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Red Angel #1
Red Angel
Anna nearly dies, along with all her family, at age four from the deadly Cacao virus. But she survives, thanks to a poisonous red-headed krait. The medical community is excited since there is no known cure for the virus, but Anna and her snake, Red, have a symbiotic relationship—containment, not cure. If she is ever separated from Red, she will die.
Anna struggles through foster homes. As her krait becomes known and valuable throughout the three star empires as one of only a handful of such snakes, she fights off attempts to kill her and snatch Red. She even comes to wonder if her brilliance in school and eventually at deciphering code is somehow connected to her constant companion. When the Naval Intelligence Agency, the NIA, recruits her, her adventures grow beyond fending off thieves and killers to tracking down interstellar smugglers as part of an elite team, but the smuggling cartel are quick to fight back. In the midst of space battles and well-placed assassins, Anna is convinced that Red’s presence may make the difference in survival or death, not just for her but her entire NIA team.
Anna struggles through foster homes. As her krait becomes known and valuable throughout the three star empires as one of only a handful of such snakes, she fights off attempts to kill her and snatch Red. She even comes to wonder if her brilliance in school and eventually at deciphering code is somehow connected to her constant companion. When the Naval Intelligence Agency, the NIA, recruits her, her adventures grow beyond fending off thieves and killers to tracking down interstellar smugglers as part of an elite team, but the smuggling cartel are quick to fight back. In the midst of space battles and well-placed assassins, Anna is convinced that Red’s presence may make the difference in survival or death, not just for her but her entire NIA team.
284 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 22, 2015
82 people are currently reading
200 people want to read
About the author
C.R. Daems
51 books284 followersI was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, and joined the military right out of high school. I served twenty-two years in the United States Air Force as a certified internal auditor. While in the military service, I lived in seven states and two foreign countries, and obtained two degrees: a BS in mathematics and an MS in computer science.
After I retired from the Air Force, I secured a position with Digital Equipment Corporation, located in Bedford, Massachusetts, as a software course developer and instructor. I worked twenty-two years at DEC and held positions as a course developer, course development manager, software engineer, and software engineering manager.
Today, I’m retired and live in Tucson, Arizona, with my wife of fifty-three years. My daughter and two grandchildren live in Maryland. I began writing several years after I retired, when I was seventy. My first two attempts remain in my desk drawer—good ideas, but poorly written. Subsequently, I co-authored, with Jeanne Tomlin, three fantasy novels: Talon of the Raptor Clan, Scales of Justice, and All My Friends Have Wings (young adults). Talon of the Raptor Clan was sold to ePress-online Books and came out in July 2009. Since then I have written two additional novels: The Laughing Hounds (urban fantasy) and The Riss Gamble (science fiction).
My hobbies for the past forty years have been kung fu and tai chi.
After I retired from the Air Force, I secured a position with Digital Equipment Corporation, located in Bedford, Massachusetts, as a software course developer and instructor. I worked twenty-two years at DEC and held positions as a course developer, course development manager, software engineer, and software engineering manager.
Today, I’m retired and live in Tucson, Arizona, with my wife of fifty-three years. My daughter and two grandchildren live in Maryland. I began writing several years after I retired, when I was seventy. My first two attempts remain in my desk drawer—good ideas, but poorly written. Subsequently, I co-authored, with Jeanne Tomlin, three fantasy novels: Talon of the Raptor Clan, Scales of Justice, and All My Friends Have Wings (young adults). Talon of the Raptor Clan was sold to ePress-online Books and came out in July 2009. Since then I have written two additional novels: The Laughing Hounds (urban fantasy) and The Riss Gamble (science fiction).
My hobbies for the past forty years have been kung fu and tai chi.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
August 22, 2018
There was very little character development, leaving them flat and rather unemotional.
It was kind of immature. Guess it is mostly written for young adults.
But nevertheless, it was good fun!
It was kind of immature. Guess it is mostly written for young adults.
But nevertheless, it was good fun!
December 29, 2020
It had some issues. Constant repetition of Anna and Red's story. The constant reminder that they needed to keep quiet about Red because of the danger of thieves, yet they were telling people the whole story, left and right. Relatively small issues that were easily outweighed by intriguing story. Honestly, the worst issue for me was the constant "poisonous snake" and "the snake's poison". It is venomous, not poisonous - it injects toxins, as opposed to secreting toxic substances. If it was poisonous then just touching it would make people sick. (Sorry, but 17 years with a herpetologist would make this a huge annoyance for you also.) I'd say I'm being nit-picky but Red is a huge part of the story so that makes it a rather glaring issue.
Having said all that, I actually loved the story and can't wait to read more. I think one of the things I liked best is Anna's mindset. She is very matter of fact over the idea that she probably won't live a long time and that it is very unlikely that she will have a lover or children. (I think I would actually be satisfied either way this goes, that she isn't able to have the lover and children or that they find a cure or someone willing to accept that Red is a part of Anna and still want to be with her.) She doesn't bemoan her fate or feel sorry for herself, in fact she is always grateful for the life she does have.
Having said all that, I actually loved the story and can't wait to read more. I think one of the things I liked best is Anna's mindset. She is very matter of fact over the idea that she probably won't live a long time and that it is very unlikely that she will have a lover or children. (I think I would actually be satisfied either way this goes, that she isn't able to have the lover and children or that they find a cure or someone willing to accept that Red is a part of Anna and still want to be with her.) She doesn't bemoan her fate or feel sorry for herself, in fact she is always grateful for the life she does have.
November 13, 2018
I couldn't finish this book, I think I made it to the 10-15% mark and I couldn't take it anymore. Everything was contrived to make Anna into a victim, and some of those instances were just nonsensical. In the beginning, 3 older boys at a group home attack her, bust her nose, leave bruises all over her and she gets blamed for her snake biting them as they accuse her of being the attacker. The caretaker and the police officer don't even question her about the event despite her obvious injuries. It was completely unbelievable and contrived.
There was nothing in the way of character development either. In the span of a couple of chapters we fast forward from 6 years old to 9 years old to 11-12 years old. All we really know about her is she's quiet, respectful, and studious. We don't know what her dreams are, we don't know if she has a favorite subject, or even a preferred food. We don't know any of the customs in her world. We know next to nothing.
There was nothing in the way of character development either. In the span of a couple of chapters we fast forward from 6 years old to 9 years old to 11-12 years old. All we really know about her is she's quiet, respectful, and studious. We don't know what her dreams are, we don't know if she has a favorite subject, or even a preferred food. We don't know any of the customs in her world. We know next to nothing.
December 8, 2017
This has some of the flattest unhuman characters ever.
The dialoge is all like "Hello mother I love you" "Hello daughter, I also love you" "I was the perfect child at school today and somehow managed to develop no relationships outside of this one" "Very good child.".
The character development is pretty much non-existant and the girl is so flat and unemotional it's like reading exposition rather than experiencing a story.
I tried really hard to like this, but in the end dnf.
The dialoge is all like "Hello mother I love you" "Hello daughter, I also love you" "I was the perfect child at school today and somehow managed to develop no relationships outside of this one" "Very good child.".
The character development is pretty much non-existant and the girl is so flat and unemotional it's like reading exposition rather than experiencing a story.
I tried really hard to like this, but in the end dnf.
June 11, 2017
C R Daems is becoming one of my favourite authors. I started this book one evening and didn’t put it down until I had finished it at 3am in the morning.
There are some aspects of the book that don’t bare too much examination, but it is such an easy story to read that it was easy to skip over any problems.
There are some aspects of the book that don’t bare too much examination, but it is such an easy story to read that it was easy to skip over any problems.
April 28, 2019
Red Angel - the first of a five-book (so far?) series, is charming and lightweight.
RA was the first book I read by Daems. I subsequently read a number of others, and most of them adhere to the same template: The protagonist is young, (often from a deprived background), female (with a tendency to be attacked - literally - by men who don't take her seriously), and always right. She usually has extraordinary powers. She achieves her aims despite the resistance and obtuseness and malice of the men around her.
Anna is orphaned as a young child when her parents catch a deadly and incurable disease. She catches it too, but is 'adopted' by a snake whose venom keeps the virus at bay (and non-contagious). The snake is also helpful - warning her when something is wrong, warning her when she should be paying attention, biting people when it would be helpful to do.
I did read all five books, and the latter four are variants of the first: There is a clever conspiracy. Only Anna realizes that it's a conspiracy. She follows the evidence. Bad guys, alarmed, make repeated and unsuccessful (or there would have been fewer sequels) assassination attempts. People who ought to be good guys are jealous or sexist or prejudiced and try to torpedo her. (There is a tendency in these books for those people to use career-limiting tactics, like attacking her in front of witnesses.) Eventually she succeeds and is promoted - to a position where her youth will trigger more career-limiting attacks. Perhaps there won't be a Red Angel #6, because she's run out of potential promotions.
The science fiction aspect of the book/s is perfunctory. It would take very little adjustment to move most of Daems's books to 21st-century Earth. There are space ships and laser rays, but little else has changed after more than five hundred years.
An enjoyable read. It won't make you think.
RA was the first book I read by Daems. I subsequently read a number of others, and most of them adhere to the same template: The protagonist is young, (often from a deprived background), female (with a tendency to be attacked - literally - by men who don't take her seriously), and always right. She usually has extraordinary powers. She achieves her aims despite the resistance and obtuseness and malice of the men around her.
Anna is orphaned as a young child when her parents catch a deadly and incurable disease. She catches it too, but is 'adopted' by a snake whose venom keeps the virus at bay (and non-contagious). The snake is also helpful - warning her when something is wrong, warning her when she should be paying attention, biting people when it would be helpful to do.
I did read all five books, and the latter four are variants of the first: There is a clever conspiracy. Only Anna realizes that it's a conspiracy. She follows the evidence. Bad guys, alarmed, make repeated and unsuccessful (or there would have been fewer sequels) assassination attempts. People who ought to be good guys are jealous or sexist or prejudiced and try to torpedo her. (There is a tendency in these books for those people to use career-limiting tactics, like attacking her in front of witnesses.) Eventually she succeeds and is promoted - to a position where her youth will trigger more career-limiting attacks. Perhaps there won't be a Red Angel #6, because she's run out of potential promotions.
The science fiction aspect of the book/s is perfunctory. It would take very little adjustment to move most of Daems's books to 21st-century Earth. There are space ships and laser rays, but little else has changed after more than five hundred years.
An enjoyable read. It won't make you think.
January 31, 2021
I found this opening volume to the series quite interesting and enjoyable. Our protagonist Anna contracted a life-threatening virus at age four. Mysteriously, (a vague explanation is given in the book) poisonous red-headed krait bonds with Anna, injecting a small amount of venom that puts the virus in remission. This symbiotic relationship continues throughout her life. If the krait is removed, she will die. Anna is very intelligent and focused, which allows her to rise in the ranks, whether it be in school or the Navy where she winds up. Anna believes that the relationship with the krait endows her with the ability to sense people’s inner emotions. This ability, along with her intelligence and perceptive nature leads her to a position in the Naval Intelligence Agency (NIA). Now we get into the real story. The mission is to disrupt a smuggling operation between planets that the Navy has had little success at stopping. Anna and her NIA team begin a fast-track career breaking encrypted code, anticipating smuggler’s moves, and uncovering spies while learning the ways of the Navy. Life-threatening situations arose as the NIA team made progress, and the smugglers vowed revenge. This story was a thought-provoking and sincere account of a bright, intelligent young woman making the best of a difficult situation and through persistence and devotion coming out on top. Her relationship with her adopted mother was gratifying and heart-warming. As an aside, the story also has the coming-of-age flavor. By the end of the story, I came to like and respect this character for her strength and honesty. Gabrielle de Cuir performed flawlessly.
May 7, 2019
A very nice light sci-fi novel. Plot is almost like a typical smuggler investigation with an interesting twist on the main protagonist Anna. The interaction between Anna and the snake are interesting, but mostly subdued.
My main complaints about the story is that the snake, which is supposed to an incredibly rare and something that should be kept secret, is constantly flaunted. Anna continuously tells her story over and over, and while the people who she tell it to seem to be mostly high ranking individuals, this feels a little jarring. It also was starting to get annoying how often this seems to happen.
The writing is a little stilted in places, especially between Anna and her mother. Most of the characters seem incredibly one dimensional, but this probably isn't as big a deal considering the type of story it seems to be. A lot of the book makes out Anna to be a child prodigy, but I guess it needs to be brought up whenever Anna does something out of place.
Overall, I like the book as a light noir-ish investigation sort of book. I tend to like books with a little more to it, whether it be plot or the plot devices used, hence the rating.
My main complaints about the story is that the snake, which is supposed to an incredibly rare and something that should be kept secret, is constantly flaunted. Anna continuously tells her story over and over, and while the people who she tell it to seem to be mostly high ranking individuals, this feels a little jarring. It also was starting to get annoying how often this seems to happen.
The writing is a little stilted in places, especially between Anna and her mother. Most of the characters seem incredibly one dimensional, but this probably isn't as big a deal considering the type of story it seems to be. A lot of the book makes out Anna to be a child prodigy, but I guess it needs to be brought up whenever Anna does something out of place.
Overall, I like the book as a light noir-ish investigation sort of book. I tend to like books with a little more to it, whether it be plot or the plot devices used, hence the rating.
Read
September 15, 2020Both the book and the series are excellent writing. Eventually the story includes enough horror to be very unfriendly to children or teenagers, but this book, as all in the series, carries a military advancement theme that all elements of the story are inevitably connected to. The story carries moral integrity and a mental attitude that is actually likely to produce success. This book is well written enough to encourage good reading to the end and to reveal that one cannot overcome all obstacles with brute strength or stunning technology; rather sometimes social cooperation and intelligent strategy can be enough to combine all the good in the world and stomp out evil as with a spiked boot or a 6,000 gigawatt laser. No pessimism prevails in this story.
April 13, 2020
Talon Novels is reissuing C. R. Daems’s Red Angel series which I hadn’t read. Anna Paulus almost died of the incurable Coaca virus at age four but she somehow was adopted by a rare poisonous Krait snake she calls Red. She grows up and is adopted by a former Navy captain and goes through the classes of the Naval Academy by seventeen. Then she is recruited by the Naval Intelligence Agency. Her first concerns Smugglers (ebook). It’s a rare trick to make data analysis exciting, but C. R. Daems makes the tale impossible to put down. Not only that but I gulped down the other four books in the series. Lots of fun.Review printed by Philadelphia Free Press
January 18, 2018
I purchased all 3 of the books in this series when they first came out. They are still wonderful, thoughtful, and well written. So I'm in the processes of re-reading them. I do regret that there are only 3 books. I could wish there was one final book, a sort of goodby for us and a hello for Red Angel's species. Everything I read from C.R. Daems, is wonderfully written and well worth the purchase, (it won't always be on UL. You will want to read her again).
I know I say this every time I read one of your books, but ..... Thank You for Sharing Your Gift!
I know I say this every time I read one of your books, but ..... Thank You for Sharing Your Gift!
November 20, 2019
This is nothing brilliant, but it is a lot of fun!
The main character starts out in a bad place but, with determination and discipline, goes somewhere nicer. I don't know what more I can say about the plot without creating spoilers.
The main character is naive but determined. She is surrounded by wonderful characters that really make it possible for her to shine.
This is not book that will win any awards. It is a book that one might just reread when they want a nice, simple, enjoyable story.
The main character starts out in a bad place but, with determination and discipline, goes somewhere nicer. I don't know what more I can say about the plot without creating spoilers.
The main character is naive but determined. She is surrounded by wonderful characters that really make it possible for her to shine.
This is not book that will win any awards. It is a book that one might just reread when they want a nice, simple, enjoyable story.
March 19, 2021
Interesting, but.....
The characters lacked depth. The world building was decent qnd the relationship building was okay, but the character development was lacking. Anna was very much a Mary Sue, with no real flaws to give her depth or interest, no pivotal or defining moments. The plot was interesting enough that I'll read the second book, but if the characters stay as one dimensional I won't read any others.
The characters lacked depth. The world building was decent qnd the relationship building was okay, but the character development was lacking. Anna was very much a Mary Sue, with no real flaws to give her depth or interest, no pivotal or defining moments. The plot was interesting enough that I'll read the second book, but if the characters stay as one dimensional I won't read any others.
February 1, 2021
Found this one on Audible in the free catalog for members.
Very interesting story. At first, I thought it was a clone of another book I read several years ago I couldn't remember the name of, but it turns out, my first impression was incorrect. This is the kind of science fiction I like to read, so I'm most certainly going to look for more in the series.
Very interesting story. At first, I thought it was a clone of another book I read several years ago I couldn't remember the name of, but it turns out, my first impression was incorrect. This is the kind of science fiction I like to read, so I'm most certainly going to look for more in the series.
December 17, 2017
Heap good fun
A lively romp! Suggest you avail yourself of the audible narration if you intend to listen to it. My biology side rebells at the idea of a krait living on and/or sucking blood., but suppose that is a quibble
A lively romp! Suggest you avail yourself of the audible narration if you intend to listen to it. My biology side rebells at the idea of a krait living on and/or sucking blood., but suppose that is a quibble
March 20, 2019
Lots of action!
I started with Red Angel #5 yesterday and enjoyed the plot so much I decided to start at the beginning. Excellent. Fun to read investigating and compelling character development. Now, I am off to buy the rest of these books and enjoy the whole series.😁
I started with Red Angel #5 yesterday and enjoyed the plot so much I decided to start at the beginning. Excellent. Fun to read investigating and compelling character development. Now, I am off to buy the rest of these books and enjoy the whole series.😁
November 16, 2019
Excellent
The start of another series that I will definitely read and enjoy. This story was all that I could ask for in a science fiction story with lots of action, intrigue, humor and suspense.
The start of another series that I will definitely read and enjoy. This story was all that I could ask for in a science fiction story with lots of action, intrigue, humor and suspense.
March 12, 2020
Awesome
I love this book! Anna is a great character. Her Krait as well. Love the spook theme and how she was recruited a young age. I love the space and puzzle solving. Can’t wait till the next ine
I love this book! Anna is a great character. Her Krait as well. Love the spook theme and how she was recruited a young age. I love the space and puzzle solving. Can’t wait till the next ine
November 20, 2017
Nice, quick YA SciFi story with a strong female lead. I enjoyed it.
August 23, 2018
Good Story
A fun and interesting story is that I thoroughly enjoyed and I am excited to get my hands on book 2.
A fun and interesting story is that I thoroughly enjoyed and I am excited to get my hands on book 2.
November 30, 2018
It is OK. Easy to read, but the carracters does’t feel 100% real.
January 1, 2019
really enjoyed this book and narration, straight on to book 2
April 7, 2019
Sci fi
Love the plot and how an ingenious young girl typically fighting in the poor minority group scrapes her way to success
Love the plot and how an ingenious young girl typically fighting in the poor minority group scrapes her way to success
November 10, 2020
INTO SPACE
I REALLY ENJOYED THIS BOOK LOOKING FORWARD TO READING THE NEXT BOOK IN THE SERIES. STAYED AWAKE TO THE END. READ IN ONE SESSION
I REALLY ENJOYED THIS BOOK LOOKING FORWARD TO READING THE NEXT BOOK IN THE SERIES. STAYED AWAKE TO THE END. READ IN ONE SESSION
January 5, 2021
Great read! Well written. Pulls you in. Does a great job of developing characters, they become your friends!
January 15, 2021
Excellent
This author always delivers a good story and makes you want see the next book in the series, I recommend this book
This author always delivers a good story and makes you want see the next book in the series, I recommend this book
March 6, 2021
Injoyable sci-fi 'who done it' with lots of twists and turns featuring a teenage heroine.
August 12, 2021
Fast paced and action packed, I just couldn't put it down, I was hooked from the start and fast addicted to the series!
November 6, 2021
could not finish
October 4, 2022
After 6 attempts DNF at 75%
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews