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“even gods have flaws”
The Shape of Angels follows an immortal man haunted by a curse who must travel back in time and across dimensions to confront his former self to prevent the universe’s destruction. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
My inspiration came from the desire to create something that did not exist. Imagination was strongly encouraged in my household while growing up, as both my mother and my father were very creative. Mom once worked for Sysco Foods as a graphic designer and designed their penguin mascot, Sysco Sydney. Dad was a storyteller, a so-called professional liar. He ‘made up things’ for a living, which is what we do as writers. Imagination came easily to me, and I aimed to create a series that did not resemble others. There are many time-travel books out there, but not many, if any, that feature multidimensional time travel. As per my theory of ‘Dimensional Distinction’, the past, present, and future co-exist at the same time. This allows me to shift readers between timelines by using dimensions to explain a Napoleonic Europe with advanced technology—an entirely new concept and theory with much to explore.
I find the world you created in this novel brimming with possibilities. Where did the inspiration for the setting and the supernatural elements come from, and how did it change as you were writing?
The supernatural elements of my story were inspired by real mythology, and I had always admired Napoleon Bonaparte, who was superstitious himself. To reference mythology, we can examine Napoleon’s imperial eagle, which closely resembles Caesar’s Aquila, including the lightning bolts in its talons—the sacred emblem of Jupiter (and Zeus). I conducted extensive research the six inventors, incorporating the elements and cultures of the real people they represent. Throughout my trilogy, I will introduce and delve into the roles of each inventor, as all six dimensions matter.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The Shape of Angels explores a primary theme of “even gods have flaws”, and those flaws can either destroy or empower, depending on the individual. It is a story that examines limits, but also shows how life can be molded beyond what is possible. Identity is another theme TSOA explores, including what it may look like in the eyes of others.
What will your next novel be about and what will the whole series encompass?
The next novel in my series will be titled The Probability Machine. In TPM, we will learn more about Adreian’s past and how he came to bear Sil’nei’s heart. TPM will lean more on hard science fiction and the coalition wars. Let’s say there might be a shift in protagonists…
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The universe is crumbling. Its fate depends on a child (Adreian Bayne) with a magical heart and a broken body—whose very existence threatens the balance of its six dimensions, time and space.
As the organ propelling Adreian’s blood bears a terrible hex—devised by its original host—and, mighty demigod, Sil’nei.
Tasked with preventing the universe’s destruction, Sil’nei must shed his guise as Physics Professor Giovanni Romano—and confront Adreian in the past (1804) to silence his (own) beating heart. Thus, destroying himself.
Giovanni realizes the complexity of his assignment after undergoing inter-dimensional time-travel. Upon arriving in the third dimension, he meets a grand opportunity—tempting Giovanni to cement his former empire—and mentor his former incarnation, Napoleon Bonaparte, while exploiting Adreian.
As expected, Giovanni receives opposition from his fellow ‘Inventors’, who seek to arrest his conquests—waging a war between gods and mortal men, with Adreian at the epicenter.
The Shape of Angels – The Inventors Book: 1
The Shape of Angels weaves history, myth, trauma, and raw human longing into a story that shifts across centuries and dimensions. The book follows Giovanni Romano, an immortal man haunted by a curse, by love, by illness, and by the people who drift in and out of his impossible lifespan. The narrative swings between past and present, giving readers everything from Napoleon’s youth to supernatural wars in hidden planes of existence. It feels like an epic puzzle, with each chapter offering a new piece that makes the picture stranger and a lot more compelling.
The writing moved between sharp intensity and quiet sorrow. Some scenes felt chaotic in the best way, like being pulled into the mind of a man who never gets a break from the weight of eternity. Other moments slowed down so much that I could feel Giovanni’s loneliness press in on me. The author made bold choices with structure, and while the rapid switches in point of view sometimes left me unsteady, the emotional punch behind them made the journey worth it. The mix of historical detail and supernatural invention blended into something I rarely see pulled off without turning messy. Here, it worked. It felt weird and wild and strangely intimate.
I also found myself wrestling with the characters in a very personal way. Giovanni frustrated me and broke my heart at the same time. Naomi, with all her flaws and stubborn angles, felt alive even when I disliked her choices. The supernatural elements had an eerie physicality that made them feel less like fantasy and more like another kind of truth. The ideas behind the Inventors, their rituals, their burdens, and their power, left me chewing on the meaning of responsibility and the cost of being exceptional. At times, the world-building overwhelmed me, but the emotional core never slipped out of reach. The book surprised me with how much it made me feel for people who are trying so hard to survive a world that keeps demanding too much from them.
The Shape of Angels is not afraid to get dark. I would recommend it to readers who enjoy emotionally heavy stories, intricate worlds, and characters who refuse to be easy. If you like historical fantasy with a modern twist, or tales that explore the messy corners of love, grief, and identity, this book will probably pull you in the same way it pulled me.
Pages: 274 | ASIN : B0FNS1JN8S
LITERARY TITAN 