Fall From Grace

by J. Edward Ritchie

Heaven: a paradise of all that is pure in Creation. Led by brothers Michael and Satanail, the Angelic Host is a testament to cosmic harmony and love. When an unprecedented revelation threatens to uproot their peace, a schism splits the Host's loyalties. Every angel has to make a choice: faith or freedom. Good or evil. Salvation or damnation. War consumes Heaven in the first and most destructive loss of life that Creation will ever know. As brother turns on brother, the fate of both Heaven and Earth rests in the hands of the Creator's chosen son, Michael. How far will he go, what will he sacrifice in the name of their Father, to protect his family? Witness the tragic downfall of a civilization as told from both sides of the bloody rebellion. More than myth, more than legend, Heaven's war will forever stand as a harrowing warning that even the purest of souls can fall from grace.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction

424 pages, Paperback

First published April 21, 2015

About the author

J. Edward Ritchie is a novelist/screenwriter specializing in world creation, fantasy, and sword and sandal epics. A fan of all things genre from films to comics to video games, his work explores the intricate, primal balance between good and evil. He is dedicated to writing stories that embody the fantastical and uncompromising entertainment that has inspired his career.

Reviews

[Jane Blanchard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fall from Grace by J. Edward Ritchie is so thought-provoking that to fully understand the magnitude of the work requires several readings. Some of the themes and questions raised in the book include

• "The sacrosanct concepts of choice and freedom"
• The suspension of liberties in extreme times
• Goodness and love vs. evil
• Faith vs. reason
• Evolution vs. destiny
• Violence as an intrinsic attribute, in hibernation until awaken
• Evil as a natural part of who we are
• The damnation of war and how quickly it fades morality
• Brotherly rivalry and jealousy
• Complacency vs. self-improvement
• The Cosmos' need for life

The story is about Heaven and the angels (Hosts). Michael, a seraph, is the Logos of the Creator while his brother Satanail is the Hand. When the Creator tells Michael about Mankind, Michael does not immediately share the information with his brother. Resentful and insulted at being cast aside, Satanail starts to question the Creators motives and what effect Michael's interpretation of the Word will have on the rest of Heaven's angels? Each brother struggles with the meaning of the revelation. Each comes to a different conclusion, Michael with faith, Satanail with authoritative reason. And thus begins the battle.

Mr. Ritchie is a masterful story-teller, creating a Heaven full of diverse creatures, monsters, and characters with very "human" traits. At first, it is not apparent which angel is falling from grace, and you will keep you turning the pages to see which one survives.

[Hope Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Michael and Satanail were brothers from the beginning of creation, but the discovery of mankind stirs a festering evil in Stanail's heart. Reservation becomes rebellion. Closest friends become the bitterest of foes. Heaven is rent with war, death, and utter destruction.

Fall From Grace was well written, though at times it seemed a little slow with more introspection than action. The portrayal of various angels and their character developments was smoothly handled as well, though I was only able to connect with them a few fleeting times.

Though dealing with angels and demons, this isn't a Christian book. If viewed as fiction, that is fine, but keep in mind that there are a number of theological points where the book differs from the Bible, such as angels sinning, the matter of evolution, the fall of man, the questionable vagueness of the character of God, etc.

One thing I wasn't comfortable with was the occasional sensuality present. The stray swear word seemed out of place from the mouths of angels as well, and the violence is definitely PG13.

All in all, the idea is fascinating and the writing is well done, but between the occasional lag in the story, the theological inaccuracies, and scattered sensuality and swearing, I'd probably not read it again.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read, love the cover art too. An engrossing story and very well-written.

[Susannah Metzler · Rating 4 out of 5]

(So I thought I had rated and reviewed this book here. Apparently not. So here is a review I wrote many months ago.)

Writing Style
There are many things in this book that I actually give a 5.5 star rating, and the writing style is one of those. It was amazing. I had never read a story that had such an elegant choice of words, and yet the sentences were a beautiful flow of vivid imagery and description. There’s a unique variation of vocabulary, and that’s one of the things I always feel like some fantasy books really miss out on. Reading it, I was amazed time and time again; kudos to J. Edward Ritchie for putting so much time and work to getting the feel of the story right and making every single word shine with not just uniqueness, but also a belonging; some stories put in words that really shouldn’t be there, some that don’t matter to the story at all, such as unncessary description. Well, not with Fall from Grace; as Satanail, a character, says, “each word was chosen with explicit intentions.” The story made me happy in that way.

Detail and Description
Often, I read a book or story that has waaaay too much description. Sometimes it’s a lot worse than an info dump (admit it, some info dumps are really cool). But some authors are true experts with detail and description in how they weave it so masterfully through the sentences, causing the reader to see a vivid image in his mind along with the story, without losing the gist of the plot or feeling lost in all the vague and seemingly unncessary detail. I usually like books that don’t have a lot of description so that I can use my own imagination, but when a lot of description and detail are used in Fall From Grace, a picture is painted in the brain while the suspence goes on. I feel like Ritchie is one of those few authors who have this skill. Every scene was painted so realistically, I felt drawn in to the story even more. This aspect of the story complements the choice of words and the overall writing style.

Writing Style: What I didn’t like
I think there was only one thing about the writing style that bugged me a lot. Every once in a while, there were some italics being used for extra emphasis. An example sentence runs thus: “Michael inched ahead of Satanail,” and “Michael stepped off the precipice and dove headfirst down the mountain.” At first I read these inserts of italicization and wondered if this was just a unique style of writing; I surely had never seen it before. But the more I came upon these instances, the more awkward it became. In my opinion, these places would have been just fine without the italics; the reader would have been impressed simply reading the words, and I felt that the extra emphasis was unnecessary. I wondered if this was a leaking of the author’s own personality, necessary to show his excitement for the story and the scene itself.

Worldbuilding and Characters
Setting: Heaven

So this aspect of the book, worldbuilding, gets a 5.5 star; it was that amazing. Put together with an amazing writing style left me at a loss for words at how beautiful it was. The whole first several chapers of the book were all dedicated to the worldbuilding and the character development. Heaven: Who knows about Heaven here to describe it? No one. However, it takes an imaginative and skilled mind to come up with an idea of what Heaven could be like; the beauty, the nature, the cities, the countrysides, and all the destinations that are spoken of as the main characters visit each place.



Characters: The Base of the Storyline

The characters were amazing. At first, before Satan fell from grace to become the king of demons (whoops, sorry for the obvious spoiler), there were only angels, living in perfect harmony, love, and faith to their Creator. It is an ideal Heaven. The angels are like Tolkien’s hobbits or elves. Usually, when we think of angels, we think of nameless, fantastical beings dressed in nightgowns with circles of lights floating above their heads. In Fall from Grace, the angels are like humans, with emotions and feelings and desires, but so much more glorious, strong, and, well, majestic. I don’t know of any other book that has angels as characters, and Ritchie broke the stereotype of the angel in an epic way.

Another thing that I found so fascinating is that Ritchie did a lot of research on angels in different types of religion and mythologies, and he came up with a hierarchal order: The Seraphs (the highest order), Archangels, the Thrones, the Elders … you need to check out J. Edward Ritchie’s website and read the page on the Celestial Hierarchy. It describes all the different orders of angels and what their duties are in Heaven. That’s what I call good worldbuilding.

Michael and Satanail: They are both brothers, the only sons of the Creator (God). Michael is the Logos, the one who receives the word from the Creator, and this is what makes Satanail jealous; he is just the Archon, a popular figure of authority who built the main city of Heaven, Araboth. The book is basically the story of how they loved each other as brothers and how Michael’s decision to embrace Mankind led Satanail to believe that Mankind was going to take the angels’ place in Heaven, which led to his rebellion, which led to his fall in becoming a demon and transforming many angels to follow him in cannibalistic debauchery and deathlust. Michael struggles as he seeks Father, the Creator, and asks for deliverance and salvation as brutal war persists between angels and demons, but the Creator never answers.

Another thing I enjoyed (and should have expected) was the topic of the Problem of Evil. Why, of course, this story is about the very beginnings of the origins of Evil itself … what other work of fiction could seize the opportunity of talking about it?

My favorite character is Gabriel. He is one of the Seraphim, but he doesn’t do too much in the beginning. He is the caretaker of the Tree of Life and oversees the distribution of manna. Later on, when the war is going on, Michael loses conscienceness and all hope as he lets the Creator take his spirit into a realm; Gabriel, however, tries to wake Michael up and prays to the Creator to restore his soul. Michael comes back to life. This whole scene reminded me so much of King’s Cross from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

This scene is probably my favorite from all the scenes in the whole book Why? (NERD REFERENCE ALERT) Gabriel reminds me of Samwise Gamgee and Michael of Frodo. Gabriel pleads with Michael not to give up fighting, not to give up hope and to keep fighting for the Host, for faith in the Creator, for Mankind, for the good of Heaven and the elimination of evil.

Michael takes heart and sees Gabriel as an equal for the first time in his life. From this point on, Gabriel takes the place of Satanail as Michael’s loved brother and friend, and this strong friendship reminds me so much of, yes, Sam and Frodo from Lord of the Rings. Michael takes a stand to talk to the Host – an army beaten, angels who would welcome death – and encourages them, taking Gabriel’s words and transforming them into a speech, the last battle cry before the storm.

So why not a 5 star?
There are a lot of good reasons I didn’t give Fall From Grace the extra star it could have deserved. First of all, the story was intense. Very intense. In fact, this is one of the main reasons it took me so long to get through it. It took a lot of mental energy to read a whole chapter in one day because there was so much going on … so much dread and violence and deep, deep struggles, mental and physical, with the characters and the circumstances.

Gore and violence: The first half of the book was fairly clean as far as this stuff goes. Before Satanail rebelled, there was nothing as far as language, sensuality, and violence goes. I could have recommended that half to a ten-year-old. But when the rebellion starts … I had to skim quite a few places because not only does the amazing description help paint such a gory, vivid image in my brain (and makes it stay there), it’s as if Ritchie was an anatomist. Every. Single. Detail. was noted, making it seem as if you were actually there, watching. Ew. Here’s an example that’s not half as gory as some other sequences: With a quick flick of his wrist, the fibrous tissues connecting muscle to bone snipped apart. Very anatomically realistic. That’s what makes the image so REAL and easy to see in your head. Fortunately, these scenes were easily skimmable.


If you've read this far, you've come to realize this is a very long review. Please check out my full review on my blog: Tea with Tumnus: Review on Fall from Grace

[Kaecey McCormick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Note: I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. My review is detailed, so if you want the bottom line scroll to the end of the post!

Heaven.

Whether or not you are of the religious variety, the word “Heaven” is synonymous with a place or state of peace, perfection, and harmony.

That is until you visit author J. Edward Ritchie’s Heaven in his debut novel, Fall from Grace.

But I am getting ahead of myself.

In the beginning, Ritchie’s version of Heaven is depicted in the way we would all expect – love, community, brotherhood, faith, trust, beauty, devotion…. the list is endless. But the story also begins with competition.

Michael, the first angel and Logos, or Word, of God, and Satanail, the Archon, or Hand, of God (and Michael’s closest and dearest brother), engage in a battle of speed and wits to the finish of an epic flying race. From this seemingly good-natured rivalry, we get an inkling of what is to come. (You can read a basic summary of the novel here.)

Even if you aren’t a Biblical scholar, most of us are familiar with the bare bones of the story of how Satan fell from Heaven (or grace) and became the Devil. Ritchie takes the lore that surrounds this story and brings it to life in a way that teaches us about the nature of humans through the carefully constructed personalities of his angels.

I agreed to read and review this book because the topic intrigues me.

I’ve long been fascinated with the stories of angels, the war in Heaven, the uprising of Satan, and his eventual descent to Hell. I was raised Catholic (I even wore the plaid skirt and attended an all-girls school) so the names and general personalities of at least the most famous of the angels have been familiar to me for as long as I can remember.

But in high school, I started getting into the deeper myths of the Catholic Church. I began reading fiction that depicted demons and angels in a way that I’m sure would get my religious education teachers shaking their heads. And I became of a fan of movies that took an aspect of the Catholic faith and twisted it into breathtaking, action-packed thrillers. In my opinion, what makes the best books and movies in the genre so great is a careful balance between religious myth and pure fantasy.

Ritchie’s Fall from Grace falls right in that sweet spot.

Ritchie uses existing lore in a way that keep the story credible and familiar on many levels. For those into mythology, there are the angels one would expect (and hope) to see. But he takes their stories and creates an incredibly imaginative world replete with a cast of characters that comes to life through his deft manipulation. Through the world he creates, Ritchie freely explores the mythical without the constraints of specific religious boundaries.

Thank goodness! With that freedom, we get to enjoy a whole new world.

By far, the strongest aspect of the book is the world-building the author accomplishes. It is here that Ritchie’s experience as a screenwriter becomes apparent. The storyline is familiar and the cast characters are (in name) angels many of us have heard of before. But the world of Heaven? Truly singular. It is clear that Ritchie was focused on making the place of the story as important as the characters of the story. Through Ritchie’s vivid descriptions, one is able to visualize the different regions of Heaven, the geography, the animals, the sheer size, the beauty of the buildings and cities, and the inhabitants as clearly as if they were on screen.

In addition to the setting, the multitude of angels inhabiting Heaven are neatly ordered and creatively described. Ritchie explains how the beatific society works, from governance to mundane work, from travel to nourishment, he anticipates almost every facet of what life must be like for the angels in pre-Fall Heaven. For example, he explains that the personal strength each angel chooses to harness (e.g., healing, tending animals, forging metalwork, etc.) changes his morphology and appearance. We also learn of the Seraphims, Archangels, Cherubims, and even The Forgotten – creatures scorned by the angels and doomed to the nearly uninhabitable region of Mathey with their caretaker, the Seraph, Sammael.

As I read the story, it was fun to see the dips and turns the author took with the familiar tale, and I was kept on my toes as I worked out what “fall from grace” meant for each of the main characters. The subplots, too, were interesting and full of surprises. For me, the least expected twist in Fall from Grace was Satanail’s (Satan) time in Mathey with The Forgotten, Sammael, and his three wives (one of whom is Lillith). Another fascinating aspect was reading about Earth, mankind, our impact in Heaven, and the arrival of evil. It both was and wasn’t what one might expect. I would love to sit down, pen and paper in hand, and talk shop with the author.

Ritchie’s writing style is clear and intelligent. The prose is enjoyable and vivid, and it was easy to become wrapped up in the story of these heavenly creatures. There were little things here and there that took me out of the story. For example, I’m not a fan of the use of italics for emphasis in novels - I want the author to trust me to get when something is important or different. And at times I wondered if the drama was overdone. (I'm still on the fence on that one because the drama did sync with the grandeur of the imagined Heaven and the importance of the events to its future.) But overall Ritchie’s style was smooth and these small notes did not detract from the story.

One thing I appreciate is how Ritchie deftly characterizes through dialogue. For example, when Michael and Raphael talk, the dialogue is a bit stiff and formal. Their stilted, heavy, and reserved words serve to move the story along, yes, but also help fill in the details of their characters as the more formal, “stiff” Seraphs. By contrast, when Gabriel, the young, charismatic Seraph who enjoys a pint (or twenty) with the farmworkers in his region speaks, we hear an entirely different voice – casual, humorous, witty, and calm.

Speaking of characters – my favorite love-to-hate character is Satanail. Of all the characters in the book, we travel deepest into the mind of Satanail. He is cunning, he is bitter, he is jealous, he is greedy, he is deceptive, he is proud. He is everything most of us try not to be. And he is in pain, unable to admit defeat and fault, unable to repent though a part of him longs to do so. Michael may be the hero of the story, but Satanail often steals the show with his quick wit and terrible ways.


Michael’s character development is slower and he struggles in ways that, at times, are less easy to relate to because he is “the Chosen One” (my words, not the author’s). But as the story unfolds, we witness his internal battle, how carrying the weight of the future of the Cosmos on his shoulder affects him and we begin to see a very human side of Michael. He becomes more likable, more relatable, and less perfect. In other words, he becomes a hero we can get behind.

The secondary characters are developed to differing degrees, and there were only a few instances where I felt that a dramatic change happened too fast. My biggest wish with all of the characters is that I would have loved to dive deeper, see more of their angelic lives outside of the main conflict, and been able to really get to know them on a more intimate level. I relished the parts of the book that revealed the human connection between angels and humans and for me that happened most often in places where I felt a deep connection with a character.

Because, of course, the human side is what the story is ultimately about. There are fascinating themes and lessons within this work of fiction that raise important questions about human nature and society. How do we reconcile our imperfect natures? How do we reconcile faith and reason? What are the greater implications of war? Does life require that we set aside personal freedoms for the greater good? Are violence and evil inherent in us all and if so, how do we tame them? I could go on and on because this book truly makes one think. It is a book where days after finishing the story, you’ll find yourself thinking about something or some theme that germinated from the pages of the novel.

If you're a fan of heavy action and violence, this book delivers. I’m less into long battle scenes than character development, but I was still fascinated by the creativity and thoughtfulness of the war scenes and did not find myself wanting to skip ahead as much as I’ve wanted to do in similar war sequences (even when reading Tolkien - let's be honest: some of those LOTR battle scenes got long!). And call me twisted, but I was fascinated by the less lengthy but more sneaky and creepy violence that permeated the pages because those acts truly demonstrated evil at work, a type of evil and violence that terrorizes us when it happens through serial killers, torture, etc. Horrifying in real life, but intriguing in fiction.

Bottom line:

I'm pleased to have enjoyed Fall from Grace as much as I did. The subject matter was intriguing and the writing good. Most importantly, I found myself thinking about the book and themes long after the final chapter - the true sign of a good read. I look forward to more from this first-time novelist!

Recommended for:
-Fantasy fanatics
-Book discussion groups
-Adult readers
-Mature YA readers (age 16+)
-Folks who enjoy religious mythology
-Action/violence/war-story fans

[Benjamin Spurlock · Rating 5 out of 5]

((Full disclosure: I got this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.))

Stories about religion, especially about angels, are a hard sell for me. Most stories either hilariously miss the point entirely, or interpret them in a way that's too offensive for me to enjoy. I can count on one hand the number of stories that focus on celestials that I've actually enjoyed. Thus, when J. Edward Ritchie asked me if I'd like to read and review his book, I warned him ahead of time that it might not end well for him. He said that was entirely all right.

Come to find out, he had good reason for his confidence.

Fall From Grace is the story of the original fall from grace, that of the turning of angels into demons, of the rending of heaven, and of perfection torn to shreds. Epic and difficult subject matter, to be sure. Also to be sure, this is a work of fiction. An interpretation, not necessarily a story that would match perfectly with any holy writ. In a way, though, he manages to get closer to the feel and drama of the story than many authors working 'inside the system,' as it were.

The two main characters are Michael and Satanail, who as one might expect is fated to become Satan. For many writers, these two would be epic, larger than life, alien creatures. So these two are. But many others would treat them as basically humans with wings, and so these two are, as well. The author's genius is in blending the two facts together. Yes, Satanail is the Hand of the Creator, the colossus of heaven whom all respect and admire, and who remains undefeated in all he sets his hand to. Yes, Michael is the Logos, the Word of the Creator, with unshakable faith and a direct line with the Creator. But they are also brothers, friends, with the little squabbles and irritations that resonate with me, being a little brother with an older brother who seemed infuriatingly perfect when I was younger. There are many, many times in this story where the two are desperate to stop things, begging each other to see reason and put an end to the fighting. To the end, when all other hopes have vanished, that one still lingers on.

And that's part of what makes this a really difficult book to read. Fall From Grace deals with perfection and goodness, yes, but it also looks into evil. Pure, unrelenting, unreasoning, horrific evil. Satan is not the pitchfork-and-tights buffoon of the Middle Ages. He is cruel, and vicious, and willing to do anything to win. He knows how best to hurt everyone around him, and he breaks characters who seemed utterly steady simply by descending into new depths of depravity. His is the evil to which all other evils bow. Almost impossibly, one grows sympathetic towards Sammael and Lilith, horrible and evil monsters that they are, simply because Satan becomes a far greater evil than they.

It's hard to read, sometimes. Sometimes one joins in with Michael in hoping that some spark of goodness can put an end to it. Yet the fall (or falls, more accurately) are both reasonable and understandable. It's not a forced plot that makes Satan and his demons what they are, but rather the remorseless steps of necessity and ego and reaction, that sink them further and further into their perdition.

Yet I would be remiss if I didn't hasten to add that this story also deals with good. It was a complaint of Paradise Lost that Milton made his devil so much more approachable than anyone else. Mr. Ritchie does not have this problem. The Creator, as distant and alien as he is, has just enough personality that one can understand why things play out the way they do. More to the point, Michael is by far the more sympathetic of the two. His is the goodness that cracks under pressure, that strains under the burden of leadership and despair, that gets forced to take steps that aren't desired because of the evil of the enemy. His is the goodness that cracks, but doesn't break. That strains, but doesn't collapse. He is an inspirational figure, and all the other angels share in his inspiration. I think especially of Uriel and Metatron, who suffer more than most and yet manage to return. I think of Raphael, who- along with his Thrones- earns the distinction of the first fictional pacifists I haven't laughed to scorn.

I could go on and on about this story, but I won't. Rather, I'll leave you with this injunction. If you are at all interested in any of the themes I mentioned above, go forth and get this book. It's a breathtaking experience, and one that I highly recommend.

[P.S. Winn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book because it makes you stop, think and wonder. The reader is taken to heaven before the earth was created. meet brothers Michael and Satanail. Like any brothers the two have things in common but also different beliefs and that is what is going to be their downfall. I don't want to give away any of this epic story, but have to say the author did a great job creating a wondrous picture in the readers mind. Looking at heaven as a society where free will is allowed, it only figures that eventually something is bound to go wrong. This is a well written book but an author who has done their homework and I believe readers, like me, will find this a fascinating read that they are going to find hard to put down. Great job in an exceptional read.

[Knicky Laurelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Michael stood at the precipice of a remote mountain that pierced the clouds like a monolith of natural grandeur.”

This opening line captures perfectly the crux of this story, with one of our two protagonists standing at the precipice of one of the most important decisions in heaven’s history, one that concerns the direction of angelkind, and future of angels and human beings both. That decision does pierce the peace that heaven has always known, as it rends the hosts into two factions – one which dedicates itself to protecting and serving humanity, and the other which seeks to destroy it and fly in the face of The Creator.

This is the story of heaven and hell, a story of angels and demons, of humans and hope. It is an account of the fall of Satan, the first humans and the origin of sin. The stage on which it is set is fascinating, the worldbuilding excellent and very imaginative. The best worldbuilding is the kind that can strike the balance between feeling full and leaving you genuinely curious, wanting to delve even deeper into that world. Ritchie strikes this balance well.

In tandem with its rich worldbuilding, Fall From Grace is a triumph of solid, if not stellar, characterization, with the interactions between the two protagonists being subtle and a point of much interest. However, it is Satanail’s development that I found slightly ill-paced and off-putting; personally, I would have liked to seen him struggle with the first lie he tells before telling it, for example. Up until that point in the story even though he had been characterized as spirited and in charge – perhaps even a bit overconfident and ego-driven – he was still a good and virtuous being, and so I found the sudden change in him jarring, especially so early on in the story.

That initial twisting of his character then seems only to occur for the convenience and service of the plot rather than for any other reason I could think of, and as a result he just comes across as evil by nature and design rather than by circumstance and situation. Despite that however, there are still great moments of character interaction and dialogue between him and Michael, moments that are quiet but disquieting, moments that – along with the lovely, clear descriptive prose and great, snappy dialogue – linger.

The overall pacing of the story unfolds quite well, as Ritchie takes on humanity’s impulse to believe in something unanswerable and bigger than everything that is, and tell its story. Through an awesome exploration of faith-based mythos and our insistent, insatiable hunger for salvation and hope, he weaves a high fantasy tale of truly epic proportions, and does so with a wonderful, effortless sense of how to craft a good story.

Favourite Line(s):
“The future is laden with secrets. Shall we uncover them together?” – Fall From Grace, J. Edward Ritchie.

[Elite Group · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ultimate story of good vs evil

Michael and Satanail are brothers. They also happen to be sons of the Almighty and therefore six winged Seraphs, beloved of all in Heaven. The story is seen from the perspective of all the main protagonists but principally from that of the sibling duo.

Everything in Heaven, as one would expect, is perfect. Milk and honey rivers flow through the land and the Tree of Life gives up its Manna to sustain the Host – all the inhabitants of Heaven. The nine Choirs go about their daily business in total harmony and all is good with the world.

The first half of the novel is spent establishing the relationships; particularly the one between Michael and Satanail. There is undoubtedly brotherly love but there is also sibling rivalry and competition. Satanail has always felt that Michael was the favoured one and that jealousy comes through in spades once the rifts begin to appear.

Michael discovers that the Father, unknown to the angelic Host, has created a new world populated by Mankind. He determines that the Host should bend the knee to their Father’s new creation and that’s where the problems begin as Satanail disagrees.

Ultimately every angel must make a choice as to which side to join and so commences the second half of the book which is essentially a story of the violent and bloody war between the two sides led by Michael and Satan(ail).

I truly don’t know what I feel about this novel despite having thought about it for the past few days. It is beautifully crafted and written in language which is flowery to the point of being contrived. Having read the author’s website blog, I know that he genuinely thinks and writes this way so there is nothing at all contrived about it. On a personal level though the style adds nothing and in many cases, detracts from the comprehension.

The book made me feel uncomfortable in places and frustrated in others. For instance, I loved the description of the Forgotten and the creation of Lilith. The sexual undertones which went hand in hand with these creatures were the best bits for me. At the same time, I could not come to grips with the concept of there being a hierarchy in Heaven and the possibility of promotion to a higher level within the Host.

In the end, I had to judge the novel on how much I enjoyed it and whether I would eagerly seek to read it again. I did enjoy parts; I will not be reading it again. For me it was just not convincing. However, there will be others who will consume it voraciously and proclaim it to be an outstandingly good read. Whilst I disagree, I can easily understand why they believe this to be true.

mr zorg

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.

[On Lilaina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fall from Grace by J. Edward Ritchie is a thrilling new take on the story of Lucifer and Michael; great angels in heaven and brothers who fall out when Lucifer rebels against heaven. We hear the story from both Michael and Lucifer's perspectives; alternating between the two of them, so we understand exactly what happened, and more importantly, the kind f relationship they had with each other, and how it changes over time.

Ritchie created a great new story around one that is very old, and makes the world of heaven and the angels really come to life like never before. Where you might expect something more other-worldly the background and lore of Ritchie's world was surprisingly relateable and very human. I felt fully immersed in this world, and sat on the edge of my seat for the last quarter of the book.

I had few issues with this book, overall being something very enjoyable and well worth the cost, however one thing that bugged me was the character of Satan, referred to as both Satanail and Satan. As someone who grew up catholic I know that Satan's angelic name was Lucifer (meaning light) and I was actually a little disappointed that this name wasn't used in the book, especially since the names of angels and other creatures was an important part of the story. Every other name for the creatures you met made sense, and Ritchie twisted their relationships skilfully. Regardless of your religious affinity I think there is something for everyone in this book.

[Kristine Morgan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was given a copy of this book by the author with no expectations of a review. I knew going in that this book was only loosely based on the Bible and I was prepared to overlook the theological differences I have. I did have a problem with Michael being called the Word because Jesus is the Word, but again theological difference. I found the book to be well written and the story flowed. I was sincerely enjoying the plot. Unfortunately, when I reached 35% in, there was graphic sexual content which killed the story for me. I stopped reading it. I am sad because I would have otherwise enjoyed finishing the book.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stays moving

Shows how the 1/3 of heaven fell and how they arrived at it. It's sad to think there could be rebellion unhappiness in Heaven? When we Christians look forward to peace a n d happiness there?

[THE BIBLIOPHILE (Rituranjan) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book with a good story, although the plot is a biblical one. Ritchie adds a few innovative touches of his own to the Christian mythos. The most significant aspect of this book is the brilliant worldbuilding. The whole panorama of heaven is unfolded in the pages, and I have to say, it is magnificent. Ritchie has an incredibly rich imagination and condensed enthusiasm while telling the story. The war in heaven, angels turning into demons, all are presented in a way which I would like to term as magical realism. There is no superficial touch to the characters and the plot, supernatural elements are almost absent, and magic is substituted for superior science, technology and logic. Here, God is almost an impalpable presence, but his imposing essence can be felt in the motivations of the characters. Ritchie in his richly realized novel has given us an story of epic proportions, but precise and beautiful like a polished diamond. It has a universal message- triumph of faith and goodness against evil.

What fascinated me utterly was the societal structure of heaven and the hierarchy of angels. They are presented as perfect epitomes of God's creation, yet filled with their own tiny flaws. They are not humans, but I could relate to their actions and empathize with them. The angels are ranked in terms of their talents and prowess, the seraphim are the most high, then the archangels, the cherubs, the virtue angels, the watchers, and so on. Michael, the favored son of the creator shines like a beacon of faith and love throughout the story. Satanail, his fellow-brother falls from grace into the evil lust for power and wrecks death in the stainless heaven. However, the character of Gabriel was developing tremendously in the events of the story, he remains a pillar of courage, and a warrior. Raphael, the healer and lover of life dedicates his power to heal, Uriel, the fiery angel of the forge battles with faith and confidence, Metatron the scribe rises to seraph and makes a sacrifice in the name of creation...these all are characters who make hard choices, appears close to being human except for their beautiful wings and divine grace. This makes the story more believable and interesting.

The story doesn't ponder on theological details, but is carried on with blustering pace that bursts with action. The flying action sequences are filled with an adrenaline rush. The Behemoth, and Leviathan are rendered with astonishing clarity, and here Ritchie creates something interesting i.e., 'GENESIS'. I will not spoil the thrill, find out for yourselves. Another plus point for Ritchie is the writing, I have to say that he is undeniably a gifted writer with a keen observation and intuition. He delivers some absolutely solid prose in his debut novel, let alone the story. I enjoyed and relished the novel, and look forward for his next literary endeavors.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author approached me, offered me a copy in exchange for a review. I did my usual double check of legitimacy and some reviews, and yes, saw most were freebies, but I was still intrigued. A slight surge of temporary wealth and the 99-cent price led me to buy the book. I don’t mind supporting fellow authors who are serious. And Jeff was personable. Upon opening my copy, I learned it was well-written enough for me to stomach—as an author and professional editor, I’m basically ruined for reading—and discovered very few issues that would keep me from regretting the purchase.

The story of the war in heaven is a stunner. It’s fiction—necessary for me to repeat to myself and all other readers. The author is clear that it’s not religious. But it’s almost hypnotic. I had to stop and ponder several times and spoke to a friend numerous times while reading. I almost wish the author had not used the biblical names for his world and its characters, because for the first third of the book I went down paths of “what if” and “hmm, interesting angle” knowing it’s fantasy/fiction. And not Christian.

Some issues are irrelevant because it’s not religious fiction or biblical regarding the anatomy of angels and references to humanisms; even the term “Father” for the Creator in a world where procreation doesn’t happen, as well as occasional veiled scriptural references might make some dedicated readers of serious science fiction or Christian fantasy groan, but the author’s take on the different types of angels and what their realm might be like is intriguing.

The fantasy elements of the Fires of Creation and the weapons of warfare went a little over the top for me, but that’s because I was taking the story too seriously. As mentioned, the author pulls in a number of cultural and mythical references and once I realized I didn’t really know where the story was headed I had a very hard time putting the book down. It was long—too long, really, and if I’d been the editor I’d have asked him to trim it—but the elements were intriguing. There were very few mistakes that didn’t throw me out of the book. Told from multiple narrator viewpoints. I do admit to buzzing though some of the brutal war imagery. Fall From Grace is a worthy debut novel from a talented author.

Fall From Grace is fantasy fiction using religious names and concepts, but is not an inspirational story. In fact, the graphic violence, occasional language, and sensuality may turn off some readers, so be aware this book is not recommended for under mature later teens at the earliest or those who think it might be theological. It’s not. But it might spark some conversation.

[Bella Reads and Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fall From Grace is a riveting fictional account of the heavenly schism that turns brother angels Michael and Satanail into arch enemies, destroys the peace and tranquility of heaven, and results in the emergence of Satan and the concept of eternal damnation.

Designated by the Creator as His Word and His Hand, respectively, Michael and Satanail are the most highly revered among the seven Seraphim — the highest order in the angelic hierarchy. In an environment free from discord, they have always maintained a good-natured rivalry built on mutual respect and brotherly love. But when the Creator reveals the existence of Mankind only to Michael, Satanail is filled with resentment — an unfamiliar emotion he strives to contain. To make matters worse, Michael states that the Creator expects the angels to protect mankind from destroying itself. Satanail argues against such subservience, his anger boiling into rebellion and open defiance. Angels at all levels are forced to choose sides as a battle between good and evil commences.

J. Edward Ritchie has researched the religious and mythological lore of celestial beings to produce a fascinating, complex heavenly society populated by three-dimensional characters with strong personalities, unique capabilities, and credible emotions and motives. Satanail is a likeable individual, and his metamorphosis into Satan is not without internal conflict. The familiar archangels of my childhood — Gabriel, Michael, and Raphael — are among the seven Seraphim with dominion over seven regions of heaven, each contributing to the needs of the heavenly population known as the Host. Ritchie’s use of language is eloquent, in keeping with the nature of the story to be told, and he captured my interest from the very beginning. Battle scenes and other scenes do contain a fair amount of gory detail.

All in all, I found it to be a very satisfying book with a number of important messages, including this from Gabriel when Michael suffers from profound doubts about the decisions he has made: “I believe that we all have roles in this life. Maybe they’re not the ones we’d hoped for, maybe we even stray from them, but they’re ours to own. So we do it, because that’s what needs to be done. Those who can’t understand that will always be followers, never leaders.”

[Bonita Gutierrez · Rating 4 out of 5]

The original good versus evil story. That's what J. Edward Ritchie has crafted in Fall From Grace.
Generally, I'm hesitant about stories that depict Heaven. That being said, I did find the world building in this fantasy (Make no mistake, this book is fantasy, not religious.) quite interesting and unique.
I was intrigued by the relationship between "brothers" Michael and Satanail and how their bond, inevitably breaks.
I enjoyed Ritchie's clever twists on traditional mythology. And I loved the action.
My only issue with Fall From Grace is that I felt it takes a little too long to get to the meat of the story. But once that moment is revealed, the book takes off, becoming a real page turner.
Smart. Disturbing. Sad. Hopeful. All the elements needed for good story. And they're all in Fall From Grace.

[ashley brummett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it

I enjoyed this tale. The story was fantastic and I found myself missing sleep to read. I would've given a 5 star review if not for 2 cons. 1) sometimes (especially in the first half) it felt like the writer tried to use "confusing" words. Like he chose a word, then clicked synonym and picked the least common word he could find. I didn't notice this toward the end of the book, but it did throw me off in the beginning. 2) The scene in Mathy where Satanail was tortured by having a penis sown on his body and all the grizzly details involving that scene almost made me quit reading the book. It was extremely awkward and seemed totally out of place in the book.

Don't let my two cons stop you from reading the book though, because it really was an excellent read with a real originality to it.

[T.W. Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

It does not matter if you hold to a particular religious belief. Pure and simple, this is just a very well-written story. Yep, it is about angels. More specifically, it is about the "Fall from Grace" involving Satanail. This is a telling of that event in a way that allows you to enjoy it as "just" a story if that is your preference. There is no hidden agenda or anything of the sort here for those possibly considering passing because of the possible religious overtones.

I enjoyed reading about to angelic brothers who have very different views on their place in the cosmos. The book reads clean with no major editing issues to slow you down and is well worth spending some time with. I look forward to anything else. Mr. Ritchie has to offer if this is an example of his crisp, vivid style.

[GC MacQuarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fall From Grace is a story centred around two Seraph brothers, Michael and Satanail, two opposite personalities. Honestly, I'm not a person of faith, however this did not effect my enjoyment of the story.

Michael, the humble of the two brothers, is the first to learn of the creator's idea of the human race. Jealously overcomes Satanail and he decides to choose a life away from his brother and the creator. Obviously, Satanail becomes Satan, thus creating a heaven and hell of sorts.

Read my full review here: http://gcmacquarie.weebly.com/reviews...

[Christine Lowe · Rating 1 out of 5]

Uninteresting

I seldom stop reading a book before I finish the whole thing. I found myself unable to engage with this book and finally gave up after 55 pages. I am use to reading Alcorn, Peretti and others who come from Christian backgrounds where the actions of angels are supported by a biblical perspective.

I knew this was fiction so I didn't expect anything other than fiction. Ritchie's writing was uninspired and did not hold my interest. I'm sorry to say I can't recommend this book.

[Karen Britt-driggers · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastical adventure through a deep and often confusing subject; that of Angels and the Fall. Written with clear ties to our own Human struggles with conscience vs power, Ritchie maintains enough distance to entertain yet close enough to make the reader think. Truly delightful and cause for pause. :)

[Deborah Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing look at the angel Michael and Sataneil. This author has given us a look at the not so delicate look at the angels and what happened in Heaven to cause Satan to fall. Stunning book that 5 stars cannot do justice to. This is one you don't want to miss.

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an awesome book! A beautifully written novel about angels in Heaven and the battle between good and evil. A very talented writer. I look forward to his second novel-I hope there is one. Find this ebook on Amazon-you won't be disappointed.