Shadowrun #3: Fallen Angels A Shadowrun Novel

Shadowrun Novels Germany #64

by Stephen Kenson

Kellan Colt has come far in her magical training. But all her accomplishments haven't satisfied her desire to know the truth about her shadowrunner mother, and to learn the secrets of the amulet she found among her mother's possessions. Kellan is determined to find answers - and to earn the respect of her fellow runners in the process.

Lately Kellan has been troubled by disturbing dreams. Something seems to be calling her, but before she can figure out who - or what - she joins a run into the paranoiac elven homeland of Tir Tairngire. Trapped deep inside foreign territory, she suddenly discovers the answers to her questions, but then she must unravel the most difficult riddle of all: Who can she really trust in the shadows?

Genres: Science Fiction, Cyberpunk, Fantasy, Dystopia

288 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published March 1, 2006

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fallen Angels by Stephen Kenson is the third book of the Shadowrun trilogy. It is an Urban Fantasy set in a near-future/alternate-reality world. In this one, it is the year 2063. Long-dormant magical forces have reawakened, and the creatures of mankind's legends and nightmares have come out of hiding. Megacorporations act as the new world superpowers, and the dregs of society fight for their own power. Sliding through the cracks in between are shadowrunners. They are underworld professionals who will do almost anything for a profit and will do anything it takes to get the job done. Kellan Colt has come to Seattle to make a name for herself. Kellan soon learns that in her line of work, there's no such thing as a sure thing, and that in her world, there is only one law: survival!

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unfortunately, it took me nearly two weeks to read this one because of well, life. In the stirring conclusion to this trilogy, the saga of Kellan Colt finally comes to fruition. She's no longer an annoying character (which dragged down the 2nd book considerably) and the story started to realize who the strengths were of the story, particularly the supporting cast.

Sure, it was still about Kellan and her struggles but this felt more like a connected story to the events as they were unfolding. All questions are answered like they should be (though I admittedly was wrong about a few points I guessed) and there is a positive outlook to the future. Some of us Shadowrunners might have wanted a slightly more grim interpretation but this trilogy sold a few toys so it is to be expected. Recommended, I only wish the first two books were stronger because this one was right where it should have been all along.

[Toby · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh.

Stephen Kenson wraps up his trilogy of novels rebooting the Shadowrun fantasy-cyberpunk universe's fiction line in a spectacularly forgettable fashion. It features the same cast of characters as the last installment, Poison Agendas, some tepid action, and a half-baked romance plot line that is so phoned-in it's not even bad.

To be honest, Kenson's goal here probably wasn't to write good books, which is good because he didn't. His goal is to showcase the Shadowrun universe for a new audience. That the books are drivel even as adventure pulp is almost secondary to this goal. Unfortunately, the bar was set some 40 books ago by Bob Charrette, whose "Secrets of Power" trilogy in 1990 was really quite good and did a far better job of world building and storytelling than Kenson. Go read those if you want to get into the Shadowrun universe.

[EchoBaz(Unofficial World's Fastest Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it years ago. Rememeber really loving it.

[Christine Ku · Rating 3 out of 5]

Things are really coming to a head for Kellan in this conclusion to the trilogy and I’m glad that she found her happy ending.

[Aaronleigh Cullimore · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll make this short and sweet. I have found a recent fondness for Shadowrun and the sixth world it exists in. This book raised the bar as far as quality in writing especially compared to the first two in the trilogy. Kenson seems to flex his literary muscles a bit more. It tied up the trilogy very well and readied the characters for a whole new set of adventures. I'll keep reading the new Shadowrun books for now.

[Bernard Campbell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm always keen for a Shadow Run novel. Havens back to my days playing Shadow Run every Friday night.
This novel didn't disappoint - sure it's not high brow omit didn't introduce new exciting literary concepts. However, it has high readability and visually took me back to the Shadow Run days.
Looking forward to reading more as I find them in the second hand book shops.
By the way the $4 this cost was very well worth it!!!
Now to find the first 2 books in the series!!!

[Berlindelight · Rating 3 out of 5]

Der ganz gut gewordene 3-Teiler aus der Kellan-Colt Trilogie in einem Band. Gut ist das der Autor den Mimen Zeit gibt sich zu entwickeln, aber leider leidet das Tempo und die Story ist oftmals ein Aufguss von gewesenem voriger Bände des Shadowrun Zyklus. Man merkt zwar die Liebe des Autors zu Details, aber vieles an Cyberpunkstyle bleibt nur angedeutet.

[Brett]

Science Fiction

[Dawn · Rating 1 out of 5]

I should know better than to read a series like this. Found it a bit juvenile and stilted.

[Alex Dzioba · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like the others in this series, solid story but too Mary Sue for a 5.

[Theodore Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good pulp scifi but don't expect much else...