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mary_soon_lee's review against another edition
4.0
I have been eagerly awaiting this book since I first read "Los Nefilim," three (excellent) novellas centered on the same characters. Often when I most anticipate something, it disappoints. Not so in this case. I devoured this book within 24 hours of receiving it. The story belongs to a subgenre that I rarely enjoy, dealing as it does in angels and daimons, and falling in the borderlands between horror and fantasy. Yet there is a skill to Frohock's writing that allows me to suspend disbelief, and fall into the story. Her prose is fluid, sometimes poetic. The suspense ratchets up as the plot progresses. The 1932 setting in Spain, France, and Germany is darkly atmospheric. But it is Frohock's characters that pleased me most. They are brave, vulnerable, damaged, not quite human, and they care about each other. They help each other, which, it turns out, I much prefer to solitary heroes. In this respect, though the setting and tone are quite different, "Where Oblivion Lives" reminds me of Sharon Lee and Steve Miller's wonderful Liaden Universe. It is the characters who give Frohock's work a great sweetness against a dark backdrop. It is because of those characters that I am impatiently awaiting the next book. Highly recommended, though I would advise starting at "Los Nefilim" and then going on to "Where Oblivion Lives."
queenterribletimy's review
5.0
This review was originally posted on RockStarlit BookAsylum!
"Nothing sinister marked his features, but then again monsters generally moved through the world unobtrusively, camouflaged by banality until their deeds manifested in the form of dead bodies or broken souls."
I've been hearing a lot about Where Oblivion Lives this past year and it was one of those books that seemed to be totally up my alley. Angels? Demons? Music? Hell to the yes! I was absolutely on board with that. I, however, did not heed the advice of others and jumped right to Where Oblivion Lives without reading the three Los Nefilim novellas. And though it not necessarily a must to start with the novellas, I feel like it would have given me much more background and worldbuilding I missed at the beginning and which made me struggle to get into the story at first. Eventually I did put the pieces together and got really hooked and I can only blame myself for being stupid.
Anyway, the book. Where Oblivion Lives is set in 1932, Spain, France and Germany. We are between two world wars - not that the characters know about that - and life is more or less peaceful, though memories from the Great War still linger and cause vivid nightmares for those who were there. Like Diago, who lived through the conflict and on top of the memories he also lost his invaluable Stradivarius. Both of which torments his dreams. When they finally learn about it whereabouts, Diago gets a chance to not only get back a piece of himself, but also to prove his loyalty and value to Los Nefilim. Which starts out as a quick and easy job (not without dangers though) turns into a vicious fight for his life.
I'd rather not tell more about the plot, let's just say, there is a twisty road ahead of our dear Diago. What I'd like to talk about however, is my appreciation for Frohock who chose a really interesting era to set her novel in. Exploring brand new imaginary worlds is always fun, but as someone who loves history (did I mention recently, that I have a degree in History?) I always enjoy reading books set in our world, amidst of real events which play an integral part in the world building and occasionally in the plot. In Where Oblivion Lives we have the Sanjurjo trial mentioned several times as well as the Brownshirts or as they also known officially, the SA, a paramilitary organisation in the Nazi Germany. Hitler himself is also mentioned, though his political role was not as prominent yet. I absolutely enjoyed these hints and side comments, "watching" as history happens in the background while the focus still remained on Diago and his quest. Those seemingly unimpotant nuances added a lot to my enjoyment. And, as it was indicated, mortal events influenced those within the Nefilim, so knowing what came in the years after 1932, I can only imagine how much hardship are coming Diago', Miquel's, Guillermo's and the others' way in later books.
Talking about the characters - we have a wide cast here, three of them who have their own POV: Diago, Guillermo and Jordi. Their relationships and conflicts have a long history through a couple of incarnations. Nefilim are the offspring of mortals and angels or daimons which gives them different skills and powers. They don't always remember their previous lives, but they can be triggered and complicate things in the present. Grudges can be hold through the ages as well as love and friendships. Guillermo and Jordi, two brothers have been fighting for the approval of the Thrones to be a leader of one of the Inner Guards on earth. In this life Guillermo is the leader of the Spanish territory and his group is called Los Nefilim. Jordi wants his birthright and stops at nothing to reach his goal. Diago used to be a rouge for centuries, not woving loyalty to anyone, and not be trusted by many for his Daimon inheritance. People who stand by him no matter what are Guillermo - to whom he swore his loyalty - and Miquel, his lover and husband. The one who keeps him grounded and accepts him the way he is. Their relationship has hardships and they still to learn some things, but their connection is strong and honestly, would be nice to have a relationship like the one they have.
I'm not quite sure why, but I couldn't quite connect with any of the characters in a deeper level, even though they were all fleshed out and had their own agenda. Maybe because I was more focused on figuring out what is going on to really pay attention to them - we have Diago's quest, the resurfacing memories of a past life which leads to complications in the present and then the politics within the Nefilim. It probably didn't help that I partly read it as an audiobook - especially the beginning and some parts toward the end. Audiobooks always makes things a bit tricky, and personally I wasn't really into Vikas Adam's performance, he has a nice voice though.
Even though it took me a while to really get into Where Oblivion Lives due to it having many layers and me being new to the world, by the end I was totally invested. I really liked the mystery, how the different plotlines came together and the cleverly placed hints and historical references. For which I need to praise T. Frohock's writing! That and the way she transformed the music into literary form.
If you are looking for an intriguing historical fiction with LGBTQ characters and music in the spotlight, look no further. I'm pretty sure the Los Nefilim series will be up your alley.
UPDATE:
After reading Los Nefilim then rereading Where Oblivion Lives, I decided to round my rating up to 5*. I said in my review before that I could not really connect with any of the characters. And at the time of writing the review that was true. Now, however, that I know more about Diago, and have a better understanding of what's going on, I have to correct myself. I definitely can connect with Diago. His longing to be accepted, to prove himself, the struggle to face his past and demons. And Guillermo's endless loyalty to his friends. I can't wait to read the next book.
I've been hearing a lot about Where Oblivion Lives this past year and it was one of those books that seemed to be totally up my alley. Angels? Demons? Music? Hell to the yes! I was absolutely on board with that. I, however, did not heed the advice of others and jumped right to Where Oblivion Lives without reading the three Los Nefilim novellas. And though it not necessarily a must to start with the novellas, I feel like it would have given me much more background and worldbuilding I missed at the beginning and which made me struggle to get into the story at first. Eventually I did put the pieces together and got really hooked and I can only blame myself for being stupid.
Anyway, the book. Where Oblivion Lives is set in 1932, Spain, France and Germany. We are between two world wars - not that the characters know about that - and life is more or less peaceful, though memories from the Great War still linger and cause vivid nightmares for those who were there. Like Diago, who lived through the conflict and on top of the memories he also lost his invaluable Stradivarius. Both of which torments his dreams. When they finally learn about it whereabouts, Diago gets a chance to not only get back a piece of himself, but also to prove his loyalty and value to Los Nefilim. Which starts out as a quick and easy job (not without dangers though) turns into a vicious fight for his life.
I'd rather not tell more about the plot, let's just say, there is a twisty road ahead of our dear Diago. What I'd like to talk about however, is my appreciation for Frohock who chose a really interesting era to set her novel in. Exploring brand new imaginary worlds is always fun, but as someone who loves history (did I mention recently, that I have a degree in History?) I always enjoy reading books set in our world, amidst of real events which play an integral part in the world building and occasionally in the plot. In Where Oblivion Lives we have the Sanjurjo trial mentioned several times as well as the Brownshirts or as they also known officially, the SA, a paramilitary organisation in the Nazi Germany. Hitler himself is also mentioned, though his political role was not as prominent yet. I absolutely enjoyed these hints and side comments, "watching" as history happens in the background while the focus still remained on Diago and his quest. Those seemingly unimpotant nuances added a lot to my enjoyment. And, as it was indicated, mortal events influenced those within the Nefilim, so knowing what came in the years after 1932, I can only imagine how much hardship are coming Diago', Miquel's, Guillermo's and the others' way in later books.
Talking about the characters - we have a wide cast here, three of them who have their own POV: Diago, Guillermo and Jordi. Their relationships and conflicts have a long history through a couple of incarnations. Nefilim are the offspring of mortals and angels or daimons which gives them different skills and powers. They don't always remember their previous lives, but they can be triggered and complicate things in the present. Grudges can be hold through the ages as well as love and friendships. Guillermo and Jordi, two brothers have been fighting for the approval of the Thrones to be a leader of one of the Inner Guards on earth. In this life Guillermo is the leader of the Spanish territory and his group is called Los Nefilim. Jordi wants his birthright and stops at nothing to reach his goal. Diago used to be a rouge for centuries, not woving loyalty to anyone, and not be trusted by many for his Daimon inheritance. People who stand by him no matter what are Guillermo - to whom he swore his loyalty - and Miquel, his lover and husband. The one who keeps him grounded and accepts him the way he is. Their relationship has hardships and they still to learn some things, but their connection is strong and honestly, would be nice to have a relationship like the one they have.
I'm not quite sure why, but I couldn't quite connect with any of the characters in a deeper level, even though they were all fleshed out and had their own agenda. Maybe because I was more focused on figuring out what is going on to really pay attention to them - we have Diago's quest, the resurfacing memories of a past life which leads to complications in the present and then the politics within the Nefilim. It probably didn't help that I partly read it as an audiobook - especially the beginning and some parts toward the end. Audiobooks always makes things a bit tricky, and personally I wasn't really into Vikas Adam's performance, he has a nice voice though.
Even though it took me a while to really get into Where Oblivion Lives due to it having many layers and me being new to the world, by the end I was totally invested. I really liked the mystery, how the different plotlines came together and the cleverly placed hints and historical references. For which I need to praise T. Frohock's writing! That and the way she transformed the music into literary form.
If you are looking for an intriguing historical fiction with LGBTQ characters and music in the spotlight, look no further. I'm pretty sure the Los Nefilim series will be up your alley.
UPDATE:
After reading Los Nefilim then rereading Where Oblivion Lives, I decided to round my rating up to 5*. I said in my review before that I could not really connect with any of the characters. And at the time of writing the review that was true. Now, however, that I know more about Diago, and have a better understanding of what's going on, I have to correct myself. I definitely can connect with Diago. His longing to be accepted, to prove himself, the struggle to face his past and demons. And Guillermo's endless loyalty to his friends. I can't wait to read the next book.
bookish_notes's review against another edition
5.0
Initial reaction 2/17/22:
MORE PEOPLE SHOULD BE READING THIS SERIES!!
this is so good??? it’s loving and CREEPY as hell. I don’t read many historicals at all but this paranormal historical fantasy at the beginning of WW2 with angels and demons has me in a chokehold. Diago and Miquel are SO LOVELY and they keep finding each other through their reincarnations?? and Diago and Guillermo as good friends as me WEAK.
Vikas Adam narrating this is a top tier choice. he can get me to read to anything, no matter how confusing things seem at first (hello, Chorus of Dragons). I skipped the prequel novellas because I was not in a reading-with-my-eyeballs mood but I will go back to them! If the publisher wants to record those as audio, I would not object! I want more Diago and Miquel.
MORE PEOPLE SHOULD BE READING THIS SERIES!!
this is so good??? it’s loving and CREEPY as hell. I don’t read many historicals at all but this paranormal historical fantasy at the beginning of WW2 with angels and demons has me in a chokehold. Diago and Miquel are SO LOVELY and they keep finding each other through their reincarnations?? and Diago and Guillermo as good friends as me WEAK.
Vikas Adam narrating this is a top tier choice. he can get me to read to anything, no matter how confusing things seem at first (hello, Chorus of Dragons). I skipped the prequel novellas because I was not in a reading-with-my-eyeballs mood but I will go back to them! If the publisher wants to record those as audio, I would not object! I want more Diago and Miquel.
daniella's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
nickgoe's review against another edition
4.0
There were some really interesting happenings toward the end of the book that make me look forward to more, but it didn't really hook me until over halfway in.
queenterribletimy's review against another edition
5.0
This review was originally posted on RockStarlit BookAsylum!
"Nothing sinister marked his features, but then again monsters generally moved through the world unobtrusively, camouflaged by banality until their deeds manifested in the form of dead bodies or broken souls."
I've been hearing a lot about Where Oblivion Lives this past year and it was one of those books that seemed to be totally up my alley. Angels? Demons? Music? Hell to the yes! I was absolutely on board with that. I, however, did not heed the advice of others and jumped right to Where Oblivion Lives without reading the three Los Nefilim novellas. And though it not necessarily a must to start with the novellas, I feel like it would have given me much more background and worldbuilding I missed at the beginning and which made me struggle to get into the story at first. Eventually I did put the pieces together and got really hooked and I can only blame myself for being stupid.
Anyway, the book. Where Oblivion Lives is set in 1932, Spain, France and Germany. We are between two world wars - not that the characters know about that - and life is more or less peaceful, though memories from the Great War still linger and cause vivid nightmares for those who were there. Like Diago, who lived through the conflict and on top of the memories he also lost his invaluable Stradivarius. Both of which torments his dreams. When they finally learn about it whereabouts, Diago gets a chance to not only get back a piece of himself, but also to prove his loyalty and value to Los Nefilim. Which starts out as a quick and easy job (not without dangers though) turns into a vicious fight for his life.
I'd rather not tell more about the plot, let's just say, there is a twisty road ahead of our dear Diago. What I'd like to talk about however, is my appreciation for Frohock who chose a really interesting era to set her novel in. Exploring brand new imaginary worlds is always fun, but as someone who loves history (did I mention recently, that I have a degree in History?) I always enjoy reading books set in our world, amidst of real events which play an integral part in the world building and occasionally in the plot. In Where Oblivion Lives we have the Sanjurjo trial mentioned several times as well as the Brownshirts or as they also known officially, the SA, a paramilitary organisation in the Nazi Germany. Hitler himself is also mentioned, though his political role was not as prominent yet. I absolutely enjoyed these hints and side comments, "watching" as history happens in the background while the focus still remained on Diago and his quest. Those seemingly unimpotant nuances added a lot to my enjoyment. And, as it was indicated, mortal events influenced those within the Nefilim, so knowing what came in the years after 1932, I can only imagine how much hardship are coming Diago', Miquel's, Guillermo's and the others' way in later books.
Talking about the characters - we have a wide cast here, three of them who have their own POV: Diago, Guillermo and Jordi. Their relationships and conflicts have a long history through a couple of incarnations. Nefilim are the offspring of mortals and angels or daimons which gives them different skills and powers. They don't always remember their previous lives, but they can be triggered and complicate things in the present. Grudges can be hold through the ages as well as love and friendships. Guillermo and Jordi, two brothers have been fighting for the approval of the Thrones to be a leader of one of the Inner Guards on earth. In this life Guillermo is the leader of the Spanish territory and his group is called Los Nefilim. Jordi wants his birthright and stops at nothing to reach his goal. Diago used to be a rouge for centuries, not woving loyalty to anyone, and not be trusted by many for his Daimon inheritance. People who stand by him no matter what are Guillermo - to whom he swore his loyalty - and Miquel, his lover and husband. The one who keeps him grounded and accepts him the way he is. Their relationship has hardships and they still to learn some things, but their connection is strong and honestly, would be nice to have a relationship like the one they have.
I'm not quite sure why, but I couldn't quite connect with any of the characters in a deeper level, even though they were all fleshed out and had their own agenda. Maybe because I was more focused on figuring out what is going on to really pay attention to them - we have Diago's quest, the resurfacing memories of a past life which leads to complications in the present and then the politics within the Nefilim. It probably didn't help that I partly read it as an audiobook - especially the beginning and some parts toward the end. Audiobooks always makes things a bit tricky, and personally I wasn't really into Vikas Adam's performance, he has a nice voice though.
Even though it took me a while to really get into Where Oblivion Lives due to it having many layers and me being new to the world, by the end I was totally invested. I really liked the mystery, how the different plotlines came together and the cleverly placed hints and historical references. For which I need to praise T. Frohock's writing! That and the way she transformed the music into literary form.
If you are looking for an intriguing historical fiction with LGBTQ characters and music in the spotlight, look no further. I'm pretty sure the Los Nefilim series will be up your alley.
UPDATE:
After reading Los Nefilim then rereading Where Oblivion Lives, I decided to round my rating up to 5*. I said in my review before that I could not really connect with any of the characters. And at the time of writing the review that was true. Now, however, that I know more about Diago, and have a better understanding of what's going on, I have to correct myself. I definitely can connect with Diago. His longing to be accepted, to prove himself, the struggle to face his past and demons. And Guillermo's endless loyalty to his friends. I can't wait to read the next book.
I've been hearing a lot about Where Oblivion Lives this past year and it was one of those books that seemed to be totally up my alley. Angels? Demons? Music? Hell to the yes! I was absolutely on board with that. I, however, did not heed the advice of others and jumped right to Where Oblivion Lives without reading the three Los Nefilim novellas. And though it not necessarily a must to start with the novellas, I feel like it would have given me much more background and worldbuilding I missed at the beginning and which made me struggle to get into the story at first. Eventually I did put the pieces together and got really hooked and I can only blame myself for being stupid.
Anyway, the book. Where Oblivion Lives is set in 1932, Spain, France and Germany. We are between two world wars - not that the characters know about that - and life is more or less peaceful, though memories from the Great War still linger and cause vivid nightmares for those who were there. Like Diago, who lived through the conflict and on top of the memories he also lost his invaluable Stradivarius. Both of which torments his dreams. When they finally learn about it whereabouts, Diago gets a chance to not only get back a piece of himself, but also to prove his loyalty and value to Los Nefilim. Which starts out as a quick and easy job (not without dangers though) turns into a vicious fight for his life.
I'd rather not tell more about the plot, let's just say, there is a twisty road ahead of our dear Diago. What I'd like to talk about however, is my appreciation for Frohock who chose a really interesting era to set her novel in. Exploring brand new imaginary worlds is always fun, but as someone who loves history (did I mention recently, that I have a degree in History?) I always enjoy reading books set in our world, amidst of real events which play an integral part in the world building and occasionally in the plot. In Where Oblivion Lives we have the Sanjurjo trial mentioned several times as well as the Brownshirts or as they also known officially, the SA, a paramilitary organisation in the Nazi Germany. Hitler himself is also mentioned, though his political role was not as prominent yet. I absolutely enjoyed these hints and side comments, "watching" as history happens in the background while the focus still remained on Diago and his quest. Those seemingly unimpotant nuances added a lot to my enjoyment. And, as it was indicated, mortal events influenced those within the Nefilim, so knowing what came in the years after 1932, I can only imagine how much hardship are coming Diago', Miquel's, Guillermo's and the others' way in later books.
Talking about the characters - we have a wide cast here, three of them who have their own POV: Diago, Guillermo and Jordi. Their relationships and conflicts have a long history through a couple of incarnations. Nefilim are the offspring of mortals and angels or daimons which gives them different skills and powers. They don't always remember their previous lives, but they can be triggered and complicate things in the present. Grudges can be hold through the ages as well as love and friendships. Guillermo and Jordi, two brothers have been fighting for the approval of the Thrones to be a leader of one of the Inner Guards on earth. In this life Guillermo is the leader of the Spanish territory and his group is called Los Nefilim. Jordi wants his birthright and stops at nothing to reach his goal. Diago used to be a rouge for centuries, not woving loyalty to anyone, and not be trusted by many for his Daimon inheritance. People who stand by him no matter what are Guillermo - to whom he swore his loyalty - and Miquel, his lover and husband. The one who keeps him grounded and accepts him the way he is. Their relationship has hardships and they still to learn some things, but their connection is strong and honestly, would be nice to have a relationship like the one they have.
I'm not quite sure why, but I couldn't quite connect with any of the characters in a deeper level, even though they were all fleshed out and had their own agenda. Maybe because I was more focused on figuring out what is going on to really pay attention to them - we have Diago's quest, the resurfacing memories of a past life which leads to complications in the present and then the politics within the Nefilim. It probably didn't help that I partly read it as an audiobook - especially the beginning and some parts toward the end. Audiobooks always makes things a bit tricky, and personally I wasn't really into Vikas Adam's performance, he has a nice voice though.
Even though it took me a while to really get into Where Oblivion Lives due to it having many layers and me being new to the world, by the end I was totally invested. I really liked the mystery, how the different plotlines came together and the cleverly placed hints and historical references. For which I need to praise T. Frohock's writing! That and the way she transformed the music into literary form.
If you are looking for an intriguing historical fiction with LGBTQ characters and music in the spotlight, look no further. I'm pretty sure the Los Nefilim series will be up your alley.
UPDATE:
After reading Los Nefilim then rereading Where Oblivion Lives, I decided to round my rating up to 5*. I said in my review before that I could not really connect with any of the characters. And at the time of writing the review that was true. Now, however, that I know more about Diago, and have a better understanding of what's going on, I have to correct myself. I definitely can connect with Diago. His longing to be accepted, to prove himself, the struggle to face his past and demons. And Guillermo's endless loyalty to his friends. I can't wait to read the next book.
ohallows's review against another edition
4.5
def wouldn't consider this horror but I really really really liked it wow. would love some more female characters and that's the only reason I'm not giving it a full 5*
tfrohock's review against another edition
5.0
I'm taking advantage of the Kindle notes to add annotations to the text in case anyone is interested.
You can find the Kindle Notes here. There are currently five, but I'll be adding more over the next few days.
If you enjoyed the [b:Los Nefilim|26029556|Los Nefilim (Los Nefilim #1-3)|T. Frohock|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1456692197s/26029556.jpg|45955333] novellas--[b:In Midnight's Silence|25250075|In Midnight's Silence (Los Nefilim, #1)|T. Frohock|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1428926047s/25250075.jpg|44970889], [b:Without Light or Guide|25250076|Without Light or Guide (Los Nefilim, #2)|T. Frohock|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1438111932s/25250076.jpg|44970890], and [b:The Second Death|25887325|The Second Death (Los Nefilim, #3)|T. Frohock|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1452299518s/25887325.jpg|45728446]--check out Where Oblivion Dwells.
Diago and all of the nefilim are back for a brand new adventure. Bonus points for getting to do a novel, so I'm able to share more of Los Nefilim's mythology with you.
You can find the Kindle Notes here. There are currently five, but I'll be adding more over the next few days.
If you enjoyed the [b:Los Nefilim|26029556|Los Nefilim (Los Nefilim #1-3)|T. Frohock|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1456692197s/26029556.jpg|45955333] novellas--[b:In Midnight's Silence|25250075|In Midnight's Silence (Los Nefilim, #1)|T. Frohock|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1428926047s/25250075.jpg|44970889], [b:Without Light or Guide|25250076|Without Light or Guide (Los Nefilim, #2)|T. Frohock|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1438111932s/25250076.jpg|44970890], and [b:The Second Death|25887325|The Second Death (Los Nefilim, #3)|T. Frohock|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1452299518s/25887325.jpg|45728446]--check out Where Oblivion Dwells.
Diago and all of the nefilim are back for a brand new adventure. Bonus points for getting to do a novel, so I'm able to share more of Los Nefilim's mythology with you.
stephanieridiculous's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
This was an interesting read more than it was a good one? It was close to excellent, but fell short, which makes it a little more disappointing.
The world building here is fascinating, but I never really felt like I actually understood everything happening. I assume this is due to there being 3 novellas that predate this, and Frohock has already settled into this world, and assumes you have, too. (I could be wrong, but that's the vibe I got.)
I really enjoyed the use of alternating POV, although there were a few jump scenes that were utilized to keep the reader in the dark of what was about to happen - when the rest of the prose is full of over explaining. It was a jarring juxtaposition.
Pros: Great characters, including strong and powerful men who are also vulnerable and loving toward their families & within friendships. Interesting magic. Good use of building magic into the existing world (with one caveat I'll talk about below.) The pacing was great, I never really felt bored.
Cons: As I mentioned above, I always felt just slightly out of the loop. Forhock uses lighting another cigarette/cigars ENTIRELY TOO MUCH - in reality if they smoked this much no one would be able to see a darn thing. The technical explanations of how the magic worked were pretty awful, if I'm honest - it was hokey and nonsensical to me, and the climactic scene just felt like gibberish to me. And regarding the integration of magic into the existing world I didn't really care for the comparison to Biblical characters. I totally get the "re-writing the narrative" excuse, but the characters didn't totally vibe for me.
Anyway, all in all - it was interesting, and an mostly enjoyable fast paced read. I doubt I'll read anything else in this setting, but I might seek out other works by Frohock.
The world building here is fascinating, but I never really felt like I actually understood everything happening. I assume this is due to there being 3 novellas that predate this, and Frohock has already settled into this world, and assumes you have, too. (I could be wrong, but that's the vibe I got.)
I really enjoyed the use of alternating POV, although there were a few jump scenes that were utilized to keep the reader in the dark of what was about to happen - when the rest of the prose is full of over explaining. It was a jarring juxtaposition.
Pros: Great characters, including strong and powerful men who are also vulnerable and loving toward their families & within friendships. Interesting magic. Good use of building magic into the existing world (with one caveat I'll talk about below.) The pacing was great, I never really felt bored.
Cons: As I mentioned above, I always felt just slightly out of the loop. Forhock uses lighting another cigarette/cigars ENTIRELY TOO MUCH - in reality if they smoked this much no one would be able to see a darn thing. The technical explanations of how the magic worked were pretty awful, if I'm honest - it was hokey and nonsensical to me, and the climactic scene just felt like gibberish to me. And regarding the integration of magic into the existing world I didn't really care for the comparison to Biblical characters. I totally get the "re-writing the narrative" excuse, but the characters didn't totally vibe for me.
Anyway, all in all - it was interesting, and an mostly enjoyable fast paced read. I doubt I'll read anything else in this setting, but I might seek out other works by Frohock.
gennywren6237's review against another edition
4.0
I probably shouldn't be reviewing anything right now. I've got a head cold that has my brain meats throbbing to their own internal samba band. On the other hand, maybe that's precisely the right state to be in to review this book.
I was so excited to find out that this book had been published. I'd loved the first three, but I know that the publishing world - the writing world - is a difficult one, and that Ms. Frohock has to work full time which eats considerably into writing time. So while I'd hoped and hoped, I knew it would be a while before we saw these guys again.
Mind you, she's still doing it to me - hints of backstory without actually giving us all of the backstory. It drives me mad, but she does it so *well*. And it does have the added bonus of making you feel like you've just stepped into someone else's life. You don't get all of the answers because this *isn't* your world, it's theirs - and it's real, and dangerous and beautiful.
I really love the mythos that she's built up around the angels and the nephilim. Making music the key to their language and their magic may not be an entirely new conceit, but she makes it feel new - and it feels real enough in her descriptions that even those without a lot of musical talent can *feel* it, which does so much to add weight to the story that we're reading.
Once again, the character of Diago, dominates. Miquel and Rafael are there, and important, but it is very much Diago's story. We get more of his backstory here, as well as the story of one of his past lives. We also get some extra time with his boss, Guillermo, which is lovely - I really enjoy his character and it was nice to get to know him better.
I feel like I'm not doing this review the justice it deserves. I may come back and do some rewriting when I'm feeling a bit less head-spinny. What I will say is this: if you like historical fantasy, read this. If you like books about angels, read this. If you like books with strong, interesting gay main characters, read this. If, like me, you like all of this, but you particularly like characters who feel real and human and entirely relatable - definitely read this. You won't be disappointed. Ms Frohock has, once again, created a very tight, well plotted story, with a creative, richly mythological world. She's a treasure.
I was so excited to find out that this book had been published. I'd loved the first three, but I know that the publishing world - the writing world - is a difficult one, and that Ms. Frohock has to work full time which eats considerably into writing time. So while I'd hoped and hoped, I knew it would be a while before we saw these guys again.
Mind you, she's still doing it to me - hints of backstory without actually giving us all of the backstory. It drives me mad, but she does it so *well*. And it does have the added bonus of making you feel like you've just stepped into someone else's life. You don't get all of the answers because this *isn't* your world, it's theirs - and it's real, and dangerous and beautiful.
I really love the mythos that she's built up around the angels and the nephilim. Making music the key to their language and their magic may not be an entirely new conceit, but she makes it feel new - and it feels real enough in her descriptions that even those without a lot of musical talent can *feel* it, which does so much to add weight to the story that we're reading.
Once again, the character of Diago, dominates. Miquel and Rafael are there, and important, but it is very much Diago's story. We get more of his backstory here, as well as the story of one of his past lives. We also get some extra time with his boss, Guillermo, which is lovely - I really enjoy his character and it was nice to get to know him better.
I feel like I'm not doing this review the justice it deserves. I may come back and do some rewriting when I'm feeling a bit less head-spinny. What I will say is this: if you like historical fantasy, read this. If you like books about angels, read this. If you like books with strong, interesting gay main characters, read this. If, like me, you like all of this, but you particularly like characters who feel real and human and entirely relatable - definitely read this. You won't be disappointed. Ms Frohock has, once again, created a very tight, well plotted story, with a creative, richly mythological world. She's a treasure.