Reviews

Content warning: explicit sex, religious guilt, sexualization of religion, ritual animal sacrifice, blood, humiliation, teratophilia, fantasy genitals

This is a quick read that’s essentially, as Hamesh puts it in the notes, “canon divergent fanfiction” of the Torah. It centers Aharon, guilty of idolatry, and the way G-d takes him on his burning desire for absolution.

It’s a really hot seventy or so pages with such lyrical prose, it really feels like it comes out of a religious text. The way Hamesh delineates between the voice talking in Aharon’s head versus speaking out loud really worked for me. There’s also a very clear reverence and love for the theology and, if I can say it, the source material. The characterization of both Aharon and his guilt proved really compelling, and I found myself completely absorbed in the time spent reading it.

Lyrical, reverent, and sexy, definitely recommend giving this novella a gander.

winter_is_reading's review

Go to review page

hopeful inspiring mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

“I do not ask you to be like your brother, or like Abraham or Isaac. I only ask you to be like you, Aharon.” (p.16)

I love when fictional writing intersects with religion, queerness, and erotica. It often leads, like in this short story, to dissecting individuality as a role in worship. When all are called to worship, but our minds, roles, and situations are all different, what does worship look like to certain individuals? If we are all different people, what does devotion to G-d sometimes look like? And what form does punishment and reward take?

Or my favorite question, if we are all different beings in gender and identity, but are created by one Being, what will that Being look like?

Genuinely great writing, great use of erotica for spiritual introspection… and also just great smut.

(5/5 spice)

l_and_l's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

junisreading's review

Go to review page

challenging mysterious reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Content Warnings

More...