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Second Death #2
Queen of the Fallen
Wounded and war-weary, Frank Bishop returns to New York City where a boy could fulfill a six-thousand-year-old prophecy and save the world from the Fallen.
Jessie’s quest to free the King of the Fallen from the Second Death brings her to the Arizona desert. She frees one of the Fallen with the power to eat the souls of man and together they search for the lost Stone of Serr’rah to free their King.
In New York City, sadistic evil and chaos manifests in a crazy man and his demon horde. He has his own plans for humanity and won’t let some bitch and a wannabe King stand in his way.
Queen of the Fallen is Book Two in Brian Rella’s action-packed supernatural thriller series, the Second Death Supernatural Thrillers.
If you like supernatural thrillers buy Queen of the Fallen now.
Jessie’s quest to free the King of the Fallen from the Second Death brings her to the Arizona desert. She frees one of the Fallen with the power to eat the souls of man and together they search for the lost Stone of Serr’rah to free their King.
In New York City, sadistic evil and chaos manifests in a crazy man and his demon horde. He has his own plans for humanity and won’t let some bitch and a wannabe King stand in his way.
Queen of the Fallen is Book Two in Brian Rella’s action-packed supernatural thriller series, the Second Death Supernatural Thrillers.
If you like supernatural thrillers buy Queen of the Fallen now.
- GenresHorror
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 8, 2016
7 people are currently reading
22 people want to read
About the author
Brian Rella
10 books15 followersSign up for Brian Rella's no spam newsletter at http://www.brianrella.com/ and get Rising: The Second Death Prequel and two short stories for FREE.
Brian lives in the suburbs of New York City with his wife, who is far too good for him, and his two vivacious boys who challenge his light-saber skills on a regular basis.
The Monsters & Demons Horror Anthology he wrote in 2015 spawned the Second Death Series based on the story, "Arraziel", from the collection. "Arraziel" was rewritten into a prequel novella called, Rising: The Second Death Prequel.
There are three books planned in the series. Book One, Watchers of the Fallen, and Book Two, Queen of the Fallen, were released in 2016. Book Three is planned for early 2017.
Brian also enjoys American football, BBQ, 80's Rock, craft beer, and the occasional small batch bourbon - not in that order specifically, though he wouldn't complain about that sequence either.
Brian lives in the suburbs of New York City with his wife, who is far too good for him, and his two vivacious boys who challenge his light-saber skills on a regular basis.
The Monsters & Demons Horror Anthology he wrote in 2015 spawned the Second Death Series based on the story, "Arraziel", from the collection. "Arraziel" was rewritten into a prequel novella called, Rising: The Second Death Prequel.
There are three books planned in the series. Book One, Watchers of the Fallen, and Book Two, Queen of the Fallen, were released in 2016. Book Three is planned for early 2017.
Brian also enjoys American football, BBQ, 80's Rock, craft beer, and the occasional small batch bourbon - not in that order specifically, though he wouldn't complain about that sequence either.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
November 16, 2016
Angelic warfare for the future of humanity.
“And so the day will come when the spirits of the Fallen will rise again to retake the land of the living.”
Jesse, once a simple teenage girl from Louisiana, has been claimed by the demonic King of the Fallen (Angels) Nssu, who spins his web around her and in exchange for his ecstasy and strength she works to free his companion Fallen so he can rule over the world.
The Watchers are half-angelic beings, born as human and charged by their order with the task of keeping the Fallen locked away to protect humanity. They are people of faith like Father Brennan and people of none, like Frank, but all of whom have lost everything they care for in the fight, so it has become personal. The Watchers set their hopes on a chosen one, who prophecy says will defeat Nssu.
Then there is Roy and his Legion who believes he and not Nssu should be the one in control and goes around inflicting gory torture and death with indiscriminate glee on any he thinks might get him closer to that goal.
And Titus, the rebel Watcher, working with the government to bring down the Fallen by more conventional means - and eventually some very unconventional ones.
A superlative mix of occult baddies drawn from - or modelled on those from - Christian Apocrypha and Jewish Apocalyptic literature, with a touch of Ancient Mesopotamian for good measure. They come up against a rag-bag assortment of very human half-angels, to fight out an ancient battle of good against evil on earth.
I am the Leech of Aeons, the Father of all Monsters, the KING of the Fallen, and I will show you my power!
This is a bit more than the standard urban fantasy of fallen angels and half-angelic humans, it reminds me of Storm Constantine's Grigori books in the scope of the world scene-setting and the way the story tracks back into the distant past and looks at the modern consequences. I really liked that. I also liked that even though I had not read the first book in the series (though I have read the short prequel novella) the story did not seem to lose anything. If you are picking this up as your first taste of the series you will find your way just fine.
The book is well written with a smooth flow of language and nothing to make you stop and re-read because it made no sense first time. I like that in a book, it means I can enjoy the ride wherever it might be going, effortlessly. The pace is perfect. We have action and quieter moments which balance well, but with the emphasis on the action. The battles are epic in scale and scope and described in a viscerally gripping way. There are flashbacks, which mostly keep neatly within bounds of informing without dragging too much. The finish is just about perfect - being both a cliff-hanger and yet satisfying the sense of there being an ending.
The characters are well fleshed out, but all are very damaged individuals, which cast a pall of near despair over the plot at times as they struggle to muster any hope between them. They are real people you care about, but would not invite to a party as they would be the one in the corner looking miserable when everyone else was dancing the conga. Dialogue is very well written in general, fluent and convincing, but just occasionally touches into cheesy 'hard man' speak.
The occult horror is well done. I liked the clever use of referencing real texts mixed in with the mythical Book of Razmus. It is a great way of building credibility from the readers knowledge into the fictional setting of the story.
I am no fan of gore and the amount here well-exceeded my tolerance in places, especially when Roy gets playful and creative. So anyone who is a fan will find a lot of it to enjoy. The scenes of Jesse and her King are sometimes almost poignant in their horror, the mutual need and yet revulsion, covered by a dominating false-love is very cleverly portrayed.
Whatever he was, whatever the Fallen were, he had trouble believing there was some kind of good, all-knowing God behind it all.
There are a couple of issues which grated for me. There are a number of internal inconsistencies I noticed which did not help the flow, Kuriel thinking the physical union of humans to reproduce is somehow unique in a world he has been studying for centuries and is populated by mammals, for example.
The idea of good and evil is simply too blurred. The 'good guys' are not good people, they are just those killing the monsters. The setting is a Christian world view and the back story 'glimpses' of Kuriel and Uriel speak of the creation of the earth in terms clearly belonging to the Abrahamic religious traditions. But God is presented as an utter tyrant - meaning those who choose 'good' seem to be merely picking one dictator over another. OK, I'd back the tyrant who does not have horrible monsters killing and eating people, over the one that does - but it is still more like a 'zombie apocalypse survival' mode of morality, than any sense of a greater good coming from it. That does not really work so well with the obvious religious over-theme.
Also the treatment of Jack by the Watchers struck me as being extremely cavalier, in that the Watchers have a large organisation and have had millennia of experience in dealing with the young, vulnerable and needy half-angels as they develop. But they still seemed to have no idea what to do to help this child come to terms with his position, leaving it to the most damaged adult around to attempt the task.
But overall I enjoyed the book. This is a racy, pacy and utterly gripping occult horror, which people who enjoy religious themed, dark fantasy will want to snap up.
“And so the day will come when the spirits of the Fallen will rise again to retake the land of the living.”
Jesse, once a simple teenage girl from Louisiana, has been claimed by the demonic King of the Fallen (Angels) Nssu, who spins his web around her and in exchange for his ecstasy and strength she works to free his companion Fallen so he can rule over the world.
The Watchers are half-angelic beings, born as human and charged by their order with the task of keeping the Fallen locked away to protect humanity. They are people of faith like Father Brennan and people of none, like Frank, but all of whom have lost everything they care for in the fight, so it has become personal. The Watchers set their hopes on a chosen one, who prophecy says will defeat Nssu.
Then there is Roy and his Legion who believes he and not Nssu should be the one in control and goes around inflicting gory torture and death with indiscriminate glee on any he thinks might get him closer to that goal.
And Titus, the rebel Watcher, working with the government to bring down the Fallen by more conventional means - and eventually some very unconventional ones.
A superlative mix of occult baddies drawn from - or modelled on those from - Christian Apocrypha and Jewish Apocalyptic literature, with a touch of Ancient Mesopotamian for good measure. They come up against a rag-bag assortment of very human half-angels, to fight out an ancient battle of good against evil on earth.
I am the Leech of Aeons, the Father of all Monsters, the KING of the Fallen, and I will show you my power!
This is a bit more than the standard urban fantasy of fallen angels and half-angelic humans, it reminds me of Storm Constantine's Grigori books in the scope of the world scene-setting and the way the story tracks back into the distant past and looks at the modern consequences. I really liked that. I also liked that even though I had not read the first book in the series (though I have read the short prequel novella) the story did not seem to lose anything. If you are picking this up as your first taste of the series you will find your way just fine.
The book is well written with a smooth flow of language and nothing to make you stop and re-read because it made no sense first time. I like that in a book, it means I can enjoy the ride wherever it might be going, effortlessly. The pace is perfect. We have action and quieter moments which balance well, but with the emphasis on the action. The battles are epic in scale and scope and described in a viscerally gripping way. There are flashbacks, which mostly keep neatly within bounds of informing without dragging too much. The finish is just about perfect - being both a cliff-hanger and yet satisfying the sense of there being an ending.
The characters are well fleshed out, but all are very damaged individuals, which cast a pall of near despair over the plot at times as they struggle to muster any hope between them. They are real people you care about, but would not invite to a party as they would be the one in the corner looking miserable when everyone else was dancing the conga. Dialogue is very well written in general, fluent and convincing, but just occasionally touches into cheesy 'hard man' speak.
The occult horror is well done. I liked the clever use of referencing real texts mixed in with the mythical Book of Razmus. It is a great way of building credibility from the readers knowledge into the fictional setting of the story.
I am no fan of gore and the amount here well-exceeded my tolerance in places, especially when Roy gets playful and creative. So anyone who is a fan will find a lot of it to enjoy. The scenes of Jesse and her King are sometimes almost poignant in their horror, the mutual need and yet revulsion, covered by a dominating false-love is very cleverly portrayed.
Whatever he was, whatever the Fallen were, he had trouble believing there was some kind of good, all-knowing God behind it all.
There are a couple of issues which grated for me. There are a number of internal inconsistencies I noticed which did not help the flow, Kuriel thinking the physical union of humans to reproduce is somehow unique in a world he has been studying for centuries and is populated by mammals, for example.
The idea of good and evil is simply too blurred. The 'good guys' are not good people, they are just those killing the monsters. The setting is a Christian world view and the back story 'glimpses' of Kuriel and Uriel speak of the creation of the earth in terms clearly belonging to the Abrahamic religious traditions. But God is presented as an utter tyrant - meaning those who choose 'good' seem to be merely picking one dictator over another. OK, I'd back the tyrant who does not have horrible monsters killing and eating people, over the one that does - but it is still more like a 'zombie apocalypse survival' mode of morality, than any sense of a greater good coming from it. That does not really work so well with the obvious religious over-theme.
Also the treatment of Jack by the Watchers struck me as being extremely cavalier, in that the Watchers have a large organisation and have had millennia of experience in dealing with the young, vulnerable and needy half-angels as they develop. But they still seemed to have no idea what to do to help this child come to terms with his position, leaving it to the most damaged adult around to attempt the task.
But overall I enjoyed the book. This is a racy, pacy and utterly gripping occult horror, which people who enjoy religious themed, dark fantasy will want to snap up.
May 26, 2018
Book 2 sees Jessie even more in the grips of the demon Nalsuu. She has freed two of his minions and is intent on freeing Dalkhu, the one who has the power to release Nalsuu from his prison. But the Watchers are also intent on stopping her. Frank has found a boy who could be the prophesied saviour, the one with the power to destroy the fallen forever! It is up to him to train him before Nalsuu is released.
I loved book 1 and dived into this straight after listening to it, and I have to say that I loved this one even more. There is more action than the first and I found myself hooked! The plot was fast paced and exciting and I was on the edge of my seat throughout. The world the author created is fascinating and I loved finding out about the Fallen and Watchers and about the chosen one!!
The characters were all well written and developed. Frank is as steady as ever and I loved how he handled the boy. Jessie is more messed up than she was in book 1 because the Demon has a stronger hold on her. There is a new player who seems to be working for his own agenda. He is unpredictable and deadly and I hope we get more about him in the next one!!
In all, this was an excellent second book and one I devoured. I am so looking forward to book 3!!! Brilliant world building and great characters make this a must read.
Todd Menesses read this well. He had a great range of tones and voices for the characters and was able to bring the atmosphere to life. One thing I did find with him though was his female tones were a little grating and got on my nerves a bit. But overall, a good performance.
I was given this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review. This in no way affected nor influenced my thoughts.
I loved book 1 and dived into this straight after listening to it, and I have to say that I loved this one even more. There is more action than the first and I found myself hooked! The plot was fast paced and exciting and I was on the edge of my seat throughout. The world the author created is fascinating and I loved finding out about the Fallen and Watchers and about the chosen one!!
The characters were all well written and developed. Frank is as steady as ever and I loved how he handled the boy. Jessie is more messed up than she was in book 1 because the Demon has a stronger hold on her. There is a new player who seems to be working for his own agenda. He is unpredictable and deadly and I hope we get more about him in the next one!!
In all, this was an excellent second book and one I devoured. I am so looking forward to book 3!!! Brilliant world building and great characters make this a must read.
Todd Menesses read this well. He had a great range of tones and voices for the characters and was able to bring the atmosphere to life. One thing I did find with him though was his female tones were a little grating and got on my nerves a bit. But overall, a good performance.
I was given this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review. This in no way affected nor influenced my thoughts.
March 8, 2018
Finished narrating this one last week, the story continues to grow and is excellent, the audiobook version should be available soon as the final edits are happening now. If you haven't picked up a copy of the audiobook of Book 1 Watchers of the Fallen do so now and then you will be ready for this one.
January 10, 2017
another great read
The next installment of the series that has been great is worth the wait. I had hopes that I would not be disappointed as I have been in other second books and they were fulfilled and more.
The next installment of the series that has been great is worth the wait. I had hopes that I would not be disappointed as I have been in other second books and they were fulfilled and more.
October 4, 2018
Queen of the Fallen is the exciting follow up to Watchers of the Fallen by Brian Rella. The action ratchets up in this book as Fallen of the Second Death gather their forces on Earth and prepare to take over our realm. The plot branches and becomes more complicated as we launch into the heart-stopping sequel.
Frank is home in NYC to heal and regroup after losing Tarek in Chicago. He needs to regain his strength then figure out where Jesse has gone. Father Brennan will be the best help with that.
Jessie made it to the desert of Arizona, but needs time to regain her strength as well. For now she sleeps in the arms of her King. When she wakes she will be strong again. Then, with the help of Arraziel and Pasamet, the two soldiers of her King from the realm of the Second Death, that Jessie has already freed, they will seek out others that have been imprisoned here on Earth and set them free. Her King needs an army!
In New York City another evil has risen. Legion is growing. Roy is Legion's current master, having killed the last, and he has big plans. He doesn't like competition. Once he has had his fill here, he thinks he will eat this so called King!
Father Brennan has plans for Frank. There is a prophecy of The One who will defeat the evil rising from the Second Death. Father Brennen has found the boy, The One, and Frank needs to train him! However the child of this prophecy is just that, and far from convinced of his destiny.
What does Frank know about training anyone? He can barely take care of himself! He is a fighter, and a drunk, not anyone's teacher. Now Frank is supposed to teach a reluctant boy to save the world? What if he fails?
Get your copy of Queen of the Fallen. Dive into this tangled web. See what happens to humanity when demons raise their heads.
Kindle Unlimited Edition
Frank is home in NYC to heal and regroup after losing Tarek in Chicago. He needs to regain his strength then figure out where Jesse has gone. Father Brennan will be the best help with that.
Jessie made it to the desert of Arizona, but needs time to regain her strength as well. For now she sleeps in the arms of her King. When she wakes she will be strong again. Then, with the help of Arraziel and Pasamet, the two soldiers of her King from the realm of the Second Death, that Jessie has already freed, they will seek out others that have been imprisoned here on Earth and set them free. Her King needs an army!
In New York City another evil has risen. Legion is growing. Roy is Legion's current master, having killed the last, and he has big plans. He doesn't like competition. Once he has had his fill here, he thinks he will eat this so called King!
Father Brennan has plans for Frank. There is a prophecy of The One who will defeat the evil rising from the Second Death. Father Brennen has found the boy, The One, and Frank needs to train him! However the child of this prophecy is just that, and far from convinced of his destiny.
What does Frank know about training anyone? He can barely take care of himself! He is a fighter, and a drunk, not anyone's teacher. Now Frank is supposed to teach a reluctant boy to save the world? What if he fails?
Get your copy of Queen of the Fallen. Dive into this tangled web. See what happens to humanity when demons raise their heads.
Kindle Unlimited Edition
January 8, 2020
Wounded and war-weary, Frank Bishop returns to New York City where a boy could fulfill a six-thousand-year-old prophecy and save the world from the Fallen.
Jessie’s quest to free the King of the Fallen from the Second Death brings her to the Arizona desert. She frees one of the Fallen with the power to eat the souls of man and together they search for the lost Stone of Serr’rah to free their King.
In New York City, sadistic evil and chaos manifests in a crazy man and his demon horde. He has his own plans for humanity and won’t let some bitch and a wannabe King stand in his way.
Queen of the Fallen is Book Two in Brian Rella’s action-packed supernatural thriller series, the Second Death Supernatural Thrillers.
This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believeable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building that adds so much to the story.
Can't wait to read more of these.
Recommend reading.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
Jessie’s quest to free the King of the Fallen from the Second Death brings her to the Arizona desert. She frees one of the Fallen with the power to eat the souls of man and together they search for the lost Stone of Serr’rah to free their King.
In New York City, sadistic evil and chaos manifests in a crazy man and his demon horde. He has his own plans for humanity and won’t let some bitch and a wannabe King stand in his way.
Queen of the Fallen is Book Two in Brian Rella’s action-packed supernatural thriller series, the Second Death Supernatural Thrillers.
This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believeable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building that adds so much to the story.
Can't wait to read more of these.
Recommend reading.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
May 31, 2018
I had very high hopes for this book. I liked the first and was looking forward to the continuation of the tale, but the dialog and the narration grated on me to the point that I was ready for the end and to move on. It was unfortunate because the complete story was so appealing to me. If I decide to finish the series, I will do it reading the book myself.
This book was given to me for free at my request for my voluntary and unbiased review.
This book was given to me for free at my request for my voluntary and unbiased review.
July 16, 2018
My review is based on the audiobook
Queen of the Fallen continues from book 1 so I highly recommend reading that first - believe me you want to read this series from the beginning. It is action packed and I am completely invested in these characters. The story grabs you from the start and doesn't let go until the very end. The narrator does a fantastic job bringing the characters and story to life. I am very excited to see where the author takes this story next
Queen of the Fallen continues from book 1 so I highly recommend reading that first - believe me you want to read this series from the beginning. It is action packed and I am completely invested in these characters. The story grabs you from the start and doesn't let go until the very end. The narrator does a fantastic job bringing the characters and story to life. I am very excited to see where the author takes this story next
August 20, 2018
Frank & Jesse are at it again in the second installment to this series. Loved it! Great compliment to the first, picks up and doesn't stop :) Loved the fast-paced action, great story and characters, and narration! All came together nicely, and chewed me up and spit me out, good good stuff. Looking forward to #3, can't wait! Awesome stuff!
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
December 21, 2016
Due to the holidays, it did take me a bit to finish this book, but it was great! I really like all of the characters and the story line as well. I don't want to accidentally give away spoilers. I would have to say my favorite character is Frank, who is both hero and anti-hero at the same time.
March 29, 2018
Epic adventure
Continuing the story of the battle for good and evil. Characters are developing nicely. There is always a price for duty. Can't wait to see what happens next.
Continuing the story of the battle for good and evil. Characters are developing nicely. There is always a price for duty. Can't wait to see what happens next.
July 11, 2018
Book two is basically a continuation from book one. That’s not necessarily a bad thing as the story is pretty interesting and the main characters keep things moving. We gain a couple Watchers and lose a couple; win a few, lose a few. Jessie remains her grouchy self as she gains power and releases another of the Fallen. Poor Frank is getting worn out and is beginning to feel a bit lonesome. You’ll see why. Now only the Stone of Serr’rah is needed to release Nalsuu from his prison to wreak havoc upon the world. This audiobook was given by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review via Audiobook Boom.
November 16, 2016
I was first introduced to some of the characters in Brian Rella's "Queen of the Fallen" in his Monsters & Demons collection of short stories. I immediately fell in love with the world he created and I continued with the Second Death series when he brought out the first volume, "Watchers of the Fallen." I'm so glad I was introduced to this author and his work, because with "Queen of the Fallen," he just gets better and better and has become one of my favorite authors. It's hard to pinpoint exactly what it is about this book and series that is so appealing, but whatever it is, the combination of fantasy, horror, suspense and drama combine to make one fascinating and involving story that I hope continues for a long time to come.
"I received an advanced review copy at no charge from the author."
"I received an advanced review copy at no charge from the author."
November 18, 2016
Jessie
Jessie started this uprising and she plans on finishing it. Hopefully Frank and the 2 boys he's training can overpower the fallen. Also can't wait to see Roy battle for power too. Great book can't wait for next book in series.
Jessie started this uprising and she plans on finishing it. Hopefully Frank and the 2 boys he's training can overpower the fallen. Also can't wait to see Roy battle for power too. Great book can't wait for next book in series.
April 25, 2018
Awesome book
Great book the series is awesome these are the type of settings and characters I enjoy keep the books coming
Great book the series is awesome these are the type of settings and characters I enjoy keep the books coming
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews