Genre: Fantasy, Romance
LGBTQ+ Category: Bi, Gay
Reviewer: Rari
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About The Book
Five years of stolen peace in the mountains ends when Archangel Remiel, Heaven’s most elite investigator, finds Raphael and Dante’s sanctuary. Tasked with sending the fugitives to their lawful executions, she forces the couple into a life on the run.
Meanwhile, Raphael stumbles upon a clue to his mother’s lost legacy—the archeological artifact that caused her murder all those years ago might be within reach, and it might throw all of Heaven into chaos.
So, the chase is on.
Raphael and Dante travel through three continents, on their way to a secluded island in the Holy Land while evading Remiel’s elite guardian squad. With a prize for their capture, they’re forced to clash with old friends and foes, all eager to exploit their situation for personal gain, and their bond is tested in ways they never imagined.
But the closer they get to the truth, the higher the stakes become. What secrets lie buried in the Holy Land? And will Heaven survive what they uncover—or will it burn?
The Review
This is the second book in a series. I haven’t read the first one, so I’m sure I’m lacking context for a lot of things.
That said, I enjoyed this book from start to finish. It revolves around an angel, Raphael, and his demon lover, Dante, who are both on the run from the guardians, who are like something the police. It’s a world of angels, and demons are the outcasts of the society. Dante has some powers, like flight and telekinesis. Angels don’t seem to have any powers.
While I didn’t get all of the context behind the world building, like the Virtues etc, I was able to follow the plot and characters very well.
Dante and Raphael have been hiding in a mountain cabin for five years, but their past has caught up with them. On the run from the guardians, they plan to go to the Holy Land where Raphael’s mother has found a machine called the Commander. Though they don’t know what it does, Raphael thinks its discovery was what got his mother killed.
Raphael belongs to a royal bloodline, and gets flashbacks from the memories of his ancestors. He’s pretty much useless in fights, and so Dante is the one who has to protect him. On the way, they have skirmishes with other angels and demons, and Raphael’s brother, Gabriel, joins them on their quest.
I loved the relationships between the characters. I would die for Raphael and Dante and if they don’t get a happy ending, I’ll burn this world. Seriously. Raphael’s relationship with Gabriel also feels very real and relatable. Both of them have regrets over Michael, their older brother who was abused by their father, and who is in prison now.
Queer fantasy, characters you can root for, and a plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Trust me, you will love this book.
The Reviewer
Rari is an author and editor writing under the name of Niranjan K. She is an avid reader of all things fantasy, and loves to discourse at length about her favourite books as well as shows. This blog is the space where she will be sharing her views and insights of the books, shows and movies that she likes.
