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92nd out of 126 books
—
63 voters
Principles of Angels (Hidden Empire #1)
by
Jaine Fenn (Goodreads Author)
Khesh City floats above the surface of the uninhabitable planet of Vellern. Topside, it's extravagant, opulent, luxurious; the Undertow is dark, twisted and dangerous.A place where nothing is forbidden, Khesh Cityis also a democracy, of sorts, policed by the Angels—elite, state-sponsored killers who answer only to their enigmatic master, the Minister. Taro lived a privileg...more
Paperback, 304 pages
Published
June 1st 2008
by Gollancz
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Loved this book. Fenn writes a story that's universal - its science-fiction elements are cool, transhuman, edgy, but like all good sf her concern is to show how *different* human beings have become in this distant future. It's full of the unusual, the world depicted slightly out-of-kilter, garnished with an expert handling of language. As a linguist, I'm always sensitive to portrayals of slang, jargon, swearing, etc, and in that respect Principles of Angels is a delight - the street argot of the...more
Thoroughly enjoyed this read. It's a nice blend of SciFi and fantasy.
Once I was able to concentrate solely on this novel, I found myself absorbed by it. The different characters had distinctly different voices. Jaine Fenn did a wonderful job of drawing these characters, making them stand out from each other. I also enjoyed the dialog (one of my pet peeves) - found each character's way of speech consistant and "fitting" each person. Written in third person - I also found the narration interesting...more
Once I was able to concentrate solely on this novel, I found myself absorbed by it. The different characters had distinctly different voices. Jaine Fenn did a wonderful job of drawing these characters, making them stand out from each other. I also enjoyed the dialog (one of my pet peeves) - found each character's way of speech consistant and "fitting" each person. Written in third person - I also found the narration interesting...more
I saw a review of a later book in the same 'Hidden Empires' series, and thought this was worth trying. Each book is an independent story, but they are all set in the same world/universe and later there is some overlap of characters. The genre is science fiction, but with a fantasy feel about it, at least for this book.
I have to admit to a certain ambivalence about this book. The setting - a decadent city with a violently seedy underworld, and a protagonist just barely surviving on the margins of...more
I have to admit to a certain ambivalence about this book. The setting - a decadent city with a violently seedy underworld, and a protagonist just barely surviving on the margins of...more
The overall setting was pretty interesting, and worth exploring but curiously for a book set in a thousand-year old city full of ancient tech and related mysteries, it wasn't until the very end that the city itself felt real or alive to me, before that it suffered from being seen from the perspectives of the two POV characters, one of whom doesn't live in the city proper and the other is newly arrived and not particularly enamored with the place, the result felt a bit sketchy and superficial for...more
Starting from the shanty town built on the underside of the floating Khesh City, Taro is forced to confront the inner workings of a city that excluded him and where he has always had very little choice of what he can sell in order to stay alive.
This book features "democracy by assassination", a complex and layered city with cultural as well as political needs and a window onto the wider universe that features in books by Jaine Fenn.
This book features "democracy by assassination", a complex and layered city with cultural as well as political needs and a window onto the wider universe that features in books by Jaine Fenn.
Apr 22, 2011
Erica Anderson
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
2011-reads,
science-fiction
I have mixed feelings about this book. There was a lot to enjoy--some really interesting ideas, good characterization of the protagonist, well-drawn setting. But several things weren't explained sufficiently to satisfy me. For example, there is a character called the "Screamer", but it isn't until the last quarter of the book that the name is explained. Similarly, the setting is a 'democracy by assassination.' This is a fascinating concept, but I wanted to know much more about it and the author...more
A solid adventure novel, interweaving the characters nicely towards a satisfying climax. If it did have a weakness I'd say that the main characters rapid slip into doe eyed love with its attendant blindness to the obvious was annoying. However, the other key characters were well drawn and believable.
However, I think it will be a book I will forget quite quickly. I certainly enjoyed reading it, but was left with the feeling that it didn't really do anything new.
However, I think it will be a book I will forget quite quickly. I certainly enjoyed reading it, but was left with the feeling that it didn't really do anything new.
Jun 14, 2010
David
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Recommended for young adult+; strong language, sexual situations, violence
Shelves:
science-fiction
Quite entertaining and engaging. The story is told primarily from the 1st person perspective of the protagonist, Taro. Jaine Fenn uses the technique of presenting the characters' thoughts and speech without explaining the context or meaning to the reader. So, the reader must figure out from context what the specific terms and references mean. I enjoy this sort of puzzle, but some people may not.
Fast sf adventure in an orbital city where official assassination by public vote keeps politicians on their toes.
But Kheesh City has many mysteries and when an Underworld urchin loses his Angel aunt - Angels are mostly female state assassins that have implants allowing them to fly - to an offworld Screamer - those are assassins from an allied/rival orbital city that can kill with their voice - and when a classical singer from a theocratic backwater visits Keesh ostensibly for a tour, age old s...more
But Kheesh City has many mysteries and when an Underworld urchin loses his Angel aunt - Angels are mostly female state assassins that have implants allowing them to fly - to an offworld Screamer - those are assassins from an allied/rival orbital city that can kill with their voice - and when a classical singer from a theocratic backwater visits Keesh ostensibly for a tour, age old s...more
I enjoyed this book. Sidn't really know what to expect as I have never heard of the author or the book It was just a book I picked up out of a bargain book shop.
The story was good and once I'd stared to read I had to go on and finish. There are some good twists.
The story was good and once I'd stared to read I had to go on and finish. There are some good twists.
Obviously a well thought-out setting but somehow I never got the feeling of it actually being alive - the few main characters could be the only people in the world for all I could tell. The plot moved so slowly I was a good two-thirds of the way through the book before I realised I wasn't still reading the prologue. Characters two-dimensional at best, prose undescriptive and failed to convey emotion. Altogether a few interesting ideas but otherwise nothing special.
S/F is a stand alone book, but could be expanded upon. Enjoyable read would recomend.
Kinda fun story, but not that deep.
Very small print - look for ebook?
I loved the world-building in this although it came a little too much and too fast at the start. A touch of Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere thrust into space, with the not-so-fairytale Sidhe lurking behind the exterior of an artificial city, where Angels are agents of death rather than mercy and you show your true colours in your hair. Some wonderful descriptions in this with a handful of tortured characters to explore.
democracy by assasination is the worst politic concept i've ever read about, since fasism
I felt like it made the most sense in the entire world, even though it was like -- woh, CRAZY at some points, all the characters were so awesomely normal, I thought this was awesome.
May 23, 2013
Pmwolohan
added it
May 11, 2013
Devin
marked it as to-read
May 05, 2013
Marta
marked it as to-read
May 02, 2013
Adam Cockburn
marked it as to-read
Apr 16, 2013
J4n3
marked it as to-read
Apr 11, 2013
Dan S
marked it as to-read
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Truth may be stranger than fiction, but it's also far harder to track down. Jaine Fenn has had numerous short stories professionally published, some of which appear in the collection 'Downside Girls'. Her Hidden Empire sequence, published by Gollancz, starts with the novel 'Principles of Angels', and isn't over yet.
More about Jaine Fenn...
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