Tread of Angels by Rebecca Roanhorse
My Five Word TL/DR Review : Really liked it, wanted more
I really enjoyed Tread of Angels, it’s pacy, it has a Western setting and a murder mystery that culminates in a court case and it’s a surprise story about good and evil and the surprises you uncover when you jump to hasty conclusions. Basically, this is a world with very clear demarcations, a world of angels and demons. It takes a look at class and privilege and how nothing is ever as black and white as it may seem.
This is such a good read, I really enjoyed myself and almost read it in one sitting. My only real problem, and of course everyone will have different mileage where this is concerned, I really think this could have been a little longer. An extra 100 pages would have given a better build up and less of a rushed feel to the ending. As it is, I seriously hope this is a setting that the author will return to.
Let’s look at the setting. Goetia is a boomtown where wealthy mines provide the source of power for the latest innovations. It’s also a town with a rich history where battles were fought and the Fallen are only now tolerated for their ability to detect where the wealthiest lodes worth mining can be found. Virtues (archangels) rule the town and the inhabitants fall into the Elect (angelic descent) and the Fallen (demons).
The main character, Celeste now lives and works within Goetia’s fallen side of town, although she was raised by her father and could pass amongst the Elect. Her sister Mariel was raised by their mother in the slums. The two now work in a gaming house, Celeste at a card table and her sister, owner of such a beautiful song voice, as a celebrated singer. Things go terribly wrong when the body of a murdered Virtue is discovered and Mariel accused of the murder. Celeste will do anything to protect her sister and finds herself appointed as Advocatus Diaboli (devil’s advocate). She only has a very small window of opportunity to discover the truth and save Mariel from execution.
What I really liked about this in the first instance was the wild west setting which I am a total sucker for at the moment. Couple this with angels and demons and we have this commentary on racism and the opportunity to look at human nature at it’s best and worst. Not everything is always as clear cut as it may first appear and people will at times go to extreme lengths to protect those they love.
On top of this I really enjoyed the murder mystery. To be honest I don’t think the eventual conclusion was a surprise but regardless of that I enjoyed following Celeste on her search for answers.
Overall, this was a really good read although I can’t help wishing for more and I would return to this world without hesitation.
I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
My rating 4 of 5 stars
Booking Ahead/Weekly Wrap Up
I’m trying to get back into the habit of doing a round-up of the week just completed and also take a look at my plans for the forthcoming week. I rather got out of the habit of doing so but I would like to reinstate this type of post as I feel it keeps me on track. So, I’m linking up to The Sunday Post over at Kimberly’s Caffeinated Reviewer. Without further ado:
Books read this week:
This week I’ve managed to squeeze in a few books as well as spending the weekend decorating and feeling mostly exhausted. I listened to A Restless Truth by Freya Marske which is a period murder mystery with magic and mayhem, a little romance and, ahem, quite racy in places. I read Pulling the Wings off Angels by KJ Parker which was a very quick read, maybe not quite what I’d expected, a good dose of humour and a theological discussion. Tread of Angels by Rebecca Roanhorse which I loved. Also, The Creeper by AM Shine which I will say is very well named! Finally I started Silvia Moreno Garcia’s Signal to Noise. The jury is out so far with this one although its early days so we’ll see – that being said I’ve loved all her previous books so fingers crossed.
Next Week’s Reads:
Well, apart from needing to post quite a few reviews I’d like to complete my first SPFBO finalist. Then maybe pick up The Witch and the Tsar by Olesya Salnikova Gilmore to get a head start on December.
Reviews Posted since my last Sunday Post:
- The Hollows by Daniel Church
- Reluctant Immortals by Gwendolyn Kiste
- Love Will Tear Us Apart by CK McDonnell
- The Winter Killer by Alex Pines
- A Restless Truth by Freya Marske
- Pulling the Wings off Angels by KJ Parker
- Tread of Angels by Rebecca Roanhorse
- The Creeper by AM Shine
The Hollows by Daniel Church
My Five Word TL:DR : Well, that got weird fast
If you’re thinking of reading the Hollows I would just say expect the unexpected. To be honest, I don’t quite know what I was expecting when I picked this one up, I usually try to pick my books up knowing as little as possible and that was the case with this one – although I did expect something mysterious. In a way this leaves me with a quandary when writing this review because I actually don’t want to give anything away.
So, a brief overview. The story starts with the local Constable, Ellie Cheetham, being called to the scene of a death where she finds a local man who appears to have suffered a tragic accident – although things don’t quite add up. At this point the story had a rather typical police routine feel – although this is set to change dramatically. Ellie has the unwelcome task to letting the family know, a task made so much worse because the family in question are troublesome to say the best and definitely dangerous. To make matters worse the small village of Barsall is experiencing the worst storm ever. Snow is already mounting up and pretty soon the small village will be isolated. And, well, trouble is on it’s way. I won’t say more than that.
Without telling you anything specific this is a Lovecraftian or cosmic horror. We have some incredibly creepy critters that seem to be so ancient that very little is known of them except that they’re only the opening gambit and much worse is yet to follow.
The setting really plays into the story. This is a small village. Everyone seems to be known to each other. Petty resentments and gossip run deep and the local ‘bad family’ have caused enough upset amongst the locals to create very bad feeling. There is definitely a line being drawn in the snow here and behind one line lies all the knowledge. On top of this there’s the claustrophobic feel created by the isolation caused by the store. Conditions are beyond dangerous. Power is going out and contact with the wider outside world is virtually non existent. Basically, even if help could be called in there’d be a struggle to get to Barsall – and help can’t be called. This disconnect also feeds into the story making the characters unsure if these strange events are isolated to them alone or more widespread in nature. Also, lets not forget the freezing temperatures.
To the characters. The main character is Ellie. I liked her. She was relatable. She had doubts, she sometimes just wanted to lash out, she cared about her friends and also about the people in the village that were her responsibility. She was frustrated and also scared but she took action when she needed to. The baddies of the story – I’ll leave you to make your own mind up about them, their actions spiral out of control degenerating rapidly when they realise how bad the situation is for the villagers. Years of resentment and prejudice have definitely worked their magic in that respect. I mean, at the end of the day you’re not supposed to like them and the author does an excellent job of making them unsympathetic. You’re meant to dislike them basically.
The writing is good, I think there was perhaps a little bit of repetition here or there but for me, once the action really got underway the pacing is really ramped up and I found myself gripped to the pages.
In terms of criticisms. I think I would have liked to know a little bit more about exactly what we’re dealing with here and I felt that aspect was lacking. But that’s just me really wanting all the information. As it is, sometimes you have to just pick up a book and read it and not try to dig too deep. Put bluntly this book brings to us something ancient and forgotten.
Overall, this was an unexpected horror that totally held my attention. I found myself caring enough about a small group of these characters that I kept racing to the end where the author delivers not just a dramatic life or death situation with a small village of people trying desperately to stay alive but also some pretty freaky horror that was so unexpected that I may (or may not) have been reading with my jaw agapte.
I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
My rating 4 of 5 stars.
Can’t Wait Wednesday : Scarlet by Genevieve Cogman
16 November 2022
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Can't wait Wednesday, Genevieve Cogman, Scarlet, Wishful Endings
“Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly meme that was originally created by Breaking the Spine. Unfortunately Breaking the Spine are no longer hosting so I’m now linking my posts up to Wishful Endings Can’t Wait Wednesday. Don’t forget to stop over, link up and check out what books everyone else is waiting for. If you want to take part, basically, every Wednesday, we highlight a book that we’re really looking forward to. This week my book is : Scarlet by Genevieve Cogman. I love this author and a reimagining of the Scarlet Pimpernel in an alternate revolutionary France, with Vampires – sign me up.
A thrilling reinvention of the tale of The Scarlet Pimpernel with the addition of magic and even more mayhem.
In Revolutionary France, the aristocrats are vampires – and they face the guillotine. However, the Scarlet Pimpernel, a disguised British noble, is determined to rescue them. These predators are being offered sanctuary by their aristocratic British kin, but at great cost to London’s ordinary people. Then an English maid discovers the only power that could stop them. Assuming she survives.
Scarlet is the first book in the trilogy, set during the turbulent French Revolution, and featuring all of Genevieve Cogman’s trademark wit and fast-paced plotting. It’s perfect for fans of The Invisible Library series, Kim Newman and Gail Carriger.
Expected publication : May 2023
Reluctant Immortals by Gwendolyn Kiste
My Five Word TL:DR Review : The forgotten females fight back
From the outset I will say that I really enjoyed this in more ways than one. On the one hand this is a cinematic style story, fast paced and, in spite of (or perhaps because of) the horror, fun, entertaining and easy to get on with. On the other it’s like an ode to women. Kiste has taken a look at two forgotten females and rewritten their endings bringing a freshness to their stories effectively giving them a second chance whilst delivering a strong feminist message.
A quick overview of what’s taking place here. Lucy Westenra and Bertha Mason are the two main characters and the story is narrated by Lucy. We meet them as they houseshare in Los Angeles during the 60s, the Summer of Love – I must say that this is an inspired era to write this story, firstly, it feeds into the, well, for want of a better word, plausibility. All these young people, desperately experimenting and in search of new experiences – they would certainly make easy pickings for the true villain of this narrative who would undoubtedly find it much easier to go unnoticed during all the partying. And, then of course – could you be more ironic? Setting this particular tale of horror during the Summer of Love. Anway, I digress. Lucy and Bertha (Bee) are characters from Dracula and Jane Eyre. They’re the females who have been forgotten. Lucy was yet one more victim of Dracula in his pursuit of Mina and Bee was the wife that Rochester hid in the attic as he pursued Jane. Now, if you’re familiar with either of these two stories you may be aware that (slight spoiler alert) both characters died during the course of the original works. However, both have been cursed with immortality and the ability to return again and again. Both, during the course of the years discovered each other and became friends and both now spend their existence trying to keep Dracula and Rochester at bay.
So, what did I like about this book. Firstly, I was unaware that I needed a little feminist horror in my life but apparently I do – who knew. Secondly, I enjoyed both the characters Lucy and Bee, they both struggle with their own demons but they are consistent in their friendship to each other and adamant about their dislike for the controlling men from their lives. Thirdly, the writing is really good. Kiste is one of those authors who makes everything seem simple somehow. Her writing is smooth, her dialogue is completely relatable, she doesn’t overegg the pudding, there are no long winded descriptions or purple prose and just the right amount of backstory to give you a real flavour and she manages to bring some new elements to both stories, but in particular to the vampire myth. I would say that I don’t think it’s necessary to have read both the classics used to recreate this story, although it’s easy for me to say I suppose being familiar with both. And I enjoyed all the little nods here – but, seriously I think it’s not necessary to have read those novels (I do recommend them of course).
Reimaginings, retellings or taking a well established story and continuing it in a new light are very popular at the moment and I can totally understand why. Not only does this give an author a chance to revisit already established places and characters but it gives them the opportunity to look at the other side of the coin. Of course this does come with the risk of already well established fans getting huffy but in this case I think the author succeeds in not only giving two lesser known characters a new chance in the spotlight but also making them into the heroes of this story.
Now, in terms of criticisms. I’m not totally sure what I was expecting when I picked this up and I must admit that at one point I wondered where the story was going, but Kiste has a plan. She steadily ramps up the tension and the blood letting. She throws in well known characters and some very surreal ‘afterlife waiting room’ scenes and she manages to bring in some real life issues particularly in relation to women not only in terms of standing up for themselves but also standing up for others – so regardless of my sight early reservation I found myself becoming totally immersed.
Come for the characters and the promise of some vampire horror. Stay for the crazy scenarios, the races, the scrapes with death and the forming (and keeping) of friendships along the way.
I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
My rating 4 of 5 stars
Books and travelling with Lynn 