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4.14 AVERAGE
4.14 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Honestly, I just blame mostly myself for not loving this more. I know it’s highly acclaimed, but I was confused a lot. I don’t think I was reading closely enough. Which is why I blame myself for not liking this more. I’ll probably still check out his other works. But maybe I’ll wait for when I am in a more engaged mindset.
adventurous
challenging
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Violence, Murder, War
Moderate: Sexism, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Vomit
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
hopeful
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I don’t think I’m woke enough for this one
What a f*cking good book.
This plot is crazy creative, and absolutely WILD. Never expected to be so terrified of Angels, and terrified of the possibility of seeing Angels in real life. Especially since 2025 started.
The author truly has a gift, and created a world I both felt I lived in and that I wanted to run the other direction from. I felt the confused love of a boy who wanted to hold onto someone that accepted him without issue, in a world that felt like it threatened and did not understand him otherwise. I feel for Benji the whole way, even if I don’t agree with all his decisions. I thought the use of neo pronouns and neurodiversity was clear and added to the story, rather than sticking out or seeming forced. And I can’t resist saying again, the whole concept literally was so fucking cool. Gore galore.
Minor spoilers below!!!!
I must also mention the religious terrorism theme- well done, absolutely feels true to life for someone who was raised extremely Southern Baptist, and I’m sure more so to those raised in religious cults. Wow. The echoes of scripture and pastor’s words, the difficulty reconciling your own true beliefs with what was hammered into your head, the need to pray regardless of how it makes you feel- so familiar and painful and important. I would read so much more of this, it’s so nice to feel like someone gets it.
Minor Qualms:
- The number of characters introduced in the first 100 pages was too high - the number of names thrown at me for minor characters, who never really show up again in the book, served as more of a distraction than a description of the population of the city/ALC.
- The quick wrap up at the end! Give me more of the story after our big event!
This plot is crazy creative, and absolutely WILD. Never expected to be so terrified of Angels, and terrified of the possibility of seeing Angels in real life. Especially since 2025 started.
The author truly has a gift, and created a world I both felt I lived in and that I wanted to run the other direction from. I felt the confused love of a boy who wanted to hold onto someone that accepted him without issue, in a world that felt like it threatened and did not understand him otherwise. I feel for Benji the whole way, even if I don’t agree with all his decisions. I thought the use of neo pronouns and neurodiversity was clear and added to the story, rather than sticking out or seeming forced. And I can’t resist saying again, the whole concept literally was so fucking cool. Gore galore.
Minor spoilers below!!!!
I must also mention the religious terrorism theme- well done, absolutely feels true to life for someone who was raised extremely Southern Baptist, and I’m sure more so to those raised in religious cults. Wow. The echoes of scripture and pastor’s words, the difficulty reconciling your own true beliefs with what was hammered into your head, the need to pray regardless of how it makes you feel- so familiar and painful and important. I would read so much more of this, it’s so nice to feel like someone gets it.
Minor Qualms:
- The number of characters introduced in the first 100 pages was too high - the number of names thrown at me for minor characters, who never really show up again in the book, served as more of a distraction than a description of the population of the city/ALC.
- The quick wrap up at the end! Give me more of the story after our big event!