Title:

Tread of Angels

Author:

Rebecca Roanhorse

Category:

Science Fiction / Fantasy

Rating:

Date Reviewed:

June 20, 2023

he library put out a selection of recently published novellas, so I picked up a handful of them, and so far they have been good reading (I just started K. J. Parker's Pulling the Wings Off Angels, and so far it is good). I had not previously read any of the works by Roanhorse, despite the acclaim (nominated for both the 2021 Hugo award and 2020 Nebula award) her Black Sun trilogy received. After completing the novella Tread of Angels, it looks like I should include Roanhorse's other books on my extensive list of books to read some day.

The setting for Tread of Angels is certainly unique. The mining town of Goetia, which has the vibe of a Western boom town, is populated by two classes of people - the Elect and the Fallen. The Elect are the godly purebloods, descendants from the winning side in the war between Heaven and Hell. The Fallen, of course, are descended from the defeated demons. The miners have all come to delve into the dark mountain that was created by the fall of Abaddon, who was the leader of the forces of darkness. Abaddon must have been gigantic, for an entire mountain now rears over the landscape. Inside this peak is Divinity, a magical substance that can be used to power all sorts of marvelous inventions, such as robots, airships or horseless carriages. However, only the Fallen have the ability to spot Divinity, so the Elect must employ them in the search for riches. A plume of black ash drifts out of the mountain, blanketing Goetia in blackness until the next rainfall washes it away.

It is the holiday of Aventum Angelorum, and Celeste is dealing cards in the Eden, the most upscale den of iniquity in Goetia. Celeste is a half-breed, half Fallen and half Elect. Unlike pure blooded Fallen, Celeste lacks the golden rings around her eyes. Thus, Celeste can pass as an Elect. But she stays in this dead-end job because her younger half-sister, Mariel, works as a singer at the Eden, and Celeste feels that she must protect the innocent younger sister from all the vice in Goetia. Despite her astonishing melodic singing voice, Marial is doomed to spend her career in seedy establishments because she is a full-blooded Fallen. The two sisters only have each other, Celeste and Marial, a family of two.

During the rowdy Aventum Angelorum festivities, which erupt into a barroom brawl, Celeste escapes the fighting and is resting outside the tavern when word comes that a group of Virtues has descended upon the Eden to arrest someone for murdering a prominent Elect businessman. There is blood everywhere - and a good deal of it is upon Marial. Celeste is in disbelief, her gentle younger sister would never hurt someone. But the Virtues are members of the remorseless Order of Michael, led by the bloodthirsty masked Azrael, and there is nothing Celeste can do to prevent her sister from being hauled off to prison. Her trial will be held in a couple of days, and her certain execution will follow shortly thereafter. Celeste is desperate to find a way to save her sister, and takes some bold risks.

This is a well-told, well-plotted tale, with believable, emotional characters in a darkly described environment. I was surprised by how it ended, but didn't feel that Roanhorse cheated. I just didn't expect some of twists revealed at the end. I liked the idea of a dangerous society functioning in the aftermath of the war between Heaven and Hell. Celeste is a credible heroine, determined and smart, but by no means a saint herself. Her final scheme to free Marial is pretty diabolical.