A review by ploganiv
Angels Before Man by rafael nicolás

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This has become one of my top 5 favorite books. It is such a cool concept, and the author's writing treads the line between poetry and prose in such a sophisticated way. The way Nicolás describes things is so beautiful and tender with his word choices. His imagery and metaphors are next level. It is self-published, so with that, there are some editing errors and style choices I would change, but Lucifer's character is probably one of my favorite arcs I have read in a long time. He starts off so pure and inquisitive as God made him, but as time goes on and he has all these experiences, he doesn't get why things are the way they are. The ending is hard to read, but at the same time, you feel for how he finally brakes. Another aspect I really enjoyed is the way masculinity is presented in the novel. It is really unique and refreshing. These angels live together for eternity and have formed such a loving and caring bond with one another. Rafael just got an agent, so I am so excited to see what he writes next and what comes of this beautifully tragic novel. 
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