ISBN: 1-56504-909-8 Order from: Amazon.com Barnes & Noble.com
A lighthearted fantasy with a novel presentation of Heaven and Hell, and the difficulty of maintaining relationships and a decent standard of living while striving for Art.
Reviewed by David on July 05, 1999
Genre: Fantasy (Angels, Demons)
Synopsis: A struggling artist Lucy Bender is wrestling with thoughts of suicide after being dumped by her boyfriend, when her musings are interrupted by a winged humanoid dropped on her roof. Possessing a glimpse of the Truth that sages and saints have spent countless lives seeking, Lucy decides to sell her angel to the tabloids: after all, an artist has to make a living while pursuing her muse.
Unfortunately, complications soon arise as the muse pursues Lucy instead, and all too many supernatural agencies seem intent on taking the angel away from Lucy.
Full Review: Collins, the author of the razor-sharp dark fantasies of Sonja Blue, has made a departure into a lighter-tone adventure. While using some of the same stylistic conventions, this novel presents a fluffier, heart-warming plot. The novel is light in page count, and leaves most of the characters lightly sketched, Nevertheless, Collins's skill is sufficient to make an entertaining book even with this sparse material.
While not breaking new ground and lacking the emotional engagement of some of the author's earlier novels, Angels is an entertaining, romantic and frequently amusing fantasy, well worth the investment in reading time.
Overall: 6; Plot: 6; Characters: 6; Style: 6.5; World-building: 5.5; Originality: 7;
Copyright date 1998, White Wolf Publishing (Borealis), September 1998, Trade paperback, 234 pages
ISBN: 1-56504-909-8 Order from: Amazon.com Barnes & Noble.com