Scan barcode
evavroslin's review
5.0
"In Midnight's Silence," the first book of the Los Nefilim series, by Teresa Frohock, was a wonderful treat. I loved what she did with angels and demons (called "daimons") and the rules that govern both sides. Her protagonist, Diago, is one I easily rooted for. There were a lot of elements I liked about the story and how it played out with such suspense.
It's unique, original, and has a distinct flavour that I can't wait to read more of. If you enjoys angels and demons in urban fantasy, you'll want to check out "In Midnight's Silence."
It's unique, original, and has a distinct flavour that I can't wait to read more of. If you enjoys angels and demons in urban fantasy, you'll want to check out "In Midnight's Silence."
daaan's review
2.0
It's a good feat of imagination, but I didn't really find the writing compelling. What struck me was how direct everything came across, specifically thoughts and emotions, of particular note the way Diago discusses his sexuality, it didn't resonate or feel important, it felt like a fact you might tell someone like what you had for breakfast. Moments of high drama were just skimmed through, like the confrontation of Moloch. There was the potential for good drama throughout it, but it was rushed, the setup and payoff were too close, the tension never built enough to be noticeable on the release. This could have been good, but as it stands it isn't.
tien's review
4.0
Angels is far from being a favourite of mine in fiction BUT I might just change my mind now. In Midnight’s Silence is a dark fast-paced novella incorporating angels, daimons, music, sacrifice and love set in beautiful Spain. I keep having images of men in white flowing shirts (they don’t actually wear “flowing shirts” in the book but… what I see in my head is my prerogative!) playing guitars and gorgeous ladies doing the flamenco.
I love these characters with all their faults & strengths. Their world within world with its layered complexity of ancient heritage and hierarchy where nothing seems to be what they appear to be. The plot was tight in structure and very intriguing. In Midnight’s Silence just grabbed you on the spot and will not let go. It was a terrific single-sitting spine-tingling read and I can’t wait for the next instalment.
I love these characters with all their faults & strengths. Their world within world with its layered complexity of ancient heritage and hierarchy where nothing seems to be what they appear to be. The plot was tight in structure and very intriguing. In Midnight’s Silence just grabbed you on the spot and will not let go. It was a terrific single-sitting spine-tingling read and I can’t wait for the next instalment.
fluka's review
4.0
A good bit of historical horror fantasy, setting angels and demons and their progeny in the lead up to WW2 and the Spanish Civil War. There's a lot of world building and character work to cram into less than a hundred and fifty pages, and I find myself wishing the story had more room to spread out and breathe. But Frohock tells a complete, satisfying storing with good characters, with a mature appeal similar to her excellent debut Miserere.
pages_and_procrastination's review
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
saphirablue's review
4.0
I really, really, really like this one.
I like the way it's written - the story just flows along and grips you and you just have to read it.
I love the setting - Barcelona, Spain, in the 1930s, on the brink of WW2. There are angels and daimons and their children, the Nefilim, and their (never ending) fight. Also, the stakes of this story? Both personal and for the world? Wow. Nicely written and included.
Also, they sing their magic. Sing. *loves*
I freaking love Diago. He's the kind of character that just pushes my buttons - being the child of a daimon and an angel. Standing between the sides. Both sides trying to recruit him to their sides and, from what we see and what is hinted at, both sides not playing fair in this game for him. Being hurt and hurt and hurt again (I really want all his backstory). And, he learnt to love. Miquel showed him how to love and, I think, how to be loved (and, I really, really want that story too). And now, he's risking his live and soul to rescue the love he knows and the love he's just discovered existed. Yeah, Hook. Line. Sinker.
I like the way it's written - the story just flows along and grips you and you just have to read it.
I love the setting - Barcelona, Spain, in the 1930s, on the brink of WW2. There are angels and daimons and their children, the Nefilim, and their (never ending) fight. Also, the stakes of this story? Both personal and for the world? Wow. Nicely written and included.
Also, they sing their magic. Sing. *loves*
I freaking love Diago. He's the kind of character that just pushes my buttons - being the child of a daimon and an angel. Standing between the sides. Both sides trying to recruit him to their sides and, from what we see and what is hinted at, both sides not playing fair in this game for him. Being hurt and hurt and hurt again (I really want all his backstory). And, he learnt to love. Miquel showed him how to love and, I think, how to be loved (and, I really, really want that story too). And now, he's risking his live and soul to rescue the love he knows and the love he's just discovered existed. Yeah, Hook. Line. Sinker.
lizshayne's review
4.0
This was really fun! And shorter than I expected, but that makes sense once I realized this was the novella form and the narrative arcs were going to be short stories within the larger narrative.
It was very well done and I am already deeply invested in all these characters. So that was good.
It was very well done and I am already deeply invested in all these characters. So that was good.
carol26388's review
4.0
Surprising, although probably what's most surprising is how much I liked it given genre. I think because it was first a nice little character study. It's a (sigh) half-breed non-human being, living among the humans. One of the concepts that makes this novella--and series--more interesting is that the setting is Barcelona, time period pre-WWII, neither of which is particularly common in the urban-fantasy/fantasy realm. The other, stronger hook is that the main character is partnered with a full-breed, and both are male, so instead of the usual PNR cis-romance plot, there's a solid male-male relationship. I thought the writing was above average as well.
All in all, enough elements to elevate it above the normal PNR, and once again proving a talented writer will transcend genre objections.
I happened to spot this one due to Mimi's review of the second . Like her, I'd call this a three and a half stars, rounding up because I intend to continue the trilogy of novellas.
All in all, enough elements to elevate it above the normal PNR, and once again proving a talented writer will transcend genre objections.
I happened to spot this one due to Mimi's review of the second . Like her, I'd call this a three and a half stars, rounding up because I intend to continue the trilogy of novellas.
rhodered's review
2.0
Meh. Given the reviews and the setting, I had expected something rich and complex. It wasn't.
The writing isn't terrible. The settings are fairly well visualized. However for me it lacked depth in two areas:
1. Relationships
As the story opens, the relationship between the two leads is already long established and to some degree unnuanced (in part because we only see them interact together toward the very end of the story.) so, it's hard to have emotional buy in.
We are mostly told, not truly shown, of a past affair one of the leads had with someone else. Since we aren't invested in the main relationship and this affair occurred in the past, it was hard for me to care much about it.
Later, when one of the leads meets his young son for the first time, he experiences a sort of coupe de foundre of the heart. He is nearly instantly a passionate father. He is all in. The son is also trustingly all in. Boom. So, no nuance there, and aside from my natural empathy, it wasn't emotionally or intellectually engaging.
2. Supernatural stuff
Ok so there are angels and demons (basically) and an underworld involving dark tunnels, trains and blatantly ugly/scary/mean beings. None, and I mean none, of this was remotely new. Take a little Jewish folklore, that train from the Lost Girl TV show, and toss in a Hellmouth or two and you've pretty much got it.
The evil was overt and too easily foiled. No nuance, no mystery, no richness of plot or characterization.
Maybe the other readers just don't have a deep background in folklore or fantasy? I don't know.
I do know that I was really hoping to read something with depth (yes even a short story can have depth, it's not necessarily a function of length) as well as novelty and felt disappointed. Don't get me wrong, this is a pleasant enough, competently written story. But, I won't continue the series.
The writing isn't terrible. The settings are fairly well visualized. However for me it lacked depth in two areas:
1. Relationships
As the story opens, the relationship between the two leads is already long established and to some degree unnuanced (in part because we only see them interact together toward the very end of the story.) so, it's hard to have emotional buy in.
We are mostly told, not truly shown, of a past affair one of the leads had with someone else. Since we aren't invested in the main relationship and this affair occurred in the past, it was hard for me to care much about it.
Later, when one of the leads meets his young son for the first time, he experiences a sort of coupe de foundre of the heart. He is nearly instantly a passionate father. He is all in. The son is also trustingly all in. Boom. So, no nuance there, and aside from my natural empathy, it wasn't emotionally or intellectually engaging.
2. Supernatural stuff
Ok so there are angels and demons (basically) and an underworld involving dark tunnels, trains and blatantly ugly/scary/mean beings. None, and I mean none, of this was remotely new. Take a little Jewish folklore, that train from the Lost Girl TV show, and toss in a Hellmouth or two and you've pretty much got it.
The evil was overt and too easily foiled. No nuance, no mystery, no richness of plot or characterization.
Maybe the other readers just don't have a deep background in folklore or fantasy? I don't know.
I do know that I was really hoping to read something with depth (yes even a short story can have depth, it's not necessarily a function of length) as well as novelty and felt disappointed. Don't get me wrong, this is a pleasant enough, competently written story. But, I won't continue the series.
megandawn's review
3.0
This just shouldn't be a novella. It's not a matter of it's so good and I just wished it was longer, it's that it doesn't even feel like a novella. It feels like a full novel, but cut right down to just the important scenes. Constantly as I read this novella I was thinking, for example, 'wow, this scene would have carried real emotional weight, if this wasn't also the first time we are seeing the characters together...' Everything is rushed, characters suffer shock, betrayal and forgiveness in the space of a few paragraphs. The characters have clues literally handed to them because there is no time to look, they formulate and execute their plans first go because there's no time for failure.
This sounds very negative, but it's only because I can tell that if this were a full length novel, if we were allowed to watch the relationships grow slowly, if the revelations that came at the end had a novel's worth of foreshadowing to give them weight, then I just know this could have been something amazing. The writing is excellent, the character's shine, and plot is solid. It's just all so rushed.
This sounds very negative, but it's only because I can tell that if this were a full length novel, if we were allowed to watch the relationships grow slowly, if the revelations that came at the end had a novel's worth of foreshadowing to give them weight, then I just know this could have been something amazing. The writing is excellent, the character's shine, and plot is solid. It's just all so rushed.