The Lost Angel: A Novel

Written by Javier Sierra

Narrated by James Langton and Zilah Mendoza

New York Times bestselling author Javier Sierra returns with a heartpounding, apocalyptic thriller about mankind’s most ancient desire—and the modern evil some will unleash to obtain it.

New York Times bestselling author Javier Sierra returns with a heart-pounding thriller about mankind’s most ancient desire—and the modern evil some will unleash to obtain it.

In approximately seventy-two hours, a little-known Middle Eastern terrorist group plans to bring about the end of the world. Convinced that they are the descendants of angels and on the verge of at last returning to heaven, they kidnap scientist Martin Faber, whose research has uncovered an extraordinary secret. Martin’s only hope for survival is the rare psychic gift of his young wife. But Julia Alvarez must find the courage to save her husband while running from religious extremists and clandestine government agencies.

Javier Sierra takes readers on an exhilarating international adventure, from the summit of legendary Mount Ararat to the high desert of New Mexico, from the monuments of Washington, DC, to the medieval city of Santiago de Compostela in Spain. The Lost Angel bears all the hallmarks of the beloved author’s erudite yet fast-paced brand of storytelling, combining historical fact and fiction with dazzling narrative surprises.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
• Release date: Oct 4, 2011
• ISBN: 9781442347106

Javier Sierra

Javier Sierra tenia només vuit anys quan va començar a somiar a ser escriptor. Va publicar el seu primer llibre fa trenta anys, confirmant el que ja intuïa aleshores: que les lletres són una eina magnífica per resoldre misteris. Abans de guanyar el Premi Planeta amb El foc invisible, ja era l’únic autor espanyol que havia aconseguit que les seves novel·les arribessin al top ten dels més venuts als Estats Units. Amb El pla mestre s’enfronta ara als grans interrogants que plantegen els orígens, el sentit i el significat profund de l’art, novel·lant la pertorbadora influència d’una comunitat secreta que ens ha inculcat les seves idees des de la nit dels temps. Autor d’obres tan cèlebres com El sopar secret, El maestro del Prado, La dama azul o L’àngel perdut, la seva literatura es llegeix avui a quaranta-quatre països. Periodista i viatger, és fill predilecte de la seva ciutat natal i la biblioteca pública de Terol porta el seu nom.   Web: www.javiersierra.com X: @Javier_Sierra Instagram: @javiersierracom Facebook: JavierSierra.Fan

Reviews for The Lost Angel

[gmtapublishing · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Book Title: "The Lost Angel”Author: Javier SierraPublished By: AtriaAge Recommended: 18+Reviewed By: Kitty BullardRaven Rating: 5Review: A scathing book about terrorism and the possible end of the world. This book is at once frightening and true. Written with an insightful rendering of the hopes and fears of mankind and leaving you with the burning question… what if… could this truly happen?A wonderfully dark read with many twists and turns, interesting characters and a sound plot!

[jacobsbeloved · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book had almost too much going on, with an extensive glossary in the beginning pages - complete with color photos - that I needed to read beforehand to keep up with the plot. Javier Sierra made a point of mixing fact with fiction in this novel, and the book reads like an extensive 'conspiracy theory.' My husband is much more familiar with many aspects of the plot, and I often asked him if what I was reading about was really true or not. The book opens with a quotation of Genesis 6: 2-3, which states "...the sons of God saw that the daughters of man were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose. And the Lord said, 'My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.'" This is followed by a quote from John Dee, who figures prominently in the plot, though I did not find the quote to be especially inspiring.The main focus of the book is about a group of people who consider themselves descendants of those angels that joined with "the daughters of man," and want to find a way to get back into heaven. They will use any means necessary to accomplish this -- murder, deceit, even putting the whole planet in jeopardy.The main character, Julia Alvarez, is a psychic who is completely duped by their antics. I understand that the author means for the reader to feel sympathy for the angelic descendants through Julia's narration, but the way that Julia allows herself to be used and deceived by even her own husband disgusts me. She believes whatever they tell her and does not question anything. In fact, anyone that does question this main family is characterized as foolish and forgettable, such as Ellen Watson and Inspector Figueiras.There was one main problem I had with the plot, which is that in the Bible, the angels that mate with human women are 'fallen' because they disobeyed God, which is never addressed. What is also never addressed is any scriptural substantiation for what they believed about Noah and the ark. They believed they could force God to take them back into heaven with their thrown-together mish-mash of technology. How is that believable? God kicked the angels out - they certainly can't force their way back in! Not to mention, this family does not back up their belief that they are descendants of angels with actual scientific proof, such as DNA tests, even though they all claim to be men (and woman) of science.Overall, the book twists a blasphemous tale of Biblical scripture, using factual information to support a fictitious plot. It has suspense, intrigue, and even a bit of romance, but the end is neither believable nor enjoyable. While books of this nature became popular thanks to the works of Dan Brown, (yes, I've read his stuff, too), I found this book to be merely an okay read.

[idroskicinia · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

The story at the beginning is very promising, especially in the synopsis where they promise us an incredible story full of terrorists, legends, mysteries, religion, and a young woman with a rare psychic gift who must find the courage to save her husband, Martin Faber an undercover American scientist, who has been kidnapped.I must admit that this book caught my attention considerably, and I thought for a moment that I would find a book like The Da Vinci Code, or maybe better! The problem was that after I started reading the book, everything they had previously promised and which had drawn my attention, evaporated slowly and I found a dull and hard to believe story with undeveloped characters.The story is very fanciful and full of ups and downs. Sometimes the reader can find really good scenes and a lot of interesting details, but also too boring and unrealistic descriptions and too sophisticated discussions that are too complicated to be understood by the reader. The characters were too plain and not likable at all, so it wasn't a surprise to find myself skipping pages. What I really liked about this novel: 1) The Glossary at the end of the book, full of incredible pictures and really good information for those who want to know more about the Javier Sierra's research. 2) It's a book you can read fast enough, the story is told in short chapters, making it more enjoyable and easier to skip pages if we are stuck somewhere. 3) Good story for undemanding readers. So, what can I say? I was waiting for much more. I didn't enjoy this book at all. The Lost Angel is the first book I read by Javier Sierra, and I'm not sure If I want to read something else written by him, even though I have heard a lot of good comments about his other novels. As always I recommend you to give it a try if you think you will enjoy this book. Maybe you will like it more than I did. Happy Reading!

[thejohnsmith · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

An interesting story that held my interest from start to finish. Angels, Noah's Ark, Secret Agents, Kidnappers and more all contribute to another entertaining tale from señor Sierra.

[mikedraper · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

American climatologist Martin Faber is kidnapped by a group calling itself the Forces of Popular Defense. The price of his release is immediate withdrawal of all NATO forces within 150 miles of Mount Ararat.Chapters are divided into segments from each character. Julia Alvarez, Martin's wife, narrates her own actions. This change in point of view is hard to achieve but the author did it successfully.As action unfolds, there is an attempt on Julia's life and she is rescued by Col. Nicholas Allen, of the Natl Security Agency. He informs her of her husband's kidnapping and tells her he believes Martin left a clue about how to save him in the message he was forced to deliver.Faber is being held by a group that feels they are the descendents of angels and are about to be returned to heaven. To do this, they must destroy the world and need two stones that Martin and Julia have.These stones have come down from history and enable the possessor to see things. It was thought that the stones were used to communicate with angels.The premise of the novel is hard to accept. I kept thinking of James Jones and his followers commiting mass suicide in Jonestown.The author provides an interesting index of churches and places in history to support his premise. In attempt to overcome any doubt, he has the characters discuss the events and in persuading each other, they bring the reader into the discussion.It didn't convince me, although the author certainly knows how to tell a clever tale. The reader must believe in fantasy to accept the idea of the novel.

[patxi77 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Entertaining. The writer is very engaging, and the book consists of short chapters, which makes it easier to read. However, I personally did not like the characters; they seemed too shallow to me. (Translated from Spanish)

[CarmenAndrés2906 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Anyone who enjoys Javier Sierra will not be disappointed. This time, history and supernatural mystery intertwine, featuring angels, two stones, and Noah (yes, the one from the ark). It's a whole cocktail that the art restorer Julia Álvarez will have to deal with as she works on the Portico of Glory. From there, she travels to Turkey in search of her husband, living through an entire adventure and a journey to the beyond. (Translated from Spanish)

[SandraBera · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I had wanted to read this book for a long time; I love novels that are based on historical events, and this one looked very promising.
At first, I must say it was difficult for me to immerse myself in the story and make progress; there were many technical details that I found hard to digest. However, the story became faster-paced, and the mystery increased, making it impossible for me to stop reading.
The theme seems original to me; I hadn't read a similar book, and it sparked my curiosity to investigate the topic of the Ark of Noah, angelology, and other details that I jotted down during the reading.
The book is very well written, and the events are narrated very well, without excessive descriptions, which I greatly appreciate in a book. And, above all, I was impressed by how well-documented all the events are; knowing that what you're reading is based on real places and historical facts is reassuring.
I was even more surprised to read Javier Sierra's travel diary and discover that he himself traveled to Turkey, ready to summit Mount Ararat. It says a lot about a writer who cares about well-documenting his story and experiencing firsthand the adventures he narrates.
I am eager to read more novels by this author. (Translated from Spanish)

[Robertortegas · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The protagonist will become embroiled in an ambitious race to control two ancient stones that, it seems, allow contact with supernatural entities, attracting interest from a mysterious Eastern sect to the President of the United States. (Translated from Spanish)

[Matarile · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another great work by Javier Sierra in which data, theories, magic, proven facts, and fiction born from the author's imagination are intertwined. This time it deals with ancient theories linking Noah's Ark with the Way of St. James. The magical aspect is contributed by the existence of mysterious symbols on the Glory Portico of Santiago Cathedral, linked to theories and legends about energies channeled through magical stones that some people have the power to control. The vibration emitted when pronouncing certain sounds can open portals to other dimensions, like Jacob's ladder.
Spoiler: the protagonist, Julia Álvarez, marries a follower of the ancient angels theory who, on the day of their wedding, gives her one of the two magical stones. She has the power to channel the energy. Different armed groups are also pursuing the stones and a board necessary to open the portal and they murder several people. In the end, they travel to Mount Ararat and locate the remnants of the Ark and manage to open the portal. Her husband and other “angels” from the expedition cross Jacob's ladder and pass into another dimension, while she is rescued at the last moment and remains on this side. It is unknown what happens to the stones and the board. (Translated from Spanish)

[AnaLia1987 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I decided to read this book because I was drawn to its synopsis and based on the reviews of the author's previous works, and honestly, it has disappointed me. Its plot, in my opinion, is too surreal: the search for stones that allow communication with God, the presence of angels on Earth, members of American elite forces in Galicia (a place I know very well)... A succession of nonsensical elements that made my interest in the book gradually diminish and prolonged my reading. However, I cannot deny the merit of the author's research work: the story about Noah and his symbols is very well crafted. (Translated from Spanish)

[Maralaso · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I am disappointed, I expected more. I didn't connect with either the narration or the plot. (Translated from Spanish)

[PerritoDeFlores · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The book is very good, like everything Javier writes, but there was a moment halfway through the book when it got a bit heavy for me, and then I struggled to get back into the rhythm. Still, it is a good book that I recommend because just because I lost the rhythm doesn't mean others will experience the same. (Translated from Spanish)

[Lauranas · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Always advisable the author (Translated from Spanish)

[Nines65 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Quite entertaining and a quick read. From the first page, events unfold rapidly, and with its structure of relatively short chapters, it becomes very enjoyable. Recommended, although personally, I missed a more enigmatic ending. (Translated from Spanish)