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Traitor Angels
Six years have passed since England’s King Charles II returned from exile to reclaim the throne, ushering in a new era of stability for his subjects.
Except for Elizabeth Milton. The daughter of notorious poet John Milton, Elizabeth has never known her place in this shifting world—except by her father’s side. By day she helps transcribe his latest masterpiece, the epic poem Paradise Lost, and by night she learns languages and sword fighting. Although she does not dare object, she suspects that he’s training her for a mission whose purpose she cannot fathom.
Until one night the reason becomes clear: the king’s men arrive at her family’s country home to arrest her father. Determined to save him, Elizabeth follows his one cryptic clue and journeys to Oxford, accompanied by her father’s mysterious young houseguest, Antonio Vivani, a darkly handsome Italian scientist who surprises her at every turn. Funny, brilliant, and passionate, Antonio seems just as determined to protect her father as she is—but can she trust him with her heart?
When the two discover that Milton has planted an explosive secret in the half-finished Paradise Lost—a secret the king and his aristocratic supporters are desperate to conceal—Elizabeth is faced with a devastating choice: cling to the shelter of her old life or risk cracking the code, unleashing a secret that could save her father…and tear apart the very fabric of society.
Except for Elizabeth Milton. The daughter of notorious poet John Milton, Elizabeth has never known her place in this shifting world—except by her father’s side. By day she helps transcribe his latest masterpiece, the epic poem Paradise Lost, and by night she learns languages and sword fighting. Although she does not dare object, she suspects that he’s training her for a mission whose purpose she cannot fathom.
Until one night the reason becomes clear: the king’s men arrive at her family’s country home to arrest her father. Determined to save him, Elizabeth follows his one cryptic clue and journeys to Oxford, accompanied by her father’s mysterious young houseguest, Antonio Vivani, a darkly handsome Italian scientist who surprises her at every turn. Funny, brilliant, and passionate, Antonio seems just as determined to protect her father as she is—but can she trust him with her heart?
When the two discover that Milton has planted an explosive secret in the half-finished Paradise Lost—a secret the king and his aristocratic supporters are desperate to conceal—Elizabeth is faced with a devastating choice: cling to the shelter of her old life or risk cracking the code, unleashing a secret that could save her father…and tear apart the very fabric of society.
393 pages, Hardcover
First published May 3, 2016
19 people are currently reading
4541 people want to read
About the author
Anne Blankman
5 books696 followersAnne Blankman may have been meant to be a writer because her parents named her for Anne of Green Gables. She grew up in an old house with gables (gray, unfortunately) in upstate New York. When she wasn't writing or reading, she was rowing on the crew team, taking ballet lessons, fencing and swimming. She graduated from Union College with degrees in English and history, which comes in handy when she writes historical fiction.
After earning a master's degree in information science, Anne began working as a youth services librarian. Currently, she lives in southeastern Virginia with her family. When she's not writing young adult fiction, she's playing with her daughter, training for races with her husband, working at her amazing library branch, learning to knit (badly), and reading.
Anne Blankman is the author of PRISONER OF NIGHT AND FOG, the first in a three-book deal slated for publication in spring 2014 from Balzer + Bray | HarperCollins. She is represented by Tracey Adams of Adams Literary.
After earning a master's degree in information science, Anne began working as a youth services librarian. Currently, she lives in southeastern Virginia with her family. When she's not writing young adult fiction, she's playing with her daughter, training for races with her husband, working at her amazing library branch, learning to knit (badly), and reading.
Anne Blankman is the author of PRISONER OF NIGHT AND FOG, the first in a three-book deal slated for publication in spring 2014 from Balzer + Bray | HarperCollins. She is represented by Tracey Adams of Adams Literary.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 147 reviews
April 30, 2016
Historical YA is hard to come by, so thank the stars for Anne Blankman. I fell in love with her debut duology set in Nazi Germany, and once again with Traitor Angels she weaves historical fact and her own fiction together so seamlessly, it's a wonder I didn't learn half these things in school. This time around, the setting is London 1666, and we are introduced to one Elizabeth Milton, 16 year old daughter to John Milton, the famous, blind poet who wrote Paradise Lost. You may have studied the epic poem once or twice already, but I can promise you that you've never understood it quite like this. Hidden meanings, buried secrets, clues and codes... think National Treasure for readers, with rich historical detail, adventure, and a dash of romance.
Traitor Angels is such a fun book. I loved the scavenger hunt feel, especially in a time period when words were written instead of typed, when balls were still to be had, men fought with swords, and sharp-minded women had their own definition of slaying. After her father - a disparaged political writer - is arrested, Elizabeth is tasked with decoding a message he and two other men buried years and years ago. With the help of Antonio Vivani, an Italian scientiest and a boy her father seems to trust, she sets out to discover John Milton's secrets... secrets that could change the entire landscape of their world.
Elizabeth is the perfect heroine for this story. Thoughtful, fierce, loyal, and independent, she loves to learn and, even though it's not what's expected of her gender, she longs to study the stars and open her mind to new possibilities. I love how Anne explores faith and religion in connection to Elizabeth's growth. As Elizabeth's eyes are opened to new truths about the universe, she's forced to question everything that she's been taught. It's a subtle journey for her, no longer shying away from her more "heretical thoughts", and a perfect complement to the larger story of decoding Paradise Lost. I loved how this story was layered and how each new clue was revealed, especially because Elizabeth's brilliant mind never stopped churning.
There's a love story here, too, that starts small and eventually burns bright. Antonio is selfless and charming, and most important of all he encourages Elizabeth to follow her dreams. He treats her like an equal. They have such sweet chemistry from the very beginning, their minds working together as piece by piece they start to fall for each other. Anne definitely knows her way around swoony dialogue, too; it was impossible not to melt from Antonio's words.
Traitor Angels is both imaginative and well-researched; you'll recognize famous names, dates, places, and events, all wrapped in its own unique story. I can't recommend this book enough, and fans of historical fiction should be especially pleased!
This review can also be found at Love at First Page.
March 20, 2016
I love historical fiction! Especially the ones from a more *medieval* time, like 1666. Such a great story!
***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***
Traitor Angels by Anne Blankman
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Publication Date: May 3, 2016
Rating: 4 stars
Source: eARC from Edelweiss
Summary (from Goodreads):
Six years have passed since England’s King Charles II returned from exile to reclaim the throne, ushering in a new era of stability for his subjects.
Except for Elizabeth Milton. The daughter of notorious poet John Milton, Elizabeth has never known her place in this shifting world—except by her father’s side. By day she helps transcribe his latest masterpiece, the epic poem Paradise Lost, and by night she learns languages and sword fighting. Although she does not dare object, she suspects that he’s training her for a mission whose purpose she cannot fathom.
Until one night the reason becomes clear: the king’s man arrive at her family’s country home to arrest her father. Determined to save him, Elizabeth follows his one cryptic clue and journeys to Oxford, accompanied by her father’s mysterious young houseguest, Antonio Vivani, a darkly handsome Italian scientist who surprises her at every turn. Funny, brilliant, and passionate, Antonio seems just as determined to protect her father as she is—but can she trust him with her heart?
When the two discover that Milton has planted an explosive secret in the half-finished Paradise Lost—a secret the king and his aristocratic supporters are desperate to conceal—Elizabeth is faced with a devastating choice: cling to the shelter of her old life or risk cracking the code, unleashing a secret that could save her father…and tear apart the very fabric of society.
What I Liked:
I knew little about this book before reading it, but oh how I enjoyed it! I picked it up because I've had success with Blankman's books in the past; Prisoner of Night and Fog and Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke were fascinating historical fiction novels. I knew that this new books was also historical fiction, but for some reason, I had thought it was set during the Civil War! I hadn't read the synopsis, otherwise I would have known better. Clearly Michael Shaara's The Killer Angels was on my mind (great book, by the way). Anyway! Traitor Angels is set in 1667 England, and it deals with John Milton and Galileo Galilei.
Elizabeth Milton is the third of four daughters of John Milton, a now-blind but once-notorious poet of England. Her father has always treated her differently from her sisters; she can speak, read, and write in many different languages, and she was well-taught in swordplay and self-defense. But most differently, her father trusts her to help him write Paradise Lost (she writes what he dictates). One day, all of her father's training comes to good use: her father has been arrested by the king's men. Elizabeth and her father's strange houseguest Antonio Vivani race across England to uncover her father's carefully hidden clues and secrets, in hopes that whatever he hid might be bartered to the king for his freedom. But what Elizabeth and Antonio discover is more dangerous than one man's life - it could mean the end of society as they know it.
What a twisted tale! Well, not "twisted" like one typically means it, but it certainly was tricksy! One of the things I liked the most about this book was the endless clues and puzzles and word games there were in this book. John Milton is known to be a great poet, and his words are his weapon (I think Antonio said something similar, in the book). I love puzzles and games and tricks and clues! Elizabeth and Antonio are clever, and Elizabeth knows her father and his work better than anyone, so it was fun to watch the pair work through the clues.
Elizabeth is so incredibly intelligent. Milton's daughters were known to be uncommonly well-taught, and Elizabeth is no exception. She knows many languages (read/write/speak/understand), and she knows swordplay very well (to the point where she keeps knives strapped to her arms at all times), and she has a keen interest in astronomy. Elizabeth is clever and strong and very brave. She does not hesitate to go after her father, to find some way to free him.
Antonio was sent to meet John Milton by his master (a Duke in Italy), and he is caught up in the search with Elizabeth when John is arrested. Antonio seems like a strange foreigner at first, but it becomes clear that he is noble and determined to help Elizabeth, and not just because his master sent him. Antonio is kind and quietly protective, but he lets Elizabeth be and is not a seventeenth-century sexist pig. I suppose this is anachronistic, but hey, I like Antonio a lot, and I am letting this slide.
Robert Crofts is another very important character in the story. Elizabeth and Antonio meet him on their way to finding her father's clues. Robert is in a position to help them more than they can help themselves, and his assistance is pretty necessary. Robert is exactly what I expected, and I felt for him! I liked his intended, Lady Katherine, very much.
There is so much history in this book! Galileo Galilei's work and theories are discussed in this book, and it is one of his works that is what Elizabeth and Antonio end up seeking. I love how meticulously the author does her research, and interlocks so many historical events! She has all the dates and events lined up really well! This story is set just before the Great Fire of London in 1666 - I love how Blankman leaves nothing out! Such great foresight. Or plotting. Or just pure brilliance. I am in awe!
This book does have a religious theme to it, or perhaps a theme that somewhat discredits or refutes religion. In 1666, Christianity was dominant in England, and people like Galilei were considered heretics for even postulating ideas that seem contrary to the Church's teachings. Antonio is an atheist, it seems, and Elizabeth starts to question her steadfast Puritan beliefs. Religion is pretty important in this book, but then, it can't NOT be, given the time period.
The story was so exciting! It seemed like there was never a dull moment. There were all sorts of action scenes, and balls, and betrayals, and moments of panic, and I enjoyed it all.
The romance is not a huge part of the book, but it is there! No love triangle. Watching Antonio and Elizabeth fall for each other is sweet and subtly swoony, though not slow-burn. These two are cute together! And they're both wonderfully smart, so I think they're a great pair.
Overall, I think you can tell that I was pleased with this book! It's definitely my favorite of Blankman's three novels. It's a great standalone, I recommend it!
What I Did Not Like:
Hmm, I don't know that I can think of anything at the moment. I'm not giving the book five stars (I liked it but it's not a new favorite), but I don't have complaints, I think!
Would I Recommend It:
You don't have to like historical fiction to like this novel! In fact, you don't need to know anything about the 1600s, or John Milton, or Paradise Lost, or Galileo Galilei. It helps (history nerds unite!), but not necessary, as Blankman does a great job of keeping readers educated on what they need to know to understand what is going on (i.e. the context). This is a great story, and an exciting one! I love stories that deal with clues and puzzles and finding something.
Even if you didn't like Blankman's debut duology (or maybe never read it), I'd recommend this book; it's completely different from her debut duology! Less nail-biting, scary, etc.
Rating:
4 stars. As I said, definitely my favorite of Blankman's books! I'm excited to see which time period she'll write about next. She's done the 1900s, 1600s... the possibilities are endless!
***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***
Traitor Angels by Anne Blankman
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Publication Date: May 3, 2016
Rating: 4 stars
Source: eARC from Edelweiss
Summary (from Goodreads):
Six years have passed since England’s King Charles II returned from exile to reclaim the throne, ushering in a new era of stability for his subjects.
Except for Elizabeth Milton. The daughter of notorious poet John Milton, Elizabeth has never known her place in this shifting world—except by her father’s side. By day she helps transcribe his latest masterpiece, the epic poem Paradise Lost, and by night she learns languages and sword fighting. Although she does not dare object, she suspects that he’s training her for a mission whose purpose she cannot fathom.
Until one night the reason becomes clear: the king’s man arrive at her family’s country home to arrest her father. Determined to save him, Elizabeth follows his one cryptic clue and journeys to Oxford, accompanied by her father’s mysterious young houseguest, Antonio Vivani, a darkly handsome Italian scientist who surprises her at every turn. Funny, brilliant, and passionate, Antonio seems just as determined to protect her father as she is—but can she trust him with her heart?
When the two discover that Milton has planted an explosive secret in the half-finished Paradise Lost—a secret the king and his aristocratic supporters are desperate to conceal—Elizabeth is faced with a devastating choice: cling to the shelter of her old life or risk cracking the code, unleashing a secret that could save her father…and tear apart the very fabric of society.
What I Liked:
I knew little about this book before reading it, but oh how I enjoyed it! I picked it up because I've had success with Blankman's books in the past; Prisoner of Night and Fog and Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke were fascinating historical fiction novels. I knew that this new books was also historical fiction, but for some reason, I had thought it was set during the Civil War! I hadn't read the synopsis, otherwise I would have known better. Clearly Michael Shaara's The Killer Angels was on my mind (great book, by the way). Anyway! Traitor Angels is set in 1667 England, and it deals with John Milton and Galileo Galilei.
Elizabeth Milton is the third of four daughters of John Milton, a now-blind but once-notorious poet of England. Her father has always treated her differently from her sisters; she can speak, read, and write in many different languages, and she was well-taught in swordplay and self-defense. But most differently, her father trusts her to help him write Paradise Lost (she writes what he dictates). One day, all of her father's training comes to good use: her father has been arrested by the king's men. Elizabeth and her father's strange houseguest Antonio Vivani race across England to uncover her father's carefully hidden clues and secrets, in hopes that whatever he hid might be bartered to the king for his freedom. But what Elizabeth and Antonio discover is more dangerous than one man's life - it could mean the end of society as they know it.
What a twisted tale! Well, not "twisted" like one typically means it, but it certainly was tricksy! One of the things I liked the most about this book was the endless clues and puzzles and word games there were in this book. John Milton is known to be a great poet, and his words are his weapon (I think Antonio said something similar, in the book). I love puzzles and games and tricks and clues! Elizabeth and Antonio are clever, and Elizabeth knows her father and his work better than anyone, so it was fun to watch the pair work through the clues.
Elizabeth is so incredibly intelligent. Milton's daughters were known to be uncommonly well-taught, and Elizabeth is no exception. She knows many languages (read/write/speak/understand), and she knows swordplay very well (to the point where she keeps knives strapped to her arms at all times), and she has a keen interest in astronomy. Elizabeth is clever and strong and very brave. She does not hesitate to go after her father, to find some way to free him.
Antonio was sent to meet John Milton by his master (a Duke in Italy), and he is caught up in the search with Elizabeth when John is arrested. Antonio seems like a strange foreigner at first, but it becomes clear that he is noble and determined to help Elizabeth, and not just because his master sent him. Antonio is kind and quietly protective, but he lets Elizabeth be and is not a seventeenth-century sexist pig. I suppose this is anachronistic, but hey, I like Antonio a lot, and I am letting this slide.
Robert Crofts is another very important character in the story. Elizabeth and Antonio meet him on their way to finding her father's clues. Robert is in a position to help them more than they can help themselves, and his assistance is pretty necessary. Robert is exactly what I expected, and I felt for him! I liked his intended, Lady Katherine, very much.
There is so much history in this book! Galileo Galilei's work and theories are discussed in this book, and it is one of his works that is what Elizabeth and Antonio end up seeking. I love how meticulously the author does her research, and interlocks so many historical events! She has all the dates and events lined up really well! This story is set just before the Great Fire of London in 1666 - I love how Blankman leaves nothing out! Such great foresight. Or plotting. Or just pure brilliance. I am in awe!
This book does have a religious theme to it, or perhaps a theme that somewhat discredits or refutes religion. In 1666, Christianity was dominant in England, and people like Galilei were considered heretics for even postulating ideas that seem contrary to the Church's teachings. Antonio is an atheist, it seems, and Elizabeth starts to question her steadfast Puritan beliefs. Religion is pretty important in this book, but then, it can't NOT be, given the time period.
The story was so exciting! It seemed like there was never a dull moment. There were all sorts of action scenes, and balls, and betrayals, and moments of panic, and I enjoyed it all.
The romance is not a huge part of the book, but it is there! No love triangle. Watching Antonio and Elizabeth fall for each other is sweet and subtly swoony, though not slow-burn. These two are cute together! And they're both wonderfully smart, so I think they're a great pair.
Overall, I think you can tell that I was pleased with this book! It's definitely my favorite of Blankman's three novels. It's a great standalone, I recommend it!
What I Did Not Like:
Hmm, I don't know that I can think of anything at the moment. I'm not giving the book five stars (I liked it but it's not a new favorite), but I don't have complaints, I think!
Would I Recommend It:
You don't have to like historical fiction to like this novel! In fact, you don't need to know anything about the 1600s, or John Milton, or Paradise Lost, or Galileo Galilei. It helps (history nerds unite!), but not necessary, as Blankman does a great job of keeping readers educated on what they need to know to understand what is going on (i.e. the context). This is a great story, and an exciting one! I love stories that deal with clues and puzzles and finding something.
Even if you didn't like Blankman's debut duology (or maybe never read it), I'd recommend this book; it's completely different from her debut duology! Less nail-biting, scary, etc.
Rating:
4 stars. As I said, definitely my favorite of Blankman's books! I'm excited to see which time period she'll write about next. She's done the 1900s, 1600s... the possibilities are endless!
July 18, 2016
Mini review:
DNF
When I had heard about this book I was sold! I love historical fiction and the treasure hunt stories! Unfortunately this book was not for me.
I could not stand Elizabeth's father. Also Paradise Lost is a poem concerning Christianity. If I remember correctly (correct me if I'm wrong) it was about Satan's descent to Earth. That was very odd to read about. But for the most part I DNFed this because of John Milton. And that ending (I skimmed) left a very bitter taste in my mouth.
I do recommend this. The treasure hunt sounds interesting.
DNF
When I had heard about this book I was sold! I love historical fiction and the treasure hunt stories! Unfortunately this book was not for me.
I could not stand Elizabeth's father. Also Paradise Lost is a poem concerning Christianity. If I remember correctly (correct me if I'm wrong) it was about Satan's descent to Earth. That was very odd to read about. But for the most part I DNFed this because of John Milton. And that ending (I skimmed) left a very bitter taste in my mouth.
I do recommend this. The treasure hunt sounds interesting.
June 5, 2016
Well researched YA historical fiction is somewhat of a rarity. These are the books that come with an author’s note and lengthy bibliographies which show us that they’re based in fact, with minimal artistic liberties taken. Ruta Sepetys could be considered the queen of the genre, but Anne Blankman appeared to be a serious contender after her Prisoner of Night and Fog duology.
Traitor Angels follows along the same path. Blankman did her homework extremely well. Her book is well researched and convincing in its factual aspects and those who are somewhat familiar with John Milton and his work might feel as though they’re truly meeting him in person and expanding their knowledge about his life and personality. Blankman merely added an extra daughter and gave her a bit more education that the rest of Milton’s children. The image she painted of England in 1666 is detailed and convincing. I feel that I learned quite a bit from this book, which is always a plus. Unfortunately, the parts that were purely fictional didn’t work quite as well.
Traitor Angels is reminiscent of The Da Vinci’s Code in a way. It follows the same premise – discovering buried secrets by following clues hidden in famous works. It could have worked better, but Blankman failed to build any real excitement and I found myself bored with the search pretty early on. The two main characters, Elizabeth Milton and Antonio Vivani, were sent on this quest by Milton himself, but even though they were both groomed for it from their early days, they made some pretty naïve and ridiculous mistakes along the way.
Although Blankman tried to give us a worthy heroine, Elizabeth never rang true as a girl she was meant to be, and especially a girl living in the 1660. Throughout the book, she was reconsidering her puritan beliefs and discovering new things about herself, but for me her journey completely missed the mark and I honestly didn’t care about any of it. Antonio’s story and actions weren’t any more convincing and I’m sorry to say I had to fight to remain focused.
Traitor Angels had enormous potential, but most of it was left unexplored. I had to struggle for more than 15 days with it and barely found the will to finish it. If you’re interested in the genre, I’d recommend a trip to Nazi Germany in Blankman’s debut or a long journey aboard the Wilhelm Gustloff during World War II in Ruta Sepetys’ Salt to the Sea.
Traitor Angels follows along the same path. Blankman did her homework extremely well. Her book is well researched and convincing in its factual aspects and those who are somewhat familiar with John Milton and his work might feel as though they’re truly meeting him in person and expanding their knowledge about his life and personality. Blankman merely added an extra daughter and gave her a bit more education that the rest of Milton’s children. The image she painted of England in 1666 is detailed and convincing. I feel that I learned quite a bit from this book, which is always a plus. Unfortunately, the parts that were purely fictional didn’t work quite as well.
Traitor Angels is reminiscent of The Da Vinci’s Code in a way. It follows the same premise – discovering buried secrets by following clues hidden in famous works. It could have worked better, but Blankman failed to build any real excitement and I found myself bored with the search pretty early on. The two main characters, Elizabeth Milton and Antonio Vivani, were sent on this quest by Milton himself, but even though they were both groomed for it from their early days, they made some pretty naïve and ridiculous mistakes along the way.
Although Blankman tried to give us a worthy heroine, Elizabeth never rang true as a girl she was meant to be, and especially a girl living in the 1660. Throughout the book, she was reconsidering her puritan beliefs and discovering new things about herself, but for me her journey completely missed the mark and I honestly didn’t care about any of it. Antonio’s story and actions weren’t any more convincing and I’m sorry to say I had to fight to remain focused.
Traitor Angels had enormous potential, but most of it was left unexplored. I had to struggle for more than 15 days with it and barely found the will to finish it. If you’re interested in the genre, I’d recommend a trip to Nazi Germany in Blankman’s debut or a long journey aboard the Wilhelm Gustloff during World War II in Ruta Sepetys’ Salt to the Sea.
June 2, 2016
I loved the idea of this, but I never got around to reading it. When I finally did, I'm sad to say I couldn't stay focused.
Elizabeth is a okay MC. There were scenes where I thought she was overly dramatic, but that could have been the time period. I like Antonio well enough. I did enjoy the two of them coming from such opposite upbringings and bridging the gap to understanding.
My main complaint is that the story seemed quite dense and dry. There were several pages {some times almost a full chapter} of text without dialogue and that sort of thing just makes me lose interest. I thrive on dialogue and witty banter.
I made it about halfway before I started skimming and reading only certain sections. And while the reveal and ending were both interesting, it wasn't enough to make me want to go back and fully read what I had skipped.
**Huge thanks to Balzer + Bray and Edelweiss for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review**
Elizabeth is a okay MC. There were scenes where I thought she was overly dramatic, but that could have been the time period. I like Antonio well enough. I did enjoy the two of them coming from such opposite upbringings and bridging the gap to understanding.
My main complaint is that the story seemed quite dense and dry. There were several pages {some times almost a full chapter} of text without dialogue and that sort of thing just makes me lose interest. I thrive on dialogue and witty banter.
I made it about halfway before I started skimming and reading only certain sections. And while the reveal and ending were both interesting, it wasn't enough to make me want to go back and fully read what I had skipped.
**Huge thanks to Balzer + Bray and Edelweiss for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review**
July 26, 2016
i'm rounding down to a 3 under gr's 'i liked it' scale.
this wasn't a bad book, by all means. i was really excited when i first learned about it after reading alyssa's review, which you can read here. but then i saw the average rating and that kind of made me hesitant--it shouldn't but usually it's a review/rating/cover that makes or breaks the interest of a book for me.
i started this, i think, around the time i finished a court of mist and fury but it didn't feel right at the time. when i got back into it last night, i didn't find myself struggling to get through--i was determined to finish the book and actually found myself enjoying it.
i don't read a lot of historical books. the only era i really like would be the victorian or things similar to it. this takes place in 1666 and that didn't hold a lot of meaning for me. but the aspect of the book--which is discovering something that could quite possibly ruin the world (haha, how many times have we heard that before)--made this more intriguing.
the book is kind of like a treasure hunt. elizabeth's father, poet john milton, has been taken by the crown to be executed. he tells elizabeth to keep his poem, paradise lost, safe. he also tells her a phrase that leaves her confused and starts the whole hunt. within his poem, he's hidden clues that she, and a florentine, Antonio, have to uncover.
blankman kind of kept me on my feet. with each new clue i grew a little more invested into the story. i liked the characters well enough, especially antonio who was just a sweetheart. i grew to like elizabeth but i had some problems with her.
i didn't like the romantic arc of the story... despite how adorable antonio was, i feel like it could've gone without developing feelings so early within the story. every time he made a joke or brushed up against her, elizabeth would start blushing like crazy. and, yeah, she was raised as a puritan and whatnot, but even after she'd grown out of her comfort zone, it was getting a bit annoying.
also, it was said that she was accustomed to sword fighting. i would've liked to see a bit more of that, especially in the end where everything was going downhill.
if you guys aren't into religious aspects in books, i'd recommend not picking this up. not that there's a heavy load of faith in it--the main character struggles from both believing in her faith and her interest in science/astronomy/philosophy--but it kind of does play a significant role in the story. in brief: the thing elizabeth's father is having her and her companions chase around could very well ruin the basic structure of christianity. and at that time, that was kind of the whole world for the characters & believers. the talk of religion is brought up throughout the book so if it makes you uncomfortable/you don't like it, best to stay away.
i did find it interesting because it made me feel the book was a bit more rich in content. seeing elizabeth struggle to find herself was interesting, especially in a time like that, and with consideration to how she was brought up, it was great character development.
overall, this was a decent book, nothing that WOW'd me, but still enjoyable. i liked how anne blankman wove her own story around paradise lost along with historical events--you can tell she did her research thoroughly. it's definitely something unique.
rating: 3.5
this wasn't a bad book, by all means. i was really excited when i first learned about it after reading alyssa's review, which you can read here. but then i saw the average rating and that kind of made me hesitant--it shouldn't but usually it's a review/rating/cover that makes or breaks the interest of a book for me.
i started this, i think, around the time i finished a court of mist and fury but it didn't feel right at the time. when i got back into it last night, i didn't find myself struggling to get through--i was determined to finish the book and actually found myself enjoying it.
i don't read a lot of historical books. the only era i really like would be the victorian or things similar to it. this takes place in 1666 and that didn't hold a lot of meaning for me. but the aspect of the book--which is discovering something that could quite possibly ruin the world (haha, how many times have we heard that before)--made this more intriguing.
the book is kind of like a treasure hunt. elizabeth's father, poet john milton, has been taken by the crown to be executed. he tells elizabeth to keep his poem, paradise lost, safe. he also tells her a phrase that leaves her confused and starts the whole hunt. within his poem, he's hidden clues that she, and a florentine, Antonio, have to uncover.
blankman kind of kept me on my feet. with each new clue i grew a little more invested into the story. i liked the characters well enough, especially antonio who was just a sweetheart. i grew to like elizabeth but i had some problems with her.
i didn't like the romantic arc of the story... despite how adorable antonio was, i feel like it could've gone without developing feelings so early within the story. every time he made a joke or brushed up against her, elizabeth would start blushing like crazy. and, yeah, she was raised as a puritan and whatnot, but even after she'd grown out of her comfort zone, it was getting a bit annoying.
also, it was said that she was accustomed to sword fighting. i would've liked to see a bit more of that, especially in the end where everything was going downhill.
if you guys aren't into religious aspects in books, i'd recommend not picking this up. not that there's a heavy load of faith in it--the main character struggles from both believing in her faith and her interest in science/astronomy/philosophy--but it kind of does play a significant role in the story. in brief: the thing elizabeth's father is having her and her companions chase around could very well ruin the basic structure of christianity. and at that time, that was kind of the whole world for the characters & believers. the talk of religion is brought up throughout the book so if it makes you uncomfortable/you don't like it, best to stay away.
i did find it interesting because it made me feel the book was a bit more rich in content. seeing elizabeth struggle to find herself was interesting, especially in a time like that, and with consideration to how she was brought up, it was great character development.
overall, this was a decent book, nothing that WOW'd me, but still enjoyable. i liked how anne blankman wove her own story around paradise lost along with historical events--you can tell she did her research thoroughly. it's definitely something unique.
rating: 3.5
July 7, 2016
I don't want to say I was bored by this, because that would be a lie, but it did take me a lot longer to read this than it should've, which is what bothers me. I can't figure out what was "wrong" and made it take nearly a month when it should've taken a week. The characters were interesting, the history was fascinating, and it felt like a historical National Treasure in London-- what DOESN'T sound interesting about that? I loved Lady Katherine and Milton himself reminded me of Mr Ollivander in the final Harry Potter film.
EDIT: After sleeping on it, I think I've figured out why I only gave this three stars -- I really felt a lack of closure at the end, despite the wonderfully harrowing action that is the Great Fire of London. . All a bit anticlimactic, in my opinion. Too many questions and not enough answers, unfortunately.
Maybe it'll go on the reread pile and I'll like it better the second time around... whenever that may be.
EDIT: After sleeping on it, I think I've figured out why I only gave this three stars -- I really felt a lack of closure at the end, despite the wonderfully harrowing action that is the Great Fire of London. . All a bit anticlimactic, in my opinion. Too many questions and not enough answers, unfortunately.
Maybe it'll go on the reread pile and I'll like it better the second time around... whenever that may be.
May 6, 2016
4.5/5
All images courtesy of Pinterest
As a big fan of Anne Blankman’s Prisoner of Night & Fog duology, I was eager to read Traitor Angels. With history, poetry, religion and science at the helm, Traitor Angels was a gloriously bustling book, one that I have no regrets picking up. From start to finish, I was hooked to the story and there was no straying my attention away.
At the cusp of the story was Elizabeth Milton, daughter of the famous English poet and political writer, John Milton, who is completely devoted and loyal to her father. She was easily a character that I found myself bonding with and cheering for. While there was a lot going on plot-wise in Traitor Angels, it was Elizabeth’s growth throughout the book that was so brilliantly executed, that it was one of the best parts of the story. From the very beginning of the book, she was intelligent, enthusiastic and loyal beyond words. Her utmost passion for astronomy, and her eagerness to learn more about the world, as a result of her father providing her with an education, was invigorating. Along with Elizabeth, you find yourself keen too learn more about the stars. Not only was she a smart heroine, but she was also considerate, helping her blind father with his writing and vowing to protect her family at all costs. Her bravery and independence radiated through Traitor Angels once she goes on a treasure hunt to ultimately save her father. Along the way, she learned more about herself, the world and religion. It was a thing of beauty watching Elizabeth come to terms with all these truths and how she handled them.
Accompanying her on this adventure was the sweet, charming and deliciously mysterious Italian, Antonio, who swept me off my feet. While Elizabeth was honestly my favorite in the book, I still found myself falling for this fiercely loyal boy. His slow-burn romance with Elizabeth was beautifully written and thrilled my shipper heart. What I loved most about their relationship was how they treated each other with utmost respect, and complete devotion. Antonio allowed Elizabeth to do her own thing without ever interfering with her plans or undermining her ideas. He, of course, offered his suggestions, but I loved that he treated her opinions and thoughts just as equally important. Not only that, but he also guided her and supported her whenever she began second-guessing herself and everything she had learned. Their romance truly was impeccable and one I consider an all-time favorite.
Not many people know this about me, but I go nuts at anything that has to do with the history of science. If I’m being honest, it’s one of the main reasons why I wanted to pick up Traitor Angels, besides the author name on the cover. Galileo’s scientific work and his secret relationship with John Milton was a heavy focus in the book. I knew this from her previous books, but Anne Blankman is always seamlessly able to blend in history and fiction. In Traitor Angels, you could tell that she thoroughly researched the history before incorporating it into the book. She explored the discoveries, theories and political state of the the 17th Century impeccably. You cannot help but be hooked into the intricacies of this story. At the center, was a treasure-hunt like adventure that Milton lead Antonio and his daughter on in order to find a well-kept secret discovery that Galileo made, one could rock the world. The journey was filled with clues, betrayals, dangerous secrets, twists and enemies and what a sensational ride it was! I was especially pleased at how often I found myself gasping in shock at the turns of events that I couldn’t foresee at all.
Brilliantly executed, Traitor Angels is undeniably one of the best historical fiction novels that I have ever read. It’s wildly creative, and a boatload of fun and if you enjoy the genre, mysteries, character-driven stories with a sprinkling of romance, you’re in for one epic ride with Traitor Angels.
All images courtesy of PinterestAs a big fan of Anne Blankman’s Prisoner of Night & Fog duology, I was eager to read Traitor Angels. With history, poetry, religion and science at the helm, Traitor Angels was a gloriously bustling book, one that I have no regrets picking up. From start to finish, I was hooked to the story and there was no straying my attention away.
At the cusp of the story was Elizabeth Milton, daughter of the famous English poet and political writer, John Milton, who is completely devoted and loyal to her father. She was easily a character that I found myself bonding with and cheering for. While there was a lot going on plot-wise in Traitor Angels, it was Elizabeth’s growth throughout the book that was so brilliantly executed, that it was one of the best parts of the story. From the very beginning of the book, she was intelligent, enthusiastic and loyal beyond words. Her utmost passion for astronomy, and her eagerness to learn more about the world, as a result of her father providing her with an education, was invigorating. Along with Elizabeth, you find yourself keen too learn more about the stars. Not only was she a smart heroine, but she was also considerate, helping her blind father with his writing and vowing to protect her family at all costs. Her bravery and independence radiated through Traitor Angels once she goes on a treasure hunt to ultimately save her father. Along the way, she learned more about herself, the world and religion. It was a thing of beauty watching Elizabeth come to terms with all these truths and how she handled them.
Accompanying her on this adventure was the sweet, charming and deliciously mysterious Italian, Antonio, who swept me off my feet. While Elizabeth was honestly my favorite in the book, I still found myself falling for this fiercely loyal boy. His slow-burn romance with Elizabeth was beautifully written and thrilled my shipper heart. What I loved most about their relationship was how they treated each other with utmost respect, and complete devotion. Antonio allowed Elizabeth to do her own thing without ever interfering with her plans or undermining her ideas. He, of course, offered his suggestions, but I loved that he treated her opinions and thoughts just as equally important. Not only that, but he also guided her and supported her whenever she began second-guessing herself and everything she had learned. Their romance truly was impeccable and one I consider an all-time favorite.
Not many people know this about me, but I go nuts at anything that has to do with the history of science. If I’m being honest, it’s one of the main reasons why I wanted to pick up Traitor Angels, besides the author name on the cover. Galileo’s scientific work and his secret relationship with John Milton was a heavy focus in the book. I knew this from her previous books, but Anne Blankman is always seamlessly able to blend in history and fiction. In Traitor Angels, you could tell that she thoroughly researched the history before incorporating it into the book. She explored the discoveries, theories and political state of the the 17th Century impeccably. You cannot help but be hooked into the intricacies of this story. At the center, was a treasure-hunt like adventure that Milton lead Antonio and his daughter on in order to find a well-kept secret discovery that Galileo made, one could rock the world. The journey was filled with clues, betrayals, dangerous secrets, twists and enemies and what a sensational ride it was! I was especially pleased at how often I found myself gasping in shock at the turns of events that I couldn’t foresee at all.
Brilliantly executed, Traitor Angels is undeniably one of the best historical fiction novels that I have ever read. It’s wildly creative, and a boatload of fun and if you enjoy the genre, mysteries, character-driven stories with a sprinkling of romance, you’re in for one epic ride with Traitor Angels.
June 24, 2016
4.5 stars
I loved it like Galileo loves space. Review to come on Happy Indulgence
I loved it like Galileo loves space. Review to come on Happy Indulgence
April 7, 2017
I had low expectations for this book, and it was still a total disappointment. The premise of John Milton's daughter going on an over-the-top quest never appealed to me, but since I greatly admire Anne Blankman as an author and historian, I gave the book a chance. For a while, I enjoyed it. The prose was excellent, the setting and period details were well-researched and woven in without info dumps, the characters were interesting enough, and the plot had good structure. I enjoyed how early details became significant later in the story, and I especially admired how well the author portrayed the tension between science and religion at that time in history. The characters' beliefs, words, and actions were initially realistic to their influences and the time and space which they inhabited, and this helped me overlook some silly story elements.
"Prisoner of Night and Fog," Anne Blankman's debut novel, was a masterpiece of ideological accuracy. That book is one of my all-time favorites, and whenever I recommend it to people, I praise how believably the character reevaluated and altered some of her fundamental presuppositions. I hoped that even though the plot and setting of "Traitor Angels" were not down my alley, I could still enjoy the story of this Puritan main character expanding her horizons and learning how to balance her biblical knowledge with new scientific understandings. For a while, it looked like the book was headed in that direction. I liked the dialogue and thought processes that grappled with scientific implications, trying to distinguish what was biblical truth and what was faulty tradition based on limited observation.
BUT THEN. The already fanciful quest narrative took a shocking turn, and the characters related the potential finding to Christ and concluded that he might have been raised from the dead through scientific means. Thus, he could have been human or divine. The characters reel from shock somewhat, but then conclude that it doesn't matter. The significance of Christ, they say, was his moral example.
The characters' primary concern is the political impact of this revelation. If church tradition were undermined and people found out that mortals could be raised from the dead, anarchy would ensue. Given the religious wars and contention in Europe at that time, this was a perfectly justifiable concern, but I kept jabbing new holes in the book's presentation of this idea. Most significantly, it isn't like Jesus was the one who came up the divine right of kings. Humans made that up, and even if you took Jesus out of the equation, they could still maintain that rulers were all God-ordained and unassailable.
My mental rating shifted from four to two stars. I reread sentences again and again, trying to accept the irrationality of an elixir that could raise people from the dead, and mocking the absurd idea that a 1666 Puritan would shrug off the divinity of Christ as a non-issue. In modernity, people developed nontraditional views on the incarnation, but no biblically literate person in any era can think that Christ's divinity is a non-issue. The New Testament relies on the narrative and implications of Jesus's lordship, perfect life, atonement on the cross for human sin, resurrection in victory over death, and fulfillment of God's redemptive plan and Old Testament promises. Judaism still stands when you discredit the entire New Testament, but you cannot take away Christ's divinity and saving work and believe that Christianity can progress. It won't be more enlightened. It will cease to be anything at all.
Would a 1666 Puritan REALLY think, "Ah, well, it's the moral example that matters" and not even THINK about the implications for forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting? This character lived and breathed in a world where religion was everything. Several chapters ago, she'd been aghast at the idea that the earth circled around the sun, and cited chapter and verse of Scripture passages regarding the earth's supposed central position. But here, she doesn't even notice that Christ's divinity is crucial to the faith she grew up in and is thoroughly educated about!
It doesn't occur to her that if Jesus wasn't God, He was a blasphemous, pathological liar. Jesus did all kinds of wonderful, good things, but isn't that all invalidated if he falsely claimed to be one with God, presumed to forgive sins, misled credulous people, undermined and rebuked religious leaders, and spoke as if he were the voice of God? We call those people cult leaders and brand them as dangerous. As C.S. Lewis famously pointed out, Jesus is either a lunatic, a liar, or Lord. The characters in this book were too dense and distracted to recognize this or veer from their entirely anachronistic platitudes about Jesus the great moral teacher.
If the characters wanted to entertain the thought that Jesus was merely human, so be it. I'm fine reading books written from and about belief systems different than mine. But for this to happen in a the historical setting in which this book was placed, they had to go through a significant shock process, consider the wide-ranging implications, recognize that the entire structure of Christianity is fraudulent, and think about potential alternative explanations for Christ's miracles, message of salvation, and behavior. (Lots of religious leaders lie pathologically, but most don't voluntarily allow people to brutally execute them. And there was no explanation of how the elixir would not only bring someone back from the dead, but also help them recover from a Roman crucifixion.)
Since the characters didn't think through ANY of the things which occurred to me as a biblically literate reader in a post-Christian society, it ruined the entire book for me. I was INDIGNANT that this unnecessary, illogical plot point shattered my patient, obliging suspension of disbelief. I wanted to like this book! I willingly overlooked silly plot elements, unlikely situations, and character development problems, and this is what I get in return? The ridiculous, distracting, anachronistic plot twist made the entire book seem fraudulent and risible, and even though the theme is supposedly the conflict between science and religion, all it had to offer to invalidate Christ was an absurd level of magical thinking with no logistical or scientific explanation whatsoever.
"Prisoner of Night and Fog," Anne Blankman's debut novel, was a masterpiece of ideological accuracy. That book is one of my all-time favorites, and whenever I recommend it to people, I praise how believably the character reevaluated and altered some of her fundamental presuppositions. I hoped that even though the plot and setting of "Traitor Angels" were not down my alley, I could still enjoy the story of this Puritan main character expanding her horizons and learning how to balance her biblical knowledge with new scientific understandings. For a while, it looked like the book was headed in that direction. I liked the dialogue and thought processes that grappled with scientific implications, trying to distinguish what was biblical truth and what was faulty tradition based on limited observation.
BUT THEN. The already fanciful quest narrative took a shocking turn, and the characters related the potential finding to Christ and concluded that he might have been raised from the dead through scientific means. Thus, he could have been human or divine. The characters reel from shock somewhat, but then conclude that it doesn't matter. The significance of Christ, they say, was his moral example.
The characters' primary concern is the political impact of this revelation. If church tradition were undermined and people found out that mortals could be raised from the dead, anarchy would ensue. Given the religious wars and contention in Europe at that time, this was a perfectly justifiable concern, but I kept jabbing new holes in the book's presentation of this idea. Most significantly, it isn't like Jesus was the one who came up the divine right of kings. Humans made that up, and even if you took Jesus out of the equation, they could still maintain that rulers were all God-ordained and unassailable.
My mental rating shifted from four to two stars. I reread sentences again and again, trying to accept the irrationality of an elixir that could raise people from the dead, and mocking the absurd idea that a 1666 Puritan would shrug off the divinity of Christ as a non-issue. In modernity, people developed nontraditional views on the incarnation, but no biblically literate person in any era can think that Christ's divinity is a non-issue. The New Testament relies on the narrative and implications of Jesus's lordship, perfect life, atonement on the cross for human sin, resurrection in victory over death, and fulfillment of God's redemptive plan and Old Testament promises. Judaism still stands when you discredit the entire New Testament, but you cannot take away Christ's divinity and saving work and believe that Christianity can progress. It won't be more enlightened. It will cease to be anything at all.
Would a 1666 Puritan REALLY think, "Ah, well, it's the moral example that matters" and not even THINK about the implications for forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting? This character lived and breathed in a world where religion was everything. Several chapters ago, she'd been aghast at the idea that the earth circled around the sun, and cited chapter and verse of Scripture passages regarding the earth's supposed central position. But here, she doesn't even notice that Christ's divinity is crucial to the faith she grew up in and is thoroughly educated about!
It doesn't occur to her that if Jesus wasn't God, He was a blasphemous, pathological liar. Jesus did all kinds of wonderful, good things, but isn't that all invalidated if he falsely claimed to be one with God, presumed to forgive sins, misled credulous people, undermined and rebuked religious leaders, and spoke as if he were the voice of God? We call those people cult leaders and brand them as dangerous. As C.S. Lewis famously pointed out, Jesus is either a lunatic, a liar, or Lord. The characters in this book were too dense and distracted to recognize this or veer from their entirely anachronistic platitudes about Jesus the great moral teacher.
If the characters wanted to entertain the thought that Jesus was merely human, so be it. I'm fine reading books written from and about belief systems different than mine. But for this to happen in a the historical setting in which this book was placed, they had to go through a significant shock process, consider the wide-ranging implications, recognize that the entire structure of Christianity is fraudulent, and think about potential alternative explanations for Christ's miracles, message of salvation, and behavior. (Lots of religious leaders lie pathologically, but most don't voluntarily allow people to brutally execute them. And there was no explanation of how the elixir would not only bring someone back from the dead, but also help them recover from a Roman crucifixion.)
Since the characters didn't think through ANY of the things which occurred to me as a biblically literate reader in a post-Christian society, it ruined the entire book for me. I was INDIGNANT that this unnecessary, illogical plot point shattered my patient, obliging suspension of disbelief. I wanted to like this book! I willingly overlooked silly plot elements, unlikely situations, and character development problems, and this is what I get in return? The ridiculous, distracting, anachronistic plot twist made the entire book seem fraudulent and risible, and even though the theme is supposedly the conflict between science and religion, all it had to offer to invalidate Christ was an absurd level of magical thinking with no logistical or scientific explanation whatsoever.
July 14, 2016
Actual rating 4.5!
Such a sweeping and elegant piece of historical fiction! My biggest regret is that I started TRAITOR ANGELS a few months ago, loved it, but for some reason put it down, and when I picked it up today to finish the last 40% off I struggled a bit in trying to get my bearings back. Apart from that though, this novel is another gem from Anne Blankman! Historical fiction is my favourite genre to read but it takes immense skill to write such flawless historical fiction, that even I, the pickiest person in the world, could hardly find a fault with it! Anne some of the best historical fiction I have ever read and reading every one of her books is like flying back in time and having the adventure right beside the characters.
I thought TRAITOR ANGELS was pretty flawless apart from the tiny fact that I thought the ending was a bit rushed and that it ended maybe a little too perfectly. BUT! Saying that, TRAITOR ANGELS also holds a SUPERB cast of characters, a plot (I can't remember the last time I exclaimed joyfully over a book's plot) that was so intricate, twisty, shock filled and amazing that I squealed out loud more then once and of course an extremely sweet romance that (gasp!) DIDN'T TAKE OVER THE STORY AND RUIN EVERYTHING AND INSTEAD WAS ADORABLE AND LOVELY AND THE LOVE INTEREST ANTONIO WAS SUCH A GENTLEMAN AND AHHHHHH. *fangirls* I just loved this book a lot. :')
Such a sweeping and elegant piece of historical fiction! My biggest regret is that I started TRAITOR ANGELS a few months ago, loved it, but for some reason put it down, and when I picked it up today to finish the last 40% off I struggled a bit in trying to get my bearings back. Apart from that though, this novel is another gem from Anne Blankman! Historical fiction is my favourite genre to read but it takes immense skill to write such flawless historical fiction, that even I, the pickiest person in the world, could hardly find a fault with it! Anne some of the best historical fiction I have ever read and reading every one of her books is like flying back in time and having the adventure right beside the characters.
I thought TRAITOR ANGELS was pretty flawless apart from the tiny fact that I thought the ending was a bit rushed and that it ended maybe a little too perfectly. BUT! Saying that, TRAITOR ANGELS also holds a SUPERB cast of characters, a plot (I can't remember the last time I exclaimed joyfully over a book's plot) that was so intricate, twisty, shock filled and amazing that I squealed out loud more then once and of course an extremely sweet romance that (gasp!) DIDN'T TAKE OVER THE STORY AND RUIN EVERYTHING AND INSTEAD WAS ADORABLE AND LOVELY AND THE LOVE INTEREST ANTONIO WAS SUCH A GENTLEMAN AND AHHHHHH. *fangirls* I just loved this book a lot. :')
June 22, 2018
I was expecting more from the author of Prisoner of Night and Fog. I remembered being far more interested in that story than in this one. Then again, it could be because I am more interested in World War II than in Paradise Lost, by John Milton. You see, this is an attempt of writing a Da Vinci Code in the 17th century.
Here is the thing: I know Paradise Lost is full of powerful quotes, such as 'If I cannot move Heaven, I'll raise Hell', or 'the mind is its own place and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven'. But I have never read it. So there is connection. I hear someone shouting in the back that I've never been to the Louvre, either. Yes, that's true. But then we move on to the next element: the writing. It didn't grip me. Some scenes here and there had me curious, but I never had any issues putting the book down. I didn't lose any sleep to keep reading this.
Also, the plot? I felt that was pretty weak too, and pretty unremarkable. There were some twists, but they were not that shocking. By the end, I was pretty much skimming, just wanting to be done with it and move on.
Here is the thing: I know Paradise Lost is full of powerful quotes, such as 'If I cannot move Heaven, I'll raise Hell', or 'the mind is its own place and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven'. But I have never read it. So there is connection. I hear someone shouting in the back that I've never been to the Louvre, either. Yes, that's true. But then we move on to the next element: the writing. It didn't grip me. Some scenes here and there had me curious, but I never had any issues putting the book down. I didn't lose any sleep to keep reading this.
Also, the plot? I felt that was pretty weak too, and pretty unremarkable. There were some twists, but they were not that shocking. By the end, I was pretty much skimming, just wanting to be done with it and move on.
maybe-read
March 12, 2016Another book by the fabulous Anne Blankman? Yay!
And also, WHAT AN AWESOME COVER. Seriously, that's gorgeous.
And also, WHAT AN AWESOME COVER. Seriously, that's gorgeous.
March 30, 2016
My experience with Traitor Angels by Anne Blankman was a slow and engaging read. But!!! Isn’t that what Historical Fiction is? Slow? This I have to say is one thing that I never understand about people. And why they complain about it. Historical Fiction novels are meant to be slow and enjoyable. I think most people either forget or just don't know. But if you didn’t know, now you do.
But anyways, who said, you can’t learn anything from reading fiction books??? Not, I!!! Traitor Angels by Anne Blankman is a Historical Fiction with some amazing history facts about John Milton, Galileo Galilei and Paradise Lost.
I myself, love History! Any change I can get to learn new interesting facts. I’m all in. Which was the reason why I picked this one up.
Well, that and Historical fiction are one of my favorite genres. But to my surprise I got more than history. Traitor Angels was a mystery tale with scavenger hunt feel. With lots of secrets and unseen betrayal.
On top of history facts, Traitor Angels is rich in world building. If you ever wonder what 1666 ever looked like or felt like? This is the perfect book to experience that era. It was beautifully told and rich with history.
I also loved the main characters which were. Elizabeth Milton, daughter of John Milton. She was the perfect heroine and was a determined girl who really grew on me from the beginning of this story.
Antonio Vivani was Galileo Galilei apprentice in which he was sent to meet John Milton by his master. He was an ambitious and swoon worthy character that I loved as well. I tell ya, this novel had it all.
Traitor Angels by Anne Blankman was told in chronological order and unfolds slowly with the focus on history and the main characters. The plot is engaging and was very interesting. Which left me surprised by the plots ending. Anne Blankman told this story in a single viewpoint. Which was very simple and easy to understand.
The ending to Traitor Angels by Anne Blankman was a pleasurable read. It was done right and really well-researched. Which leaves me to say that I will be reading Anne Blankman, Prisoner of Night and Fog duology. I haven’t had the pleasure yet. But will soon. (Hopefully)
But anyways, who said, you can’t learn anything from reading fiction books??? Not, I!!! Traitor Angels by Anne Blankman is a Historical Fiction with some amazing history facts about John Milton, Galileo Galilei and Paradise Lost.
I myself, love History! Any change I can get to learn new interesting facts. I’m all in. Which was the reason why I picked this one up.
Well, that and Historical fiction are one of my favorite genres. But to my surprise I got more than history. Traitor Angels was a mystery tale with scavenger hunt feel. With lots of secrets and unseen betrayal.
On top of history facts, Traitor Angels is rich in world building. If you ever wonder what 1666 ever looked like or felt like? This is the perfect book to experience that era. It was beautifully told and rich with history.
I also loved the main characters which were. Elizabeth Milton, daughter of John Milton. She was the perfect heroine and was a determined girl who really grew on me from the beginning of this story.
Antonio Vivani was Galileo Galilei apprentice in which he was sent to meet John Milton by his master. He was an ambitious and swoon worthy character that I loved as well. I tell ya, this novel had it all.
Traitor Angels by Anne Blankman was told in chronological order and unfolds slowly with the focus on history and the main characters. The plot is engaging and was very interesting. Which left me surprised by the plots ending. Anne Blankman told this story in a single viewpoint. Which was very simple and easy to understand.
The ending to Traitor Angels by Anne Blankman was a pleasurable read. It was done right and really well-researched. Which leaves me to say that I will be reading Anne Blankman, Prisoner of Night and Fog duology. I haven’t had the pleasure yet. But will soon. (Hopefully)
May 18, 2016
*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Historical Fiction
*Rating* 4.0
*My Thoughts*
Author Anne Blankman's previous installments, Prisoner of Night and Fog and Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke took place during the Nazi infestation that spread across Europe while killing 6 million Jews, and others who refused to accept Hitler's nightmare. This time around, Blankman heads back in time to the 17th century, 1666 to be exact, and writes about the fictitious daughter of John Milton, the author of Paradise Lost. After reading the first two books mentioned above, it proved to me that Blankman is an author to watch.
*Full Review Posted @ Gizmos Reviews 05/18/2016
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
*Published* May 3rd 2016 by Balzer+Bray/HarperCollins
*Genre* Historical Fiction
*Rating* 4.0
*My Thoughts*
Author Anne Blankman's previous installments, Prisoner of Night and Fog and Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke took place during the Nazi infestation that spread across Europe while killing 6 million Jews, and others who refused to accept Hitler's nightmare. This time around, Blankman heads back in time to the 17th century, 1666 to be exact, and writes about the fictitious daughter of John Milton, the author of Paradise Lost. After reading the first two books mentioned above, it proved to me that Blankman is an author to watch.
*Full Review Posted @ Gizmos Reviews 05/18/2016
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
*Published* May 3rd 2016 by Balzer+Bray/HarperCollins
April 28, 2016
As usual, Blankman's book has brought historical events I didn't know that much about, or didn't know all sides of, to my attention, making me want to do my own research to learn more about them. Full review on my blog, Lisa Loves Literature, next week!!
June 17, 2016
http://thedailyprophecy.blogspot.nl/2...
Two years ago I fell in love with Prisoner of night and fog. Last year Blankman lived up to my expectations with Conspiracy of blood and smoke. This year she proves she is a solid author with Traitor Angels and I can already tell you I wil read whatever she is going to write next. If I would have to compare this book with anything else, I would say it has the same vibes as The Da Vinci Code. With clues and hidden messages that takes Elizabeth on a journey that may destroy society as they know it.
One thing Blankman excels at is writing fleshed-out characters, mainly females that prove you can be strong without having muscles. Elizabeth is the daughter of famous poet John Milton and she helps him with his latest work after he lost his sight. He also makes sure she is able to handle a sword and Elizabeth has a feeling he is training her for something more, but she has no idea what, until the night comes where John is arrested by the king's man. Elizabeth has to follow a message he encoded in his half-finished Paradise lost and together with Antonio, an Intalian scientist, she has to crack the secret.
Elizabeth is smart, brave and easy to connect with. I fell in love with her voice right after the start and she did not disappoint me. She has a different way of thinking than is expected of females and I liked how her father gave her space to explore things she likes. It is obvious he gave her a broad education while growing up. That is also something that made me appreciate Antonio and their growing feelings. He completely supports Elizabeth and her passion for science, something that is out of the question for her gender. He respects her and her thoughts and they had such an equal understanding, you can't help yourself from falling in love with him too. The best part about the romance, besides being slow-building, was the fact it never takes the front seat. This book is all about figuring out what her father has hidden in his poem.
During all twists, turns and clues it is obvious that the author did her research. There are many topics she explores that makes sure you are hooked to the story and I have learned a few new things as well. The historical setting is really nicely done. There is an emphasis on religion and Galileo Galilei's work – and it is all blended so well into the story. I think it will also appeal to people to tend to stay away from historical reads, because there is so much else to explore as well.
----
3.5-4 stars. Really well-researched historical story with a journey filled with puzzles that reminded me a little of The Da Vinci code.
Review to come.
May 2, 2016
Actual rating 2.75 stars
I have always been fascinated by authors who can incorporate fiction or myths into history, so when I first heard about Traitor Angels, I immediately wanted to read it. Although I lack knowledge in history, I always find these types of stories intriguing. Anne Blankman is no doubt a brilliant author to have been able to weave this story, and for that I admire her talent.
Traitor Angels is unlike any other book I’ve read. Set in the time of King Charles II, Traitor Angels tells the tale of the fictional characters Elizabeth Milton, the daughter of John Milton, and Antonio Galleti, a man from Florence. In this novel, Blankman weaved a conspiracy tale involving John Milton, Galileo Gallilei, Vicencio Vivani and the throne of England.
I really didn’t expect this book to have religion embedded into it. As a general rule, I usually avoid books where religion plays an important role in the novel. As a result, I was taken aback a little by this. I also didn’t expect there to be mention of Galileo, but that was actually fascinating.
Traitor Angels is a novel with blood-pumping action. Led by the badass main character Elizabeth, the characters took on a dangerous journey to discover what her father and Galilio has planted for them to find. Although the story was interesting, I found a few phrases to be repetitive, especially while they were figuring out some clues. I found them to be mentioned repetitively, and that was a bit annoying. Also, I sometimes found myself skipping some of the narratives because I just wanted to get to the end already.
Traitor Angels is no doubt a work of art, but it just wasn’t for me. It’s different from what I expected it to be, although I still found the story to be interesting. As a whole, I just found it to be an okay book.
I have always been fascinated by authors who can incorporate fiction or myths into history, so when I first heard about Traitor Angels, I immediately wanted to read it. Although I lack knowledge in history, I always find these types of stories intriguing. Anne Blankman is no doubt a brilliant author to have been able to weave this story, and for that I admire her talent.
Traitor Angels is unlike any other book I’ve read. Set in the time of King Charles II, Traitor Angels tells the tale of the fictional characters Elizabeth Milton, the daughter of John Milton, and Antonio Galleti, a man from Florence. In this novel, Blankman weaved a conspiracy tale involving John Milton, Galileo Gallilei, Vicencio Vivani and the throne of England.
I really didn’t expect this book to have religion embedded into it. As a general rule, I usually avoid books where religion plays an important role in the novel. As a result, I was taken aback a little by this. I also didn’t expect there to be mention of Galileo, but that was actually fascinating.
“Regardless of how fast you run, how far you go, you cannot get away from yourself.”
Traitor Angels is a novel with blood-pumping action. Led by the badass main character Elizabeth, the characters took on a dangerous journey to discover what her father and Galilio has planted for them to find. Although the story was interesting, I found a few phrases to be repetitive, especially while they were figuring out some clues. I found them to be mentioned repetitively, and that was a bit annoying. Also, I sometimes found myself skipping some of the narratives because I just wanted to get to the end already.
Traitor Angels is no doubt a work of art, but it just wasn’t for me. It’s different from what I expected it to be, although I still found the story to be interesting. As a whole, I just found it to be an okay book.
July 18, 2016
One word for this book, B O R I N G. It was a snore fest from the first chapter. I tried to like this, believe me. There was way too much descriptions. There was also a bit of backstory and not much going forward. The female heroine, Elizabeth, failed to be realistic for the time period (1600s). She is bad-ass at EVERYTHING and when she scolds people for not thinking a girl can do anything a man can, people nod and agree. This is far from realistic. Between belive-ability and boring descriptions I put this down around 30%.
May 9, 2016
3.5 stars. Having no prior knowledge of John Milton's Paradise Lost, I was slightly worried it would affect my overall reading experience. But thankfully, it did not! I like quest type stories with high stakes and this was set up to be one of those - and it ends well too. While I did find I had reservations about the execution of the characters and their motivations, I still rather enjoyed seeing this entire journey unfold.
July 6, 2015
Another brilliant historical fiction by the talented Anne Blankman! I can't wait to read this again when it's all finished! (I was lucky enough to read an early version.)
November 17, 2018
Did not finish -- I love me some Anne Blankman, but a sexy YA story about aging, blind poet John Milton from the SEVENTEENTH century? Really? And his feisty daughter fights with knives? And his poems are all in secret code about the end of the world? Puh-leeze!
Note to Anne: why not a YA novel about being Jewish in America after Charlottesville and Pittsburgh? Your first two books were classics about Nazis in Germany -- I wish I didn't have to say this, but . . . maybe it's time for a story about Nazis in America.
Note to Anne: why not a YA novel about being Jewish in America after Charlottesville and Pittsburgh? Your first two books were classics about Nazis in Germany -- I wish I didn't have to say this, but . . . maybe it's time for a story about Nazis in America.
October 4, 2017
Historical fiction with fact based parts with a twist will always be faves in my book, and this one was wonderfully done! Delightfully written and so very captivating, I just couldn't stop reading!
never-finished
October 24, 2017Again, this is another book I did not see myself finishing in the future. Also, being in school while I started reading this book played a significant role in my decision. The story did not keep me engaged enough to pick it up again. It was a bit on the slow side.
Read
March 17, 2016I don't remember signing up to review
Traitor Angels
(it's hard to keep up with anything when you're sick), but I'm glad that I did. I have a special place in my heart for history, but when you throw together British history, religious history (science so has a place in religious history), and art history, I am so on board.
Traitor Angels
had all of those, as well as a sweet romance, making for a fun read.
First off, I have to say that this book is not historically accurate. No, I'm not just talking about the chase for clues, but there were some liberties taken with Milton's family. That sort of thing does not bother me, but it's there. Elizabeth was still a fun character that I don't think would have been nearly as interesting if her real life would have featured. Fiction makes for better stories sometimes.
Did I say chase for clues? Of course I did! I am so happy that this is becoming more of a thing in YA because there is nothing better than reading "coming of age" novels that has young people playing race and chase to find clues or solve mysteries. Traitor Angels has Elizabeth, Antonio, and maybe a friend or two going to various destinations in 17th century England.
I like to read for descriptions of various places, food, and dress when I read historical fiction and fantasy, and Traitor Angels did not disappoint. With the scavenger hunt, I got descriptions of certain areas, as well as what people used to write, dry ink, etc. It was so very cool for the nerd in me.
Traitor Angels was a fun and sweet read for me, and I hope there are more books like this soon. This is an author that I will be checking out in the future, and if you're interested in this book at all, I recommend picking it up.
First off, I have to say that this book is not historically accurate. No, I'm not just talking about the chase for clues, but there were some liberties taken with Milton's family. That sort of thing does not bother me, but it's there. Elizabeth was still a fun character that I don't think would have been nearly as interesting if her real life would have featured. Fiction makes for better stories sometimes.
Did I say chase for clues? Of course I did! I am so happy that this is becoming more of a thing in YA because there is nothing better than reading "coming of age" novels that has young people playing race and chase to find clues or solve mysteries. Traitor Angels has Elizabeth, Antonio, and maybe a friend or two going to various destinations in 17th century England.
I like to read for descriptions of various places, food, and dress when I read historical fiction and fantasy, and Traitor Angels did not disappoint. With the scavenger hunt, I got descriptions of certain areas, as well as what people used to write, dry ink, etc. It was so very cool for the nerd in me.
Traitor Angels was a fun and sweet read for me, and I hope there are more books like this soon. This is an author that I will be checking out in the future, and if you're interested in this book at all, I recommend picking it up.
April 2, 2016
This is the first book I have read from this author and it will not be the last. This is a beautifully written story that has a touch of everything from mystery to love to lies and secrets. The setting is in London middle sixteen hundreds set in the beautiful hillsides.
King Charles II has returned to take his rightful place as King. He is going to change the country and make it a better place for his subjects. But he has some subjects who don't want to accept him as King. Poet John Milton and his daughter Elizabeth are not excited that Charles has come out of exile to become King.
Elizabeth loves her father and helps him transcribe his poetry by day and by night her father teaches her different languages and how to protect herself if she ever needed it. Elizabeth only knows what her father teaches her and she is more than happy to be by his side. So when the King's men come to arrest her father she knows she is going to have to fight to get her father cleared of the charges and released from prison.
Elizabeth and her fathers friend Antonio will go on a wild trip to solve clues her father has left her to uncover a secret the King does not want anyone to find out. Elizabeth and Antonio go from place to place to piece together the clues and when they do Elizabeth will have to decide whether or not she will tell the truth and free her father and destroy the country or will she keep the secret and try to find another way to rescue her father.
King Charles II has returned to take his rightful place as King. He is going to change the country and make it a better place for his subjects. But he has some subjects who don't want to accept him as King. Poet John Milton and his daughter Elizabeth are not excited that Charles has come out of exile to become King.
Elizabeth loves her father and helps him transcribe his poetry by day and by night her father teaches her different languages and how to protect herself if she ever needed it. Elizabeth only knows what her father teaches her and she is more than happy to be by his side. So when the King's men come to arrest her father she knows she is going to have to fight to get her father cleared of the charges and released from prison.
Elizabeth and her fathers friend Antonio will go on a wild trip to solve clues her father has left her to uncover a secret the King does not want anyone to find out. Elizabeth and Antonio go from place to place to piece together the clues and when they do Elizabeth will have to decide whether or not she will tell the truth and free her father and destroy the country or will she keep the secret and try to find another way to rescue her father.
Want to read
December 23, 2015A new Anne Blankman!!!!
A new Anne Blankman!!!!!
A new Anne Blankman!!!!!
A new Anne Blankman!!!!
A new Anne Blankman!!!!!
A new Anne Blankman!!!!!
A new Anne Blankman!!!!!
A new Anne Blankman!!!!
A new Anne Blankman!!!!!
February 8, 2022
YA historical fiction is hard to come by and good YA historical fiction is an even harder find. Traitor Angels was a breath of fresh air. Paradise Lost is one of my favorite classical pieces of literature to study, so I found the tie into the author and work, very intriguing. There was almost a Dan Brown feel to the book too as the characters must decode secret messages to help uncover the central mystery. Since this is YA, there's a love story too as expected, but it's very sweet and not angsty. Highly recommend.
did-not-finish
July 27, 2024DNF
I paused reading because the main character Elizabeth was so beyond aggravating, I wasn’t sure if I could continue to read. I perused some other reviews on the book and apparently the story itself takes a ridiculous turn.
I have no interest in continuing this book and I’m really sad I didn’t love it especially considering I’ve given five stars to every other book I’ve read from her.
I paused reading because the main character Elizabeth was so beyond aggravating, I wasn’t sure if I could continue to read. I perused some other reviews on the book and apparently the story itself takes a ridiculous turn.
I have no interest in continuing this book and I’m really sad I didn’t love it especially considering I’ve given five stars to every other book I’ve read from her.
May 14, 2017
I usually like Historical Fiction but I just couldn't get into this book.
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