Akiva Reads

by Sharon Shinn

Archangel offers interesting potential for sci-fi exploring morality and faith with a highly interventionist, mechanical god. It never materializes, though. Instead, the book is split between a mediocre romance novel plot full of tropes I happen to hate and unsuccessful attempts at writing political intrigue.

Considering the abundance of tropes that I totally detest, I should probably be praising Archangel, because it was interesting enough that I did actually finish it. These tropes include arranged marriages between arrogant dudes and the feisty women who are destined to take them down a peg, quasi-Christian mythology, empirically-testable True Love, and a love interest dude who is almost literally Darcy with huge pure-white wings. (The angels are described as having different coloring at the beginning, but I think Shinn forgot, because by the end everyone seems to have pure-white wings.)

I think there's supposed to be politics happening. There's a spark of potential when Rafael talks about identifying with Lucifer, but mostly what passes for politics is about as subtle and fruitful as the following:

Gabriel: Hey, I'm about to become ruler of the continent, and I think we should talk about economic policy. Burgher: Cool, here are my thoughts on trade and taxes. Gabriel: BTW, I'm interested in ending slavery. How can I go about this to get the support of you and the other merchants? Burgher: Um, you'd fuck up trade, and I'm not really into it. Gabriel: FLIPS THE TABLE FUCK YOU AND THE HORSE YOU RODE IN ON, MY GOD WILL SMITE YOUR ASS.

The inevitable ending to a series of similar confrontations is:

Everyone: Hm, do you think God will smite asses? Suspense!! God: SMITES ALL THE ASSES Everyone who isn't dead: I think I should probably be sad about this?

I actually have a lot of sympathy for Rachel, despite her being the White Savior who's sort-of-a-member-of-the-oppressed-POC-group. However DarcyGabriel is a controlling asshole, and his total inability to do politics reflects that.

One thing I really wish Shinn had covered: What are the effects of and issues with the arm-crystal system? If you're going to write quasi-Christian sci-fi, don't you at some point have to deal with why or why not this is like the Mark of the Beast and/or Baptism? The potential here is huge---there's a whole group of people without arm-crystals for political/faith reasons, and they are maybe discriminated against on this basis?---but the only plot purpose the arm-crystals end up serving is to sparkle when people's True Love's are in the room. (BARF.) At least my fears that the sparkly Twu Wuv arm-crystals would gain other, even stupider powers were unfounded.

(15 April 2014) A woman next to me on the plane today was reading a trashy urban fantasy novel and I suddenly wanted to do the same, so I picked up Archangel which a friend lent to us last month.

Do you even know how many fucking books there are titled Archangel? A Lot.

(9 May 2014) I finished this a few weeks ago, and my thoughts on it haven't changed, other than that it was kind of disappointing. Updated my review to append fact to speculation.