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reellyfish's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Moderate: Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, and Violence
Minor: Animal cruelty, Blood, Self harm, Sexual assault, Animal death, Cursing, and Incest
blasphemyploganiv's review
- 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
Graphic: Self harm and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Sexual content, Sexual assault, Homophobia, Body horror, and Violence
Minor: Animal death
ambers's review
- 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
And while I read this book for fun, it FEELS like something I would've read for an English course. I swear I mean that as a compliment. It's a book that invites you to analyze it, so spend more time thinking about it even after you've finished the final page. I did, and while I originally rated this 3.75 stars, I ultimately bumped it up to 4 after spending some more time with it.
Because there's CLEARLY so much love, care, and thought that the author put into this book, right down to the writing style itself. I wish the author had denoted thought/dialogue a little more smoothly, but otherwise I was fully along for the ride.
From the first half to the second, from the beginning to the end, the writing gets looser, more lush and poetic, and we're introduced to multiple POVs - fitting, as Lucifer's anger, pain, and God-complex all grow. It's essentially two books in one, each with a unique writing style that tells you something key about the lead's mental state, and that's incredibly impressive for a debut novel.
This book is, of course, a heavy one. I would advise anyone to check the trigger warnings before picking it up - but if you're in the right headspace for it, it's absolutely a worthwhile read.
Graphic: Gore, Torture, Blood, Emotional abuse, Self harm, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual assault
madscanread's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Gore, Emotional abuse, Cannibalism, Sexual assault, Body horror, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Mental illness, Torture, Sexual violence, Self harm, Rape, War, Suicidal thoughts, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Panic attacks/disorders, and Incest
mangosunscreen's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Body horror, Blood, Self harm, and Violence
Moderate: Torture, Sexual assault, and Incest
wolfstackdocks's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
The prose was beautiful, right from the beginning, and I absolutely love how it devolves alongside Lucifer’s fall from grace.
The pacing was off. Things felt too slow, and then the lead-up to The Fall itself (or, the final action leading to The Fall) felt like a wild escalation.
I feel like there’s a lot of opportunity for a heart-wrenching story & drawing parallels between being queer and falling from grace. It’s what I expected to get out of this book, and didn’t. It’s certainly a queer book, I would’ve just liked more on The Fall itself.
I’d recommend it to anyone who it appeals to, as the content warnings are in the book itself, and some people might find the pacing as apt as the prose falling apart alongside Lucifer. Though, if you’re going to be weird about angels in a relationship calling each other Brother — get over it (or don’t).
Moderate: Sexual assault
angelas_book_nook's review
- 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
Graphic: Self harm, Emotional abuse, Religious bigotry, Homophobia, and Violence
Moderate: Body horror and Mental illness
Minor: Sexual assault and Animal death
tinyelfarcanist's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is one of the darkest books I've read and I suggest you look at the content warnings before diving into this one. The following is a list of the topics included in my review, just a meagre example of those contained in this novel.
CW: swearing, blasphemy, and mention of wicked acts.
"He is beautiful," the seraph said as the cherub cried out from a scathingly sore throat. "The most magnificent of all your angels, Father."
I loved the prose reflecting Lucifer’s mental state. Lucifer is an interesting character if unappealing at times.
This book is split into two distinct sections. I divided my review as such. Don't be fooled by the sweetness of the first part, this book doesn't shy away from picturing the depravity that a tortured individual is driven to.
Part 1:
So. Fucking. Cute. A naive and recently created Lucifer shares sweet banter with other playful angels in Heaven...
What else could an angel be but happy?
On the surface, this is a story about a beloved bard finding his purpose, a story about a narcissistic pimp and his favourite twink. A story about angels in love.
Why would God make him so beautiful if that beauty wasn’t meant to be admired?
Paradise is not what it seems.
Part 2:
Looking deeper, this is a commentary on jealousy, identity, and religious trauma.
The Lord said, "Sing, angel," His voice all-encompassing, "and you will be saved." Lucifer did so, fearing his God.
For a restless angel like Lucifer, mindless worshipping and hedonism won’t do.
Angels Before Man is powerful in its painfully accurate depictions of depression, wrath, passion, and pride. It is a blasphemous display of the unforgiving Father and the angel who was punished for questioning.
God may have created his equal. He made a perfect angel, and He will soon discover that power corrupts. Lucifer grows more spiteful every time he’s reprimanded.
Let’s not forget that for all of Lucifer’s deviousness, he is God’s creation.
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Murder, Self harm, Blood, Body horror, Alcohol, Animal death, Gore, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Cursing, Death, Animal cruelty, Torture, Violence, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Sexual assault, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, and Sexual violence
cryscries's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Before the story starts there is a trigger warning page as well as a helpful suggestion of when to stop reading! Part two isn’t necessary to read (as stated on the page).
Moderate: Self harm, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Gaslighting, and Sexual assault
This mostly happens in the second half of the book which is optional to read. A part of it (like the sexual assault) isn’t explicitly said word for word and rather hinted that it’s happened + a monologue.pasteldemon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Gore, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Death
Minor: Homophobia