I originally received this book from the author Desney King to read and review and am very excited to now have the opportunity to share it with some of Beauty and Lace’s members.
Desney King is a recent addition to the independent publishing company Pilyara Press, which includes Jennifer Scoullar and Monique Mulligan whose works Beauty and Lace members have also had the opportunity to read and review recently.
Transit of Angels is Desney King’s debut novel, 12 years in the making, and what a debut it is!
Angelica (known as Angel) is 34 when she receives the phone call that will change her life, her beloved husband Bill has been involved in a single-vehicle motorbike accident and is now in ICU. Her twin sister Estrellita (Essie) by her side she is forced to deal with the unimaginable, Bill’s injuries are so severe they are deemed incompatible with life. At this moment, in shock and with her heartbreaking she must make the decision whether to honour Bill’s wish to be an organ donor.
King gently leads us through the process for getting consent from next of kin for donation as we meet Julianne, the hospital organ donor coordinator, the understanding that the next of kin is grieving and needs time to process what has happened and make a decision, while at the same time making it clear that time is of the essence. Struggling with her emotions Angel realises that having his organs donated is what Bill would want, he was so clear about his decision and not to honour that decision would be to deny who Bill was.
Anyone who has experienced the death, whether expected or not, of a loved one will recognise that strange feeling of disconnect with the world, how it seems remarkable that the world keeps turning, and people’s lives go on as before when for you everything has stopped. Many cultures have specific rituals around death which aim to honour the dead, while acknowledging and supporting the living, some cultures are better at this than others. Western society is often particularly bad at dealing with the whole death, dying and grieving process, as evidenced by our need to substitute words such as “lost”, “passed on” etc. for “death” in order to somehow soften the blow.
Transit of Angels seeks to acknowledge the grieving process, and how over a long period of time the pain lessens and becomes bearable, while acknowledging that it never totally goes away and there will always be triggers that bring it rushing back.
Depending on your belief system, some may find the concepts that King utilises as she follows Angel’s path of dealing with her beloved husband’s death confronting and different to their own understanding and belief in what happens after death. Whatever your religious views, King explores the grieving process in a compassionate manner, as Angel comes to believe the butcher bird that miraculously appears in her garden is a sign from Bill that he is still there with her, cares for her and supports the things she is doing to move forward.
As events unfold, we watch Angel gaining a greater understanding of herself, her place in nature and natures place in her healing process. Interwoven into the tale is the sub tale of Angel’s twin sister Essie and her partner Liz who, while providing support to Angel throughout her grief, are dealing with their own relationship dramas and traumas. And, in an acknowledgement that you can’t always rely on family in your greatest hour of need, we also meet Angel and Essie’s younger sister Sage, who, having found religion, refuses to expose her children to Essie and Liz’s “house of sin” and totally disapproves of all of Angel’s actions in her recovery process.
Transit of Angels is a beautifully written book which tackles, what for many is a very difficult topic, without getting schmaltzy. Whether you believe that death is final, or that there is a heaven, or in reincarnation, or in life after death, providing you can suspend judgement on views that might not entirely accord with your own then you will both enjoy this book, and gain a great deal from it.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well written, thoughtful story, as well as anyone seeking to deal with their grief after the death of a loved one.
ISBN: 978-1-9258272-7-9 (paperback) / 978-0-6483089-5-9 (e-book)
Copy courtesy of Desney King
A selection of our Beauty and Lace Club Members are reading Transit of Angels by Desney King. You can read their comments below, or add your own review.
I love to read, for many years my passion has been science fantasy but recently I’ve discovered many fabulous Australian women authors and am devouring all the new genres I am being exposed to.
In addition to reading and reviewing books I enjoy photography, spending time with my husband, daughter, grandson, 2 dogs and a cat and am an aspiring author.
Thanks for your honesty, Lorraine.
I agree – clearly, Transit of Angels is not the genre you generally read or enjoy. And it’s good that you felt free to express your opinion.
Thank-you Beauty & Lace for giving me the chance to read & review ‘Transit of Angels’ by Desney King.. I had to take my time reading this, as it resonated with me, and the loss of my own husband under tragic circumstances, in a profound way, and certainly brought on the tears.
Angels life was torn apart in an instant, after 1 phone call, her husband had been in a horrific accident.
I love the way the story included the important topic of organ donation, and having to say those final goodbyes and let go of the hand of the one you love so much.
Completely lost in her grief, family and friends encourage her to try and move on, and she is offered a country cottage to live in, where she can heal.
I think we all look for some sort of sign that our loved ones are around us, and the sighting of a special bird on a regular basis, brings her comfort.
Along the way, a chance encounter will change her whole future, and in the early stages, trepidation, and from some family and closest friends, disappointment and disgust, but ultimately will being her even closer to one sister and her lesbian lover.
There is lot’s of spiritual seeking and enlightenment for Angel as well, and she makes some wonderful like minded friends along the way, all part of her healing process.
Some may find this book definitely not for them, depending on your own spiritual, and life after death beliefs. I on the other hand, did practically all that Angel did, and looked for any sign that my husband was near, even a few years after his death. Angel also finds that grief is not a ‘get over it quickly’ event, but there are triggers years after, that can bring back many memories of the love she has lost.
I absolutely loved this book, and to anyone who is unsure, give it a go. Read it with an open mind, and even if your spiritual beliefs differ, look at it as one womans journey, through shock, disbelief, devastating decisions and loss, to be gently pushed forward, into new opportunities, friends lost and friends gained, but ultimately, working forward, working through her grief, and to ultimately , find peace.
I’m so sorry about the loss of your husband, Lynn. But deeply moved that Transit of Angels resonated so profoundly for you. I hope you, too, have found peace, and gentle ways of living with your grief.
Transit of Angels is author Desney King’s debut novel and it didn’t disappoint.
We meet the main character Angelica, known as Angel, in an ICU next to her much loved husband Bill, who is on life support after a serious motor bike accident. Desney sensitively and realistically steps Angel through the pain of realising Bill isn’t going to recover and then making the decision to donate his organs. But it is the emotional rollercoaster journey that follows as Angels navigates intense grief and loss, loneliness and recognition of a life changed forever, that is so beautifully captured and written. The emotion is raw and painful and had me reaching for my tissues more than once. As Angel finds ways to keep Bill close in memory and spirit, she reconnects with family and friends and slowly finds a life path of her own, reminding us that even in the face of the greatest of tragedies life goes on and hope and happiness can be restored.
A really beautifully written and powerful novel which I couldn’t put down. Thank you Beauty and Lace and Pilyara Press for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this book. I look forward to reading more from this talented author.
Thank you, Kerry, for this beautiful review.
This story engaged me from the very first page and I felt deeply for Angel as she dealt with the agonising decision about organ donation and saying goodbye to her beloved husband. It was if the grief was pouring out of the pages. For me, though the remainder of the story fell a little short compared to this intense beginning. I think there were many areas where the spiritual indications of life after death could have been further developed. I felt that I wanted more from the references to Shamanism, mediums and near death experiences which could have been more deeply entwined into the story line. Nevertheless, this was an enjoyable read with food for thought. The journey through grief can be long and painful and people find their own individual ways to meet the challenges along the road. Well done, Desney for having the courage to touch upon spiritual matters which can often be met with strong resistance and judgement. Thank you for the opportunity to review your work.
Thank you, Carla. Yes – it’s a fine line, isn’t it? And grief is a unique and lonely experience for each of us.
Transit Of Angels is the debut novel of Desney King and what a debut it was!
I am truly honoured to have been able to read this amazingly well written book.
Angel is so young to have to face life as a widow and Desney is very gentle as she takes us through what happens when a loved one is an organ donor.
When Angel cried I cried for her.
Over a year later and Angel gets the opportunity to move away to a lovely house out with nature to try and grieve, move on.
The rest of the book takes us further into Angel’s grief and how she copes with it.
It is so well written that I could truly see the story happening as if it was right in front of me.
I was also able to put myself in Angel’s shoes as I read further and further in.
I highly recommend this book. I did cry a lot while reading but that’s just me, I am able to put myself in others shoes.
Thank you so much for allowing me to review this book.
Desney King, thank you so much for writing such a beautiful novel.
Stacey, thank you so much for this sensitive, beautiful review.
Make sure you dont start reading this on public transport or a cafe, the beginning is so emotive and heart breaking. You’ll need a box of tissues.
Angelica loses the love of her life due to a tragic accident. Her life turned upside down not knowing how to go on until she puts a little faith in signs and feelings. A different approach to dealing with lifes challenges.
She uproots herself and goes on a quest to seek understanding, peace, a new resolve. And her fight to come back from grief was rewarded with a gift.
Quite the touching warm fuzzy kind of story. I really enjoyed reading it. Well worded and described to help readers see whats going on. Thanks to Desney King for a good read and Beauty and Lace for giving me the opportunity.
Thanks, Sharyn. Love your tissues warning. And I’m glad you enjoyed the book.