A Madness of Angels

Matthew Swift wakes up in his London apartment two years after his death with no memory of how he survived. He finds himself sharing his body with electric blue angels born from the city's telephone lines, granting him supernatural powers. As a resurrected sorcerer, Matthew must navigate a London where magic flows through the underground, sparks in neon signs, and pulses in the rhythms of daily urban life. He seeks answers about his murder while confronting both human and mystical threats in the city's magical underworld. The story combines urban fantasy with a noir mystery, presenting a version of London where ancient sorcery has evolved alongside modern technology. The magic system draws power from urban elements like graffiti, electricity, and the patterns of rush hour crowds. A Madness of Angels explores themes of identity and adaptation in the modern city, asking what happens when the supernatural world changes to match human progress. The novel raises questions about the price of power and the boundaries between self and other.

Readers found the urban magic system unique and the London setting atmospheric, though many struggled with the dense, complex writing style. The "we" narrative voice (referring to the protagonist's multiple consciousnesses) created confusion for some readers. Likes: - Creative take on urban fantasy magic - Rich descriptions of London - Innovative use of modern technology in magic - Strong world-building Dislikes: - Slow pacing in first 100 pages - Confusing perspective shifts - Overwrought prose style - Plot can be hard to follow Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (3,900+ ratings) Amazon: 3.9/5 (80+ ratings) One reader noted "The descriptions are beautiful but sometimes get in the way of the story." Another commented "The 'we' narrative takes getting used to but pays off." Multiple reviews mentioned needing to restart the book several times before getting through the challenging opening chapters.

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🔮 Kate Griffin is a pen name for Catherine Webb, who published her first novel at age 14 🌃 The story takes place in "Urban Magic" London, where spells can be cast using everyday city elements like graffiti, electricity, and traffic patterns 📚 The book spawned the "Matthew Swift" series, following a sorcerer who shares his body with electric blue angels 🎭 The author wrote this series to explore how magic would evolve and adapt in a modern urban setting, rather than remaining rooted in traditional fantasy elements 🖋️ The novel's unique narrative voice alternates between "I" and "we," reflecting the protagonist's shared consciousness with the blue angels that possess him