A review by cakt1991
Yours Celestially by Al Hess

emotional lighthearted 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

4.0

 I received an ARC from the author and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own. 

In the handful of books I’ve read from Al Hess, he’s always been able to surprise me with fun, out-there, yet cozy and queer-centric takes on familiar concepts, and Yours Celestially is no different. Partly an homage to an earlier (now unpublished series), which admittedly I haven’t read, it was still a delight in its own way, as I knew it would be, from the moment I heard the book’s pitch involved the likes of “biblically accurate AI, completely bonkers visuals, and bionic penis jokes!” 

The world is a lot of fun, and simultaneously feels familiar (whether or not you know the prior series) and completely new, as well as like an incredibly trippy adventure with a squishy, reassuring  message at its core. I loved the blend of the futuristic tech with deeper, eternal themes, like how harmful certain sects of religion are in pushing bigoted legislation that harms queer people. 

The central characters are also delightful. I was immediately more drawn to Metatron, loving both the quirky, humorous side of them, as well as the deeper romantic side as they grapple with their feelings for someone and whether that someone returns their feelings. It’s so unexpected, given how most people think of AI, and I couldn’t help but root for them every step of the way. 

But the human lead, Sasha, is also compelling. He has his own complicated issues to work through, while simultaneously also feeling Metatron’s, via their connection, and having to serve as a rather unconventional wingman. The portrayal of ADHD is compellingly drawn, and I like how that relates to his drug addiction, thanks to the technological advancements of the future, with all medications being easy to acquire without thinking about it, including those used for illicit means. I also appreciated how issues like his situation being divorced and how it impacted his relationship with his daughter, who he doesn’t have primary custody of, as well as the deeper examination of his pathology, with him being rather closed-off, instead of confiding in people who care for him. 

I had some mixed feelings when I found out that this book would juggle two romances, as that can sometimes be very hit-or-miss. While I don’t know that either love interest felt as well-defined to me as either Sasha or Metatron were, given the story is from their perspectives, I did feel that they had chemistry with their respective love interests. 

With it being on the lighter side of sci-fi, there’s not a lot of action, but that’s not to say there’s nothing of interest that happens. While it’s cozier and more introspective, I found myself quickly drawn into these characters and their world, with it keeping my attention from beginning to end. 

This is a fun read, and I’d recommend it to readers looking for a lighthearted, cozy queer take on  the sci-fi genre.