Customer Reviews

Angels of Destruction

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book says much about the human condition, especially about the relationship between parent and child. The author paints so well in words the way we interact only on the surface, and fail to truly communicate our deepest hopes, loves, and fears. At moments, the book is heart-wrenching, not so much for what is said, but for what is unsaid. The characters are drawn so realistically, that when I was finished reading, I wanted to know what the future held for these people. The fantasy aspect to this book leaves much for one to question, but again, is that not part of the human condition?

I recommend this book to anyone that enjoys the fantastic, the painful, the hopeful, and the thoughtful. It grabs you by the heart from page one and does not let go. For those that have read The Stolen Child, I found this book to be superior, especially in terms of character development.

In this second novel by a talented author, the story flows along so beautifully that the reader does not want to skip one syllable for fear of missing something wonderful. At times sad,yet with hope always underlying every chapter,the story was easy to love. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys something different and likes to be surprised by their books.

When I first received this book to review, I read the synopsis and thought it was going to be about fantasy and magic, but what I got was so much more.

The story begins in 1985. One bitterly cold night, Margaret quinn, a widow, who lives alone and still mourns the loss of her child; a daughter, who ran away a decade earlier with the boy that she loved, opens the door to find Norah, a small bespectacled girl, frozen and shivering with a battered suitcase leaning against her legs. Margaret takes the girl in, but who is she and what is her purpose?

The second part of the book flashes back to 1975 and tells the story of Erica, Margaret's child, and Wiley, a boy who is obsessed with the Angels of Destruction, a group of radicals, and decides to join their revolution. It reveals how love is at times blind and how it can sweep you along with things you have no control over. Part three returns to 1985 and is about forgiveness and hope. The two parts preceding are now entwined and come together in conclusion.

This book is expertly written. There is fantasy and magic, but it's subtle and weaves its way through the story leading the reader to believe, without question. However, for me, the story was more about love and loss, grief and forgiveness. It is haunting and melancholy without sentimentality. The mystery behind Norah, Una and the man in the camel-haired coat is never really revealed, but the hint of angels influences us in who we believe them to be. The true essence of the story does have an ending, which is very moving.

This is not a quick read, but then I wouldn't want it to be. The story demands the pace to be slow to coincide with the sorrowful atmosphere.

I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.

(I gave this 7/10 on my blog)

After reading Keith Donohue's first book, "The Stolen Child," I told my wife I can't recall reading a book I enjoyed more, so I was understandably eager to read "Angels of Destruction."
It, too, was mesmerizing. Donohue deals with subjects of myth and lore in contemporary terms that don't leave me questioning their plausibility. He doesn't over-define or wrap things up too tightly, leaving plenty of room for his readers' thoughts. I just hop into the first few pages of his books and enjoy the ride, always a little sorry to reach the end.

Having not read Keith Donohue's The Stolen Child I went on this journey with the author and his characters with a very open mind and heart and I found that I was mesmerized throughout this novel. He slowly weaves the story of lonely Margaret and the waif Norah who mysteriously arrives at her door in the middle of the night. We learn about Erica, Margaret's daughter who had disappeared years earlier to join a radical cult, 'The Angels of Destruction', and we learn about Sean, the young neighbor boy that soon befriends the enchanting Norah. The question that you will ask yourself throughout this book is, 'Who is Norah?' and you will wonder if she in fact has a connection to Erica. You must read this fascinating tale to it's conclusion - it is a page-turner; this was one of those rare books that you just don't want to end because it is difficult to say goodbye to such compelling individuals in this tale of redemption.

Keith Donohue is a wonderful writer. That being said, this story left me slightly disappointed. I wish there were more answers, more definitive conclusions... I suppose the open-endedness works better thematically, but that sort of thing frustrates me.

The story is compelling, but it doesn't really go anywhere. I kept waiting for something big to happen... and waiting... and waiting... etc. Fortunately, Mr. Donohue's writing is beautiful and he is certainly a talented storyteller, so I could forgive the vagueness to an extent.

"Angels of Destruction" is great if you're looking for a well-written, entertaining, thought-provoking story. All in all, I much preferred "The Stolen Child," but I still can't wait for Mr. Donohue's next book.

I was disappointed in this novel. I haven't read The Stolen Child, so this was my first exposure to Donahue's style. I have to admit I wasn't that impressed. The story had a lot of potential to be riveting but instead of speed reading to get to the next part I had to force myself to finish it. This book is slow and there wasn't a lot of depth to the characters in my opinion. Yes, it's certainly a touching story and does contain interesting twists. In the end, however, I'm thrilled that I borrowed this book rather than buying it.

I think that Keith Donohue's second book is wonderful! It shared the same magical flair as his first book, _The Stolen Child_. This book ended with me wanting more - more of this story, more of his beautiful words, anything. The way he strings words together is simply artful. I enjoyed the use of time and mystery in this novel, not to mention the rich characters. It was completely engrossing. I am already looking forward to his next book.

Ten years ago, Margaret Quinn lost her only daughter, Erica. Erica ran away with her high school boyfriend, set on joining the Angels of Destruction, a radical student group. She hasn't heard from or spoken to Erica in all this time.

One night, Margaret is startled when a nine year old orphan shows up on her doorstep one cold winter night. Mrs. Quinn takes in the child, and comes up with a plan to pass her off as Norah Quinn, her granddaughter and the daughter of her long-missing Erica.

Mrs. Quinn introduces Nora to Sean Fallon, a lonely neighborhood boy, and requests that he escort Nora to and from school each day. The community seems to accept the story of Nora's past, until she starts proclaiming she is an angel. The school and the community are in an uproar after Nora puts the lives of several children at risk in order to prove that she has divine powers. Who is this little girl, and where has she come from? And who is this mysterious man that seems to lurk in her shadow?

The secondary storyline revolves around Erica. Donohue uses flashbacks to inform the reader of her terrifying trek to what she believes is her salvation, but in actuality it almost brings upon her destruction.

ANGELS OF DESTRUCTION is a powerful and unforgettable tale about love, trust, and heartbreak. I find Donohue's writing to be mesmerizing, and his character development is astounding. I listened to the audio version of this book and it felt as thought the characters and the writing was so detailed that it felt as though the characters and storyline were developing around me. Highly recommended to everyone, but particularly to readers of fantasy and the supernatural.

I enjoyed this story and found it to be somewhat of a page turner. I love how the story ended and I found the characters to be interesting and sympathetic. My favorite character was Norah and the only reason I gave 4 stars was because I would have liked to see the author go into more detail about her. Overall this was a beautifully told story with positive themes.