A Madness Of Angels: A Matthew Swift Novel (Matthew Swift)

by Kate Griffin

When a man is tired of London he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford - Samuel Johnson

In fact, Dr Johnson was only half right. There is in London much more than life - there is power. It ebbs and flows with the rhythms of the city, makes runes from the alignments of ancient streets and hums with the rattle of trains and buses; it waxes and wanes with the patterns of the business day. It is a new kind of magic: urban magic.

Enter a London where magicians ride the Last Train, implore favours of The Beggar King and interpret the insane wisdom of The Bag Lady. Enter a London where beings of power soar with the pigeons and scrabble with the rats, and seek insight in the half-whispered madness of the blue electric angels. Enter the London of Matthew Swift, where rival sorcerers, hidden in plain sight, do battle for the very soul of the city . . .

• ISBN10: 0748111433
• ISBN13: 9780748111435
• Publish Date: 2 April 2009
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Imprint: Orbit
• Edition: Digital original
• Format: eBook (EPUB)
• Pages: 496
• Language: English

Reviews

[wyvernfriend]

This is primarily the story of London. A London where magic is formed by the rote and ritual of everyday life, where some of the excess energy created by living can be used by those who can feel it. Matthew Swift is one of those sorcerers. Two years ago he disappeared, now he's back. Arriving back in his former home, naked, he has to work out what's happened to him, to his city and to the powers that are in the place.

His former mentor is ruthlessly trying for immortality and control of the power of London and he finds himself working with the opposition.

This is a book that interweaves magic with the fabric of a city, forming an interesting combination of cause and effect. I've only visited London once but this really felt quite real in it's view of the city and the power inherent in things.