lilysgalvez's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
lolocole's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
This is such a rich and compelling novella, I would need to read it at least twice more and brush up on theology to have something vaguely intelligent to say about it.
Post-first-read, I was enamored by the speed and depth with which Roanhorse weaved the fabric of this world of angels, demons, saints, and devils. The grey area of morality and love war in a high stakes game for innocence and a critique of power systems.
Abaraxus deserves better. (Most character in this book deserve better). (Though it could also be said that most deserve much worse). (Actually that’s the point of the whole book).
Post-first-read, I was enamored by the speed and depth with which Roanhorse weaved the fabric of this world of angels, demons, saints, and devils. The grey area of morality and love war in a high stakes game for innocence and a critique of power systems.
Abaraxus deserves better. (Most character in this book deserve better). (Though it could also be said that most deserve much worse). (Actually that’s the point of the whole book).
camihawk's review against another edition
3.0
This was fine? I wanted more from everything, the world building, the main character's development, the romance, but mostly I wanted a deeper understanding of the sisters' relationship with one another.
books_andprobablysome_wine's review against another edition
3.0
It´s ok. Not great, not awful.. a 2,5 rounded up
mdelao630's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
minna17's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
hannavos18's review against another edition
4.0
This book is a very thought-provoking piece. My copy was small with just 197 pages, so it was certainly a fast read. I think it was more intended to invoke a feeling, rather than be a completely fleshed out story.
Celeste and her sister Mariel are half Elect, the upper class, and half Fallen, the working class. When Mariel is accused of killing a Virtue, a member of the ruling class, Celeste takes it upon herself to prove Mariel’s innocence.
While on this path to saving her sister, Celeste loses everyone she loves: Hypatia, her boss who is like family. Celeste loses her when she says they are not family since Hypatia helped hide Mariel’s lover from Celeste. Zeke, her friend and coworker. She loses him when she takes his trike, which he has poured his heart and soul into, without asking and abandons it. Abraxas, the demon lord who loves her. She loses him when she asks him to manipulate another Fallen girl into confessing to the murder of the Virtue man, which essentially means her death. Lastly, she even loses Mariel, who decides to come clean to the court. Mariel confesses that she was the one who killed the Virtue man, who was her lover and had impregnated her. The Virtue man’s widowed wife offers to take Mariel in, rehabilitate her, and raise the child. Mariel agrees to go live with this woman, and asks Celeste to not visit her so she can learn to live without her sister’s overbearing presence.
In the end, Celeste loses everyone. While I felt that this story could have been more engaging had it been
longer and more detailed, I don’t think that was the point. I think the point was to show a woman who, despite having the best intentions of just saving her sister from execution, ends up losing everyone and everything, and is completely alone. I think this story is simply meant to put an aching feeling of loneliness and emptiness into the reader, and leave them to wrestle with that feeling.
Celeste and her sister Mariel are half Elect, the upper class, and half Fallen, the working class. When Mariel is accused of killing a Virtue, a member of the ruling class, Celeste takes it upon herself to prove Mariel’s innocence.
While on this path to saving her sister, Celeste loses everyone she loves: Hypatia, her boss who is like family. Celeste loses her when she says they are not family since Hypatia helped hide Mariel’s lover from Celeste. Zeke, her friend and coworker. She loses him when she takes his trike, which he has poured his heart and soul into, without asking and abandons it. Abraxas, the demon lord who loves her. She loses him when she asks him to manipulate another Fallen girl into confessing to the murder of the Virtue man, which essentially means her death. Lastly, she even loses Mariel, who decides to come clean to the court. Mariel confesses that she was the one who killed the Virtue man, who was her lover and had impregnated her. The Virtue man’s widowed wife offers to take Mariel in, rehabilitate her, and raise the child. Mariel agrees to go live with this woman, and asks Celeste to not visit her so she can learn to live without her sister’s overbearing presence.
In the end, Celeste loses everyone. While I felt that this story could have been more engaging had it been
longer and more detailed, I don’t think that was the point. I think the point was to show a woman who, despite having the best intentions of just saving her sister from execution, ends up losing everyone and everything, and is completely alone. I think this story is simply meant to put an aching feeling of loneliness and emptiness into the reader, and leave them to wrestle with that feeling.
kieu's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
bookwormali's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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