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Remy Chandler #5
In the House of the Wicked
More information to be announced soon on this forthcoming title from Penguin USA.
336 pages, Paperback
First published August 7, 2012
15 people are currently reading
677 people want to read
About the author
Thomas E. Sniegoski
281 books1,105 followersThomas E. Sniegoski, often credited as Tom Sniegoski is the author of more than two dozen novels for adults, teens, and children. His teen fantasy YA series Fallen was adapted into a trilogy of monstrously successful TV movies by ABC Family Channel. His other books for teens include Sleeper Code, Sleeper Agenda, and Force Majeure, as well as the upcoming series The Brimstone Network. The author's first adult novel, A Kiss Before the Apocalypse, hit the shelves in 2008, with its sequel, Dancing on the Head of a Pin to be released in 2009.
Sniegoski's work for younger readers includes Billy Hooten: Owlboy, and the fantasy quartet OutCast, which he co-authored with Christopher Golden. OutCast is in development as a film at Universal. Sniegoski and Golden have also collaborated on the adult dark fantasy series The Menagerie, and multiple creator-owned comic book series, including The Sisterhood, which is being prepped for a feature film by InterMedia, and Talent, currently in development at Universal after a major bidding war.
As a comic book writer, Sniegoski's work includes Stupid, Stupid Rat Tails, a prequel miniseries to international hit, Bone. Sniegoski collaborated with Bone creator Jeff Smith on the prequel, making him the only writer Smith has ever asked to work on those characters. Sniegoski and Golden also wrote the graphic novel BPRD: Hollow Earth, a spinoff from Hellboy.
Sniegoski was born and raised in Massachusetts, where he still lives with his wife LeeAnne and their Labrador Retriever, Mulder. Tom recently completed the new young adult novel, Legacy, which is set to be released in October of 2009.
Sniegoski's work for younger readers includes Billy Hooten: Owlboy, and the fantasy quartet OutCast, which he co-authored with Christopher Golden. OutCast is in development as a film at Universal. Sniegoski and Golden have also collaborated on the adult dark fantasy series The Menagerie, and multiple creator-owned comic book series, including The Sisterhood, which is being prepped for a feature film by InterMedia, and Talent, currently in development at Universal after a major bidding war.
As a comic book writer, Sniegoski's work includes Stupid, Stupid Rat Tails, a prequel miniseries to international hit, Bone. Sniegoski collaborated with Bone creator Jeff Smith on the prequel, making him the only writer Smith has ever asked to work on those characters. Sniegoski and Golden also wrote the graphic novel BPRD: Hollow Earth, a spinoff from Hellboy.
Sniegoski was born and raised in Massachusetts, where he still lives with his wife LeeAnne and their Labrador Retriever, Mulder. Tom recently completed the new young adult novel, Legacy, which is set to be released in October of 2009.
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January 17, 2012Ugh....I can't believe I have to wait until August 2012....Oh the agony :)
October 16, 2012
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In the House of the Wicked is the fifth installment in the Remy Chandler series by New York Times bestselling author, Thomas Sniegoski.
Remy Chandler, a Boston-based private investigator, isn’t your typical private eye; while he wears the guise of a human, he is actually much more: a fallen angel. Once known as Remiel of the Heavenly Host Seraphim, Remy left Heaven of his own accord after witnessing the destruction and bloodshed of Lucifer Morningstar’s war with the Almighty. He became curious about God’s favorite creation and decided to spend time on Earth discovering, learning. Falling in love.
Now, after his wife has passed away, Remy has averted the apocalypse of the Four Horsemen, faced the Morningstar in Tartarus, prevented another god from claiming enough power to change the world, and gone up against a corrupted Malachi in an attempt to save the Garden of Eden. During this time, Remy kept his angelic and human natures apart, allowing him to hide his true identity. But both of Remy’s natures are now sharing the same space, and Remy can feel himself becoming more and more volatile despite all of his efforts to control it.
To make matters worse, Ashley Berg, his longtime dog sitter who is like a daughter to him, has been kidnapped by a once-formidable sorcerer. This sorcerer wants his revenge upon those who wronged him in the past, and he is determined to use Remy as his instrument of revenge… and if Remy doesn’t play along, Ashley will die.
Flying solo
Due to some of the circumstances within In the House of the Wicked, Remy is unable to use his angelic powers for the majority of the novel. It makes for a very different read than the previous four novels in the series. It’s a change of pace that throws the already-long odds into the realm of nigh-impossibility, all the while making Remy’s actions more believable than at almost any other point in the series. It also forces Remy to slow down and think before he acts. Since he cannot summon up the Seraphim to just batter through all of his problems, Remy has to play a sneakier, smarter game than ever before. And that is most definitely a welcome change of pace to the series.
Upping the ante
While Sniegoski gave us a hint of the underlying plotlines of the series in book four, A Hundred Words For Hate, this is the first Remy book where details from all of the previous novels really begin fitting together. And quite frankly, it scares me. I fear for the well-being of Remy and those around him. The world looks like it’s going to get much, much worse before it gets better.
And that’s awesome.
Sniegoski does some fantastic foreshadowing for these plotlines throughout the novel. Some of it comes from Francis (a mercenary angel also living among humanity), some from Remy himself, and yet some more from the Grigori (those cast out of Heaven by God for teaching humanity dark secrets). But the real kicker comes in the epilogue of the novel. If you’ve seen Joss Whedon’s The Avengers, it was very much akin to the first post-credits scene. If you haven’t, let’s just say that many of the events can be theorized to have been manipulated by an off-screen character. And the implications of that are breathtaking. I cannot wait to see how Sniegoski plays it in future novels.
That’s quite the character you got there…
Remy himself is one of my favorite urban fantasy protagonists and one of my favorite characters of all time. He gets a lot of time to reflect in this novel: about how he wants to live his life now that his wife has passed away; how to balance the dueling natures inside of him; how to help his friends cope with the realization that there is more out there than humanity knows. His relationship with his Labrador, Marlowe, is heart-wrenching and wonderful. It’s gut-wrenching, too—to watch Remy, unable to draw upon his angelic abilities‚ deal with the realization that he can no longer communicate with Marlowe. The scene brought tears to my eyes.
On top of Remy and Marlowe, the supporting cast gets a lot of screen time. Francis, Ashley, and Detective Steven Mulvehill all find new things within themselves. Francis has to deal with working under a new employer—which has some definite perks, he will admit. I look forward to seeing how being set against his best friend in the future will affect him‚ because Francis isn’t particularly known for his compassion and morals. Ashley gets tossed headfirst into Remy’s world, under what is most definitely not the best of circumstances. She shows the whole variety of human reaction to her situation, ranging from panic and denial to eventual calm levelheadedness. Mulvehill, after the events of A Hundred Words for Hate, isn’t talking to Remy; he’s still in denial about everything that happened and hopes that by ignoring things, they will just go away. However, when something puts Boston, and likely the entire world, at risk, Mulvehill goes out to help instead of hiding. Seeing him take that leap was refreshing, and I hope it means that his friendship with Remy can—and will—be mended in future novels.
We’re also introduced to one hell of a new character during the course of In the House of the Wicked: a hobgoblin by the name of Squire who currently resides in the shadow realm. Squire is one of those “retired good guy” characters who has convinced himself of the uselessness of being a hero, and is resolutely telling himself that he’s only looking out for Number One. However, as events progress, we see him come to grips with the fact that he misses fighting the good fight, and he ends up getting involved and helping Remy out in a number of ways. I really hope we see him again—and I think we will, as that much development time usually isn’t spent on a throwaway character.
Why should you read this book?
If you’ve read and liked the first four installments in this series, you won’t be disappointed. Sniegoski ups his game in this most recent Remy adventure, and we begin to see some of the grand scheme he is setting up for us. The conflict and situations within this novel are refreshingly personal, bringing the forefront of activity back to the Boston area. The characters are varied and very well-developed, bringing life and humanity into this novel largely centered around the angelic pantheon. With In the House of the Wicked, Sniegoski has crafted a very powerful, very personal tale that is equal parts gut-wrenching, heart-warming, and awe-inspiring. In short, it is definitely my favorite Remy Chandler novel to date.
In the House of the Wicked is the fifth installment in the Remy Chandler series by New York Times bestselling author, Thomas Sniegoski.
Remy Chandler, a Boston-based private investigator, isn’t your typical private eye; while he wears the guise of a human, he is actually much more: a fallen angel. Once known as Remiel of the Heavenly Host Seraphim, Remy left Heaven of his own accord after witnessing the destruction and bloodshed of Lucifer Morningstar’s war with the Almighty. He became curious about God’s favorite creation and decided to spend time on Earth discovering, learning. Falling in love.
Now, after his wife has passed away, Remy has averted the apocalypse of the Four Horsemen, faced the Morningstar in Tartarus, prevented another god from claiming enough power to change the world, and gone up against a corrupted Malachi in an attempt to save the Garden of Eden. During this time, Remy kept his angelic and human natures apart, allowing him to hide his true identity. But both of Remy’s natures are now sharing the same space, and Remy can feel himself becoming more and more volatile despite all of his efforts to control it.
To make matters worse, Ashley Berg, his longtime dog sitter who is like a daughter to him, has been kidnapped by a once-formidable sorcerer. This sorcerer wants his revenge upon those who wronged him in the past, and he is determined to use Remy as his instrument of revenge… and if Remy doesn’t play along, Ashley will die.
Flying solo
Due to some of the circumstances within In the House of the Wicked, Remy is unable to use his angelic powers for the majority of the novel. It makes for a very different read than the previous four novels in the series. It’s a change of pace that throws the already-long odds into the realm of nigh-impossibility, all the while making Remy’s actions more believable than at almost any other point in the series. It also forces Remy to slow down and think before he acts. Since he cannot summon up the Seraphim to just batter through all of his problems, Remy has to play a sneakier, smarter game than ever before. And that is most definitely a welcome change of pace to the series.
Upping the ante
While Sniegoski gave us a hint of the underlying plotlines of the series in book four, A Hundred Words For Hate, this is the first Remy book where details from all of the previous novels really begin fitting together. And quite frankly, it scares me. I fear for the well-being of Remy and those around him. The world looks like it’s going to get much, much worse before it gets better.
And that’s awesome.
Sniegoski does some fantastic foreshadowing for these plotlines throughout the novel. Some of it comes from Francis (a mercenary angel also living among humanity), some from Remy himself, and yet some more from the Grigori (those cast out of Heaven by God for teaching humanity dark secrets). But the real kicker comes in the epilogue of the novel. If you’ve seen Joss Whedon’s The Avengers, it was very much akin to the first post-credits scene. If you haven’t, let’s just say that many of the events can be theorized to have been manipulated by an off-screen character. And the implications of that are breathtaking. I cannot wait to see how Sniegoski plays it in future novels.
That’s quite the character you got there…
Remy himself is one of my favorite urban fantasy protagonists and one of my favorite characters of all time. He gets a lot of time to reflect in this novel: about how he wants to live his life now that his wife has passed away; how to balance the dueling natures inside of him; how to help his friends cope with the realization that there is more out there than humanity knows. His relationship with his Labrador, Marlowe, is heart-wrenching and wonderful. It’s gut-wrenching, too—to watch Remy, unable to draw upon his angelic abilities‚ deal with the realization that he can no longer communicate with Marlowe. The scene brought tears to my eyes.
On top of Remy and Marlowe, the supporting cast gets a lot of screen time. Francis, Ashley, and Detective Steven Mulvehill all find new things within themselves. Francis has to deal with working under a new employer—which has some definite perks, he will admit. I look forward to seeing how being set against his best friend in the future will affect him‚ because Francis isn’t particularly known for his compassion and morals. Ashley gets tossed headfirst into Remy’s world, under what is most definitely not the best of circumstances. She shows the whole variety of human reaction to her situation, ranging from panic and denial to eventual calm levelheadedness. Mulvehill, after the events of A Hundred Words for Hate, isn’t talking to Remy; he’s still in denial about everything that happened and hopes that by ignoring things, they will just go away. However, when something puts Boston, and likely the entire world, at risk, Mulvehill goes out to help instead of hiding. Seeing him take that leap was refreshing, and I hope it means that his friendship with Remy can—and will—be mended in future novels.
We’re also introduced to one hell of a new character during the course of In the House of the Wicked: a hobgoblin by the name of Squire who currently resides in the shadow realm. Squire is one of those “retired good guy” characters who has convinced himself of the uselessness of being a hero, and is resolutely telling himself that he’s only looking out for Number One. However, as events progress, we see him come to grips with the fact that he misses fighting the good fight, and he ends up getting involved and helping Remy out in a number of ways. I really hope we see him again—and I think we will, as that much development time usually isn’t spent on a throwaway character.
Why should you read this book?
If you’ve read and liked the first four installments in this series, you won’t be disappointed. Sniegoski ups his game in this most recent Remy adventure, and we begin to see some of the grand scheme he is setting up for us. The conflict and situations within this novel are refreshingly personal, bringing the forefront of activity back to the Boston area. The characters are varied and very well-developed, bringing life and humanity into this novel largely centered around the angelic pantheon. With In the House of the Wicked, Sniegoski has crafted a very powerful, very personal tale that is equal parts gut-wrenching, heart-warming, and awe-inspiring. In short, it is definitely my favorite Remy Chandler novel to date.
September 16, 2012
I wasn't sure there would be another book in this series after the last one seemed to reach a bit of a resolution. Plus the author's beloved dog, Mulder, who was the inspiration for Marlowe, passed away. But clearly his new boy, Kirby, is continuing to inspire him. Loving pets is like that, heartbreaking and wonderful at the same time. He even writes in the book about the girl in the story, Ashley, losing her cat, and showed the circle of life when Remy ended up getting Marlowe to comfort her. But perhaps his loss did affect him, or maybe it was just storyline dictated, but this book was lacking in interactions between Marlowe and Remy. One of Sniegoski's major strengths is his warm and humorous portrayal of the relationship between Remy and his dog, and I did miss it I'm this one.
But it was a better book than the last one (which I liked, don't get me wrong). It was more focused and consistently paced. A lot of reviews that I read complained about the changing points of view in the last one, and he did it again in this one, but I think it worked better, it was easier to follow this time. And even enough it was still dark, it was less grim. It just felt like a tighter and more focused book to me with a concept that was more clearly going somewhere.
Except for one thing. I'm kind of confused about the stuff about Squire and the multiple worlds, it just didn't feel consistent with the mythology and world building that the author had developed. It was so strictly Christian up to this point, all about the different classes of angels, Noah, Lucifer, and the Creator, etc., and that's still the major theme. So I don't get where a hobgoblin fits in, or the shadow worlds filled with giant water serpents and insects and other monsters. There was just no explanation for any of it, it was a bit bizarre. I just don't understand how it fits into this mythology except as a tool to tell this particular story. It should have been explained to fit into the world building or done in a more consistent way, I just don't get it.
But overall it was a good story. I worried about the characters and was anxious for their safety. I turned the pages quickly to see what would happen next. I chuckled a few times (the car was cool). And it left me curious to see where the author takes things next. But I do hope Marlowe is in the next book a lot more. Featuring Francis and Steven and whoever else is all very well, but for me it's all about the dog. OK fine, we all know that it's always all about the dog for me. But he really is needed in these books too, he helps keep Remy human and adds a very much need touch of comic relief and lightness to these rather dark stories.
But it was a better book than the last one (which I liked, don't get me wrong). It was more focused and consistently paced. A lot of reviews that I read complained about the changing points of view in the last one, and he did it again in this one, but I think it worked better, it was easier to follow this time. And even enough it was still dark, it was less grim. It just felt like a tighter and more focused book to me with a concept that was more clearly going somewhere.
Except for one thing. I'm kind of confused about the stuff about Squire and the multiple worlds, it just didn't feel consistent with the mythology and world building that the author had developed. It was so strictly Christian up to this point, all about the different classes of angels, Noah, Lucifer, and the Creator, etc., and that's still the major theme. So I don't get where a hobgoblin fits in, or the shadow worlds filled with giant water serpents and insects and other monsters. There was just no explanation for any of it, it was a bit bizarre. I just don't understand how it fits into this mythology except as a tool to tell this particular story. It should have been explained to fit into the world building or done in a more consistent way, I just don't get it.
But overall it was a good story. I worried about the characters and was anxious for their safety. I turned the pages quickly to see what would happen next. I chuckled a few times (the car was cool). And it left me curious to see where the author takes things next. But I do hope Marlowe is in the next book a lot more. Featuring Francis and Steven and whoever else is all very well, but for me it's all about the dog. OK fine, we all know that it's always all about the dog for me. But he really is needed in these books too, he helps keep Remy human and adds a very much need touch of comic relief and lightness to these rather dark stories.
February 20, 2013
The magic of life, sorcerers, reluctant Seraphim & damned angels swirl together for another fine Remy Chandler adventure. Loved every bit of this read.
January 12, 2025
In the House of the Wicked has Remy Chandler deal with a mystery that hits him on a personal note, the disappearance of his young neighbor, Ashley. Ashley was always the one to take care of Marlowe when Remy needed to be away from the neighborhood due to his secretive work. Upon receiving the news of her disappearance, Remy quickly takes action to revisiting her footprints. In the process, he learns of her missing case is linked to an old feud between semi-immortal sorcerers. One sorcerer, Stearns, has a plan to revitalize his powers through a process that would cost millions in the world. The other, Deacon, schemes vengeance against Stearns for a betrayal that left him alone and trapped in another dimension. Deacon's plan will require Remy, and he will obey him if he wants Ashley back alive.
After another year hiatus from reading the series, I am glad to have picked up the next copy of Remy Chandler. Fairly well written, this book continues off the events of the 4th book where Remy's conflict with his inner Seraphim becomes more uncontrollable. It is clear that Remy is beginning to lose grip on his human identity that he worked hard to perfect now that most of these supernatural events have greater impact on the mortal plane. It also doesn't help that most of his close colleagues are either gone or negatively impacted by their relationship to him. Again, this book also features multiple perspectives from a large assemble: Remy, Ashley, Francis, Stearns, Deacon & Squire. But unlike the 3rd & 4th book, the newer additions get relatively equal spotlight and developed background that builds up to the climax, rather than injecting these moments by their last appearance. This book also features heavy flashbacks between multiple time periods also, which can be a little confusing when you have a big cast, but it adds to the air of mystery that is unveiled by the end.
While the writing is on par, I did find some more campy, or unintentionally funny moments, popping around the novel's plot. This is not bad, as it helps lighten on the mood on a serious mission that features a couple of graphic depictions of violence. As this series gets even more darker in tone, so do the death scenes, which I am fine with. I do wish that Squire, a character introduced here, had more backstory, it's brought up but left vague enough, that I have a feeling he will get a more prominent role in the next book. Despite this, I am quite satisfied still with the Remy Chandler series & the lore behind it. The return of some prominent characters and the epilogue revealing a larger threat is at played makes me excited to see what else is to come for the angelic detective.
After another year hiatus from reading the series, I am glad to have picked up the next copy of Remy Chandler. Fairly well written, this book continues off the events of the 4th book where Remy's conflict with his inner Seraphim becomes more uncontrollable. It is clear that Remy is beginning to lose grip on his human identity that he worked hard to perfect now that most of these supernatural events have greater impact on the mortal plane. It also doesn't help that most of his close colleagues are either gone or negatively impacted by their relationship to him. Again, this book also features multiple perspectives from a large assemble: Remy, Ashley, Francis, Stearns, Deacon & Squire. But unlike the 3rd & 4th book, the newer additions get relatively equal spotlight and developed background that builds up to the climax, rather than injecting these moments by their last appearance. This book also features heavy flashbacks between multiple time periods also, which can be a little confusing when you have a big cast, but it adds to the air of mystery that is unveiled by the end.
While the writing is on par, I did find some more campy, or unintentionally funny moments, popping around the novel's plot. This is not bad, as it helps lighten on the mood on a serious mission that features a couple of graphic depictions of violence. As this series gets even more darker in tone, so do the death scenes, which I am fine with. I do wish that Squire, a character introduced here, had more backstory, it's brought up but left vague enough, that I have a feeling he will get a more prominent role in the next book. Despite this, I am quite satisfied still with the Remy Chandler series & the lore behind it. The return of some prominent characters and the epilogue revealing a larger threat is at played makes me excited to see what else is to come for the angelic detective.
December 27, 2015
Fifth in the Remy Chandler urban fantasy series about a man, er, an angel and his dog in Boston.
My Take
Whoa, this was a bit of a departure! Admittedly it's still the supernatural, but it goes way beyond merely supernatural! The story swings between 1945 and today as Sniegoski fills us in on the back history of today's events, pulling in the trauma of World War II and staking a claim on the fear people have for the Apocalypse. This is one of the well-done ones that don't leave you wondering through part of each chapter change just where you are in the history.
The prologue certainly sets up events for later in the main part of the story and it sets me against Konrad Deacon very quickly. What a scumbag!
The action just doesn't stop. Nor does the emotional heart wringing. It's a nasty series of cruelties and betrayals that just keep coming from all directions. Sniegoski has quite the imagination in the monsters he's created and his take on human psychology — the good and the evil — is well portrayed.
Okay, I'm totally confused as to how Armaros thinks God is going to let them return to Heaven if they plan to kill all these people.
Remy has certainly been overly cocky in this story. Thinking he's invincible. That boy is gonna need to hit the gym! Or accept more of his Seraphim controlling him. Eeek!
Oh, yeah, Weaponsmart, LOL! Shopping cart and all. Dang good thing that Francis has this passion for weapons...they're gonna need 'em. They'll fight for each other. And they'll fight their own particular battles. I certainly felt sorry for Scrimshaw at the end. His obsession with those little bits of paper and how important they were to him.
Oh, wow! God comes to Remy.
The Story
The selfishness of man is at the root of so many ills and it holds true with this story, for a small group of magic users desire immortality. Enough that they are willing to kill children, take their life's blood. Then there're Deacon's experiments. The ones that lead to a different path, one that is even more destructive. One that is currently failing those same monsters.
Meanwhile, Remy's seraphim side is pulling at him. Causing him to hear the prayers of people hoping God will help. One such call comes in person when Carol shows up at his office with the news that Ashley is missing. It's the call that tips him over the edge. It's knowing him that has put Ashley in such danger.
Betrayal is all that these monsters know.
The Characters
Remy Chandler has been living on earth for centuries, struggling to be human, and working as a private detective in Boston. With Madeline's death, his will to remain human is weakening with his angel-half becoming stronger. Marlowe is his Labrador. One of a Seraphim's gifts is the ability to talk to any animal on earth...and I certainly enjoy hearing Marlowe's outlook on things!
Linda is the woman he is currently seeing, a waitress at Piazza. The woman with whom Francis fell in love before he disappeared into Tarturus. Steven Mulvehill is a homicide cop with the Boston PD and has been Remy's friend for some years. But that last case they worked together...it was too much for Steven. To see the world from which Remy comes. Francis is a former Guardian angel (Fraciel), sometime assassin and gate keeper, spared from God's wrath only because he repented and was willing to do penance. Now he's Remy's friend on earth.
Ashley Berg is Remy's young neighbor. He's known her since she and her family moved into their house years ago. She's a good friend and has babysat Marlowe from the start. Heck, he just helped her move into her college apartment a few weeks ago. Carol and Karl are her parents and Carol is begging for Remy's help. Melissa is her new roommate.
Squire is a hobgoblin trapped in the Shadow Lands. He's been there longer than Deacon's house which suddenly appeared in 1945. This is a major tease from Sniegoski! He drops all these hints and clues and teases, making me wonder just where Squire came from and it's driving me mad! Squire simply wants to be left alone, to be nothing, to exist. But Remy's "visit" stirs things up and sets Squire on a new path.
Konrad Deacon is a selfish schmuck with delusions of grandeur. With all the conscious protests of a father and husband that he's only doing it to protect his family while the truth stays buried within his sick mind. A man who seriously believes that the evil men he seeks to impress could truly fall in line with his dreams. Admittedly, the original dream is...reasonably good, but an intelligent man would be more honest with himself. Nor would he take the steps he has to acquire this knowledge. Veronica is his doubting, angry wife who sees them for what they are, her husband for what he is. She and their son, Teddy, will pay the price.
Scrimshaw is one of them, one of Deacon's servants acquiring the life energy that Deacon needs to stay alive.
Angelina Hayward is a little girl who has awoken from a coma with a message from Heaven. Only, there's a story behind this. And Uncle Algernon is a big part of it.
Algernon Stearns is one of those magic users, one of the monsters, whom Deacon wants to impress. What an idiot Deacon is... Their leader. The rest of the cabal consists of Daphene Molaar, Robert Desplat, Eugene Montecello, and Angus Heath. All wealthy and powerful magick users. Talk about paranoid monsters!
The Watchers. The Grigori. Sent to earth to watch over mankind, but not to teach them. Not to show some humans magic. Not to learn of desire and pleasure from the humans. Armaros was Sariel's lover, their now-dead leader. Dead at the hands of Seraphim Remiel, and Armaros wants vengeance. Garfial is another Grigori, but he's against Armaros' plans.
Robert Denning is a murderer. He wanted to know how it felt and so he acted on that whim. Remy simply hopes there's a reason: possession, a spell, a manifestation of evil. I do love the decision Remy makes...it's so fitting.
Methuselah's is a bar and a Methuselah runs it. He's "one of the oldest original beings on the planet", but his life force was transferred when the "wear and tear caused his body to break down". Phil is a minotaur bouncer there.
Leona is a 1960 Lincoln Continental. Sentient. With powers. Don't piss her off.
The Cover
The cover is an odd mix of browns and oranges with an angel with brown wings and street clothes carrying a flaming sword with Deacon's house rearing up in the background.
The title is the whole point of this story, for it is In the House of the Wicked that Remy and Ashley do battle.
My Take
Whoa, this was a bit of a departure! Admittedly it's still the supernatural, but it goes way beyond merely supernatural! The story swings between 1945 and today as Sniegoski fills us in on the back history of today's events, pulling in the trauma of World War II and staking a claim on the fear people have for the Apocalypse. This is one of the well-done ones that don't leave you wondering through part of each chapter change just where you are in the history.
The prologue certainly sets up events for later in the main part of the story and it sets me against Konrad Deacon very quickly. What a scumbag!
The action just doesn't stop. Nor does the emotional heart wringing. It's a nasty series of cruelties and betrayals that just keep coming from all directions. Sniegoski has quite the imagination in the monsters he's created and his take on human psychology — the good and the evil — is well portrayed.
Okay, I'm totally confused as to how Armaros thinks God is going to let them return to Heaven if they plan to kill all these people.
Remy has certainly been overly cocky in this story. Thinking he's invincible. That boy is gonna need to hit the gym! Or accept more of his Seraphim controlling him. Eeek!
Oh, yeah, Weaponsmart, LOL! Shopping cart and all. Dang good thing that Francis has this passion for weapons...they're gonna need 'em. They'll fight for each other. And they'll fight their own particular battles. I certainly felt sorry for Scrimshaw at the end. His obsession with those little bits of paper and how important they were to him.
Oh, wow! God comes to Remy.
The Story
The selfishness of man is at the root of so many ills and it holds true with this story, for a small group of magic users desire immortality. Enough that they are willing to kill children, take their life's blood. Then there're Deacon's experiments. The ones that lead to a different path, one that is even more destructive. One that is currently failing those same monsters.
Meanwhile, Remy's seraphim side is pulling at him. Causing him to hear the prayers of people hoping God will help. One such call comes in person when Carol shows up at his office with the news that Ashley is missing. It's the call that tips him over the edge. It's knowing him that has put Ashley in such danger.
Betrayal is all that these monsters know.
The Characters
Remy Chandler has been living on earth for centuries, struggling to be human, and working as a private detective in Boston. With Madeline's death, his will to remain human is weakening with his angel-half becoming stronger. Marlowe is his Labrador. One of a Seraphim's gifts is the ability to talk to any animal on earth...and I certainly enjoy hearing Marlowe's outlook on things!
Linda is the woman he is currently seeing, a waitress at Piazza. The woman with whom Francis fell in love before he disappeared into Tarturus. Steven Mulvehill is a homicide cop with the Boston PD and has been Remy's friend for some years. But that last case they worked together...it was too much for Steven. To see the world from which Remy comes. Francis is a former Guardian angel (Fraciel), sometime assassin and gate keeper, spared from God's wrath only because he repented and was willing to do penance. Now he's Remy's friend on earth.
Ashley Berg is Remy's young neighbor. He's known her since she and her family moved into their house years ago. She's a good friend and has babysat Marlowe from the start. Heck, he just helped her move into her college apartment a few weeks ago. Carol and Karl are her parents and Carol is begging for Remy's help. Melissa is her new roommate.
Squire is a hobgoblin trapped in the Shadow Lands. He's been there longer than Deacon's house which suddenly appeared in 1945. This is a major tease from Sniegoski! He drops all these hints and clues and teases, making me wonder just where Squire came from and it's driving me mad! Squire simply wants to be left alone, to be nothing, to exist. But Remy's "visit" stirs things up and sets Squire on a new path.
Konrad Deacon is a selfish schmuck with delusions of grandeur. With all the conscious protests of a father and husband that he's only doing it to protect his family while the truth stays buried within his sick mind. A man who seriously believes that the evil men he seeks to impress could truly fall in line with his dreams. Admittedly, the original dream is...reasonably good, but an intelligent man would be more honest with himself. Nor would he take the steps he has to acquire this knowledge. Veronica is his doubting, angry wife who sees them for what they are, her husband for what he is. She and their son, Teddy, will pay the price.
Scrimshaw is one of them, one of Deacon's servants acquiring the life energy that Deacon needs to stay alive.
Angelina Hayward is a little girl who has awoken from a coma with a message from Heaven. Only, there's a story behind this. And Uncle Algernon is a big part of it.
Algernon Stearns is one of those magic users, one of the monsters, whom Deacon wants to impress. What an idiot Deacon is... Their leader. The rest of the cabal consists of Daphene Molaar, Robert Desplat, Eugene Montecello, and Angus Heath. All wealthy and powerful magick users. Talk about paranoid monsters!
The Watchers. The Grigori. Sent to earth to watch over mankind, but not to teach them. Not to show some humans magic. Not to learn of desire and pleasure from the humans. Armaros was Sariel's lover, their now-dead leader. Dead at the hands of Seraphim Remiel, and Armaros wants vengeance. Garfial is another Grigori, but he's against Armaros' plans.
Robert Denning is a murderer. He wanted to know how it felt and so he acted on that whim. Remy simply hopes there's a reason: possession, a spell, a manifestation of evil. I do love the decision Remy makes...it's so fitting.
Methuselah's is a bar and a Methuselah runs it. He's "one of the oldest original beings on the planet", but his life force was transferred when the "wear and tear caused his body to break down". Phil is a minotaur bouncer there.
Leona is a 1960 Lincoln Continental. Sentient. With powers. Don't piss her off.
The Cover
The cover is an odd mix of browns and oranges with an angel with brown wings and street clothes carrying a flaming sword with Deacon's house rearing up in the background.
The title is the whole point of this story, for it is In the House of the Wicked that Remy and Ashley do battle.
February 7, 2020
In the House of the Wicked is the fifth book in Remy Chandler series written by Thomas E. Sniegoski. It stars Remy Chandler, an investigator, who just happens to be a former angel.
Ashley Berg, a woman who is like a daughter to Remy Chandler is kidnapped and it is up to Remy to find her. He discovers that she has been taken by a once-formidable sorcerer who wants vengeance against all who have hurt him. The sorcerer wants to use Remy as a weapon and Remy wants to rescue Ashley, but is unsure if he could stop the sorcerer without getting the closest thing to a daughter killed.
Remy is struggling a lot in this book. His angelic nature has been pushing more and more to the surface and he struggles over and over to keep it in check. This book looks like it will just be the beginning of his struggles to hold on to some of his humanity.
In the House of the Wicked is written rather well. Told in multiple points of view, the narrative is divided into two periods of time – the past during the Second World War and the present, where the main storyline takes place. Events in the past are told about a group of formidable sorcerers that ended up creating great evil to extend their lives. These events end up tying in with current events that are happening.
All in all, In the House of the Wicked is written rather well and is a good continuation to what would hopefully be a wonderful series, which I plan to continue in the very near future.
Ashley Berg, a woman who is like a daughter to Remy Chandler is kidnapped and it is up to Remy to find her. He discovers that she has been taken by a once-formidable sorcerer who wants vengeance against all who have hurt him. The sorcerer wants to use Remy as a weapon and Remy wants to rescue Ashley, but is unsure if he could stop the sorcerer without getting the closest thing to a daughter killed.
Remy is struggling a lot in this book. His angelic nature has been pushing more and more to the surface and he struggles over and over to keep it in check. This book looks like it will just be the beginning of his struggles to hold on to some of his humanity.
In the House of the Wicked is written rather well. Told in multiple points of view, the narrative is divided into two periods of time – the past during the Second World War and the present, where the main storyline takes place. Events in the past are told about a group of formidable sorcerers that ended up creating great evil to extend their lives. These events end up tying in with current events that are happening.
All in all, In the House of the Wicked is written rather well and is a good continuation to what would hopefully be a wonderful series, which I plan to continue in the very near future.
January 21, 2022
This was a free giveaway at NYCC 2015. It’s the 5th book in a series. I’m not familiar with the series or the author. Usually at comic con (at least back in 2015, not so much anymore) I would take whatever is free and didn't really look at what it was. Otherwise I wouldn't take a book that is in the middle of a series.
Nevertheless, it was easy to follow, though it was clear that I was missing some of the background story of the characters. Which made it bit difficult to really get into relationships between them.
One character I liked was the hobgoblin, Squire. This quote of his made me laugh: “Why don’t you put down that gun before I forget I’m on a mission of mercy and shove it up your ass.”
I read some reviews on Goodreads from fans of the series. They said it was a much darker story than the previous books. I have nothing to compare it to but I also found it to be pretty dark and disturbing at times. The villains were pretty blasphemous (like with the golems) and I equated the ultimate showdown to the Tower of Babel crumbling.
I thought it was a good book. There was a cliffhanger that peaked my interest, but I can’t say I was entranced enough to read the rest of the series.
Good visual quote: The man was dressed in a dark suit, his slacks rolled up to his knees as the water surged up to greet him like an excited dog before receding in play.
3 out of 5 Angels.
Nevertheless, it was easy to follow, though it was clear that I was missing some of the background story of the characters. Which made it bit difficult to really get into relationships between them.
One character I liked was the hobgoblin, Squire. This quote of his made me laugh: “Why don’t you put down that gun before I forget I’m on a mission of mercy and shove it up your ass.”
I read some reviews on Goodreads from fans of the series. They said it was a much darker story than the previous books. I have nothing to compare it to but I also found it to be pretty dark and disturbing at times. The villains were pretty blasphemous (like with the golems) and I equated the ultimate showdown to the Tower of Babel crumbling.
I thought it was a good book. There was a cliffhanger that peaked my interest, but I can’t say I was entranced enough to read the rest of the series.
Good visual quote: The man was dressed in a dark suit, his slacks rolled up to his knees as the water surged up to greet him like an excited dog before receding in play.
3 out of 5 Angels.
November 7, 2020
This is possibly the darkest book in the series yet. On the surface, things are going well. Remy has gotten past the grief for his ex-wife enough to begin dating a nice woman, Linda, finally, and he has nearly integrated his dual nature as a seraphim once more, accepting the power when it is needed to right wrongs, but not letting the vengeful, warrior nature overcome his human niceness.
The group of fallen angels called the Grigori, whom we've encountered before, have joined forces with the most powerful individual in a cabal of sorcerers in a plot which endangers millions of people around the world, and another powerful sorcerer kidnaps Remy's neighbor girl, Ashley, who watches Marley when he has to go out of town. When Remy journeys to the shadowland where Ashley is being held captive, the magician and his golem minions drain the angel of nearly all of his seraphic powers, and leave him weakened to nearly the level of a normal human. Despite this handicap, Remy presses on trying to save the girl and the world.
The group of fallen angels called the Grigori, whom we've encountered before, have joined forces with the most powerful individual in a cabal of sorcerers in a plot which endangers millions of people around the world, and another powerful sorcerer kidnaps Remy's neighbor girl, Ashley, who watches Marley when he has to go out of town. When Remy journeys to the shadowland where Ashley is being held captive, the magician and his golem minions drain the angel of nearly all of his seraphic powers, and leave him weakened to nearly the level of a normal human. Despite this handicap, Remy presses on trying to save the girl and the world.
February 6, 2018
The 5th book in the Remy Chandler Novels "In the House of the Wicked" took a bit of a strange turn. I found the previous four books all very entertaining, and quick reads. For the first time in this series I had to push myself to finish. Spoilers ahead.... The "Bad Guys" in this book were just a bit to odd for my taste. Sorcerer's that would absorb the life force of others isn't to strange, but having little mouths on their hands doing the feeding was just a bit to much. The first four books are all right in the realm of high three/four stars, whereas this one just gets a 2. I still enjoy fantasy novels that tie in a little heaven and hell, angels and demons, and this novel and series does that. Religion has always been very interesting, but the "Way out there" bad guys blew it for Sniegoski this time.
April 30, 2018
Although this is the fifth installment in the Remy Chandler (aka Remiel) series, it is a vast departure from the previous books, building a new relationship for Remy, a rift in friendships, and a change in the way his friends have always seen him.
The story itself deals with monstrous sorcerers feeding off each other and one in particular seeking revenge against all the others. It brings to mind the old saying, no honor among thieves, even as you wait to see who dies next. The leader Algernon is the supreme bad guy, with nothing of honor or even morality - if he wants it then it must be his, and if you have it too bad for you, letting the reader know that the story is not going to deal with nice events - and it doesn't although there are a few places where hope appears.
Overall, not my favorite but still a very good read.
The story itself deals with monstrous sorcerers feeding off each other and one in particular seeking revenge against all the others. It brings to mind the old saying, no honor among thieves, even as you wait to see who dies next. The leader Algernon is the supreme bad guy, with nothing of honor or even morality - if he wants it then it must be his, and if you have it too bad for you, letting the reader know that the story is not going to deal with nice events - and it doesn't although there are a few places where hope appears.
Overall, not my favorite but still a very good read.
May 20, 2017
A very dark book. It gave me nightmares. Usually I enjoy when a book invades my dreamscape but this book did not really invade my dreams . Instead the darkness permeated my dreams just filling my thoughts with the horror and none of the plot or characters from the book. The nightmares were bad enough I had to read this book slower than usual.
June 15, 2021
Yeah, OK. Angel on earth, fighting agents of darkness, while trying to have a normal relationship with his girlfriend and dog. I guess I'm on board for that. But.... here we find that human magicians are more powerful than angels? Nope, don't buy it. Doesn't check with the mythology rules/hierarchy established within the book itself.
March 10, 2017
Better and better
This series just keeps getting better and better. Little sad the audiobooks have stopped but glad I picked up the Kindle version to read.
Looking forward to the rest of the series!
This series just keeps getting better and better. Little sad the audiobooks have stopped but glad I picked up the Kindle version to read.
Looking forward to the rest of the series!
June 20, 2018
I received a free copy of this book at ComicCon and read it not really knowing anything about the series. I was expecting it to be more of a noir mystery story based on the description, but I still enjoyed it.
February 28, 2019
If you are expecting urban fantasy, you might be disappointed, as this is close to horror, with a lot of disturbing violence. If you don’t mind that, it’s a straightforward quick read with simple unpretentious prose, and if you can bring yourself to care about the characters, you might enjoy it.
October 4, 2018
This installment of the series took a darker turn than the previous 4 novels. I almost gave up at one point, but everything came together at the end and I'm glad I stuck with it.
December 22, 2018
The series continues to be worthwhile. If you like a fantasy series that does require reading the books in order to follow the whole story, this is worthy of your time.
July 1, 2019
A lot of repetition and angst. It distracted me from the story.
January 12, 2025
I think I remember liking it
February 3, 2013
*Genre* Urban Fantasy, Angels
*Rating* 4.0
*Review*
“In the House of the Wicked” is the fifth installment in the Remy Chandler series. I am very surprised and shocked that more people haven't read this series. What's not to like? You have a charismatic and strong male lead character that just happens to be a private investigator and the Seraphim named Remiel.
Remy gave up everything during the battle between Heaven and Lucifer in order to help humanity and later fell in love only to lose her to old age. He continues to fight the good fight against evil and those who want to bring about the end of the world by any means necessary like the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse, the Demented Angel Malachi, and Lucifer himself in Tartarus. He's not perfect in any way shape or form and is constantly trying to keep his two sides from melding together and losing himself once and for-all.
He has an awesome dog named Marlowe who I adore and want and who he can talk to and understand. He has some nifty friends in Francis (former Guardian Angel and assassin who disappeared and now is back), and Steven Mulvehill a Boston PD Homicide Detective who fell down the rabbit hole in a previous installment and now understands that humans aren't alone in this world. He may or may not be falling for his new girlfriend Linda who is unaware of who, or what Remy really does on a daily basis.
In this book, Remy is forced to save Marlowe's babysitter Ashley Berg who he is very fond of and thinks the world of. There is a nice back story to when Ashley and Remy first met, and how over the years, she became a part of Remy’s extended family. On top of all that, he ends up in the middle of a battle between two destructive sorcerer’s who feed off human energy and want to use Remy in order to gain leverage and revenge.
This series has quickly grown on me for the depth and scope of the world building that Sniegoski has created. By the end of this novel, things have quickly headed for a showdown of epic proportions between those who want to save humanity and those who want to see it end. It will be surprising to see which characters survive until the end of this series since they are constantly put into jeopardy.
An interesting new character named Squire makes his debut in this novel. As a hobgoblin living in the Shadowlands where a lot of the action takes place, Squire quickly became a character I wanted to know more about. I wanted to know where he came from, and how long he had been in the Shadowlands. I wanted to know how he thought of himself as a good guy like Remy. I liked the fact that he tried his best to help Remy and Ashley after they were brought into the Shadows. I like the fact that there is the possibility that he will remain a mainstay in this series. ::Crosses fingers:: Yet, I also want to know what the purpose of bring Squire into this series now was.
I liked seeing the return of Francis to the storyline after disappearing into hell and not knowing what his fate was. As a former Guardian to the gates of Tartarus, Remy actually thought the worse had happened to him and was pleasantly surprised when he returned. What we do know is that Francis is working for someone now, and no, I am not going to say who it is since it spoils a part of the story. What that means for his relationship with Remy is yet to be written but we can thank the publisher that there is at least one more book in this series.
I liked that Steven Mulvehill makes an appearance and hasn't been written out of the series after what happened to him. There is a lot of work that needs to be done in order for Remy and Steven to work things out after Steven nearly died and was saved by Remy. It also appears by the ending, that Steven has a lot more story to tell with the approach of someone from the Vatican.
In the end, however, Sniegoski threw me for a loop with a flipping cliffhanger. Here I thought the story ended, and ::BOOM::: he leaves us with a glimpse of an undetermined character who may have been the catalyst that drove the sorcerer’s to their actions. Of course, we have no idea behind this characters identity or why he wants to start a war to end all wars. Guess I’ll just have to wait until "Walking In the Midst of Fire" comes out August of this year to find out!
*Rating* 4.0
*Review*
“In the House of the Wicked” is the fifth installment in the Remy Chandler series. I am very surprised and shocked that more people haven't read this series. What's not to like? You have a charismatic and strong male lead character that just happens to be a private investigator and the Seraphim named Remiel.
Remy gave up everything during the battle between Heaven and Lucifer in order to help humanity and later fell in love only to lose her to old age. He continues to fight the good fight against evil and those who want to bring about the end of the world by any means necessary like the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse, the Demented Angel Malachi, and Lucifer himself in Tartarus. He's not perfect in any way shape or form and is constantly trying to keep his two sides from melding together and losing himself once and for-all.
He has an awesome dog named Marlowe who I adore and want and who he can talk to and understand. He has some nifty friends in Francis (former Guardian Angel and assassin who disappeared and now is back), and Steven Mulvehill a Boston PD Homicide Detective who fell down the rabbit hole in a previous installment and now understands that humans aren't alone in this world. He may or may not be falling for his new girlfriend Linda who is unaware of who, or what Remy really does on a daily basis.
In this book, Remy is forced to save Marlowe's babysitter Ashley Berg who he is very fond of and thinks the world of. There is a nice back story to when Ashley and Remy first met, and how over the years, she became a part of Remy’s extended family. On top of all that, he ends up in the middle of a battle between two destructive sorcerer’s who feed off human energy and want to use Remy in order to gain leverage and revenge.
This series has quickly grown on me for the depth and scope of the world building that Sniegoski has created. By the end of this novel, things have quickly headed for a showdown of epic proportions between those who want to save humanity and those who want to see it end. It will be surprising to see which characters survive until the end of this series since they are constantly put into jeopardy.
An interesting new character named Squire makes his debut in this novel. As a hobgoblin living in the Shadowlands where a lot of the action takes place, Squire quickly became a character I wanted to know more about. I wanted to know where he came from, and how long he had been in the Shadowlands. I wanted to know how he thought of himself as a good guy like Remy. I liked the fact that he tried his best to help Remy and Ashley after they were brought into the Shadows. I like the fact that there is the possibility that he will remain a mainstay in this series. ::Crosses fingers:: Yet, I also want to know what the purpose of bring Squire into this series now was.
I liked seeing the return of Francis to the storyline after disappearing into hell and not knowing what his fate was. As a former Guardian to the gates of Tartarus, Remy actually thought the worse had happened to him and was pleasantly surprised when he returned. What we do know is that Francis is working for someone now, and no, I am not going to say who it is since it spoils a part of the story. What that means for his relationship with Remy is yet to be written but we can thank the publisher that there is at least one more book in this series.
I liked that Steven Mulvehill makes an appearance and hasn't been written out of the series after what happened to him. There is a lot of work that needs to be done in order for Remy and Steven to work things out after Steven nearly died and was saved by Remy. It also appears by the ending, that Steven has a lot more story to tell with the approach of someone from the Vatican.
In the end, however, Sniegoski threw me for a loop with a flipping cliffhanger. Here I thought the story ended, and ::BOOM::: he leaves us with a glimpse of an undetermined character who may have been the catalyst that drove the sorcerer’s to their actions. Of course, we have no idea behind this characters identity or why he wants to start a war to end all wars. Guess I’ll just have to wait until "Walking In the Midst of Fire" comes out August of this year to find out!
October 20, 2012
This is the fifth book in the Remy Chandler series. Like the last book, this story is told from many different POVs. However for this book it works much better than it did for the previous one.
A woman who is like a daughter to Remy, Ashley, is kidnapped and it is up to Remy to find her. Remy finds that she has been taken by a once-formidable sorcerer who wants vengeance against all who have hurt him. The sorcerer wants to use Remy as a weapon and Remy wants to rescue Ashley..but can he stop the sorcerer without getting Ashley killed?
If you have enjoyed the previous book in this series I think you will enjoy this one as well. This book was similar to the previous book in style; the story is told from a million different points of view. I didn’t really like that in the last book, but in this book it works well.
We hear from characters both in the past and the present. Events is the past are told about a group of formidable sorcerers that ended up creating great evil to extend their lives. These events end up tying in with current events that are happening. The time and POV changes do an excellent job of slowly unraveling and revealing the story.
Remy is struggling a lot in this book. His angelic nature has been pushing more and more to the surface and he struggles over and over to keep it in check. This book looks like it will just be the beginning of his struggles to hold on to some of his humanity.
I really wished that Marlowe and Remy’s girlfriend, Linda, were in the story a bit more...you barely spend any time with either of them. Not having Marlowe there as much sucked a bit of the fun out of the story. This book didn’t have as much humor as previous ones and had a pretty dark and serious storyline.
There are some very interesting new characters introduced though. Ashley is one tough cookie and I hope we get to read more about her in future installments. Detective Steven Mulvehill also plays a part in the story and I am to curious to see what becomes of him in future stories as well. A brand new character named Squire, who is a hobgoblin that resides in the Shadow Realms, added a lot to the story as well.
I loved that we spent some time in the mysterious Shadow realm. There are things revealed about this realm that reflect things that could happen to our Earth. All of this ties into the over-arcing story regarding the Grigori and their quest to end the world.
The book was easy to read and very well written. It was an engaging read and all in all a great urban fantasy story.
Overall an excellent continuation of this series. The story is told from a lot of different POVs, but for this book it worked. Remy struggles against his angelic nature and also uncovers some interesting information about the shadow realm. We meet some excellent new characters as well. This whole series is highly recommended to fans of urban fantasy.
A woman who is like a daughter to Remy, Ashley, is kidnapped and it is up to Remy to find her. Remy finds that she has been taken by a once-formidable sorcerer who wants vengeance against all who have hurt him. The sorcerer wants to use Remy as a weapon and Remy wants to rescue Ashley..but can he stop the sorcerer without getting Ashley killed?
If you have enjoyed the previous book in this series I think you will enjoy this one as well. This book was similar to the previous book in style; the story is told from a million different points of view. I didn’t really like that in the last book, but in this book it works well.
We hear from characters both in the past and the present. Events is the past are told about a group of formidable sorcerers that ended up creating great evil to extend their lives. These events end up tying in with current events that are happening. The time and POV changes do an excellent job of slowly unraveling and revealing the story.
Remy is struggling a lot in this book. His angelic nature has been pushing more and more to the surface and he struggles over and over to keep it in check. This book looks like it will just be the beginning of his struggles to hold on to some of his humanity.
I really wished that Marlowe and Remy’s girlfriend, Linda, were in the story a bit more...you barely spend any time with either of them. Not having Marlowe there as much sucked a bit of the fun out of the story. This book didn’t have as much humor as previous ones and had a pretty dark and serious storyline.
There are some very interesting new characters introduced though. Ashley is one tough cookie and I hope we get to read more about her in future installments. Detective Steven Mulvehill also plays a part in the story and I am to curious to see what becomes of him in future stories as well. A brand new character named Squire, who is a hobgoblin that resides in the Shadow Realms, added a lot to the story as well.
I loved that we spent some time in the mysterious Shadow realm. There are things revealed about this realm that reflect things that could happen to our Earth. All of this ties into the over-arcing story regarding the Grigori and their quest to end the world.
The book was easy to read and very well written. It was an engaging read and all in all a great urban fantasy story.
Overall an excellent continuation of this series. The story is told from a lot of different POVs, but for this book it worked. Remy struggles against his angelic nature and also uncovers some interesting information about the shadow realm. We meet some excellent new characters as well. This whole series is highly recommended to fans of urban fantasy.
November 8, 2012
An ancient cabal of sorcerers once performed an incredibly powerful, but incredibly dark ritual that empowered them all – or would have had they not then turned their great powers against one another.
Decades have passed since that moment and these sorcerers have been changed, driven by unnatural hunger – and preying on each other. The oldest and most powerful of them is plotting to repeat his ritual – but on a much grander scale, with the help of a fallen choir of angels, he can bring death on an apocalyptic scale.
But another member of the cabal, one betrayed, how has his own quest for revenge against his former associate. Driven by revenge he is willing to use any tool in his arsenal – even kidnapping the friend of an Archangel to use Remy as a tool for vengeance.
Remy needs to save his friend and to prevent untold death – but both the Sorcerers hunger, and a Seraphim may be the tastiest treat of all.
I think very few books have even close to the level of epic that this series can bring. The world is constantly in peril in grand, dramatic fashion. The tension is perfectly maintained, the plot is powerful and keeps moving and the previous books’ habit of bogging down in Remy’s personal angst is largely absent from this one. From beginning to end, from vague portents and consequences after the world came close to the apocalypse, to a steady build of power as more details become clear. It’s brilliantly paced, it’s thematically maintained, it’s excellently developed – in all, the epic sense and excellent pacing are spot on. It really reached a point where I couldn’t put it down and would have to have my hands broken to make me let go of the kindle - this book held me. Most of the time.
I love the characters as well- Remy is a complex conflict between his angelic side and his human side and we finally have him embracing that to some degree rather than constantly denying it that has so characterised the last few books. We also don’t have Remy’s angst – not that it was ever wrong, but it was rather all-consuming. Even Remy’s habit towards internal monologue is… well, not gone, but certainly reduced. And he’s building new relationships with Linda and Ashely adding a greater depth to both him and them and moving away from his moping.
Read More
Decades have passed since that moment and these sorcerers have been changed, driven by unnatural hunger – and preying on each other. The oldest and most powerful of them is plotting to repeat his ritual – but on a much grander scale, with the help of a fallen choir of angels, he can bring death on an apocalyptic scale.
But another member of the cabal, one betrayed, how has his own quest for revenge against his former associate. Driven by revenge he is willing to use any tool in his arsenal – even kidnapping the friend of an Archangel to use Remy as a tool for vengeance.
Remy needs to save his friend and to prevent untold death – but both the Sorcerers hunger, and a Seraphim may be the tastiest treat of all.
I think very few books have even close to the level of epic that this series can bring. The world is constantly in peril in grand, dramatic fashion. The tension is perfectly maintained, the plot is powerful and keeps moving and the previous books’ habit of bogging down in Remy’s personal angst is largely absent from this one. From beginning to end, from vague portents and consequences after the world came close to the apocalypse, to a steady build of power as more details become clear. It’s brilliantly paced, it’s thematically maintained, it’s excellently developed – in all, the epic sense and excellent pacing are spot on. It really reached a point where I couldn’t put it down and would have to have my hands broken to make me let go of the kindle - this book held me. Most of the time.
I love the characters as well- Remy is a complex conflict between his angelic side and his human side and we finally have him embracing that to some degree rather than constantly denying it that has so characterised the last few books. We also don’t have Remy’s angst – not that it was ever wrong, but it was rather all-consuming. Even Remy’s habit towards internal monologue is… well, not gone, but certainly reduced. And he’s building new relationships with Linda and Ashely adding a greater depth to both him and them and moving away from his moping.
Read More
October 30, 2013
Another Remy Chandler book, a mixture of both fascinating and frustrating.
On the fascinating side, it's interesting to see a meta-plot falling into place, a grand story arc leading to a war between Heaven and Hell. It was also good to see more of Steve Mulvehill and Ashley the Neighbor Girl again; both had good roles to play and intersting stories to tell.
On the frustrating side ... ugh, yet another of obtrusive world-building comes into play. So there are human sorcerers in the world? Really? And there's been no mention of them prior to this book, even to hint at their existence? While the wizardly battles (short and long game) are done very well, it felt way too much like they were introduced way too late in the series for how significant they are.
Another frustration: Remy. There's still way too much going on from other PoVs, and when we're back with Remy, it's all in a high-magic setting. Some the best bits of the book are early on, when he's investigating Ashley's disappearance. Even if he does spend much of the book mostly de-powered, it's still higher fantasy than I think the character deserves (esp. with the introduction of the odd character, Squire).
Plus, Linda and Marlowe make very limited appearances.
Net-net, I liked this one better than the previous outing, frustrations aside. While I'd love to see more Remy-as-human-detective stretches in these novels, I realize that's not the direction the author is choosing to go; where he is going isn't quite as good but is still plenty entertaining.
If only every section of the book didn't end with a portentous paragraph, followed by another one that has some sort of twist or clever phrasing.
Another one sort of like this.
On the fascinating side, it's interesting to see a meta-plot falling into place, a grand story arc leading to a war between Heaven and Hell. It was also good to see more of Steve Mulvehill and Ashley the Neighbor Girl again; both had good roles to play and intersting stories to tell.
On the frustrating side ... ugh, yet another of obtrusive world-building comes into play. So there are human sorcerers in the world? Really? And there's been no mention of them prior to this book, even to hint at their existence? While the wizardly battles (short and long game) are done very well, it felt way too much like they were introduced way too late in the series for how significant they are.
Another frustration: Remy. There's still way too much going on from other PoVs, and when we're back with Remy, it's all in a high-magic setting. Some the best bits of the book are early on, when he's investigating Ashley's disappearance. Even if he does spend much of the book mostly de-powered, it's still higher fantasy than I think the character deserves (esp. with the introduction of the odd character, Squire).
Plus, Linda and Marlowe make very limited appearances.
Net-net, I liked this one better than the previous outing, frustrations aside. While I'd love to see more Remy-as-human-detective stretches in these novels, I realize that's not the direction the author is choosing to go; where he is going isn't quite as good but is still plenty entertaining.
If only every section of the book didn't end with a portentous paragraph, followed by another one that has some sort of twist or clever phrasing.
Another one sort of like this.
February 21, 2013
A very slow start to this one. With the jacket talking about Ashley being kidnapped, I expected more of her in the book, something I was excited about. Up to now we have just seen glimpses of Ashley, jumping in to help Remy with Marlowe, but she really didn't figure into things until the end. Granted I liked what happened with her, but I thought it would be more. The same could be said for Linda and Mulvehill.
Remy is still dating Linda, something I like, but other than being the back up for Marlowe we don't see much of her. I do expect trouble soon with Francis and Remy over Linda. I really hate that anything could damage their friendship, but this has possibilities.
As for Mulvehill, I knew things were going to be rocky with him and Remy, but I thought they would at least talk. I did like the change that came over Mulvehill towards the end, it gave me hope. Although the very end has me worried.
There were some big game changers in this book, Remy really struggled with who he was, what his purpose is. I loved that he got answers and who he got them from. I just worry how Mulvehill's visitor will muck things up.
On a side note, the last couple of books have been Marlowe lite, we need more Marlowe. He is my favorite character, the way he sees things is so simple and helps ground Remy.
Remy is still dating Linda, something I like, but other than being the back up for Marlowe we don't see much of her. I do expect trouble soon with Francis and Remy over Linda. I really hate that anything could damage their friendship, but this has possibilities.
As for Mulvehill, I knew things were going to be rocky with him and Remy, but I thought they would at least talk. I did like the change that came over Mulvehill towards the end, it gave me hope. Although the very end has me worried.
There were some big game changers in this book, Remy really struggled with who he was, what his purpose is. I loved that he got answers and who he got them from. I just worry how Mulvehill's visitor will muck things up.
On a side note, the last couple of books have been Marlowe lite, we need more Marlowe. He is my favorite character, the way he sees things is so simple and helps ground Remy.
May 14, 2015
Fifth in the series of Remy Chandler novels, In the House of the Wicked may be the most surreal of the books by Thomas E. Sniegoski, yet.
Hard-boiled detective/Angel of the Order of Seraphim Remy Chandler/Remiel finds himself facing sorcerous foes who have the ability to actually siphon life force to keep themselves young and vital - and one of them just happens to get his power.
It begins with the disappearance of Ashley, Remy's favorite babysitter for his dog Marlowe - it turns out it's connected to him and leads to a world that might once have been like ours before it was overtaken by darkness.
Remy's Boston cop friend, Steven Mulvehill and fallen angel Francis also figure into the story and a very special Older Gentleman makes a guest appearance. And what would a Remy chandler tale be without Marlowe, Remy's always supportive and hilarious Lab (se also: Ashley). Plus, Remy is beginning to settle into his new relationship with Linda, so there's plenty of reason for him to continue tackling mysteries mundane and not so mundane.
Overall, this is a fascinating read. Now I have to find myself a copy of Walking in the Midst of Fire - and Sniegoski's YA angelic Fallen Trilogy (the TV adaptations of which were pretty good).
Hard-boiled detective/Angel of the Order of Seraphim Remy Chandler/Remiel finds himself facing sorcerous foes who have the ability to actually siphon life force to keep themselves young and vital - and one of them just happens to get his power.
It begins with the disappearance of Ashley, Remy's favorite babysitter for his dog Marlowe - it turns out it's connected to him and leads to a world that might once have been like ours before it was overtaken by darkness.
Remy's Boston cop friend, Steven Mulvehill and fallen angel Francis also figure into the story and a very special Older Gentleman makes a guest appearance. And what would a Remy chandler tale be without Marlowe, Remy's always supportive and hilarious Lab (se also: Ashley). Plus, Remy is beginning to settle into his new relationship with Linda, so there's plenty of reason for him to continue tackling mysteries mundane and not so mundane.
Overall, this is a fascinating read. Now I have to find myself a copy of Walking in the Midst of Fire - and Sniegoski's YA angelic Fallen Trilogy (the TV adaptations of which were pretty good).
November 4, 2012
I love the character Remy, but I did have a problem wrapping my head around the idea that someone could steal his powers, leaving him defenseless. I mean, he's an angel warrior after all, the hero. I like the idea of him struggling between his human self and his angel nature but having someone so easily take his power? Just didn't do it for me. I found myself skipping pages to get to the end to see if he got them back.
August 13, 2016
Wonderful--if you love angels, magick, and "all Hell breaking loose," you'll LOVE this book! Broken up in different narratives, it gives you the POV of the characters as the story unfolds, and it can be a *little* jarring, but it's not bad. My only wish is that Remy (and other angels) walk among us...or do they? Great action from beginning to end, and has enough exposition so that if you *just* read this book and not others in the series, you won't be lost or confused. Great read :)
December 28, 2014
This series is very close to horror. The golem myth incorporation was really interesting, and of course, I'm always gaga for angels. Some of the violent elements were disturbing, especially with children being harmed. Nevertheless, this was very good.
Reviewed for Bitten by Books. http://bittenbybooks.com.
Reviewed for Bitten by Books. http://bittenbybooks.com.
September 23, 2012
I have enjoyed this series in the past and hope to enjoy it in the future, but this installment was missing something for me. I was left wanting more, and not in the good way. There were characters whose lines were left unfulfilled, and not in a way that suggests sequels. In essence there was not enough denouement to close this installment effectively.
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