Spirit of Lost Angels

I read the physical book of Spirit of Lost Angels first back in 2014 and then in audiobook format just recently. I explain in depth below (in my original review ) why I absolutely love this book (and this whole series), but the author asked if I would like to try the audio version, and I must say it was extremely well done! I will always prefer the feel of a real book in my hands; however, I have had some long drives lately, and listening to this audiobook was definitely an enjoyable way to pass the time. The narrator did an excellent job of changing her voice to suit the different characters (which I was very impressed by as I think it would be extremely difficult to do), and I quickly found myself immersed in Victoire's world again and maybe even more so because I could hear the emotion in the narrator's voice. If you enjoy audiobooks, I do highly recommend this one, and honestly I would read or listen to anything Liza Perrat writes!! ORIGINAL REVIEW: I sat down after supper tonight to finish the last few chapters of Spirit of Lost Angels by Liza Perrat, but I hesitated because I knew that when I turned the last page I would have to leave behind one of the most memorable characters I have met in a long time. Victoire is a young peasant girl from Lucie-sur-Vionne, a small village in France, who, in the years leading up to the French Revolution, endures seemingly never ending tragedy and atrocities due to poverty, ignorance, inequality, and corruption but never loses her will to fight for love, happiness, liberty, and equality. This story is the first in Liza Perrat’s L'Auberge des Anges series, each focusing on one strong main female character. I have also read the second in the series, Wolfsangel, and I must say that it is truly empowering to read the stories of these incredible women who even at the depths of their despair are able to dig deeper and find the strength to rise up and fight for what they believe in. Perrat is a truly gifted writer whose words and descriptions are so riveting that I found myself on an emotional roller coaster alternating from anger boiling to the surface at times over inconceivable horrors, to my heart pounding in anticipation, and my eyes overflowing with tears of sadness. I could feel Victoire’s pain and frustration like it was my own, and that is the sign of a great author when the reader becomes part of the story and experiences everything along with the characters. The portrayal of the lower classes with their strength, bravery, and fighting spirit during the revolutionary years is truly inspirational and a reminder that there are still inequalities in our world today that cannot be forgotten. I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves a historical novel with true heart and soul.