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Soil-Man
Jon Aesop, a man without religious belief, is forced to question everything when his family is tortured and killed by what appears to be an angel. Desperate to find his wife’s soul, he must survive murderous angelic forces while seeking answers to the afterlife.
Var is a freak to humanity and an abomination among angels. For centuries he's hunted in the shadows, living a life of self-destruction, but obsessed with revenge.
What they both discover—hidden in the depths of hell—will change everything
“Soil-Man is a rare combination of fine (sometimes incandescent) writing, high-speed action, violence, gore, humor, erudition and philosophical point-scoring. It’s horror that will appeal to the intelligent and educated. It’s cinematic on the outside and introspective within.”
Mark Clements
Award winning author of “Lorelei” and “The Land of Nod”
“This novel is righteous in every sense of the word. Not for faint hearts or weak stomachs, 'Soil-Man' will appeal to strong-willed clear-eyed seekers of truth
--if they're out there."
Jennifer Silva Redmond
Editor, "Sea of Cortez Review"
"As a human being, Oz Monroe inspires me as a woman and as an artist. As a book, Soil-Man evokes emotion, inspires thought, and keeps me coming back for more. It is the only work of fiction I am recommending this year."
M. Elisabeth Howell
Author of "Evening Light"
Var is a freak to humanity and an abomination among angels. For centuries he's hunted in the shadows, living a life of self-destruction, but obsessed with revenge.
What they both discover—hidden in the depths of hell—will change everything
“Soil-Man is a rare combination of fine (sometimes incandescent) writing, high-speed action, violence, gore, humor, erudition and philosophical point-scoring. It’s horror that will appeal to the intelligent and educated. It’s cinematic on the outside and introspective within.”
Mark Clements
Award winning author of “Lorelei” and “The Land of Nod”
“This novel is righteous in every sense of the word. Not for faint hearts or weak stomachs, 'Soil-Man' will appeal to strong-willed clear-eyed seekers of truth
--if they're out there."
Jennifer Silva Redmond
Editor, "Sea of Cortez Review"
"As a human being, Oz Monroe inspires me as a woman and as an artist. As a book, Soil-Man evokes emotion, inspires thought, and keeps me coming back for more. It is the only work of fiction I am recommending this year."
M. Elisabeth Howell
Author of "Evening Light"
- GenresHorror
277 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 1, 2016
13 people are currently reading
54 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
March 30, 2016
In this contemporary fantasy set in America, a man is caught between warring factions of angels.
When farmer Jon witnesses his family being killed by a mad angel, he understandably goes a bit nuts and gains the power to fight back. Before long he’s being chased by various angels who want to kill him or use him against their enemies. He just wants to find out if there really is an afterlife, and if he can rejoin his family there. Even if he has to go to hell to find out.
While the story features angels, it definitely isn’t Christian fantasy. In fact, it’s likely to offend followers of any religion pretty much equally. Also includes plenty of violence and swearing.
The writing is very good and well edited, with few noticeable errors. The plot romps along at a good pace with plenty of action and some great characters. Overall, an interesting take on angels and a highly enjoyable read.
Appears to be the first book of a series, but works well as a standalone story.
When farmer Jon witnesses his family being killed by a mad angel, he understandably goes a bit nuts and gains the power to fight back. Before long he’s being chased by various angels who want to kill him or use him against their enemies. He just wants to find out if there really is an afterlife, and if he can rejoin his family there. Even if he has to go to hell to find out.
While the story features angels, it definitely isn’t Christian fantasy. In fact, it’s likely to offend followers of any religion pretty much equally. Also includes plenty of violence and swearing.
The writing is very good and well edited, with few noticeable errors. The plot romps along at a good pace with plenty of action and some great characters. Overall, an interesting take on angels and a highly enjoyable read.
Appears to be the first book of a series, but works well as a standalone story.
January 5, 2016
The opening grabbed my heart in a vice grip and I was immediately plunged into a vivid and dark world where nothing is what we think it is. I literally could not put Soil-Man down and read it through in a single day. Oz Monroe plays with your emotions like a symphony conductor knowing just what chords to hit to wring the most out of each scene. I laughed out loud and sobbed, sometimes at the same time. The complex characters kept me guessing all the way to the end which I didn't see coming. That alone is rare in a book these days. I usually know where a book is heading within the first quarter to half of the book. I cannot believe this is a debut author and I eagerly await the next installment in the series!
January 4, 2016
Loved it. I've never seen this plot idea, which is something I can't say of many novels. It's truly original in a way that is rare these days. I like the fact that it doesn't fit neatly into any genre. There is action, comedy, tragedy, fantasy, violence, tenderness, redemption, and plenty of deep philosophy. The writing is excellent, with some sections of prose reading almost like poetry, and I love how the viewpoint narrative changes to fit the character. I can't wait to read the rest of the series.
January 13, 2016
Incredibly imaginative.
Until now, I thought I simply lacked the imagination necessary to read fantasy novels. I am an avid reader of true stories. I couldn't even finish one Harry Potter book. But, the way this novel developed the characters, mixing the worlds of fantasy and reality, and unfolding it like a mystery, I was hooked! I laughed and cried. I love a story that evokes emotion. A big thank you to the author, Oz Monroe, for making it easy to imagine and enjoy something other than my usual fact based stories. I absolutely loved it.
Until now, I thought I simply lacked the imagination necessary to read fantasy novels. I am an avid reader of true stories. I couldn't even finish one Harry Potter book. But, the way this novel developed the characters, mixing the worlds of fantasy and reality, and unfolding it like a mystery, I was hooked! I laughed and cried. I love a story that evokes emotion. A big thank you to the author, Oz Monroe, for making it easy to imagine and enjoy something other than my usual fact based stories. I absolutely loved it.
January 11, 2016
Soil-Man is the most original story I've read in forever. If you like fantasy, this is the one for you! Monroe's writing is excellent. It's descriptive, deep, and even humorous at just the right moments.
This needs to be made into a movie. It's so good!
This needs to be made into a movie. It's so good!
February 1, 2018
WOW
This book has almost left me speechless. I never thought angels could be portrayed like this. From the opening scene until the ending, I was riveted to this book. So much action and suspense. Can't wait for the next installment.
This book has almost left me speechless. I never thought angels could be portrayed like this. From the opening scene until the ending, I was riveted to this book. So much action and suspense. Can't wait for the next installment.
March 21, 2016
The book started off a little darker than I expected, but I ended up really enjoying it and can't wait to see where the story goes from here. I loved this take on religion.
March 20, 2016
I am looking greatly forward to book 2!
January 19, 2016
A great quick read, though I am curious where it goes from here :)
April 11, 2016
This was just, an incredibly fun read. My recommendation, if you like stories about Angels and the magic of reality itself, then quit reading this review and just go get Soil-Man and read the hell out of it. It is fun: I laughed, I cringed, I called characters asses and bastards, I felt sorry for characters, and just got that warm feeling at the end from reading a really excellent story. Fantastic work. Go. Read. Now!
What was cool: I absolutely loved the philosophy presented of the world created, how gods came to be and a little of how they worked. How the angels... well, just everything about the angels and the whole Symphony concept of reality. I very much enjoyed how tidbits of history and theology were explained without falling into a standard trope of explaining the beginning of the universe. Now, as this series progresses, there's still enough intrigue that that I could see it delve into the start and probably the end of "the Symphony" while Var thumbs his nose at the trope.
Okay, so that was for those who read the novel. For those who are deciding to whether to read the novel, what is cool is how we have a human thrust into a world of Angels and manipulating reality without much of the "I'm taking you under my wing, here's the way the world works" format that a lot of stories follow. Our human really does have to figure out a lot on his own, with a few nudges from the Angels using him for their own purposes. Var, the Fallen-Killer half breed Angel, is irreverent, super powerful, and just enough of an ass to make him more believable and because of that, pretty likable. He does stupid stuff for all the right reasons. And frequently gets knocked down for his actions. Our human and our Angel are essentially on completely different paths, but headed in the same direction, so end up using each other to different degrees, although our human, while the actual one to save the day, is much more pawn-like throughout. This is a book about Angeles manipulating the hell out of each other for their own selfish needs. It works so well.
On a personal note, and a tribute to the quality of the characters and story, I started reading this in January when it came out, and when I hit a little less than halfway, I had to stop, because life happens, and just picked it back up a couple days ago. I only had to back up a couple of pages when the whole story came rushing back, all the characters, where we were in the story and all of it. Which means, to me, this was an incredibly well written story with a very solid plot and characters and scenes that did just what they needed to do and nothing else. There weren't meandering sub plots that may not have gone off on their tangents, it was very direct. So. Very. Good.
What bugged me: I do have to reach here, because the only gripes are really minor. (To keep it spoiler free), the location for the last, maybe 10-15% of the book, I didn't get a sense of location. I could have missed it, reading too late, but it just was, and even though we were still on earth (again, if I read it right), I didn't know where on earth we were. It was described beautifully, but I didn't get a sense of actual location. It was a little jarring, because the rest of the book was so good with locations: Fresno. Road to Vegas. Salt Lake City. then... ???
This part only bugged me a little: In the opening scenes, we see what a badass Var is and we see that all up to Salt Lake, in the final battles, I know there was more emotionally going on with Var, but the visceral fight scenes all through the rest of the book seemed much more glossed over at the end. To me, it made the end feel a little rushed. I know the timing in pivotal scenes like that are seriously tricky, because we're jumping from one main character to the next and have to compress all of it so we're getting that sense of urgency, and the story did do that really well, but I wanted a little more of the old Var fights there. I guess, thinking back, in the other fights, Var was toying with his prey more, so let the fights last longer, but still. It is a minor gripe, so I'm not going to get rid of any stars or anything.
The last, really minor gripe, is the book is too damn short! We got in, we're told the story that needed told and we got out. But.. I want to stay with these characters MUCH longer than I could. I'm glad that the title says "Symphony Book 1" because there's too much still going on, too much bastard Angel manipulation going on to leave the story here. I want more. There is an epic-ness about this story, that I can visualize the first book being twice the length and still leave us wanting more. So, I'm now in the camp of asking, when's book 2 coming out? Hmmm????
What was cool: I absolutely loved the philosophy presented of the world created, how gods came to be and a little of how they worked. How the angels... well, just everything about the angels and the whole Symphony concept of reality. I very much enjoyed how tidbits of history and theology were explained without falling into a standard trope of explaining the beginning of the universe. Now, as this series progresses, there's still enough intrigue that that I could see it delve into the start and probably the end of "the Symphony" while Var thumbs his nose at the trope.
Okay, so that was for those who read the novel. For those who are deciding to whether to read the novel, what is cool is how we have a human thrust into a world of Angels and manipulating reality without much of the "I'm taking you under my wing, here's the way the world works" format that a lot of stories follow. Our human really does have to figure out a lot on his own, with a few nudges from the Angels using him for their own purposes. Var, the Fallen-Killer half breed Angel, is irreverent, super powerful, and just enough of an ass to make him more believable and because of that, pretty likable. He does stupid stuff for all the right reasons. And frequently gets knocked down for his actions. Our human and our Angel are essentially on completely different paths, but headed in the same direction, so end up using each other to different degrees, although our human, while the actual one to save the day, is much more pawn-like throughout. This is a book about Angeles manipulating the hell out of each other for their own selfish needs. It works so well.
On a personal note, and a tribute to the quality of the characters and story, I started reading this in January when it came out, and when I hit a little less than halfway, I had to stop, because life happens, and just picked it back up a couple days ago. I only had to back up a couple of pages when the whole story came rushing back, all the characters, where we were in the story and all of it. Which means, to me, this was an incredibly well written story with a very solid plot and characters and scenes that did just what they needed to do and nothing else. There weren't meandering sub plots that may not have gone off on their tangents, it was very direct. So. Very. Good.
What bugged me: I do have to reach here, because the only gripes are really minor. (To keep it spoiler free), the location for the last, maybe 10-15% of the book, I didn't get a sense of location. I could have missed it, reading too late, but it just was, and even though we were still on earth (again, if I read it right), I didn't know where on earth we were. It was described beautifully, but I didn't get a sense of actual location. It was a little jarring, because the rest of the book was so good with locations: Fresno. Road to Vegas. Salt Lake City. then... ???
This part only bugged me a little: In the opening scenes, we see what a badass Var is and we see that all up to Salt Lake, in the final battles, I know there was more emotionally going on with Var, but the visceral fight scenes all through the rest of the book seemed much more glossed over at the end. To me, it made the end feel a little rushed. I know the timing in pivotal scenes like that are seriously tricky, because we're jumping from one main character to the next and have to compress all of it so we're getting that sense of urgency, and the story did do that really well, but I wanted a little more of the old Var fights there. I guess, thinking back, in the other fights, Var was toying with his prey more, so let the fights last longer, but still. It is a minor gripe, so I'm not going to get rid of any stars or anything.
The last, really minor gripe, is the book is too damn short! We got in, we're told the story that needed told and we got out. But.. I want to stay with these characters MUCH longer than I could. I'm glad that the title says "Symphony Book 1" because there's too much still going on, too much bastard Angel manipulation going on to leave the story here. I want more. There is an epic-ness about this story, that I can visualize the first book being twice the length and still leave us wanting more. So, I'm now in the camp of asking, when's book 2 coming out? Hmmm????
April 16, 2016
***This book was reviewed for Reader's Favourite***
‘His dream of going to highschool next year with his big brother had been excised with the blade of a knife.’
Oz Monroe’s Soil-Man is a story quite like any other; a dark sing to draw you under, revealing a hidden world few can imagine.
The story opens with Jon, held captive by an unseen force, unable to stop the same force from ripping from him all he holds most precious. The aftermath wakes in Jon a ferocious power that rips the blinders from his human perceptions if reality. His tormentor proves to be a Fallen angel whose insanity causes it to prey upon unsuspecting humans. Jon alone survives the assault, and embarks on a journey to reunite with his family however possible.
As an avid Supernatural fan, Soil-Man almost immediately brought to mind what might have been going on behind-scenes when those angels Fell. Completely different world and circumstances, yet some things could very well have played out in this guise.
This story keeps you guessing right until the very end. Every time I thought I had figured things out, I learned otherwise. For one thing…. most of these angels seemed to be right pretentious asses. Not all, mind, but most.
My two favourite characters were Var and Tagas. Var is, well, he’s not ever what you might expect. He’s a fierce warrior, reviled by most, and to meet him face to face would be terrifying. There’s more beneath the surface than most would ever guess, though. Tagas is a very special sort of angel, and falls under some very bad circumstances early on. Amaros was an amusing character, with some truly beautiful wisdom. One of those is to find humour in life. That's a near priceless lesson.
Monroe’s Soil-Man is a study in what can cause insanity, and what can heal it. It’s also a study in seeking one’s own answers, rather than blindly trusting what the world would have you believe. For fans of the paranormal, preternatural, and otherworldly, I highly recommend checking this book out.
‘His dream of going to highschool next year with his big brother had been excised with the blade of a knife.’
Oz Monroe’s Soil-Man is a story quite like any other; a dark sing to draw you under, revealing a hidden world few can imagine.
The story opens with Jon, held captive by an unseen force, unable to stop the same force from ripping from him all he holds most precious. The aftermath wakes in Jon a ferocious power that rips the blinders from his human perceptions if reality. His tormentor proves to be a Fallen angel whose insanity causes it to prey upon unsuspecting humans. Jon alone survives the assault, and embarks on a journey to reunite with his family however possible.
As an avid Supernatural fan, Soil-Man almost immediately brought to mind what might have been going on behind-scenes when those angels Fell. Completely different world and circumstances, yet some things could very well have played out in this guise.
This story keeps you guessing right until the very end. Every time I thought I had figured things out, I learned otherwise. For one thing…. most of these angels seemed to be right pretentious asses. Not all, mind, but most.
My two favourite characters were Var and Tagas. Var is, well, he’s not ever what you might expect. He’s a fierce warrior, reviled by most, and to meet him face to face would be terrifying. There’s more beneath the surface than most would ever guess, though. Tagas is a very special sort of angel, and falls under some very bad circumstances early on. Amaros was an amusing character, with some truly beautiful wisdom. One of those is to find humour in life. That's a near priceless lesson.
Monroe’s Soil-Man is a study in what can cause insanity, and what can heal it. It’s also a study in seeking one’s own answers, rather than blindly trusting what the world would have you believe. For fans of the paranormal, preternatural, and otherworldly, I highly recommend checking this book out.
August 10, 2016
Have you ever read a book that you just didn't know what to say about it? Well, this is that book for me.
There are angels, of a sort....
There is a good family, and yet something takes hold of them and murders them all, but the father is finally about to break free, and he runs, later finding himself with another branch of the angels of sort....
I know there was meaning and purpose in this book, and maybe at another point in my life I can try to read it again and I will understand it better and see what the author meant, but I was trying to read it in the middle of some issues, when my ex-husband decided to show his behind and try to take my kids away because I moved to an apartment that I could afford and allowed me to put away money for my son to go to college, instead of staying a mile from him and drowning in debt.
To say that I was not in the frame of mind to read a deep and insightful book is an understatement.
But I hope you all will read it and share your thoughts with me.
There are angels, of a sort....
There is a good family, and yet something takes hold of them and murders them all, but the father is finally about to break free, and he runs, later finding himself with another branch of the angels of sort....
I know there was meaning and purpose in this book, and maybe at another point in my life I can try to read it again and I will understand it better and see what the author meant, but I was trying to read it in the middle of some issues, when my ex-husband decided to show his behind and try to take my kids away because I moved to an apartment that I could afford and allowed me to put away money for my son to go to college, instead of staying a mile from him and drowning in debt.
To say that I was not in the frame of mind to read a deep and insightful book is an understatement.
But I hope you all will read it and share your thoughts with me.
May 21, 2016
Amazing
That is all. And yet it's not enough. This book is both entertaining and philosophical, action-packed and deep. Highly recommended.
That is all. And yet it's not enough. This book is both entertaining and philosophical, action-packed and deep. Highly recommended.
January 24, 2026
Brutal, intelligent, and unapologetically bold.
Soil-Man is not just horror, it’s a philosophical gut punch wrapped in blood, fury, and existential dread. Jon Aesop’s journey from disbelief to desperation is devastatingly human, while Var’s tortured, vengeful existence adds a haunting depth that lingers long after the final page. This book dares readers to confront faith, loss, and the afterlife without offering easy answers, and that’s exactly what makes it powerful.
Soil-Man is not just horror, it’s a philosophical gut punch wrapped in blood, fury, and existential dread. Jon Aesop’s journey from disbelief to desperation is devastatingly human, while Var’s tortured, vengeful existence adds a haunting depth that lingers long after the final page. This book dares readers to confront faith, loss, and the afterlife without offering easy answers, and that’s exactly what makes it powerful.
November 26, 2017
If your looking for something out of the ordinary then this is it
What a good book thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish. Just reading the blurb piqued my I interest, definitely needed to keep an open mind and so glad I did. Be I interesting to see if there are any other books going to be written .
What a good book thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish. Just reading the blurb piqued my I interest, definitely needed to keep an open mind and so glad I did. Be I interesting to see if there are any other books going to be written .
December 5, 2018
Non stop
This was a action packed book,very different from other books I've read,the character development is spot on and the suspense you can cut with a knife,Angels at War is all I will say,Read this book Now
This was a action packed book,very different from other books I've read,the character development is spot on and the suspense you can cut with a knife,Angels at War is all I will say,Read this book Now
February 9, 2017
An action packed adrenaline rush from start to finish. This novel will keep you turning pages and on the edge of your seat. Captivating. I’ll give you a warning that this novel isn’t for the feint of heart. Fasten your seat belts and hold on tight!
October 31, 2016
Something terrifying
This book terrified me from the beginning, and it was hard to grasp what was happening when I first started reading it. I had a hard time with this book, not because of the writing, but because of the events. The writing was well done, and I read the book from beginning to end. It's one of those that grasps the reader, making me not want to look away, but also wanting to look away at the same time. It's one of those books that will scare you and make you root for a happy ending.
This book terrified me from the beginning, and it was hard to grasp what was happening when I first started reading it. I had a hard time with this book, not because of the writing, but because of the events. The writing was well done, and I read the book from beginning to end. It's one of those that grasps the reader, making me not want to look away, but also wanting to look away at the same time. It's one of those books that will scare you and make you root for a happy ending.
October 3, 2016
An action packed adrenaline rush from start to finish. This novel will keep you turning pages and on the edge of your seat. Captivating. I’ll give you a warning that this novel isn’t for the feint of heart. Fasten your seat belts and hold on tight!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews