Science in Fiction (#15): Traitor Angels by Anne Blankman

Welcome to this month's Science in Fiction feature! Science in Fiction is a meme I created to showcase the wonderful aspects of science in Young Adult fiction novels. For more information and previous feature, check out the "Science in Fiction" tag!

This month, I'm featuring Traitor Angels by Anne Blankman!

Review | Swoon Thursday

There are a lot of different directions I could take this post, because Traitor Angels is, in its core, a heavily science-focused book. This book is set in the 1600s, a time when the Church enforced the belief that the Earth was the center of the universe. In the 1500s, Copernicus introduced the belief that the Earth rotated on its axis once a day, and revolved around the Sun during the course of a year. In the 1600s, Galileo Galilei championed heliocentrism. He was found guilty of heresy and was confined to his house for the rest of his life.

In Traitor Angels, Antonio is quite interested in astronomy. Today, I'm going to showcase some of the scientific discoveries in astronomy, that bring us to our heliocentric models today!

In early, early times, people believed that the Earth was flat. The Flat Earth model stuck around for centuries, dating all the way back to AD times.

Source: Wikipedia

Geocentrism: belief that the Earth is the center of all celestial/heavenly bodies. This was a belief of Aristotle and Ptolemy, and was adopted by the Church for hundreds of years. The Church justified this belief with several verses from the Bible, like  Psalm 93:1, 96:10, 1 Chronicles 16:30, and Psalm 104:5.

Source: Wikipedia

Heliocentrism: belief that the Earth and other planets revolve around the Sun, which is the center of the Solar System. This theory may have been postulated as early as the third century BC by Aristarchus of Samos. But it wasn't until the 1500s, when Copernicus came along and came up with a mathematical model justifying the heliocentric theory, that the theory gained attention.

Source: Wikipedia

In the 1500s, Tycho Brahe introduced the Tychonic system, which combined the geocentric and heliocentric models. Essentially, Earth was still the center of the universe, but Brahe got the motions of the Sun and other planets correct, relative to the motions of Earth revolving around the Sun in the heliocentric model.

In the 1600s, Johannes Kepler (assistant to Brahe) introduced the idea of elliptical orbits. He also presented laws of motion (Kepler's Laws of Motion, as we know them today).

In the 1600s, Galileo Galilei supported the heliocentric model, and provided support using his invented telescope. Galileo's telescope could project upright, magnified images to the viewers. Galileo observed sunspots, which was something that Antonio pointed out to Elizabeth!

In the late 1600s, Sir Isaac Newton presented a theory on gravitation, which he applied to planets. We use this relationship today, called the law of universal gravitation:

In 1750, Thomas Wright proposed that the Milky Way galaxy is a large body of stars held together by gravity. At the time, no other galaxies had been discovered.

In the 1920s, Edwin Hubble used a new and very powerful telescope to take photographs of the Milky Way, which show the spiral shape of the galaxy. Previously, scientists weren't sure if the spiral nebulae were separate galaxies, or part of the Milky Way (the latter is correct!).

Source: Wikipedia

Source: Wikipedia

Science has come a long way, folks. :)

Swoon Thursday (#165): Traitor Angels by Anne Blankman

Swoon Thursday is a hot meme hosted by the fabulous ladies at YA Bound!

- From the book you’re currently reading, or one you just finished, tell us what made you SWOON. What got your heart pounding, your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering

- Try to make the swoon excerpt 140 characters (or less), if you are going to tweet about it. Use the hashtag #YABOUND when tweeting

This week, my swoon is from Traitor Angels by Anne Blankman!

"This time when I touch you," he said, "you won't need to ask what I'm doing."

His hand guided my face closer to his. So closer I could feel warmth emanating from his skin and hear the soft exhalation of his breath. My heart started to race, and my eyes drifted closed just as his lips brushed mine, as softly as air.

He deepened the kiss, his lips hot and insistent on mine, and everything within me turned to fire. So this is what it feels like, I thought as I kissed him back, winding my arms around him, tightening until I could feel the thundering of his heart through the layers of our clothes.

- eARC, 55%

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Read my review of Traitor Angels!

I liked this book a lot! It's set in the 1600s, which is a pretty unique time period in YA lit. Very cool book, and an enjoyable one at that!

Review: Traitor Angels by Anne Blankman

Traitor Angels by Anne Blankman

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Publication Date: May 3, 2016

Rating: 4 stars

Source: eARC from Edelweiss

Summary (from Goodreads):

Six years have passed since England’s King Charles II returned from exile to reclaim the throne, ushering in a new era of stability for his subjects. 

Except for Elizabeth Milton. The daughter of notorious poet John Milton, Elizabeth has never known her place in this shifting world—except by her father’s side. By day she helps transcribe his latest masterpiece, the epic poem Paradise Lost, and by night she learns languages and sword fighting. Although she does not dare object, she suspects that he’s training her for a mission whose purpose she cannot fathom. 

Until one night the reason becomes clear: the king’s man arrive at her family’s country home to arrest her father. Determined to save him, Elizabeth follows his one cryptic clue and journeys to Oxford, accompanied by her father’s mysterious young houseguest, Antonio Vivani, a darkly handsome Italian scientist who surprises her at every turn. Funny, brilliant, and passionate, Antonio seems just as determined to protect her father as she is—but can she trust him with her heart? 

When the two discover that Milton has planted an explosive secret in the half-finished Paradise Lost—a secret the king and his aristocratic supporters are desperate to conceal—Elizabeth is faced with a devastating choice: cling to the shelter of her old life or risk cracking the code, unleashing a secret that could save her father…and tear apart the very fabric of society. 

What I Liked:

I knew little about this book before reading it, but oh how I enjoyed it! I picked it up because I've had success with Blankman's books in the past; Prisoner of Night and Fog and Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke were fascinating historical fiction novels. I knew that this new books was also historical fiction, but for some reason, I had thought it was set during the Civil War! I hadn't read the synopsis, otherwise I would have known better. Clearly Michael Shaara's The Killer Angels was on my mind (great book, by the way). Anyway! Traitor Angels is set in 1667 England, and it deals with John Milton and Galileo Galilei. 

Elizabeth Milton is the third of four daughters of John Milton, a now-blind but once-notorious poet of England. Her father has always treated her differently from her sisters; she can speak, read, and write in many different languages, and she was well-taught in swordplay and self-defense. But most differently, her father trusts her to help him write Paradise Lost (she writes what he dictates). One day, all of her father's training comes to good use: her father has been arrested by the king's men. Elizabeth and her father's strange houseguest Antonio Vivani race across England to uncover her father's carefully hidden clues and secrets, in hopes that whatever he hid might be bartered to the king for his freedom. But what Elizabeth and Antonio discover is more dangerous than one man's life - it could mean the end of society as they know it.

What a twisted tale! Well, not "twisted" like one typically means it, but it certainly was tricksy! One of the things I liked the most about this book was the endless clues and puzzles and word games there were in this book. John Milton is known to be a great poet, and his words are his weapon (I think Antonio said something similar, in the book). I love puzzles and games and tricks and clues! Elizabeth and Antonio are clever, and Elizabeth knows her father and his work better than anyone, so it was fun to watch the pair work through the clues. 

Elizabeth is so incredibly intelligent. Milton's daughters were known to be uncommonly well-taught, and Elizabeth is no exception. She knows many languages (read/write/speak/understand), and she knows swordplay very well (to the point where she keeps knives strapped to her arms at all times), and she has a keen interest in astronomy. Elizabeth is clever and strong and very brave. She does not hesitate to go after her father, to find some way to free him.

Antonio was sent to meet John Milton by his master (a Duke in Italy), and he is caught up in the search with Elizabeth when John is arrested. Antonio seems like a strange foreigner at first, but it becomes clear that he is noble and determined to help Elizabeth, and not just because his master sent him. Antonio is kind and quietly protective, but he lets Elizabeth be and is not a seventeenth-century sexist pig. I suppose this is anachronistic, but hey, I like Antonio a lot, and I am letting this slide.

Robert Crofts is another very important character in the story. Elizabeth and Antonio meet him on their way to finding her father's clues. Robert is in a position to help them more than they can help themselves, and his assistance is pretty necessary. Robert is exactly what I expected, and I felt for him! I liked his intended, Lady Katherine, very much.

There is so much history in this book! Galileo Galilei's work and theories are discussed in this book, and it is one of his works that is what Elizabeth and Antonio end up seeking. I love how meticulously the author does her research, and interlocks so many historical events! She has all the dates and events lined up really well! This story is set just before the Great Fire of London in 1666 - I love how Blankman leaves nothing out! Such great foresight. Or plotting. Or just pure brilliance. I am in awe!

This book does have a religious theme to it, or perhaps a theme that somewhat discredits or refutes religion. In 1666, Christianity was dominant in England, and people like Galilei were considered heretics for even postulating ideas that seem contrary to the Church's teachings. Antonio is an atheist, it seems, and Elizabeth starts to question her steadfast Puritan beliefs. Religion is pretty important in this book, but then, it can't NOT be, given the time period.

The story was so exciting! It seemed like there was never a dull moment. There were all sorts of action scenes, and balls, and betrayals, and moments of panic, and I enjoyed it all.

The romance is not a huge part of the book, but it is there! No love triangle. Watching Antonio and Elizabeth fall for each other is sweet and subtly swoony, though not slow-burn. These two are cute together! And they're both wonderfully smart, so I think they're a great pair.

Overall, I think you can tell that I was pleased with this book! It's definitely my favorite of Blankman's three novels. It's a great standalone, I recommend it!

What I Did Not Like:

Hmm, I don't know that I can think of anything at the moment. I'm not giving the book five stars (I liked it but it's not a new favorite), but I don't have complaints, I think!

Would I Recommend It:

You don't have to like historical fiction to like this novel! In fact, you don't need to know anything about the 1600s, or John Milton, or Paradise Lost, or Galileo Galilei. It helps (history nerds unite!), but not necessary, as Blankman does a great job of keeping readers educated on what they need to know to understand what is going on (i.e. the context). This is a great story, and an exciting one! I love stories that deal with clues and puzzles and finding something. 

Even if you didn't like Blankman's debut duology (or maybe never read it), I'd recommend this book; it's completely different from her debut duology! Less nail-biting, scary, etc.

Rating:

4 stars. As I said, definitely my favorite of Blankman's books! I'm excited to see which time period she'll write about next. She's done the 1900s, 1600s... the possibilities are endless!

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Review: Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke by Anne Blankman

Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke by Anne Blankman

Book Two of the Prisoner of Night and Fog series

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Publication Date: April 21, 2015

Rating: 3 stars

Source: eARC from Edelweiss

Summary (from Goodreads):

The girl known as Gretchen Whitestone has a secret: She used to be part of Adolf Hitler’s inner circle. More than a year after she made an enemy of her old family friend and fled Munich, she lives with a kindly English family, posing as an ordinary German immigrant, and is preparing to graduate from high school. Her love, Daniel Cohen, is a reporter in town. For the first time in her life, Gretchen is content.

But then, Daniel gets a telegram that sends him back to Germany, and Gretchen’s world turns upside-down. And when she receives word that Daniel is wanted for murder, she has to face the danger she thought she’d escaped-and return to her homeland.

Gretchen must do everything she can to avoid capture and recognition, even though saving Daniel will mean consorting with her former friends, the Nazi elite. And as they work to clear Daniel’s name, Gretchen and Daniel discover a deadly conspiracy stretching from the slums of Berlin to the Reichstag itself. Can they dig up the explosive truth and get out in time-or will Hitler discover them first?

What I Liked:

I liked this one, but unfortunately for me, I didn't like it as much as I'd hoped, as much as I'd liked Prisoner of Night and Fog. I wasn't really feeling the first half of the book, and while things definitely picked up in the second half of the book, I didn't love what was happening. Nevertheless, I thought this book was a decent sequel, and I'll most like be reading the third novel in the series.

This novel starts with Gretchen - now Gretchen Whitestone - living in England, with a gentleman Alfred and his family. They treat her like she's their daughter, despite being with them for only seventeen months, from Germany. Daniel works in England at a newspaper (or post, or something like that), but he's miserable. He's always wanted to go back to Berlin, even though he can't. But when he gets word that a relative, Aaron, has been killed, Daniel goes back to Germany - and naturally, Gretchen is right behind him. But Daniel is a wanted man in Germany, framed for the murder of a young prostitute girl. Together, Gretchen and Daniel hunt down evidence to clear Daniel's name, but it's not so easy with conspiracies and raids ans Nazis left and right.

The first half was entirely too slow for me, and to be honest, I found the plot to be a bit forced. Obviously, the author needs some sort of push, a plot twist, in order to send Gretchen and Daniel back to Germany. It's a legitimate push, but I thought it felt a bit forced. Historically speaking, it made sense, and could very well have happened, but like I said - forced.

The second half was a product of the first half and its forcefulness, but it seemed to retain some of the  high stakes, heart-pounding thrill that Prisoner of Night and Fog had. In the first half, Daniel and Gretchen return to Germany, and they're on the run, because Daniel is a wanted man. They find the house that the prostitute had been staying at, and attempt to find the girl's belongings. But they're caught, and a gang takes them. But the gang is apparently a ring of men looking for justice (or something), and keep Daniel and Gretchen on the hunt for the prostitute's things, to clear Daniel's name. There is also a connection with Hitler and several of the officials under his thumb. 

I found that whole thing (with the rather nice gang) to be completely unbelievable and unrealistic, but that's just me. More on that later. The second half picked up a bit, and there was plenty of action and thrill. There were so many times when Gretchen and Daniel were separated, and I couldn't turn pages quickly enough. Gretchen does indeed have to face Hitler again, whether she likes it or not.

The romance is in the background, and I liked it, especially for a sequel novel. Gretchen and Daniel are not a perfect couple, and are often plagued with insecurities about the future. Daniel hates living in England, but Gretchen doesn't want to live in Germany. Both cannot live without the other, but both are not comfortable in one place or the other. The romance was one thing that solidly worked for me in this book.

Overall, I liked this book, but I didn't love it. This historical time period greatly frightens me, and sometimes I wonder if I should have ever picked this series up to begin with. But I'm glad I did. I can't wait to see how Blankman wraps things up!

What I Did Not Like:

As mentioned above, I didn't like the first half of the book. It was boring, it was slow, it didn't seem right to me. The plot points seemed forced, like something was literally being shoved into the story in order to move it along. We know Gretchen and Daniel have to find their way back in Germany somehow, but I wasn't entirely convinced by how it was done.

I also was not believing the part after Daniel and Gretchen get caught in Fraulein Fleischer's office, in which an Iron First ring or something takes Gretchen and Daniel, and spares them. The ring allows them to continue looking for the real murderer of the prostitute. Neither Daniel nor Gretchen are hurt in this whole process. I find this hard to believe, even if the gang had a political motive. Somehow, it was too lucky and too convenient.

There were times when Gretchen bothered me so much. There are specific instances that I want to name, but that would be spoiling things, and I don't want to do that. But, there were other times when I was really cheering for Gretchen. This book is written in third person limited (to Gretchen), so it's not always clear what Gretchen is thinking. Sometimes, I wanted to slap her and tell her to get a hold of herself. She panics a lot, and there is no room for panic in war.

There is a lot less of Hitler in this book, which is to be expected, since Gretchen isn't living around him anymore. This can be a good thing and a bad thing. I personally wanted to see more of him in this book, because he's creepy and an strangely interesting character, but that's just me. He is present at the climax of the book, making a short appearance.

In any case. There were things I disliked, there were things I liked. This one gets a solid three stars.

Would I Recommend It:

If you enjoyed the first book, definitely read this sequel! It's an adequate sequel, certainly not the worst sequel possible. If you haven't read the first book, perhaps wait until the third book is published. Or skip the series. It's a powerful series, but not one for everyone, that's for sure. I don't generally like historical fiction of the twentieth century, but this series is okay!

Rating:

3 stars. Not enough for me to dislike the book, but not enough for me to sing its praises. I'll be reading the third book (hopefully), to know how it all goes down! I'm very familiar with this time period in history, so I'm curious as to how Blankman will end this series, especially in terms of the historical connection.

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Blog Tour Review and Giveaway: Prisoner of Night and Fog by Anne Blankman

Welcome to blog tour for Prisoner of Night and Fog! I hope you're as excited as I am about this book! Check out my review, and enter to win a copy of this book!

But first, be sure to catch up with the previous posts of the blog tour!

Prisoner of Night and Fog by Anne Blankman

Book Two of the Prisoner of Night and Fog series

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Publication Date: April 22, 2014

Rating: 4 stars

Source: eARC from Edelweiss

Summary (from Goodreads):

In 1930s Munich, danger lurks behind dark corners, and secrets are buried deep within the city. But Gretchen Müller, who grew up in the National Socialist Party under the wing of her "uncle" Dolf, has been shielded from that side of society ever since her father traded his life for Dolf's, and Gretchen is his favorite, his pet.

Uncle Dolf is none other than Adolf Hitler.

And Gretchen follows his every command.

Until she meets a fearless and handsome young Jewish reporter named Daniel Cohen. Gretchen should despise Daniel, yet she can't stop herself from listening to his story: that her father, the adored Nazi martyr, was actually murdered by an unknown comrade. She also can't help the fierce attraction brewing between them, despite everything she's been taught to believe about Jews.

As Gretchen investigates the very people she's always considered friends, she must decide where her loyalties lie. Will she choose the safety of her former life as a Nazi darling, or will she dare to dig up the truth—even if it could get her and Daniel killed?

From debut author Anne Blankman comes this harrowing and evocative story about an ordinary girl faced with the extraordinary decision to give up everything she's ever believed . . . and to trust her own heart instead.

What I Liked:

Originally, I had some apprehensions and doubts, before picking up this book. When Harper uploaded a ton of books on Edelweiss, this book wasn't one of the books I downloaded. I wasn't planning on reading it (I know, I know, but it's the honest truth). This tour came along, and I couldn't resist. So I downloaded the book. And read it (the night before my tour stop, ha). It would have been a fine shame if I hadn't joined the tour and read the book - because I LOVED this book. It's so powerful and raw and superbly written. A historically based historical fiction novel at its finest - love!

Gretchen is completely under Uncle Dolf's spell - she sees him as a remarkable, charismatic leader, and a caring "uncle" - they're not actually blood-related. Apparently, Gretchen's father saved Hitler in a street brawl - he stepped in front of the Fuhrer and took a bullet for him. Ever since, Hitler doted on Gretchen, and Gretchen never questioned his politics or being. But when a Jewish reporter questions her father's noble "death", he brings up history that Gretchen is not ready to see. She doesn't want to know about Hitler's psychotic personality, or his cold lack of humanity. She must choose a side, before she herself is killed.

I LOVE how this fictional story is woven into the actual history of Hitler and Nazi Germany. It begins in the 1930s, the "before", before Hitler becomes the Chancellor and all that jazz. We get to see into the life of Hitler via Gretchen's eyes. We get introduced to Geli Raubal, Eva Braun, and many other personalities that were important to Hitler, as well as his success. I think that the characterization in this book is the most important and well-done element of this book.

Blankman writes and structures and creates characters in a way that you FEEL them, you UNDERSTAND them, you HATE them, you LOVE them. There is so much depth to each character - Gretchen, Daniel, Eva, Geli, Hitler, Reinhardt, Kurt... I felt very strongly towards just about all of the primary and secondary characters, and that is all due to Blankman's excellent characterization. She makes personas from history come to life, and makes them seem like humans, like everyday people (well, everyday people as in everyday Nazi Germany citizens. But I think you get what I'm saying).

It's clear to me that Blankman has done her research very well. You all know how much I love historical fiction (more so medieval fiction or Eduardian or Victorian, but any historical time period is great, really). You all also know how insane I am when it comes to historical inaccuracies (anachronisms). I really like how true Blankman stays to history - I feel like she didn't deviate at all, or through in any anachronisms. At least, as far as I could see (and we all know how I always have my anachronisms meter subconsciously turned on). That's talent! 

The romance is really progressive and developed and BEAUTIFUL. Obviously, this romance is important (check out the synopsis), and it is pivotal in the plot of this particular story. Usually I get all worked up over the romance being so crucial to the climax and whatnot. In this book, I like how Blankman actually makes it more of a choice of Gretchen's safety for Gretchen, and not just a choice of being with Daniel or not. So, while I still say that the romance is pretty important to the plot, especially at the end, I'll say that it is important and dominate in a good way. In a co-dependent way. If that makes sense. Also, no love triangle.

Overall, I'm really, really glad that I didn't let this one slip through my fingers. I was so close to not reading this book, you all. I told myself that 1930s Germany was too sad a period for me to read, and that while the book might be amazing, I wouldn't want to read sad books. I am so happy to have been proven wrong. So, so happy.

What I Did Not Like:

I honestly can't think of anything to say in this section. It's one of those books that I definitely think is absolutely amazing, and I can't think of things I didn't like in it, but I still give it four stars based on how I feel. It's a fantastic, awe-inspiring novel, and I really enjoyed it, but I'm not giving it five stars. You would have to be in my head to understand. But that's that!

Would I Recommend It:

I would definitely recommend this book to just about anyone, even if you're not a historical fiction fan. Ever so often, there comes a book in YA literature that seems relevant to everyone. Anyone and everyone should know the history of Nazi Germany. This is fiction, but it is powerful fiction. So... read it!

Rating:

4 stars. What a heartbreaking, thought-provoking, AMAZING debut novel. I definitely want to catch the next book in this series, especially since it follows the next chapter in the history of Nazi Germany. I'm utterly blown away and impressed with this author!

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About the Author:

Anne Blankman may have been meant to be a writer because her parents named her for Anne of Green Gables. She grew up in an old house with gables (gray, unfortunately) in upstate New York. When she wasn't writing or reading, she was rowing on the crew team, taking ballet lessons, fencing and swimming. She graduated from Union College with degrees in English and history, which comes in handy when she writes historical fiction.

After earning a master's degree in information science, Anne began working as a youth services librarian. Currently, she lives in southeastern Virginia with her family. When she's not writing young adult fiction, she's playing with her daughter, training for races with her husband, working at her amazing library branch, learning to knit (badly), and reading.

Anne Blankman is the author of PRISONER OF NIGHT AND FOG, the first in a three-book deal slated for publication in spring 2014 from Balzer + Bray | HarperCollins. She is represented by Tracey Adams of Adams Literary.

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