Angelhide by Barb Rude
Reviewed by: Jimi Roberts, Circulation Assistant
Genre: Modern Fantasy
Suggested Age: Adult
What is the book about?: Agnes Halcomb is a newly graduated guardian angel fresh out of Angel Academy. The story starts off with Agnes (Aggie) in Heaven waiting at the Departure station for her trip to Earth. She has been tasked with finding her first assignment, Nicholas Bayer. He proves quite difficult to locate and her guidance from Heaven is…lacking. I would not dare spoil the hilarity that ensues thanks to her divine cell phone and its effectiveness, but it had me laughing out loud more than once, and that’s just the beginning. This is a truly engrossing tale about a young Angel trying to find her way in a world that feels so familiar yet so foreign. The people she meets along the way will change her life forever, and she will no doubt change theirs. The cast of supporting characters are the real rock stars of the story most of the time. I actually hesitate to call them supporting characters because they each have their own narrative and I found myself emotionally attached to the fate of each one of them. They deal with life, death, dreams, reality, love and grief in their own unique and very real ways. I found the examination of one character’s relationship with dreams and sleep to be particularly fascinating. As the story unfolds, it is like watching a beautiful, and at times terrifying, world grow up around you.
My review: So here is a book I couldn’t put down. The plot is complex but easy to follow, the imagery is vivid, and the characters are deep. I loved the balance of action, drama, comedy and horror. None of it was there for effect. Every aspect of the narrative served to grow the characters as they make their way on a journey not entirely dissimilar from one we all must make. They approach the future with varying levels of acceptance and apprehension. A lot of fantasy novels, especially when they are the first in a series, spend so much time world building that they get bogged down and don’t leave themselves room to explore the characters. This is not the case here in any way, shape, or form. The world is fantastic but it never feels forced. It grows as it needs to and as the actions of the characters dictate. The way it all flows together is completely organic. The next chapter in this series can’t get here fast enough. I want to learn more about every aspect of the world and each of its unique inhabitants.
Rating: 5/5
About FDL Reads
Welcome to FDL Reads, weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library. Librarians (and possibly some other guest reviewers) review all types of books, from children’s picture books, young adult favorites, to the latest adult thriller, and share their thoughts each Tuesday at fondulaclibrary.org. If the book is owned by Fondulac District Library (or another local library), you’ll see a direct link to the catalog entry and whether or not it is available. If it is checked out or at another local library, you will be able to place a hold as long as you have your library card and PIN numbers. As with any book review, these are our opinions…we disagree amongst ourselves about books frequently. We all have different likes and dislikes, which is what makes the world an interesting place. Please enjoy, and keep on reading!