A Terrible Fall of Angels by Laurell K. Hamilton

Angels walk among us, but so do other unearthly beings in this brand new series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Laurell K. Hamilton.

Meet Detective Zaniel Havelock, a man with the special ability to communicate directly with angels. A former trained Angel speaker, he devoted his life to serving both the celestial beings and his fellow humans with his gift, but a terrible betrayal compelled him to leave that life behind. Now he’s a cop who is still working on the side of angels. But where there are angels, there are also demons. There’s no question that there’s evil at work when he’s called in to examine the murder scene of a college student—but is it just the evil that one human being can do to another, or is it something more? When demonic possession is a possibility, even angelic protection can only go so far. The race is on to stop a killer before he finds his next victim, as Zaniel is forced to confront his own very personal demons, and the past he never truly left behind.

The first in a new series from the author of the Anita Blake and Merry Gentry series.

 

 

Book 1
Buy Links

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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Sarah – ☆☆☆☆☆
This is a weird and wonderful treat from a favourite author. Laurell K. Hamilton has swapped vampires and shifters for angels and demons – and she immediately pulled me into her fabulous new world.

Laurell K. Hamilton isn’t the first Urban Fantasy writer to take on angels, but this feels fresh and exciting. Part jaded cop, part angelic interpreter, there is nothing straightforward about Zaniel. This first book is part theology, part police procedural, and part horror. Zaniel and his team are chasing something demonic. The tense encounters between the police and the demonic being and the trail of gore left behind will satisfy fans of Anita Blake the marshall. Zaniel’s messy personal and professional life will appeal to readers who love a complex central character.

I really enjoyed the world building here. I love the murky sense of good and evil that develops in this first book as nothing is quite what it seems. Zaniel’s early experiences as an Angel Speaker prompt reflection from readers. Zaniel’s struggle to hold onto his faith while rejecting the cruelty and inconsistency of the cult-like group who raised him will be relatable to many readers.

I feel like this book works on many levels. On a basic level, Zaniel slots easily into the role of a self-destructive Scandi-noir detective in the tradition of Wallander or Harry Hole. The first book is fast paced, carefully plotted, and exciting. On a more complex level, readers are only given a taste of this new world and left with many questions. I can’t wait for the next book in this series!


Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
3.5 stars
M/F Paranormal

Havoc, aka Zaniel, is a police officer in the Metaphysical Coordination Unit. His job is to notice details that other officers might not notice or see details that others simply can't see. Havoc is trying to find out why there has been an uptick in deaths, with angel feathers in connection to the deaths. That's not normal for angels.

Havoc is also going through a trial separation. I'm not entirely sure why this is in the story. It seems strange to have this line in the book, but maybe it'll play a larger role in the coming books. For this one, it was off topic and didn't mesh well.

The mystery behind the College of Angels and what they are supposed to be teaching is what makes this a mystery. Havoc has only known that the college was doing good, training those around them to be conduits for God. To fight off the evil in the world. But when his long-lost friend is found again, with no signs of being as disturbed as he had been, Havoc has to question all that he was taught.

Then, on the job, Havoc has to deal with a demon who simply won't die in the normal way and has an uncanny ability to evade them. What's going on? How is the demon able to travel and be part of a human? Is the human a willing participant? All of those questions are planned out and asked.

This book is intriguing, and I definitely want to see where this goes. There are a lot of characters introduced in this first book and I hope we get to see them more in the next one.

 

 

LAURELL K. HAMILTON is a full-time writer and the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series and the Merry Gentry series. She lives in a suburb of St. Louis with her family.

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of A Terrible Fall of Angels (Zaniel Havelock #1) by Laurell K. Hamilton to read and review.