lycangrrl's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
An intriguing, profound anthology about angels and inherently queer in content. I enjoyed reading works from authors I already knew (Freydís Moon, rafael nicolás, Morgan Dante) and authors I was meeting for the first time (Emily Hoffman, Angela Sun, Dorian Yosef Weber, Ian Haramaki, Tyler Battaglia, Cas Trudeau, Rae Novotny, Daniel Marie James, Aurélio Loren). I enjoyed almost all of the stories and poems, even the ones I didn’t really understand. All of them were well written with provocative imagery. The only stories I truly didn’t like were Swarm Behavior and Recovered Contents and that was solely because of the bug and body horror content/imagery, not because they were bad stories, just not for me. I know others will certainly enjoy them.
A few of my favorite entries:
Paradises by rafael nicolás:
A few of my favorite entries:
Paradises by rafael nicolás:
Absolutely loved this beautiful story between Gabriel and the rain god Tláloc. Gabriel talking about how he loves too much and wants to stop being treated as a child. I just really enjoyed their story and the sex scene was beautifully written.
“Will I love you too little or too much?”
“Any love at all,” Gabriel sighs, “is enough for me. I’ll meet you where you are.”
Halfway to Heaven by Freydís Moon
Honestly, I can’t describe this short poem other than to say just read it. So powerful and moving.
Pieces by Emily Hoffman
Kieron works at a tissue bank and one night he receives a visitor named Wyatt who asks him to cut off his wings. An introspection on how Kieron has previously given up on believing in God and now having proof of angels and having one ask to be “cut up” by him will surely secure his place in hell if his job hadn’t already.
And the Mountains Melt Like Wax by Tyler Battaglia
A firefighter named Abel climbs a mountain with his dog Cain and finds an angel. Sounds like the start of a bad joke right? But it’s actually the start of an amazing short story. Abel is having panic attacks after a bad apartment fire he worked. While on a hike, he comes across a crater and finds a “terrifying and perfect” angel inside. My favorite part was Abel feeling how the angel was full of love and loved Abel just for being there at that moment.
Resta Con Me by Ian Haramaki
I loved Elia and how much he loved books and learning. Seeing how he liked Nicola but was immediately drawn to Dani. The mystery of the demon possessing people in town, how Nicola and Dani react to each other, the alleyway makeout, the final confrontation (and following sex scene)…all amazing.
“Of course the Lord would bless his angels handsomely.”
ARC provided in exchange for honest review
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Body horror
Moderate: Blood, Dysphoria, Gore, and Cannibalism
Minor: Animal death, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Dysphoria, Fire/Fire injury, Death, Medical content, and Vomit
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