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mary_soon_lee's review against another edition
5.0
Note: I read an ARC (advance reader copy) which may differ slightly from the final published version. This book is historical horror/dark fantasy with a strong military component. Set in early 1939, close to the end of the Spanish civil war and before the outbreak of World War II, it centers on the nefilim, beings with part mortal and part supernatural ancestry. The setting and the fantastical elements are distinctive and very well drawn. The story and action are compelling: the book held me from the first page and didn't let go. But it is the characters that matter most to me.
This is the third book with Diago and Miquel and their son Rafael, one of my favorite fictional families, and, as with the previous books, also highlights the deep friendship between Diago and Guillermo. I love these characters. I think about them in between books. There are a lot of books with solitary heroes or heroines, and many others where people are divided by misunderstandings and dramatic strife before finally coming together. I often enjoy those books, but I crave stories where people help each other without reservation. Even though "Carved from Stone and Dream" takes the characters into some very dark places (very dark -- be warned), they continue to care for each other. Highly recommended.
5/18/2020 note: I just finished re-reading this, and enjoyed it every bit as much the second time round. I love these characters and how they care for each other.
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).
This is the third book with Diago and Miquel and their son Rafael, one of my favorite fictional families, and, as with the previous books, also highlights the deep friendship between Diago and Guillermo. I love these characters. I think about them in between books. There are a lot of books with solitary heroes or heroines, and many others where people are divided by misunderstandings and dramatic strife before finally coming together. I often enjoy those books, but I crave stories where people help each other without reservation. Even though "Carved from Stone and Dream" takes the characters into some very dark places (very dark -- be warned), they continue to care for each other. Highly recommended.
5/18/2020 note: I just finished re-reading this, and enjoyed it every bit as much the second time round. I love these characters and how they care for each other.
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).
bookish_notes's review
5.0
This book is not like the first book and you find that out really quickly in the prologue. I'm not usually one for prologues, but I do like how the prologue was handled here! It's CREEPY. I feel like that's the theme for this series. It brings readers up to speed with what's happened to the characters from the end of book 1 (in 1932) to now (1939), after the events of the Spanish Civil War. Los Nefilim is in retreat and anyone can be a traitor. Already, this book starts out with an intensity and urgency we didn't feel as much in the first book.
Something I didn't know because I was listening to the audiobook is that in the text version of this book, there is a recap of all the pertinent events that have happened so far. So, if you need a quick refresher, there is a recap in the text version of the books.
Content notes torture, kidnapping, drug use, violence, death, and mentions of rape.
This book explores more of the dynamics behind our major characters, and what happened with them in their past lives. I think the biggest difference for a character from book 1 to this book is Jordi, actually. While I found his revenge scheme a little haphazard, I thought there was another character who overshadowed him in the previous book. Here, we see Jordi changed. He's behind a lot of bad things happening in this book, and I definitely see him more of the big bad now than I did before.
I didn't feel like this book was necessarily DARK dark, but I have a very bad gauge on what is dark as far as storylines go? But there are torture scenes that might be hard to read for some folks. There are very harrowing scenes here that involves our favorite characters being tortured and drugged, and things are pretty grim.
I like that we see more of Miquel in this book. He might not be in his element, but we learn a lot more about him and how he ticks. There's still plenty of Diago and Guillermo, and now we just see a lot more from a lot of the different characters. They've all been separated by the war and this book contains the different storylines and leads us to the point where they ultimately meet again. I would recommend reading these books in order. It doesn't do anyone any good to start, say, from this book. I think it would just feel like you're missing part of the story, especially since the storylines take awhile to converge and the characters meet up again.
I think it's interesting to see more involvement from Ysabel and Rafael now that they're teenagers having grown up in the midst of war. Ysabel is Guillermo's heir and Rafael is Diago and Miquel's son. Rafael wants to be able to DO grown up things instead of sitting on the sidelines, which leads him into a lot of trouble.
An interesting addition to the cast is Nico, Jordi's lover. We saw a bit of him in the first book, but his presence is much more pronounced here in a way that I wasn't expecting. Readers are left wondering if he's trustworthy or if he's a liar. I don't know what it is about books making me second guess characters named Nico, but here we are again (the first being the Hazard and Somerset series by Gregory Ashe). I think Nico is an interesting character, but definitely someone I wanted to dive deeper into - what's his backstory, his past lives (does he have any?), and how on earth he winded up finding Jordi in the first place (if the book said, I missed it).
As for the ending, I did find the showdown in this book a bit confusing because it was hard to picture in my head what was actually going on? There's a lot happening and I'm easily lost, I guess. There's daimons and souls involved. I didn't understand all of it, but I did enjoy this book.
The audiobook is still fantastic. Vikas Adam is very enjoyable to listen to as he performs the hell out of all these characters. I would highly recommend checking out this series in audio. I have no complaints. I'm sure I wouldn't be able to pronounce half the names and places in this book, and so listening to the audio really helps.
There's not really much for me to say about Diago. Diago is great, and I think I would still count him as the MAIN character, even as we circle between all the different storylines and cast. He's still the key to the Key (haha get it?) for Los Nefilim and the composition that will open the path between their realms. It's interesting to see how his life ties those around him in his past incarnations. Because we learn a lot more about his and Jordi's relationship from a past life, don't we? Apparently Jordi chose Nico as a lover due to his likeness to Diago, and ISN'T THAT INTERESTING? I would say, let's explore that soap opera a little deeper because I want to know more!
Like I said before in my review for book 1, there should be more people reading this series! I love that there's an epic established queer relationship that has spanned years and years, through multiple incarnations. I love that this story is so intense, but still manages to have such lovely characters that keep us grounded in their lives while providing a satisfying outcome at the end of the book. This book still ends on a hopeful note, even though we know the inevitable is coming to Europe that book 3 covers. Even though this isn't Romance with that capital R, I feel like this ends on a satisfying HFN between Diago and Miquel and that's all I can really ask for.
Something I didn't know because I was listening to the audiobook is that in the text version of this book, there is a recap of all the pertinent events that have happened so far. So, if you need a quick refresher, there is a recap in the text version of the books.
Content notes torture, kidnapping, drug use, violence, death, and mentions of rape.
This book explores more of the dynamics behind our major characters, and what happened with them in their past lives. I think the biggest difference for a character from book 1 to this book is Jordi, actually. While I found his revenge scheme a little haphazard, I thought there was another character who overshadowed him in the previous book. Here, we see Jordi changed. He's behind a lot of bad things happening in this book, and I definitely see him more of the big bad now than I did before.
I didn't feel like this book was necessarily DARK dark, but I have a very bad gauge on what is dark as far as storylines go? But there are torture scenes that might be hard to read for some folks. There are very harrowing scenes here that involves our favorite characters being tortured and drugged, and things are pretty grim.
I like that we see more of Miquel in this book. He might not be in his element, but we learn a lot more about him and how he ticks. There's still plenty of Diago and Guillermo, and now we just see a lot more from a lot of the different characters. They've all been separated by the war and this book contains the different storylines and leads us to the point where they ultimately meet again. I would recommend reading these books in order. It doesn't do anyone any good to start, say, from this book. I think it would just feel like you're missing part of the story, especially since the storylines take awhile to converge and the characters meet up again.
I think it's interesting to see more involvement from Ysabel and Rafael now that they're teenagers having grown up in the midst of war. Ysabel is Guillermo's heir and Rafael is Diago and Miquel's son. Rafael wants to be able to DO grown up things instead of sitting on the sidelines, which leads him into a lot of trouble.
An interesting addition to the cast is Nico, Jordi's lover. We saw a bit of him in the first book, but his presence is much more pronounced here in a way that I wasn't expecting. Readers are left wondering if he's trustworthy or if he's a liar. I don't know what it is about books making me second guess characters named Nico, but here we are again (the first being the Hazard and Somerset series by Gregory Ashe). I think Nico is an interesting character, but definitely someone I wanted to dive deeper into - what's his backstory, his past lives (does he have any?), and how on earth he winded up finding Jordi in the first place (if the book said, I missed it).
As for the ending, I did find the showdown in this book a bit confusing because it was hard to picture in my head what was actually going on? There's a lot happening and I'm easily lost, I guess. There's daimons and souls involved. I didn't understand all of it, but I did enjoy this book.
The audiobook is still fantastic. Vikas Adam is very enjoyable to listen to as he performs the hell out of all these characters. I would highly recommend checking out this series in audio. I have no complaints. I'm sure I wouldn't be able to pronounce half the names and places in this book, and so listening to the audio really helps.
There's not really much for me to say about Diago. Diago is great, and I think I would still count him as the MAIN character, even as we circle between all the different storylines and cast. He's still the key to the Key (haha get it?) for Los Nefilim and the composition that will open the path between their realms. It's interesting to see how his life ties those around him in his past incarnations. Because we learn a lot more about his and Jordi's relationship from a past life, don't we? Apparently Jordi chose Nico as a lover due to his likeness to Diago, and ISN'T THAT INTERESTING? I would say, let's explore that soap opera a little deeper because I want to know more!
Like I said before in my review for book 1, there should be more people reading this series! I love that there's an epic established queer relationship that has spanned years and years, through multiple incarnations. I love that this story is so intense, but still manages to have such lovely characters that keep us grounded in their lives while providing a satisfying outcome at the end of the book. This book still ends on a hopeful note, even though we know the inevitable is coming to Europe that book 3 covers. Even though this isn't Romance with that capital R, I feel like this ends on a satisfying HFN between Diago and Miquel and that's all I can really ask for.
chromatick's review
5.0
Yes! This book was everything I was hoping it would be. Once again Frohock brings her amazing writing and voice to this riveting tale of the Los Nefilim. The stakes are even higher for Diago and Miguel, and now Rafael takes an even larger role. This book had some great action in it, but the heartbeat is still the characters.
I really love the blend of historical fiction with dark fantasy. The way the angels and daimons cast their spells through songs and glyphs is just so cool.
I can't wait for the last book!
I really love the blend of historical fiction with dark fantasy. The way the angels and daimons cast their spells through songs and glyphs is just so cool.
I can't wait for the last book!
karireads's review
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
queenterribletimy's review
5.0
This review was originally posted on RockStarlit BookAsylum!
Over the summer I hopelessly fell in love with the Los Nefilim series when I read first the novella collection, Los Nefilim then the first full novel in the series, Where Oblivion Lives. I went ahead and bought the next book, Carved from Stone and Dream and you can be sure as hell, I’ll buy the next and last of the series, A Song with Teeth too.
We are in 1939, a few years after the events in Where Oblivion Lives. The second World War is just around the corner, though our characters don’t know that yet. They are more concerned about the Spanish Civil War and Franco taking over – not least thanks to Jordi Abelló, Guillermo’s half-brother. As well as the new German leader, Hitler supported by Die Nephilim’s Queen Jäger who plan to invade France as quickly as possible. Los Nefilim has to retreat and while Ysa, Juanita, Rafael, and some others are already in Paris, Miquel only just stepped over the border waiting for Diago, Guillermo, Carme, and Feran to cross the Pyrenees. But plans have that annoying trait to never go as intended.
I would rather not go into the details regarding the plot as it’s something you have to experience yourself. Events in Carved from Stone and Dream take place within 48 hours or less. Not sure if this is the reason, but the 350 pages long book felt more like 100. It’s a super-fast read and a highly engaging one. Then again, I’m biased, because I just love these characters so much and if it was up to me, this book easily could have been 600 pages long for all I care. And I don’t even like chonky books.
To my surprise and delight, Carved from Stone and Dream introduces Rafael as a POV character. It takes a while to wrap one’s head around the fact that he is 15 years old already. A Civil War is not exactly a time period you would want to grow up in, and young Rafael had seen his share of horror already. Thankfully that did not break him and he had become a remarkable – if still brash – young man. We also get to see a different side of Miquel and Diago. They kind of switch roles, and this time it’s Miquel who is going to need Diago’s unwavering support. I said this before in my Los Nefilim review, but really, my most favorite part about this series is the relationships of the characters.
Frohock in this book brings in another layer regarding angelology with the Watchers or as they called here, the Grigori. As much as I enjoy the plot and the characters, I also enjoy how she uses mythology in her fiction. So. Cool.
The Los Nefilim series never shied away from being dark and dealing with heavy topics, and Carved from Stone and Dream is not an exception. While Spain and France face oppression by either their nation or another one, the characters deal with their own fears and nightmares. Be it drug-induced or otherwise. Bringing drug experiments into the picture was an interesting choice and one that’s probably not very far from what actually happened during the war, or maybe even before that. Though it was likely much more brutal than what we glimpsed here. Just flip up any historical book on Nazis and you’ll see.
Carved from Stone and Dream raises the bar yet even higher in a series that keep giving ever more excellent books. I already can’t wait to read the last book, but I’m also dreading it, because I wouldn’t mind spending eternity with Diago, Miquel, Rafael, Ysa, and all the others. If there is only one historical fantasy series you’ll ever read in your life, then Los Nefilim should be the one.
“Maybe. But animosity murdered empathy and gave understanding little room to grow. The darker emotions had their place. Diago glanced over his shoulder and noted his son’s grim features. But they’re not to be nurtured.“
Over the summer I hopelessly fell in love with the Los Nefilim series when I read first the novella collection, Los Nefilim then the first full novel in the series, Where Oblivion Lives. I went ahead and bought the next book, Carved from Stone and Dream and you can be sure as hell, I’ll buy the next and last of the series, A Song with Teeth too.
We are in 1939, a few years after the events in Where Oblivion Lives. The second World War is just around the corner, though our characters don’t know that yet. They are more concerned about the Spanish Civil War and Franco taking over – not least thanks to Jordi Abelló, Guillermo’s half-brother. As well as the new German leader, Hitler supported by Die Nephilim’s Queen Jäger who plan to invade France as quickly as possible. Los Nefilim has to retreat and while Ysa, Juanita, Rafael, and some others are already in Paris, Miquel only just stepped over the border waiting for Diago, Guillermo, Carme, and Feran to cross the Pyrenees. But plans have that annoying trait to never go as intended.
I would rather not go into the details regarding the plot as it’s something you have to experience yourself. Events in Carved from Stone and Dream take place within 48 hours or less. Not sure if this is the reason, but the 350 pages long book felt more like 100. It’s a super-fast read and a highly engaging one. Then again, I’m biased, because I just love these characters so much and if it was up to me, this book easily could have been 600 pages long for all I care. And I don’t even like chonky books.
To my surprise and delight, Carved from Stone and Dream introduces Rafael as a POV character. It takes a while to wrap one’s head around the fact that he is 15 years old already. A Civil War is not exactly a time period you would want to grow up in, and young Rafael had seen his share of horror already. Thankfully that did not break him and he had become a remarkable – if still brash – young man. We also get to see a different side of Miquel and Diago. They kind of switch roles, and this time it’s Miquel who is going to need Diago’s unwavering support. I said this before in my Los Nefilim review, but really, my most favorite part about this series is the relationships of the characters.
Miquel closed his eyes and inhaled the scent of him. “And you were surprised. Do you remember that? You said I was a fool; that only mortals fell in love at first sight, because their lives were like those of butterflies, short and filled with fleeting beauty. You said no one could possibly love you.” But I did, and I do, and this is all backward and wrong, because I should be saving you.
Frohock in this book brings in another layer regarding angelology with the Watchers or as they called here, the Grigori. As much as I enjoy the plot and the characters, I also enjoy how she uses mythology in her fiction. So. Cool.
The Los Nefilim series never shied away from being dark and dealing with heavy topics, and Carved from Stone and Dream is not an exception. While Spain and France face oppression by either their nation or another one, the characters deal with their own fears and nightmares. Be it drug-induced or otherwise. Bringing drug experiments into the picture was an interesting choice and one that’s probably not very far from what actually happened during the war, or maybe even before that. Though it was likely much more brutal than what we glimpsed here. Just flip up any historical book on Nazis and you’ll see.
Carved from Stone and Dream raises the bar yet even higher in a series that keep giving ever more excellent books. I already can’t wait to read the last book, but I’m also dreading it, because I wouldn’t mind spending eternity with Diago, Miquel, Rafael, Ysa, and all the others. If there is only one historical fantasy series you’ll ever read in your life, then Los Nefilim should be the one.
ohallows's review
4.25
man!!! i really like these books!!! Rafael did not deserve anything jordi did to him and now I want to murder Jordi with my own two hands!!!
tfrohock's review against another edition
Hi, everyone!
If you're looking for the next Los Nefilim novel, it has its own page at [b:Where Oblivion Lives|38376051|Where Oblivion Lives|T. Frohock|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1529705789s/38376051.jpg|60039113].
Thanks so much!
T
If you're looking for the next Los Nefilim novel, it has its own page at [b:Where Oblivion Lives|38376051|Where Oblivion Lives|T. Frohock|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1529705789s/38376051.jpg|60039113].
Thanks so much!
T
chocolatemeerkat's review
5.0
This is one of the few times where I've been genuinely concerned if a character is going to make it out in the end. Which is almost silly since Diego and Miquel made it out alright in the the previous books but when you throw in the heightened tension of Franco and evil angels trying to kill everyone and you know Nazi's it cranks up the oh gods meter up quite a lot. The how will they make it out of this base, how will they make it out of Spain and to France. Will they be safe. It doesn't skimp on the details of how Franco came to power and the effects it had.
With saying that I absolutely loved this latest addition to the book I love how much Rafael has grown in this book but he is still a cocky teenager out to prove himself and that he still has to face the consequences of that. The war isnt leaving anyone unscathed in this.
I liked how Nico changed in this book and that he was more than just Jordi's lover that he was a scientist albeit one that did terrible terrible things.
I also liked how Diego was able to connect with his demonic nature and powers but not lose himself to feelings of pain and darkness that he was able to find the necessary balance he needed in this lifetime.
The relationships in this series are what gives it its backbone of queer found family and queerness in general with the French nefil queen and her lady consort. It is this casual queerness that is ever expanding with each book that makes me relish each page of this series. The relationship of Diego and Miquel is complex and fascinating and not an entirely smooth road which I like because they havent to work through the weight of 4 different past lives occasionally rearing their heads to throw a rench in things.
This series continues to impress me with its ferocity and also gentleness that characters can go through great trauma and come out the other end with their support network helping and holding them.
Hopefully everyone makes it through the war mostly in tact as we've reached the point before the invasion of France by the germans.
With saying that I absolutely loved this latest addition to the book I love how much Rafael has grown in this book but he is still a cocky teenager out to prove himself and that he still has to face the consequences of that. The war isnt leaving anyone unscathed in this.
I liked how Nico changed in this book and that he was more than just Jordi's lover that he was a scientist albeit one that did terrible terrible things.
I also liked how Diego was able to connect with his demonic nature and powers but not lose himself to feelings of pain and darkness that he was able to find the necessary balance he needed in this lifetime.
The relationships in this series are what gives it its backbone of queer found family and queerness in general with the French nefil queen and her lady consort. It is this casual queerness that is ever expanding with each book that makes me relish each page of this series. The relationship of Diego and Miquel is complex and fascinating and not an entirely smooth road which I like because they havent to work through the weight of 4 different past lives occasionally rearing their heads to throw a rench in things.
This series continues to impress me with its ferocity and also gentleness that characters can go through great trauma and come out the other end with their support network helping and holding them.
Hopefully everyone makes it through the war mostly in tact as we've reached the point before the invasion of France by the germans.
badmc's review
4.0
Spanish Civil War found our protagonists on the defensive, fleeing to France. Alas, on the Pyrenees, something foul is afoot.
This continues to be great alternate history with magic that comes from music (my favorite magical trope, but usually poorly done - not so here!), engaging characters, and tight plot that usually makes me read deep into the night. I look forward to continuing this story for however long the author continues with it.
This continues to be great alternate history with magic that comes from music (my favorite magical trope, but usually poorly done - not so here!), engaging characters, and tight plot that usually makes me read deep into the night. I look forward to continuing this story for however long the author continues with it.
upsidedown10's review
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book was incredibly tense for me. I spent a lot of my time with it with anxiety in my stomach. I care so much about these characters and their well-being that this one was hard for me. It starts in the middle of the Spanish Civil War, something that I always saw coming, but I was never ready to really see. This entire book takes place in an enemy base with some character being captured and some sneaking around in disguise. It was incredibly stressful to watch, but I have a lot of trust in the author at this point. These books are made on the basis that change for the better is not only possible, but the only way to live (at least for the protagonists; I'll wait and see for the antagonists). Watching the relationship between Diago and Miquel change and shift was so interesting. It feels like Diago is almost fully actualized as a character. He has learned the lessons that he needed to and now it's Miquel's turn. I also loved watching Rafael and how he takes his first tentative steps towards adulthood.
I feel like I can see where some elements of this series are going and I'm not sure if I'm ready for them. Will the series end soon? On the cusp of WWII? Or will we go through the war? Will the main characters stay the main characters throughout all this time or will there be a changing of the guard? Either way, I will be there to find out.
I feel like I can see where some elements of this series are going and I'm not sure if I'm ready for them. Will the series end soon? On the cusp of WWII? Or will we go through the war? Will the main characters stay the main characters throughout all this time or will there be a changing of the guard? Either way, I will be there to find out.