| Title | : | Angel Falls |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1846946786 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781846946783 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 264 |
| Publication | : | First published March 11, 2013 |
Angel Falls Reviews
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There’s a talking monkey. Nuff said.
Monkey is also the wheelman, the wisecracking, womanizing, doubly-immortal sidekick who saves the day more than once, all while shuttling Lucifer and his ragtag posse from one adventure to the next in an underworld race to the Pearly Gates to thwart a cunning demon from executing a Heavenly coup. Think Kevin Smith’s Dogma through the lens of Christopher Moore’s best satire, with a lot more CGI.
Our (anti-?)hero Lucifer has Hell running pretty much the way he likes it, delegating its regional management to a variety of untrustworthy entities we meet along the way. As with the sarcastic, lazy narrator, Gonzalez imbues these iconic characters with insecurities, multiple personalities, addiction, and wry wit. It’s a classically-structured epic, a journey populated with enablers and obstructers and mentors and princesses. And like Bill Cosby always reminded us kids, “if you’re not careful, you may learn something before it’s done.” It’s staggering, the amount of biblical research this beast must’ve required, as most of it is rooted in canonical myth.
Also impressive is the level of detail in the often-ethereal surroundings: rivers and chasms and skies that morph in all manners of unholy transience. It can be disorienting in spots, yet effective when you consider the characters are equally stupefied. Don’t get comfy in any one location, and trust no one.
Gonzalez’s vision of Hell mirrors our top-side lifestyles, enabling a layer of social commentary that provides some of its best moments, whether that’s the dregs of being condemned to a service-industry job, the long, vindictive memories of spurned lovers, or vapid reality-TV stars and their purse-dogs. We all make the Long Walk alone, but Angel Falls is a happening place to kill some time after death. And try the manna cakes at The Garden of Eatin’; they’re divine. -
L is for Lucifer, the Lord of Lies & Lightbringer
Perfect Edge Trifecta's second Cabin Goddess StopYou would think this would be another review about an obvious villain, I mean he is Lucifer after all, right? So you are going to say, oh ya, Kriss is on a roll, she is going to tell you about another dark and f-up tale of creepy as all get out but I hate to disappoint you, nope! This is, however, one hell of a book. It is hell-arious! (*snicker* no apologies) plus it works with my #atozchallenge L word.. man, this challenge is kicking for me this year!
I totally dismissed this book figuring it was going to be the dud of the group but since I am a completionist I wanted to do all three of the Trifecta because I am jiggy like that. I mean check the cover out as I saw it, at this size. Its looks like a cheesy Indie comic book. The title font is blah, amateur hour font and I was like "what the hell could this be about?" I did not even check out the synopsis, seriously! I figured, Emlyn Chand says, "Hey Kriss, you are gonna love these books!", so I say "OK, sign me up." I had already read about the other two. Being the cover whore I am, this one, no way. HAH joke's on me. NOW if I had just looked a wee bit closer.
These two are fabulous. Lucifer & Eve! Within the first four pages. the writing had me. I love good humor and Michael's writing is freaking hilarious. The construct of Hell actually sounds kind of fun. If you think about it, it makes more than a little bit of sense. An Angel FALLS, and names the place he is now in charge of maintaining, or being the landlord of, Angel Falls.. ha hahahaha. *shaking head* it just get's better. I love feel good books like this. Necropolis by Tom Waggoner has the same feeling and is paranormal.
Michael takes the basic fight of Heaven and Hell, old gods and goddesses literary references and blended them into a lecherous and delightful story which centers around ages biggest crime, love. YEP! This is all about a word that starts with #atozchallenge's letter's L word and one of the biggest words:
LoveWhat don't believe me? How can a book that is about Satan be about love Seriously? You think getting all shemxy & slithery on Eve was just about getting her to eat an apple and what came after it? Haven't you ever thought watching someone eat is hot and sexy? You don't think he just wanted to watch her eat that apple? Come on people!
Oh wait, I may have given some of the story away *zipping lips* Just ponder a moment, could something so simple have gotten him the boot? Let's think outside of the box with this one, because I know Michael did! He had a lot of fun and this witch certainly had a blast! OohOohOoh and Hecate? (who BTW is like, OMG one of my favorite Goddesses! *flipping my witchy hair over my shoulder*) Meet me at the Cross roads, baby because I want to pop some of that
Iowa corn I talked about earlier in the week and watch the scene which unfolded with the Ghost Queen.. Confusing you yet? Oh Gods and Goddesses!! This book is another bottle of Awesomesauce and it needs a big old stack of Manna cakes for me to pour all over!Oh ya, the chick in the close up of the cover? That is Eve with Satan aka Lightbringer aka Morningstar, isn't she fabulous? And yes, the grey hair is his fault! That or the fact she has slung hash and stacks of Manna Cakes for lost souls and her the fallen angel which caused her to be separated from her husband and dealing with the ultimate and first dysfunctional family in earth's history. (re:Cain and Abel). But first *picking up a menu* .... Manna Cakes... ohhh Manna Cakes......... *wiping drool* ... about those Manna cakes
Manna Cakes
Hoecakes
(recipe from) Paula Deen Total Time: 20 min
Prep: 5 min
Cook: 15 min
Yield: About 17 Manna Cakes
1 cup self-rising flour
1 cup self-rising cornmeal, or from a mix
2 eggs
1 tablespoon sugar
3/4 cup buttermilk
1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon water
1/4 cup vegetable oil or bacon grease
Oil, butter, or clarified margarine, for frying
Mix well all ingredients, except for the frying oil. Heat the frying oil or butter in a medium or large skillet over medium heat. Drop the batter, by full tablespoons, into the hot skillet. Use about 2 tablespoons of batter per hoecake. Fry each hoecake until brown and crisp; turn each hoecake with a spatula, and then brown the other side. With a slotted spoon, remove each hoecake to drain on a paper towel-lined plate. Leftover batter will keep in refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Oh and there is another kind of love that comes into play, puppy love! Cerberus! Only Satan can get all gooey over the most feared dog in mythological history!
It doesn't stop, no seriously it does not stop. It can't because Satan has to stop the the Paris Hilton of Hell from causing Armageddon. The vapid twit has been tricked by Cain and Abel into becoming a Vessel .. ya, let's face it, who else would be empty enough to be a vessel but a vapid trust fund kid who is more concerned about if her dog matches her shoes ... just jaw dropping vapidness. Now she ends up full of ick enough to bring on the possible end of the world so hold onto your seats!
Here are a few main characters
*Lightbringer, Morningstar, Satan aka the hero
*Goliath
*Eve
*Monkey aka the author (seriously my theory)
DA BAD GUYS
*Cain and Abel
Aspen aka Vapid Armageddon Empty Vessel Girl
Various demons who really are just following the dysfunctional brothers
Goliath, as in the giant ready to protect Eve the only true human in a sea of damned souls, dead and forgotten gods, demons etc.. at the drop of a hat (and with Baron Samedi that could happen at any time once they get to the Under/Under) an angel called Lenny (well at least part of one) and Monkey (whom I believe is the author in disguise) in his Evel Knievel suit - yes Evel did not make it to the pearly gates. Oh, this is the other fun part, the people who have made it to Hell (because in this case honestly its a who's who that has made it cornucopia in Angel Falls which matters, not who is making it to Heaven. Sure people want to make it to Heaven, case in point Vapid Armageddon Empty Vessel Girl and Eve, but most folks are happy enough in Angel Falls. Who can resist Manna Cakes and great service!Satan aka Lightbringer is the bomb! He gave up a hand, he gave up his love, he sacrificed it all and he is left to clean up the mess. He still can eat Manna Cakes and I can officially admit that I was shouting HAIL SATAN with glee by the end of the book!
5 for comedic writing - 3.5 for the cover so - a solid 4 stars
But wait you say, you lead me on with the mention of lies in the title you harpy! Well I do not want to be a liar! Lies, why did I mention lies in the title? Well lies are what started all of this, after all Satan is the lord of them and it is his lying about love which starts his fall... Go grab the book, seriously, it is a fantastic read, and monkey, that quadrupedalism makes him one freaky loveh!
-
I can't be objective on this one. Michael Gonzalez has published more of my short stories than anyone, (which is only 3, but still) so I can't pretend like I didn't come into this with some knowledge of the guy.
Most of the writer's I've known both online and in person wrote fiction that was noir, transgressive, or transgressive noir, so this is probably the second book after Simon West-Bulford's The Soul Consortium that's something I might have picked up even if I hadn't known the author.
This type of fiction is sort of my thing, where myths of all sort collide with contemporary values. It basically describes half the series Vertigo has released over the years: Sandman, Preacher, Fables, Lucifer, etc.
Sandman and Lucifer make for an interesting comparison with Angel Falls, because in those series the protagonists never lose their god-like powers, so most of the drama comes from the massive amount of maneuvering they do with their forces.
But that's a pain in the ass to write, and at times a pain in the ass to read.
Gonzalez has taken a route that they often subject Superman to, where his powers are taken away so as to allow a proper heroes journey.
It's fun. Very little about it isn't fun. At the moment where Satan, Goliath, Eve, an angel head, and a Monkey god pile into a tiny car, I realized I was reading something that split the difference between Neil Gaiman and Hanna-Barbera. Which is not a thing I get to say very often.
I like cartoony style, and I seldom encounter it in books. So much of modern fiction is gritty and humorless, so it's nice to see something that doesn't take it's over-the-top premise too seriously. I almost feel like I could recognize the characters' silhouettes through the pages, they were so big and distinctive.
Most e-books could learn a lesson from how the footnotes were arranged here. You click the number, it takes you to the footnote, and at the end there's a link that takes you right back where you were. I've lost my place many times in Terry Pratchett books trying to do the same thing. Publishers should take note.
And if there's one big criticism I have, it's the title. I had to search through many titles with a variation of Angel, Falls, and even other books called Angel Falls. It makes me realize that every book title should be run through Amazon and Google before being settled on.
You should read this book. You'd probably enjoy it. Gonzalez made it very easy. -
Take the Heaven vs. Hell comedy dynamic of Kevin Smith’s Dogma and mash it against the “untold story” appeal of Christopher Moore’s
Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal and you get Michael Paul Gonzalez’s Angel Falls.
Gonzalez leverages biblical characters to create an incredibly entertaining story where Satan is the hero, Eve is a diner waitress in Hell, and a talking, muscle car driving monkey saves the day multiple times (you know, the monkey…from the monkey book of the bible…okay, so Gonzalez takes plenty of liberties).
Those with even the barest knowledge of Christianity will really enjoy this book, while those with a stronger knowledge may unearth a few fun Easter Eggs throughout, making this book applicable to anyone who loves a good humorous extrapolation of ancient fairy tales. -
Such an original story. I thought it was very funny, with its own mythology built on the architecture of the Greeks and Romans. A surreal story with an epic quest built into it, Angel Falls is a mix of fantasy, science fiction and historical fiction, with a dose of satire. It is a language to itself, a wild journey that will suck you in, hypnotize you, and have you on the edge of your seat cheering for this ragtag crew of misfits and delinquents.
-
Will the
Perfect Edge Trifecta tour result in 3 five star books?
Will I share some hell or purgatory inspired recipe with you?
Am I really annoyed that it is still snowing, and would I really, REALLY like it to be May?
If I could figure out how to use footnotes in WordPress would these all have footnoted or end-noted answers?
Will I ask more questions than I answer because I tend to do that on a daily basis anyway?
I'll give you a hint.
YES.
For further clarity, this is why I want it to be May.
[youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdgRx9...]
(Not just for the more palatable climate.)I'll be honest, Angel Falls could be considered a tough read (but very worth it) - which is why it is clearly worth 5 stars. I may also have a thing for the 'non-mainstream' or 'not clearly commercial' type of literature that Perfect Edge Books seems to pull like tiny threads in Egyptian cotton out from fabric of the universe.
It's tough in the sense that you have to reconstruct the entire universe and the way it's made up in a few hundred pages. It's also worth it in the way that learning the Star Trek universe is worth it. I spent a lot of time re-reading passages to understand the whole created world of Angel Falls, but that also means I felt the book was worth investing time in. It kept me reading the way I keep watching Game of Thrones. (Like the addict I am?)
If Angel Falls is ever made into a movie. Benedict Cumberbatch as The Lord of Darkness . . . please. (Yup, that guy in the really large photo up there.)
I laughed, and while I wasn't trying to remember who was doing what to whom on which level of Purgatory, I was contemplating how this book relates to our everyday life.
Sarcastically.
Cuz I'm like that. (Does this make me evil? Am I the Lordess of Dark? Should I really be having this conversation with myself?)
Is it clear that I loved the writing style?
It should be - if not, well then.
Read an excerpt, and then the rest of my review. I laughed hysterically at times.
About the Book - About the Author - Prizes!!!
Welcome to Novel Publicity's first ever publishing house blog tour. Join us as three new titles from Perfect Edge--we're calling them the Perfect Edge Trifecta--tour the blogosphere in a way that just can't be ignored. And, hey, we've got prizes!
About the book: It's been rough lately for the Lord of Darkness, with ex-girlfriend drama rearing its head at inconvenient moments, ancient gods returning to take over the universe, and Satan's own unstoppable laziness. But whatever.
Satan is okay, and he thinks you're okay, too. This whole eternal damnation thing is all a bit of a misunderstanding.
He runs Hell as a resort, kind of. A vacation spot. The point is, he's not a bad guy. He's trying to save Heaven and all of creation, and he only has a dimwitted giant, a surly waitress, and a monkey to help him. So, a thank you might be nice. Maybe buy him a cup of coffee next time you see him. And you will see him.
It's the Apocalypse, and all that.
Pick up your copy of this Fantasy/ Satire through
Amazon US,
Amazon UK, or
Barnes & Noble.
About the author: Michael Paul Gonzalez lives and writes in Los Angeles. He is the editor at ThunderDomeMag.com, an online lit zine and small press. He is at work on his next novel as you read this. Seriously. He probably just rattled off a really amazing chapter, and someday you’ll read it and think back to this moment, and exhale. Connect with Michael on his
website,
Facebook,
GoodReads, or
Twitter.
About the prizes: Who doesn't love prizes? You could win either of two $25 Amazon gift cards, an autographed copy of Angel Falls, or an autographed copy of one of its tour mates, The Sound of Loneliness by Craig Wallwork or Stranger Will by Caleb J Ross. Here's what you need to do...
Enter the
Rafflecopter contest
Leave a comment on my blog.
That's it! One random commenter during this tour will win a $25 gift card. Visit more blogs for more chances to win--the full list of participating bloggers can be found
here. The other $25 gift card and the 3 autographed books will be given out via Rafflecopter. You can find the contest entry form linked below or on t
he official Perfect Edge Trifecta tour page via Novel Publicity. Good luck!
Perfect Edge Books was founded in late 2011 to unite authors whose books weren't "obviously" commercial. Our books tend to sit in various genres all at once: literary fiction, satire, neo-noir, sci-fi, experimental prose. We believe that literary doesn't have to mean difficult, and that difficult doesn't just mean pointless. We prefer to cultivate a word-of-mouth approach to marketing, and keep production as simple as we can. Learn more at
www.PerfectEdgeBooks.com.
Learn more about Angel Falls's tour mates
HERE.
Still want the rest of my review?
Really?
Well, I'll say this much. If you thought leaving you hanging on a cliff with that last statement about contemplating life was terrible, and you really went and read the excerpt, you'll love this ending even more.
Part of the beauty of Angel Falls is you never really get to 'know' the Lord of Darkness by anything other than proxy. . . sort of. Just go read it.
I promise, it will make you wonder things like:
Am I the Lord of Darkness, and if so does it really matter?
Do other people think I'm the Lord of Darkness?
If I'm the Lord of Darkness does that make my cat the monkey?
My now drooling and old, but still loveable Tiger. Or you know, the monkey.
Or did it make me wonder things like this?
This place has potential. Photo by Naomi Leadbeater
Either way, I'm going to go make this:
[image error] -
For Lucifer Morningstar, life in Hell is exactly how he perceives it to be. While the masses above think Hell is all fire and brimstone, his version of it is nothing like that. Those who are (un)lucky enough to get in, (and that's a good many!), they get to live in the lap of luxury. No joke! There are resorts all around, casinos to gamble your life . . . err, time away, drinks, food, and practically anything you can ever ask for. These unlucky souls get it all, and still have live their lives in the Pits of Gehenna for all of eternity.
He's ruled the Underworld with an iron thumb, though he's been lax about a couple of things. This is because he wants life to be easy for those who make their way to Hell. Things don't need to be that strict when it comes to spending the rest of eternity in the Devil's lair. Lucifer is quite content to let everyone do as they please, and live a simple life. As long as they follow the little rules, that is. Mind you, there are always a lost soul or two that refuse to take things easy. Never-the-less, he'll enforce things as they are necessary.
When a wayward soul makes its way to Hell, intent on disrupting the balance and order that exists, Lucifer must step up to the plate before everything runs amok. His comfortable existence is no longer what he thought it was. Someone is out to get him, and he's not exactly sure why. In order to restore the fragile balance to his perfect world, he'll need to make his way toward the Gates of Heaven in order to avoid calamity. Getting there, on the other hand, proves to be more difficult than he thought. With the beautiful Eve, a forlorn, but tough Monkey, the strong, yet indecisive Goliath, and an unexpected angel named Lenny by his side, he sets off to take back that which belongs to him.
Dodging attempts on their lives coming from every direction, the rag-tag group of misfits soon learn that achieving their goals is not as easy as it seems. Their path is littered with peril, and they have to fend off everything that comes their way. Granted, achieving an end to their means might seem daunting, but they're willing to do everything possible to make sure everything is put back to the way it was. To do that, they'll have to set aside their differences, and work together in ways they never thought possible from the get-go.
This was honestly an interesting and delightful story. I found myself staying up very late just to finish reading it because the story itself caught my attention, and kept it glued to every page. Chock full of scenes and situations that seem so uncanny for the Lord of Darkness, Angel Falls gives you an alternate view of what life in Hell would be like. This story is so unlike anything I've ever ready. There were quite a good many parts that had me in tears because I was laughing so hard. Most especially the parts that involved Lenny's unique quips. Definitely a good read! -
“I closed my eyes and felt her presence in my veins, wandering, like a lost girl inside of a dark tunnel. My pulse pulled on her, drawing her ever closer to my heart, until the gravity was too great. I felt her soul enter, felt the familiar fire burn, felt myself grow stronger even as she vanished. And for some reason, for the first time, I cared.”
Ever wonder what the devil really wants with all those souls? Or about what hell is really like?
Angel Falls (a.k.a Hell) has an interesting perspective on what hell could really be like if it were a city with gods who could rule it as if it were their own playground.
The characters in the story will surprise you- it reads like a confessional mixed with a fairy tale-like romp that mixes the pilgrimage of The Canterbury Tales with Dante’s Inferno and blends in some new spices that you wouldn’t have suspected resulting in an engrossing and enjoyable journey as long as you don’t mind too much heat- and it’s the right amount of heat, so if you think you are too faint of heart for a tale of hell, don’t be afraid- angels can even make the journey here, though they need to first announce their names, positions, who they were sent from and for what purpose when they do (as Lucifer kindly reminds the visiting angel that this is protocol when he visits him down south, much to his chagrin).
No holds barred. No punches held back. The characters band together and do whatever it takes to complete an impossible mission: to break out of hell and take on heaven. The question is- will they ever be able to return alive?
Check out my full review and other exciting books about angels and demons and devils here:
https://bookwormcastle.wordpress.com/ -
I'll admit it took a little while to get into this book. I couldn't get the imagery right in my head. But once the 'quest' began, I was totally hooked!
Weird, packed with references from mythology and religion, and totally addictive. There were faint echoes of Harry Potter in there too, but totally for adults.
I hope there is a follow up! -
Angel Falls is Hell, renamed appropriately by its caretaker Satan. Angel Falls isn’t such a bad place to be, in fact it’s more like a vacation or a resort and has all the fun and entertainment there that you might want. There are bars, theaters, restaurants, clubs… everything to keep those who aren’t too eager or interested in beginning their Long Walk. After all, Satan isn’t such a bad guy, he’s just misunderstood. He feels like he was tricked into the responsibilities of taking care of Angel Falls and as he puts it:
I’ll be damned if I do anything other than the minimum required of me, which is to watch over these poor lost souls.
It was difficult trying to review this book because there were both some true strengths to it, as well as some significant weaknesses, which is why my rating isn’t higher than it is. At first, I was pretty impressed and enthused about where the plot was going. I was enjoying the characters and really liked the author’s clever use of humour. There were some fantastic one liners. Occasionally I groaned and rolled my eyes but for the most part the humour hit the mark and made the reading quite enjoyable.
While there are obvious biblical references, I didn’t feel as though you had to be super religious in order to follow along and understand. However, it is likely that a deeper understanding of the biblical references, would likely add a more meaningful layer into the story. I do not consider myself ignorant to what is contained within the Bible but I am certainly no biblical scholar either.
Another enjoyable aspect of Angel Falls was how the author used widely known characters, and put his own unique spin on each of them. Characters such as:
•Satan
•Goliath
•Eve and Adam
•Cain and Abel
•St. Peter at the Gates of Heaven
•The Boss (aka God)
Michael Paul Gonzalez took these well-known characters, stripped away their stereotypes and created alternate personalities for them. In addition, he developed unique dynamics between those characters. This created a lot of interest for the reader.
My favourite character in the book was Eve. The way the author portrayed her was brilliant. We first meet Eve working as a waitress at the ‘Garden of Eatin’, a popular restaurant in Angel Falls. As the story progresses, the character of Eve has the opportunity to reveal herself. Her need to be surrounded by living things, her love of nature, the way she communicated with nature, were some truly beautiful moments in an otherwise lighthearted novel. For example, Eve commands the trees to provide a layer of warm leaves for Satan to spend the night on and the trees out of reverence for her do just that. She is gently rocked to sleep high in the canopy of the forest, the trees cradling her like a newborn child. The respect between both Eve and nature is obvious and these interactions are beautiful and memorable.
However, there were periods of time in the novel when the interest and enthusiasm started to fade for me. I felt like there were events that just weren’t necessary for moving the plot ahead and it made me want to skip pages to get back to the ‘real’ story. It felt as though, there was a bit of ‘filler’ used to extend the story, when it really wasn’t necessary and that is frustrating to me as a reader.
There were times in the story when things simply got confusing. Normally I may have gone back, re-read or tried again to make sense of what the author was talking about but there just wasn’t enough interest in it for me to do that. A bad sign indeed.
Another thing I didn’t care too much for in this book… there were times when I thought the author was simply in poor taste. An example of that would be when a Chihuahua dies falling off of a bridge. Shortly after, a character retrieves the dead dog carcass and ‘plays’ with it and makes it dance. I simply don’t see the humor or value to this scene at all.
So in summary, this novel certainly won’t be added to any of my favourites lists but I might recommend it to a certain type of reader… I just don’t happen to be one of them.
Some of My Favourite Quotes From Angel Falls
“That was beautiful,” The Righteous whispered. “And everything beautiful dies. See?” He held the dog pelt towards her. “It’s done everything it was meant to do,” Eve said. “It’s still amazing to behold. And it has the potential to grow again.” (pg 82)
“There are no such things as mistakes and innocent bystanders. We are where we are and when we are at all times.” (pg 87)
“The air was perfectly still around us, the very essence of time and the universe waiting for the balance to shift, for life to return to the giant or dissipate forever.” (pg 92)
Now would have been a perfect time to faint. Just take a few minutes off, let my system regroup, start all over again. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen. This is Hell, after all. Even I must suffer for my sins. (pg 95)
“Flesh is pain. It’s the hardest truth I’ve discovered.” (pg 136)
“You turned gay just to get out of Heaven?” “When you put it that way, it sounds wrong.” (pg 156)
“Why would you create a race of creatures only to watch them struggle and fail? Why would He have me be the fount of the entire human race, and then deny me the right to guide my children? He made me a soul mate and tore him away. Why?” (pg 163)
**************************************************************************************
If you have enjoyed my review of ANGEL FALLS please visit my blog:
http://growinguplittle.wordpress.com/ -
Your journey through Angel Falls begins with a bang. This here's a comedy about hell written by Michael Paul Gonzalez. And here you thought hell was all screaming, torture, and fire `n' brimstone!
Satan has been a bit lax with the torture and such, given his general disinterest in being the Evil Overlord of the afterlife. When he finds out that a certain socialite has been trying to break into Heaven through shady means, God Himself tasks Satan with the job of stopping her. Oh, and did I mention the devil's lost his balls (a pair of anima crystals) and has to undertake this quest with the limitations of a mortal?
Bummer, dude.
Populated with a cast of characters that includes familiar faces from the Old Testament, as well as a round-up of ancient gods and goddesses from around the globe, Gonzalez's tale is quite the wild ride. Like a comic version of Anne Rice's vampire universe (back when vamps sucked blood and were badass villains - or at least hardcore goths, and not sparkly hipster douchebags seducing teenagers), the book riffs on the question "What if Satan weren't such a bad guy after all, just kind of misunderstood?"
As in Rice's Memnoch the Devil, it seems God and Satan aren't quite so different after all, and Gonzalez's devil is supposed to be helping the souls in his sprawling city of Angel Falls reach their ultimate destination, whether that's Heaven or insanity. Instead he's left the souls in his care to their own devices, leaving pamphlets at their doors with helpful tips on surviving the afterlife (a nod to Beetlejuice's Handbook for the Recently Deceased), and allowing them to make their own decisions. Free will at last!
As a reformed Catholic, I found the fast-and-furious Biblical references worked well, particularly when used to poke holes in the theology. As a former Anne Rice enthusiast, I also enjoyed the alternate take on Heaven and Hell, good and evil, God vs. Satan dichotomies. After all, are we not all equally good and bad, yin and yang, all wrapped up in the same fleshy package?
If you've ever wondered what earned Satan all his epithets in the first place, and found Milton's take just a tad too stodgy for your tastes, check out Angel Falls. -
Let's get all of those preconceived notions out of the way and get to the real version of Lucifer and Hell. Angel Falls isn't that different of a town from one on Earth, it's when you start on your "long walk" that it becomes more of your traditional Hell. So before you start on you long walk, stay awhile in Hell, enjoy some manna cakes and have a few laughs with Angel Falls by Michael Paul Gonzalez.
Lucifer Morningstar was banished from Heaven and sent down to govern Hell. He sets up a town which he names Angel Falls and turns it into a sprawling town where people don't want to leave. He's in love with Eve (yes that Eve), gets drawn into a quest to save all of Creation with a monkey, a giant and a head. So he's a pretty typical guy, if a little lazy and callous--but he's Lucifer after all. The ragtag bunch goes on their journey only to encounter dangerous beings along the way and end up in the epic battle for Creation.
Mr. Gonzalez does a great job of making Satan (aka Morningstar, Lucifer, Lord of Darkness, etc), seem like a likeable guy. I know, that sounds weird, but he portrays Morningstar as a guy who has problems (which we all do), he has his loyal friends, he's made mistakes (but come on who hasn't) and he is doing the right thing and trying to save Creation.
The one drawback for me was that there are a lot of endnotes peppered throughout the story. These endnotes definitely add something to the story so it is important to read them. I read this book on my Kindle so it was easy to go back and forth, however the endnotes in a paperback copy may get a little tedious. I feel some of these points could have been incorporated in with the actual text.
That being said, this book will have you in stitches with the humor! I really like Morningstar's humor, which at times matches my own. I also like the fact that you see characters from history--this book just drew me in with the differences/similarites of the things we think we know.
If you are looking for a quick read, that is hilarious and in the fantasy/sci-fi genre Angel Falls is your book!
Here is my favorite quote(s) from the book:
"Is there a chance that this could actually kill me?"
"Not if you're dead first."
"Your logic astounds me." -
Hell is suppose to be something that is totally a misconception, according to this book. Mr. Gonzalez is deep in thoughts and puts himself so far into his writing that you feel as if you're sitting right in front of the main character listening.
Here, Satan, the Lord of Darkness, is trying to save Heaven from falling. He's running Hell in a resort kind of way, but it's not all fun and games. He's also trying to save all of creation with only the help of a waitress, a giant and a monkey. They are all he has that can help him to try to save heaven as it's the time of the Apocalypse.
He is a bit more of a slacker and doesn't torcher any of the "guests" as he thinks its a waste of time and to much work. He'd rather lay back and do nothing. Due to this, most of the dead are not wanting to move on and stay right where they are.
If you love mythology, you're sure to love this book. You actually need to know some to understand it a bit better. Very well writen and laid out with a tale that is sure to keep you on your feet. There are surprises that you'd least suspect. -
Morningstar Lightbringer is not your grandmother's Satan. A bit of a slacker, he thinks it's too much bother to torment those who turn up in his realm. Most of the dead are not willing, without said torture, to take up their anima balls and trek across the great unknown desert of the soul to get into Heaven.
So the landscape of Hell is more like a theme park shopping district on steroids, each era having its own sensibility based on when its denizens died. Then there's the Garden of Eatin' diner where Eve slings manna pancakes heaped with syrup. Trouble is, someone wants to bring it all to an end, and it's up to Morningstar to put a stop to it.
The more mythology you know, the more you will enjoy this as several pantheons come into play, including the Sumerian god of blacksmiths, Hecate and her cosmic Tarot deck, and the Aztec couple of death. Can Satan get his balls back, and what can keep the first brothers, Cain and Abel, from breaking down the pearly gates?
I received an ecopy of this book for an honest review from Novel Publicity Book tours. -
Stopped reading after 36% and couldn't finish.
I just didn't care for any character, for the plot or anything else. Even though the premise was interesting. The story is told by the devil and he truly IS a funny guy, very sarcastic and sometimes macabre. That was the only point, the story could earn with me.
The whole quest seems pointless, I didn't really understand the concept of the anima crystals. The other figures where just weird and nothing made sense.
But I have to admit that I'm also not a fan of Terry Pratchett. If you like those books, maybe you'll like this one, too. -
I enjoyed this book. It's a bit over the top, but a lot of fun to read.
It's not for people who are very strict in their religion though, because it pokes a lot of fun on the afterlife.
Now I'm off to the Garden of Eatin' for my manna cakes.
Spoiler-ish synopsis:
Lucifer Morningstar finds himself in a pickle when he finds out that The Brothers are trying to destroy the afterlife as he knows it. Together with a giant, a surly waitress and a monkey, he's off to save all of creation. -
Solidly entertaining, smart, and funny. A cast of nicely reinterpreted Biblical gray-area characters, and one supremely competent daredevil monkey, must save all of Creation. Witty (and immature!) humor, grand adventure, and a jaded narrator help this book hit all the notes. I would strongly recommend it to fans of Neil Gaiman's "Sandman," Christopher Moore in general, the film "Dogma," or anyone interested in a little good-hearted, good-natured blasphemy.
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It took me forever to finish this book, but I liked it quite a bit. Essentially it's a detective novel where Satan is the detective, but it's also deeply inventive and very funny (with a sort of cartoonish atmosphere, in a good way), plus a strong setting and amusing characters. The voice was a bit talky, but I'd say it works. In my head Satan looked a little like a used car salesman.
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The impression I got upon reading this was that this is a movie! In a book! It's exciting, very funny, and very different to anything else I've read.
I would go see that movie, but you know, you always should read the book first. -
L is for Lucifer, the Lord of Lies & Lightbringer
Perfect Edge Trifecta's second Cabin Goddess Stop
You would think this would be another review about an obvious villain, I mean he is Lucifer after all, right? So you are going to say, oh ya, Kriss is on a roll, she is going to tell you about another dark and f-up tale of creepy as all get out but I hate to disappoint you, nope! This is, however, one hell of a book. It is hell-arious! (*snicker* no apologies) plus it works with my #atozchallenge L word.. man, this challenge is kicking for me this year!
I totally dismissed this book figuring it was going to be the dud of the group but since I am a completionist I wanted to do all three of the Trifecta because I am jiggy like that. I mean check the cover out as I saw it, at this size. Its looks like a cheesy Indie comic book. The title font is blah, amateur hour font and I was like "what the hell could this be about?" I did not even check out the synopsis, seriously! I figured, Emlyn Chand says, "Hey Kriss, you are gonna love these books!", so I say "OK, sign me up." I had already read about the other two. Being the cover whore I am, this one, no way. HAH joke's on me. NOW if I had just looked a wee bit closer.
These two are fabulous. Lucifer & Eve! Within the first four pages. the writing had me. I love good humor and Michael's writing is freaking hilarious. The construct of Hell actually sounds kind of fun. If you think about it, it makes more than a little bit of sense. An Angel FALLS, and names the place he is now in charge of maintaining, or being the landlord of, Angel Falls.. ha hahahaha. *shaking head* it just get's better. I love feel good books like this. Necropolis by Tom Waggoner has the same feeling and is paranormal.
Michael takes the basic fight of Heaven and Hell, old gods and goddesses literary references and blended them into a lecherous and delightful story which centers around ages biggest crime, love. YEP! This is all about a word that starts with #atozchallenge's letter's L word and one of the biggest words:
Love
What don't believe me? How can a book that is about Satan be about love Seriously? You think getting all shemxy & slithery on Eve was just about getting her to eat an apple and what came after it? Haven't you ever thought watching someone eat is hot and sexy? You don't think he just wanted to watch her eat that apple? Come on people!
Oh wait, I may have given some of the story away *zipping lips* Just ponder a moment, could something so simple have gotten him the boot? Let's think outside of the box with this one, because I know Michael did! He had a lot of fun and this witch certainly had a blast! OohOohOoh and Hecate? (who BTW is like, OMG one of my favorite Goddesses! *flipping my witchy hair over my shoulder*) Meet me at the Cross roads, baby because I want to pop some of that Iowa corn I talked about earlier in the week and watch the scene which unfolded with the Ghost Queen.. Confusing you yet? Oh Gods and Goddesses!! This book is another bottle of Awesomesauce and it needs a big old stack of Manna cakes for me to pour all over!
Oh ya, the chick in the close up of the cover? That is Eve with Satan aka Lightbringer aka Morningstar, isn't she fabulous? And yes, the grey hair is his fault! That or the fact she has slung hash and stacks of Manna Cakes for lost souls and her the fallen angel which caused her to be separated from her husband and dealing with the ultimate and first dysfunctional family in earth's history. (re:Cain and Abel). But first *picking up a menu* .... Manna Cakes... ohhh Manna Cakes......... *wiping drool* ... about those Manna cakes Manna Cakes are served by Eve at the Garden of Eatin'
(recipe from) Paula Deen
Total Time: 20 min
Prep: 5 min
Cook: 15 min
Yield: About 17 Manna Cakes1 cup self-rising flour
1 cup self-rising cornmeal, or from a mix
2 eggs
1 tablespoon sugar
3/4 cup buttermilk
1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon water
1/4 cup vegetable oil or bacon grease
Oil, butter, or clarified margarine, for frying
Mix well all ingredients, except for the frying oil. Heat the frying oil or butter in a medium or large skillet over medium heat. Drop the batter, by full tablespoons, into the hot skillet. Use about 2 tablespoons of batter per hoecake. Fry each hoecake until brown and crisp; turn each hoecake with a spatula, and then brown the other side. With a slotted spoon, remove each hoecake to drain on a paper towel-lined plate. Leftover batter will keep in refrigerator for up to 2 days.Oh and there is another kind of love that comes into play, puppy love ! Cerberus! Only Satan can get all gooey over the most feared dog in mythological history!
It doesn't stop, no seriously it does not stop. It can't because Satan has to stop the the Paris Hilton of Hell from causing Armageddon. The vapid twit has been tricked by Cain and Abel into becoming a Vessel .. ya, let's face it, who else would be empty enough to be a vessel but a vapid trust fund kid who is more concerned about if her dog matches her shoes ... just jaw dropping vapidness. Now she ends up full of ick enough to bring on the possible end of the world so hold onto your seats!
Here are a few main charactersLightbringer, Morningstar, Satan aka the hero
Goliath
Eve
Monkey aka the author (seriously my theory)
AgainstCain and Abel
Aspen aka Vapid Armageddon Empty Vessel Girl
Goliath, as in the giant ready to protect Eve the only true human in a sea of damned souls, dead and forgotten gods, demons etc.. at the drop of a hat (and with Baron Samedi that could happen at any time once they get to the Under/Under) an angel Lenny (well at least part of one) and Monkey (whom I believe is the author in disguise) in his Evel Knievel suit - yes Evel did not make it to the pearly gates. Oh, this is the other fun part, the people who have made it to Hell (because in this case honestly its a who's who that has made it cornucopia in Angel Falls which matters, not who is making it to Heaven. Sure people want to make it to Heaven, case in point Vapid Armageddon Empty Vessel Girl and Eve, but most folks are happy enough in Angel Falls. Who can resist Manna Cakes and great service!
Satan aka Lightbringer is the bomb! He gave up a hand, he gave up his love, he sacrificed it all and he is left to clean up the mess. He still can eat Manna Cakes and I can officially admit that I was shouting HAIL SATAN with glee by the end of the book!
5 for comedic writing - 3.5 for the cover so - a solid 4 stars
But wait you say, you lead me on with the mention of lies in the title you harpy! Well I do not want to be a liar! Lies, why did I mention lies in the title? Well lies are what started all of this, after all Satan is the lord of them and it is his lying about love which starts his fall... Go grab the book, seriously, it is a fantastic read, and monkey, that quadrupedalism makes him one freaky loveh! -
Having spent many an hour lapping up theology and mythology, this is one book I wasn’t going to pass up on. I don’t think I’ve read another book quite like this one, both in concept and in delivery (I enjoy books with references at the back). It’s as cheeky as it is cleverly conceived, and I had many a belly laugh reading Angel Falls, yet amazingly, he manages to pull it off with just the right balance of reverence. You’re left pondering philosophically at the end, and it really does encourage you to think outside the box.
What if Lucifer really was a misunderstood character? What if there was more to the story of Eden than the classic tale we’ve come to know? We’re so used to seeing Satan portrayed in various degrees of evil, that it seems bizarre to think of him as, well, basically, one of the good guys. That’s what Gonzales sets out to explore here. But not just the devil: Eve, Goliath, Cain and Abel are also radically different to the characters you would expect. Throw Monkey into the mix, and Lenny, who’s literally a bit of an angel, and you’ve got a truly entertaining soup of personalities. Throw them into a quest to save heaven, and it gets even better.
En-route they bump into various gods, monsters and demons – some you’ll recognize, some you may not, but they are all plucked out of a variety of different ancient mythologies (and he takes full of advantage of those quirky Aztek titles), each of them gradually handled beautifully as they eke out interesting snippets of Lucifer’s colourful past.
What’s also fascinating about this novel is the thought and ingenuity that’s gone into the environment. There are many familiar real world locations such as diners, shops and ski resorts, but outside the community Lucifer oversees, there are some really freaky places that stretch your imagination to the limit.
I truly love this book. I’ve read it twice now, and loved it twice as much the second time around. Brilliant work. -
I loved the portrayal of Lucifer as a lazy, misunderstood angel. He just didn't have the heart to make Hell a bad place. No one respects him and he's the only one who can save the universe.
This book is very funny. I recommend! -
This book was a total delight to read, and I'm not just saying that because my very close friend's wrote it. It is fast-paced, really witty, and obviously the product of a killer imagination. I can't wait to read the next one.
