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Yours Celestially
A biblically accurate angel. A guy trying to move on with his (second) life. And the love-sickness still tethering them together.
After divorce, death, and having his reformatted soul uploaded into a new body, Sasha expected resurrection to be a fresh start. His time spent in digital Limbo with the program’s cheeky AI guardian angel, Metatron, was cathartic, but what good is a second life when he only sees his daughter on the weekends, he has all the same problems he had before he died, and he can’t seem to shake the ache for the married life he lost?
If that weren’t frustrating enough, a glitch in the program has given Sasha the ability to sense Metatron even outside of Limbo. And Metatron is in love. The angel’s sickly-sweet yearning for one of the souls still in Limbo has turned Sasha’s stomach into caramelized lead. It’s hard enough to move on without someone else’s feelings making the emptiness in his own life even more acute. He didn’t have playing wingman to an actual winged being on his bingo card, but he’s determined to help Metatron make a move on their crush so he can get love off of his mind.
Sasha takes a job with the resurrection company in order to covertly contact Metatron. Except Sasha’s new coworker, Mr. C, keeps showing up at the worst moments. The man is annoying, he’s pushy… and he’s incredibly hot. Sasha can’t decide whether Mr. C wants to blackmail him or be his new BFF, but he seems to know things about Metatron and the resurrection program that Sasha doesn’t. Getting close to him might be the key to solving Sasha’s problem, but if he isn’t careful, he’s going to end up catching feelings of his own.
After divorce, death, and having his reformatted soul uploaded into a new body, Sasha expected resurrection to be a fresh start. His time spent in digital Limbo with the program’s cheeky AI guardian angel, Metatron, was cathartic, but what good is a second life when he only sees his daughter on the weekends, he has all the same problems he had before he died, and he can’t seem to shake the ache for the married life he lost?
If that weren’t frustrating enough, a glitch in the program has given Sasha the ability to sense Metatron even outside of Limbo. And Metatron is in love. The angel’s sickly-sweet yearning for one of the souls still in Limbo has turned Sasha’s stomach into caramelized lead. It’s hard enough to move on without someone else’s feelings making the emptiness in his own life even more acute. He didn’t have playing wingman to an actual winged being on his bingo card, but he’s determined to help Metatron make a move on their crush so he can get love off of his mind.
Sasha takes a job with the resurrection company in order to covertly contact Metatron. Except Sasha’s new coworker, Mr. C, keeps showing up at the worst moments. The man is annoying, he’s pushy… and he’s incredibly hot. Sasha can’t decide whether Mr. C wants to blackmail him or be his new BFF, but he seems to know things about Metatron and the resurrection program that Sasha doesn’t. Getting close to him might be the key to solving Sasha’s problem, but if he isn’t careful, he’s going to end up catching feelings of his own.
280 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 2, 2023
12 people are currently reading
381 people want to read
About the author
Al Hess
34 books210 followersAuthor of World Running Down, Key Lime Sky, Yours Celestially, and the award-winning Hep Cats of Boise series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
November 8, 2023
4.5 stars
Sasha has recently been resurrected, having died young from a heart attack caused by his frequent drug abuse. He's struggling to see this as a second chance though: he's a recovering addict now divorced from his wife and only able to see his daughter on weekends, to top it all off he's being plagued by the feelings of his guardian angel who has fallen in love with a soul in Limbo and agonises over it constantly.
Metatron, the Seraph, presents as a non-binary biblically accurate angel, and they are the AI in charge of accompanying souls through Limbo while their bodies are regrowing back on Earth. Typically this process only takes a few weeks, but due to an ongoing lawsuit, the current lot of souls has been with them for 6 months, and Metatron is finding themself lovesick over Rodrigo and dreading the day he leaves Limbo.
Sasha joins Renascenz, the resurrection company, out of desperation, needing to get in touch with Metatron and force them to deal with their feelings. Mr. C, one of his colleagues, seems determined to assist and as much as Sasha wants to decline the annoying man's help, he seems to know more than he's letting on. Maybe Mr. C really does just want a friend after all...
________________
The concept and plot were really engaging. I love how it all unfolded and thought it was very well paced. The setting is futuristic and casually queer, though even in this universe there's unfortunately transphobia as the lawsuit in question is over a child who decided to change genders on being resurrected.
The 2 POV characters and 2 love interests all felt very well fleshed out to me. They each have their own very individual insecurities, and it made them feel extremely real. Everyone in this book is questioning their place in the world, shunned for certain aspects of their past or person, and struggling to accept the love and kindness they deserve.
The range of characters was great and very inclusive, and I think there were just the right number of side characters to make it not feel too isolated, but also give the reader meaningful details on each of them (except perhaps Mr. C's sister who I couldn't get a read on). I loved how chaotically good Metatron was and realised that's a character type I'd love to see more of.
The only negative point for me is I wished there was a bit more development or closure on the Campbell plotline as I found the climax to be a bit rushed. I'm more of a stabby-revenge kind of reader though, and to be fair that wouldn't have fit here.
For a book so centred on 2 couples and their journeys, I'm not sure this was a genre romance. I would say this is a sci-fi genre book with solid MM and MX romance plots. It's been a while since I read something like this and I really enjoyed it and highly recommend it for fans of sci-fi, or anyone wanting to read about a wonderful queernorm world.
I really hope the author writes more in this universe because there were a few interesting plot threads exposed for side characters that wanted to be developed (please tell me what was Mei-Hui's subconscious manifestation!). While I wait impatiently, I think I'll check out his series Hep Cats of Boise. I'm also going to check out his art because there are 2 really stunning character drawings at the start of this book and I'm keen to see more!
Sasha has recently been resurrected, having died young from a heart attack caused by his frequent drug abuse. He's struggling to see this as a second chance though: he's a recovering addict now divorced from his wife and only able to see his daughter on weekends, to top it all off he's being plagued by the feelings of his guardian angel who has fallen in love with a soul in Limbo and agonises over it constantly.
Metatron, the Seraph, presents as a non-binary biblically accurate angel, and they are the AI in charge of accompanying souls through Limbo while their bodies are regrowing back on Earth. Typically this process only takes a few weeks, but due to an ongoing lawsuit, the current lot of souls has been with them for 6 months, and Metatron is finding themself lovesick over Rodrigo and dreading the day he leaves Limbo.
Sasha joins Renascenz, the resurrection company, out of desperation, needing to get in touch with Metatron and force them to deal with their feelings. Mr. C, one of his colleagues, seems determined to assist and as much as Sasha wants to decline the annoying man's help, he seems to know more than he's letting on. Maybe Mr. C really does just want a friend after all...
________________
The concept and plot were really engaging. I love how it all unfolded and thought it was very well paced. The setting is futuristic and casually queer, though even in this universe there's unfortunately transphobia as the lawsuit in question is over a child who decided to change genders on being resurrected.
The 2 POV characters and 2 love interests all felt very well fleshed out to me. They each have their own very individual insecurities, and it made them feel extremely real. Everyone in this book is questioning their place in the world, shunned for certain aspects of their past or person, and struggling to accept the love and kindness they deserve.
The range of characters was great and very inclusive, and I think there were just the right number of side characters to make it not feel too isolated, but also give the reader meaningful details on each of them (except perhaps Mr. C's sister who I couldn't get a read on). I loved how chaotically good Metatron was and realised that's a character type I'd love to see more of.
The only negative point for me is I wished there was a bit more development or closure on the Campbell plotline as I found the climax to be a bit rushed. I'm more of a stabby-revenge kind of reader though, and to be fair that wouldn't have fit here.
For a book so centred on 2 couples and their journeys, I'm not sure this was a genre romance. I would say this is a sci-fi genre book with solid MM and MX romance plots. It's been a while since I read something like this and I really enjoyed it and highly recommend it for fans of sci-fi, or anyone wanting to read about a wonderful queernorm world.
I really hope the author writes more in this universe because there were a few interesting plot threads exposed for side characters that wanted to be developed (please tell me what was Mei-Hui's subconscious manifestation!). While I wait impatiently, I think I'll check out his series Hep Cats of Boise. I'm also going to check out his art because there are 2 really stunning character drawings at the start of this book and I'm keen to see more!
February 11, 2024
a very sweet, soft, gentle book. the characters were very alive, and so was the world—so beautiful and hopeful and open and queer! seriously, i love books that lead with queerness, and this one was brimming with such kindness. i’ll definitely be reading more by this author.
May 5, 2025
I enjoyed this very strange and charming SF / hope punk book about (among other things) a lovesick AI.
I recently discovered Al Hess and his quirky, hopeful brand of queer science fiction and am enjoying his backlist. Yours Celestially isn’t my favorite of the 4 I’ve read (that would be Key Lime Sky) but it’s a solid B.
This is a warm, hopeful book that deals with some tough subjects like addiction and murder. I thought the light and dark was pretty well balanced except for one situation. I wanted there to be more consequences / accountability for one of the supporting characters who did something really destructive. The setting has a semi-utopian vibe, but the lack of justice in this case made the setting less cozy and utopian for me.
Some of the world building felt a little squishy - the book is apparently a riff on an earlier (now unpublished) series by the author and maybe that’s why I felt like I was missing some context.
There are a lot of characters in this, with a lot of subplots, and I had a little trouble keeping track of everything. I did like the bi and ADHD rep.
I recently discovered Al Hess and his quirky, hopeful brand of queer science fiction and am enjoying his backlist. Yours Celestially isn’t my favorite of the 4 I’ve read (that would be Key Lime Sky) but it’s a solid B.
This is a warm, hopeful book that deals with some tough subjects like addiction and murder. I thought the light and dark was pretty well balanced except for one situation. I wanted there to be more consequences / accountability for one of the supporting characters who did something really destructive. The setting has a semi-utopian vibe, but the lack of justice in this case made the setting less cozy and utopian for me.
Some of the world building felt a little squishy - the book is apparently a riff on an earlier (now unpublished) series by the author and maybe that’s why I felt like I was missing some context.
There are a lot of characters in this, with a lot of subplots, and I had a little trouble keeping track of everything. I did like the bi and ADHD rep.
September 3, 2023
Thank you to Al Hess for sending me an eARC of this beautiful book to review.
Yours Celestially was honestly unlike any other book I’ve ever read, it was so unique and interesting, with so many wonderful twists and turns that kept me guessing. I was glued to it and couldn’t stop reading! The characters were so real and all so different in their thought patterns and personalities that they each stood out from the others. I adored the world setting and the inclusiveness of not just different races, genders, sexualities but disabilities as well. As a non-binary and disabled autistic person, the fact that people were referred to as “they/them” unless other pronouns were given and peoples disabilities weren’t seen as shameful or things to “get over” or cover up, but instead were there to be seen and embraced, meant so much to me and was such a healing experience. Especially seeing autistic and adhd people as main characters and love interests. Al Hess is one of my favourite authors and I can’t recommend his books enough. Please read this book, you will neither regret your decision nor be disappointed.
Yours Celestially was honestly unlike any other book I’ve ever read, it was so unique and interesting, with so many wonderful twists and turns that kept me guessing. I was glued to it and couldn’t stop reading! The characters were so real and all so different in their thought patterns and personalities that they each stood out from the others. I adored the world setting and the inclusiveness of not just different races, genders, sexualities but disabilities as well. As a non-binary and disabled autistic person, the fact that people were referred to as “they/them” unless other pronouns were given and peoples disabilities weren’t seen as shameful or things to “get over” or cover up, but instead were there to be seen and embraced, meant so much to me and was such a healing experience. Especially seeing autistic and adhd people as main characters and love interests. Al Hess is one of my favourite authors and I can’t recommend his books enough. Please read this book, you will neither regret your decision nor be disappointed.
April 18, 2025
This is stupidly ridiculously cute and unique and I love it. Thoughts to come
Read
May 30, 2023I swear I write books that aren't about people kissin' robots... but this isn't one of those books.
If you haven't read many of my other books, this will be a completely new cozy, gay, and extra weird sci-fi that I hope you fall madly in love with. There's a biblically accurate A.I., completely bonkers visuals, and bionic penis jokes! It's set in a hopeful, queernorm, and diverse city full of plants, cute bakeries, cob houses, and found families.
If you've read my Travelers Series or my newsletter novella Seraph Ex Machina, this book is an extremely unsubtle nod and wink to both of those. It's the alternate universe mashup book you didn't know you wanted!
Rep: Gay, bisexual, queer, trans, non-binary, and asexual characters; M/M and NBi/M romance
ADHD main character; autistic love interest; love interest with anxiety and past trauma
CWs:
If you haven't read many of my other books, this will be a completely new cozy, gay, and extra weird sci-fi that I hope you fall madly in love with. There's a biblically accurate A.I., completely bonkers visuals, and bionic penis jokes! It's set in a hopeful, queernorm, and diverse city full of plants, cute bakeries, cob houses, and found families.
If you've read my Travelers Series or my newsletter novella Seraph Ex Machina, this book is an extremely unsubtle nod and wink to both of those. It's the alternate universe mashup book you didn't know you wanted!
Rep: Gay, bisexual, queer, trans, non-binary, and asexual characters; M/M and NBi/M romance
ADHD main character; autistic love interest; love interest with anxiety and past trauma
CWs:
October 18, 2024
Hopepunk sci-fi romance set in a world where people can be resurrected from the dead. The Renascenz program was really interesting, I wish the book had delved deeper into the ethics of giving people multiple lives particularly given the world’s focus on environmental sustainability. There are two MCs who have their own romantic arcs, an AI guardian angel who takes care of the souls in limbo waiting for their new bodies and a resurrected man who can feel the AI’s emotions. I liked both romantic storylines but I was more interested in the non-romance aspects of the book like Sasha’s addiction recovery journey and Campbell’s erratic, dangerous behavior. The book has great casual diversity including ADHD, autism, anxiety, amputee, deaf, and person of color rep as well as being generally queernorm.
CWs: death, addiction, gore, attempted murder, toxic relationship (not between the MCs), transphobia, minor religious bigotry
CWs: death, addiction, gore, attempted murder, toxic relationship (not between the MCs), transphobia, minor religious bigotry
December 4, 2025
Overall, delightful! The premise hooked me in, and the critique of corporate life and greed, wrapped in surreal imagery and sardonic humor, was a blast to read about. All the better, I felt that there wasn’t tonal whiplash, I saw a reviewer say it “balanced the serious with the whimsical shockingly well” and I agree!
Metatron was the POV I preferred the most, to no one’s surprise (they are a fan favorite, after all)— I really loved how the moral dilemmas of being a main component of Renascenz, being in love as a non-human, and One Other Spoiler were handled in their very emotional POV. (They really are just going through all the emotions of first love, combined with the anxiety of being a guardian angel! Oh my god they were so sweet. Their moments with Sasha halfway through the book were some of my favorites.) Some of their moments on the Internet and seeing what their souls thought of them were hilarious, too, and I really enjoyed the inclusion of and public opinion (+ occasionally social media) into the story.
Sasha took a while to grow on me, although I thought his POV was funnier? I did end up liking the approach the author took to writing his current dynamics with his family, though. I never really get the chance to see characters who have to navigate being a good parent WHILE going through conflict of their own (I think the best example I can think of is “I Keep My Exoskeletons To Myself”?), but in addition to that, his current friendship with Dusty was kinda mature, actually, and I wish I got to see more of her. I liked how his thoughts around relapsing and initial disconnect with his second life were written, too.
Mr. C also took a bit to grow on me, the start of him and Sasha’s relationship was intentionally rocky, and it sort of felt more like lust than romance? I thought the bits where the two of them processed their previous relationships (and ending them) were really interesting, though. Plus their banter was cute oftentimes, so… I can hope that these two can continue to help each other grow.
And on the topic of love interests, RODRIGO!! <3 <3 how lovely is it to see a gorgeous, socially awkward autistic man like him be pined over so bad that a twentieth of the human population feels it lmao. The actual confession scene with him and Metatron was so cute I was gigglingggg like god they’re so romcom, they deserve to stay happy with each other. (Besides that, though, I loved the scene where Rodrigo and Metatron were talking with each other about what they would give up if they were to have a life with the other. The angst was there, and I liked there was actual thought from both characters, although I feel like the outcome of that was a little predictable.)
Once I got past the first quarter or so, the originality of the plot kept my attention. The world of Galvlohi is very clearly thought about— the imagery is vibrant, and a couple of questions (particularly around morals) are answered. Conflicted feelings about the actual worldbuilding, while I still enjoyed the setting, because this was based on a previous (unpublished) series by the author, this was sorta fanfic-reminiscent in that some parts seemed to operate on pre-existing knowledge? Also, even though there’s some clear technological advancements (ex: disability tech has noticeably improved, and seems to also be kind of designed as a fashion statement), I’d be hesitant to call this a utopia? (And how would ableism work in a world where people are half expected to not just die but choose the perfect body?! I feel like it still exists in SOME capacity? I have questions.)
Anyhow. I hope this can eventually get an audiobook, I’m curious to see how some parts of the formatting would translate. (And, I’d like to know how both characters would sound like!) I also want to check out the rest of Al Hess’s stuff, it seems just as strange!
*********
pre-review:
can I say “hear me out” on Metatron or will they not like that
Metatron was the POV I preferred the most, to no one’s surprise (they are a fan favorite, after all)— I really loved how the moral dilemmas of being a main component of Renascenz, being in love as a non-human, and One Other Spoiler were handled in their very emotional POV. (They really are just going through all the emotions of first love, combined with the anxiety of being a guardian angel! Oh my god they were so sweet. Their moments with Sasha halfway through the book were some of my favorites.) Some of their moments on the Internet and seeing what their souls thought of them were hilarious, too, and I really enjoyed the inclusion of and public opinion (+ occasionally social media) into the story.
Sasha took a while to grow on me, although I thought his POV was funnier? I did end up liking the approach the author took to writing his current dynamics with his family, though. I never really get the chance to see characters who have to navigate being a good parent WHILE going through conflict of their own (I think the best example I can think of is “I Keep My Exoskeletons To Myself”?), but in addition to that, his current friendship with Dusty was kinda mature, actually, and I wish I got to see more of her. I liked how his thoughts around relapsing and initial disconnect with his second life were written, too.
Mr. C also took a bit to grow on me, the start of him and Sasha’s relationship was intentionally rocky, and it sort of felt more like lust than romance? I thought the bits where the two of them processed their previous relationships (and ending them) were really interesting, though. Plus their banter was cute oftentimes, so… I can hope that these two can continue to help each other grow.
And on the topic of love interests, RODRIGO!! <3 <3 how lovely is it to see a gorgeous, socially awkward autistic man like him be pined over so bad that a twentieth of the human population feels it lmao. The actual confession scene with him and Metatron was so cute I was gigglingggg like god they’re so romcom, they deserve to stay happy with each other. (Besides that, though, I loved the scene where Rodrigo and Metatron were talking with each other about what they would give up if they were to have a life with the other. The angst was there, and I liked there was actual thought from both characters, although I feel like the outcome of that was a little predictable.)
Once I got past the first quarter or so, the originality of the plot kept my attention. The world of Galvlohi is very clearly thought about— the imagery is vibrant, and a couple of questions (particularly around morals) are answered. Conflicted feelings about the actual worldbuilding, while I still enjoyed the setting, because this was based on a previous (unpublished) series by the author, this was sorta fanfic-reminiscent in that some parts seemed to operate on pre-existing knowledge? Also, even though there’s some clear technological advancements (ex: disability tech has noticeably improved, and seems to also be kind of designed as a fashion statement), I’d be hesitant to call this a utopia? (And how would ableism work in a world where people are half expected to not just die but choose the perfect body?! I feel like it still exists in SOME capacity? I have questions.)
Anyhow. I hope this can eventually get an audiobook, I’m curious to see how some parts of the formatting would translate. (And, I’d like to know how both characters would sound like!) I also want to check out the rest of Al Hess’s stuff, it seems just as strange!
*********
pre-review:
can I say “hear me out” on Metatron or will they not like that
February 25, 2025
A very sweet and heartwarming book. It’s set in a queernormative utopian world. The characters were diverse and loveable. The mood in this is similar to that of The Monk and Robot series (which you should also check out, if you haven’t).
May 11, 2024
This author has such a consistent voice across all of his books that makes them uniquely his own. There is always a soft coziness, gentle romantic and platonic relationships, found family, and insightfully moving explorations of gender, identity, and neurodivergence. This tale is no exception as Sasha, who has been reuploaded into a newly constructed version of his body, experiences a host of troubles, from a connection (that should have been severed upon his resurrection) to the AI guardian angel, Metatron, to an unexpected crush at his new job with the resurrection company that saved his consciousness from oblivion. Many complications ensue most enjoyably with an expanded cast of characters that are each intriguing and endearing in their own ways. The sci-fi elements are well-done, woven into the plot without over-explanation, and there is above all a glow of kindness that casts its light over the book. It's a refreshing change from more cynical writing and it leaves you feeling that there may be hope for the future of humanity after all. For fans of cozy science fiction (is that a thing? It definitely should be if it isn't!)
December 14, 2025
Excellent and gay 🥺
October 30, 2023
I loved this book. It's such an great premise, and while it isn't one that isn't entirely unique to sci-fi (technology is used to facilitate the storage of a person's consciousness so they can be resurrected), this is done in such a unique way and in the warm, cozy sort of tone that feels specific to Al Hess' writing style. The characters instantly come to life on the page and as a reader, I found myself connecting with them right away. I loved Sasha as a main character. He felt very three-dimensional with very real flaws and relationships to the people around him. I especially loved seeing his parental side in his relationship with his young daughter Poppy. I haven't seen many divorced dads in stories like this and it was just a really cute, wholesome part of the story that I particularly enjoyed. His budding romance with another character in the story was also fun to see. The guardian angel of Limbo, Metatron, is our other main character. When I first went into the story I was almost expecting him to be a bit pompous or annoying, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that the complete opposite was true. You really get the sense for how much he truly cares for the souls left in his care while awaiting resurrection---and how much he cares for one of those souls in particular as he realizes he is falling in love but doesn't know what to do about that. That initial conflict eventually evolves into something much larger, but the personal stakes for each character really keep the story grounded and kept me invested throughout.
I also really enjoyed how the world of Limbo was portrayed. Hess' writing style makes it so easy to envision the scene and to feel what the characters are experiencing. I've read two of his books now and I definitely need to read more, because these two have been some of my favorite recent reads. Thank you to the author for providing me an ARC of this book so I could read it early. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I also really enjoyed how the world of Limbo was portrayed. Hess' writing style makes it so easy to envision the scene and to feel what the characters are experiencing. I've read two of his books now and I definitely need to read more, because these two have been some of my favorite recent reads. Thank you to the author for providing me an ARC of this book so I could read it early. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
July 10, 2025
I am one of the judges of team Space Girls for the SPSFC4 contest. This review is my personal opinion. Officially, it is still in the running for the contest, pending any official team announcements.
Status: Finalist
Read: 100%
Alongside the titles from my side of the judging pond I was tasked to review now comes the remaining 3 finalists from the other judges.
Yours Celestially is the second book from the author that has reached at least the semifinals in this contest, so obviously the author has a good talent for both writing and also granting a warm reception from a myriad of judges.
The genre is openly queer utopic hopepunk with a strong romance emphasis situated somewhere in southwestern USA in a (I presume) fictional city called Gavliovi where English remains the dominant language and there is surprisingly competent AI driven electric trolley public transportation. I have traveled on robot driven trains in Japan a few times. There is a private subway line that is the only option to reach an artificial island called Odaiba. Since it is a separate company, JR 7 day infinite rail passes don't work with this line, so you either have to fork more cash or buy a 1 day unlimited subway pass in the kiosks. Anyhow, riding that train was almost the same as any regular subway train. No abrupt stops which are so emplematic of Mexico City's subway that riding the Odaiba train felt outstanding by simply how uneventful and smooth the ride is.
Otherwise, Gavliovi clearly has a marked idyllic progressive suburban American society, which will certainly vibe very well with the book's intended audience. Plenty of times during the book, I felt very disconnected by certain aspects of this society, such as the insistence of resurrected public housing to drag them to resurrected anonymous meetings and the high trust society where leaving groceries in a public train will ensure none of it is stolen. This doesn't mean the book is bad in any way, only that some aspects were mightily confusing to me because I grew up in a gigantic city where people are used to living among muggers and don't really know their neighbors. I tend to feel confused whenever I visit the US and see people leaving their car doors and houses unlocked. Quite honestly, I found the aspect of a world where people (especially children) can be involuntarily jacked with a brain chip and revived into new young bodies to ensure people work more years as physically abled adults to be beyond dystopic. Given this book strives to be an utopia, these trickles of culture shock so to say didn't influence my review.
The book's protagonist is Sasha, a guy who became addicted to mixing subcutaneouslly applied hormone releasing buttons. He seemed to be born with ADHD and it spiralled out of control after his divorce with his ex-wife Dusty, a very tomboyish woman that wears her hair in a buzzcut. Sasha died from a heart attack and thanks to a memory copying implant in his brain, had his memories and personality sent via wifi to a computer and then inserted in a grown new body that looks physically the same as the original. A good portion of the book focuses on how he continues having drug cravings, alienation with his overbearing roommate Ivan and a stomach ailment because he can feel the lovesick emotions of the angel guardian AI in computer limbo named Metatron who is madly in love with a deceased university teacher named Rodrigo and can't muster confessing their love.
The first half of the book focuses on Sasha getting a job at the memory reviving company as a secretary for the local boss in the hopes of contacting Metatron and giving advice because he's tired of feeling nauseous all the time. Meanwhile, he constantly bumps into a pesky coworker named Mr. C who seems more like a pest with a hidden agenda.
I didn't spot any typos and feel the book is clearly well edited. There is no doubt in my mind that the book was well written and deserves its contest finalist status. Its intended reading audience that love heartwarming stories of clueless protagonists trying to act as wingman to anxious lovebirds will certainly adore this romance story.
Now, here comes the bad part: I wished the book's protagonists had been Mr. C and a minor character living in computer server limbo named Gail. While the buddling maybe yes and maybe no thing going on between Sasha and Mr. C is endearing (mostly because I liked Mr. C from the very beginning and imagined him to look like Nanami from Jujutsu Kaisen), I felt Sasha's nonstop anxiety and inability to get the book moving forward the first half alongside Metatron's equally anxious inability to also advance the plot to make me not enjoy the first half of the book nearly as much as I should given the warm reception from other readers. Maybe it's a mixture between both protagonists being too similar and the fact the book doesn't really start until the halfway point. To me, the book is much better within the second half because Mr. C takes on a more proactive role in the story, making it feel more balanced and move much faster.
While the addiction and sweet romance aspect of the book was done well, I was really hoping Gail had been the protagonist, so, so, so much. Especially if he had been revived and is kinda forced to get a job to finance his hoarding addiction. Heck, I would have really loved adding sprinkles of dystopia where he was forced to be revived with a slightly younger body and discovers much to his dismay he no longer qualifies for Medicare and has to once again return to the workforce. I think the book could have still worked with its Hopepunk theme very well with this protagonist change. Since it is obvious practically every other reader loved the book as it is, I will just have to accept I was not the intended audience of the book.
I am awarding it 3 1/2 stars upgraded to 4 mostly due to the slower first half of the book.
Status: Finalist
Read: 100%
Alongside the titles from my side of the judging pond I was tasked to review now comes the remaining 3 finalists from the other judges.
Yours Celestially is the second book from the author that has reached at least the semifinals in this contest, so obviously the author has a good talent for both writing and also granting a warm reception from a myriad of judges.
The genre is openly queer utopic hopepunk with a strong romance emphasis situated somewhere in southwestern USA in a (I presume) fictional city called Gavliovi where English remains the dominant language and there is surprisingly competent AI driven electric trolley public transportation. I have traveled on robot driven trains in Japan a few times. There is a private subway line that is the only option to reach an artificial island called Odaiba. Since it is a separate company, JR 7 day infinite rail passes don't work with this line, so you either have to fork more cash or buy a 1 day unlimited subway pass in the kiosks. Anyhow, riding that train was almost the same as any regular subway train. No abrupt stops which are so emplematic of Mexico City's subway that riding the Odaiba train felt outstanding by simply how uneventful and smooth the ride is.
Otherwise, Gavliovi clearly has a marked idyllic progressive suburban American society, which will certainly vibe very well with the book's intended audience. Plenty of times during the book, I felt very disconnected by certain aspects of this society, such as the insistence of resurrected public housing to drag them to resurrected anonymous meetings and the high trust society where leaving groceries in a public train will ensure none of it is stolen. This doesn't mean the book is bad in any way, only that some aspects were mightily confusing to me because I grew up in a gigantic city where people are used to living among muggers and don't really know their neighbors. I tend to feel confused whenever I visit the US and see people leaving their car doors and houses unlocked. Quite honestly, I found the aspect of a world where people (especially children) can be involuntarily jacked with a brain chip and revived into new young bodies to ensure people work more years as physically abled adults to be beyond dystopic. Given this book strives to be an utopia, these trickles of culture shock so to say didn't influence my review.
The book's protagonist is Sasha, a guy who became addicted to mixing subcutaneouslly applied hormone releasing buttons. He seemed to be born with ADHD and it spiralled out of control after his divorce with his ex-wife Dusty, a very tomboyish woman that wears her hair in a buzzcut. Sasha died from a heart attack and thanks to a memory copying implant in his brain, had his memories and personality sent via wifi to a computer and then inserted in a grown new body that looks physically the same as the original. A good portion of the book focuses on how he continues having drug cravings, alienation with his overbearing roommate Ivan and a stomach ailment because he can feel the lovesick emotions of the angel guardian AI in computer limbo named Metatron who is madly in love with a deceased university teacher named Rodrigo and can't muster confessing their love.
The first half of the book focuses on Sasha getting a job at the memory reviving company as a secretary for the local boss in the hopes of contacting Metatron and giving advice because he's tired of feeling nauseous all the time. Meanwhile, he constantly bumps into a pesky coworker named Mr. C who seems more like a pest with a hidden agenda.
I didn't spot any typos and feel the book is clearly well edited. There is no doubt in my mind that the book was well written and deserves its contest finalist status. Its intended reading audience that love heartwarming stories of clueless protagonists trying to act as wingman to anxious lovebirds will certainly adore this romance story.
Now, here comes the bad part: I wished the book's protagonists had been Mr. C and a minor character living in computer server limbo named Gail. While the buddling maybe yes and maybe no thing going on between Sasha and Mr. C is endearing (mostly because I liked Mr. C from the very beginning and imagined him to look like Nanami from Jujutsu Kaisen), I felt Sasha's nonstop anxiety and inability to get the book moving forward the first half alongside Metatron's equally anxious inability to also advance the plot to make me not enjoy the first half of the book nearly as much as I should given the warm reception from other readers. Maybe it's a mixture between both protagonists being too similar and the fact the book doesn't really start until the halfway point. To me, the book is much better within the second half because Mr. C takes on a more proactive role in the story, making it feel more balanced and move much faster.
While the addiction and sweet romance aspect of the book was done well, I was really hoping Gail had been the protagonist, so, so, so much. Especially if he had been revived and is kinda forced to get a job to finance his hoarding addiction. Heck, I would have really loved adding sprinkles of dystopia where he was forced to be revived with a slightly younger body and discovers much to his dismay he no longer qualifies for Medicare and has to once again return to the workforce. I think the book could have still worked with its Hopepunk theme very well with this protagonist change. Since it is obvious practically every other reader loved the book as it is, I will just have to accept I was not the intended audience of the book.
I am awarding it 3 1/2 stars upgraded to 4 mostly due to the slower first half of the book.
November 4, 2023
If you loved Pushing Daisies and Good Omens, add a little bit of sci-fi and all the queerness you can imagine, and you'll get this book.
It was such a fun and emotional journey. Not fluffy by any means yet it had a lot of very sweet moments. And I gasped; the book surprised me and gave me nervous palpitations. It succeeded in catching me off guard, and also in making me love every single character in it. We may not have chapters in all of the characters' pov but that doesn't keep us from getting attached to this very peculiar group of people who somehow found themselves involved in something none of them expected.
I loved Sasha, his flaws, and how much he fought constantly to find value to the second life he was given even if he found it pointless at first. His growth was exceptional. I loved Mr. C and his never ending conversations, his insatiable appetite and the way you really didn't see all of him at first but when you did, you just couldn't help but love him. I loved Rodrigo and his very sweet and calm personality, the way he opened up in a situation that wasn't really comfortable but he founf a way to "live it" the way it was perfect for him. I loved LOVED Metatron with all my beating heart, his nervousness, his sweetness, how he faces these new feelings that overwhelmed him to no end, and how he went beyond rules and regulations to do what was supposed to be his job to make everyone feel better. Metatron deserved the world, the universe and more.
This book was a mid-slow-burn kind of romance story but it wasn't a romance story alone. It was about the characters and about life. There are difficult themes, there are important discussions, and there’s so much heart.
Definitely a book I will recommend everyone!
It was such a fun and emotional journey. Not fluffy by any means yet it had a lot of very sweet moments. And I gasped; the book surprised me and gave me nervous palpitations. It succeeded in catching me off guard, and also in making me love every single character in it. We may not have chapters in all of the characters' pov but that doesn't keep us from getting attached to this very peculiar group of people who somehow found themselves involved in something none of them expected.
I loved Sasha, his flaws, and how much he fought constantly to find value to the second life he was given even if he found it pointless at first. His growth was exceptional. I loved Mr. C and his never ending conversations, his insatiable appetite and the way you really didn't see all of him at first but when you did, you just couldn't help but love him. I loved Rodrigo and his very sweet and calm personality, the way he opened up in a situation that wasn't really comfortable but he founf a way to "live it" the way it was perfect for him. I loved LOVED Metatron with all my beating heart, his nervousness, his sweetness, how he faces these new feelings that overwhelmed him to no end, and how he went beyond rules and regulations to do what was supposed to be his job to make everyone feel better. Metatron deserved the world, the universe and more.
This book was a mid-slow-burn kind of romance story but it wasn't a romance story alone. It was about the characters and about life. There are difficult themes, there are important discussions, and there’s so much heart.
Definitely a book I will recommend everyone!
October 4, 2024
Summary: Cold open - for those who care, this is an unambiguously queer romance. If that's off putting for you, this isn't the one for you. There's nothing overtly sexual about it, but it's a world and worldview that assumes a spectrum of relationships and the main characters are queer or just good old fashioned gay. Now that we are past that...
Sasha is living his second life after completely messing up his first life, as evidenced by the fact he's on the second one. But in resurrection there was a side effect, he's emotionally tied to Metatron the guardian angel of Limbo. We follow along as Sasha and Metatron figure out how to be themselves and hopefully be happy about it.
This romance is set in a reality that allows the uploading and subsequent downloading of a consciousness to give anyone who pays for it another run at life. There are futuristic offices that look a lot like the ones we live with today. Prosthetics have advanced to a point of full integration. Along with a host of little "normal life" advances that create texture to the world. This story and its technological advances open a number of super-relevant questions.
The Good: It's a fast read. This is a story that goes down like pudding, but there's substance to it too. Underlying the whole story is a discussion of what the world could be if we chose it. Limbo is a place where souls render themselves and choose their next life. And then there's the budding romance between the AI consciousness - the Angel Metatron - in limbo and one of his charges. It is sweetly staged and thoughtfully realized. Their relationship is balanced by the real world where Sasha struggles with still being himself, even in a second life, and trying to start fresh. Watching Sasha find redemption and love was well handled. And the dark undercurrent that became a twist gave it all texture to make the sweet parts sweeter like salting your caramel.
I loved Sasha's home life. Hess managed to thoughtfully deal with a mixed family and friend group that was both loving and diverse. It was messy in the way real relationships are and honored what came before and the fact that you can care for people you were once in love with, and now bound to through children and the life you once shared. Sasha bemoans a messed up life. When you see it though, he has a tribe that cares deeply what happens to him. I like his people. And I can't overstate the care with which Hess handled everyone's mess. You can never get away from yourself, even in death, and learning to be okay with that is a central message.
The Bad: This story feels like a missed opportunity to delve into some seriously interesting metaphysical and philosophical questions that we may well be wrestling with in the none to distant future. Hess teases us with valid questions worth exploring in the technology and its impacts. What would it mean if we got to renew as many times as we like? Would people really reinvent themselves as commercial perfection or keep the face their children knew? Will AI achieve a personality, wants, and needs of its own? Even, what is the ideal working environment? The questions are raised, just not answered. The questions that are raised are immediate and real. It really belongs in the "good" part of this discussion, but Hess handles the consequences of addiction and loneliness really well.
Additionally, I would not call this part bad but a weakness. There are times when the story points at itself. I think the message is delivered well within the story context without pointing at it ... the everyone is who they are messaging of the story works well. It’s very sympathetic and I find myself rooting for the characters they want me to.
Overall: I'm going to let you in on a secret. I'm a sucker for a romance. This doesn’t scratch my itch for science fiction - which is totally unfair, but it is what it is. This is a good little romance. I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent with Sasha and Metatron. There is plenty here to make this a science fiction novel because none of this story is even possible without some pretty miraculous tech. The bare bones of it though could be told in any genre. It's the story of moving on from the life you've lived. It's about loss and loneliness. It's about friendship and the people we love. Most of all, it's the story of finding the one you want to live your life with.
Celestially Yours is an engaging story that pulls you in and pulls you along with characters you want to see succeed. The ideas expressed are grand in nature, though explored in the intimate lives of only a handful of participants. While this is not my normal cup of tea, I would gladly have another story from Al Hess to keep me warm for a few hours. Well done.
4.5 of 5 stars for me.
Sasha is living his second life after completely messing up his first life, as evidenced by the fact he's on the second one. But in resurrection there was a side effect, he's emotionally tied to Metatron the guardian angel of Limbo. We follow along as Sasha and Metatron figure out how to be themselves and hopefully be happy about it.
This romance is set in a reality that allows the uploading and subsequent downloading of a consciousness to give anyone who pays for it another run at life. There are futuristic offices that look a lot like the ones we live with today. Prosthetics have advanced to a point of full integration. Along with a host of little "normal life" advances that create texture to the world. This story and its technological advances open a number of super-relevant questions.
The Good: It's a fast read. This is a story that goes down like pudding, but there's substance to it too. Underlying the whole story is a discussion of what the world could be if we chose it. Limbo is a place where souls render themselves and choose their next life. And then there's the budding romance between the AI consciousness - the Angel Metatron - in limbo and one of his charges. It is sweetly staged and thoughtfully realized. Their relationship is balanced by the real world where Sasha struggles with still being himself, even in a second life, and trying to start fresh. Watching Sasha find redemption and love was well handled. And the dark undercurrent that became a twist gave it all texture to make the sweet parts sweeter like salting your caramel.
I loved Sasha's home life. Hess managed to thoughtfully deal with a mixed family and friend group that was both loving and diverse. It was messy in the way real relationships are and honored what came before and the fact that you can care for people you were once in love with, and now bound to through children and the life you once shared. Sasha bemoans a messed up life. When you see it though, he has a tribe that cares deeply what happens to him. I like his people. And I can't overstate the care with which Hess handled everyone's mess. You can never get away from yourself, even in death, and learning to be okay with that is a central message.
The Bad: This story feels like a missed opportunity to delve into some seriously interesting metaphysical and philosophical questions that we may well be wrestling with in the none to distant future. Hess teases us with valid questions worth exploring in the technology and its impacts. What would it mean if we got to renew as many times as we like? Would people really reinvent themselves as commercial perfection or keep the face their children knew? Will AI achieve a personality, wants, and needs of its own? Even, what is the ideal working environment? The questions are raised, just not answered. The questions that are raised are immediate and real. It really belongs in the "good" part of this discussion, but Hess handles the consequences of addiction and loneliness really well.
Additionally, I would not call this part bad but a weakness. There are times when the story points at itself. I think the message is delivered well within the story context without pointing at it ... the everyone is who they are messaging of the story works well. It’s very sympathetic and I find myself rooting for the characters they want me to.
Overall: I'm going to let you in on a secret. I'm a sucker for a romance. This doesn’t scratch my itch for science fiction - which is totally unfair, but it is what it is. This is a good little romance. I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent with Sasha and Metatron. There is plenty here to make this a science fiction novel because none of this story is even possible without some pretty miraculous tech. The bare bones of it though could be told in any genre. It's the story of moving on from the life you've lived. It's about loss and loneliness. It's about friendship and the people we love. Most of all, it's the story of finding the one you want to live your life with.
Celestially Yours is an engaging story that pulls you in and pulls you along with characters you want to see succeed. The ideas expressed are grand in nature, though explored in the intimate lives of only a handful of participants. While this is not my normal cup of tea, I would gladly have another story from Al Hess to keep me warm for a few hours. Well done.
4.5 of 5 stars for me.
July 28, 2025
[This review can also be found on my BLOG]
**I read this book as a judge for the fourth annual Self Published Science Fiction Competition (SPSFC), this review is solely my own and does not reflect the opinions of the whole team**
CW: past drug addiction, divorce, mentions of car wreck, discussion of death, brief violence, profanity, brief mention of suicide and past self-harm, brief mentions of transphobia, mentions of Christianity and biblical iconography (seraphs, cherubs, etc.), mild sexual elements, depression and anxiety, vomiting
--
Yours Celestially takes place in a queernorm future world where there is a type of life insurance called the Renascenz Program that stores your consciousness and reuploads it to a new body allowing you to be resurrected if you meet an untimely demise. When a lawsuit to shut down the program results in some souls being stuck in the digital Limbo waiting to be resurrected for many months, the guardian angel AI, Metatron who oversees them has started to catch feelings for one of the stuck individuals.
Sasha, a recently resurrected soul finds his second chance at life hasn’t gotten rid of all of his previous problems and to make things worse a leftover glitch from the Renascenz Program has resulted in him being able to still sense Metatron and all of Metatron’s yearnings. In order to solve this predicament Sasha takes up a job at the company running the Renascenz Program so that he can secretly contact Metatron and help them but Mr C, one of his new and rather attractive coworkers, keeps popping up determined to help out and Sasha can’t seem to turn them down.
This is a wonderfully wacky book that has its darker moments (so do check the content warnings) but is overall a cosy read and I quite enjoyed it. Admittedly I found it a little slow to get into as while the key plot points are immediately introduced a lot of the initial narrative is laying out the lives of the protagonists and their personal stakes as well as the worldbuilding.
From the dual PoV it took me some time to warm to Sasha’s character whereas I found myself instantly intrigued by Metatron’s much quirkier and assuring perspective. Following an AI who is flustered by their lovesickness was really fun and I was also really fascinated by the whole concept of Limbo. Hess’s writing really immerses you into the varying landscapes and atmospheres present for each soul in this digital plane of existence so I was really hooked in by all The Seraph chapters.
Sasha’s side of the story has a lot more to unpack and we follow him coming to terms with his relationships with those around him following a divorce as well as recovery from addiction, at the same time as having the whole Renascenz glitch thing going on and then there is a bit of romance sneaking its way into his life too.
I think the romance subplots were both really sweet but the handful of platonic relationships present and how Sasha’s character developed with and through them really carried his side of the story in particular for me. All the while there is this lawsuit plotline going on in the background and it ties everything together in a really satisfying way by the end.
I do feel like because the story as a whole is more on the cosy/slice of life side of things the “life or death” stakes didn’t feel too dire but the underlying messages rooted in love, hope and togetherness still resonate strongly all in all making this a really good read.
**I read this book as a judge for the fourth annual Self Published Science Fiction Competition (SPSFC), this review is solely my own and does not reflect the opinions of the whole team**
CW: past drug addiction, divorce, mentions of car wreck, discussion of death, brief violence, profanity, brief mention of suicide and past self-harm, brief mentions of transphobia, mentions of Christianity and biblical iconography (seraphs, cherubs, etc.), mild sexual elements, depression and anxiety, vomiting
--
Yours Celestially takes place in a queernorm future world where there is a type of life insurance called the Renascenz Program that stores your consciousness and reuploads it to a new body allowing you to be resurrected if you meet an untimely demise. When a lawsuit to shut down the program results in some souls being stuck in the digital Limbo waiting to be resurrected for many months, the guardian angel AI, Metatron who oversees them has started to catch feelings for one of the stuck individuals.
Sasha, a recently resurrected soul finds his second chance at life hasn’t gotten rid of all of his previous problems and to make things worse a leftover glitch from the Renascenz Program has resulted in him being able to still sense Metatron and all of Metatron’s yearnings. In order to solve this predicament Sasha takes up a job at the company running the Renascenz Program so that he can secretly contact Metatron and help them but Mr C, one of his new and rather attractive coworkers, keeps popping up determined to help out and Sasha can’t seem to turn them down.
This is a wonderfully wacky book that has its darker moments (so do check the content warnings) but is overall a cosy read and I quite enjoyed it. Admittedly I found it a little slow to get into as while the key plot points are immediately introduced a lot of the initial narrative is laying out the lives of the protagonists and their personal stakes as well as the worldbuilding.
From the dual PoV it took me some time to warm to Sasha’s character whereas I found myself instantly intrigued by Metatron’s much quirkier and assuring perspective. Following an AI who is flustered by their lovesickness was really fun and I was also really fascinated by the whole concept of Limbo. Hess’s writing really immerses you into the varying landscapes and atmospheres present for each soul in this digital plane of existence so I was really hooked in by all The Seraph chapters.
Sasha’s side of the story has a lot more to unpack and we follow him coming to terms with his relationships with those around him following a divorce as well as recovery from addiction, at the same time as having the whole Renascenz glitch thing going on and then there is a bit of romance sneaking its way into his life too.
I think the romance subplots were both really sweet but the handful of platonic relationships present and how Sasha’s character developed with and through them really carried his side of the story in particular for me. All the while there is this lawsuit plotline going on in the background and it ties everything together in a really satisfying way by the end.
I do feel like because the story as a whole is more on the cosy/slice of life side of things the “life or death” stakes didn’t feel too dire but the underlying messages rooted in love, hope and togetherness still resonate strongly all in all making this a really good read.
March 29, 2025
This was super cute and extremely creative but suffered from the 'mention everyone's axis of diversity in this utopia but do nothing with it so it sounds forced' problem. It's a lot of delicious pining and a few kisses. It took a light hand with some huge ethical quandaries. More about disaffected people deciding to have agency. For dealing with a lot of heavy themes, that was quite cozy sci fi, almost in the Becky Chambers tradition but falling short. I thoroughly enjoyed it, even though I think by the end the story felt a bit unfinished like we just had a snapshot of this tumultuous bit of their lives. Well depicted ADHD and autism rep, poorly depicted race rep. I would have preferred a deeper speculative take on the themes, but instead the author went with personal growth on the parts of both the human POV and the AI POV. The maximalist utopia was very Barbie pastel bright, people wear string ties and suits made of orange swirl patterned fabric and have pink doors, but also desert southwest with earthship houses, moss and grass for carpets, and random inclusions of Cherokee names and people. Diversity was mentioned constantly but rarely leveraged for any purpose. Int that way it felt performative and hollow, despite the intent behind the representation.
Metatron was baby ::::::)
Metatron was baby ::::::)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 17, 2025
loved this one!!! it’s a very wacky concept in the best ways supported by a beautifully fleshed out almost-utopic world. romance with some sci-fi elements (sci-com?). i’m not a big fan of AI stories (you can guess why) but hess does them wonderfully. lots of found family, fun characters, a cute kid, sweet relationships with great chemistry, and beautiful imagery. also cool formatting stuff?? lots of cool fonts (when necessary) and little emojis at the beginning of each chapter (there’s a reason). plus hess’s iconic portraits of his characters. a lovely and sweet book!
September 13, 2025
truly never read something similar to this so it was fun
December 1, 2023
Fun, emotional, thoughtful, great rep--I could not have asked for more from this domestic sci fi. (Is domestic sci fi a thing? It should be a thing.)
April 7, 2025
I received an eArc of this book in exchange for a review.
Having read & loved Seraph Ex Machina, I was quite excited to read this alternative world for the characters and it is a lovely story.
Al Hess creates a beautiful somewhat futuristic world (but in other aspects much too similar especially with the religious transphobia) and asks the question how this society might react if we had the ability to upload your soul to a server if you die and grow a new body to inhabit once you’re ready to come back. Our two focal characters of this book are Sasha, a man who was resurrected recently, and Metatron, the AI tasked with watching over the souls in Limbo.
I enjoyed the characters and I especially liked hanging out with Metatron again. We get to see a somewhat different side of them, so I would absolutely advise anybody who enjoyed Seraph Ex Machina to read this book as well. They go through a lot less trauma this time (which was good, because I cried a Lot for them during SEM), but they still have to deal with the fact that aren’t sure how to express their feelings. Sasha was a really interesting character, struggling to deal with the way his past addiction still influences his life even now that he’s clean (especially since his addiction lead to his divorce and he only sees his daughter during the weekends now) while also needing to find a way to convince Metatron to stop pinning and ask their crush out before he gets a stomach ulcer. The portrayal of adhd, autism, past drug addiction, religious fear of technical advancement and divorce set in a futuristic world was really interesting. For example, Sasha has a “stim” injected in his arm which he can use to get his adhd-meds whenever he needs it (no more remembering where you sat your pills down! God, that would be really useful!), but the drugs he was addicted to are just as easily acquirable, as they simply consist out of two perfectly legal stims mixed together. I found this really interesting, especially since staying clean under such circumstances must be really tough.
I also really enjoyed Sasha’s character as well as all his friends and that fact that a huge part of his storyline was accepting that he can and should open up to his friends as they care about him and not just his romantic feeling. He’s carrying a lot of guilt around fearing he ruined everything due to his past addiction and it was just really nice to see that people loved and cared for him the entire time. Mr. C. is also a quite interesting character and I liked him as well, he and Rodrigo are both really cute love interests.
(slight spoilers for the end of the book in the next paragraph)
I would have liked some more character building for our villain Campbell as he feels quite one dimensionally EvilTM at times (why does he do what he does? Cause he’s evil, duh!) and so did not really interest me and I think it would have been more interesting if his motivations had been explored more. And while he does get his “punishment” in the end, I do think the many people he hurt would have deserved to deal with their trauma a bit more. However, the interesting world building and the other loveable characters more than make up for it and the story is a really good one.
All in all, I really enjoyed this story, it is an interesting read with multiple twists and turns and interesting plot reveals that doesn’t shy away from examining a few tough topics. Diversity plays a huge role, not just for neurodiverse people, but also regarding genders, sexualities and races and it was just great to see it done so effortlessly. Mostly I think it is a story about overcoming adversity and healing from trauma and allowing yourself to love again and I think we can always need more diverse stories like that.
Having read & loved Seraph Ex Machina, I was quite excited to read this alternative world for the characters and it is a lovely story.
Al Hess creates a beautiful somewhat futuristic world (but in other aspects much too similar especially with the religious transphobia) and asks the question how this society might react if we had the ability to upload your soul to a server if you die and grow a new body to inhabit once you’re ready to come back. Our two focal characters of this book are Sasha, a man who was resurrected recently, and Metatron, the AI tasked with watching over the souls in Limbo.
I enjoyed the characters and I especially liked hanging out with Metatron again. We get to see a somewhat different side of them, so I would absolutely advise anybody who enjoyed Seraph Ex Machina to read this book as well. They go through a lot less trauma this time (which was good, because I cried a Lot for them during SEM), but they still have to deal with the fact that aren’t sure how to express their feelings. Sasha was a really interesting character, struggling to deal with the way his past addiction still influences his life even now that he’s clean (especially since his addiction lead to his divorce and he only sees his daughter during the weekends now) while also needing to find a way to convince Metatron to stop pinning and ask their crush out before he gets a stomach ulcer. The portrayal of adhd, autism, past drug addiction, religious fear of technical advancement and divorce set in a futuristic world was really interesting. For example, Sasha has a “stim” injected in his arm which he can use to get his adhd-meds whenever he needs it (no more remembering where you sat your pills down! God, that would be really useful!), but the drugs he was addicted to are just as easily acquirable, as they simply consist out of two perfectly legal stims mixed together. I found this really interesting, especially since staying clean under such circumstances must be really tough.
I also really enjoyed Sasha’s character as well as all his friends and that fact that a huge part of his storyline was accepting that he can and should open up to his friends as they care about him and not just his romantic feeling. He’s carrying a lot of guilt around fearing he ruined everything due to his past addiction and it was just really nice to see that people loved and cared for him the entire time. Mr. C. is also a quite interesting character and I liked him as well, he and Rodrigo are both really cute love interests.
(slight spoilers for the end of the book in the next paragraph)
I would have liked some more character building for our villain Campbell as he feels quite one dimensionally EvilTM at times (why does he do what he does? Cause he’s evil, duh!) and so did not really interest me and I think it would have been more interesting if his motivations had been explored more. And while he does get his “punishment” in the end, I do think the many people he hurt would have deserved to deal with their trauma a bit more. However, the interesting world building and the other loveable characters more than make up for it and the story is a really good one.
All in all, I really enjoyed this story, it is an interesting read with multiple twists and turns and interesting plot reveals that doesn’t shy away from examining a few tough topics. Diversity plays a huge role, not just for neurodiverse people, but also regarding genders, sexualities and races and it was just great to see it done so effortlessly. Mostly I think it is a story about overcoming adversity and healing from trauma and allowing yourself to love again and I think we can always need more diverse stories like that.
July 28, 2025
I read Yours Celestially as part of a judging team for the fourth annual Self-Published Science Fiction Competition (SPSFC4), where it is a finalist.
Yours Celestially takes place in a world where the dead can be returned to bodies of their choosing—for a price. It’s primarily told from two perspectives, one of a former addict scuffling through his second life without much ambition, the other of the angelic AI who helps prepare souls for their return to the physical world. But when the AI falls for one of the souls under its care, the resurrected lead feels a physical echo of its secret love, spurring him to find a way to make contact and help his former AI advisor resolve its intense infatuation.
While the writing style is smooth and professional throughout—no surprise given Hess advancing deep in two different iterations of SPSFC—I found it a bit difficult to emotionally attach in the early going. The AI infatuation is already present in the book’s opening chapters, so there isn’t much chance to build up to how an AI might find itself infatuated with a particular human. Meanwhile, the other lead’s strategy to make contact with the AI feels half-baked, and his own romance builds remarkably quickly after an offputting initial meeting. As a reader who tends to enjoy slower builds, the rush to get the pieces into place posed an obstacle to immersion in the early stages.
But the path smooths considerably as the story progresses. The romantic subplots don’t slow down much, but the story adds additional dimensions that carry much of the back half. For the human lead, that comes with delving into the past addiction that had ruined his marriage and led to his death, leaving his resurrected self with fears of relapse, guilt over an undeserved second chance, and a defense mechanism that holds everyone around him at an emotional distance. For the AI, the new dimension comes in the knowledge that one of the souls in his keeping is cruel and abusive and likely to harm others upon his ultimate resurrection unless the AI can find a way to stop him. And hovering over the entire affair is a pending lawsuit by a group opposing the way the resurrection technology facilitates gender transition. The suit has put resurrections on pause for the moment, but when it ends, changes will come quickly, one way or the other.
The author himself describes Yours Celestially as queer hopepunk, and while the tone is more Becky Chambers than an atmosphere of foreboding, its major project reminds me in some ways of John Wiswell’s “That Story Isn’t the Story,” in which the lead must recover from speculative trauma in the most mundane of ways: with friendship and therapy. Yours Celestially features addiction and abuse, with the characters working through it by learning to lean on their friends and family. Nearly every significant character is recovering from something, and the only way forward is together. And when the inevitable external conflicts come, once again the only way forward is together.
Yours Celestially keeps the tone lighter than one might expect given the themes under consideration—perhaps in keeping with its hopeful aspirations—and it generally executes the balance well. The trauma isn’t given short shrift, but there’s a persistent feeling that it can be overcome. And after an opening that felt somewhat rushed, it all comes together in a heartwarming ending that elevates what had come before.
Ultimately, Yours Celestially is a short, easy, and optimistic read. It doesn’t shrink back from trauma, but it always highlights a way forward, with a focus on friendship and solidarity. The romantic subplots are a bit too fast-paced for my liking, but the overall story is heartwarming nonetheless. If cozy fiction is meant to indicate small-scale stories with a persistently optimistic bent–rather than a total absence of conflict–then call this one cozy. It’s easy to see why this made the finals, and after completing all six finalists, it’s one of a clear top two in my book.
15/20
Yours Celestially takes place in a world where the dead can be returned to bodies of their choosing—for a price. It’s primarily told from two perspectives, one of a former addict scuffling through his second life without much ambition, the other of the angelic AI who helps prepare souls for their return to the physical world. But when the AI falls for one of the souls under its care, the resurrected lead feels a physical echo of its secret love, spurring him to find a way to make contact and help his former AI advisor resolve its intense infatuation.
While the writing style is smooth and professional throughout—no surprise given Hess advancing deep in two different iterations of SPSFC—I found it a bit difficult to emotionally attach in the early going. The AI infatuation is already present in the book’s opening chapters, so there isn’t much chance to build up to how an AI might find itself infatuated with a particular human. Meanwhile, the other lead’s strategy to make contact with the AI feels half-baked, and his own romance builds remarkably quickly after an offputting initial meeting. As a reader who tends to enjoy slower builds, the rush to get the pieces into place posed an obstacle to immersion in the early stages.
But the path smooths considerably as the story progresses. The romantic subplots don’t slow down much, but the story adds additional dimensions that carry much of the back half. For the human lead, that comes with delving into the past addiction that had ruined his marriage and led to his death, leaving his resurrected self with fears of relapse, guilt over an undeserved second chance, and a defense mechanism that holds everyone around him at an emotional distance. For the AI, the new dimension comes in the knowledge that one of the souls in his keeping is cruel and abusive and likely to harm others upon his ultimate resurrection unless the AI can find a way to stop him. And hovering over the entire affair is a pending lawsuit by a group opposing the way the resurrection technology facilitates gender transition. The suit has put resurrections on pause for the moment, but when it ends, changes will come quickly, one way or the other.
The author himself describes Yours Celestially as queer hopepunk, and while the tone is more Becky Chambers than an atmosphere of foreboding, its major project reminds me in some ways of John Wiswell’s “That Story Isn’t the Story,” in which the lead must recover from speculative trauma in the most mundane of ways: with friendship and therapy. Yours Celestially features addiction and abuse, with the characters working through it by learning to lean on their friends and family. Nearly every significant character is recovering from something, and the only way forward is together. And when the inevitable external conflicts come, once again the only way forward is together.
Yours Celestially keeps the tone lighter than one might expect given the themes under consideration—perhaps in keeping with its hopeful aspirations—and it generally executes the balance well. The trauma isn’t given short shrift, but there’s a persistent feeling that it can be overcome. And after an opening that felt somewhat rushed, it all comes together in a heartwarming ending that elevates what had come before.
Ultimately, Yours Celestially is a short, easy, and optimistic read. It doesn’t shrink back from trauma, but it always highlights a way forward, with a focus on friendship and solidarity. The romantic subplots are a bit too fast-paced for my liking, but the overall story is heartwarming nonetheless. If cozy fiction is meant to indicate small-scale stories with a persistently optimistic bent–rather than a total absence of conflict–then call this one cozy. It’s easy to see why this made the finals, and after completing all six finalists, it’s one of a clear top two in my book.
15/20
October 30, 2024
*4.5 stars - I read this whole thing in one sitting. Grab your favorite 18 Carat Affair album and settle in for a funny, captivating, and decidedly wavy read (heed the content warnings!)
As someone who enjoys vaporwave—the aesthetics and the music—the cover art caught my eye. With the fact that the author confirmed that this was exactly what he was going for, I took the book home excited and curious after reading the blurb written on the back. Opening the book, you’re greeted with Hess’s charming portraits of the two main characters, which raised my excitement. Coming off a disappointing read prior to starting Yours Celestially, I was desperate for a compelling, well-written romance. I got that and more.
The romance - I loved it. I’m a sucker for a good enemies to lovers trope, and while that’s not quite what happens here, I think those interested in it will enjoy that aspect all the same. The progression of Sasha and Mr. C’s relationship felt natural, and the developments of Metatron’s crush into a full-blown romance of their own was so wholesome and delightful to read (literal star-crossed lovers).
The characters - They all feel like real people, and each have their own problems, life, and personalities that exist outside of revolving around the main characters’ lives. Hell, Hess even managed to make a biblical angel AI’s feelings relatable, and I really appreciate that. The side characters were just as interesting as the main characters, and I found myself caring for them just as much. I think there’s someone here for everyone to relate to, if not for their specific situations but the way it impacts them, the people around them, and how they try to deal with it. Even though this is sci-fi fantasy, there are real world problems that are handled in a way that feels respectful and authentic.
The world - Again, I’m a fan of the sort of surreal vibe Hess was going for; it’s evident in the descriptions of the setting without feeling overt. Galvlohi simultaneously feels like a real place and feels *not* like a real place. I’m explaining this poorly, but essentially, he hit a home run with the vibe he set out to create.
The story - The pacing was just right, and with a plot and setting this interesting, I’d have read this even without the romance (high praise since I generally don’t read sci-fi/fantasy if there is none). I’m trying to remain spoiler-free so I won’t say too much more, but there was a lot more going on with the plot than I was expecting, which I loved.
The diversity - When I say this book has diverse characters, I mean it. People with different disabilities, various ethnic backgrounds, neurodivergent folks, and of course the large amount of queer folks (a small touch: I don’t think the MCs ever assume someone’s gender. Pronouns are they/them for people they meet unless and until they’re told otherwise). As mentioned earlier, everyone feels like real people rather than a checklist of traits, which makes this representation even better. I found these portrayals respectful and authentic as well.
Misc - Small random thing: I usually hate when authors try to use negative space/different fonts/different dialogue indicators because it all too often comes off as trying too hard to make the text impactful. Here, I enjoyed it because it actually *did* enhance the text.
I’ll stop my gushing now, but I seriously loved this story and can see myself reading it again. I rated 4.5 because nothing is perfect, but I really have no notes for improvement. 5/5 enjoyment. 10/5 enjoyment when reading with vaporwave playing in the background.
I’m off to go inhale the author’s other works.
As someone who enjoys vaporwave—the aesthetics and the music—the cover art caught my eye. With the fact that the author confirmed that this was exactly what he was going for, I took the book home excited and curious after reading the blurb written on the back. Opening the book, you’re greeted with Hess’s charming portraits of the two main characters, which raised my excitement. Coming off a disappointing read prior to starting Yours Celestially, I was desperate for a compelling, well-written romance. I got that and more.
The romance - I loved it. I’m a sucker for a good enemies to lovers trope, and while that’s not quite what happens here, I think those interested in it will enjoy that aspect all the same. The progression of Sasha and Mr. C’s relationship felt natural, and the developments of Metatron’s crush into a full-blown romance of their own was so wholesome and delightful to read (literal star-crossed lovers).
The characters - They all feel like real people, and each have their own problems, life, and personalities that exist outside of revolving around the main characters’ lives. Hell, Hess even managed to make a biblical angel AI’s feelings relatable, and I really appreciate that. The side characters were just as interesting as the main characters, and I found myself caring for them just as much. I think there’s someone here for everyone to relate to, if not for their specific situations but the way it impacts them, the people around them, and how they try to deal with it. Even though this is sci-fi fantasy, there are real world problems that are handled in a way that feels respectful and authentic.
The world - Again, I’m a fan of the sort of surreal vibe Hess was going for; it’s evident in the descriptions of the setting without feeling overt. Galvlohi simultaneously feels like a real place and feels *not* like a real place. I’m explaining this poorly, but essentially, he hit a home run with the vibe he set out to create.
The story - The pacing was just right, and with a plot and setting this interesting, I’d have read this even without the romance (high praise since I generally don’t read sci-fi/fantasy if there is none). I’m trying to remain spoiler-free so I won’t say too much more, but there was a lot more going on with the plot than I was expecting, which I loved.
The diversity - When I say this book has diverse characters, I mean it. People with different disabilities, various ethnic backgrounds, neurodivergent folks, and of course the large amount of queer folks (a small touch: I don’t think the MCs ever assume someone’s gender. Pronouns are they/them for people they meet unless and until they’re told otherwise). As mentioned earlier, everyone feels like real people rather than a checklist of traits, which makes this representation even better. I found these portrayals respectful and authentic as well.
Misc - Small random thing: I usually hate when authors try to use negative space/different fonts/different dialogue indicators because it all too often comes off as trying too hard to make the text impactful. Here, I enjoyed it because it actually *did* enhance the text.
I’ll stop my gushing now, but I seriously loved this story and can see myself reading it again. I rated 4.5 because nothing is perfect, but I really have no notes for improvement. 5/5 enjoyment. 10/5 enjoyment when reading with vaporwave playing in the background.
I’m off to go inhale the author’s other works.
October 31, 2023
I received an ARC from the author and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
In the handful of books I’ve read from Al Hess, he’s always been able to surprise me with fun, out-there, yet cozy and queer-centric takes on familiar concepts, and Yours Celestially is no different. Partly an homage to an earlier (now unpublished series), which admittedly I haven’t read, it was still a delight in its own way, as I knew it would be, from the moment I heard the book’s pitch involved the likes of “biblically accurate AI, completely bonkers visuals, and bionic penis jokes!”
The world is a lot of fun, and simultaneously feels familiar (whether or not you know the prior series) and completely new, as well as like an incredibly trippy adventure with a squishy, reassuring message at its core. I loved the blend of the futuristic tech with deeper, eternal themes, like how harmful certain sects of religion are in pushing bigoted legislation that harms queer people.
The central characters are also delightful. I was immediately more drawn to Metatron, loving both the quirky, humorous side of them, as well as the deeper romantic side as they grapple with their feelings for someone and whether that someone returns their feelings. It’s so unexpected, given how most people think of AI, and I couldn’t help but root for them every step of the way.
But the human lead, Sasha, is also compelling. He has his own complicated issues to work through, while simultaneously also feeling Metatron’s, via their connection, and having to serve as a rather unconventional wingman. The portrayal of ADHD is compellingly drawn, and I like how that relates to his drug addiction, thanks to the technological advancements of the future, with all medications being easy to acquire without thinking about it, including those used for illicit means. I also appreciated how issues like his situation being divorced and how it impacted his relationship with his daughter, who he doesn’t have primary custody of, as well as the deeper examination of his pathology, with him being rather closed-off, instead of confiding in people who care for him.
I had some mixed feelings when I found out that this book would juggle two romances, as that can sometimes be very hit-or-miss. While I don’t know that either love interest felt as well-defined to me as either Sasha or Metatron were, given the story is from their perspectives, I did feel that they had chemistry with their respective love interests.
With it being on the lighter side of sci-fi, there’s not a lot of action, but that’s not to say there’s nothing of interest that happens. While it’s cozier and more introspective, I found myself quickly drawn into these characters and their world, with it keeping my attention from beginning to end.
This is a fun read, and I’d recommend it to readers looking for a lighthearted, cozy queer take on the sci-fi genre.
In the handful of books I’ve read from Al Hess, he’s always been able to surprise me with fun, out-there, yet cozy and queer-centric takes on familiar concepts, and Yours Celestially is no different. Partly an homage to an earlier (now unpublished series), which admittedly I haven’t read, it was still a delight in its own way, as I knew it would be, from the moment I heard the book’s pitch involved the likes of “biblically accurate AI, completely bonkers visuals, and bionic penis jokes!”
The world is a lot of fun, and simultaneously feels familiar (whether or not you know the prior series) and completely new, as well as like an incredibly trippy adventure with a squishy, reassuring message at its core. I loved the blend of the futuristic tech with deeper, eternal themes, like how harmful certain sects of religion are in pushing bigoted legislation that harms queer people.
The central characters are also delightful. I was immediately more drawn to Metatron, loving both the quirky, humorous side of them, as well as the deeper romantic side as they grapple with their feelings for someone and whether that someone returns their feelings. It’s so unexpected, given how most people think of AI, and I couldn’t help but root for them every step of the way.
But the human lead, Sasha, is also compelling. He has his own complicated issues to work through, while simultaneously also feeling Metatron’s, via their connection, and having to serve as a rather unconventional wingman. The portrayal of ADHD is compellingly drawn, and I like how that relates to his drug addiction, thanks to the technological advancements of the future, with all medications being easy to acquire without thinking about it, including those used for illicit means. I also appreciated how issues like his situation being divorced and how it impacted his relationship with his daughter, who he doesn’t have primary custody of, as well as the deeper examination of his pathology, with him being rather closed-off, instead of confiding in people who care for him.
I had some mixed feelings when I found out that this book would juggle two romances, as that can sometimes be very hit-or-miss. While I don’t know that either love interest felt as well-defined to me as either Sasha or Metatron were, given the story is from their perspectives, I did feel that they had chemistry with their respective love interests.
With it being on the lighter side of sci-fi, there’s not a lot of action, but that’s not to say there’s nothing of interest that happens. While it’s cozier and more introspective, I found myself quickly drawn into these characters and their world, with it keeping my attention from beginning to end.
This is a fun read, and I’d recommend it to readers looking for a lighthearted, cozy queer take on the sci-fi genre.
September 21, 2025
I received this book from the SPSFC4, where I was a judge. This book was a finalist in the competition, and I'm sorry to the author for posting this so late. While my reviews on other places went up back in July, I've been bogged down in my written reviews.
An incredibly charming, queer, and cute two-for-the-price-of-one sci-fi romance, Yours Celestially manages to balance all that it has going on. It’s like Altered Carbon if it were hopepunk instead of cyber and very gay.
Unlike most romances with dual POV, the POVs here aren’t the two love interests but Sasha and Metatron, which was an interesting way to do it. I thought Sasha and his friends were just great. Sasha himself was likeable - a flawed but good-intentioned man attempting to heal after trauma, but who also had an exterior issue that drives the plot, that he could feel Metatron’s emotions, and it was making him ill. His friends were great too, including his daughter (you don’t often see kids in queer romance, so that was a very cute aspect), the ex-wife he’s still friends with (something you also don’t see often), and his new work colleagues and roommates. All have bit parts but round out the story nicely. His love interest, in particular, is interesting because he starts off as a sort of bad guy, but his story is also interesting in how it ties into the rest of the novel.
While I enjoyed the romantic aspects, I equally enjoyed the cozy yet serious story, complete with deeper themes of grief, self-acceptance, and healing. It also features queer rep of all varieties, normalized and accommodated disability, and a shark stuffed toy named Mr. Teeth.
And yes, I mentioned Alterd Carbon at the start, and that’s because this book, which is like the opposite tonally, features a very similar concept.
Now, while I thought this book was great, it wasn’t perfect. It’s a little slow around the halfway mark, and Metatron and Sasha are almost too similar at times, having similar hangups about relationships that stall out the romance a little bit at times.
While I liked the worldbuilding, I wanted a bit more of it to really flesh it out, yet, overall, a really worthy finalist and was my personal second favourite of the competition.
An incredibly charming, queer, and cute two-for-the-price-of-one sci-fi romance, Yours Celestially manages to balance all that it has going on. It’s like Altered Carbon if it were hopepunk instead of cyber and very gay.
Unlike most romances with dual POV, the POVs here aren’t the two love interests but Sasha and Metatron, which was an interesting way to do it. I thought Sasha and his friends were just great. Sasha himself was likeable - a flawed but good-intentioned man attempting to heal after trauma, but who also had an exterior issue that drives the plot, that he could feel Metatron’s emotions, and it was making him ill. His friends were great too, including his daughter (you don’t often see kids in queer romance, so that was a very cute aspect), the ex-wife he’s still friends with (something you also don’t see often), and his new work colleagues and roommates. All have bit parts but round out the story nicely. His love interest, in particular, is interesting because he starts off as a sort of bad guy, but his story is also interesting in how it ties into the rest of the novel.
While I enjoyed the romantic aspects, I equally enjoyed the cozy yet serious story, complete with deeper themes of grief, self-acceptance, and healing. It also features queer rep of all varieties, normalized and accommodated disability, and a shark stuffed toy named Mr. Teeth.
And yes, I mentioned Alterd Carbon at the start, and that’s because this book, which is like the opposite tonally, features a very similar concept.
Now, while I thought this book was great, it wasn’t perfect. It’s a little slow around the halfway mark, and Metatron and Sasha are almost too similar at times, having similar hangups about relationships that stall out the romance a little bit at times.
While I liked the worldbuilding, I wanted a bit more of it to really flesh it out, yet, overall, a really worthy finalist and was my personal second favourite of the competition.
January 10, 2025
Al Hess truly impressed me with Yours Celestially. Despite being a somewhat lesser-known author (having unpublished his traveler series), his writing captivated me right from the start. His words flow like art, painting vivid scenes and emotions that make it hard to put the book down. Hess masterfully combines his talent for storytelling with a futuristic, AI-driven world that feels both imaginative and grounded.
One of the most striking aspects of this story is its portrayal of a culture that fully embraces gender and sexual fluidity. In this future, where technology allows people to choose or change their bodies, the characters introduce themselves with their names and pronouns. At first, this felt like an organic and authentic reflection of how such a society might evolve—a genius touch that immediately immersed me in the world Hess created.
However, as the story progressed, I felt that the focus on pronouns and gender identity began to feel a bit overemphasized. While I appreciated the inclusive representation, there were moments when it seemed to detract from the story's natural flow, such as the introduction of terms like “xe,” which left me a bit confused. Similarly, continually labeling the main character as “queer,” when his actions and relationships already conveyed that, felt unnecessary and slightly repetitive. These elements might have been more impactful if left to the reader to infer, especially since the foundation of this inclusive world was so well-established early on.
That said, I deeply admired how Hess wove themes of identity, inclusivity, and hope into a futuristic narrative. The depiction of “Limbo,” a tech-driven afterlife, was especially compelling—a fresh and inspiring take on what life and existence might look like millennia from now. The interplay between these grand ideas and the personal struggles of the characters made for a thought-provoking and emotional read.
I thoroughly enjoyed Yours Celestially and only wished it were a bit longer to provide more closure on Metatron and Rodrigo.
One of the most striking aspects of this story is its portrayal of a culture that fully embraces gender and sexual fluidity. In this future, where technology allows people to choose or change their bodies, the characters introduce themselves with their names and pronouns. At first, this felt like an organic and authentic reflection of how such a society might evolve—a genius touch that immediately immersed me in the world Hess created.
However, as the story progressed, I felt that the focus on pronouns and gender identity began to feel a bit overemphasized. While I appreciated the inclusive representation, there were moments when it seemed to detract from the story's natural flow, such as the introduction of terms like “xe,” which left me a bit confused. Similarly, continually labeling the main character as “queer,” when his actions and relationships already conveyed that, felt unnecessary and slightly repetitive. These elements might have been more impactful if left to the reader to infer, especially since the foundation of this inclusive world was so well-established early on.
That said, I deeply admired how Hess wove themes of identity, inclusivity, and hope into a futuristic narrative. The depiction of “Limbo,” a tech-driven afterlife, was especially compelling—a fresh and inspiring take on what life and existence might look like millennia from now. The interplay between these grand ideas and the personal struggles of the characters made for a thought-provoking and emotional read.
I thoroughly enjoyed Yours Celestially and only wished it were a bit longer to provide more closure on Metatron and Rodrigo.
November 2, 2023
Salutations :::::)
This is my second Al Hess book and I’m officially obsessed.
Cosy queer sci fi that deals with some big themes (please see content warnings from the author below)
Although this book deals with some heavy themes, the lightheartedness and humour does an excelent job at balancing it out and leaving you with the fuzzy feels.
Due to this book's cosy nature/low stakes it was really easy to pick up and read throughout my week. Not once did I feel lost in a way that was bad. Even though the book is very strange and takes you to a limbo world where anything can happen I was still able to follow along and understand the characters motivations.
I love that Sasha pops antacids like they’re candy to try to subdue the symptoms of Metatrson’s feelings. As someone with anxiety and acid reflux I really felt that one in the gut.
I really appreciate the Found Family Trope and love seeing relationships deepen within the text. There's a reason for every character who is introduced and I enjoyed how they all seemed to have a connection somehow.
Al Hess is officially an auto read author! Can’t wait for Key Lime Sky.
Thanks so much to the author for gifting me the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
The following content warnings and rep are direct from the authors website.
Content warnings:
past drug addiction, divorce, mentions of car wreck, discussion of death, brief violence, profanity, brief mention of suicide and past self-harm, brief mentions of transphobia, mentions of Christianity and biblical iconography (seraphs, cherubs, etc.), mild sexual elements, depression and anxiety, vomiting
Rep: Gay, bisexual, queer, trans, non-binary, and asexual characters; M/M and NBi/M romance
ADHD main character; autistic love interest; love interest with anxiety and past trauma
This is my second Al Hess book and I’m officially obsessed.
Cosy queer sci fi that deals with some big themes (please see content warnings from the author below)
Although this book deals with some heavy themes, the lightheartedness and humour does an excelent job at balancing it out and leaving you with the fuzzy feels.
Due to this book's cosy nature/low stakes it was really easy to pick up and read throughout my week. Not once did I feel lost in a way that was bad. Even though the book is very strange and takes you to a limbo world where anything can happen I was still able to follow along and understand the characters motivations.
I love that Sasha pops antacids like they’re candy to try to subdue the symptoms of Metatrson’s feelings. As someone with anxiety and acid reflux I really felt that one in the gut.
I really appreciate the Found Family Trope and love seeing relationships deepen within the text. There's a reason for every character who is introduced and I enjoyed how they all seemed to have a connection somehow.
Al Hess is officially an auto read author! Can’t wait for Key Lime Sky.
Thanks so much to the author for gifting me the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
The following content warnings and rep are direct from the authors website.
Content warnings:
past drug addiction, divorce, mentions of car wreck, discussion of death, brief violence, profanity, brief mention of suicide and past self-harm, brief mentions of transphobia, mentions of Christianity and biblical iconography (seraphs, cherubs, etc.), mild sexual elements, depression and anxiety, vomiting
Rep: Gay, bisexual, queer, trans, non-binary, and asexual characters; M/M and NBi/M romance
ADHD main character; autistic love interest; love interest with anxiety and past trauma
October 15, 2023
Yours Celestially by Al Hess - 5 out of 5 stars!
Honestly, I can't stop thinking about the worlds Hess has created in his novels. The Hep Cats of Boise series has been incredible, and now the world of Yours Celestially joins it permanently in my mind.
In a diverse, Queer-normative future in which your consciousness can be uploaded to Limbo and reborn into a new body of your design, the story centers on love in different forms. Something strange is going on with the resurrection company's guardian angel AI, and with a number of the souls trapped in their Limbo space. Our MC Sasha needs to find a way to help Metatron confess his feelings, but Sasha in danger of catching feeling of his own towards a gorgeous yet surly colleague.
The rep in the book is excellent, a theme Hess keeps in all his novels, and each character is fully rounded, ensuring that the diversity feels natural as well as intentional. The characters develop well throughout the plot, which is full of emotional ups and downs, and keeps you guessing right until the end.
I absolutely loved the world-building and writing style - always a strength in Hess's work - and the way witty humour balances deeper topics like death, violence, and the idea of self. There are some dark themes in this one, so I would recommend you check the content warnings before reading, but I felt they were all dealt with sensitively and with purpose.
The character drawings are a huge plus, and I can't get over Hess's talent in this regard - I'd highly recommend checking out his art account as well as his author one.
Thank you to Al Hess for this amazing ARC - my opinions here are my own, honest and freely given. I look forward to buying the paperback, and the upcoming Key Lime Sky!
Honestly, I can't stop thinking about the worlds Hess has created in his novels. The Hep Cats of Boise series has been incredible, and now the world of Yours Celestially joins it permanently in my mind.
In a diverse, Queer-normative future in which your consciousness can be uploaded to Limbo and reborn into a new body of your design, the story centers on love in different forms. Something strange is going on with the resurrection company's guardian angel AI, and with a number of the souls trapped in their Limbo space. Our MC Sasha needs to find a way to help Metatron confess his feelings, but Sasha in danger of catching feeling of his own towards a gorgeous yet surly colleague.
The rep in the book is excellent, a theme Hess keeps in all his novels, and each character is fully rounded, ensuring that the diversity feels natural as well as intentional. The characters develop well throughout the plot, which is full of emotional ups and downs, and keeps you guessing right until the end.
I absolutely loved the world-building and writing style - always a strength in Hess's work - and the way witty humour balances deeper topics like death, violence, and the idea of self. There are some dark themes in this one, so I would recommend you check the content warnings before reading, but I felt they were all dealt with sensitively and with purpose.
The character drawings are a huge plus, and I can't get over Hess's talent in this regard - I'd highly recommend checking out his art account as well as his author one.
Thank you to Al Hess for this amazing ARC - my opinions here are my own, honest and freely given. I look forward to buying the paperback, and the upcoming Key Lime Sky!
November 4, 2023
Anyone who’s been here a while knows how much I gush about World Running Down, one of my first forays into NetGalley and one of my fav reads of the early year and here Al Hess is back with another book, wonderfully queer and more cute AIs?? For me??
Yours Celestially is not only a dual POV but two parallel (yet intertwined) stories in a future world with good working transit where one can subscribe to have their consciousness held after death to reupload in a new body. While said new body is being prepared, the consciousnesses are in ‘Limbo,” and watched over by an AI called Metatron who’s chosen an avatar taking inspiration from Catholic many-eyed angels. Metatron, however, is so in love with one of the people in Limbo it’s started to carry over into the outside world…
Most of the characters are queer and ethnically diverse and something else lovely is that the MC Sasha refers to EVERYONE by they/them unless he’s been told otherwise? Neat!
I was so so stoked to get the ARC approval e-mail (thank you SO MUCH) and dive into the fun formatting and great characters; I’ve since purchased the digital copy but I think I’ll need the paperback too….
Can’t wait for Key Lime Sky! 💚
Yours Celestially is not only a dual POV but two parallel (yet intertwined) stories in a future world with good working transit where one can subscribe to have their consciousness held after death to reupload in a new body. While said new body is being prepared, the consciousnesses are in ‘Limbo,” and watched over by an AI called Metatron who’s chosen an avatar taking inspiration from Catholic many-eyed angels. Metatron, however, is so in love with one of the people in Limbo it’s started to carry over into the outside world…
Most of the characters are queer and ethnically diverse and something else lovely is that the MC Sasha refers to EVERYONE by they/them unless he’s been told otherwise? Neat!
I was so so stoked to get the ARC approval e-mail (thank you SO MUCH) and dive into the fun formatting and great characters; I’ve since purchased the digital copy but I think I’ll need the paperback too….
Can’t wait for Key Lime Sky! 💚
November 5, 2023
Metatron is an AI that counsels recently deceased people while they are in a virtual reality called Limbo, awaiting their new bodies. Six people are trapped in Limbo awaiting a court ruling on whether the resurrection company can continue, and Metatron starts having romantic feelings toward one of them, Rodrigo. Metatron is not used to these emotions, and tries but doesn't manage to communicate his feelings to Rodrigo.
Sasha, a divorced former drug addict and the father of a young daughter, died and has been in his new body for a while. Somehow, he feels Metatron's emotions, especially when Metatron feels lovesick or rejected. It gives Sasha a stomach ache, sometimes a bad one - and he's not the only one who's feeling it. Sasha gets himself hired by the resurrection company so he can get to Metatron to deal with the situation.
All kind of action ensues, including a possible budding romance for Sasha. Hess is an outstanding writer; the characters draw the reader in, and the plot moves them forward steadily. Hess's books all have some queer romance, and each one I've read includes an AI/human love story. I also love Limbo, where people have powers to decorate and change their reality.
Sasha, a divorced former drug addict and the father of a young daughter, died and has been in his new body for a while. Somehow, he feels Metatron's emotions, especially when Metatron feels lovesick or rejected. It gives Sasha a stomach ache, sometimes a bad one - and he's not the only one who's feeling it. Sasha gets himself hired by the resurrection company so he can get to Metatron to deal with the situation.
All kind of action ensues, including a possible budding romance for Sasha. Hess is an outstanding writer; the characters draw the reader in, and the plot moves them forward steadily. Hess's books all have some queer romance, and each one I've read includes an AI/human love story. I also love Limbo, where people have powers to decorate and change their reality.
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