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4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
i have gone back and forth a lot with how i felt about this book. after reading the summary and hearing great reviews i was so excited bc this sounded like something i would really enjoy. i grew up in a strictly southern baptist church and so much of my childhood was spent there. as someone with quite a bit of religious trauma to unpack, i was so ready to read this, but it unfortunately fell kind of flat for me. i am still giving it the stars i did because i think it does bring up super relevant and significant thoughts and questions that so many people experience when they are submerged in a super religious lifestyle. i wish i read this in high school, i feel like it would’ve helped me organize all the crazy thoughts i was having at church lol. probably would’ve made me stop going a lot sooner than i did
On pause for now. Why? I was not emotionally ready for this.
Literally half of the book was endearing and about self discovery. But then I found the trigger warnings and the story took a drastic turn.
If we look at this book at face value, it's about an adult child in a toxic relationship with his father that grooms him. I could also argue that Lucifer suffers from religious trauma.
I was rooting for Lucifer and Michael to be together, hoping this retelling would also give Lucifer a happy ending. But the more I read the more I realized that wasn't likely.
I think what it was for me was that the aftermath from their father's relationship was too realistic to real trauma.
I wished I ended the book when Lucifer and Michael visited Earth and that could have been their happy ending.
Literally half of the book was endearing and about self discovery. But then I found the trigger warnings and the story took a drastic turn.
If we look at this book at face value, it's about an adult child in a toxic relationship with his father that grooms him. I could also argue that Lucifer suffers from religious trauma.
I was rooting for Lucifer and Michael to be together, hoping this retelling would also give Lucifer a happy ending. But the more I read the more I realized that wasn't likely.
I think what it was for me was that the aftermath from their father's relationship was too realistic to real trauma.
I wished I ended the book when Lucifer and Michael visited Earth and that could have been their happy ending.
challenging
dark
sad
slow-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Torture, Violence, War
Moderate: Animal death, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Blood
Minor: Cannibalism
truly the only reason i didn’t dnf this 20 pages in was bc i waited 10 months for my hold from QLL to free up
Have you ever read a book and were thankful that it was written? Or, perhaps read a story that you really needed to hear? This was one for me. It found its way into my dreams, stirred my emotions, made me think blasphemous thoughts, and awakened dormant fears and questions about religious concepts.
As the blurb says, the book is a fictional retelling of Lucifer's (Satan's) fall from heaven. Like most people, I knew the general story, but the version in this book was very unexpected. It's divided into two main sections, "Paradise" and "Eternity". In Paradise, God creates Lucifer, his most beautiful angel. It is really a love fest between God and his creation.
“But you are everywhere, aren’t you, Father?” Lucifer answered cheekily and was ecstatic the Lord took it with humor. “At the end of the universe, I’ll still be right here with you.”
“You are best suited to sit beside the Throne.”
“Are you pleased with me, Father?” The Lord was silent still. “Please. All I wish is to be what you intended me to be.”
“A Father’s love is eternal, Lucifer.... You are loved the way you are, and you are all that you need to be. You are even more than what I wanted of you.”
Paradise is really about Lucifer growing up to be a leading angel. The other angels in Heaven call Lucifer the "Angel of Beauty" and eventually "Angel of Worship". For much of Paradise, he is quite timid, shy, and afraid to share the beauty of his body. He doesn't like others gazing on his beauty. He also meets the Archangel Michael, beautiful in his own right and quite the fighter and athlete. His friendship and love for Michael begin to compete with his love for God. I sometimes found Paradise a little slow and repetitive, but the beautiful writing kept me going. The contrast between the peace and love in Paradise and the horrors in Eternity are incredible.
I don't want to say much about Eternity, other than to say the change in Lucifer is incredible. It's part horror story and part love story with queer overtones. It was much better than I expected. The battle for heaven is quite gruesome. Early in Eternity, I found myself feeling sorry for Lucifer. I kept wanting God to end his cruelty and be more nuturing. He's definitely a "my way or else" diety.
I thought the world building for Heaven could have been better. It sounded more like an upscale planned community than an otherworldly place of beauty. I did like the talking plants.
He plucked the apple from its branch, telling it, “Thank you.” The tree expressed gratitude right back and said it was an honor to be touched by Father’s most favorite angel... ‘You’re the most perfect creation,’ replied one of the trees. ‘On you, He’s bestowed the most love in His gaze.’
The main characters are all well developed. I especially liked the personalities developed for each of the Archangels. It's a book that will stay with me for quite a while.
As the blurb says, the book is a fictional retelling of Lucifer's (Satan's) fall from heaven. Like most people, I knew the general story, but the version in this book was very unexpected. It's divided into two main sections, "Paradise" and "Eternity". In Paradise, God creates Lucifer, his most beautiful angel. It is really a love fest between God and his creation.
“But you are everywhere, aren’t you, Father?” Lucifer answered cheekily and was ecstatic the Lord took it with humor. “At the end of the universe, I’ll still be right here with you.”
“You are best suited to sit beside the Throne.”
“Are you pleased with me, Father?” The Lord was silent still. “Please. All I wish is to be what you intended me to be.”
“A Father’s love is eternal, Lucifer.... You are loved the way you are, and you are all that you need to be. You are even more than what I wanted of you.”
Paradise is really about Lucifer growing up to be a leading angel. The other angels in Heaven call Lucifer the "Angel of Beauty" and eventually "Angel of Worship". For much of Paradise, he is quite timid, shy, and afraid to share the beauty of his body. He doesn't like others gazing on his beauty. He also meets the Archangel Michael, beautiful in his own right and quite the fighter and athlete. His friendship and love for Michael begin to compete with his love for God. I sometimes found Paradise a little slow and repetitive, but the beautiful writing kept me going. The contrast between the peace and love in Paradise and the horrors in Eternity are incredible.
I don't want to say much about Eternity, other than to say the change in Lucifer is incredible. It's part horror story and part love story with queer overtones. It was much better than I expected. The battle for heaven is quite gruesome. Early in Eternity, I found myself feeling sorry for Lucifer. I kept wanting God to end his cruelty and be more nuturing. He's definitely a "my way or else" diety.
I thought the world building for Heaven could have been better. It sounded more like an upscale planned community than an otherworldly place of beauty. I did like the talking plants.
He plucked the apple from its branch, telling it, “Thank you.” The tree expressed gratitude right back and said it was an honor to be touched by Father’s most favorite angel... ‘You’re the most perfect creation,’ replied one of the trees. ‘On you, He’s bestowed the most love in His gaze.’
The main characters are all well developed. I especially liked the personalities developed for each of the Archangels. It's a book that will stay with me for quite a while.
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book is intense, and you need to take the last 20-25% slowly because it’s dense and complicated if you aren’t well versed in Abrahamic religion. But wow, is it good! It’s so many things all in one book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated