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Archangel
Angels are on the brink of extinction.
Demons rule over mankind.
It has been a decade since Earth descended into ruin. Smothered in black clouds lies a land plagued with nightmares and pain, the aftermath of the war between Heaven and Hell. The archangel Uriel has finally been given leave to descend to Earth. He alone can renew the fight against the darkness and reignite the war both sides thought was over.
With a mission that seems impossible and a reluctant half-demon helping him, Uriel must go against everything he ever believed in if he wants to bring light back to the world. But the archangel soon finds that this new world is far worse than he ever imagined, and the vicious fangs of demons are the last thing he should fear.
Archangel is the debut novel from D. William Landsborough and the first in the Shadow's Advent series.
Demons rule over mankind.
It has been a decade since Earth descended into ruin. Smothered in black clouds lies a land plagued with nightmares and pain, the aftermath of the war between Heaven and Hell. The archangel Uriel has finally been given leave to descend to Earth. He alone can renew the fight against the darkness and reignite the war both sides thought was over.
With a mission that seems impossible and a reluctant half-demon helping him, Uriel must go against everything he ever believed in if he wants to bring light back to the world. But the archangel soon finds that this new world is far worse than he ever imagined, and the vicious fangs of demons are the last thing he should fear.
Archangel is the debut novel from D. William Landsborough and the first in the Shadow's Advent series.
305 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 12, 2019
66 people are currently reading
57 people want to read
About the author
D. William Landsborough
8 books14 followersD. William Landsborough (known to many as just Doug) is a writer of dark and urban fantasy, with a sprinkling of whatever else crosses his mind at the time. His debut novel, Archangel, is the first in the Shadow’s Advent series, and its sequel is coming soon!
Doug grew up on fantasy; he read about Drizzt Do’Urden from an early age, devoured the Chronicles of Amber, and consider Sam and Dean Winchester role models…to a certain extent. He loves being a Dungeon Master for Dungeons & Dragons, watches too many horror movies, and likes to fit in his freelance editing career when he can.
Doug grew up on fantasy; he read about Drizzt Do’Urden from an early age, devoured the Chronicles of Amber, and consider Sam and Dean Winchester role models…to a certain extent. He loves being a Dungeon Master for Dungeons & Dragons, watches too many horror movies, and likes to fit in his freelance editing career when he can.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
February 11, 2019
This is the best book I have ever written.
January 31, 2019
I was given a copy of Archangel in exchange for a true and honest review.
The story centers around Uriel and his descent to earth, thriving with demons. A great battle between Heaven and Hell left the once thriving planet barren and empty. He is on a mission to bring back the light into the world. He has the help of a half-demon. However, Uriel realizes that the world is much worse than he had expected.
On to the review, D. William's adaption of Uriel is interesting and refreshing. It's always interesting to see an author's depiction of a Divine character show "human" characteristics. Uriel's descent upon the earth was beautifully written.
The action within the story was well written. The imagery was timed perfectly. Research must have been conducted for the scenes.
The demon-ridden world was a used concept, but D. William's had more emotion. I give Archangel 5/5 stars. It is well worth the read. I recommend Shadows Advent to everyone who likes to read fantasy (any subgenre)/lovecraftian/sci-fi. You won't regret the time invested in the story.
The cover is also well done. I absolutely love the image used for Archangel. I look forward to reading more of D. William's works.
The story centers around Uriel and his descent to earth, thriving with demons. A great battle between Heaven and Hell left the once thriving planet barren and empty. He is on a mission to bring back the light into the world. He has the help of a half-demon. However, Uriel realizes that the world is much worse than he had expected.
On to the review, D. William's adaption of Uriel is interesting and refreshing. It's always interesting to see an author's depiction of a Divine character show "human" characteristics. Uriel's descent upon the earth was beautifully written.
The action within the story was well written. The imagery was timed perfectly. Research must have been conducted for the scenes.
The demon-ridden world was a used concept, but D. William's had more emotion. I give Archangel 5/5 stars. It is well worth the read. I recommend Shadows Advent to everyone who likes to read fantasy (any subgenre)/lovecraftian/sci-fi. You won't regret the time invested in the story.
The cover is also well done. I absolutely love the image used for Archangel. I look forward to reading more of D. William's works.
March 14, 2019
A fine debut for D. William Landsborough with hints of brilliance (a difficult feat, considering this is his very first book).
He's going to be a force to be reckoned with, just you wait.
No novel is perfect, but if you like dark fantasy, if you like angels and demons duking it out over the fate of a doomed world, then you'll like, maybe even love this book.
The good: Landsborough is a talented wordsmith, and it shows throughout the book. The story has good bones, and will keep you reading till the end. Shandra and Dante are the standout characters in the novel, and they alone are worth the price of admission.
The bad: Some characters feel a bit wooden, particularly the angels. But, this never really hinders the book's momentum. It feels like the book could have been one or two hundred pages longer.
Ultimately, it's going to be a fascinating journey, watching Landsborough's author voice evolve. I can't wait to see what he does next.
I for one will be picking up Book 2.
He's going to be a force to be reckoned with, just you wait.
No novel is perfect, but if you like dark fantasy, if you like angels and demons duking it out over the fate of a doomed world, then you'll like, maybe even love this book.
The good: Landsborough is a talented wordsmith, and it shows throughout the book. The story has good bones, and will keep you reading till the end. Shandra and Dante are the standout characters in the novel, and they alone are worth the price of admission.
The bad: Some characters feel a bit wooden, particularly the angels. But, this never really hinders the book's momentum. It feels like the book could have been one or two hundred pages longer.
Ultimately, it's going to be a fascinating journey, watching Landsborough's author voice evolve. I can't wait to see what he does next.
I for one will be picking up Book 2.
June 17, 2025
This was a gem hiding in my kindle library for ages.
The battle between Heaven and Hell has taken place and the demonic powers have won leaving the angels and human defeated, losing hope. Ten years later, Uriel, the Archangel known as the Fire Of God, is sent down to this changed Earth to help. He comes across Shandra, a half-demon who fights to survive in this dark place and the story develops from there.
The author has done a wondeful job building a fantasy world that shows the darkness, devastation and pain that is the new reality. I really enjoyed it even though it is a dark, very violent story and may leave you wishing you knew more about each of the angels, the intriguing character Dante who is human and fights on the side of the demons, where in the world the story takes place, who is that voice in Uriel's head, and why did God let this happen and does not intervene? Hopefully we will get some answers in the next book in the series.
Thank you to the author and VR for providing a copy of this book.
The battle between Heaven and Hell has taken place and the demonic powers have won leaving the angels and human defeated, losing hope. Ten years later, Uriel, the Archangel known as the Fire Of God, is sent down to this changed Earth to help. He comes across Shandra, a half-demon who fights to survive in this dark place and the story develops from there.
The author has done a wondeful job building a fantasy world that shows the darkness, devastation and pain that is the new reality. I really enjoyed it even though it is a dark, very violent story and may leave you wishing you knew more about each of the angels, the intriguing character Dante who is human and fights on the side of the demons, where in the world the story takes place, who is that voice in Uriel's head, and why did God let this happen and does not intervene? Hopefully we will get some answers in the next book in the series.
Thank you to the author and VR for providing a copy of this book.
May 10, 2019
Archangel, by D. William Landsborough, posits a simple question: What if angels and demons were real, and started a war, and then the demons won?
Enter Archangel. Following the adventures of the archangel Uriel, Landsborough introduces readers to a world that has already lost. Lucifer has brought forth his demons to the surface of Earth, shrouded the planet in darkness, and defeated the angels sent to fight him.
Ten years later, Uriel breaks through the clouds, ready to figure out what went wrong and begin the fight anew.
Overall, I enjoyed Archangel, but I was left wanting more. A lot more. Landsborough teases potentially provocative questions of religion and morality throughout. Why does God allow Lucifer to conquer Earth? How does Lucifer have the power to keep God from destroying everything? Is God actually good, or is there something more to God’s relationship with the universe and the creations that inhabit it?
Yet I felt like these questions were pushed to the side in favor of a traditional fantasy story caked in religious rhetoric. This might appeal to some people, but to me, I wanted to explore the deeper metaphysical themes precipitated by the concept behind Archangel.
Regardless, the personal journey of Uriel is compelling, for Landsborough injects plenty of interpersonal conflict between the newly arrived Archangel and the angels that have fought on the planet’s surface for ten years. More importantly, Uriel meets Shandra, a half-demon who really made this story worth it for me.
In some ways, I felt like Shandra should have been the protagonist of this book. Uriel is cool, but as a character, his motivations and narrative didn’t really compel me (though they may have if those deeper questions of morality and religion were explored further). Shandra, however, was a fundamentally intriguing character that bridged the gap between the “spiritual” beings of this world (angels and demons) and the humans of this world.
Fortunately, we received plenty of chapters from Shandra’s POV, but every time we deviated from her story, I wanted to get back to it. I almost wish the entire story WAS from her POV, rather than Uriel or the other characters who receive a chapter or two.
All of this being said, I encourage anyone who has an interest in stories based on religious rhetoric to explore Archangel’s pages. The action drives relentlessly toward a conclusion that, while not unexpected, does hint at the questions I so wished were explored further.
Onto the scores!
Writing: 7/10. Landsborough keeps the pace moving along with action-packed scenes and character driven chapters. At times, the POV was somewhat foggy, and I felt as if in-scene, it hopped from Limited to Omniscient on accident.
Character: 6/10. I hate giving this low of a score for the characters given how much I loved Shandra, but it’s exactly for that reason that I give only a 6 for Character. Shandra was a compelling character; another, named Dante, intrigued me later, and Uriel has his moments, but I can’t give higher than a 6 because I don’t feel like many of the characters had the depth necessary to make me care about them. And I must include another important detail.
Throughout the tale, I felt a clear imbalance in the number of men in the story compared to women. Almost all of the angels were men (except one or two that I can recall). The other women with names were Shandra (a half demon) and Isabelle (a witch who is essentially an evil creation of a demon). All other women are described as prostitutes or dead. Shandra’s role in the story kept the book from devolving into just a tale about only men and the heroics of men, but given the asexual nature of angels as described in this book, I’m surprised more of them weren’t “female,” or that Landsborough didn’t just make them as genderless.
Setting: 7/10. Landsborough clearly spent a lot of time building the world of Archangel, and it shows. Each angel has a role in a hierarchy, as do the demons. The setting lacks in giving me a clear sense of place; occurring in a fictional locale on Earth, I never had a clear idea of where on Earth they actually were, or where Heaven and Hell were metaphysically in relation to Earth.
Plot: 7/10. This book series has tremendous potential to explore intriguing moral and metaphysical questions regarding the relationship between God and the intervention of the divine into the affairs of Earth. Now, as a person raised in a traditionally Christian household (though I don’t really ascribe to that version of religion anymore), the mythos of Christianity has a lot for Landsborough to inject into the conflicts of this tale. And he can also similarly find opportunities to flip the script, and explore why Lucifer fell, or why God chooses not to intervene directly, or why God lacks omniscience or omnipotence. If future books explore these questions, Landsborough will have made a truly compelling narrative.
I want to see Uriel question whether God has the best intentions!
I want to see more demons like Shandra!
I want to see more humans like Dante.
Overall: 6.75/10. Archangel receives only three stars, but it’s a high three stars, more like a 3.5/5. Great job Landsborough, and keep up the good work!
Enter Archangel. Following the adventures of the archangel Uriel, Landsborough introduces readers to a world that has already lost. Lucifer has brought forth his demons to the surface of Earth, shrouded the planet in darkness, and defeated the angels sent to fight him.
Ten years later, Uriel breaks through the clouds, ready to figure out what went wrong and begin the fight anew.
Overall, I enjoyed Archangel, but I was left wanting more. A lot more. Landsborough teases potentially provocative questions of religion and morality throughout. Why does God allow Lucifer to conquer Earth? How does Lucifer have the power to keep God from destroying everything? Is God actually good, or is there something more to God’s relationship with the universe and the creations that inhabit it?
Yet I felt like these questions were pushed to the side in favor of a traditional fantasy story caked in religious rhetoric. This might appeal to some people, but to me, I wanted to explore the deeper metaphysical themes precipitated by the concept behind Archangel.
Regardless, the personal journey of Uriel is compelling, for Landsborough injects plenty of interpersonal conflict between the newly arrived Archangel and the angels that have fought on the planet’s surface for ten years. More importantly, Uriel meets Shandra, a half-demon who really made this story worth it for me.
In some ways, I felt like Shandra should have been the protagonist of this book. Uriel is cool, but as a character, his motivations and narrative didn’t really compel me (though they may have if those deeper questions of morality and religion were explored further). Shandra, however, was a fundamentally intriguing character that bridged the gap between the “spiritual” beings of this world (angels and demons) and the humans of this world.
Fortunately, we received plenty of chapters from Shandra’s POV, but every time we deviated from her story, I wanted to get back to it. I almost wish the entire story WAS from her POV, rather than Uriel or the other characters who receive a chapter or two.
All of this being said, I encourage anyone who has an interest in stories based on religious rhetoric to explore Archangel’s pages. The action drives relentlessly toward a conclusion that, while not unexpected, does hint at the questions I so wished were explored further.
Onto the scores!
Writing: 7/10. Landsborough keeps the pace moving along with action-packed scenes and character driven chapters. At times, the POV was somewhat foggy, and I felt as if in-scene, it hopped from Limited to Omniscient on accident.
Character: 6/10. I hate giving this low of a score for the characters given how much I loved Shandra, but it’s exactly for that reason that I give only a 6 for Character. Shandra was a compelling character; another, named Dante, intrigued me later, and Uriel has his moments, but I can’t give higher than a 6 because I don’t feel like many of the characters had the depth necessary to make me care about them. And I must include another important detail.
Throughout the tale, I felt a clear imbalance in the number of men in the story compared to women. Almost all of the angels were men (except one or two that I can recall). The other women with names were Shandra (a half demon) and Isabelle (a witch who is essentially an evil creation of a demon). All other women are described as prostitutes or dead. Shandra’s role in the story kept the book from devolving into just a tale about only men and the heroics of men, but given the asexual nature of angels as described in this book, I’m surprised more of them weren’t “female,” or that Landsborough didn’t just make them as genderless.
Setting: 7/10. Landsborough clearly spent a lot of time building the world of Archangel, and it shows. Each angel has a role in a hierarchy, as do the demons. The setting lacks in giving me a clear sense of place; occurring in a fictional locale on Earth, I never had a clear idea of where on Earth they actually were, or where Heaven and Hell were metaphysically in relation to Earth.
Plot: 7/10. This book series has tremendous potential to explore intriguing moral and metaphysical questions regarding the relationship between God and the intervention of the divine into the affairs of Earth. Now, as a person raised in a traditionally Christian household (though I don’t really ascribe to that version of religion anymore), the mythos of Christianity has a lot for Landsborough to inject into the conflicts of this tale. And he can also similarly find opportunities to flip the script, and explore why Lucifer fell, or why God chooses not to intervene directly, or why God lacks omniscience or omnipotence. If future books explore these questions, Landsborough will have made a truly compelling narrative.
I want to see Uriel question whether God has the best intentions!
I want to see more demons like Shandra!
I want to see more humans like Dante.
Overall: 6.75/10. Archangel receives only three stars, but it’s a high three stars, more like a 3.5/5. Great job Landsborough, and keep up the good work!
March 4, 2019
A very impressive debut novel!
D. William has vividly created a gut-wrenching future were Good lost the battle. Hell now rules on Earth and what’s left of the human population, and the angels that came down to fight the war, are without hope.
I love the imagination it took to build this world and all the creatures and devastation in it. Artfully done, well-written, and action-packed. The necessary element of heart and emotion is very real and dramatic, and that’s what makes this story whole for me.
D. William has vividly created a gut-wrenching future were Good lost the battle. Hell now rules on Earth and what’s left of the human population, and the angels that came down to fight the war, are without hope.
I love the imagination it took to build this world and all the creatures and devastation in it. Artfully done, well-written, and action-packed. The necessary element of heart and emotion is very real and dramatic, and that’s what makes this story whole for me.
March 13, 2021
Absolutely amazing! If you like fantasy, this is a must read!!
February 11, 2021
Great book!! I don't normally read a lot of fiction on good vs evil plots, but that will change now! Looking forward to reading the sequel!!!
July 5, 2020
I finished this book a while ago, but have been waiting until I have time to write a proper review. I stumbled across this book through the author's website one evening while researching plot structures. The book looked interesting, so I purchased the Kindle version. An author's first book is usually OK at best, as the writer is still figuring out his voice and the whole novel writing process. This is not the case here. Mr. Landsborough is a seasoned writer and it shows. This book is the whole package - engaging plot, well developed characters and effective use of description. I am a huge fan of dark fantasy and Archangel delivers. Angels versus demons, with Uriel thrust into the human world to figure out what went wrong. I have been impatiently waiting for the next book. It was that good.
April 21, 2019
What an incredible debut novel. I was simply blown away by the thought & care put into every word of this book.
The world-building is excellent. The author doesn’t just tell you there is fire of God coming from the sword, he makes you feel the heat and fury.
The main characters of Uriel and Shandra are wonderfully developed. We see their pain, vulnerability, and strength throughout the story. The secondary characters are entertaining and add so much depth to the book.
I love the premise of heaven and hell battled, heaven lost, and now the angels are back to reclaim earth.. As the saying goes...they are kicking ass and taking names! I can not wait to read the next book in this series,
The world-building is excellent. The author doesn’t just tell you there is fire of God coming from the sword, he makes you feel the heat and fury.
The main characters of Uriel and Shandra are wonderfully developed. We see their pain, vulnerability, and strength throughout the story. The secondary characters are entertaining and add so much depth to the book.
I love the premise of heaven and hell battled, heaven lost, and now the angels are back to reclaim earth.. As the saying goes...they are kicking ass and taking names! I can not wait to read the next book in this series,
April 15, 2020
That opening, with Uriel's flesh knitting around his new corporeal form as he fell to Earth, that got me hooked. But what kept me reading was an intriguingly sad, dark world and an odd relationship between an ancient archangel and a seven-year-old adult half-demon who raised her twin sister.
I'm a sucker for magic systems, and it's cool to see different characters use their magical abilities in very different ways. I'm excited to learn more about Uriel's mysterious friend in the next book!
I'm a sucker for magic systems, and it's cool to see different characters use their magical abilities in very different ways. I'm excited to learn more about Uriel's mysterious friend in the next book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 20, 2024
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. 3.5 stars. (Bit of a long review but I want to DIVE into this one)
I went into this book with an open mind because I don't usually read books about angels or war but was looking to change things up from my usual romantasy/PNR reads.
The concept from the blurb interested me enough that I thought I'd give it a go. I wanted to love it more than I did, I really did - but it's not to say I didn't enjoy it. I just felt that it was a little one-dimensional.
The world building was flawless! How the settings were described were so vivid that I could picture myself right there. How do you describe a world overrun by demons after the angels lost the biggest war in the history of ever? Just. Like. This. Landsborough goes into great detail in some areas, the landscape and hints at others just to flesh the world out. Humans don't do well in a demon world and Landsborough describes and explains this in a way that isn't in your face or loud but rather subtle and pointed.
The plot is that Uriel has been sent from Heaven to turn the tide in the war against the demons. Enter Shandra and her sister Elena which gets the ball rolling. Things develop, serious sh*t happens and the book moves at a good pace.
I loved how that the POV shifted around a lot, especially to Dante and Isabelle, giving different views of the conflict and an insight to the different hierarchies. So much information but SO well handled. Everything seemed to flow and nothing was overdone or shoved in my face.
However... The mechanics are sound but the soul of it is what I was looking for. The idea was genius but I was missing the feelings. I missed the relationships and the development of relationships between characters. It felt like any opportunity to delve into emotions was quickly skipped past or briefly touched on to get to more action. I didn't connect with Uriel or Shandra as well as I would have if their thoughts and emotions had of been explored more. Uriel had minimal backstory and emotion-wise - he's an angel so I'm sure he was just born stoic. Shandra had a little bit more of a backstoryIt was interesting at the time of reading but wasn't mentioned much further along in the book. But the character with the most backstory and who I was most invested in? Dante. While his backstory is also, barely touched upon, it was enough to explain how he became the way he was, why he made a deal with a devil. There was some feeling there, even if it was minimal as well. Everything was described very well. Other angels are introduced and beyond their physical appearance and the powers they have, they weren't developed either, not in any way and it pulled me out of the world.
Was I a little put off by the fact there seemed to be no romance? Yes, I kept looking for it but I'm not basing my review on the lack of romance but rather the lack of any relationship or character development. Not one single character changed, other than Uriel going through the heights of hope to the pits of despair.
I inhaled the first third of the book. I sat and devoured it because the idea was so interesting and new (to me anyway), then I stalled (and life) because there was no development from the characters, no change to relationships... and then it happened. When you get that far, you will know what I mean. And there was a reaction. Then two days later - back to square one. There could've been more emotional exploration. While I'm happy that there wasn't too much as authors are want to do, I had to blink twice and go back a few pages to make sure I hadn't missed something. Also, another thing that kept pulling me out of the story was the repetition of certain words... describing Shandra as 'the cambion' over and over really grated on my nerves.
So I powered through because... the voice... that little voice... (Read the book and you'll get it) and it was worth it. I ignored by need for development and took the book at face value and I finished it. I was more than well rewarded. Uriel turned out to be not as rigid as some may think. He's also got anger management issues (LOVED THAT!) and in the end, he did something that I think he probably could've done at the very start but hesitated for REASONS... but decided to take the risk in the end and everything worked out... IN THE MOMENT.
The latter part of the book, where the kick ass scenes are, the tensions are running high and there's action everywhere. So well described but minimal inner thoughts to really ratchet up that tension.
Am I invested? Yup. Will I read the next book? Yes. Will I dive right into it? Maybe....
Overall a great story but missing the feels to really pull me in and give a higher rating.
I went into this book with an open mind because I don't usually read books about angels or war but was looking to change things up from my usual romantasy/PNR reads.
The concept from the blurb interested me enough that I thought I'd give it a go. I wanted to love it more than I did, I really did - but it's not to say I didn't enjoy it. I just felt that it was a little one-dimensional.
The world building was flawless! How the settings were described were so vivid that I could picture myself right there. How do you describe a world overrun by demons after the angels lost the biggest war in the history of ever? Just. Like. This. Landsborough goes into great detail in some areas, the landscape and hints at others just to flesh the world out. Humans don't do well in a demon world and Landsborough describes and explains this in a way that isn't in your face or loud but rather subtle and pointed.
The plot is that Uriel has been sent from Heaven to turn the tide in the war against the demons. Enter Shandra and her sister Elena which gets the ball rolling. Things develop, serious sh*t happens and the book moves at a good pace.
I loved how that the POV shifted around a lot, especially to Dante and Isabelle, giving different views of the conflict and an insight to the different hierarchies. So much information but SO well handled. Everything seemed to flow and nothing was overdone or shoved in my face.
However... The mechanics are sound but the soul of it is what I was looking for. The idea was genius but I was missing the feelings. I missed the relationships and the development of relationships between characters. It felt like any opportunity to delve into emotions was quickly skipped past or briefly touched on to get to more action. I didn't connect with Uriel or Shandra as well as I would have if their thoughts and emotions had of been explored more. Uriel had minimal backstory and emotion-wise - he's an angel so I'm sure he was just born stoic. Shandra had a little bit more of a backstoryIt was interesting at the time of reading but wasn't mentioned much further along in the book. But the character with the most backstory and who I was most invested in? Dante. While his backstory is also, barely touched upon, it was enough to explain how he became the way he was, why he made a deal with a devil. There was some feeling there, even if it was minimal as well. Everything was described very well. Other angels are introduced and beyond their physical appearance and the powers they have, they weren't developed either, not in any way and it pulled me out of the world.
Was I a little put off by the fact there seemed to be no romance? Yes, I kept looking for it but I'm not basing my review on the lack of romance but rather the lack of any relationship or character development. Not one single character changed, other than Uriel going through the heights of hope to the pits of despair.
I inhaled the first third of the book. I sat and devoured it because the idea was so interesting and new (to me anyway), then I stalled (and life) because there was no development from the characters, no change to relationships... and then it happened. When you get that far, you will know what I mean. And there was a reaction. Then two days later - back to square one. There could've been more emotional exploration. While I'm happy that there wasn't too much as authors are want to do, I had to blink twice and go back a few pages to make sure I hadn't missed something. Also, another thing that kept pulling me out of the story was the repetition of certain words... describing Shandra as 'the cambion' over and over really grated on my nerves.
So I powered through because... the voice... that little voice... (Read the book and you'll get it) and it was worth it. I ignored by need for development and took the book at face value and I finished it. I was more than well rewarded. Uriel turned out to be not as rigid as some may think. He's also got anger management issues (LOVED THAT!) and in the end, he did something that I think he probably could've done at the very start but hesitated for REASONS... but decided to take the risk in the end and everything worked out... IN THE MOMENT.
The latter part of the book, where the kick ass scenes are, the tensions are running high and there's action everywhere. So well described but minimal inner thoughts to really ratchet up that tension.
Am I invested? Yup. Will I read the next book? Yes. Will I dive right into it? Maybe....
Overall a great story but missing the feels to really pull me in and give a higher rating.
June 15, 2021
An exceptional dark fantasy! Angels, demons, witches and war…
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Archangel poses the question – What earth might look like if the demons won an apocalyptic war?
Beneath the black cloud shrouding the earth and hatched from hell itself, the underworld pushed up through the ground, literally. It’s a wretched, terrible place, governed by a hierarchy of high demons, controlling lower demons, monstrous hybrids and other horrifying creatures. Demons enslave surviving humans, and the remaining Angels hide in festering sewers. The world is doomed, with no hope, until Uriel descends from heaven to reignite the war between darkness and light. After which, an agent of darkness begins his hunt…
The world is fully realised with excellent and often gruesome description. 'She dragged her hand along the sewer wall as she walked, leaving behind a piece of the man’s skin.' is a great example.
Everything has changed, the world is so unlike our own, we find no named city for orientation. The author creates a new, well-crafted world with vivid and imaginative detail.
The conflict is not just between darkness and light. One of the most interesting aspects of this book is the major characters’ internal struggles. Intense action and fight sequences drive the plot forward at an impressive pace alongside personal heartfelt challenges each of the characters face. It’s what turns a good book into a great one. The plot has great suspense. Often, I had no idea what danger the main characters were about to discover. If it's not a demon, then what is it? Why don't the angels know! Who/what is the Dark Voice?
Uriel is a great MC, devoted and on a mission to change the tides of war. He’s one powerful Angel who acts more human as the story progresses. I loved Shandra! She is strong because she has to be, being half-human/half-demon, she doesn’t fit in anywhere. Her personality is sarcastic, adding wit with a touch of the foul mouth. Yes, there is plenty of cussing on the demonic side. Even when Shandra is at her lowest, she shows resilience through her humour.“Don’t be a pervert, angel.” He wasn’t perving, and she knew it. There was no romance, though Uriel and Shandra danced around the potential. Part of me hopes they just stay friends. Their relationship, as it stands, is awesome.
When reading dark fantasy, I rarely relate to the darker characters. It’s one of the main reasons I never continued with GRR Martin (Shh, don’t tell). Not so with this book. If anything, the darker characters are more intriguing than the good. A half-demon is more human than surviving humanity, and the human antagonist is eviler than most demons! Neither were born that way but were nurtured. It raises interesting questions!
There are plenty of antagonistic characters from Switchblade, Botis and Abaddon. Dante, the Witch and her familiar are at the fore. I was on the edge of my seat every time Dante was on the page, especially his pov scenes. His backstory is brilliant and gut-wrenching. How he became so powerful is a surprise waiting to be told. I’d love to see a redemptive arc play out in future books.
Generally, I found the darker characters more compelling than the Angels. The Angels weren’t written poorly or underdeveloped, I just think the author excels at writing complex antagonists.
There’s no cliffhanger ending, and it sets up well for the next book.
If you love character-driven dark fantasy set in a post-apocalyptic world written by an author gifted with world building, description, dialogue and a talent for writing likeable, though dark characters, you’ll love this book.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Archangel poses the question – What earth might look like if the demons won an apocalyptic war?
Beneath the black cloud shrouding the earth and hatched from hell itself, the underworld pushed up through the ground, literally. It’s a wretched, terrible place, governed by a hierarchy of high demons, controlling lower demons, monstrous hybrids and other horrifying creatures. Demons enslave surviving humans, and the remaining Angels hide in festering sewers. The world is doomed, with no hope, until Uriel descends from heaven to reignite the war between darkness and light. After which, an agent of darkness begins his hunt…
The world is fully realised with excellent and often gruesome description. 'She dragged her hand along the sewer wall as she walked, leaving behind a piece of the man’s skin.' is a great example.
Everything has changed, the world is so unlike our own, we find no named city for orientation. The author creates a new, well-crafted world with vivid and imaginative detail.
The conflict is not just between darkness and light. One of the most interesting aspects of this book is the major characters’ internal struggles. Intense action and fight sequences drive the plot forward at an impressive pace alongside personal heartfelt challenges each of the characters face. It’s what turns a good book into a great one. The plot has great suspense. Often, I had no idea what danger the main characters were about to discover. If it's not a demon, then what is it? Why don't the angels know! Who/what is the Dark Voice?
Uriel is a great MC, devoted and on a mission to change the tides of war. He’s one powerful Angel who acts more human as the story progresses. I loved Shandra! She is strong because she has to be, being half-human/half-demon, she doesn’t fit in anywhere. Her personality is sarcastic, adding wit with a touch of the foul mouth. Yes, there is plenty of cussing on the demonic side. Even when Shandra is at her lowest, she shows resilience through her humour.“Don’t be a pervert, angel.” He wasn’t perving, and she knew it. There was no romance, though Uriel and Shandra danced around the potential. Part of me hopes they just stay friends. Their relationship, as it stands, is awesome.
When reading dark fantasy, I rarely relate to the darker characters. It’s one of the main reasons I never continued with GRR Martin (Shh, don’t tell). Not so with this book. If anything, the darker characters are more intriguing than the good. A half-demon is more human than surviving humanity, and the human antagonist is eviler than most demons! Neither were born that way but were nurtured. It raises interesting questions!
There are plenty of antagonistic characters from Switchblade, Botis and Abaddon. Dante, the Witch and her familiar are at the fore. I was on the edge of my seat every time Dante was on the page, especially his pov scenes. His backstory is brilliant and gut-wrenching. How he became so powerful is a surprise waiting to be told. I’d love to see a redemptive arc play out in future books.
Generally, I found the darker characters more compelling than the Angels. The Angels weren’t written poorly or underdeveloped, I just think the author excels at writing complex antagonists.
There’s no cliffhanger ending, and it sets up well for the next book.
If you love character-driven dark fantasy set in a post-apocalyptic world written by an author gifted with world building, description, dialogue and a talent for writing likeable, though dark characters, you’ll love this book.
June 19, 2023
I have been craving story about angels for a while now as most are usually demaon this or that so when saw this was hyped.
And it started good the description of when he coming to earth and change to humon like body was well written although did wonder what happened with his wings.?
The description of things in book is well done the idea of this story is interesting and magic in world created is ok I guess could be better could be worse.
But then when said all these so called powerful entites demonic, angel & other can all be killed with everyday guns wielded by anyone that's wear kinda died for me and any sense of what happened in book became hard to belive even in world created reasons. (Of many.)
Because with amount of weapons and armed forces all over the world the demons and angels would be easily wiped out by us yeah they would initially do a lot of harm but in end they would be annihilated. And that's not if didn't use missiles, atomic bombs just to name a few also made demons and angels look weak and just disappointing.
Man made weapons should have no effect on the supernatural like this it ruined story, and tuck majority of fun out of it for me I mean what's point of anything of these so called powerful entities if they can be killed by simply anyone with a gun.???
Keep hoping for angel's like supernatural ones or something 🤔 also using wings to fight with so on.
Shame as until said that was really enjoying story I'll stop hear as this is already too long of a review and max could fairly give is 3 star sorry but ended skiming most book after guns thing just to get to end. (Lost wonder & joy.)
And it started good the description of when he coming to earth and change to humon like body was well written although did wonder what happened with his wings.?
The description of things in book is well done the idea of this story is interesting and magic in world created is ok I guess could be better could be worse.
But then when said all these so called powerful entites demonic, angel & other can all be killed with everyday guns wielded by anyone that's wear kinda died for me and any sense of what happened in book became hard to belive even in world created reasons. (Of many.)
Because with amount of weapons and armed forces all over the world the demons and angels would be easily wiped out by us yeah they would initially do a lot of harm but in end they would be annihilated. And that's not if didn't use missiles, atomic bombs just to name a few also made demons and angels look weak and just disappointing.
Man made weapons should have no effect on the supernatural like this it ruined story, and tuck majority of fun out of it for me I mean what's point of anything of these so called powerful entities if they can be killed by simply anyone with a gun.???
Keep hoping for angel's like supernatural ones or something 🤔 also using wings to fight with so on.
Shame as until said that was really enjoying story I'll stop hear as this is already too long of a review and max could fairly give is 3 star sorry but ended skiming most book after guns thing just to get to end. (Lost wonder & joy.)
August 6, 2024
I received a copy of the book from Voracious Readers Only. When I first started reading the book, I wasn’t certain that I’d like it. I’m glad I continued reading because I ended up immersed in the hellscape that Earth has become. The battle between Heaven and Hell has been won by Lucifer & his demons. The earths atmosphere has been blocked by black clouds, so the sun can’t shine. Instead, there’s just a reddish light to indicate that it’s daytime. Uriel, the archangel, has been sent down to earth to help banish the evil for the remaining humans. He meets up with a cambion (half human/half demon) named Shandra and her twin sister Elena. They were raised by an angel named Hadriel, who unfortunately lost his life. Uriel and Shandra leave Elena because they need to travel to the nearest city in the hopes of finding Raphael (another archangel). Of course they have to fight off demons and other vile creatures. Including an extremely powerful witch named Isabelle and her almost superhuman partner (and former spouse when they were still human) Damian. I won’t tell you what happens in this book but I look forward to reading the next installment. I’m especially curious to find out how Damian ended up in the situation that he is.
May 3, 2023
Hell is definitely on earth, and the Angels want it back.
The description and reasoning why the Demons are maintaining their hold on Earth is original and yet totally logical. There are some instantly recognisable characters on both sides, the necessary high level of research and preparation shows. The individual characters have been well thought out and have space to develop for who I think will feature through the series
At first I thought it was a straight Angels versus Demons but the care the Angels have for humans shows through, all humans, not just the odd one or two.
The scene setting and location description is very good though some transitional bits gloss over what it's probably like walking through sewers and through streets though really they are the calm between the storms, the detail in discussion, battles and challenges is excellent.
Before this book I had not heard of D. William Landsborough and I will freely admit I received this for free, but I will definitely buy the next in the series.
The description and reasoning why the Demons are maintaining their hold on Earth is original and yet totally logical. There are some instantly recognisable characters on both sides, the necessary high level of research and preparation shows. The individual characters have been well thought out and have space to develop for who I think will feature through the series
At first I thought it was a straight Angels versus Demons but the care the Angels have for humans shows through, all humans, not just the odd one or two.
The scene setting and location description is very good though some transitional bits gloss over what it's probably like walking through sewers and through streets though really they are the calm between the storms, the detail in discussion, battles and challenges is excellent.
Before this book I had not heard of D. William Landsborough and I will freely admit I received this for free, but I will definitely buy the next in the series.
July 30, 2023
This book has you questioning certain things within religion and the morality of it all. With the archangel Uriel you get to see him grow and question his own beliefs based on his new found experiences.
Shandra the half-demon is the bridge between the demons, angels and humans. She does have more of an appeal in the story as her character seems to be the most fleshed out of everyone.
Dante’s storyline was a little vaguer in some areas as you tried to figure out how he got to be what he was.
While the angels for the most part seem to be sexless there was an interesting imbalance with more of the characters being male.
Some areas you got a lot of information others just a cursory amount which made things not totally gel in all areas for me.
The book does end on a bit of a cliffhanger for some things.
I received an ARC and I am leaving an honest review.
Shandra the half-demon is the bridge between the demons, angels and humans. She does have more of an appeal in the story as her character seems to be the most fleshed out of everyone.
Dante’s storyline was a little vaguer in some areas as you tried to figure out how he got to be what he was.
While the angels for the most part seem to be sexless there was an interesting imbalance with more of the characters being male.
Some areas you got a lot of information others just a cursory amount which made things not totally gel in all areas for me.
The book does end on a bit of a cliffhanger for some things.
I received an ARC and I am leaving an honest review.
October 6, 2024
This book is not what I expected it to be. I thought it would be just another angels vs demons book, where the angels win the day. It is anything but that.
The book starts with the angels being downtrodden after their defeat, and they are struggling to survive. Humanity is the last thing that they care about. Then everything changes with the arrival of the Fire of God. Our hero learns very quickly that he isn’t in the bible anymore, as he battles is own internal demons as well as the hordes of them outside in the world they now control. But the one thing he does know is that the fight isn’t over, and he rally’s the troops to set the world ablaze bringing hope back in a war that was thought to be lost.
Great read. Absolutely great.
The book starts with the angels being downtrodden after their defeat, and they are struggling to survive. Humanity is the last thing that they care about. Then everything changes with the arrival of the Fire of God. Our hero learns very quickly that he isn’t in the bible anymore, as he battles is own internal demons as well as the hordes of them outside in the world they now control. But the one thing he does know is that the fight isn’t over, and he rally’s the troops to set the world ablaze bringing hope back in a war that was thought to be lost.
Great read. Absolutely great.
February 15, 2023
First Installment in a new Epic Fantasy
Uriel comes to earth after the great war has been lost to try and turn the tide back to the side of the angels. This book follows him on his journey, as he tries to navigate an earth that us nothing like the one he knew.
He makes friends with an unlikely companion and encounters an unexpected enemy. He deals with loss, rage and finally hope throughout the story.
The first few chapters were a bit slow, but once the book got going it was gripping. I really enjoyed it and look forward to book two.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy for an honest review
Uriel comes to earth after the great war has been lost to try and turn the tide back to the side of the angels. This book follows him on his journey, as he tries to navigate an earth that us nothing like the one he knew.
He makes friends with an unlikely companion and encounters an unexpected enemy. He deals with loss, rage and finally hope throughout the story.
The first few chapters were a bit slow, but once the book got going it was gripping. I really enjoyed it and look forward to book two.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy for an honest review
July 22, 2023
I found this book very easy to read. It held my attention and kept me wanting to read more. Landsborough's ideas were unique. He writes with great description and imagery, allowing you to place yourself right with the characters on Earth as you read. I look forward to reading more of his work. It ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, which obviously makes me want to read the next book of Shadow's Advent. The only thing that really stuck out to me as a downfall was all the different names for each of the main characters. I also sensed a very subtle relationship developing between the main characters, so I am interested to see where that goes.
September 9, 2023
The end of the world has come and hell has won. Dark clouds make it impossible for heaven to even see earth. Uriel is the only angel who can make it through the dark clouds to try and save what is left of earth. He finds earth very different than what he has known before. He must find surviving angels in order to fulfill his mission. He comes across a cambion and a human girl. The cambion is half demon and half human and has survived while protecting her sister. Saving earth from the demon hordes along with the angels he has found is not going to be easy but Uriel known as the fire of God is up for the task.
May 23, 2023
* I received a free copy of this book from Various Readers Only *
Gripping and Action Packed
An interesting and action packed read! This was a very interesting take on angels and demons, and I loved that it was different from anything else I’ve read before. I personally thought that some parts were a little bit hard to get through, as I kept putting it down and picking it back up again, but I genuinely liked the plot, and the characters! I also love that the author isn’t afraid to be gritty with the gory details, it’s something I can appreciate!
Gripping and Action Packed
An interesting and action packed read! This was a very interesting take on angels and demons, and I loved that it was different from anything else I’ve read before. I personally thought that some parts were a little bit hard to get through, as I kept putting it down and picking it back up again, but I genuinely liked the plot, and the characters! I also love that the author isn’t afraid to be gritty with the gory details, it’s something I can appreciate!
August 6, 2023
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I couldn't get into the story. The theme is brilliant: angels, demons, witches battling for power. However, there were several things that didn't add up, e.g. guns could kill angels?
The characters were sallow and not fascinating enough for me.
The worst part for me was the writing. Even when reading an action-packed fighting scene, I was short of falling asleep. I caught myself skipping pages and then I decided to stop reading all along.
A pity, given the potential the story had.
I couldn't get into the story. The theme is brilliant: angels, demons, witches battling for power. However, there were several things that didn't add up, e.g. guns could kill angels?
The characters were sallow and not fascinating enough for me.
The worst part for me was the writing. Even when reading an action-packed fighting scene, I was short of falling asleep. I caught myself skipping pages and then I decided to stop reading all along.
A pity, given the potential the story had.
November 14, 2025
Archangel by D. William Landsborough had a strong concept and some moments that really showed tension and intrigue, but it just wasn’t fully my cup of tea. The story had action and dark elements that I usually enjoy, but I didn’t feel completely drawn into the characters or the plot. The worldbuilding was solid, and there were definitely parts that kept me curious, but overall it didn’t grip me the way I like my dark, emotionally charged reads to.
That said, I think fans of action-packed, slightly darker thrillers could really enjoy it. It just wasn’t quite for me personally.
That said, I think fans of action-packed, slightly darker thrillers could really enjoy it. It just wasn’t quite for me personally.
May 14, 2023
A free book from Voracious Readers. Thank you.
The Angels lost the war, and now the world is ruled by Hell. This tale of Angels and Demons reflects life today in many places. The hate and cruelty and the love and caring all tug at the emotions in this book.
Evil has a stranglehold on Earth. Can this change with Uriel's presence?
The first book in a series that will be entertaining reading if the sequels follow the same storytelling style.
The Angels lost the war, and now the world is ruled by Hell. This tale of Angels and Demons reflects life today in many places. The hate and cruelty and the love and caring all tug at the emotions in this book.
Evil has a stranglehold on Earth. Can this change with Uriel's presence?
The first book in a series that will be entertaining reading if the sequels follow the same storytelling style.
July 23, 2023
Book 1, this story establishes the characters, following Uriel. He is an archangel and he falls onto Earth with the mission to start a war between Heaven and Hell. Things have changed and Uriel's morals are tested if it means he can bring back the light. The story is plot-driven and visually descriptive.
I received a free copy and am leaving a review voluntarily.
Thank you to Hidden Gems Books and author.
I received a free copy and am leaving a review voluntarily.
Thank you to Hidden Gems Books and author.
November 11, 2023
I went through this one pretty quickly! It was difficult to put down and I was also eager for the conclusion! All of the characters was interesting and it makes you feel as if you know them! It was difficult for me, when any of the angels were wounded or killed, because the author gives you very good descriptions of each and every character. I felt as if I knew all of them personally! There is a book 2 in this series, and I can’t wait to read that one! Great read!
July 30, 2024
I'm intrigued. It holds my attention very well. I couldn't stop reading. It's beautifully written and well thought out to the very end. I like the way Uriel was described it made me want to know more by investigating through his eyes to get a full understanding of the new planet he's on. I will be adding this book to my books collection of favorites. I'm looking forward reading more of Archangel Uriel's journey. Iler.
August 13, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. Even from the begining I was hooked. The world created was so vast and descriptive. I would definelty read more in this series! The only reason it's not 5 stars is because I wanted more!! I feel like the end left me feeling too incomplete... kind of. I can't wait to read the next one!
I received an advandced reader copy of this book, to read and share an honesty review.
I received an advandced reader copy of this book, to read and share an honesty review.
February 10, 2023
Surprisingly fun!
I ran across Archangel on Facebook and downloaded it as a casual read, fully expecting it to be supremely cheesy.
It wasn't. At all.
This is dark, grim, bloody fantasy that really digs into the mythology of angels and demons and is an engaging read. I'm looking forward to seeing where this goes.
I ran across Archangel on Facebook and downloaded it as a casual read, fully expecting it to be supremely cheesy.
It wasn't. At all.
This is dark, grim, bloody fantasy that really digs into the mythology of angels and demons and is an engaging read. I'm looking forward to seeing where this goes.
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