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4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
A book has never destroyed me as this one did. I have so many thoughts that I cannot form words except that it was a beautiful tragedy.
This had some absolutely beautiful lines of prose. Unfortunately I was just incredibly bored for most of the book.
*2024 UPDATE* 18m later - this book is my religion.
Let me start off by saying I would def be one of the angels raining down on earth behind Lucifer. Bend the freaking knee. But that’s about all the sass I have left in me after finishing this book… TBH I’m mostly a puddle of ugly sobs not equipped to make a single decision or coherent thought.
Angels Before Man *DESTROYED* me.
This retelling the fall of Lucifer, starting with his moment of creation following his life up to the fall - holy literal hell - I. Can’t. Stop. Sobbing.
”What was that? What we were doing?”
“Sin.”
“What’s sin?”
“I created it. Do you like it?”
Let me start off by saying I would def be one of the angels raining down on earth behind Lucifer. Bend the freaking knee. But that’s about all the sass I have left in me after finishing this book… TBH I’m mostly a puddle of ugly sobs not equipped to make a single decision or coherent thought.
Angels Before Man *DESTROYED* me.
This retelling the fall of Lucifer, starting with his moment of creation following his life up to the fall - holy literal hell - I. Can’t. Stop. Sobbing.
This book conjures up a whimsy that rivals Milton's Paradise Lost. The great question that beckons to be answered: what does it mean for one to lose their innocence? Angels Before Man addresses this idea head on, noting the great propensity for abusive relationships when a power imbalance is present, as well as unchecked systems of power that facilitate and enable abuse.
I love the idea of Angels Before Man so much. I love the colorful prose and gushy expositions of beauty. I love the unabashed celebration of male beauty and queer love. I also love the attention to detail when considering the enormous undertaking this story truly is.
Four stars for an outstanding book that can be a little self-indulgent, inconsistent, and long-winded at times. Strong recommendation for my queer community and my classic literature stans.
TW: violence, abuse, gore
I love the idea of Angels Before Man so much. I love the colorful prose and gushy expositions of beauty. I love the unabashed celebration of male beauty and queer love. I also love the attention to detail when considering the enormous undertaking this story truly is.
Four stars for an outstanding book that can be a little self-indulgent, inconsistent, and long-winded at times. Strong recommendation for my queer community and my classic literature stans.
TW: violence, abuse, gore
An interesting concept, though not much happens until 80% of the way through. The language was way too flowery and repetitious for my preferences.
ANGELS BEFORE MAN. if i could give this book all the stars in the world, i would. it was so stunning, there are so many words that i want to use to describe the beauty of this book, but i don't think i am able to, not in the way that the author utilizes their words so beautifully.
i found the characters all so so interesting, and i wish to learn about them more (and i heard that many of them make appearances in angels & man? so i'm excited) i loved rosier, and i was so worried for him with everything that had been happening towards the end. the archangels all were so so interesting in their own unique way. i had felt that we did not get to know all of them in detail, except for michael and uriel (i was genuinely so heartbroken over uriel's past. uri-kimah)
"He wasn’t sure what the problem was, wasn’t sure why he foraged for a sudden narrative to his life, a purpose. But we’re always looking for narratives, looking for meaning, looking for God. Even the angels"
this book just made me think. so so much, and it had done so while balancing its beauty and words, and its plot. rafael nicolas just paced it all so well, and showed us how everything had unraveled in this world.
i genuinely don't feel like i have enough words to describe this book, and i don't know HOW to review it, but it was so beautiful, and so painful. there were many moments where i was just feeling so much pain and i wanted to scream while reading. i loved this book, and i can't wait to get around to reading angels and man.
i found the characters all so so interesting, and i wish to learn about them more (and i heard that many of them make appearances in angels & man? so i'm excited) i loved rosier, and i was so worried for him with everything that had been happening towards the end. the archangels all were so so interesting in their own unique way. i had felt that we did not get to know all of them in detail, except for michael and uriel (i was genuinely so heartbroken over uriel's past. uri-kimah)
"He wasn’t sure what the problem was, wasn’t sure why he foraged for a sudden narrative to his life, a purpose. But we’re always looking for narratives, looking for meaning, looking for God. Even the angels"
this book just made me think. so so much, and it had done so while balancing its beauty and words, and its plot. rafael nicolas just paced it all so well, and showed us how everything had unraveled in this world.
i genuinely don't feel like i have enough words to describe this book, and i don't know HOW to review it, but it was so beautiful, and so painful. there were many moments where i was just feeling so much pain and i wanted to scream while reading. i loved this book, and i can't wait to get around to reading angels and man.
dark
emotional
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
adventurous
dark
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
What if you loved someone to the point of creation? What if the two things that were forbidden to you in the whole world were creation and loving someone more than The Creator?
Rafael Nicolás has written a phenomenal love story between Lucifer and Michael. I found myself giggling and having to put the book down from the things they were saying to each other. They also expertly weaved a sense of dread throughout the book - God can see all, of course, and the one thing He asks of His angels is complete and unending obedience and worship. This is a book that had me stretching out the last few chapters because we all know this ending. The friendships, the side characters, and even the last notes of hope in the last chapter were excellent, and it was a real treat to read.
This book is self-published, so there was some odd formatting, typos, and a few moments where it kind of dragged. That didn't take away from my enjoyment of the characters or story, but it did mean I had to occasionally re-read paragraphs to make sure I understood what was going on.
4/5 - would recommend.
Rafael Nicolás has written a phenomenal love story between Lucifer and Michael. I found myself giggling and having to put the book down from the things they were saying to each other. They also expertly weaved a sense of dread throughout the book - God can see all, of course, and the one thing He asks of His angels is complete and unending obedience and worship. This is a book that had me stretching out the last few chapters because we all know this ending. The friendships, the side characters, and even the last notes of hope in the last chapter were excellent, and it was a real treat to read.
This book is self-published, so there was some odd formatting, typos, and a few moments where it kind of dragged. That didn't take away from my enjoyment of the characters or story, but it did mean I had to occasionally re-read paragraphs to make sure I understood what was going on.
4/5 - would recommend.
So, anyone who knows me knows I love all things that take a twist on the Christ mythos in any way, shape, or form. Yes, this goes back further than that, but it still falls into the mythos that this pagan chick obsesses with. And this book delivered in SPADES! I was mesmerized from start to finish, and had at least one crazy dream based on a particular scene. I am so glad I read this ...and can't wait to start the sequel.
So- I am EASILY influenced and picked this up solely from the cover alone.. but I’m so glad I did. This book was incredibly easy to get into, the beginning world building didn’t FEEL like world building in all honesty. The amount of times I gasped- almost cried maybe once or twice.. magnificent. Now, if you’re reading this book to see how accurate the retelling is, then you’re simply in the wrong place.
I don’t know enough about religion to comment on the accuracy, but if it’s close then I’d say it’s loose because well obviously it’s a QUEER retelling.
That being said, I really really enjoyed the character development of Lucifer from the time he was born, to finding out this is indeed NOT the first time God had created him. To finding out just how much effort God put into Lucifer. To questioning why exactly Lucifer was in so much agony- if you ask me- God may had made Lucifer a bit TOO perfect. That may be Lucifer’s downfall.. that’s my theory.
The fall of Lucifer was.. captivating. Not at all what I expected but i’m not disappointed, I’m only disappointed in the ego that resulted from it. The hurt and pain that was caused.
I was rooting for [REDACTED] and I understand why it [REDACTED] but MY GOODNESS THE AGONY.
I’m so so so looking forward to Angels and Man. Read this 5/5!!!!
I don’t know enough about religion to comment on the accuracy, but if it’s close then I’d say it’s loose because well obviously it’s a QUEER retelling.
That being said, I really really enjoyed the character development of Lucifer from the time he was born, to finding out this is indeed NOT the first time God had created him. To finding out just how much effort God put into Lucifer. To questioning why exactly Lucifer was in so much agony- if you ask me- God may had made Lucifer a bit TOO perfect. That may be Lucifer’s downfall.. that’s my theory.
The fall of Lucifer was.. captivating. Not at all what I expected but i’m not disappointed, I’m only disappointed in the ego that resulted from it. The hurt and pain that was caused.
I was rooting for [REDACTED] and I understand why it [REDACTED] but MY GOODNESS THE AGONY.
I’m so so so looking forward to Angels and Man. Read this 5/5!!!!