sign19's review
adventurous
dark
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Overall this was a good (Portal) fantasy read. Especially as it is a debut novel for the author.
The world is very well done and the characters are intriguing. The plot moves at a good pace and is straightforward without too much complexity.
The contrast between hardcore Christianity and some evil torture scenes felt a little weird.
It defiantly feels more like a first in a series, than a standalone though.
book_hoarding_dragon's review
4.0
I came across Miserere from a review by Ilona Andrews. I started reading the excerpt that Teresa Frohock provides on her website. Right away the prose grabbed me by the throat telling me, "look at me, look at me. Aren't I beautiful? Don't you want to buy my beautiness?" Of course I did and I proceeded to do so.
I could've written ode's to the prose. Plus, the angst (not to be confused with teenage angst)! Plus, Ilona Andrews comment also played a part in my decision, "MISERERE reads like Lady Hawk had a baby in purgatory and Meljean Brook delivered it." I LOVE Lady Hawk.
I think I only read 5 pages before I bought it. Now, I think if I would have read the whole four chapters provided on the authors site, I would have not bought the book or I would have been extremely hesitant to purchase it. Why? Well, the book has a Judeo-Christian feel to it. Generally, if a book blurb mentions angels or God I drop it like a hot potato. If I'm already reading it, I'll attempt to finish it. Why do I do this? I find that these kinds of books sometimes come across as preachy and other reasons I will not go into.
I was surprised that this book isn't preachy at all. Though, the God's spirit rushing through so and so, did induce some eye rolling at one point. However, there are other religions nodded at, but not really explored. The world building was still good, though.
I really enjoyed the characters in the book and I'll definitely read the sequel. I think I might have given this story five stars, if there was more information about the characters (:coughs: Rachael :coughs:). A little bit more backstory, would have been cool. Maybe more focus on some of the other religions to balance out the God used in this story. But I still really enjoyed the book.
Note: The author has a blog post on 3 September, stating that the Dolorosa, the sequel, is in the works. Yaaaay!
I could've written ode's to the prose. Plus, the angst (not to be confused with teenage angst)! Plus, Ilona Andrews comment also played a part in my decision, "MISERERE reads like Lady Hawk had a baby in purgatory and Meljean Brook delivered it." I LOVE Lady Hawk.
I think I only read 5 pages before I bought it. Now, I think if I would have read the whole four chapters provided on the authors site, I would have not bought the book or I would have been extremely hesitant to purchase it. Why? Well, the book has a Judeo-Christian feel to it. Generally, if a book blurb mentions angels or God I drop it like a hot potato. If I'm already reading it, I'll attempt to finish it. Why do I do this? I find that these kinds of books sometimes come across as preachy and other reasons I will not go into.
I was surprised that this book isn't preachy at all. Though, the God's spirit rushing through so and so, did induce some eye rolling at one point. However, there are other religions nodded at, but not really explored. The world building was still good, though.
I really enjoyed the characters in the book and I'll definitely read the sequel. I think I might have given this story five stars, if there was more information about the characters (:coughs: Rachael :coughs:). A little bit more backstory, would have been cool. Maybe more focus on some of the other religions to balance out the God used in this story. But I still really enjoyed the book.
Note: The author has a blog post on 3 September, stating that the Dolorosa, the sequel, is in the works. Yaaaay!
alexiachantel's review
4.0
Miserere....
Dark, bleak, desolate, barely the will to fight and the willingness to die.
Strong and flawed characters dominate this world. The fight between good and evil has never been more real or with more on the line. Lucien is a man with a golden heart, he knows he has made poor decisions in the past and does not try to deny the fact. He is willing to give everything to protect and make the right choices. Rachel is one who was at the wrong end of one of his bad decisions and paid for it. If she can forgive and see what is in his heart perhaps there really is a chance of divine forgiveness.
Frohock has created a world not very far removed from our own, it exists right next to it near Hell actually. Her book has the foundation of Christian beliefs and history. If you enjoy movies like The Exorcism of Emily Rose or The Rite this book will be a good choice.
With her pen she has drawn the map and marked the lines, now you just sit back and hope you never have to cross them.
Dark, bleak, desolate, barely the will to fight and the willingness to die.
Strong and flawed characters dominate this world. The fight between good and evil has never been more real or with more on the line. Lucien is a man with a golden heart, he knows he has made poor decisions in the past and does not try to deny the fact. He is willing to give everything to protect and make the right choices. Rachel is one who was at the wrong end of one of his bad decisions and paid for it. If she can forgive and see what is in his heart perhaps there really is a chance of divine forgiveness.
Frohock has created a world not very far removed from our own, it exists right next to it near Hell actually. Her book has the foundation of Christian beliefs and history. If you enjoy movies like The Exorcism of Emily Rose or The Rite this book will be a good choice.
With her pen she has drawn the map and marked the lines, now you just sit back and hope you never have to cross them.
dani_k's review
4.0
I didn't expect this book to be a sort of portal fantasy, and I don't usually enjoy that kind of setting, but Miserere was a pleasant surprise! Dark and weird enough to make you cringe at a few key moments, but beautifully written and with a hopeful ending.
pollyno9's review
4.0
This book took a long time to gel, for me. There isn't a lot of exposition until about the second third, so I felt as if I was floundering, but once it came together it was excellent.
aceir's review
4.0
This book feels longer than it is. This isn't to say it drags. I just mean that the world and the characters are deep and rich. One of the characters is new to the world and can serve as audience proxy, but the story isn't focused (solely) on her. Instead we get a story of people who have made mistakes and people who have to trust again.
thecanary's review
4.0
Torment, angst, and redemption? Oh yes. This book hit just the spot. (And the cover is gorgeous. So gorgeous.) What makes this even better is that the characters are mature and self-aware. Such a nice change from stories where we get pointless misunderstandings for the sake of plot and characters who act twelve. (I'm looking at you, most mainstream romance genre.)
This was a super sweet story steeped in violence and darkness. Loved it. I've been starved for a good fantasy+romance combo.
I guess I should talk a little about the plot? Well, you get a power-hungry sister who will do anything to keep her brother beholden to her, a brother whose done a few not-so-nice things for his sister (up to and including sacrificing the love of his life to Hell) but who wants out, and a woman who's been suffering under the weight of that betrayal for years. Collision course.
This was a super sweet story steeped in violence and darkness. Loved it. I've been starved for a good fantasy+romance combo.
I guess I should talk a little about the plot? Well, you get a power-hungry sister who will do anything to keep her brother beholden to her, a brother whose done a few not-so-nice things for his sister (up to and including sacrificing the love of his life to Hell) but who wants out, and a woman who's been suffering under the weight of that betrayal for years. Collision course.
erin_kd's review
4.0
This came HIGHLY recommended by one of my favorite authors, who happens to be very hard to please. I'm glad I bought it. I'm used to epic fantasy stories, but the main action of this one took place over a short frame of time. The characters are very well-written and the world that the author built is fascinating. Some questions were left unanswered, and the ending certainly felt like it was left open for more about this world. I'd highly recommend this book.
cupiscent's review
2.0
Eh. Neither great nor terrible. Passable. Readable. Not odd enough to stand out, not standard enough to be comfortable.
And not well served by the decisions made in packaging and marketing it. I mean, the blurb's actually really interesting. The blurb promises a threeway tussle of adult passions, decisions and consequences. The blurb reflects the cover. Neither of them make any mention of Lindsay, the twelve-year-old real-world girl who gets sucked through into the fantasy world in the second chapter of the book and plays a major role in events from there on - events which start with the blurb, dispensing with all of that as backstory in the first chapter.
I mean... what? (Not to mention that I don't particularly like YA, and surprise!world-transportation!YA is my least favourite flavour thereof.)
Stylistically, it's pretty bland. The writing plods along at workmanlike - perfectly serviceable - levels with occasional bouts of melodramatic purple. (Screams ravaging the night, a single drop of blood cascading down her cheek, etc.) If the prose had been masterful, the rather simple nature of the story might have been elevated and given a little more gravitas.
As it is, it doesn't excite, but it doesn't aggravate. It's ok.
And not well served by the decisions made in packaging and marketing it. I mean, the blurb's actually really interesting. The blurb promises a threeway tussle of adult passions, decisions and consequences. The blurb reflects the cover. Neither of them make any mention of Lindsay, the twelve-year-old real-world girl who gets sucked through into the fantasy world in the second chapter of the book and plays a major role in events from there on - events which start with the blurb, dispensing with all of that as backstory in the first chapter.
I mean... what? (Not to mention that I don't particularly like YA, and surprise!world-transportation!YA is my least favourite flavour thereof.)
Stylistically, it's pretty bland. The writing plods along at workmanlike - perfectly serviceable - levels with occasional bouts of melodramatic purple. (Screams ravaging the night, a single drop of blood cascading down her cheek, etc.) If the prose had been masterful, the rather simple nature of the story might have been elevated and given a little more gravitas.
As it is, it doesn't excite, but it doesn't aggravate. It's ok.
evavroslin's review
4.0
I used to be a huge fan of the Dragonlance books in high school and I found "Miserere" had the same sort of vibe, which I took to right away.
The protagonist of "Miserere", Lucian, is a Katharos, a special kind of mage with powers of exorcism among other things. He walks with a cane and feels like an old man. Lucian is a repentant man sorry for his sins and trying to atone for them, especially the ones involving his twin sister, Catarina. He has a hard time accepting her for the power-hungry, manipulative biatch that she is. She's in league with a Fallen angel, Mastema, and together they're trying to help Fallen angels become the rulers of everything. Instead of elves and dragons, in "Miserere" there be a darker take with angels and fallen angels and weird demonic creatures.
Aside from the initial jarring transition to modern day Earth and the introduction of Lindsay, a young girl who turns out to be Lucian's foundlind (he's her mentor), we get into the epic fantasy side of things again and Lucian has to learn not to let history repeat itself when it comes to Lindsay.
There is a lot of worldbuilding and many passages of dialogue that focus on this, but to be fair, it's a complex universe that warrants that kind of explanation. The beginning gets off to a slower start, but goes on to develop intrigue and plot advancement, and Lucian does a good job reminding the reader know what's at stake.
To say that Lucian is conflicted is an understatement--arguably the biggest inner conflict he has is with himself and in making things right again, but also with his love/hate relationship with his twin, Catarina, and the girlfriend, Rachel, that he kind of ditched in Hell (but there's a good reason for that even though it sounds terrible, which it is.) He has to make sure Lindsay stays on the side of the good "Jedi" and doesn't become "Sith" so to speak, which creates more dynamic interactions with the overall narrative. If you miss Dragonlance-esque fantasies, definitely pick up "Miserere."
The protagonist of "Miserere", Lucian, is a Katharos, a special kind of mage with powers of exorcism among other things. He walks with a cane and feels like an old man. Lucian is a repentant man sorry for his sins and trying to atone for them, especially the ones involving his twin sister, Catarina. He has a hard time accepting her for the power-hungry, manipulative biatch that she is. She's in league with a Fallen angel, Mastema, and together they're trying to help Fallen angels become the rulers of everything. Instead of elves and dragons, in "Miserere" there be a darker take with angels and fallen angels and weird demonic creatures.
Aside from the initial jarring transition to modern day Earth and the introduction of Lindsay, a young girl who turns out to be Lucian's foundlind (he's her mentor), we get into the epic fantasy side of things again and Lucian has to learn not to let history repeat itself when it comes to Lindsay.
There is a lot of worldbuilding and many passages of dialogue that focus on this, but to be fair, it's a complex universe that warrants that kind of explanation. The beginning gets off to a slower start, but goes on to develop intrigue and plot advancement, and Lucian does a good job reminding the reader know what's at stake.
To say that Lucian is conflicted is an understatement--arguably the biggest inner conflict he has is with himself and in making things right again, but also with his love/hate relationship with his twin, Catarina, and the girlfriend, Rachel, that he kind of ditched in Hell (but there's a good reason for that even though it sounds terrible, which it is.) He has to make sure Lindsay stays on the side of the good "Jedi" and doesn't become "Sith" so to speak, which creates more dynamic interactions with the overall narrative. If you miss Dragonlance-esque fantasies, definitely pick up "Miserere."