Reviews tagging 'Death'

Angels Before Man by rafael nicolás

27 reviews

neonsonight's review against another edition

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dark sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0


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fanboyriot's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Read For:
✓ Slow Burn
✓ Forbidden Love 
✓ Religious Themes
✓ Hurt/Comfort (mostly hurt)
✓ Amazing Character Development

˗ˏˋ ★ REVIEW ★ ˎˊ˗
A bit of a slow start for me, it took me several chapters to get into the writing style but after that I really enjoyed it, the author did a great job with the descriptions and character development.  Part one of the book was really good.  The storyline, the trust building between Lucifer and Michael was so wholesome.  And while it might have taken me a moment for me to get into the story the characters I loved right away; especially Lucifer.  He was my favorite.

Overall, it was a really beautifully written story; but also VERY emotional and a bit unhinged, in the second part of the book.  It was written really well but damn, was not expecting all of that.

Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Angst Level: 💧💧💧💧💧
POV: Third Person
Release Date: 24, September 2023

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aromarrie's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The singing, the pleasant indulgences, no troubles, and innocent affections — it would all be memories, because that paradise had shattered itself, and he thought, ‘I overthrow God, or I immolate myself until I become as close to death as death.

 Creation at last — the death of an angel.’

sometimes you read something so astoundingly beautiful, that you’re literally left with no words….i have no words. there’s no need for them bc nothing i say will even come close to the feelings this story got out of me. 

this was stunning….and with no surprise, i it was part II that really sealed my heart!!

thank you so much to my friend, bri, for begging me to read this book all this time and giving me the motivation to finally pick it up after two years. i saw it at its first release, but i could never quite find the courage to pick up a story that encompasses so much. 

it’s thanks to you that i crossed that barrier, and all your annotations absolutely made me smile, even at the most painful parts. it felt as if i was reading alongside with you and thats made this book very special to me. i can’t wait to continue investing in this series because of you 🧡

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maritzelle's review

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Wow, excelente para los amantes de la mitología. Un retelling como ningún otro. Cuidado con las advertencias. 

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weirdassfanta's review

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dark emotional tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Beautifully gruesome.
Unfortunately I hit a reading slump right before starting this, so I feel I didn’t get to savor it as much as I would have otherwise, even so, this is a remarkable, gut wrenching book. Truthfully I have always been a sucker for pomegranate/cannibalism symbolism in love, and this took that part of me and made it into a book. Watching the process of Lucifer being used and toyed with by God and his love for Michael slowly making him realize what abuse he’s been through and him taking a similar power to work towards freeing not just him, but anyone who chooses to follow him. Even when he knows he will not overcome God, and will be punished yet again, he fights so he does not feel trapped under the lies again. The only I have to say is that I dislike the ending, but I do with many books when they tears me to shreds in such a way. I dislike the ending in a way that I am captivated by it. Just don’t expect the fall of Lucifer to be a happy story ig. A book that time and time again left me simply saying, what the fuck.

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gooseberry420's review against another edition

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challenging dark sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75


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rmnedder's review

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dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-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

4.5

As a recovering ex-catholic queer... this book was absolutely beautiful. Such a wonderful take on the fall of Lucifer. It's tragic, it's introspective, and it needles you with pointed questions about authority and autonomy. The prose is really imaginative and atmospheric; it literally feels biblical in its nature and scope. Despite the intensity of some of the content, I feel like everything was handled with a lot of grace and care. Lucifer is one of the most interesting, complex characters I've encountered this year; his relationship with the other angels, specifically with Michael, are so tender and impactful. 

My only complaint is that it took me a minute to get truly invested; it started out a little slower than I would have liked, but after the first ~25% it really picked up. Other than that, this was such a fantastic read. Sometimes it's nice to be reminded that queerness exists in all corners of mythology.

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kimberlyflwrs's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

˚✧⁀➷ 5 stars

“i waited for your touch to save me.”

there are no words to explain the masterpiece of this book is, i can try, but i’m afraid i won’t do it any justice. i desperately need every word this book engraved deeply into my bones. the intense amount of joy and pain I felt while witnessing the rise and fall of lucifer is unlike anything i’ve ever read or felt before. 

the themes of identity, religious trauma, sexuality, desire and doubt were portrayed in this novel so perfectly. not to mention the prose was so lyrical and hauntingly beautiful. 

i fear this book has rendered me speechless. just know that i will read anything rafael nicolás writes 🤲🏻

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brdiaz1123's review

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dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0


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laurenionejones's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5


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