A Madness Of Angels

Young sorceror Matthew Swift, mentored by a powerful, much respected sorceror Robert Bakker, is ever fascinated and delighted by the strange semi sentient electrical impulses known as the Blue Angels, wisps of emotions and cut off conversations in the telephone wires, with whom Matthew seems to have an affinity.

When Bakker has a bad stroke and loses so much of his powers and is fearful of death, he begs Matthew to somehow intervene with the "angels" to restore his strength, and perhaps gain him immortality. Matthew is incapable of this and an enraged vengeful Bakker sends. Hunger, a cruel terrifying Shadow after him and the Shadow murders him, sucking up his life blood, energy and power. But Matthew was on the phone when he was horrendously murdered, and his dying breath somehow merges in the phone lines with the electric "angels".

Two years later. Matthew abruptly appears back in his old home, confused, without much memory, and now a startling amalgam of the "angels" and a human being, so much so that he refers to himself as "we" half of the time. He also now has bright electric blue eyes, and strong magical powers as he can twist electricity to his will. The "angels" delight in experiencing all the heady sensations of being in human flesh

On discovering that Bakker has destroyed many of his old friends, Matthew embarks on a vedetta, methodically working his way through Bakker's cohorts in his bitter thirst for revenge. Of course, Bakker, now on the point of death is ravenous for the secrets of immortality, and sends the Shadow, which has Bakker's face, to try to discover Matthew's secrets and gain immortality. Matthew will have to make alliances with witches, werewolves, and an assortment of supernatural beings if he is to save his life and gain his revenge on his cruel greedy enemies.

This book was riveting and exciting with a vividly portrayed London of the supernatura world. Obliquely written, sometimes in flashbacks, it is a definitely challenging task to grasp what exactly is going on. It would probably need a reread to understand fully, but is always exciting, intriguing and intense, and with that special edge Brit urban fantasy authors seem to have, where London itself seems almost to become a character in the story. I recommend this book, and will certainly look out for more of the Matthew Swift series, where hopefully some of the mysteries and obscurities of this book will be elucidated.