On Unfaithful Wings (Icarus Fell #1) (An Icarus Fell Novel) [Kindle Edition]

Bruce Blake (Author)

Book Description

**All Who Wander Are Lost (Icarus Fell #2) also available**
                 
The Kindle Book Review's Best Indie Books of 2012 Semi-finalist

"The next book in this series cannot come out soon enough for this reader. Not just my favorite Kindle book of the year, but one of my favorite books ever."

"I loved this book."

"Bruce Blake's On Unfaithful Wings is a great urban fantasy novel. I love good character development in a story's protagonist and Blake nails it with Icarus Fell. I found myself rooting for him from the get go and laughing out loud at some of his observations."

"On Unfaithful Wings was an impressive first novel. All of the characters were interesting and engaging, but in particular the main character and his struggle to reconcile with his new identity/job.
This is one of those stories that stays with me long after I read it and I'll be on the lookout for more from this author."

On Unfaithful Wings (An Icarus Fell Novel #1)

To some, death is the end; to others, a beginning. To Icarus Fell, it should have been a relief from a life gone seriously awry.

But death had other plans.

Icarus doesn't believe that the man awaiting him when he wakes up in a cheap motel room is really the archangel Michael, or that God's right hand wants him to help souls on their way to Heaven. Icarus doesn't believe there's a Heaven, so why should they want his help?

But the man claiming to be the archangel tempts him with an offer he can't ignore--harvest enough souls and get back the life he wished he'd had.

It seems Icarus has nothing to lose, until he botches a harvest and the soul that went to Hell instead of Heaven comes back to make him pay by threatening to take away the life he hoped to win back.

To save the wife and son he already lost once, Icarus will have to become the man he never was. Somehow, he will have to learn to believe.

"This is just, simply, amazing. Icarus is one of the best characters I've ever "met", chock full of virtues and faults and doubts and worries and a simple HUMANNESS that comes through so clearly, I almost expect to run into him around the next corner."

"Icarus Fell is a flawed man but a wonderful character. From the moment I started reading On Unfaithful Wings I was pulled along by this interesting character and wanting to know what would happen next."

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Bruce Blake lives on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. When pressing issues like shovelling snow and building igloos don't take up his spare time, Bruce can be found taking the dog sled to the nearest coffee shop to work on his short stories and novels. Actually, Victoria, B.C. is only a couple hours north of Seattle, Wash., where more rain is seen than snow. Since snow isn't really a pressing issue, Bruce spends more time trying to remember to leave the "u" out of words like "colour" and "neighbour" then he does shovelling. The father of two, Bruce is also the trophy husband of burlesque diva Miss Rosie Bitts. Bruce has been writing since grade school but it wasn't until six years ago he set his sights on becoming a full-time writer. Since then, his first short story, "Another Man's Shoes" was published in the Winter 2008 edition of Cemetery Moon, another short, "Yardwork", was made into a podcast in Oct., 2011 by Pseudopod and his first Icarus Fell novel, "On Unfaithful Wings", was published to Kindle in Dec., 2011. The second Icarus Fell novel, “All Who Wander Are Lost”, was released in July, 2012, and “Blood of the King”, the first book in the two-part “Khirro's Journey” epic fantasy, was released Sept. 30, 2012. He has plans for at least three more Icarus novels, several stand alones, and a possible YA fantasy co-written with his eleven-year-old daughter.

Product Details

• File Size: 539 KB
• Print Length: 257 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Best Bitts Productions (December 22, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B006PJ9M3G
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #82,580 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #46 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Horror > Dark Fantasy
  • #85 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Fantasy > Dark Fantasy

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars First rate dark urban fantasy July 30, 2012

By LauraK

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book is packed with action. It is dark, exciting, and sometimes quite violent. There are paranormal characters, but this is not a romance. There are no sparkly vampires or lovelorn werewolves. The main character, Icarus (call me Ric) Fell, is a very reluctant hero. There is not much he has done right in his life, and he continues to screw up and struggle with his personal demons throughout the book. He is extremely likable, though, and you will find yourself rooting for him even while you are not surprised by his poor choices. I was impressed how the author was able to keep him true to his character while still showing his growth from the beginning to the end of the book. The supporting characters in the book are also very intriguing and creative. Each time Ric has contact with one of them we learn a little more of their mystery, but somehow we are left with even more questions.

While there are a few typos/word switches in the book, overall the writing is fantastic. I felt like I could see, hear and feel everything Ric was doing, but I didn't notice much exposition or description. I felt like I was experiencing the story through Ric.

One of my recent pet peeves these days is when books stop with no ending in an effort to force you to buy another book in the series simply to find out what happens. I am happy to say that this book is an example of how to avoid that annoying problem. There is a clear plot with a big problem that is resolved in a satisfying way at the end of this book. But so many doors are opened along the way that I am dying to find out what will happen after all the dust settles. Ric is changed by how this story ends, and I can't wait to find out what that will mean for him next. Plus I really want to learn more about many of the other characters.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Can't wait for the next one March 22, 2012

By Michelle

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Bruce Blake's On Unfaithful Wings is a great urban fantasy novel. I love good character development in a story's protagonist and Blake nails it with Icarus Fell. I found myself rooting for him from the get go and laughing out loud at some of his observations. I really enjoyed the soul harvester concept and all the implications that arise from the idea. One of the reviews mentions "Dresden Files" is a similar style and I'd add that if you like Mike Carey, you'll enjoy Bruce Blake as well. I'm looking forward to the next Icarus Fell novel.

17 of 20 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Very Compelling and Unsual Hero... March 26, 2012

By The Bookie

Format:Kindle Edition

Icarus Fell is a mess. He was born under a bad sign and if it weren't for bad luck, he wouldn't have any luck at all...

He has failed at being a father, a husband and a human being in general. His life is miserable and while actually trying to do the right thing (for once), he is killed.

Turns out the Angels have plans for Icarus. He is given the chance to get a new shot at life, if he becomes a Harvester. Icarus isn't thrilled about his new job as a Harvester of souls. He actually tried to avoid his duties, before realizing that can have horrifying consequences.

Icarus' failings are what make him such a sympathetic character, because we have all had our moments.

I think this leans more towards the Felix Castor novels, than the Dresden Files. Icarus has 99 problems, but a Fairy ain't one.

This is one of the best books I have read in a while. I look forward to the next novel in the series.

More About the Author

Bruce Blake lives on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. When pressing issues like shovelling snow and building igloos don't take up his spare time, Bruce can be found taking the dog sled to the nearest coffee shop to work on his short stories and novels.

Actually, Victoria, B.C. is only a couple hours north of Seattle, Wash., where more rain is seen than snow. Since snow isn't really a pressing issue, Bruce spends more time trying to remember to leave the "u" out of words like "colour" and "neighbour" than he does shovelling (and watch out for those pesky double l's). The father of two, Bruce is also the trophy husband of a burlesque diva.

Bruce's first short story, "Another Man's Shoes" was published in the Winter 2008 edition of Cemetery Moon. Another short, "Yardwork," was made into a podcast in Oct., 2011 by Pseudopod. Bruce's first Icarus Fell novel, "On Unfaithful Wings", was published in Dec., 2011 while the follow up, "All Who Wander Are Lost", came out in July, 2012. The first part of his Khirro's Journey epic fantasy trilogy, "Blood of the King", was released Sept., 2012, book 2, "Spirit of the King," in Dec., 2012, and book 3, "Heart of the King," in Feb., 2013.

If you enjoy any of my books, please click the like button at the top of the page and leave a review.

If you would like to contact me, do so at bruceblake(at)hotmail(dot)ca