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A review by ambers
Angels Before Man by rafael nicolás
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
'Queer people writing about religion' is (or at least should be) a genre in and of itself, and that genre is hands down one of my fav. I am exactly the kind of audience who would go ape shit for 'Lucifer and Michael are in gay love, and God is the OG villain'. Unpredictably I devoured this book in one sitting.
And while I read this book for fun, it FEELS like something I would've read for an English course. I swear I mean that as a compliment. It's a book that invites you to analyze it, so spend more time thinking about it even after you've finished the final page. I did, and while I originally rated this 3.75 stars, I ultimately bumped it up to 4 after spending some more time with it.
Because there's CLEARLY so much love, care, and thought that the author put into this book, right down to the writing style itself. I wish the author had denoted thought/dialogue a little more smoothly, but otherwise I was fully along for the ride.
From the first half to the second, from the beginning to the end, the writing gets looser, more lush and poetic, and we're introduced to multiple POVs - fitting, as Lucifer's anger, pain, and God-complex all grow. It's essentially two books in one, each with a unique writing style that tells you something key about the lead's mental state, and that's incredibly impressive for a debut novel.
This book is, of course, a heavy one. I would advise anyone to check the trigger warnings before picking it up - but if you're in the right headspace for it, it's absolutely a worthwhile read.
And while I read this book for fun, it FEELS like something I would've read for an English course. I swear I mean that as a compliment. It's a book that invites you to analyze it, so spend more time thinking about it even after you've finished the final page. I did, and while I originally rated this 3.75 stars, I ultimately bumped it up to 4 after spending some more time with it.
Because there's CLEARLY so much love, care, and thought that the author put into this book, right down to the writing style itself. I wish the author had denoted thought/dialogue a little more smoothly, but otherwise I was fully along for the ride.
From the first half to the second, from the beginning to the end, the writing gets looser, more lush and poetic, and we're introduced to multiple POVs - fitting, as Lucifer's anger, pain, and God-complex all grow. It's essentially two books in one, each with a unique writing style that tells you something key about the lead's mental state, and that's incredibly impressive for a debut novel.
This book is, of course, a heavy one. I would advise anyone to check the trigger warnings before picking it up - but if you're in the right headspace for it, it's absolutely a worthwhile read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Torture, Blood, Emotional abuse, Self harm, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual assault