Tread of Angels

This was something really special. Set in a western-style mining town with angels and demons, it had elements of noir fantasy, steampunk, and a murder mystery, all rolled into one.

Celeste, a card-sharp, is forced to stand up in her sister's defence when she is accused of murdering a Virtue (a type of archangel). Both sisters are Fallen (descendants of those who rebelled against Heaven), but Celeste can "pass," while Mariel cannot. There is guilt and resentment and a demon ex-lover who longs to possess Celeste body, heart, and soul. Celeste will have to decide what matters: sister or soul, because choosing wrongly could damn them both.

I didn't release when I started reading it that it was going to be a novella. Roanhorse sets a breaktaking pace and there was no lag in the story at all. It was rich and exciting and very different. My only disappointment was that it wasn't a full-length novel. Although Roanhorse excels at world-building, I definitely wanted more here. I really wanted to wallow in this world and meet other people and dig into the culture. It was a teasing glimpse and I am keeping my fingers crossed that we may see more books set in this world.

For me, the other thing that set this book apart was the "twist" towards the end where Celeste makes her choice and the fallout that comes from that. (I'm calling it a twist to try and avoid any spoilers.) It was unexpected, but at the time same time, understandable. I think that's perhaps the best compliment that you can give to a writer in the creation of their character. I didn't see it coming, but it feels realistic to the character and the world you've created.

It’s always tempting to think in absolutes of good and evil. The simpler folk tales made it clear who was the one to avoid but we do like complexity. Arthurian legend is often considered chivalry incarnate but then you look at other stories and you go on knights pack it in. Robin Hood is us cheering on the outlaw who dislikes taxation (from a certain point of view as the Jedi knight once said). Heaven and hell have always been seen as lines not to cross but let’s face it Lucifer has the whole rebellion angle and angels do seem a little too keen to smite and before you know it we get good ones. Rebecca Roanhorse has a really interesting angle on this in the wonderfully entertaining weird western mystery that is Tread of Angels and also a reminder that westerns too have seen the concept of white and black hats evolve a great deal over time.

In the mining town of Goetia there are the Elect and the Fallen. The latter are immensely distrusted, the former have the respectable power and of course the ability to use the mysterious Virtues to get their justice. Celeste tried to keep her head down working and occasionally gambling in a bar called Eden. Her night though is ruined when her sister Mariel is accused of a bloody murder and faces summary judgement and execution. Celeste though gets involved and is offered a chance to represent her sister and has 24 hours to get to the truth. She is up against the righteous and powerful with only her fellow bar-staff and a former lord of hell and ex-lover on her side. But once you start to unpeel Goetia’s mysteries you are very likely in a lot more danger.

I loved this novella a lot as Roanhorse throws a whole town of mysteries and unusual concepts to untangle and does not make it too easy for the reader to work it all out and some mysteries are still open-ended. It’s a unique secondary world set in a almost classic western town but once which satin the battle between heaven and hell where the remains of the dead get mined for mystical power sources. It’s delightfully familiar being the classic western town but you feel in new territory not just magic but also everyone seems comfortable with angels and demons being easily accessible. Everything is new again and that’s a lot of fun.

In terms of the plot we get again the innocent woman to be saved from the gallows plot but this time we get the added eternal and infernal dimensions and Celeste has to navigate the eerie and merciless masked Virtues; their wily boss Ibrahim and Celeste’s sometimes kind and sometimes soul-bargaining ex Abraxas (Demon Lord). All these characters are layered and working out their motivations in this strange town and alongside this is Celeste desperately trying to do right; her ideas sometimes just ring more trouble; she’s up against the system and how she reacts to save her previous young sister has the power to surprise. The finale is incredibly smart not just action packed but carries various emotional punches I didn’t see coming.

This novella is deliciously entertaining and respects its traditions but knows how to also play with them. Roanhorse plants potential seeds for the future and I’d love to explore what other secrets are in this small town. Strongly recommended!