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kbairbooks's review
challenging
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Well, this is definitely a thing. I don’t think the timing of when I read this novella was the greatest. That and the huge Christianity plot points was… interesting for me to absorb at this time. Short read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Sexual content, Death, Classism, Death of parent, Infidelity, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Blood, Body horror, Police brutality, and Pregnancy
anahisa's review
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
me and rebecca roanhorse’s world building are like this 🤞🏽🤞🏽🤞🏽
because let’s get into it!!!! the descendants of angels MINING divinity from their fallen ancestors bodies???? Weaving the biblical into the western aesthetic so seamlessly??? HELLO??? AHHHH, HOW’D SHE DO IT!!!! WHAT A MIND WHAT A MIND WHAT A MINDDD <3333
ok gushing aside, my gripe with this novella is that it’s better suited to being a whole novel. The characters and plot were interesting, but the story was too rushed + unresolved for me to really get invested in these relationships and revelations. What could’ve been!
that being said, thematically she still had plenty to say + critique, and I’d love to see roanhorse revisit this world in the future.
because let’s get into it!!!! the descendants of angels MINING divinity from their fallen ancestors bodies???? Weaving the biblical into the western aesthetic so seamlessly??? HELLO??? AHHHH, HOW’D SHE DO IT!!!! WHAT A MIND WHAT A MIND WHAT A MINDDD <3333
ok gushing aside, my gripe with this novella is that it’s better suited to being a whole novel. The characters and plot were interesting, but the story was too rushed + unresolved for me to really get invested in these relationships and revelations. What could’ve been!
that being said, thematically she still had plenty to say + critique, and I’d love to see roanhorse revisit this world in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Sexual content, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, and Religious bigotry
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 goreheartbrekker's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
One of the toughest things about writing a novella is that the author has to get readers hooked in a short amount of time while simultaneously concluding it a hundred or so pages later. While I wish Tread of Angels was longer to grow relationship dynamics, I’d still say this was a solid read.
Tread of Angels is an angels and demons fantasy that leans heavily into Christian influences. Celeste is considered a half-breed, having been born both an Elect and Fallen, and she’s dedicated a lot of her life to protecting her Fallen younger sister Mariel. One morning her sister is dragged out by soldiers after being accused of murdering a Virtue, and Celeste will stop at nothing to clear Mariel’s name, including becoming her voice in court aka advocatus diaboli. Readers follow Celeste as she tries to piece together the mystery of what really happened to the dead Virtue, and the truth will ultimately rock her world.
What I loved most about this book is its themes on biased perceptions. Our emotions are so strong when tied to our beliefs that we will rather look at the sun than directly at the mirror, which is the truth/ reality of the situation. Tread of Angels is also a book about relationships from siblings to lovers to government officials. Celeste destroys herself a bit more with every interaction because she refuses to take herself into account and rather jumps straight into the deep end. It’s a reminder that everyone is their own individual, and we gotta allow them to make their own decisions and deal with those consequences. Readers may have mixed feelings on Celeste because she’s an unreliable narrator, and I found myself interested in side characters more than her—Abraxas and Ibrahim specifically—which isn't a particularly good sign. I feel like Celeste's character arc was only just beginning in this book, so it fell a bit flat for me because we don't get to see the ramifications of the ending and its effect on her.
Again, I wish Tread of Angels were longer. It reminded me of those early 2010 years with angels and demons but in an adult and murder mystery lens. I really wish this could’ve been a great standalone that lasted way longer than 200ish pages. The history and world building of this world were just so fascinating that I didn’t want it to end.
Anyway, thank you to Saga Press for sending me a finished copy to review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
10/31: Apparently, the ARC has a slightly different ending, so if any of you know of it, please tell me. I’m going to do a deep dive on here to try to figure out what it is.
Tread of Angels is an angels and demons fantasy that leans heavily into Christian influences. Celeste is considered a half-breed, having been born both an Elect and Fallen, and she’s dedicated a lot of her life to protecting her Fallen younger sister Mariel. One morning her sister is dragged out by soldiers after being accused of murdering a Virtue, and Celeste will stop at nothing to clear Mariel’s name, including becoming her voice in court aka advocatus diaboli. Readers follow Celeste as she tries to piece together the mystery of what really happened to the dead Virtue, and the truth will ultimately rock her world.
What I loved most about this book is its themes on biased perceptions. Our emotions are so strong when tied to our beliefs that we will rather look at the sun than directly at the mirror, which is the truth/ reality of the situation. Tread of Angels is also a book about relationships from siblings to lovers to government officials. Celeste destroys herself a bit more with every interaction because she refuses to take herself into account and rather jumps straight into the deep end. It’s a reminder that everyone is their own individual, and we gotta allow them to make their own decisions and deal with those consequences. Readers may have mixed feelings on Celeste because she’s an unreliable narrator, and I found myself interested in side characters more than her—Abraxas and Ibrahim specifically—which isn't a particularly good sign. I feel like Celeste's character arc was only just beginning in this book, so it fell a bit flat for me because we don't get to see the ramifications of the ending and its effect on her.
Again, I wish Tread of Angels were longer. It reminded me of those early 2010 years with angels and demons but in an adult and murder mystery lens. I really wish this could’ve been a great standalone that lasted way longer than 200ish pages. The history and world building of this world were just so fascinating that I didn’t want it to end.
Anyway, thank you to Saga Press for sending me a finished copy to review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
10/31: Apparently, the ARC has a slightly different ending, so if any of you know of it, please tell me. I’m going to do a deep dive on here to try to figure out what it is.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Death
Moderate: Police brutality, Blood, Gore, Kidnapping, and Gaslighting
Minor: Abortion
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