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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
Second time I have tried to read this and still can't finish it. Made it further this time though.
I can't figure out why I don't like this. I thought the scene in the Underground, holding off a monster with terms of service was great. But in some ways, it feels too much like Harry Dresden but then not like Harry Dresden. In other words, Griffin seems to be drawing heavily from Dresden in terms of what her character looks like, but when she departs from Dresden it feels, to me, like a fail, because the character dresses like Dresden but then doesn't act different enough to be himself. It isn't just Dresden, there are other things in here too. And this nothing bad, Rowling drew on quite a bit for Potter. But there is nothing fresh being made out of the bits. It feels flat.
Does that make sense?
It could be me. It just feels like something is missing.
Really did like the subway scene though.
Sorry, Ms. Griffin, it is mostly like me.
I can't figure out why I don't like this. I thought the scene in the Underground, holding off a monster with terms of service was great. But in some ways, it feels too much like Harry Dresden but then not like Harry Dresden. In other words, Griffin seems to be drawing heavily from Dresden in terms of what her character looks like, but when she departs from Dresden it feels, to me, like a fail, because the character dresses like Dresden but then doesn't act different enough to be himself. It isn't just Dresden, there are other things in here too. And this nothing bad, Rowling drew on quite a bit for Potter. But there is nothing fresh being made out of the bits. It feels flat.
Does that make sense?
It could be me. It just feels like something is missing.
Really did like the subway scene though.
Sorry, Ms. Griffin, it is mostly like me.
Matthew Swift, sorcerer, wakes up in his bed.
But there is just a small problem. He has been dead for two years.
And thus starts Matthews' new life, as he tries to make sense of what happened to him - his death, his resurrection, and what is going on in Londons' magical community. New alliances have been formed, his friends have been killed off at an alarming rate, and it appears that some of the people closest to him in his previous life might be behind it.
Kate Griffin takes the idea of magic being everywhere around us and mixes with the urban setting in a way that is a bit disturbing, creating a dark work that is bit reminiscent of Simon Greens' Nightside (but sadly without the great characters).
But there is just a small problem. He has been dead for two years.
And thus starts Matthews' new life, as he tries to make sense of what happened to him - his death, his resurrection, and what is going on in Londons' magical community. New alliances have been formed, his friends have been killed off at an alarming rate, and it appears that some of the people closest to him in his previous life might be behind it.
Kate Griffin takes the idea of magic being everywhere around us and mixes with the urban setting in a way that is a bit disturbing, creating a dark work that is bit reminiscent of Simon Greens' Nightside (but sadly without the great characters).
I think this may be a love it or hate it book but I thought the style was lovely and the storyline was original, it was magical, forgive the pun
This was an excellent take on the urban fantasy genre. While it clocked in at over 600 paperback pages, I hardly noticed how many pages I was flipping. There wasn't so much as a wasted word in the text.
Madness of Angels used a lot of familiar concepts and settings, but took a twist that I haven't seen in other books. The use of London as a setting was superb, and, though I've never seen it for myself, I had a pretty good picture of Swift's London in my mind as I read. The magic system and the melding of technology and magic felt seamless and real. I didn't feel like I was plunging into a fictional universe in this book; I felt like I was stepping off a plane and getting a tour of someplace that could really exist.
The book is about Matthew Swift, who wakes up two years after he died, and wants revenge, and to find out who brought him back. To that end, he goes up against his mentor, Robert James Bakker, and the Tower, a society formed of magic users allied to Bakker. He also has to face what killed him in the first place, and we learn how it is he's alive and why his body was never found. We're also introduced to a number of magical elements, creatures, concepts, and organizations, without their introduction ever involving info-dumps or expository dialogue. All of the reveals felt natural and well-paced.
There were some features of the book that made it hard to follow, at times. Matthew refers to himself as "we" in a way that seems random and haphazard, until you're finally clued into what's going on. There are no chapter breaks in the text; instead, the book pulls you along, with small breaks between scenes, or different sections that cover 100 - 150 pages apiece. I considered those stylistic, rather than something to criticize, but some readers may be turned off by these features.
My biggest complaint was that, when I met Dana Mikeda, the book was mostly done, and I really liked her. I wanted to see more of her. I see, story-wise, why she didn't have a more prominent place in the text, but I wish Griffin could've made that work.
I will definitely be reading Midnight Mayor, the next book in this series, to see what other trouble Matthew Swift can get himself into. I enjoyed following him around all book, and would like to continue to do so.
Madness of Angels used a lot of familiar concepts and settings, but took a twist that I haven't seen in other books. The use of London as a setting was superb, and, though I've never seen it for myself, I had a pretty good picture of Swift's London in my mind as I read. The magic system and the melding of technology and magic felt seamless and real. I didn't feel like I was plunging into a fictional universe in this book; I felt like I was stepping off a plane and getting a tour of someplace that could really exist.
The book is about Matthew Swift, who wakes up two years after he died, and wants revenge, and to find out who brought him back. To that end, he goes up against his mentor, Robert James Bakker, and the Tower, a society formed of magic users allied to Bakker. He also has to face what killed him in the first place, and we learn how it is he's alive and why his body was never found. We're also introduced to a number of magical elements, creatures, concepts, and organizations, without their introduction ever involving info-dumps or expository dialogue. All of the reveals felt natural and well-paced.
There were some features of the book that made it hard to follow, at times. Matthew refers to himself as "we" in a way that seems random and haphazard, until you're finally clued into what's going on. There are no chapter breaks in the text; instead, the book pulls you along, with small breaks between scenes, or different sections that cover 100 - 150 pages apiece. I considered those stylistic, rather than something to criticize, but some readers may be turned off by these features.
My biggest complaint was that, when I met Dana Mikeda, the book was mostly done, and I really liked her. I wanted to see more of her. I see, story-wise, why she didn't have a more prominent place in the text, but I wish Griffin could've made that work.
I will definitely be reading Midnight Mayor, the next book in this series, to see what other trouble Matthew Swift can get himself into. I enjoyed following him around all book, and would like to continue to do so.
Ugh. Picked this one up on a whim, and the writing is awful. Made it about 30 pages in before giving up.
This was a good read and I won’t ever visit London in the same way again. This is a recommendation from the author N.K. Jemisin and was a really good escapist read with fantastic world building. I will read more of this series.
Urban Fantasy is a tricky genre to pin down - it's not just 'stuff set in cities', it's books where the city itself is a character in its own right. A Madness of Angels, first in a series by Kate Griffin, is a case in point - the magic hurled about by the novel's sorcerers is drawn deep from the very souls of the London locations where the book is set.
Madness of Angels, wherein a young sorcerer is brought back from the dead to avenge both his murder and his resurrection, is a brilliantly well-written book that goes to town on even the most minor of supporting characters. It deserves additional praise for being set in a London with an underside that most citizens don't bother to notice, and not ending up like a pale retread of Neverwhere. It even manages to avoid referencing The Crow too often, though what other bird's eyes would a London sorcerer use to spy on the world but a pigeon?
Matthew Swift's powers seem to come and go as the plot dictate, which is occasionally a little vexing, and the shadow that stalks him is not quite as forbidding as I think it's supposed to be, but on the whole, this is a good fun read that sets up the rest of a promising series!
Madness of Angels, wherein a young sorcerer is brought back from the dead to avenge both his murder and his resurrection, is a brilliantly well-written book that goes to town on even the most minor of supporting characters. It deserves additional praise for being set in a London with an underside that most citizens don't bother to notice, and not ending up like a pale retread of Neverwhere. It even manages to avoid referencing The Crow too often, though what other bird's eyes would a London sorcerer use to spy on the world but a pigeon?
Matthew Swift's powers seem to come and go as the plot dictate, which is occasionally a little vexing, and the shadow that stalks him is not quite as forbidding as I think it's supposed to be, but on the whole, this is a good fun read that sets up the rest of a promising series!
This to my mind was a great book. It was original, interesting, well paced, exciting and leaves you wanting more. The subject matter brings to mind writers such as Gaiman but Griffin's voice is all her own. I recommend this to any fans of urban fantasy and to those who just like a good books. Bring on the next in the series.
I've just read this for the second time and once again I was astounded by the sheer beauty of the writing. The magic of London truly comes alive from these pages and continues to shine long after you close the book. Divine!
I've just read this for the second time and once again I was astounded by the sheer beauty of the writing. The magic of London truly comes alive from these pages and continues to shine long after you close the book. Divine!
Senza conoscere a grandi linee la trama, le prime pagine sono quantomeno spiazzanti: troviamo un qualcuno che si risveglia, debole e forse ferito, in una camera. C'è stato un rito, un'evocazione... ma non si capisce bene cosa sia successo. I tasselli della storia verranno forniti poco a poco, mentre scopriamo che il protagonista si chiama Matthew Swift e che è morto da un paio di anni.
Matthew è un sorcerer, che a dispetto del termine tradurrei come sciamano visto cosa fa. E' uno sciamano metropolitano, vive immerso nella città e diventa un tutt uno con i suoi ritmi. L'evoluzione dei druidi. Una sorta di Michele di Pan (se la memoria non m'inganna per quanto riguarda i nomi).
Scopriamo così la magia che regola i luoghi della città, vecchi spiriti cittadini che percorrono le rotaie o che vengono pregati dai viaggiatori solitari, antichi simboli cittadini e fontane dei desideri. Scopriamo nuove forme di magia che si nutrono di luce elettrica e che parlano con il rumore dei motori, dei freni, delle porte che sbattono.
Abbiamo quindi sciamani metropolitani, ma anche altri tipi di maghi: necromanti, incantatori graffitari, veggenti, creature quasi mitologiche che vivono nell'immaginario cittadino, motociclisti in grado di piegare il tempo e lo spazio al loro volere.
Abbiamo Hunger, l'ombra imbattibile e spietata che uccide chiunque, smaniosa di ottenere la vita.
E abbiamo loro, gli angeli elettrici, le larve blu create dai pensieri dispersi nelle linee telefoniche. Creature di vita e di libertà, di potere e di meraviglia. Creature che vivono nei cavi telefonici, che parlano agli spiriti affini cantando la loro canzone di folle libertà. Creature che salvano dalla morte Matthew portandolo con loro, e che per questo quando vengono evocate fuori dai cavi si ritrovano unite indissolubilmente a Matthew nel momento della sua rinascita.
La confusione di Matthew è resa alla perfezione: la confusione del ritrovarsi nuovamente vivo, senza averi e senza amici, circondato da nemici e da alleati quanto meno dubbi; la confusione di avere al proprio interno un io -Matthew- e un noi -gli angeli-, separati ma al tempo stesso uniti.
Ed è resa molto bene anche la sensazione della magia metropolitana: dubito riuscirò mai a comprenderla appieno, vivendo da totale estraneo di queste metropoli come Roma o Londra, ma questa visione urban fantasy di Gaiman, di Dimitri, di Griffin mi sta ormai entrando nelle ossa.
Si, ovviamente mi sono esaltato con Blackjack e il suo clan di bikers. Ma a chi non piacciono dei bikers duri e puri, sempre in sella alle loro moto a sfrecciare sulla strada e a piegare al loro volere lo spazio?
Mi è anche piaciuta Dana, che era stata apprendista di Matthew e che ora era diventata l'apprendista del suo nemico.
Cose necessarie.
Matthew si troverà sempre più spesso a compiere scelte difficili, a creare alleanze solo per abbattere un avversario, a scatenare guerre sanguinose solo per affrontare un nemico.
Cose necessarie, per il fine di vendicare la propria morte. E quella di tutte le persone che consosceva. E il clima di terrore instaurato dalla Torre. E la fiducia tradita.
Un gran bel libro, non c'è che dire!
Mi rode solo che da quando l'ho preso a ora che l'ho letto, ha fatto in tempo a uscire la versione economica...
Matthew è un sorcerer, che a dispetto del termine tradurrei come sciamano visto cosa fa. E' uno sciamano metropolitano, vive immerso nella città e diventa un tutt uno con i suoi ritmi. L'evoluzione dei druidi. Una sorta di Michele di Pan (se la memoria non m'inganna per quanto riguarda i nomi).
Scopriamo così la magia che regola i luoghi della città, vecchi spiriti cittadini che percorrono le rotaie o che vengono pregati dai viaggiatori solitari, antichi simboli cittadini e fontane dei desideri. Scopriamo nuove forme di magia che si nutrono di luce elettrica e che parlano con il rumore dei motori, dei freni, delle porte che sbattono.
Abbiamo quindi sciamani metropolitani, ma anche altri tipi di maghi: necromanti, incantatori graffitari, veggenti, creature quasi mitologiche che vivono nell'immaginario cittadino, motociclisti in grado di piegare il tempo e lo spazio al loro volere.
Abbiamo Hunger, l'ombra imbattibile e spietata che uccide chiunque, smaniosa di ottenere la vita.
E abbiamo loro, gli angeli elettrici, le larve blu create dai pensieri dispersi nelle linee telefoniche. Creature di vita e di libertà, di potere e di meraviglia. Creature che vivono nei cavi telefonici, che parlano agli spiriti affini cantando la loro canzone di folle libertà. Creature che salvano dalla morte Matthew portandolo con loro, e che per questo quando vengono evocate fuori dai cavi si ritrovano unite indissolubilmente a Matthew nel momento della sua rinascita.
La confusione di Matthew è resa alla perfezione: la confusione del ritrovarsi nuovamente vivo, senza averi e senza amici, circondato da nemici e da alleati quanto meno dubbi; la confusione di avere al proprio interno un io -Matthew- e un noi -gli angeli-, separati ma al tempo stesso uniti.
Ed è resa molto bene anche la sensazione della magia metropolitana: dubito riuscirò mai a comprenderla appieno, vivendo da totale estraneo di queste metropoli come Roma o Londra, ma questa visione urban fantasy di Gaiman, di Dimitri, di Griffin mi sta ormai entrando nelle ossa.
Si, ovviamente mi sono esaltato con Blackjack e il suo clan di bikers. Ma a chi non piacciono dei bikers duri e puri, sempre in sella alle loro moto a sfrecciare sulla strada e a piegare al loro volere lo spazio?
Mi è anche piaciuta Dana, che era stata apprendista di Matthew e che ora era diventata l'apprendista del suo nemico.
Cose necessarie.
Matthew si troverà sempre più spesso a compiere scelte difficili, a creare alleanze solo per abbattere un avversario, a scatenare guerre sanguinose solo per affrontare un nemico.
Cose necessarie, per il fine di vendicare la propria morte. E quella di tutte le persone che consosceva. E il clima di terrore instaurato dalla Torre. E la fiducia tradita.
Un gran bel libro, non c'è che dire!
Mi rode solo che da quando l'ho preso a ora che l'ho letto, ha fatto in tempo a uscire la versione economica...
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced