My Five Word TL/DR Review : Really liked it, wanted more

I really enjoyed Tread of Angels, it’s pacy, it has a Western setting and a murder mystery that culminates in a court case and it’s a surprise story about good and evil and the surprises you uncover when you jump to hasty conclusions.  Basically, this is a world with very clear demarcations, a world of angels and demons.  It takes a look at class and privilege and how nothing is ever as black and white as it may seem.

This is such a good read, I really enjoyed myself and almost read it in one sitting.  My only real problem, and of course everyone will have different mileage where this is concerned, I really think this could have been a little longer.  An extra 100 pages would have given a better build up and less of a rushed feel to the ending.  As it is, I seriously hope this is a setting that the author will return to.

Let’s look at the setting.  Goetia is a boomtown where wealthy mines provide the source of power for the latest innovations.  It’s also a town with a rich history where battles were fought and the Fallen are only now tolerated for their ability to detect where the wealthiest lodes worth mining can be found.  Virtues (archangels) rule the town and the inhabitants fall into the Elect (angelic descent) and the Fallen (demons).

The main character, Celeste now lives and works within Goetia’s fallen side of town, although she was raised by her father and could pass amongst the Elect.  Her sister Mariel was raised by their mother in the slums.  The two now work in a gaming house, Celeste at a card table and her sister, owner of such a beautiful song voice, as a celebrated singer.  Things go terribly wrong when the body of a murdered Virtue is discovered and Mariel accused of the murder.  Celeste will do anything to protect her sister and finds herself appointed as Advocatus Diaboli (devil’s advocate).  She only has a very small window of opportunity to discover the truth and save Mariel from execution.

What I really liked about this in the first instance was the wild west setting which I am a total sucker for at the moment.  Couple this with angels and demons  and we have this commentary on racism and the opportunity to look at human nature at it’s best and worst.  Not everything is always as clear cut as it may first appear and people will at times go to extreme lengths to protect those they love.

On top of this I really enjoyed the murder mystery.  To be honest I don’t think the eventual conclusion was a surprise but regardless of that I enjoyed following Celeste on her search for answers.

Overall, this was a really good read although I can’t help wishing for more and I would return to this world without hesitation.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks.  The above is my own opinion.

My rating 4 of 5 stars