Book Review: Broken by Traci L. Slatton

I received a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
A bisexual, nymphomaniac, essence-draining, fallen angel in Nazi-occupied Paris? I’ve read a number of Holocaust novels from many different POVs, but I have never read one from this perspective. When I read the blurb, I was very intrigued by the idea of a fallen angel working against Nazi Germany, and kudos to the author for all of her research; however, this novel is such an odd mixture of heavy, didactic dialogue and utter lunacy that I had a difficult time losing myself in the story. I felt at times that the author was trying to shove in so many historically accurate events and famous names that the plot suffered. We were playing the name game. There were MANY characters without those famous appearances. The addition of the others just agitated me.
The characters argue about so many issues (from the artist’s place in society to women’s rights to existentialism) that the real issue, the Nazi invasion, is almost a side note at times. This interesting notion of a creature—which appears so prominently in various religions and sects—involved in a war tied so strongly to religion while questioning her beliefs is enough. We don’t need to open a whole dump truck of other worms.
I felt a little cheated on the “angel stuff” as well. The novel is light in the science fiction department, and the plot in this regard was lacking with a contrived ending featuring a long-lost character’s appearance related to the angel information. I forgot the main character was even an angel for the majority of the novel. In fact, the sci-fi part of the plot could easily be changed, and the novel’s plot could adapt well to the historical genre alone.
3 Stars