What do you think?
Rate this book
Lady Lazarus #1
Lady Lazarus
With the romance of Twilight, the suspense of The Dresden Files, and the delicious thrills of True Blood, the enthralling saga of Magdalena Lazarus unfolds. Descended from the legendary witch of Ein Dor, she alone holds the power to summon the angel Raziel and stop Hitler and his supernatural minions from unleashing total war in Europe. The Nazis have fighters more fearsome than soldiers, weapons more terrifying than missiles, and allies that even they are afraid of SS werewolves; the demon Asmodel who possesses a willing Adolf Hitler, and other supernatural creatures all are literally hell-bent on preventing Magda from possessing the Book of Raziel, a magical text with the power to turn the tide against Hitler€™s vast war machine.Magda, young and rebellious, grew up in the cosmopolitan city of Budapest, unaware of her family€™s heritage. When her mother dies, Magda--ready or not--is the Lazarus, who must face the evil that hol
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 24, 2010
14 people are currently reading
513 people want to read
About the author
Michele Lang
57 books41 followersMichele Lang writes supernatural stories set in futuristic places: the stories of witches, lawyers, goddesses, cops, bankers, demons, and other magical creatures hidden in plain sight.
Visit Michele on the web: www.michelelang.com"
Visit Michele on the web: www.michelelang.com"
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
March 8, 2014
When I first read the blurb of this book I was instantly intrigued by its premise. Set at the begin of WW II and taking place in Middle Europe - an area where I live – I just had to read it.
Well, I was a bit disappointed and it took me ages to finish it. I couldn´t warm up to the female main character Magda and the male hero archangel Raziel wasn´t very interesting either. I really like a good romance in the books I read but this romance here was just boring in my opinion. I never got it when Raziel decided he´s in love with Magda it was really unbelievable for me and – okay, that´s just me I admit it gladly – I just can´t imagine an absolutely stunning archangel wearing a hat, sorry! (I know fashion was different in this time – but nevertheless..).
The romance fell flat for me (note to my friends who like their books a bit more steamy : forget about sex - there is none), the plot was mediocre at least and although there was much mythology (which I love)thrown into the mix it didn´t really save the book for me.
The ending seems to announce a sequel but I´m not sure if I´m up for a second try..
Note: written in first person!
Well, I was a bit disappointed and it took me ages to finish it. I couldn´t warm up to the female main character Magda and the male hero archangel Raziel wasn´t very interesting either. I really like a good romance in the books I read but this romance here was just boring in my opinion. I never got it when Raziel decided he´s in love with Magda it was really unbelievable for me and – okay, that´s just me I admit it gladly – I just can´t imagine an absolutely stunning archangel wearing a hat, sorry! (I know fashion was different in this time – but nevertheless..).
The romance fell flat for me (note to my friends who like their books a bit more steamy : forget about sex - there is none), the plot was mediocre at least and although there was much mythology (which I love)thrown into the mix it didn´t really save the book for me.
The ending seems to announce a sequel but I´m not sure if I´m up for a second try..
Note: written in first person!
January 24, 2012
Lady Lazarus by Michele Lang is a historical fantasy set just before the beginning of World War II, in a slightly skewed version of our world. What makes it skewed is that in this alternate history, magic exists and plays a major role in world events. For example, Hitler’s werewolves are literal here.
Perhaps Lang’s most controversial decision is that Hitler is in league with, and sometimes possessed by, a demon. Some readers may see this as a cop-out. In my opinion, though, Lang wrote this in the only way that isn’t a cop-out. Namely, Hitler is the master, not the servant, in the relationship. Lang doesn’t use the demon to absolve Hitler of anything; this is no “the devil made him do it” scenario. It’s clear that he’d be just as evil without supernatural help and is simply using the demon as an additional tool in gaining power. And the real-life Hitler was interested in the occult, so to me it’s believable that he’d have tried something like this if it had been possible.
The title refers to the novel’s heroine, Magda Lazarus, who is doubly in danger in this increasingly intolerant Europe: she is both Jewish and a witch. Specifically, she is a Lazarus witch, which means that she has the ability to return from the dead under certain circumstances. As Lady Lazarus begins, she learns of the dire fate awaiting her people. She resolves to find the long-lost Book of Raziel in order to save both the world and her own small household, consisting of her fragile, prophetic sister and her non-magical ingenue best friend. Magda is a heroine who isn’t always wise and isn’t always nice, but commands admiration in her willingness to risk not just death but damnation to thwart Hitler’s plans. Also compelling is the plight of the angel Raziel, who wants to protect Magda but is constrained by divine laws regarding human free will, and increasingly chafes at these restraints as he becomes more attached to her.
Lady Lazarus has plenty of action but often strikes an elegiac tone rather than that of a thriller. Magda narrates the events of 1939, but is writing them down in the year 1945, and she strongly implies that not all of her loved ones will survive to the end of the series. She mourns a lost world, too, in the form of the cafes of Budapest. Lang paints an elegant setting, embellished with curls of coffee-steam and cigarette smoke, that would be right at home in an old movie; in fact, I realized at several points that I was picturing people and places in black and white. It wasn’t for lack of vivid description — quite the contrary! — but because it fit the mood Lang evokes. This elegant world is dying as the Third Reich advances, and we keenly feel its loss along with Magda.
The novel has a few issues. Several scenes feel summarized rather than fully shown and might have been stronger if they’d been more fleshed out; the demonesses’ attack on Magda and her training at the hands of Lucretia de Merode are two examples. It’s also sometimes hard to grasp the magical rules, as in why a type of magic will work in this situation but not in that one. More elaboration on Lucretia’s lessons would have helped with that too, come to think of it.
To Lang’s credit, however, these problems feel like minor rather than major annoyances. I noticed them in passing, but on the whole was utterly engrossed in Magda’s adventures and couldn’t stop reading about her or thinking about her. The publisher’s blurb comparing Lady Lazarus to a blend of Twilight, Dresden Files, and True Blood misses the mark; it’s completely unlike those. If I were to place Lady Lazarus at the intersection of three other books, I might choose Katherine Kurtz’s Lammas Night (for its theme of witches vs. Hitler); Annmarie Banks’s The Hermetica of Elysium (for its plot centering on a woman traveling through hostile territory, seeking a book, and learning to wield magical power); and a little bit of Laini Taylor’s Daughter of Smoke and Bone (mostly for its Eastern European bohemian cafe atmosphere and maybe for the angel romance, though it’s a very different angel romance).
Lang’s supplemental guide, “The World of Lady Lazarus,” elaborates more on the real history and mythology behind some of her tweaks and on her decision to write about this “third rail” topic. It can be found at Smashwords or for Kindle, and is a fascinating read. Magda’s story continues in Dark Victory.
This review was originally written for Fantasy Literature.
Perhaps Lang’s most controversial decision is that Hitler is in league with, and sometimes possessed by, a demon. Some readers may see this as a cop-out. In my opinion, though, Lang wrote this in the only way that isn’t a cop-out. Namely, Hitler is the master, not the servant, in the relationship. Lang doesn’t use the demon to absolve Hitler of anything; this is no “the devil made him do it” scenario. It’s clear that he’d be just as evil without supernatural help and is simply using the demon as an additional tool in gaining power. And the real-life Hitler was interested in the occult, so to me it’s believable that he’d have tried something like this if it had been possible.
The title refers to the novel’s heroine, Magda Lazarus, who is doubly in danger in this increasingly intolerant Europe: she is both Jewish and a witch. Specifically, she is a Lazarus witch, which means that she has the ability to return from the dead under certain circumstances. As Lady Lazarus begins, she learns of the dire fate awaiting her people. She resolves to find the long-lost Book of Raziel in order to save both the world and her own small household, consisting of her fragile, prophetic sister and her non-magical ingenue best friend. Magda is a heroine who isn’t always wise and isn’t always nice, but commands admiration in her willingness to risk not just death but damnation to thwart Hitler’s plans. Also compelling is the plight of the angel Raziel, who wants to protect Magda but is constrained by divine laws regarding human free will, and increasingly chafes at these restraints as he becomes more attached to her.
Lady Lazarus has plenty of action but often strikes an elegiac tone rather than that of a thriller. Magda narrates the events of 1939, but is writing them down in the year 1945, and she strongly implies that not all of her loved ones will survive to the end of the series. She mourns a lost world, too, in the form of the cafes of Budapest. Lang paints an elegant setting, embellished with curls of coffee-steam and cigarette smoke, that would be right at home in an old movie; in fact, I realized at several points that I was picturing people and places in black and white. It wasn’t for lack of vivid description — quite the contrary! — but because it fit the mood Lang evokes. This elegant world is dying as the Third Reich advances, and we keenly feel its loss along with Magda.
The novel has a few issues. Several scenes feel summarized rather than fully shown and might have been stronger if they’d been more fleshed out; the demonesses’ attack on Magda and her training at the hands of Lucretia de Merode are two examples. It’s also sometimes hard to grasp the magical rules, as in why a type of magic will work in this situation but not in that one. More elaboration on Lucretia’s lessons would have helped with that too, come to think of it.
To Lang’s credit, however, these problems feel like minor rather than major annoyances. I noticed them in passing, but on the whole was utterly engrossed in Magda’s adventures and couldn’t stop reading about her or thinking about her. The publisher’s blurb comparing Lady Lazarus to a blend of Twilight, Dresden Files, and True Blood misses the mark; it’s completely unlike those. If I were to place Lady Lazarus at the intersection of three other books, I might choose Katherine Kurtz’s Lammas Night (for its theme of witches vs. Hitler); Annmarie Banks’s The Hermetica of Elysium (for its plot centering on a woman traveling through hostile territory, seeking a book, and learning to wield magical power); and a little bit of Laini Taylor’s Daughter of Smoke and Bone (mostly for its Eastern European bohemian cafe atmosphere and maybe for the angel romance, though it’s a very different angel romance).
Lang’s supplemental guide, “The World of Lady Lazarus,” elaborates more on the real history and mythology behind some of her tweaks and on her decision to write about this “third rail” topic. It can be found at Smashwords or for Kindle, and is a fascinating read. Magda’s story continues in Dark Victory.
This review was originally written for Fantasy Literature.
June 21, 2013
With the romance of Twilight, the suspense of The Dresden Files, and the delicious thrills of True Blood... Uh...I am missing something because this book had none of those things.
"Love need not be returned, to be true."
Good lord was this book boring. Lang has written it like it was intended to put you to sleep. Imagine being in a class that holds little interest to you, and is being taught to you by a teacher that lectures in a slow monotone. That is what reading this book is like. I could barely finish a page without yawning. Chores were put before this book. I am amazed that I actually finished it. This amazes me because I really liked the idea behind it. My expectations were not met once.
I didn't like Magda. I held no sympathy for her trials. I did not care whether she succeeded or not on her fools run.
Raziel was nothing of what I expected him to be.
There was no attachment formed for any of the characters in this book. None of them are even remotely memorable.
Stranger still, there was no true interaction in this book. This was a story being told to you, and it felt like it. You were only being told of the adventure, you were not really shown it. You did not walk the path of this journey with Magda, instead you were kept outside it. Nothing played on my emotions. I felt no anxiety or heartbreak. I felt no suspense. The romance was the most subtle romance I have ever encountered. I just didn't feel anything.
The book was so anticlimactic. I kept waiting for some respectable action. I kept waiting for anything. And nothing happened. Any time you thought you were going to get a show, you were taken away from it.
I don't even know what the purpose of reading this book was. And I have given up caring. I won't be reading further and I have no one to recommend it to. It was a complete waste of my time. I'm very disappointed.
"Love need not be returned, to be true."
Good lord was this book boring. Lang has written it like it was intended to put you to sleep. Imagine being in a class that holds little interest to you, and is being taught to you by a teacher that lectures in a slow monotone. That is what reading this book is like. I could barely finish a page without yawning. Chores were put before this book. I am amazed that I actually finished it. This amazes me because I really liked the idea behind it. My expectations were not met once.
I didn't like Magda. I held no sympathy for her trials. I did not care whether she succeeded or not on her fools run.
Raziel was nothing of what I expected him to be.
There was no attachment formed for any of the characters in this book. None of them are even remotely memorable.
Stranger still, there was no true interaction in this book. This was a story being told to you, and it felt like it. You were only being told of the adventure, you were not really shown it. You did not walk the path of this journey with Magda, instead you were kept outside it. Nothing played on my emotions. I felt no anxiety or heartbreak. I felt no suspense. The romance was the most subtle romance I have ever encountered. I just didn't feel anything.
The book was so anticlimactic. I kept waiting for some respectable action. I kept waiting for anything. And nothing happened. Any time you thought you were going to get a show, you were taken away from it.
I don't even know what the purpose of reading this book was. And I have given up caring. I won't be reading further and I have no one to recommend it to. It was a complete waste of my time. I'm very disappointed.
July 10, 2012
I thought the premise of Lady Lazarus was interesting – an urban fantasy set in Europe during WWII. Magda Lazarus is the eldest daughter of an eldest daughter, in a line of witches. Her rebelliousness means she doesn’t know much about her lineage or her craft, which doesn’t help when she’s called upon to retrieve the Book of Raziel. Where does she start? How will she find it? And will she survive the attempt?
She doesn’t have a choice though. It is 1939, and Hitler is gathering his forces. Werewolves, warlocks, and demons feature prominently in his camp. All Magda has is her wits, her sister Gisele, their friend Eva, and the angel Raziel (it is his book, after all).
Lady Lazarus has some pretty neat characters, and you’ll enjoy Michele Lang’s populating history with paranormal creatures. The pace lagged in the middle of the story though, and I lost interest around the middle of the story – where she threw in romantic elements. This could’ve been a very gritty, tightly-paced nail-biter, and I’m disappointed that it isn’t.
drey’s rating: Ok
She doesn’t have a choice though. It is 1939, and Hitler is gathering his forces. Werewolves, warlocks, and demons feature prominently in his camp. All Magda has is her wits, her sister Gisele, their friend Eva, and the angel Raziel (it is his book, after all).
Lady Lazarus has some pretty neat characters, and you’ll enjoy Michele Lang’s populating history with paranormal creatures. The pace lagged in the middle of the story though, and I lost interest around the middle of the story – where she threw in romantic elements. This could’ve been a very gritty, tightly-paced nail-biter, and I’m disappointed that it isn’t.
drey’s rating: Ok
December 30, 2010
I'm so conflicted - by Goodreads standards this is 1 star (didn't like it). By mine it is 2 (didn't like it but there were some things I liked about it so I wouldn't say I hated it and can't see anything positive about it). Since this is Goodreads, I'll go with 1 to fit with their rating system with the caveat that it's a 2 star book by my own ratings system.
Basically, I really liked the foundation for this story - the Jewish history and lore and the feminist leanings - but found I didn't really like the execution. It was enjoyable for a while, but about halfway through I realized I wasn't all that interesting in finishing it (although I did so I could review it). It had an interesting premise and mythological basis, but the plot, writing, and characters didn't really live up to my expectations.
Full Review: http://www.fantasybookcafe.com/2010/1...
Basically, I really liked the foundation for this story - the Jewish history and lore and the feminist leanings - but found I didn't really like the execution. It was enjoyable for a while, but about halfway through I realized I wasn't all that interesting in finishing it (although I did so I could review it). It had an interesting premise and mythological basis, but the plot, writing, and characters didn't really live up to my expectations.
Full Review: http://www.fantasybookcafe.com/2010/1...
December 8, 2010
"Twilight" meets "Diary of Anne Frank" meets "Inglourious Basterds". I've never seen anyone merge Kabbalah with urban fantasy elements before. Extra credit to Michele Lang for setting it in Europe at the brink of World War Two, as opposed not only to present day but also to the actual war. This being fantasy, there's the hope that the war and all that went with it could be avoided in Lang's universe. I appreciate all the research that went into crafting this universe, as well as all the love and care.
Looking forward to the sequel!
Looking forward to the sequel!
December 5, 2010
The narrative architecture of this novel is brilliant, but the characters seemed too simplistic and underdeveloped. In addition, the points of action such as magical battles were too swift to be realized to their fullest potential. I wanted more flesh in this novel - more details, more emotions, more descriptive, more motivation. All this said, I loved the novel's premise.
July 20, 2011
I originally met the author at a con about a year and a half ago. She's a lovely woman, charming, earnest, and kind to newbies. She's done a bunch of self-published e-book romances, I believe, but this was her first book with a publisher.
I wanted to like it, and I think I did. It's a daring little book, trying to use urban fantasy to avert the Holocaust. Anyone who has the climatic scene be a battle against a demon-possessed Hitler has chutzpah to spare. Given how many edges of tastelessness she skirts, I think she pulls it off. The book's respectful. And while many people have picked up the "Nazis as dark wizards" trope before, she does bring some fresh ideas.
The book is hopelessly uneven, though. There's a lot of fascinating ideas that are not quite fully developed. Intriguing characters are likewise underinflated. The tone is exceedingly formal, dancing along the edge of pretentious. I think she stays on the safe side of the line, but others may disagree.
There's just so much unrealized potential here. The magic system is intriguing, but never quite defined enough. She breaks the cardinal rule of magic users--the reader should have a reasonable idea of the strength level of the protagonist. Magda is undertrained, which works really quite well overall. But suddenly, she'll pull out tricks that don't seem to make sense in context of what was previously established. There's a training sequence that's nowhere as well defined as it should be. Other events increase her power in ways that just aren't particularly well explained. I could never tell how much trouble she was in, since she would suddenly have power she previously did not.
Magda and Raziel are well drawn, but many of the other characters never really coalesced for me. Her little sister is particularly difficult to grasp, which is a problem given that Giselle is Magda's motivations. All her reasons for why she should hare off across Europe instead of going into hiding, when all the supernatural help tells her that her quest will make things worse (and are proven correct), seem to be driven by a really immature, whiny girl. Lang was clearly going for a feeling of doomed nobility--she knows what she's doing won't help, but has to try anyway. But it never quite works. Her excuses for why they shouldn't just flee to South America are weak (and she admits this). Her goals end up strengthening the Reich by accident (which she was warned of). She insists she's going because she promised Giselle, but Magda breaks her promises left and right and so I don't see why she can't break this one, too.
The action scenes are well set up, but breeze through the action in a way that's very confusing. I still don't understand how certain key events actually happened. There's a lot of "event happens because author wants it to".
It's an ambitious book with a lot of neat ideas, and it just drips in evocative imagery. Her descriptions of Budapest, Paris, and Amsterdam are deeply immersive. But it feels like some of the work that shows up in my writing group--a great deal of promise, but very unpolished. What was her editor thinking? There's so much here that's problematic--fixable, but it wasn't fixed. I don't know whether I want to read the next book or not. The flaws could be overcome with experience, but only if someone points them out to her. And her editor doesn't seem to have done so on this run.
I wanted to like it, and I think I did. It's a daring little book, trying to use urban fantasy to avert the Holocaust. Anyone who has the climatic scene be a battle against a demon-possessed Hitler has chutzpah to spare. Given how many edges of tastelessness she skirts, I think she pulls it off. The book's respectful. And while many people have picked up the "Nazis as dark wizards" trope before, she does bring some fresh ideas.
The book is hopelessly uneven, though. There's a lot of fascinating ideas that are not quite fully developed. Intriguing characters are likewise underinflated. The tone is exceedingly formal, dancing along the edge of pretentious. I think she stays on the safe side of the line, but others may disagree.
There's just so much unrealized potential here. The magic system is intriguing, but never quite defined enough. She breaks the cardinal rule of magic users--the reader should have a reasonable idea of the strength level of the protagonist. Magda is undertrained, which works really quite well overall. But suddenly, she'll pull out tricks that don't seem to make sense in context of what was previously established. There's a training sequence that's nowhere as well defined as it should be. Other events increase her power in ways that just aren't particularly well explained. I could never tell how much trouble she was in, since she would suddenly have power she previously did not.
Magda and Raziel are well drawn, but many of the other characters never really coalesced for me. Her little sister is particularly difficult to grasp, which is a problem given that Giselle is Magda's motivations. All her reasons for why she should hare off across Europe instead of going into hiding, when all the supernatural help tells her that her quest will make things worse (and are proven correct), seem to be driven by a really immature, whiny girl. Lang was clearly going for a feeling of doomed nobility--she knows what she's doing won't help, but has to try anyway. But it never quite works. Her excuses for why they shouldn't just flee to South America are weak (and she admits this). Her goals end up strengthening the Reich by accident (which she was warned of). She insists she's going because she promised Giselle, but Magda breaks her promises left and right and so I don't see why she can't break this one, too.
The action scenes are well set up, but breeze through the action in a way that's very confusing. I still don't understand how certain key events actually happened. There's a lot of "event happens because author wants it to".
It's an ambitious book with a lot of neat ideas, and it just drips in evocative imagery. Her descriptions of Budapest, Paris, and Amsterdam are deeply immersive. But it feels like some of the work that shows up in my writing group--a great deal of promise, but very unpolished. What was her editor thinking? There's so much here that's problematic--fixable, but it wasn't fixed. I don't know whether I want to read the next book or not. The flaws could be overcome with experience, but only if someone points them out to her. And her editor doesn't seem to have done so on this run.
May 21, 2011
Set in 1939 - Europe is once again on the verge of war. Hitler has already started his crusade against the Jews and is on the verge of invading Poland. But Hitler is not on his own, he has a werewolf pack on his side (the SS), an evil wizard working for him and a demon sharing his body. And Magda Lazarus, a Hungarian Jew and a witch descended from the Lazarus lineage, sets out to do what she can to prevent The Final Solution.
This book is good, I enjoyed it, but it also has its problems. It suffers quite a lot from early works syndrome. The author repeats things a lot - granted, it's in the next chapter, but I don't really need such information repeated that soon. One example is in one chapter she mentions that she can't taste anymore after a certain event happens that takes away a large chunk of her humanity. Next chapter she points out that she can't taste the crepes she's eating. We know. You said it already.
It's also got a few contradictions. At the very beginning, Magda is performing magic for her boss. A chapter or two later she says that their magic was private, for emergencies... but she's using it for her job?
Magda compares herself to Elenor Roosevelt towards the start of the story. But why would a Hungarian be interested in the First Lady of the USA, one of the countries that brought the Austro-Hungarian Empire to its knees? It would have been better for her to use a Hungarian person, even if the reader doesn't really know who that person is.
The characters talk in various languages: Hungarian, German, French. There's no difference in the style of writing to show that the language has been changed, which is something that I would have liked to have seen.
One of my personal annoyances. The author uses "finacée" correctly, showing she knows that this is a word from French that changes between male and female use... but then she has a female "protégé". Why can she use the rules with one word but not the other? A female protégé is a protégée. I see a lot of authors get this wrong.
It's not clear when the angel fell in love with Magda, or why. The story suffers somewhat for this.
Despite my misgivings about the story being heavily seeped in religion (which I should have expected, really), it was enjoyable and I will be buying the sequel to find out whether Magda manages to prevail in her fight against Hitler.
This book is good, I enjoyed it, but it also has its problems. It suffers quite a lot from early works syndrome. The author repeats things a lot - granted, it's in the next chapter, but I don't really need such information repeated that soon. One example is in one chapter she mentions that she can't taste anymore after a certain event happens that takes away a large chunk of her humanity. Next chapter she points out that she can't taste the crepes she's eating. We know. You said it already.
It's also got a few contradictions. At the very beginning, Magda is performing magic for her boss. A chapter or two later she says that their magic was private, for emergencies... but she's using it for her job?
Magda compares herself to Elenor Roosevelt towards the start of the story. But why would a Hungarian be interested in the First Lady of the USA, one of the countries that brought the Austro-Hungarian Empire to its knees? It would have been better for her to use a Hungarian person, even if the reader doesn't really know who that person is.
The characters talk in various languages: Hungarian, German, French. There's no difference in the style of writing to show that the language has been changed, which is something that I would have liked to have seen.
One of my personal annoyances. The author uses "finacée" correctly, showing she knows that this is a word from French that changes between male and female use... but then she has a female "protégé". Why can she use the rules with one word but not the other? A female protégé is a protégée. I see a lot of authors get this wrong.
It's not clear when the angel fell in love with Magda, or why. The story suffers somewhat for this.
Despite my misgivings about the story being heavily seeped in religion (which I should have expected, really), it was enjoyable and I will be buying the sequel to find out whether Magda manages to prevail in her fight against Hitler.
January 8, 2011
Lady Lazarus is not your typical historical fantasy. What Michelle Lang has woven here is a rich tapestry of Hungarian-Jewish folklore, European pre-World War II history, and a guardian angel-mortal romance that is more of a metaphor for goodness and sacrifice than it is an ode to love.
Magdalena is a Lazarus, meaning she is a witch whose lineage is given the power to come back from the dead. In a pre-World War II Budapest inhabited by magical beings as well as mortals, Magdalena's sister's dire prophecy of Hitler's final solution forces Magdalena on a journey to find a magical book written by the Angel Raziel in order to try to stop the war.
If you've ever read Mikhail Bulgakov's The Master and Margarita, then you would already be familiar with Lang's poetic and somewhat reserved tone. All but her main characters of Magdalena and her wizardly nemesis, the Staff, tend to come up with pithy and ponderous pronouncements, referring to horrible events and trauma only guardedly. While integral to the plot, the romantic lead and Magdalena's dear sister are more ideals in an absence of action, obtaining their meaning from what Magdalena is willing to do for them rather than being full fledged actors on their own. For example, while the youngest sister, Gisele's, prophecy of the destruction of the Jews by Hitler is what sets Magdalena in action, Gisele is left behind from the start, and even when Magdalena returns to her at the final confrontational scene, Gisele sits out the action in a magic circle.
Coming to this book with expectations it will read like Twilight or True Blood or Dresden Files will put you on the wrong path towards reaping the benefits of the ideas about weakness in the face of a greater evil, or how will and evil interact, or what sacrifice truly means that this book holds. Magdalena's journey is about having the will to bear suffering and pain in order to stop evil, and going along on her difficult journey is what draws you to this book, not teen angst romance or sex.
This Book's Food Designation Rating: Coffee with milk sipped at Cafe Istanbul in Budapest, eaten with a rumball for the great flavors of the era and the straighforward enjoyable story.
Magdalena is a Lazarus, meaning she is a witch whose lineage is given the power to come back from the dead. In a pre-World War II Budapest inhabited by magical beings as well as mortals, Magdalena's sister's dire prophecy of Hitler's final solution forces Magdalena on a journey to find a magical book written by the Angel Raziel in order to try to stop the war.
If you've ever read Mikhail Bulgakov's The Master and Margarita, then you would already be familiar with Lang's poetic and somewhat reserved tone. All but her main characters of Magdalena and her wizardly nemesis, the Staff, tend to come up with pithy and ponderous pronouncements, referring to horrible events and trauma only guardedly. While integral to the plot, the romantic lead and Magdalena's dear sister are more ideals in an absence of action, obtaining their meaning from what Magdalena is willing to do for them rather than being full fledged actors on their own. For example, while the youngest sister, Gisele's, prophecy of the destruction of the Jews by Hitler is what sets Magdalena in action, Gisele is left behind from the start, and even when Magdalena returns to her at the final confrontational scene, Gisele sits out the action in a magic circle.
Coming to this book with expectations it will read like Twilight or True Blood or Dresden Files will put you on the wrong path towards reaping the benefits of the ideas about weakness in the face of a greater evil, or how will and evil interact, or what sacrifice truly means that this book holds. Magdalena's journey is about having the will to bear suffering and pain in order to stop evil, and going along on her difficult journey is what draws you to this book, not teen angst romance or sex.
This Book's Food Designation Rating: Coffee with milk sipped at Cafe Istanbul in Budapest, eaten with a rumball for the great flavors of the era and the straighforward enjoyable story.
February 28, 2016
3.5
There was so much to like about this book, the Jewish heroine, the platonic love between Magda and her angel (at least in the period of the book), the difficulty of the angels' task, the best friend who I decided was her lover, the cyclone-like battles between good and evil that feel like the centre of the world only until you remember the big bad is still lurking out there waiting to pounce (reminding the reader about the importance of perspective), some of the writing (all is pretty good, but some passages really wow), and Magda's genuine and undeniable growth as a character. There is a lot to appreciate. But there was just as much that bothered me personally.
I got tired of Magda being clueless of everything. Why, oh why, are heroines always ignorant of themselves, their power, their ability, their strengths? I am just tire, TIRED of this being the kernel at the centre of just about every book I read that has a female lead. Why?
I thought the book dragged in places. The reader spends a lot of time in Magda's head or traveling. After being clueless and not knowing what to do Magda always seemed to defeat her enemy with ease and I was never entirely sure how she managed it. This feeling of ho-hum another one done is only exasperated by the fact that the book ends on the eve of Hitler's attack on Poland, so the whole thing kind of wraps up where I thought it was going to begin. And lastly, I thought there were an uncomfortable number of characters that showed up when needed and then just disappeared again.
So, I'm about balanced between those things I really liked and those things that annoyed me.
There was so much to like about this book, the Jewish heroine, the platonic love between Magda and her angel (at least in the period of the book), the difficulty of the angels' task, the best friend who I decided was her lover, the cyclone-like battles between good and evil that feel like the centre of the world only until you remember the big bad is still lurking out there waiting to pounce (reminding the reader about the importance of perspective), some of the writing (all is pretty good, but some passages really wow), and Magda's genuine and undeniable growth as a character. There is a lot to appreciate. But there was just as much that bothered me personally.
I got tired of Magda being clueless of everything. Why, oh why, are heroines always ignorant of themselves, their power, their ability, their strengths? I am just tire, TIRED of this being the kernel at the centre of just about every book I read that has a female lead. Why?
I thought the book dragged in places. The reader spends a lot of time in Magda's head or traveling. After being clueless and not knowing what to do Magda always seemed to defeat her enemy with ease and I was never entirely sure how she managed it. This feeling of ho-hum another one done is only exasperated by the fact that the book ends on the eve of Hitler's attack on Poland, so the whole thing kind of wraps up where I thought it was going to begin. And lastly, I thought there were an uncomfortable number of characters that showed up when needed and then just disappeared again.
So, I'm about balanced between those things I really liked and those things that annoyed me.
June 20, 2013
Magda Lazarus is the eldest daughter of an eldest daughter, the Lazarus Witch. Unfortunately, her mother died before Magda’s training in her heritage and power were complete and she’s making her way in the world with only her younger sister, Gisele, by her side. When Gisele has a horrifying vision of the near future, of the wave of war and extermination headed their way, lead by Hitler and the Nazi party. Magda decides she must do something to avert the real possibility of the death of her people, the Jews, and her sister. She is sent on a search for the Book of Raziel, but she’s not the only one after the book which can affect the very nature of the world.
I enjoyed ‘Lady Lazarus’ greatly – the history, the magic, and the locales. It is readily apparent the amount of research, time, and love Ms. Lang put into this epic trilogy. Magda’s not the most sympathetic character, but for her times and circumstances, her choices are understandable. I also applaud her for not running away with Gisele when her visions predicted their deaths, but standing and fighting against an unknown and unfathomable evil. No one comes out unscathed, but I found myself eagerly turning pages to share in Magda’s quest. I’m looking forward to the rest of the trilogy!
Lady Lazarus series: Lady Lazarus (1), Dark Victory (2), Rebel Angels (3)
I enjoyed ‘Lady Lazarus’ greatly – the history, the magic, and the locales. It is readily apparent the amount of research, time, and love Ms. Lang put into this epic trilogy. Magda’s not the most sympathetic character, but for her times and circumstances, her choices are understandable. I also applaud her for not running away with Gisele when her visions predicted their deaths, but standing and fighting against an unknown and unfathomable evil. No one comes out unscathed, but I found myself eagerly turning pages to share in Magda’s quest. I’m looking forward to the rest of the trilogy!
Lady Lazarus series: Lady Lazarus (1), Dark Victory (2), Rebel Angels (3)
September 10, 2011
This book was an enjoyable and easy read. It is easy to conceptualize the presence of so much evil and demons in the backdrop of 1939 and the Nazi party. The main character Magda was also very easy to root for, but that is not hard when you put the protagonist up against the likes of Hitler. I wish the author gave more background on the magic and paranormal that existed within the story. The story did not really establish the rules governing the magic present in the story and when ever the main character had a need for a certain bit of magic she all of a sudden had access to it or the skill without a real explanation of how. Also the love story seemed forced I never really felt a spark or passion it just seemed like a infatuation and rushed. While the concept was good the book just felt like it was trying to fit to much into a short novel. Also thanks to Goodreads first reads for the chance to read this book.
Read
November 27, 2016You would think any book that has Nazi werewolves would worth finishing. Unfortunately, this one has sat on my bedside table since April last year, unfinished. I made it to page 85, before putting it aside in boredom. Even the promise of a couple of young Jewish women, kicking scumbutt arse, and changing the course of history would be tantalizing. But the girls didn't capture me and even having the Angel Raziel come in on their side hasn't encouraged me to pick it up again. We'd been hoping that this might be an antidote to the Twilight frenzy the granddaughters are in, but I don't think it will capture their imaginations the same way. (shudder).
Read
January 3, 2012Couldn't finish this, although all signs pointed to it being "my" kind of book: historical setting (WWII Europe), paranormal heroine (witch) off on a quest to save the world, paranormal hero (angel), etc. Very elegantly written, too, which only adds to the puzzle.
October 5, 2011
Loved this - witches trying to prevent the foretold Holocaust. Great companion book to Jane Yolen's Briar Rose, story about granddaughters discovering their grandmother's history entwined with grandma's oft-told unusual version of Sleeping Beauty. Fabulous.
September 30, 2015
The ending to this book was AMAZING! I'm impatiently awaiting the sequel to get here. I ordered it a whole two minutes after finishing this one. Well written and super unusual. I really enjoyed it. Xc)
July 29, 2018
Sad about this one. I wanted to love it. A Jewish witch fighting Nazi werewolves and demons? That ought to be amazing.
There are some real problems with pacing, though. A lot of the things the characters do don't make sense. They make decisions and then act contradictory to those decisions just a few pages later with no explanation for why. Ideas are introduced suddenly and then dropped again just as suddenly, and the world building frequently contradicts itself. There's also a LOT of telling rather than showing, which distances me from the protagonist. If I'm reading about a Jewish girl riding a train through Germany in 1939, I ought to be terrified for her, but it's so hard to empathize with Magda because she doesn't feel real.
There are some real problems with pacing, though. A lot of the things the characters do don't make sense. They make decisions and then act contradictory to those decisions just a few pages later with no explanation for why. Ideas are introduced suddenly and then dropped again just as suddenly, and the world building frequently contradicts itself. There's also a LOT of telling rather than showing, which distances me from the protagonist. If I'm reading about a Jewish girl riding a train through Germany in 1939, I ought to be terrified for her, but it's so hard to empathize with Magda because she doesn't feel real.
November 13, 2015
Favorite Quote (page 83):
"What about my sister and Eva- who are both depending on me to survive? How could you enforce judgment on me and not that wizard, when Gisele needs me? She's completely innocent. I am riddled with flaws, but reveal to me one of hers. One!"
Raziel's face broke into a smile. It was like the sun coming out from behind a thunderhead. "She snores."
His answer dumbfounded me. I sputtered, "But snoring isn't a sin!"
He started to laugh, and I remembered to breathe, forced myself to smile back."
Review:
As much as I loved Michele Lang's previous books, this one book blew them out of the water. When it comes to historical fiction of any kind I tend to be really particular. What this means is that if you write historical fiction, I want the story to make sense and follow history properly (unless of course, you are in another universe). For example, if you write about a woman during the Revolutionary War, she isn't going to be running around in a leather mini-skirt. In regard to historical accuracy, Michele Lang did a fantastic job. She did amazing research which pulled things from history that are not extremely well known such as the SS Werewolf Unit or the fact that Hitler called himself Wolf. Not only did Michele Lang bring the historical knowledge to the plate, in this story but also the emotional aspects. She brought Magda's family to life in such a way that it made them very real and relate-able.
As I have said previously, the best part of Michele Lang's books are the fact that she dumps you into this new world and you have to figure it out as the characters do. Through this act, she creates a much greater depth to her characters and their settings. When you follow Magda through Budapest it will be as if you are walking alongside her because the story is so detailed and yet never loses momentum. Michele Lang's characters are very multi-dimensional even the less obvious ones. For instance, when you read the first couple of chapters you will encounter a trader whom you will hear about for the rest of the book but not only in a context of good or evil but rather the shades of grey that are part of real life.
In this book, Michele Lang pushes you and her characters further than ever before and in many ways that are not expected or even fathomable. The conflicts faced by Magda are quite unique and complex, all while she is just learning what it means to be a Lazarus. Some of the conflicts are facing down werewolves, battling an evil wizard, and staring down a horde of demons in such a way that by the end you are quite amazed and stunned.
Lady Lazarus also contains a great forbidden romance that is so subtle, and yet so apparent, it makes your heart melt. As a matter of fact, Michele Lang did such an amazing job of knitting the romance into the story in such a subtle way, when you get to the end you are in for quite a surprise.
This stunning book will have you on a roller coaster of emotion that doesn't stop at the last page. Not only will you want to "ride" again, it will have you waiting with bated breath for the next chapter in this trilogy. Honestly, this book has a little bit for everyone with it's mixture of history, romance, humor, action, and adventure. I enjoyed this book so much I read it twice. I have to definitely rate this book a five not only for everything I mentioned above but also because both times I read it, it gave me something new to love about it.
Why I Read This Book:
I decided to read this book because I have enjoyed all of Michele Lang's previous books. I also find historical fiction intriguing because it fits in with my "what-if" questioning of the universe. Plus I can't resist a story with a dynamic heroine.
Why I Finished This Book:
I couldn't put it down! Down to the last page, you are being flung through a series of events that will leave you guessing and begging to know what happens next.
Read more reviews at http://flyingofftheshelves.blogspot.c...
"What about my sister and Eva- who are both depending on me to survive? How could you enforce judgment on me and not that wizard, when Gisele needs me? She's completely innocent. I am riddled with flaws, but reveal to me one of hers. One!"
Raziel's face broke into a smile. It was like the sun coming out from behind a thunderhead. "She snores."
His answer dumbfounded me. I sputtered, "But snoring isn't a sin!"
He started to laugh, and I remembered to breathe, forced myself to smile back."
Review:
As much as I loved Michele Lang's previous books, this one book blew them out of the water. When it comes to historical fiction of any kind I tend to be really particular. What this means is that if you write historical fiction, I want the story to make sense and follow history properly (unless of course, you are in another universe). For example, if you write about a woman during the Revolutionary War, she isn't going to be running around in a leather mini-skirt. In regard to historical accuracy, Michele Lang did a fantastic job. She did amazing research which pulled things from history that are not extremely well known such as the SS Werewolf Unit or the fact that Hitler called himself Wolf. Not only did Michele Lang bring the historical knowledge to the plate, in this story but also the emotional aspects. She brought Magda's family to life in such a way that it made them very real and relate-able.
As I have said previously, the best part of Michele Lang's books are the fact that she dumps you into this new world and you have to figure it out as the characters do. Through this act, she creates a much greater depth to her characters and their settings. When you follow Magda through Budapest it will be as if you are walking alongside her because the story is so detailed and yet never loses momentum. Michele Lang's characters are very multi-dimensional even the less obvious ones. For instance, when you read the first couple of chapters you will encounter a trader whom you will hear about for the rest of the book but not only in a context of good or evil but rather the shades of grey that are part of real life.
In this book, Michele Lang pushes you and her characters further than ever before and in many ways that are not expected or even fathomable. The conflicts faced by Magda are quite unique and complex, all while she is just learning what it means to be a Lazarus. Some of the conflicts are facing down werewolves, battling an evil wizard, and staring down a horde of demons in such a way that by the end you are quite amazed and stunned.
Lady Lazarus also contains a great forbidden romance that is so subtle, and yet so apparent, it makes your heart melt. As a matter of fact, Michele Lang did such an amazing job of knitting the romance into the story in such a subtle way, when you get to the end you are in for quite a surprise.
This stunning book will have you on a roller coaster of emotion that doesn't stop at the last page. Not only will you want to "ride" again, it will have you waiting with bated breath for the next chapter in this trilogy. Honestly, this book has a little bit for everyone with it's mixture of history, romance, humor, action, and adventure. I enjoyed this book so much I read it twice. I have to definitely rate this book a five not only for everything I mentioned above but also because both times I read it, it gave me something new to love about it.
Why I Read This Book:
I decided to read this book because I have enjoyed all of Michele Lang's previous books. I also find historical fiction intriguing because it fits in with my "what-if" questioning of the universe. Plus I can't resist a story with a dynamic heroine.
Why I Finished This Book:
I couldn't put it down! Down to the last page, you are being flung through a series of events that will leave you guessing and begging to know what happens next.
Read more reviews at http://flyingofftheshelves.blogspot.c...
September 6, 2012
My original review for Lady Lazarus by Michele Lang was just the word ‘eh’ and a picture of a kitten.
I’ve been feeling all procrastinaty and grumpy after selling all my things and dragging my former roommate kicking and screaming from my apartment. But then I realized I wasn’t being fair to you or Michele Lang, so I made some popcorn and decided to do some research.
See, I don’t want my review to be colored by the fact that I’ve been uber-busy and stressed the last week. I mean, maybe this book IS impossible to put down, but I just didn’t get to find that out because I literally HAD to put it down hundreds of times to pack my collection of vintage dog books or write descriptions of a thousand computer things that I don’t know anything about for ebay. According to my research, pretty much everyone on Amazon loves it. Good Reads reviews are a little more varied, but still majority positive.
But you know what? I didn’t. I really didn’t like it. You’d think that a book about magical Jewish witches (descended from the witch that helped Solomon build the temple) that can continually rise from the dead, Hungarian vampires, Nazi werewolves, and a demon-possessed Hitler (that makes sense actually) would be enough for any girl. But for me the plot just lagged along. I didn’t really care about Magda, the fantastically powerful witch who doesn’t want to be a witch (WHEN is that going to stop being a thing?! The last five witch related books have magical better-than-everyone protaganists who don’t want anything to do with their powers. I’m writing a book about a witch who is awesome and brags about it all the time). I didn’t really care about Magda’s beautiful, delicate-flower little sister who prophesied the holocaust blood-bath. I couldn’t even muster up any admiration for the arch-angel Raziel (who ends up being not that impressive, to my mind, for an avenging angel of God), who inexplicably falls in love with Magda (natch). Magda spends a lot of time walking in the forest and complaining.
But Michele needs some positive feedback here. So, I will mention my favorite part of the book–Blondi the werebitch. Yes, when Hitler’s girlfriend Eva Braun tires of being a Aryan princess, she turns into Blondi, his pet German Shepherd/werewolf. True, German Shepherds can’t really be werewolves (as one Amazon reviewer indignantly points out, they are GENETICALLY DIFFERENT canines), but also werewolves aren’t real, so I’ll give Michele some artistic leeway. Disappointingly, Blondi the werebitch only appears for about two sentences, but I’m hoping that she gets more play in the follow-up novel.
(you can read more half-assed reviews at rampantreads.wordpress.com)
I’ve been feeling all procrastinaty and grumpy after selling all my things and dragging my former roommate kicking and screaming from my apartment. But then I realized I wasn’t being fair to you or Michele Lang, so I made some popcorn and decided to do some research.
See, I don’t want my review to be colored by the fact that I’ve been uber-busy and stressed the last week. I mean, maybe this book IS impossible to put down, but I just didn’t get to find that out because I literally HAD to put it down hundreds of times to pack my collection of vintage dog books or write descriptions of a thousand computer things that I don’t know anything about for ebay. According to my research, pretty much everyone on Amazon loves it. Good Reads reviews are a little more varied, but still majority positive.
But you know what? I didn’t. I really didn’t like it. You’d think that a book about magical Jewish witches (descended from the witch that helped Solomon build the temple) that can continually rise from the dead, Hungarian vampires, Nazi werewolves, and a demon-possessed Hitler (that makes sense actually) would be enough for any girl. But for me the plot just lagged along. I didn’t really care about Magda, the fantastically powerful witch who doesn’t want to be a witch (WHEN is that going to stop being a thing?! The last five witch related books have magical better-than-everyone protaganists who don’t want anything to do with their powers. I’m writing a book about a witch who is awesome and brags about it all the time). I didn’t really care about Magda’s beautiful, delicate-flower little sister who prophesied the holocaust blood-bath. I couldn’t even muster up any admiration for the arch-angel Raziel (who ends up being not that impressive, to my mind, for an avenging angel of God), who inexplicably falls in love with Magda (natch). Magda spends a lot of time walking in the forest and complaining.
But Michele needs some positive feedback here. So, I will mention my favorite part of the book–Blondi the werebitch. Yes, when Hitler’s girlfriend Eva Braun tires of being a Aryan princess, she turns into Blondi, his pet German Shepherd/werewolf. True, German Shepherds can’t really be werewolves (as one Amazon reviewer indignantly points out, they are GENETICALLY DIFFERENT canines), but also werewolves aren’t real, so I’ll give Michele some artistic leeway. Disappointingly, Blondi the werebitch only appears for about two sentences, but I’m hoping that she gets more play in the follow-up novel.
(you can read more half-assed reviews at rampantreads.wordpress.com)
October 30, 2013
Readers who like Paige and Lucas in the Men of the Otherworldand Industrial Magic by Kelley Armstrong, or the books about Kate and Curran Magic Bitesby Ilona Andrews, or The Book Thief, should also really like this book, but it seems to me very few people have heard of this book. Readers interested in reading about angels, demons and vampires will also find characters meeting those descriptions here.
This novel has an older teen protagonist, making it YA in some people’s definitions, who is an untrained Jewish witch, making the book urban fantasy, set in Hungary, with scenes in Austria, Germany, Paris and Amsterdam in August of 1938. One of the characters is clairvoyant, she tells of the coming factories of death, for Jews. Why haven’t more readers read this book? Harry Dresden, in Storm Frontwho decorates with paperbacks, or did, Perhaps then this book will get the readers it deserves.
There's a sequel to this book, that should be fun, too!
,
,
,
,
This novel has an older teen protagonist, making it YA in some people’s definitions, who is an untrained Jewish witch, making the book urban fantasy, set in Hungary, with scenes in Austria, Germany, Paris and Amsterdam in August of 1938. One of the characters is clairvoyant, she tells of the coming factories of death, for Jews. Why haven’t more readers read this book? Harry Dresden, in Storm Frontwho decorates with paperbacks, or did, Perhaps then this book will get the readers it deserves.
There's a sequel to this book, that should be fun, too!
,
,
,
,
Read
November 14, 2018Magda is a Lazarus witch, the eldest daughter of an eldest daughter and the last of her kind. She’s never used her powers, never even wanted to learn to use them. But life in 1939 Budapest is not all cafés and rumballs. Hitler’s evil is spreading across Europe, and Jews like Magda are losing their homes…and if Magda’s sister’s vision comes true, losing much more than that. Magda knows she cannot stand by and do nothing while her sister’s prophesy comes true. She sets out to find the lost Book of Raziel, a book written by the Angel Raziel himself that contains secrets that must not fall into the hands of Nazis. Can a lone woman – one who does not even know how to master her ability to return from the dead – outwit and outrun demons, SS werewolves, and a Nazi wizard in order to lay claim to the fabled book? Even with the angel himself at her side, it won’t be easy…
Venture into a world of myth and magic, angels and demons, death and resurrection in Lady Lazarus. Michele Lang has managed to weave an engaging supernatural journey into one of the most heart-wrenchingly awful periods in history with fantastic results.
Good versus evil has never been so compelling, particularly when “good” has to delve into that grey area between black and white on her quest. Magda is an interesting heroine. She begins the tale, not carefree but not really in touch yet with the evil that hasn’t yet sunk its claws into her life. That changes as she sets out to find Raziel’s book. I adored watching Magda grow up, make sacrifices, and never, ever stop, no matter how indescribably hard her journey was or how much she wanted to give up.
The romance in Lady Lazarus takes a back seat to Magda’s quest, as is logical. I can’t imagine anyone being a better match for Magda than Raziel. They fit one another like lock and key and I can’t wait to see their relationship develop as Ms. Lang continues the series. Their burgeoning relationship brings softness to Lady Lazarus, bringing light to the darkness.
Ms. Lang brings her fantasy reimagining of 1939 Europe to incredible life in Lady Lazarus. I finished the first part of Magda’s journey wanting to read the second immediately. Lady Lazarus is a highly original, complex historical urban fantasy with a touch of romance that is sure to engage any reader.
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed.
Venture into a world of myth and magic, angels and demons, death and resurrection in Lady Lazarus. Michele Lang has managed to weave an engaging supernatural journey into one of the most heart-wrenchingly awful periods in history with fantastic results.
Good versus evil has never been so compelling, particularly when “good” has to delve into that grey area between black and white on her quest. Magda is an interesting heroine. She begins the tale, not carefree but not really in touch yet with the evil that hasn’t yet sunk its claws into her life. That changes as she sets out to find Raziel’s book. I adored watching Magda grow up, make sacrifices, and never, ever stop, no matter how indescribably hard her journey was or how much she wanted to give up.
The romance in Lady Lazarus takes a back seat to Magda’s quest, as is logical. I can’t imagine anyone being a better match for Magda than Raziel. They fit one another like lock and key and I can’t wait to see their relationship develop as Ms. Lang continues the series. Their burgeoning relationship brings softness to Lady Lazarus, bringing light to the darkness.
Ms. Lang brings her fantasy reimagining of 1939 Europe to incredible life in Lady Lazarus. I finished the first part of Magda’s journey wanting to read the second immediately. Lady Lazarus is a highly original, complex historical urban fantasy with a touch of romance that is sure to engage any reader.
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed.
February 9, 2012
While I enjoy the urban fantasy genre, most readers will admit that it has become a tired field. A writer who can manage to add something to the genre is certainly welcome in my view.
Michele Lang is one of those writers. She has taken the urban fantasy and transported it to pre-WWII Europe. The reader's knowledge of what's to come in the near future helps add a great deal of tension to Magda's story. Her sister is a seer who can seen dire things in the future--a future that Magda feels only she can prevent.
Maga is the latest in Lazuras line of Jewish witches, who can come back from the dead. In addition, in desperate times (which, of course, are soon to come) she can call upon the help of the angel Raziel. Magda is determined to track down a family book that will serve as magical doomsday device if it falls into the hands of the Nazis.
Hitler himself is possessed by a demon, he's served by SS werewolves, and vampires are an acknowledged part of society. It's WWII re-imagined from an urban fantasy perspective.
Does it work? For the most part, yes. My problems with the novel are three-fold:
1) The romance angle with Raziel seems contrived and forced. Admittedly, I often feel that is the case in urban fantasies.
2) The novel's plot is a bit too sparse for me, there's just not enough meat to the book's events. Magda's trip to find the book is stretched out, and felt like it could have been told in a long short story or a novella. The pacing just seemed off.
3) The tension of the novel is a bit off as well. It never seems like Magda is in great danger, despite the fact she is a Jewish witch in Nazi-controlled Germany. Even when she is killed, the reader knows she can come back from the dead. So what's the big deal?
Overall, I do think Lang has talent and is worth watching. I will certainly take a look at her second book and see if she fixes my perceived problems, as I felt her take on urban fantasy is refreshing and worth a second chance.
Michele Lang is one of those writers. She has taken the urban fantasy and transported it to pre-WWII Europe. The reader's knowledge of what's to come in the near future helps add a great deal of tension to Magda's story. Her sister is a seer who can seen dire things in the future--a future that Magda feels only she can prevent.
Maga is the latest in Lazuras line of Jewish witches, who can come back from the dead. In addition, in desperate times (which, of course, are soon to come) she can call upon the help of the angel Raziel. Magda is determined to track down a family book that will serve as magical doomsday device if it falls into the hands of the Nazis.
Hitler himself is possessed by a demon, he's served by SS werewolves, and vampires are an acknowledged part of society. It's WWII re-imagined from an urban fantasy perspective.
Does it work? For the most part, yes. My problems with the novel are three-fold:
1) The romance angle with Raziel seems contrived and forced. Admittedly, I often feel that is the case in urban fantasies.
2) The novel's plot is a bit too sparse for me, there's just not enough meat to the book's events. Magda's trip to find the book is stretched out, and felt like it could have been told in a long short story or a novella. The pacing just seemed off.
3) The tension of the novel is a bit off as well. It never seems like Magda is in great danger, despite the fact she is a Jewish witch in Nazi-controlled Germany. Even when she is killed, the reader knows she can come back from the dead. So what's the big deal?
Overall, I do think Lang has talent and is worth watching. I will certainly take a look at her second book and see if she fixes my perceived problems, as I felt her take on urban fantasy is refreshing and worth a second chance.
February 21, 2011
I passed this novel over twice before finally checking it out. It proposes to combine my two loves: historical fiction and urban fantasy. Lang brings pre-War Europe vividly and intricately to life. Unfortunately the characters felt a little flat.
Nazi werewolves? Awesome. Hitler possessed by an ancient demon? Total cop-out. As far as Magda, Gisele, and Eva...they felt like empty-headed Jane Austen wannabes. We are told that these young women are orphans living in abject poverty (Eva is paid only in posies). So I couldn't understand how Gisele, the "frail, invalid" prophetess shut-in, had plump cherub cheeks and chubby little hands. Top it off with "bouncing curls" and pouty "rose bud lips," and you've got your Hungarian Shirley Temple. Eva and Magda are also ravishing beauties, if you don't mind mussed hair or snagged stockings. All three go about calling each other "my darling," and professing their sisterly love for one another. Frankly, it felt like Lang based her 1930s woman on campy film stereotypes.
And Raziel? What a flat piece of dreck. Here's a dude that makes Edward Cullen look like a deeply complex character. I know, I didn't think it was possible either.
I almost didn't finish this book, but forced myself to read the last 20 pages. It definitely sets up for a sequel, which perhaps may be better now that the literary groundwork has been laid. I give this novel three stars; one for the amalgamation of historical urban fantasy, one for the Eastern European mythology which was a nice change of pace, and one for the beautiful rendering of settings. I don't know if I'll continue on with this particular series, but I'm definitely on the hunt for more in this genre.
Nazi werewolves? Awesome. Hitler possessed by an ancient demon? Total cop-out. As far as Magda, Gisele, and Eva...they felt like empty-headed Jane Austen wannabes. We are told that these young women are orphans living in abject poverty (Eva is paid only in posies). So I couldn't understand how Gisele, the "frail, invalid" prophetess shut-in, had plump cherub cheeks and chubby little hands. Top it off with "bouncing curls" and pouty "rose bud lips," and you've got your Hungarian Shirley Temple. Eva and Magda are also ravishing beauties, if you don't mind mussed hair or snagged stockings. All three go about calling each other "my darling," and professing their sisterly love for one another. Frankly, it felt like Lang based her 1930s woman on campy film stereotypes.
And Raziel? What a flat piece of dreck. Here's a dude that makes Edward Cullen look like a deeply complex character. I know, I didn't think it was possible either.
I almost didn't finish this book, but forced myself to read the last 20 pages. It definitely sets up for a sequel, which perhaps may be better now that the literary groundwork has been laid. I give this novel three stars; one for the amalgamation of historical urban fantasy, one for the Eastern European mythology which was a nice change of pace, and one for the beautiful rendering of settings. I don't know if I'll continue on with this particular series, but I'm definitely on the hunt for more in this genre.
October 19, 2014
Lady Lazarus by Michele Lang is a historical fantasy set just before the beginning of World War II, in a slightly skewed version of our world. What makes it skewed is that in this alternate history, magic exists and plays a major role in world events. For example, Hitler’s werewolves are literal here.
Perhaps Lang’s most controversial decision is that Hitler is in league with, and sometimes possessed by, a demon. Some readers may see this as a cop-out. In my opinion, though, Lang wrote this in the only way that isn’t a cop-out. Namely, Hitler is the master, not the servant, in the relationship. Lang doesn’t use the demon to absolve Hitler of anything; this is no “the devil made him do it” scenario. It’s clear that he’d be just as evil without supernatural help and is simply using the demon as an additional tool in gaining power. And ... Read More: http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...
Perhaps Lang’s most controversial decision is that Hitler is in league with, and sometimes possessed by, a demon. Some readers may see this as a cop-out. In my opinion, though, Lang wrote this in the only way that isn’t a cop-out. Namely, Hitler is the master, not the servant, in the relationship. Lang doesn’t use the demon to absolve Hitler of anything; this is no “the devil made him do it” scenario. It’s clear that he’d be just as evil without supernatural help and is simply using the demon as an additional tool in gaining power. And ... Read More: http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...
September 7, 2012
The opening volume of a trilogy, this is a fine beginning to what proved to be an entertaining, moving, and ultimately quite satisfying series (yes, I've read all three books). The story follows Magdalena Lazarus, a Hungarian Jew and a powerful witch, as she grapples with the rise to power of Hitler and the visions of her prescient sister, Giselle, who foresees the horrors of Nazism. The book is set in a version of Europe that is both familiar and darkly fantastic. Magda works for a vampire; Hitler is served by vicious werewolves in SS uniforms; and Magda interacts with angels and demons.
The blend of history and dark fantasy elements works well, creating a tale that combines the grainy atmospherics of CASABLANCA with the action and thrills of a modern urban fantasy. It is unlike any other work I've read to date, and I enjoyed it a good deal.
The blend of history and dark fantasy elements works well, creating a tale that combines the grainy atmospherics of CASABLANCA with the action and thrills of a modern urban fantasy. It is unlike any other work I've read to date, and I enjoyed it a good deal.
October 1, 2011
This rather strange book has stayed with me in the several months since I read it. A witches' brew in which a Hungarian girl descended from an ancient line of witches sets out across Nazi infested Europe to try to save her beloved sister is beset by werewolves, hunted by the demon that possessed Hitler, aided by an archangel, and ravaged by the consequences of her quest. I am eager for the next installment. Definitely weird and wonderful!
January 25, 2012
When you've made it 30% of the way into a book, and you can't bring yourself to pick it up again, that's a very, very bad sign. The world-building was shoddy, the characters were nonsensical, the plot lines made utterly no sense to me, and there was nothing that could hold my attention.
2 stars instead of 1 because the prose was competent, and I might pick up the next book in the series to see if the plotting has improved at all.
2 stars instead of 1 because the prose was competent, and I might pick up the next book in the series to see if the plotting has improved at all.
January 29, 2012
An interesting take on pre-WWII Europe with some awesome fantasy/horror elements. Some great plot devices, not the least of which are Nazi werewolves and Eva Braun. There aren't many stories which feature a lineage of literally death-defying Jewish witches as protagonists and I kind of loved the theory of the story. Some of the characterization felt a bit lacking but overall it was a solid read with decent action.
March 23, 2012
Strange and lovely. Lady Lazarus can come back from the dead. In a supernatural world where vampires, werewolves, demons and other creatures exist on earth, on the eve of WWII when Hitler was planning his invasions, two young Jewish girls in Budapest try to stop the impending disasters by finding the Book of Raziel. The primary heroine, Magda Lazarus, summons the angel Raziel himself to help her. The story is full of tragedy, evildoers, sacrifice, loyalty and love.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews