I received this book as a competition prize and didn't really know too much about it. Danielle Trussoni is a new author to me and although this is a book I might not normally choose to read, I was quite pleasantly surprised. I found it an enjoyable read, with a mixture of theology, mythology and a clever triller with a last minute twist.
The book begins with a brief prologue which sets the scene for the underlying plot throughout. The story is broken into three parts with the first and third sections linking the main part of the story and the middle section giving a somewhat in depth account of what happened to the main character's grandmother during her early life in Paris during the 1940's. This was obviously a time of great upheaval due to the Nazis invasion during WWII.
Evangeline (main character) began her life in Paris but following her mother's tragic death she is taken, by her father, to live in America. Some years later he takes her to St Rose Convent, Milton, New York where she begins a new life of dedication to the church. Evangeline knows very little of her mothers (Anegla) and grandmother's (Gabriella) background, but this soon changes when an art historian, Verlaine, contacts St Rose's with a request to see correspondence between Abigail Rockafeller and Mother Innocenta.
It transpires that Verlaine has unwittingly been employed by the enemy (Nephilim) to locate a lost treasure. So begins an amazing adventure to find the magical 'lyre' which has remained hidden for almost 60 years.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book although found some parts a little slow and others a little confusing. The characters could have been a little more 'believable'. I found the ending unexpected and strange!
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Angelology by Danielle Trussoni (4 posts)
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Posted 5 months ago #
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I too received this book as part of a competition and have in the last week been plunged to an incredibly dark, mysterious and complex world. I admit I did know something of the book before reading, murmurs from Hollywood of the films rights already being fought over but this is so much more than another Da Vinci Code spin off.
KarentGill has succinctly described the plot of the book above but it is an incredible vision of an alternative world. One where angels live amongst us, hiding in the shadows and viewing humans as something to be despised and pitied. They are shown to be vicious, ruthless and even murderous in seeking out what they desire. And their influence on history, from Noah's Ark to the invasion by Germany, is cleverly and realistically demonstrated throughout the book. However, I found it difficult to particularly like any character, human or angel, in the book, instead you admire traits within all. Danielle is keen to show a true reflection of our society today arguing that no matter who we descended from our character is determined by more than genes.
The attention to detail Danielle has shown in the book is intricate and precise, from religion to geneticism to ideology. You are moved forward and backwards with every chapter, even all the way back to our creation through which she deftly weaves this story. At times the book is dark and uncomfortable and is not easy to read and follow but persevere and you will be rewarded with an incredible feat of fiction.
The ending is unusual but not unpredictable and I sense a sequel already brewing...
Posted 5 months ago # -
Never had I thought so much could happen in 48 hours and that I would be encaptured wholly into the world within Angelology created by Danielle Trussoni. As the novel evolves it takes you on a journey with Evangeline in a modern day New York to the memories of Celestine Clochette during the second world war and even to 925AD in the Venerable Father Clematis of Thrace's notes. Each of these characters are interwoven in the history of the Angelologists.
In order to attribute more credence to the Angelologists Danielle Trussonni turns to the Bible, Book of Enoch and the Book of Generations for supporting evidence that cleverly does not distort their credibility or importance. These references provide the possibility of what could be, helping to create the fictional and enticing world of Trussoni's.
The setting for the novel clearly draws from the writers own love of the countries in which she has resided. Taking us from America to France and onto Bulgaria, this helps form the connection between the writer, her characters and their journeys.
The novel twists and turns providing new connections between the Angelologists and the enemy Nephilim that increase the intensity of the story. Even at the last page Trussoni's ability to shock hasn't diminshed.
It was with trepidation that I opened the book and started reading, and it was with sadness that I closed its covers after the last words had been read.
Posted 4 months ago # -
I expected a fast paced thriller as the cover suggested but it was not what I expected. A good story, quite far fetched but not very plausible in my eyes.
The author seems to have combined the Twilight saga with good and bad angels instead of vampires, the yarn from Dan Brown with the search for the missing artefact and the long religous vagaries of Kate Mosse.
When it was telling the "adventure thrilling" part I was hooked but when we started getting pages of historical notes and biblical sub texts I was bored and just kept turning over the pages.
The author has obviously done her research in old biblical geneology but I wanted a thriller not a text book.
The fact that angels had made humans pregnant could be taken as blasphemous to some readers but then it is what makes the story or does it?Posted 4 months ago #
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