Customer Reviews

Angels: Celestial Spirits in Legend and Art

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Jaqueline Carey has presented us with a chef d' oeuvre. Brilliant writing mixed with stunning illustrations made for a remarkable book. Carey takes us on a journey through the lives of not only beneficial angels but also the infamous ones e.g. Azazel, the Nephilem, Lilth, etc. "Angels" is split into four unique chapters, Angels of the Divine, The Eternal Realm, The Material World, & The Infernal Regions. Each chapter provided me with simple yet informative knowledge. The only problem I had with this book is that it was too short. About half the pages are art & I ended up reading this book in less then a day. However this book will still always have a special place on my bookshelf.

Angels...has compiled some of the best reproductions of old master paintings and illuminated manuscripts depicting many in the angelic hierarchy. Better yet (and quite surprisingly) the writing is fresh, fun and accurate. Jacqueline Carey tells the stories of the angels using many diverse religious sources so the perspective is never stale. Her writing and storytelling ability make this a great read from start to finish.

As one highly interested in the topic of angels and their fallen counterparts, I am always looking for a good book on the subject matter. Considering Carey's other work, I'm unsurprised to find her descriptions of this subject matter as lyrical and enjoyable as her more creative works.

I'm also pleased by the high quality full color reproductions and interesting quotes throughout, which have given me plenty of sources and artists to study in other sources. Carey delves not only into the traditional representations of angels, but into the heretical tales as well, which leads to some of the more obscure legends surrounding these interesting creatures.

This is a great reference for anyone interested in the subject matter, though I wish it were just a bit longer and even more in-depth. I would suggest Gustav's A Dictionary of Angels for a more in-depth source, though it does not have the lovely illustrations that this one has!