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dani_k's review
4.0
I didn't expect this book to be a sort of portal fantasy, and I don't usually enjoy that kind of setting, but Miserere was a pleasant surprise! Dark and weird enough to make you cringe at a few key moments, but beautifully written and with a hopeful ending.
pollyno9's review
4.0
This book took a long time to gel, for me. There isn't a lot of exposition until about the second third, so I felt as if I was floundering, but once it came together it was excellent.
aceir's review
4.0
This book feels longer than it is. This isn't to say it drags. I just mean that the world and the characters are deep and rich. One of the characters is new to the world and can serve as audience proxy, but the story isn't focused (solely) on her. Instead we get a story of people who have made mistakes and people who have to trust again.
thecanary's review
4.0
Torment, angst, and redemption? Oh yes. This book hit just the spot. (And the cover is gorgeous. So gorgeous.) What makes this even better is that the characters are mature and self-aware. Such a nice change from stories where we get pointless misunderstandings for the sake of plot and characters who act twelve. (I'm looking at you, most mainstream romance genre.)
This was a super sweet story steeped in violence and darkness. Loved it. I've been starved for a good fantasy+romance combo.
I guess I should talk a little about the plot? Well, you get a power-hungry sister who will do anything to keep her brother beholden to her, a brother whose done a few not-so-nice things for his sister (up to and including sacrificing the love of his life to Hell) but who wants out, and a woman who's been suffering under the weight of that betrayal for years. Collision course.
This was a super sweet story steeped in violence and darkness. Loved it. I've been starved for a good fantasy+romance combo.
I guess I should talk a little about the plot? Well, you get a power-hungry sister who will do anything to keep her brother beholden to her, a brother whose done a few not-so-nice things for his sister (up to and including sacrificing the love of his life to Hell) but who wants out, and a woman who's been suffering under the weight of that betrayal for years. Collision course.
cupiscent's review
2.0
Eh. Neither great nor terrible. Passable. Readable. Not odd enough to stand out, not standard enough to be comfortable.
And not well served by the decisions made in packaging and marketing it. I mean, the blurb's actually really interesting. The blurb promises a threeway tussle of adult passions, decisions and consequences. The blurb reflects the cover. Neither of them make any mention of Lindsay, the twelve-year-old real-world girl who gets sucked through into the fantasy world in the second chapter of the book and plays a major role in events from there on - events which start with the blurb, dispensing with all of that as backstory in the first chapter.
I mean... what? (Not to mention that I don't particularly like YA, and surprise!world-transportation!YA is my least favourite flavour thereof.)
Stylistically, it's pretty bland. The writing plods along at workmanlike - perfectly serviceable - levels with occasional bouts of melodramatic purple. (Screams ravaging the night, a single drop of blood cascading down her cheek, etc.) If the prose had been masterful, the rather simple nature of the story might have been elevated and given a little more gravitas.
As it is, it doesn't excite, but it doesn't aggravate. It's ok.
And not well served by the decisions made in packaging and marketing it. I mean, the blurb's actually really interesting. The blurb promises a threeway tussle of adult passions, decisions and consequences. The blurb reflects the cover. Neither of them make any mention of Lindsay, the twelve-year-old real-world girl who gets sucked through into the fantasy world in the second chapter of the book and plays a major role in events from there on - events which start with the blurb, dispensing with all of that as backstory in the first chapter.
I mean... what? (Not to mention that I don't particularly like YA, and surprise!world-transportation!YA is my least favourite flavour thereof.)
Stylistically, it's pretty bland. The writing plods along at workmanlike - perfectly serviceable - levels with occasional bouts of melodramatic purple. (Screams ravaging the night, a single drop of blood cascading down her cheek, etc.) If the prose had been masterful, the rather simple nature of the story might have been elevated and given a little more gravitas.
As it is, it doesn't excite, but it doesn't aggravate. It's ok.
evavroslin's review
4.0
I used to be a huge fan of the Dragonlance books in high school and I found "Miserere" had the same sort of vibe, which I took to right away.
The protagonist of "Miserere", Lucian, is a Katharos, a special kind of mage with powers of exorcism among other things. He walks with a cane and feels like an old man. Lucian is a repentant man sorry for his sins and trying to atone for them, especially the ones involving his twin sister, Catarina. He has a hard time accepting her for the power-hungry, manipulative biatch that she is. She's in league with a Fallen angel, Mastema, and together they're trying to help Fallen angels become the rulers of everything. Instead of elves and dragons, in "Miserere" there be a darker take with angels and fallen angels and weird demonic creatures.
Aside from the initial jarring transition to modern day Earth and the introduction of Lindsay, a young girl who turns out to be Lucian's foundlind (he's her mentor), we get into the epic fantasy side of things again and Lucian has to learn not to let history repeat itself when it comes to Lindsay.
There is a lot of worldbuilding and many passages of dialogue that focus on this, but to be fair, it's a complex universe that warrants that kind of explanation. The beginning gets off to a slower start, but goes on to develop intrigue and plot advancement, and Lucian does a good job reminding the reader know what's at stake.
To say that Lucian is conflicted is an understatement--arguably the biggest inner conflict he has is with himself and in making things right again, but also with his love/hate relationship with his twin, Catarina, and the girlfriend, Rachel, that he kind of ditched in Hell (but there's a good reason for that even though it sounds terrible, which it is.) He has to make sure Lindsay stays on the side of the good "Jedi" and doesn't become "Sith" so to speak, which creates more dynamic interactions with the overall narrative. If you miss Dragonlance-esque fantasies, definitely pick up "Miserere."
The protagonist of "Miserere", Lucian, is a Katharos, a special kind of mage with powers of exorcism among other things. He walks with a cane and feels like an old man. Lucian is a repentant man sorry for his sins and trying to atone for them, especially the ones involving his twin sister, Catarina. He has a hard time accepting her for the power-hungry, manipulative biatch that she is. She's in league with a Fallen angel, Mastema, and together they're trying to help Fallen angels become the rulers of everything. Instead of elves and dragons, in "Miserere" there be a darker take with angels and fallen angels and weird demonic creatures.
Aside from the initial jarring transition to modern day Earth and the introduction of Lindsay, a young girl who turns out to be Lucian's foundlind (he's her mentor), we get into the epic fantasy side of things again and Lucian has to learn not to let history repeat itself when it comes to Lindsay.
There is a lot of worldbuilding and many passages of dialogue that focus on this, but to be fair, it's a complex universe that warrants that kind of explanation. The beginning gets off to a slower start, but goes on to develop intrigue and plot advancement, and Lucian does a good job reminding the reader know what's at stake.
To say that Lucian is conflicted is an understatement--arguably the biggest inner conflict he has is with himself and in making things right again, but also with his love/hate relationship with his twin, Catarina, and the girlfriend, Rachel, that he kind of ditched in Hell (but there's a good reason for that even though it sounds terrible, which it is.) He has to make sure Lindsay stays on the side of the good "Jedi" and doesn't become "Sith" so to speak, which creates more dynamic interactions with the overall narrative. If you miss Dragonlance-esque fantasies, definitely pick up "Miserere."
ibri's review
5.0
Quite good, quite good. The chapters with his sisters POV made it quite obvious how crazy she is. Her world view is quite distorted.
I found the characters interesting enough and the setting isn't bad either.
And I like the way it is written, though seeing that I am not a native english speaker I'm not the best judge for that. I will definitely read more.
I found the characters interesting enough and the setting isn't bad either.
And I like the way it is written, though seeing that I am not a native english speaker I'm not the best judge for that. I will definitely read more.
xdroot's review
4.0
One of the best books I read this year. Completely taken by surprise. I was immersed in the world. I even caught myself, during the fight scenes, with an elevated heart rate.
tracydurnell's review
2.0
Interesting premise. Tried too hard to be literary, also a little too religious for my tastes.
fluka's review
4.0
A dark and moody story which begins a little shakily but ended up impressing me with its genuine and mature emotional elements. "Mature" here in the sense of dealing with the inner lives of adults who have gone through loss, disappointment, and betrayal, as opposed to edgy violence and sex - that said, there is a bit of that, and I will give this book a content warning for (offscreen, past) rape, graphic violence, and lots of other nastiness. Things begin somewhat in media res, with the primary adult relationships already established, and the early chapters of the book can feel a little overwhelming and breathless. This is true of the world-building, as well, with its somewhat high concept and occasionally clunky concept of the Woerld as a pan-religious alternate dimension (complete with weird shit happening with cell phones). And of course there is a plucky young modern heroine who gets pulled into the action. As others have said, though, this is neither a young adult book nor a straightforward religious fantasy book, and it's worth sticking with it despite early doubts. The fantasy and horror elements remain somewhat enigmatic and are not too over-explained past the first few chapters. The characters and their relationships end up becoming the central movers of drama, rather than the over arching battle between good and evil - Lindsay's confusion and grief, Lucian and his internal battle between shame and hope for redemption, and Rachael's journey out of darkness and extreme trauma. Thankfully, there are no easy answers here. All this said, the demonic horror elements ARE quite excellent here as well - Frohock writes a convincing portrayal of evil, including some particularly gnarly monsters. Again, warnings for sensitive content, but ultimately a very moving story of hope and forgiveness.
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