Title: The Angel of Hoheneck: In an age of betrayal, the only hope was to trust.
Author: Ivan Fredrikson
Publisher: PartridgeSingapore
ISBN: 978-1543745344
Pages: 308
Genre: Fiction
Reviewer: Aaron Washington

Read Book Review

Enthusiasts of historical fiction will enjoy The Angel of Hoheneck: In an age of betrayal,
the only hope was to trust. Mostly because the author depicts fictitious scenarios in a
manner which appears real. The book may appear a tad complex from the onset
because of numerous characters, and a dozen sub-plots. It is still intriguing regardless.
The reader gets gelled into the story with the introduction of every mini-plot. I like that
author Ivan Fredrikson made the stories engaging, and enlightened the readers
throughout, even as he added more tales. The Angel of Hoheneck: In an age of
betrayal, the only hope was to trust. is a historical-fiction lover’s fantasy. The narration
plus unfolding of events and historical references were stimulating to read about.

There is a castle which is at the center of everything good and bad, but we are first
taken to Sidney, Australia as the book starts. We are introduced to James Llewelyn, a
man who despite fighting deep personal battles, still sees life with a new lens. James
will be betrayed a dozen times, but still rises again and invites more people into his life.
The events in Sydney are captivating, especially tales about James’ highs-and-lows.
The story gets deeper when the author takes us to Poland. The most entertaining tales
however, happen during the 12th century. In this castle, beautiful as it is, lies Pandora ’s
Box. No one knows about the secrets the castle harbors apart from a few. There are
imprisoned women who have an idea of what’s up with this castle.

The Angel of Hoheneck: In an age of betrayal, the only hope was to trust. gets more
fascinating with the entrance of Janek Dabrowski. This is a character who has seen war,
blood being shed, loss, triumph, and the thirst for revenge. Janek Dabrowski plays a
villainous role which is a direct contrast to his son Karl. Karl, who has grown in
communism, rejects his father’s politics. Karl wants to live life to the fullest. He will
entertain that which pleases him and discard anything he deems senseless.

What is the correlation between Hoheneck Women’s Prison, Janek Dabrowski, and
James Llewelyn? What binds these characters and the castle?’ ‘The Angel of
Hoheneck’ will take you through a rollercoaster of emotions fused with history lessons. I
enjoyed the book and especially loved the time traveling aspect. Traveling between
centuries and experiencing the world in different systems was intellectually stimulating.
Multiple themes came out of the tales, including love, betrayal, freedom, trust, romance,
loyalty, family, and leadership.

I recommend ‘The Angel of Hoheneck’ to readers who enjoy historical fiction, and young
learners who want to advance their diction. The writing is magnificent and the tales
otherworldly. The author’s style of narrating, the creativity in the creation of characters
and the diversity in traits among characters are some of the most notable features in
this book. Another plus about reading this book is the knowledge the reader gains about
particular parts of Europe.