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Iron Angel (Deepgate Codex Trilogy 2)
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Product Description
Volume 2 of 'The Deepgate Codex' takes us back into an amazingly colourful fantasy world where surprise and danger wait around every corner
Book Description
Order has collapsed in Deepgate. The chained city is now in ruins, and the Deadsands beyond are full of fleeing refugees. Meanwhile, the Spine militia is trying to halt the exodus of panicking citizens through brutal force. Rachel and the young angel Dill are dragged off to the Temple torture chambers . . . but strange things start to happen as a foul red mist rises from the abyss beneath the city. For the god Ulcis's death has left the gates to Hell unguarded, and certain forces in the fathomless darkness beneath Deepgate have noticed an opportunity. Only the offspring of the dread goddess Ayen understand this new danger. Already, Cospinol, god of brine and fog, is coming to save his brother's temple -- and to hunt down Ulcis's murderers. His foul, fog-wreathed skyship has already reached Sandport, bringing along its own version of hell. By now, Rachel just wants to keep her companion alive. Escaping their prison, and with enemies closing in on all sides, she is forced to undertake a perilous journey across the Deadsands towards the distant land of Pandemeria. But there the battlefield at Coreollis is fated to witness a clash of powers -- a contest between men and gods and archons and slaves, all forced into desperate alliances.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I wish I had enjoyed this book more, but although it didn't work for me, I'm sure many readers will find much to enjoy here. The first novel in the trilogy Scar Night was an unexpected delight and one of the best fantasy books I've read in the last few years. Admittedly in parts it was messily written, and it had some characters I didn't care for, and it was far-fetched both in the setting and the way many of the characters acted. But that didn't matter as I enjoyed the tale. Gormenghast with action one review said, and that summed it up nicely making me feel that the genre had gained an original and entertaining voice. I enjoyed it right up until the last 50 pages where most of the mysteries were resolved. I didn't need answers as I could have happily read a whole trilogy in the style of the bulk of the book, and worse it destroyed the carefully created gothic mood. I was therefore disappointed that the sequel continues the themes introduced in the last 50 pages and largely ignores the rest of the book to the extent that I wonder why the trilogy is even called The Deepgate Codex.
This time round the story follows the further adventures of Dill after he was killed in the first book (yeah, the story is that bizarre) along with some new characters, and gods. Nearly everybody who was in the first book fails to re-appear, or if they do it's a walk-on part. I wanted to enjoy this change of direction as middle volumes of fantasy trilogies are often weak as you can usually predict everything that'll happen. Finding a book that contains nothing I expected was therefore interesting, but sadly what replaces the intriguing and involving life in Deepgate is a slight tale involving big battles, plodding quests, powerful gods, and a weird world where anything can happen. Worse, for me anyhow, a huge chunk of the story is set in Hell. Hundreds of pages devoted to describing bizarre types of existence left me cold. Added to that god-like beings feature heavily and that's not my thing. In fantasy I like to read about real people with only the occasional interlude from a god, rather than the other way round.
There's plenty of interesting imagery. For instance the god who dominates the early sections with his massive fog-bound airship and chained champion is a glorious vision, but he doesn't do anything. With the first book, having provided the chained city over Hell, the story then does something with the creation, but not here. It's a world where death has no meaning and people can transform into anything, so it's hard to get involved in anybody's plight or problems. And not knowing what's at stake and where the story is heading doesn't help to generate any tension. Scenes come over as being invention for the sake of invention. Occasionally there are great moments such as a meeting with the infamous Soft Men, something that was worth more than the couple of pages devoted to it. But time and again I felt there was an interesting story going on somewhere in this universe, but unfortunately it was happening elsewhere and the story that appears on the pages wasn't it.
Sadly, although the final section creates an intriguing situation, the journey to get there was a slog to wade through. I hope that in future the author devotes as much time to creating an involving story as he does on dreaming up original imagery. As it is, I'm not sure I'll read the final book now.
This time round the story follows the further adventures of Dill after he was killed in the first book (yeah, the story is that bizarre) along with some new characters, and gods. Nearly everybody who was in the first book fails to re-appear, or if they do it's a walk-on part. I wanted to enjoy this change of direction as middle volumes of fantasy trilogies are often weak as you can usually predict everything that'll happen. Finding a book that contains nothing I expected was therefore interesting, but sadly what replaces the intriguing and involving life in Deepgate is a slight tale involving big battles, plodding quests, powerful gods, and a weird world where anything can happen. Worse, for me anyhow, a huge chunk of the story is set in Hell. Hundreds of pages devoted to describing bizarre types of existence left me cold. Added to that god-like beings feature heavily and that's not my thing. In fantasy I like to read about real people with only the occasional interlude from a god, rather than the other way round.
There's plenty of interesting imagery. For instance the god who dominates the early sections with his massive fog-bound airship and chained champion is a glorious vision, but he doesn't do anything. With the first book, having provided the chained city over Hell, the story then does something with the creation, but not here. It's a world where death has no meaning and people can transform into anything, so it's hard to get involved in anybody's plight or problems. And not knowing what's at stake and where the story is heading doesn't help to generate any tension. Scenes come over as being invention for the sake of invention. Occasionally there are great moments such as a meeting with the infamous Soft Men, something that was worth more than the couple of pages devoted to it. But time and again I felt there was an interesting story going on somewhere in this universe, but unfortunately it was happening elsewhere and the story that appears on the pages wasn't it.
Sadly, although the final section creates an intriguing situation, the journey to get there was a slog to wade through. I hope that in future the author devotes as much time to creating an involving story as he does on dreaming up original imagery. As it is, I'm not sure I'll read the final book now.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Alan Campbell has reached new heights in my opinion, as this is the nearest I ever got to completing a 'Sequel' of any kind!
I was enthralled with his first: 'Scar Night' (see my Review for that title) and was eager to read the Sequel. Though I didn't quite finish this (though by only a few pages) I truly enjoyed what I read, and just believe, as always, that Sequels have to be a bit 'drawn out' to make it through to the end - and so this is no reflection on the actual writing, or style.
With the Chapter 'Cinderbark Wood' - this novel really comes into its own. This was extremely imaginative, and is what the novel really needed after it had left the city 'Deep Gate' behind in the last book. I really missed that 'City Of Chains' this time around. Even to this day; whenever I see 'Scar Night' sitting on the shelves, I have to pick it up and read the first page and am constantly reminded of how much I enjoyed it, and still feel I would be in for a good read! (must read it again one day!) Not having quite made it to the end this time though, I am unsure whether or not I shall purchase the third (and I think final) in the series. If I do, then it will probably be because I will either come back to this and finish it, or start it and re-read the whole thing again. (Readers might also find this title a little 'darker' still than the previous title!)
I'm so often deeply disappointed with Sci-Fi and Fantasy Fiction, but Alan's true imaginative narrative really excels and is quite amazing, and has given me new hopes in the genre!
I was enthralled with his first: 'Scar Night' (see my Review for that title) and was eager to read the Sequel. Though I didn't quite finish this (though by only a few pages) I truly enjoyed what I read, and just believe, as always, that Sequels have to be a bit 'drawn out' to make it through to the end - and so this is no reflection on the actual writing, or style.
With the Chapter 'Cinderbark Wood' - this novel really comes into its own. This was extremely imaginative, and is what the novel really needed after it had left the city 'Deep Gate' behind in the last book. I really missed that 'City Of Chains' this time around. Even to this day; whenever I see 'Scar Night' sitting on the shelves, I have to pick it up and read the first page and am constantly reminded of how much I enjoyed it, and still feel I would be in for a good read! (must read it again one day!) Not having quite made it to the end this time though, I am unsure whether or not I shall purchase the third (and I think final) in the series. If I do, then it will probably be because I will either come back to this and finish it, or start it and re-read the whole thing again. (Readers might also find this title a little 'darker' still than the previous title!)
I'm so often deeply disappointed with Sci-Fi and Fantasy Fiction, but Alan's true imaginative narrative really excels and is quite amazing, and has given me new hopes in the genre!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Iron Angel, the second in the Deppgate Codex, takes the original premise and runs and runs with it. Most fantasy mid-series books simply meander characters around the map, putting things in to place for the final book in the trilogy, but Alan Campbell does far more in this book.
The mythology of his universe is massively expanded, detailing more of the original war between heaven, hell and the surviving Gods. The vague steampunk element present is further developed, literally when the final railway sequence begins.
I was also impressed by the interlude Dill spends in Hell, with the concept that everything, even the walls and floor, must be fashioned from souls an interesting one that is nicely developed - stepping into someone's home becomes a very intimate invasion of their personal space.
It is a measure of the book that I still cannot fathom where it was going. The original Deepgate novel reminded me of Gene Wolfe's Long Sun series, and I expected the various Gods and Demons to have a S/F explanation, but after Iron Anel I am far less certain this is the case. If that is true, then Campbell has created a unique universe worthy of praise.
However, where Iron Angel fails (and hence only 4 stars) is the episodic nature of the story telling. We jump from Deepgate to Hell to Pandemeira with long gaps in the narrative. In some novels, this can create an epic, mythic feel, but here it just feels rushed. I may be wrong, and subsequent book(s) may fill out the details, but at the moment it just detracts from the overall tone.
Even so, this remains a very good, original series, and is well worth a read.
The mythology of his universe is massively expanded, detailing more of the original war between heaven, hell and the surviving Gods. The vague steampunk element present is further developed, literally when the final railway sequence begins.
I was also impressed by the interlude Dill spends in Hell, with the concept that everything, even the walls and floor, must be fashioned from souls an interesting one that is nicely developed - stepping into someone's home becomes a very intimate invasion of their personal space.
It is a measure of the book that I still cannot fathom where it was going. The original Deepgate novel reminded me of Gene Wolfe's Long Sun series, and I expected the various Gods and Demons to have a S/F explanation, but after Iron Anel I am far less certain this is the case. If that is true, then Campbell has created a unique universe worthy of praise.
However, where Iron Angel fails (and hence only 4 stars) is the episodic nature of the story telling. We jump from Deepgate to Hell to Pandemeira with long gaps in the narrative. In some novels, this can create an epic, mythic feel, but here it just feels rushed. I may be wrong, and subsequent book(s) may fill out the details, but at the moment it just detracts from the overall tone.
Even so, this remains a very good, original series, and is well worth a read.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Not as good as 'Scar Night' - but still enjoyable.
Alan Campbell has reached new heights in my opinion, as this is the nearest I ever got to completing a 'Sequel' of any kind! Read more
Published on 19 April 2010 by FAMOUS NAME
Great read!
I thought this book was utterly brilliant. It took the foundations laid in Scar Night, and expanded them into a huge - well imagined - world. Read more
Published on 25 July 2009 by G. Taylor
IRON ANGEL, brilliant sequel
Scar Night finished leaving me wanting to know more so waited until Iron Angel came into paperback, was a long time but well worth the wait. Read more
Published on 24 July 2009 by Rosy Egg
A decent, but somewhat weaker continuation of the series
A devastating conflict between the defenders of Deepgate and the Heshette tribes has left the city in a precarious position, but the Spine priest-assassins are reluctant to let the... Read more
Published on 6 July 2009 by A. Whitehead
Still good...
I have to agree slightly with the below review but not to the point of the story not being good. There were several expansions; the world itself (including the maze), the... Read more
Published on 29 Jun 2009 by Rolfey
Repetitive Slog
I liked Scar Night almost against my will. I had hoped for a repeat of the experience with Iron Angel, but that expectation was not fulfilled. Read more
Published on 10 Jun 2009 by Robert
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