A SONG WITH TEETH is the first book I have ever read by Frohock and I can tell you it will not be the last. The writing style was superb and the historical details merged so well with the fantasy elements. I was instantly transported into this world and it hooked me.

Though I did enjoy the book, I believe it would have been better if I started with the first book in the series. I plan to start at the beginning and re-read this book when I have the chance.

A Song with Teeth takes place during real historical events, as have all of the books in this series, and I feel that this one is the most brutal. The book takes place during World War II and comes with mentions of all the atrocities that took place during that time. I won’t lie, it was difficult to read some chapters because of the brutality detailed.

That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy this book, because I did. Everything I loved about the other books in this series are still there. The love between Diago and Miquel and their love for their son, which is what drew me into the novellas to begin with. I was so happy to see it still just as strong at the end of this wonderful series. Ysabel and Rafael have grown so much since the beginning and seeing them both fighting for the cause alongside their parents was great. The magic, as always, was beautiful. I wish I could just close my eyes and hear them singing as they cast their spells. That’s probably the worst thing about this series, that we can’t do just that. Haha.

A Song with Teeth is the final volume in a series that has come to mean so much to me and I encourage everyone to pick up this series if you haven’t already. I know I was pretty vague in my review, but I really couldn’t think of anything to say that wouldn’t be spoilery. But I promise, it’s definitely worth a read!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The conclusion to Los Nefilim harkens back and ties up plots and characters, including those from the previous novella trilogy, in a winning and engaging fashion.
My full review is at Nerds of a Feather

Finishing a series is always a bittersweet experience, especially if it’s a series you fell in love with. I admit it took me a while to do so with Los Nefilim, but once I got my feet, there was no turning back. I can say with certainty, that it had become one of my all-time favorite series.

Right, now that’s out of the way, let’s talk about A Song with Teeth. As with the previous books, this one also takes place amid real historical events, namely World War II. The year is 1944, France is occupied by Nazi Germany, Jews, homosexuals and everyone who is against the Reich finds themselves in labor camps. The Spanish Inner Guard led by Guillermo is stretched thin as they try to help people to get away from Spain (which is still under Franco’s reign), help the Allies, and try to prevent the Nazis to win the war. And if that weren’t enough, the daimon-born Nefilim have their own plans to take over the world. Let’s just say our characters are having some hard times.

The stakes are even higher than before and hard choices are had to be made. In A Song with Teeth Ysa steps up to be a POV character along with Diago. Of course, all of the characters make their appearance for the end game, but Ysa gets a more prominent role than ever before. It’s pretty crazy to see her all grown up – I remember her in Where Oblivion Lives – she was a little girl, curious, smart and sharp as her papá. It was good to get to know her a bit better and her plotline offered one of the biggest twists in the book.

As with the previous books, A Song With Teeth doesn’t shy away from dealing with heavy topics. In this case, the horrors of WWII get addressed, especially the aspects of the camps and the prejudice against homosexuals. We get just enough scenes to drive home the message but it’s not too in your face. But then, the greatness of the Los Nefilim series is that while you get to fall in love with awesome characters, it also conveys subtle messages about love, family, and above anything else, acceptance. Be it accepting who you are, your demons, your path in life, your roots. And did I mention yet the absolutely kick-ass music-based magic?

A Song with Teeth is a worthy finale to an amazing series. The tension builds up right from the beginning and at one point I was seriously worried about the characters as we neared the end game, because I had no idea what was coming. I was nearly literally biting my nails.

This series was an emotional ride all around as we got to watch these characters grow so much and overcome so much hurt and horror. Frohock doesn’t shy away from giving them (and us) punches and then watch them as they become stronger not least thanks to the support of their friends and family.

If you are looking for a Historical Fantasy series with kick-ass magic, strong messages, LGBTQ+ rep, and loveable characters, then you definitely should give a go to Los Nefilim. It’s raw, brutal, emotional and so damn satisfactory.

The final book in the Los Nefilim returns us to France where Diago, and his family, continue their work alongside the Allies, while also retrieving the final pieces of the song that will help squash the reign of darkness that the German forces are bringing to rise.

***

This series which has been woven into our own darker parts of world history, wasn’t always an easy read. There were scenes that delve into the horrors of the holocaust etc. that were gut churning. In ways more disturbing for me than my normal reads because they really happened, and I very much hate not being able to pretend people are only horrible in books.

But by that same token, it’s important to note that this wasn’t all misery and despair. There is a light in that darkness, a perseverance of love and hope that brings about courage and a willingness not to succumb to the hate. It’s the themes of family, friendships, unquestionable support, and a readiness to try and understand others, that run through this series and keep me returning book after book.

***

Reviewing a final book in a series is tough. There isn’t much that hasn’t already been said by me when it comes to the writing- which as usual is crisp, clear, and extremely effective- beautiful in its starkness and sometimes terrifying in what’s left unsaid.

Plot points- if you a reading the third book you know what they are and I am not going spoil them.

So, that just leaves me talking about the characters and their journey. Which for me, as much as I admired the setting and tight-plotting throughout the series, and also the very cool music/tone based magic- it’s all about the characters.

First, I loved that Raphael and Ysabel have been so essential to the story the last couple books. We have watched these kids grow up in this series, and become more involved in the alliance’s activities- which has been hard at times, because there haven’t been any punches pulled with them.

Raphael had a big part to play last book and he still is very present here but Ysabel, was the one that stole my heart with her courage, and stepping-up to the plate even when her choices weren’t the greatest options but had to be done.

I felt it was fitting that the love and support they grew up knowing is what gave them the answers they needed in their hearts, to see this through to the end.


Nico – I grew to maybe not love him last book, but to really feel for his character and understand him. This book, watching him try to be a good person for the people who encouraged and backed him, made his journey even better. I was so proud of his choices.

Diago, and Miguel, and Guillermero were also wonderfully done. Their growth, especially when facing their pasts and desire to be loved or accepted, by a father, brother, or a friend- learning that some people can change and others never will. But most importantly, you as a person (or angel or daimon) have to be ok with where you are, and who you are, so you can let those past hurts go, and continue on and be better than you were.

This whole journey for these characters is a very emotional, and so human and full of beautiful, albeit painful at times lessons.


I’m kind of rambling on here so I will leave you with the tldr:

Loved this series. All around incredible but most of all, the characters feel real. Their journey is filled with family, love, and sometimes heartbreak but always, it was worthwhile.


Other notes (stuff I couldn’t fit but didn’t want to cut):

-This book gives us a lot of little scenes and insights to Diago’s early life/lives. I don’t know how much was new or if they were just small reminders for us to see how far he has come but I appreciated them since I didn’t read novellas.

-I loved that Raphael got to understand the kind of life his dad had to overcome to be the father he became.

Oof, A Song with Teeth was a rough read, but is an excellent conclusion to Los Nefilim.

Set during World War II, Los Nefilim are in France but are trying to end Nazi reign and help the mortals not be consumed by daimons, who feed on fear and despair. Diago is spying for Guillermo in the Court of Scorpions, pretending to betray Los Nefilim in order to infiltrate the Court and learn their plans. Ysabel is on a quest from her father to find fragments of a song that would be able to destroy Die Nephilim’s wards so Allies would better be able to win the war. Everyone has a job they’re trying to do, but when everything starts to go sideways they must work together to end the terror and war.

This book took me a month to read when the rest of the series only took a couple days each because, even though I enjoyed the story and I love the characters, reading about the Holocaust and the way it was portrayed hit me hard. The depiction of Concentration Camps is graphic and painful to read. The cruelties and injustices, it felt like a stark portrayal of the realties people experienced. I don’t know what I’m trying to say, except be careful going into this book because while it ends positively, there are large chunks that feel like trying to read through darkness and misery.

These are some of my favorite characters and I’m sad that this is the conclusion of the series, but I love how much they’ve grown over the course of the series. Seeing Rafael grow from a young boy into a confident, sure young adult and the support and love he’s known is so wonderful. I also love Diago’s character growth and how flashes of his past incarnations are shown to show how his relationship with Miguel and his friendship with Guillermo, and especially having Rafael, has helped him become loving and helpful. These characters are all so wonderful and interesting, and the chosen family dynamic of Los Nefilim is definitely one of my favorite elements of this book, this series.

Overall, this does a great job bringing the series to a conclusion and wrapping up large story arcs. The way history and magic melds is wonderfully done, and the characters are nuanced and complicated. Strongly recommend this book, though be aware there are scenes that take place in Concentration Camps and this book is probably the least light of the whole series. Though I promise a happy ending for the main characters!