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saintyrer 's review for:
Angels Before Man
by rafael nicolás
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
For any born into the Christian faith, it is difficult to see through the blasphemy of Angels Before Man. The Holy Father is depicted in all His mystery as omniscient and all-knowing, but his role in Lucifer's life strikes more as a possessive and obsessive lover rather than the paternal figure we are so familiar with. The Holy Father's arrogance and all-consuming power is more reminiscent of the Greeks' Zeus than anyone else, especially with his claim over all his creations. Rafael Nicolás is a master in weaving his own threads into the Lord's tapestry while criticising and questioning many aspects of blind religious faith and the sins of the Creator as we see but do not truly acknowledge in the Bible's writings. Is it respectful? No, but Nicolás did give a warning about the blasphemy (amongst other things) in this book. I myself had to remind myself time and time again that this is a work of fiction, and I do plenty of questioning of my own Christian faith in my spare time already.
Though Angels Before Man seems to be at times an unbearing slow-burn, the pacing of the story makes sense with the chronology of Lucifer's life since his creation. The hundred million years of blind faith and worship, all of which are challenged by several horrifying incidents in which his beloved Father shows his true colours.
Lucifer's following corruption initially seems shallow in hindsight, and the rebellion he leads against God happens so quickly in comparison to the slow burn of the first act, but I soon see that this is Nicolás's genius in the work; depicting Lucifer's fall from the eyes of Lucifer himself, desperately cradling his trauma and hurt in the arms of vengeance. As far as the retellings of Lucifer's fall goes, Nicolás's has to be one of the most masterful ones I've seen on paper. Not just the actual fall heralded by the amputation of his wings by the blade of his own beloved, but his splintered mind caught between hatred of his Father and all those who follow Him blindly and the love of the memories from the hundred million years before.
Don't let the stars fool you. I truly enjoyed this book. The rating is a fault of mine, and would have been higher if not for the unfortunate truth that I am not a fan of slow burns, and am also a confirmed Christian.
Though Angels Before Man seems to be at times an unbearing slow-burn, the pacing of the story makes sense with the chronology of Lucifer's life since his creation. The hundred million years of blind faith and worship, all of which are challenged by several horrifying incidents in which his beloved Father shows his true colours.
Lucifer's following corruption initially seems shallow in hindsight, and the rebellion he leads against God happens so quickly in comparison to the slow burn of the first act, but I soon see that this is Nicolás's genius in the work; depicting Lucifer's fall from the eyes of Lucifer himself, desperately cradling his trauma and hurt in the arms of vengeance. As far as the retellings of Lucifer's fall goes, Nicolás's has to be one of the most masterful ones I've seen on paper. Not just the actual fall heralded by the amputation of his wings by the blade of his own beloved, but his splintered mind caught between hatred of his Father and all those who follow Him blindly and the love of the memories from the hundred million years before.
Don't let the stars fool you. I truly enjoyed this book. The rating is a fault of mine, and would have been higher if not for the unfortunate truth that I am not a fan of slow burns, and am also a confirmed Christian.