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Skeleton Key #24

Shadow Wings

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Archangel Raguel loses his wings… right as the world is about to go to hell.

Hunting a fallen angel bent on changing human history, Archangel Raguel finds a mysterious stone bearing a symbol in the midst of his investigation. Without warning, it throws him out of the angelic realms, abruptly turning him human.

He wakes naked in Gorky Park, in 1980s Moscow, wings gone and no ability to communicate with the other side. Picked up for public drunkenness and nudity, he asks for help of KGB Agent Ilana Kopovich, who is investigating a far more gruesome crime––the murder of a half-dozen children whose bodies were left mutilated in Red Square. Little does she know, the murderer she’s hunting is the same demon Raguel wants.

Raguel asks for Ilana’s help, and she quickly realizes she needs him. Together they must stop the demon before he commits his final crime and brings the world to the brink of war.

215 pages, ebook

First published October 29, 2016

67 people are currently reading
296 people want to read

About the author

J.C. Andrijeski

212 books714 followers
Also publishes under the name Julie Light


JC Andrijeski is a USA TODAY bestselling author who writes sexy, apocalyptic and cyberpunk-y science fiction romance and mystery books, often with a metaphysical bent. Current works include the gritty, epic, psychic warfare romance, ALLIE'S WAR, which follows Allie Taylor and her antihero partner, Revik, in their attempts to save the world from a dark, psychic force. Her dystopian science fiction romance series, ALIEN APOCALYPSE, features Jet Tetsuo, survivor and slave under alien conquerors, and her GATE SHIFTER series is about a shape-shifting alien and a tough-girl PI from Seattle. Her newest launch is QUENTIN BLACK, a science fiction romance and mystery series that’s a spin-off from Allie’s War but set in our own version of Earth.

JC has a background in journalism, history and politics, travels extensively and has lived abroad in Europe, Australia and Asia, and from coast to coast in the continental United States. She currently lives in Bangkok, Thailand.

To learn more about me and my writing, please visit http://jcandrijeski.com. For more about the Allie's War series, visit http://allieswarseries.com

If you want to get an automatic email when JC's next book is released, join THE REBEL ARMY at tinyurl.com/JCAndrijeski.

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5 stars
39 (37%)
4 stars
35 (33%)
3 stars
23 (21%)
2 stars
6 (5%)
1 star
2 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
Profile Image for Jennifer.
1,277 reviews58 followers
June 4, 2018
KGB agent Ilana Kopovich is aiding the Russian police in their investigation of a group of murders involving children. They've managed to catch to guy, but during his interview things get weird - the criminal starts talking to a spot on the wall named Raguel. While she can't see him, Raguel is real. A real angel who is also investigating the murders because the human who committed them is actually possessed by a demon.

This one started out alright, but the ending was disappointing. In these action/mystery plots, there is a sweet spot between the reveal being too complicated to be real and too simple to be exciting - this one was the later. All the pieces were there to be able to make the demon's plot for chaos interesting, but in execution, It was just too easy. There was too little tension, too few setbacks, not enough doubt of success. Even the character's HEA came to easily. :(
Profile Image for Alaina.
7,356 reviews203 followers
June 23, 2018
Meh?

Shadow Wings is one of many books within the Skeleton Key series. In this book, you meet Ilana and Raguel. These two characters were kind of interesting but a bit boring to read about. Everything that happened between them was a bit predictable. I guess the one thing that I liked was the smut even if it was some small scenes.

Now in this book, Raguel is an angel and Ilana is a human. Lately books with angel characters have usually been pretty boring for me to read. They will start off interesting but then just fall flat for me. I wont DNF them because I know that they will be easy to finish but I just want one book that has angels to sweep me off my feet.

Ilana and Raguel work together to find a human who has been possessed by a demon. Of course it takes them a while to find out who it was, I wasn't shocked when it was revealed by the way, and then somehow try to figure out how to stay together. If you've seen Hercules, animated film, and they give him the option to come home.. and he chooses meg over family. Yeah that's what happen here HOWEVER once he dies he gets to go back to being an angel? Meh.

Overall, it was boring and predictable. I didn't really care for either character and even the villain was kind of a joke. I might try another book from this series.. but I have no idea when that will happen at this point.
Profile Image for debturk1970_bookvibes.
1,851 reviews18 followers
January 31, 2020
Mind Blowingly Clever - Again!!💥🙏🔥💘
(Read using Kindle Unlimited)
Shadow Wings

This book is set in 80's Russia on the brink of its collapse from Communism. It gives it a dank, gritty & polluted feel throughout. Ilana is an atheist, realist & an undercover KGB Agent!😳 These things don't run hand in hand but as she's a practical & extremely smart woman, who loves her Country, she makes it work. Her world gets upended on a gruesome child multiple murder case!💔😢 Raguel comes into her life in mysterious, unexplainable circumstances!🙈🙏 He's stunningly beautiful but slightly odd too. How will their lives intertwine??😳 Can they help save more than just each other??🙏

Yet again this Author's world building has blown my mind!💥 Her characters are never simple, they're always a little strange, for good or bad?!😉 Reading it gave me chills with the 'what ifs'!!😱 Again the steam factor is handled so well & mostly through slow, sensual touch!🔥💘🔥
Another highly recommended read, a standalone this time!!🌟

Debbie, 1970, UK

Profile Image for The Book Junkie Reads . . ..
5,015 reviews154 followers
July 12, 2016
From The Book Junkie Reads . . .
Angle. Russia. KGB. Pedophile. Murder. Skeleton key. All these things lead to one read that will take you on a trip to the 80s, Russia, and a KGB investigation in to the murders of several children in the middle of Red Square. The plot twist. The turns. The mystery and suspense. There was the intrigue of trusting someone you know nothing about but knows all about you. This was an enjoyable ride in the time frame. The characters draw you in and give you more to see with the words and the vivid descriptions.

There were a few words that gave me overkill, but the authenticity of the locale was amazing. I loved the setting and how well it was all set up. The minute attention to details in describing various things including procedure.
**This ARC was provided via IndieSage PR via Kindle in exchange for an honest review.**
Profile Image for Jodi Nichols.
555 reviews10 followers
June 13, 2016
This is the second book in the Skeleton Key Novella series that I have read and I really enjoyed it. J.C. did an amazing job with how well she described everything within the story and details! Ilana and Raguel were great characters and ones that you grow to love. Ilana is very skeptical at first with Raguel because he is a mystery for her since he suddenly appears after touching the skelton key and knows everything about her and she has never met him. She eventually learns to trust him and he helps her so much with the case she is working on. Raguel is such a quiet, softspoken character and maybe it's because of being an angel, but I really loved him because he was always there and made her comfortable for being someone she has never known.

I am so happy J.C. let me do an ARC of this story and I would have loved to see more for Raguel and Ilana. I am definitely having to check out all of her other books now because she has a great writing style and I loved it!
2,226 reviews4 followers
October 28, 2017
World changing

This takes place during Cold War Russia, just before Gorbachev takes power. It's interesting to see how a political upheaval could have been caused by influencing a few people. Whether you believe in angels or demons it doesn't take much imagination to see how this could have changed our world. The author holds your interest and there is just enough realism to see this happen.
Profile Image for Innie | Kindledallnight.
452 reviews38 followers
October 11, 2025
It was OK but...

Sadly this book fell a bit flat for me. It was a bit long winded sometimes and I ended up just scrolling through pages at time.
It felt a bit flat. The book had a strong opening, but then it kind of just followed flatly from then.
It didn't captivate me the same way other books by the same author has done, which is a shame as her sword & shield series I am also reading right now is very good and intreguing!
322 reviews
September 24, 2017
A really good read

Russia in the 70s, a beautiful KGB agent, an angel turned human and a body snatching demon. All come together in a good story. Irina's angel, Raguel, turns human after touching an unfamiliar crystal. He knows he needs to help her stop a demon from changing world events. Quick moving and entertaining.
Profile Image for Teresa.
Author 1 book8 followers
February 15, 2023
A paranormal romance served with a slice of history

Undercurrents of sensual tension slide throughout an intriguing story set in the snowy landscape of Moscow. What if your guardian angel could manifest as human and help you face a threat that you could never imagine having to deal with.
2 reviews
December 7, 2024
Unusual setting, enjoyable read

Unlike every other angels and demons book I've read, this one is set in Russia (or Soviet Union as it was at the time in the book). Other than that, it's an enjoyable version of the usual plot (demons working to destabilize things, angels trying to stop them).
941 reviews8 followers
October 15, 2021
Interesting Story, No Action

I'm used to a lot more action and intensity from this author, so I was disappointed in the lack from this story. I enjoyed the premise. The writing was good.
Profile Image for Pippa DaCosta.
Author 79 books1,557 followers
Want to read
October 29, 2019
Can this be read as a standalone? I didn't realize it was part of a series.
127 reviews
September 30, 2023
This was an interesting and unusual plot. However, it did get bogged down in a few places. It was worth reading.
Profile Image for Shelly Rundell.
42 reviews
January 8, 2025
great story

This was a fantastic story and a quick read! I really enjoyed the characters and the plot. I give it Five stars!
Profile Image for Jeannie Zelos.
2,851 reviews57 followers
June 15, 2016
Shadow Wings, (Skeleton Key), J.C. Andrijeski

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre: Romance, Sci-fi and fantasy


Skeleton Key Book Series
One Skeleton Key. Endless Adventures.
https://skeletonkeybookseries.com

One magical key.
The turn of a lock.
An adventure of a lifetime.

The Skeleton Key finds those who are brave enough. Curious enough. Crazy enough. It only needs an unsuspecting hand and inconspicuous door. Magic uncoils and where the door leads, no one knows. The one way to discover the truth is to step through into a world of the exotic and untold.

If you dare to dream the impossible…
Prepare yourself.
Unlock the Skeleton Key adventures


An intriguing concept, 28 different authors writing a story based around the same subject, the Skeleton Key. I love JCA’s writing style so was keen to read this one.

I enjoyed the story, a lot, but it wasn’t anywhere near the pleasure I have from reading Allie’s War, the Morph books or the fabulous Black series. Raguel is just not Revik!! or Black.... Those books have a much deeper feel, more intese and solid reading. Everything in this is good and easy to read but its kind of JCA Lite to me compared to the others.
Its a fun story, scary in parts thinking how easily the Russia described could be – in fact probably is – very much like the Russia in this book.
I liked the characters, the very moral Ilana, one of those people who do things because they believe in the rightness of them, not just because its a job, a paycheque. She believes in what she’s doing, genuinely feels as if she wants to make her Russia a better place, but she’s not blind to the corruption and the craze for power that some people fall prey to.
Then she meets Raguel, and she’s puzzled. He seems like a straight forward mental patient, but then he knows things about her he shouldn’t and how does he? She’s puzzled, doesn’t feel he’s the fruit loop others seem to be convinced of, and when he indicates he can help her with her quest to find the murderer she talks to him. What he tells her though though is something she finds impossible to believe..until she sees the key and its reaction to Raguel...

A fun read, and one I enjoyed and would like to read some of the other stories when there's time...its always way though, isn’t it – so many books so little time.

Stars: Four, an enjoyable read and it will be interesting to see what approach other authors take.

ARC supplied by author
242 reviews
June 15, 2016
The angel Raguel is suddenly a mortal human on earth after touching a skull key that appears in a Russian police interrogation room when the beautiful undercover KGB politburo agent is interrogating a pedophile a child murderer. Somehow he must find out what the demon possessing this man is up to before he kills his host and finds another. The only one who can help him is Ilana, the KGB agent.
This story reads like something between a Tom Clancy and Clive Cussler novel. It starts slow but is well worth the read. The pace and the feel of the novel are perfect for this communist era Russian spy novel. The language and pacing draws you into this world. I found myself reading with a Russian accent without meaning to. The details show a great deal of familiarity with the communist Russia police system. I learned things I never understood before about the purpose of the politburo. Very well researched and so well written.
There is also a touching love story. Raguel is an angel so this is not going to read like the Allie’s War series. Quite the opposite but very appropriate given the time period, the subject matter and the characters involved. If you like spy novels with a love story, you will really enjoy this.
Profile Image for Tasha Driver.
Author 2 books27 followers
July 15, 2016
JC has such an amazing style of writing and it really shows in this story set in 1980's U.S.S.R. during the Cold War. It takes an intellectual approach to paranormal fantasy.

The story begins in the Archangel Raguel's POV as he observes an interview that Ilana is conducting with a disgusting and disturbed criminal who is actually possessed by a conniving demon. This is where Raguel finds the key. He is transported from the interrogation and into the park, naked and wingless, in a human body. This happens in the sole chapter that is in present tense. I thought it was weird at first, but then I got that it was to portray a very sensory experience in real time (This is the first time that he feels cold temperatures and he is alone, cut off from the other angels.).

The rest of the book is in Ilana's POV. She is clinical but likable as a KGB agent. I absolutely love how a fantastical twist is put on the political events of that time period.
Profile Image for Mandy.
4,902 reviews46 followers
August 5, 2016
Another great story by JC Andrijeski this time as part of the Skeleton Key series

I was given an ARC for this book in return for an honest review.

This book seamlessly weaves a classic Russian environment with a story of love, passion and corruption. There's Ilana and her upstanding morals (even though she understands and can play the corrupt parts of the system), plus Raguel who knows so much about her and her life even though she has never met him. We follow them as they get to know each other and solve a terrible crime.

The characters are very believable and I just wanted to know what next for them by the end of the book. Highly recommended - this is good for both existing fans and a good introduction for any new readers to JC's writing.
Profile Image for S M Ryan.
327 reviews4 followers
July 1, 2016
2nd of the Skelly Key books I've read so far

This really feels like it could have happened in early 90's soviet Russia; (assuming you allow the fantasy elements!) - the wife was in Moscow around this time, twice, for 4 months the second time, and it brings me back to then, remembering her descriptions of Gorky Park. (Her research was in the Communist Party archives) And about the despair of people who didn't know what was coming.
This is really, however, about Ilana, and how she, with some help, (spoiler alert!), saved the world, really. Love JCA's books!
Author 18 books72 followers
June 1, 2016
This is a great stand-alone novella from one of my favorite authors. It's an intriguing little mystery involving angels, demons, and humans - set in Russia during the Cold War era. I found the mystery and the actual story setting absorbing and fascinating.

No less than one might expect from a favorite author, right?

If you like twisty plots and unusual mysteries, this is probably a book you'd enjoy.

Profile Image for T..
Author 13 books573 followers
December 12, 2016
I downloaded Shadow Wings as a free book from Amazon. I'm a fan of Andrijeski's Black series, so I was happy to find this short story featuring an earth-bound angel. The unusual, really good plot had me wondering how the protagonists would win against the evil fallen angel who set them up using crafty manipulation. The story wasn't as complex as most of her full length books, but I still enjoyed this fast-paced read.
Profile Image for Nage.
79 reviews8 followers
December 28, 2016
Amazing Satisfying Read

This was an incredibly satisfying read. Great story, plot, fast moving but not on a way that leaves gaping plot holes and misunderstanding. I thought the era would turn me off but boy it added so much to the story. The paranormal elements were refreshing and unique.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
2,321 reviews21 followers
June 28, 2016
What an interesting time setting! Although I got extremely tired of " Comrade" this and"Comrade" that for most of the conversations I still enjoyed the story.
Profile Image for Shannon.
386 reviews14 followers
August 1, 2016
Love the new storyline with JC'S writing! Loved this story and can't wait for the rest!
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews

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