Sins of an Angel

Nayla is an Angel of Mercy -  one who takes hurt souls and sends them on their way to their rest, until it’s time to be reincarnated. Seeing all of Grant Farris’s pasts, she doesn’t want to be the one who destroys his soul instead of sending it on, but the archangel, Michael, insists. She asks for time to prove he can be happy and want to live, so Michael makes her mortal. She has one month to fix Grant’s soul without losing hers in the process. And Lucifer wants them both.

Heaven and hell, angels and demons, Michael and Lucifer are not new themes, nor is an angel becoming human to aid someone.  However, the addition that the angel must remain pure, and not commit the seven deadly sins or be lost to Lucifer permanently, is new, and rather intriguing. The concept falls well short of what could have been a great read, partly because the tale is much too short, but also asks readers to suspend all belief of any previous mythology about heaven and hell, without giving anything new to grasp onto. Nayla innocence is unbelievable for one who ushers humans to heaven as a job, and Grant’s soul is hurt, not evil, making one wonder how nice this version of heaven really is. Lucifer is much too conveniently everywhere, hands in everything, guiding sin in ignorance while Michael seems to not know anything and be always absent. Lengthening the story to add mythology and giving Lucifer less power, thereby allowing events to occur naturally, would make this tale top rate.

Julie York