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Angel on the Ropes
A dazzling trapeze artist lives a perilous double life. Will her secret--and her choices--save her planet or ruin it?Amandine Sand lives to fly. Unfortunately, she's hobbled by a life-threatening she's one of the spotted humans wrongly accused of being a plague carrier. These "leopards" are hunted by zealots to protect their offworld colony from the scourge. Despite this threat, Amandine spends her days guiding other leopards to an underground shelter run by the pacifist Seekers. At night, with her own spots hidden, she soars on the trapeze, the one place she feels free and gloriously alive.When the persecution of leopards explodes into widespread violence, the Seekers demand more of her time. But her circus is teetering toward bankruptcy and desperately needs her, too. She has no time to breathe... and then she meets a stranger who leaves her breathless--and might be the biggest risk of all. If her trust is misplaced and she's unmasked, everyone she loves and everything she's fought for could crash.To survive, Amandine must draw upon all of her circus and Seeker skills. But can a pacifist defend her violent enemies to stop a civil war? And can this reluctant angel fly beyond her limits to save her life, her love, and her world?Shortlist for Best Novel, the Gaylactic Spectrum Award (Recommended 2013 title)Reader's Crown Award Winner in Science Fiction from RomCon (2014)Rainbow Book Awards Winner in LGBT Sci-fi/Fantasy (3rd place, 2013)
287 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 2, 2013
6 people are currently reading
1009 people want to read
About the author
Jill Shultz
4 books10 followersJill Shultz is a novelist, freelance editor, and writing coach. She holds a B.S. in Biology from Cornell University and M.S.T. in Environmental Sciences from Antioch University. For most of her career, she zigzagged between environmental and arts organizations; some of the strange but true consequences can be found on her website, http://www.JillShultz.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
May 14, 2013
I downloaded Angel on the Ropes from Net Galley and read that the protagonist is a leopard. This led me to the conclusion that she is a shifter who changes into a jungle cat. I'm definitely open to reading about shifters. It's become a very popular feature of urban fantasy. So I thought that the central character, Amandine, lives in a future society where the prejudice du jour is against people who can shift into leopard form. I also wondered if she had a prehensile tail that would let her swing from a trapeze as a leopard. That was a truly awesome mental image. Then I discovered that Amandine is not a shifter and had to push my internal re-set button. Jill Shultz's speculative imagination had gone in a completely different direction. Amandine is a one of a minority of humans who had been born with spots on her skin which resemble a once virulent disease. Leopards are unjustly believed to spread this disease. This is the flawed rationale behind the prejudice against them.
There are some interesting characters, great circus research, trenchant commentary on current social problems and respect for alternate forms of sexuality in this book.
With all the things that Jill Shultz did right, I am reluctant to point out that her book has one weakness. I like the concept of what is supposed to be the resolution and I loved the final scene, but we are left hanging without finding out whether the plan for a resolution worked. I imagine that there is supposed to be a sequel, but I like books to stand on their own. This book is really unresolved. That is my only objection to an otherwise excellent novel.
For my blog version of this review see my May post "Angel on the Ropes: The Circus vs. Injustice on Another World" at http://www.maskedpersona.blogspot.com
There are some interesting characters, great circus research, trenchant commentary on current social problems and respect for alternate forms of sexuality in this book.
With all the things that Jill Shultz did right, I am reluctant to point out that her book has one weakness. I like the concept of what is supposed to be the resolution and I loved the final scene, but we are left hanging without finding out whether the plan for a resolution worked. I imagine that there is supposed to be a sequel, but I like books to stand on their own. This book is really unresolved. That is my only objection to an otherwise excellent novel.
For my blog version of this review see my May post "Angel on the Ropes: The Circus vs. Injustice on Another World" at http://www.maskedpersona.blogspot.com
May 21, 2013
I was carried away by this book... well, I can say I was always excited to get back to it, which doesn’t happen a lot. I LOVED the sci-fi world she built. The romance was decent. The class-struggle didn’t bother me. And the writing was lovely.
What is this book about? I would say the first thing is that it is about class-struggle between the leopards — people with spots and discolorations, thought to be diseased — and the Plaguellants, a religious order deeply committed to wiping out any disease on the planet Penance.
Second, it is about Amandine, a leopard who finds a place at a circus as a trapeze artist — no, not a trapeze artist, a GREAT trapeze artist. The descriptions of her performances are quite fun and easy to visualize. All her life she has been hiding — being a leopard — and this story is what happens when she is forced to accept who she is.
She is also a Seeker, one who helps other leopards in a sort of underground-railway. But she’s not so good at that.
Third, it is a romance. Amandine is breaking off her relationship with a woman she loves but who she doesn’t think loves her so much as regards her as another ‘exotic’ trophy. She meets a man who instantly provokes something in her. Love at first sight.... But he’s a rich Titan (a well-off, popular(?) class) who just happens to have made an offer to buy their financially-struggling circus.
Fourth, it is a sci-fi. This is not a main plot point, rather an excellent setting, and I think the author did a wonderful job of creating an interesting futuristic world that SUPPORTED the story rather than being the POINT of the story. Things like everybody swearing ‘moulti-tiva’ — I have no idea what that is, where it came from, but they do it so naturally, and through the book I felt myself thinking it, it’s that natural. I enjoyed how the tech was incorporated into Amandine’s life, but you just understand it, it doesn’t have to be explained (which is the best way). I really admire the author’s work there.
Now, with this glowing review, I have to explain why 4 stars instead of 5. Really I’m being finicky, because like I said I really enjoyed it. So there are just a couple things.
First, I would have liked to read more about the origins of the planet Penance. I suppose perhaps it’s better not knowing who terraformed it, and how it was adapted by the humans, because that’s not the point of the story — but it was so interesting I really wanted to know more. (Wait, does that deserve negative points?)
Second, I thought the trouble with the disgusting snake-fish was brilliant... but then it vanishes. The threat is gone because some other threat supersedes it. (Or did I miss something?)
Mostly, however, I was a little put-off by the ending. I felt the story and writing was strong the whole way until the end. Then it turned into something rather idealistically wishy-washy. I suppose parts of it were realistic. You can’t solve century-old problems with a couple quick meetings, you can’t immediately put world-reforming ideas into practice. And with Amandine’s story nicely wrapped up, maybe it doesn’t make sense to focus on the societal-structuring. But it was a bit strange. And there is a character who undergoes a drastic reformation of his own. In part it was interesting, in part it was well-done — but in part he was just too crazy to end up in this complacent way.
If you are a fan of sci-fi, and secretly like romances, then this is definitely a book for you. If you like romances and don’t care if it’s sci-fi then why haven’t you read it yet?
Recommended.
(Read on a Kindle.)
What is this book about? I would say the first thing is that it is about class-struggle between the leopards — people with spots and discolorations, thought to be diseased — and the Plaguellants, a religious order deeply committed to wiping out any disease on the planet Penance.
Second, it is about Amandine, a leopard who finds a place at a circus as a trapeze artist — no, not a trapeze artist, a GREAT trapeze artist. The descriptions of her performances are quite fun and easy to visualize. All her life she has been hiding — being a leopard — and this story is what happens when she is forced to accept who she is.
She is also a Seeker, one who helps other leopards in a sort of underground-railway. But she’s not so good at that.
Third, it is a romance. Amandine is breaking off her relationship with a woman she loves but who she doesn’t think loves her so much as regards her as another ‘exotic’ trophy. She meets a man who instantly provokes something in her. Love at first sight.... But he’s a rich Titan (a well-off, popular(?) class) who just happens to have made an offer to buy their financially-struggling circus.
Fourth, it is a sci-fi. This is not a main plot point, rather an excellent setting, and I think the author did a wonderful job of creating an interesting futuristic world that SUPPORTED the story rather than being the POINT of the story. Things like everybody swearing ‘moulti-tiva’ — I have no idea what that is, where it came from, but they do it so naturally, and through the book I felt myself thinking it, it’s that natural. I enjoyed how the tech was incorporated into Amandine’s life, but you just understand it, it doesn’t have to be explained (which is the best way). I really admire the author’s work there.
Now, with this glowing review, I have to explain why 4 stars instead of 5. Really I’m being finicky, because like I said I really enjoyed it. So there are just a couple things.
First, I would have liked to read more about the origins of the planet Penance. I suppose perhaps it’s better not knowing who terraformed it, and how it was adapted by the humans, because that’s not the point of the story — but it was so interesting I really wanted to know more. (Wait, does that deserve negative points?)
Second, I thought the trouble with the disgusting snake-fish was brilliant... but then it vanishes. The threat is gone because some other threat supersedes it. (Or did I miss something?)
Mostly, however, I was a little put-off by the ending. I felt the story and writing was strong the whole way until the end. Then it turned into something rather idealistically wishy-washy. I suppose parts of it were realistic. You can’t solve century-old problems with a couple quick meetings, you can’t immediately put world-reforming ideas into practice. And with Amandine’s story nicely wrapped up, maybe it doesn’t make sense to focus on the societal-structuring. But it was a bit strange. And there is a character who undergoes a drastic reformation of his own. In part it was interesting, in part it was well-done — but in part he was just too crazy to end up in this complacent way.
If you are a fan of sci-fi, and secretly like romances, then this is definitely a book for you. If you like romances and don’t care if it’s sci-fi then why haven’t you read it yet?
Recommended.
(Read on a Kindle.)
January 5, 2015
Amandine lives on Penance, a Dyson sphere orbiting a sun far from Earth. She is a circus performer on the trapeze. Perhaps her strength and athletic ability are enhanced by her being a leopard-person; this seems likely but the emphasis of the book is on her altered appearance with spots and blotches of colour such as one white eyebrow and one dark spot on her cheek. She has to wear heavy makeup to hide her true nature from priest-like thugs who hunt and kill any deviants.
Leopard people we are told first appeared at the same time as a new plague began to spread and while this was a coincidence not everyone saw it that way. Amandine has been in hiding for most of her life and the circus gave her a way to earn her living in safety as well as teaching her the joys of almost-flight. She has made friends and fitted in well. Other leopard people however are in peril as hunters find them so she tries to help them reach sanctuary.
We get the viewpoint of the main antagonist, a priest called Brother Sterling, perhaps a little too often as this distracts us from Amandine's story.
The world building is excellent and rich detail does not overwhelm because we can take it at a suitable rate. An introduced species, an alien fish from Earth which could outcompete the local fish, provides some grisly pages but does show how close the mindset of the priests and the people trying to stop the spread of this invasive alien can come.
Overall this is a well-researched book with plenty of action, circus detail and environmental awareness. SF fans will be happiest with the read but other readers such as those who like paranormal stories can also enjoy it.
Leopard people we are told first appeared at the same time as a new plague began to spread and while this was a coincidence not everyone saw it that way. Amandine has been in hiding for most of her life and the circus gave her a way to earn her living in safety as well as teaching her the joys of almost-flight. She has made friends and fitted in well. Other leopard people however are in peril as hunters find them so she tries to help them reach sanctuary.
We get the viewpoint of the main antagonist, a priest called Brother Sterling, perhaps a little too often as this distracts us from Amandine's story.
The world building is excellent and rich detail does not overwhelm because we can take it at a suitable rate. An introduced species, an alien fish from Earth which could outcompete the local fish, provides some grisly pages but does show how close the mindset of the priests and the people trying to stop the spread of this invasive alien can come.
Overall this is a well-researched book with plenty of action, circus detail and environmental awareness. SF fans will be happiest with the read but other readers such as those who like paranormal stories can also enjoy it.
May 6, 2013
I was fortunate enough to receive a copy of Jill Shultz’s Angel on the Ropes. Despite its good press, I was at first only moderately interested. I was so wrong. The book was fantastic! The world building was incredible and very intricate. At first I thought the parenthetical expressions were telepathy; then I caught on that they were sign language. The layers of conflict were so dense I did not believe a solution could occur. While not all of the disagreements were resolved, the book ended on a very optimistic note. Ms. Shultz managed to completely draw me into the future she created in a way that very few books or movies have been able to for me. As I finished the book on May 4, comparisons to Star Wars were inevitable for me. While Angel on the Ropes is not full of space battles and glitz, it is as deeply involving and rewarding and delivers many truths about the human condition. One can only hope that Ms. Shultz continues to create more stories about the world of Penance.
July 26, 2013
(I got this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)
2.5 stars. I enjoyed some parts of the story, but others almost made me give up at times, especially in the beginning (not enough for me to drop the book, though).
The circus routines are described in marvellous ways, and I found it easy to picture them, even though I'm not too familiar with such performances. They didn't seem repetitive either, and I could feel that the author had done her research and put a lot of care into making her readers *be* in the audience, rather than remain distanciated readers.
The world presented in the book is also a complex one—a very peculiar colony (more a Dyson sphere than a traditional solar system) with its various classes and problems. However, things were a little confusing at first regarding those, and it took me some time to understand what Titans or Seekers really were; although the author introduced all those in such a way as to avoid info-dumping (which is good),
What constituted the biggest problem for me with "Angel on the Ropes" was that the plot seemed to end up dwarfed and rushed at some point. It started with concepts such as leopards (people born with spots on their skins) being hunted down and killed by Plaguellants (religious extremists who believe said leopards are responsible for a terrible illness). Around the 40% mark, it then moved to something much more complex, involving a very flawed healthcare system in which people have to gamble in casinos in order to have some of of their organs healed—winning means receiving cures, losing means getting indentured, sometimes for years. Another subplot involved a species imported from Earth, with the potential of totally thwarting the local ecosystem. All of those collided into something pretty complex, and I felt that they would have deserved more development. As it is, the story seemed rushed in parts, with too many others left in the dark, or dropped along the way.
The ending especially made me feel let down. While I understand what it tried to achieve (and this was a beautiful lesson), it didn't solve the aforementioned subplots. It also made some characters appear as they had taken a U-turn that may have happened, sure, but only later, with more "meat" and reasons in between, so to say. I kept waiting for more, and "more" didn't happen.
I don't know if this is the beginning of a series, or a standalone book. If there's a second volume on its way, it could explain why some subplots were left aside for now, but I'm not sure.
2.5 stars. I enjoyed some parts of the story, but others almost made me give up at times, especially in the beginning (not enough for me to drop the book, though).
The circus routines are described in marvellous ways, and I found it easy to picture them, even though I'm not too familiar with such performances. They didn't seem repetitive either, and I could feel that the author had done her research and put a lot of care into making her readers *be* in the audience, rather than remain distanciated readers.
The world presented in the book is also a complex one—a very peculiar colony (more a Dyson sphere than a traditional solar system) with its various classes and problems. However, things were a little confusing at first regarding those, and it took me some time to understand what Titans or Seekers really were; although the author introduced all those in such a way as to avoid info-dumping (which is good),
What constituted the biggest problem for me with "Angel on the Ropes" was that the plot seemed to end up dwarfed and rushed at some point. It started with concepts such as leopards (people born with spots on their skins) being hunted down and killed by Plaguellants (religious extremists who believe said leopards are responsible for a terrible illness). Around the 40% mark, it then moved to something much more complex, involving a very flawed healthcare system in which people have to gamble in casinos in order to have some of of their organs healed—winning means receiving cures, losing means getting indentured, sometimes for years. Another subplot involved a species imported from Earth, with the potential of totally thwarting the local ecosystem. All of those collided into something pretty complex, and I felt that they would have deserved more development. As it is, the story seemed rushed in parts, with too many others left in the dark, or dropped along the way.
The ending especially made me feel let down. While I understand what it tried to achieve (and this was a beautiful lesson), it didn't solve the aforementioned subplots. It also made some characters appear as they had taken a U-turn that may have happened, sure, but only later, with more "meat" and reasons in between, so to say. I kept waiting for more, and "more" didn't happen.
I don't know if this is the beginning of a series, or a standalone book. If there's a second volume on its way, it could explain why some subplots were left aside for now, but I'm not sure.
January 19, 2016
Angel on the Ropes takes place on Penance, a space colony orbiting Earth, and focuses on the trials and tribulations of Amandine Sand. She’s a brilliant trapeze artist who’s been with the Cristallo Circus for seventeen years. Unfortunately, she’s also a leopard, which means she was born with spot-like birthmarks all over her body—a condition that many incorrectly associate with the spread of the dreaded plaguepox virus. Although the Cristallo Circus has secretly provided a haven for its leopard performers for years, Amandine still finds herself covering up her spots with makeup whenever she goes out in public. The main opponents of leopards are the hostile Plaguellants, a futuristic kind of Ku Klux Klan obsessed with genetic “purity,” as well as the eradication of all germs and plaguepox. Opposing the Plaguellants are the Spots, militant leopards that fight back against these futuristic germaphobes, but all too often end up causing just as much mayhem as their enemies. Amandine herself is with the Seekers, an organization which embraces pacifism and tries to find a healthy medium between these two extremes. Although she is devoted to the circus, she finds herself devoting more and more time to the Seekers as political tensions rise and violence threatens to erupt throughout the entire colony.
Like all good science fiction, this story is big on ideas. I absolutely loved the idea of the colony’s health care system, which relies solely on “health casinos” to provide people with medical insurance. (If you lose too many times at the casino games, you become an indentured servant to the system!) The characters, while believable and sympathetic, could have been more developed. However, I do understand that when writing science fiction, it’s better to develop fresh, new ideas rather than focus on characters (this is one of the few times you will ever see me defending the importance of plot over characters). A interesting twist on the modern health care crisis, I’d recommend Angel on the Ropes to any lover of classical science fiction.
Like all good science fiction, this story is big on ideas. I absolutely loved the idea of the colony’s health care system, which relies solely on “health casinos” to provide people with medical insurance. (If you lose too many times at the casino games, you become an indentured servant to the system!) The characters, while believable and sympathetic, could have been more developed. However, I do understand that when writing science fiction, it’s better to develop fresh, new ideas rather than focus on characters (this is one of the few times you will ever see me defending the importance of plot over characters). A interesting twist on the modern health care crisis, I’d recommend Angel on the Ropes to any lover of classical science fiction.
June 10, 2013
The cover is what drew me into reading this book. It is quite simply a piece of art. The colors and complexity of it just take my breath away. At first, I wasn’t sure if I would enjoy this book. The writing was well done and I could easily slip into the story and explanations of characters were smooth and fit well with the story. What caught me was how confused I felt at first with what was going on. The details of Penance – its society and landscape – felt too little and I was often left wondering what was going on or how things were supposed to look like exactly. My lack in knowledge of acrobatics also made it difficult to picture the acrobatic flying scenes. While many things got explained eventually, it took me most of the book to understand some of these details that I thought could have been mentioned sooner.
What I loved most were the characters. Shultz really excelled at making them come to life. The interactions between Nikos and Amandine were especially thrilling and I wish there had been more of it towards the end of the book. The overall story line was very interesting and I loved all the twists and turns. The takeaway message of consensus despite differences was very well done. The book took a turn towards the political, spiritual and basic humanity that I wasn’t expecting but ended up loving. I especially loved how certain scenes or actions felt artistic and flowed well with Amandine’s character as a flying trapeze artist. The end didn’t feel enough to me though I understand why it was left somewhat open ended. It was a lovely and heart warming ending but I didn’t realize I had finished the book when I did. Maybe I just wished it had kept going.
What I loved most were the characters. Shultz really excelled at making them come to life. The interactions between Nikos and Amandine were especially thrilling and I wish there had been more of it towards the end of the book. The overall story line was very interesting and I loved all the twists and turns. The takeaway message of consensus despite differences was very well done. The book took a turn towards the political, spiritual and basic humanity that I wasn’t expecting but ended up loving. I especially loved how certain scenes or actions felt artistic and flowed well with Amandine’s character as a flying trapeze artist. The end didn’t feel enough to me though I understand why it was left somewhat open ended. It was a lovely and heart warming ending but I didn’t realize I had finished the book when I did. Maybe I just wished it had kept going.
May 9, 2013
I won an advance reading copy of this book on GoodReads, and I am glad that I did. It is a very inventive and creative story that takes place within such a rich environment that, at first, I was a bit confused about all that was going on. It took me awhile to get a handle on the world of Penance, where Amandine Sand is a trapeze artist who has to hide her true self. The circus references and details were fascinating; clearly, Jill Shultz has either always wanted to run away and join the circus, or she did a great deal of research! Some of the descriptions made me feel like I was flying along with Amandine. Since I teach in a school that has a Quaker heritage, I also enjoyed the Quaker-like Seekers, and their deep commitment to pacifism and compromise while surrounded by chaos and, often, terror. We could all use a little of that inner calm when faced with things like the Boston Marathon bombing and long-kidnapped women. If you like sci-fi/fantasy, this is a multi-layered book worth reading.
April 28, 2013
Set in the far future on another world, the novel explores prejudice in all its varied forms, through Amandine, a trapeze artist. The world of Penance is fully realized with good descriptions of the life forms and how people found this world. The different factions on Penance are set up believably and lines drawn quickly. Amandine is lots of fun to follow, through her circus act, with her circus family (poor Bix) and Seeker family, to finding true love. A fun way to spend several hours and the story lines end well. Received free copy to review.
May 15, 2013
Título: Angel on the Ropes
Autor: Jill Shultz
Editorial: Auto-publicado
Sinopsis: Una trapecista incomparable que vive de volar está a punto de chocar duramente contra el suelo.
Amandine Sand camina una cuerda floja entre dos vidas, en problemas por un secreto mortal. Ella es un "leopardo", uno de los seres humanos manchados erróneamente acusados de ser portador de la peste. Leopardos como ella son cazados por los fanáticos para proteger su colonia extraterrestre del azote de la enfermedad. A pesar de esta amenaza, Amandine pasa sus días guiando a otros leopardos a un refugio subterráneo a cargo de los pacifistas. Por la noche, con sus propias manchas ocultos, se eleva en el aire, el único lugar en el que esta extraordinaria artista se siente libre y gloriosamente viva.
Cuando la persecución de los leopardos estalla en violencia generalizada, los buscadores exigen más de su tiempo. Pero su circo se tambalea hacia la bancarrota y también le necesitan desesperadamente. No tiene tiempo para respirar ... y luego se encuentra con un extraño que la deja sin aliento. Y ese podría ser el mayor riesgo de todos. Si pone su confianza en alguien que no debe y es desenmascarada, todo por lo que ha luchado podría desmoronarse.
En su hora más oscura, Amandine debe recurrir a todo lo que ha aprendido en el circo y de los buscadores de paz para llevar la paz a una sociedad dividida. ¿Puede una reacio ángel volar más allá de sus límites para salvar su vida, su amor, y su mundo?
MI PERSONAJE FAVORITO: Nikos es protector, leal, sexy, no le importan las apariencias. Tiene un trabajo exitoso, pero no le importa el dinero. Daría su vida por Amandine y fue uno de los personajes que más me sorprendió.
Opinión: Decidí pedir este libro a NetGalley porque me encantan las distopías y nunca había leído ninguna sobre nuevas razas.
Durante los primeros capítulos estaba muy perdida. No sabía que eran los "leopardos", ni la situación del nuevo planeta y cada vez que salía un nuevo personaje intentaba encontrarle una conexión con la historia. Estuve a punto de dejar de leer pero llegó un momento en el que todo comenzó a adquirir sentido. El autor ha creado un mundo totalmente nuevo de la nada y cuesta adaptarse, pero una vez que llegamos a saber más de Amandine todo su mundo y lo leído previamente adquiere un nuevo sentido.
Amandine está llena de sorpresas, al igual que Nikos. Algo que puedo decir con absoluta certeza de este libro es que fue sorpréndete en el buen sentido. Hay muchos giros en la historia, personajes que no son lo que parecen, intrigas y amor. Es un libro más para adultos ya que trata de temas como el racismo, poligamia y sexo de una forma muy abierta.
Como distopía me sorprendió mucho y me recordó un poco a Zenn Scarlett porque todo ocurre en un nuevo planeta. La historia amorosa de Amandine es adictiva ya que el autor nos muestra trazos de su pasado mezclados con el presente. Es un libro emocionante y profundo.
La verdad es que me gustó mucho y me dejó con muy buena sensación.
Puntuación: 4,1/5
Title: Angel on the Ropes
Author: Jill Shultz
Editorial: Auto-publicado
Synopsis: An incomparable trapeze artist who lives to fly is about to hit the ground—hard.
Amandine Sand walks a high wire between two lives—hobbled by a life-threatening secret. She’s a "leopard," one of the spotted humans wrongly accused of being a plague carrier. Leopards like her are hunted by zealots to protect their offworld colony from the scourge. Despite this threat, Amandine spends her days guiding other leopards to an underground shelter run by the pacifist Seekers. At night, with her own spots hidden, she takes to the air, the one place this extraordinary artist feels free and gloriously alive.
When the persecution of leopards explodes into widespread violence, the Seekers demand more of her time. But her circus is teetering toward bankruptcy and desperately needs her, too. She has no time to breathe... and then she meets a stranger who leaves her breathless. And might just be the biggest risk of all. If her trust is misplaced and she’s unmasked, everyone she loves—and everything she’s fought for—could crash.
In her darkest hour, Amandine must draw upon everything she’s learned from the circus and Seekers to bring peace to her fractured society. Can a reluctant angel fly beyond her limits to save her life, her love, and her world?
MI FAVOURITE CHARACTER: Nikos is protective, loyal, sexy, he does not care about appearances. He has a successful job, but he do not care about money. He would give his life for Amandine and he was one of the characters that surprised me most.
Opinion: I decided to order this book to NetGalley because I love dystopian books and I had never read any about new species.
During the first chapters I was very lost. I did not know who were the "leopards", or the situation of the new planet and every time a new character came out I tried to find a connection in the story. I was about to stop reading but there came a time when all started to make sense. The author has created a whole new world of nowhere and at the beginning it is difficult to adapt. But once we got to know more of Amandine, her world and all the previously read takes on new meaning.
Amandine is full of surprises, like Nikos. Something I can say with absolute certainty is that this book was full of surprises, in a good way. There are many twists in the story, characters who are not what they seem, intrigue and love. It is a book for adults as it comes to issues such as racism, polygamy and sex in a very open way.
As dystopia surprised me and reminded me a little of Zenn Scarlett because everything happens on a new planet. Amandine´s love story is addictive because the author shows traces of her past mixed with the present. It is an exciting and deep book.
The truth is that I really liked it and it left me with a very good feeling.
Punctuation: 4,1/5
Ayla
Autor: Jill Shultz
Editorial: Auto-publicado
Sinopsis: Una trapecista incomparable que vive de volar está a punto de chocar duramente contra el suelo.
Amandine Sand camina una cuerda floja entre dos vidas, en problemas por un secreto mortal. Ella es un "leopardo", uno de los seres humanos manchados erróneamente acusados de ser portador de la peste. Leopardos como ella son cazados por los fanáticos para proteger su colonia extraterrestre del azote de la enfermedad. A pesar de esta amenaza, Amandine pasa sus días guiando a otros leopardos a un refugio subterráneo a cargo de los pacifistas. Por la noche, con sus propias manchas ocultos, se eleva en el aire, el único lugar en el que esta extraordinaria artista se siente libre y gloriosamente viva.
Cuando la persecución de los leopardos estalla en violencia generalizada, los buscadores exigen más de su tiempo. Pero su circo se tambalea hacia la bancarrota y también le necesitan desesperadamente. No tiene tiempo para respirar ... y luego se encuentra con un extraño que la deja sin aliento. Y ese podría ser el mayor riesgo de todos. Si pone su confianza en alguien que no debe y es desenmascarada, todo por lo que ha luchado podría desmoronarse.
En su hora más oscura, Amandine debe recurrir a todo lo que ha aprendido en el circo y de los buscadores de paz para llevar la paz a una sociedad dividida. ¿Puede una reacio ángel volar más allá de sus límites para salvar su vida, su amor, y su mundo?
MI PERSONAJE FAVORITO: Nikos es protector, leal, sexy, no le importan las apariencias. Tiene un trabajo exitoso, pero no le importa el dinero. Daría su vida por Amandine y fue uno de los personajes que más me sorprendió.
Opinión: Decidí pedir este libro a NetGalley porque me encantan las distopías y nunca había leído ninguna sobre nuevas razas.
Durante los primeros capítulos estaba muy perdida. No sabía que eran los "leopardos", ni la situación del nuevo planeta y cada vez que salía un nuevo personaje intentaba encontrarle una conexión con la historia. Estuve a punto de dejar de leer pero llegó un momento en el que todo comenzó a adquirir sentido. El autor ha creado un mundo totalmente nuevo de la nada y cuesta adaptarse, pero una vez que llegamos a saber más de Amandine todo su mundo y lo leído previamente adquiere un nuevo sentido.
Amandine está llena de sorpresas, al igual que Nikos. Algo que puedo decir con absoluta certeza de este libro es que fue sorpréndete en el buen sentido. Hay muchos giros en la historia, personajes que no son lo que parecen, intrigas y amor. Es un libro más para adultos ya que trata de temas como el racismo, poligamia y sexo de una forma muy abierta.
Como distopía me sorprendió mucho y me recordó un poco a Zenn Scarlett porque todo ocurre en un nuevo planeta. La historia amorosa de Amandine es adictiva ya que el autor nos muestra trazos de su pasado mezclados con el presente. Es un libro emocionante y profundo.
La verdad es que me gustó mucho y me dejó con muy buena sensación.
Puntuación: 4,1/5
Title: Angel on the Ropes
Author: Jill Shultz
Editorial: Auto-publicado
Synopsis: An incomparable trapeze artist who lives to fly is about to hit the ground—hard.
Amandine Sand walks a high wire between two lives—hobbled by a life-threatening secret. She’s a "leopard," one of the spotted humans wrongly accused of being a plague carrier. Leopards like her are hunted by zealots to protect their offworld colony from the scourge. Despite this threat, Amandine spends her days guiding other leopards to an underground shelter run by the pacifist Seekers. At night, with her own spots hidden, she takes to the air, the one place this extraordinary artist feels free and gloriously alive.
When the persecution of leopards explodes into widespread violence, the Seekers demand more of her time. But her circus is teetering toward bankruptcy and desperately needs her, too. She has no time to breathe... and then she meets a stranger who leaves her breathless. And might just be the biggest risk of all. If her trust is misplaced and she’s unmasked, everyone she loves—and everything she’s fought for—could crash.
In her darkest hour, Amandine must draw upon everything she’s learned from the circus and Seekers to bring peace to her fractured society. Can a reluctant angel fly beyond her limits to save her life, her love, and her world?
MI FAVOURITE CHARACTER: Nikos is protective, loyal, sexy, he does not care about appearances. He has a successful job, but he do not care about money. He would give his life for Amandine and he was one of the characters that surprised me most.
Opinion: I decided to order this book to NetGalley because I love dystopian books and I had never read any about new species.
During the first chapters I was very lost. I did not know who were the "leopards", or the situation of the new planet and every time a new character came out I tried to find a connection in the story. I was about to stop reading but there came a time when all started to make sense. The author has created a whole new world of nowhere and at the beginning it is difficult to adapt. But once we got to know more of Amandine, her world and all the previously read takes on new meaning.
Amandine is full of surprises, like Nikos. Something I can say with absolute certainty is that this book was full of surprises, in a good way. There are many twists in the story, characters who are not what they seem, intrigue and love. It is a book for adults as it comes to issues such as racism, polygamy and sex in a very open way.
As dystopia surprised me and reminded me a little of Zenn Scarlett because everything happens on a new planet. Amandine´s love story is addictive because the author shows traces of her past mixed with the present. It is an exciting and deep book.
The truth is that I really liked it and it left me with a very good feeling.
Punctuation: 4,1/5
Ayla
June 6, 2013
Amandine Sand is a leopard, a person born with spots, discriminated against because of the misguided belief that leopards carry a plague. She is also a trapeze artist. Amandine lives a double life, in the spotlight of the circus, with her spots carefully covered by makeup, and working for the Seekers, helping other leopards get to safe houses. When she meets a man who takes her breath away, if she isn't careful, both her worlds could be in danger.
This book made me wish I knew more about the trapeze. The descriptions of Amandine's and Jango's performances were beautiful, and I felt like they'd be even more beautiful if I knew enough about the trapeze to be able to accurately picture the act in my head.
The Plaguellants are very frightening villains. Religious zealots that hunt down and kill leopards towards the goal of purifying the world, they really show how the scariest bad guys are the ones who really believe they're the good guys. This makes the eventual humanising of one of the Plaguellants all the more powerful and strange.
I love the casual depiction of LGBT characters in this book. Several of the main characters are shown to be bi- or pan-sexual, and it's just part of the characters; that's never what the story is about. It's quite refreshing. There are even polyamorous characters, with a small plot line about the difficulties in a relationship between a poly and a mono.
Angel on the Ropes is beautifully written, with a thrilling depiction of circus life, a spicy romance, and a frightening class struggle fueled by ignorance and intolerance. Oh, and made up swear words that actually seem natural, not like they're trying to hard to sound like fantasy/sci fi, which made up words in these genres too often do. Amandine's use of the phrase "moulti tiva", in particular, always seemed so fitting. I appreciate an author who can make up good swear words and other expressions.
4 stars.
Full disclosure: Free ebook copy received from the publisher through Netgalley.
This review is copied from my blog, The Towering Pile. It was originally published here.
This book made me wish I knew more about the trapeze. The descriptions of Amandine's and Jango's performances were beautiful, and I felt like they'd be even more beautiful if I knew enough about the trapeze to be able to accurately picture the act in my head.
The Plaguellants are very frightening villains. Religious zealots that hunt down and kill leopards towards the goal of purifying the world, they really show how the scariest bad guys are the ones who really believe they're the good guys. This makes the eventual humanising of one of the Plaguellants all the more powerful and strange.
I love the casual depiction of LGBT characters in this book. Several of the main characters are shown to be bi- or pan-sexual, and it's just part of the characters; that's never what the story is about. It's quite refreshing. There are even polyamorous characters, with a small plot line about the difficulties in a relationship between a poly and a mono.
Angel on the Ropes is beautifully written, with a thrilling depiction of circus life, a spicy romance, and a frightening class struggle fueled by ignorance and intolerance. Oh, and made up swear words that actually seem natural, not like they're trying to hard to sound like fantasy/sci fi, which made up words in these genres too often do. Amandine's use of the phrase "moulti tiva", in particular, always seemed so fitting. I appreciate an author who can make up good swear words and other expressions.
4 stars.
Full disclosure: Free ebook copy received from the publisher through Netgalley.
This review is copied from my blog, The Towering Pile. It was originally published here.
December 26, 2016
A futuristic sci-fi set on an earth colony planet telling the story of a woman trapeze artist leading a life of secrets- forced to pretend because her real self is unaccepted.
Amandine is a leopard- a human born with spots which many humans fear makes her a plague carrier. The plague fear has led to the rise of a religious group set on 'purifying' the human race by wiping out the leopards and living 'pure'. Another religious group known as the Seekers are the Quakers of the future. Then there are the upper class Titans and lower class Folks to round out the segregated groups on the planet.
Though she is leopard and must hide her spots under make-up, Amandine is also a flyer. She is the best flying trapeze artist there is though her circus is now barely getting by. She daringly flies and tumbles through the air for her job and also clandestinely helps the Seekers usher leopards into safe hiding. She has a lover who grows more and more discontent with Amandine and they break up. Her life is pulling her in many directions and during a masquerade New's Years party, she meets a mysterious man who has the power to save her circus, but also to expose her. His true power is that they connect and she comes alive with him, but can he be with a leopard?
Fascinating worldbuilding and a strong plot. This book built and got huge with all the threads going along as this grows from being Amandine's story alone to that of several key players from all aspects of life on the planet. The theme of acceptance and equality is strong in its message.
I appreciated the message and even the development, but this was no fast-mover. Exciting moments and poignant ones, but patience is needed. The only real disappointment for me was the very end. It was abrupt and left too many questions. If there were a sequel in the works, then I can see why it ended where it did, but a few years later here from the original release and still there isn't one.
All in all, I enjoyed this creative sci-fi and particularly blending of the diverse stories of the characters coming together.
Amandine is a leopard- a human born with spots which many humans fear makes her a plague carrier. The plague fear has led to the rise of a religious group set on 'purifying' the human race by wiping out the leopards and living 'pure'. Another religious group known as the Seekers are the Quakers of the future. Then there are the upper class Titans and lower class Folks to round out the segregated groups on the planet.
Though she is leopard and must hide her spots under make-up, Amandine is also a flyer. She is the best flying trapeze artist there is though her circus is now barely getting by. She daringly flies and tumbles through the air for her job and also clandestinely helps the Seekers usher leopards into safe hiding. She has a lover who grows more and more discontent with Amandine and they break up. Her life is pulling her in many directions and during a masquerade New's Years party, she meets a mysterious man who has the power to save her circus, but also to expose her. His true power is that they connect and she comes alive with him, but can he be with a leopard?
Fascinating worldbuilding and a strong plot. This book built and got huge with all the threads going along as this grows from being Amandine's story alone to that of several key players from all aspects of life on the planet. The theme of acceptance and equality is strong in its message.
I appreciated the message and even the development, but this was no fast-mover. Exciting moments and poignant ones, but patience is needed. The only real disappointment for me was the very end. It was abrupt and left too many questions. If there were a sequel in the works, then I can see why it ended where it did, but a few years later here from the original release and still there isn't one.
All in all, I enjoyed this creative sci-fi and particularly blending of the diverse stories of the characters coming together.
September 8, 2014
This book is about a trapeze artist, Amandine Sand, who has a secret – she is also a leopard!
When I first started reading this book I was quite taken aback by the leopard revelation. I thought at first it was maybe a children’s book that I had accidentally requested to review. After I read a few more pages I realised the story was a futuristic, sci-fi/fantasy tale.
The story follows Amandine as she performs at the circus and helps her own kind, the leopards, find safety with the help of a group of people known as the Seekers. The story has a fair amount of terms and characters that are often referred to and I was left wondering if this particular story was part of a series. I felt a little more description would have helped the reader to better understand some parts.
That said, the story is quite interesting, particularly for sci-fi/fantasy lovers. For all there was a lack of description for some characters involvement I did enjoy the read. Towards the end I felt quite a lot of things were rushed, but also there are a lot of loose ends – the hook for a sequel?
I felt the author researched the circus background pretty well, the scenes where Amandine and Jango are performing and practising their trapeze sequences were very well written. I loved all of the circus parts, felt a strong sense of hatred towards the Plaguellants – who I felt were very cruel.
I thought the book was a good read, particulalrly if you enjoy this genre. I am not so sure readers who aren’t familiar with the sci-fi/fantasy genre would appreciate it though, it is pretty futuristic and leans heavily on the fantasy – which makes it a wonderful read for anyone who loves this genre.
Well written, one or two confusing parts – for me, anyway – but on the whole a good read.
**** 4 stars.
When I first started reading this book I was quite taken aback by the leopard revelation. I thought at first it was maybe a children’s book that I had accidentally requested to review. After I read a few more pages I realised the story was a futuristic, sci-fi/fantasy tale.
The story follows Amandine as she performs at the circus and helps her own kind, the leopards, find safety with the help of a group of people known as the Seekers. The story has a fair amount of terms and characters that are often referred to and I was left wondering if this particular story was part of a series. I felt a little more description would have helped the reader to better understand some parts.
That said, the story is quite interesting, particularly for sci-fi/fantasy lovers. For all there was a lack of description for some characters involvement I did enjoy the read. Towards the end I felt quite a lot of things were rushed, but also there are a lot of loose ends – the hook for a sequel?
I felt the author researched the circus background pretty well, the scenes where Amandine and Jango are performing and practising their trapeze sequences were very well written. I loved all of the circus parts, felt a strong sense of hatred towards the Plaguellants – who I felt were very cruel.
I thought the book was a good read, particulalrly if you enjoy this genre. I am not so sure readers who aren’t familiar with the sci-fi/fantasy genre would appreciate it though, it is pretty futuristic and leans heavily on the fantasy – which makes it a wonderful read for anyone who loves this genre.
Well written, one or two confusing parts – for me, anyway – but on the whole a good read.
**** 4 stars.
May 26, 2013
I originally read the synopsis for this book on a Librarything.com member give away, which I applied for. My initial fist impression was ooh sic-fi futuristic version of The Night Circus with leopard shapeshifters. And of course I was completely and utterly wrong. Then I got excited when I found the book on Netgalley with a read now available. And as it turned out, I won the librarything.com member give away too.
As it turned out my interpretation of the synopsis was wrong, but that didn't matter as I fell completely in love with the book anyway. A vivid, engaging story with a wonderful human cast of characters set in a futuristic world. Turns out the "leopards" in the books were people with spots on their skin supposedly held responsible for a deadly disease. The main female character is one of these leopards and a brilliant trapeze performer.
I won't go into too much detail of the plot as it would be spoilerful and basically rehashing the story. It was incredible, dark in places, and fascinating future world to read about with some social issues and problems that made you pay attention and want to know how everything came out in the end. Gripping characters, beautifully written, vivid and engaging. I loved it from start to finish.
Thank you Netgalley for the read now ARC, and thank you Librarything.com for the member giveaway.
As it turned out my interpretation of the synopsis was wrong, but that didn't matter as I fell completely in love with the book anyway. A vivid, engaging story with a wonderful human cast of characters set in a futuristic world. Turns out the "leopards" in the books were people with spots on their skin supposedly held responsible for a deadly disease. The main female character is one of these leopards and a brilliant trapeze performer.
I won't go into too much detail of the plot as it would be spoilerful and basically rehashing the story. It was incredible, dark in places, and fascinating future world to read about with some social issues and problems that made you pay attention and want to know how everything came out in the end. Gripping characters, beautifully written, vivid and engaging. I loved it from start to finish.
Thank you Netgalley for the read now ARC, and thank you Librarything.com for the member giveaway.
October 28, 2013
I rarely give 5-stars so you know I must have lived this book. Interesting world-building. I liked the main protagonist. The romance was appropriate. I was fully immersed in it while reading. I did have to take breaks at times because of the depth of the material although a suspect many readers will be able to read it for enjoyment only. The book has a lot of heavy topics in it if you focus: genocide, bi-sexuality, religious intolerance, health care systems, monogamy/polyamory. The author obviously researched the trapeze and circus life but may have included too much of her research in the book as at times it broke the mood... On the other hand it's not that different from what David Weber or Robert Jordan do and I love them. I look forward to reading more books by this author.
This book provided by netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This book provided by netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
July 12, 2016
I really enjoyed this book I received as a Librarything member giveaway. It's a fantasy/sf novel set in the new world of Penance with the main character, Amandine, an aerialist par excellence in the circus. In Penance, the author has created a brave new world with some innovative ideas about families,society, relationships and health care delivery. Amandine is a 'leopard', so called because she has large blotches of discolored skin which she must conceal with make-up to be allowed to avoided being hunted and persecuted by the Plaguellants, a religious order who believe that leopards carry disease. The descriptions of Amandine's circus feats are vivid and exhilarating and give you some idea of the beauty of her performances. The writing is wonderful and the author has created some fascinating characters. I really hope there is a sequel based in this world as I feel there are multiple layers that we have only been allowed a glimpse of.
November 1, 2013
What an unusual read though I found myself returning to pages trying to figure out what was going on during the beginning it all came to life finally. The author took a new species and new world with a totally different look on life and opened it up for you. Very creative and imaginative. As they were speaking of leapards I kept wondering what disease this reminded me of! and of course the character is shunned in the story almost as badly as soomeone with this disease would be. If you can get through the first 2 chapters the book will start to open up and you will not want to put it down. Exciting, revolting, and intriguing. If you want a new read here it is!
April 10, 2013
This was a very enjoyable story that grabbed my attention early on and kept it with well fleshed out characters and a well developed story line. The author took the time to research and apply what was learned in the story. It's refreshing to feel you are reading about actual people instead of flat cut outs.
Received an advance copy thanks to goodreads First Reads in exchange for an honest review.
Received an advance copy thanks to goodreads First Reads in exchange for an honest review.
April 21, 2013
This was so different to what I have read before that it took me some time to decide what I thought of it. Armandine had me hooked from the first page and all the other characters leapt of the pages to fascinate and intrigue me. Even the odd gestural language used and the many pages of descriptions of trapeze acts was not enough to diminish my enjoyment of the story. Put it on your to buy list for June :D
September 19, 2014
The book is a wonderful story! There are the elements of circus, prejudice causing persecution, the difference between various world views and an interesting romance! There are many surprises that I didn't expect that made the plot twist and turn. This made the book interesting and drew me in. I look forward to reading more books by this author!
June 2, 2013
Met Jill today at the Trapeze Experience in West Palm Beach FL It was a pleasure and can't wait to start reading the book.
May 2, 2020
Absolutely loved the universe and the story. Nearly a 5-star review as I found the beginning was a bit hard to get into until you're used to the unfamiliar terminilogy, as well as the ending which was a but too sweet and tied up a bit too nicely, out of keeping with the rest of the story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 24, 2015
There's a lot in this book, inventive world building, a three-dimensional heroine with inherent conflicts and a multi-strand plot which includes class structure, bankruptcy, personal jeopardy, health care, ecological disaster, political unrest and a love triangle. Yes, that's a huge amount for one book to cope with and at times it seems almost too much, and not all the strands are resolved.
The setting is a human colony on Penance, a Dyson Sphere created by (now long-gone) aliens. Amandine is three things, a pacifist Seeker, a circus trapeze artist of extraordinary skill, and a leopard, a human born with a gene mutation that causes spot marks on her skin. Unfortunately it's a common belief that leopards are plague carriers (they aren't) so a zealous sect of Plaguellants is in the business of tracking them down and murdering them, apparently with the approval of the authorities.
Penance society is somewhat bent out of shape. Not only does it allow the indiscriminate persecution of leopards, it has a highly divisive class system whereby the haves, Titans, basically make all the rules to suit themselves. (Hmm, this is sounding familiar.) There's a twisted universal healthcare system which allows (ordinary) folk to insure only one organ, so woe betide if you have a kidney complaint when you chose to insure your liver. Additional healthcare is also available via casinos - you need win the jackpot if you or your loved one needs a medical procedure that you're not insured for. Lose and you're indentured for a number of years to work in any one of a number of menial tasks. Of course the system is stacked against you.
Amandine is a trapeze artists, but she is also part of the Seeker network. In her role as a Seeker she acts as a guide to take endangered leopards to a hidden sanctuary. As the book opens she makes a mess of her assignment. Leopards are killed and she comes to the attention of Brother Sterling, the chief Plaguellant. In the meantime Cristallo, the circus that has sheltered her for seventeen years, is on the verge of bankruptcy and her long term lesbian relationship with Malaga (who runs an Exotica shop) is breaking down. Out in wider society there's a backlash from the Spots, a radical bunch of leopard terrorists who are protesting the situation with indiscriminate violence.
The circus research is impeccable and the descriptions of Amandine's trapeze routines with her catcher, Jango, her heart-brother, are lovingly and viscerally realised in great detail.
Gender roles are open, relationships are bisexual with single or multiple partners. The romance angle is beautifully written, Amandine after breaking up with Malaga meets Nikos, and it's love at first sight. They are soul mates and a pair bond made in heaven. Their love is thrilling, sensual and utterly believable. The reader meets Nikos, a Titan and a healthcare reformer, early in the book without realising the importance of his character (to Amandine) I wish she'd met him earlier because we're halfway through before their relationship starts and I would have liked to see more of that.
The physical world is fascinating though some of the world building is detailed while other bits fade to grey in the distance. Dyson spheres are problematical for human colonisation, but we don't get detailed explanations of how this works technically, just hints about its size and the fact that only some of its atmosphere is human-friendly.
If this review is a little jumbled it's perhaps because there are many facets to address. It's a self-published book and, for me, seems to spread itself too widely, tries to do too much and because of that lacks a little focus. It comments on contemporary society's healthcare issues, radicalisation of the disaffected, the dangers of religious extremism, class structure, and the beneficent effects of art. Any one of those would make a book in itself. There's enough material here for a trilogy.
This book came highly recommended. Perhaps I was expecting too much because I didn't immediately engage with it as well as I had hoped. It took me almost to the halfway point to really get into it and then I found the ending was a bit of a let-down which either went on for too long after the main story arc had finished, or didn't go on for long enough, because though resolution is in sight, it is not achieved. The character that goes through the greatest change is Brother Sterling and I'm not entirely sure how I feel about that. There are some loose plot threads (The snakehead fish? Malaga?) so I wonder if Ms Schultz is planning to revisit this world.
Downloaded from NetGalley in return for an honest review.
The setting is a human colony on Penance, a Dyson Sphere created by (now long-gone) aliens. Amandine is three things, a pacifist Seeker, a circus trapeze artist of extraordinary skill, and a leopard, a human born with a gene mutation that causes spot marks on her skin. Unfortunately it's a common belief that leopards are plague carriers (they aren't) so a zealous sect of Plaguellants is in the business of tracking them down and murdering them, apparently with the approval of the authorities.
Penance society is somewhat bent out of shape. Not only does it allow the indiscriminate persecution of leopards, it has a highly divisive class system whereby the haves, Titans, basically make all the rules to suit themselves. (Hmm, this is sounding familiar.) There's a twisted universal healthcare system which allows (ordinary) folk to insure only one organ, so woe betide if you have a kidney complaint when you chose to insure your liver. Additional healthcare is also available via casinos - you need win the jackpot if you or your loved one needs a medical procedure that you're not insured for. Lose and you're indentured for a number of years to work in any one of a number of menial tasks. Of course the system is stacked against you.
Amandine is a trapeze artists, but she is also part of the Seeker network. In her role as a Seeker she acts as a guide to take endangered leopards to a hidden sanctuary. As the book opens she makes a mess of her assignment. Leopards are killed and she comes to the attention of Brother Sterling, the chief Plaguellant. In the meantime Cristallo, the circus that has sheltered her for seventeen years, is on the verge of bankruptcy and her long term lesbian relationship with Malaga (who runs an Exotica shop) is breaking down. Out in wider society there's a backlash from the Spots, a radical bunch of leopard terrorists who are protesting the situation with indiscriminate violence.
The circus research is impeccable and the descriptions of Amandine's trapeze routines with her catcher, Jango, her heart-brother, are lovingly and viscerally realised in great detail.
Gender roles are open, relationships are bisexual with single or multiple partners. The romance angle is beautifully written, Amandine after breaking up with Malaga meets Nikos, and it's love at first sight. They are soul mates and a pair bond made in heaven. Their love is thrilling, sensual and utterly believable. The reader meets Nikos, a Titan and a healthcare reformer, early in the book without realising the importance of his character (to Amandine) I wish she'd met him earlier because we're halfway through before their relationship starts and I would have liked to see more of that.
The physical world is fascinating though some of the world building is detailed while other bits fade to grey in the distance. Dyson spheres are problematical for human colonisation, but we don't get detailed explanations of how this works technically, just hints about its size and the fact that only some of its atmosphere is human-friendly.
If this review is a little jumbled it's perhaps because there are many facets to address. It's a self-published book and, for me, seems to spread itself too widely, tries to do too much and because of that lacks a little focus. It comments on contemporary society's healthcare issues, radicalisation of the disaffected, the dangers of religious extremism, class structure, and the beneficent effects of art. Any one of those would make a book in itself. There's enough material here for a trilogy.
This book came highly recommended. Perhaps I was expecting too much because I didn't immediately engage with it as well as I had hoped. It took me almost to the halfway point to really get into it and then I found the ending was a bit of a let-down which either went on for too long after the main story arc had finished, or didn't go on for long enough, because though resolution is in sight, it is not achieved. The character that goes through the greatest change is Brother Sterling and I'm not entirely sure how I feel about that. There are some loose plot threads (The snakehead fish? Malaga?) so I wonder if Ms Schultz is planning to revisit this world.
Downloaded from NetGalley in return for an honest review.
June 12, 2013
I broke all the rules again and picked a book for the prettiness of its cover. The colours and intensity caught my eye and I immediately requested it for review before even glancing at the blurb. Naughty, I know.
The first chapter was intriguing and drew me in. The sort of slightly confusing disorientation that you get at the start of any book set in an alternate world or time was gentle and I settled into it fairly easily, interested to learn more.
Then the story jumps forward in time and I lost the plot. Literally. I had no idea what was going on for ages. It was only around the 40% mark that I began to get a proper grasp on the proceedings and started to enjoy the story again - up until that part I was forcing myself through.
That said, from the moment everything began to click, I really enjoyed Angel on the Ropes and found myself immersed in a bold world similar enough to our own to be familiar but different enough to be exciting. I loved the danger and the secrecy and the constant fear of discovery in the life of Amandine and her relationships with the other characters were rounded and full.
I think this is what was missing at the beginning - depth of character. Everyone was introduced fast and fleetingly to make sure they were all there right at the start, but that just meant that I didn't really care about any of them because I barely knew them and didn't understand who they were or why they were around. This was sad because some of the characters turned out to be both important and really engaging, I just feel they could have been introduced slower or slightly differently to bring out the best in both them and the storyline. A small niggle but one that almost had me giving up on a book that I eventually enjoyed.
The scenes involving Amandine in action on the trapeze were beautiful. It is clear that a lot of careful research and study was done and each routine was minutely planned out and presented as if the reader were there in the circus audience. I loved it, the flow and swing and gymnastic prowess was magical and had me utterly enthrealled. I do fear a little though that the scenes may lose other readers becuase they were quite lengthy and used quite a lot of technical jargon which anyone with even an interest in gymnastics would know but could alienate others more unfamiliar it. Luckily gymnastics is close to my heart so it all appealed to me and the scenes were light and entralling to read - easily some of my favourite moments in the book.
The romance was a bit of a funny one. I adored the relationship that built between Amandine and Nikos and believed every second of it as they ebbed and flowed from lust and love to jealousy and back again but in contrast the relationship between Amandine and Malaga felt flat and forced. I know this relationship is supposed to be faltering and 'not right' for Amandine but it felt a little shoe-horned in for the purposes of the storyline. By the end it was acceptable and understandable but by then it was almost too late and I had lost my faith in Malaga as a character overall, which is a shame because she was almost my favourite. Almost.
I enjoyed Angel On The Ropes once I got well into it. With a bit of tweaking and rearranging it could have been a brilliant science fiction romp that I loved from start to finish but as it is, I nearly gave up on it really early on.
The first chapter was intriguing and drew me in. The sort of slightly confusing disorientation that you get at the start of any book set in an alternate world or time was gentle and I settled into it fairly easily, interested to learn more.
Then the story jumps forward in time and I lost the plot. Literally. I had no idea what was going on for ages. It was only around the 40% mark that I began to get a proper grasp on the proceedings and started to enjoy the story again - up until that part I was forcing myself through.
That said, from the moment everything began to click, I really enjoyed Angel on the Ropes and found myself immersed in a bold world similar enough to our own to be familiar but different enough to be exciting. I loved the danger and the secrecy and the constant fear of discovery in the life of Amandine and her relationships with the other characters were rounded and full.
I think this is what was missing at the beginning - depth of character. Everyone was introduced fast and fleetingly to make sure they were all there right at the start, but that just meant that I didn't really care about any of them because I barely knew them and didn't understand who they were or why they were around. This was sad because some of the characters turned out to be both important and really engaging, I just feel they could have been introduced slower or slightly differently to bring out the best in both them and the storyline. A small niggle but one that almost had me giving up on a book that I eventually enjoyed.
The scenes involving Amandine in action on the trapeze were beautiful. It is clear that a lot of careful research and study was done and each routine was minutely planned out and presented as if the reader were there in the circus audience. I loved it, the flow and swing and gymnastic prowess was magical and had me utterly enthrealled. I do fear a little though that the scenes may lose other readers becuase they were quite lengthy and used quite a lot of technical jargon which anyone with even an interest in gymnastics would know but could alienate others more unfamiliar it. Luckily gymnastics is close to my heart so it all appealed to me and the scenes were light and entralling to read - easily some of my favourite moments in the book.
The romance was a bit of a funny one. I adored the relationship that built between Amandine and Nikos and believed every second of it as they ebbed and flowed from lust and love to jealousy and back again but in contrast the relationship between Amandine and Malaga felt flat and forced. I know this relationship is supposed to be faltering and 'not right' for Amandine but it felt a little shoe-horned in for the purposes of the storyline. By the end it was acceptable and understandable but by then it was almost too late and I had lost my faith in Malaga as a character overall, which is a shame because she was almost my favourite. Almost.
I enjoyed Angel On The Ropes once I got well into it. With a bit of tweaking and rearranging it could have been a brilliant science fiction romp that I loved from start to finish but as it is, I nearly gave up on it really early on.
July 3, 2013
Within the confines of the circus performance, ANGEL ON THE ROPES brings forth the magic. Scenes involving complex stunts high up on the trapeze with circus partners, Jango and Amadine, are so breathtakingly written that I forgot I wasn’t watching a live performance. Half the book occurs under the high tents, yet not once did I ever get the sensation that the performances were repetitive, mechanic, or boring. While the performance aspect of the book blew me away, the book lacked in other areas.
The (parenthesis) words aren’t explained early enough in the novel, leaving me wondering if the characters had some form of telepathy. Eventually, I understood that (parenthesis) meant that the characters were speaking through a form of sign-language. I wish that this was explained much earlier in the novel, since the lack of knowing drew me out of the story every time the (parenthesis) was used. I also don’t think that the concept behind the Plaguellants was polished enough. They come across as highly religious and paranoid of disease, yet the lack of testing within their ranks makes no sense. The ending nearly ruined the book. It forced characters to switch personalities and forgo habits that they displayed throughout the rest of the novel.
Amadine begins the novel in a relationship with Malaga. It’s clear from the beginning that the two are not soul-mates, yet Amadine is reluctant to part from Malaga. Until the very end, Malaga is pigeon-holed as a shallow and selfish person. There is a twist at the end to explain her behavior, but it’s too little and too late for me to feel that her character had any real depth or believablity. The romance that develops slowly over the course of the novel, however, tugged at my heart-strings. I think that the sex scene in this novel was probably the sweetest and most romantic in any novel I’ve ever read. Coming from a reviewer that typically passes over sex scenes because of boredom, that is quite an accomplishment. I absolutely adore Amadine’s mid-story lover and wish that I could find a guy like him.
The performance of this author’s debut novel nearly brought me to my feet in applaud, however the out-of-place ending and some questionable character decisions by Malaga and Sterling kept me in my seat. I’ll probably still buy a ticket to her next show, but this one disappointed me with its wasted potential.
(I received a copy of this book from the author/Netgalley in exchange for my honest review)
The (parenthesis) words aren’t explained early enough in the novel, leaving me wondering if the characters had some form of telepathy. Eventually, I understood that (parenthesis) meant that the characters were speaking through a form of sign-language. I wish that this was explained much earlier in the novel, since the lack of knowing drew me out of the story every time the (parenthesis) was used. I also don’t think that the concept behind the Plaguellants was polished enough. They come across as highly religious and paranoid of disease, yet the lack of testing within their ranks makes no sense. The ending nearly ruined the book. It forced characters to switch personalities and forgo habits that they displayed throughout the rest of the novel.
Amadine begins the novel in a relationship with Malaga. It’s clear from the beginning that the two are not soul-mates, yet Amadine is reluctant to part from Malaga. Until the very end, Malaga is pigeon-holed as a shallow and selfish person. There is a twist at the end to explain her behavior, but it’s too little and too late for me to feel that her character had any real depth or believablity. The romance that develops slowly over the course of the novel, however, tugged at my heart-strings. I think that the sex scene in this novel was probably the sweetest and most romantic in any novel I’ve ever read. Coming from a reviewer that typically passes over sex scenes because of boredom, that is quite an accomplishment. I absolutely adore Amadine’s mid-story lover and wish that I could find a guy like him.
The performance of this author’s debut novel nearly brought me to my feet in applaud, however the out-of-place ending and some questionable character decisions by Malaga and Sterling kept me in my seat. I’ll probably still buy a ticket to her next show, but this one disappointed me with its wasted potential.
(I received a copy of this book from the author/Netgalley in exchange for my honest review)
September 22, 2014
Other reviewers have noted that “Angel on the Ropes” contained a lot of creative ideas; trouble is, to use a circus metaphor, the author tried to juggle too many balls at once, and overall the book suffered as a result. Science fiction often serves as commentary on the present, or human nature in general (think Star Trek), and the core themes of “Angel” – the dangers of religious zealotry and willful ignorance, the value of non-violent solutions, the need to be true to oneself – are certainly worthy of a science fiction novel. And having the main character be a circus acrobat adds some color and originality. But the author decided to also make this a romance novel, and so we get the highly formulaic setup of Amandine swept off her feet by The Perfect Man (totally hot bod; rich but humble; a sensitive artist who loves cooking and cats - or at least the cat-like creatures that inhabit this space colony; etc.). Readers who love both genres might enjoy this mash-up better than I did.
Another plot element is informed by the current debate about health care in the U.S. The concept of people having to gamble at “health casinos” (where the games are fixed, of course) to try to win health care would work wonderfully as a wickedly satirical short story set in the near future; as an element in a (non-satirical) far-future story (where, for example, the concept of sexual orientation is entirely irrelevant), it just felt anachronistic to read about characters dealing with “health care reform.” (In this case, science fiction as allegory for the present would have worked better with a subtler touch).
And then there were the “spare parts” lying around. Characters speak to each other partially in sign language; not only is there no explanation for such a radical change in human communication, but the fact that they do so plays no role whatsoever in anything that happens in the story. It’s just there to make the story more “science-fictiony.” Same with having the space colony be inside a Dyson sphere that was abandoned by aliens; again, this had minimal, if any, impact on the story.
So, yes, a lot of creative ideas, and some of it works, but there were enough parts that didn’t to keep me from thoroughly enjoying the story.
Another plot element is informed by the current debate about health care in the U.S. The concept of people having to gamble at “health casinos” (where the games are fixed, of course) to try to win health care would work wonderfully as a wickedly satirical short story set in the near future; as an element in a (non-satirical) far-future story (where, for example, the concept of sexual orientation is entirely irrelevant), it just felt anachronistic to read about characters dealing with “health care reform.” (In this case, science fiction as allegory for the present would have worked better with a subtler touch).
And then there were the “spare parts” lying around. Characters speak to each other partially in sign language; not only is there no explanation for such a radical change in human communication, but the fact that they do so plays no role whatsoever in anything that happens in the story. It’s just there to make the story more “science-fictiony.” Same with having the space colony be inside a Dyson sphere that was abandoned by aliens; again, this had minimal, if any, impact on the story.
So, yes, a lot of creative ideas, and some of it works, but there were enough parts that didn’t to keep me from thoroughly enjoying the story.
April 15, 2014
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review.
In the Earthern colony of Penance, Amandine has no other choice than to keep a great secret: she was born a leopard. There are spots in her skin that resemble symptoms of a disease that plagued humanity, spots she must hide. After all, the same people who say leopards carry the disease are the same people who won't regret killing them. Purity is all that matters. And so, Amandine hides her spots under layers of make-up and the lights of one of the most famous circuses of Penance, where she flies with the help of her trapeze and her heart-brother Jango.
For years, all seems to be going well. She is part of the Circus of her dreams and even manages to save some leopards from the hands of the Plaguellants. But, as always, things begin to unfold. The Circus is in need of money. The leopards she attempts to save in one of her runs are murdered before her eyes. Everything is collapsing, and she does not quite know where to turn to.
Seems simple, doesn't it? Well, it begins that way, but as the book develops the story becomes increasingly complex. To the holocaust-like issue, others are added: healthcare, invasive species, other environmental issues, sociological problems, etcetera. It is, I dare say, when these side issues become more relevant that the book begins to shine. Sadly, it's only halfway through that the book picks up.
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In the Earthern colony of Penance, Amandine has no other choice than to keep a great secret: she was born a leopard. There are spots in her skin that resemble symptoms of a disease that plagued humanity, spots she must hide. After all, the same people who say leopards carry the disease are the same people who won't regret killing them. Purity is all that matters. And so, Amandine hides her spots under layers of make-up and the lights of one of the most famous circuses of Penance, where she flies with the help of her trapeze and her heart-brother Jango.
For years, all seems to be going well. She is part of the Circus of her dreams and even manages to save some leopards from the hands of the Plaguellants. But, as always, things begin to unfold. The Circus is in need of money. The leopards she attempts to save in one of her runs are murdered before her eyes. Everything is collapsing, and she does not quite know where to turn to.
Seems simple, doesn't it? Well, it begins that way, but as the book develops the story becomes increasingly complex. To the holocaust-like issue, others are added: healthcare, invasive species, other environmental issues, sociological problems, etcetera. It is, I dare say, when these side issues become more relevant that the book begins to shine. Sadly, it's only halfway through that the book picks up.
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did-not-finish
June 10, 2013I only read about 15% of the book, so I don't think it would right for me to rate it.
(This is based solely on the amount I've read.)
The world wasn't explained very well- and it really should have been, considering how different it was [the main character was a 'leopard'(?) girl].
This was really the main reason for not finishing it- I had no idea what sort of world it was, what was happening, etc.
Apart from that, the first chapter had her doing a lot of trapeze moves which sounded amazing, but the writing wasn't clear enough for me to picture it in my head. This was a pretty long part so it was kind of annoying.
I did like the first lines though, so I'll just leave it here:
When she was eleven, a crazy old man taught Amandine how to breathe backwards.
**I received a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.**
Sidenote: From what I understood, backwards breathing was just normal breathing. Unless it's later explained to be not? Or am I misinterpreting it? If you know, tell me in the comments!
(This is based solely on the amount I've read.)
The world wasn't explained very well- and it really should have been, considering how different it was [the main character was a 'leopard'(?) girl].
This was really the main reason for not finishing it- I had no idea what sort of world it was, what was happening, etc.
Apart from that, the first chapter had her doing a lot of trapeze moves which sounded amazing, but the writing wasn't clear enough for me to picture it in my head. This was a pretty long part so it was kind of annoying.
I did like the first lines though, so I'll just leave it here:
When she was eleven, a crazy old man taught Amandine how to breathe backwards.
**I received a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.**
Sidenote: From what I understood, backwards breathing was just normal breathing. Unless it's later explained to be not? Or am I misinterpreting it? If you know, tell me in the comments!
June 20, 2013
Angel on The Ropes, by Jill Shultz. fantasy/sci-fi
The story-line is creative but a little difficult to follow. It tends to jump back and forth into lengthy scenarios with various characters which can be hard to follow.
However, The main character, Amandine Sand, is detailed and likable. She becomes more complex as she grows within the story. She works for the circus and is what is refered to as a leopard, which she tries to keep hidden. It is mistakenly belived by many, leopards carry a disease and therefore do not take kindly to them.
I do believe it is a good read for fantasy and sci-fi both.
Renee Robinson, website:http://naesnest.wix.com/phoenixwriter
The story-line is creative but a little difficult to follow. It tends to jump back and forth into lengthy scenarios with various characters which can be hard to follow.
However, The main character, Amandine Sand, is detailed and likable. She becomes more complex as she grows within the story. She works for the circus and is what is refered to as a leopard, which she tries to keep hidden. It is mistakenly belived by many, leopards carry a disease and therefore do not take kindly to them.
I do believe it is a good read for fantasy and sci-fi both.
Renee Robinson, website:http://naesnest.wix.com/phoenixwriter
August 13, 2013
I wanted to completely fall in love with the characters, especially Amandine; however I just felt that none of the characters were ever developed to their full potential. Often times during the reading of this book, I would say to myself "what's going on????". I wished the story line had been more cohesive and perhaps fine-tuned on the fluidity just a tad more. At times it felt disjointed to me.
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