August 15, 2022
Skillfully blending a noir atmosphere with western tropes and biblical mythology, bestseller Roanhorse (Fevered Star) crafts an immersive historical fantasy centered on ambition, privilege, and marginalization. In the Colorado town of Goetia, in an alternate old west with an almost steampunk vibe, miners extract the all-purpose element of divinity from the long-dead corpse of the angel Abaddon. The Elect, descendants of angels, exploit and look down upon the Fallen, descendants of demons, while the Virtue Orders enforce holy justice. The flawed and fascinating heroine, half-Fallen, half-Elect Celeste Semyaza, ekes out a living as a card dealer in a local gambling den, where her sister, Mariel, headlines as a singer. When Mariel is arrested on suspicion of murdering a Virtue, Celeste will do everything in her power to prove her sister innocent—even accept the help of her former lover, the demon Abraxas. While investigating, Celeste stumbles across the town’s dark secret, and must reconsider her own priorities and future plans, as well as her relationships with those she cares for. The mystery plot is solidly entertaining and suits the atmosphere, but it remains fairly basic—even predictable—to the end. Instead, the worldbuilding is the real star here; readers will hope for a chance to explore it further in future outings. Agent: Sara Megibow, KT Literary.
February 1, 2023
Roanhorse's (Black Sun) imaginative novella transports listeners to an alternative-history Colorado in 1883, where the Fallen--descendants of demons--serve the Elect, who are society's elites. When a Virtue (the highest of the Elect) is found dead the morning after a bar fight, suspicion falls on Mariel, a half-Fallen/half-Elect nightclub singer. Mariel's sister Celeste is determined to prove her innocence, even if it means reconnecting with her demon ex-lover, Abraxas. But defending Mariel forces Celeste to confront a number of uncomfortable truths about her family and her community, and she must decide how far she's willing to go to save Mariel. Readers familiar with Roanhorse's novels will find the same depth of worldbuilding, morally ambiguous characters, and clever transformation of familiar tropes, myths, and legends, this time focused on the Old West and Christian stories of angels and demons. Dion Graham's narration is top-notch, with varied intensities that ratchet up the intrigue and distinctive voices for each character; it enhances Roanhorse's intriguing tale of angels and demons and makes the action easy to follow. VERDICT Roanhorse's genre-blending story and Graham's exceptional narration make this an excellent choice for dark fantasy fans. Highly recommended.--Nanette Donohue
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