath bows and arrows]], and guns.
31	* HalfHumanHybrids: {{Nephilim}} are the offspring of angels and human women.
32	%%* IJustWantToBeNormal
33	* JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope:
34	** Verchiel. [[spoiler:He realizes this in ''End of Days'' and seeks to help the Nephilim, but he's not happy about it.]]
35	** Geburah, who takes command over the Powers after Verchiel [[spoiler:joins the good guys]], is even worse, deliberately helping demons during the End of Days.
36	* KnightTemplar: The Powers as a whole.
37	%%* LightIsNotGood:
38	%%** The Powers, as led by Verchiel in the first four books, and later Geburah in ''End of Days''.
39	%%** [[spoiler:The Architects]] in the last two books.
40	%%* MessianicArchetype: Aaron
41	* OurAngelsAreDifferent: For instance, the Powers are flat-out {{Knight Templar}}s, and they appear to be [[OneGenderRace all male]] (at least in the books).
42	%%* PowerIncontinence
43	%%* RefusalOfTheCall
44	%%* WarriorPoet: Camael
45	%%* WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway
46
47	!!The book series contains examples of:
48
49	%%* ActionDad: [[spoiler:Lucifer]], once he's rescued from Verchiel's clutches by Aaron.
50	%%* ActionMom: [[spoiler:Taylor Corbet, Aaron's [[MissingMom long-lost birth mother]]]], in ''Armageddon''.
51	* AdaptationalHeroism:
52	** Belphegor, a known demon in Christian demonology, is a {{fallen angel}} who helps Aaron.
53	%%** Also [[spoiler:Lucifer]].
54	* AdventuresInComaLand: [[spoiler:In ''Armageddon'', after suffering a crippling injury at the hands of {{Satan}} at the end of ''Forsaken'', Aaron is left in a comatose state while his biological mother Taylor and the Unforgiven work to save his life. He finds himself in a dream world where he and Vilma are married with a son, and he has a regular job. Visions of his dead foster parents lead him away from the illusion and he's then forced to fight his way back to consciousness.]]
55	* ApocalypseHow: From ''End of Days'' to ''Armageddon'', this becomes increasingly evident, all stemming from [[spoiler:[[UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom Verchiel's release of {{Hell}} from Lucifer's body]]]].
56	* ArchangelGabriel: He shows up in ''Leviathan'' after having been held captive by the titular LotusEaterMachine [[KrakenAndLeviathan monster]]. He also gives a clue as to who Aaron's biological father is.
57	* TheAtoner: Camael, Lehash (for aiding Lucifer in his past rebellion against {{God}}), and [[spoiler:[[SatanIsGood Lucifer himself]] (see {{Satan}} and SatanIsGood further down the list for details)]].
58	* BabiesEverAfter: [[spoiler:The series ends with a married Aaron and Vilma expecting twins.]]
59	* BackForTheFinale: [[spoiler:The Stanleys (in Aaron's [[AdventuresInComaLand dreamscape]]), Lehash, and Camael in ''Armageddon''.]]
60	* BackFromTheDead: [[spoiler:The five Nephilim who were killed between the end of ''Reckoning'' and ''End of Days'', thanks to {{Satan}}.]]
61	* BadassArmy:
62	** Aaron leads one of these in ''End of Days''.
63	** Also the Unforgiven.
64	* BadassNormal: [[spoiler:[[MissingMom Taylor Corbet]] in the final book. During the titular battle, she takes one of the Unforgiven's metal wings and throws it at the Overseer, impaling him]].
65	* BigBad: Verchiel serves as the main antagonist for books 1-4 (or, for those who take the re-releases, until ''Reckoning''). [[spoiler:He gets replaced by {{Satan}} for the final few books]].
66	* BigRedDevil: {{Invoked\|Trope}}. [[spoiler:In ''End of Days'', Satan reveals that his first preferred form to take in order to conquer Earth once more is one he fashioned after humanity's interpretations of the Devil. He takes it up briefly to duel against Lucifer before [[DemonicPossession possessing him]] instead.]]
67	%%* BlackEyesOfEvil: Verchiel
68	* BrainwashedAndCrazy: [[spoiler:Poor Stevie, whom Verchiel turns into Malak, a hunter of Nephilim and fallen angels]].
69	* CoolOldGuy: Camael and Belphegor.
70	* ComicBookFantasyCasting: Sniegoski's description of Camael in the first book clearly evokes Creator/SeanConnery.
71	* {{Cowboy}}: Lehash in ''Aerie'' and ''Reckoning''.
72	* CruelMercy: [[spoiler:In ''Reckoning'', Aaron redeems Verchiel, resulting in him being taken up to {{Heaven}} to face {{God}}.]]
73	* DarkIsNotEvil: Aaron's wings are described as black in the books, but he's TheHero.
74	* DecoyProtagonist: The first book opens with Eric Powell, a Nephilim being hunted by Verchiel and the Powers.
75	* DemonicPossession: Strangely enough, [[spoiler:{{Satan}} pulls this on Lucifer in ''End of Days'']].
76	%%* EarnYourHappyEnding
77	* EldritchAbomination:
78	** The [[LotusEaterMachine titular creature]] in ''Leviathan''.
79	** More of these types of monsters, including [[spoiler:{{Satan}} himself]], show up in ''End of Days''.
80	** Also applies to [[spoiler:the Architects and their leader, the Overseer,]] in the last two books.
81	* TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt: [[spoiler:''End of Days'' details the start of this, including Wormwood the Abomination of Desolation severing Earth from Heaven's influence but not managing to destroy the world itself.]]
82	* FightingFromTheInside: [[spoiler:Lucifer in ''Armageddon'' while Satan is possessing his body. He succeeds.]]
83	* AFormYouAreComfortableWith: [[spoiler:{{God}} speaks to Aaron in the form of Gabriel (no, not [[ArchangelGabriel that Gabriel]]) in the final book]].
84	* GiantSpider: Cameron, one of the Nephilim whom Aaron leads after the events of ''Reckoning'', faces one and its brood in ''Forsaken''.
85	%%* AGodAmI: [[spoiler:The Overseer in the last two books.]]
86	* {{God}}: [[spoiler:The Big Guy Himself shows up in the final book, first by [[AFormYouAreComfortableWith speaking to Aaron in the form of his pet dog Gabriel]] in a dream/vision, and moments later, through the Metatron.]]
87	* GooGooGodlike: [[spoiler:The baby born at the start of one of the final books turns out to be Enoch aka the Metatron.]]
88	* GoodWingsEvilWings: PlayedWith.
89	** {{Subverted\|Trope}} with Aaron and his birth father [[spoiler:Lucifer]], who both have black wings, but are decidedly good. On the other hand, the Powers tend to have white wings, and are decidedly...[[KnightTemplar not]].
90	** PlayedStraight as well. [[spoiler:Satan's forms tend to have truly demonic wings, befitting his evil nature. Then again, it's also an InvokedTrope to instill TheDreaded in others.]]
91	%%* GunsAkimbo: Lehash's .
92	* TheGunslinger: Lehash, Aerie's chief of security.
93	* HeelFaceTurn: [[spoiler:Verchiel joins the Nephilim after being returned to Earth by God, but he's [[ReformedButNotTamed not happy about it]].]]
94	* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler:In the final book, Lucifer uses the force of Hell within him to draw all the monsters to him and bring them down to the physical Hell with him.]]
95	%%* HolierThanThou: Verchiel
96	%%* HonorBeforeReason
97	%%* IKnowYoureInThereSomewhereFight
98	* {{Jerkass}}: Yeah, Verchiel is quite a prick to the other characters, especially the Nephilim. [[spoiler:He gets marginally better after being sent back down to Earth by God in ''End of Days'', but not by much.]]
99	* KrakenAndLeviathan: The latter of this trope shows up in ''Leviathan''.
100	* LotusEaterMachine: The titular monster in ''Leviathan''.
101	* LoveRedeems: [[spoiler:Lucifer and Taylor.]]
102	* MagicalGirlWarrior: Lorelei, a Nephilim who wields angelic magic.
103	* MissingMom: [[spoiler:Taylor Corbet, Aaron's mother who appears in Lucifer's memories before showing up for real at the end of ''Forsaken''.]]
104	* MysticalWhiteHair: Lorelei is described as having white hair.
105	* NiceJobBreakingItHerod: Verchiel, twice. First, accidentally provoking Aaron to accept his destiny. Second, [[spoiler:his goals against the Nephilim eventually bringing about TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt due to Satan's manipulations]].
106	* OffWithHisHead: Combined with ShutUpHannibal. [[spoiler:In ''End of Days'', Verchiel decapitates Geburah while he's proclaiming him a traitor to the Powers for abandoning his former goals.]]
107	* OneGenderRace: Angels appear to all be male.
108	* OrificeInvasion:
109	** ''Leviathan'' has this happen to many people at the hands of hideous creatures.
110	** ''End of Days'' features the Corpse Riders, slug-like creatures who can enter the bodies of either the dead or the living and take control of them. One of these things takes control of [[spoiler:Jeremy, one of the surviving Nephilim]], by entering his body through his mouth.
111	* OurGhostsAreDifferent: [[spoiler:Lorelei in ''Armageddon'', following her death in the previous book.]]
112	* PoliticallyIncorrectHero: [[spoiler:Verchiel ''starts'' as this once he is sent back to Earth by God, but by the end of his time, he is willing to protect even "lesser" beings.]]
113	* PowerTattoo: Aaron displays these whenever he taps into his angelic powers.
114	* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Belphegor in ''Aerie''.
115	* ReformedButNotTamed: [[spoiler:Verchiel in ''End of Days'' and after ''is'' TheAtoner and wants to be forgiven by God, but he's still a PoliticallyIncorrectHero and his methods of obtaining victory have not stopped their brutality.]]
116	* SacrificialLion: [[spoiler:Camael, Belphegor, Stevie/Malak, Lorelei]].
117	* {{Satan}}: [[spoiler:In this series, Satan and Lucifer are separate entities. Satan is one of many {{Eldritch Abomination}}s that existed before {{God}} commanded "Let there be light"; once the Creator called forth light, Satan and his fellow monsters (whom he refers to as his siblings) were forced into hiding in the shadows until after the events of ''Reckoning''. Starting with ''End of Days'', Satan takes Verchiel's place as the new BigBad. He assumes the form of a [[CreepyChild creepy little boy]] to speak with Lucifer (whom he encountered before in the past) about his plans for the oncoming [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt end of the world]]. Later on, Satan [[DemonicPossession takes possession]] of Lucifer's body.]]
118	* SatanIsGood: PlayedWith, and split into two separate entries below.
119	** [[spoiler:While Lucifer has committed many horrible deeds in the past, this is explained as because of his jealousy towards humans. He believed he was no longer loved by God when God created humanity, which is why he rebelled against Him. During the time frame in which ''The Fallen'' takes place, though, it is shown that he deeply regrets his past actions and now seeks redemption; he is also shown in his first appearance to have been serving as a priest in a church and has befriended a small mouse he names "[[Literature/ParadiseLost Milton]]." He is also Aaron's father. Though in the end, God still has not forgiven him; it is heavily suggested that it is merely a matter of time at this point. Also, {{Hell}} is not a place where Lucifer tortures the souls of evildoers, but rather his own tormented metaphysical state of being caused by all of the grief of the heavenly war being sealed into his body.]]
120	** [[spoiler:Satan himself, on the other hand, is ''not'' good, and is actually the BigBad for the final books of the series.]]
121	* ShootTheDog: [[spoiler:In ''Reckoning'', Aaron is forced to kill Stevie/Malak]].
122	%%* SupernaturalGoldEyes: Camael.
123	* WouldHurtAChild: [[spoiler:Verchiel kidnaps Stevie, Aaron's autistic foster brother, and uses ancient magic to transform the poor boy into a lethal killing machine by the name of ''Malak''.]]
124
125	!!The ABC Family miniseries contains examples of:
126
127	* AdaptationalVillainy: [[spoiler:Lucifer is much more stereotypically evil than in the books, as is his version of {{Hell}}, which is actually a lot more of a FireAndBrimstoneHell.]]
128	* AntiAntiChrist: [[spoiler:Aaron. His father Lucifer tries to persuade him to redeem him so he can return to Heaven and challenge God, but Aaron fortunately experiences a vision that alerts him to Lucifer's true intentions and refuses.]]
129	%%* BittersweetEnding
130	%%* DarkActionGirl: Verchiel
131	%%* DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu
132	* FauxAffablyEvil: [[spoiler:Upon his first meeting with Aaron, Lucifer presents himself as a kindly and fatherly type who wants to be forgiven, but once Aaron determines his true motives and refuses to redeem him, he quickly drops the act.]]
133	%%* {{Flashback}}s
134	* GenderFlip: Verchiel, who's male in the books, is made into a female in the ABC Family miniseries.
135	%%* HeroicSacrifice
136	* LukeIAmYourFather: [[spoiler:Lucifer reveals to Aaron he is his biological father. Aaron is understandably freaked out by the revelation.]]
137	* SparedByTheAdaptation: [[spoiler:The Stanleys, including Stevie]].

Context Literature / TheFallen