I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley for the purpose of review. The review is my honest opinion and I was not paid for this service.

Since reading The Watchers, I've spent more than a bit of time imagining what mad road the author might steer the story down in Angel City, but none of my imaginings were even remotely correct. The ending can only be described as diabolical and will surely give whole new meaning to the word ‘cliffhanger’.

This astounding novel contains loads of action, a touch of esoteric history and a claustrophobic trip into the tunnels beneath Paris. The author has a gift of giving voice to the different characters, creating characters that leap off the page to scare you or steal your heart (as Rochat does in "The Watchers". Rochat is one of the most endearing characters I've met in a book in many years).

Picking up a few years after the first book of the series, Angel City hits the ground running. The first scene would certainly serve as a wonferful climax in most other books, as Harper is busy saving Paris from certain destruction - if not the world. Katherine is living the quiet country life, as a candle maker in Washington state, while raising her precocious son Max. Both these scenarios play a smaller part of a larger picture, of the Angel Wars; and a defrocked priest and his son, with confused motives comes into play.

Harper and Katherine return, but with their memories scrubbed, (mostly--pesky little unauthorized memories break through). Their stories, separate this time, form the two main narrative strands. Kat's story is less eventful than Harper's, initially, but was the more fascinating for me. She is slowly putting together what happened to her in the past, trying to decipher just what is going on in her high security present, getting used to being a mother, and falling in love with her bodyguard. Everything is done so well in this section, the characters are so believable and the developing friendships and romance so movingly portrayed, and the growing sense of danger, so subtle but so very there totally sucking the reader right in to the story, until the brilliant cliffhanger ending that had me scrambling to try to find more pages.

While The Watchers had more background and buildup about it, which focused on Harper and Katherine learning about this world of angels and demons, and their half-breed counterparts, and their own place in this world. Angel City moves at a much quicker pace than the first novel. Harper charges into action from the first chapter, delivering quips like a British Humphrey Bogart, while learning more about his own past. Max gives Katherine purpose, making her question less before she acts. It's wonderful to see that motherhood did little to change her brassy, "fuck you" nature. It's these characters, and their emotions, while finding out more about the past and it's place in this mess, that tether the series of revelations and action sequences. And, it's better than a Michael Bay movie... at least in MY head, it is. lol


Darker, yet more entertaining, Jon Steele gives a wider scope to his mythology, connecting it to human complexity. He also leaves you with an ending that will shock you into tears... while leaving you desperately hungry for that final installment.

The ONLY issue I had with this novel, besides the ending, was that Max giggled way too much. Like... almost constantly.

(My response, without giving away the ending? "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!
And then a little crying.)

Man, this book ......!! Every time when I put down the book of his I've been reading into the wee hours of the night, unable to stop, I find myself with a haunting sense of longing and missing the world he created, the world into which he so effortlessly immerses his readers, the world of his storytelling that you never want to leave.

Thank you, Jon Steele. Now get that third book finished! ;) ( )

The second part of the Angelus Trilogy, Angel City leads us further in the stories of Jay Harper and Katherine Taylor, introduced to us in the first in Jon Steele's series, The Watchers.

I'm not sure what genre I would put this novel in. Given its notion of angels taking the forms of men, and walking amongst us, the idea of being able to warp time, a bus that appears to be able to break the sound barrier, science fiction/fantasy would appear to be the prime candidate, but as the story unfolds, it begins to fit equally well in the mystery-thriller-detective genre. With a bit of a religion thing going on.

After a prologue taking us through events in Montsegur in the 13th century, the actions get to an explosive start in September 2013, where Jay Harper is trying to prevent a devastating attack on Paris, while Katherine is living in small-town America under the protection of the Swiss Guard.

Following the events in the Watchers, both Kat and Harper have had each other wiped from their respective memories, and Angel City tells the next part of their stories in parallel. While Katherine devotes her time to looking after her young son Max, Harper is assigned on a mission to learn more about the actions of a defrocked priest who talks of the time of the prophecy.

Steele is a talented author. He switches between the relative peace of Katherine's life and the full-on thrill ride of Harper's with ease. There are some beautiful moments between Max and her son, as well as a touching love story, while the action in Harper's world moves along, for the most part, at a cracking pace. I found both lead characters likeable; Harper, in particular, has some great line: describing someone's excitement as 'like a plane-spotter just receiving word Amelia Earhart's Lockheed Electra had been spotted after eighty years and was making its final approach to Le Bourget', or after meeting again the person who left him for dead 'and three days later I rose from the dead. It's been known to happen.'

The characters and the humour make this a very readable work. There are some niggles - the journey through the catacombs felt overly long, and some passages on astronomy felt more detailed than they needed to be. It also seemed to take a long time before the relevance of the prologue became apparent. But these are minor, and overall this is a very readable book that holds the reader to its cliffhanger ending. ( )

The characters are gritty, flawed, and appealing; the baddies are mysterious, creepy and terrifying. Innovative scenarios, dialog and plot events combine with the familiar to make a very new, very exciting story. I read the first two Angelus books on my phone at every available opportunity--in line at stores, on the El, while sightseeing in San Francisco--and I can't wait for the third of Jon Steele's books in this series to come out. Harper is my new character-crush, reminiscent of John (Hellblazer) Constantine, John Buchan-type hero, and noir detective. ( )

Angel City by Jon Steele is book #2 in The Angelus Trilogy. I received my copy of the book as part of a Goodreads giveaway and it took me awhile to finish the book. I actually put it down after a hundred pages or so and could not continue. It took my awhile to figure out why and once I did I was able to restart the story and found myself involved and once again caring for the characters. I will explain that in a moment. But first, a little about Angel City and The Angelus Trilogy.

..."What is the day?" one said.
"Why should you care?" another answered.
"Because I should like to know the day of my death, if this is to be the day of my death."
"Then it is a Tuesday. I think."
Such fateful words were a soldier's words, the knight remembered thinking. And he remembered how he, too, tried to recall the day just in case this would be the day of his death. The fighter was correct, it was a Tuesday; first day of March. The day was named after the Norse god of war, Tiw; the month was named after the Roman god of war.
"Not a bad day to die," the knight said...

Angel City picks up where The Watchers; book one of The Angelus Trilogy leaves off. Years have passed and the two survivors of the attack upon Lausanne Cathedral by the dark Nephilim; Harper and Katherine have gone on with their lives. Their memories wiped clean of the past and the fallen friend Marc Rochat.
Katherine and her son Max have been moved to Washington State under the constant care of the Swiss Guard. Her every move watched and detailed. Those around her awaiting and preparing for every danger they know is coming.
Harper has returned to doing what he has always done. An angel who protects those in danger. Possessing a human body when it is close to death and then leaving it when it is again. For if Harper remains in the host body as it dies, he dies along with it. Only something has changed.

"You're telling me something happened to me during the cathedral job. Being exposed to the light...changed me."
"Actually, I'm not saying anything of the sort, Mr. Harper. I merely lay out the facts."
"What facts? That I bloody rose from the dead? That's not evolution, Inspector, that's a..."
"A what?"
"A miracle. And you and I know there's no such thing in paradise."...

Both something has changed and the carefully woven fabric of time and light that the Angels have wrapped around the world is unraveling and the war waged in the heavens has come down to Earth. Katherine is starting to remember. Harper is starting to remember. And the dangers that attacked them in the Lausanne Cathedral are strengthening to attack them again. Not only them but all the innocents who were born from the Angels. Innocents are being killed across the world and Katherine's baby Max is on the list.

Angel City is well written and as its own novel stands well. It is not just a bridge between book one and the upcoming finale in book three. The characters are expertly crafted and you can feel their struggle as they piece together memories and dreams of what once was and what may be coming.
What made this a difficult read for me at the outset was what was missing from this novel. That is Marc Rochat. The central character to book one, The Watchers, is such a powerful voice in the Angelus Trilogy that he is missed in his absence here. There are references to him throughout but for those who read book one, you know how strong of a character he was. Once I go past the fact that he died and the others lived I was able to continue the story.
Angel City is well written fantasy book with imperfect Angels and even less perfect humans who find a way save both the Heavens and the Earth. ( )

A good follow-up to The Watchers, but this volume suffers a little bit from "middle book syndrome." There's lots and lots of backstory and buildup for the final volume, but the plot moves a little slowly and the end just isn't very satisfying. Will look forward to the next installment, though! ( )

Prologue: The 13th Century, a Holy War between the Cathars and Crusaders in Montsegur, French Pyrenees is being fought. Or ... the followers of another religious faith including women, children and infants are being slaughtered in most horrific and torturous ways.

We are then launched into current times, 3 years on from the cataclysmic events in Lausanne, with a terrorist attack in Paris. Harper becomes involved and an extremely profound and evocative scene is played out with a child clinging to her mortally wounded father, and Harper's internal struggle to comply with orders or to help comfort a dying soul. Does he do the right thing?... What is the right thing ?

Katherine, is unknowingly being medicated with tea potions to control her memories as an overload of remembering would render her insane. She is living in Oregon, a 'safe town' with her 2 year old son Max, and Officer Anne Jannsen her designated personal Swiss guard. Oh and nearly forgot, Monsieur Booty !

Harper has had various assignments in many human bodies over the millennia and has been mind wiped, once again, for his current assignment. His actions result in endangering him in his mortal and immortal forms. How much time does he have left to save 'Paradise' from apocalyptic prophesy? How will he deal with the haunted memories surfacing from his body's former soul ?

Is Angel City as good as The Watchers? Definitely ! It has a different style to The Watchers which had a slower pace, haunting, ethereal with a blast of action. Angel City's plot has more complexity and darkness, and is pretty much more action based with strong horrific scenes of modern day terrorism being played out between the forces of good and evil. It also brings into play a lot more mythology which maybe a teaser for more of what's to come in the final instalment.

We are introduced to some new characters. I found the horribly scarred Astruc addictively mysterious. Who is he, and what does he want ? The same goes for his companion, an odd looking boy called Goose.

Although The Watchers could be read as a stand alone, Angel City cannot without the reader becoming confused and have no idea what s going on. Angel City does not end neatly but on a cliff hanger making it essential to read the trilogy in order of sequence.

I eagerly await 'The Way of Sorrows', and am pretty sure Jon Steele will deliver another magical masterpiece. The only drawback will be in this being the end to this trilogy.

Jon Steele writes with such causality and depth with the exceptionally compassionate vibe of one who has seen far more than one should and remain mentally intact. I also believe he has something to say within his novels but I don't want to dwell on that here. You either feel it or you don't. Either way Angel City is an exciting, suspenseful, fast paced read incorporating mythology, history and faith.

Whilst 'googling' Jon Steele I found several you tube videos with him introducing both novels and an interview conducted by blogger, 'For winter nights - A bookish blog'.

Link here: http://forwinternights.wordpress.com/2011/07/09/my-interview-with-jon-steele-–...

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House UK, Transworld Publishers, with special thanks to September for giving me the opportunity to review this book. ( )

Book Review & Giveaway: When I read The Watchers, Book #1 of the Angelus Trilogy by Jon Steele, I knew I had been given a real gift. Angel City, Book #2 in the trilogy, has just been released and it’s every bit as good as Book #1. I don’t normally read books that are overtly about angels and demons but this trilogy is so much more than that and I have been hooked big time by it. Jon Steele blends mythology, metaphysics, sci-fi/fantasy, historical events and a complex thriller of the first order into a very unique story that has mesmerized me. And you could win a copy in our giveaway at http://popcornreads.com/?p=6104. ( )

Originally published on Tales to Tide You Over

Angel City is a complicated, multi-threaded tale that plays on faith, fact, history, and knowledge. This book is a treasure of unreliable narrators who don't know, can't remember, or won't say what's going on. That might sound frustrating, but it isn't really because you get tied up in the nowtimes, as the book calls them, while you gather evidence about the beforetimes in the hopes of understanding the time to come.

From the characters who are angels, we learn time is malleable but while they can change time perception to prevent the shadows from working against them and against humanity, they are memory wiped once the task is done to prevent the loss of their manifestation. This means they have sparse memories of what they have accomplished even though they've been engaged in a battle with the shadows and active through human history for thousands of years. And by "they," I don't mean generations of angels. I mean the same characters we're following in the nowtimes met and engaged with humans long before, setting things in play that they, themselves, cannot remember because of the memory wipes.

It sounds complicated, but the story is laid out in context, the complexity revealed while amazing things happen all around so it doesn't feel preachy or info dumpy. This is especially wonderful in a second book when I haven't read the first. It shows serious talent, especially because I didn't feel like I'd missed a thing necessary for my enjoyment of this novel.

Angel City isn't an easy, or candy, read. It's deep and thought-provoking, encouraging you to question much of what you see and know. It's not a pretty story either as this is not a simple world.

If anything, that makes the ending harder to take. I'm not going to spoil it with details, but you should know it's a pure cliffhanger. If that bothers you, I'd recommend waiting until the next book is available because you are seriously left hanging. My engagement with the story and various characters made the ending all that much more difficult because I won't and can't know how things turn out until the next book is released. There is no bridging conflict, or rather it ends to long after what could have made for satisfying intermediate ending, so it feels a bit like receiving a phone call when someone is telling you a story. Cut off mid-conflict, and no choice but to be patient.

What Angel City does have, though, is the stick-in-the-mind thing going for it. Once the next book comes out I wouldn't be surprised if I drop right back in as though there'd been no break. I had a trip in the middle of reading where I had no time to read, but five days later, it was as if I'd never paused.

Jon Steele is a talented writer. The characters in Angel City are complicated and compelling. I had moments where I laughed, and others where I struggled not to cry. The story takes what traditions surround Christian angels and twists them into a new, but plausible, form. The situations are even supported by odd historical events that could have other explanations.

If not for the ending, I would recommend this book wholeheartedly. And even with the ending, it's no less a powerful book...just one where you don't have the complete story when you reach the end of it.

P.S. I received this ARC through NetGalley, but as always, the opinions are mine. ( )