The Fallen Queen

The House of Arkhangel'sk #1

by Jane Kindred

Heaven can go to hell.
Until her cousin slaughtered the supernal family, Anazakia's father ruled the Heavens, governing noble Host and Fallen peasants alike. Now Anazakia is the last grand duchess of the House of Arkhangel'sk, and all she wants is to stay alive.

Hunted by Seraph assassins, Anazakia flees Heaven with two Fallen thieves--fire demon Vasily and air demon Belphagor, each with their own nefarious agenda--who hide her in the world of Man. The line between vice and virtue soon blurs, and when Belphagor is imprisoned, the unexpected passion of Vasily warms her through the Russian winter.
Heaven seems a distant dream, but when Anazakia learns the truth behind the celestial coup, she will have to return to fight for the throne--even if it means saving the man who murdered everyone she loved.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal Romance, Paranormal, Angels, Fiction

342 pages, Perfect Paperback

First published November 1, 2011

About the author

Jane Kindred is the author of epic fantasy series The House of Arkhangel’sk, Demons of Elysium, and Looking Glass Gods. She spent her formative years ruining her eyes reading romance novels in the Tucson sun and watching Star Trek marathons in the dark. She now writes to the sound of San Francisco foghorns while two cats slowly but surely edge her off the side of the bed.

You can find Jane on Facebook, Twitter, and her website, www.janekindred.com.

Reviews

[LK Griffie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Epic Fantasy, Action, Adventure, Romance, Angels, Demons, Heaven and Earth. I have been waiting for a chance to read The Fallen Queen for quite some time now. I've had the privilege of catching some snippets of the book while playing on Twitter, and the concept intrigued me, so I jumped at the chance to get my hands on an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of the book. The Fallen Queen is full of angels and demons, but not in the way you might think. Jane Kindred has taken the story of Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia and the fall of Imperial Russia and blended it with fantasy, with current day Heaven being a reflection of the happenings of Russia, 1918, down to the rumors of the escape of Anastasia. The result is an engaging tale which takes the reader through a maze of political intrigue, assassinations, and romance.

The book opens in the realm of Heaven with the Grand Duchess Anazakia Helisonovna of the House of Arkhangel'sk, a mere seventeen-year-old, playing against a demon in a game of chance at a wingcasting table in Raqia -- a city of the Fallen in Heaven, and home to several dens of iniquity, such as the Brimstone where our Angel gambled her crystals away. And just like that -- I was hooked. Raqia, the Brimstone, just the names set the atmosphere for what was to come. And opening with an Angel at a wingcasting table? Superb.

Our Angel, Anazakia, is a rather self-absorbed person at the beginning of the book, looking for fun and adventure, and didn't realize she had brought on more adventure than she could handle. Using a form of magic, she split her essence, so there was a version of herself left at home to attend balls, or dinners, things that Anazakia herself would find boring, while the real Anazakia would sneak out of the palace and head to Raqia to experience life.

It is during one of these forays to Raqia when she finds herself at the wingcasting table facing the demon Belphagor, and is gambling away her crystals while her family is violently slain by her cousin Kae -- including the shade of herself.

And lest you think that since this book is about Angels and Demons there are religious overtones to it -- there are not. Angels are the Host and reflective of nobility and the supernal (imperial) family. Demons represent the peasant class. And in this peasant class is Belphagor, The Prince of Tricks, and the hero of the piece. Here is Anazakia's description of Belphagor upon their first meeting:

Raqia's reigning prince that night was a dark-haired demon with eyes as sharp as the waxed points of his hair. He played his hand as cool as you please and barely seemed to notice me, but he put nearly card I discarded into play with his own and soon had me hemorrhaging both cards and crystal.
Smoke burned my eyes as the demon nursed his cigar in a deliberate distraction. When he took it between his fingers, I could not help following with my eyes. Beneath the tattered lace of his cuffs, black crosses and diamonds, interlaced with characters of an unfamiliar alphabet, braced his fingers between the knuckles like rings made of ink.

Kindred hooks the reader from the start and takes them on a wild chase from Heaven to the terrestrial plane of man, with the Grand Duchess in the care of two demons as she flees for her life. A brilliantly executed story and one any fantasy lover must read. Jane Kindred is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors and would highly recommend you read The Devil's Garden, a novella by Kindred which I reviewed in August, while waiting for the release on December 6th of The Fallen Queen.

[Buffy Kennedy · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I read the blurb for this book, I was expecting a classic Good vs. Evil and Heaven vs. Hell scenario. Well, there’s the Good vs. Evil, but they’re not quite in the usual places, nor is the romance quite your typical relationship either. Before the story even starts, we’re provided with a long detailed cheat sheet about the hierarchy of the Heavens, which is nice and all, but it’s a bunch of information that’s hard to keep referring to from the middle of the book (especially on an ereader). Thankfully it’s fairly easy to get the gist of things from context.

The first chapter jumps around in the timeline, almost to the point that you’re disoriented, but that stops once Anazakia is informed about her family and needs to escape those that would hunt her. She runs with the aid of two demons, Vasily and Belphagor, and from the moment they arrive in the world of man, they all begin to realize how hard it would be to hide, but it’s not until their pursuers find them that they realize the severity of the deep shit they’re in. Things go from bad to worse as they get into trouble way over their heads. The ending isn’t quite what I expected and I think the word “complicated” is the best term to describe the final status of the characters’ romantic relationships.

There are time throughout the book when things are explained in painful detail, and others that are explained, but still left me confused. Last names and some of the places are so hard to pronounce I stopped trying to keep track because I couldn’t remember who was what anymore. Some of the jumps between languages (spending most of their Earth time in Russia, they jumped between demonic, angelic, Russian, and English throughout the book, among others I believe) was a little dizzying.

Regarding this next segment, I will say right now that I have enjoyed some dark fantasy before, and there are some books with tortured heroes that I love, and I like the tortured hero (and heroine) here too, but this book had some really dark moments. That was the worst part for me. Some of the violence, and humiliation for that matter, in this story is graphic. It’s detailed and bloody, and there were times I almost couldn’t take it. There is another series I’m in the middle of at the moment that I’ve decided to put off indefinitely because of how dark it can sometimes get, so I guess my capacity for dark fantasy just isn’t what it used to be. That being said, the overall ending was gratifying and made me smile, making having thankfully made it through the rough spots worth it.

[Lisa Kessler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't usually read Fantasy, but tying the heavenly story with the Russian Anastasia story really hooked me...

And Belphagor and Vasily were great demons to hang out with too! :)

Looking forward to the next book!

If you enjoy Fantasy, angels, demons, and intrigue, this one is worth checking out!

[Emme · Rating 4 out of 5]

I met Jane Kindred at a women's retreat for a San Francisco Bay Area org-- many moons ago. She stood out in the group because she was personable, smart as a whip and attractive. During that weekend Jane shared about some of her writings, but I was just beginning to read erotica so I wasn't familiar with any of her work. Several weeks later, Jane was in attendance at another of this organization's get-togethers-- and this time she played host. And Jane was the consummate host-- making us all comfortable, serving us yummy food and providing some entertainment. This evening, that entertainment took the form of tarot readings-- Jane pulled out a deck and offered to read each of us. I watched in fascination as Jane read each person, with nervous titters from the observers as the cards revealed various outcomes. My turn came last, as I wasn't in any hurry to see what the tarot cards would say-- I didn't really believe in that sort of thing, but was willing to go along for the hell of it. It wasn't too long, though, before the mood seemed to change from frivolity to...I don't know what! I was taken aback by how quiet Jane got as she dealt my cards. As a matter-of-fact, Jane's hands were shaking as she spread the tarot cards out. I honestly don't remember anything that was said during the reading that day, but Jane's response to me has stuck in my mind all these 14+ years. It takes more than a questionable tarot reading to scare me off, so after that night I did what I could to follow Jane's writing career online (hmmm, that sounds a little stalkerish, doesn't it? It really wasn't...mostly. hehehe).

I am glad that I kept tabs on Jane. I love her lyrical style of writing and how she takes chances with characters and subject matter. I thoroughly enjoyed her novella, The Devil's Garden, a richly woven tale of gender fluidity and love. I knew I was in for a treat when I read about her latest novel, The Fallen Queen. What's not to love about a book with angels and demons, falling dynasties, an ice queen, Russia, two male lovers and the young woman who forever changes their lives?

If you want to read a synopsis of The Fallen Queen, you can find that here (scroll down to "Heaven can go to hell" section): http://www.janekindred.com/books/the-... . This review is a bit spoilery-- but it's difficult to discuss such an epic tale without bringing up some plot points.

There are several things I absolutely love about this novel. Jane Kindred is a gifted a storyteller. What really caught my attention about The Fallen Queen was that the book is inspired by the fall of the Romanov dynasty in early 20th Century Russia. The Fallen Queen almost serves as a frame story, a shadowing of the execution of the Romanov royals-- the tsar and tsarina, their four daughters and one son. Or perhaps those earth-bound events in Russia's history are framed by the coup in Heaven that takes place in the novel. In this urban fantasy, Heaven is an alternative universe with a similar set of circumstances to Tsarist Russia-- political unrest brought on by ineffective leadership, war and resentments of the working class.

Grand Duchess Anazakia Helisonovna (the Fallen Queen of this tale) is an indulged princess, the daughter of the supernal ruler of the House of Arkhangel'sk. The majority of the story is told through Anazakia's memoirs. Anazakia is an angel, but not exactly angelic, as she escapes execution because she has slipped off to find mischief at a casino, while the rest of her family meets their doom at the hands of her deranged cousin. Anazaki's story mirros the pop culture stories of Anastasia Romanov's escape from her family's execution. Anazakia unwittingly falls in with a couple of demons-- Belphago and Vasily, air and fire demons, respectively. Anazakia, as innocent and inexperienced as she is, does not completely trust these Fallen demons, but has little choice but to put her faith in them until she can figure a way out of her situation (when her escape from execution is discovered a team of angelic enforcers is sent to retrieve her).

I can imagine that some readers would be put off by a story filled with angels and demons, but Jane really bends the usual heaven/hell/earth motif to her will. Kindred draws on some of the names and descriptions of the angelic hosts, fallen angels or demons of the Christian mythos. There are Seraphims, Nephilims, Cherubim (there are some extra-biblical classes added for good measure) and their abodes within various dominions and principalities-- any student of the bible would have at least a passing familiarity with these terms. But, Kindred turns the KJV on its head-- this is not a simple angels-good vs demons-bad story: the demons Vasily and Belphago are the heroes, here.

Oh, and usually biblical accounts don't include fairies-- and as much as I usually dislike fairies (which is funny, because I love "fairy" tales), the fae in this story serve their purpose and don't overwhelm the story. I must say, that trying to keep up with all the different bands and factions of angels and demons-- and humans, once our main characters fall to the World of Man (semi-modern day Russia-- the timing isn't exactly nailed down)--is a bit daunting, but Kindred does include a hierarchy at the beginning of the book that should help readers out. I've got to say that there's enough world-building here for a rather elaborate video game.

Speaking of the World of Man, one of my favorite parts of the book is when Anazakia finds her self in a parallel universe-palace, that mirrors the one where she has grown up, and where her loved ones were murdered. It seemed to me that this is the place in the story where Anazakia sobers up and starts to grasp how her world of privilege has passed, just as it did for Russia's royal family in 1917. This is but one instance where Anazakia must make sense of her predicament and seek a way out-- and it seems like it ultimatelys takes all of heaven and earth to restore the Fallen Queen.

One of my favorite characters in The Fallen Queen is Aeval. I don't know how to pronounce this bitch's name, but "evil" certainly seems to fit! Aeval is the epitome of a "ice queen"-- she has very little regard for the suffering of others, is madly driven to having her way, is cold to the touch, and has a sparkly white wardrobe. Just as in Hans Christian Andersen's Snow Queen, we have a frosty temptress that bespells a prince, Kae, Anazakia's cousin, who has been overpowered by Aeval and tasked with carrying out her evil biddings. I really shouldn't feel sorry for Kae, because his own lust for power and position renders him susceptible to the Aeval's corruption, but he's not the first character (and certainly won't be the last) to fall under the charms of evil woman.

This is starting to sounds like one major run-on sentence, so I'll try to move things along. Romance! Ah, there's an abundance of romance in The Fallen Queen. To me, Anazakia is so much, in turns, a spoiled brat or an annoyingly naive angel that I found that I really didn't care if she ever found love or not. The relationship between Belphagor and Vasily, though, tugged at my heartstrings. Yeah, I'm a sucker for demon love stories, and their's is BDSM-tinged and orientation-fluid-- there were just enough angsty-goings on to keep me glued to the story. Belphagor may be the "Prince of Tricks," but his love for Vasily brings out all of the most noble in him.

The Fallen Queen is a very complex story, and there are many more things I could discuss about it, but I'm really trying to scale back so that my reviews aren't longer than the source material. There are so many other things in the story worth looking into-- the Romany/Gypsies and the part these humans play in knocking down Queen Aeval quest for empire. I wanted to know more about Vashti, Demetri and Nephilim politics. Just what kind of organization is Knud really a part of? The fairies-- what's their agenda? Perhaps these and other questions will be answered in the next installment-- The Fallen Queen will be followed up with a sequel called The Midnight Court, coming in early 2012.

The Fallen Queen fascinated me as much as its author has all these years. This novel is a fantastical blend of great storytelling, myth and legend, adventure, magic, political intrigue and a hint of social consciousness. Tall order, sure-- but Jane Kindred more than pulls its off. I highly recommend this one.

[Scooper Speaks · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Not my thing.
Favorite Lines: “Fear and instinct propelled me to flight. If not for the violent downpour, I might have lost myself in the glorious feeling of riding the wind, but the rain beat down against me with tiny fists.” (p. 73)

I was expecting book one of Jane Kindred’s House of Arkhangelsk series to be racy. I thought it might have a menage type feel, but I was wrong. The Fallen Queen is not what I imagined, nor is it the type of book I normally read. I was uncomfortable with much of the book which involved BDSM, a gay couple and a 17-year-old getting it on with a much older man. If I had known any of those themes were included in the story, I would not have read it.

As it was, I almost stopped reading the book several times. It was interesting enough that I wanted to know where it was going, but the themes–oh, the themes–about drove me mad.

The story is told in first and third person. I was never confused with the POV switch; it was clear and well written. One of the biggest obstacles to my enjoyment of the story was the words used. For example, the names of people, places and items were hard to pronounce, define and keep clear. Words like: Belphagor, Paimon, Raqia, Anazakia Helisonovna, Arkhangel’sk, perferans, Elysium, Omeliea, Aravoth, Pyriphlegethon, Empyrean, Aeval and aeth. The Russian words which were interspersed within the text didn’t help.

I’m extremely uncomfortable with BDSM and I’m not interested in gay or lesbian themed stories. They create an awkward feeling in me and I prefer to read about heterosexual couples, but I can choke it down. In The Fallen Queen, the two main male characters have a romantic history together. They participate in a BDSM lifestyle and begin to rekindle it (along with oral sex) while on their journey with Anazakia, the heroine. There are many undertones that I’m unfamiliar with in the book and they all revolve around BDSM and the gay and lesbian world.

The underaged heroine’s head is shaved and she is dressed to look like a man. She is called “boy” and has her breasts bound. At different points, she is interested in both of the men. Because she only interacts with the gay couple and is sexually attracted to a clearly gay man (although later she is attracted to the gay man who considers himself bi-sexual), I think the gay community would call her a “fag hag.” I don’t know. It was too much.

Add to that the scene where the male couple is enjoying whipping and being whipped, prison rape and forced degradation and I was pushed too far. I’m sure there are other things. So, yeah, the story is about fallen angels and demons and a fight to control heaven. In the end I was so distracted by the details that I lost track of the actual point of the story.

When push comes to shove I read for enjoyment. I don’t want to be depressed when I finish reading a book. I don’t want to feel conflicted. I have enough problems in life that when I finish reading a book I want to know that someone–even an imaginary someone–can have a happy conclusion. Now there’s room in that for a lot of leeway. But at the end of The Fallen Queen I never felt that there was hope of any type of satisfactory ending. SPOILER***SPOILER***SPOILER***DON’T READ ON IF YOU DON’T WANT TO READ A SPOILER***SPOILER***SPOILER

"I watched him go, reluctant to relinquish the elemental stirring his touch sparked in me, but pleased at the new pride in his step. Though I couldn’t be what Belphagor was to him, I’d given him something the demon could not. I kissed the top of Ola’s head. Whatever bond I had with Vasily, I was on the outside of a relationship so intense I could only admire it from afar, like the Aurora Borealis. It left an emptiness inside me, a longing for that sense of wholeness they had in one another."–p. 328

[Marlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review was originally posted at Book Lovers Inc

I think it is going to be very, very important later, possibly much, much later, that this entire story is told as a flashback. It's an intriguing plot device, and one that's easy to forget as you get caught up in this wild and compelling tale of fallen angels and risen demons, but the narrator is remembering the story she tells.

That means Anazakia, unlike her earthly counterpart (oh yes, that matters too) survives her trials. You can't narrate your memoirs unless you live to tell the tale.

There were four princesses and one sickly prince in the supernal House of Arkhangel'sk. And their fate is made to almost, but not quite, mirror the earthly history of the House of Romanov more than a century previous. The Romanovs also had four princesses and one sickly prince. But unlike the Romanovs, the youngest princess survived, and thereby hangs the proverbial tale.

Because she survived through magic. And it's magic that makes this story of power lost, power gained, and ultimately, power corrupted, different from history. It's also where it merges with myth.

There's also more than a touch of Hans Christian Andersen's Snow Queen, a very evil version, at the cold, dark heart of this story.

And then there are the angels, and the demons. Don't attach traditional definitions to these terms, because they aren't strictly applicable. Demons in this myth refer to those who have fallen from the supernal realms, or have mixed their blood with humans. Sin as we know it may or may not apply.

Righteousness, carried too far, can be much more deadly, and more damning, than any "fall from grace". And angels can be hoodwinked.

The best man in the story is a demon. The biggest fool is an angel.

At heart, this is a story about political power. The evil Snow Queen wants to control the Supernal Realms, so she stages a coup, using magic. Anazakia escapes, because she's in the wrong place at the right time, also using magic.

That's where the "fun" begins. By escaping, Anazakia becomes more than the privileged daughter of the upper classes. She learns how the other half, several other halves (demons, fallen, humans) live. She fights for her life. She learns to love.

And she becomes part of a legend.

Or so she says. After all, she's the one telling the story.

The Fallen Queen fascinated me. The layers to it keep peeling back and there is just more stuff in each layer. Be warned, this story is not for the faint of heart. The Snow Queen is really evil, and characters get tortured in some seriously inventive ways. And as the interview with author Jane Kindred detailed, the demons Belphagor and Vasily are very into BDSM. (It's consensual between them, not so much when the Queen does the torture thing) The parallels between Russian history and the Supernal Realms are intentional, and must go somewhere in later books. This political density reminds me of the Kushiel books.

The Fallen Queen is the start of Anazakia's epic journey through dark places to find herself.

I give The Fallen Queen 4 1/2 stars

[Deelylah Mullin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Fallen Queen is the first book in Ms. Kindred's series, of which I can already tell that I'm going to be a HUGE fan. My initial reaction, at 20% of the book read, was: This is like Dune (Herbert) meets Singh's Guild Hunters! What a win-win for me!

The beginning of The Fallen Queen revealed a bit of history, as well as Anazakia doing her best to 'test the limits' regarding the rules of her station, as an heir to the throne of Arkhangel'sk. Kindred did a phenomenal job of setting-up her world. What can only be described as a coup, masterminded by the Evil Queen, as I came to call her, left Anazakia the only surviving heir...and only because she was acting 'slightly' outside the expected societal norm. Luckily, Anazakia's Nurse/confidante/governess (whatever you want to call her...) knew about Anazakia's penchant for livin' on the edge, found her with a necessary item, and paid a demon to keep her hidden. Really enjoyed the Russian language, as well.

As we get further into the story, it becomes painfully obvious that Anazakia is someone important, and there are those that are willing to 'obtain' her. It seems that it's not simply her station that creates her importance. Unfortunately, one of her 'captors' was injured, although she was able to assist with his rapid healing...to a certain point, and concurrently learned about her own powers in the world of Man. Anazakia also learned a secret from those 'Unseen' when she leaves the hotel because Vasily and Belphagor were engaging in act with which she was unfamiliar. MMMmmmhhmmm... a little M/M tossed into the mix. It's interesting watching the tension between Vasily and Belphagor, as well. But wait! Vasily isn't only into Belphagor! A twisted (in a good way!) love triangle develops, increasing the already intense tension between our three main characters.

Tensions rise as Belphagor does something totally out of character...he's selfless. In order to protect Anazakia and Vasily, Belphagor leaves to find a way to get the reigning queen to give him an audience. Long story short, Belphagor gets the audience, and fails to leave for an extended period of time. Hatin' on the Queen. She's the resident baddie, and we're supposed to hate her. We all know someone like her – self-centered and self-serving.

I could tell, at the end of the title, that other titles are planned for this storyline, as there really wasn't much resolution, nor a concrete HEA. Usually, that bugs me, but it didn't this time. For me, even a series needs to provide some significant resolution at the conclusion of each title. Personal preference, and the only thing keeping me from giving this title the highest rating.

This was a very nice paranormal romance, light on the romance, heavy on the action in the final third of the story. I enjoyed the way The Fallen Queen was written. The languages used were quite appropriate, and added a lot to the story for me. Ms. Kindred surely has created a beautiful world, and I look forward to reading future installments of her House of Arkhangel'sk series.

[Lillie · Rating 4 out of 5]

See the full review at: Read My Mind


My Review:
All hail fantasy. My roots in genre fiction started with high fantasy. I love reading it, but I don't do it often enough for some reason. I love the world-building, I love the character development, I love the seemingly impossible quest the protags must go on... And when I finish reading a truly good fantasy book, I realize how much I missed the genre. That's exactly what happened to me during and after my reading of THE FALLEN QUEEN.

Kindred has put a twist on angel lore in a new and captivating way. Angels and Demons are still at odds, but they both reside in Heaven. Fallen refers to those that have step foot upon the human earthly plane. Heaven echoes earth. Or is it the other way around? Kindred's plot and characters were utterly engrossing. They took me on a ride of danger, violence, sex, redemption, mystery, and cultural immersion that I have yet to come down from.

The central plotline revolved around Anazakia and her flight from heaven after her family is murdered. However, this puts her in the hands of Belphagor and Vasily, two demons and complex characters in their own right, whose relationship with each other and their pasts are explored throughout the novel. The earthly setting is in Russia, and Kindred infuses Vasily, Belphagor and Anazakia's interactions with the Russian language and culture of the time. Though there is plenty of strange-looking vocabulary from both the Russian and Arkhangel'sk languages, it lends authenticity and I enjoyed the inclusion.

THE FALLEN QUEEN is not fantasy lite, where a fantasy setting falls to the background of a romance or love triangle. This is fantasy at its best, where the intricacies of the world are spun out amidst angel court intrigue, three people on the run from a mad queen and her bespelled pawn, sacrifice and discovery.

5/5 for plot
4.5/5 for characters
4.5/5 for language

My Rating: 14/15 (4.5 stars)

Must Read, if you liked:
The Demon King by Cinda Williams Chima
The Keepers of Sulbreth by Susan Gourley
October Daye (series) by Seanan McGuire

Find the author at:
Website | Blog | Twitter | GoodReads

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5 stars

When The Fallen Queen is stripped down to its roots, the plot isn’t really anything new. There’s a battle for power and the unexpected is forced to rise to the challenge. A plot like that can be found in any number of books, but Kindred unique flair, lyrical writing and complex world make it stand apart from the crowd. While I did feel that characterization and portions of the plot were rather weak, The Fallen Queen is well worth reading and the ending will leave readers yearning for the second installment in this series. The Fallen Queen is set to release on December 6.

Read my full review here:

http://bookwormblues.blogspot.com/201...

[Kayleigh {K-Books} · Rating 1 out of 5]

Did Not Finish.
There'll be no review as I only read about a chapter. I know, I know that not enough to give up which is why I am not reviewing it. Within the first chapter I was just really confused and didn't really know what was going on. After reading some reviews I found out that there's stuff going on in the book that isn't really my thing which is the reason I am not reading or reviewing the rest of this book.

[Vaughn Roycroft · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, Anastasia:
I knew going in that The Fallen Queen was set in Heaven, and its characters were angels and demons, so I was taken aback by the opening. In meeting Anazakia of House Arkhangel’sk, in hearing the baroque certainty of her voice, in the descriptions of her life in the Winter Palace among her three elders sisters and sickly younger brother, I was instantly reminded of the ill-fated family of Tsar Nicholas II—and, of course, of the youngest Romanov daughter, Anastasia. Yes, this was a version of Heaven based on the final days of Imperial Russia, and I couldn’t have been more charmed. I found it an enchanting way to set the scene and create a totally unique mood for what promised to be a fantasy of truly epic proportions.

Paradise, Never Found:
In her debut novel, Jane Kindred creates a celestial realm totally unlike any I’d ever encountered, populated by both angels (or Host) and demons (or Fallen). This is not your family minister’s Heaven, and even seems not to be a destination for the departed souls of mankind. Although the inhabitants live much longer lives than the earthbound, they are far from immortal—indeed we quickly find that the Host’s supernal family not only bleeds, but dies.

To Russia With Love:
Through circumstance (which I won’t name as either fortune or fate) on the night of her family’s murders, Anazakia becomes the ward/hostage of demons Belphagor and Vasily. The Fallen pair take her in flight to, of all places, modern day Russia. Despite the prohibition against falling, a fair number of demons had settled in the world of Man over the centuries, and St. Petersburg, by far, had the most thriving population. I’ve never been, but the foreignness of Russia gave the story the perfect distance, and I was perfectly able to suspend disbelief.

While all other characters are portrayed in third person, we experience the story most intimately, and strikingly, through the first person voice of Anazakia. Her segments come in a wonderfully lush memoir format, as when she awakens from being drugged to find herself on a train with the demons. “When I tried to place my traveling companion, disquiet fluttered like a bird trapped in the dark attic of my head but could go no further. Beside me, my seatmate opened ebony eyes in which the pupils drowned. Out of the dark bog of his gaze a piece of unanchored memory floated to the surface.”
The unlikely trio soon comes to terms with the necessity of their alliance as they flee across Russia from the Seraphim—a Gestapo-like order of fiery angelic enforcers. This section of the story, from the brilliantly evocative opening to the turning point created by the trio’s sundering, progressed a bit slowly for me—although there is much to discover throughout. Anazakia learns of the earthly Romanov family and their sad fate, and we, the readers, learn that the similarities are caused by inter-dimensional echoes. We discover the depth and, what some would surely call, deviance of the preexisting relationship between the two demons. It turns out the pages Kindred devotes here are well-spent, as I was quite moved during the later payoff scenes by the weft and warp of the emotional triangle she had woven between our intrepid if peculiar triune. I was almost instantly attached to Anazakia, but as the story unfolded and the pace quickened, I found I’d grown fond of her demon cohorts as well.

Heavenly Subversion:
The story really soars once Belphagor leaves his companions hidden in a wintery Russian hinterland dacha, returning to Heaven to seek a solution to their plight. Ever the gambler, the elder demon plays his last card, right into the hands of the newly-risen false queen, Aeval—a deliciously apt name for an adept foil. Kindred keeps the pages turning from here to the concluding scenes, although I found the last action sequence limped a bit when it should have galloped.
I fear superficial description of The Fallen Queen may paint it as tritely ironic or even subversive, with its demons as saviors, angels as assassins, and its portrayal of Heaven as a metaphor for the decadence and elitism that provoked the Bolshevik revolution, but the effect of the whole was never off-putting. The book is indeed provocative, but refreshingly so. Kindred’s world feels both new and old at once; a must for those interested in angelic myth and its hierarchy. It is also sexy (at times bordering on lascivious), moving, and always entertaining.

The ending leaves no doubt that The Fallen Queen is the first of a trilogy, in that the story is far from over, with some lingering issues left blatantly unresolved. And yet I found the arc of the story and its conclusion very satisfying—something often lacking in the first and second editions of epic fantasy trilogies. I happily look forward to revisiting Kindred’s celestial creation.

[Katherine Amabel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A note on context: this review was originally listed on my blog (Review: The Fallen Queen - Jane Kindred), hence the references to writing techniques etc. Enjoy!

For this review I want to start with the characters, since they are still resonating so strongly in my head. Two in particular had me regularly cracking up, but they weren’t just there for comic relief. Their struggles were as heart-wrenching as they were heart-warming, and while I thought I had the romantic subplot guessed, I was thrilled to be proven wrong more than once. The main character was neither flamboyantly bad-ass nor a damsel in distress and instead had moments of both, and it was that combination which made her actions ring out as honest, true, and very likeable. The villainess was beautifully portrayed (and by that I mean I can feel the diamonds woven into her silken robes beneath my hands, such was the skill of her description) and I yearned to know more about her. In fact, my only complaint is that I felt she must have had a deeper motivation than she ever let on.

While we’re on the subject of descriptions, a lot must be said for the world building. The story took me from the pure and pristine scenes of Heaven to its fascinating back alleys and gambling dens, and then on to the spectacular European Alps, with such realism that any writer trying to improve their showing instead of telling should really take note. The descriptions are built up organically so that the information feels incidental yet turns out to be incredibly vivid, and the same techniques are used for characterization too. I can’t remember a single instance where description stalled the flow, and I love the use of unique and varying beats to show the characters’ emotions.

Again reading this as a writer, I loved the twisting plot and the constant increase in both internal and external conflict. Chapters often ended with dramatic one-liners but the effect is subtle and modest enough not to irritate. My only disappointment, if you can even call it that, related to a minor subplot. It had me absolutely fascinated from the start, only to be resolved halfway through with a two sentence explanation I neither understood nor wanted to believe. The book is part of a series thought, so with luck my questions will be resolved in the next installment.

There is a lot to applaud in the editing, too. Elegant descriptions clashed beautifully against the dialogue of some of the rougher characters, but the swearing was never gratuitous and only served to increase the emotional tension. There was a hardly a beat used twice, and hardly a clichéd description anywhere. And the fact that words were rarely repeated in close proximity to each other – an intense pet hate of mine – kept the pace fast and smooth.

Finally, the themes of the novel were embedded subtly enough that the message came through without me feeling lectured. I won’t mention my interpretations at the risk of spoiling anyone else’s, because whenever I read I like to mull that sort of thing over for myself afterward. And I’m sure over the next few days I’ll be doing just that.

Overall, a fantastic read with just the right amount of mystery and action. 8/10

[Crystal ✬ Lost in Storyland · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Fallen Queen is not your classic Good versus Evil story. It isn't simply about Heaven being overrun evil forces and the ousted heir apparent rallying the good to fight back. Though evil reigns on the throne and seeks to kill Anazakia so that she cannot take back her rightful place, those who should side with her are glad to see her family dead and gone while those who should hate her fight for her. I love the complexity of the world building and plot development. It makes it that much harder to predict what's going to happen next, and I'm happy to say that the story continued to surprise me from start to finish.

The story is slow to start. At first, I was completely lost and had no idea what was going on, even after Anazakia's nursemaid puts her in the care of Belphagor and Vasily, hoping the demons can hide her from the ones who killed her family, and though there is a fair amount of telling going on. It isn't until the pieces come together that I could understand the storyline. For the most part, there is a lot of waiting involved in between the running and fighting. It would have been nice to get more world building worked into the context, as I found myself lost several times because I didn't know the world adequately to piece together the situation, though we do get to learn more about the characters during the waiting periods. The story gets better once the pace picks up and the plot gets moving. I have to mention that I love the battles scenes. As graphic as they are, I like how they portray the brutal realities of battle and don't romanticize it.

Anazakia and her friends are interesting characters. They have likable personalities. A sheltered Grand Duchess, Anazakia is naive and gullible and sometimes resembles a damsel in distress, particularly after she learns of the massacre of her family. However, she also has heart, and that's what won me over. She isn't afraid to put her life on the line to help her comrades or to give her opinion on matters. Though she didn't bother getting into politics before, she has the makings of a ruler within her. Belphagar and Vasily, the demons who shelter her, are two characters brimming with life and personality. Belphagar is the hot conniving one who only likes men. He's the one who accepts the mission to protect Anazakia; though he initially does it for the money, they develop a good relationship, though they tend to quarrel. Vasily is the nice one and has a certain characteristic about him that makes the other two want to protect him. Amongst the three of them, complex relationships develop.

Overall, The Fallen Queen does what I expect a first novel to do. It introduces the characters and sets up the initial conflict, giving it somewhat of a resolutions while teasing readers with the promise of greater conflict to come. I love the characters, and I'm interested in seeing where the story takes us.

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For more of my reviews, visit my blog Imaginary Reads.

[Cocktails and Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me start off by saying this. Holy Hell! Do not let the first chapter of this book deceive you. What I thought was a YA book was nothing of the sort.

Anazakia is the youngest daughter to the Heavenly King of Arkhangel'sk. As Grand Dutchess, her only concern was sneaking out to gamble in the demon enclave, Raqia, or to ride her horse. But her world is turned upside down when her beloved cousin slaughters her entire family. Forced onto the demon Belphagor and his friend, Vasily, she is hidden in the realm of man in present day Russia. Unfortunately, for the trio, the evil queen who has taken over Heaven is bound and determined to see Anazakia dead, after discovering her secret magic trick from the night of the slaughter. Anazakia must now depend on two demons, who admittedly were only using her for money, to help keep her hidden.

When the story starts off, Anazakia does appear to be a very spoiled, very selfish seventeen year old. She used magic to leave a "version" of herself at the palace while she wandered about gambling and whatnot. But after the death of her family, you start to see Anazakia in a different light. She lived a very sheltered life and was not at all prepared for what she was about to embark on. She had to grow up fast and figure out who she should trust.

While initially Anazakia though Belphagor was that person she could lean on and trust, her discovery of his relationship with Visaly actually helped pave the way for the bound that would develop between Anazakia and Visaly. Visaly may not have like Anazakia at first, he soon discovered there was much more to this young woman than her title.



Then there is Belphagor and Visaly. Belphagor was a hard character to warm up to. Even when he was protecting Anazakia, I couldn't trust that he was doing what was in her best interest. Even when he went to the lengths he did to ensure the Seraphim wouldn't come after them any longer, it seemed he was really doing it to save Visaly. Even when he sacrifice himself to the Queen, it was to save Visaly.

Visaly, on the other hand, I like immediately. I think he originally disliked Anazakia because she was competition for Belphagor's attention. I don't think he discovers his need for Anazakia until after Belphagor's presence is removed from the equation. Then he realizes, that he needs both Anazakia and Belphagor. They both bring something to their relationships with him that is different from the other, and calls to the different halves of him.

This book has a little bit of everything. Angels, demons, nephilim, fae, grigori, and seraphim. It was fascinating to see the story unfold and discover the similarity between ancient buildings and families in Russia and how the closely resembled what was found in Heaven. I only wonder if those similarity will have an impact on the storyline down the trilogy. This was definitely a book that kept my attention and had me wondering "what next". I can't wait for the next release, Midnight Court, slated for an August release.

[Rhianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

The most original fantasy you will read this year!

When her beloved family is slain by her cousin and dear friend, Anazakia, a grand duchess of the House of Arkhangel'sk, must flee the Heavens or face the same fate. As the last surviving member of the House of Arkhangel'sk, Anazakia's fate as the heir to Heaven's throne is thrust upon a pair of Fallen, demons with plans of ransom. Secreted away to the world of Man, Anazakia must rely on Belphagor and Vasily in the harsh Russian countryside.

Hunted by Seraphim and haunted by mysterious spirits of the seasons Anazakia can trust no one fully. But when Belphagor is imprisoned comfort is found in the arms of his fiery companion. When the truth behind the murder of her kindred comes to light Anazakia will return to Heaven to fight for what is hers and the fate of two worlds will collide in a cataclysmic battle of epic proportions.

There are no perfect words to describe THE FALLEN QUEEN. I've never read anything like it and don't believe I will again. Not because it wasn't good but because it belongs in a class all its own. Rich in fantastical celestial and angelic mythology then steeped in Russian culture I could compare it to a well aged wine. There are layers and layers of fascinating concepts and ideas peppering this story. It's romantic but not a romance. The lines of sexual orientation are crossed and blurred and reformed and extinguished making it both slightly erotic and a little ethereal. Those who are enticed by pleasure/pain will find this highly enjoyable.

Kindred's writing style is dance-like, a true ballet of fiction. Calculated steps done so passionately one could forget this is more likely to be shelved with popular fiction than literature. THE FALLEN QUEEN could easily become a classic. My only true issues were firstly frustration with Vasily's relationship with Anazakia, I felt betrayed for Belphagor, and secondly struggling to understand the subtleties of this richly Russian influenced world building. I'm also not turned on by whipping/spanking so the scenes where this took place were off-putting but that's my personal issue, not a reflection on the writing as they were all well written.

If you enjoy polyamorous romance and contemporary fantasy I would highly recommend you pick up this book. If you're an urban fantasy fan bored of the same-old, same-old this is a break from the norm but not truly urban. If you enjoy the complexity and sensuality of Ilona Andrews or Meljean Brook, THE FALLEN QUEEN should definitely be added to your wishlist. Not a completely flawless read but one that I am so glad I didn't miss.

**ARC received via NetGalley

[Sandy S · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE FALLEN QUEEN (The House of Arkhangelsk #1) by Jane Kindred

THE FALLEN QUEEN is the first storyline in Jane Kindred’s new House of Arkhangel,sk’s series. The storyline follows Grand Duchess Anazakia, of the House of Arkhangel,sk and two demons-Belphagor and Vasily who have been commissioned to help Anazakia escape –to live in the world of Man-and away from those who meant to cause her harm. Anazakia’s spirit and body, her shade and shadow had been previously separated but when the demons accidently released her shade, Anazakia found herself mortally wounded and awash in blood with the memories of a horrific attack. The last thing she remembered was playing wingcasting- a game of chance- in Heaven and the next she didn’t recognize herself or her surroundings.

The storyline facilitates between first person POV (Anazakia) and third person, as well as from present to past using memoirs, recollections and stories. There is an enormous amount of reference to Christianity in the form of angelic definitions and pronouncements such as Seraphim and Ophanim, as well as looking at The Fallen and The Virtues, demons and angels. The reader is taken on a ride between Heaven, Hell and Earth and all places in between: different levels Angles, and demons, Houses and Kingdoms, elemental magic and power.

The world building and character development flow smoothly and yet on the surface the storyline is so very familiar. The reader is whisked into a fantasy world of angels and demons, and the plight of the lone survivor of an attack against the Royal House of Arkhangel,sk. The further the story develops the familiarity of the scenario burns brightly until you discover the re-telling, albeit flavored in more fiction and fantasy than the original tale, of the Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna (Romanov) of Russia, the youngest daughter of Tsar Nicholas II.

Jane Kindred has blended the fantasy of angels and demons with the telling of a story that is still shrouded in mystery today. There is a love story of sorts between the angel and her two demon companions. Sacrifices are made when Belphagor finds himself imprisoned and is at the mercy of those in charge. Even his freedom will come at a cost. Warning: there is some graphic violence and abuse. An interesting spin on a story, whether fabled or true, and one that still has the historians scratching their heads and wondering.

Copy supplied by publisher.

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5 stars

I am going to start out by admitting that I am not a fan of the books cover. I was hesitant to read the book because the cover and I'm glad I was contacted to review it and looked into it a little more or I would have never picked up THE FALLEN QUEEN. I also usually tend to tray away form books on Angels and Demons but the blurb was interesting enough to catch my eye. I'm not big on religion and stuff in my Fantasy so Im happy to report that the book was not all religion and bible like.

In THE FALLEN QUEEN the Angels represent the noble class and Demons are part of the low level class. Anazakia is part of the ruling family and one night while she was out her whole family was slaughtered by her cousin. She ends up being hidden away and taken to earth (becoming fallen) by Belphagor and another low class fallen. There journey into hiding is long, dangerous and exhausting as they are left hiding at ever turn from the new evil that has taken Anazakia's rightful place in heaven.

I felt that Jane did a great job with conveying the emotions in all situations that Anazakia and her companions face. The world building was imaginative and well executed. The plot full of Action, adventure, love, loss and suspense. A lot happens from the start to the end of the book and I did not find myself getting bored. There were some points that I was a bit confused about the events that were taking place or who was supposed to be doing what but It was easy to get back on track before to long. Azazakia still has a long road ahead of her by the end of the book and I will be following along with MIDNIGHT COURT when it comes out.

[Jess the Romanceaholic · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a Quickie Review. For the full review, please visit The Romanceaholic.

Expected Release Date: December 6, 2011
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Imprint: N/A
Author’s Website: http://www.janekindred.com/
My Source for This Book: Netgalley
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 1, The House of Arkhangel’sk
Series Best Read In Order: N/A
Steam Level: Steamy

This was, hands down, the most exhausting, heartbreaking, amazing book I’ve read in a very, very long time. My head is spinning as I sit here and try to put into words the way I feel about this book, and I fear that there really isn’t a way to accurately express what an intense journey this book really was.

Normally, my reviews follow the What Worked For Me/What Didn’t Work For Me format, but as I write this review, I find that I’m unable to tease apart the story and neatly box up the pieces into convenient categories.

While I cannot say that this was a a 5-star read for me, because of the lack of Happily Ever After and the sheer volume of Very Bad Things that happen to all of the characters, I will say that despite the inclusion of several things that normally would have yanked a star rating down for me, this one is still one of the most amazing books I’ve read in a very, very long time, and I will be reading the sequel when it comes available.

4/5 Stars.

Please note the full review on my site contains spoilers, but they are hidden.

[Tee loves Kyle Jacobson · Rating 5 out of 5]

*******THIS BOOK CONTAINS MATURE SCENES NOT SUITABLE FOR 17 AND UNDER*********

First I would like to THANK Danielle at Entangled for allowing me to read and review this book. The Fallen Queen was the first Fantasy book I have ever read and I have to say I LOVED it! Some of the stuff in it had me cringing but I have an open literary mind so I kept reading and I am so glad I did because at the end of the day I really enjoyed the story.

In The Fallen Queen all Anazakia wants to do is survive because she is the last of her family. She flees Heaven with two demons Vasily and Belphagor. As she is on the run she realizes she must go back and fight for her place in order to keep the chaos out and bring order back to her home. Vasily will keep her company and she learns to trust him. What will Anazakia do when she gets back to her home? Will she fight or flee? Will she reign in an age where ruling is hard?

I have to warn you that this book does have some issues in it than can be offensive to some but they are real issues and Jane does it with such tact you don't even realize what your reading until you have read it and then say wow did I just read that. I have read a few men with men books and I have to say these authors are clever and there writing is superb and I would recommend this read to adults only because they will enjoy it. Plus if your HUGE on Fantasy this book is for you!

Jane thank you for writing this book and sharing this story for readers like myself who love a good love story and throw in some SWOON worthy men I am in like Flynn!

[Star · Rating 5 out of 5]

Growing up, Anazakia of the House of Arkhangel'sk didn't have much to worry about except new clothes, horses, and playing with her sisters and brother. She also liked to sneak out to the Fallen city to gamble while a shade created via magic took her place at the 'boring' social events. The one night everything changed and her world was violently turned upside down. Her family (and her shade) brutally murdered by someone close to home. Given a large sum of money to hide and protect her, the demons Belphagor and Vasily (who have their own complicated relationship) take her to the world of Man. Of course, nothing seems to go according to plan - with many strange surprises along the way - and Nazkia must fight her way back to Heaven to reclaim what is rightfully hers.

Ms. Kindred has created an unusual and entrancing world of the Host (angels), Fallen (demons), and Man. With an eerie similarity to the Romanov family, The Fallen Queen is a well-rounded and intricately built world where order and chaos walk a fine line. The characters are multi-layered and complex and you are able to feel a connection from the first few pages. Gritty underneath the fine polish of Heaven, The Fallen Queen will make you long to read the next books in the series to discover what happens to everyone you've come to know intimately...

The House of Arkhangel'sk Series: The Fallen Queen (1), The Midnight Court (2), The Armies of Heaven (3)

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having read Demons of Elysium series I was looking forward to this book to see Vasily and Belphagor again and see how their story first started along with a new main character. Unfortunately this book just didn't seem as well put together. The story shifts between Vasily, Belphagor, and Anazakia but I don't really get a good grasp on their characters the first part of the book. Vasily and Belphagor seem very drab compared to the Demons of Elysium series. Anazakia is even more lack luster and whiny. She just isn't a character I want to root for. She is spoiled and broody and just doesn't have a lot of characteristics that I like.

The world building is pretty sketchy with lots of Russian and not a lot of explanation for people that don't know alot about Angelic lore. In general terms I got the plot but alot of reference just went over my head. This wasn't a horrible book and the second half picked up some with a surprising twist I didn't expect but it just wasn't as polished as some of the other books I've read from this author.

[Riley · Rating 1 out of 5]

(Note: Got a PDF/ARC for review.)

A promising concept, but ultimately not my kind of book. The writing was fine, and the story moved along at a good pace, but the character development was never quite as deep or nuanced as I wanted. Also, I enjoyed the worldbuilding in the realm of Heaven, but once we "fell" to Russia, all the names and places became too much to keep track of.

Also, not relevant, but I really don't like the cover. It gives more of a scifi vibe, instead of the rich, wintry fantasy feel I had while reading.

[Gabrielle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got this through the giveaways. I was excited at first to read it as it is usually my type of book. I read the first page when it first arrived and all interest was gone. Later on, I tried to read it again. I got about half way through the book and it was still hard work to keep going. It does get better as you read on, but it was still not a book which I recommend and will not be reading the rest of the series. At least I tried. Thank you to Goodreads and Jane Kindred for this book but it is just not my cup of tea.

[Nicole Luiken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cool world-building: Heaven itself with its Powers, Dominions, Virtues, 'angels' and 'demons' as well as a near-analogue of St. Petersburg, Russia. The story starts strong, with the fall of the House of Arkangel'sk. The sole remaining survivor, Anazakia, flees to Earth with the help of Belphagor and Vasily, fire and air spirits. A little too much time passes with Anazakia merely waiting on Belphagor's schemes, but things pick up again in the second half once the action returns to heaven and there is MUCH JEOPARDY.

[Katee Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd wanted to read this book ever since I heard how much of it centers around Russia and the various histories. I'm not much of a angel fan in general, but the parallel world of Heaven was so beautifully developed, it drew me in. I bow to Ms. Kindred's superior worldbuilding skill.

The story itself was heartbreaking and as beautiful as the worldbuilding. There were no punches pulled, and I appreciate that in so many ways.

Can't wait for the next one :)

[AmyBeth Inverness · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the world-building that Jane accomplished with this book <3

Her angels and demons are unique and nuanced, with very real human emotions. Having visited Russia years ago, the terms and places were all very believable within the fantasy setting. The main character Anazakia goes through a long arc beginning as a young, spoiled, naive noblewoman, who discovers within herself the woman she never knew could exist.

I look forward to the rest of the series!

[Charlotte Black]

I'm not reviewing this book properly, I'm afraid. The world building and writers style is more heavier than I'm used to. I've checked other reviews and found that there will be content that isn't to my liking. So, not going to finish.

Marked as Did not Finish

[NList · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is very close to a 4 for me. I did like the characters and the story...but I never came away with the hierarchy of angels in this book. The world building was very confusing. I wouldn't call this a romance either...there really isn't a true HEA.

[Mae · Rating 2 out of 5]

It took me well over half the book for it to not feel like work to read it. I just couldn't get in to the story and I kept finding other things to do than read. This is well written, it just didn't click for me.

[Bridgett Beardsley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was pretty good but definitely not a favorite. I will read any books following in the series if there are any though.