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A review by mary_soon_lee
A Song with Teeth by T. Frohock
4.0
This is the concluding book in T. Frohock's wonderful historical horror/dark fantasy series, Los Nefilim. Highly recommended, but, as usual with a series, it's best to begin at the start. In this case, I'd recommend beginning with the trio of novellas--collectively published as "Los Nefilim"--that precede the trio of novels.
About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).
Spoiler
Set in Europe during World War II, it's no surprise that there's some very grim materal, including brief scenes in concentration camps. What may came as a surprise to anyone new to the series is how much lightness offsets the dark. The friendships and compassion of the ensemble cast are a delight. I love Frohock's characters, most of all Diago. I love that he is in an established, committed, supportive relationship with another man (well, not exactly a man, neither Miquel nor Diago being human). I love that they have raised their son with warmth and understanding. Together they form one of my favorite fictional families, and it feels like a loss that there will be no more stories about them. I also like how music is used to shape the casting of magic, an unusual and well-executed variation on a fantasy standard. And I like the careful, meticulously researched attention to historical detail.About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).