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penguinpuffin's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-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
2.5
helenid's review
4.0
Set against a backdrop of demons, possession and world domination. Lindsay is thrust from our world through a veil and into hell. Only Lucian can save her but dare he try?
Mark Lawrence recommended this on Facebook and as it was a previous group read it qualified for a challenge. I enjoyed it a lot. It seemed quite unique to me.
Audio so no idea re spellings :)
Mark Lawrence recommended this on Facebook and as it was a previous group read it qualified for a challenge. I enjoyed it a lot. It seemed quite unique to me.
Audio so no idea re spellings :)
zep's review
5.0
I am usually not one for redemption stories. I find them awkward and painful to read, more-so than blood and violence and other such things. I do not deal well with people being angry at me in real life, so when a character I truly like has people angry at them, it likewise is painful to read.
This book, though, has such remarkable characters that I was invested in them from the very first page, and they pulled me ruthlessly through the story regardless of my discomfort with the theme. And the story was rewarding and good, set in a unique, well-developed and interesting fantasy world.
This author is criminally underrated, in my opinion, and I highly recommend her work. Even if you feel similarly about the theme as I, have a look at the amazon or barnes & noble preview and see if it catches you like it did me.
I am very glad to have read this book.
This book, though, has such remarkable characters that I was invested in them from the very first page, and they pulled me ruthlessly through the story regardless of my discomfort with the theme. And the story was rewarding and good, set in a unique, well-developed and interesting fantasy world.
This author is criminally underrated, in my opinion, and I highly recommend her work. Even if you feel similarly about the theme as I, have a look at the amazon or barnes & noble preview and see if it catches you like it did me.
I am very glad to have read this book.
amym84's review
5.0
Author [a:Ilona Andrews|21748|Ilona Andrews|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1219436898p2/21748.jpg] highley recommended this book on her blog and I have to agree. It starts out a little slow, but once all the characters were introduced I was hooked. I quickly read through it. I couldn't wait to find out what happened.
The book is about Lucian, who has held guilt for is actions against his love, Rachel, sixteen years before in order to save his twin's life. What he has come to learn over the years is that his twin sister, Catarina's, life was more corrupt than he realized. She made a deal with a powerful demon in order to gain power when the war between the Fallen (yes those Fallen from heaven) and the Citadel (where the good people of faith reside).
The world structure is a lot to take in. The story is set in an alternate universe called the Woerld. It is a different plane of existence adjacent to Earth. Earth and the Woerld are bookended on either side by Heaven and Hell. Frohock does a wonderful job creating a truly unique world from any that I've read before. She does a great job of relaying to the reader the intricaces of the world without seeming to textbook about it. There are things that are told outright and things that we learn by actions.
The way that the story goes really sets up for other books in the series. I really hope that we get more. I am eager to find out where our characters go from here. Until Then!
The book is about Lucian, who has held guilt for is actions against his love, Rachel, sixteen years before in order to save his twin's life. What he has come to learn over the years is that his twin sister, Catarina's, life was more corrupt than he realized. She made a deal with a powerful demon in order to gain power when the war between the Fallen (yes those Fallen from heaven) and the Citadel (where the good people of faith reside).
The world structure is a lot to take in. The story is set in an alternate universe called the Woerld. It is a different plane of existence adjacent to Earth. Earth and the Woerld are bookended on either side by Heaven and Hell. Frohock does a wonderful job creating a truly unique world from any that I've read before. She does a great job of relaying to the reader the intricaces of the world without seeming to textbook about it. There are things that are told outright and things that we learn by actions.
The way that the story goes really sets up for other books in the series. I really hope that we get more. I am eager to find out where our characters go from here. Until Then!
williamc's review
3.0
This standalone fantasy novel creates a world centered around tenets of European Christianity, but that is not to say this is a Christian novel, or should be read as one. Instead, Frohock uses this inspiration to craft an original kind of magic; its larger figures will seem familiar to Westerners, but the reliance on faith is no more mystic than that of any other fantasy world. The vision created within this frame is original, well written, and worth exploring. It took me half the novel to realize I wasn't being set up for an immediate sequel, which is something of a rare gift from novels these days, but Frohock's Woerld would be worth another visit, as the fantasy she has created is so deeply detailed and imagined that it is hard to forget after this first, brief go-round.
ramona_litte's review
5.0
So beautifully written! This is a story of atonement and love.
The world of this story is new and refreshing even if there are a lot of books around about heaven, hell and the war between them.
The characters are so rich of facets that you cannot empathize with them. Lucian and Rachel in particular are wonderful heroes, so strong and determined but also breakables.
The religious and historical aspects combined with the intriguing plot give that mystical nuance to the book that makes it impossible to put down.
I really hope there will be a sequel, even in the case is not about Rachel and Lucian.
The world of this story is new and refreshing even if there are a lot of books around about heaven, hell and the war between them.
The characters are so rich of facets that you cannot empathize with them. Lucian and Rachel in particular are wonderful heroes, so strong and determined but also breakables.
The religious and historical aspects combined with the intriguing plot give that mystical nuance to the book that makes it impossible to put down.
I really hope there will be a sequel, even in the case is not about Rachel and Lucian.
reubend1ca9's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
michelle_e_goldsmith's review
5.0
A stunning and immersive read. Hard to believe that it's actually a debut.
Full review forthcoming.
Full review forthcoming.
sarah42783's review
2.0
I had never heard of this book until Gavin DNFed it. Others might have thought: oh, Gavin couldn't finish it, I should stay away from this. But no, not me. I'm brave like that. And I like a challenge. And the cover looked pretty cool in a templar-y middle age-y kind of way. And I read the words 'hell' and 'demonic' in the blurb. I should have known better.
The bad
Gripe #1: this book is pretty much boring to death from beginning to end. Well the first 30% aren't that bad but then it's all blah blah blah this and blah blah blah that. The pace picks up a bit towards the end but Frohock had already lost me at that point.
Gripe #2: the mc is a complete wimp. I guess that poor Lucian is supposed to be a reluctant hero but he is just too pathetic for my taste. He constantly feels sorry for himself, he lets his bitchy sister boss him around, he feels guilty for abandoning Rachael blah blah blah. It's a never-ending pity party.
Gripe #3: where are the demons? This book is supposed to be about hell and demonic possession for God's sake! Cerberus and a miserable wyrm were not nearly enough to satisfy my demonic craving.
Gripe #4: the ending.All's well that ends well? Really? Catarina dies, the villains are punished, Lucian is forgiven and allowed to live in the Citadel again and he gets a second chance with Rachael… Can you hear the birds chirping? I rest my case.
The good
#1 The premise: exorcists, fallen angels, hell, demons, possessions… This should have been a great book.
#2 Rachael: the book would have been MUCH more exciting had it been narrated by Rachael. The few enjoyable passages were the ones told from her POV. Her character is quite complex and has much more depth than Lucian.
#3 Catarina: lots of wasted potential there but she still is a pretty good villain. Being Lucian's arch nemesis she deserved a much bigger part in the story and I would have liked for her character to be more developed. Unfortunately it didn't happen here.
This could have been a fantastic story but poor execution on Frohock's part ruined it all. Gavin did not recommend the book to me and in turn I will not recommend it to you;o)
The bad
Gripe #1: this book is pretty much boring to death from beginning to end. Well the first 30% aren't that bad but then it's all blah blah blah this and blah blah blah that. The pace picks up a bit towards the end but Frohock had already lost me at that point.
Gripe #2: the mc is a complete wimp. I guess that poor Lucian is supposed to be a reluctant hero but he is just too pathetic for my taste. He constantly feels sorry for himself, he lets his bitchy sister boss him around, he feels guilty for abandoning Rachael blah blah blah. It's a never-ending pity party.
Gripe #3: where are the demons? This book is supposed to be about hell and demonic possession for God's sake! Cerberus and a miserable wyrm were not nearly enough to satisfy my demonic craving.
Gripe #4: the ending.
The good
#1 The premise: exorcists, fallen angels, hell, demons, possessions… This should have been a great book.
#2 Rachael: the book would have been MUCH more exciting had it been narrated by Rachael. The few enjoyable passages were the ones told from her POV. Her character is quite complex and has much more depth than Lucian.
#3 Catarina: lots of wasted potential there but she still is a pretty good villain. Being Lucian's arch nemesis she deserved a much bigger part in the story and I would have liked for her character to be more developed. Unfortunately it didn't happen here.
This could have been a fantastic story but poor execution on Frohock's part ruined it all. Gavin did not recommend the book to me and in turn I will not recommend it to you;o)