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imyril's review
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
fluka's review
4.0
A good ending to an excellent little trilogy. Taken together, the three Los Nefilim novellas feel like book one of a series, in terms of forming a self-contained story which does a great job setting up the characters and a world with deeper, more subtle lore than its high-concept setup would suggest. (The Los Nefilim series reminds me of Frohock's earlier book Miserere in that respect, where it's a fantasy that plays with religion rather than being a Religious Fantasy Book.) The series deals with heavy matters (rape, child abandonment, etc.), but never in a way which feels exploitative or edgy. There is also a "book one" feel in that other, meatier plots feel just out of reach in a future sequel or book two - both the ongoing saga of Diago's character, and of course the fact that things are about to get very dire in Spain and Europe as a whole. But I've enjoyed my time with this series so far and will happily follow it further.
saphirablue's review
5.0
As with the other two parts - I love it so much.
It's the conclusion of this arc and it delivers. Oh, boy, does it deliver. Diago and Rafael being kidnapped from their home and Diago singing down to Moloch in order to save Rafael. Awesome. Heartbreaking. Great.
I also love the "people can change and use second chances" theme that has been important in this part. ♥
I'm still so much in love with the fact that they sing their magic and also dance it.
My heart was breaking when Diago and Rafael got kidnapped and Diago basically gave up on being rescued because no car was following them. I'm so glad that Miguel and especially Don Guillermo came through for them and helped them rescuing themselves. Because, yeah, Rafael manages to get away and Diago does too (and, I'm in love with Rafaels magic - the painting and especially bringing the drawn Ghost to life and using her to find Diago? ♥). :)
I love that Diago finally has proof to believe that people (Los Nefilim) will come to his aid and protect him and the ones he loves. ♥
This is one of these stories for which I want more. I'm not demanding it from the author, but if they ever choose to write more in this world? I'm so there for it. (Also, movie/graphic novel/anime/tv show of this? *gimmie*)
It's the conclusion of this arc and it delivers. Oh, boy, does it deliver. Diago and Rafael being kidnapped from their home and Diago singing down to Moloch in order to save Rafael. Awesome. Heartbreaking. Great.
I also love the "people can change and use second chances" theme that has been important in this part. ♥
I'm still so much in love with the fact that they sing their magic and also dance it.
My heart was breaking when Diago and Rafael got kidnapped and Diago basically gave up on being rescued because no car was following them. I'm so glad that Miguel and especially Don Guillermo came through for them and helped them rescuing themselves. Because, yeah, Rafael manages to get away and Diago does too (and, I'm in love with Rafaels magic - the painting and especially bringing the drawn Ghost to life and using her to find Diago? ♥). :)
I love that Diago finally has proof to believe that people (Los Nefilim) will come to his aid and protect him and the ones he loves. ♥
This is one of these stories for which I want more. I'm not demanding it from the author, but if they ever choose to write more in this world? I'm so there for it. (Also, movie/graphic novel/anime/tv show of this? *gimmie*)
tomunro's review
5.0
This is the third novella in Frohock's Los Nefilim trilogy. My reviews of the others are also on goodreads.
In reviewing "The Second Death" there will be some spoilers for the first two books, so you have been warned!
The story that was begun in "In Midnight's Silence" is carried forward as the daimon Moloch and his idea for a bomb again becomes a cause that angels would go to war over. We also find out more about how Frohock's world - or rather universe - of daimons, angels and mortals is organised.
The question in my last review as to whether Guillermo is leader of all the worlds Nefilim is answered as we meet Die Nephilim of Germany and realise that the nations of the world mirror and are shaped by the nations of the angels and their respective bands of nephilim. Struggles and warfare in our world reflect clashes within heaven itself and the fate of a war yet to be fought is resolved in an spanish asylum where an angel might fear to tread.
Frohock's story juxtaposes simple family scenes with moments of great terror as Miquel and Diago strive to both be good fathers to Rafael and good Nefilim for Guillermo. All three of the closeknit nuclear family take their turn in the Point of View spotlight with writing that effectively conveys disparate voices ranging from a five year old child to an immortal.
However, in Frohock's world immortality is not something to be taken for granted - as the title suggests, there is more than one kind of death. With Frohock's Daimons and Angels as with Claire North's kalachakra in the First Fifteen lives of Harry August (reviewed here) even perpetual reincarnation must have limits. At the same time there are tempting reminders that this is Diago's second incarnation, that he and his fellow nefilim have shared a previous existance from which both lessons and prejudices leak into the one he knows now. There may be a backstory novella in there.
Frohock paints her story with a colourful palette, language that conjurs a vivid sense of the world her characters inhabit in all its tones.
"The humid air was tinted in sallow shades of yellow and green. Tornados dropped from skies like these."
The overall effect is of writing with the smoothness of southern comfort wrapped around a plot with the kick of a single malt.
In reviewing "The Second Death" there will be some spoilers for the first two books, so you have been warned!
The story that was begun in "In Midnight's Silence" is carried forward as the daimon Moloch and his idea for a bomb again becomes a cause that angels would go to war over. We also find out more about how Frohock's world - or rather universe - of daimons, angels and mortals is organised.
The question in my last review as to whether Guillermo is leader of all the worlds Nefilim is answered as we meet Die Nephilim of Germany and realise that the nations of the world mirror and are shaped by the nations of the angels and their respective bands of nephilim. Struggles and warfare in our world reflect clashes within heaven itself and the fate of a war yet to be fought is resolved in an spanish asylum where an angel might fear to tread.
Frohock's story juxtaposes simple family scenes with moments of great terror as Miquel and Diago strive to both be good fathers to Rafael and good Nefilim for Guillermo. All three of the closeknit nuclear family take their turn in the Point of View spotlight with writing that effectively conveys disparate voices ranging from a five year old child to an immortal.
However, in Frohock's world immortality is not something to be taken for granted - as the title suggests, there is more than one kind of death. With Frohock's Daimons and Angels as with Claire North's kalachakra in the First Fifteen lives of Harry August (reviewed here) even perpetual reincarnation must have limits. At the same time there are tempting reminders that this is Diago's second incarnation, that he and his fellow nefilim have shared a previous existance from which both lessons and prejudices leak into the one he knows now. There may be a backstory novella in there.
Frohock paints her story with a colourful palette, language that conjurs a vivid sense of the world her characters inhabit in all its tones.
"The humid air was tinted in sallow shades of yellow and green. Tornados dropped from skies like these."
The overall effect is of writing with the smoothness of southern comfort wrapped around a plot with the kick of a single malt.
bibliotropic's review
5.0
Frohock has entertained us previously with her other two novellas in the Los Nefilim series, stories of immortal beings standing between angels and daimons, of Diago and Miquel and their relationship in 1930s Spain, and the events that surround and complicate their already complicated lives. Now the third installment of the series, The Second Death, picks up really only hours after the previous novella finished, throwing readers immediately back into the action and not giving the characters even a chance to catch their breath.
You’ve really got to feel sorry for Diago here, with his life seeming to get worse rather than better after having pledged his loyalty to Los Nefilim. Now both he and his son are kidnapped, Rafael held hostage to ensure that Diago complies with Engel’s commands to acquire a weapon that reputedly could put an end to all wars. Seeing members of Los Nefilim go rogue convinces Diago that this time he’s really on his own, that he alone must foil Engel’s plans and escape with Rafael, before the balance of divine power shifts entirely.
Action and intrigue and the names of the game here, and the pulse-pounding pace barely lets up for a second. Happily, Frohock starts off the whole thing by giving a bit of a recap on what happened previously in the series, so as short as they are (only a little over 100 pages per novella), readers don’t have to go back and do a reread to ensure they know where everyone stands. Very beneficial in a story that’s as complex and full of twists as this one, and far better than having characters awkwardly do recaps along the way.
Though to be honest, I’m not opposed to rereading such a wonderful series at any point, and the story is one that has stuck firmly in my mind since I read the first one so many months ago.
One thing that stands out to me every time is the way the power and magic works through song. The descriptions are beautiful, breathtaking, and so easy to picture and feel. Maybe this is in part because I’m somewhat musically inclined myself and I find it very easy to envision the colours of notes and the way sounds can play powerfully off each other, but mostly I think it’s a testament to Frohock’s clarity of writing. Reading her work, I rarely find an unclear scene or fuzzy descriptions. It’s so easy to get lost in such vivid writing.
I can’t be sure, but I certainly hope that the series will continue in the future. A few plot threads have been left dangling, in particular the whole situation with Moloch and Alvaro and the whole “new god” issue. I’m definitely interested in seeing how that develops and plays out. In addition, there’s also the power play going on between Principalities, divine guardians (of a sort) of different countries, which is part of what led Engel to make his move and for Garcia to be so willing to between Guillermo and follow Engel in the first place. Knowing the time and place of the story makes it easy to see parallels to the lead-up of the second World War, but adding the angels and demons and the like makes it all the more interesting, provides a different perspective and additional layers to the whole tumultuous situation, and I, for one, want to see it all play out.
Long story short, if historical dark fantasy is your thing, if you enjoy plays and twists on Judeo-Christian mythology, if you want a wonderfully complex story that demands little but delivers much, then the Los Nefilim series is one you should definitely seek out. It’s hard for me to pick my favourite, because they all have appealed to me on various levels, and I’ve enjoyed them all equally and highly. The Second Death deals more with the forgiveness than the previous two, and justice versus vengeance, neither of which come across as heavy-handed or peachy, but even if you find yourself disagreeing with the conclusions that characters arrive at, there’s no end to the dark entertainment in the pages. Most definitely recommended to fans of dark fantasy!
(Book received in exchange for an honest review.)
You’ve really got to feel sorry for Diago here, with his life seeming to get worse rather than better after having pledged his loyalty to Los Nefilim. Now both he and his son are kidnapped, Rafael held hostage to ensure that Diago complies with Engel’s commands to acquire a weapon that reputedly could put an end to all wars. Seeing members of Los Nefilim go rogue convinces Diago that this time he’s really on his own, that he alone must foil Engel’s plans and escape with Rafael, before the balance of divine power shifts entirely.
Action and intrigue and the names of the game here, and the pulse-pounding pace barely lets up for a second. Happily, Frohock starts off the whole thing by giving a bit of a recap on what happened previously in the series, so as short as they are (only a little over 100 pages per novella), readers don’t have to go back and do a reread to ensure they know where everyone stands. Very beneficial in a story that’s as complex and full of twists as this one, and far better than having characters awkwardly do recaps along the way.
Though to be honest, I’m not opposed to rereading such a wonderful series at any point, and the story is one that has stuck firmly in my mind since I read the first one so many months ago.
One thing that stands out to me every time is the way the power and magic works through song. The descriptions are beautiful, breathtaking, and so easy to picture and feel. Maybe this is in part because I’m somewhat musically inclined myself and I find it very easy to envision the colours of notes and the way sounds can play powerfully off each other, but mostly I think it’s a testament to Frohock’s clarity of writing. Reading her work, I rarely find an unclear scene or fuzzy descriptions. It’s so easy to get lost in such vivid writing.
I can’t be sure, but I certainly hope that the series will continue in the future. A few plot threads have been left dangling, in particular the whole situation with Moloch and Alvaro and the whole “new god” issue. I’m definitely interested in seeing how that develops and plays out. In addition, there’s also the power play going on between Principalities, divine guardians (of a sort) of different countries, which is part of what led Engel to make his move and for Garcia to be so willing to between Guillermo and follow Engel in the first place. Knowing the time and place of the story makes it easy to see parallels to the lead-up of the second World War, but adding the angels and demons and the like makes it all the more interesting, provides a different perspective and additional layers to the whole tumultuous situation, and I, for one, want to see it all play out.
Long story short, if historical dark fantasy is your thing, if you enjoy plays and twists on Judeo-Christian mythology, if you want a wonderfully complex story that demands little but delivers much, then the Los Nefilim series is one you should definitely seek out. It’s hard for me to pick my favourite, because they all have appealed to me on various levels, and I’ve enjoyed them all equally and highly. The Second Death deals more with the forgiveness than the previous two, and justice versus vengeance, neither of which come across as heavy-handed or peachy, but even if you find yourself disagreeing with the conclusions that characters arrive at, there’s no end to the dark entertainment in the pages. Most definitely recommended to fans of dark fantasy!
(Book received in exchange for an honest review.)
para's review
4.0
Basically the same opinion as for the other two books. Great characters, great worldbuilding, I should listen more when I get recs, but I still hunger for more. Oh, and the ending was utterly adorable
mimie7ea4's review
4.0
Loved it. This is the kind of series that grows on you if you let it, and I was fully ready to embrace its promise (and fulfillment) of a new, unique style of urban fantasy and storytelling. Took awhile to get into the first book though, but once I got into it, I didn't want to leave.
Duluth, Lake Superior... during the first snowpocalypse of the season.
Duluth, Lake Superior... during the first snowpocalypse of the season.
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