The anger of angels by Sherryl Jordan
Walker Books Australia, 2018. ISBN 9781760650605
(Age: 12+) Recommended. Themes: Fantasy. Romance. In a world where
it is a crime to speak against injustice, a jester dares to perform
a play that enrages a powerful tyrant prince. The jester's daughter,
Giovanna, must journey into the heart of danger to turn back the
terrible consequences unleashed by her father's words - and becomes
entangled in a treacherous plot to overthrow the prince. She alone
holds a secret which, if made public, will end the prince's reign and
liberate his oppressed people. But when to openly denounce him
brings certain death, will Giovanna have the courage to speak out?
Jordan crafted an inspiring tale about the power of free speech,
self-expression and the need for courage to do what is right.
Self-sacrifice was a prominent theme as characters grew to recognise
the magnitude of issues in their world and the importance of others.
This not only emphasised the key ideas, but also prompted ethical
debate, causing the readers to question whether it is morally
correct to take a stand on an issue and encourage change even if it
causes others pain, or to compromise to minimise the damage caused.
Giovanna was a strongly written main character whose bonds with
other characters revealed the way like minds can connect. The
romance in the story was innocent yet intense, with both characters
fiercely devoted to each other after a short period of time. The
imagery was vibrant and dynamic, with the descriptions of magic and
the characters themselves bringing the story to life. The choice to
write Giovanna without any magical powers while her antagonists had
magic only served to emphasise the importance of knowledge and free
speech, an important message in this day and age. The pacing started
slowly as Jordan introduced the audience to Giovanna's world, but
then sped up and reached the climactic scene at breakneck speed.
This was an interesting read, bringing modern day issues to the
forefront of the mind and providing ideas and themes to reflect on.
Stephanie Lam