What do you think?
Rate this book
Illumé
Paris, City of Light. And where there is light, there are shadows …
Thane da Silva works for the Subrosa Negri, a secretive department charged with keeping the peace between the mundane and the Pale, those beings with a little touch of the supernatural in their genetic makeup, a taint of shadow to their history. As the full blue moon casts a glow over the city, Thane’s search for a pair of romantics performing a doomed ritual is just the beginning of an elaborate charade of mirrors and strange communiqués.
Flirting with the fringes of the Pale might be for fools but dabbling of this calibre attracts the attention of Les Luminaries. Powerful and passionate, they are the leaders of the Pale in Paris, and Thane’s best hope of uncovering the truth. However, as he delves deeper into the heart-aching mysteries unveiled by the blue moon, he discovers that secrets lie uncomfortably close to home.
By turns macabre and whimsical, gothic and pop-cultural, Illumé will take you on a lavish journey into the shadows of the City of Light.
Thane da Silva works for the Subrosa Negri, a secretive department charged with keeping the peace between the mundane and the Pale, those beings with a little touch of the supernatural in their genetic makeup, a taint of shadow to their history. As the full blue moon casts a glow over the city, Thane’s search for a pair of romantics performing a doomed ritual is just the beginning of an elaborate charade of mirrors and strange communiqués.
Flirting with the fringes of the Pale might be for fools but dabbling of this calibre attracts the attention of Les Luminaries. Powerful and passionate, they are the leaders of the Pale in Paris, and Thane’s best hope of uncovering the truth. However, as he delves deeper into the heart-aching mysteries unveiled by the blue moon, he discovers that secrets lie uncomfortably close to home.
By turns macabre and whimsical, gothic and pop-cultural, Illumé will take you on a lavish journey into the shadows of the City of Light.
- GenresFantasy
ebook
First published December 11, 2011
115 people want to read
About the author
Kate Smith
13 books7 followersNumber One Travel Destination? Cairo, Egypt, early 1900s. I suspect this isn't going to happen without constructing some sort of lure on the lawn to catch a Tardis... wait a second, I think I hear a weird thrumming sound outside.
Where did I leave my highest heels? I can't go investigate barefoot!
Where did I leave my highest heels? I can't go investigate barefoot!
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 15, 2014
Illumé by Kate Smith
‘Now that’s new. People tend to receive death threats, not undeath threats.’ ‘Try to convince me it’s the same as threatening not to kill someone.’
In folds of light there are always shadows and this boutique novel delves right into them, providing an interesting read of the gothic, macabre story of Thane da Silva in the city of Paris. A great read, Kate Smith has provided a novel of the highest quality with her amazing ability to capture words into a story with the linguistic grace of a poet.
The cover: Purely beautiful, the cover really sets itself apart from the other novels with its falling petals and the elegant font with which the word Illumé was composed. A simple cover, one is left to consider why there is a petal with a stain in its middle. The darkened edges give the impression of a source of light in the middle of the cover with shadows creeping in from the sides. This gives a large clue to what is featured in the novel without readers realizing until they read the novel and thought about the cover. An intelligent choice in the way of book covers.
Stars:
The Characters: The poetic way in which the characters are introduced confused me in some places; however, I simply am not used to reading boutique novels. Despite my own setback the author provided meaningful characters and they each have a distinct purpose.
Stars:
The Plot: Definitely a great read with poetic grace throughout but not a recommended read for adolescents who read text language all day long. This is a great third-person plot that really involves the reader in a world of shadows and intrigue. The particular beauty of the book is that while many novels involve focusing the main character’s attention on a love interest this novel focuses mostly on Thane’s journey.
Stars:
Overall Comments: If you enjoy whimsical, gothic novels this is definitely a read for you. The words will weave you deep into the novel as you explore the shadows in the City of Light, undertaking an intriguing journey. This novel does not disappoint, however, the intense language used may confuse younger adolescent and adult audiences.
Stars:
Just one more note: A special thanks to Kate Smith for posting this book in one of the giveaways and for allowing me to be one of the special few to receive it. It's a great novel, its thinness is perfect for on-the-go and the language is exquisite. Thank you.
‘Now that’s new. People tend to receive death threats, not undeath threats.’ ‘Try to convince me it’s the same as threatening not to kill someone.’
In folds of light there are always shadows and this boutique novel delves right into them, providing an interesting read of the gothic, macabre story of Thane da Silva in the city of Paris. A great read, Kate Smith has provided a novel of the highest quality with her amazing ability to capture words into a story with the linguistic grace of a poet.
The cover: Purely beautiful, the cover really sets itself apart from the other novels with its falling petals and the elegant font with which the word Illumé was composed. A simple cover, one is left to consider why there is a petal with a stain in its middle. The darkened edges give the impression of a source of light in the middle of the cover with shadows creeping in from the sides. This gives a large clue to what is featured in the novel without readers realizing until they read the novel and thought about the cover. An intelligent choice in the way of book covers.
Stars:
The Characters: The poetic way in which the characters are introduced confused me in some places; however, I simply am not used to reading boutique novels. Despite my own setback the author provided meaningful characters and they each have a distinct purpose.
Stars:
The Plot: Definitely a great read with poetic grace throughout but not a recommended read for adolescents who read text language all day long. This is a great third-person plot that really involves the reader in a world of shadows and intrigue. The particular beauty of the book is that while many novels involve focusing the main character’s attention on a love interest this novel focuses mostly on Thane’s journey.
Stars:
Overall Comments: If you enjoy whimsical, gothic novels this is definitely a read for you. The words will weave you deep into the novel as you explore the shadows in the City of Light, undertaking an intriguing journey. This novel does not disappoint, however, the intense language used may confuse younger adolescent and adult audiences.
Stars:
Just one more note: A special thanks to Kate Smith for posting this book in one of the giveaways and for allowing me to be one of the special few to receive it. It's a great novel, its thinness is perfect for on-the-go and the language is exquisite. Thank you.
March 24, 2012
3.5/5
I had the pleasure of receiving Illumé in a giveaway and it proved to a very fascinating read. Kate Smith has a certain poetic style to her writing that is both mysteriously compelling and full of intrigue.
Our protagonist, Thane da Silva is as charismatic and sharp as can be and following his journey to search of the truth as supernatural elements take over the City of Light is truly gripping. As the book progress and new revelations take place, Thane and the reader will find themselves delving deeper and deeper into the shadows of Paris, an alluring world of charades and the Pale.
At times, I did find it a little difficult to follow the book with the sudden introductions of new character, their somewhat fleeting appearances and the swift changes in pace of the storyline. However the array of characters was so complex and rich that I felt each deserved to have their stories told in their own novel. By focusing on minute details and bringing each page to life with her vivid descriptions, Smith’s intricate language beautifully captures the gothic essence of the book and the contrast of light and shadows of the city.
In all, Illumé is a deftly written stand-alone that is sure to have the reader thrilled with suspense.
I had the pleasure of receiving Illumé in a giveaway and it proved to a very fascinating read. Kate Smith has a certain poetic style to her writing that is both mysteriously compelling and full of intrigue.
Our protagonist, Thane da Silva is as charismatic and sharp as can be and following his journey to search of the truth as supernatural elements take over the City of Light is truly gripping. As the book progress and new revelations take place, Thane and the reader will find themselves delving deeper and deeper into the shadows of Paris, an alluring world of charades and the Pale.
At times, I did find it a little difficult to follow the book with the sudden introductions of new character, their somewhat fleeting appearances and the swift changes in pace of the storyline. However the array of characters was so complex and rich that I felt each deserved to have their stories told in their own novel. By focusing on minute details and bringing each page to life with her vivid descriptions, Smith’s intricate language beautifully captures the gothic essence of the book and the contrast of light and shadows of the city.
In all, Illumé is a deftly written stand-alone that is sure to have the reader thrilled with suspense.
June 20, 2016
I have known Kate Smith for a very long time, and I've been reading bits of her fiction for nearly that long. The thing about Smith's writing is that she is often quite opaque - if you don't get her song lyric references or her film references, you might be a bit lost. But she writes with a lot of passion and a lot of quirky description - which sometimes gets away from her but sometimes really works nicely.
Illume is set in Paris, and focusses on Thane, who works for the equivalent of UNIT or Shadow Unit or all the other not-really-police-branches who deal with the things that go bump in the night. This time, it's about lovers who think they can make their love immortal, dangerous mirrors, and vampires. You never really get to the bottom of the characters who make the narrative tick; they're surface, trading witty repartee and dangerous allusions and making intuitive links. That's not to say they're superficial - I don't think they are - but Smith doesn't really show us what makes even Thane tick, let alone his partner Mal or his crime-partner Genetta or any of the other odd bods who rock up. And I don't think this is an oversight on Smith's part; I think it's quite deliberate. She seems more interested in the glitz and suggestive shadows than in deep psychological questions. So if you're up for something light-hearted and fast-paced and quirky - definitely quirky - in the urban fantasy vein, this is your thing.
Illume is set in Paris, and focusses on Thane, who works for the equivalent of UNIT or Shadow Unit or all the other not-really-police-branches who deal with the things that go bump in the night. This time, it's about lovers who think they can make their love immortal, dangerous mirrors, and vampires. You never really get to the bottom of the characters who make the narrative tick; they're surface, trading witty repartee and dangerous allusions and making intuitive links. That's not to say they're superficial - I don't think they are - but Smith doesn't really show us what makes even Thane tick, let alone his partner Mal or his crime-partner Genetta or any of the other odd bods who rock up. And I don't think this is an oversight on Smith's part; I think it's quite deliberate. She seems more interested in the glitz and suggestive shadows than in deep psychological questions. So if you're up for something light-hearted and fast-paced and quirky - definitely quirky - in the urban fantasy vein, this is your thing.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews