Title: Heaven
Author: Christoph Marzi
First published January 1, 2009
384 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9781408314661 (ISBN10: 1408314665)
Rating: 3.53
Overview
The streets of New York were bustling with life, but for Jaxon, the night was lonely and quiet. Until he met her.
He stumbled upon a girl named Heaven, who was in distress and claimed that her heart had been stolen. Jaxon couldn’t believe what he was hearing, but Heaven was alive, and he had to help her.
Together, they embark on a thrilling and mysterious adventure to find Heaven’s heart and uncover the truth about her origins. Christoph Marzi’s captivating novel is a perfect blend of romance, suspense, and fantasy, making readers hold their breath until the very end.
About the Author
Christoph Marzi, born in 1970 in Mayen and raised in Obermendig, currently resides with his family in Saarland. He spends his time there and elsewhere, crafting unique and imaginative stories, while the garden surrounding his home grows wilder and more peculiar with each passing day.
Marzi’s novels are published by Heyne and Arena, and his numerous short stories have found homes in various anthologies. His debut novel, LYCIDAS, earned him the German Fantasy Award in 2005 for “Best German-language Debut Novel,” and his collection of short stories, NIMMERMEHR, won the same award in 2009 for “Best Short Story Collection.”
His work has been translated into English, Dutch, Spanish, Italian, Romanian, Czech, Serbian, Norwegian, and Japanese, making his stories accessible to readers all over the world.
Editoral Review
Heaven by Christoph Marzi is an imaginative and thought-provoking work of young adult fiction that is sure to capture the hearts of readers. Marzi is a bestselling German author who is known for his fantasy and horror-themed works.
His books are often set in his hometown of Frankfurt, and he is known for his use of vivid prose and subtle imagery. Heaven is a hauntingly beautiful story that takes readers on a journey through the hidden realms of the afterlife.
The story centers around a young girl named Johanna, who has recently died and has found herself in a place called “Heaven” a strange and surreal world where she must navigate a series of surreal landscapes and interact with a cast of otherworldly characters in order to uncover the secrets of her past. Marzi’s evocative descriptions of Heaven offer a vivid and captivating look into the world of the afterlife, and his use of symbolism and allegory adds depth and complexity to the novel’s themes.
The book explores themes of identity, memory, and redemption, and it does so with a sense of nuance and subtlety that is rare in young adult fiction. One of the strengths of the novel is its strong characterization.
Johanna is a complex and empathetic protagonist, and her journey through Heaven is both captivating and emotional. The supporting cast of characters is equally engaging, each with their own unique backstory and motivations.
In terms of structure, the novel is well-paced and tightly plotted, with each chapter building on the previous one to create a sense of momentum and urgency. Marzi’s prose is lyrical and evocative, and he has a talent for creating rich and textured descriptions that transport the reader to another world.
However, the novel’s biggest weakness is its lack of clarity in terms of its underlying mythology. While Marzi’s descriptions of Heaven are stunningly beautiful, the reader is left with a sense of confusion about the rules and laws of the afterlife.
This lack of clarity can make it difficult to fully engage with the novel’s themes and plot. Overall, Heaven is a captivating and beautifully written work of young adult fiction that is sure to appeal to fans of the fantasy genre.
While it may not be perfect, it is a novel that is well worth reading, and it is sure to leave a lasting impression on readers. Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars.
