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Mantles of Power #1
Heaven's Fallen
Fallen, but not defeated.
Betrayed by those she trusted, Isalla was cast down from the heavens and into the heart of the hells. Bereft of her wings, the angel was rescued by Kanae, a demoness who challenges Isalla's belief of what demons should be. She has little choice but to accept Kanae's help, with as far from her homeland as she is, and slowly she begins to understand, then even admire Kanae.
Unfortunately, the forces in the shadows have not forgotten Isalla, and they are willing to target anyone close to her, no matter how highly placed they may be. As their long reach threatens to snuff out Isalla's life, Kanae proves a stalwart ally, and willing to face any danger beside her.
It's an immense surprise to Isalla that in the depths of the hells she can find hope, allies, and possibly even love.
Betrayed by those she trusted, Isalla was cast down from the heavens and into the heart of the hells. Bereft of her wings, the angel was rescued by Kanae, a demoness who challenges Isalla's belief of what demons should be. She has little choice but to accept Kanae's help, with as far from her homeland as she is, and slowly she begins to understand, then even admire Kanae.
Unfortunately, the forces in the shadows have not forgotten Isalla, and they are willing to target anyone close to her, no matter how highly placed they may be. As their long reach threatens to snuff out Isalla's life, Kanae proves a stalwart ally, and willing to face any danger beside her.
It's an immense surprise to Isalla that in the depths of the hells she can find hope, allies, and possibly even love.
13 pages, Audible Audio
Published May 31, 2019
206 people are currently reading
183 people want to read
About the author
Benjamin Medrano
47 books308 followersI was born in October, 1985. Not much of my history would likely be of interest, but I grew up primarily in Utah, a land of ultra-conservative people, and yet oddly open to Science Fiction and Fantasy.
I started trying to write in high school. That didn't go well, and I mostly lost the spark for a long time, only rarely finishing writing a story, as most of my inspiration instead went into tabletop role-playing games, like Dungeons & Dragons and Pathfinder. In the process I developed a possibly unhealthy obsession with elves and succubi. If I ever write a story without either, it's probably Science Fiction...and there are even odds that someone will body-mod themselves to look like an elf. Trying to be honest here.
My writing tends to focus on the relationships between characters, though it may not seem like it at times. The stories in the background are just that, a backdrop for the development of the characters and situation. I try to fully think them through, but it's not always the case.
Anyway, not much more to be said. I'm an oddball, and I know it. I'm also somewhat stunned at the success my work has attained thus far, and am trying not to panic over it.
I started trying to write in high school. That didn't go well, and I mostly lost the spark for a long time, only rarely finishing writing a story, as most of my inspiration instead went into tabletop role-playing games, like Dungeons & Dragons and Pathfinder. In the process I developed a possibly unhealthy obsession with elves and succubi. If I ever write a story without either, it's probably Science Fiction...and there are even odds that someone will body-mod themselves to look like an elf. Trying to be honest here.
My writing tends to focus on the relationships between characters, though it may not seem like it at times. The stories in the background are just that, a backdrop for the development of the characters and situation. I try to fully think them through, but it's not always the case.
Anyway, not much more to be said. I'm an oddball, and I know it. I'm also somewhat stunned at the success my work has attained thus far, and am trying not to panic over it.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
November 28, 2022
So yeah, this is another mood read and while it's isn't a mood for this author specifically, he does seem to hit the spot when I'm feeling this way. This one starts off with Isalla being betrayed by fellow angels and thrust into hell after her wings are cut off. In hell, she's saved, and nurtured back to health, by a mysterious demon named Kanae. And we gradually learn that heaven and hell are locations and power bases rather than moral axes. Demons are just folks and the bone demon running the local market isn't any more bloodthirsty than any other merchant looking to serve his small community by brokering needed goods and services.
What surprised me, more than a little, is that this is a story about kindness. Both the gruff kindness Isalla receives from Kanae and the weaponized kindness Isalla's ex-girlfriend Roselynn receives after being captured and sent to the sinister "Spire of Confession". It was fascinating to see the differences. It was more fascinating to see the similarities. So when the two collide with Isalla "rescuing" Rose, I was completely along for the ride.
I like that Medrano isn't sharpening a moral axe to grind with his angels and demons. They're really nothing more than racial characteristics and a home climate that makes being a demon a much harder life with more danger and an environmental intolerance for weakness. I particularly like how we get a lot of "just folks" in the characterizations; with Kanae, in particular, someone who has chosen to use her gifts to help others—even going so far as to train herself into healing arts that she has to acquire using mundane (i.e. alchemical) means (as her magic abilities don't lean that way at all).
There's a bunch of lead up to an eventual poly relationship in the story. Isalla and Kanae develop a deeper relationship as they make their way towards rescuing Rose. And Isalla and Rose still have obvious feelings for one another. And since Rose is a bit enchanted by Kanae when they meet (possibly artificially, but I'm willing to see if it works), it's a bit obvious that it is heading that way. There are some communication issues (and some self-sabotage) that prevent this from happening in this book. And those felt a bit manufactured, frankly. Like, the author wanted to put it off for a future payoff so he created reasons for it to delay.
Anyway, I liked this story. The characters, anyway. The plot is a bit stock with an angel conspiracy that is mostly opaque during this novel. We don't really know (or learn) the stakes, we only know that some angels have done some bad things to both Isalla and Rose and that the conspiracy has some power in angel politics. I'm sure those stakes will be revealed in the rest of the trilogy, but for now it's bare-bones enough that I can't justify more than four stars.
A note about Steamy: Landing in a region of hell ruled by succubi and because kindness can lead to feelings, there's some sex in the story. Medrano mostly pulls the curtain before we get too detailed, but it gets far enough that I'm calling in the Steam tag. It's barely warranted, but there's enough to justify it, I think.
What surprised me, more than a little, is that this is a story about kindness. Both the gruff kindness Isalla receives from Kanae and the weaponized kindness Isalla's ex-girlfriend Roselynn receives after being captured and sent to the sinister "Spire of Confession". It was fascinating to see the differences. It was more fascinating to see the similarities. So when the two collide with Isalla "rescuing" Rose, I was completely along for the ride.
I like that Medrano isn't sharpening a moral axe to grind with his angels and demons. They're really nothing more than racial characteristics and a home climate that makes being a demon a much harder life with more danger and an environmental intolerance for weakness. I particularly like how we get a lot of "just folks" in the characterizations; with Kanae, in particular, someone who has chosen to use her gifts to help others—even going so far as to train herself into healing arts that she has to acquire using mundane (i.e. alchemical) means (as her magic abilities don't lean that way at all).
There's a bunch of lead up to an eventual poly relationship in the story. Isalla and Kanae develop a deeper relationship as they make their way towards rescuing Rose. And Isalla and Rose still have obvious feelings for one another. And since Rose is a bit enchanted by Kanae when they meet (possibly artificially, but I'm willing to see if it works), it's a bit obvious that it is heading that way. There are some communication issues (and some self-sabotage) that prevent this from happening in this book. And those felt a bit manufactured, frankly. Like, the author wanted to put it off for a future payoff so he created reasons for it to delay.
Anyway, I liked this story. The characters, anyway. The plot is a bit stock with an angel conspiracy that is mostly opaque during this novel. We don't really know (or learn) the stakes, we only know that some angels have done some bad things to both Isalla and Rose and that the conspiracy has some power in angel politics. I'm sure those stakes will be revealed in the rest of the trilogy, but for now it's bare-bones enough that I can't justify more than four stars.
A note about Steamy: Landing in a region of hell ruled by succubi and because kindness can lead to feelings, there's some sex in the story. Medrano mostly pulls the curtain before we get too detailed, but it gets far enough that I'm calling in the Steam tag. It's barely warranted, but there's enough to justify it, I think.
August 12, 2019
It was okay, but I'm having problems getting behind really any of the characters, since sometimes a character is "the most sexy, mature, experienced, never embarrassed" type, only to later be blushing at the insinuation that someone was interested in her, and it was jarring. Would have appreciated more consistency
April 23, 2019
I tend to ignore books that are about Angels as the few I have tried usually develop into a tedious romance, but this story seemed quite novel.
I really enjoyed reading about Kanae and Isalla, but I struggled with Roselynn’s story, eventually the two strands merge and I began to take more interest in Rose.
I thought this was a really interesting book, there was a wide range of characters and locations that made the story stand out from the many other fantasies.
I am looking forward to the next book. Having said that I couldn’t help thinking the way Isalla and Roselynn ended up in the Hells didn’t really make sense.
I really enjoyed reading about Kanae and Isalla, but I struggled with Roselynn’s story, eventually the two strands merge and I began to take more interest in Rose.
I thought this was a really interesting book, there was a wide range of characters and locations that made the story stand out from the many other fantasies.
I am looking forward to the next book. Having said that I couldn’t help thinking the way Isalla and Roselynn ended up in the Hells didn’t really make sense.
July 9, 2019
You'd think a story that starts with a betrayal in heaven resulting in an angle falling into hell would end up mired in a tedious romance, but Medrano does it.
Rather than have said angle have to struggle for survival in a hostile foreign land, she's found (Literally before she even hits the ground) by a sympathetic Succubus, healer demon. What follows is pages uppon pages of tell, don't show as the two spout history lessons, flirt, and she recovers in a rather serene and idyllic location for literal hell.
Perspective occasionally switches up to heaven where a little more happens but that's the side story and still not interesting enough to carry the narrative.
Rather than have said angle have to struggle for survival in a hostile foreign land, she's found (Literally before she even hits the ground) by a sympathetic Succubus, healer demon. What follows is pages uppon pages of tell, don't show as the two spout history lessons, flirt, and she recovers in a rather serene and idyllic location for literal hell.
Perspective occasionally switches up to heaven where a little more happens but that's the side story and still not interesting enough to carry the narrative.
May 20, 2019
Dialog needs work.
February 24, 2021
Meh
Skim worthy. An okay story, but lacks significant plot. If it were food, it would be a gas station snack.
Skim worthy. An okay story, but lacks significant plot. If it were food, it would be a gas station snack.
December 4, 2023
A derivative, boring story with terrible writing, proving once again that Goodreads scores are completely arbitrary.
It's a generic fantasy story with absolutely nothing new to tell. The bad guys (/gals) are bad for the sake of being bad, the good guys (/gals) are all completely generic hero archetypes with not a single original trait shared between them.
The dialog is entirely exposition based. There is never any depth to it: everything is plainly stated, leaving nothing to the imagination. In practice, this means that you just get a lot of history lessons, or exposition about how the world works. Now this wouldn't be so bad, if any of this world was at all original or interesting in any way. The creatures are generic fantasy creatures (angels, demons, lamias, succubi, incubi, big old spiders etc.), the politics are generic fantasy politics, the romance is disappointingly shallow.
The story isn't actually one story. It's two stories, which the description conveniently forgets to mention, because even the author knows it's not what most people are looking for. The first story is about our generic heroine, who conveniently manages to get around having to survive in the literal hell she was thrown into by... immediately being rescued by her super generic, mysteriously powerful love interest, who is obviously a super hot succubus, because why not. Also, hell isn't really hell: everybody is super nice, it's not particularly dangerous, and everything is basically a slightly different version of everywhere else, immediately making the entire setup completely pointless. If you actually want your story set in an earth-like setting... why even call it "hell" in the first place?
The second story is about the MC's ex, who investigates the MC's disappearance. Now this part was okay, until it was revealed that the bad guys can just mind rape people into having their memories replaced. Yeah, that's an insanely bad choice: it means that anything that happens can be deus-ex-machina'ed by the author immediately when they don't see a way into stretching out their plot further. And what surprise: that's exactly what happens. Then there are the plot holes. Apparently the bad guys can also, with no visible effort, disable angels' wings, which not even the MC's ex (who is apparently a highly decorated, super important military officer) knows about or expects (which leads to her immediate defeat. *Yawn*) Yeah... there is a huge, never ending war between heaven and hell and nobody is aware of a super easy-to-use technique that can just immediately disable one side's main advantage with not downsides. Wow.
The main issue are the main characters, however. They feel completely lifeless. They're super powerful and everything (if the plot allows it, otherwise, they're suddenly extremely weak of course.) They're entirely perfect, have no unique traits, are immediately super magically into each other, and... they're just there. I'll have forgotten all of them within a few hours, that's how entirely bland they are.
It's a generic fantasy story with absolutely nothing new to tell. The bad guys (/gals) are bad for the sake of being bad, the good guys (/gals) are all completely generic hero archetypes with not a single original trait shared between them.
The dialog is entirely exposition based. There is never any depth to it: everything is plainly stated, leaving nothing to the imagination. In practice, this means that you just get a lot of history lessons, or exposition about how the world works. Now this wouldn't be so bad, if any of this world was at all original or interesting in any way. The creatures are generic fantasy creatures (angels, demons, lamias, succubi, incubi, big old spiders etc.), the politics are generic fantasy politics, the romance is disappointingly shallow.
The story isn't actually one story. It's two stories, which the description conveniently forgets to mention, because even the author knows it's not what most people are looking for. The first story is about our generic heroine, who conveniently manages to get around having to survive in the literal hell she was thrown into by... immediately being rescued by her super generic, mysteriously powerful love interest, who is obviously a super hot succubus, because why not. Also, hell isn't really hell: everybody is super nice, it's not particularly dangerous, and everything is basically a slightly different version of everywhere else, immediately making the entire setup completely pointless. If you actually want your story set in an earth-like setting... why even call it "hell" in the first place?
The second story is about the MC's ex, who investigates the MC's disappearance. Now this part was okay, until it was revealed that the bad guys can just mind rape people into having their memories replaced. Yeah, that's an insanely bad choice: it means that anything that happens can be deus-ex-machina'ed by the author immediately when they don't see a way into stretching out their plot further. And what surprise: that's exactly what happens. Then there are the plot holes. Apparently the bad guys can also, with no visible effort, disable angels' wings, which not even the MC's ex (who is apparently a highly decorated, super important military officer) knows about or expects (which leads to her immediate defeat. *Yawn*) Yeah... there is a huge, never ending war between heaven and hell and nobody is aware of a super easy-to-use technique that can just immediately disable one side's main advantage with not downsides. Wow.
The main issue are the main characters, however. They feel completely lifeless. They're super powerful and everything (if the plot allows it, otherwise, they're suddenly extremely weak of course.) They're entirely perfect, have no unique traits, are immediately super magically into each other, and... they're just there. I'll have forgotten all of them within a few hours, that's how entirely bland they are.
June 11, 2022
I have been desperate for something just like this.
Fantasy is and always has been my favorite genre. But I do have my likes and dislokes, and the trends since game of thrones rocked the media world have not been my favorite. Gone in large part is the fantasy in fantasy. Most series being effectively alternate medieval history and maybe one dude can cast fire.
You don't see grand epic worlds with magical beasts and spaces and things far beyond our reality. Not to mention the unfortunate popularity of "literally every, main character included, sucks" again, I can enjoy such stories, but the saturation is suffocating. Add onto that I want female protagonists, queer being a bigger plus and to say I've felt aloof in the genre would be an understatement.
I'm a librarian and yet even with it being a part of my job I couldn't find books to scratch that itch. Then I stumbled upon Medrano and their writing. And I am so glad I did.
This book was all I wanted it to be. Well written representation of not just women but queer women. Not objectify ing or fetishizing them, but instead being genuine and lovely. I have grown very attached to the characters already as they're fun and well...good!
The world building is genuinely interesting and it is fun to see how different life in the hells is even down to wool being a luxury item. A lot of thought and care went into the story, its world, its characters, and I can safely say Medrano has a fan in me!
Now to see if I can't add some of these works to our collection, muahahah.
Also forgive typos. Mobile is suffering.
Fantasy is and always has been my favorite genre. But I do have my likes and dislokes, and the trends since game of thrones rocked the media world have not been my favorite. Gone in large part is the fantasy in fantasy. Most series being effectively alternate medieval history and maybe one dude can cast fire.
You don't see grand epic worlds with magical beasts and spaces and things far beyond our reality. Not to mention the unfortunate popularity of "literally every, main character included, sucks" again, I can enjoy such stories, but the saturation is suffocating. Add onto that I want female protagonists, queer being a bigger plus and to say I've felt aloof in the genre would be an understatement.
I'm a librarian and yet even with it being a part of my job I couldn't find books to scratch that itch. Then I stumbled upon Medrano and their writing. And I am so glad I did.
This book was all I wanted it to be. Well written representation of not just women but queer women. Not objectify ing or fetishizing them, but instead being genuine and lovely. I have grown very attached to the characters already as they're fun and well...good!
The world building is genuinely interesting and it is fun to see how different life in the hells is even down to wool being a luxury item. A lot of thought and care went into the story, its world, its characters, and I can safely say Medrano has a fan in me!
Now to see if I can't add some of these works to our collection, muahahah.
Also forgive typos. Mobile is suffering.
July 2, 2019
Heaven's Fallen ( Mantles of Power Book 1)
Great story about Angels and Demons. This one about an angel who had her wings removed and dropped down into help but a demon caught her before she hits the ground. Then the story takes off it's one that keeps you entertained.
The author Benjamin Her rank did an excellent job writing this leaving you wanting to know what happens next. Well done.
Cannot wait for the next one in this series.
Well deserved 5 stars
Great story about Angels and Demons. This one about an angel who had her wings removed and dropped down into help but a demon caught her before she hits the ground. Then the story takes off it's one that keeps you entertained.
The author Benjamin Her rank did an excellent job writing this leaving you wanting to know what happens next. Well done.
Cannot wait for the next one in this series.
Well deserved 5 stars
October 4, 2019
GREAT BOOK!!!
This story had a slow build up but, once it got rolling I couldn't put it down. As he always does, he built the worlds of this storyline expertly. I read had to keep reading until the end and then rush to buy the next one. After a cup of coffee and a bite to eat, I'll be diving into it and I'll probably be up all night. If its anything like Heaven's Fallen I won't be able to put it down either.
This story had a slow build up but, once it got rolling I couldn't put it down. As he always does, he built the worlds of this storyline expertly. I read had to keep reading until the end and then rush to buy the next one. After a cup of coffee and a bite to eat, I'll be diving into it and I'll probably be up all night. If its anything like Heaven's Fallen I won't be able to put it down either.
April 19, 2019
Good First
While this book doesn't have a ton of action, it certainly is a great set up for the series. We have learned a lot about what have become some of my favorite characters and have a good lead into the next book. I really did love this book. And the cover! The cover is wonderful.
Can't wait for Mortal Gods to come out.
While this book doesn't have a ton of action, it certainly is a great set up for the series. We have learned a lot about what have become some of my favorite characters and have a good lead into the next book. I really did love this book. And the cover! The cover is wonderful.
Can't wait for Mortal Gods to come out.
July 13, 2019
Its not for me
This is the second time I have tried to read a story by this author. This is the second time I have given up halfway though a book that has an amazing plot that I can't get into bc of poor characters. I want to love it. Maybe I'm just not mature enough or can't understand, but I want more and it just keeps calling flat bc of characters with little or no personality.
This is the second time I have tried to read a story by this author. This is the second time I have given up halfway though a book that has an amazing plot that I can't get into bc of poor characters. I want to love it. Maybe I'm just not mature enough or can't understand, but I want more and it just keeps calling flat bc of characters with little or no personality.
July 19, 2019
I can only say that this series has been the worst Benjamin Medrano has written to date. I have to say that I am pretty disappointed, since I've loved every other series his written so far. That being said the series is not bad but it has enormous issues with pacing and doesn't seem to know when to speed up or what to focus on therefor it's all over the place,
July 20, 2021
Ruined by too many bad turns
I quite liked what was going on when it was just the two mains. But then Rise wormed her way in and she's just...so bad as a character. Add to that how every character goes from a badass to a barely functional simpering mess around the queen just killed this story for me.
I quite liked what was going on when it was just the two mains. But then Rise wormed her way in and she's just...so bad as a character. Add to that how every character goes from a badass to a barely functional simpering mess around the queen just killed this story for me.
July 12, 2023
This is gonna be good!
Sometimes you can just tell when a series is likely to be awesome and after this book I got the feeling that this is gonna be good!!! The characters are complex, intriguing & fascinating & wanna get to know them better & invested in their journeys & outcomes.
Sometimes you can just tell when a series is likely to be awesome and after this book I got the feeling that this is gonna be good!!! The characters are complex, intriguing & fascinating & wanna get to know them better & invested in their journeys & outcomes.
October 15, 2019
I was looking forward to it since I liked Medrano's Ancient Dreams series. Unfortunatly for me, this was not a book for me. I found it a bit too much like A.D. I read the bok till the 75% mark, but got tired of it after it. I tried...
April 20, 2019
Awesome book!
Great book! Incredible characters, great story, interesting new world for the beginning of a new series. I can’t wait for the next book!
Great book! Incredible characters, great story, interesting new world for the beginning of a new series. I can’t wait for the next book!
June 5, 2019
I like it
I've really been enjoying Benjamin Medrano lately.
Interesting love triangle between angels and devils.
I've really been enjoying Benjamin Medrano lately.
Interesting love triangle between angels and devils.
July 18, 2019
What can I say??
Thank you for telling a story that really holds my attention.
Years have passed by since I’ve picked up a book and just lose myself in the story.
Thank you for telling a story that really holds my attention.
Years have passed by since I’ve picked up a book and just lose myself in the story.
August 11, 2019
Amazing series. This writer is always bringing new and exceptional books.
January 19, 2020
The language was too simple for my taste.
July 20, 2020
EXCITING AND A GREAT READ ! EACH BOOK WAS WRITTEN IN A VERY SPLENDID DETAIL ! I COULD REALLY GET BEHIND SEEING THIS SERIES TRANSFORMED INTO A MOTION PICTURE I
March 23, 2022
Interesting story, though it was a bit slow near the beginning and I’m not sure I like the unsolved mind warping. Yet, I’m still curious to see where it goes.
January 12, 2020
Interesting, but slowpaced story.
Isalla, an angel in the armies of Heaven is betrayed, and severely wounded, cast out from Heaven into The Hells. There she is rescued by a beautiful demoness Kanae. Now with the help of Kanae, Isalla has to recover and deal with the loss of her wings. All the while adjusting to the fact that The Hells and it's inhabitants aren't quite what she had expected them to be.
With Medrano's excellent worldbuiling accompanying this multi-POV story, this slow paced narrative is an interesting read. Without the dichotomy of Demons=Bad and Angels=Good both the Heavens and The Hells are much more interesting places. Yes there is obvious bad blood between these two factions (and the inhabitants mortal world of-course) and there are certainly examples of this devide, but for the most part: people are people. This leaves Medrano's world much more dynamic and much more interesting than your regular Angels/ Demons book. Especially so because this is actually and Fantasy Adventure book. With swords, spells and magic our protagonist must unravel the mystery of who and why Isalla was betrayed and what this all means.
Overall this was a good read. It was defensively a slower paced story than I was expecting, but once I adjusted this was a very satisfying read.
Isalla, an angel in the armies of Heaven is betrayed, and severely wounded, cast out from Heaven into The Hells. There she is rescued by a beautiful demoness Kanae. Now with the help of Kanae, Isalla has to recover and deal with the loss of her wings. All the while adjusting to the fact that The Hells and it's inhabitants aren't quite what she had expected them to be.
With Medrano's excellent worldbuiling accompanying this multi-POV story, this slow paced narrative is an interesting read. Without the dichotomy of Demons=Bad and Angels=Good both the Heavens and The Hells are much more interesting places. Yes there is obvious bad blood between these two factions (and the inhabitants mortal world of-course) and there are certainly examples of this devide, but for the most part: people are people. This leaves Medrano's world much more dynamic and much more interesting than your regular Angels/ Demons book. Especially so because this is actually and Fantasy Adventure book. With swords, spells and magic our protagonist must unravel the mystery of who and why Isalla was betrayed and what this all means.
Overall this was a good read. It was defensively a slower paced story than I was expecting, but once I adjusted this was a very satisfying read.
September 18, 2019
The ancient ruins saga is one of my all-time favorites. Therefore, I could not wait what the author also had to offer.
It is good but the story is missing the brilliance of ancient ruins. The characters and the world isn't that bad but also not so interesting.
But I think the main problem is that katania already knows everything and tells our protagonist about there the adventure of exploring the world through the eyes of the protagonist is dampened...
It is good but the story is missing the brilliance of ancient ruins. The characters and the world isn't that bad but also not so interesting.
But I think the main problem is that katania already knows everything and tells our protagonist about there the adventure of exploring the world through the eyes of the protagonist is dampened...
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews