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Archangel
THERE IS A MAN who has long since lost faith in himself. A dim past that played out wrong overpowered his spirit, and he came to believe he was not good for this world. For some years he has been in hiding, subduing the malevolent nature he feels he owns in a cloak of powerless anonymity. He has been saving the world from himself, an unlikely clergyman engaged in hidden, quiet servitude to humanity. He doesn’t see the heroism in that choice.
But coincidence, perhaps Fate, causes Mick Calahan to become entangled in the equally mysterious saga of strangers. And circumstances bring him unwillingly into the open, where looms his greatest fear–that his decisions might affect and destroy real lives.
And so even as he hesitantly peels back a remote western town’s uneasy past, he finds that again he must choose–between retreat into a martyr’s insignificance or overt protection of a broken family that desperately needs his help. Dare he stand, pretend he’s not a lightning rod for calamity, and shield a woman and child he has grown to love? Dare he stand, and sink back to the terrible place his soul once knew, forfeiting what’s left of his own humanity?
As in the ancient, timeless biblical fable from which the saga’s title derives, the fate of paradise rests in this lone defender’s hands. And the chance for redemption from old demons can be a powerful lure. But Destiny is never fair, and the classic heroic warrior must this time walk an inglorious path. If not for a dignity he denies he has…and the subtly tantalizing motive of forbidden love….
There is a man who has long since lost faith in himself. He is a man whom every woman needs on her darkest day, whom every man becomes in his finest hour.
But coincidence, perhaps Fate, causes Mick Calahan to become entangled in the equally mysterious saga of strangers. And circumstances bring him unwillingly into the open, where looms his greatest fear–that his decisions might affect and destroy real lives.
And so even as he hesitantly peels back a remote western town’s uneasy past, he finds that again he must choose–between retreat into a martyr’s insignificance or overt protection of a broken family that desperately needs his help. Dare he stand, pretend he’s not a lightning rod for calamity, and shield a woman and child he has grown to love? Dare he stand, and sink back to the terrible place his soul once knew, forfeiting what’s left of his own humanity?
As in the ancient, timeless biblical fable from which the saga’s title derives, the fate of paradise rests in this lone defender’s hands. And the chance for redemption from old demons can be a powerful lure. But Destiny is never fair, and the classic heroic warrior must this time walk an inglorious path. If not for a dignity he denies he has…and the subtly tantalizing motive of forbidden love….
There is a man who has long since lost faith in himself. He is a man whom every woman needs on her darkest day, whom every man becomes in his finest hour.
400 pages, Nook
First published January 1, 2011
8 people are currently reading
140 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 1, 2012
the story was ok, but everything was so predictable. the names of the antagonist and the bad guy hangout - being the worst of the cliche offenders. i got it because i like religious-based stories, but this was an amazon recommendation and now i know how good those can be ;-)
July 21, 2011
I'm usually tempted to rate debut novels with a little leniency, but don't have to worry about that here. This is as good as anything I've read, even from the most notorious authors. The woven detail alone is worth it, not to mention characters I cried for. This book is so well crafted that I want to read it again, for the little things. It has its calm before the storm while the stakes are set up, but then the tension starts to boil, and through it all there is this lovely forbidden love growing in the most charming way. But it's subtle, as the main two characters are busy with some serious concerns. The dilemmas presented by the story provoke thought and feeling. And I’ve said it before, I love enigmatic heroes. A reader does have to be able to digest a little depth to appreciate it at its best, but I think there's plenty for almost anyone here.
May 5, 2011
A memorable novel. It’s appeal comes primarily from suspense and some unique character development; it has some "happenings" and some decisiveness, but its heart and soul seems to be in the suspense. A strong main character whose only real armor crease is his own humility is nice. No swagger; charming. I won’t spoil it, but the parallels with an ancient fable are unmistakable. Don’t expect it to preach anything, or to be smut either; it holds a high literary standard and takes a relatively high quality road. I like how it began, too, and was glad I kept that in mind as it went. In general the characters rang true. You care about them. You fear for them. Of course that’s why I read!
September 3, 2011
OVERVIEW-
I was unsure if I would enjoy thins book for the first few chapters. The characters are crisp and original, but I couldn't figure out where exactly the story was heading and it seemed to meander along for a bit. It turns out that was just the calm before the storm, a storm that I would rate a class five hurricane. There was a point when I realized that the tension of the book had been building all along; it builds and builds until finally you get the gratifying eruption of sheer storytelling genius. I realized that the few placid chapters near the beginning are crucial and most likely intentionally orchestrated by the author to increase the intensity of the dramatic outcome of the story.
My advice, no matter how the first hundred pages rubs you, press on, it is well worth it in the end.
IN DEPTH-
I am a big fan of scifi/fantasy and the horror genres and this book in no way fits into any of those categories. The title Archangel had me expecting some form of supernatural event, whether it be divine intervention, demon possession,or what have you. That was not the case; this book is firmly rooted in reality and Mr. Vorhis writes it in the style of the great American classic novel.
CHARACTERS- Mr. Vorhis takes the time to develop original, unique characters. Each is deep and well thought out. The protagonists are suitably flawed, not being the flat, but shining heroes of some fairy tale as many writers have a tendency to create. The antagonists are a perfect counterpart, each villain, from the boss to the lowest henchman, is appropriately evil, intelligent, and self serving. As the reader, it is easy to identify and accept each of their motivations and their actions are consistent with natural, if a bit cruel, human responses. Too often, I find bad guys that are just bad guys because the author need a bad guy. Too often, I find myself wondering what would motivate the antagonist to act or react in such ways. The believability of the character motivation is what pushed this novel from good to great.
PLOT- The plot of Archangel is well developed and realistic. Michael Vorhis creates an amazing piece of fiction that is well rooted in this world. The details of physics, geology, geography, and history are not paramount in this story, but the author's mastery of each accentuates the plot and forces the reader to suspend disbelief. Whether it's describing how to control of a gliding aircraft, the finer points of American mining, or the civil unrest between aboriginal peoples and the new Americans, Michael Vorhis writes about each with authority and knowledge.
SIDE NOTE- On a more personal level, as a Native American who was raised on a reservation I have to commend the author for his very accurate portrayal of the overall state of mind of the natives in general during the late sixties and early seventies. The inclusion of the natives in this novel was well done. Recently, in literature or cinema, natives are portrayed as all knowing, deeply spiritual near mythical beings. This I believe, is an over compensation for the unfavorable light in which they were portrayed for generations or maybe for the collective guilt of the American populace for the wrong doings of their fore fathers. Mr. Vorhis is able to capture the truth about the Indians. They are all just individual people. Some of the elders have wisdom, but that's true of every race, some of the youth are reckless again true of all human beings, and all are capable of being cruel, greedy, angry, scared, vindictive, and even wise.
I was unsure if I would enjoy thins book for the first few chapters. The characters are crisp and original, but I couldn't figure out where exactly the story was heading and it seemed to meander along for a bit. It turns out that was just the calm before the storm, a storm that I would rate a class five hurricane. There was a point when I realized that the tension of the book had been building all along; it builds and builds until finally you get the gratifying eruption of sheer storytelling genius. I realized that the few placid chapters near the beginning are crucial and most likely intentionally orchestrated by the author to increase the intensity of the dramatic outcome of the story.
My advice, no matter how the first hundred pages rubs you, press on, it is well worth it in the end.
IN DEPTH-
I am a big fan of scifi/fantasy and the horror genres and this book in no way fits into any of those categories. The title Archangel had me expecting some form of supernatural event, whether it be divine intervention, demon possession,or what have you. That was not the case; this book is firmly rooted in reality and Mr. Vorhis writes it in the style of the great American classic novel.
CHARACTERS- Mr. Vorhis takes the time to develop original, unique characters. Each is deep and well thought out. The protagonists are suitably flawed, not being the flat, but shining heroes of some fairy tale as many writers have a tendency to create. The antagonists are a perfect counterpart, each villain, from the boss to the lowest henchman, is appropriately evil, intelligent, and self serving. As the reader, it is easy to identify and accept each of their motivations and their actions are consistent with natural, if a bit cruel, human responses. Too often, I find bad guys that are just bad guys because the author need a bad guy. Too often, I find myself wondering what would motivate the antagonist to act or react in such ways. The believability of the character motivation is what pushed this novel from good to great.
PLOT- The plot of Archangel is well developed and realistic. Michael Vorhis creates an amazing piece of fiction that is well rooted in this world. The details of physics, geology, geography, and history are not paramount in this story, but the author's mastery of each accentuates the plot and forces the reader to suspend disbelief. Whether it's describing how to control of a gliding aircraft, the finer points of American mining, or the civil unrest between aboriginal peoples and the new Americans, Michael Vorhis writes about each with authority and knowledge.
SIDE NOTE- On a more personal level, as a Native American who was raised on a reservation I have to commend the author for his very accurate portrayal of the overall state of mind of the natives in general during the late sixties and early seventies. The inclusion of the natives in this novel was well done. Recently, in literature or cinema, natives are portrayed as all knowing, deeply spiritual near mythical beings. This I believe, is an over compensation for the unfavorable light in which they were portrayed for generations or maybe for the collective guilt of the American populace for the wrong doings of their fore fathers. Mr. Vorhis is able to capture the truth about the Indians. They are all just individual people. Some of the elders have wisdom, but that's true of every race, some of the youth are reckless again true of all human beings, and all are capable of being cruel, greedy, angry, scared, vindictive, and even wise.
July 19, 2014
I really enjoyed this book. For me it had echoes of an old Humphrey Bogart movie called "The Left Hand of God" - - one of my all-time favorite Bogie movies. While we're on the subject of movies, I'd love to see "Archangel" hit the big screen. Hollywood is badly in need of a story as good as this.
Michael Vorhis writes extremely well, like a seasoned pro for my money, and the tension in this engrossing story builds like a slow-burning fuse, finally exploding in an exciting climax. Good guys and bad guys alike are extremely well-drawn in this very well written, character-driven story.
I look forward to Michael's next novel.
Perry Martin
Author of "Pretty Flamingo" and "Savannah"
Michael Vorhis writes extremely well, like a seasoned pro for my money, and the tension in this engrossing story builds like a slow-burning fuse, finally exploding in an exciting climax. Good guys and bad guys alike are extremely well-drawn in this very well written, character-driven story.
I look forward to Michael's next novel.
Perry Martin
Author of "Pretty Flamingo" and "Savannah"
August 18, 2011
Archangel is a fast-paced, thoroughly enjoyable thriller. The characters are well developed. The good guys are sympathetic; the bad guys are suitably villainous; all are interesting. The story offers something more: the issues of the use of violence in the cause of justice and the impact of that use on the actor are addressed if not resolved, as they can never be.
June 11, 2014
http://koeur.wordpress.com/2014/06/09...
Publisher: FreeFlight
Publishing Date: January 2011
ISBN: 9780983898504
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 2.0/5
Publisher Description: But coincidence, perhaps Fate, causes Mick Calahan to become entangled in the equally mysterious saga of strangers. And circumstances bring him unwillingly into the open, where looms his greatest fear–that his decisions might affect and destroy real lives.
Review: The cover art truly reflects what resides within.
Oh yay, reluctant hero with checkered past and a heart of gold,..time. There is evil white men and poor downtrodden natives with a hottie native temptress thrown in. And it all takes place in Buttfug, Montana. This was published back in 2011, so not sure why it is getting a new release.
So Padre Mick finds himself appointed by the Catholic Church to preside in Buttfug, only to find that the towns inhabitants are fugging weird. I mean, most people, if not all, are fugging weird but this town takes the cake. Mick finds two native boys lying in the street, unconscious and Joe Shmuck says that the first thing to learn living here is to mind your own business. Street toughs working for LUCIUS KNOX (lol) walk the town with impunity, raping and pillaging with the Sheriff’s collusion.
This read like Walking Tall, Billy Jack and Jack Reacher had a love child (see how I made a love triangle? Khul huh). Mick finds that LUCIUS KNOX is evil (duh) and is stealing Tribal land to conduct mining operations and means to eradicate Native life as we know it. His thugs walk around town beating up natives, raping native girls, hurling racial epithets and generally being dodgy all day long. Mick’s final straw is when super racist thug, Daryl, rapes native temptress Gabriella. Blah, blah, blah Mick takes everyone down with the help of the Washokki and Tissoma tribes whom speak a Kalispel dialect.
FWIW, there is no such thing as the Washokki and Tissoma Tribes of Montana. There are no native "chapters" and corralled youth speaking in hushed Kalispel dialects. There is no Kalispel dialect (Kalispel, Spokane and Flathead speak a Salish dialect). Additionally, there are no towns with racist assholes walking around raping native girls, prostituting native girls. beating and killing native people and talking like that kid on the bridge playing banjo. There are no groups of Indians planning to kill whitey over a mining claim. There is no paying off or buying the Bureau of Indian Affairs. What this novel attains is the conjoining of two perceived disparate groups, the heavy application of race bait and culture trampling and POOF! there is your emotive content and story-line. I might be wrong about the tribes mentioned in this novel, but according to the Tribe I work for, there is the Salish-Kootenai, Crow, Blackfoot, Cheyenne, Sioux and a few others in Montana.
Here is my own opinion that resides outside the bounds of this novel. " There seems to be this weird mockery of the tired and well worn racial shtick you saw in westerns as a kid is just not applicable by modern standards. Today, some groups that see and point the racist finger where none exists or hoist their culture in hopes of claiming ascendancy over others are guilty of inciting tension and fail to understand that by their lack of awareness and entrenched identities, that they merely serve their own egos."
I get that this is just a fictionalized story meant to make some money and possibly broker a movie deal. The novel was really built for Hollywood and not the reader.
Although I understand the spin in fiction, I think the written word can be carefully crafted to imbibe the reader with certain realities while attempting to entertain. I think the author is a good writer but the recipe was way too clichéd'.
Publisher: FreeFlight
Publishing Date: January 2011
ISBN: 9780983898504
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 2.0/5
Publisher Description: But coincidence, perhaps Fate, causes Mick Calahan to become entangled in the equally mysterious saga of strangers. And circumstances bring him unwillingly into the open, where looms his greatest fear–that his decisions might affect and destroy real lives.
Review: The cover art truly reflects what resides within.
Oh yay, reluctant hero with checkered past and a heart of gold,..time. There is evil white men and poor downtrodden natives with a hottie native temptress thrown in. And it all takes place in Buttfug, Montana. This was published back in 2011, so not sure why it is getting a new release.
So Padre Mick finds himself appointed by the Catholic Church to preside in Buttfug, only to find that the towns inhabitants are fugging weird. I mean, most people, if not all, are fugging weird but this town takes the cake. Mick finds two native boys lying in the street, unconscious and Joe Shmuck says that the first thing to learn living here is to mind your own business. Street toughs working for LUCIUS KNOX (lol) walk the town with impunity, raping and pillaging with the Sheriff’s collusion.
This read like Walking Tall, Billy Jack and Jack Reacher had a love child (see how I made a love triangle? Khul huh). Mick finds that LUCIUS KNOX is evil (duh) and is stealing Tribal land to conduct mining operations and means to eradicate Native life as we know it. His thugs walk around town beating up natives, raping native girls, hurling racial epithets and generally being dodgy all day long. Mick’s final straw is when super racist thug, Daryl, rapes native temptress Gabriella. Blah, blah, blah Mick takes everyone down with the help of the Washokki and Tissoma tribes whom speak a Kalispel dialect.
FWIW, there is no such thing as the Washokki and Tissoma Tribes of Montana. There are no native "chapters" and corralled youth speaking in hushed Kalispel dialects. There is no Kalispel dialect (Kalispel, Spokane and Flathead speak a Salish dialect). Additionally, there are no towns with racist assholes walking around raping native girls, prostituting native girls. beating and killing native people and talking like that kid on the bridge playing banjo. There are no groups of Indians planning to kill whitey over a mining claim. There is no paying off or buying the Bureau of Indian Affairs. What this novel attains is the conjoining of two perceived disparate groups, the heavy application of race bait and culture trampling and POOF! there is your emotive content and story-line. I might be wrong about the tribes mentioned in this novel, but according to the Tribe I work for, there is the Salish-Kootenai, Crow, Blackfoot, Cheyenne, Sioux and a few others in Montana.
Here is my own opinion that resides outside the bounds of this novel. " There seems to be this weird mockery of the tired and well worn racial shtick you saw in westerns as a kid is just not applicable by modern standards. Today, some groups that see and point the racist finger where none exists or hoist their culture in hopes of claiming ascendancy over others are guilty of inciting tension and fail to understand that by their lack of awareness and entrenched identities, that they merely serve their own egos."
I get that this is just a fictionalized story meant to make some money and possibly broker a movie deal. The novel was really built for Hollywood and not the reader.
Although I understand the spin in fiction, I think the written word can be carefully crafted to imbibe the reader with certain realities while attempting to entertain. I think the author is a good writer but the recipe was way too clichéd'.
August 15, 2014
The dialog and action are simultaneously creative and realistic. The characters are painted honestly and are allowed to behave naturally. Nothing felt forced in this one but its not mundane either. Good writing.
Want to read
May 9, 2011Marked it as to read
Read
April 12, 2012Reviews of other editions apply to this one as well; the only difference is the cover art.
December 22, 2012
Good book overall. Interesting and a good story line.
July 25, 2014
Great book. Characters all have multiple dimensions. Agreed it's not the simple fare some prefer.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews