Where Oblivion Lives audiobook

This is both a stand alone book and a follow up to the three Los Nefilim novellas.I've only read the first of those novellas, which was excellent:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...So that puts me somewhere between the complete newcomer and the reader who has finished Los Nefilim.I think Frohoc

"Nothing sinister marked his features, but then again monsters generally moved through the world unobtrusively, camouflaged by banality until their deeds manifested in the form of dead bodies or broken souls."Where Oblivion Lives is the first full-length novel in the Los Nefilim series by T. Frohock. Preceded by a collection of three novellas, Where Oblivion Lives is both a continuation and a standalone. My experience wasn't interrupted in the least by not having read the novellas, although I will be getting to those (hopefully) before moving onto the next book in the series, Carved from Stone and Dream.Having wanted to read this anyway, that Mark Lawrence fellow with a front-cover blurb definitely pushed my desire to move it up the never-ending TBR list even more. I'm so glad that I did!Set in 1930's Barcelona, as well as Germany and France, Where Oblivion Lives follows Diago Alvarez as a newer member of Los Nefilim (generally spelled as nephilim, however, the Spanish replace the "ph" sound with an "f"). Los Nefilim are a group that monitor daimonic activity for the angels all over the world, while living among mortals. Each country is assigned a special group - Los Nefilim, Die Nephilim, Les Néphilim, etc.Diago is of mixed heritage, which is incredibly rare among the group, having been born of both angel and diamon blood. He has the diamonic ability to hear and the angelic ability to sing. Many of the other members don't trust him, expecting him to reveal insider information to the daimons.As Diago attempts to prove his loyalty to Los Nefilim, he is also in the middle of composing the Key, which is a song that could jeopardize humanity in the wrong hands. However, he is struggling with the assignment as his dreams are haunted by his stolen stradivarius (violin), which is being used as a weapon against him, causing violent hallucinations and traumatic flashbacks.Needless to say, Diago has a lot going on! But he isn't alone in this. He is joined and supported by his husband Miquel, his 7-year-old son Rafael, Guillermo his boss and Juanita, Guillermo's wife who oversees the medical care for Los Nefilim. Together, they remind him of his various reincarnations, the present and of a nightmarish future. Or worse.. no future at all.Will someone have to forfeit the battle in order to win the war?"Although his nightmares had receded somewhat, the violin still hummed in the back of his mind, reaching into his bones, urging him toward his destination."An escalating supernatural war, rogue angels, soul-eaters, found family, religion, architecture, music and magic. Where Oblivion Lives is a tale of violence and betrayal and hope. It's also a profound rumination on both queerness in society and PTSD. Where Oblivion Lives is quite unlike my normal fantasy novels that I gravitate towards in theory. Rather, 13-year-old Holly went through a major Angels and Demons phase and would have been all over this from the get-go! However, every now and then a book comes out of nowhere and surprises you. Where Oblivion Lives did just that for me. I was taken by just how painfully beautiful this was. Frohock's complex, multifaceted storytelling was everything I could have wanted in this moment.T. Frohock weaves magic throughout music, creating a dark and majestic atmosphere that is surreal in the most glorious way. The visual aspects of this are all-encompassing, drawing the reader into a captivatingly magical song.This is truly an underrated gem of a novel!Watch for me..

This trilogy continues the story of Los Nefilim that began in the series of novellas with that title. Diago is in pursuit of the Key, a sort of musical word of power. It turns out his missing Stradivarius is in the hands of a family who live in an isolated mansion in Germany. With Guillermo's blessing, he heads out there alone to retrieve the instrument and perhaps find more hints about the Key.Anyone who's read the novellas will know that Diago has a habit of getting himself into trouble when he goes in search of his past. This story is no exception!The Los Nefilim series is an interesting combination of dark fantasy, urban fantasy, and historical fiction. The movements and conflicts of the angels, daimons, and nefilim are inevitably intertwined with the wars and political movements of humans. In the latter half of the novel, there's a hint of the gothic, and even some (view spoiler)[weird science (hide spoiler)]. Throughout, there's a vivid sense of time and place, from tobacconist shops at railway stations, to a rainy night at a worn-down manse.One thing that I have never been entirely clear about while reading these stories is the hierarchy of angels and nefilim, and why some supernatural beings can move freely on earth (i.e. Juanita), and others can't. I'm torn between wanting more background detail, and appreciating that we don't get walls of text explaining every little thing.However, while that information is relevant to the story, it more of a backdrop for the interpersonal conflicts between the characters. As is true in the novellas, details about Diago's past, various artifacts associated with it, and the loves and hates between the characters over time, are the most interesting--and sometimes moving--things about Where Oblivion Lives. The central family of Diago, Miquel and Rafael continues to be my favorite part of these stories. Diago spends the majority of the novel on his own as he journeys to the Grier home where he hopes to retrieve his violin, but his family is a constant source of inspiration and strength for him. Diago has felt isolated and lonely at the Los Nefilim compound, and by the end of this installment, has found a greater sense of belonging there, thanks to (view spoiler)[Guillermo and the music they can make together (hide spoiler)]. As little as I believe in reincarnation myself, I enjoy stories about it, enjoy seeing these characters striving to become their best selves over the centuries, both for themselves and for those they love and want to protect. Real-world history has an important role to play, as well. For various reasons, I'd rather not read a novel where Hitler becomes a central figure, but since this one is set in western Europe between the world wars, it's almost inevitable he'd show up. He's in the background, and his political views are reflected in one or two of the minor characters. Other historical figures such as Sanjurjo and Franco are in the background, as well.The search for the Stradivarius comes to a conclusion in this book, but the end of the battle that features it, the angel Frauja, and a nefil named Jordi, by no means ends the war. I'm looking forward to seeing where Diago's music, and the waves of history, take him and Los Nefilim next.

Some books just click and this was one of those times. It wasn’t even that there is much in the way of my bullet-proof likes either- Angels are not an auto-buy for me, and historical fantasy is probably closer to an auto-skip. But there was something about this story that resonated (a little pun intended) and part way through I knew I was going to have to go back and read the rest of the series, as soon as my schedule allowed.Now a member of the Los Nefilim, Diago’s work on the key is being hampered to the point he can no longer ignore it. His instrument, a Stradivarius (violin) is being used against him like a weapon in a type of psychic attack. Suffering from crippling hallucinations and what is essentially the equivalent of PTSD he sets out to locate the source and retrieve his Violin. ***The magic is music based, shaping tones and sound to create sigils/glyphs. It’s accessible and you don’t need to be a music prodigy to understand it. I loved the use and how music, combined with the setting, with Hitler on the rise and Spain on the verge of civil war, gave the story a very unsettled, haunting quality that heightened the sense of danger. The characters- I’m a of a sucker for those outsider type characters- the ones that feel like they are walking a tight rope in their head trying to do the right thing. That only really need someone to believe in them for them to believe in themselves. Diago, feels a bit like that kind of character to me. He’s found redemption and a family and will do anything to protect it. To back Diago up- there are people who love, trust and support of him but who also occasionally have real fears and doubts that he wont trust himself enough to be the person they know he is.Villains- IMO, some of the best villains are the ones that have a past with the main character. A little history goes a long way and, in this case, Diago’s shared history in his past incarnation, adds a deeper layer making not only the relationships between all the characters more complicated but also making this more than just a grasp for power story.The reincarnations/memories- I tended to think of these as something like the reincarnated version of the Highlander tv show where McLeod would have a history with a person and we’d get glimpses of characters past together to set up the back story/relationship. Watch for Me – I don’t usually even comment much on the writing in a review unless it stands out. But nothing says better what kind of writing to expect than that phrase-which honestly gave me a little thrill every time it came up. Used like goodbye, it’s double meaning with the reincarnations, also serves as a reminder of how dangerous their lives are. That the next time they may see one another is in a future incarnation. I really liked the punch that it added and I think it’s a perfect example to use here to show the thought that was given to the writing in every part of this story- from the word choices, to the setting, the music, the characters, and the past lives. The writing alone could have felt almost stark but the combined elements assist in bringing the world alive through all of our senses. For me this was the distinction that made this an outstanding read.I would have given this book six stars if GoodReads would have let me. Well worth checking out and quite easy to jump in at this point. But, I can guarantee if you’re like me, you’ll want to go back and catch this series from the start.

The sequel, Carved from Stone and Dream, is out now!

Teresa Frohock is a true hidden treasure whose work deserves a much wider audience. Her current work, of which I received and ARC, is a novel continuing the tales in the Los Nefilim novellas, set during the time of the Spanish Civil War and continues the story of Diago, born of daemon and angel, his husband Miquel and their son as Diago continues to gain the trust of the Nefilim in their quest to maintain the peace between the immortals, whose conflicts parallel events in our world. Teresa’s prose is nothing short of brilliant, she has done a yeoman’s share of historical research to flesh out the setting and make the reader part of the scene. A brilliant scene in the Black Forest of Germany brings back haunting memories of Bram Stoker’s initial castle scene in Dracula. Well paced and heart pounding, this is a must read, as is all of her work. Do. Not. Miss. This

https://www.bookwormblues.net/2021/08...I’ve been following this author since just before she released her very first book. I look back on her storied career, and I’m just so impressed by everything she’s done, and the high quality of work she has always, ceaselessly provided her readers. It also makes me feel like I’ve been bopping around genrespace and writing reviews an abnormally long time, considering blog turnover rate these days. Ah, well. Anyway, I’ve been reading Frohock’s books since she’s been publishing books, and they always land really well for me. Each book is a bit different, she has a way with tackling social issues and history that really works for me. Plus, she mixes that with some extremely fluid prose and yeah, it’s great. It’s like her books were written with me in mind. They weren’t, but I can flatter myself.Where Oblivion Lives takes off after the previous Los Nefilim novellas, yet it is also a good entry point for new readers. Somehow, Frohock managed to do what a lot of authors struggle with: creating a book that will keep tried-and-true readers engaged, while also serving as a good entry point for new readers who haven’t visited this particular world of hers before. That being said, the novellas are absolutely amazing, and give this book a real sense of depth and history that perhaps made me appreciate some aspects of it more than I otherwise would have. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a good book, regardless. I just think having some background before I went into this probably upped my enjoyment a touch.Heavily focused on plot, Where Oblivion Lives is set in 1932, an interesting time when tensions in Europe are rising as the world changes and events start barreling toward an impending World War II, which isn’t too terribly far away. Set against this backdrop of tension and change we have one Diego, who is a rare individual born of both an angel and a daimon, and is struggling to prove himself to the Los Nefilim, a group that monitors daimon activity. Diego’s story was extremely powerful. He has a lot going on, from nightmares and lost violins, trying to prove himself to the Los Nefilim group, political tensions all around which impact things. Plus there’s daimons and powerful music and so much more. The poor guy doesn’t really catch a break, and yet through that, readers get a real sense of who he is. He is probably one of the purest characters I’ve ever read. And don’t misread that as me saying he’s without flaw, because he’s not. He’s just who he is and it’s really rare I come across a character when I read that is this unabashedly complex, complicated and yet somehow manages to shine so bright in the face of everything.The historical period Frohock deals with here is very interesting, and I will admit, this is one reason I wanted to read these books. As someone who has probably done about the same amount of research into the same time period but on the Russian side of things, I always find myself incredibly interested in not just how other authors research for their writing, but how they use that research in their writing.The world Frohock creates is our own, but it’s one steeped in magic and otherworldly creatures like angels and soul-eaters. Barreling toward very real wars (Spanish Civil War, World War II), it’s also on the cusp of a supernatural war as well. I loved how Frohock managed to infuse her book with a sense of time and place, and her research and devotion to her craft made me feel like I wasn’t reading about somewhere else, but I was reading about here and now. I was living the story.The magic system is based on music, and Frohock’s writing is up to the task. What I mean by this is, she carefully selected her words for the greatest impact. Some turns of phrases in this book were stunningly beautiful, to the point where I felt like the book became a song in its own right. Rather than prose telling a story, the prose here felt like another shining layer of paint on an already brilliant landscape. Family and love are the shining beacons that fill this book. Diego is a bit of an outsider, and it did not take me long at all to empathize with him deeply. I feel, at times, a whole lot like Diego: outside, looking in. However, Diego’s love and devotion to those he cares about are almost as magical as the magic system itself, and perhaps that’s what I’m touching on when I say he’s one of the purest character’s I’ve read. Yes, he’s flawed, but at the core of his being, his true strength is his devotion, and it shines so incredibly bright.Where Oblivion Lives blew me away. It’s one of those books that swept my legs out from under me and left me reeling. A lot happens in these pages, not only with plot, but a lot of subtle details as well, which creates this perfect balance between relentless forward motion and personal growth. The world is so real, I felt transported there. The magic system is beautiful, and the prose are the icing on top of a positively decadent cake. If you haven’t read Frohock’s books yet, you really need to change that.

Rating: 9.0/10Thanks to the publisher and author for a copy of Where Oblivion Lives (Los Nefilim #4) in exchange for an honest review. Receiving a copy of the novel did not influence my thoughts or opinions.Where Oblivion Lives is a master stroke of historical fantasy; mesmerizing in its prose and alluring in its song, Frohock’s first full-length novel in the Los Nefilim series is a work of art.This was my introduction to the author thanks to HarperVoyager. I have had the Los Nefilim novella collection on my Kindle for some time, but like many Daily Deals, it became a quick purchase and “I’ll get to it” type of read. Now that WOL is finished and I can gush about it, the novellas will be read sooner rather than later and the sequel, Carved from Stone and Dream (02/25/20) will be read post-haste.The first chapter is absolutely captivating, introducing you to the main protagonist, Diago Alvarez, in what I can only describe as a rapid manner. You see, his stolen instrument is being used against him, and whoever is playing it is plaguing Diago with nightmares from his past.But then, the story takes a less brisk approach, introducing secondary characters, a bit of backstory, and the events that must take place to allow for the crescendo at the end. A more in-depth look at the backstories, from what I can tell, are found in the earlier novellas; but what makes this book unique is that they are not required reading to enjoy the story that unfolds.The entire arc of Diago is fascinating, and I can only imagine it becomes grander in the sequel. It is always interesting to have a character that is unique to his surroundings, being unlike anyone else in Los Nefilim and having to prove his worth on top of his allegiance. I also thought Frohock did a great job detailing the environments, giving a perfect feel for the time period. Not being a huge history or music buff, but thoroughly enjoying the subjects growing up and even now, it was neat (if you can call war times “neat”) seeing names of people/places/etc that you can recall from those days.While I could spend much of the day recounting the story, I’ll just tell you not to sleep on this book. From the historical events to the characters, the lyrical magic system to the fantastic ending, Where Oblivion Lives was a smashing read and deserves way more attention that it has gotten.

To read more reviews in this series and others, check out keikii eats books!Short Review: Historical UF with angels, exactly the balm my soul needed with this genre. Perfect sequel to the first three novellas. I love the characters, and I loved the story. I can't wait to see more in this series.Longer Review:96 points, 5 STARS!LGBT ThemesOnce again, Where Oblivion Lives is everything I needed in an urban fantasy novel. I didn't just want everything to do with this novel, I needed it to soothe a part of my soul that has been struggling against the world. I was drawn into this story with Los Nefilim and I continued to be enchanted through Where Oblivion Lives. From the moment I started, I didn't want the ride to stop.The lore surrounding the Angels and Demons is just outstanding. There is nothing worse than a weak, humanic, angel and demon race set, but these are good, strong, proper races in Where Oblivion Lives. The plays these two races make are anything but weak. There wasn't as much demonic action during Where Oblivion Lives, but the actions of everyone else more than make up for it. The way music and sound are interwoven into magic...well, it is pure magic itself. Frohock understands that everything is based on vibrations, and if you can change that, you can change the world. It is perfect and exactly what I love in my magic.In a departure from the majority of the novellas, Diago shares his time with Guillermo and others. The shift from focused novellas to focused novel was handled very well, and I cannot wait to read more full sized stories like this in the future. Where Oblivion Lives has many facets and players, each thinking they are in the right. But, everyone can't be remembering true. The idea of multiple incarnations is explored a lot more in this story. Remembering something in a past life isn't easy, though, and can be used for good or ill. I don't like memory loss, but this isn't memory loss. This is something fundamental to the beings that are nephilim, and I wouldn't have it any other way. It is perfect.I also love how the mortal world and the supernatural world are interwoven together. Spain is gearing up for civil war, and the characters are aware of the trouble that is ahead of them. The world is a decade away from another world war, which they have seen the signs of as well. It is great how Frohock weaves the two worlds together, with mortals not having any knowledge of their world, and the Nefilim belonging to the mortal world and not. It can be a difficult task for an author to show how the characters belong to the mortal world while also not, and it is often overlooked entirely when there is a masquerade in effect. The fact that it isn't overlooked and it is well handled just raises this series in my eye even more, and I didn't think it could get much higher!Where Oblivion Lives was everything I wanted and needed right now. This series has already jumped up onto my favourites and I cannot wait for the next installment of this series. I love Diago and his family and I need to see them grow together more.I received a copy of this book from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to T. Frohock, HarperCollins, and Edelweiss for providing this copy for review!

A delightful standalone excursion into the world of Los Nefilim, part spy thriller, part gothic horror, part magical warfare, as the husband and husband team of Diago and Miquel navigate dangers across Europe on the eve of the Spanish Civil War.I posted a full review at the Fantasy Hive, here http://fantasy-hive.co.uk/2019/01/whe...The author also kindly answered some interview questions about the book and the process of writing it, herehttp://fantasy-hive.co.uk/2019/02/int...

I liked it. The people, clothing and descriptions of the settings are enough to transport me into the book. That there is a whole culture of hidden creatures operating within this historical time period is intriguing.

Where Oblivion Lives is the first full novel in the Los Nefilim series by T. Frohock. Although she wrote three novellas that take place prior to Where Oblivion Lives collected in one volume titled Los Nefilim (hence Goodreads labeling it as #4), this novel was written to serve as an introduction for newcomers to the books. It’s not necessary to read Los Nefilim first, though I do highly encourage reading them at some point solely because they’re excellent. My review of Los Nefilim can be found here.Though it’s inspired by Abrahamic lore, this is certainly not a religious book any moreso than a book based on Greek or Roman mythology. The Nefilim of Spain are embroiled in a war to save humanity, and there is no one they can trust. The angels are corrupt, the demons are not to be trusted, and even members of Los Nefilim have been compromised. Diago, a half demon and half angel nefil, must not only work to earn his place among Los Nefilim along with his husband, Miquel, but also protect their son from forces that would do him harm.Frohock’s prose is lyrical and rhythmic, drawing on the structure and syntax of the Spanish language and pulling them through into English to create a secondary layer to her writing. Her descriptions of music capture the reader, enchanting them just as Diago is enthralled by the chords of his stolen violin which haunt his dreams. Frohock became deaf around the age of 12, but the music she misses and loves is woven masterfully throughout her work.

This book had me hooked from the beginning to the end! It has a fascinating take on magic and is definitely worth a read.