Genre

Supernatural / Fantasy

Audience

Adults & Teens

Author’s Worldview

Catholic

Year Published

2020

Themes

Angels, abuse, hardships, death, family, hope

 

Reviewed by

Tiffany Buck

Sometimes it is the small ones in the world that God gives the big tasks to. Carla Kay Landon is a homeless and orphaned child, but to the spiritual world she is a Quiet Light; “one who can infiltrate with courage and perform without detection.” Like many honors, this title comes with a price of hardship that must be endured so a mission can be accomplished. But God never sends anyone out alone. Like all of us, Carla has a guardian angel guiding her through perils.

The guardian angels in Snares of the Nether World, are not just along for the ride helping their assigned person dodge mishaps or peril, they are beings created by God who love their “children.” There is deep sense of devotion the angels have for those in their care. In this novel the angels whisper to their children, and the children respond through action, not conversation. The angel’s whisper is that voice telling us where to go, or a warning of danger and possible pain. What I found most intriguing in this novel is the dialogue between the angels, as they discuss their children among themselves.

In the summer of 1945, at the tender age of twelve, Carla Kay Landon is forced to leave her family’s farm after an Influenza pandemic cause the death of her parents and siblings. Fearful she will be sent to a sanatorium, she drives herself in the family truck to Texas. There she meets Ruben, a kind illegal Mexican immigrant who acts as a surrogate father to her.

Aside from Ruben, Carla grabs the attention of Andy, a kind police officer. At first she is a little frightened of Andy, fearing he will send her to the sanatorium or an orphanage. Eventually, she learns to trust him. Andy introduces her to his wife Julie, a sick woman with great humor and wisdom. Soon, Andy, Julie, and Carla form a tight bond and begin to act like a family. While staying with Andy and Julie, Carla’s angel whispers to her that Ruben is in danger. He did not come back from his job like he said he would. Knowing she must find her friend, Carla goes out alone to find Ruben. She is armed with her guardian angel’s guidance on what to do and how to reach Ruben who is crying out for mercy.

I love angels, and this novel had me thinking more about my guardian angel. While reading this book, I found myself looking for a sign or guidance from my angel. Snares of the Nether World offers a glimpse of what the spiritual world might look like. Mary C. Jones writes the angels as fully realized characters who care deeply for those they are guiding in this world. The novel shifts narratives from humans to angels effortlessly. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has any interest in angels.

Someday by Corinna Turner

Ordinary schoolgirls face a terrible fate: abuse, forced marriages, and even death at the hands of Islamic extremists.

Shooting At Heaven’s Gate, by Kaye Park Hinckley

How does an ordinary boy become a mass murderer?

Finnian and the Seven Mountains (Vol.2) By, Philip Kosloski and Michael Lavoy

Can one map be the key to stopping the Viking Invasion?

Markmaker by Mary Jessica Woods

Aboard a world-ship, in an alien society, one artist’s quest for truth will turn his whole society upside down.

The Academy Saga: Book 1 By C.J. Daly  

A thrilling, yet clean, high school romance.

The Grace Crasher by Mara Faro

The Grace Crasher is the ecumenical romantic dramedy that everyone who has ever had family members in split churches needs to read.

From the Shadows by Jacqueline Brown

In a broken world, Bria tries to unite a family even as she struggles to keep hope alive.

Siren Spell by Karina Fabian

Immortal dragon Vern can handle anything—until a curse turns him human…

Coven (Book 7 of St. Tommy Series): By Declan Finn

St. Tommy fights the CPS and a group of pagans who have taken over a military base.

If Wishes Were Dragons By Karina Fabian

What happens when LARPing becomes a lot more real than a group of D&D players can handle?

Finnian and the Seven Mountains (Vol. 1) by Philip Koslowski, Michael Lavoy, and Jim Fern

Join Finnian as his quest for a legendary sword takes him to the monks of Skellig Michael, a real life inspiration for the Jedi temple.

A Very Jurassic Christmas by Corinna Turner

Christmas with Jurassic dinosaurs is often wild!

Misshelved Magic by S.R. Crickard

A non-magical librarian and a student mage discover the secrets of a magical library.

Desperate Forest: The Forest Tales Series, Book 1 By Cece Louise

This RomCom fantasy adventure explores a princess discovering the realities of life outside of her kingdom and what true love is really made of.

Unlikely Witnesses by Leslea Wahl

When four boys glimpse a crime in their Colorado town they end up in an interrogation cell of the FBI.

The Wish Thief by C.D. Verhoff

Glory steals an unusual gem to save her family but winds up threatening an entire world.

Idol Speculations by Karina Fabian

Can a dragon take on a monster ten times his size?

Trapped in Time by Jerry J. Weis

Can a team of misfit teens save the day in this wholesome time-traveling romp?

Champion of Valdeor by Sandralena Hanley

Fed up with modern 1st person, present tense narratives bursting with ‘hip’ characters? Look no further!

Love, Treachery, and Other Terrors by Katharine Campbell

This quirky, fairytale fantasy is a fun and amusing read with a serious moral backbone.