Hi Readers,
One word: Amazing!! Danielle Trussoni’s Angelology is a masterpiece and one of the best novels ever written. Never before have I been pulled into a book this way, and even better, you do not see the end coming. There might be small spoilers below…
One of the original branches of theology, angelology is achieved in the person of the angelologist, whose expertise includes both the theoretical study of angelic systems and their prophetic execution through human history.
The following is a huge passage, but I love all the names Trussoni mentions:
If we were in Paris, it would be possible to present you with concrete and insurmountable proof–you would read testimonies from witnesses, perhaps even see the photographs from the expedition. I would explain the vast and wonderful contributions angelological thinkers have made over the centuries–St. Augustine, Aquinas, Milton, Dante–until our cause would appear clear and sparkling before you. I would lead you through the marble halls to a room where the historical records are preserved. We kept the most elaborate, intricately drawn schemas called angelologies that placed each and every angel exactly in its place. Such works give the universe order. The French mind is extremely tidy–Descartes’ work is evidence of this, not the origin–and something about these systems was extremely soothing to me. I wonder if you, too, would find them so? (116).
If there was ever a book that brought in many of my favorite subjects, it is this one. Trussoni brings in:
Religion:
Rose of Viterbo is the Catholic saint which St. Rose Convent is named for. Depending on the source, there are different possibilities as to how she died. Here is one in particular: She began hearing voices at a young age and those voices told her to “speak the word.” The townspeople thought she was nuts, so they had her burned. Legend is that she stood in the middle of the flames and did not die, but conversed with the angels protecting her. She eventually died at the stake, but people paraded her body around afterwards, supposedly, she was unscathed.
The genealogy of Jesus and the idea that Jesus was not human at all, but an angel. This idea is known as angelmorphism. This is “interesting” because most Christians believe in the hypostatic union of Christ–he is not just human and not just divine, he is both. Controversial… 😉
History:
Kanpur Massacre occurred mid-1800’s. I by no means wish to downplay it, but basically what happened is the British attacked Kanpur, India, and killed two hundred children. The author does not leave any detail untouched, quite graphic in fact. Anyway, the Kanpur Massacre is connected to Angelology because the British were led by a Nephilistic being.
The French Revolution, the Hapsburgs, and the Tudors are also brought in as Nephilistic families.
Mythology
The Watchers are mythologized in the Greek legend of Prometheus, and various other mythologies are introduced. But I think I’ll leave this research up to you. There’s no fun in being told everything, and lots of fun in the investigation. 🙂
Geography:
Central to the conflict is the location of the Fallen. The Greeks call it Dyavolskoto Gurlo, or “the Devil’s Throat” or, in Old Bulgarian it is called Gyaurskoto Butlo, or “Infidel’s Prison.” It is a deep cave in the Rhodope Mountains, southeastern Europe (southern Bulgaria and Greece).
Philosophy:
Thomas Aquinas and St. Augustine’s views on the role of angels in the universe. Kind of Philosophical, but leaning more toward a Biblical reference is Enoch, who also makes an appearance. His 7 Heavens can be found here.
In the novel, angelic hierarchies are called the First Sphere, the Second Sphere, the Third Sphere, and the Heavenly Choir. These twelve hierarchies are divided in four orders, or spheres. I thought this was incredibly fascinating–there was no particular set of themes to be established, certain characters held the focus.
Readers, I was forced to do some math. I am here to say, I am an English major–you do the math. In any case, they are giving measurements called cubits for a male nephilim on pg. 228:
The cubit is a measurement of length used by early civilizations. It is the length of the forearm from the tip of the middle finger to the elbow.
Biblical system: 1 cubit=21.8 inches = 1.82 feet
Arms–2.01 cubits= 43.82 in.= 3.7 ft.
Legs–2.88 cubits= ? 62.78 in.= 5.2 ft.
Head circumference–1.85 cubits= 40.33 in.= 3.4 ft.
Chest circumference–2.81 cubits= 61.26 in.= 5.1 ft.
Feet–0.76 cubits= 16.57 in.= 1.4 ft.
Hands–0.68 cubits= 14.82 in.= 1.2 ft.
Scary. Keep in mind that the Nephilim are about 30% larger than the average human. Seven feet tall is their average height. Does that mean certain athletes can be nephilistic? That would suck. 😉
Danielle Trussoni created a music playlist that goes along with her novel. Click here to view the list because it is so worth viewing and listening to–I love it. And! This is a pretty cool site–oh so helpful. 🙂
Keith Donohue, author of The Stolen Child and Angels of Destruction states, Angelology lets loose the ancient fallen angels to the modern world with devastating results. Trussoni has written a holy thriller that will arrest your attention from the opening pages and not let go till its mysteries take wing.
To me, this novel was…terrifyingly amazing. I’m giving it a 5 out of 5… In my mind, 6 out of 5, but you know it is all good. 🙂
The last hundred pages or so are a complete rollercoaster. The ending is a cliffhanger. I sat there, speechless… so, to satisfy my need to know, I did a bit of research. Ladies and Gentlemen, there’s going to be a sequel titled, Angelopolis. I really want a deeper understanding of these topics… which means, it is time for Miss Nolaleigh to hit the books and articles to find out as much as I can. So… until next time…
❤ Nolaleigh
2 Responses »
ou another companion book to the Blue Bloods series. Bloody Valentine tells the healing story of Oliver Hazard-Perry, the forbidden love story of Allegra Van Alen, and the bonding of Schuyler Van Alen and Jack Force.
t might be a little helpful. So, here goes…
pository
Miss Nolaleigh 