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Daughter of Mars #1
The Hand of Raziel
Risa Black will decide the fate of an entire planet. After all, an angel told her so.
Orphaned young, she grows up among the resistance, fighting to give the people of Mars command of their own destiny. Two governments from Earth vie for control of the Red Planet; she wants them gone, regardless of how many explosives it takes.
To the outside world, she’s an emotionless, broken marionette. Inside, her father’s fiery end haunts her every waking moment. She never cared for destiny or politics, until the angel Raziel focused her anger. Both friend and foe alike believe her grip on sanity tenuous; she knows he is real, and pities those who will never feel his divine presence.
Whenever her adrenaline wears off, guilt at what her bombs did cuts deep, as does the apathy of the citizens she wants to liberate. The pain worsens after unexpected love cracks open her armored heart, causing her to question the role she plays in the bloody conflict Torn between duty and desire, she learns change never comes without loss.
Even to the Hand of Raziel.
Orphaned young, she grows up among the resistance, fighting to give the people of Mars command of their own destiny. Two governments from Earth vie for control of the Red Planet; she wants them gone, regardless of how many explosives it takes.
To the outside world, she’s an emotionless, broken marionette. Inside, her father’s fiery end haunts her every waking moment. She never cared for destiny or politics, until the angel Raziel focused her anger. Both friend and foe alike believe her grip on sanity tenuous; she knows he is real, and pities those who will never feel his divine presence.
Whenever her adrenaline wears off, guilt at what her bombs did cuts deep, as does the apathy of the citizens she wants to liberate. The pain worsens after unexpected love cracks open her armored heart, causing her to question the role she plays in the bloody conflict Torn between duty and desire, she learns change never comes without loss.
Even to the Hand of Raziel.
440 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 8, 2016
29 people are currently reading
326 people want to read
About the author
Matthew S. Cox
194 books266 followersBorn in a little town known as South Amboy NJ in 1973, Matthew has been creating science fiction and fantasy worlds for most of his reasoning life. Somewhere between fifteen to eighteen of them spent developing the world in which Division Zero, Virtual Immortality, and The Awakened Series take place. He has several other projects in the works as well as a collaborative science fiction endeavor with author Tony Healey.
Hobbies and Interests:
Matthew is an avid gamer, a recovered WoW addict, Gamemaster for two custom systems (Chronicles of Eldrinaath [Fantasy] and Divergent Fates [Sci Fi], and a fan of anime, British humour (<- deliberate), and intellectual science fiction that questions the nature of reality, life, and what happens after it.
He is also fond of cats.
Hobbies and Interests:
Matthew is an avid gamer, a recovered WoW addict, Gamemaster for two custom systems (Chronicles of Eldrinaath [Fantasy] and Divergent Fates [Sci Fi], and a fan of anime, British humour (<- deliberate), and intellectual science fiction that questions the nature of reality, life, and what happens after it.
He is also fond of cats.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
September 5, 2016
In brief - Hum - a little unsure as to 3 or 4 star. Slow to get into and maybe trying to be too many genres. However it was entertaining.
In full -
The Hand of Raziel (book one in a series) is set on Mars in the future. Two large Earth governments are controlling Mars. In addition there is a movement to try and liberate Mars from the control of these outsiders. The movement is the Mars Liberation Front or the MLF. Risa (Black) is the central figure in this story and she is working for the MLF. While basically human she has had a lot of cybernetics/ devices incorporated into her "being". This gives her a large number of extra powers/abilities which give her the edge on those who would like to end her missions. She has an additional advantage - an angel, Raziel - talks to her and helps her (or tries to!).
I actually find this book quite hard to review in some ways. There is plenty going for it in a positive sense. Risa is a good enough character. The story is action packed and entertaining with quite a degree of humour at times. The writing is vivid enough to make you feel as though you are there in many of the scenes. It is frequently tense and fast paced. While working for Martian liberation Risa is on her own quest into her past at the same time and this adds a very good dimension to the story for me.
I'm still not quite sure why I was not completely "sold" on this book. I did find the story rather slow to get going and while Risa is well fleshed out some of the other characters seem less so. I'm left with the feeling that otherwise it is the multi genre nature of this that is not grabbing me. It is sci-fi - fine, it has fantasy in it - fine, however it is also billed as romance and maybe the three genres just don't quite do it for me. It is an entertaining book which I enjoyed reading in the main, the author is obviously good and many folk will love it I'm sure
Note - I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair review
http://viewson.org.uk/science-fiction...
In full -
The Hand of Raziel (book one in a series) is set on Mars in the future. Two large Earth governments are controlling Mars. In addition there is a movement to try and liberate Mars from the control of these outsiders. The movement is the Mars Liberation Front or the MLF. Risa (Black) is the central figure in this story and she is working for the MLF. While basically human she has had a lot of cybernetics/ devices incorporated into her "being". This gives her a large number of extra powers/abilities which give her the edge on those who would like to end her missions. She has an additional advantage - an angel, Raziel - talks to her and helps her (or tries to!).
I actually find this book quite hard to review in some ways. There is plenty going for it in a positive sense. Risa is a good enough character. The story is action packed and entertaining with quite a degree of humour at times. The writing is vivid enough to make you feel as though you are there in many of the scenes. It is frequently tense and fast paced. While working for Martian liberation Risa is on her own quest into her past at the same time and this adds a very good dimension to the story for me.
I'm still not quite sure why I was not completely "sold" on this book. I did find the story rather slow to get going and while Risa is well fleshed out some of the other characters seem less so. I'm left with the feeling that otherwise it is the multi genre nature of this that is not grabbing me. It is sci-fi - fine, it has fantasy in it - fine, however it is also billed as romance and maybe the three genres just don't quite do it for me. It is an entertaining book which I enjoyed reading in the main, the author is obviously good and many folk will love it I'm sure
Note - I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair review
http://viewson.org.uk/science-fiction...
August 19, 2016
Cox combines a world of high-technology and gritty streets with a nuanced portrayal of characters trying to balance means and end, creating a cyberpunk tale that will hold the interest of action junkies and character-seekers alike.
Orphaned at eight, Risa Black grew up among the resistance, watching the closest thing she had to family fighting to give the people of Mars command of their own destiny. So when they offered her extensive cybernetic upgrades she leapt at the chance. The ability to move faster than people can blink, see without light, and grow claws from her fingers, would be enough to divide Risa from the people she is protecting, but she also hears the voice of the angel Raziel. With even her allies considering her hold on sanity tenuous, Risa walks the path between letting the oppressors win and becoming a soulless assassin alone.
This novel is set in the same universe as Cox’s Awakened series. However, with a protagonist who – while not unequivocally not psychic – does not wield immense natural powers, this book is closer to the pure cyberpunk of corporations-as-nations and man-machine interfaces.
Cox skilfully interweaves three different arcs: the struggle for Martian independence, Risa’s desire to punish the people who had her father killed, and Risa’s attempts to make her life about more than destroying key facilities and killing occupying forces.
This focus on the emotional costs of her life provides a weakness to counterbalance Risa’s physical strengths, allowing Cox to provide the reader with the spectacle of cutting-edge cyberware without losing the tension that being an underdog brings.
There is a similar complexity to the wider struggle for freedom. Moving beyond the question of how far freedom fighters can go before they become worse than the status quo, Cox provides multiple parties wishing to control Mars: two different “terrorist” organisations seeking independence, two warring corporations with potentially very different visions of how society should be, and a crime syndicate who just want to profit efficiently. Thus, any blow that weakens an oppressor also provides another oppressor the opportunity to grow stronger.
Risa is a suitably complex protagonist: her teenage decision to become the most badass operative possible seems less black-and-white to her now she is in her twenties, and has experienced the isolation being great at mayhem brings. Filled with doubt about what she should do, and whether she would be better off if she weren’t filled with enhancements, her only certainty is that Raziel is real, and the reader does see evidence that his words are helpful; however, with both hacking and psionics a possibility, her receiving accurate messages and other mysterious assistance isn’t enough to rule out madness.
The supporting cast are equally nuanced, filled with cops and criminals who each have their own reasons for being kind-hearted or corrupt, rich people who want freedom for the people they know but don’t see the bigger issues, and saviours whose lies have more layers than an onion.
Overall, I enjoyed this book greatly. I recommend it to readers seeking a fast-paced science-fiction thriller.
I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for a fair review.
Orphaned at eight, Risa Black grew up among the resistance, watching the closest thing she had to family fighting to give the people of Mars command of their own destiny. So when they offered her extensive cybernetic upgrades she leapt at the chance. The ability to move faster than people can blink, see without light, and grow claws from her fingers, would be enough to divide Risa from the people she is protecting, but she also hears the voice of the angel Raziel. With even her allies considering her hold on sanity tenuous, Risa walks the path between letting the oppressors win and becoming a soulless assassin alone.
This novel is set in the same universe as Cox’s Awakened series. However, with a protagonist who – while not unequivocally not psychic – does not wield immense natural powers, this book is closer to the pure cyberpunk of corporations-as-nations and man-machine interfaces.
Cox skilfully interweaves three different arcs: the struggle for Martian independence, Risa’s desire to punish the people who had her father killed, and Risa’s attempts to make her life about more than destroying key facilities and killing occupying forces.
This focus on the emotional costs of her life provides a weakness to counterbalance Risa’s physical strengths, allowing Cox to provide the reader with the spectacle of cutting-edge cyberware without losing the tension that being an underdog brings.
There is a similar complexity to the wider struggle for freedom. Moving beyond the question of how far freedom fighters can go before they become worse than the status quo, Cox provides multiple parties wishing to control Mars: two different “terrorist” organisations seeking independence, two warring corporations with potentially very different visions of how society should be, and a crime syndicate who just want to profit efficiently. Thus, any blow that weakens an oppressor also provides another oppressor the opportunity to grow stronger.
Risa is a suitably complex protagonist: her teenage decision to become the most badass operative possible seems less black-and-white to her now she is in her twenties, and has experienced the isolation being great at mayhem brings. Filled with doubt about what she should do, and whether she would be better off if she weren’t filled with enhancements, her only certainty is that Raziel is real, and the reader does see evidence that his words are helpful; however, with both hacking and psionics a possibility, her receiving accurate messages and other mysterious assistance isn’t enough to rule out madness.
The supporting cast are equally nuanced, filled with cops and criminals who each have their own reasons for being kind-hearted or corrupt, rich people who want freedom for the people they know but don’t see the bigger issues, and saviours whose lies have more layers than an onion.
Overall, I enjoyed this book greatly. I recommend it to readers seeking a fast-paced science-fiction thriller.
I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for a fair review.
September 20, 2016
Matthew Cox’s 25th Century Stories are the Best Adventures Since Buck Rogers
First, I must say that Matt gave me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Second, when a reviewer starts off with, ‘I don’t usually read this kind of book,’ it is being reviewed by friends or family. Even though we share a last name, we are not related. The more I read of his books, and talk to him about them, the more I would gladly call him a friend if we were to meet. With “Hand of Raziel,” Matthew has again crafted a strong, fast-paced, believable story, with great, credible characters and excellent writing and editing. – End of Short Five Star Review
I won’t talk much about the story, since I don’t like to read spoilers, I try not to provide them. Matthew’s Hand of Raziel is the first in his “Daughter of Mars” series and takes place in the same general time frame (about four centuries in the future) as the Division Zero, The Awakened and Virtual Immortality series’, though this story takes place on a now colonized Mars. As with many of Matt’s heroine’s, the lead character is a young and beautiful waif, with either natural or technologically enhanced abilities. As a generalization, each of the female protagonists may seem to come from the same mold. In actuality, Matthew has established another powerful, multi-dimensional female protagonist, with a character and personality all of her own. As with his other books, the characters in Hand of Raziel are well crafted, with deep and complex back stories. The subordinate characters are written so well, that you soon either love or hate them as much as the main characters do. Matt’s writing style here, as well as in his other books, provides a great platform for his characters to develop along with the storyline. One of his strengths as a writer is the ability to have his characters come alive, often in only a few sentences.
Matt’s vision of the future is well written, in both a technical and artistic sense. Technically, the book (as with his numerous others) is well edited and proofread. In an age when many authors think a quick pass through Microsoft’s Spelling and Grammar Checker are all that are required, you can tell time and effort has gone into the process, providing a book with few technical or story errors. Artistically, though the story is set 400 years from now, the reader does not have to suspend disbelief much to become engulfed in the story, become enamored with the characters and feel that you are right beside Risa in each of her adventures. When reading his books, I often think, “Yes, this could be our future.” The story itself stands out as a fast paced, often explosive, look at the lead characters’ desire to do what is right at a time when much wrong is being done, at a cost to herself that is often difficult to reconcile and which she is no longer willing to pay.
No matter the Genre, Adult Sci-Fi, Young Adult or Tweener Readers, Matthew always delivers.
First, I must say that Matt gave me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Second, when a reviewer starts off with, ‘I don’t usually read this kind of book,’ it is being reviewed by friends or family. Even though we share a last name, we are not related. The more I read of his books, and talk to him about them, the more I would gladly call him a friend if we were to meet. With “Hand of Raziel,” Matthew has again crafted a strong, fast-paced, believable story, with great, credible characters and excellent writing and editing. – End of Short Five Star Review
I won’t talk much about the story, since I don’t like to read spoilers, I try not to provide them. Matthew’s Hand of Raziel is the first in his “Daughter of Mars” series and takes place in the same general time frame (about four centuries in the future) as the Division Zero, The Awakened and Virtual Immortality series’, though this story takes place on a now colonized Mars. As with many of Matt’s heroine’s, the lead character is a young and beautiful waif, with either natural or technologically enhanced abilities. As a generalization, each of the female protagonists may seem to come from the same mold. In actuality, Matthew has established another powerful, multi-dimensional female protagonist, with a character and personality all of her own. As with his other books, the characters in Hand of Raziel are well crafted, with deep and complex back stories. The subordinate characters are written so well, that you soon either love or hate them as much as the main characters do. Matt’s writing style here, as well as in his other books, provides a great platform for his characters to develop along with the storyline. One of his strengths as a writer is the ability to have his characters come alive, often in only a few sentences.
Matt’s vision of the future is well written, in both a technical and artistic sense. Technically, the book (as with his numerous others) is well edited and proofread. In an age when many authors think a quick pass through Microsoft’s Spelling and Grammar Checker are all that are required, you can tell time and effort has gone into the process, providing a book with few technical or story errors. Artistically, though the story is set 400 years from now, the reader does not have to suspend disbelief much to become engulfed in the story, become enamored with the characters and feel that you are right beside Risa in each of her adventures. When reading his books, I often think, “Yes, this could be our future.” The story itself stands out as a fast paced, often explosive, look at the lead characters’ desire to do what is right at a time when much wrong is being done, at a cost to herself that is often difficult to reconcile and which she is no longer willing to pay.
No matter the Genre, Adult Sci-Fi, Young Adult or Tweener Readers, Matthew always delivers.
August 31, 2016
Read all my reviews on http://urlphantomhive.booklikes.com
I'm amazed by the rapid succession in which Matthew S. Cox can produce new books in different series and also across genres. Not all of them have been a complete success for me, but I was curious to this book taking place on Mars, since the last series about Mars I read (Red Rising) was a lot of fun.
The weird thing was that Mars doesn't play that big a role in the story. Except for them building stuff underground, it could have taken place just as easily on Earth. The only thing slightly important is the politics. Mars is a colony ruled by two companies out for profit. Risa, a technically augmented assassin with quite literally a guardian angel, is working for the terrorists that try to undermine both parties. But along the way, she starts to doubt.
I wouldn't classify this as an easy read. In the beginning I found the story incredibly slow and I had trouble identifying or feeling any emotions over Risa. I understand that she's closed and defensive as a character trait, but it doesn't make for nice reading. About halfway it was better and I enjoyed reading it a lot more, but still I felt like the story dragged at some points. However, I will probably be reading the sequel some time.
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I'm amazed by the rapid succession in which Matthew S. Cox can produce new books in different series and also across genres. Not all of them have been a complete success for me, but I was curious to this book taking place on Mars, since the last series about Mars I read (Red Rising) was a lot of fun.
The weird thing was that Mars doesn't play that big a role in the story. Except for them building stuff underground, it could have taken place just as easily on Earth. The only thing slightly important is the politics. Mars is a colony ruled by two companies out for profit. Risa, a technically augmented assassin with quite literally a guardian angel, is working for the terrorists that try to undermine both parties. But along the way, she starts to doubt.
I wouldn't classify this as an easy read. In the beginning I found the story incredibly slow and I had trouble identifying or feeling any emotions over Risa. I understand that she's closed and defensive as a character trait, but it doesn't make for nice reading. About halfway it was better and I enjoyed reading it a lot more, but still I felt like the story dragged at some points. However, I will probably be reading the sequel some time.
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
September 20, 2016
My first exposure to Matt Cox was Emma and the Banderwigh. Unfortunately, I did not finish that book, but the writing was good enough that when I saw The Hand of Raziel on NetGalley, I requested it right away.
The writing, in my opinion, was better than the other Matt Cox book I read. Many stories about a femme fatale end up with some seriously unrealistic situations, and the heroine magically has all the skills to do everything. In The Hand of Raziel, those skills make sense, since Risa’s augmentation allows a Matrix-style learning of skills. I appreciated the way that Cox portrayed some of the skills that Risa learned. There was a certain amount of apprehension on using those skills, which makes sense from a humanistic perspective.
The Hand of Raziel tells the personal tale of a broken young woman who thinks her view of the world is as solid as the tech she has in her body. Cox pulls the rug out from under us and lets us know that not everything is what it seems, and he ends book one in a satisfying way that sets up the second book without short-changing the first.
It took me a little over a week to read The Hand of Raziel because it is a long book. I enjoyed the time spent reading it and look forward to reading subsequent books in the series. A four-star read, I recommend picking up The Hand of Raziel, and I’ll probably check out Cox’s other same-universe series, Division Zero.
The writing, in my opinion, was better than the other Matt Cox book I read. Many stories about a femme fatale end up with some seriously unrealistic situations, and the heroine magically has all the skills to do everything. In The Hand of Raziel, those skills make sense, since Risa’s augmentation allows a Matrix-style learning of skills. I appreciated the way that Cox portrayed some of the skills that Risa learned. There was a certain amount of apprehension on using those skills, which makes sense from a humanistic perspective.
The Hand of Raziel tells the personal tale of a broken young woman who thinks her view of the world is as solid as the tech she has in her body. Cox pulls the rug out from under us and lets us know that not everything is what it seems, and he ends book one in a satisfying way that sets up the second book without short-changing the first.
It took me a little over a week to read The Hand of Raziel because it is a long book. I enjoyed the time spent reading it and look forward to reading subsequent books in the series. A four-star read, I recommend picking up The Hand of Raziel, and I’ll probably check out Cox’s other same-universe series, Division Zero.
January 8, 2017
Risa Black is a cyber enhanced young girl fighting for the repressed people of Mars. She is often conflicted with jobs given to her as she hates to kill but unfortunately sometimes it becomes necessary. She hears the voice of Raziel who she thinks of as an angel and because no one else does, many people think she's crazy. While out on missions she is constantly trying to get information on who murdered her father so she can get her revenge. She finds an unlikely ally in Pavo Aram and together they continue to fight for the people. This is a fast paced, action packed story with well defined characters and some great twists. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the sci-fi genre.
November 17, 2016
I received a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
This was a slow starter but it did pull me in.
The characters were complex and the heroine was brilliant with all her faults.
Really enjoyed this and could not put it down.
This was a slow starter but it did pull me in.
The characters were complex and the heroine was brilliant with all her faults.
Really enjoyed this and could not put it down.
November 14, 2017
Goodreads Synopsis:
Risa Black will decide the fate of an entire planet. After all, an angel told her so.
Orphaned young, she grows up among the resistance, fighting to give the people of Mars command of their own destiny. Two governments from Earth vie for control of the Red Planet; she wants them gone, regardless of how many explosives it takes.
To the outside world, she’s an emotionless, broken marionette. Inside, her father’s fiery end haunts her every waking moment. She never cared for destiny or politics, until the angel Raziel focused her anger. Both friend and foe alike believe her grip on sanity tenuous; she knows he is real, and pities those who will never feel his divine presence.
Whenever her adrenaline wears off, guilt at what her bombs did cuts deep, as does the apathy of the citizens she wants to liberate. The pain worsens after unexpected love cracks open her armored heart, causing her to question the role she plays in the bloody conflict.
Torn between duty and desire, she learns change never comes without loss.
Even to the Hand of Raziel.
My Review:
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a review.
First off, I'd like to say when I finished the authors other book, Heir Ascendant, I needed to read more. The world was so fully formed and the characters were so full of life. This book is exactly the same way. I'm amazed that the author is able to fire off these books about completely different things in such rapid succession. I loved this equally as much as I loved the other book and I'm really glad I got the chance to read it.
Twenty five year old Risa has had a hard life. Orphaned at a young age, she grew up in the vents of the mostly underground civilization of Mars. Eventually caught and pulled out, she changed herself at an intense level. Over three hundred years into the future, mechanical upgrades for your body are not exactly accepted, but within reach for anyone who wants them. Although broken and a little detached at times, she's a strong female lead character, and I really like her. Although she battles with her emotions, memories, and overall mental health, she's an amazing person and only works to better the planet for the people of Mars. Amidst a war between the American colony and the Russian colony, she saves the good and kills the bad, and when she needs it, an angel named Raziel, one that's debated on even being real, helps her out. But she's definitely not an assassin.
The setting in this book, although on a completely different planet, is really easy to imagine. Everything's so well explained without being too descriptive, leaving bits to the imagination. I love books about space and technology, and this book was everything I could hope for and more. The characters developed really nicely and it was an easy to read book.
The story is amazing, and I couldn't put it down once I started it. There are just so many unexpected twists and turns, and Risa reacts to them how any other enhanced being would. She doesn't like to kill people, but she does what she has to, for the better of the people of Mars. She saves children and prisoners of war alike, and although the citizens don't always agree that what she's doing is right, she knows, and the people in her cause know, so isn't that enough? There's too much propaganda going around anyways. Basically the book is Risa running around using her mods, blowing things up and then later saving people and wrestling with her emotions as well as crooked people. She wants to save the world but it's a lot of work, and I can't wait to see what comes next for her.
I don't know how else to explain how exciting and interesting this book is, aside from coming out and just saying again that I love it. This book is so good that if I saw it somewhere I probably would buy it just to have a copy of it for my bookshelf. I'm not one for re-reading books, but I would love to read this again. I can't wait to start the next book. I also love that the covers of the two match, they're really nice looking and eye catching and glossy. Definitely check out this book if you get the chance if you like futuristic revolutions in a world that kind of reminds me of Bladerunner (all the tech and the noodles honestly) but on Mars.
Here's a link to the book on Amazon and another link to the authors twitter.
https://www.amazon.ca/Hand-Raziel-Dau...
https://twitter.com/mscox_fiction
Thanks for reading! Check out this review and more at my blog.
(Radioactivebookreviews.wordpress.com)
Risa Black will decide the fate of an entire planet. After all, an angel told her so.
Orphaned young, she grows up among the resistance, fighting to give the people of Mars command of their own destiny. Two governments from Earth vie for control of the Red Planet; she wants them gone, regardless of how many explosives it takes.
To the outside world, she’s an emotionless, broken marionette. Inside, her father’s fiery end haunts her every waking moment. She never cared for destiny or politics, until the angel Raziel focused her anger. Both friend and foe alike believe her grip on sanity tenuous; she knows he is real, and pities those who will never feel his divine presence.
Whenever her adrenaline wears off, guilt at what her bombs did cuts deep, as does the apathy of the citizens she wants to liberate. The pain worsens after unexpected love cracks open her armored heart, causing her to question the role she plays in the bloody conflict.
Torn between duty and desire, she learns change never comes without loss.
Even to the Hand of Raziel.
My Review:
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a review.
First off, I'd like to say when I finished the authors other book, Heir Ascendant, I needed to read more. The world was so fully formed and the characters were so full of life. This book is exactly the same way. I'm amazed that the author is able to fire off these books about completely different things in such rapid succession. I loved this equally as much as I loved the other book and I'm really glad I got the chance to read it.
Twenty five year old Risa has had a hard life. Orphaned at a young age, she grew up in the vents of the mostly underground civilization of Mars. Eventually caught and pulled out, she changed herself at an intense level. Over three hundred years into the future, mechanical upgrades for your body are not exactly accepted, but within reach for anyone who wants them. Although broken and a little detached at times, she's a strong female lead character, and I really like her. Although she battles with her emotions, memories, and overall mental health, she's an amazing person and only works to better the planet for the people of Mars. Amidst a war between the American colony and the Russian colony, she saves the good and kills the bad, and when she needs it, an angel named Raziel, one that's debated on even being real, helps her out. But she's definitely not an assassin.
The setting in this book, although on a completely different planet, is really easy to imagine. Everything's so well explained without being too descriptive, leaving bits to the imagination. I love books about space and technology, and this book was everything I could hope for and more. The characters developed really nicely and it was an easy to read book.
The story is amazing, and I couldn't put it down once I started it. There are just so many unexpected twists and turns, and Risa reacts to them how any other enhanced being would. She doesn't like to kill people, but she does what she has to, for the better of the people of Mars. She saves children and prisoners of war alike, and although the citizens don't always agree that what she's doing is right, she knows, and the people in her cause know, so isn't that enough? There's too much propaganda going around anyways. Basically the book is Risa running around using her mods, blowing things up and then later saving people and wrestling with her emotions as well as crooked people. She wants to save the world but it's a lot of work, and I can't wait to see what comes next for her.
I don't know how else to explain how exciting and interesting this book is, aside from coming out and just saying again that I love it. This book is so good that if I saw it somewhere I probably would buy it just to have a copy of it for my bookshelf. I'm not one for re-reading books, but I would love to read this again. I can't wait to start the next book. I also love that the covers of the two match, they're really nice looking and eye catching and glossy. Definitely check out this book if you get the chance if you like futuristic revolutions in a world that kind of reminds me of Bladerunner (all the tech and the noodles honestly) but on Mars.
Here's a link to the book on Amazon and another link to the authors twitter.
https://www.amazon.ca/Hand-Raziel-Dau...
https://twitter.com/mscox_fiction
Thanks for reading! Check out this review and more at my blog.
(Radioactivebookreviews.wordpress.com)
August 21, 2017
I received a copy of this book from the author in hopes of a review. (He has one from me below).
As I have come to expect from Mr. Cox's works, this one too, played with my brain. Why? The story started so smoothly, and touched on characters from a previous multi-book line but then went on a trip through the darkness and sadness of the planet Mars which is being Terra-farmed by multi-national firms who were outright corrupt. These firms hired their own armed security forces and raised heck. Also, planet Earth had a hold over Mars and used it most unwisely.
Enter Risa Black. a young woman of remarkable craziness or remarkable fortitude; I am still not sure which she is. And she has here own personal angel, Raziel. Who or what is Raziel stills hurts my brain.
From here all I can say is you should jump full speed into this story; it can't be read piecemeal.
As I have come to expect from Mr. Cox's works, this one too, played with my brain. Why? The story started so smoothly, and touched on characters from a previous multi-book line but then went on a trip through the darkness and sadness of the planet Mars which is being Terra-farmed by multi-national firms who were outright corrupt. These firms hired their own armed security forces and raised heck. Also, planet Earth had a hold over Mars and used it most unwisely.
Enter Risa Black. a young woman of remarkable craziness or remarkable fortitude; I am still not sure which she is. And she has here own personal angel, Raziel. Who or what is Raziel stills hurts my brain.
From here all I can say is you should jump full speed into this story; it can't be read piecemeal.
May 20, 2019
It took me a little bit to get into the story but once I did, I really enjoyed it. I've never found a boring book by Matthew Cox and this is true for this one also. The action is fast paced , never dull and keeps you always excited about what comes next. The characters are well written, never boring well, maybe a little until you read more about them you learn more about them and why they act that way. All in all, this was an enjoyable read and I salute Matthew Cox for writing this series. Well done Sir!!
May 16, 2019
Sad truth in human patterns.
Regardless of setting it's easy to recognize. Power & Greed so often putting the average working people last. Struggling for survival and Independence a story we see in so much of this real world. Corrupted officials leading media to tell only the story they want heard.
Regardless of setting it's easy to recognize. Power & Greed so often putting the average working people last. Struggling for survival and Independence a story we see in so much of this real world. Corrupted officials leading media to tell only the story they want heard.
May 18, 2019
The Hand of Raziel
An intriguing scifi unlike anything I’ve ever read. Full of action, suspense and mystery I found myself sucked in from the beginning. The whole concept was unique and interesting with angels, enhanced humans and shady governments. I look forward to seeing where things go from here.
An intriguing scifi unlike anything I’ve ever read. Full of action, suspense and mystery I found myself sucked in from the beginning. The whole concept was unique and interesting with angels, enhanced humans and shady governments. I look forward to seeing where things go from here.
December 18, 2016
Hand of Raziel (Daughter of Mars Book 1) by Matthew S. Cox is another awesome book by the master! I have not been disappointed with any of his books yet. This is no exception. I was thrilled to have Mr Cox let me review this book for a honest review.( I usual get them from NetGalley.) This book is about a girl that hears a voice of "Raziel" who tells her he is an angel and has her do his bidding. The girl is good at heart and wants to help her people on Mars against the repressive government. Risa, the girl, also has some special abilities built into her. She also doesn't want to do harm anyone but her desire to follow Raziel is stronger. The plot is outstanding with many surprises and twists along the way. The characters are well developed and seem so real, and the dialogue believable. I enjoyed this book tremendously. Thanks for letting me read it!
October 17, 2016
Sometimes I mention that a book feels like a collection of short stories, bridged together more or less skillfully by the author. Often, this is because there is a combination of the book feeling like I have been in it forever, and then an end point happens. In this case, that happened enough to get that mental label – The Hand of Raziel feels very much like a couple of shorts compiled into a novel.
Well, not exactly. The common thread of the ‘novel from short story’ sub-subgenre is that the characters are, often, constantly reintroduced, the background reexplained, and the whole thing feels like a money grab from the publisher (see Black Library’s ‘Gotrek & Felix’ ‘novels’ for exactly this). This feels far more like a story composed in fits and starts, without a clear end point, but with a sort of broad mental outline.
In the main, this is the story of Risa Black, an operative for the Martian Liberation Front. She is a cyber-enhanced spy / fighter who receives guidance from an angel, Raziel (an archangel within the teachings of Jewish mysticism who is the “Keeper of Secrets” and the “Angel of Mysteries”). Needless to say, no one else sees / experiences Raziel’s presence. The novel explores the fairly stock ’emotionless killer / highly depressed and broken person who shuts off feelings’ trope for all it is worth. With a lot of the usual stuff you expect from this kind of exploration.
There is a lot of action here – mostly spurred by the revolution. In an interesting take on the idea of ‘freedom from a distant Earth’, this is less about an oppressive government (or a UN-like body) than freedom from dominant mega-corporations. With one being far more obviously evil than the other. There is a limited amount of background there, which is a frustration for me, but it seems that several other novels / series serve as a distant prelude (by maybe 400 years) to this series. Since I haven’t read those, that’s not much help. This lack of background does keep me from being fully ‘into’ the book, as I was often found things a bit murky, especially with the way settings and environments were being described. In many ways, Mars was presented as near-Warhammer 40K levels of oppression and drudgery, but without the social controls keeping people from revolting. Here, the downtrodden masses just accept it. For reasons I can’t claim to understand.
What is even more interesting is that there is a sense that no one knows the MLF is fighting to free Mars, and sometimes no one seems to know who the MLF even is; but they all know Risa. While I have no problem with the idea of a single stand-out figure in a revolution, having that figure be as shadowy an operative as she seems to be intended to be is off, as is the idea that she so vastly overshadows the organization. Again, my take.
The real quandry here, as a reviewer, is that while I think some work was needed before this saw print, it wasn’t bad. Just long, and with a lot of good end-points before it finally ended. Several points I did like were the character development and backstory revelations, the fact that Raziel was not what I first thought, and the final direction everything went. Those make the book worth a read, and worth a look at book two, when it is released.
Well, not exactly. The common thread of the ‘novel from short story’ sub-subgenre is that the characters are, often, constantly reintroduced, the background reexplained, and the whole thing feels like a money grab from the publisher (see Black Library’s ‘Gotrek & Felix’ ‘novels’ for exactly this). This feels far more like a story composed in fits and starts, without a clear end point, but with a sort of broad mental outline.
In the main, this is the story of Risa Black, an operative for the Martian Liberation Front. She is a cyber-enhanced spy / fighter who receives guidance from an angel, Raziel (an archangel within the teachings of Jewish mysticism who is the “Keeper of Secrets” and the “Angel of Mysteries”). Needless to say, no one else sees / experiences Raziel’s presence. The novel explores the fairly stock ’emotionless killer / highly depressed and broken person who shuts off feelings’ trope for all it is worth. With a lot of the usual stuff you expect from this kind of exploration.
There is a lot of action here – mostly spurred by the revolution. In an interesting take on the idea of ‘freedom from a distant Earth’, this is less about an oppressive government (or a UN-like body) than freedom from dominant mega-corporations. With one being far more obviously evil than the other. There is a limited amount of background there, which is a frustration for me, but it seems that several other novels / series serve as a distant prelude (by maybe 400 years) to this series. Since I haven’t read those, that’s not much help. This lack of background does keep me from being fully ‘into’ the book, as I was often found things a bit murky, especially with the way settings and environments were being described. In many ways, Mars was presented as near-Warhammer 40K levels of oppression and drudgery, but without the social controls keeping people from revolting. Here, the downtrodden masses just accept it. For reasons I can’t claim to understand.
What is even more interesting is that there is a sense that no one knows the MLF is fighting to free Mars, and sometimes no one seems to know who the MLF even is; but they all know Risa. While I have no problem with the idea of a single stand-out figure in a revolution, having that figure be as shadowy an operative as she seems to be intended to be is off, as is the idea that she so vastly overshadows the organization. Again, my take.
The real quandry here, as a reviewer, is that while I think some work was needed before this saw print, it wasn’t bad. Just long, and with a lot of good end-points before it finally ended. Several points I did like were the character development and backstory revelations, the fact that Raziel was not what I first thought, and the final direction everything went. Those make the book worth a read, and worth a look at book two, when it is released.
May 21, 2019
Matthew Fox never disappoints! I really loved this. Mars is a facinating planet and its been written about many times. However, authors mind opens it up and its different than what I've read before. It has a Total Recall and even a Blade Runner feel but different. We have Risa our heroine who is badass but she's got a vulnerability to her. People see her as a killer and honestly it bothers her. On the outside she is beautiful with doll-like characteristics which gives her an edge because people dont really see her coming til its too late. Love that part. Yes, she's a killer but she's more than that. She fights for a cause to prevent the wrong people from taking over Mars. In this case its Earth trying to take over and their governments. She is one of the most complex characters I've come across in awhile and I am soo looking forward to reading the other books. Now...it ends sorta cliffy but thats okay I was expecting it. :) Recommend!
September 28, 2016
Angel of Vengeance meets Savior of the world in this Dystopian story set in the red dirt of Mars. Risa is an orphan whose father's life was taken by horrible means. Now without feeling and a heart of stone, she choses to go through life emotionless. That is until the angel Raziel begins to show up. Of course, she is the only one who can see him and this angel has a plan for her. To overthrow the ones ruling Mars and to set her people free... at least that's what she is hoping he wants.
A rather different type of story, I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. Risa is tough as nails and someone I could see myself liking. Much like Katniss from Hunger Games, she cares more than she lets on. The description of Mars works well as does the author explanation as to why they can live there. Much enjoyed
A rather different type of story, I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. Risa is tough as nails and someone I could see myself liking. Much like Katniss from Hunger Games, she cares more than she lets on. The description of Mars works well as does the author explanation as to why they can live there. Much enjoyed
February 7, 2017
Only had the time for a quick review:
COMPLETELY worth the time to read!
COMPLETELY worth the time to read!
May 25, 2019
This book has action that has you on the edge of your seat and completely amazing characters that are so detailed you sucked into the story with them. Its amazing and written so well I couldnt put it down. I recommend this book.
September 28, 2016
The plot and action was very exciting. World building: brilliant (maybe too brilliant. I don't really need to know that she sat upon the deflector plate of an ancient air scrubber and leaned her check against the warm plastisteel strut connecting the corner to a hydraulic actuator).
Unfortunately the writing lets it down, especially in the first part of the book.
I found the switch between third person (which most of the book is) to first person thoughts pretty jarring and I also felt that it was mostly needless. There are large swathes of the book written only in third person and it's obvious from these parts that the author doesn't need to switch narrative to explain what Risa is feeling. I wish he hadn't.
Characters are all over the place in the first half of the book and not in a emotional/erratic way but in an I don't understand these characters way. Which brings me back to the writing. Some of the dialog tags just didn't make sense with what the characters should be doing. They did get much better as the book went on and with the building action I did enjoy reading this book.
If you like sci-fi with brilliantly built in-depth worlds then read this book. If you like character driven books with a well thought out and portrayed protagonist then maybe give it a miss.
Also posted on Ever The Crafter
Unfortunately the writing lets it down, especially in the first part of the book.
I found the switch between third person (which most of the book is) to first person thoughts pretty jarring and I also felt that it was mostly needless. There are large swathes of the book written only in third person and it's obvious from these parts that the author doesn't need to switch narrative to explain what Risa is feeling. I wish he hadn't.
Characters are all over the place in the first half of the book and not in a emotional/erratic way but in an I don't understand these characters way. Which brings me back to the writing. Some of the dialog tags just didn't make sense with what the characters should be doing. They did get much better as the book went on and with the building action I did enjoy reading this book.
If you like sci-fi with brilliantly built in-depth worlds then read this book. If you like character driven books with a well thought out and portrayed protagonist then maybe give it a miss.
Also posted on Ever The Crafter
October 15, 2019
She Talks To Angels?
••• NOT for the homophobic, transphobic, or closedminded •••
This series is best read after Virtual Immortality, the Division Zero and The Awakened serieses. It takes place congruent to "Grey Ronin". This is the first book. I can't wait to read "Araphel"!
Risa saw her father die... Betrayed by the military he served. She was only 8. Living alone in the vents until the MLF found her didn't teach her to trust... If anything, it taught her not to trust- ANYONE. She thinks she might be twenty-five now... And she is the perfect weapon. Guided by the voice of the "Angel" Raziel and her pseudo father Risa is fighting for the Front to free Mars from both the ACC and UCF. Will they ever be able to end the war? Or will they always be forced to live under Earth rule? Can she survive to see freedom? Why does an Angel want her to kill people? Is that what it takes to be free?
***This series is suitable for adult readers who enjoy futuristic paranormal sci-fi action adventure horror thrillers filled with intrigue, a few mysteries and a dash or two of romance set in a dystopian post postapocalyptal world :)
••• NOT for the homophobic, transphobic, or closedminded •••
This series is best read after Virtual Immortality, the Division Zero and The Awakened serieses. It takes place congruent to "Grey Ronin". This is the first book. I can't wait to read "Araphel"!
Risa saw her father die... Betrayed by the military he served. She was only 8. Living alone in the vents until the MLF found her didn't teach her to trust... If anything, it taught her not to trust- ANYONE. She thinks she might be twenty-five now... And she is the perfect weapon. Guided by the voice of the "Angel" Raziel and her pseudo father Risa is fighting for the Front to free Mars from both the ACC and UCF. Will they ever be able to end the war? Or will they always be forced to live under Earth rule? Can she survive to see freedom? Why does an Angel want her to kill people? Is that what it takes to be free?
***This series is suitable for adult readers who enjoy futuristic paranormal sci-fi action adventure horror thrillers filled with intrigue, a few mysteries and a dash or two of romance set in a dystopian post postapocalyptal world :)
August 17, 2016
The Hand of Raziel is another Winner for Matthew S. Cox! This book is set in the same time frame as Division Zero but takes place on Mars. The main character is Risa who has become one of my favorite in Matthew's books, of course I think I say that after every book. I would recommend this book to anyone, it is that good. I hope that there is a continuation coming soon.
June 16, 2019
Another great book by Cox
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