The Grigori

by Joshua Skye

Mr. A lurks in the derelict grand hotel, a haunt of junkies and their dealers, hustlers and runaways, petty criminals. On a night like any other, a man, a notorious family-values politician, dies in the hotel's ruined lobby. Suspended from a splendid chandelier, the body is bound with duct tape as if for some sordid S&M scene gone terribly wrong. The man has been disemboweled, intestines spilling from the gash in his belly to the dusty floor. Mr. A is watching, watching. "You know, everyone seems to think that angels are these cute little innocent baby-looking m*th*rf*ck*rs but the Bible describes them very, very differently... Angels are angry, crazy and mean as hell. They have four faces and only one of them is human. Their primary job isn't to save our souls or help us find love. They like to kill and they're good at it." Who is Mr. A? Mr. A is death. Mr. A is salvation. Mr. A is love. Mr. A is the Grigori.

Genres: Horror, LGBT, M M Romance

132 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2012

About the author

Joshua Skye is the author of the fantasy adventure, "Xerxes Canyon." He works primarily within the horror, fantasy, and erotica genres, often combining elements from each. His short stories appear in anthologies from STARbooks Press, As Publications, and Knightwatch Press. His work has also appeared in periodicals such as Blood and Lullabies.

He lives in rural Pennsylvania with his partner of fifteen years, Ray, and their seven-year-old son, Syrian. They share a historic Folk Victorian home with their pets Gypsy, Gizmo, and Bella, as well as a few spiders and ghosts.

Reviews

[Janeylou · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars

[M'rella · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did like the idea to some extend (religion is not my favorite subject, but I can deal), but the execution was terrible :/
1 star

['Nathan Burgoine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this audiobook coming to and from work, and over the last couple of days while walking the dog. It's not my usual fare - it's dark, borderline horror in places, and definitely visceral in description. It was also really well done, and I really enjoyed it.

The main characters are a cop, his husband, and a street hustler, and while the novella does skip around from present to past and through three different points of view, it does so fluidly and without losing the reader. More, the tangle that forms between the characters and an angel that has taken up residence in an abandoned hotel grows all the more intricate as the tale progresses.

The audio was very well performed, and the story itself was captivating. Even though I don't like gore and found myself squeamish quite a bit, I wanted to know where the tale was going. It's not a story for those looking for something light - this is not your cute cherub angel, but a six-winged four-faced judge of souls and deliverer of death. The balance between the narrative, the theological components, and the various thoughts and memories of those involved was handled deftly.

I'd definitely recommend it. Especially if you like darker fiction and/or horror.

[Damian Serbu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark. Yet enchanting. One surprise twist almost literally left me breathless, but I can't say any more because it would be a spoiler. This is a unique novella and a thought provoking read. It's a rare combination of theological treatise/novel - all in a speculative fiction genre. I loved it. Read it in one sitting.