This stand-alone sequel follows Sharon Stinn's other "Angel" books,ArchangelandJovah's Angelin a series reminiscent of Orson Scott Card'sHomecomingin tone and structure. Shinn did some interesting world-building here, andThe Alleluia Filestakes a close look at the history, progress, and society of Samaria.
Samaria was colonized long ago as a religious utopia. An orbiting satellite doubles as a god; people have worshipped and succored it for centuries. A class system developed due to the existence of genetically engineered "angels" who can fly and communicate with the satellite by singing, and who often lord it over the regular folks.
Tamar is the child of rebellious cultists, raised in the heretical belief that Jovah isn't a god, but merely a technical device set up by ancestors long ago to control weather and events on Samaria. The rebel group is in retreat, with the Archangel Bael on a rampage to capture and kill off as many cultists as possible. Tamar is determined to avenge her friends and family, to free Samaria from the double stranglehold of angelic power and peoples' fear of the "god." Tamar meets Jared, an open-minded angel willing to help her on her quest, and the two disparate young people form an uneasy alliance.
Likable characters, a thoroughly realized setting, and a sense of discovery makeThe Alleluia Filesan enjoyable science fiction tale.--Bonnie Bouman--
The Truth Comes Out In another compulsively readable novel in Sharon Shinn's Samaria series, the inhabitants of this world finally learn the truth about the spaceship Jehovah, which they have long thought to be the god Jovah. Shinn builds a good and suspenseful plot around twins, one angel, one human, who were separated at birth. A welcome departure from her first couple of Samaria novels which were very enjoyable, but sadly all seemed to have the same plot of Archangel-angelica love story. Another book for my "favorites" shelf.
Marvelous conclusion to her Samaria trilogy! (The first two books are "Archangel" and "Jovah's Angel".) While I admit I preferred the first two books, this is no less brilliant. The shift from fantasy in the first book, to a melding of fantasy and science fiction in the second, to a predominantly sci-fi atmosphere in the third, is fascinating. Her imagery is beautiful, sweeping you up in the magic and wonder of her world and the music it is filled with. Her ideas are fresh, innovative, intriguing - I'd recommend her to anyone who is tired of traditional fantasy. I'd rather not give away the plot if you haven't read the first two because it would spoil the effect of the revelation. Worth reading and re-reading. Want more.Don't miss this series Sharon Shinn has created a wonderful world of Samaria and peopled it with great characters. Read the books in order and hope that she adds a 4th to continue what she has started.
