Devout: An Anthology of Angels by Quinton Li

Devout: An Anthology of Angels Reviews

• 
  nicole

  I've been sitting on this for about a week, wracking my brain on how I could possibly give a single star rating to an anthology so wildly varied in genre, content matter, writing style, and even medium. And the answer I came to is that I simply won't <3 I'll just talk about how insane this made me instead.
  
  I was extremely happy to see a nice mix of stories focused on romance vs. those without it—I'm not much of a romance reader in general, but this variation meant I could still find so much to enjoy in this anthology even if every story didn't cater to my specific tastes. And for the romance fans out there, there are more than enough stories in here to leave you Stunned. Shaken. Feral and absolutely Not Normal at all, I prommy.
  
  As for a story-by-story breakdown, here are shoutouts to some of my personal favorite entries!
  
  ★ "Seasons of God" by Angela Sun: This made me go SOOOO insane like it's been a week and I still think about this constantly. It's everything I would want out of a story about angels and missionaries: dark, uncomfortable, and despite (or perhaps because of) its supernatural elements, wonderfully and painfully human. Me when people are flawed and complicated and are capable of doing horrible things !!!!
  
  ★ "And the Mountains Melt Like Wax" by Tyler Battaglia: Yeah this won my heart through the dog alone. HOWEVER it is also vivid and beautifully written, with one of my favorite takes on angels I've ever seen. You're so right they would love granola bars ...
  
  ★ "We Suffer in Fire" by Tyler Battaglia: I loved this flipped perspective so so much. Zero notes for this entire duet.
  
  ★ "Fade to Black" by Morgan Dante: Super fun characters set against a super fun backdrop, with promises and hints of backstory to come.
  
  ★ "Misery in Company" by Morgan Dante: The backstory was delivered and MAN .... yeah this one hurt I'm not gonna lie at all. I'm always a sucker for a Faust retelling also so this was like. made for me personally
  
  ★ "Enfleshed" by Cas Trudeau: Not the medieval poem I was expecting but the medieval poem that I deserved, actually. As an Arthurian epic poem enjoyer this was such a treat to read
  
  ★ "Recovered Contents from an Angel's Stomach" by Rae Novotny: This was the batshit insane body horror story I'd been missing until now, like this went SO hard. Also contains the most sexually charged description of a car I've ever read
  
  ★ "Pieces" by Emily Hoffman: I morally disagree with the protagonist because he doesn't like Costco, but otherwise this was such a good time. It's gritty and visceral and weird in a way that made me devour this like a slice of Costco pizza at 3pm after I'd forgotten to eat lunch on time.
  
  Overall I really enjoyed this, and I'm super excited to see it released! What a time to be alive for the angel enjoyers fr
  
  Special thanks to the editor for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
• 
  jay

  i can be your angle or yuor devil...
  
  
  a variety of stories (+ some art) about angels told in different formats across different genres by some of my favourite indie authors. as is always the case with anthologies, i liked some stories more and others less...
  
  
  if you like angels being queer, i'm sure you will find something in here to obsess over 😈
  
  
  read as part of 202-Queer 🌈✨
  
  ଘ(੭ˊ◕ᵕ◕ˋ)੭ i received an arc ଘ(੭ˊ◕ᵕ◕ˋ)੭
• 
  alex ✨

  Amazing collection of work by an amazing group of writers, and I'm so glad I can say that I got to design the book <3
• 
  Ky

  MASSIVE thanks to Quinton Li for being added to the Devout Arc team, it has been so fun to just shout at each other in the discord.
  
  OKAY I HAVE FINALLY FINISHED. First, I'll give you my thoughts per piece:
  
  The Angels at Harvest Church - removed due to author
  
  I Know My Father - the story of Jacob wrestling the angel always messed with me, spoke to me intimately. I'm so glad it's not just me.
  
  Seasons of God - Angela Sun, you have a new fan. The prose??? The horror? My god.
  
  Resta Con Me - I called the twist but it was still done perfectly.
  
  Seraphim - and yet, be not afraid.
  
  Wings Like Madeleines - Heart wrenchingly relatable. "A gnarled creature in the middle of a perfect crowd." - please get out of my head.
  
  And the Mountains Melt Like Wax - stunning. Abel meets an angel, fallen to earth, and something within him is healed.
  
  The Mountains, The Mountains, The Mountains - “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
  
  We Suffer in Fire - There are consequences to taking the Lord's judgement into your own hands.
  
  Divine Body - I've always thought that love and sex were in and of themselves a holy act. Delightful to know I'm not alone in that.
  
  Halfway to Heaven - removed due to author
  
  Fade to Black - Is there anything that exists that could make the devil happy? Is there anywhere that he might find belonging? If we mortals too cannot find such a spot amongst our own, perhaps the pairing of human and demon might provide some solace.
  
  Misery In Company - If God predestines all, then surely He knows the outcome of any bet made with Him. Might we gamble anyway?
  
  Enfleshed - A creation myth, an offering.
  
  Swarm Behavior - I would read a whole book of this. I'm so upset it's over 😭
  
  Recovered Contents From an Angel's Stomach - Another one I wish had a whole book. Absolutely disgusting and visceral and I want more.
  
  An Angel Song from the Ether - I want to bite this poem. I want to bite and shake it like a dog with a bird in its teeth.
  
  Hashem Yireh - Yitzchak is freed from the mantle of "eldest son", able instead to live out her name's meaning as "one who rejoices".
  
  Pieces - I NEED MORE OF THIS. I would read a whole series of these two oh my god??? Gory by the end, which I loved.
  
  Paradises - Choosing this piece as the end cap was BRILLIANT. I love the idea of Gabriel being a caretaker and a lover, needing space to breathe and become more himself.
  
  
  Now, my thoughts on Devout as a collective. I am someone with quite a bit of religious trauma thanks to my upbringing, so I have a lot of Thoughts and Feelings about angels lol. I love that the authors here cover multiple faiths, and how many different interpretations exist in under 200 pages (for my e-arc at least). We get prose and poetry, direct references to Scripture and Faust, sci fi imaginings and viscerally gripping body horror. I ate every morsel up and licked my fingers clean. Delicious. To quote Morgan's review, "banger. no notes" 😂
• 
  Morgan Dante

  Banger, no notes!
• 
  Erin

  Please know that I do not intend to hurt any indie authors with this review. This collection just wasn't it. I didn't know exactly what to expect going in, but this collection is a lot more sexually charged than it had any right to be. One or two stories in the collection written in this vein would have been enough, I think, to diversify. But so many, back to back to back--it was just a bit overwhelming (and underwhelming, at the same time). It was a struggle to get through this collection.
  
  There were two stories that stood out to me, though, that I really do want to highlight: "Seasons of God" by Angela Sun and "Pieces" by Emily Hoffman. These pieces were great, visceral in their own ways and grasping onto wildly different aspects of the "angelic." As standalone pieces, these stories are both excellent.
  
  I do want to say that the composition of the book, both as an indie production and just in general, is really great. The cover art is amazing, and every piece felt well composed, even if I didn't like them. I just felt like this collection didn't offer the variety that it promised, and false promises is a big no-no.
• 
  Cloud

  4.5 stars~
  
  I honestly don't know how else to describe this but, this one goes out to all the horny?? queers with religious trauma? Honestly though it is beautifully written, emotional, and so human despite the supernatural elements.
  My personal faves were those by Freydis Moon, Ian Haramaki, Morgan Dante, Angela Sun, and Rafael Nicolas, but this collection had a great mix of genres so really I have no complaints, I just want more otherworldly themed anthologies by this collective of writers! please!
• 
  Harv

  God I love angels.
• 
  Zack Davies

  [received arc for]
  
  Devout is hard to describe with it been an anthology and features such a beautiful array of different pieces.
  
  Full of horror and love and so many lyrical proses this is a definite need to read. It features all my favourite themes with religious eroticism horror is my niche and I wish more people would read this to understand why it’s so beautiful because all authors in here do it perfectly.
  
  I would recommend everyone to read this short stories that you can pick up during the day and will stay with you for along time. Once you go down the angel road there’s no escaping so come join us here.
  
  
• 
  Aura (Sidney Ellwood's protection squad)

  ARC REVIEW:
  
  I could write something elaborate or I could just repeat what I've been screaming about all over twitter: Read this if you want to be changed. If you want to become obsessed & tangibly feel your soul hovering over your body as you let these words envelop you and keep you warm, feel wings wrap around you as you are gently swayed back & forth between your present existence & beyond: PREORDER THIS.
  
  DEVOUT WILL CHANGE AND REMAKE YOU. LET IT.
  
  Thank you, thank you to every single person involved in the making of devout. It was a gift. It was a privilege. It was a miracle.
• 
  Azariel

  I had the chance to be an ARC reader for this upcoming anthology, and with the theme of it being angels, I didn't know what to expect from this collection. I've always had very one-way thoughts when it came to angels: only thinking of them as they were historically presented and not much more than that. So going into this anthology I wondered, would I connect to these stories in the way the authors who wrote them have? Would I be able to resonate with the passions inside and leave off with different thoughts than I originally had of angels? Would the new perspectives leave an effect on me long after I finished reading?
  
  To that, I can happily say yes to all three, as DEVOUT was all around a wonderful exploration and expansion to all things angelic and divine. Each piece is as creative and imaginative as the last. From riveting pieces by Ian Hamaraki and Tyler Battaglia, to evocative compositions from Rafael Nicolás, and with powerful stories from Morgan Dante Dorian Yosef Weber. You're sure to also enjoy the deep and explorative from Rae Novotny and Aurélio Loren, the poetic and illustrative from Cas Trudeau and Daniel Marie James, and the noteworthy from Angela Sun and Emily Hoffman. I truly loved every single piece. It's such a diverse selection that there's something for everyone who reads it. Every author's interpretation of angels had me engrossed, and wanting to hear more of their narrative even after their story's conclusion.
  
  It was an absolutely stunning selection of stories. DEVOUT: AN ANTHOLOGY OF ANGELS reaches for the heavens above and it's works within soar high among the angels it commemorates. I finished DEVOUT with a much more open mind and a newfound fascination for angels. There were authors I read who I've enjoyed the works of previously, and authors new to me whose works I'll be looking forward to reading now. It shows that if these twelve authors can craft such brilliant works out of love for their passions, then they'll surely go on to write even more great stories: ones that continue to captivate the minds and touch the hearts of readers, just as DEVOUT does.
• 
  eli.

  i'm absolutely obsessed with this
• 
  Christine Kulgart

  A queer, unique collection of short stories, poetry and art that celebrates angels in all their forms without focusing on the religious aspect. I especially loved the connection of gender and the angelic.
• 
  arin

  (i am obsessed, in hysteria, angels are crowding my dreams and demons haunt my every living moment)
  
  there's a certain thrill in religious horror, in erotic themes adorned in angel feathers, in tender thoughts about demons being obsessed with mortals. i knew that this was gonna be something special, so when i received an arc, i was somewhat prepared. truth be told, religion to me is a new acquaintance, one that is mysterious and magnetic, but reading this did awaken a sort of reverence in me, one that i found so exhilarating it was overwhelming
  
  that is, of course, a credit to all the contributors to this anthology, and i am so, so glad i got an opportunity to get to know their work. there are some works that my brain is still trying to pick apart sentence by sentence, and i want more
  
  i am so thankful i was able to get an arc for this, and i hope that everyone reading this review will consider buying this book, whether angels are something for them to marvel at or a distant image. i think that this could provide so many new perspectives on the topic, as well as just entertain you in the best possible way
• 
  anya!!

  Even though I only went in reading this due to one author, every single piece held my attention and was so unique in a way that was just so, so beautiful. Can't wait to reread all of my favorites!!!
• 
  sara

  this anthology is just banger after banger. i was grossed out a few times, i giggled a few times and i was on the verge of tears from how incredible these stories are. i went into this not knowing what to expect and came out of it a completely different person (i mean this in the most dramatic way possible) i soooo wish this was at least 100 pages longer because every one of these stories/poems had me HOOKED. i never knew angels could be this terrifyingly fun to read about but now that i’ve read this, i need MORE!!!! and can we take a moment to talk about the cover? it’s GORGEOUS.
  
  tysm to quinton li for an arc <3
  
  some of my favorites were:
  resta con me
  halfway to heaven
  misery in company
  swarm behavior
  an angel song from the ether
  
• 
  Sarah

  (DEUTSCH WEITER UNTEN)
  
  
  That. Was. Fantastic!
  
  I loved the mix between short stories, poetry and art.
  
  I can’t name one entry that I didn’t find at least „Very Good“. I probably devoured the anthology too quickly, as I imagine it’s even more impressive if you don’t read the individual contributions directly one after the other. (I’m just always so impatient and curious >-<)
  
  I also found it really great that individual contributions linked up with each other - that was just so exciting!
  
  Much love to all the people who contributed to this anthology! <3
  
  
  (DEUTSCH)
  
  
  Das. War. Fantastisch!
  
  Ich habe den Mix zwischen Kurzgeschichten, Poesie und Kunst geliebt.
  Ich kann nicht einen Beitrag nennen, den ich nicht mindestens „Sehr Gut“ fand. Wahrscheinlich habe ich die Anthologie zu schnell verschlungen, stelle ich es mir doch noch eindrücklicher vor, wenn man die einzelnen Beiträge nicht direkt hintereinander liest. (Ich bin halt nur immer so ungeduldig und neugierig >-<)
  
  Auch fand ich es ganz arg toll, das vereinzelte Beiträge aufeinander aufgebaut haben – das war einfach so spannend!
  
  Ganz viel liebe an alle Personen, die etwas zu dieser Anthologie beigetragen haben! <3
• 
  Dawn Chen

  This anthology is everything I wished for and more. Almost every story provides a unique and interesting interpretation of angels and angel lore. All written beautifully. An equal amount of grotesqueness and also beauty. My favorite is definitely Misery In Company by Morgan Dante, their short story retelling of a queer Faust and Mephistopheles, the demon who struck a deal with Faust - from the demon’s perspective - is probably the most beautiful and heartbroken piece of writing that absolutely wrecked me in a way I didn’t think was possible. I also just love almost every single story and poem in this anthology. For someone who is obsessed with angels this is the perfect book to pull me out of my current reading slump.
• 
  Louis C

  DEVOUT: AN ANTHOLOGY OF ANGELS
  BY: VARIOUS AUTHORS, EDITED BY QUINTON LI
  
  NOTE: I got an ARC (Yippie!) and leaving this review voluntary
  
  OVERALL THOUGHTS: A collection of stories, drawings and poems all mixing different genres, but what they all have in common is angels, showing them in all kinds of light: old, new, accurate, fucked up, but overall real.
  
  THOUGHTS ON EVERY STORY/POEM:
  
  1. "The Angels at Harvest Church" by Freydís Moon
  A great start to this collection for it sets up the mood. Beautiful lyrical writing combined with the second-person perspective made me truly feel I was there.
  
  2. "I Know My Father" by Dorian Yosef Weber
  The first poem of the collection, and even though I didn't vibe with it completely, because I'm rather picky with my poems, I still felt the raw emotions leaking into the words.
  
  3. "Seasons of God" by Angela Sun
  My original note just says Slay, and I don't know if I mean it literally or figuratively. It's on the longer side but it helps the story flow and discover the two protagonists and how their lives intertwine. The themes, the dreams, the vibes, the emotions, it was all there. A story that explores what horrible things people can do.
  
  4. "Resta Con Me" by Ian Haramaki
  Gay horny priests. That's it. That's all you need to know. If you want to know more, I loved the little mystery element that got woven into the story, the little glimpses of backstory and overall how the angel was in here. It all tied greatly together in the end.
  
  5. "With Wings Like Madeleines" by Dorian Yosef Weber
  I vibed with this one more. Maybe because it was longer than the poem and so it got more room to explore the themes it had going on. The use of language is raw but real and brought all the feels to light.
  
  6. "And the Mountains Melt Like Wax" by Tyler Battaglia
  Banger. Loved the dog, the atmosphere, the bible accurate angel and the way emotions and language (or lack thereof) got explored. Its length gave room to explore heavier themes like trauma and panic attacks, and how the world and what's going on can feel like it's all too much sometimes.
  
  7. "We Suffer in Fire" by Tyler Battaglia
  Another banger, partly because it connects to the previous story, which I didn't expect to happen in this collection. Nevertheless, it was great to get a different perspective with much more lyrical writing that almost felt like a monologue (in a good way, like a character study way, which I always like to read about)
  
  8. "Divine Body" by Daniel Marie James
  Another poem, this time talking about being watched by angels. It has great imagery combined with a more modern feel of poems, which makes it easy to understand and flows nicely.
  
  9. "Halfway to Heaven" by Freydís Moon
  A short poem that starts and ends in the same way, which I always enjoy, about one side's love and the fall of Lucifer. It sounds like a wild combo, but it works well. The flow and rhythm were nice and the small details made it easy to get the picture.
  
  10. "Fade to Black" by Morgan Dante
  Don't do drugs kids. A story about a horror/ romance movie, but the real horror is of course the real world and the war angels fight. It talks about a human and a demon and how their lives had come together, trying to make the demon happy.
  
  11. "Misery in Company" by Morgan Dante
  Another story that connects to the one coming before it. It's the backstory we all wanted, complete with angst, fights and heartbreaking conclusions. The way it connects to the other story had been done greatly and shines a whole new light on the demon and the movie.
  
  12. "Enfleshed" by Cas Trudeau
  A rich in language poem about becoming one with the Garden Of Eden. Still, I think half went over my head because of the way it is written, having a medieval feel.
  
  13. "Swarm Behavior" by Aurélio Loren
  Maybe now one will think twice about becoming an angel. Or how insects party. It felt realistic and in some way, that was more horror-like than the rich writing that left nothing to the imagination.
  
  14. "Recovered Contents from an Angel's Stomach" by Rae Novotny
  Body horror for sure, but it had a nice flow to the story. Of course, I'm not the biggest fan of body horror, but I could vibe with it. The way humans, cars, flesh etc got all describe felt too real but we move on.
  
  15. "An Angel Song from the Ether" by Rafael Nicolás
  A longer poem about two lovers, an angel and a devil, that can never truly connect because of their difference, no matter where they are: Heaven, Hell, or Earth.
  
  16. "Hashem Yireh" by Dorian Yosef Weber
  A retelling of Avraham and Yitzchak. I'm somewhat familiar with the story but I felt it was written in a way that didn't need much knowledge about the original tale. A dad walks up a mountain with his son and returns with a daughter, for an angel saved them both. Great writing style as always.
  
  17. "Pieces" by Emily Hoffman
  Perhaps my favourite (though it's hard to pick). A tale set in our world about somewhat of a doctor and an angel trying to prove to each other what they are and what they are not. Even though the writing style felt on the simple side, the strong side of this story was the dialogue and motivations of the characters.
  
  18. "Paradises" by Rafael Nicolás
  A banger way to end the collection. An angel and a rain god, a strange combo perhaps, but the way it's written and explained felt real enough. The motivations, the hint of backstory between the two, and overall their vibes.
• 
  mia

  for my prayer has always been love
• 
  M

  3,5 ⭐
  
  very gay very ominous. truly obsessed w some stories in here.
• 
  Andy

  Read this for Freydís, ended up enjoying the other contributions as well! Even the poetry.
• 
  Rishika Aggarwal

  “The Angels at Harvest Church” by Freydís Moon – I love this so much. Freydís Moon’s writing is always lush and lyrical, and this is no different, the tale of a man and the angel at his church he falls in love with. 5/5 stars
  
  “I Know My Father” by Dorian Yosef Weber – This is a poem about Jacob’s transformation into Israel. I loved the lyricism of the poem, and the imagery was strong and vivid. 3.5/5 stars
  
  “Seasons of God” by Angela Sun – This was a well-written story about the darker side of religion, conversion and misogyny and holiness all wrapped up in one. There’s so much here that’s open for interpretation, and I enjoy that fact perhaps most of all. 3.5/5 stars
  
  “Resta Con Me” by Ian Haramaki – I love this I love this I love this. A novice priest, the bishop supposed to be teaching him, the new priest at the library he’s immediately fascinated by, and a spate of demonic possessions and deaths, all punctuated by some great smut. Amazing, no notes, 5/5 stars.
  
  “Seraphim” by Ian Haramaki – Lovely artwork of a biblically accurate angel. 4/5 stars
  
  “With Wings Like Madeleines” by Dorian Yosef Weber – An interesting look at angels in Judaism, told through the perspective of the man narrating the story. A lovely character study. 3.5/5 stars
  
  “And the Mountains Melt Like Wax” by Tyler Battaglia – A lovely story about grief, finding forgiveness, and forgiving yourself. A firefighter traumatized by a fire stumbles across an angel on a mountaintop. 4.5/5 stars
  
  “The Mountains, the Mountains, the Mountains” by Tyler Battaglia – Artwork of a biblically accurate angel on the top of a mountain. 3.5/5 stars
  
  “We Suffer in Fire” by Tyler Battaglia – Character study of the arsonist from “And the Mountains Melt Like Wax,” an interesting look at the other side of the story. 3.5/5 stars
  
  “Divine Body” by Daniel Marie James – An interesting poem that demands interpretation at every angle. 3.5/5 stars
  
  “halfway to heaven” by Freydís Moon – A one-sided romance told in the form of a poem wondering about Lucifer’s fall. Beautifully written. 3.5/5 stars
  
  “Fade to Black” by Morgan Dante – A human who promises to find a way to make a demon happy, and a demon traumatized by memories of the war in Hell, and the way that sometimes grief is what you need to move forward. Meph’s great, he’s my favorite and so is Perse. 3/5 stars
  
  “Misery in Company” by Morgan Dante – Well, this story broke my heart and made me sympathize with the devil: or, the unrequited love story of Mephisto and Faust. Now I just want to cuddle the devil, wrap him in a blanket, and feed him hot chocolate. 4/5 stars
  
  “Enfleshed” by Cas Trudeau – A fascinating poem about becoming, told in the Garden of Eden before the Fall. I had to read it twice to feel the full impact but it was lovely. 3.5/5 stars
  
  “Swarm Behavior” by Aurélio Loren – A story about the becoming of an angel. Fascinating, creepy in all the right ways, and twisty in a way that makes you think. 3.5/5 stars
  
  “Recovered Contents From an Angel’s Stomach” by Rae Novotny – The becoming of an angel, told in another way. Creepy, dark, and filled with horror – lovely in all the right ways. 3.5/5 stars
  
  “An Angel Song from the Ether” by Rafael Nicolás – A fascinating poem about love, heaven, and hell. Long and descriptive and luscious all the same. 3.5/5 stars
  
  “Hashem Yireh” by Dorian Yosef Weber – A retelling of the story of Avraham and Yitzchak, and the almost-murder of a child by their father told through the perspective of a child. I enjoyed the story, especially Yitzchak being trans and how that affects her perspective of her role as eldest child. 3.5/5 stars
  
  “Pieces” by Emily Hoffman – A story about an angel who falls and wants his wing cut off, and the employee at the tissue bank he approaches to do it. It’s dark and grim and oh so good. 4/5 stars
  
  “Paradises” by Rafael Nicolás – In which Gabriel is the last angel in Heaven, God has grown old, and Gabriel seeks out love in the arms of the Aztec rain god Tlāloc. Sweet and strangely evocative. 4.5/5 stars
  
  As you can probably tell, I'm more of a prose reader than a poetry one. That said, I adored this collection thoroughly, and some of the stories in this are truly ones that I'll be back to read again and again and again. I came to this collection because of Freydís Moon, but I'm leaving with some new names that I can't wait to explore in detail.
  
  4/5 stars for this one for me!
  
  Thanks to the editor for an eARC! I received an early review copy in exchange for an honest review.
• 
  reid

  This is such a beautiful collection of stories, art, and poetry. I absolutely loved every piece of this and I’m forever changed by it. Everyone Needs to read this immediately how could you not want to read beautiful stories about so many angels.
• 
  Kaye N.

  BETTER REVIEW TO COME SOON BUT I want to share my first thoughts!
  
  This was an absolute joy to read. The range of stories and poems was absolutely incredible in here, and I thoroughly enjoyed every single one. I love angels, angel mythology and everything related so this was a perfect read for me. I read it very slowly to savor it, and I didn't want it to end. I'll definitely be rereading!
  
  Thank you to Quinton for the ARC and thank you to all the contributors who wrote such wonderful pieces!
• 
  lauren :)

  joint oomf slay
• 
  Briar

  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:
  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
• 
  ari

  as this book is an anthology there were stories I really cherished and loved and stories that were okay or simply good.
  but overall this book has been such a weird but great experience. terrifying beautiful is the best way to describe it.
  Something terrifying and perfect. Terrifyingly perfect. Perfectly terrifying.
  
  "... then he held his heart in his hand, red dripping down his arm, thick as honey. Rui thought of roses, wild ones that grew on the outskirts of her old house. She thought of the bees that nestled between the petals, their wings crystalline under the sun. They did not worship the nectar; they were themselves divine."
  
  "For what could have been eternity, the three sat together alone on a mountain. An angel, fallen. A child of man, wounded. A beast of Eden, blameless."
  
  "The opposite of God's will is the lack of action. He cared enough to create. I don't. He created sin, suffering, and Hell, eventually. If we use an art metaphor, art often requires passion."
• 
  perusewithjess

  3/5 stars
  
  A gloriously dark anthology of short stories, poetry and art filled with rage, violence and lust.
  
  I always find short stories difficult to review because (1) they’re all incredibly different (especially in an anthology where you have so many different authors and styles) and (2) I feel less emotionally connected to them as a reader since we spend so little time with the characters and world. I experienced both these sentiments as I navigated the collection, often feeling like I had just started to understand the story when it would end.
  
  I did think this was a unique anthology overall and would recommend it to anyone wanting to read religious horror with strong queer representation.
• 
  Amon♰

  I have had the honor of serving as ARC for this remarkable anthology of angels and queer Christian iconography, and I must express my utmost delight with this publication.
  
  I have taken the time to meticulously peruse each contribution and savour the chapters as they deserve. Initially, I was drawn to this anthology due to the presence of familiar authors such as Rafael Nicolás and Fredyis Moon. Nevertheless this book has led me to the discovery of other exceptional writers, whose future works I will diligently follow to ensure I do not miss any of the writings.
  
  Undoubtedly, it has been an exceedingly intriguing read, which has further aroused my curiosity concerning angeleology and angel fantasy. Thank you so much for making this possible, Quinton Li.