littleread1
Written on May 6, 2020
More than a century has passed since Liliath crept into the empty sarcophagus of Saint Marguerite, fleeing the Fall of Ystara. But she emerges from her magical sleep still beautiful, looking no more than nineteen, and once again renews her single-minded quest to be united with her lover, Palleniel, the archangel of Ystara.
A seemingly impossible quest, but Liliath is one of the greatest practitioners of angelic magic to have ever lived, a genius at making icons to summon angels, and supremely adept in forcing them to do her bidding.
Liliath already knew that most of the inhabitants of Ystara died from the Ash Blood plague or were transformed into beastlings, and she herself led the survivors who fled into neighbouring Sarance. Now she learns that angels shun the Ystaran's descendents. If they are touched by angelic magic, their blood will become ashes, or they will turn into beastlings. They are known as Refusers, and can only live the most lowly lives.
But Liliath cares nothing for the descendants of her people, save how they can serve her. It is four young Sarancians who fix her interest, for they are the key to her quest: Simeon, a studious doctor-in-training; Henri, a dedicated fortune hunter; Agnez, an adventurous musketeer cadet; and Dorotea, an icon-maker and scholar of angelic magic.
The four feel a strange, immediate kinship from the moment they meet, but do not know why, or suspect their importance. Only Liliath knows their secret, and she draws them in to her complex plot, just as she manipulates Queen Louisa and her musketeers; King Ferdinand and his guards; Cardinal Duplessis and her pursuivants; and the Refuser Night King Biscaray and his criminal gangs.
All become pawns in Liliath's grand scheme to fulfill her destiny and be united with the love of her life. No matter the cost to everyone else.
- ISBN10 1473227712
- ISBN13 9781473227712
- Publish Date 17 October 2019 (first published 1 October 2019)
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 7 January 2022
- Publish Country GB
- Imprint Gollancz
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 560
- Language English
Reviews
thepunktheory
Written on Mar 23, 2020
This was really cool!
I had just about zero expectations for Angel Mage, so I ended up very surprised and very excited.
Why did I like it, you might ask. First of all, the idea feels very unique. I've read so many books with magic and fae and stuff along those lines, but this one is rather different. Sure, there is something reminiscent of magic but not in the usual way. Here, magic mostly means being able to call upon angels for help and this is a fascinating concept!
Due to this rather unique approach to things, I was immediately engrossed in the world-building. No idea how Garth Nix came up with all this stuff, but he definitely gets a bit thumbs up from me.
I also really liked the French influences that were clearly visible in the story - as that also makes for an interesting change.
The story unfolds slowly, packing mystery on mystery and plan on plan until you can't put the book down anymore, desperate to find out how all of this might end.
If I had to raise some criticism, it would be in the logic department. A thing or two seemed a little far-fetched or stretched, but I'm willing to forgive that as everything else about this book was highly entertaining.
layawaydragon
Written on Oct 21, 2019
About Angel Mage:
IMHO: Angel Mage
I love Garth Nix's books so I had to sign up for this tour and am so honored to have been chosen to participate. I knew I would love his new book and I certainly did.
Even though I'm not big on religion or angels. It doesn't matter. This isn't about commandments and sects, heaven and hell. The Church is just a magical institution in this world, where people summon angels to perform deeds in exchange for their humanly time.
You'll get used to hearing "[person] looks so much older than their years because of summonings!" and "Look at what all the angelic magic has created around us." Part of what I appreciate about our main characters is that they aren't reliant on angels to get shit done or want to learn to be more self-sufficient without it.
We also get the POV of our mastermind villianness right off the bat, which I just love this trend. She is powerful and making moves, what better way to amp up the tension, the mystery, the suspense?
I don't have any complaints. just a word of caution. Read with the right expectations. This isn't light reading or an easy breezy tale. It's 560 pages. This is a long, building, methodical world with a story that achingly unravels. Like The Bone Witch or Three Dark Crowns with a smaller timeline in one book. It's PACKED and dense and so so good when you're in the right mood/headspace.
About the Author:
Giveaway:
Prize: 2 finished copies of Angel Mage by Garth Nix (USA)
Starts: 10/21/19
Ends: 10/31/19
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Angel MAge Tour Schedule:
This review was originally posted on The Layaway Dragon