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takarakei's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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
4.0
Rebecca Roanhorse is one of the best fantasy writers out there. I would've loved to spend more time in this world.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Confinement, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Abortion and Sexism
gardens_and_dragons's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I think this novella was a great look into what makes someone monstrous or good, and wether it is their nature, upbringing or something else.
It’s a murder mystery set in a gritty world that centers on mining the remains of a fallen angel, and the world is split between the descendants of angels and demons.
No one in this story is truly good here, but the divide of Elect versus Fallen makes some worse than others.
honestly set expectations aside for who the characters are and what they’ll do/what they have done. Very unreliable narrator.
It’s a murder mystery set in a gritty world that centers on mining the remains of a fallen angel, and the world is split between the descendants of angels and demons.
No one in this story is truly good here, but the divide of Elect versus Fallen makes some worse than others.
honestly set expectations aside for who the characters are and what they’ll do/what they have done.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail and Racism
Moderate: Violence, Murder, and Sexual content
danapreads's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
3.5 stars
First of all, the world building and creativity in this book is very, very good. I love the religious themes and symbolism morphed into an alternative reality that reads like a western. That alone is reason enough to read the book.
This book is interesting because it doesn't end the way you want. It stays true to the narrative and the complexity of a caste society rather than conform to the reader's preference. Sometimes there's no happy ending even when justice is served.
Celeste's sister Mariel is accused of murdering a virtue, and Celeste is chosen to act as her defense lawyer in a society where the fallen are always guilty. Celeste has forty-eight to find out who committed the murder, if she can even survive that long. Aided, or perhaps thwarted, by a Virtue, a demon and host of fallen friends, will Celeste exonerate her sister only to damn herself?
First of all, the world building and creativity in this book is very, very good. I love the religious themes and symbolism morphed into an alternative reality that reads like a western. That alone is reason enough to read the book.
This book is interesting because it doesn't end the way you want. It stays true to the narrative and the complexity of a caste society rather than conform to the reader's preference. Sometimes there's no happy ending even when justice is served.
Celeste's sister Mariel is accused of murdering a virtue, and Celeste is chosen to act as her defense lawyer in a society where the fallen are always guilty. Celeste has forty-eight to find out who committed the murder, if she can even survive that long. Aided, or perhaps thwarted, by a Virtue, a demon and host of fallen friends, will Celeste exonerate her sister only to damn herself?
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Murder, Xenophobia, and Religious bigotry
ameliabee33's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
Okay so I'll read anything that Rebecca Roanhorse writes so I was super excited when this became available at my library.
This short story left a little to be desired to be honest. I really liked the concept, thay Celeste is trying to prove her sister's innocence by any means necessary- even if that means she destroys all of her other relationships in the process. I kind of saw the plot twist coming, it was predictable. Kind of reminded me of "My Sister the Serial Killer" book, in which the reader knows that Celeste's sister is not innocent. Like her sister isn't that likable of a character and Celeste is just a blind sibling willing to do whatever- even if that means destroying her relationship is with Abraxas- the demon lord she is in love with.
I read reviews saying that the author used this world as tool to talk/showcase the unfair and unjust treatment of BIPOC in the law system. I am not a member of thay community so I cannot say how well it represents that, but it is interesting to read this book going into it with that knowledge.
This short story left a little to be desired to be honest. I really liked the concept, thay Celeste is trying to prove her sister's innocence by any means necessary- even if that means she destroys all of her other relationships in the process. I kind of saw the plot twist coming, it was predictable. Kind of reminded me of "My Sister the Serial Killer" book, in which the reader knows that Celeste's sister is not innocent. Like her sister isn't that likable of a character and Celeste is just a blind sibling willing to do whatever- even if that means destroying her relationship is with Abraxas- the demon lord she is in love with.
I read reviews saying that the author used this world as tool to talk/showcase the unfair and unjust treatment of BIPOC in the law system. I am not a member of thay community so I cannot say how well it represents that, but it is interesting to read this book going into it with that knowledge.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Violence and Torture
davidbythebay's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I received a copy of this book through a giveaway. Thank you to the author, Rebecca Roanhorse, and the publisher, Saga Press, for this ARC copy.
I wanted to like this more than I can really say I did. The writing is exquisite and immersive. The story is inventive and engaging. My biggest issue is that this book needs at least 100 pages more to delve into the characters and set the players more. The pacing is too quick with sudden character shifts that just don't read as plausible, much less believable.
The only characters I liked in the end were secondary ones (one of whom could be considered more of a primary-B character he is so borderline). He is treated more like a secondary character even when he is being used as a primary character. And a lot of this all has to do with the lack of character exploration in the brief novel. At just about 200 pages, this needed a strong hand adding in more of the world and the characters. We meet one female character briefly, get a curt description of her personality in the next scene confirming what we saw, and see a complete 180° change in her, all in the span of I believe 50 pages. I felt I must have missed something, as though the ARC was missing pages - which, I checked, it was not.
Another 100 pages written as beautifully as these pages would have easily improved my rating, provided of course they expanded and showed nuance in the world and characters.
I wanted to like this more than I can really say I did. The writing is exquisite and immersive. The story is inventive and engaging. My biggest issue is that this book needs at least 100 pages more to delve into the characters and set the players more. The pacing is too quick with sudden character shifts that just don't read as plausible, much less believable.
The only characters I liked in the end were secondary ones (one of whom could be considered more of a primary-B character he is so borderline). He is treated more like a secondary character even when he is being used as a primary character. And a lot of this all has to do with the lack of character exploration in the brief novel. At just about 200 pages, this needed a strong hand adding in more of the world and the characters. We meet one female character briefly, get a curt description of her personality in the next scene confirming what we saw, and see a complete 180° change in her, all in the span of I believe 50 pages. I felt I must have missed something, as though the ARC was missing pages - which, I checked, it was not.
Another 100 pages written as beautifully as these pages would have easily improved my rating, provided of course they expanded and showed nuance in the world and characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Blood, and Violence
Moderate: Vomit
ofbooksandechos's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder, Racism, and Classism
Moderate: Confinement and Toxic relationship
Minor: Sexism
maeverose's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I really like Rebecca Roanhorse’s writing, especially her worldbuilding. I liked the fantasy elements of this story and the parallels to our very real corrupt justice system. I loved how casually queer this was as well.
I was drawn to this because I love fantasy stories that incorporate religion (be it a real religion or fantasy, I just like religious themes in books… despite being very agnostic lol) and because I really like the Between Earth and Sky series and wanted to read more from the author. I also wanted to try something new, since I’ve never read a western-adjacent story before, but unfortunately I’m not sure it’s for me. I’m not typically a fan of murder mysteries either.. which I didn’t realize this was. I struggle with flawed/unlikable main characters, so I wasn’t really a fan of Celeste. None of the characters really grabbed my interest, sadly.
So 3 stars for the writing, world building, ideas and social commentary, but not really a story for me.
I was drawn to this because I love fantasy stories that incorporate religion (be it a real religion or fantasy, I just like religious themes in books… despite being very agnostic lol) and because I really like the Between Earth and Sky series and wanted to read more from the author. I also wanted to try something new, since I’ve never read a western-adjacent story before, but unfortunately I’m not sure it’s for me. I’m not typically a fan of murder mysteries either.. which I didn’t realize this was. I struggle with flawed/unlikable main characters, so I wasn’t really a fan of Celeste. None of the characters really grabbed my interest, sadly.
So 3 stars for the writing, world building, ideas and social commentary, but not really a story for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Racism, Religious bigotry, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Pregnancy, Animal death, Classism, Confinement, Genocide, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, and Police brutality
Minor: Alcohol, Child death, Cursing, Drug use, Lesbophobia, Suicide, Sexual harassment, and Vomit
Graphic: mentions of human castration, bleeding out Moderate: poisoning, animal gorewordsareworlds's review
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Unfortunately a very disappointing departure from Roanhorse's other works. Much of the novella is spent info dumping lore instead of developing the characters beyond single traits or plot usefulness, and it makes the climax unbelievable at best.
While I'm a big fan of flawed MCs, and love the way Roanhorse has written others, this one crossed a point of no return where I was actively rooting against her, which also made for an unpleasant experience for the last quarter of the book.
While I'm a big fan of flawed MCs, and love the way Roanhorse has written others, this one crossed a point of no return where I was actively rooting against her, which also made for an unpleasant experience for the last quarter of the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Religious bigotry, Toxic relationship, and Racism
Moderate: Sexual content and Confinement
Minor: Sexism
miss_vonnegut's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Thank you to libro.fm and the publisher for the ARC! This novella feels like a cross between noir, fantasy, and a western. It may sound like an odd combination, but it works so well that I wish it were a longer book. You may not agree with all of the decisions the characters make, but it’s a very well-written book that will engage you and, perhaps, make you consider human nature, morality, and what people might do for those they love.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Violence, and Blood
displacedcactus's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
I've enjoyed everything I've read by Roanhorse, until this book came along. If it had been a longer book, I probably would have just straight-up DNFed it, but because it was so short, I kept with it hoping that it would pleasantly surprise me. Instead, it ended up disgusting me. HUGE spoilers here: when Celeste can't find evidence to clear her sister of murder, and in fact finds evidence that makes it obvious her sister lied to her about what happens, she decides to frame another girl for the murder, just based on the fact that the other girl said some snarky things about her sister. She also gets her demon lover to compel the other girl to confess. It's incredibly messed-up, and even the demon lover says so.
I can see what Roanhorse was trying to do, I think, by taking some tropes and turning them on their head, but unfortunately the end result is a character I don't particularly like making decisions that I strongly disagree with, and in such a short book that I'm not given any reason to feel compelled by her motivations.
I can see what Roanhorse was trying to do, I think, by taking some tropes and turning them on their head, but unfortunately the end result is a character I don't particularly like making decisions that I strongly disagree with, and in such a short book that I'm not given any reason to feel compelled by her motivations.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Sexism
The racism here is an allegory but it's a painfully obvious allegory. There are no real-life racial slurs being used, however.