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A review by floralvarezr
Inside Man by K.J. Parker
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Inside Man was a delightful read. It touches on the everlasting balance between good and evil, a carefully contructed peace where God actually allows the demons to do their jobs -and they are jobs, with departments, bureaucracy and orders included. Our protagonist is a demon with a conscience, who was once an angel that partook in the Revolution where Lucifer and his comrades fell, thus creating this whole corporation of wrongdoing that contributes to the supposed "Plan" that God has. If this plan exists, our protagonist doesn't believe in it. He doubts but he can't help but follow the orders his superiors give him -it's his sole purpose in an infinite life.
The novella is very well-written, with a fun tone troughout, even when dealing with important matters, which gives our protagonist a clear characterisation, he is an unserious guy dealing with serious matters and actually considering them with the proper weight they have. He is inquisitive and doesn't hesitate to investigate when things become weird.
I loved the bond he had both with Brother Eusevious -a voice of serenity and wisdom- and with the exorcist whose body he inhabited for 17 years from his tenth week of gestation -a nightmare who tortured him relentlessly, and still, his human.
Upon finishing this novella I discovered that it's actually a sequel, which is a bummer, but thankfully it's written in such a way that allows you to understand everything even out of context -provided you know at least some angelic lore.
The novella is very well-written, with a fun tone troughout, even when dealing with important matters, which gives our protagonist a clear characterisation, he is an unserious guy dealing with serious matters and actually considering them with the proper weight they have. He is inquisitive and doesn't hesitate to investigate when things become weird.
I loved the bond he had both with Brother Eusevious -a voice of serenity and wisdom- and with the exorcist whose body he inhabited for 17 years from his tenth week of gestation -a nightmare who tortured him relentlessly, and still, his human.
Upon finishing this novella I discovered that it's actually a sequel, which is a bummer, but thankfully it's written in such a way that allows you to understand everything even out of context -provided you know at least some angelic lore.