16/06/09
My review from Bitten By Books is in! Check it out!
http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=8238Karen Dales in her debut offering has written a poignant and epic tale of life and its constant challenges to both the human body and psyche. She writes of the hardships that our forbearers had to prevail against in those times of hardship, prejudice and superstition.
The boy had never known anything but the love of Auntie, the woman who cared for him and kept him from all human eyes. He only knew he was different than the others he had seen while hiding from anyone who came to the humble shack. The boy’s albino looks kept him from appearing totally human, giving him fae features. His name was even a mystery as he had never been given a proper name, only the name of the fey creature those who had espied him on rare occasions had given him: Gwyn ap Nudd.
The prequel to Angel of Death is the Chronicle of the Changling which introduces us to the boy’s life. His birth, his abandonment, his life with Auntie, his unknowing relationship with his father, his meeting of his mentor and Chooser, Father Notus, and his first brush with the dark forces give us incite to the man now known as the Angel.
Angel of Death continues with the Chooser Father Paul and his Chosen, now only known as the Angel, back in England. There is something poisoning the Chosen who now call themselves Vampire, and the Mistress of the City has forced Angel’s hand in compelling him to find out what and who is causing this spreading disease which is tainting the blood of mortals, killing the Chosen who feed on them unsuspectingly. Angel’s hand is further forced to take on partners to help him in his search: Fernando, a cocky Portuguese noble who is very brash and the lovely Scottish maid, Jeanie Stuart, who has pined for the Angel to notice her for years.
The trio find themselves traveling to France to search out the conspirators in the poisoning of their food supply and subsequent extinction. While on their quest, they find love, friendship and truths which lead them back to where they started from.
This novel is a brilliant example of good overcoming and prevailing against evil and prejudice. I must say this tale was an emotional ride of literary genius, both heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. I will be watching and waiting for Ms. Dales’ next chapter in the life of the Angel.
