Angels & Patriots: Book One

Angels & Patriots #1

by Salina B. Baker

2020 Shelf Unbound, Top 100 Notable Indie Book

Salina B Baker's Angels & Patriots series is recipient of ten awards in Fantasy, Historical, and Military Fiction

Angels & Patriots is the violent struggle for freedom, played out on the battlefield and the firmament as the angels fend off the demons in a quest to serve both humans and God.


On the eve of the Revolutionary War, American patriots are leaving their homes and families behind to stand firm against the British. What these early Americans do not realize, is that while they prepare themselves for their battles, a war is simultaneously playing out among the soldiers--one that poses a far greater threat to their lives and souls.

Demons that God created to kill a brotherhood of fallen angels are fanning the embers of the Revolutionary War to draw the angels out of hiding. They walk and fight alongside patriots and British soldiers alike.

Archangel, Colm Bohannon, leads his angel brothers to Boston to track down the demon leader and to warn John Hancock, Samuel Adams, Dr. Joseph Warren, and the Sons of Liberty that the British army is not their only threat. The patriots will need to engage with two enemy forces on the battlefield. As it stands, the band of angels is road weary and struggling with infighting and earthly temptations. Is faith a strong enough shield to fight off demon attacks and protect the patriots?

Angels & Patriots is the violent struggle for freedom, played out on the battlefield and the firmament as the angels fend off the demons in a quest to serve both humans and God.

Angel and Patriots Book One Awards:
Independent Press Award, Historical Fiction, Winner
Shelf UnBound Best Indie Book, Notable
National Indie Excellence® Awards, Military Fiction, Finalist
American Fiction Awards, Fantasy and Military Fiction, Finalist
New York City Big Book Awards, Military Fiction, Winner
New York City Big Book Awards, Historical Fiction, Distinguished Favorite

Genres: Fantasy, Historical, Historical Fiction, Fiction

467 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 5, 2017

About the author

Salina is a multiple award-winning historical fiction author, presenter, and historian of the American Revolution. She has done presentations at places such as History Camp Boston, Valley Forge, Washington Crossing Historic Park, the General Nathanael Greene Homestead, Cowpens National Battlefield, Camden Revolutionary War Visitor Center, and Sons of the American Revolution/Daughters of the American Revolution chapters. She has also been interviewed on podcasts including Revolution 250, American Revolution Podcast, and Emerging Revolutionary War. In addition, she writes articles for the Journal of the American Revolution. Salina lives in Austin, Texas with her loving husband, John.

Reviews

[Avellina Balestri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very colorful and imaginative blend of history and fantasy. There were definitely sections of it that I am unlikely to forget anytime soon do the quite dramatic and sometimes humorous pictures they painted in my mind. One of the most memorable for me involved one of my favorite redcoats from the the American Revolution, Major John Pitcairn, who in this alternate version of events has something of a tussle with a handful of very patriotic (for the Americans, that is) Irish-accented angels, who disintegrate some of his demonically possessed, yellow-eyed marines. It's all a bit traumatizing for the dear major, understandably, who starts throwing up, and then is...amazingly okay, for a while, until he's very historically shot. But he is a Scot, so resilience is the name of the game. I also appreciated that his son William got a cameo, and seemed to know a lot about the way angels do things than his rather stunned-duck dad. It was also nice to have General Thomas Gage show up for a bit. I don't think Margaret and Joseph Warren had an affair historically, as Margaret and Thomas were quite a close-knit couple. Though as I understand it, Warren was her personal physician, and she may have divulged information to him about her husband's military plans. It was pretty dumb on Gage's part to let him have that physician position, given his wife's torn feelings, and Warren's reputation as a local incendiary. But...he was a little slow to the draw on a number of counts, and he had a reputation for trying to be fair about things. I will say I think that in this alternate universe it does fit his character to cover for the baby who he may not be his own. So yeah, over all, the novel was quite a memorable romp, and definitely made me curious how the rest of the series would play out.

[Cami Hensley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story itself was engaging and read very much like a movie to me. You get introduced to a whole new world and new characters in the beginning.

The Historical part of the story is one I wasn’t 100% about in the beginning, just because I’m not a a history buff and didn't know if I would get lost in that aspect. I think Salina B. Baker managed to give it plenty of fictitious characteristics so that it didn’t feel like a Historical novel.

[Christina Weigand · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was an interesting perspective on the Revolutionary War. I enjoyed looking at the war through the perspective of the angels and demons as well as the humans. The history was intriguing although I felt there were too many characters too keep track of. The large amount of characters made the story hard to follow at times, especially when there were two characters with the same name.

[Barbara · Rating 1 out of 5]

This reader gave up after the fourth chapter. I just couldn't get into it.

[Susan Rooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set against the backdrop of the American Revolution and using that period’s factual details as the novel’s framework, Salina B. Baker’s Angels and Patriots: Book One is a fresh take on the historical fantasy. When the book begins, we learn that hundreds of years before the Revolution, a band of eight angels disobeyed God’s commands, some of them fathering children with human women. In his wrath, God created demons and sent them to destroy the angels. The demons have pursued the angels through the centuries until at last the two rival forces find themselves fighting on opposite sides of the American Revolution, with the angels aiding the colonists in the fight to free themselves of British rule.

The book boasts a large cast of memorable characters, including many famous figures from American history. Among them are John Hancock, Paul Revere, John Adams, and my favorite Revolutionary War hero, Dr. Joseph Warren, a charismatic man for whom Baker reserves her most expressive, empathetic writing, resulting in some of the novel’s most moving passages. The demon characters are also skillfully drawn, and their leader, General Henry Hereford, is one of the most truly (and deliciously!) loathsome villains I’ve come across in some time.

Angels and Patriots builds to an earth-shaking climax as the Revolutionary War rolls on, and the brotherhood of angels at last must confront their demonic pursuers face-to-face. Baker’s knowledge of Colonial America is evident on every page. Thanks to her vivid and authentic descriptions, I found this unusual novel to be both an absorbing journey through a bloody period in our country’s history, and an utterly original fantasy. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

[C. Gonzales · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a beautiful piece of story-telling. Such connections made between me as the reader and the vivid characters Baker brought to life. I was very surprised by the amount of emotion she was able to evoke in me. Such deep and up and down tale of trials and triumphs.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book.

[LeAnn Castle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't put the book down! I love how it follows history and with the addition of the angels and demons made it a very interesting book!

[R.K. Emery · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the descriptive way this novel was written. It really submerges the reader into the world. This novel was very vivid in the descriptions, the writing really jumped off the pages and into my
mind, so kudos to her for that.

On top of that, Baker had to also make sure her Historical Facts were straight and that the reader felt the time period.

There were many surprises and the way that Salina B. Baker was able to keep the pacing just right really helps everything flow naturally. There were a lot of moving a parts to this one and I really liked the originality that Baker brought.

[Melinda M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Angels & Patriots: Book One by Salina B. Baker is a history fantasy and supernatural as it deals with the involvement of angels and fallen angles in the fight of the American colonialist against the British. Who fights on what side and how you can tell is part of a wonderful crafted story.Salina B. Baker writes her characters so you develop an emotional connect. This is book one of a series but seems to do ok as a stand alone except you want to know more of the story . This is a genre that I do not always like but Salina B. Baker is going on my list as an author to look forward to. Looking forward to book 2.
I received a copy thru a Goodreads Giveaway.

[Gina Stamper · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book cover. I think it is very enticing for a reader. It comes off more Historical than Fantasy, but its breathtaking nonetheless.
Salina B. Baker has done a superb job of creating a novel that takes us back in time, not only to the battlefield, but to the time of Gods. I love her imagination in this novel. It leaps off the pages with every setting.
I liked the way the story unfolded. There were very few times where I wasn’t completely engaged and that is a huge testament to her ability to convey the action and emotion.

[Ever Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is something so fun about being transported back in time and feeling like your living in a different era if an author can execute it well, its an even better escape than reading Contemporary. Add to that the fantastical element with Gods and Demons and Angels, and I was sucked in.

Dive into a fantasy world with Salina Baker like no other. She has created a novel that really takes the reader on a fun journey. This novel shows how much a writer can understand her genre and make sure every in and out is authentic to the time period.

[Samantha Turley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love novels like this that compile multiple genres. They can get a bit murky if the author is not careful, or they can be even more imaginative and intriguing that other novels. Salina has definitely managed the latter. The historical aspect was well done, you felt like it was a different time. However my favorite aspect was the Fantasy and the Demons, Gods, and Angels. It was a wonderfully fascinating world and novel.

[Lynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really relished the concept of Angels assisting the patriots through the Revolutionary War --- and enthusiastically started reading the book. Got a third of the way through it and just got bored, confused --- way too many details of trying to figure out who was who --- red eyes, blue eyes, green eyes, auras angels or Gods demons, British, French. There was also way too many people wandering around through the whole story. Not my cup of tea.

[Truly Trendy PR · Rating 4 out of 5]

Angels and Patriots is a intriguing read that is full of history and fantasy making it a truly remarkable read. This action packed fantasy will draw you in from the first page and keep your attention until the very end. Overall, a good read that anyone who loves a good historical fantasy is sure to love.

[Judy A Fitzgerald · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very sorry but could not get into this book. I'm not sure whether it was the writing style I didn't like it the story itself, the basis. I read 55% of it and I still have no central figure...it seems there are a couple or more.😕. No, I would not recommend this book.

[M.A. Maggiano · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book had an interesting if far-fetched fantasy premise. I found some of the dialogue cumbersome. Especially when her characters meet in large numbers with famous members of Colonial history The author’s use of colloquial English for one character also becomes tiresome.