Relics: A Relics Novel

Tim Lebbon is an excellent writer. Everything that I have read, written by him, has held my attention and enthralled me. He is the author of the 3 books about Predators joining with Humans to go after Aliens and I really like those books.Relics has one of the single most interesting plots. And half of the fun of this book is discovering what the plot is about. Literally. It seems, at first, to be a plot about a missing boy friend and from there you enter, literally, into worlds and societies and relationships that will surprise and engage you.You will be enthralled with the characters, I was totally immersed in Angela's voyage of discovery and as Angela uncovers information about her missing "boyfriend" you too are uncovering the same sense of wonder and confusion that has Angela so confused, fearful and enthralled.Telling you about the plot beyond "someone goes missing in London" will spoil so much of the story. I read the blurbs on the "back of the book" and thank heavens the blurbs do not even scratch the story line.This is a book I will read again and again and recommend to everyone as well as give as a gift.Kudos to Mr. Lebbon, he now joins my list of must read authors.

I liked the readability of the book, and it was presented in a mystery-format, so it kept my attention throughout but it represents the very time-worn, heavily covered subject of fairytale and fantasy characters, for example, fairies, nephilim, cyclops, and the like. This story would have been far more intriguing and would have compelled me to buy the next book in the series if the “creatures” were truly unique in fantasy or sci-fi. Also, seven dollars is a lot to pay for a short story.To the Author: If you want to read a book/series that takes an incredibly far leap away from the vampire subject (and the origins of vampires) while still retaining what makes the idea of vampires so horrifying, read Brian Lumley’s Necroscope series.

We all have secrets that we keep from our loved ones, it's just human nature, but when Angela Gough's fiance Vince's secret life threatens their idyllic life together Vince has to go into hiding, leaving only an enigmatic note as the only clue as to what has happened to him. Angela embarks on a quest to find her lover. A quest that will bring her into contact with the secret world that stands in the sun sheltered place, where she will see the face behind the face of a London far removed from the one we know.While Relics by Tim Lebbon may sound like a typical Urban Fantasy, with secret worlds existing side by side with our mundane world, a world where the denizens of the Fae cross our paths unbeknownst to the general populace. It may even share the same setting as the Rivers of London or the London Falling series, but Lebbon's unusual mix of a love story, mythical creatures and the seedy underworld of human crime syndicates marks this book as something rather special.In many cases, prologues can be annoying or serve little purpose, hover the prologue to Relics, with its wink to a well-known genre writer, is a wonderful hardboiled way to start this novel, despite the fact that it gives away the fact that Angela survives the following story.One of the strengths of the Relics lies in the opening segment of the novel. Lebbon's description of the relationship between Angela and Vince is powerful scene setter that lays the foundation for the non-stop thriller that ensues as Angela hunts for her lover. One of the problems that a lot of Urban fantasies have is the lack of a driving force for why the protagonist continues to do what they do when they come face to face with mind shattering reality of realising that there is a secret world. Most people would just give up without an overriding desire. Lebbon gets around this by the convincing the reader that the love between Angela and Vince is all powerful. While some may find this opening segment unnecessary, its inclusion serves to lay a solid basis for what comes later.Angela's journey of discovery into the secret world of "relics" and the Fae is delivered with perfect pitch and pacing. Lebbon keeps the story flowing by drip feeding the reader with insights into the secret world, never fully playing his hand until a glorious final third act.Lebbon's gift of world building is exceptional, the London we all know lives and breaths between the pages of this novel. And as we are introduced to the myriad of characters, Lebbon layers on a high-octane tension-filled narrative that hooks the reader with ease.While Angela may be the story's main protagonist, it is Fredrick "Fat Freddy" Meloy who will probably become a fan favourite. A no-nonsense, London "businessman" whose mythology is almost as epic as the creatures he so desires to own a part of, is the real stand out character of the novel. Meloy is an uncompromising complex character, yes he is evil and has done a lot of nasty things, however despite this, Lebbon's sensitive handling of him, means that you might not like Freddy, but you cannot help but feel for him and his obsession. Lebbon also ensures that Freddy doesn't just come across as a cliched version of one of the Kray twins.Relics' rich cast of mythical beasts, monsters and the Fae folk is truly wondrous, from Faries, nymphs, fox gods, witches, Nephilim, and even a satyr, the sense of wonder and dead that is elicited as we to them is spectacular. The journey to the other side in Relics elicits the same sense of wonder and dread as that scene in the Nightbreed film where Booth travels through Midean.The feeling of building dread that Lebbon brings to the narrative, is exceptional and when it explodes into a thrilling final act, it is clear that Lebbon had a lot of fun writing the book. In true cinematic style the final battle between the two factions, I would hesitate to say good and evil, as Lebbon masterfully blurs the lines between them on both sides of the fight, is an over the top action packed blood-soaked battle for survival and retribution.If you are looking for a fast-paced, thrilling story that mixes James Ellroy gritty crime fiction, with an early Clive Barker sense of wonder, then Tim Lebbon's Relics is a perfect book for you.

Tim Lebbon can write. This book is a great look at the chance mystical creatures of literature might be real, think fairies. A good story. Fun, a little slow or it would be five stars. RECOMMENDED

If you love fantasy then this book is a must read! Lebbon brings to life the characters from our childhood fairy tales in ways hard to imagine unless you read the book. From the enchanting nympth Lilou to the omnipotent fallen angel Mallian, these characters will captivate both your imagination as well as your heart.

So, as today was meant to be rainy and dull; I decided to take the time to read one of my new purchases on my Kindle. I chose Relics and found myself whisked away on a fun adventure that kept me entertained all the way through. I recommend this book.

A fun, thrilling journey into a secret, underground London. Urban fantasy done different. Not always terribly believable but always exciting.

Very hard to put down. Grabs a hold and won't let go. Something different but oh so good. Many more questions but all in all a good read

I've read a few novels by Tim Lebbon now and with each the thing you always get are good believable characters. Angela and Vince feel like real people living in to start with a normal London. Quite quickly though we find all is not as it seems and the stuff of myths and legend start to become real in a nightmarish chase in the depths of London's underground tunnels. It is a good solid fantasy horror book that sets up a world full of possibilities for the future story. I like Thorn the best and hope he features some more. I like knowing the setting and I'd love to think there is more out there than we know. So much set up for the next one but neatly tied up at the end. Good job

Tim Lebbon can be an amazing and innovative writer. After reading 30 Days of Night, Alien: Out of the Shadows; and The Rage Wars trilogy, I became a fan of his. They were cracking yarns and they are now being kept among my large collection of books which I would happily read again. Relics won’t be. I was so convinced that the author was going to consistently impress me with everything that he writes that, at the same time as paying good money for Relics, I bought (yet unread) Coldbrook, The Hunt, and The Family Man. I must have been in some kind of Lebbon frenzy after finishing The Rage Wars trilogy. I realise that a lot of people are giving Relics a high rating so this is only my point of view, of course. After struggling to get through 260 pages, I just could not read any more. The truth is, if I hadn’t seen Relics listed among his other books on Amazon, I would never have believed that Relics was by the same Tim Lebbon. The style seems so amateurish at times. It’s heavily clichéd and repetitious with unconvincing scenes, and dialogue, and characters who behave illogically. For example, one of the main characters, Angela, is writing a thesis for a doctorate in criminology and she’s trying to trace her lover who has suddenly disappeared. She investigates the matter as if she is some kind of sleuth (what’s the point in bothering the police after a day or two?) and fears for his and her own safety. She’s terrified that she is being stalked by things that bump you off in the night, so: "A car passed the street’s end, lights flaring and fading again. Music from its stereo did the same. Mumford & Sons, she thought. Great, that’ll be in my head all night now, and I’ll never—" (pg 142).She’ll never what, get to sleep because she’s busy singing that annoying little song that’s stuck in her head? Not lying awake then, terrified that someone is going to come and kill her! No, she will be too busy singing a song.And I have to mention that throughout there is overuse of the em dash (long dash) — used by writers at the end of cut off sentences as a sign of interrupted speech. It is also often used as a tool at the end of a sentence for suspension, to create anticipation in the reader. Except it didn’t.I wonder if Tim Lebbon was trying out a different style for this one. I don’t know as I haven’t read the books Coldbrook etc yet. In the sci-fi books I have read, mentioned above, I don’t remember repetition about people having sex, or a strong focus on a character having an extraordinary long ‘c**k’, ‘d**k’, 'schl*ng’. Then we have repetition about blood, bleeding, faeces, and all the other gory, ghastly, things imaginable, ad nauseam. I suppose that was for shock/horror effect to pep up a storyline that badly needed pepping up.

I am an absolute avid fan of Tim Lebbon and buy all the books as soon as they are available. Needless to say I rushed out to buy relics and The Folded Land. We start with Angela and Vince a couple who live in London and are happy. She is part time researcher and he.... well he kind of works in an office.When Vince disappears one day, Angela is determined to find him whatever the cost.... and there is indeed a price to pay. She visits Soho where Fat Frank has a club, but collects all things weird like fairies, and one eyed cyclops. There is another world deep underground.It sounds like an amazing book, but just did not work for me.

I was enthused about this title and had read a good review. However, I found it somewhat plodding, with a slender plot stretched very thin. And it was less gothic (and slightly more fantasy) than I had hoped, like a gory Tolkien. Some close editing would’ve been useful, as phrases and descriptions occasionally recurred...and, on that topic, a high street chain of coffee shops was namechecked unnecessarily. Disappointing.

I may have hoped or expected this too be much more horror in style or graphic but it really is focused on myth and folklore creatures and human characters connected to destroying or saving them. A really well written tale for fans of Clive Barker, Neil Gaiman books and the first in a trilogy out now.