Well, this is definitely a thing. I don’t think the timing of when I read this novella was the greatest. That and the huge Christianity plot points was… interesting for me to absorb at this time. Short read.

Solid quick read in a unique setting. The characters are messy and the plot moves satisfyingly quick. The ending matches well with the story. Roanhorse is really good at writing characters who want different things and play their cards close.

I really like Rebecca Roanhorse’s writing, especially her worldbuilding. I liked the fantasy elements of this story and the parallels to our very real corrupt justice system. I loved how casually queer this was as well.

I was drawn to this because I love fantasy stories that incorporate religion (be it a real religion or fantasy, I just like religious themes in books… despite being very agnostic lol) and because I really like the Between Earth and Sky series and wanted to read more from the author. I also wanted to try something new, since I’ve never read a western-adjacent story before, but unfortunately I’m not sure it’s for me. I’m not typically a fan of murder mysteries either.. which I didn’t realize this was. I struggle with flawed/unlikable main characters, so I wasn’t really a fan of Celeste. None of the characters really grabbed my interest, sadly.

So 3 stars for the writing, world building, ideas and social commentary, but not really a story for me.

 **I was provided with an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**

CW: violence, blood, injury, gore, murder, death, animal death, confinement, infidelity, alcohol, vomit, toxic relationship, pregnancy, classism
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Tread of Angels is a fun little novella following 2 sisters and a murder mystery set in a world featuring the descendants of angels and demons.
It definitely gave me A Dead Djinn in Cairo vibes but was something entirely new.

Roanhorse’s writing is as captivating as expected, perfectly depicting the noir/western atmosphere of the story and mining town setting. Society in this town is segregated with the upper Elect class - those descended from Angels – always looking down upon the Fallen – those descended from Demons. And we follow Celeste who is of a mixed background, as she sets out to save her sister Mariel (Fallen) after she is accused of murdering someone of the ruling Virtue class.

We get snippets of the history and the happenings of this fascinating world that Roanhorse has imagined as well as brilliant commentary on class disparities, morality and the corruption of power throughout the story. The primary plot fit perfectly for the length, fast moving and page turning in the best way however, there is always the case of a novella leaving you with wanting more and this one is no different.

We’re introduced to a intriguing cast of characters but moments between them are fleeting. Our protagonist goes through some interesting developments however, I found myself not knowing enough about her, enough about anyone in the story. By the end everything is wrapped up in a satisfying way but you also feel like you’ve been on a journey with amazing moments but not enough time to fully appreciate them.

Hence I would reeeally welcome additional stories in the future to expand on this world and all its details but this bite sized piece of it was enjoyable all the same.
Final Rating - 3.75/5 Stars 

Tread of Angels follows Celeste, who must struggle to free her sister who’s been imprisoned for murder. In this Western-inspired world of angels, demons, and their human descendants, classic Western characters like the sheriff, the saloon keeper, the corrupt landowner, and the outlaw are given a new spin that feels feminist — this is a decidedly women-centered narrative — and contemporary even amidst the 1883 slightly steampunk-infused setting. Much of what I liked most about this novella are what I think Roanhorse does best: the complex world-building, the moral complexity and ambiguity of the characters, and the trajectory of the protagonist’s character development. There are a lot of themes here — ends and means, corruption and the desire to challenge it without becoming corrupt oneself, dogmatism and moral policing, loyalty and betrayal. While I enjoyed the novella, I do think this story would’ve benefited from more room to breathe — this could’ve easily been a full length novel and would’ve felt less rushed if it were. The universe Roanhorse has constructed is interesting enough that I hope she returns to it in future stories. 

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers, and the author for providing an ARC in exchange for this review.