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4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
Beautifully written, the characters were amazing, just very slow.
challenging
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
oh i'm so torn on how to rate this. it was perfect in making me feel things, through happiness, love, despair. this really poked my religious trauma, and left me with my chest heavy.
i just wish i could've seen more of michael after everything that has happened. i feel like the last 2 chapters were a bit rushed, and i kinda don't like seeingthe last part being in gabriel's pov T-T also kind of confused if they landed on earth because if they did, and it was stated that the creation of man will happen after the "revolution", then how will lucifer and his people be transported to hell (which is supposedly another dimension)?
anyhow, i really liked this book a lot. it made me so happy seeing the romantic, wholesome scenes between all of the angels. it also made me somewhat anxious wheneverlucifer is in eden and talking with god, fearing he can go off at anytime hehe . a lot may say that the pacing is slow, but for me it was perfect. it all happened slowly, then suddenly, with lucifer's brewing agitation and confusion w all his unanswered questions. i really liked it, although i hope i'll pick a happier book next time haha :)
i just wish i could've seen more of michael after everything that has happened. i feel like the last 2 chapters were a bit rushed, and i kinda don't like seeing
anyhow, i really liked this book a lot. it made me so happy seeing the romantic, wholesome scenes between all of the angels. it also made me somewhat anxious whenever
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
“”Haven’t you ever wondered why Father is so strict about our subservience? It’s because disobedience is creation,” a shivering breath, “create with me, Michael, and let’s call it sin.”
A queer retelling of Lucifer’s banishment and the fall of the rebel angels. This was poetic and lush, and I felt it did justice to these biblical characters while interpreting them in its own unique and creative way. This really humanized these mythical characters and explained their journey to damnation in a beautiful and digestible way. I loved seeing the turmoil and inner conflict between these characters as they navigated Lucifer’s brewing rebellion, and I loved the interesting twists the author put on the story itself. I loved Lucifer and Michael’s dynamic relationship. It was interesting seeing certain characters as angels when I only know them as demons (after the fall) in popular culture. This book made me want to read and study the Bible further with a more open mind. It has been interesting for me to finally find myself immersing myself in these characters and stories (though mostly through retelling and reinterpretations) after a lifetime of rejecting them. I had met so many antagonistic religious people in my life that it had caused me to turn away from this mythology, but only recently has the passing of a dear friend opened me up to learning about religion as a personal/individual journey rather than from a collective/outside force from a church or something similar. I had always felt rejected from Christianity and Catholicism due to my mental health and my love for men and women, but divorcing myself from having to relate to other people’s spiritual journeys has really opened up my own. This was a fun and beautiful read. I loved how poetic this journey felt and how it made me sympathize with Lucifer the fallen angel, rather than Lucifer the devil. I’m excited to read more from this series and this author, and recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of biblical retellings.
“Do you kiss your other friends this much?”
A queer retelling of Lucifer’s banishment and the fall of the rebel angels. This was poetic and lush, and I felt it did justice to these biblical characters while interpreting them in its own unique and creative way. This really humanized these mythical characters and explained their journey to damnation in a beautiful and digestible way. I loved seeing the turmoil and inner conflict between these characters as they navigated Lucifer’s brewing rebellion, and I loved the interesting twists the author put on the story itself. I loved Lucifer and Michael’s dynamic relationship. It was interesting seeing certain characters as angels when I only know them as demons (after the fall) in popular culture. This book made me want to read and study the Bible further with a more open mind. It has been interesting for me to finally find myself immersing myself in these characters and stories (though mostly through retelling and reinterpretations) after a lifetime of rejecting them. I had met so many antagonistic religious people in my life that it had caused me to turn away from this mythology, but only recently has the passing of a dear friend opened me up to learning about religion as a personal/individual journey rather than from a collective/outside force from a church or something similar. I had always felt rejected from Christianity and Catholicism due to my mental health and my love for men and women, but divorcing myself from having to relate to other people’s spiritual journeys has really opened up my own. This was a fun and beautiful read. I loved how poetic this journey felt and how it made me sympathize with Lucifer the fallen angel, rather than Lucifer the devil. I’m excited to read more from this series and this author, and recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of biblical retellings.
“Do you kiss your other friends this much?”
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I have mixed feelings about this one! I really wanted to like it, and at times I did, but.
It had a very slow start IMO (yes I know it was meant to establish Lucifer's questioning, his dissatisfaction, from the very beginning) but once Lucifer meets Michael I was pretty dialed in. I watched fascinated as the strong feeling they evoked in each other became something obsessive, selfish, rebellious… though not to the same extent in both of them, obviously.
The yearning! So here for it. Also the building sense of dread. The story had a distinctly dystopian vibe even in the beginning, worsening as the idea of "paradise" becomes more and more uncertain in the face of arbitrary humiliations and punishments. Well done. Even knowing where it would lead, I turned each page needing to know precisely how we'd get to the fall.
It had a very slow start IMO (yes I know it was meant to establish Lucifer's questioning, his dissatisfaction, from the very beginning) but once Lucifer meets Michael I was pretty dialed in. I watched fascinated as the strong feeling they evoked in each other became something obsessive, selfish, rebellious… though not to the same extent in both of them, obviously.
The yearning! So here for it. Also the building sense of dread. The story had a distinctly dystopian vibe even in the beginning, worsening as the idea of "paradise" becomes more and more uncertain in the face of arbitrary humiliations and punishments. Well done. Even knowing where it would lead, I turned each page needing to know precisely how we'd get to the fall.
The writing was a mixed bag. I enjoyed the prose style more often than not, even when it is quite florid, even leaning purple. Given the setting, with angels who’ve only known paradise and only know the words for beautiful things, it didn't feel out of place. I could adjust to it, mostly. But I didn't like this approach to omniscient POV at all. I've seen it done very well, but in this case it felt too loose, lazy, with a disorienting amount of mid-scene head-hopping. And with a literally omniscient God right there, it could have been very interesting to explore omniscience, maybe do something novel with it... missed opportunity. I just think it could have been done a lot better.
Before writing my thoughts, I noticed some reviews said Lucifer's change happened too fast or without warning, but I don't agree with that critique at all. I think the character's tragic arc was actually one of the strongest aspects. It felt like a very intentional progression, showing signs of where it was headed from the very beginning. It’s very easy to see how the cowering in shame and self-denial warps quickly into resentment, picking up speed as Lucifer is repeatedly traumatized (incl. SA ).
All in all, this was compelling story with great potential that I think just needed a stronger hand in the revision process.
I did enjoy that Lucifer’s fall was the meteor that killed the dinosaurs (implied) . LOL.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Physical abuse, Self harm, Torture, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Gore, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual content, War, Injury/Injury detail
How can I describe 'Angels Before Man'? I have not read such a deeply poetic book with a narrative as compelling as what I read in this book, and it has really inspired me. It took me a while to read, but I think there is a benefit to reading it slowly, and I appreciated the time taken to develop characters and the narrative. There is so much care evident in how it is written, and although the second part was markedly more disturbing than the first part had been, I think it was crafted sensitively. I really love this book and I think it is a wonderful piece of queer fiction that beautifully reflects on religion and trauma in a particularly unique manner.
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
Lovable and relatable characters, empathetic and creative writing, Queer. Equal parts intriguing, delightful, and devastating. No notes :)
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
I might pick it up again but it just got so very annoying after a bit. I understand that Lucifer does turn against God but I wish we had more explanation and buildup as to why. And also after he is reprimanded by God and punished, he flips a switch and becomes the most vain and prideful person ever. (I know he's literally Satan but I would have rathered a more slow approach to it) I really love the beginning though it just all stopped making sense to me after a bit. If I see enough reviews convincing me, I'll pick it up again.