Reviews

La Malédiction des anges by Danielle Trussoni

liinukka's review against another edition

Go to review page

2.0

Interesting concept, but I thought it promised more than it delivered, both in terms of scope and imagination. Plot and characterization seemed overly simplified.

dreamawakebooks's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

"Sister Evangeline was just a girl when her father entrusted her to the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration in upstate New York. Now, at twenty-three, her discovery of a 1943 letter from the famous philanthropist Abigail Rockefeller plunges Evangeline into a secret history that stretches back a thousand years: an ancient clash between the Society of Angelologists and the monstrously beautiful descendants of angels and humans, the Nephilim.

Almost since human civilisation began, the Nephilim have moved undetected behind the seats of power throughout the world and have been tracked in stealth by generations of Angel-scholars, the Angelologists, who have devoted their lives to stopping them. Their shared mission, which Evangeline has long been destined to join, reaches from her bucolic abbey on the Hudson, to the apex of insular wealth in New York, to the Montparnasse Cemetary in Paris and the mountains of bulgaria."

The novel begins with Evangeline, a nun of the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration at St Rose Convent in New York, and a very detailed description of her life and functions within the convent. Although this initial aspect of the story is somewhat necessary to the understanding of the events that unfold as the novel progresses, it is a tad tedious to read, although this is the first meeting between Evangeline and the mysterious, but very naive Verlaine, who eventually becomes of some significance to the happenings in the book.

Although, as I have admitted, this part of the story is somewhat tedious, I implore you to continue to read, even if, as I did, it is little and often. As the novel progresses, and the communications between Mother Innocenta and Abigail Rockefeller are uncovered, it becomes obvious that they are of particular significance, although quite why does take some time to be discovered.

Enter Percival Grigori, deceitful, ailing heir to one of the most powerful Nephilim families in the world, and intricately entwined with a number of central characters in the story, including, in a painful twist, Evangeline herself.

As the story unfolds, thorough the memories of Evangeline, Sister Celestine and Percival Grigori, the pace of the novel picks up considerably. The accounts of the centuries of work carried out by the Society of Angelologists to protect the world from the corruption of the Nephilim, whose ultimate goal is the creation of a 'superior race' are beautifully detailed and draw the reader into a new and fascinating world where Angels and humans battle to decide the fate of the world.

Ultimately Trussoni presents a truly unique blend of biblical lore, modern mythology and fiction, resulting in an engaging if somewhat far-fetched imagining of a world where humans and angels co-exist.

Despite the slow start, I found Angelology to be an enjoyable read, although not a novel I will be re-visiting.

ziagouel's review against another edition

Go to review page

2.0

I consider this kind of a twist on Da-Vinci-Code-slightly-meets-Twilight. With much better writing than Twilight and with no vampires which elevates the rating a lot.
I enjoyed the slow beginning with a lot of description because many authors don't take enough effort with setting the scene when dealing with some historical or specific topic like this one. It was quite believable. But compared with the rest of the book when things finally start to happen (although we don't know what are they like) it takes too much space.
It was rather naive, tame and harmless. Not recommended.

mellomorissa's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous informative mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

kmcquage's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

It may deserve a higher rating, but there parts that just dragged. Might have been my mood, though.

vampire_mother's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

When I recieved this book was when I turned 19. I love fanasy books, and I thought a little "Interesting.. angels... I wonder how are they seen by Danielle" And when I begun to read I couldn't stop.
Now I recommend it to everybody because it's great.
P.S. I read it in Romanian :D

philtatoss98's review against another edition

Go to review page

slow-paced
DNF’d en la página 235, too much!! Me hubiera gustado que la mayor parte de la narración fuera de parte de los ángeles, los humanos fueron bastante aburridos

lexlux's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

First, I will have to confess, I only picked up this book because the cover was appealing to me. It truly has a very sensational cover image!
About, the book itself, I have to say halfway through the book I wouldn’t have recommended it to anyone. But the last quarter of the book just blew me away! The action was fast paced with no unnecessary words and the suspense built beautifully with a bittersweet climax!
The characters are not as well laid out as I would have liked them to be.
But, the theme of strong women is present through the book and this was one of the highlights for me. From Gabriella to Evangeline, from Mother Innocenta to Sister Philomena, from Saitou-San to Seraphina, all the women are true heroes in this book!
From not wanting to finish the book to recommending the book to everyone, the author has really proved herself and I will definitely pick up the rest of this series!

giselle_hk's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

deetour8's review against another edition

Go to review page

1.0

Sister Evangeline is a young nun living in a convent in upstate New York, living a life of peace and solitude until Verlaine, an art historian, comes to the convent archives she works at requesting letters written by Abigail Rockefeller. The letters pipe Evangeline’s interest and leads her to discover the world of Angelology, a secret society of people trying to rescue the world from the Nephlim, the offspring of the Fallen Angels and humans, which her family happen to be famous members of. After her discovery, she must leave the world she knew forever. Evangeline and Verlaine join Angelologist on a hunt to find a magical object that Abigail Rockefeller has hidden before the Nephlim who believe it will give them even more control over humanity than they already have.

The story line itself is interesting, but the novel lacks the depth to engage the reader. The characters lack vigor, and are hard for the reader to relate to and feel sympathy towards. The pacing of the novel is too slow to keep you on your toes, and nearly puts you to sleep. While the basic story line is good in theory and sounds as though it will be nonstop action, Trussoni fails to bring the elements that make a thriller to their full scale leaving bits and pieces weaved together by a never-ending story.