My Goodreads review: Tread of Angels

[ankh_hpl]

Tread of Angels by Rebecca Roanhorse

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The aftermath of the War in Heaven transported to an Old West mining town with Divinity-powered tech? Count me in, I thought . . . & mainly, I'm glad to have been counted. This is a right-sized (novella) blend of dark fantasy, urban fantasy, weird Western, & murder mystery, with Roanhorse's usual talent for detailed worldbuilding. When a half-Fallen songstress at a high-end gambling den is accused of a horrendous murder, it's up to her faro-dealing sister to rescue her from execution & damnation. She calls in a number of favors (including one from her ex-lover, a demon lord . . . ), does some pretty ill-advised though courageous investigation, & learns things she may have never wanted to know in the process.

So far, so fascinating, right? Where this turned from a marginally 5-star listen to a 4-star for me was in the last hour or so of listening (of a 4 hour, 25 min. audiobook), when the believably flawed heroine started becoming a little too flawed. Maybe this just wasn't what I'd signed my ears up for, but the ending of this one -- though completely believable, in a darkly fantastic way -- wasn't so much an ending as a sad fade-out. YMMV, of course.

I'm not sure this novella would be worth a full credit purchase. However, I recall getting access to it free as part of my Audible membership, & I'd definitely say it was worth the listening time for those who've enjoyed other Roanhorse works (as I have), or simply enjoy weird Westerns.





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