A Madness of Angels by Kate GriffinMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Jacket Blurb: For Matthew Swift, today is not like any other day. It is the day on which he returns to life.
Two years after his untimely death, Matthew Swift finds himself breathing once again, lying in bed in his London home.
Except that it's no longer his bed, or his home. And the last time this sorcerer was seen alive, an unknown assailant had gouged a hole so deep in his chest that his death was irrefutable...despite his body never being found.
He doesn't have long to mull over his resurrection though, or the changes that have been wrought upon him. His only concern now is vengeance. Vengeance upon his monstrous killer and vengeance upon the one who brought him back
This was a recommendation from the Writer and The Critic podcast and the review intrigued me - I wasn't disappointed. A dark urban fantasy that steps away from the fluff and silliness of the usual run-of-the-mill trope.
Set in London, magic has evolved into modern times for practitioners to be able to use the Cities life-force. The country has its own that can be used by some, but all cities hum with a magic unique to each place. The underground, the electricity, the beggars, the motorway, and the telephone. Totally fascinating world building.
This was full of subtle humor, dry British wit, great charm and nary a vampire to be seen. I loved the London backdrop, I loved the tension between the various magic workers, I was thrilled with the little nuances that made this particular urban fantasy so vivid.
The reader will know the ending - you are told the ending - but what the story starts out as is not quite how it ends. I'm an odd duck in that I quite enjoy knowing how it's going to end, and being able to just watch the story unfold is infinitely relaxing for me.
Recommended!
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