The Alleluia Files

Rating:
Summary: Did the Fat Lady sing?
Review: Is this the end of the angels? That question rings true in regards to the storyline and the series. Sharon Shinn seems too constricted to her two previous books in the Archangel series in this book. Though it is craftily written, I felt some of the characters lacked the depth of her previous books. But being a second sequel, it is still a must read to find the fate of the Mortal and Angel drama she has created in the last 2 books. While not as wonderfully resonant as her previous novels, this is still a must read for those into the series.

Rating:
Summary: Did the Fat Lady sing?
Review: Is this the end of the angels? That question rings true in regards to the storyline and the series. Sharon Shinn seems too constricted to her two previous books in the Archangel series in this book. Though it is craftily written, I felt some of the characters lacked the depth of her previous books. But being a second sequel, it is still a must read to find the fate of the Mortal and Angel drama she has created in the last 2 books. While not as wonderfully resonant as her previous novels, this is still a must read for those into the series.

Rating:
Summary: A strong, yet frustrating, conclusion
Review: Sharon Shinn has continued her close examination fo human nature in "The Alleluia Files," and her observations are still extremely (and disturbingly) accurate. The preservation of power at all costs; the fear and hatred of anything labeled "different" or "unknown;" the blindness brought about by ideological fervor; these things are all too common throughout history, and Shinn brings home the fact that all too many of us have failed to learn from the past. Unfortunately, this time I feel Shinn sacrificed some of what could have been a fantastic story, in order to present these ideas. The culmination of the story was just a little too pat for me, and the "Star-Crossed Lovers" theme was already getting tired in "Jovah's Angel." Despite its short-comings, I did enjoy this book, and have recommended it (and the rest of the trilogy) to a number of my friends (which I don't do often these days).

Rating:
Summary: A strong, yet frustrating, conclusion
Review: Sharon Shinn has continued her close examination fo human nature in "The Alleluia Files," and her observations are still extremely (and disturbingly) accurate. The preservation of power at all costs; the fear and hatred of anything labeled "different" or "unknown;" the blindness brought about by ideological fervor; these things are all too common throughout history, and Shinn brings home the fact that all too many of us have failed to learn from the past. Unfortunately, this time I feel Shinn sacrificed some of what could have been a fantastic story, in order to present these ideas. The culmination of the story was just a little too pat for me, and the "Star-Crossed Lovers" theme was already getting tired in "Jovah's Angel." Despite its short-comings, I did enjoy this book, and have recommended it (and the rest of the trilogy) to a number of my friends (which I don't do often these days).

Rating:
Summary: Don't miss this series
Review: Sharon Shinn has created a wonderful world of Samaria and peopled it with great characters. Read the books in order and hope that she adds a 4th to continue what she has started.

Rating:
Summary: Good story. Good potential. But falls short.
Review: The Alleluia files wasn't as good as as good as Archangel, by Sharon Shinn. But I will say that it had its good points. I just wish that the relationship between Jared and Tamar could have been deeper. I wish she had done more with the two-if she had, it would have joined the ranks of Archangel. But overall it was well written but somewhat underdeveloped.

Rating:
Summary: A thouroughly enjoyable book.
Review: This book is a great end to the Samaria series. I did not find that the characters were lacking just because Sharon Shinn concentrated more on the society. The characers were still very much a part of the story and did not suffer. The references to what happened 250 years ago in Gabriel's reign were done very well. So my advice would be to just read this book because it is a good conclusion to the Samaria series.

Rating:
Summary: Long Live Samaria!
Review: This book is a must read after Jovah's Angel. It gives you a great sense of what the characters in Jovah's Angel did after the book ended, and how they shaped the time that world this book is set in. This book is a great look in to the future of the world of Samaria that I came to love. I find that Sharon Shinn writes often about the struggles of division, from all sides. From Rachel's slavery in Archangel, to the Aliora in Summers at Castle Auburn to the racial issues in Heart of Gold. And she does it well, giving you a feel for how all sides feel, and gets you emotionally involved, so that you can not stop reading. Her world is original, and her characters have wills of their own. Great book!

Rating:
Summary: Great Traditional SF in a Series Known for Romance
Review: This book is different than the other two but just as good. It focuses more on the ways technology changes society than on the romance and "secret mysteries" of the planet. The theme change may upset some people who were hoping to read the same book over again with different characters. Pay no attention to them. It's a very well done book, written in the same clear, vivid prose that made her other two angel books so great. The characters are no more poorly developed than in a lot of other SF, and this book is clearly meant to be more traditional SF. Appreciate it on its own terms rather than comparing it to its predecessors and you will not be disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: Poor
Review: This book is poor on two subjects: - the author tries to make the world evolve, but does not succeed in giving it reality. In particular, the approach on science is almost ridiculous, - you can skip one page very two pages, the story is so empty. Finally, don't buy the three books, it is not worth the time and the money.