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The Chosen Chronicles #1
Angel of Death
The Vampires of London are being murdered and only the Angel of Death can save them.
When Father Paul Notus is captured and threatened with a gruesome death by the Mistress of London and her Vampires, the Angel is forced into a dark world of murder and deception to discover who is killing the Vampires of Britain.
Forced into a partnership with the Noble Fernando de Sagres, a vampire of sadistic tastes, and joined by the beautiful and mortal Jeanie Stuart, the Angel seeks out who is behind these killings.
Plagued by demons from his past and his increasing affections for Jeanie, the Angel walks a fine line between his heart and his fears. He discovers the culprits but at a high cost - the irrevocable discovery of what he truly is and the Destruction of one he loves.
The Siren Book Award Winner for 2010.
When Father Paul Notus is captured and threatened with a gruesome death by the Mistress of London and her Vampires, the Angel is forced into a dark world of murder and deception to discover who is killing the Vampires of Britain.
Forced into a partnership with the Noble Fernando de Sagres, a vampire of sadistic tastes, and joined by the beautiful and mortal Jeanie Stuart, the Angel seeks out who is behind these killings.
Plagued by demons from his past and his increasing affections for Jeanie, the Angel walks a fine line between his heart and his fears. He discovers the culprits but at a high cost - the irrevocable discovery of what he truly is and the Destruction of one he loves.
The Siren Book Award Winner for 2010.
455 pages, Nook
First published May 15, 2009
18 people are currently reading
740 people want to read
About the author
Karen Dales
12 books183 followersKaren Dales is the Award Winning Author of "The Chosen Chronicles."
She began writing "Changeling: Prelude to the Chosen Chronicles" and "Angel of Death: Book One of the Chosen Chronicles" after she was inspired to create the character of The Angel for an on-line role playing game she was part of. It was from that experience the birth of The Angel was formed and through years of research Karen fleshed out The Angel and other characters that came to her.
Having completed York University's Creative Writing courses years previously, Karen began to write "Changeling" and "Angel of Death" as one novel. It was on their completions that it was clear they were two distinct novels of an evolving series that has come to include "Shadow of Death: Book Two of the Chosen Chronicles."
Karen is currently writing the next installment - "Thanatos: Book Three of the Chosen Chosen Chronicles."
Since the publication of both "Changeling" and "Angel of Death" in a limited edition single volume, Karen has been an Author Guest at, Polaris, AdAstra, FanExpo, and has appeared at Word On The Street. You can find out her future appearances by clicking http://karendales.com/appearances.html
In January 2011 Karen's book "Angel of Death" which included "Changeling" won the Siren Books Awards for Best Horror 2010 and Best Overall 2010.
Karen loves hearing from you. If you have a question or comment please feel free to email it to her at karendales@karendales.com
You can also follow her on:
Twitter - https://twitter.com/karendales
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Karen-D...
and join her Facebook Fan Group - http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?...
She began writing "Changeling: Prelude to the Chosen Chronicles" and "Angel of Death: Book One of the Chosen Chronicles" after she was inspired to create the character of The Angel for an on-line role playing game she was part of. It was from that experience the birth of The Angel was formed and through years of research Karen fleshed out The Angel and other characters that came to her.
Having completed York University's Creative Writing courses years previously, Karen began to write "Changeling" and "Angel of Death" as one novel. It was on their completions that it was clear they were two distinct novels of an evolving series that has come to include "Shadow of Death: Book Two of the Chosen Chronicles."
Karen is currently writing the next installment - "Thanatos: Book Three of the Chosen Chosen Chronicles."
Since the publication of both "Changeling" and "Angel of Death" in a limited edition single volume, Karen has been an Author Guest at, Polaris, AdAstra, FanExpo, and has appeared at Word On The Street. You can find out her future appearances by clicking http://karendales.com/appearances.html
In January 2011 Karen's book "Angel of Death" which included "Changeling" won the Siren Books Awards for Best Horror 2010 and Best Overall 2010.
Karen loves hearing from you. If you have a question or comment please feel free to email it to her at karendales@karendales.com
You can also follow her on:
Twitter - https://twitter.com/karendales
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Karen-D...
and join her Facebook Fan Group - http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?...
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
December 24, 2011
I can honestly say that my emotional experiences with this book far exceeded my literary one. Angel, the hero, is the type of long-suffering character that is painful to read most of the time. He brought three of my favorite tortured characters to mind as I read the many horrors of his existence.
Take nothing from the order of these, only the comparison. In some parts of the story, I reflected on Fitz from Assassin's Apprentice because Angel was willing to venture into the flames for someone he loved no matter what it cost him and it always did. Next, I was taken back to Louie from Interview With the Vampire because of the sadness that permeated each heartbreak and Angel's inabiliy to move forward. The character that hurt me the worst to remember was the fisherman from The Old Man and the Sea because it seemed Angel was unable capture and hold happiness. Like I said, he is a long-suffering miserable soul with too many valid reasons to be that way.
Ms. Dales has truly written a masterpiece of a level of creativity and boldness rarely seen. I will remember this book and the wonderful emotions I experienced as the mystery of Angel slowly unfolded. The story began with Angel discovering that his mentor has been kidnapped in order to force him to search for the culprits and origins of a mysterious 'vampire' killing blood poisoning. His mentor is the man who made him over 1400 years earlier. The father son relationship they share is the only relationship in Angel's life that allowed him to care without the risk of pain and rejection. Without his mentor, he would be alone since he had not built any other meaningful relationships in his very long lifetime. People scorned him because of his white skin, white hair, and red eyes. He was beautiful to all who saw him but none really care who he was as a man.
The richness of this story is mostly the genius of Angel but there are some strong supporting characters, especially Jeanie, Fernando, and Bridget. The historial waltz was flawlessly interwoven through flashbacks that testify to Angel's broken existence. At the heart of the many mysteries layered throughout the story is one key question -- what exactly is Angel. He believes he is a 'Chosen', those who think of themselves as vampires because that is what legends call them. But are they? The one thing they all share is that they started as humans which no one was certain was true for Angel. It is a head-scratcher for certain.
There is romance and sexual situations but nothing erotic. The love story of Angel and Jeanie made me swoon at times. Jeanie's highlander brougue was music to my mind's ears. There is a R-rated level violence which is at times difficult to read. This is the pefect book for readers that enjoy historical fantasy, vampire mythology, and the fae. I am not sure how many books will compile this series but it is clear that more are to come as this one has a cliffhanger. I am very pleased to have found this book and will continue to read the series.
Take nothing from the order of these, only the comparison. In some parts of the story, I reflected on Fitz from Assassin's Apprentice because Angel was willing to venture into the flames for someone he loved no matter what it cost him and it always did. Next, I was taken back to Louie from Interview With the Vampire because of the sadness that permeated each heartbreak and Angel's inabiliy to move forward. The character that hurt me the worst to remember was the fisherman from The Old Man and the Sea because it seemed Angel was unable capture and hold happiness. Like I said, he is a long-suffering miserable soul with too many valid reasons to be that way.
Ms. Dales has truly written a masterpiece of a level of creativity and boldness rarely seen. I will remember this book and the wonderful emotions I experienced as the mystery of Angel slowly unfolded. The story began with Angel discovering that his mentor has been kidnapped in order to force him to search for the culprits and origins of a mysterious 'vampire' killing blood poisoning. His mentor is the man who made him over 1400 years earlier. The father son relationship they share is the only relationship in Angel's life that allowed him to care without the risk of pain and rejection. Without his mentor, he would be alone since he had not built any other meaningful relationships in his very long lifetime. People scorned him because of his white skin, white hair, and red eyes. He was beautiful to all who saw him but none really care who he was as a man.
The richness of this story is mostly the genius of Angel but there are some strong supporting characters, especially Jeanie, Fernando, and Bridget. The historial waltz was flawlessly interwoven through flashbacks that testify to Angel's broken existence. At the heart of the many mysteries layered throughout the story is one key question -- what exactly is Angel. He believes he is a 'Chosen', those who think of themselves as vampires because that is what legends call them. But are they? The one thing they all share is that they started as humans which no one was certain was true for Angel. It is a head-scratcher for certain.
There is romance and sexual situations but nothing erotic. The love story of Angel and Jeanie made me swoon at times. Jeanie's highlander brougue was music to my mind's ears. There is a R-rated level violence which is at times difficult to read. This is the pefect book for readers that enjoy historical fantasy, vampire mythology, and the fae. I am not sure how many books will compile this series but it is clear that more are to come as this one has a cliffhanger. I am very pleased to have found this book and will continue to read the series.
April 14, 2012
I was not particularly drawn to this book by the product description. I purchased it and read it mainly to support the author. Ms. Dales' work deserves attention based on the good will and support she shows for other authors in this genre alone. Hell, she even read my book. So, although I do not like vampires as heroes, and although I am not a fan of the time period and location where the principle action takes place, and the fact that it is part of something called 'chronicles', which for some reason engenders images in my mind of long, boring lists of names or something, I could not live with myself if I didn't at least give it a try.
As happens more often than not, my preconception of Angel of Death was wrong. Karen Dales has created an intriguing mythos with her version of vampire-like beings, a very strong character duo in Gwyn and Notus, and a broad plot line, the scope of which is truly deserving of a book series. I will eagerly devour the next two, three, or four books, and I actually hope it takes that long for Dales to slowly reveal just who and what Gwyn is.
Based on the above listed strengths, Angel of Death deserves five stars, and it has gotten its share of those from others; but I'm a glass-half-empty kind of guy, and there were a few things that bugged me about it and dragged the rating down to (only!) four.
First of all (no, second - I can't completely get over my preconceptions, dang it), the thing is long, almost 600 pages. There's nothing that isn't well-written, but I thought there was a lot that was unnecessary. Also, I was grateful for the built-in dictionary on my Kindle. I used it often on the many archaic or formal words she has scattered throughout.
Finally (and this is no fault of Dales') the book was poorly edited, with plenty of typos. It was as if the editor had run spell check on it without reading it. (Come on, man, it was a good book. At least read it!) Also, I read the ebook version, which had probably removed the extra spaces placed between scenes within a chapter. It was disconcerting to go to a new paragraph and suddenly be somewhere else, looking at something different through a different pair of eyes.
So, give yourself plenty of time, keep your dictionary handy, and be prepared for an occasional confused pause, and you'll be in for an excellent read. Keep the Chronicles coming, Karen!
As happens more often than not, my preconception of Angel of Death was wrong. Karen Dales has created an intriguing mythos with her version of vampire-like beings, a very strong character duo in Gwyn and Notus, and a broad plot line, the scope of which is truly deserving of a book series. I will eagerly devour the next two, three, or four books, and I actually hope it takes that long for Dales to slowly reveal just who and what Gwyn is.
Based on the above listed strengths, Angel of Death deserves five stars, and it has gotten its share of those from others; but I'm a glass-half-empty kind of guy, and there were a few things that bugged me about it and dragged the rating down to (only!) four.
First of all (no, second - I can't completely get over my preconceptions, dang it), the thing is long, almost 600 pages. There's nothing that isn't well-written, but I thought there was a lot that was unnecessary. Also, I was grateful for the built-in dictionary on my Kindle. I used it often on the many archaic or formal words she has scattered throughout.
Finally (and this is no fault of Dales') the book was poorly edited, with plenty of typos. It was as if the editor had run spell check on it without reading it. (Come on, man, it was a good book. At least read it!) Also, I read the ebook version, which had probably removed the extra spaces placed between scenes within a chapter. It was disconcerting to go to a new paragraph and suddenly be somewhere else, looking at something different through a different pair of eyes.
So, give yourself plenty of time, keep your dictionary handy, and be prepared for an occasional confused pause, and you'll be in for an excellent read. Keep the Chronicles coming, Karen!
September 9, 2013
Angel of Death by Karen Dales is a paranormal romance book. It follows the story of the Angel and Notus, two of the members of the Chosen and their struggles in their centuries of life. We soon find that Notus has been taken and the Angel must do as he is commanded to get him back, even if it means loosing his life. As the Angel is on a search for answers an unexpected love blossoms between him and his housekeeper. He is afraid that others will find out his dark secret and be destroyed. Will their love last? Will Notus be freed? Will the Angel live or die?
I really enjoyed this book. The author really kept me interested in the plight of the characters the whole time. I felt like I just couldn’t put the book down until it was done. The book had great details and made me feel like I was there experiencing it with them. I would recommend this to anyone who is into historical or paranormal romance. I can’t wait to read on to the next book in the series Shadow of Death!
By Amanda F. of www.FaeBooks.co.uk
February 19, 2014
I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.
Two Centuries Later
What did I like?
The plot thickens with the exposure of more than just Chosen. The suspense in this series is very enthralling. There is some romance in the book and there are a lot of different forms of love in this series.
What did I not like?
It is sad that every time he find love and happiness it is taken from him. It is sad that the more powerful he becomes, the more people (even those who love him) use him as a weapon. I'm not one for sad stories, his life experiences just break my heart and this next battle against his love may just destroy him.
Would I recommend this book?
If you like suspense written in gothic, saga style, this is a good series to read.
Two Centuries Later
What did I like?
The plot thickens with the exposure of more than just Chosen. The suspense in this series is very enthralling. There is some romance in the book and there are a lot of different forms of love in this series.
What did I not like?
It is sad that every time he find love and happiness it is taken from him. It is sad that the more powerful he becomes, the more people (even those who love him) use him as a weapon. I'm not one for sad stories, his life experiences just break my heart and this next battle against his love may just destroy him.
Would I recommend this book?
If you like suspense written in gothic, saga style, this is a good series to read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 22, 2016
Angel of Death has some interesting new ideas to add to the ever-increasing 'verse of vampire lore, but other than that, it was pretty underwhelming for what sounded like a great concept. I don't usually mind these things, but the numerous typos and gramatical errors made the book difficult to follow at times, and the dialogue was often very unrealistic. Having said that, I did enjoy the story, though probably not enough to read the next book in the series. Just this first installment, at over 500 pages, is quite enough.
May 5, 2009
Okay..I have to admit it, I love this book, but being the author of the novel makes it easy.
If anyone really loves Vampire novels and wants to read something that has romance, mystery, action and adult content that will force you to stay up nights reading it, then this is the book for you!
It's due to be the next block buster! Order yours today!
If anyone really loves Vampire novels and wants to read something that has romance, mystery, action and adult content that will force you to stay up nights reading it, then this is the book for you!
It's due to be the next block buster! Order yours today!
January 2, 2013
This is the first book that I have read by Karen Dales. At first I thought another typical vampire novel. The Angel of Death is one of the best vampire novels that I have read in a few years. Dales style in developing the characters through the book is excellent. The storyline is very well written.
March 13, 2012
If I could, I'd give this entire series a 10-Star Review!! As it stands, 5-Stars is all I can do. I'll be adding a review soon, so look forward to it! :D
Currently reading
February 28, 2012Very good book.
May 2, 2012
This book was amazing! It kept me intrigued. I just couldn't put it down, until I grabed the second book to this series. Great author!
July 12, 2021
This is a beautifully written and haunting tale about the enigmatic Angel, whose past is shrouded in mystery. His past is fraught with suffering and tragedy, making him the classic tortured vampire. Or is he? Some say he’s a demon. Others suggest he is fae. The wondering will keep you reading to find out while being immersed in a historical tapestry that spans centuries.
There’s a richness in detail and depth of character that make Angel, Notus, and the others characters come alive in the first book of The Chosen Chronicles. The compelling narrative of good prevailing over evil swept me away into another world, especially in the prelude, Changeling. Dale’s ability to capture the unsettling in one scene and tenderness in another is a thrill to read. I am convinced this world existed at some time in the past.
There’s a richness in detail and depth of character that make Angel, Notus, and the others characters come alive in the first book of The Chosen Chronicles. The compelling narrative of good prevailing over evil swept me away into another world, especially in the prelude, Changeling. Dale’s ability to capture the unsettling in one scene and tenderness in another is a thrill to read. I am convinced this world existed at some time in the past.
May 2, 2023
The setup of the book is Father Paul Notus adopted the character Angel who was a abandoned at birth. He wasn’t like the other villagers. When Father Paul Notus goes missing. Angel soon finds out the the mistress of the vampires of London has kidnapped The Father to force him to help her to find out who is murdering her vampires.
I really enjoyed the book. The book brought up two points. Most “monsters” are misunderstood and the more powerful you become the more you can lose.
I really enjoyed the book. The book brought up two points. Most “monsters” are misunderstood and the more powerful you become the more you can lose.
May 26, 2014
Karen Dales is a Mistress of storytelling and it is not hard to understand why this novel is award winning.
Allow me to be honest: I received this series directly from the author in exchange for a review (and to help her celebrate her birthday). Even if I hadn’t received it for free, I would gladly pay her purchasing price for all three books and write these reviews.
What a stunning read! I began reading this novel almost immediately after reading Changeling, the prequel. What is so cunningly started in the prequel is masterfully resumed in Angel of Death, some 1400 years later.
The time jump did take me by surprise initially but the surprise was short lived, my attention easily being swept away into the world of Victorian London. Dales brings this time era to life as if she had lived there at some point, making me wonder if perhaps she too is secretly Chosen and only pretending to be a mortal making up stories about her kind. I was at first also slightly disgruntled with so much time passing between the two books. As Changeling ended I had only just begun to truly fall in love with ‘the boy’. I wanted to follow his journey as he walked it. However, the beautiful thing about Dales’ writing is that she knows her characters so well that filling that time gap was accomplished over the course of this entire novel, and I scarce realized it until I had nearly finished the book.
I was that captivated by the story!
Gwyn is a character unlike any other I have ever read. While I’m not a fan of the upsurge of vampire, werewolf, and zombie themed books as of late, Dales’ Gwyn and the world he inhabits are as unique as fingerprints. Who is Gwyn? Why does iron affect him so? Is he truly Fay that crossing moving water puts him at such tremendous disadvantage?
Really, who thinks of combining Fay (and not just any Fay but the god of Life and Death, Gwyn ap Nudd himself) with vampires and does it with such unforeseen success? Karen Dales.
Who gives us a main character whose very origin is cast in such mystical doubt, turned creature of the night and still retains more humanity than the mortals he preys upon? Karen Dales.
The character of Jeanie Stuart is an absolute delight. I fell in love with her from the get go and became so fully invested in the outcome of the romantic aspect that I was often reduced to tears. This is significant in that I rarely cry over a book unless I have come to love a character as much as a member of my family. And I’m not just talking a little boo-hoo’ing. I had a full on melt down at the end of the book. This speaks volumes to the devotion Dales has to and for her characters, bringing them to life as if she too loves them like family.
While Changeling sets us up for the mystery of ‘the boy’, Angel of Death gives us a mystery within a mystery. We come to discover that the intrigue over who Gwyn really is in fact the broader theme, while the chase to discover the culprit responsible for the genocide of Vampires is the vehicle carrying the broader mystery forward. Through Gwyn’s forced interactions with the Noble Fernando de Sagres; the feisty, stubborn housekeeper and eventual love interest Jeanie Stuart; and the ensuing cast of Bridget, Hugo, Violet and the monks of St. Martin’s Abbey, we are compelled to watch a myriad of relationships burgeon. Each relationship serves to change not only Gwyn but all parties involved so that by the end of the story each and every important character has grown and developed in some fundamental way.
Dales sees her characters through from beginning, middle to end with all the care of a mother, knowing the reality of her children but loving them unconditionally, shepherding her flock to adulthood and beyond.
I truly did not see any of the twists at the end coming. Dales pays just as much attention to crafting drama and suspense as she does bringing her characters to endearing life. There were many nights when I stayed up long past bedtime because I just had to know what was going to happen next.
I loved this story. Dales delivers on almost every count, and I say almost because the text itself was riddled with editing misses. The word ‘quiet’ was used in place of ‘quite’ on a frequent basis, as well as ‘where’ instead of ‘were’. I also noticed an inexplicable trend of possessive nouns missing the necessary apostrophe, but not all possessives. In many cases half the possessives in any given paragraph had apostrophes and the other half did not, sometimes occurring even within the same sentence. Despite the proliferation of these editing misses my enjoyment of the story was never diminished.
I’m rating this review at a 5 star based on merit of the storytelling. The writing was otherwise outstanding and solid.
Kudos Ms. Dales. You have brought a deliciously fresh take to the horror genre, and, specifically, Vampire subgenre. I’ll take Gwyn over Lestat any day, thank you very much.
Allow me to be honest: I received this series directly from the author in exchange for a review (and to help her celebrate her birthday). Even if I hadn’t received it for free, I would gladly pay her purchasing price for all three books and write these reviews.
What a stunning read! I began reading this novel almost immediately after reading Changeling, the prequel. What is so cunningly started in the prequel is masterfully resumed in Angel of Death, some 1400 years later.
The time jump did take me by surprise initially but the surprise was short lived, my attention easily being swept away into the world of Victorian London. Dales brings this time era to life as if she had lived there at some point, making me wonder if perhaps she too is secretly Chosen and only pretending to be a mortal making up stories about her kind. I was at first also slightly disgruntled with so much time passing between the two books. As Changeling ended I had only just begun to truly fall in love with ‘the boy’. I wanted to follow his journey as he walked it. However, the beautiful thing about Dales’ writing is that she knows her characters so well that filling that time gap was accomplished over the course of this entire novel, and I scarce realized it until I had nearly finished the book.
I was that captivated by the story!
Gwyn is a character unlike any other I have ever read. While I’m not a fan of the upsurge of vampire, werewolf, and zombie themed books as of late, Dales’ Gwyn and the world he inhabits are as unique as fingerprints. Who is Gwyn? Why does iron affect him so? Is he truly Fay that crossing moving water puts him at such tremendous disadvantage?
Really, who thinks of combining Fay (and not just any Fay but the god of Life and Death, Gwyn ap Nudd himself) with vampires and does it with such unforeseen success? Karen Dales.
Who gives us a main character whose very origin is cast in such mystical doubt, turned creature of the night and still retains more humanity than the mortals he preys upon? Karen Dales.
The character of Jeanie Stuart is an absolute delight. I fell in love with her from the get go and became so fully invested in the outcome of the romantic aspect that I was often reduced to tears. This is significant in that I rarely cry over a book unless I have come to love a character as much as a member of my family. And I’m not just talking a little boo-hoo’ing. I had a full on melt down at the end of the book. This speaks volumes to the devotion Dales has to and for her characters, bringing them to life as if she too loves them like family.
While Changeling sets us up for the mystery of ‘the boy’, Angel of Death gives us a mystery within a mystery. We come to discover that the intrigue over who Gwyn really is in fact the broader theme, while the chase to discover the culprit responsible for the genocide of Vampires is the vehicle carrying the broader mystery forward. Through Gwyn’s forced interactions with the Noble Fernando de Sagres; the feisty, stubborn housekeeper and eventual love interest Jeanie Stuart; and the ensuing cast of Bridget, Hugo, Violet and the monks of St. Martin’s Abbey, we are compelled to watch a myriad of relationships burgeon. Each relationship serves to change not only Gwyn but all parties involved so that by the end of the story each and every important character has grown and developed in some fundamental way.
Dales sees her characters through from beginning, middle to end with all the care of a mother, knowing the reality of her children but loving them unconditionally, shepherding her flock to adulthood and beyond.
I truly did not see any of the twists at the end coming. Dales pays just as much attention to crafting drama and suspense as she does bringing her characters to endearing life. There were many nights when I stayed up long past bedtime because I just had to know what was going to happen next.
I loved this story. Dales delivers on almost every count, and I say almost because the text itself was riddled with editing misses. The word ‘quiet’ was used in place of ‘quite’ on a frequent basis, as well as ‘where’ instead of ‘were’. I also noticed an inexplicable trend of possessive nouns missing the necessary apostrophe, but not all possessives. In many cases half the possessives in any given paragraph had apostrophes and the other half did not, sometimes occurring even within the same sentence. Despite the proliferation of these editing misses my enjoyment of the story was never diminished.
I’m rating this review at a 5 star based on merit of the storytelling. The writing was otherwise outstanding and solid.
Kudos Ms. Dales. You have brought a deliciously fresh take to the horror genre, and, specifically, Vampire subgenre. I’ll take Gwyn over Lestat any day, thank you very much.
December 27, 2010
Having completed Changeling the first book of this two book volume I’d like to share my thoughts.
A review of Changeling by Karen Dales
By
Stephen B. Pearl
I will begin this review by stating I am not a major fan of vampire fiction. I may not know all the conventions of the genera and as such I will be reviewing from a more general perspective. That being said, Changeling seems to be a pleasant departure from the vampire cleashays that we are all too familiar with.
When an albino son is born into the line of chiefs of a Celtic village he is viewed as a fey changeling and abandoned to the wilds. Rescued by chance and the kindness of an elderly witch the boy, Gwyn, grows to young adulthood forever avoiding the deadly touch of the sun. Feared and persecuted because of his appearance the boy avoids all human contact save his guardian. This solution fails when he is caught outside and beaten by an ignorant thug of a village boy. The albino embraces secrecy as his only safe refuge. Secrecy and the love of the kind and descent witch woman who is mother to him in all the ways that count.
Using the coin of her status as a healer the witch arranges for the boy’s education in the arts of war by the village chieftain, Geraint, who recognises the strange, pail young man as the son he abandoned and has mourned ever since. The boy learns quickly until Geraint must leave to go to war. Garaint is killed in battle. Without Garaint’s leadership the villagers are whipped into a frenzy of mindless hatred by the priest of a forin faith and slaughter the elderly witch and healer who has cared for the albino boy all his life. Gwyn, who was out hunting when the villagers attacked his foster mother, can do nothing but watch as she is murdered and his home burnt. He escapes and takes up residence in a cave.
After a time living wild and alone Gwyn interrupts a Vampire caught in blood lust. Vampire’s call themselves the chosen. Surviving the Vampire’s attack Gwyn escapes to his cave where the vampiric infection transforms him. His attacker, Notus, a Christian monk as well as one of the chosen, finds Gwyn.
Notus instructs Gwyn teaching him how to live on animal blood and the arts of reading and writing. Time passes and Notus decides that Gwyn must go to a larger center and interact with other people if he is to realise his potential.
Gwyn rescues a woman from a band of thugs. This woman becomes his first love. Shortly there after he travels to a village that he, using vampire strength and speed, protects from a mercenary army. Gwyn is wounded revealing that iron is deadly to him. This is an oddity and implies that the fey nature may have something to it. Barely surviving Gwyn and Notus leave the village, and Gwyn’s beloved, and travel to London to complete Gwyn’s education.
The book is really a series of coming of age stories that trace Gwyn from an infant to a young man ready to start making his own way in the world. The allusions to Celtic myth and legend as well as the time period the book is set in, which was one of a tumultuous, forced transition in peoples’ ways of thinking, make an interesting backdrop for the action. Gwyn has all the adolescent doubt and rebellion one expects of a neglected teen but pleasantly enough a central core of decency that informs his actions as much as his doubts and raging hormones. I found him both interesting and likable despite the fact that there were times I wanted to give him a slap upside the head and tell him to get over it. In other words I related to him like I would a real teenager.
In all I found Changeling to be an enjoyable read despite it not being “my type of book”. I would imagine for a fan of the genera this book would exceed all expectations. Consider it highly recommended by this reviewer.
A review of Changeling by Karen Dales
By
Stephen B. Pearl
I will begin this review by stating I am not a major fan of vampire fiction. I may not know all the conventions of the genera and as such I will be reviewing from a more general perspective. That being said, Changeling seems to be a pleasant departure from the vampire cleashays that we are all too familiar with.
When an albino son is born into the line of chiefs of a Celtic village he is viewed as a fey changeling and abandoned to the wilds. Rescued by chance and the kindness of an elderly witch the boy, Gwyn, grows to young adulthood forever avoiding the deadly touch of the sun. Feared and persecuted because of his appearance the boy avoids all human contact save his guardian. This solution fails when he is caught outside and beaten by an ignorant thug of a village boy. The albino embraces secrecy as his only safe refuge. Secrecy and the love of the kind and descent witch woman who is mother to him in all the ways that count.
Using the coin of her status as a healer the witch arranges for the boy’s education in the arts of war by the village chieftain, Geraint, who recognises the strange, pail young man as the son he abandoned and has mourned ever since. The boy learns quickly until Geraint must leave to go to war. Garaint is killed in battle. Without Garaint’s leadership the villagers are whipped into a frenzy of mindless hatred by the priest of a forin faith and slaughter the elderly witch and healer who has cared for the albino boy all his life. Gwyn, who was out hunting when the villagers attacked his foster mother, can do nothing but watch as she is murdered and his home burnt. He escapes and takes up residence in a cave.
After a time living wild and alone Gwyn interrupts a Vampire caught in blood lust. Vampire’s call themselves the chosen. Surviving the Vampire’s attack Gwyn escapes to his cave where the vampiric infection transforms him. His attacker, Notus, a Christian monk as well as one of the chosen, finds Gwyn.
Notus instructs Gwyn teaching him how to live on animal blood and the arts of reading and writing. Time passes and Notus decides that Gwyn must go to a larger center and interact with other people if he is to realise his potential.
Gwyn rescues a woman from a band of thugs. This woman becomes his first love. Shortly there after he travels to a village that he, using vampire strength and speed, protects from a mercenary army. Gwyn is wounded revealing that iron is deadly to him. This is an oddity and implies that the fey nature may have something to it. Barely surviving Gwyn and Notus leave the village, and Gwyn’s beloved, and travel to London to complete Gwyn’s education.
The book is really a series of coming of age stories that trace Gwyn from an infant to a young man ready to start making his own way in the world. The allusions to Celtic myth and legend as well as the time period the book is set in, which was one of a tumultuous, forced transition in peoples’ ways of thinking, make an interesting backdrop for the action. Gwyn has all the adolescent doubt and rebellion one expects of a neglected teen but pleasantly enough a central core of decency that informs his actions as much as his doubts and raging hormones. I found him both interesting and likable despite the fact that there were times I wanted to give him a slap upside the head and tell him to get over it. In other words I related to him like I would a real teenager.
In all I found Changeling to be an enjoyable read despite it not being “my type of book”. I would imagine for a fan of the genera this book would exceed all expectations. Consider it highly recommended by this reviewer.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 2, 2009
I do not make it a habit to read paranormal books, but this one caught my attention and I decided to take my chances and read it. I am very glad I did! This is an excellent book. It grabbed my attention from the very beginning when a child was born who had white hair and red eyes. Immediately shunned by his mother who sends him away to die, I was pulled into the world Karen Dales magically wove. The prologue explains his childhood and the strange white creatures who haunt him and the way he became Chosen.
Then Book One begins, and I already developed an attachment to the grown child who is called the Angel and his mentor/Chooser Father Paul Notus. I really liked Notus. He is what I consider to be a moral compass, and the Angel longs to belong. However, he is different so he doesn't truly belong among other Chosen who now call themselves vampires. Both the Angel and Father Notus are back in London, and we are introduced to two very memorable characters: Jeanie Stuart and the Noble Fernando de Sagres.
The plot to this book is simple: someone is out to kill the vampires and it is up to the Angel and Fernando to find out who is behind it. (The Angel agrees in order to save Notus who is held captive.) Fernando is the opposite of Notus. While Notus is the moral compass, Fernando is a "do whatever feels right regardless of anyone else" kind of person. He was likable despite his savage nature, and I thoroughly enjoyed him. His comments had me laughing through most of the book. He's actually my favorite character.
Jeanie is the Angel's love interest, and she and Fernando clash, which was great to see. But yes, danger is lurking around the corner for Jeanie. I won't spoil that one though, but Karen has a surprise in store that caught me completely off guard.
The white demons we're introduced to in the prologue continue to haunt the Angel in this book, which I very much enjoyed because it built up the suspense and kept me on the edge of my seat. Who are these demons and will the Angel ever conquer them?
So I recommend this book. This is a mature book, and it's probably that reason that makes it easy to enjoy it as much as I did. It's nice to get involved in a story that has multiple layers and depth to it. It's a book for my keeper shelf now. And don't let the number of pages dissuade you. The book reads fast because Karen never lets it slow down.Angel of Death Book One of the Chosen
Then Book One begins, and I already developed an attachment to the grown child who is called the Angel and his mentor/Chooser Father Paul Notus. I really liked Notus. He is what I consider to be a moral compass, and the Angel longs to belong. However, he is different so he doesn't truly belong among other Chosen who now call themselves vampires. Both the Angel and Father Notus are back in London, and we are introduced to two very memorable characters: Jeanie Stuart and the Noble Fernando de Sagres.
The plot to this book is simple: someone is out to kill the vampires and it is up to the Angel and Fernando to find out who is behind it. (The Angel agrees in order to save Notus who is held captive.) Fernando is the opposite of Notus. While Notus is the moral compass, Fernando is a "do whatever feels right regardless of anyone else" kind of person. He was likable despite his savage nature, and I thoroughly enjoyed him. His comments had me laughing through most of the book. He's actually my favorite character.
Jeanie is the Angel's love interest, and she and Fernando clash, which was great to see. But yes, danger is lurking around the corner for Jeanie. I won't spoil that one though, but Karen has a surprise in store that caught me completely off guard.
The white demons we're introduced to in the prologue continue to haunt the Angel in this book, which I very much enjoyed because it built up the suspense and kept me on the edge of my seat. Who are these demons and will the Angel ever conquer them?
So I recommend this book. This is a mature book, and it's probably that reason that makes it easy to enjoy it as much as I did. It's nice to get involved in a story that has multiple layers and depth to it. It's a book for my keeper shelf now. And don't let the number of pages dissuade you. The book reads fast because Karen never lets it slow down.Angel of Death Book One of the Chosen
August 7, 2011
Brought to you by OBS Staff member Autumn
Description:
The Vampires of London are being murdered and only the Angel of Death can save them.
When Father Paul Notus, is captured and threatened with a gruesome death by the Mistress of London and her vampires, the Angel is forced into a dark world of murder and deception to discover who is killing the Vampires of Britain.
Forced into a partnership with the Noble Fernando de Sagres, a vampire of sadistic tastes, and joined by the beautiful and mortal Jeanie Stuart, the Angel seeks out who is behind these killings.
Plagued by demons from his past and his increasing affections for Jeanie, the Angel walks a fine line between his heart and his fears. He discovers the culprits but at a high cost – the irrevocable discovery of what he truly is and the Destruction of one he loves. (From Amazon)
Changeling: Prelude to the Chosen by Karen Dales
Demon or Fay? Human or Chosen? Mortal or Immortal?
Delve into the past of the Angel of Death.
Abandoned at birth and left to die as a Changeling, the Angel is found by the local healer. In loving secrecy he is raised unnamed lest his strange appearance bring down the wrath of the villagers. Growing up, exiled from humanity, he is discovered and hurtled into a dark world as one of the Chosen. Even amongst the Chosen, who call themselves Vampires, he must remain apart for his differences could mark him for Destruction. (From Amazon)
Review:
In the first installment of “The Chosen Chronicles”, Karen Dales introduces her readers to “The Angel of Death”. He is abandoned at birth, grows up in seclusion and begins his journey in discovering what he really is. Adopted and chosen by Father Paul Notus, he is equally loved and feared. When he is asked to discover the identity of a vampire murderer, he comes up against those who would try to steal his soul and kill what he holds dear. Dales’ characters were dark, layered and intricate. The story was fast paced and gripping with an ending that will leave you breathless.
I really loved Gwyn as “The Angel.” He is not your typical vampire hero. I found him to be just a little sad and misunderstood as he is constantly torn between his own desires and protecting his people from destruction.
I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to those who love vampires but crave something out of the ordinary.
http://openbooksociety.com/article/ka...
Description:
The Vampires of London are being murdered and only the Angel of Death can save them.
When Father Paul Notus, is captured and threatened with a gruesome death by the Mistress of London and her vampires, the Angel is forced into a dark world of murder and deception to discover who is killing the Vampires of Britain.
Forced into a partnership with the Noble Fernando de Sagres, a vampire of sadistic tastes, and joined by the beautiful and mortal Jeanie Stuart, the Angel seeks out who is behind these killings.
Plagued by demons from his past and his increasing affections for Jeanie, the Angel walks a fine line between his heart and his fears. He discovers the culprits but at a high cost – the irrevocable discovery of what he truly is and the Destruction of one he loves. (From Amazon)
Changeling: Prelude to the Chosen by Karen Dales
Demon or Fay? Human or Chosen? Mortal or Immortal?
Delve into the past of the Angel of Death.
Abandoned at birth and left to die as a Changeling, the Angel is found by the local healer. In loving secrecy he is raised unnamed lest his strange appearance bring down the wrath of the villagers. Growing up, exiled from humanity, he is discovered and hurtled into a dark world as one of the Chosen. Even amongst the Chosen, who call themselves Vampires, he must remain apart for his differences could mark him for Destruction. (From Amazon)
Review:
In the first installment of “The Chosen Chronicles”, Karen Dales introduces her readers to “The Angel of Death”. He is abandoned at birth, grows up in seclusion and begins his journey in discovering what he really is. Adopted and chosen by Father Paul Notus, he is equally loved and feared. When he is asked to discover the identity of a vampire murderer, he comes up against those who would try to steal his soul and kill what he holds dear. Dales’ characters were dark, layered and intricate. The story was fast paced and gripping with an ending that will leave you breathless.
I really loved Gwyn as “The Angel.” He is not your typical vampire hero. I found him to be just a little sad and misunderstood as he is constantly torn between his own desires and protecting his people from destruction.
I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to those who love vampires but crave something out of the ordinary.
http://openbooksociety.com/article/ka...
January 4, 2012
This is probably closer to a 3.5, but I'm rounding it up to a 4. Now, one disclaimer: I am not normally a big fan of vampire fiction or romance novels. However, I decided to check out The Chosen Chronicles because it is written by my lovely acquaintance, Karen Dales, who has always been a pleasure to talk with and very interesting. A lot of this carried through into her book, which was a very novel update on the traditional vampire lore, with none of the crap that Twilight and its ilk have imported into the genre. Mixing this with a 19th century setting and a decent mystery, I definitely enjoyed reading it.
The characters are fairly well-written, though they can feel a bit like caricatures of their major personality traits at times. I appreciated having a strong female lead, though I found that later in the book she became more of the traditional romantic-interest-as-plot-device-needing-rescue, which was a bit tiresome. In the end I think she made up for it, and am interested to see what will happen in the second novel.
On the whole, the book was a fun, fast-paced read. I would recommend it for anyone looking for a bit of light fantasy, especially if you have a higher tolerance for purple prose than I (the first love scene had me on the verge of laughter - it was a bit cheesy). It desperately cries out for better editing, though, with at least one major logical discontinuity and errors in spelling and grammar scattered liberally throughout the text. I hope the second book lives up to the interesting premise set out by this one.
The characters are fairly well-written, though they can feel a bit like caricatures of their major personality traits at times. I appreciated having a strong female lead, though I found that later in the book she became more of the traditional romantic-interest-as-plot-device-needing-rescue, which was a bit tiresome. In the end I think she made up for it, and am interested to see what will happen in the second novel.
On the whole, the book was a fun, fast-paced read. I would recommend it for anyone looking for a bit of light fantasy, especially if you have a higher tolerance for purple prose than I (the first love scene had me on the verge of laughter - it was a bit cheesy). It desperately cries out for better editing, though, with at least one major logical discontinuity and errors in spelling and grammar scattered liberally throughout the text. I hope the second book lives up to the interesting premise set out by this one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 24, 2014
I really enjoyed this book, and more than I thought I would. First off, I'm not a huge horror or vampire fan. However, Karen Dales crafts a wonderful world, with a vivid cast of characters. I will admit upfront that I wasn't as fond of Changeling, because while it sets everything up so perfectly, there was a lot more show than tell. It also didn't help that I was distracted by the grammar errors in that section (funny since there was none in Angel of Death!).
One thing I loved was the relationships between the characters, more specifically, the relationship between Jeanie and The Angel. The smut was excellent when it was on, and when the action was centre stage, their relationship stayed solid and true. The romance has quite a sense of humor about it, making it enjoyable to read.
Angel of Death is great and the entire story was solid from start to finish. While it's a horror story at heart, the mystery aspects were so well thought out that I found myself turning the pages just to uncover it. Looking forward to reading book two very soon!
One thing I loved was the relationships between the characters, more specifically, the relationship between Jeanie and The Angel. The smut was excellent when it was on, and when the action was centre stage, their relationship stayed solid and true. The romance has quite a sense of humor about it, making it enjoyable to read.
Angel of Death is great and the entire story was solid from start to finish. While it's a horror story at heart, the mystery aspects were so well thought out that I found myself turning the pages just to uncover it. Looking forward to reading book two very soon!
March 7, 2014
The Victorian setting of this book gives it a wonderful steampunk flavour which combined well with the detective quest taking place through most of it. Angel of Death is a thoroughly exciting story, rich with detail and well told.
Once again, as with the first book in the series, the book would benefit from extensive and rigorous editing. At over 200,000 words, it is too long for itself and this made itself felt in the latter part; although there is always plenty of action, I found myself crying out for a resolution. The book could well be reduced to half or three quarters of its current length and I feel this would be an improvement; alternatively, it could be split into two parts with the quest for the poisoners in one novel and the battles in a second one. Frequent and severe errors of spelling and grammar also provide a constant irritant to the reader.
Notwithstanding the poor presentation, the book shows a great deal of promise, and if properly edited would be a fine piece of work.
Once again, as with the first book in the series, the book would benefit from extensive and rigorous editing. At over 200,000 words, it is too long for itself and this made itself felt in the latter part; although there is always plenty of action, I found myself crying out for a resolution. The book could well be reduced to half or three quarters of its current length and I feel this would be an improvement; alternatively, it could be split into two parts with the quest for the poisoners in one novel and the battles in a second one. Frequent and severe errors of spelling and grammar also provide a constant irritant to the reader.
Notwithstanding the poor presentation, the book shows a great deal of promise, and if properly edited would be a fine piece of work.
February 6, 2013
Absolutely and without a doubt, Miss Dales has crafted the richest, deepest, most intricately interwoven tale I have ever had the pleasure of reading. Her imagination and creativity topple the scales completely over, leaving me simultaneously breathless and brokenhearted. It was so powerfully gripping and hauntingly beautiful, I was enraptured page after riveting page as I read the series. If you're into vampires, this is for you. Although, it's a bit darker than many paranormal books we've been reading, nonetheless, it still towers over any of the 'norm' we've had access to. I cannot wait for the next installment! :)
March 10, 2012
OOOO!!!!! I need more. Ready for book two no doubt about it. Kinda wish this was in book form rather than an ebook...but OMG!!!!! Great plot, great characters. Just loved it. Glad I read it. She makes you fall for Angel. I did.....
September 1, 2012
Karen Dales takes us on a well told love story full of adventure. Her supernatural world is full of suprises in every corner. The ending of this book leaves the reading wanting to know what happens next.
April 1, 2010
Two reviews have come out already. Check them out!
Bitten By Books Review - http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=8238
Amazon.com - http://tinyurl.com/aodonamazon
Bitten By Books Review - http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=8238
Amazon.com - http://tinyurl.com/aodonamazon
July 11, 2011
It ended just when it was getting so good....
April 17, 2012
I liked the overall story but the point of view changed a little too often and became a little confusing.
June 7, 2012
Loved the book. New take on old subject. Very fresh
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