Customer Reviews

Angel Souls and Devil Hearts (The Shadow Saga, Book 2)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is an excellent vampire series. Very different take on vampires. If this is your first Christopher Golden book in the Shadow Saga, I would highly suggest reading the series in order. (1) Of Saints and Shadows (2) Angel Souls and Devil Hearts (3) Of Masques and Martyrs and (4) The Gathering Dark. I enjoyed this series as much or even more than the anita blake and tanya huff series. Highly recommended.

Book #2 continues where book #1 ended. At the end of book 1, the world found out that vampires really do exist. The world is also very sympathetic to vampires because in book 1 a few evil members of the church tried to have them exterminated, and all of it was caught by a news crew. Vampires now have rights in the world. Counsels have been formed to help vampires and humans work and live together.

But things are not as "perfect" as they seem. Hannibal one of the vampire leaders is upset at the new life of the vampire. He liked the vampires of old, attacking the humans, killing them. He doesn't want to be their friend, he wants to hunt them. Hannibal secretly starts to build his own army of evil vampires. He has plans to attack when the time is right.

Also, as usual with this series, a variety of characters are involved in different things. In Book 1 you met Wild Bill Cody and the famous news reporter Allison. They are now a couple, and taking a vacation. While on vacation, they come across some demonic incidents and then the evil villain from Book #1 makes a return appearance. This book is about the fight between the evil versus good vampires; and the evil demons in hell.

Very good book and a GREAT series. Highly recommended.

As soon as I finished Of Saints and Shadows, I immediately started hoping and fervently looking for a second book. I was thrilled when Angel Souls and Devil Hearts came out. I thought it was as exciting, involving, and well told as the first book. The plot moved along nicely and more was revealed about the origins of the vampires. The first vampire's identity was an excellent twist. Loved it!!! The only thing that was even slightly disappointing was the development of Lazarus. I understand it and it fit, but there seemed to be such a build up of him in the first book. However, I can see how his importance could be dimmed by the development of others revealed in this book. I would definitly suggest this book to others (and have, as a matter of fact). Of course, I recommend this along with Saints as a starting point. I can't wait until the next one comes out. I was pleasantly surprised to see that listing today. It will be a birthday present to myself as it is to be released in December. For all of you vampire lovers and the simply curious, these books are "must read" material.

im am usually one who just reads magic type books(elves wizards ect.) but these books have changed my mind about vampires forever. i loved the way that Golden used real like people that had become vampires. i am a christian and i enjoyed the way that he used jesus. it was odd but i still enjoyed it :) Golden totally changed all the boundries for vampires. from sunlight to crosses, but not only did he change them but he explained how. the way that golden wrote this made you feel every thing that the characters did. and i have totally fallen in love with Peter Octavian (would be nice to see him in another book) in short i would advise everyone who has an open mind about vampires or wants to see them catch up with the times to read these books.

I read the first in the series and was not very impressed, but something told me that maybe this could be salvaged.

I must admit, it wasn't boring.

The problem with Golden's characters are that they're not very fleshed out. They seemed a little bigger than life. I never really felt that they were "human." I never felt like I really, truly knew them; there was not depth to them. I also hated how he kept pointing out that there were "good" and "bad" vampires. It grated because you knew who was "good" and who was "bad, right off." There were never any "grey" characters. This would have helped them seem more human, and likeable. It also didn't help that all the bad guys were lunatics.

The vampire's attitudes weren't very consistent, either. I mean, they now know that there is a hell. Yet, when someone dies, they wonder what happened to them! What?!? If there's a hell, wouldn't that imply a heaven? Yet, even when they go to hell, and see the damned, they still wonder what happens when you die. On this point, even the "narrator" seems confused.

I also found it strange, that for a thousand year old vampire, and one of the world's most "esteemed" generals, Hannibal's a pretty stupid guy. You would think his ambitions would be a little greater than what they were in the book. You'd also think he'd pick a better time to declare war on humanity; not choose a time when you could easily be nuked.

This was a quick read, and passed the time, but if this is what's considered "good", or even "great" horror nowadays, I REALLY don't want to see what's considered bad.

I think of the most recent vampire stuff, the Kindred stories from White Wolf are way more interesting than what most other companies are putting out there.

Christopher Golden's Shadow Saga is a definite page turner. It catches the readers attentions and runs with it never letting it get away. While the series does have a few faults (he kills off a lot of main characters) it is still extremely fascinating. In fact, I think that the authors unpredictablity leads to an even more interesting read. If you like mystery and original tales this a great book to read. Beware of the violence though. It can get pretty gruesome. It is a wonderful book about vampires in today's world.

This is up there with The Necroscope series. Now I don't miss Brian Lumley as bad as I did.

Now he has serious competition. A must read.

I was told about chrispher Goldon, and was happy to say for a writer, he is good. His three books seriers were wonderful. A real page turner.Couldn't put the book down, didn't want to and didn't want it to end. Shed some tears, and laughter. I have read a few vampire books, but this is the best of all his books.His style and emagine was something to read. He made them so life like. You beleived in the charters. It was hard to chose your favorets. Couldn't wait for the next one to read. Hope Goldlen continues writing them. But it will be hard to beat what he wrote about Vampires and Demons. It was a wonderful books. Looking forward to his next book.

Fantastic follow up to Of Saints and Sinners. I've read many Vampire stories but this series by Christopher Golden are definatly one of the better plots avaliable.

Once again, Mr. Golden invites us to the world of vampires as people, and this time he sets things moving at full speed from the very start. This book is more action-oriented than Of Saints and Shadows, but still contains the unfolding mystery of what the Shadows (vampires) are and how they came to be. I refuse to give anything away, but his answer is the most creative, imaginitive, and just downright COOL thing I've ever heard.

The story starts as an unholy war breaks out in Austria and the Shadows, whose existence is now public knowledge, are caught up in it. From there it unfolds in several directions, and as the heroes fight to save the world, they are also forced to start uncovering the truth about themselves and their heritage.

If there's anything wrong with this book it's that I felt in some places Golden went overboard with the excessively gratuitous sex and violence (I felt that way at a couple points in Of Saints and Shadows too.) Also, if you are particularly religious, this book might not be for you, as some of the ideas it presents are rather unconventional, although less so than in Of Saints and Shadows. If you have an open mind, however, and especially if you like vampire stories, this is one not to be missed.

Its a sequel, come on folks, how good can a sequel be? Of course the first one was better, but this one answers a lot of questions and is a pretty good book. The initial shock of the vampires and their ways are gone, but saga continues, trying to keep the reader still entertained by what the vamps really are. All in all, It was a pretty good follow up.