Releasing November 15, 2022 from Saga Press
Tread of Angels is a wonderfully rich, addictive novella with characters I loved and an immersive world I’d like to spend a whole series with.
It’s hard to describe this one, because there is *so* much going on in this novella, and so much backstory woven in and hinted with. Celeste is a card dealer and a half-breed, partially descended from fallen angels. Her sister Mariel is accused of killing a man on the side of the Virtues, those who inherited power from the angels who won the war between heaven and hell. Celeste has always protected her sister and knows she’s innocent, so she agrees to act as her advocate. Celeste is also haunted by a past relationship with a demon (one of my favourite characters).
The world Roanhorse created in Tread of Angels is so fascinating. I loved this look at privilege defined by whether you’re descended from angels or demons, and the questions it asks about loyalty and virtue. The way science works in this world (similar to a steampunk feel) is so cool. And there’s so much rich history in Celeste’s relationships with her friends and family. I was amazed at how Roanhorse wove in worldbuilding in a way that feels effortless to the reader.
I read and enjoyed Roanhorse’s Black Sun earlier this year, but I found it hard to connect with the characters. Tread of Angels, however, completely drew me in. Celeste, her Fallen sister, and her demon ex-lover are all complex, morally grey characters who I couldn’t help but like.
Tread of Angels is a very quick read but by the end I felt like it had affected me as much as a long novel. It’s a perfect standalone but I also desperately want to read more from this world. This one was so, so good.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Thank you to Netgalley and Saga Press for my review copy of this book
Leanne Olson 
Leave a comment