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alexandramilne's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
lalexvp's review against another edition
4.0
This was truly well written and I alway enjoy Garth Nix. But I just couldn’t get super into this one. The way the story was told brought it up to 4 star level from a 3. This was the first book written by a man that I have read in years, a white man no less, yet it was like a constant slap in the face reminding me to check my privilege and my biases shaped by the white patriarchy. There is a distinct reason why I keep feeding myself femme authors, particularly authors of color, and yet Nic’s writing style drew out of me all the bullshit that I still carry around with me through this world. It was a delight and it was refreshing, but the story line itself I found lacking. I can see the setup for a sequel and I’m not sure I’m dedicated enough to pick it up.
idavie's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
shaykit's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
jordano101's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
iamshadow's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.0
lindakat's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
It took me finishing this to realise that Angel Mage was supposed to be inspired by Three Musketeers. Despite the characters’ names and the literal musketeers, I saw no correlation between Dumas’ works and Angel Mage. Also, everyone was gender swapped and that was unnecessary too.
I did not enjoy this story at all, literally nothing happened. The world building was ok, the magic system unique (but why were the angels enslaved? How is that even possible, makes no sense?) but the characters were 2D and there was not one hammer in the works, epic Tolkien-esque quest or even a plot twist.
So, what happened was, Lilith needed to go to sleep in order to be alive when a vessel would be born that would apparently be strong enough to do this thing. This in itself made no sense to me because magic was dying out in the world, so wouldn’t the vessel’s spark or magic that allowed them to hold the thing also be diluted due to how genetics work. Sorry, that’s a little convoluted but I’m trying to avoid spoilers and the only thing that was (supposed to be) a surprise was what Lilith wanted the human vessel for.
After hearing Lilith’s plan, we then find out there are only four humans that could be potentially used in her scheme. We’re introduced to them, they go on a quest that originated through Lilith’s machinations and manipulations, and then the quest is over in the last chapter, resolution is met. The End.
Something, anything needed to happen in this book.
doesitcomeinpurple's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
pewterwolf's review against another edition
5.0
Review going up on 31st October for Angel Mage blog tour! But yeah, I loved this book!
Write-Up Taken from The Pewter Wolf
*** Book was given by publisher, Gollancz, in exchange for honest review/reaction***
I had plans to buy this. I honestly did! I preordered it and EVERYTHING! So it came as a huge surprise to me when I got an email from Gollancz, asking if anyone wanted to be involved in a blog tour. I jumped at it as I am a huge fan of Garth Nix’s Old Kingdom series (starting with [b:Sabriel|13345|Sabriel (Abhorsen, #1)|Garth Nix|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1389923773l/13345._SY75_.jpg|3312237] & ending, currently, at [b:Goldenhand|30043943|Goldenhand (The Old Kingdom)|Garth Nix|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1487268793l/30043943._SX50_.jpg|42858213]) and Keys to the Kingdom series (starting with [b:Mister Monday|819920|Mister Monday (The Keys to the Kingdom, #1)|Garth Nix|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348282937l/819920._SX50_.jpg|1243291] & ending with [b:Lord Sunday|6912654|Lord Sunday (The Keys to the Kingdom, #7)|Garth Nix|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328049225l/6912654._SX50_.jpg|6125609]). What came as a surprise was when the publisher said “We’re sending you a book for review for the tour”. Now, I don’t normally do reviews for tours as you all know and I had preordered my copy of the book already. But I went “Sod it!” and decided to be involved. Unless something unspeakably awful happened in the book, I was going to be involved in this tour.
Over a century ago, the country of Ystara fell to the Ash Blood plague. If anyone came into contact with the magic of an angel, regardless of the angel’s level, their blood will turn into ash or the person will transform into a terrifying beastling.
It’s been over a century since Liliath crept into the empty sarcophagus of Saint Marguerite and slept, waiting. But now she is awake, and she has a plan. She still is nineteen, she still looks beautiful and she still is as singleminded as she was before her sleep. She is determined to find the missing archangel of Ystara, Pelleniel.
But for her plans to succeed, her quest centres round four young Sarancians, each so different and yet, share something important. But what connects the doctor-in-training Simeon, the fortune hunter Herni, the musketeer Agnez, and the scholar and icon maker Dorotea?
When the four meet by sheer chance, they feel the kinship between them instantly, though they have no idea why. Only Liliath knows why they are so important and she has plans to manipulate the Queen, her musketeers and everyone around her to achieve her ends…
So… where do I begin?
I loved this. I knew I would within the first few pages so it's going to be really difficult to explain why I had such a blast reading with.
Yes, this is Garth Nix’s first “adult” novel, but it didn’t feel adult compared to Garth’s young adult series, Old Kingdom. It felt like the first time I read Sabriel in my teens, in which I felt in awe of the world I was reading and wanted to know more.
Plus, it was one of those fantasy books where it threw you in at the deep end and hoped you would get a grip of the world and how the magic system worked. It’s rare I enjoy those types of books, but there was something about this made me go “Ok, I don’t understand what’s going on, but I am on board with it”. And then, you go “OOOH!” as everything clicks into place.
The characters were interesting and I loved reading a fantasy book where you have strong, smart, high-powered women in this book.
I could go on and on about my thoughts and feelings over this book, but I loved it. I want Garth to write more books set in this world and I am already trying to figure out when I’m going to reread this.
Write-Up Taken from The Pewter Wolf
*** Book was given by publisher, Gollancz, in exchange for honest review/reaction***
I had plans to buy this. I honestly did! I preordered it and EVERYTHING! So it came as a huge surprise to me when I got an email from Gollancz, asking if anyone wanted to be involved in a blog tour. I jumped at it as I am a huge fan of Garth Nix’s Old Kingdom series (starting with [b:Sabriel|13345|Sabriel (Abhorsen, #1)|Garth Nix|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1389923773l/13345._SY75_.jpg|3312237] & ending, currently, at [b:Goldenhand|30043943|Goldenhand (The Old Kingdom)|Garth Nix|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1487268793l/30043943._SX50_.jpg|42858213]) and Keys to the Kingdom series (starting with [b:Mister Monday|819920|Mister Monday (The Keys to the Kingdom, #1)|Garth Nix|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348282937l/819920._SX50_.jpg|1243291] & ending with [b:Lord Sunday|6912654|Lord Sunday (The Keys to the Kingdom, #7)|Garth Nix|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328049225l/6912654._SX50_.jpg|6125609]). What came as a surprise was when the publisher said “We’re sending you a book for review for the tour”. Now, I don’t normally do reviews for tours as you all know and I had preordered my copy of the book already. But I went “Sod it!” and decided to be involved. Unless something unspeakably awful happened in the book, I was going to be involved in this tour.
Over a century ago, the country of Ystara fell to the Ash Blood plague. If anyone came into contact with the magic of an angel, regardless of the angel’s level, their blood will turn into ash or the person will transform into a terrifying beastling.
It’s been over a century since Liliath crept into the empty sarcophagus of Saint Marguerite and slept, waiting. But now she is awake, and she has a plan. She still is nineteen, she still looks beautiful and she still is as singleminded as she was before her sleep. She is determined to find the missing archangel of Ystara, Pelleniel.
But for her plans to succeed, her quest centres round four young Sarancians, each so different and yet, share something important. But what connects the doctor-in-training Simeon, the fortune hunter Herni, the musketeer Agnez, and the scholar and icon maker Dorotea?
When the four meet by sheer chance, they feel the kinship between them instantly, though they have no idea why. Only Liliath knows why they are so important and she has plans to manipulate the Queen, her musketeers and everyone around her to achieve her ends…
So… where do I begin?
I loved this. I knew I would within the first few pages so it's going to be really difficult to explain why I had such a blast reading with.
Yes, this is Garth Nix’s first “adult” novel, but it didn’t feel adult compared to Garth’s young adult series, Old Kingdom. It felt like the first time I read Sabriel in my teens, in which I felt in awe of the world I was reading and wanted to know more.
Plus, it was one of those fantasy books where it threw you in at the deep end and hoped you would get a grip of the world and how the magic system worked. It’s rare I enjoy those types of books, but there was something about this made me go “Ok, I don’t understand what’s going on, but I am on board with it”. And then, you go “OOOH!” as everything clicks into place.
The characters were interesting and I loved reading a fantasy book where you have strong, smart, high-powered women in this book.
I could go on and on about my thoughts and feelings over this book, but I loved it. I want Garth to write more books set in this world and I am already trying to figure out when I’m going to reread this.