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A review by ciarazard
Angels Before Man by rafael nicolás
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Angels Before Man is a truly unique book that left me speechless. I predicted it would be a 5-star read prior to reading, and it did NOT disappoint. Rafael Nicolas has indeed crafted a stunning narrative of Lucifer's fall from Paradise that is both poetic and thought-provoking. A few times, it even reminded me of the anime, Devilman Crybaby.
PARADISE. The first part of the book is beautifully written, with atmospheric descriptions and vivid world-building that drew me in from the very first page. Learning about the daily lives of angels and their divine duties was fascinating (it had me listening to podcasts of angelic lore!).
'God' in the book felt very ominous, almost overbearing. I felt nervous and intimidated during His scenes with Lucifer, as if I could feel his fear of God firsthand. That should tell you how GOOD the writing is.
ETERNITY. The second part of the book takes a much darker turn (oh boy, it DOES get dark), but frankly, this is where the writing truly shines. Lucifer's descent into madness and malevolence is LITERAL poetry, but it is very painful to read, especially given how attached I was to his character during the first part. During part one, we read through his birth, innocence, curiosity, self-pity, first feelings of love and desire. And in part two, we read through his hatred and corruption. It's a compelling villain origin story that went from zero to a hundred.
As someone with a Catholic upbringing (though no longer practicing), I found the book quite scary at times. Unsettling, but in the best way possible.
Overall, I really, really loved Angels Before Man. One of the best novels I've read, TBH.
PARADISE. The first part of the book is beautifully written, with atmospheric descriptions and vivid world-building that drew me in from the very first page. Learning about the daily lives of angels and their divine duties was fascinating (it had me listening to podcasts of angelic lore!).
'God' in the book felt very ominous, almost overbearing. I felt nervous and intimidated during His scenes with Lucifer, as if I could feel his fear of God firsthand. That should tell you how GOOD the writing is.
ETERNITY. The second part of the book takes a much darker turn (oh boy, it DOES get dark), but frankly, this is where the writing truly shines. Lucifer's descent into madness and malevolence is LITERAL poetry, but it is very painful to read, especially given how attached I was to his character during the first part. During part one, we read through his birth, innocence, curiosity, self-pity, first feelings of love and desire. And in part two, we read through his hatred and corruption. It's a compelling villain origin story that went from zero to a hundred.
As someone with a Catholic upbringing (though no longer practicing), I found the book quite scary at times. Unsettling, but in the best way possible.
Overall, I really, really loved Angels Before Man. One of the best novels I've read, TBH.