Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Sneak preview, 19 Dec 2008
I was fortunate enough to read a pre-press copy of this novel. The result was that I spent two evenings or more lost in the world of Laverstone, bursting out laughing, sometimes at length.
This book is intelligent, imaginative, and Very funny. Take Jeeves and Wooster, Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchet woven together and you may get the idea
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4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The devil you know.... , 31 Jan 2009
Harold, a mild mannered thirty something year old remains oblivious to the supernatural entities in his own home until he is touched by the Angel of Pestilence. Diagnosed with an incredibly rare disease and given only a few months to live, Harold decides to take action; namely the summoning of a demon. When Jasfroup answers his summons, a demon who is already known to the oblivious Harold's mother and in fact ironically acted as a somewhat "guardian angel" to Harold himself as a child, the two embark on an adventure into the supernatural world intending to extend Harold's lifespan (by a few hundred years or so).
Hot on Harold's heels are three Angels intent on bringing about the Apocalypse, and if they need to corrupt his soul to do this they will. Yet waiting for Harold's legion of demons and other infernal creatures to destroy the world appears increasingly unlikely and the Angels may have to fall back to plan B; a sharp sword through one of Harold's vital organs, allowing for the rise of the next Antichrist. Although Harold turns out to be the son of Lucifer, neither he nor his mum believe he will destroy the world and despite the conviction and hope of "those above", he'd rather settle back with a nice cup of Earl Grey than bring about Armageddon.
Like other reviewers I cannot help but compare this debuting author to Terry Pratchett. The quips come fast and heavy, as do the comic scenarios (including the true perpetrator behind the corruption of Eve and the meaning of the "mark of Cain"). RG turns the Afterlife on it's head, as Angels strive to bring about the Apocalypse whilst the most infernal creatures of Hell attempt to thwart them, and she does so imaginatively, cleverly and thoroughly tongue in cheek throughout this book. "The Ungodly Child" is one of those unexpected finds it's reader immediately wishes to share with the world and to give you an idea of what to expect throughout it's pages, I'd like to share one of my favourite lines courtesy of Harold - "Not many people have dads that are in the Bible".
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5 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A devlishly good story!, 6 Jan 2009
Harold Waterman is a perfectly normal, perfectly respectable Englishman with a modest junk emporium to his name. He is therefore rather surprised when the Angel of Pestilence walks into his shop one day and infects him with an incurable disease, giving him just months to live. He would be even more surprised to learn the facts about his true parentage, or exactly why a trio of meddling angels seem convinced that Harold is a potential candidate for the role of Antichrist and want him to trigger Armageddon.
It's a good job that Harold can (with the aid of a bit of careful research) summon the erudite demon Jasfoup to his side to help him work out just what the hell (literally) is happening. All Jasfoup requires in return is a nice cup of tea and maybe a biscuit.
Oh, and the head of a saint.
This is a charming and engaging first novel, featuring a sprawling cast of demons, angels, some who fall somewhere in between, vampires, ghosts and others. It is full of sly biblical allusions, groan worthy puns, a sword fight or two and plenty of inventive ideas. The plot may be a little tortuous in places, but the journey is an enjoyable one and it promises good things for more books in the sequence.
Two thumbs up!
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