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Psyche's Gate
**OUT OF PRINT**
Psyche is a young visual artist struggling to jumpstart her painting career. Alexius is a powerful warrior angel banished to roam the earth wingless because of his disobedience. Immensely talented but penniless and alone, Psyche is ready to give up all hope of artistic success until she receives word of a wealthy patron willing to offer her the commission of a lifetime. Little does she know that her mysterious benefactor is an ancient and evil being planning to use her creative power for his own wicked means. Alexius has been sent to stop her from completing the job, with the promise that if he succeeds he will earn back his stolen wings and his place in Paradise. But when the paths of mortal maid and celestial warrior cross, a deeply passionate but forbidden romance develops, leaving Alexius torn between his unorthodox love for the lovely little artist and the order to complete his assignment and return home. As the tension builds, Alexius must ultimately decide between his heart and his calling, leaving all of Creation hanging in the balance…
Psyche is a young visual artist struggling to jumpstart her painting career. Alexius is a powerful warrior angel banished to roam the earth wingless because of his disobedience. Immensely talented but penniless and alone, Psyche is ready to give up all hope of artistic success until she receives word of a wealthy patron willing to offer her the commission of a lifetime. Little does she know that her mysterious benefactor is an ancient and evil being planning to use her creative power for his own wicked means. Alexius has been sent to stop her from completing the job, with the promise that if he succeeds he will earn back his stolen wings and his place in Paradise. But when the paths of mortal maid and celestial warrior cross, a deeply passionate but forbidden romance develops, leaving Alexius torn between his unorthodox love for the lovely little artist and the order to complete his assignment and return home. As the tension builds, Alexius must ultimately decide between his heart and his calling, leaving all of Creation hanging in the balance…
230 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 28, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
June 24, 2011
I'm glad I received this book this summer, I waited it for months and it was shipped in the other city. Fortunately I got hold of the book before I leave the province. It was a great book, the first half was a great pleasure for rainy days. The dark atmosphere and the smoky letters, it was like reading in a garden with flowery style of writing. Never the less, it was the best!
I never enjoyed painting or I never had any idea of greatest painters in the world, as long as it looks great I assume that it was painted by a great artist. Psyche, the protagonist, named after the beautiful mortal, envied by Venus of goddess of beauty and married by her son. A penniless painter who just started her career and trying to pursuit it whatever it may cause.
But when she met a mysterious guy, Alexius, everything changed from top to bottom. She embarks her journey of true love between an angel and a mortal that will end her life into death or new hope. Born in San Diego, Canada, Danielle D. Smith, created a special book that will put you into the realm of true blood thirsty angels and war between prophecy and true love.
The book has few characters which were strongly developed by the author, even the tabby cat was well incarnated in the story. Although, extras were not clearly written or some parts of the story where Psych's friends were mentioned, the killing was not well supported, I mean the scene needed more attention and it can maximize the climax. That was the most disappointing part of the book.
Second, the first half of the books was written beautifully with words that rhyme in the end. But the middle part was so simple, making the readers disappointed but the ending was so great. Attention, I'm not really into this kind of books but this one is an exception, I can't stop reading last night. Third, the cover was pixilated and readers wanted to improve it.
Lastly, the usage of too many foul words in every conversation made me angry some times. It was so inappropriate and it made the book dirty looking. Okay, I'm not trying to deflect this book, but I really liked it this is not a lie. So far, I truly enjoyed reading Danielle Smith's Psyche's Gate, I can't wait to read her other books. Thumbs up and recommended!
Review posted on Old-Fashioned Reader .
The book also include the story of Psyche and Eros or Cupid, it was so lovely that even I was inspired to love, kidding. But the treachery of the ugly Venus made the ending a bit like Romeo and Juliet. Freaking.
Challenges:
Book #141 for 2011
I never enjoyed painting or I never had any idea of greatest painters in the world, as long as it looks great I assume that it was painted by a great artist. Psyche, the protagonist, named after the beautiful mortal, envied by Venus of goddess of beauty and married by her son. A penniless painter who just started her career and trying to pursuit it whatever it may cause.
But when she met a mysterious guy, Alexius, everything changed from top to bottom. She embarks her journey of true love between an angel and a mortal that will end her life into death or new hope. Born in San Diego, Canada, Danielle D. Smith, created a special book that will put you into the realm of true blood thirsty angels and war between prophecy and true love.
The book has few characters which were strongly developed by the author, even the tabby cat was well incarnated in the story. Although, extras were not clearly written or some parts of the story where Psych's friends were mentioned, the killing was not well supported, I mean the scene needed more attention and it can maximize the climax. That was the most disappointing part of the book.
Second, the first half of the books was written beautifully with words that rhyme in the end. But the middle part was so simple, making the readers disappointed but the ending was so great. Attention, I'm not really into this kind of books but this one is an exception, I can't stop reading last night. Third, the cover was pixilated and readers wanted to improve it.
Lastly, the usage of too many foul words in every conversation made me angry some times. It was so inappropriate and it made the book dirty looking. Okay, I'm not trying to deflect this book, but I really liked it this is not a lie. So far, I truly enjoyed reading Danielle Smith's Psyche's Gate, I can't wait to read her other books. Thumbs up and recommended!
Review posted on Old-Fashioned Reader .
The book also include the story of Psyche and Eros or Cupid, it was so lovely that even I was inspired to love, kidding. But the treachery of the ugly Venus made the ending a bit like Romeo and Juliet. Freaking.
In compliance with FTC Guidelines, it should be noted that I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
Challenges:
Book #141 for 2011
September 28, 2010
A struggling artist about to give up on her amazing talent suddenly gets a chance at all her dreams when a mysterious art collector commissions her to paint him a vast, but frightening mural. A fallen angel, willing to do almost anything to redeem himself and regain heaven, is set upon a vital, but frightful mission.
These two lost souls of sorts, the artist and the angel, are the protagonists of Danielle D. Smith’s dark urban fantasy, Psyche’s Gate, an unusual paranormal romance that is difficult to describe and, in some ways, for me personally, to review. Trying to explain my ambivalence without writing a novel about the novel adds yet another challenge – which, some might suggest, speaks to its quality, in that shallower entertainment doesn’t frequently inspire much deep sentiment positive or negative.
Novelist and artist Danielle Smith is a very talented writer. Her character development is exceptional, her description of time and place marvelously draws the reader into the scene, and her writing style and use of language often borders on poetry. Without exaggeration, I found her prologue to be like a work of art made of words and the contrast of its ethereal quality with the very down-to-earth opening line of Chapter One a brilliant stroke of genius, when one considers a key element of the story is an angel’s attempt to re-ascend to heaven from the gritty punishment of earth. Even her earliest portrayal of Psyche - her sense of hopelessness and failure - creates a character to which no one who has ever struggled with self-doubt can fail to relate. As a writer and a reader, I couldn’t be more impressed with the author’s imagination and gift with words.
The difficulty arose for me when, a few chapters into the story, I began to realize that the novel is predominately a theological one, fiction or not. This theology, or mix of theologies, was not always easy for me to comprehend or, sometimes even, to appreciate. Because I’m a writer with a degree in Catholic theology, as well as one with a very Catholic worldview, the author’s attempt to combine frequently opposing concepts from a wide scope of real historical theological thought, often left me with the impression, however mistaken, that she considers them all fascinating fictions, rather than sacred beliefs which speak truth to those who hold their tenets. Angels who sometimes harshly criticize the traditional Judeo-Christian beliefs and practices from which their stories and names were taken, yet from a dualistic or neo-pagan perspective, will be disturbing, even offensive, to some readers, despite the fact that this is a fiction novel, and there are several suggestions made about the nature of God in the story that are controversial, to say the least.
For those who read a story only for its literary merits, looking for creative and original entertainment or escapism, Psyche’s Gate will most likely be a favorite. For those with more traditional beliefs or those who look more deeply to find meaning and message in a story, this is a novel that may provoke both a positive and negative reaction, as it did for me. It is most definitely a well-written novel that offers much food for thought, but it can also be a disturbing one, due to its ideas and premise, as well as some raw language and graphic scenes. I would give it 2.5 stars if Goodreads had such a rating because, though I loved the author’s beautiful style of writing, her imagination and her obvious research into many theological ideas, it is still difficult for me to say I out and out “liked” a story that I found troubling on a personal level. I give it 3 stars, however, realizing that “liking” a story is subjective and, from a technical standpoint, Psyche’s Gate deserves a high quality rating.
These two lost souls of sorts, the artist and the angel, are the protagonists of Danielle D. Smith’s dark urban fantasy, Psyche’s Gate, an unusual paranormal romance that is difficult to describe and, in some ways, for me personally, to review. Trying to explain my ambivalence without writing a novel about the novel adds yet another challenge – which, some might suggest, speaks to its quality, in that shallower entertainment doesn’t frequently inspire much deep sentiment positive or negative.
Novelist and artist Danielle Smith is a very talented writer. Her character development is exceptional, her description of time and place marvelously draws the reader into the scene, and her writing style and use of language often borders on poetry. Without exaggeration, I found her prologue to be like a work of art made of words and the contrast of its ethereal quality with the very down-to-earth opening line of Chapter One a brilliant stroke of genius, when one considers a key element of the story is an angel’s attempt to re-ascend to heaven from the gritty punishment of earth. Even her earliest portrayal of Psyche - her sense of hopelessness and failure - creates a character to which no one who has ever struggled with self-doubt can fail to relate. As a writer and a reader, I couldn’t be more impressed with the author’s imagination and gift with words.
The difficulty arose for me when, a few chapters into the story, I began to realize that the novel is predominately a theological one, fiction or not. This theology, or mix of theologies, was not always easy for me to comprehend or, sometimes even, to appreciate. Because I’m a writer with a degree in Catholic theology, as well as one with a very Catholic worldview, the author’s attempt to combine frequently opposing concepts from a wide scope of real historical theological thought, often left me with the impression, however mistaken, that she considers them all fascinating fictions, rather than sacred beliefs which speak truth to those who hold their tenets. Angels who sometimes harshly criticize the traditional Judeo-Christian beliefs and practices from which their stories and names were taken, yet from a dualistic or neo-pagan perspective, will be disturbing, even offensive, to some readers, despite the fact that this is a fiction novel, and there are several suggestions made about the nature of God in the story that are controversial, to say the least.
For those who read a story only for its literary merits, looking for creative and original entertainment or escapism, Psyche’s Gate will most likely be a favorite. For those with more traditional beliefs or those who look more deeply to find meaning and message in a story, this is a novel that may provoke both a positive and negative reaction, as it did for me. It is most definitely a well-written novel that offers much food for thought, but it can also be a disturbing one, due to its ideas and premise, as well as some raw language and graphic scenes. I would give it 2.5 stars if Goodreads had such a rating because, though I loved the author’s beautiful style of writing, her imagination and her obvious research into many theological ideas, it is still difficult for me to say I out and out “liked” a story that I found troubling on a personal level. I give it 3 stars, however, realizing that “liking” a story is subjective and, from a technical standpoint, Psyche’s Gate deserves a high quality rating.
August 12, 2010
3 1/2 stars - rounding up to 4 stars since I can't give a 1/2.
This story was very interesting and very vidid, however, it took me a while to get into the book but by the middle it kicked in and was full of action. This book gives a real good insight on angels and God's Wife as the mother of all Angels which I totally liked a lot. Some of the parts were very wickedly evil and there were times I felt I was there.
This is not a fast page turner because there is so many details you have to pay attention to in order to understand the ending. Very well written with all the details and you can tell that the writer spent time studying the history of angels for it was very imformative.
This story was very interesting and very vidid, however, it took me a while to get into the book but by the middle it kicked in and was full of action. This book gives a real good insight on angels and God's Wife as the mother of all Angels which I totally liked a lot. Some of the parts were very wickedly evil and there were times I felt I was there.
This is not a fast page turner because there is so many details you have to pay attention to in order to understand the ending. Very well written with all the details and you can tell that the writer spent time studying the history of angels for it was very imformative.
November 11, 2010
Psyche’s Gate by Danielle D. Smith is about Psyche and Alexius, a mortal and an Angel. Psyche is a young mortal woman. She is a very talented but struggling artist who receives the opportunity to do a commission that will change her from a struggling artist to a one well on her way to success. She is ecstatic but what she doesn’t realize is that she is being used as a pawn in a very evil plot. Alexius is an Angel that has been cast out from the heaven, his wings torn from him. He has been roaming the earth for centuries when he receives his chance for redemption, his chance to earn his place back in the heavens. He is charged with stopping Psyche from the dark path she is unwittingly about to embark on.
This is a very creative book about Angel and Demons, good versus evil, forbidden love and redemption. It’s about Alexius’ struggle with duty versus his heart. Ultimately it is a love story, a very interesting one. I enjoyed it very much. It was vividly detailed and well written. The author has a wonderful way with words and describing things in such lovely and vivid detail. That probably stems in part from her background as an artist.
One thing that might bother some readers is the volume of curse words in this book. Psyche was described as sweet and innocent but boy did she have a potty mouth. The cursing didn’t bother me personally but I thought it was a little conflicting hearing her described that way and then listening to her talk. Not to say that cursing makes you bad just that it conflicts in my mind with sweet and innocent.
The characters were very well written. I liked both Alexius and Psyche and enjoyed hearing some history on each of them. The secondary characters were also well done. The author has a talent for penning characters and detail onto paper in way that really projects out to the reader. I felt Alexius’ torment and suffering, his love for Psyche. I could imagine how very evil Sammael and Naamah were. I could visualize how stunning Psyche’s paintings were.
Bravo to the author. I look forward to reading more books by her.
This is a very creative book about Angel and Demons, good versus evil, forbidden love and redemption. It’s about Alexius’ struggle with duty versus his heart. Ultimately it is a love story, a very interesting one. I enjoyed it very much. It was vividly detailed and well written. The author has a wonderful way with words and describing things in such lovely and vivid detail. That probably stems in part from her background as an artist.
One thing that might bother some readers is the volume of curse words in this book. Psyche was described as sweet and innocent but boy did she have a potty mouth. The cursing didn’t bother me personally but I thought it was a little conflicting hearing her described that way and then listening to her talk. Not to say that cursing makes you bad just that it conflicts in my mind with sweet and innocent.
The characters were very well written. I liked both Alexius and Psyche and enjoyed hearing some history on each of them. The secondary characters were also well done. The author has a talent for penning characters and detail onto paper in way that really projects out to the reader. I felt Alexius’ torment and suffering, his love for Psyche. I could imagine how very evil Sammael and Naamah were. I could visualize how stunning Psyche’s paintings were.
Bravo to the author. I look forward to reading more books by her.
March 15, 2011
Angels, demons, horror, unforbidden love. If you love anything on this list then this is definitely down your alley.
Alexius is a fallen angel sent on a mission to get his wings back. But there is one problem, he has doomed his task with his love of a mere mortal.
Psyche is a struggling artist who desperately needs commission to make ends meet. Until an impassable offer comes her way. What she doesn't realize is her wealthy benefactor is one of the most evil beings on the earth planning to use Psyche's talents to bring his wicked plans to fruition.
Can Alexius stop this? Can he keep Psyche safe from harm and hold back on his burning lust for the little artist? Guess you'll have to read to find out. :)
I found this next book of Danielle's a brilliant read. My heart strings pulled achingly with Alexius' tortured soul, with his deep, passionate love for Psyche. This novel appeased me on so many levels. I've always loved a good tortured romance, brings the emotions out in me. The horror aspects were very creative and definitely not too over board. Danielle paints an easily pictured story in my mind with her characters and descriptions. Plus it helps to peruse her artworks before reading. Looking at her gorgeously portrayed characters makes it easier to picture the love birds in this epic tale. The many variety of demons we are introduced to just makes the story all the more interesting, and I loved how each angel has his own colour for his wings, taking it away from the traditional angel ideals.
A great fast paced read that pulls you along at every corner.
A MUST READ!!
Alexius is a fallen angel sent on a mission to get his wings back. But there is one problem, he has doomed his task with his love of a mere mortal.
Psyche is a struggling artist who desperately needs commission to make ends meet. Until an impassable offer comes her way. What she doesn't realize is her wealthy benefactor is one of the most evil beings on the earth planning to use Psyche's talents to bring his wicked plans to fruition.
Can Alexius stop this? Can he keep Psyche safe from harm and hold back on his burning lust for the little artist? Guess you'll have to read to find out. :)
I found this next book of Danielle's a brilliant read. My heart strings pulled achingly with Alexius' tortured soul, with his deep, passionate love for Psyche. This novel appeased me on so many levels. I've always loved a good tortured romance, brings the emotions out in me. The horror aspects were very creative and definitely not too over board. Danielle paints an easily pictured story in my mind with her characters and descriptions. Plus it helps to peruse her artworks before reading. Looking at her gorgeously portrayed characters makes it easier to picture the love birds in this epic tale. The many variety of demons we are introduced to just makes the story all the more interesting, and I loved how each angel has his own colour for his wings, taking it away from the traditional angel ideals.
A great fast paced read that pulls you along at every corner.
A MUST READ!!
June 24, 2011
What Joyfully Reviewed says about Psyche's Gate:
"Long ago, warrior angel Alexius was banished from heaven and brutally stripped of his wings. Now he has a chance at redemption. He must stop a powerfully talented human artist from being used by a demon to to create something that can bring forth the most deadly of evils. However, after seeing Psyche, the woman whose life he cannot spare, Alexius knows that he cannot go through with his task. Instead, he will do all in his power to keep Psyche from harm. But a romance between angel and human is forbidden and their actions will impact not only their own destiny, but the fate of all creation.
Enter the world of angels, demons, and art in the evocative Psyche's Gate. Danielle D. Smith has penned a fantastically vivid tale of good, evil, and everything in between. I admit I found Psyche's Gate to be a fascinating read. It's interesting, frequently dark, and each character is developed with great care...I absolutely loved Alexius...I admire how Ms. Smith brought the world of Psyche's Gate to life in such great detail and look forward to reading more of her work."
"Long ago, warrior angel Alexius was banished from heaven and brutally stripped of his wings. Now he has a chance at redemption. He must stop a powerfully talented human artist from being used by a demon to to create something that can bring forth the most deadly of evils. However, after seeing Psyche, the woman whose life he cannot spare, Alexius knows that he cannot go through with his task. Instead, he will do all in his power to keep Psyche from harm. But a romance between angel and human is forbidden and their actions will impact not only their own destiny, but the fate of all creation.
Enter the world of angels, demons, and art in the evocative Psyche's Gate. Danielle D. Smith has penned a fantastically vivid tale of good, evil, and everything in between. I admit I found Psyche's Gate to be a fascinating read. It's interesting, frequently dark, and each character is developed with great care...I absolutely loved Alexius...I admire how Ms. Smith brought the world of Psyche's Gate to life in such great detail and look forward to reading more of her work."
August 5, 2010
This is Danielle Smith's first book and I always like to support new authors.
This is a tale of good vs evil with an unusal twist. I loved her characters in this book, you really got involved with them...loved the good guys and really hated the bad guys. The only reason I didn't give 5 stars was I had a problem with her lengthly and "poetic" discriptions of things. Contrary to this she didn't give enough time to the love story. She took up pages upon pages with a fight scene and barely a page to the first time the main characters make love, even though Psyche was a virgin. This should have had alot more details to it.
I do recommend this book to all, it is a great story.
This is a tale of good vs evil with an unusal twist. I loved her characters in this book, you really got involved with them...loved the good guys and really hated the bad guys. The only reason I didn't give 5 stars was I had a problem with her lengthly and "poetic" discriptions of things. Contrary to this she didn't give enough time to the love story. She took up pages upon pages with a fight scene and barely a page to the first time the main characters make love, even though Psyche was a virgin. This should have had alot more details to it.
I do recommend this book to all, it is a great story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 1, 2010
It was more 4.5 star for me, the storyline captivated me a lot, I’m sucker for forbidden love, I practically ran to my apartment after work just to read next chapter. You can tell that a lot of research about angel/demons went in to this book. The writing had a perfect balance throughout the story (although there were a lot of profanity words for my liking hence the 4.5 star). It had the perfect mixture of excitement and mystery.
I just have to say Naamah ew, I had nightmares about her.
I just have to say Naamah ew, I had nightmares about her.
August 8, 2011
Another fabulous read! I'll put together a better review shortly.
September 19, 2010
Psyche is an extremely gifted young, unknown artist who is struggling day to day to earn enough for life’s necessities. Seemingly, out of the blue, she is offered a commission to paint a mural for a very wealthy, generous benefactor. She is overjoyed, believing her dreams will be fulfilled. What she finds instead is a nightmare of celestial dimension.
Shunned by his Immortal brethren, Alexius is a tormented soul cast out from his home thousands of years ago because of a consequential error in judgment. He has finally been given the opportunity to regain his rightful position as one of the highest ranking and most fierce of the Angelic Warriors. His mission is simple – the mural must not be created.
This novel casts the eternal battle of heaven and hell, good and evil into a sonorous mosaic. Very little is as it seems. This time the battlefield is on earth and Psyche the unwilling pawn upon which the outcome hinges. It takes every ounce of strength and determination that Alexius possesses to protect his beloved Psyche.
It is difficult for me to describe how very unusual and haunting this story was for me. The sentence structure flowed with a rhythmic cadence that was glorious. The author flawlessly created a gothic, brooding type atmosphere that was maintained throughout the entire book. The cadence of the story pulsed with lyrical complexity. Filled with Angels, Demons and all manner of other denizens of mythology this story will at times astound and shock with its brutal, unflinching candor.
Be aware that there is, on occasion, frequent and repetitive use of the “f” word. At times, this became rather off-putting to me personally even though I do not consider myself to be particularly prudish. It is my feeling that some of the conversations would have benefited without the obscene slang. I recommend this book to anyone who likes stories of immortal conflict written in a dark, gothic tone with richly patterned descriptions and who can overlook occasional excessive profanity.
Shunned by his Immortal brethren, Alexius is a tormented soul cast out from his home thousands of years ago because of a consequential error in judgment. He has finally been given the opportunity to regain his rightful position as one of the highest ranking and most fierce of the Angelic Warriors. His mission is simple – the mural must not be created.
This novel casts the eternal battle of heaven and hell, good and evil into a sonorous mosaic. Very little is as it seems. This time the battlefield is on earth and Psyche the unwilling pawn upon which the outcome hinges. It takes every ounce of strength and determination that Alexius possesses to protect his beloved Psyche.
It is difficult for me to describe how very unusual and haunting this story was for me. The sentence structure flowed with a rhythmic cadence that was glorious. The author flawlessly created a gothic, brooding type atmosphere that was maintained throughout the entire book. The cadence of the story pulsed with lyrical complexity. Filled with Angels, Demons and all manner of other denizens of mythology this story will at times astound and shock with its brutal, unflinching candor.
Be aware that there is, on occasion, frequent and repetitive use of the “f” word. At times, this became rather off-putting to me personally even though I do not consider myself to be particularly prudish. It is my feeling that some of the conversations would have benefited without the obscene slang. I recommend this book to anyone who likes stories of immortal conflict written in a dark, gothic tone with richly patterned descriptions and who can overlook occasional excessive profanity.
March 29, 2011
Psyche's Gate is technically a prequel to Ms. Smith's other novel, Black Dog and Rebel Rose, but can certainly stand alone. It is a haunting and lyrical tale of two souls drawn to each other and the evil they must defeat to be together.
Psyche is a young impoverished artist working two jobs to make ends meet. Alexius is a fallen angel on assignment to stop Psyche from completing a job and in so doing, earning his wings back. Psyche is given a commission by a mysterious man named Sam to create a mural in his home. Should she complete the mural, all hades (literally) could be let loose. Alexius must find a way to protect Psyche from not only the evil of Sam and his demons but other angels sent to destroy her before she can finish the mural.
This is a beautifully written book, Ms. Smith's descriptive style draws the reader in and allows them to see everything in Technicolor. The story is not only about the classic fight of good versus evil but a haunting and sad love story as well. As other reviewers have mentioned, there is some blue language in the book that might have been omitted but strangely, it didn't take away from the book for me. I read this book after the sequel and was pleasantly surprised in the difference in the two. I must say, I enjoyed the style of this one more. There is a little bit of everything here for you, love scenes, fight scenes, humor and nasty villains. Be prepared to feel a range of emotions while reading this book. Read with a box of tissues close by and enjoy, I did.
Psyche is a young impoverished artist working two jobs to make ends meet. Alexius is a fallen angel on assignment to stop Psyche from completing a job and in so doing, earning his wings back. Psyche is given a commission by a mysterious man named Sam to create a mural in his home. Should she complete the mural, all hades (literally) could be let loose. Alexius must find a way to protect Psyche from not only the evil of Sam and his demons but other angels sent to destroy her before she can finish the mural.
This is a beautifully written book, Ms. Smith's descriptive style draws the reader in and allows them to see everything in Technicolor. The story is not only about the classic fight of good versus evil but a haunting and sad love story as well. As other reviewers have mentioned, there is some blue language in the book that might have been omitted but strangely, it didn't take away from the book for me. I read this book after the sequel and was pleasantly surprised in the difference in the two. I must say, I enjoyed the style of this one more. There is a little bit of everything here for you, love scenes, fight scenes, humor and nasty villains. Be prepared to feel a range of emotions while reading this book. Read with a box of tissues close by and enjoy, I did.
July 13, 2011
From Joyfully Reviewed:
"Long ago, warrior angel Alexius was banished from heaven and brutally stripped of his wings. Now he has a chance at redemption. He must stop a powerfully talented human artist from being used by a demon to to create something that can bring forth the most deadly of evils. However, after seeing Psyche, the woman whose life he cannot spare, Alexius knows that he cannot go through with his task. Instead, he will do all in his power to keep Psyche from harm. But a romance between angel and human is forbidden and their actions will impact not only their own destiny, but the fate of all creation.
Enter the world of angels, demons, and art in the evocative Psyche's Gate. Danielle D. Smith has penned a fantastically vivid tale of good, evil, and everything in between. I admit I found Psyche's Gate to be a fascinating read. It's interesting, frequently dark, and each character is developed with great care...I absolutely loved Alexius...I admire how Ms. Smith brought the world of Psyche's Gate to life in such great detail and look forward to reading more of her work."
"Long ago, warrior angel Alexius was banished from heaven and brutally stripped of his wings. Now he has a chance at redemption. He must stop a powerfully talented human artist from being used by a demon to to create something that can bring forth the most deadly of evils. However, after seeing Psyche, the woman whose life he cannot spare, Alexius knows that he cannot go through with his task. Instead, he will do all in his power to keep Psyche from harm. But a romance between angel and human is forbidden and their actions will impact not only their own destiny, but the fate of all creation.
Enter the world of angels, demons, and art in the evocative Psyche's Gate. Danielle D. Smith has penned a fantastically vivid tale of good, evil, and everything in between. I admit I found Psyche's Gate to be a fascinating read. It's interesting, frequently dark, and each character is developed with great care...I absolutely loved Alexius...I admire how Ms. Smith brought the world of Psyche's Gate to life in such great detail and look forward to reading more of her work."
May 14, 2011
I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
I liked the overall plot of the book, and I think it is a great first book, however there are aspects of it that I did not fully appreciate.
First of all events are somewhat rushed off, I believe that most of the scenes protrayed would have benefited from more depth. That does not mean more length, but rather a better description of some things that are only hinted at. Rather than describing with what is too me and axcessive use of somewhat adjectives the physical aspects of the characters, perhaps letting it come through other details would have been more preferable.
The other major drawback for me was use of the language. I really appreciated the effort of trrying to give each character his or her speaking voice, changing the register every time, but it eventually resulted in too much of a mix for me, without proving really effective in characterising the characters.
So overall, nice job, great plot, and I hopw Ms Smith continues with her series, however had this not been a debut I would have rated it somewhat less
I liked the overall plot of the book, and I think it is a great first book, however there are aspects of it that I did not fully appreciate.
First of all events are somewhat rushed off, I believe that most of the scenes protrayed would have benefited from more depth. That does not mean more length, but rather a better description of some things that are only hinted at. Rather than describing with what is too me and axcessive use of somewhat adjectives the physical aspects of the characters, perhaps letting it come through other details would have been more preferable.
The other major drawback for me was use of the language. I really appreciated the effort of trrying to give each character his or her speaking voice, changing the register every time, but it eventually resulted in too much of a mix for me, without proving really effective in characterising the characters.
So overall, nice job, great plot, and I hopw Ms Smith continues with her series, however had this not been a debut I would have rated it somewhat less
March 23, 2016
I liked it a lot more than I thought I would. Most books lead in with an in depth description of what the character perceives with their senses. The smells, sights and sounds tend to be kind of a hook, and then the writer moves on to the story. This has always bugged me. I was happy that all throughout the story, the author described in detail, almost poetically, the sensory input the characters experienced. I feel like it painted a more in depth picture and enriched the plot and characters. It was a little hard to relate to a very temperamental artist, but the sadness of the fallen angels was very real, somehow. I know that makes no sense, but hey, this is MY review so I'm leaving it. :) Very enjoyable read!
September 26, 2012
Great story solid an unique
Read
November 26, 2018Long ago, warrior angel Alexius was banished from heaven and brutally stripped of his wings. Now he has a chance at redemption. He must stop a powerfully talented human artist from being used by a demon to create something that can bring forth the most deadly of evils. However, after seeing Psyche, the woman whose life he cannot spare, Alexius knows he cannot go through with his task. Instead, he will do all in his power to protect Psyche from harm. But a romance between angel and human is forbidden and their actions will impact not only their own destiny, but the fate of all of creation.
Enter the world of angels, demons, and art in the evocative Psyche’s Gate. Danielle D. Smith has penned a fantastically vivid tale of good, evil, and everything in between. I admit, I found Psyche’s Gate to be a fascinating read. It’s interesting, frequently dark, and each character is developed with great care. Where the vivacity of Psyche’s Gate fell short was the romance. I absolutely loved Alexius, but I could not help wanting to feel the love grow between he and Psyche a bit more. Still, I admire how Ms. Smith brought the world of Psyche’s Gate to life in such great detail and look forward to reading more of her work.
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed.
Enter the world of angels, demons, and art in the evocative Psyche’s Gate. Danielle D. Smith has penned a fantastically vivid tale of good, evil, and everything in between. I admit, I found Psyche’s Gate to be a fascinating read. It’s interesting, frequently dark, and each character is developed with great care. Where the vivacity of Psyche’s Gate fell short was the romance. I absolutely loved Alexius, but I could not help wanting to feel the love grow between he and Psyche a bit more. Still, I admire how Ms. Smith brought the world of Psyche’s Gate to life in such great detail and look forward to reading more of her work.
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed.
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