"Characters were not always likable; but you care about their fate"
Julienne Hunter is a former model, former because a drugged-
out, enraged, soon- to-be-ex-husband had taken an acid-
dipped razor to her face. Cleaned up from a long addiction
to cocaine, her face repaired as much it can be, she
discovers that the naked photos of her that her ex was
peddling (taken without her knowledge) have been purchased
by what is left of her family, the Blackthornes. Julienne's
mother had taken her daughter and fled the family when
Julienne was but a child and they now want Julienne to
return to them. Broke through failed business deals and
rehabilitation, Julienne has no choice but to follow their
wishes and board an airplane with the ticket sent. Her cousin, Morgan Saint-Evanston, meets her on arrival.
Sparks immediately fly, the sparks of dislike and mistrust,
but underneath is something else. Morgan is a complicated
man, one minute abrasive, abusive, the next almost
charming, as if he can't make up his mind. As we find out,
Morgan and Anlese, Julienne's grandmother, aren't exactly
what they seem to be, and Julienne's mother had good reason
for leaving. Now Julienne is caught up as well, as Morgan
reveals who he really is, and how he is caught up in what
is actually a battle between other worlds, a battle that
has waged for many long centuries. He is, in fact, a
guardian intended to protect humanity from those who would
destroy it, but after all this time, he doubts his ability
to do so. Echoes of Angels is an extraordinary book. The characters
are very well written, excellent characterization. They
were not always likable. In fact, Morgan is one of the
least likable men I've ever seen in print. But at the same
time you don't like him, you care about his fate, and
that's just good writing. Same thing for Julienne; she is
a deeply flawed person, but her strength and courage keeps
the reader hoping that things will work out for her. The author takes her time with the plot, giving the reader
a lot of time to study the characters. There isn't all that
much action in this first book, something that I expect
will be remedied in the second story. And there will be
another installment for Morgan and Julienne...the end of
this book makes that essential.
Reviewed by Janet Miller
Posted August 30, 2002
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Twenty-one years ago, Cassandra Blackthorne and her
daughter, Julienne, fled their family home. Ironically,
circumstances lure Julienne Hunter back to her
birthplace--Blackthorne Manor in Virginia--and into the
clutches of the man her mother hated, Morgan Saint-Evanston.
She soon discovers that Blackthorne balances between two
worlds, that of mortal reality and the dimensional enigma
known as Sclyd. Come Halloween, they will merge and Scyldian
entities will be free to hunt the weaker human race for
slaves and sacrifices to appease their dragon god,
Ouroborous. Destined as a keeper of eternity's gates and
protector against the armies of darkness, Julienne's legacy
will be costly, for she must sacrifice her soul to save mankind.
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