
Title: Angel Mage.
Author: Garth Nix.
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Publication date: Katherine Tegen Books.
Publisher: October 1st 2019.
Synopsis:
More than a
century has passed since Liliath crept into the empty sarcophagus of Saint
Marguerite, fleeing the Fall of Ystara. But she emerges from her magical sleep
still beautiful, looking no more than nineteen, and once again renews her
single-minded quest to be united with her lover, Palleniel, the archangel of
Ystara.
A seemingly impossible quest, but Liliath is one
of the greatest practitioners of angelic magic to have ever lived, summoning
angels and forcing them to do her bidding.
Liliath knew that most of the inhabitants of
Ystara died from the Ash Blood plague or were transformed into beastlings, and
she herself led the survivors who fled into neighboring Sarance. Now she learns
that angels shun the Ystaran’s descendants. If they are touched by angelic
magic, their blood will turn to ash. They are known as Refusers, and can only
live the most lowly lives.
But Liliath cares nothing for the descendants of
her people, save how they can serve her. It is four young Sarancians who hold
her interest: Simeon, a studious doctor-in-training; Henri, a dedicated fortune
hunter; Agnez, an adventurous musketeer cadet; and Dorotea, an icon-maker and
scholar of angelic magic. They are the key to her quest.
The four feel a strange kinship from the moment
they meet, but do not know why, or suspect their importance. All become pawns
in Liliath’s grand scheme to fulfill her destiny and be united with the love of
her life. No matter the cost to everyone else. . .
Links:
GoodReads, Amazon, Barnes&Noble, Bookdepository, IndieBound.

Review:
I wasn’t sure what to think about this book before I read it. The summary sounded amazing, but my one previous experience with Garth Nix was a bit disappointing (Sabriel review here!)
I really like that Garth Nix got his inspiration from the Three Musketeers, you can really see that in the book, without it being a retelling!
I absolutely loved the overall story! The idea was so good, I loved the characters and the world! The world building was amazing in this book, it is also one of the things I loved in Sabriel! He just creates such original worlds!
In the beginning I struggled a lot with the names. Part of this book is about angels, so the names were very confusing. The thing is, you actually don’t really ‘need’ to know these names, and in the beginning I tried to remember them. But I didn’t need to. So that took me a bit out of the story in the beginning, but I just decided to ignore that at some point.
Then I really started to love the book! I really enjoyed to middle part, I loved the interaction between Henri, Agnez, Simeon and Dorotea and all their different personalities!
In this middle part there was also this huge build up, and that is were my main problem was. The big action/reveal was just 20 pages.. There was definitely action before. But the big thing was so small, and way smaller then what I expected after the big build up!
I know I don’t sound to positive BUT if there will be a sequel, I know this is now marketed as a stand-alone, I will definitely read it!
A thing many readers will like is that there was no romance at all in this book!
But my favourite thing of this book was that all people in power were female! And that from a male author 🙂
The author:

Garth Nix has been a full-time writer since 2001, but has also worked as a literary agent, marketing consultant, book editor, book publicist, book sales representative, bookseller, and as a part-time soldier in the Australian Army Reserve.
Garth’s books include the Old Kingdom fantasy series, comprising Sabriel, Lirael; Abhorsen; Clariel and Goldenhand; SF novels Shade’s Children and A Confusion of Princes; and a Regency romance with magic, Newt’s Emerald. His novels for children include The Ragwitch; the six books of The Seventh Tower sequence; The Keys to the Kingdom series and others. He has co-written several books with Sean Williams, including the Troubletwisters series; Spirit Animals Book Three: Blood Ties; Have Sword, Will Travel; and the forthcoming sequel Let Sleeping Dragons Lie. A contributor to many anthologies and magazines, Garth’s selected short fiction has been collected in Across the Wall and To Hold the Bridge.
More than five million copies of his books have been sold around the world, they have appeared on the bestseller lists of The New York Times, Publishers Weekly and USA Today and his work has been translated into 42 languages. His most recent book is Frogkisser! now being developed as a film by Twentieth Century Fox/Blue Sky Animation.
Giveaway:
Prize: 2 finished copies of Angel Mage by Garth Nix (USA)
Starts: 10/21/19
Ends: 10/31/19
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/d9681b86414/?
Tour schedule:
October 21
Dazzled By Books – Book Review, Creative Content
Library of a Book Witch – Book Review
The Layaway Dragon – Book Review + Favorite Quotes
October 22
Moonlight Rendezvous – Book Review + Favorite Quotes
Books_andPoetrii – Creative Content
Tea.books.magic – Book Review
October 23
Bout-a-Book Blog – Book Review
Clarissa Reads It All – Book Review, Creative Content
Kait Plus Books – Creative Content
October 24
Novel Nerd Faction – Book Review, Creative Content
Becky’s Book Blog – Book Review
Story-eyed Review – Book Review, Creative Content
October 25
Evelynreads – Book Review
The Book Bratz – Book Review + Favorite Quotes
Sometimes Leelynn Reads – Book Review, Creative Content
October 26
The Reading Corner for All – Book Review, Creative Content
Biblioxytocin – Book Review + Favorite Quotes, Creative Content
October 27
Popthebutterfly Reads – Book Review
Life With No Plot – Book Review
October 28
Book Blog London – Book Review + Favorite Quotes
Utopia State of Mind – Book Review + Favorite Quotes
Nay’s Pink Bookshelf – Book Review + Favorite Quotes
I’m excited to read this one!
I hope you will enjoy!
I’m really excited for this one. Is it weird that I’m glad it’s a stand-alone? I feel like I’m getting burned out on all these series books! I’m a hug Nix fan, so I’m glad to see you liked this one, even if you didn’t enjoy Sabriel.
Yeah it is nice to just have a standalone once in a while!
I hope you will love this one when you read it!
I’m really excited for this one! His previous series was one of my favourites as a kid, so I’m just happy to be getting more of Garth Nix’s writing. He does create SUCH unique worlds. <3
And I'm loving the new layout for your blog!
I hope you will love this one!
Thanks 🙂
I read this too and I can see why you struggled at the beginning, because I did too with all the world building and names. All the info was just so dense! But I’m glad you liked the overall story 🙂
Yeah it was a lot to take in at once..
Thanks!