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Title: The Oracle of Philadelphia (Earthbound Angels Book 1)
Author: Elizabeth Corrigan
Published: Red Adept Publishing, 2013
Rating: 3 of 5
Page Count: 222
Total Page Count: 145,373
Text Number: 427
Read Because: review copy provided by publisher
Review: Carrie has lived for thousands of years, using her ability to read thoughts to dispense advice to mortals. But her newest supplicant is different: he's sold his soul to save his sister's life, and Carrie wants to help him. Given the book's scale—the thousands of years that Carrie has lived, the angels and demons she has as friends—Oracle of Philadelphia is surprisingly localized; its real focus is Carrie's life and relationships, which would be more successful if these aspects were defter: the cast is small and caricatured, and their interactions are earnestly intended but unconvincing. Meanwhile, we get only a glimpse of the larger developing conflict; the urban fantasy setting is better explored, and it's monolithic but interesting. What the book lacks is depth: complexity in the characters, refinement in the writing, a bigger and more daring plot. As is, it's perfectly adequate despite feeling restrained: the tone is lighter than I prefer, the book feels self-published, but it's engaging and the right elements are there--but they're not polished to a shine. While I don't particularly recommend it, it's harmless.
Author: Elizabeth Corrigan
Published: Red Adept Publishing, 2013
Rating: 3 of 5
Page Count: 222
Total Page Count: 145,373
Text Number: 427
Read Because: review copy provided by publisher
Review: Carrie has lived for thousands of years, using her ability to read thoughts to dispense advice to mortals. But her newest supplicant is different: he's sold his soul to save his sister's life, and Carrie wants to help him. Given the book's scale—the thousands of years that Carrie has lived, the angels and demons she has as friends—Oracle of Philadelphia is surprisingly localized; its real focus is Carrie's life and relationships, which would be more successful if these aspects were defter: the cast is small and caricatured, and their interactions are earnestly intended but unconvincing. Meanwhile, we get only a glimpse of the larger developing conflict; the urban fantasy setting is better explored, and it's monolithic but interesting. What the book lacks is depth: complexity in the characters, refinement in the writing, a bigger and more daring plot. As is, it's perfectly adequate despite feeling restrained: the tone is lighter than I prefer, the book feels self-published, but it's engaging and the right elements are there--but they're not polished to a shine. While I don't particularly recommend it, it's harmless.
