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A review by queenterribletimy
Carved from Stone and Dream by T. Frohock
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.