This was a bit silly. Rebecca Roanhorse says in the acknowledgments that it’s a bit different from what she usually writes, so I might try one of her other books. ( )

Amazing. This hooked me from the very beginning. The plot was so compelling. The characters and their relationship dynamics were amazing. Also, I'm a huge fan of Abraxas I'd sell my soul for him. ( )

When her sister Mariel is arrested by the Virtues, Celeste knows she's innocent of murder and needs to come to her defense.

A Wild West fantastical mystery mashup that reminded me of nothing more than a Supernatural episode or two. The world-building in this novella is most intriguing, with the Elect and the Fallen - Celeste and Mariel are half and half - in a town where divinity is mined from the fallen body of a demon. The mystery itself is a little more rushed, as Celeste has only a day to investigate before she officially defends her sister, and the ending revelations are a bit sudden. But it's a fast-paced and fun ride. ( )

Interesting, and I don't mean that ironically, but just interesting. You could probably also file this exercise in "Weird West" fiction in the long Western tradition of Christian allegory, as our protagonist is trying to spring her sister from the clutches of the authorities for a crime she doesn't believe said sister committed, and I'm not going to say anything more about the plot. My basic question is to wonder whether this is the set-up for a broader story, or whether the whole concept would collapse if Roanhorse tried to stretch it out longer. However, if this turns out to be the opening segment of a novel, or one of a series of novellas, I'd certainly read those books. ( )

3 and a half stars. novella. angels and demons ascendent in a mining town in a weirdly wild west. sounds great, doesn't it? and i like the author. but it was just okay. i'm still intrigued by the possibilities, though, so if more in this vein comes along, i'll be there. ( )

I am a big fan on Rebecca Roanhorse. This little ditty novella is an Angels and Demons story told with a type of fantasy western backdrop. I liked the idea of it but I think it falls victim to being too short. The ending felt abrupt and unfinished. Roanhorse is an amazing storyteller. Loved the characters and the world she created. This is an idea that can really be built on. ( )

Celeste is a flawed heroine whose goal in life is to protect her sister. And then the sister is accused of murder. Set in a steampunkish Wild West mining town, where they mine Divinity from the remains of the fallen angel, Abaddon. Features humans, religion, hypocritical religious folk, discrimination, bureaucracy, gambling, demons, and many bad decisions.

Intriguing novella. Would be interested in reading more stories set in this world, especially what happens next with Celeste. That said, I'm pretty sure this is a one-shot.

For fans of [b:Book of Night|58293924|Book of Night (Book of Night, #1)|Holly Black|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1639163872l/58293924._SY75_.jpg|91438756] ( )

i didn't really like this until the very very end. i keep trying books that i know aren't for me, but i wanted to see her writing, which is good, even though i knew i probably wouldn't be into the storytelling. this is her shorter book so i went for it. if you break it down to its most basic (a woman trying to protect/free her sister who was accused of a crime she didn't commit) it's a good story and doesn't need the otherworldly aspects that i have trouble with. anyway. i fell asleep when listening and missed a little on the backend but couldn't be bothered to rewind. it picked up at the end and i do like the surprising plot twist, quite a bit.

for me, i'd have liked this much more if it wasn't in a fantasy world, but that just shows where my preferences lie. ( )

Where there are angels and demons and hatred of offspring of the demons while needing them to mine the body of a fallen angel for the magic it has to power all the technology they have. Against this backdrop is the story of two sisters, one has been accused of murder of an upper class man and her sister who tries to free her while being lucky enough to be able to hide the signs of her part demon parentage. Celeste will burn through friends and favors to try and clear Mariel’s name and get her freed before she is executed for the murder of her lover. This mystery is a quick tight read that has a wonderfully deep background and I really want more books in this setting.

Digital review copy provided by the publisher through Edelweiss ( )

In Goetia where the Fallen mine divinity, the flesh of a fallen angel, to power the technology for the Elect, Celeste and Mariel are mixed blood sisters who work at a gaming house. Unlike Mariel, Celeste does not show her Fallen parentage which allows her to defend Mariel when she is accused of murder. In this tale nothing has more disastrous consequences than revealing unwanted knowledge, though the acquisition of it is also unfortunate. The storytelling and world creation is compelling even if the latter feels a bit unstable. ( )

Novella in a new universe—sort of 1800s mining town crossed with the aftermath of an angel/demon war. Celeste is a half-breed, daughter of a Fallen and an Elect, who can pass as Elect, though her sister Mariel can’t. When Mariel is arrested for the murder of an Elect, Celeste has to take on a dangerous job as her advocate, requiring her to bargain with her former lover—a demon—and confront uncomfortable truths about herself and her sister. It was basically fine but too short to get into the worldbuilding details that I was interested in—it’s set in a mining town where the substance that runs the world is mined from the corpse of a fallen major demon, and I had all sorts of questions about that. ( )

Thank you to Edelweiss for access to the ARC of this. ( )

2832 ( )