With "Engelsklinge: Tödlicher Schlag" debut novelist Svitlana Glumm, based in Solingen, presents her first novel, a gripping urban fantasy adventure with real depth that takes readers not only into a dark future but straight into the heart of Italy. The young protagonist Lucia Neri, an avenging angel, embarks on a journey through Europe spanning the years 2067 to 2091, with stops in Milan, Rome, and Florence. These are places where history and beauty coexist with secrets and danger.
Lucia Neri: A Heroine Full of Contradictions, from Italy
Lucia is no conventional figure of light: the 19-year-old carries out her mission against demonson behalf of a heavenly tribunal, yet remains a loner with her own agenda. In Milan, caught between cool elegance and urban chaos, she encounters supernatural mysteries. In Rome, the Eternal City, she is drawn into a vortex of moral abysses and political intrigue. And in Florence, the cradle of the Renaissance, she faces fundamental questions: who can be trusted when even angels are not free from guilt? Lucia is accompanied by other celestial beings: the empathetic Leo Ricci, who looks upon humanity with Italian warmth, and the compassionate Julietta Bardi, devoted to protecting the most vulnerable. Thomas Romano, a young human with a story all his own, also becomes more important to Lucia than she is willing to admit.
Italian Atmosphere Meets Dark Fantasy
Svitlana Glumm's narrative style is clear, atmospheric, and psychologically rich. The author blends classic elements of urban fantasy with social and moral questions. What does justice mean in a world where even angels have doubts? And how much light is needed to drive away the shadows? Italy's settings play far more than a decorative role here; they become mirrors of the characters' inner conflicts. Florence, Rome,Milan: each city reveals a new facet of Lucia.
A Debut with Series Potential, and Not Just for Italy Enthusiasts
"Engelsklinge: Tödlicher Schlag" is the first installment in a planned series, aimed at teens and adults who love ambitious fantasy with psychological depth, and who see Italy not merely as a postcard backdrop but as a living stage for modern myths.
About the Author
Svitlana Glumm was born in Ukraine in 1979 and has been living in Solingen since 2022. She studied history, ethnology, and journalism, and worked for many years as a journalist and teacher. Italy plays a central role not only in her novel but also in her personal life: She has family ties to Pozzuoli near Naples, and numerous trips have shaped her deep connection to Italian culture. This closeness is clearly reflected in "Engelsklinge: Tödlicher Schlag," where Milan, Rome, and Florence become atmospheric settings for a multilayered urban fantasy narrative. BOOK INFO Svitlana Glumm, Engelsklinge: Tödlicher Schlag Urban Fantasy | 296 pages | Paperback Target audience: Teens & Adults ISBN-13: 9783819264436 Available at bookstores and online.