Jovah's Angel (1997)

The premise: ganked from BN.com: One hundred and fifty years have passed since the tenure of the Archangel Gabriel and his angelica Rachel, a time of peace and stability. But now, great storms are sweeping the lands, the deserts flood, and the skies rain down death and destruction. Then the proud and beautiful Archangel Delilah falls victim to the rage of wind, as she is torn from the sky, her wing broken. She can no longer soar in the heavens, guiding and guarding those below. She can no longer be first among the angels. Never before have the oracles had to choose a new Archangel while one still lived. And though Jovah's anger blows all about them, still they must consult him. His choice - the angel Alleluia, a solitary scholar of undistinguished lineage. Now the fate of the planet rests with the reluctant Archangel Alleluia, who believes in her duty and her god. And her fate in turn, may well depend on the mortal Caleb, a man who believes only in science - and himself.

My Rating: Excellent

I took my time with this book. I really wanted to absorb and admire all of the world-building details, as well as really get a solid sense of the story where where it would go and how it could end. While the book didn't hold any major surprises for me, it was a delight to learn how right my own predictions were, and it was a delight to see how the characters responded to various challenges that faced them. Shinn writes in a way that immediately absorbs you in the world she's created, and I have to laugh, since this was written long before the YA angel-craze took over, and it shows: the angels in this series have more gravitas, something more to say about their world and their god, and they're just so much more interesting that the over-dramatic romances I've seen grace the YA shelves. For those tired of the angel craze, I've said it before and I'll say it again: consider Sharon Shinn's Samaria books an exception to the rule. Jovah's Angel took the transition from science fantasy directly into science fiction by the end, but yet there's a sense of wonder to the story and the world that doesn't go away, even when you know what's behind the curtain. The great thing about this series is that it's one you can relish, and I'll slowly be savoring these books for years to come.

Spoilers, yay or nay?: Yay. If you've not read this book, or if you're not familiar with the series, do not read the full review, which may be found at my blog. If you are caught up, though, or don't care about spoilers, comments and discussion are always welcome. You can access the full review by clicking the link below:

REVIEW: Sharon Shinn's JOVAH'S ANGEL

Happy Reading! ( )

Not a series where one book picks up right after the next, which is a bit disconcerting at first. However, as different as the story is from the first, it's just as well told, and just as hard to put down. Shinn is one of my favourite authors. ( )

The second in the Samaria series turns more directly toward the SF aspect, as Sharon Shinn continues building this fascinating world. Her characters are as well drawn as ever, and are in fact easier people to like than in Archangel. A great next entry in the series. ( )

Nice reading if a little bit heavy on the moralising and the philosophising towards the end. ( )

Oct09:

Now that was a solid book.

Plot: Very solid. It was more about the characters, but the deep motivation was simple and to the point. It was a matter of faith and science and a blending of the two.

Characters: Just great. The fallen Archangel was probably my favorite part. She was so dynamic and wonderful. The lead couple were above average as well.

Style: Purely romantasized. A nice bit of faith exploration. Good world building. Really grabs me and makes me want to read it :) ( )