Words Devoured: Archon: The Books of Raziel

Angela Mathers is plagued by visions of angels, supernatural creatures who haunt her thoughts by day and seduce her dreams by night. Newly released from a mental institution where she was locked away for two years, she hopes that her time at the Vatican’s university, the West Wood Academy, will give her a chance at a normal life. Unlike ordinary humans, Angela is a blood head — a freak, a monster, the possible fulfillment of a terrifying prophecy of overwhelming death and destruction. Only in Luz, the Vatican’s wondrous enclave, are blood heads accepted and encouraged to discover what kind of powers or special abilities they might possess.

But within West Wood, a secret coven plots, and demons and angels roam the streets searching for the key to open Raziel’s book — a secret tome from a lost archangel. Some are determined to destroy Raziel, while others, like the beautiful Supernal Israfel, one of the highest of the high, wish to free him. And when the Archon — the human chosen to possess the spirit of a dead angel — rises as foretold, they will control the supernatural universe.

Torn between mortal love and angelic obsession, Angela holds the key to Heaven and Hell — and both will stop at nothing to possess her.

(book description from its entry at Goodreads)

Normally I would describe the novel myself but, to be honest, I was a bit confused at the beginning. Of course I got less confused as I read, but the description above is a hell of a lot better than I could do in describing what the book was about.

I have no religious faith, so this book was tough for me to get into. It was a well written story, no matter how tough I found it to get into. It was an original premise at a time when there are so few really original ideas out there these days.

My issue with the book--and it's semi-big here--was that most of the characters were... kind of flat. I wanted to care about them more than I did. I just couldn't, for some reason...the investment on my part just wasn't there.

All-in-all I enjoyed the book for what it was: a nice diversion. Would I read other entries into the Books of Raziel series? Perhaps, if I found time to. I am not telling you to stay away. There may be people that enjoy on a different level than I do. Seek it out, and see what you think.

You can purchase Archon: The Books of Raziel at Amazon, or other retailers.