Blood and Feathers: Rebellion by Lou Morgan - reviewed

Blood and Feathers: Rebellion by Lou Morgan. Solaris £7.99

Reviewed by Jan Edwards

For those who read Blood and Feathers, this is a welcome return to an Alice of a very different kind. And to those who missed it: where the Hell were you? Rebellion is a direct continuation of Blood and Feathers, and there is enough exposition for a new reader to catch up. But as with any new series, reading the first volume will be a distinct advantage. 

And Hell is the operative word because Hell has quite literally broken loose. Hordes of the Fallen, evicted from Lucifer’s realm, are dealing out death and mayhem at every turn as they a wage open warfare with angels all across the earth.

It would be unfair to potential readers, not to say impossible, to describe too much of the complex plot. Simply put, it is Heaven versus Hell. But there are more twists and turns, broken deals and chicanery told in this story than you’d get from a bunch of Mafia dons at a tall-story bake-off. Yet all come together in a skilful interweaving of breadcrumb trails. Archangel Michael is determined to destroy Lucifer and will do whatever it takes to achieve his goal, with no one beyond sacrifice. That is one of the chair-gripping aspects of Rebellion. Nobody is safe. This is a story where immortals die – often – and thus makes for a tension and excitement so often missing from series. Not even Archangels are sacred under the red pen of Lou Morgan.

There have not been that many books of late that I have read cover to cover in a day, forsaking all of the things I should be doing; Rebellion is such a one-sitting book. The style is crisp, even brisk, but always satisfying in the pictures it conveys. That’s not to say that you feel in anyway rushed or that there is a lack of place or people. Far from it.  Rebellion is a funny, breath-taking, action-packed novel, without frills or angst, and peopled with achingly real personalities. No purpleness of prose but a lot of red blood and blackness of intent from the main protagonists.

Rebellion took this reader along routes that hadn’t before occurred to me. It is a must-read book and is thoroughly recommended.