More times than most it's noticed that in a book series one book stands above the rest. Its popularity purely based on fans ratings instead of the actual books ability compared to other books in the Series.
That's exactly what happened in Dan Brown's Robert Langdon series where the most popular book is the second in the series the Da Vinci Code when the debut book Angel's and Demon's is clearly more impressive.
I've read the two books and I can say confidently that the reason for the Da Vinci's code popularity is purely because of it's controversy.
Regardless that's not the aim of this post. I'm here to talk about only one book today and that's
Angel's and Demon's
Plot
Robert Langdon, a Harvard symbolism professor and a decorated writer of numerous books on religious symbols was used to prank calls, or calls from crazed fanatics asking for his thoughts on a random symbol that imaginatively looks like one from a long lost civilization or a secret society.
That's why when he got a call by 5 AM in the morning, he wasn't panicked, just annoyed by this caller's gusto for calling at such an inhumane time.
He answered, reprimanded him for the early time and then slammed the phone and tried to slip back to sleep.
He couldn't though and was forced to start his money early, groggy and vexed. The caller proved his resilience and ability. For he called a second and third time, then he also faxed a picture.
The picture did it, for as Robert Langdon answered on the Fourth ring, he knew that his world would be changed forever, but he didn't know that the next 24 hours would be the most crazed, adrenaline filled ones of his life.
This is indeed a new one for me. I've read a lot of books. Mostly fantasy, some mystery and some thrillers. But this... THIS opened a whole new world of rushe and adrenaline.
Dan Brown is a wonderful writer of the thriller arts because it brings you in as a reader and lets you feel the same pressure the characters are feeling.
You read on and on, hoping to God that the characters make it in time.
Dan Brown employed mastery on so many skills to make the thriller as successful as it was. These are things that I noticed and loved the intricate implementation of these skills, it made reading a lot more wholesome.
- Details
The details in this book was crazy. Leaving almost nothing to the imagination, the reader can be fully immersed in the mystery of Rome looking at the statues or at the pure wonder of CERN as he looks at the genius intentions.
This details brings a certain curiosity to the reader (me) as I went and searched for most of these sculptures and check of their description matched what was written in the book. They did
This shows the level of research done in each and every book. Many hours pouring over internet references or seeing it himself live, it was just wonderful to read.
- Characters
The characters are quite something. A really diverse lot pocked with diverse values. They say the characters make the story but in this book, it's clear that the characters were affected by the story just as much as the readers were.
From Robert to Kohler, Vittoria Vetra and the Camerlengo each had their own roles and the roles were reversed and exchanged as the story unfolded.
The one thing about the character roles that I loved was in the search for the antagonist.
Everyone was in the dark. I couldn't even make a wild guess and when I thought I had guessed it. Then the big reveal flipped everything upside down. It was fantastic 😭🔥
One of the best reveals in a book I've had in a while.
- Facts and Fiction
One thing about this book is that it's fiction built on fact. This is more intense than the purely fictious thriller mystery novels made. Because of it's factual foundations, readers can instantly grasp how real this could be.
This puts that gnawing though of just how real the author made this.
Once you see that over 60% of the novel including the organisations, locations, practices included are fact. You're left guessing what isn't real.
This kind of book aren't many because you'd need lots of research and a lot of pull and/or resources to find out about these things and visit so you can write about them so well.
- The Psychology
This is a book, or rather this is a series that gives an idea of the intricacy of religion as a whole.
How it stemmed and despite the strength of it, just how feeble faith is in general.
As one reads on, he understands just how the faith in a church can be easily threatened, broken and renewed. It's quite an eye opener, and a source of numerous controversial talks.
I love books that have different views like this, it's just refreshing for me.
These are my thoughts on the first book of the Robert Langdon series Angel's and Demon's. I've already read the well acclaimed best seller second book Da Vinci's code before I decided to start my review.
In summary I totally recommend this book to any lover of thriller and mystery. It's a wonderful read, a stunning 10/10!!🔥
Header image made using Canva. Images of color and statues have their links embedded in it. Other images are screenshots from the book.
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