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sianw1992's review against another edition
2.0
Angelology by Danielle Trussoni
Although I've given this book two, it's more two point five, but I was so disappointed that I thought I round down rather than up.
I was recommended this book by my Aunt, who is usually a genius when it comes to giving me good books but with this one, it got worse as it went along. It recovered itself a little bit at the end, but when I was reading a book, within a flashback, I was ready to give up!
The first problem with this book, is that Trussoni cramms as many long, intelligent words she can in each sentence. It's as if she's showing off her vocabulary, but really it's completely unnecessary and it makes it harder to read.
When I started I thought it was going to go well. I liked the characters of Evangeline and Verlaine and I was intirigued by the mysterious letters. However it went back sixty odd years, in the mind of a senior nun Celestine. That's when it lost me. What could have been done as several conversations took up the middle of the story and what made it worse was that the interesting bits (like the expedition to get the lyre) were shorter than the boring 'talky' bits. Then I found I was reading a translation by one of the characters! That was unnecessary as well! It could have been shortened, or it could have just been the paragraphs that were essential to the plot. In fact, the whole flashback could have been a separate book, and I wish it was.
When we came back to modern times, it did get better. We were back on track, even if the way the characters spoke was a little iffy. Trussoni also introduced a load of characters that weren't needed and just complicated things as I tried to remember what everyone looked like.
I will admit, I was surprised by the end, but the journey, wasn't really worth it!
Although I've given this book two, it's more two point five, but I was so disappointed that I thought I round down rather than up.
I was recommended this book by my Aunt, who is usually a genius when it comes to giving me good books but with this one, it got worse as it went along. It recovered itself a little bit at the end, but when I was reading a book, within a flashback, I was ready to give up!
The first problem with this book, is that Trussoni cramms as many long, intelligent words she can in each sentence. It's as if she's showing off her vocabulary, but really it's completely unnecessary and it makes it harder to read.
When I started I thought it was going to go well. I liked the characters of Evangeline and Verlaine and I was intirigued by the mysterious letters. However it went back sixty odd years, in the mind of a senior nun Celestine. That's when it lost me. What could have been done as several conversations took up the middle of the story and what made it worse was that the interesting bits (like the expedition to get the lyre) were shorter than the boring 'talky' bits. Then I found I was reading a translation by one of the characters! That was unnecessary as well! It could have been shortened, or it could have just been the paragraphs that were essential to the plot. In fact, the whole flashback could have been a separate book, and I wish it was.
When we came back to modern times, it did get better. We were back on track, even if the way the characters spoke was a little iffy. Trussoni also introduced a load of characters that weren't needed and just complicated things as I tried to remember what everyone looked like.
I will admit, I was surprised by the end, but the journey, wasn't really worth it!
hdbblog's review against another edition
3.0
I'll admit that Angelology took me about a hundred pages to really get into. I'd liken the writing style to reading a classic, since there is ample use of descriptive language and the plot is slightly slow. It does build up however, and by the time I reached the middle of the book I was pretty well invested in the characters. This is a book that you really have to devote some time to, but in the end it is definitely worth it.
Danielle Trussoni has presented a beautiful book for readers that, as I said before, I would like to a modern classic.. The plot is clever, and the writing is well executed. The prose that exists on these pages is flowing, and descriptive. Trussoni knows how to weave an entire picture out of nothing but words. While I was reading I felt as though I could close my eyes and be directly transported into the story. The descriptions of the heavenly bodies themselves made me slightly shiver in anticipation of maybe someday seeing one. Angelology tackles some heavy themes and does so with grace and style.
The one problem with all this descriptive language is that it does become rather heavy after a while. The reader is presented with so many details at times that it is sensory overload and there were portions of the book that, to me, felt a bit unnecessary to the overall plot. The story would be moving along at a slow but manageable pace, when all of the sudden a chapter wrought with action would be thrown in. Of course these chapters were my favorite. Who doesn't want to see the battle of good vs. evil? However right when I was invested in the battle, the plot line would go back to being slow. I suppose I kind of felt the whole time like I was a yo-yo. Angelology does have its fantastic parts, but the overall story might be a little slow for people who need to feel immersed in what they read.
One thing I can definitely say is that those of you who are character driven readers will rejoice in Trussoni's style of writing. Her characters are extremely well fleshed out and I honestly came to understand, love, and obviously sometimes despise, each of them in their own way. The benefit of this book being so detail heavy is that you really do get a full picture of those who you are reading about. I was honestly heartbroken when my favorite character was killed.
I think Angelology is one of those books that you need to go into with an open mind. It isn't like anything else that is out there right now, but that is honestly a good thing in my opinion. If you're expecting an action filled read, you might be slightly disappointed. However if you go in looking for a well written storyline, fantastic character development and a peek into the battle of good vs. evil, you're in for a treat.
Danielle Trussoni has presented a beautiful book for readers that, as I said before, I would like to a modern classic.. The plot is clever, and the writing is well executed. The prose that exists on these pages is flowing, and descriptive. Trussoni knows how to weave an entire picture out of nothing but words. While I was reading I felt as though I could close my eyes and be directly transported into the story. The descriptions of the heavenly bodies themselves made me slightly shiver in anticipation of maybe someday seeing one. Angelology tackles some heavy themes and does so with grace and style.
The one problem with all this descriptive language is that it does become rather heavy after a while. The reader is presented with so many details at times that it is sensory overload and there were portions of the book that, to me, felt a bit unnecessary to the overall plot. The story would be moving along at a slow but manageable pace, when all of the sudden a chapter wrought with action would be thrown in. Of course these chapters were my favorite. Who doesn't want to see the battle of good vs. evil? However right when I was invested in the battle, the plot line would go back to being slow. I suppose I kind of felt the whole time like I was a yo-yo. Angelology does have its fantastic parts, but the overall story might be a little slow for people who need to feel immersed in what they read.
One thing I can definitely say is that those of you who are character driven readers will rejoice in Trussoni's style of writing. Her characters are extremely well fleshed out and I honestly came to understand, love, and obviously sometimes despise, each of them in their own way. The benefit of this book being so detail heavy is that you really do get a full picture of those who you are reading about. I was honestly heartbroken when my favorite character was killed.
I think Angelology is one of those books that you need to go into with an open mind. It isn't like anything else that is out there right now, but that is honestly a good thing in my opinion. If you're expecting an action filled read, you might be slightly disappointed. However if you go in looking for a well written storyline, fantastic character development and a peek into the battle of good vs. evil, you're in for a treat.
abxgxil's review
not even 10 pages in and i’m mind-numbingly bored
and i’m just tired of books where we have to describe the main girl as thin so we like her
and i’m just tired of books where we have to describe the main girl as thin so we like her
taygus's review against another edition
3.0
(3.5)
I picked this up a few weeks ago. And although I had a strong "want" to read it, to know more..it was too slow-going that I put it down mid-way..and picked up another book.
I find that she switches the main character badly..you're just getting used to it, when it feels like, you've just started a new book..
I found at some points it read too much like the bible, but that could be excused considering the theme.
At about page 300, is where the story gets engaging, and moves faster.
Reading it, I often felt the story would work out better as movie than a novel.
I didn't quite like how it ended, but it was clearly leaving an opening for a second book..
This (http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/94222796) review is worth reading, imo.
I picked this up a few weeks ago. And although I had a strong "want" to read it, to know more..it was too slow-going that I put it down mid-way..and picked up another book.
I find that she switches the main character badly..you're just getting used to it, when it feels like, you've just started a new book..
I found at some points it read too much like the bible, but that could be excused considering the theme.
At about page 300, is where the story gets engaging, and moves faster.
Reading it, I often felt the story would work out better as movie than a novel.
I didn't quite like how it ended, but it was clearly leaving an opening for a second book..
This (http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/94222796) review is worth reading, imo.
knallen's review
2.0
I'm putting this at a solid 'it was ok'. Very dense with history and information. It's an intellectual treasure hunt which is cool but it didn't really kick into high gear until the second half of the book. Once it did kick into gear it seemed to go along quickly and well. I felt like the attempt at romance was just thrown in there to have an attempt at romance and while I liked the characters, I wasn't crazy about the idea of the romance. There was nothing wrong with it, except that it wasn't developed well.
All of that being said the history, the premise and the mythology behind it was pretty fascinating. This didn't take the bible and try to debunk it. Instead it took a tiny bit of the bible, added in some mythology, blended well and expanded upon it in a massive, current and interesting way. I just wish the first part of the book had moved faster and the romance had been left out of it. I would have given it a higher rating. It's definitely worth a read. It's just a slow read.
All of that being said the history, the premise and the mythology behind it was pretty fascinating. This didn't take the bible and try to debunk it. Instead it took a tiny bit of the bible, added in some mythology, blended well and expanded upon it in a massive, current and interesting way. I just wish the first part of the book had moved faster and the romance had been left out of it. I would have given it a higher rating. It's definitely worth a read. It's just a slow read.
sparkly_eevee's review
The Anakim are presented as "fit only to serve their superiors" and a search for the word within the ebook suggests that this is not seriously addressed anywhere within this book. If the book were more interesting, I might have held out for it to be addressed in a sequel, but at almost 100 pages in, neither the stakes nor the premise have been clearly established.
Content Warnings
Minor: Slavery
sandygx260's review against another edition
1.0
I kept reading.
I kept reading.
I kept reading.
I finished the book.
What the fuck?
Did anyone edit this book? The awful editing alone made me want to stop reading. The continuity errors made me blink in disbelief.
Did I mention the contrived love story or the characters acting like morons time and time again or the sheer suspension of belief that occurred time and time again?
Yes, this book is, at its heart, a supernatural fantasy. But the author decided to set it in reality, aka NYC. There is a scene that occurs in a NYC subway that begs the reader to laugh in disbelief.
If someone gives me the next installment, I might read it to see if the author figures out how to clean up this mess.
I kept reading.
I kept reading.
I finished the book.
What the fuck?
Did anyone edit this book? The awful editing alone made me want to stop reading. The continuity errors made me blink in disbelief.
Did I mention the contrived love story or the characters acting like morons time and time again or the sheer suspension of belief that occurred time and time again?
Yes, this book is, at its heart, a supernatural fantasy. But the author decided to set it in reality, aka NYC. There is a scene that occurs in a NYC subway that begs the reader to laugh in disbelief.
If someone gives me the next installment, I might read it to see if the author figures out how to clean up this mess.
sorrel29's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
kellovelie's review against another edition
3.0
Angelology was a good read, but I have some objections about the pacing of the ending. It felt very abrupt compared to the lengthy storytelling and development of the first 85% of the book.