“SHERLOCK: I may be on the side of the angels, but don’t for think for one second that I am one of them.” -The Angel of the Crows by Katherine Addison, page after dedication
*For my personal thoughts on The Angel of the Crows check out my review of the book.
Author: Katherine Addison
Title: The Angel of the Crows
Category/Type: Adult Fiction
Genre: Fantasy
Subgenre: Paranormal fantasy, historical fantasy; fan fiction, wingfic
Publication Date: May 11, 2021
Number of Pages: 443 pages of story text; 2 pages of acknowledgements & an author’s note
Geographical Setting: Primarily London with one section taking place in the British countryside and flashbacks to fighting in a war in the Middle East and India.
Time Period: Victorian era
Series (if applicable): This book is not a part of a series
Plot Summary: An angel and a doctor recovering from war injuries rent a flat on Baker Street in London...
Vampires, werewolves, angels, Fallen (evil) angels, and hell hounds are real and sometimes respectable creatures in a late-Victorian London that is being terrorized by Jack the Ripper. It would be great if a detail orientated chap and a doctor could help solve London's strange crimes; enter Crow and Dr. J. H. Doyle. Doyle is returning from war against Fallen angels in the Middle East with an injury and more than a few secrets. Crow is the self-proclaimed "Angel of London" with an interesting past of his own. Told from Doyle's perspective the way the original Holmes tales are told from Watson's, readers follow the pair as they assist individuals and begrudging police inspectors solve crimes that seem to defy logic. As the smaller crimes are solved, the threat and violence of Jack the Ripper grows, is he too much even for the abilities of Crow and Doyle?
Content warnings (SLIGHT SPOILER): War, violence against women, murder, transphobia.
Subject Headings: Fantasy Fiction, Paranormal Fiction, Fiction
Appeal/Characteristics of Historical Fantasy
Takes place in a version of the “real” world- This story takes place in late Victorian England and references England’s wars in the Middle East and India.
Magic frames the story- while this book relies heavily on logic, otherworldly creatures give this story a magical element.
Story line features good vs. evil. Story line also explores ways to discover one’s own potential, magical or otherwise- While the protagonists have made questionable decisions and are morally grey, since Doyle and Crow are a crime fighting duo of sorts, there is a clear good side and bad side in each situation. As the relationships between Doyle and Crow grows into friendship, they each help the other realize the things they once thought were negative may actually be helpful positives.
Characters, are clearly good or bad and often attain special magical gifts. Even good characters will find themselves challenged, both physically and ethically. Characters may include mythical creatures as well as more mundane human ones- Crow and Doyle are clearly set up as the “good guys” in this story. They are both challenged by their situations and physical limitations but learn to work within those limitations. While not necessarily mythical, non-human creatures abound living alongside humans. These creatures include angels, vampires, werewolves, and hell hounds.
Books start slowly as the author sets the scene, presents the challenge, and introduces the cast- The story does not begin in London but rather with a long introduction of how Doyle and Crow meet and end up becoming roommates before the crime fighting action begins.
3 terms that best describe this book:
Darkly humorous
Unpredictable
Adventurous
Relevant Non-Fiction Works and Authors
An Entirely New Country: Arthur Conan Doyle, Undershaw and the Resurrection of Sherlock Holmes by Alistair Duncan- this focused biography explores the time period (1890s) after Sir Arthur Conan Doyle returned to London and resurrected Sherlock Holmes.
Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes and Devon: A Complete Tour Guide & Companion by Brian W. Pugh, Paul R. Spiring, and Sad Banji- this guide takes readers on a tour of the real-life places that inspired Sir Arthur Conan Doyle as he was writing the Sherlock Holmes stories.
The Science of Sherlock Holmes: From Baskerville Hall to the Valley of Fear, the Real Forensics Behind the Great Detective’s Greatest Cases by E. J. Wagner- although the Sherlock Holmes stories are fictional, many were based on the ground-breaking scientific principles of his author’s time. This book explores the real science behind the stories.
3 Relevant Fiction Works and Authors
A Master of Djinn by P. Deli Clark- Set in an alternate Cairo in 1912, readers will follow the adventures of Fatma el-Sha’arawi, a special investigator with the Egyptian Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments, and Supernatural Entities. Similar to the situation in The Angel of the Crows, mundane humans and supernatural beings live side-by-side in relative peace but that peace is fragile and members of a special brotherhood are beginning to show up missing. Fans of The Angel of the Crows will enjoy the supernatural crime solving, world building, and historical setting of this novel.
The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter by Theodora Goss- Mary Jekyll’s father was murdered by his business partner, one Mr. Hyde. To solve the case she teams up with Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson in an alternate Victorian London that includes a secret scientific society that might be up to no good. The Angel of the Crow fans will find connections between the settings and characters as well as the retelling of familiar tales.
Anno Dracula by Kim Newman- Another take on an alternate Victoria London, this time with Queen Victoria married to Vlad Teppes in a reign known for its horror. If the royal couple wasn’t bad enough, Whitechapel is being haunted by a killer known as Silver Knife. The Angel of the Crows readers will find similarities in the setting, supernatural creatures, and the killer central to the tale.
Reading the Whole Collection
Readers who enjoyed The Angel of the Crows may enjoy the films Sherlock Holmes and Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows as well as the BBC series Sherlock. These are quirky, non-traditional adaptations of Holmes stories.
Citations
Characteristics of Fantasy novels taken from
Wyatt, N. and Saricks, J. (2019). The readers' advisory guide to genre fiction. Third edition. ALA Editions.