You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
wonderedpages 's review for:
Angel at Large
by T. L. Ryder
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I went into Angel At Large completely blind after picking up the audiobook ARC on StoryOrigin, and I’m so glad I did. This collection of short stories is quick, quirky, and filled with the kind of dark humor that sneaks up on you. Billy Bob’s voice had me laughing out loud at times. His blend of charm, stubbornness, and “bless your heart” manners felt so authentically Texan.
As someone who grew up in Texas, I loved the way Ryder wove in mini history lessons, Southern traditions, and plenty of local flavor. Remember the Alamo? Check. Chupacabra sightings? Absolutely. Pecan pies, Texas slang, and the unspoken rule of helping others before yourself? All in here. Each chapter centers around a new death, which keeps the pacing fresh, while the larger timeline ties it all together so you never feel like you’re stuck in a loop.
Billy Bob’s journey from guiding souls on horseback to cruising around in his trusty F-150 (with a couple of dogs in tow) cracked me up. He’s got a soft spot for the lost and the clingy, and his interactions with the newly dead were both funny and surprisingly tender. Many of them struggle to let go, and it’s Billy Bob’s job to nudge them toward redemption, or to face what comes next.
If I’m honest, the narrator wasn’t my favorite. The voices leaned too far into caricature, and the Texas accent never landed right. I kept thinking how much better this would flow in print, where I could savor Billy Bob’s storytelling without the distraction. Still, the writing itself shines, and I’ll be looking for a hard copy to revisit.
Overall, this felt like sitting on a porch swing on a Texas evening, listening to your grandparents spin tall tales while the crickets sing. If you like your stories a little dark, a little funny, and steeped in Texas lore, you’ll enjoy this ride.
As someone who grew up in Texas, I loved the way Ryder wove in mini history lessons, Southern traditions, and plenty of local flavor. Remember the Alamo? Check. Chupacabra sightings? Absolutely. Pecan pies, Texas slang, and the unspoken rule of helping others before yourself? All in here. Each chapter centers around a new death, which keeps the pacing fresh, while the larger timeline ties it all together so you never feel like you’re stuck in a loop.
Billy Bob’s journey from guiding souls on horseback to cruising around in his trusty F-150 (with a couple of dogs in tow) cracked me up. He’s got a soft spot for the lost and the clingy, and his interactions with the newly dead were both funny and surprisingly tender. Many of them struggle to let go, and it’s Billy Bob’s job to nudge them toward redemption, or to face what comes next.
If I’m honest, the narrator wasn’t my favorite. The voices leaned too far into caricature, and the Texas accent never landed right. I kept thinking how much better this would flow in print, where I could savor Billy Bob’s storytelling without the distraction. Still, the writing itself shines, and I’ll be looking for a hard copy to revisit.
Overall, this felt like sitting on a porch swing on a Texas evening, listening to your grandparents spin tall tales while the crickets sing. If you like your stories a little dark, a little funny, and steeped in Texas lore, you’ll enjoy this ride.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Suicide, Terminal illness, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail