Flawed Angel

by John Fuller

Once upon a time, a ruler had two sons, the first stillborn, so they said. The younger, a sweet-natured boy, is his heir. Far from the capital there are rumours of a creature, half boy, half beast, that roams the forests. A jewel of a fable, inspired by the Arabian Nights .

224 pages, Hardcover

First published November 3, 2005

About the author

John Fuller is an English poet, author and critic. He is an Emeritus Fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford, where he was Tutor in English.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[Priya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was genuinely surprised to see the low rating this book has on Goodreads, because, I though it was fabulous.

This is a classic setting for a fairytale and we can guess what happens next. But the point of the fable isn't to create suspense, anyway. The romance is subtle and the relationships are delicate and intricate and in story with such a hugely mythical air, very realistically portrayed. A wide range of themes are dealt with, from the fear of impending death and satisfaction to rationalism and progress.

The language is beautifully constructed and tugs at the heartstrings. The prose is a bit stilted in places, but easy enough to get through. The story is interspersed with little poems and sonnets which are apt and beautiful and give the story an even more fable-like quality. The tale is short and keeps you engrossed throughout. It is a gem of a book, really, and I am glad to have found it!

(Full review here: http://peskypiksipesternomi.blogspot....)

[Ahmad · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not enjoy this book, not only is the writing stagnant but the plot is too predictable.....
What is this guy getting at?