The House of Shattered Wings by Aliette de Bodard

The House of Shattered Wings by Aliette De Bodard
Published by ROC BOOKS on August 18th 2015
Genres: Fantasy, Historical
Pages: 416
Format: eARC
ISBN: 0451477383
ASIN: B00SI02L4W
Goodreads

This post contains affiliate links, please see our 'About' page.

FTC disclaimer applies, please visit 'About' page

Multi-award winning author Aliette de Bodard, brings her story of the War in Heaven to Paris, igniting the City of Light in a fantasy of divine power and deep conspiracy…

In the late twentieth century, the streets of Paris are lined with haunted ruins, the aftermath of a Great War between arcane powers. The Grand Magasins have been reduced to piles of debris, Notre-Dame is a burnt-out shell, and the Seine has turned black with ashes and rubble and the remnants of the spells that tore the city apart. But those that survived still retain their irrepressible appetite for novelty and distraction, and The Great Houses still vie for dominion over France’s once grand capital.

Once the most powerful and formidable, House Silverspires now lies in disarray. Its magic is ailing; its founder, Morningstar, has been missing for decades; and now something from the shadows stalks its people inside their very own walls.

Within the House, three very different people must come together: a naive but powerful Fallen angel; an alchemist with a self-destructive addiction; and a resentful young man wielding spells of unknown origin. They may be Silverspires’ salvation—or the architects of its last, irreversible fall. And if Silverspires falls, so may the city itself.

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Barnes and Noble

Buy on iTunes

Aliette  de Bodard, writes an epic historical fantasy, that blends both Judo-Christian traditions, those of the Far East, suspense, and intrigue in The House of Shattered Wings.  The angels of Heaven rebelled, were cast out and became the Fallen, but not into hell; but onto Earth, Terra Firma, the Big Blue Marble.  The angels ruled earth via Houses that they have established, houses that magical and non magical people bind themselves to. Not everyone binds themselves to a House, these low level people trade on magic, if they can find it, as magic is in the world.  Everything is going along beautifully; until the early twentieth century, when war breaks out.  The war between these magical creatures have devastated the earth, Bodard’s story is set in Paris,  sixty years after the war that destroyed civilization ended.  We the reader are thrust into the later twentieth century, as a fallen angel crashes to earth. The narrative of the angels fall is breath stealing.  The Fallens, especially the newest ones have the most magic; as they are closest to their true form.  As they age their power diminishes, but they are still the most powerful beings on the earth.  Their blood, hair, flesh and bones are imbued with magic, and yes the recently Fallen are hacked up for parts for magic.

Bodard’s fantasy world is intricate in its detail, of both the world before and after of the war.  The angels control the Houses with an iron fist, and it is evident that these are not humans as their ethos is not that of humanity.  The Fallen are playing a long game of chess, and the political machinations that come along with wanting to rule the city of Paris.  It is interesting that none of the Fallen, can remember why they were cast out by God.  A God that is supposed to be forgiving but still dumps new Fallen onto the earth even after the first rebellion.  The novel, is steeped in both political and philosophical ideals, as this is a thinking readers book.  This is not a light fantasy novel.  Bodard, puts her own spin on redemption, the cost of living, loyalty, and suspense, which is both thrilling and scary.  This book is a page turner, and not for the weak of heart, as Bodard takes her reader down a rabbit hole of her making.

I really enjoyed this book, but I love books that have political intrigue and complex plots, so be warned if you are wanting light historical fantasy; you may want to pass, as there is nothing light about this book.  If you are ready to read an intense, dark and daring historical fantasy than you need to read this book.  As Bodard’s blending of the different cultures of French colonialism along with the Fallen angels is darkly mesmerizing, and a book that should not be missed.

Rating Report
Plot
Characters
Writing
Pacing
Cover
Overall: