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Be Not Afraid #1
Be Not Afraid
Beware the fallen angels… and those who dream of damnation.
Kae Lambros hasn’t slept in months. Haunted by apocalyptic visions, hunted by terror, she’s unravelling. Then a winged stranger corners her in the dark and reveals the truth: she is the key to a sealed, ancient realm, and the fate of humanity rests on a power she unknowingly carries.
Deep below, in a city infested with locust warriors, the archangel Abaddon the Destroyer rules the Abyss with ironclad authority. Kae’s arrival is a forbidden spark in his eternal darkness, and he’s desperate to feel the heat. But when the line between love and obsession blurs, no price is too high to pay.
Captivated by the dangerous call of desire, Kae struggles with her role in a world-ending prophecy that dances between salvation and ruin—and where one wrong choice could make her the monster… or the sacrifice.
Be Not Afraid is a modern gothic romance/dark fantasy horror series that will have you in its clutches from the very first page.
Kae Lambros hasn’t slept in months. Haunted by apocalyptic visions, hunted by terror, she’s unravelling. Then a winged stranger corners her in the dark and reveals the truth: she is the key to a sealed, ancient realm, and the fate of humanity rests on a power she unknowingly carries.
Deep below, in a city infested with locust warriors, the archangel Abaddon the Destroyer rules the Abyss with ironclad authority. Kae’s arrival is a forbidden spark in his eternal darkness, and he’s desperate to feel the heat. But when the line between love and obsession blurs, no price is too high to pay.
Captivated by the dangerous call of desire, Kae struggles with her role in a world-ending prophecy that dances between salvation and ruin—and where one wrong choice could make her the monster… or the sacrifice.
Be Not Afraid is a modern gothic romance/dark fantasy horror series that will have you in its clutches from the very first page.
459 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 20, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I’ve seen this book in its alpha and beta stages and now it’s finally here! 🎉🎉 I’m not going to pretend to be impartial about this, because I don’t think I could manage to be. I know how much love Koja has poured into this book, and how far she’s come as a writer. Seeing it reach publication after such a long journey is really special, and I’m glad it’s finally getting the chance to find its readers. 💕
March 13, 2026
This was a fascinating and intense read. I will say to check the trigger warnings before going in, as there are some heavy themes and a few moments that parallel real world events. The worldbuilding and character development were incredibly detailed, and it’s clear the author put a lot of thought and care into crafting this story. You can really feel that dedication in every world. The writing style felt strong and consistent throughout the entire book. I especially enjoyed the banter and the tension woven through the story, which kept things engaging and added a lot of depth to the character dynamics. Watching the FMC grow and evolve over the course of the book was one of my favorite parts, and I’m really curious to see where her journey goes in book two. Overall, this was a compelling and thoughtfully written story that I’m glad I picked up, and I’m definitely looking forward to continuing the series!
March 19, 2026
I am still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that this is a DEBUT NOVEL?! It is beautifully written and you can tell her research was deep and so much thought went into this story!
Kae is a college student who develops a bad case of insomnia. She has constant apocalypse nightmares and cannot seem to figure out why until one day she comes face to face with an angel. But not just any angel, the angel from her dreams, Malak!
Soon she learns that the nightmares are just the beginning of a grand prophecy where SHE is the key to saving humanity. She then begins the most intense journey with Malak that will have you on the edge of your seat and questioning every character that is introduced.
It is one of the most thrilling, spicy, funny, epic fantasies I have read in a while!
I too would love a hot, blonde angel with magnificent wings to ruthlessly flirt with me and compliment every fiber of my personality!
But at the same time, I was so mad at one point in this book! Council, I am talking to you!!
I did however love the world building and entricacies of complex characters. The hierarchies and different spheres of angels made this world so vivid. I really look forward to seeing where this story goes because I genuenly have so many questions and theories! I cannot wait to read more of Koja’s work. Well done, and brava! I will be thinking about this for the rest of the year!
Kae is a college student who develops a bad case of insomnia. She has constant apocalypse nightmares and cannot seem to figure out why until one day she comes face to face with an angel. But not just any angel, the angel from her dreams, Malak!
Soon she learns that the nightmares are just the beginning of a grand prophecy where SHE is the key to saving humanity. She then begins the most intense journey with Malak that will have you on the edge of your seat and questioning every character that is introduced.
It is one of the most thrilling, spicy, funny, epic fantasies I have read in a while!
I too would love a hot, blonde angel with magnificent wings to ruthlessly flirt with me and compliment every fiber of my personality!
But at the same time, I was so mad at one point in this book! Council, I am talking to you!!
I did however love the world building and entricacies of complex characters. The hierarchies and different spheres of angels made this world so vivid. I really look forward to seeing where this story goes because I genuenly have so many questions and theories! I cannot wait to read more of Koja’s work. Well done, and brava! I will be thinking about this for the rest of the year!
March 21, 2026
Angels, stars and prophecies, love and betrayal
Demons and the end of the world?
based on THE biblical apocalypse?? Not usually my style, but this??? Absolutely yes, modern day gothic dark fantasy horror mix
Not sleeping could literally end someone’s world, but when it’s because they are being sought by an ANGEL? Yeah this couldn’t possibly get worse right? RIGHT??
I fell in love with Kae from the beginning, and I understand her trauma and insomnia and the effects!!! Is Kae a monster or saviour? A delicate dance!
Malak is simply - DIVINE…. There is no words for his cockiness and thoughts. I cannot say more without spoilers which I refuse to do!
this is simply too good for words from the description of Revelations 9 (I am NOT a religious person so this was a stretch for me) and the locusts and just EVERYTHING!
Will make your eyes bleed from staying awake to read it all! That cliffhanger has me drowning!!!
book 2!?!?!??? I Don’t need to breathe anymore right?
Demons and the end of the world?
based on THE biblical apocalypse?? Not usually my style, but this??? Absolutely yes, modern day gothic dark fantasy horror mix
Not sleeping could literally end someone’s world, but when it’s because they are being sought by an ANGEL? Yeah this couldn’t possibly get worse right? RIGHT??
I fell in love with Kae from the beginning, and I understand her trauma and insomnia and the effects!!! Is Kae a monster or saviour? A delicate dance!
Malak is simply - DIVINE…. There is no words for his cockiness and thoughts. I cannot say more without spoilers which I refuse to do!
this is simply too good for words from the description of Revelations 9 (I am NOT a religious person so this was a stretch for me) and the locusts and just EVERYTHING!
Will make your eyes bleed from staying awake to read it all! That cliffhanger has me drowning!!!
book 2!?!?!??? I Don’t need to breathe anymore right?
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Apocalyptic dreams & a world ending prophecy? Yes, please!
This dark fantasy book packs a punch. I stumbled upon the ARC sign-up and was drawn to its unique premise and tropes, the storyline and writing have blown me away! The fact that it's the debut novel of an indie author is mind-boggling -- it reads like the work of a seasoned pro.
At first, it brings "For Whom the Belle Tolls" to mind because of the main character Kae's irreligion, but the further I delve, the more I'm reminded of the TV show "Supernatural", particularly in its depiction of angels and demons and their general shenanigans. I won't lie-- I wasn't expecting angels to be so spicy, but I don't hate it 😅
As a college student, Kae's insomnia and graduation are her biggest concerns - until a mysterious angel appears, flirts with her mercilessly, then tries to recruit her for a secret mission. It turns out that her apocalyptic nightmares are part of a bigger picture, where Kae is the key to saving humanity. No big deal, right?
I definitely will be adding this to my "favorites" list. It had me gasping, cackling, and highlighting entire pages! I highly recommend that you add this one to your TBR, to your Goodreads, your wish list - everything. Just do it.
*Please do note that this story touches on some heavy themes; these elements however are handled thoughtfully- aiming to enrich character development and the plot, rather than for shock value.
This dark fantasy book packs a punch. I stumbled upon the ARC sign-up and was drawn to its unique premise and tropes, the storyline and writing have blown me away! The fact that it's the debut novel of an indie author is mind-boggling -- it reads like the work of a seasoned pro.
At first, it brings "For Whom the Belle Tolls" to mind because of the main character Kae's irreligion, but the further I delve, the more I'm reminded of the TV show "Supernatural", particularly in its depiction of angels and demons and their general shenanigans. I won't lie-- I wasn't expecting angels to be so spicy, but I don't hate it 😅
As a college student, Kae's insomnia and graduation are her biggest concerns - until a mysterious angel appears, flirts with her mercilessly, then tries to recruit her for a secret mission. It turns out that her apocalyptic nightmares are part of a bigger picture, where Kae is the key to saving humanity. No big deal, right?
I definitely will be adding this to my "favorites" list. It had me gasping, cackling, and highlighting entire pages! I highly recommend that you add this one to your TBR, to your Goodreads, your wish list - everything. Just do it.
*Please do note that this story touches on some heavy themes; these elements however are handled thoughtfully- aiming to enrich character development and the plot, rather than for shock value.
March 12, 2026
✨ARC READER REVIEW✨
HOLY SHIT!!! Think the TV show Lucifer, but on steroids!
When promised with morally grey angels, it was not hard to decide to sign up for the ARC team for Koja Kalos. Nothing is as it seems in this first instalment of Be Not Afraid and everything you think you know about angels may be questioned.
We follow Kae in her journey to (hopefully) save the earth. After having not slept for a long time due to nightmares, she finds out she may be THE one to make sure her nightmares won’t come true. We meet different interesting characters. While some are there for you to hate them, some to love, some you only find out too late if you should have liked them or not. I felt like Koja took us through Kae’s emotions perfectly because I found myself feeling the same as her. I found myself confused at the same time as her, just as her anger felt justified.
I, ofcourse, don’t want to spoil too much as it definitely is a book you have to experience yourself, but the world is written beautifully! It was as if I found myself right there between the angels. As someone who doesn't have any knowledge about religion I didn’t feel like I missed something or didn’t understand. Koja explains and writes it very naturally into the story. Something I don’t find a lot in books. This is such a big plus! The author also included an playlist at the beginning of the book, plus a pronunciation guide.
What I loved about Kae as a character is that she is what some people would describe as a difficult woman. No, she just knows what she wants, says if she doesn't agree with you and takes no bullshit. She is not someone who wants to be rescued but will do the rescuing herself. I loved this!
There was one little dip around 82%, as it felt like it took too long, but this could also be because I'm a mood reader through and through. The book ends very strong and I cannot wait for book 2!
Before you pick up this amazing book (and you should!). Please remember that it is a dark novel. There are a couple of trigger warnings you should definitely see through before opening this book. Don’t expect something light and faithfull
My favorite quote: “You need to get off your high fucking horse and stop thinking you know everything because you’re older than dirt. You’re a hypocritical, manipulative piece of shit with a God complex.
HOLY SHIT!!! Think the TV show Lucifer, but on steroids!
When promised with morally grey angels, it was not hard to decide to sign up for the ARC team for Koja Kalos. Nothing is as it seems in this first instalment of Be Not Afraid and everything you think you know about angels may be questioned.
We follow Kae in her journey to (hopefully) save the earth. After having not slept for a long time due to nightmares, she finds out she may be THE one to make sure her nightmares won’t come true. We meet different interesting characters. While some are there for you to hate them, some to love, some you only find out too late if you should have liked them or not. I felt like Koja took us through Kae’s emotions perfectly because I found myself feeling the same as her. I found myself confused at the same time as her, just as her anger felt justified.
I, ofcourse, don’t want to spoil too much as it definitely is a book you have to experience yourself, but the world is written beautifully! It was as if I found myself right there between the angels. As someone who doesn't have any knowledge about religion I didn’t feel like I missed something or didn’t understand. Koja explains and writes it very naturally into the story. Something I don’t find a lot in books. This is such a big plus! The author also included an playlist at the beginning of the book, plus a pronunciation guide.
What I loved about Kae as a character is that she is what some people would describe as a difficult woman. No, she just knows what she wants, says if she doesn't agree with you and takes no bullshit. She is not someone who wants to be rescued but will do the rescuing herself. I loved this!
There was one little dip around 82%, as it felt like it took too long, but this could also be because I'm a mood reader through and through. The book ends very strong and I cannot wait for book 2!
Before you pick up this amazing book (and you should!). Please remember that it is a dark novel. There are a couple of trigger warnings you should definitely see through before opening this book. Don’t expect something light and faithfull
My favorite quote: “You need to get off your high fucking horse and stop thinking you know everything because you’re older than dirt. You’re a hypocritical, manipulative piece of shit with a God complex.
March 20, 2026
I struggled at the beginning to get locked into the story. It was hard for my brain to process the characters. There is a lot of world building needed, but I am so so glad I stuck with it because I am obsessed! Unreliable narrators, twisty turns, betrayal, suspense! I literally can’t wait to read all the comes next!
March 18, 2026
I absolutely loved Be Not Afraid. The story follows a seemingly normal girl who gets pulled into the world of angels and she’s exactly what they didn’t know they needed: strong, stubborn, and impossible to ignore.
As she becomes the key to the apocalypse, the stakes skyrocket… but the biggest question remains, how do you tell which angels are truly good and which are evil?
This book was completely captivating. I devoured it from start to finish and couldn’t put it down!
As she becomes the key to the apocalypse, the stakes skyrocket… but the biggest question remains, how do you tell which angels are truly good and which are evil?
This book was completely captivating. I devoured it from start to finish and couldn’t put it down!
March 6, 2026
Review of advance copy received from Author
Be Not Afraid is truly everything you could ask for in a fantasy debut. It’s hard to imagine that this is the first book Koja Kalos has written. It had me engaged from the very very start.
The characters are relatable and nuanced, with the “bad” guys having moments of goodness and the “good” guys having moments of cruelty. It’s a refreshing take in a world that is so often divided into black and white.
The main character, Kae, is intelligent, motivated, and knows who the hell she is. She’s not going to be easily pushed around by these archangels.
I found this books to be incredibly well researched. As someone who grew up in a Christian household and took not one but two college courses about the Bible, it can be hard to see biblical characters outside of their original context. The author clearly did their research, crafting their angels to easily fit into known canon while offering new and refreshing takes on the story.
I could talk for hours about this book and need absolutely everyone to put it on their TBR so I can keep yapping about it forever.
Please note the content warnings at the beginning of the book. It contains some really heavy situations and while I think they are handled with care, it may be too much for some readers.
Be Not Afraid is truly everything you could ask for in a fantasy debut. It’s hard to imagine that this is the first book Koja Kalos has written. It had me engaged from the very very start.
The characters are relatable and nuanced, with the “bad” guys having moments of goodness and the “good” guys having moments of cruelty. It’s a refreshing take in a world that is so often divided into black and white.
The main character, Kae, is intelligent, motivated, and knows who the hell she is. She’s not going to be easily pushed around by these archangels.
I found this books to be incredibly well researched. As someone who grew up in a Christian household and took not one but two college courses about the Bible, it can be hard to see biblical characters outside of their original context. The author clearly did their research, crafting their angels to easily fit into known canon while offering new and refreshing takes on the story.
I could talk for hours about this book and need absolutely everyone to put it on their TBR so I can keep yapping about it forever.
Please note the content warnings at the beginning of the book. It contains some really heavy situations and while I think they are handled with care, it may be too much for some readers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This debut bursts out the gate with a scathing examination of good and evil, of the duality of men, and our better angels.
Each character boasts multitudes, all complex and flawed and driven by their emotions. The author lures the reader along with them, tantalizing us; tangling our heartstrings and pulling the laces tight... just before revealing it was a garrote the whole time.
The plot unfolds meticulously, replete with shocking epiphanies. It is a journey through a geopolitics, exotic locales, carnal needs, inner turmoil, and a thousand betrayals.
For me as a reader, it is a rare thing indeed to convince me to read a book about Christian lore written in first person present tense, let alone fall hopelessly in lust over it.
Kalos has converted me to the darkness and the light.
Each character boasts multitudes, all complex and flawed and driven by their emotions. The author lures the reader along with them, tantalizing us; tangling our heartstrings and pulling the laces tight... just before revealing it was a garrote the whole time.
The plot unfolds meticulously, replete with shocking epiphanies. It is a journey through a geopolitics, exotic locales, carnal needs, inner turmoil, and a thousand betrayals.
For me as a reader, it is a rare thing indeed to convince me to read a book about Christian lore written in first person present tense, let alone fall hopelessly in lust over it.
Kalos has converted me to the darkness and the light.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Wow this book had my emotions all over the place. Twist and turns I didn't expect and relationships I really wanted to happen instead of what happened but it was nicely done. Kept me reading & wanting more.
The characters are loveable & hateable, I especially wanted to murder a few of them myself. I am curious how the next book is going to proceed next but I'm all for it. Angels/demons, end of the world maybe, who doesn't enjoy the risk of the unknown. You should go & pre order this amazing book.
The characters are loveable & hateable, I especially wanted to murder a few of them myself. I am curious how the next book is going to proceed next but I'm all for it. Angels/demons, end of the world maybe, who doesn't enjoy the risk of the unknown. You should go & pre order this amazing book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was an OUTSTANDING read. I could not put this book down. Nothing could prepare me for the ending as I am in need of so much more of this story. The characters and the world building was so detailed. Kinda wish I had someone to pull my threads. Or to have the power to do onto others. I can not wait to read more of these characters and more from this author.
March 20, 2026
I was gifted a digital copy of this book in return for leaving an honest review. And I’m happy to do so here.
I rated Be Not Afraid at 5 stars and here’s why:
1. It’s smartly written with a steady pace.
2. The main character is relatable, intelligent, and witty. She stays true to herself and asks the questions that I would ask!
3. There were no predictable plot twists. I was genuinely surprised and stayed interested throughout. There were so many “what in the holy heck is happening?” moments, and I love that.
4. The environmental setting was unlike anything I’ve ever read. The detail in the writing made it easy to imagine.
5. Even though the stakes are the highest they can get, there was humor and realistic responses that made it relatable.
6. It has a unique take on biblical apocalyptic lore that melds well with epic fantasy elements. I loved the detail of the lore/world building and that it develops throughout the book instead of being dumped all at the beginning. That can be overwhelming at times, but this story builds it piece by piece.
7. The angels are hot. Yes, that deserves noting.
I’ll definitely be rereading this when book 2 comes out!
It has been an honor to be a part of the ARC/Street Team for Be Not Afraid. I’m so thrilled for people to finally be able to read this book!
I rated Be Not Afraid at 5 stars and here’s why:
1. It’s smartly written with a steady pace.
2. The main character is relatable, intelligent, and witty. She stays true to herself and asks the questions that I would ask!
3. There were no predictable plot twists. I was genuinely surprised and stayed interested throughout. There were so many “what in the holy heck is happening?” moments, and I love that.
4. The environmental setting was unlike anything I’ve ever read. The detail in the writing made it easy to imagine.
5. Even though the stakes are the highest they can get, there was humor and realistic responses that made it relatable.
6. It has a unique take on biblical apocalyptic lore that melds well with epic fantasy elements. I loved the detail of the lore/world building and that it develops throughout the book instead of being dumped all at the beginning. That can be overwhelming at times, but this story builds it piece by piece.
7. The angels are hot. Yes, that deserves noting.
I’ll definitely be rereading this when book 2 comes out!
It has been an honor to be a part of the ARC/Street Team for Be Not Afraid. I’m so thrilled for people to finally be able to read this book!
Review of advance copy received from Author
First of all, big thank you to the author for the ARC of her book! I had very little idea what I was going to be reading, but I'm so glad I read this.
*4.5 rounded up
*Read the CW (nothing triggers me, but, just read them.)
I'm terrible at summaries. So anyway.
This is an amazing debut book. I enjoyed:
The writing style - it's intelligent and very well written
The change of style - (drastic) between characters which I actually think carried the story well. POVs change at exactly the right time, in my opinion
The world building - I can picture things like movies in my head and the authors descriptions made this ridiculously easy
Also, the theology. I thoroughly enjoyed the details included in this book. (I'm not religious and did not know some of these angel's names or biblical ideals.)
The only thing that was awkward sometimes was the romance. But, that's because I was so much more interested in the story than anything else.
Obviously, once I got to the end I was screaming because this one isn't even published yet and I want to keep reading. I'm lookong forward to the next one. ❤️
*4.5 rounded up
*Read the CW (nothing triggers me, but, just read them.)
I'm terrible at summaries. So anyway.
This is an amazing debut book. I enjoyed:
The writing style - it's intelligent and very well written
The change of style - (drastic) between characters which I actually think carried the story well. POVs change at exactly the right time, in my opinion
The world building - I can picture things like movies in my head and the authors descriptions made this ridiculously easy
Also, the theology. I thoroughly enjoyed the details included in this book. (I'm not religious and did not know some of these angel's names or biblical ideals.)
The only thing that was awkward sometimes was the romance. But, that's because I was so much more interested in the story than anything else.
Obviously, once I got to the end I was screaming because this one isn't even published yet and I want to keep reading. I'm lookong forward to the next one. ❤️
Review of advance copy received from Author
this book was so amazing, it was written exceptionally well with so many quotable moments that tug your heartstrings and really invest you in the main character. I cannot wait for the release to buy the physical copy as well as book 2. Large plot twist that I DID NOT see coming and kept me hooked until the very last page.
February 20, 2026
I received an advanced reader copy of this book not knowing i would ABSOLUTELY ENTHRALLED. I absolutely loved every moment of this book. The twists and turns, and the wonderful world building, such a great read.
Review of advance copy received from Author
“They want to treat me like a lamb for slaughter - but I am not a lamb. I have teeth. I am a predator.”
This is truly an astonishing piece of art. Without a doubt, Koja Kalos is on my auto-buy list and I hope to see many many books from her in the future.
Be Not Afraid is a dark, biblical adaption of if Revelations was at humanity’s doorstop and one girl has the Key to unlock it all. Except, she’s quite literally the Key because a star decided to bond with her soul without her knowledge and now the angels and the Heavens and the fate of humanity is on the shoulders of Kae “you’ve got to be fucking kidding me” Lambros.
I LOVE Kae as a main character. She’s witty, smart, empathic and one hell of a main character. It’s clear that Kalos has some scientific background writing this story because Kae’s desire to go to medical school and understand intricate theories in seconds is told in a very academic way. That’s not a complaint, in fact that’s a compliment. She somehow manages to make scientific wording sound both advanced and yet not elitist at the same time. It’s written in a very consumable way and it helps add to Kae’s detailed character background, her desire to help everyone around her, and her determination when things get tough. She's still a flawed character, but her flaws are so relatable it's like someone reached into my soul and decided to put a mirror there.
Every other character is VERYYYY well written. The banter between Kae and Malak is to DIE for (can a hot blonde angel refer to me as Dawn and him as Dusk sometime soon too???). I will not speak on Abbadon except to say that motherfucker had me side eyeing him from day one. And the Council? PLEASE! I threw my phone reading this at one point I was SOOOO MAD. That’s all to say - everyone was very well written and I have strongggg emotions toward them all.
“They wanted someone to be responsible for the darkness, so they gave it my name.”
Kalo’s take on angels and Heaven/Hell is so incredibly complex and nuanced in a good way. There are multiple Spheres of angels and Powers, dimensions such as the Abyss and Elohim, hierarchies within the angels, and much more. It really is such a new take on a biblical adaption that I’ve never seen before (and trust me, as someone who grew up in a very religious household I have read many takes over the years). Every ounce of this book is filled with meaning down to the names of every angel, the places they travel, the languages they speak. You are given a lot of information without it feeling overwhelming since it’s so well woven into the story.
“Fresh air, my ass. I’m equally anxious, except now I’m anxious outside, where the sun is too bright.”
The humor in this book is the perfect blend of someone who can actually write Gen-Z as being Gen-Z and not feeling cringy at all. It’s a comedic relief without feeling like it’s forced. Kalos really captures the banter I love to see in any book, but mix that with the realistic sarcasm of Kae and you’ve got a BANGER FMC. I equally love how badass her best friend is and we get a more in-depth sneak peek at that near the end.
“If there’s some kind of angel mob out there printing money, then I’d prefer to keep my plausible deniability.”
This book dived deep into religious references and interpretations and yet felt like an entirely new work of art that can stand up on its own. I received this as an ARC, but trust me when I say all opinions are entirely my own and I can’t recommend this enough! I am so so excited to see what Kalos releases in the future and I NEEEED book 2 now!!!
This is truly an astonishing piece of art. Without a doubt, Koja Kalos is on my auto-buy list and I hope to see many many books from her in the future.
Be Not Afraid is a dark, biblical adaption of if Revelations was at humanity’s doorstop and one girl has the Key to unlock it all. Except, she’s quite literally the Key because a star decided to bond with her soul without her knowledge and now the angels and the Heavens and the fate of humanity is on the shoulders of Kae “you’ve got to be fucking kidding me” Lambros.
I LOVE Kae as a main character. She’s witty, smart, empathic and one hell of a main character. It’s clear that Kalos has some scientific background writing this story because Kae’s desire to go to medical school and understand intricate theories in seconds is told in a very academic way. That’s not a complaint, in fact that’s a compliment. She somehow manages to make scientific wording sound both advanced and yet not elitist at the same time. It’s written in a very consumable way and it helps add to Kae’s detailed character background, her desire to help everyone around her, and her determination when things get tough. She's still a flawed character, but her flaws are so relatable it's like someone reached into my soul and decided to put a mirror there.
Every other character is VERYYYY well written. The banter between Kae and Malak is to DIE for (can a hot blonde angel refer to me as Dawn and him as Dusk sometime soon too???). I will not speak on Abbadon except to say that motherfucker had me side eyeing him from day one. And the Council? PLEASE! I threw my phone reading this at one point I was SOOOO MAD. That’s all to say - everyone was very well written and I have strongggg emotions toward them all.
“They wanted someone to be responsible for the darkness, so they gave it my name.”
Kalo’s take on angels and Heaven/Hell is so incredibly complex and nuanced in a good way. There are multiple Spheres of angels and Powers, dimensions such as the Abyss and Elohim, hierarchies within the angels, and much more. It really is such a new take on a biblical adaption that I’ve never seen before (and trust me, as someone who grew up in a very religious household I have read many takes over the years). Every ounce of this book is filled with meaning down to the names of every angel, the places they travel, the languages they speak. You are given a lot of information without it feeling overwhelming since it’s so well woven into the story.
“Fresh air, my ass. I’m equally anxious, except now I’m anxious outside, where the sun is too bright.”
The humor in this book is the perfect blend of someone who can actually write Gen-Z as being Gen-Z and not feeling cringy at all. It’s a comedic relief without feeling like it’s forced. Kalos really captures the banter I love to see in any book, but mix that with the realistic sarcasm of Kae and you’ve got a BANGER FMC. I equally love how badass her best friend is and we get a more in-depth sneak peek at that near the end.
“If there’s some kind of angel mob out there printing money, then I’d prefer to keep my plausible deniability.”
This book dived deep into religious references and interpretations and yet felt like an entirely new work of art that can stand up on its own. I received this as an ARC, but trust me when I say all opinions are entirely my own and I can’t recommend this enough! I am so so excited to see what Kalos releases in the future and I NEEEED book 2 now!!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I really didn't want to give this book a three star, and I've been dreading writing this review all day because I had to admit to myself that I didn't enjoy this one as much as I thought I would. I feel even worse because I asked the author for the ARC. I sat down and wrote the reasons why I liked it and why I didn't like it, and unfortunately I came up with about equal numbers for both.
My scale for rating is
Perfect ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Great ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Good ⭐⭐⭐
Not Good ⭐⭐
Awful ⭐
✨I'll start with what I didn't like first just to rip the band aid off. I'm sticking to my top two reasons for both to keep this review as neat as possible.
This was marketed as a forbidden romance. There was hardly anything romantic about it. After getting through all roughly 450 pages of this story, I couldn't even tell you who the MFCs love interest was supposed to be. I thought it was the messenger, but more towards the end of the book, she barely even acknowledges his existence, only recalling that he was escorting her friend. I then thought it was another angel, but chapter after chapter of him abusing her mentally, spiritually, physically, and sexually, I realized quickly there is no way in hell she could be with him after that. This is not minor abuse either. The only sex to take place in the entire book was assault. Zero spice. We are then introduced to another key player towards the end that had more potential than any of them but it didn't hint toward her liking him at all. She didn't trust anyone by the end and it was all for valid/unchangeable reasons. This was not a romance book. This was YA/Fantasy. The next book has a chance to change this, but book one missed the dartboard completely and the dart landed somewhere in the wall behind it.
I also wasn't too thrilled with the pacing. this book could have been shorted down by 100 pages and you still would not have missed much. She arrives in the abyss with no knowledge on how to use her power, no information about the angels other than the basics, and two infatuated angels sizing each other up over her. ONE HUNDRED pages later and this is still the case. This pacing dragged the whole story. The whole book felt like reading the introduction part. Nothing gets answered and the direction of the story became unintentionally uncertain as a result.
✨Now, things I did like about this book.
The story itself was interesting if you cut out all the unnecessary details like stated above. I liked the world building. I thought the inspiration for this story was creative and it's the reason I wanted to keep reading. The locust really gave me the creeps, the drama between the characters was believable, and the angelic powers were showcased to the fullest effect.
The ending landed on a soft cliffhanger compared to the rest of the book and I felt this was a perfect fit to finish with. She had already been through the ringer and she needed a true, reliable ally.
I am not completely detoured from reading the second book. I think the second book will be more of what I expected as far as troupes go. I want to clarify that these thoughts are just my own opinions and you may think differently after reading. I still thought this book was good, especially for an author that is on the newer side. With time, I think the author can write a true masterpiece, especially with how creative this one was. I just think the biggest problem with this particular book was how it was marketed.
My scale for rating is
Perfect ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Great ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Good ⭐⭐⭐
Not Good ⭐⭐
Awful ⭐
✨I'll start with what I didn't like first just to rip the band aid off. I'm sticking to my top two reasons for both to keep this review as neat as possible.
This was marketed as a forbidden romance. There was hardly anything romantic about it. After getting through all roughly 450 pages of this story, I couldn't even tell you who the MFCs love interest was supposed to be. I thought it was the messenger, but more towards the end of the book, she barely even acknowledges his existence, only recalling that he was escorting her friend. I then thought it was another angel, but chapter after chapter of him abusing her mentally, spiritually, physically, and sexually, I realized quickly there is no way in hell she could be with him after that. This is not minor abuse either. The only sex to take place in the entire book was assault. Zero spice. We are then introduced to another key player towards the end that had more potential than any of them but it didn't hint toward her liking him at all. She didn't trust anyone by the end and it was all for valid/unchangeable reasons. This was not a romance book. This was YA/Fantasy. The next book has a chance to change this, but book one missed the dartboard completely and the dart landed somewhere in the wall behind it.
I also wasn't too thrilled with the pacing. this book could have been shorted down by 100 pages and you still would not have missed much. She arrives in the abyss with no knowledge on how to use her power, no information about the angels other than the basics, and two infatuated angels sizing each other up over her. ONE HUNDRED pages later and this is still the case. This pacing dragged the whole story. The whole book felt like reading the introduction part. Nothing gets answered and the direction of the story became unintentionally uncertain as a result.
✨Now, things I did like about this book.
The story itself was interesting if you cut out all the unnecessary details like stated above. I liked the world building. I thought the inspiration for this story was creative and it's the reason I wanted to keep reading. The locust really gave me the creeps, the drama between the characters was believable, and the angelic powers were showcased to the fullest effect.
The ending landed on a soft cliffhanger compared to the rest of the book and I felt this was a perfect fit to finish with. She had already been through the ringer and she needed a true, reliable ally.
I am not completely detoured from reading the second book. I think the second book will be more of what I expected as far as troupes go. I want to clarify that these thoughts are just my own opinions and you may think differently after reading. I still thought this book was good, especially for an author that is on the newer side. With time, I think the author can write a true masterpiece, especially with how creative this one was. I just think the biggest problem with this particular book was how it was marketed.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I had the opportunity to read an ARC of “Be Not Afraid” by Koja Kalos, this story has one of the most intriguing apocalyptic premises I’ve read recently but the direction the story takes made this a very mixed reading experience for me.
The story follows Kar, a med student with chronic insomnia due to this very wild and intense apocalyptic dreams she’s been having. Her life takes a turn when she discovers that her nightmares might be about to come her reality because it turns out she’s not just a regular young woman but the Key to the Abyss; and the messenger of this news (quite literally) is none other by a beautiful archangel named Malak, who’s there to both protect and guide her way to fulfill her destiny. Basically, the Abyss is a place that harbors army of monsters (locusts) that will help the angels purge the earth of evil. In other words… the apocalypse is coming, and she’s at the center of it.
One of the first things that stood out to me was the worldbuilding. The angelic hierarchy and lore reminded me a lot of The Mortal Instruments universe mixed with Supernatural, Good Omens and some times even Sandman. The prophecy and overall lore are heavily inspired by the Christian Bible, which makes the story feel layered and complex. At times, though, it was a little difficult for me to grasp everything that was happening early on. I often found myself just as confused and full of questions as Kae.
One of my favorite parts of the first half of the book was Kae’s banter with Malak. Their dynamic was genuinely entertaining, and Malak is both hilarious and charming. I did feel like Kae’s shift from suspicion and caution to full-blown attraction happened a bit suddenly… but honestly, I could still understand the appeal.
Where the story started to lose me a little was once they reached the Abyss. The tone of the relationships shifts quite dramatically, especially with the introduction of the King. Kae develops a strong attraction toward Abbadon despite him being consistently dismissive and disrespectful toward her. I usually enjoy morally grey characters, but Abbadon is one I personally struggled with. I suspect there’s a lot more behind this dynamic (perhaps in the next book?) but the direction it takes becomes extremely dark, and parts of it were honestly disturbing for me to read.
Overall, I’d rate Be Not Afraid around 3–3.5 stars. The premise and mythology were incredibly intriguing, and the writing itself was very strong, but the darker direction of the story and some confusing aspects of the worldbuilding made it harder for me to fully connect with it. The story also includes parallels to some current political events, which may be meaningful for some readers, but personally made it harder for me to stay immersed. As someone who often reads as a form of escape, that element pulled me out of the story at times. You can read the full list of trigger warnings on the authors website!
Once again, thank you to the author, Koja Kalos for considering me as one of your ARC readers.
The story follows Kar, a med student with chronic insomnia due to this very wild and intense apocalyptic dreams she’s been having. Her life takes a turn when she discovers that her nightmares might be about to come her reality because it turns out she’s not just a regular young woman but the Key to the Abyss; and the messenger of this news (quite literally) is none other by a beautiful archangel named Malak, who’s there to both protect and guide her way to fulfill her destiny. Basically, the Abyss is a place that harbors army of monsters (locusts) that will help the angels purge the earth of evil. In other words… the apocalypse is coming, and she’s at the center of it.
One of the first things that stood out to me was the worldbuilding. The angelic hierarchy and lore reminded me a lot of The Mortal Instruments universe mixed with Supernatural, Good Omens and some times even Sandman. The prophecy and overall lore are heavily inspired by the Christian Bible, which makes the story feel layered and complex. At times, though, it was a little difficult for me to grasp everything that was happening early on. I often found myself just as confused and full of questions as Kae.
One of my favorite parts of the first half of the book was Kae’s banter with Malak. Their dynamic was genuinely entertaining, and Malak is both hilarious and charming. I did feel like Kae’s shift from suspicion and caution to full-blown attraction happened a bit suddenly… but honestly, I could still understand the appeal.
Where the story started to lose me a little was once they reached the Abyss. The tone of the relationships shifts quite dramatically, especially with the introduction of the King. Kae develops a strong attraction toward Abbadon despite him being consistently dismissive and disrespectful toward her. I usually enjoy morally grey characters, but Abbadon is one I personally struggled with. I suspect there’s a lot more behind this dynamic (perhaps in the next book?) but the direction it takes becomes extremely dark, and parts of it were honestly disturbing for me to read.
Overall, I’d rate Be Not Afraid around 3–3.5 stars. The premise and mythology were incredibly intriguing, and the writing itself was very strong, but the darker direction of the story and some confusing aspects of the worldbuilding made it harder for me to fully connect with it. The story also includes parallels to some current political events, which may be meaningful for some readers, but personally made it harder for me to stay immersed. As someone who often reads as a form of escape, that element pulled me out of the story at times. You can read the full list of trigger warnings on the authors website!
Once again, thank you to the author, Koja Kalos for considering me as one of your ARC readers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 11, 2026
3.75 (rounded to 4 ⭐️)
I really wanted to love Be Not Afraid. Angels, prophecy, apocalypse dark romance? This should have been everything for me… but it didn’t fully land all the way - but still think the world has tons of potential!
The biggest issue for me was the pacing. This book felt long, and I truly think it could have been at least 100 pages shorter. A large portion of the story felt like one extended introduction where not much actually moved forward, and I struggled from about 50% to 90% to stay engaged. But I was committed and kept pushing - but at the same time wondering where was this story going?
The angel politics and war were also overly complicated. I feel like I should be taking notes. I love detailed world building, but this felt heavy instead of immersive, and at times it pulled me out of the story rather than deeper into it. I do think the author did a great job describing the landscapes and scenes!
The FMC was inconsistent for me. She went from very naive and frustrating to suddenly powerful, and I found it hard to fully connect with her. By the end, we finally start to see a more strategic and self-aware version of her, which made the final chapters more engaging, but it made me wish we had seen more of that version of her earlier in the book. At some parts she was a complete brat!!!
One of my biggest struggles was the way certain relationship dynamics were portrayed. Some of the darker scenes, especially involving Abaddon, crossed into territory that felt more disturbing than compelling. As the story progresses, it becomes clear that this is not just “dark romance,” but a lack of consent and loss of agency, which made it difficult to connect with any romantic elements. I did not like that!
That said, there were aspects I did enjoy. The concept is strong, the world itself is interesting, and some of the darker, more chaotic elements had real potential. I did love her interactions with Malak, and even their hook ups and banter - and the friendship they built!
At one point I even thought this was going to become a love triangle trope and I was here for it - but then Malak kind of became a weak side character (which I didn’t like as I think he should be one of the main characters) and the whole abusive Abaddon situation just turned me off for a while!
And then… Azael showed up. The devil he is!
Azael completely changed the tone of the book for me. His presence brought clarity, tension, and a much stronger dynamic with the FMC. Their interactions felt like a true push and pull, built on choice rather than control, which made their scenes far more compelling. He actually calls things out for what they are, including the trauma the FMC experienced, and it made the story feel more grounded and intentional.
He gave me major Rhysand vibes — that confident, morally gray, slightly dangerous energy that you know you probably shouldn’t trust… but do anyway.
The final stretch of the book was, without a doubt, the strongest part. It finally leaned into the darker, more powerful energy I had been hoping for from the beginning. The tension improved, the FMC started to take more control, and the story felt like it was finally finding its direction.
The ending itself felt more like a transition than a cliffhanger, almost like the story is just beginning. While that left me a bit frustrated, it also made me curious about where things are going next.
Overall, this book had a lot of potential and some really strong ideas, but the execution didn’t fully come together for me which is expected for a debut novel. That said… I would absolutely continue the series, especially for Azael and the direction the story seems to be heading. Overall I think this was a solid first book that gives great potential to the second!
Definitely check your triggers!
Thank you to the author Koja Kolas for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review!
I really wanted to love Be Not Afraid. Angels, prophecy, apocalypse dark romance? This should have been everything for me… but it didn’t fully land all the way - but still think the world has tons of potential!
The biggest issue for me was the pacing. This book felt long, and I truly think it could have been at least 100 pages shorter. A large portion of the story felt like one extended introduction where not much actually moved forward, and I struggled from about 50% to 90% to stay engaged. But I was committed and kept pushing - but at the same time wondering where was this story going?
The angel politics and war were also overly complicated. I feel like I should be taking notes. I love detailed world building, but this felt heavy instead of immersive, and at times it pulled me out of the story rather than deeper into it. I do think the author did a great job describing the landscapes and scenes!
The FMC was inconsistent for me. She went from very naive and frustrating to suddenly powerful, and I found it hard to fully connect with her. By the end, we finally start to see a more strategic and self-aware version of her, which made the final chapters more engaging, but it made me wish we had seen more of that version of her earlier in the book. At some parts she was a complete brat!!!
One of my biggest struggles was the way certain relationship dynamics were portrayed. Some of the darker scenes, especially involving Abaddon, crossed into territory that felt more disturbing than compelling. As the story progresses, it becomes clear that this is not just “dark romance,” but a lack of consent and loss of agency, which made it difficult to connect with any romantic elements. I did not like that!
That said, there were aspects I did enjoy. The concept is strong, the world itself is interesting, and some of the darker, more chaotic elements had real potential. I did love her interactions with Malak, and even their hook ups and banter - and the friendship they built!
At one point I even thought this was going to become a love triangle trope and I was here for it - but then Malak kind of became a weak side character (which I didn’t like as I think he should be one of the main characters) and the whole abusive Abaddon situation just turned me off for a while!
And then… Azael showed up. The devil he is!
Azael completely changed the tone of the book for me. His presence brought clarity, tension, and a much stronger dynamic with the FMC. Their interactions felt like a true push and pull, built on choice rather than control, which made their scenes far more compelling. He actually calls things out for what they are, including the trauma the FMC experienced, and it made the story feel more grounded and intentional.
He gave me major Rhysand vibes — that confident, morally gray, slightly dangerous energy that you know you probably shouldn’t trust… but do anyway.
The final stretch of the book was, without a doubt, the strongest part. It finally leaned into the darker, more powerful energy I had been hoping for from the beginning. The tension improved, the FMC started to take more control, and the story felt like it was finally finding its direction.
The ending itself felt more like a transition than a cliffhanger, almost like the story is just beginning. While that left me a bit frustrated, it also made me curious about where things are going next.
Overall, this book had a lot of potential and some really strong ideas, but the execution didn’t fully come together for me which is expected for a debut novel. That said… I would absolutely continue the series, especially for Azael and the direction the story seems to be heading. Overall I think this was a solid first book that gives great potential to the second!
Definitely check your triggers!
Thank you to the author Koja Kolas for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Initially the first few chapters had me hooked. I was thinking “yay!! Finally something that sounds interesting!” And then it quickly derailed and turned into garbage fire for me. It took me so long to get through this book. I would have DNF’ed this book very quickly but wanted to give it my full effort since I received an arc. My main problem is that it feels very YA and there is incredibly dark themes here (there are a lot of TW’s and they do be triggering!). I also did not like the chaotic plot and the absolute tomfoolery of these characters. I disliked every single one.
The story follows Kae, a burnout med student who has nightmares of the apocalypse. A hot dreamy guy from her dreams pops up, reveals he’s an angel, the stories in the Bible are real, and Kae, you are the lucky winner who is the key to bringing upon the apocalypse! Yay!! And by god, she goes along with it! She is spirited away to modern day Israel (ew) and receives spiritual training to unlock her power.
Very quickly off, her and Dusk (because he’s the Dusk to her Dawn, cringe) have the YA’iest banter to ever YA. It’s cringe. It’s ick. It’s not interesting. They lip lock so fast and admit some tingling of feelings. But hey, we must act professional since I’m an angel and you’re a human. Friend zoned.
Then suddenly, the story slaps me in the face with a love triangle that I didn’t see coming, because why is the first 2 angels she ever met just horny af for this girl??
THEN the story takes a hop, skip, and jump straight into crazy town!! Who would have thunk these angels are actually the bad guys and want to bring about the apocalypse to punish all non-Christian humans. Like with death and torture. Pretty sure Kae knew that all along!
The ending basically insinuates all this needed to happen in order for Kae to evolve from a caterpillar to a butterfly and claim her power. As a traumatized survivor.
This story has heavy Christian elements as well as real world political events that reflect on the monstrosities going on in today’s time. If you want to read to escape, then is definitely not the book to read!!
Even though my review sounds like I had an awful time, I am rating 3 stars because the writing style is actually really great and I can tell the author has talent. But a lot of work still needs to be done on character development, overall plot, and fixing the wacky banter. This would evolve the book to feel more mature and overall well rounded.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for an arc! This review is my own.
The story follows Kae, a burnout med student who has nightmares of the apocalypse. A hot dreamy guy from her dreams pops up, reveals he’s an angel, the stories in the Bible are real, and Kae, you are the lucky winner who is the key to bringing upon the apocalypse! Yay!! And by god, she goes along with it! She is spirited away to modern day Israel (ew) and receives spiritual training to unlock her power.
Very quickly off, her and Dusk (because he’s the Dusk to her Dawn, cringe) have the YA’iest banter to ever YA. It’s cringe. It’s ick. It’s not interesting. They lip lock so fast and admit some tingling of feelings. But hey, we must act professional since I’m an angel and you’re a human. Friend zoned.
Then suddenly, the story slaps me in the face with a love triangle that I didn’t see coming, because why is the first 2 angels she ever met just horny af for this girl??
THEN the story takes a hop, skip, and jump straight into crazy town!! Who would have thunk these angels are actually the bad guys and want to bring about the apocalypse to punish all non-Christian humans. Like with death and torture. Pretty sure Kae knew that all along!
The ending basically insinuates all this needed to happen in order for Kae to evolve from a caterpillar to a butterfly and claim her power. As a traumatized survivor.
This story has heavy Christian elements as well as real world political events that reflect on the monstrosities going on in today’s time. If you want to read to escape, then is definitely not the book to read!!
Even though my review sounds like I had an awful time, I am rating 3 stars because the writing style is actually really great and I can tell the author has talent. But a lot of work still needs to be done on character development, overall plot, and fixing the wacky banter. This would evolve the book to feel more mature and overall well rounded.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for an arc! This review is my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book is just…wow
You follow along the main character a medical student named Kaelene mostly known as kae. She from the start is very likable and honestly relatable. I loved that we actually got to see her willingness to want to work hard to accomplish her goals. There was multiple instances of her training and it’s so refreshing to see a main character not be naturally good at something and have to work for it. I like how she doesn’t lose her humanity or the way she looks at things as most other characters do, she constantly thought about the greater good, had constant empathy for others and always followed what SHE believed in/thought was best. And she didn’t let any man or in this case angel persuade her. I also very much liked that she used her scientific background to try to understand things. Her relationship and the way she communicates with her best friend Jackie is so wholesome and also completely accurate.
The main male characters were all very likable. I found myself even liking the “bad” characters. They all had a unique depth to them. I love how even though they are angels they are not perceived as wholly good beings and that they are made up of a little good and bad. Them even admitting that in some moments.
Well, this book is obviously written around biblical themes. I really like this approach on this subject. It feels unique while also being clear of what it’s written around. I didn’t actually need to know any information going into this book. Everything was explained beautifully even the things that were just briefly mentioned and I did not have to do any research on anything. I also very much appreciate that all of the angels are very much different from each other so it’s easy to remember who’s who.
Parts of this book literally had me giggling and kicking my feet. The banter between characters is just so entertaining and once again realistic to how I think someone in Kae’s situation would react
I’m honestly shocked that this is the author’s first book. It is so beautifully well written and in-depth that I would’ve expected them to be a seasoned multi published author. I definitely can’t wait to see more of these characters in the next book. (Malak and Azeal I’m looking at you)
You follow along the main character a medical student named Kaelene mostly known as kae. She from the start is very likable and honestly relatable. I loved that we actually got to see her willingness to want to work hard to accomplish her goals. There was multiple instances of her training and it’s so refreshing to see a main character not be naturally good at something and have to work for it. I like how she doesn’t lose her humanity or the way she looks at things as most other characters do, she constantly thought about the greater good, had constant empathy for others and always followed what SHE believed in/thought was best. And she didn’t let any man or in this case angel persuade her. I also very much liked that she used her scientific background to try to understand things. Her relationship and the way she communicates with her best friend Jackie is so wholesome and also completely accurate.
The main male characters were all very likable. I found myself even liking the “bad” characters. They all had a unique depth to them. I love how even though they are angels they are not perceived as wholly good beings and that they are made up of a little good and bad. Them even admitting that in some moments.
Well, this book is obviously written around biblical themes. I really like this approach on this subject. It feels unique while also being clear of what it’s written around. I didn’t actually need to know any information going into this book. Everything was explained beautifully even the things that were just briefly mentioned and I did not have to do any research on anything. I also very much appreciate that all of the angels are very much different from each other so it’s easy to remember who’s who.
Parts of this book literally had me giggling and kicking my feet. The banter between characters is just so entertaining and once again realistic to how I think someone in Kae’s situation would react
I’m honestly shocked that this is the author’s first book. It is so beautifully well written and in-depth that I would’ve expected them to be a seasoned multi published author. I definitely can’t wait to see more of these characters in the next book. (Malak and Azeal I’m looking at you)
Review of advance copy received from Author
5 ⭐️ | A Theatrical, Apocalyptic Fever Dream in the Best Way
Be Not Afraid by Koja Kalos completely consumed me.
This wasn’t just a fantasy read — it was a full theatrical experience. The kind of book where you look up at 2 a.m., disoriented, wondering how you got emotionally entangled in celestial politics and winged angel drama when you were only supposed to read “one chapter.”
Our FMC is a sarcastic, sleep-deprived med student who feels so real it hurts. She’s exhausted, overwhelmed, and somehow still sharp enough to keep up with divine beings who have been playing political chess since the beginning of time. Her banter? Elite. Her internal commentary? Hilarious. Her resilience? Quietly powerful.
Then we have Malak and Abaddon — complete opposites in personality and presence, yet equally compelling. Watching their dynamic unfold alongside hers was electric. The tension, the friendship, the possibility of something more… it all felt layered rather than forced.
What truly sets this apart is the scale. The political intrigue isn’t confined to kingdoms or courts — it’s celestial. We’re talking revelations-level, rapture-imminent, end-of-the-world stakes. And the locust army? Absolutely not your backyard cicadas. These are metal-bodied, humanoid, black-eyed, scorpion-tailed creatures that are equal parts horrifying and fascinating. The imagery is vivid and cinematic without losing emotional grounding.
I felt fully immersed in this world — the theology-inspired mythos, the looming apocalypse, the moral tension, the relationships. It balanced humor and dread in a way that made everything hit harder.
Be warned: this is only the first book in a series. And when it ends, you will be left staring at the wall, slightly feral, already desperate for the next installment.
If you love:
• Angel lore with bite
• Celestial political intrigue
• End-of-the-world stakes
• Sharp banter
• A human FMC trying to survive divine chaos
This one is for you.
And yes… I lost sleep for this book. Zero regrets.
Be Not Afraid by Koja Kalos completely consumed me.
This wasn’t just a fantasy read — it was a full theatrical experience. The kind of book where you look up at 2 a.m., disoriented, wondering how you got emotionally entangled in celestial politics and winged angel drama when you were only supposed to read “one chapter.”
Our FMC is a sarcastic, sleep-deprived med student who feels so real it hurts. She’s exhausted, overwhelmed, and somehow still sharp enough to keep up with divine beings who have been playing political chess since the beginning of time. Her banter? Elite. Her internal commentary? Hilarious. Her resilience? Quietly powerful.
Then we have Malak and Abaddon — complete opposites in personality and presence, yet equally compelling. Watching their dynamic unfold alongside hers was electric. The tension, the friendship, the possibility of something more… it all felt layered rather than forced.
What truly sets this apart is the scale. The political intrigue isn’t confined to kingdoms or courts — it’s celestial. We’re talking revelations-level, rapture-imminent, end-of-the-world stakes. And the locust army? Absolutely not your backyard cicadas. These are metal-bodied, humanoid, black-eyed, scorpion-tailed creatures that are equal parts horrifying and fascinating. The imagery is vivid and cinematic without losing emotional grounding.
I felt fully immersed in this world — the theology-inspired mythos, the looming apocalypse, the moral tension, the relationships. It balanced humor and dread in a way that made everything hit harder.
Be warned: this is only the first book in a series. And when it ends, you will be left staring at the wall, slightly feral, already desperate for the next installment.
If you love:
• Angel lore with bite
• Celestial political intrigue
• End-of-the-world stakes
• Sharp banter
• A human FMC trying to survive divine chaos
This one is for you.
And yes… I lost sleep for this book. Zero regrets.
March 11, 2026
I was luckily enough to ARC read this
Ok so this is a book based very highly on a lot of biblical figures within the book and does have quite a lot of in depth knowledge about the many different archangels. Which intrigued me about this book and is why I applied for it originally.
Kae is our FMC and she has been having nightmares about apocalyptic situations, which has made her sleep deprived and dealing with a lot mentally. She then meets an angel called Malek who tells her she is the key to opening the abyss and basically causing Armageddon.
Along the way we meet multiple angels thoughout and are given a one dimensional side of the story from malek and abaddon. She learns throughout the book about who she is and what she is meant to do and trains. While also having the relationships building with the other characters.
At the same time we have a ‘Secret POV’ from someone we don’t know too but do get to meet.
The start did get me hooked as I really wanted to know what was going on and learning all about the world which the world was built really well for me. The characters I liked but I do think could have done with a bit more development as Kae could be quite naive and annoying at times but this is intriguing to see how they develop in the next book.
I will say that this book for me did feel a little flat in the middle and I wasn’t as bothered about picking it up as not a lot happened in the middle and it dragged a little until we started moving along with the story.
Once I got passed that bit the story became a lot more fast paced, and we finally got to meet the secret pov person, and learn their side in the war which is very interesting and did keep my original thoughts that we can’t trust the first people. However as a story we are not there yet.
Overall I did really enjoy this book and I am really interested to see where it goes from here as it’s been a great start for me. I want to learn more about azael too and his side which we only touched on.
I probably would give it a solid 3.75
Ok so this is a book based very highly on a lot of biblical figures within the book and does have quite a lot of in depth knowledge about the many different archangels. Which intrigued me about this book and is why I applied for it originally.
Kae is our FMC and she has been having nightmares about apocalyptic situations, which has made her sleep deprived and dealing with a lot mentally. She then meets an angel called Malek who tells her she is the key to opening the abyss and basically causing Armageddon.
Along the way we meet multiple angels thoughout and are given a one dimensional side of the story from malek and abaddon. She learns throughout the book about who she is and what she is meant to do and trains. While also having the relationships building with the other characters.
At the same time we have a ‘Secret POV’ from someone we don’t know too but do get to meet.
The start did get me hooked as I really wanted to know what was going on and learning all about the world which the world was built really well for me. The characters I liked but I do think could have done with a bit more development as Kae could be quite naive and annoying at times but this is intriguing to see how they develop in the next book.
I will say that this book for me did feel a little flat in the middle and I wasn’t as bothered about picking it up as not a lot happened in the middle and it dragged a little until we started moving along with the story.
Once I got passed that bit the story became a lot more fast paced, and we finally got to meet the secret pov person, and learn their side in the war which is very interesting and did keep my original thoughts that we can’t trust the first people. However as a story we are not there yet.
Overall I did really enjoy this book and I am really interested to see where it goes from here as it’s been a great start for me. I want to learn more about azael too and his side which we only touched on.
I probably would give it a solid 3.75
Review of advance copy received from Author
I stumbled upon ARC signups for this book and was immediately intrigued. It sounded so different from any book I’ve ever read, and I wasn’t disappointed.
We are immediately thrown into the story from page one, which I’m always a huge fan of because it really gets me hooked. Our FMC is Kae, human, having a difficult time through no fault of her own. I wasn’t sure how I felt about her at first because I cannot stand a whiny main character and she could have gone either way. But honestly, she was so normal and down to earth. Her internal monologue felt like exactly what any regular person would have been thinking going through everything she’d been handed.
Now, Malek. Blonde, handsome angel who shows up on the scene. He was a breath of fresh air. Funny, the banter between the two of them was so good. He won me over and had me laughing out loud from one of his first scenes. Shirt off. If you know, you know.
The world in this book was exceptionally vast and sometimes difficult to understand, but the author did an amazing job with giving us the information we needed without feeling like a huge info dump. It was spread out and just flowed so naturally, several pages later I would realize how much I had just learned and how that info had just expanded the world we were in. Honestly, the entire writing style was A+ and I found myself completely lost for hours at a time. It did get a little slow about halfway through, but I think at that point I was just ready for certain things to happen and they just weren’t happening at the pace I wanted them to!
All in all, a very successful debut for an author and I can’t wait to continue the series. Solid 4 stars and will definitely be picking up any future work!
I was very lucky to receive an ARC of this book from the author but all thoughts and opinions are my own. That being said, read this book so I have people to talk about it with!!
We are immediately thrown into the story from page one, which I’m always a huge fan of because it really gets me hooked. Our FMC is Kae, human, having a difficult time through no fault of her own. I wasn’t sure how I felt about her at first because I cannot stand a whiny main character and she could have gone either way. But honestly, she was so normal and down to earth. Her internal monologue felt like exactly what any regular person would have been thinking going through everything she’d been handed.
Now, Malek. Blonde, handsome angel who shows up on the scene. He was a breath of fresh air. Funny, the banter between the two of them was so good. He won me over and had me laughing out loud from one of his first scenes. Shirt off. If you know, you know.
The world in this book was exceptionally vast and sometimes difficult to understand, but the author did an amazing job with giving us the information we needed without feeling like a huge info dump. It was spread out and just flowed so naturally, several pages later I would realize how much I had just learned and how that info had just expanded the world we were in. Honestly, the entire writing style was A+ and I found myself completely lost for hours at a time. It did get a little slow about halfway through, but I think at that point I was just ready for certain things to happen and they just weren’t happening at the pace I wanted them to!
All in all, a very successful debut for an author and I can’t wait to continue the series. Solid 4 stars and will definitely be picking up any future work!
I was very lucky to receive an ARC of this book from the author but all thoughts and opinions are my own. That being said, read this book so I have people to talk about it with!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received this book as an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Koja Kalos for trusting me with this beautiful book!
Be Not Afraid completely pulled me in from the start. One of the strongest elements of this story is Kae as a protagonist. She’s sassy, sharp-witted, and fiercely determined, but she also goes through a number of emotional struggles that add depth to her character. Watching her navigate fear, uncertainty, and the overwhelming situations she finds herself in while still choosing to fight back made her incredibly compelling to follow. Her character growth throughout the book felt authentic and earned.
The world-building was another highlight. The story blends a modern-day setting with hidden celestial realms and angelic cities, and the descriptions make these locations feel vivid and alive. Each realm felt distinct, and the glimpses into angelic society added a lot of intrigue to the story.
The Archangels themselves were fascinating. With multiple love interests introduced throughout the book, the tension constantly keeps you guessing about their true motivations. At times they feel protective, while at other moments you’re left questioning whether they might actually be something far more dangerous. That ambiguity made the dynamics between the characters incredibly engaging.
The banter between characters was also fantastic. I initially loved the interactions between Kae and Malek, but the exchanges between Kae and Azael were easily some of my favorite moments in the book—they had me genuinely laughing.
Overall, this was an incredibly immersive read with strong characters, intriguing celestial lore, and just enough tension to keep you constantly turning the page. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and I am very ready to see where the next book takes these characters.
Be Not Afraid completely pulled me in from the start. One of the strongest elements of this story is Kae as a protagonist. She’s sassy, sharp-witted, and fiercely determined, but she also goes through a number of emotional struggles that add depth to her character. Watching her navigate fear, uncertainty, and the overwhelming situations she finds herself in while still choosing to fight back made her incredibly compelling to follow. Her character growth throughout the book felt authentic and earned.
The world-building was another highlight. The story blends a modern-day setting with hidden celestial realms and angelic cities, and the descriptions make these locations feel vivid and alive. Each realm felt distinct, and the glimpses into angelic society added a lot of intrigue to the story.
The Archangels themselves were fascinating. With multiple love interests introduced throughout the book, the tension constantly keeps you guessing about their true motivations. At times they feel protective, while at other moments you’re left questioning whether they might actually be something far more dangerous. That ambiguity made the dynamics between the characters incredibly engaging.
The banter between characters was also fantastic. I initially loved the interactions between Kae and Malek, but the exchanges between Kae and Azael were easily some of my favorite moments in the book—they had me genuinely laughing.
Overall, this was an incredibly immersive read with strong characters, intriguing celestial lore, and just enough tension to keep you constantly turning the page. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and I am very ready to see where the next book takes these characters.
Review of advance copy received from Author
English below :
Merci à Koja Kalos et à NetGalley de m'avoir permis de lire ce lire en tant qu'ARC.
Un Urban Dark Fantasy qui revisite la mythologie de l'apocalyspe avec anges, archanges, démons et autres plaies de l'apocalypse.
Un livre écrit avec plusieurs points de vue qui nous font voir la psychologie des différents protagonistes.
On découvre le monde céleste au côté de Kae et cela permet aux lecteurs non familiés avec cette mythologie d'apprendre en même temps que le personnage principal. On se sent perdu au départ, tout comme l'est Kae. L'histoire est magnifiquement ficelée et on découvre avec elle un monde rempli d'anges et de démons où rien n'est ce qu'il parait.
J'ai adoré ma lecture. C'est le premier livre d'une série. Pour ceux qui détestent les Cliffhanger, ce livre n'en contient pas. On termine le livre comme on terminerait une saison d'une série tv. On a hâte à la prochain saison ;). J'ai trop hâte d'en apprendre plus sur Azael dans la suite
English :
Thanks to Koja Kalos and NetGalley for the ARC
An Urban Dark Fantasy that revisits the mythology of the apocalypse with angels, archangels, demons, and other plagues of the apocalypse.
A book written from multiple points of view that allow us to see the psychology of the different protagonists.
We discover the celestial world alongside Kae, which allows readers unfamiliar with this mythology to learn at the same time as the main character. We feel lost at first, just like Kae. The story is beautifully crafted, and we discover with her a world filled with angels and demons where nothing is as it seems.
I loved reading it. It's the first book in a series. For those who hate cliffhangers, this book doesn't contain any. You finish the book like you would finish a season of a TV series. You can't wait for the next season ;). I can't wait to learn more about Azael in the sequel.
Merci à Koja Kalos et à NetGalley de m'avoir permis de lire ce lire en tant qu'ARC.
Un Urban Dark Fantasy qui revisite la mythologie de l'apocalyspe avec anges, archanges, démons et autres plaies de l'apocalypse.
Un livre écrit avec plusieurs points de vue qui nous font voir la psychologie des différents protagonistes.
On découvre le monde céleste au côté de Kae et cela permet aux lecteurs non familiés avec cette mythologie d'apprendre en même temps que le personnage principal. On se sent perdu au départ, tout comme l'est Kae. L'histoire est magnifiquement ficelée et on découvre avec elle un monde rempli d'anges et de démons où rien n'est ce qu'il parait.
J'ai adoré ma lecture. C'est le premier livre d'une série. Pour ceux qui détestent les Cliffhanger, ce livre n'en contient pas. On termine le livre comme on terminerait une saison d'une série tv. On a hâte à la prochain saison ;). J'ai trop hâte d'en apprendre plus sur Azael dans la suite
English :
Thanks to Koja Kalos and NetGalley for the ARC
An Urban Dark Fantasy that revisits the mythology of the apocalypse with angels, archangels, demons, and other plagues of the apocalypse.
A book written from multiple points of view that allow us to see the psychology of the different protagonists.
We discover the celestial world alongside Kae, which allows readers unfamiliar with this mythology to learn at the same time as the main character. We feel lost at first, just like Kae. The story is beautifully crafted, and we discover with her a world filled with angels and demons where nothing is as it seems.
I loved reading it. It's the first book in a series. For those who hate cliffhangers, this book doesn't contain any. You finish the book like you would finish a season of a TV series. You can't wait for the next season ;). I can't wait to learn more about Azael in the sequel.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Apocalyptic dreams, a flirty angel, and the fate of humanity?? Yeah… I was sat!! because tell me why I picked up a biblical fantasy… and stayed for the spicy angel??
Apocalyptic dreams? World-ending prophecy? A girl who is quite literally the key to it all?
Say less.
We follow Kae - a college student whose biggest problem should be insomnia and graduation…
except she’s having these terrifying visions and then - boom - a mysterious, very flirty angel shows up and flips her entire life upside down.
And suddenly?
She’s the key to saving humanity.
No pressure.
What I LOVED about this book is how it blends this dark, biblical fantasy world with such a fresh take on angels, demons, and heaven. It gave me Supernatural vibes but make it more complex, layered, and honestly… a little spicy.
Kae as a main character? OBSESSED.
She’s smart, sarcastic, emotional, flawed - like she feels real. The kind of character where you’re like… “oh, this would 100% be me panicking through the apocalypse.”
And the banter??
Top tier. Especially between Kae and Malak - I was eating that UP.
Also - this being a debut indie author???
Absolutely insane. The writing feels so polished, so immersive - I was highlighting, gasping, and fully emotionally invested.
And don’t even get me started on the world-building…
Angels, hierarchies, dimensions, moral gray areas - it’s detailed without being overwhelming, which I loved.
BUT - quick note - this does touch on some heavier themes, so definitely check trigger warnings.
Overall?
I’m adding this to my favorites and I NEED book two immediately.
If you like Dark Romance and enjoy these themes of angels, dimensions, morally gray characters pick this up!!
Confession of a Mood Reader: if the world is ending, I too would like a morally questionable angel.
Apocalyptic dreams? World-ending prophecy? A girl who is quite literally the key to it all?
Say less.
We follow Kae - a college student whose biggest problem should be insomnia and graduation…
except she’s having these terrifying visions and then - boom - a mysterious, very flirty angel shows up and flips her entire life upside down.
And suddenly?
She’s the key to saving humanity.
No pressure.
What I LOVED about this book is how it blends this dark, biblical fantasy world with such a fresh take on angels, demons, and heaven. It gave me Supernatural vibes but make it more complex, layered, and honestly… a little spicy.
Kae as a main character? OBSESSED.
She’s smart, sarcastic, emotional, flawed - like she feels real. The kind of character where you’re like… “oh, this would 100% be me panicking through the apocalypse.”
And the banter??
Top tier. Especially between Kae and Malak - I was eating that UP.
Also - this being a debut indie author???
Absolutely insane. The writing feels so polished, so immersive - I was highlighting, gasping, and fully emotionally invested.
And don’t even get me started on the world-building…
Angels, hierarchies, dimensions, moral gray areas - it’s detailed without being overwhelming, which I loved.
BUT - quick note - this does touch on some heavier themes, so definitely check trigger warnings.
Overall?
I’m adding this to my favorites and I NEED book two immediately.
If you like Dark Romance and enjoy these themes of angels, dimensions, morally gray characters pick this up!!
Confession of a Mood Reader: if the world is ending, I too would like a morally questionable angel.
April 2, 2026
Thank you to Koja Kalos for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
This book had me up late, heart racing, screaming and kicking my feet with glee. What a fantastic debut! It’s hard to even categorize this book into one genre – fantasy but in a more preapocalyptic/judgement day way; romance but not really when you think about it. There are undertones of the current state of our world and religious trauma. You have humans, humanoid locusts, archangels, fallen angels, the abyss, and the hierarchy of heaven to contend with.
**spoilers maybe**
Kae is our FMC who starts out a bit naïve as she’s thrown into an unfathomable scenario but grows through it into the epitome of feminine rage and bitterness. I can’t blame her though because who wouldn’t believe the hot ancient angels from above that showed up in your work parking garage. She’s doing her best with the information that has been provided to her and under the circumstances she has been dealt. She manages to be fierce and resilient while holding on to her empathy.
Jackie is our FMC’s bestie who is a stand out personality from the start even though we don’t get as much time with her. I hope we get to see her more as the series continues!
Malak is our first introduction to the potential apocalypse and angels. He gives off loyal golden retriever energy with a mild case of ADHD. I hope he ends up growing a backbone and is on the right side of things as they continue to shake out.
Abaddon is our bat boy king of the abyss. Sounds cool and shadow daddy adjacent, right?? You thought. I thought. We all thought. For the lady? Perhaps not.
Michael got what was coming to him. He deserved more actually, but I’ll take it.
Kae might just have natural chemistry with everyone because I was falling for anyone and everyone on page with her.
This book had me up late, heart racing, screaming and kicking my feet with glee. What a fantastic debut! It’s hard to even categorize this book into one genre – fantasy but in a more preapocalyptic/judgement day way; romance but not really when you think about it. There are undertones of the current state of our world and religious trauma. You have humans, humanoid locusts, archangels, fallen angels, the abyss, and the hierarchy of heaven to contend with.
**spoilers maybe**
Kae is our FMC who starts out a bit naïve as she’s thrown into an unfathomable scenario but grows through it into the epitome of feminine rage and bitterness. I can’t blame her though because who wouldn’t believe the hot ancient angels from above that showed up in your work parking garage. She’s doing her best with the information that has been provided to her and under the circumstances she has been dealt. She manages to be fierce and resilient while holding on to her empathy.
Jackie is our FMC’s bestie who is a stand out personality from the start even though we don’t get as much time with her. I hope we get to see her more as the series continues!
Malak is our first introduction to the potential apocalypse and angels. He gives off loyal golden retriever energy with a mild case of ADHD. I hope he ends up growing a backbone and is on the right side of things as they continue to shake out.
Abaddon is our bat boy king of the abyss. Sounds cool and shadow daddy adjacent, right?? You thought. I thought. We all thought. For the lady? Perhaps not.
Michael got what was coming to him. He deserved more actually, but I’ll take it.
Kae might just have natural chemistry with everyone because I was falling for anyone and everyone on page with her.
February 26, 2026
Be Not Afraid is perfect for fans of Fallen and Hush, Hush. There's apocalyptic sized stakes and forbidden romance. The bickering between characters is entertaining and at times laugh out loud funny.
I'm beyond grateful to have received this eARC from the author. But, all thoughts are my own and 100% honest. The author had reached out to me directly citing that my love of a certain book made me the prime arc reader. I'm not sure if the author had read the book though because it certainly isn't anywhere near a comparable title or interchangeable.
Be Not Afraid has complex biblical themes within its world building, but overall the plot fell flat for me. It leans a little more YA in its style and tone than adult. I think a younger version of myself would have absolutely loved this! Unfortunately, I found connecting with the characters extremely difficult, there's no large character arcs so they tend to remain 2D on the page. And Earths incoming destruction is boiled down to a shallow and overall insensitive view: Israel vs. Palestine conflict. However, I do realize that may have been due to the nature of the story and not meant to necessarily come off as malicious. But, does bring to mind the question of sensitivity readers around that topic seeing as I cannot speak for those groups of people. The inclusion of runes does not fit either.
At times Kae reminds me of Dawn from Buffy the Vampire Slayer with how she's a key and her personality.
The author should be incredibly proud of herself and her strong suit in writing incredible dialogue (I particularly liked the choker scene, so simple but so good) and world building! Discovering the ins and out of what angels can and cannot do kept me reading.
I'm beyond grateful to have received this eARC from the author. But, all thoughts are my own and 100% honest. The author had reached out to me directly citing that my love of a certain book made me the prime arc reader. I'm not sure if the author had read the book though because it certainly isn't anywhere near a comparable title or interchangeable.
Be Not Afraid has complex biblical themes within its world building, but overall the plot fell flat for me. It leans a little more YA in its style and tone than adult. I think a younger version of myself would have absolutely loved this! Unfortunately, I found connecting with the characters extremely difficult, there's no large character arcs so they tend to remain 2D on the page. And Earths incoming destruction is boiled down to a shallow and overall insensitive view: Israel vs. Palestine conflict. However, I do realize that may have been due to the nature of the story and not meant to necessarily come off as malicious. But, does bring to mind the question of sensitivity readers around that topic seeing as I cannot speak for those groups of people. The inclusion of runes does not fit either.
At times Kae reminds me of Dawn from Buffy the Vampire Slayer with how she's a key and her personality.
The author should be incredibly proud of herself and her strong suit in writing incredible dialogue (I particularly liked the choker scene, so simple but so good) and world building! Discovering the ins and out of what angels can and cannot do kept me reading.
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