"I left her when she was eight. Just a child. Too young to be alone. I killed myself because I could never atone for the things He made me do. There is something wrong with my family, you see. A fear runs through us, through our blood. A fear that circles above us, shredding the sky and clawing at our hearts, and now, from a deathless realm, I am forced to watch as my lonely daughter is tortured by the life I gave her to endure. No father should see the things I've seen, but then no father should do the things I did. Forgive me Angela."
ANGELA, a bleak and unflinching gothic horror in which we meet a lonely, middle aged woman who must live with the legacy of her family's dark secret, the madness that grows in the absence of love, and a closet full of delicate skeletons.
A really exceptional story. I have to admit I have never experienced anything alike. It had some ideas I have had in my mind from who knows where, but this specific combination of all these elements felt unique to me.
It is very very dark. And it is very very well written so that I was drown right into Angela's world and I could not breath again until I stopped listening for a moment.
The narrator did a very good job. I loved the narration. The only part that was a bit weird to me was the imitations of the women's voices. It sounded a bit funny at first, but later on I found them fitting. And sad and... They did not feel like parodies, they felt... tragic.
Beautiful.
. . .
. . .
I really want to read Angela again sometime, once I have recovered.
"This audiobook was provided by the author at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBlast dot com."
A very good and somewhat subdued tale of loneliness, secrets and unrequited love. All Angela wants is to be loved. To be understood. To not be alone anymore. It’s been too many years with just her and her birds. It’s human companionship that she craves.
A very well done short at only 2hrs and 7min. The narrator really added to the darkening atmosphere with his spot on cadence and tone. Solid all the way around. 4+ Stars and Highly Recommended!
Definitely a page turner. Angela put me in mind of Annie Wilkes (Misery) in some ways, Angela is desperately lonely with a harrowing childhood that has haunted and twisted her mind throughout adulthood. Society mocks her, her work is the only normality in her life and she is in love with her work colleague, the one person that shows her a hint of kindness. Her psychotic behaviour and relationship with her birds is very disturbing, but you can't help but sympathise, deeply disturbed, depressed, and desperately longing friendship. Think Stephen Kings Misery, Du Maurier The Birds and a Twist of Single White Female, a thrilling cocktail, masterfully made.
The whole supernatural aspect should have been left out. This was a wonderful case study into insanity, but the demonic nonsense was unnecessary and did not fit with the rest of the story. There was also the weird bit with the man at the door - who was he, what did he do, none of this is answered. Would have been a great tale if not for the supernatural additions which felt very forced.
This was one of the most unusual books I've read in awhile. It was very dark but intriguing- there was a lot that was left open to interpretation. (At times to the point where the story got a bit difficult to follow.) I would like to read a prequel about the father and her childhood. Definitely worth the listen. This is one of those books that stays with you long after its finished.
I received a free copy of this audio book from the author, narrator or publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.
This was a weird story that left me pondering more questions then it had answered. I wish the author had given us more about Angela's past, her parents, and "the curse" on their family. One might argue that there's no supernatural stuff going on and it's all in her head, but the narrator, who is her father, proves otherwise. I think the story would have held together better without the supernatural elements. Also the prose was a bit weird, I didn't understand what was going on at times. It does give you chills though, especially if you're reading at night, and it's very depressing.