The Fallen Queen (The House of Arkhangel'sk, #1) by Jane Kindred

Nov 21, 2011 LK Gardner-Griffie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed

Epic Fantasy, Action, Adventure, Romance, Angels, Demons, Heaven and Earth. I have been waiting for a chance to read The Fallen Queen for quite some time now. I've had the privilege of catching some snippets of the book while playing on Twitter, and the concept intrigued me, so I jumped at the chance to get my hands on an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of the book. The Fallen Queen is full of angels and demons, but not in the way you might think. Jane Kindred has taken the story of Grand Duchess Ana

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Epic Fantasy, Action, Adventure, Romance, Angels, Demons, Heaven and Earth. I have been waiting for a chance to read The Fallen Queen for quite some time now. I've had the privilege of catching some snippets of the book while playing on Twitter, and the concept intrigued me, so I jumped at the chance to get my hands on an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of the book. The Fallen Queen is full of angels and demons, but not in the way you might think. Jane Kindred has taken the story of Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia and the fall of Imperial Russia and blended it with fantasy, with current day Heaven being a reflection of the happenings of Russia, 1918, down to the rumors of the escape of Anastasia. The result is an engaging tale which takes the reader through a maze of political intrigue, assassinations, and romance.

The book opens in the realm of Heaven with the Grand Duchess Anazakia Helisonovna of the House of Arkhangel'sk, a mere seventeen-year-old, playing against a demon in a game of chance at a wingcasting table in Raqia -- a city of the Fallen in Heaven, and home to several dens of iniquity, such as the Brimstone where our Angel gambled her crystals away. And just like that -- I was hooked. Raqia, the Brimstone, just the names set the atmosphere for what was to come. And opening with an Angel at a wingcasting table? Superb.

Our Angel, Anazakia, is a rather self-absorbed person at the beginning of the book, looking for fun and adventure, and didn't realize she had brought on more adventure than she could handle. Using a form of magic, she split her essence, so there was a version of herself left at home to attend balls, or dinners, things that Anazakia herself would find boring, while the real Anazakia would sneak out of the palace and head to Raqia to experience life.

It is during one of these forays to Raqia when she finds herself at the wingcasting table facing the demon Belphagor, and is gambling away her crystals while her family is violently slain by her cousin Kae -- including the shade of herself.

And lest you think that since this book is about Angels and Demons there are religious overtones to it -- there are not. Angels are the Host and reflective of nobility and the supernal (imperial) family. Demons represent the peasant class. And in this peasant class is Belphagor, The Prince of Tricks, and the hero of the piece. Here is Anazakia's description of Belphagor upon their first meeting:

Raqia's reigning prince that night was a dark-haired demon with eyes as sharp as the waxed points of his hair. He played his hand as cool as you please and barely seemed to notice me, but he put nearly card I discarded into play with his own and soon had me hemorrhaging both cards and crystal.
Smoke burned my eyes as the demon nursed his cigar in a deliberate distraction. When he took it between his fingers, I could not help following with my eyes. Beneath the tattered lace of his cuffs, black crosses and diamonds, interlaced with characters of an unfamiliar alphabet, braced his fingers between the knuckles like rings made of ink.

Kindred hooks the reader from the start and takes them on a wild chase from Heaven to the terrestrial plane of man, with the Grand Duchess in the care of two demons as she flees for her life. A brilliantly executed story and one any fantasy lover must read. Jane Kindred is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors and would highly recommend you read The Devil's Garden, a novella by Kindred which I reviewed in August, while waiting for the release on December 6th of The Fallen Queen.

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Sep 22, 2012 Marlene rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review was originally posted at Book Lovers Inc

I think it is going to be very, very important later, possibly much, much later, that this entire story is told as a flashback. It's an intriguing plot device, and one that's easy to forget as you get caught up in this wild and compelling tale of fallen angels and risen demons, but the narrator is remembering the story she tells.

That means Anazakia, unlike her earthly counterpart (oh yes, that matters too) survives her trials. You can't narrate...more

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Jul 29, 2012 Katherine Amabel rated it 4 of 5 stars

A note on context: this review was originally listed on my blog (Review: The Fallen Queen - Jane Kindred), hence the references to writing techniques etc. Enjoy!

For this review I want to start with the characters, since they are still resonating so strongly in my head. Two in particular had me regularly cracking up, but they weren’t just there for comic relief. Their struggles were as heart-wrenching as they were heart-warming, and while I thought I had the romantic subplot guessed, I was thrill...more A note on context: this review was originally listed on my blog (Review: The Fallen Queen - Jane Kindred), hence the references to writing techniques etc. Enjoy!

For this review I want to start with the characters, since they are still resonating so strongly in my head. Two in particular had me regularly cracking up, but they weren’t just there for comic relief. Their struggles were as heart-wrenching as they were heart-warming, and while I thought I had the romantic subplot guessed, I was thrilled to be proven wrong more than once. The main character was neither flamboyantly bad-ass nor a damsel in distress and instead had moments of both, and it was that combination which made her actions ring out as honest, true, and very likeable. The villainess was beautifully portrayed (and by that I mean I can feel the diamonds woven into her silken robes beneath my hands, such was the skill of her description) and I yearned to know more about her. In fact, my only complaint is that I felt she must have had a deeper motivation than she ever let on.

While we’re on the subject of descriptions, a lot must be said for the world building. The story took me from the pure and pristine scenes of Heaven to its fascinating back alleys and gambling dens, and then on to the spectacular European Alps, with such realism that any writer trying to improve their showing instead of telling should really take note. The descriptions are built up organically so that the information feels incidental yet turns out to be incredibly vivid, and the same techniques are used for characterization too. I can’t remember a single instance where description stalled the flow, and I love the use of unique and varying beats to show the characters’ emotions.

Again reading this as a writer, I loved the twisting plot and the constant increase in both internal and external conflict. Chapters often ended with dramatic one-liners but the effect is subtle and modest enough not to irritate. My only disappointment, if you can even call it that, related to a minor subplot. It had me absolutely fascinated from the start, only to be resolved halfway through with a two sentence explanation I neither understood nor wanted to believe. The book is part of a series thought, so with luck my questions will be resolved in the next installment.

There is a lot to applaud in the editing, too. Elegant descriptions clashed beautifully against the dialogue of some of the rougher characters, but the swearing was never gratuitous and only served to increase the emotional tension. There was a hardly a beat used twice, and hardly a clichéd description anywhere. And the fact that words were rarely repeated in close proximity to each other – an intense pet hate of mine – kept the pace fast and smooth.

Finally, the themes of the novel were embedded subtly enough that the message came through without me feeling lectured. I won’t mention my interpretations at the risk of spoiling anyone else’s, because whenever I read I like to mull that sort of thing over for myself afterward. And I’m sure over the next few days I’ll be doing just that.

Overall, a fantastic read with just the right amount of mystery and action. 8/10(less)

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Jun 23, 2012 Cocktails and Books rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal, blog-tour, publisher-provided, 2012-reading-challenges

Let me start off by saying this. Holy Hell! Do not let the first chapter of this book deceive you. What I thought was a YA book was nothing of the sort.

Anazakia is the youngest daughter to the Heavenly King of Arkhangel'sk. As Grand Dutchess, her only concern was sneaking out to gamble in the demon enclave, Raqia, or to ride her horse. But her world is turned upside down when her beloved cousin slaughters her entire family. Forced onto the demon Belphagor and his friend, Vasily, she is hidden i...more Let me start off by saying this. Holy Hell! Do not let the first chapter of this book deceive you. What I thought was a YA book was nothing of the sort.

Anazakia is the youngest daughter to the Heavenly King of Arkhangel'sk. As Grand Dutchess, her only concern was sneaking out to gamble in the demon enclave, Raqia, or to ride her horse. But her world is turned upside down when her beloved cousin slaughters her entire family. Forced onto the demon Belphagor and his friend, Vasily, she is hidden in the realm of man in present day Russia. Unfortunately, for the trio, the evil queen who has taken over Heaven is bound and determined to see Anazakia dead, after discovering her secret magic trick from the night of the slaughter. Anazakia must now depend on two demons, who admittedly were only using her for money, to help keep her hidden.

When the story starts off, Anazakia does appear to be a very spoiled, very selfish seventeen year old. She used magic to leave a "version" of herself at the palace while she wandered about gambling and whatnot. But after the death of her family, you start to see Anazakia in a different light. She lived a very sheltered life and was not at all prepared for what she was about to embark on. She had to grow up fast and figure out who she should trust.

While initially Anazakia though Belphagor was that person she could lean on and trust, her discovery of his relationship with Visaly actually helped pave the way for the bound that would develop between Anazakia and Visaly. Visaly may not have like Anazakia at first, he soon discovered there was much more to this young woman than her title.

Then there is Belphagor and Visaly. Belphagor was a hard character to warm up to. Even when he was protecting Anazakia, I couldn't trust that he was doing what was in her best interest. Even when he went to the lengths he did to ensure the Seraphim wouldn't come after them any longer, it seemed he was really doing it to save Visaly. Even when he sacrifice himself to the Queen, it was to save Visaly.

Visaly, on the other hand, I like immediately. I think he originally disliked Anazakia because she was competition for Belphagor's attention. I don't think he discovers his need for Anazakia until after Belphagor's presence is removed from the equation. Then he realizes, that he needs both Anazakia and Belphagor. They both bring something to their relationships with him that is different from the other, and calls to the different halves of him.

This book has a little bit of everything. Angels, demons, nephilim, fae, grigori, and seraphim. It was fascinating to see the story unfold and discover the similarity between ancient buildings and families in Russia and how the closely resembled what was found in Heaven. I only wonder if those similarity will have an impact on the storyline down the trilogy. This was definitely a book that kept my attention and had me wondering "what next". I can't wait for the next release, Midnight Court, slated for an August release.

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Jun 20, 2012 Tee loves Kyle Jacobson rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: erotica, entangled-books, july-2012, summer-must-read, series-book

*******THIS BOOK CONTAINS MATURE SCENES NOT SUITABLE FOR 17 AND UNDER*********

First I would like to THANK Danielle at Entangled for allowing me to read and review this book. The Fallen Queen was the first Fantasy book I have ever read and I have to say I LOVED it! Some of the stuff in it had me cringing but I have an open literary mind so I kept reading and I am so glad I did because at the end of the day I really enjoyed the story.

In The Fallen Queen all Anazakia wants to do is survive because...more

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Apr 30, 2012 Buffy Kennedy rated it 3 of 5 stars

When I read the blurb for this book, I was expecting a classic Good vs. Evil and Heaven vs. Hell scenario. Well, there’s the Good vs. Evil, but they’re not quite in the usual places, nor is the romance quite your typical relationship either. Before the story even starts, we’re provided with a long detailed cheat sheet about the hierarchy of the Heavens, which is nice and all, but it’s a bunch of information that’s hard to keep referring to from the middle of the book (especially on an ereader)....more When I read the blurb for this book, I was expecting a classic Good vs. Evil and Heaven vs. Hell scenario. Well, there’s the Good vs. Evil, but they’re not quite in the usual places, nor is the romance quite your typical relationship either. Before the story even starts, we’re provided with a long detailed cheat sheet about the hierarchy of the Heavens, which is nice and all, but it’s a bunch of information that’s hard to keep referring to from the middle of the book (especially on an ereader). Thankfully it’s fairly easy to get the gist of things from context.

The first chapter jumps around in the timeline, almost to the point that you’re disoriented, but that stops once Anazakia is informed about her family and needs to escape those that would hunt her. She runs with the aid of two demons, Vasily and Belphagor, and from the moment they arrive in the world of man, they all begin to realize how hard it would be to hide, but it’s not until their pursuers find them that they realize the severity of the deep shit they’re in. Things go from bad to worse as they get into trouble way over their heads. The ending isn’t quite what I expected and I think the word “complicated” is the best term to describe the final status of the characters’ romantic relationships.

There are time throughout the book when things are explained in painful detail, and others that are explained, but still left me confused. Last names and some of the places are so hard to pronounce I stopped trying to keep track because I couldn’t remember who was what anymore. Some of the jumps between languages (spending most of their Earth time in Russia, they jumped between demonic, angelic, Russian, and English throughout the book, among others I believe) was a little dizzying.

Regarding this next segment, I will say right now that I have enjoyed some dark fantasy before, and there are some books with tortured heroes that I love, and I like the tortured hero (and heroine) here too, but this book had some really dark moments. That was the worst part for me. Some of the violence, and humiliation for that matter, in this story is graphic. It’s detailed and bloody, and there were times I almost couldn’t take it. There is another series I’m in the middle of at the moment that I’ve decided to put off indefinitely because of how dark it can sometimes get, so I guess my capacity for dark fantasy just isn’t what it used to be. That being said, the overall ending was gratifying and made me smile, making having thankfully made it through the rough spots worth it.
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Dec 18, 2011 Emme rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I met Jane Kindred at a women's retreat for a San Francisco Bay Area org-- many moons ago. She stood out in the group because she was personable, smart as a whip and attractive. During that weekend Jane shared about some of her writings, but I was just beginning to read erotica so I wasn't familiar with any of her work. Several weeks later, Jane was in attendance at another of this organization's get-togethers-- and this time she played host. And Jane was the consummate host-- making us all comf...more

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Sep 14, 2012 Sandy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

THE FALLEN QUEEN (The House of Arkhangelsk #1) by Jane Kindred

THE FALLEN QUEEN is the first storyline in Jane Kindred’s new House of Arkhangel,sk’s series. The storyline follows Grand Duchess Anazakia, of the House of Arkhangel,sk and two demons-Belphagor and Vasily who have been commissioned to help Anazakia escape –to live in the world of Man-and away from those who meant to cause her harm. Anazakia’s spirit and body, her shade and shadow had been previously separated but when the demons accid...more THE FALLEN QUEEN (The House of Arkhangelsk #1) by Jane Kindred

THE FALLEN QUEEN is the first storyline in Jane Kindred’s new House of Arkhangel,sk’s series. The storyline follows Grand Duchess Anazakia, of the House of Arkhangel,sk and two demons-Belphagor and Vasily who have been commissioned to help Anazakia escape –to live in the world of Man-and away from those who meant to cause her harm. Anazakia’s spirit and body, her shade and shadow had been previously separated but when the demons accidently released her shade, Anazakia found herself mortally wounded and awash in blood with the memories of a horrific attack. The last thing she remembered was playing wingcasting- a game of chance- in Heaven and the next she didn’t recognize herself or her surroundings.

The storyline facilitates between first person POV (Anazakia) and third person, as well as from present to past using memoirs, recollections and stories. There is an enormous amount of reference to Christianity in the form of angelic definitions and pronouncements such as Seraphim and Ophanim, as well as looking at The Fallen and The Virtues, demons and angels. The reader is taken on a ride between Heaven, Hell and Earth and all places in between: different levels Angles, and demons, Houses and Kingdoms, elemental magic and power.

The world building and character development flow smoothly and yet on the surface the storyline is so very familiar. The reader is whisked into a fantasy world of angels and demons, and the plight of the lone survivor of an attack against the Royal House of Arkhangel,sk. The further the story develops the familiarity of the scenario burns brightly until you discover the re-telling, albeit flavored in more fiction and fantasy than the original tale, of the Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna (Romanov) of Russia, the youngest daughter of Tsar Nicholas II.

Jane Kindred has blended the fantasy of angels and demons with the telling of a story that is still shrouded in mystery today. There is a love story of sorts between the angel and her two demon companions. Sacrifices are made when Belphagor finds himself imprisoned and is at the mercy of those in charge. Even his freedom will come at a cost. Warning: there is some graphic violence and abuse. An interesting spin on a story, whether fabled or true, and one that still has the historians scratching their heads and wondering.

Copy supplied by publisher.

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Feb 01, 2012 Melissa Caldwell rated it 4 of 5 stars

Interesting world, interesting characters, definitely an interesting story! From the start I was hooked, interested in what this world was like. Now, I'm not a big fan of books about angels and demons, but this was different. The book isn't like an episode of Touched by an Angel! It's (to borrow a word from Tyra Banks) FIERCE! The characters are bold and in your face and the story flows soo fast you won't have time to put the book down!

I enjoyed the bits of history woven into this story. Yes it'...more

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Mar 02, 2013 Kayleigh {K-Books} marked it as dnf · review of another edition

Shelves: entangled

Did Not Finish.
There'll be no review as I only read about a chapter. I know, I know that not enough to give up which is why I am not reviewing it. Within the first chapter I was just really confused and didn't really know what was going on. After reading some reviews I found out that there's stuff going on in the book that isn't really my thing which is the reason I am not reading or reviewing the rest of this book.

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Dec 21, 2011 Andrea rated it 4 of 5 stars

What a book! At first glance, I would have written The Fallen Queen off as a strictly High Fantasy book. And it is a Fantasy, a great one at that, full of deceit, betrayal, and despair. The world building is beautiful and complex, involving a Heaven more elaborate than I could have ever imagined. It was perhaps a bit complex for my taste, but I just sort of let the intricate political and geographical bits go and took in the rest of the details, which I loved.

What really jerked me into the story...more

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Dec 27, 2011 Scooper Speaks rated it 2 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. 2.5 Not my thing.
Favorite Lines: “Fear and instinct propelled me to flight. If not for the violent downpour, I might have lost myself in the glorious feeling of riding the wind, but the rain beat down against me with tiny fists.” (p. 73)

I was expecting book one of Jane Kindred’s House of Arkhangelsk series to be racy. I thought it might have a menage type feel, but I was wrong. The Fallen Queen is not what I imagined, nor is it the type of book I normally read. I was uncomfortable with much of t...more 2.5 Not my thing.
Favorite Lines: “Fear and instinct propelled me to flight. If not for the violent downpour, I might have lost myself in the glorious feeling of riding the wind, but the rain beat down against me with tiny fists.” (p. 73)

I was expecting book one of Jane Kindred’s House of Arkhangelsk series to be racy. I thought it might have a menage type feel, but I was wrong. The Fallen Queen is not what I imagined, nor is it the type of book I normally read. I was uncomfortable with much of the book which involved BDSM, a gay couple and a 17-year-old getting it on with a much older man. If I had known any of those themes were included in the story, I would not have read it.

As it was, I almost stopped reading the book several times. It was interesting enough that I wanted to know where it was going, but the themes–oh, the themes–about drove me mad.

The story is told in first and third person. I was never confused with the POV switch; it was clear and well written. One of the biggest obstacles to my enjoyment of the story was the words used. For example, the names of people, places and items were hard to pronounce, define and keep clear. Words like: Belphagor, Paimon, Raqia, Anazakia Helisonovna, Arkhangel’sk, perferans, Elysium, Omeliea, Aravoth, Pyriphlegethon, Empyrean, Aeval and aeth. The Russian words which were interspersed within the text didn’t help.

I’m extremely uncomfortable with BDSM and I’m not interested in gay or lesbian themed stories. They create an awkward feeling in me and I prefer to read about heterosexual couples, but I can choke it down. In The Fallen Queen, the two main male characters have a romantic history together. They participate in a BDSM lifestyle and begin to rekindle it (along with oral sex) while on their journey with Anazakia, the heroine. There are many undertones that I’m unfamiliar with in the book and they all revolve around BDSM and the gay and lesbian world.

The underaged heroine’s head is shaved and she is dressed to look like a man. She is called “boy” and has her breasts bound. At different points, she is interested in both of the men. Because she only interacts with the gay couple and is sexually attracted to a clearly gay man (although later she is attracted to the gay man who considers himself bi-sexual), I think the gay community would call her a “fag hag.” I don’t know. It was too much.

Add to that the scene where the male couple is enjoying whipping and being whipped, prison rape and forced degradation and I was pushed too far. I’m sure there are other things. So, yeah, the story is about fallen angels and demons and a fight to control heaven. In the end I was so distracted by the details that I lost track of the actual point of the story.

When push comes to shove I read for enjoyment. I don’t want to be depressed when I finish reading a book. I don’t want to feel conflicted. I have enough problems in life that when I finish reading a book I want to know that someone–even an imaginary someone–can have a happy conclusion. Now there’s room in that for a lot of leeway. But at the end of The Fallen Queen I never felt that there was hope of any type of satisfactory ending. SPOILER***SPOILER***SPOILER***DON’T READ ON IF YOU DON’T WANT TO READ A SPOILER***SPOILER***SPOILER

"I watched him go, reluctant to relinquish the elemental stirring his touch sparked in me, but pleased at the new pride in his step. Though I couldn’t be what Belphagor was to him, I’d given him something the demon could not. I kissed the top of Ola’s head. Whatever bond I had with Vasily, I was on the outside of a relationship so intense I could only admire it from afar, like the Aurora Borealis. It left an emptiness inside me, a longing for that sense of wholeness they had in one another."–p. 328(less)

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Jan 25, 2012 Lillie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-galley, ebook, for-review, i-own, nook-books, received-for-promotion, review-copy, series

See the full review at: Read My Mind

My Review:
All hail fantasy. My roots in genre fiction started with high fantasy. I love reading it, but I don't do it often enough for some reason. I love the world-building, I love the character development, I love the seemingly impossible quest the protags must go on... And when I finish reading a truly good fantasy book, I realize how much I missed the genre. That's exactly what happened to me during and after my reading of THE FALLEN QUEEN.

Kindred has put...more

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Jan 08, 2012 Vampbard rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-books-read

The Fallen Queen is the first book in Ms. Kindred's series, of which I can already tell that I'm going to be a HUGE fan. My initial reaction, at 20% of the book read, was: This is like Dune (Herbert) meets Singh's Guild Hunters! What a win-win for me!

The beginning of The Fallen Queen revealed a bit of history, as well as Anazakia doing her best to 'test the limits' regarding the rules of her station, as an heir to the throne of Arkhangel'sk. Kindred did a phenomenal job of setting-up her world....more The Fallen Queen is the first book in Ms. Kindred's series, of which I can already tell that I'm going to be a HUGE fan. My initial reaction, at 20% of the book read, was: This is like Dune (Herbert) meets Singh's Guild Hunters! What a win-win for me!

The beginning of The Fallen Queen revealed a bit of history, as well as Anazakia doing her best to 'test the limits' regarding the rules of her station, as an heir to the throne of Arkhangel'sk. Kindred did a phenomenal job of setting-up her world. What can only be described as a coup, masterminded by the Evil Queen, as I came to call her, left Anazakia the only surviving heir...and only because she was acting 'slightly' outside the expected societal norm. Luckily, Anazakia's Nurse/confidante/governess (whatever you want to call her...) knew about Anazakia's penchant for livin' on the edge, found her with a necessary item, and paid a demon to keep her hidden. Really enjoyed the Russian language, as well.

As we get further into the story, it becomes painfully obvious that Anazakia is someone important, and there are those that are willing to 'obtain' her. It seems that it's not simply her station that creates her importance. Unfortunately, one of her 'captors' was injured, although she was able to assist with his rapid healing...to a certain point, and concurrently learned about her own powers in the world of Man. Anazakia also learned a secret from those 'Unseen' when she leaves the hotel because Vasily and Belphagor were engaging in act with which she was unfamiliar. MMMmmmhhmmm... a little M/M tossed into the mix. It's interesting watching the tension between Vasily and Belphagor, as well. But wait! Vasily isn't only into Belphagor! A twisted (in a good way!) love triangle develops, increasing the already intense tension between our three main characters.

Tensions rise as Belphagor does something totally out of character...he's selfless. In order to protect Anazakia and Vasily, Belphagor leaves to find a way to get the reigning queen to give him an audience. Long story short, Belphagor gets the audience, and fails to leave for an extended period of time. Hatin' on the Queen. She's the resident baddie, and we're supposed to hate her. We all know someone like her – self-centered and self-serving.

I could tell, at the end of the title, that other titles are planned for this storyline, as there really wasn't much resolution, nor a concrete HEA. Usually, that bugs me, but it didn't this time. For me, even a series needs to provide some significant resolution at the conclusion of each title. Personal preference, and the only thing keeping me from giving this title the highest rating.

This was a very nice paranormal romance, light on the romance, heavy on the action in the final third of the story. I enjoyed the way The Fallen Queen was written. The languages used were quite appropriate, and added a lot to the story for me. Ms. Kindred surely has created a beautiful world, and I look forward to reading future installments of her House of Arkhangel'sk series.(less)

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Dec 05, 2011 Stacy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: from-publisher-author

3.5/5 stars

I am going to start out by admitting that I am not a fan of the books cover. I was hesitant to read the book because the cover and I'm glad I was contacted to review it and looked into it a little more or I would have never picked up THE FALLEN QUEEN. I also usually tend to tray away form books on Angels and Demons but the blurb was interesting enough to catch my eye. I'm not big on religion and stuff in my Fantasy so Im happy to report that the book was not all religion and bible li...more

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Dec 21, 2011 Rhianna rated it 4 of 5 stars

The most original fantasy you will read this year!

When her beloved family is slain by her cousin and dear friend, Anazakia, a grand duchess of the House of Arkhangel'sk, must flee the Heavens or face the same fate. As the last surviving member of the House of Arkhangel'sk, Anazakia's fate as the heir to Heaven's throne is thrust upon a pair of Fallen, demons with plans of ransom. Secreted away to the world of Man, Anazakia must rely on Belphagor and Vasily in the harsh Russian countryside.

Hunte...more The most original fantasy you will read this year!

When her beloved family is slain by her cousin and dear friend, Anazakia, a grand duchess of the House of Arkhangel'sk, must flee the Heavens or face the same fate. As the last surviving member of the House of Arkhangel'sk, Anazakia's fate as the heir to Heaven's throne is thrust upon a pair of Fallen, demons with plans of ransom. Secreted away to the world of Man, Anazakia must rely on Belphagor and Vasily in the harsh Russian countryside.

Hunted by Seraphim and haunted by mysterious spirits of the seasons Anazakia can trust no one fully. But when Belphagor is imprisoned comfort is found in the arms of his fiery companion. When the truth behind the murder of her kindred comes to light Anazakia will return to Heaven to fight for what is hers and the fate of two worlds will collide in a cataclysmic battle of epic proportions.

There are no perfect words to describe THE FALLEN QUEEN. I've never read anything like it and don't believe I will again. Not because it wasn't good but because it belongs in a class all its own. Rich in fantastical celestial and angelic mythology then steeped in Russian culture I could compare it to a well aged wine. There are layers and layers of fascinating concepts and ideas peppering this story. It's romantic but not a romance. The lines of sexual orientation are crossed and blurred and reformed and extinguished making it both slightly erotic and a little ethereal. Those who are enticed by pleasure/pain will find this highly enjoyable.

Kindred's writing style is dance-like, a true ballet of fiction. Calculated steps done so passionately one could forget this is more likely to be shelved with popular fiction than literature. THE FALLEN QUEEN could easily become a classic. My only true issues were firstly frustration with Vasily's relationship with Anazakia, I felt betrayed for Belphagor, and secondly struggling to understand the subtleties of this richly Russian influenced world building. I'm also not turned on by whipping/spanking so the scenes where this took place were off-putting but that's my personal issue, not a reflection on the writing as they were all well written.

If you enjoy polyamorous romance and contemporary fantasy I would highly recommend you pick up this book. If you're an urban fantasy fan bored of the same-old, same-old this is a break from the norm but not truly urban. If you enjoy the complexity and sensuality of Ilona Andrews or Meljean Brook, THE FALLEN QUEEN should definitely be added to your wishlist. Not a completely flawless read but one that I am so glad I didn't miss.

**ARC received via NetGalley(less)

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Aug 02, 2012 Candace (Lovey Dovey Books) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Jane Kindred is a remarkable writer. The words in The Fallen Queen, book one of The House of Arkhangel'sk, flow eloquently, especially for a very descriptive epic-fantasy story. Some readers cringe at the thought of keeping up with too many details when it comes to stories with completely imaginative worlds, but Kindred spares readers excessive back story and keeps to relevant information.

The Fallen Queen is certainly risqué and stems far from the average novel. The story centers around an angel...more

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Sep 09, 2012 Vaughn Roycroft rated it 5 of 5 stars

Yes, Anastasia:
I knew going in that The Fallen Queen was set in Heaven, and its characters were angels and demons, so I was taken aback by the opening. In meeting Anazakia of House Arkhangel’sk, in hearing the baroque certainty of her voice, in the descriptions of her life in the Winter Palace among her three elders sisters and sickly younger brother, I was instantly reminded of the ill-fated family of Tsar Nicholas II—and, of course, of the youngest Romanov daughter, Anastasia. Yes, this was a...more Yes, Anastasia:
I knew going in that The Fallen Queen was set in Heaven, and its characters were angels and demons, so I was taken aback by the opening. In meeting Anazakia of House Arkhangel’sk, in hearing the baroque certainty of her voice, in the descriptions of her life in the Winter Palace among her three elders sisters and sickly younger brother, I was instantly reminded of the ill-fated family of Tsar Nicholas II—and, of course, of the youngest Romanov daughter, Anastasia. Yes, this was a version of Heaven based on the final days of Imperial Russia, and I couldn’t have been more charmed. I found it an enchanting way to set the scene and create a totally unique mood for what promised to be a fantasy of truly epic proportions.

Paradise, Never Found:
In her debut novel, Jane Kindred creates a celestial realm totally unlike any I’d ever encountered, populated by both angels (or Host) and demons (or Fallen). This is not your family minister’s Heaven, and even seems not to be a destination for the departed souls of mankind. Although the inhabitants live much longer lives than the earthbound, they are far from immortal—indeed we quickly find that the Host’s supernal family not only bleeds, but dies.

To Russia With Love:
Through circumstance (which I won’t name as either fortune or fate) on the night of her family’s murders, Anazakia becomes the ward/hostage of demons Belphagor and Vasily. The Fallen pair take her in flight to, of all places, modern day Russia. Despite the prohibition against falling, a fair number of demons had settled in the world of Man over the centuries, and St. Petersburg, by far, had the most thriving population. I’ve never been, but the foreignness of Russia gave the story the perfect distance, and I was perfectly able to suspend disbelief.

While all other characters are portrayed in third person, we experience the story most intimately, and strikingly, through the first person voice of Anazakia. Her segments come in a wonderfully lush memoir format, as when she awakens from being drugged to find herself on a train with the demons. “When I tried to place my traveling companion, disquiet fluttered like a bird trapped in the dark attic of my head but could go no further. Beside me, my seatmate opened ebony eyes in which the pupils drowned. Out of the dark bog of his gaze a piece of unanchored memory floated to the surface.”
The unlikely trio soon comes to terms with the necessity of their alliance as they flee across Russia from the Seraphim—a Gestapo-like order of fiery angelic enforcers. This section of the story, from the brilliantly evocative opening to the turning point created by the trio’s sundering, progressed a bit slowly for me—although there is much to discover throughout. Anazakia learns of the earthly Romanov family and their sad fate, and we, the readers, learn that the similarities are caused by inter-dimensional echoes. We discover the depth and, what some would surely call, deviance of the preexisting relationship between the two demons. It turns out the pages Kindred devotes here are well-spent, as I was quite moved during the later payoff scenes by the weft and warp of the emotional triangle she had woven between our intrepid if peculiar triune. I was almost instantly attached to Anazakia, but as the story unfolded and the pace quickened, I found I’d grown fond of her demon cohorts as well.

Heavenly Subversion:
The story really soars once Belphagor leaves his companions hidden in a wintery Russian hinterland dacha, returning to Heaven to seek a solution to their plight. Ever the gambler, the elder demon plays his last card, right into the hands of the newly-risen false queen, Aeval—a deliciously apt name for an adept foil. Kindred keeps the pages turning from here to the concluding scenes, although I found the last action sequence limped a bit when it should have galloped.
I fear superficial description of The Fallen Queen may paint it as tritely ironic or even subversive, with its demons as saviors, angels as assassins, and its portrayal of Heaven as a metaphor for the decadence and elitism that provoked the Bolshevik revolution, but the effect of the whole was never off-putting. The book is indeed provocative, but refreshingly so. Kindred’s world feels both new and old at once; a must for those interested in angelic myth and its hierarchy. It is also sexy (at times bordering on lascivious), moving, and always entertaining.

The ending leaves no doubt that The Fallen Queen is the first of a trilogy, in that the story is far from over, with some lingering issues left blatantly unresolved. And yet I found the arc of the story and its conclusion very satisfying—something often lacking in the first and second editions of epic fantasy trilogies. I happily look forward to revisiting Kindred’s celestial creation.
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Feb 05, 2012 Jess the Romanceaholic rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-read, glbt, m-m, same-sex-smexin, steam-level-steamy, child-or-children-play-a-big-part, physically-tortured, physically-imperfect-or-scarred, tattoos, kidnapped, family-issues, on-the-run, politics, no-hea, not-a-traditional-romance, raped-or-abused, sexual-assault, may-december-relationship, bondage-or-kink, body-piercings, first-person-pov, oh-noes-u-saw-me-nekkid

This is a Quickie Review. For the full review, please visit The Romanceaholic.

Expected Release Date: December 6, 2011
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Imprint: N/A
Author’s Website: http://www.janekindred.com/
My Source for This Book: Netgalley
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 1, The House of Arkhangel’sk
Series Best Read In Order: N/A
Steam Level: Steamy

This was, hands down, the most exhausting, heartbreaking, amazing book I’ve read in a very, very long time. My head is spinning as I sit here and try to put...more

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Nov 11, 2011 Star (The Bibliophilic Book Blog) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

Growing up, Anazakia of the House of Arkhangel'sk didn't have much to worry about except new clothes, horses, and playing with her sisters and brother. She also liked to sneak out to the Fallen city to gamble while a shade created via magic took her place at the 'boring' social events. The one night everything changed and her world was violently turned upside down. Her family (and her shade) brutally murdered by someone close to home. Given a large sum of money to hide and protect her, the demon...more

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Apr 26, 2012 Katee Robert rated it 5 of 5 stars

I'd wanted to read this book ever since I heard how much of it centers around Russia and the various histories. I'm not much of a angel fan in general, but the parallel world of Heaven was so beautifully developed, it drew me in. I bow to Ms. Kindred's superior worldbuilding skill.

The story itself was heartbreaking and as beautiful as the worldbuilding. There were no punches pulled, and I appreciate that in so many ways.

Can't wait for the next one :)

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Dec 05, 2011 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-or-review-copy, contemporary, fantasy, read-in-2011, ipad-reads

3.5/5 stars

When The Fallen Queen is stripped down to its roots, the plot isn’t really anything new. There’s a battle for power and the unexpected is forced to rise to the challenge. A plot like that can be found in any number of books, but Kindred unique flair, lyrical writing and complex world make it stand apart from the crowd. While I did feel that characterization and portions of the plot were rather weak, The Fallen Queen is well worth reading and the ending will leave readers yearning for...more

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May 28, 2012 AmyBeth Inverness rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: nelson-repp-d, romance-erotic

I love the world-building that Jane accomplished with this book <3

Her angels and demons are unique and nuanced, with very real human emotions. Having visited Russia years ago, the terms and places were all very believable within the fantasy setting. The main character Anazakia goes through a long arc beginning as a young, spoiled, naive noblewoman, who discovers within herself the woman she never knew could exist.

I look forward to the rest of the series!

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Jan 28, 2012 Charlotte Black added it

Shelves: dnf

I'm not reviewing this book properly, I'm afraid. The world building and writers style is more heavier than I'm used to. I've checked other reviews and found that there will be content that isn't to my liking. So, not going to finish.

Marked as Did not Finish

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Jun 04, 2012 Cathy Yardley rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book. It was very complex, well thought out, and I loved the Anastasia parallels. And well written! Just a lot of great world building. I'll keep an eye out for the sequel.

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Jun 02, 2012 Reena rated it 2 of 5 stars

It took me well over half the book for it to not feel like work to read it. I just couldn't get in to the story and I kept finding other things to do than read. This is well written, it just didn't click for me.

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Jan 12, 2012 Dee marked it as to-read

Shelves: first-read, books-i-own

I won this book as a Goodreads First Read.

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Mar 19, 2012 Riley marked it as did-not-finish · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, ebooks

(Note: Got a PDF/ARC for review.)

A promising concept, but ultimately not my kind of book. The writing was fine, and the story moved along at a good pace, but the character development was never quite as deep or nuanced as I wanted. Also, I enjoyed the worldbuilding in the realm of Heaven, but once we "fell" to Russia, all the names and places became too much to keep track of.

Also, not relevant, but I really don't like the cover. It gives more of a scifi vibe, instead of the rich, wintry fantasy...more

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Nov 28, 2011 Vernieda rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: epic-fantasy

Good book, terrible cover.

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Dec 05, 2011 Jill rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy-pnr-sci-fi-romance

3.5 stars

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The Fallen Queen (The House of Arkhangel'sk #1)

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