Reviews

I'm breaking up with this book and I think it's more that we aren't compatible than that there is any any issue with the book. The narrator is awesome. The concept is interesting. The author is very talented. However, I'm confused and a bit bored. There are a lot of characters, some human, some animal, some robot, and some ghosts. There is a lot of reminiscing and not a lot of action. I'm sure there is an audience of people who will really enjoy listening to this book, but unfortunately it didn't work for me. Thank you to #NetGalley for and advanced copy in return for my honest opinion.

laileanah's review against another edition

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adventurous hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

This audiobook was made available for me to listen to and review by Andrea Hairston, RB Media, and NetGalley.

This is a fun and unique novel, almost like a podcast in a way. This starts off with an ad for the Next World Festival. The Next World Festival is a celebration of life focusing on dance, storytelling, music, etc at this festival attendees both honor the past and dream the future. It's unique and I would LOVE to attend this festival! This is set in a dystopian future of water shortages and resulting wars and deep income and inequality and resource hoarding by the wealthy living in enclaves. This deals with how the world responds to these crisis's and the resulting societal mayhem. So we have joy and despair side by side and what it means to live in such harrowing times. I loved the nod to West African/Black Dysphoric and Native American/First Nations mythology and mythological beings. This is a fun festival set in an Octavia Butler dystopian future. Cinnamon has created a utopia inside of this dystopic hell scape. It reminded me a bit of Parable of the Talents' Acorn. A place where community means no one is left out and everyone respects and honors everyone else. This enclave is threatened and stressed by outside forces like the corporate spies and desperate folks. The novels tone is light allowing the stress of this world to feel manageable and dreamy. It's a heady stuff, almost a cozy dystopia🤔 What a fun and wild mix.

This novel is narrated by January LaVoy. January narrated an audiobook by Shari Lapena that I listened to awhile ago so I was already familiar with her work. Her ability to be light but serious was crucial to narrating a book like this. Cinnamon and her crew of 2 dogs and 3 circus-bots came to life with January's narration. It truly enhanced the listening experience.

Thank you to Andrea Hairston, RB Media, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.

inkreads's review

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adventurous inspiring mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Archangels of Funk by Andrea Hairston and narrated by January LaVoy is an absolutely genius concept. Unique, original, dystopic, speculative sci-fi but with a huge heart

A post-flood world, soceities and cultures fractured. Evil Darknet Lords control the internet, the only source of information outside of the farmers, the Motor Fairies and Wheel Wizards who are trying to protect the refugees from evil gangs of Disruptors and Nostalgia Militia, intent on preying on flood survivors before they can reach safety

Our stunning fmc is Cinnamon, her Dogs (love, love love Bruha and Spook) and circus bots, along with her companions Indigo and Game-Boy and so many more incredible faces and back-stories that are an absolute joy (in most cases) to meet.

The book is genius, multi-faceted, forward thinking and so very, very much to explore and indulge in. Mindboggling concepts but so wonderfully put together to draw light from the destruction of a post-eco-apocalyptic nightmare

Thank you to Netgalley, RB Media | Recorded Books the author Andrea HAirston and the narrator January LaVoy for this glorious ALC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

bibliovino's review against another edition

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adventurous slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

A stunning Afro-future allegory packed with hoodoo and tech that reads like Mad Max in Wonderland.

Chock full of African mythology and a word garden of techno slang and culture-speak, this dense piece of neo folklore takes speculative fiction on an even wilder ride. After a slightly muddled beginning, braving a whole new world and vocabulary, the pace picks up, hurtling you toward a heist-like conclusion. With heart and humor, the novel throws you into the deep end of a life fully lived and lessons yet to be learned.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tordotcom for my copy. These opinions are my own.

goblingirlreads's review

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Alright, I read a few other reviews and it appears I'm not alone: I am DNF-ing this at 5%. My biggest piece of wisdom is read the first chapter. This writing style is simply not for everyone.

The writing style is very unique and lyrical while being about a pretty complex science fiction environment. I simply could not compute all the details and poetry into understanding. My brain fought through every word. I think many people would find this exciting and beautiful. I really hope the people that it sings for, find it and love it. The themes and subject matter are compelling and I'm sorry I couldn't get my brain to the right frequency.

Thank you to Netgalley and TorDotCom for my review copy.

intothevolcano's review

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adventurous hopeful inspiring reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

Archangels of Funk is packed full of great ideas, vivid world building, and lyrical prose that is rhythmic throughout - I would have loved to have seen it in its original theatrical incarnation, which I didn't know about until the acknowledgements. I can really imagine it working well in this format.
As a novel, it felt ambitious and fresh to me. My only quibble is the pacing - the combination of slow plot progression, coupled with very short chapters, meant that this book took me a very long time to read. I found myself dipping in and out, rather than ploughing through in one sitting - and I worry it may have lost some of its impact because of this.
However, when I was reading, the world felt so real and fully fleshed out. I was attached to all of the characters, no matter how minor - and I loved the Bruja and Scout POV chapters. These brought a brilliant perspective, that was so different from the human characters but, as with the rest of the book, bursting with feeling - particularly love.
Thanks to Tor and Edelweiss for the ARC.

scarletranger's review

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

From the first page, Hairston pulled me into this what-if world and made me feel like part of the New World Festival, working through music to bring hopeful change. The characters breathe life into this novel, creating a unique experience of being able to feel this story of love and healing deep in my bones and spirit.

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