Children of the Fallen [Kindle Edition]

Maya Lassiter (Author)

Book Description

Seven haunted and talented half-breeds, not knowing who they are or what they can do, grow up in a city full of fallen angels. Only Old Abe knows them all, helping them and hiding them from their glorious and terrifying parents who call them abominations. 

A homeless musician, a blind painter, a boy who can photograph angels, a fiery cellist, a tarot card reader--all lovers, children, or grandchildren of fallen angels, and just a few of Abe's charges.  Fallen angels with wings of fire, wings of stone, wings of night--or dawn, or mirrors, or music--they walk invisibly through the city, just a few of Abe's enemies.

At first the half-breeds are unaware of each other, seven unique people muddling through their troubled, intertwined lives alone.  Until a young man, raised by angels, finds them all and they begin to spill their secrets.  Because only by coming together will the half-breeds be able to save Abe from those of the fallen who wish to kill him for his audacity.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"One thing fantasy can do for us is to give shape to the mysterious in the world; another is to make emotional yearning concrete. "Dusi's Wings" does just that...I look forward to reading more by Lassiter." -Tangent Online Reviews, for the story "Dusi's Wings," (now expanded to become Children of the Fallen) published in Realms of Fantasy Magazine.

Product Details

• File Size: 599 KB
• Print Length: 378 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Waking Dreams Press (June 20, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B008DE6G58
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #430,869 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable October 15, 2012

By C. Avery

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I read this book so that I could give it a credible review. There were only 2 reviews by the author or friends of hers when I bought the book.

Kindle edition is great. The book is professionally edited. I didnt notice any formatting, grammar, or spelling errors. Writing style is fine- the author knows how to tell a story.

All the components of story were present: beginning, middle, end, climax, character development, etc. That said, I am still uncertain about how I feel about the book.

The premise of the books is the offspring of fallen angels and the continuing interaction of fallen angels with humanity. It took me about 40% of the book to figure out what was going on and how the characters matter to the story. You are introduced to each character one at a time in a lengthy section. Reading the authors note at the end- this makes sense since this was actually several stories that the author threaded together into a full length book. Set up was very interesting but it really did consume a huge portion of the story.

The cast of characters included a girl who has captured the interest/obsession of a fallen angel; a boy who since his twins death has seen Them; a girl with musical talent whose fallen grandmother feeds off her passion, a blind girl who sees through her painting and her brother who seeing the Sound angels make; Abe how helps them all; a boy whose love of an angel ultimately kills him; a girl who see moving images in tarro cards and has been haunted by an angel since childhood; along with various fallen angels. The stories are woven together in a nearly seamless way-- you just don't know where the story is going in the beginning.

I have been trying to figure why I am not fully satisfied at the conclusion of the book. It had an ending so it is not that I am left hanging, but there are several story lines that never reached conclusion (besides the obvious one at the end). They aren't left to hang in a way that suggests a sequel is coming- its like the author forgot about them or moved on to another focal point in the story. Or perhaps her climax/conclusion was too inclusive? She has many story lines that reach their climax in one giant scene involving all the characters for the first time. Great time is spent developing each story, but no great time is spent wrapping up each individual story. Maybe the point of the story was too soft- The theme of 'wanting' as being the source of the fall is present but not demonstrated in a clear or forceful way. I hope there is a second book that follows the next stage of the story.

I DID enjoy the story. Characters are flawed, redeemable, real, and generally likeable. Even the fallen angels- good and bad ones. I did get hung up on the near incest- it wasn't inserted into the story in a way that really supported her thesis: the wanting is part of the falling. But I pushed past it and kept reading. If the description interests you then I would wager a guess that you will enjoy this book. Based on this example I would have to say that the author is a natural storyteller. You will step into her world and engage with the characters.

4.0 out of 5 stars Hmmmm .... February 6, 2013

By big consumer

Format:Kindle Edition

Well, hmmmm. My feelings are very similar to the other reviews I have read about this book. I am a little lost at how to rate it. The story itself, the characters and the style all deserve 5 stars. This author definetly has an amazing gift and so much talent. I absolutely LOVED the creativity of this story and how the pieces seemed to fit together.

My problem with the book is very simple: I don't feel like I have closure with any of the characters except Janie. Everyone else leaves me with a big gaping hole. I feel like the characters were so well developed that I really need to know more about how they ended up. The author introduced me to them, I got to know them, started to care about them, expected to see them do some kind of amazing work ... and then it was just over.

So, if I have such mixed emotions about this work, why the four stars? Why not three, right? Simple: I am expecting a sequal! Oh, and a prequal (the fallen angels all have a story to tell too) . If there is more to this story, the author (hands down) deserves a five star rating!

Should you read this book on its own merit? I think, if you like stories in this genre, you will like this one (I sure did). But, if you are one who invests themselves in the story and characters you may feel a little let down by the ending.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Damn fine writing January 10, 2013

By Viridian

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

This story is very well written -- easily professional quality -- and it drew me in. The dialogue reads realistically; the characters' conflicts with each other, and within themselves, are believable and interesting.

I didn't find it too inconclusive -- the main characters have all made new choices by the end. We don't see what their lives will be like as they mature; we do see the directions they've decided to head in, what they intend to make of themselves, what attitudes they're leaving behind. I'm satisfied with the ending.

There's room for a sequel in that this story doesn't wrap up all the background conflicts for all the secondary characters. If Ms. Lassiter writes one, I'll buy. But I don't find it necessary.

More About the Author

Maya Lassiter is a fantasy novelist, living in a yurt in the rural South with her husband and two fabulous children. She has been published in Realms of Fantasy, and has an MFA from the Vermont College of Fine Arts. For more on her crazy, gonzo, domestic life, visit her blog at mayalassiter.com.