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A review by winter_is_reading
First Creation by Mars Adler
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This deserves 6/5 stars for reaching into my past and pulling out the exact kind of story my religiously traumatized heart needed to hear. Amitiel’s story felt so much like my own that it’s scary. And now that I’ve left my religion, interacting with others leaving their faith feels like Stolas tearfully leading Amitiel out of heaven, knowing the truth hurts too much for victory to be sweet.
When I heard this was a cannibalism book, I was unsure how I’d react reading it. But the cannibal imagery and metaphor were SO GOOD! What an amazing way of describing the harm that “heaven’s chosen” inflict on its own members, even to its own weakening and demise. In addition, the peaches imagery was fantastic and so sensual, perfect for these two runaways.
I’ve read a lot of dark romance books that talk about the joys of “being fallen from God and free to sin”. And there is a magnificent freedom in that for sure.
But not a lot of books talk about how much falling and being reborn HURTS. How much has to be repaired emotionally. How you lose the friends, homes, and sanctuaries that you had before. How the people and places that you fought for are corrupted, and how they reject you as you reject them. How healing is lonely, even with a companion, but ultimately… it’s worth it. And that after all is hurt and healed, maybe there’s still whispers of the divine in the world left for you to find.
This book talks about all that, and that means everything to me. I would love a physical copy of this so I can keep it, and maybe pass it along to others.
I feel like the food critic from Ratatouille who dropped his fork as he realizes the chef, through their work, perfectly captured his feelings from the past. Which means that I’m definitely coming back for whatever Mars Adler cooks up next. Amazing work!
Spice: 3/5
Angst: 4/5
When I heard this was a cannibalism book, I was unsure how I’d react reading it. But the cannibal imagery and metaphor were SO GOOD! What an amazing way of describing the harm that “heaven’s chosen” inflict on its own members, even to its own weakening and demise. In addition, the peaches imagery was fantastic and so sensual, perfect for these two runaways.
I’ve read a lot of dark romance books that talk about the joys of “being fallen from God and free to sin”. And there is a magnificent freedom in that for sure.
But not a lot of books talk about how much falling and being reborn HURTS. How much has to be repaired emotionally. How you lose the friends, homes, and sanctuaries that you had before. How the people and places that you fought for are corrupted, and how they reject you as you reject them. How healing is lonely, even with a companion, but ultimately… it’s worth it. And that after all is hurt and healed, maybe there’s still whispers of the divine in the world left for you to find.
This book talks about all that, and that means everything to me. I would love a physical copy of this so I can keep it, and maybe pass it along to others.
I feel like the food critic from Ratatouille who dropped his fork as he realizes the chef, through their work, perfectly captured his feelings from the past. Which means that I’m definitely coming back for whatever Mars Adler cooks up next. Amazing work!
Spice: 3/5
Angst: 4/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Blood, and Cannibalism