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Molly Molloy and the Angel of Death
NAMED BY THE NEW YORK TIMES AS ONE OF THE 10 BEST ROMANCES OF 2023: "A weird, adorable stunner of a romance."
Death needs a do-over.
Azrael---grim reaper and devourer of worlds--has messed up. Instead of taking Molly Molloy's soul, he patted her on the back and saved her from choking on an atomic chicken wing.
Now she can see him. Talk to him. Touch him. Say ‘no’ to him. And make him question the assumptions he has held for an eternity.
Molly is sick of Death capsizing her life. He'd taken her parents, then her grandparents, then her first great love.
Now, just as she was on the verge of getting her life together with a job that paid enough and a NYC apartment that didn't cost too much, Death interferes again in ways she could never have imagined.
The Powers that Be want Azrael to fix his mistake but before he can, Death makes one more.
He falls in love.
Death needs a do-over.
Azrael---grim reaper and devourer of worlds--has messed up. Instead of taking Molly Molloy's soul, he patted her on the back and saved her from choking on an atomic chicken wing.
Now she can see him. Talk to him. Touch him. Say ‘no’ to him. And make him question the assumptions he has held for an eternity.
Molly is sick of Death capsizing her life. He'd taken her parents, then her grandparents, then her first great love.
Now, just as she was on the verge of getting her life together with a job that paid enough and a NYC apartment that didn't cost too much, Death interferes again in ways she could never have imagined.
The Powers that Be want Azrael to fix his mistake but before he can, Death makes one more.
He falls in love.
268 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 4, 2023
336 people are currently reading
2747 people want to read
About the author
Maria Vale
15 books913 followersMaria Vale is a journalist who has worked for Publishers Weekly, Glamour, Redbook and the Philadelphia Inquirer. She's a double-Rita finalist whose books have been listed by Amazon, Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, ALA Booklist & Kirkus among their Best Books of the Year. Trained as a medievalist, she persists in trying to shoehorn the language of Beowulf into things that don't really need it.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 414 reviews
April 11, 2023
In a Nutshell: The premise had potential, but something went wrong in the execution. I am still trying to figure out what it was!
Story Synopsis:
Bookish Yays:
✔ The cover, the title and the blurb: 100% marks for each. I wouldn’t have picked up this book had all three not been so attractive!
✔ Great premise. I loved the promise of the blurb. It had so much potential, especially for comic and endearing moments. (It meets only a part of this, unfortunately.)
✔ Death as the lead character is interesting. This isn’t the first book I have read having a personified version of Death (My favourite is Death from the Sandman series, with Death from ‘The Book Thief’ coming a close second.) But this is the most humanised Death of the ones I have read. (Yup, I know it is an oxymoron.) Death here is an eccentric but loveable simpleton who adores Molly. (God knows why!)
✔ I also enjoyed the language and vocabulary. (This also makes me an odd one out because most reviewers seem to have hated the language!) The book has a nice mix of Latin and English, with Death’s grasp of English being quite questionable at times. Moreover, Death and his fellow Custodes from the upper realm have an eccentric way of speaking and of evaluating time. It adds a layer of fun to the story.
✔ There are plenty of humorous moments, courtesy Death and his poor knowledge of the human world.
✔ There are some thought-provoking points about mortality.
Bookish Nays:
❌ Despite the great beginning, the book gets quite weird very soon. I know that this is a fantasy, but surely fantasy also has some limits to what is logically possible. The ending is just bonkers!
❌ The writing feels quite flat. It’s as if we can see the characters but we can’t feel the characters. This is especially true for Molly. We know that she is a strong woman and has endured a lot, but I still couldn’t feel sorry for her because of the way she is written.
❌ There are random shifts in the point of view, with the narrative baton being handed over to a minor character for a few paragraphs. This breaks the flow of the story.
❌ Death’s portrayal is not consistent. He seems to be hyper-aware of a few human activities and totally in the blank about other things. Could he really be so naïve considering how long he has supposedly been in existence?
❌ I could not see the connect between Molly and Death. Molly’s ‘relationship” with Death felt more like Stockholm Syndrome. There’s no justification as to how she was fed up with him in one scene and romantically involved with him in the next.
❌ Molly meets people at two jobs, and yet we see her interacting only with Death. Surprisingly, it is Death who has more friends than her. Human interactions would have added some genuineness and balance to the plot.
❌ The final quarter strives to pack in as much as possible. The first three-fourth focusses even on moments (because Death is free only for moments), but the final quarter zooms by months and years like no one’s business.
❌ The humour feels very forced at times, almost like a standup comedian laughing first at their own joke in a bid to get the audience to crack a smile.
❌
I ought to have loved the story for the quirky romance, but it just bored me after the first few chapters. I don’t DNF books easily, but I came very close to giving up on this one. I might have been a bit lax had it been by a debut author. (In fact, the writing style made me assume that it was a debut work!) But from an experienced writer, I expect more finesse.
The author describes this work as ‘an odd little book that fit nowhere.’ I agree. It attempts to be a mash of Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett but ends up doing justice to neither. So I don’t know whom to recommend this novel to, or even if I should recommend it at all. Then again, we all do have different tastes. So it just might click better with you if you are a more patient and forgiving soul. Do check out the other reviews and take a call. But yes, if you are expecting a light paranormal romance because of that premise, this isnt the book for you.
2.25 stars.
My thanks to Wild & Ashe, LLC and NetGalley for the DRC of “Molly Molloy and the Angel of Death”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
———————————————
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
Story Synopsis:
Azrael, or Death as he is now known in the human world, made a mistake. When he had to take Molly Molloy’s soul, (she was supposed to choke over a chicken wing, you see?), he ended up patting her back and thus saving her life.
Mistake no. 2: Because of this near-death experience, Molly can now see him, talk to him, hit him. So even if he wants to set his mistake right (or rather, he has to do so as per his boss’s instructions), he can’t because she is always ready for him. And fed up of his interference.
Mistake no. 3: Death ends up falling in love with Molly. Now he doesn’t want her to die. Yikes! Talk about conflict of interest!
What will happen next?
Bookish Yays:
✔ The cover, the title and the blurb: 100% marks for each. I wouldn’t have picked up this book had all three not been so attractive!
✔ Great premise. I loved the promise of the blurb. It had so much potential, especially for comic and endearing moments. (It meets only a part of this, unfortunately.)
✔ Death as the lead character is interesting. This isn’t the first book I have read having a personified version of Death (My favourite is Death from the Sandman series, with Death from ‘The Book Thief’ coming a close second.) But this is the most humanised Death of the ones I have read. (Yup, I know it is an oxymoron.) Death here is an eccentric but loveable simpleton who adores Molly. (God knows why!)
✔ I also enjoyed the language and vocabulary. (This also makes me an odd one out because most reviewers seem to have hated the language!) The book has a nice mix of Latin and English, with Death’s grasp of English being quite questionable at times. Moreover, Death and his fellow Custodes from the upper realm have an eccentric way of speaking and of evaluating time. It adds a layer of fun to the story.
✔ There are plenty of humorous moments, courtesy Death and his poor knowledge of the human world.
✔ There are some thought-provoking points about mortality.
Bookish Nays:
❌ Despite the great beginning, the book gets quite weird very soon. I know that this is a fantasy, but surely fantasy also has some limits to what is logically possible. The ending is just bonkers!
❌ The writing feels quite flat. It’s as if we can see the characters but we can’t feel the characters. This is especially true for Molly. We know that she is a strong woman and has endured a lot, but I still couldn’t feel sorry for her because of the way she is written.
❌ There are random shifts in the point of view, with the narrative baton being handed over to a minor character for a few paragraphs. This breaks the flow of the story.
❌ Death’s portrayal is not consistent. He seems to be hyper-aware of a few human activities and totally in the blank about other things. Could he really be so naïve considering how long he has supposedly been in existence?
❌ I could not see the connect between Molly and Death. Molly’s ‘relationship” with Death felt more like Stockholm Syndrome. There’s no justification as to how she was fed up with him in one scene and romantically involved with him in the next.
❌ Molly meets people at two jobs, and yet we see her interacting only with Death. Surprisingly, it is Death who has more friends than her. Human interactions would have added some genuineness and balance to the plot.
❌ The final quarter strives to pack in as much as possible. The first three-fourth focusses even on moments (because Death is free only for moments), but the final quarter zooms by months and years like no one’s business.
❌ The humour feels very forced at times, almost like a standup comedian laughing first at their own joke in a bid to get the audience to crack a smile.
❌
I ought to have loved the story for the quirky romance, but it just bored me after the first few chapters. I don’t DNF books easily, but I came very close to giving up on this one. I might have been a bit lax had it been by a debut author. (In fact, the writing style made me assume that it was a debut work!) But from an experienced writer, I expect more finesse.
The author describes this work as ‘an odd little book that fit nowhere.’ I agree. It attempts to be a mash of Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett but ends up doing justice to neither. So I don’t know whom to recommend this novel to, or even if I should recommend it at all. Then again, we all do have different tastes. So it just might click better with you if you are a more patient and forgiving soul. Do check out the other reviews and take a call. But yes, if you are expecting a light paranormal romance because of that premise, this isnt the book for you.
2.25 stars.
My thanks to Wild & Ashe, LLC and NetGalley for the DRC of “Molly Molloy and the Angel of Death”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
———————————————
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
February 4, 2025
I'm sure Molly Molloy & the Angel of Death is as cute, sweet and heartbreaking as the content warning said it is, but Maria Vale’s style is not for me.
The story has potential and it’s captivating enough to put the many aspects aside - latin sentences here and there, hoping they're correct; descriptions on descriptions about Death’s wardrobe and friendships; situations that happen in the background when the two of them are together -, but even ignoring them, they still make the story confusing.
And that's honestly it, the reason I just stopped trying to enjoy it: I couldn't understand what was happening and why and, at some point, I also stopped wondering if I cared.
↠ 2 stars (DFN @20%)
Thanks to Sungrazer Publishing and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.
The story has potential and it’s captivating enough to put the many aspects aside - latin sentences here and there, hoping they're correct; descriptions on descriptions about Death’s wardrobe and friendships; situations that happen in the background when the two of them are together -, but even ignoring them, they still make the story confusing.
And that's honestly it, the reason I just stopped trying to enjoy it: I couldn't understand what was happening and why and, at some point, I also stopped wondering if I cared.
↠ 2 stars (DFN @20%)
Thanks to Sungrazer Publishing and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.
February 14, 2023
Hands down this is my favourite book so far this year. Such a fresh premise that slowly meanders allowing the reader to truly grow to care for these characters.
When Death makes a mistake it alters his reality as he finds his very existence becoming entwined with Molly who is definitely a lady who takes no prisoners !
This is a story of love and the author makes it funny, poignant, a little heartbreaking and most of all for this reader a story I will remember. The concepts surrounding humanity and the angels who are present in past, present and future was certainly unique with speech idioms that undoubtedly would give a sane person a headache ! However it didn't stop my love of these two characters and as much as I dreaded the end I do feel this story was beautiful in that it reminds us that life and love isn't always about the big things but a multitude of small everyday things that add up .
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
When Death makes a mistake it alters his reality as he finds his very existence becoming entwined with Molly who is definitely a lady who takes no prisoners !
This is a story of love and the author makes it funny, poignant, a little heartbreaking and most of all for this reader a story I will remember. The concepts surrounding humanity and the angels who are present in past, present and future was certainly unique with speech idioms that undoubtedly would give a sane person a headache ! However it didn't stop my love of these two characters and as much as I dreaded the end I do feel this story was beautiful in that it reminds us that life and love isn't always about the big things but a multitude of small everyday things that add up .
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
October 20, 2024
This book is so funny and sweet. Death is portrayed with sensitivity and curiosity. Dutiful, and without vengeance. It feels so fresh and it is lovely.
It's a sad book too, Molly has plenty of obstacles and a traumatic back story. She's determined to the point that we wonder what else she has left to do-aside from cheat death in many ways.
Highly recommend. Vale is an excellent author - I gave up on her Legend of All Wolf series purely because it was a bit too intense for me, but it what was excellent about it as I recall is also in Molly Molloy - I highly recommend checking out this author if you haven't.
It's a sad book too, Molly has plenty of obstacles and a traumatic back story. She's determined to the point that we wonder what else she has left to do-aside from cheat death in many ways.
Highly recommend. Vale is an excellent author - I gave up on her Legend of All Wolf series purely because it was a bit too intense for me, but it what was excellent about it as I recall is also in Molly Molloy - I highly recommend checking out this author if you haven't.
not-finished
February 19, 2023*I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley. I am mutuals with the author on social media and we have exchanged messages in the past.
DNF at 72%.
I wanted to like this story so hard but it’s an odd one and no mistake. Here we have a sort-of-romance, sort-of-paranormal drama featuring Azrael, commonly known as Death, and Molly Molloy, the human woman he accidentally leaves alive. Initially ‘Dee’ attempts to fix his mistake by convincing Molly to give up on her life, only to fall gradually and deeply in love with her. Molly, meanwhile, can’t help but be drawn into the orbit of this strange, awkward, endearing not-really-a-man, who has learnt all his human culture from old magazines and the final moments of the dying.
There are some honest to goodness lovely moments - like when they try to go to the movies together, or when Dee stops time to let Molly (who works two jobs) get a good night’s sleep. I’m a sucker for any story where a person learns to love for the first time, and Dee is a lonely, touch starved person who really wants to be seen for himself. I mean, that’s my catnip right there.
But there are some weird choices: the hard-to-understand cosmology, which reminded me of The Good Place; the decision to completely isolate Molly from any human relationships (she couldn’t even have a friend?!); Dee’s self-made magical penis; and - most of all, the thing that made me DNF - the surprise unwanted pregnancy. This is a trope that I hate anyway but here? It’s extra icky because Molly has been told it’s physiologically impossible and convinced not to use a condom as a result. Even if Death acted on this in good faith, I can’t get on board with the authorial decision. I started to feel increasingly leery of the ending and how everything was going to resolve, since Death and Molly can’t be together in any meaningful HEA. Maria Vale has been clear that this isn’t a romance in that respect. I decided to put it aside, knowing it was going to give diminishing returns.
CWs: death (a lot of it on page), including death of a woman from sexual violence and the death of a child from burns; suicide (of a past lover, described); death of parents in a car accident (described); death of grandparents (described); unprotected sex; descriptions of body modifications, including creation of a functioning penis.
DNF at 72%.
I wanted to like this story so hard but it’s an odd one and no mistake. Here we have a sort-of-romance, sort-of-paranormal drama featuring Azrael, commonly known as Death, and Molly Molloy, the human woman he accidentally leaves alive. Initially ‘Dee’ attempts to fix his mistake by convincing Molly to give up on her life, only to fall gradually and deeply in love with her. Molly, meanwhile, can’t help but be drawn into the orbit of this strange, awkward, endearing not-really-a-man, who has learnt all his human culture from old magazines and the final moments of the dying.
There are some honest to goodness lovely moments - like when they try to go to the movies together, or when Dee stops time to let Molly (who works two jobs) get a good night’s sleep. I’m a sucker for any story where a person learns to love for the first time, and Dee is a lonely, touch starved person who really wants to be seen for himself. I mean, that’s my catnip right there.
But there are some weird choices: the hard-to-understand cosmology, which reminded me of The Good Place; the decision to completely isolate Molly from any human relationships (she couldn’t even have a friend?!); Dee’s self-made magical penis; and - most of all, the thing that made me DNF - the surprise unwanted pregnancy. This is a trope that I hate anyway but here? It’s extra icky because Molly has been told it’s physiologically impossible and convinced not to use a condom as a result. Even if Death acted on this in good faith, I can’t get on board with the authorial decision. I started to feel increasingly leery of the ending and how everything was going to resolve, since Death and Molly can’t be together in any meaningful HEA. Maria Vale has been clear that this isn’t a romance in that respect. I decided to put it aside, knowing it was going to give diminishing returns.
CWs: death (a lot of it on page), including death of a woman from sexual violence and the death of a child from burns; suicide (of a past lover, described); death of parents in a car accident (described); death of grandparents (described); unprotected sex; descriptions of body modifications, including creation of a functioning penis.
April 1, 2023
**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**
Maria Vale's The Legend of All Wolves series is undoubtedly one of the most refreshing and distinctive series about shifters out there. So, when I heard about her new book, Molly Molloy and the Angel of Death, I was ecstatic. But let me tell you, it is not your run-of-the-mill paranormal love story. This book is so much more than that. It delves deep into the meaning of life itself and leaves the reader with profound thoughts to ponder.
Kudos to Vale for taking a new direction in her writing. Death, the main character, is a fascinating and unique character that completely broke the mold. Unlike the typical broody and alluring grim reaper character in paranormal romances, Death in this book is truly one of a kind.
Admittedly, at the beginning of the book, I struggled with the complex English vocabulary, which was above my level. It took some time for me to fully grasp what was happening and relate to the characters. They weren't particularly likable at first, but as the story progressed, I found myself rooting for Molly and Death.
Molly Molloy and the Angel of Death is an unpredictable and humorous book that kept me on my toes. I had absolutely no idea what would happen next. Although the book had its challenges, I enjoyed it and recommend it to anyone looking for a thought-provoking and unique read.
Maria Vale's The Legend of All Wolves series is undoubtedly one of the most refreshing and distinctive series about shifters out there. So, when I heard about her new book, Molly Molloy and the Angel of Death, I was ecstatic. But let me tell you, it is not your run-of-the-mill paranormal love story. This book is so much more than that. It delves deep into the meaning of life itself and leaves the reader with profound thoughts to ponder.
Kudos to Vale for taking a new direction in her writing. Death, the main character, is a fascinating and unique character that completely broke the mold. Unlike the typical broody and alluring grim reaper character in paranormal romances, Death in this book is truly one of a kind.
Admittedly, at the beginning of the book, I struggled with the complex English vocabulary, which was above my level. It took some time for me to fully grasp what was happening and relate to the characters. They weren't particularly likable at first, but as the story progressed, I found myself rooting for Molly and Death.
Molly Molloy and the Angel of Death is an unpredictable and humorous book that kept me on my toes. I had absolutely no idea what would happen next. Although the book had its challenges, I enjoyed it and recommend it to anyone looking for a thought-provoking and unique read.
November 9, 2023
Wow! Found this little gem on a NYT recommended romance list, and just WOW! It's hard to find comparisons for this novel, that was not at all what I'd expected. Death makes a mistake and ends up saving the life of Molly, the woman whose soul he's come to collect, and in his efforts to correct that mistake, he learns about love, joy, life and loss, not from the distance he's used to, but up close and personal. If you could imagine a quirky mash-up of 'Meet Joe Black,' 'Starman,' and 'City of Angels.' without the middle class rose colored glasses. At the end of the day,Molly Malloy and the Angel of Death it's an upside down, backwards mixed up retelling of the Persephone and Hades, myth. There's no daughter of a goddess or a billionaire, no gifted brain surgeon. Instead the story Ms. Vale weaves is gritty realism of the working poor that grinds and hurts hungers for a better life while yet manages to eek out bits of love and joy in the battle to survive.
Death, 0r 'Ragpicker,' as his despising colleagues call him, is nothing like the handsome debonair angels we're used to reading about in romance novels. He's clunky, awkward and clueless. Molly is not a beautiful, sexy heroine. She's been kicked about, suffered loss after loss, is too busy just trying to survive to worry about the little extra body weight, or where she buys her shampoo. When her resilience clashes with Death's order to 'correct his mistake,' and his need to understand why this soul fights so hard to survive, magic happens, but not the fireworks and heavenly choirs we've come to expect in romantasy. Molly Molloy and the Angel of Death is funny, tender, poignant, and at times infuriating.
The story is sometimes a bit of a challenge to follow, because Death lives in the present, past, and future all at once, and the 'jump cuts' are actually a genius method of capturing that unsettling feel of not quite being able to separate out when and what, and it works. Molly Malloy left me not sure about how I really felt about the novel, and yet certain that I was glad I read it, certain that I would highly recommend it. Well done, Maria Vale!
Death, 0r 'Ragpicker,' as his despising colleagues call him, is nothing like the handsome debonair angels we're used to reading about in romance novels. He's clunky, awkward and clueless. Molly is not a beautiful, sexy heroine. She's been kicked about, suffered loss after loss, is too busy just trying to survive to worry about the little extra body weight, or where she buys her shampoo. When her resilience clashes with Death's order to 'correct his mistake,' and his need to understand why this soul fights so hard to survive, magic happens, but not the fireworks and heavenly choirs we've come to expect in romantasy. Molly Molloy and the Angel of Death is funny, tender, poignant, and at times infuriating.
The story is sometimes a bit of a challenge to follow, because Death lives in the present, past, and future all at once, and the 'jump cuts' are actually a genius method of capturing that unsettling feel of not quite being able to separate out when and what, and it works. Molly Malloy left me not sure about how I really felt about the novel, and yet certain that I was glad I read it, certain that I would highly recommend it. Well done, Maria Vale!
March 29, 2023
So... How to talk about this one. As Vale is quick to state, it's not a romance. It is a love story, though.
Death/Azrael/Neshama'le/Dee isn't exactly the Grim Reaper as you imagine him. Sure, he travels the world and collects souls from every dying person, but he wears thrift store t-shirts and a duster with tons of little pockets sewn into it to keep each soul safe. One day, he takes the wrong soul - and this puts him on a path that will change basically everything.
The important thing to know about this book is that the writing is extremely evocative - but of the normal, slightly disgusting parts of life we all experience but try not to think about. What, exactly, do we mean? Like the feeling of your legs sticking to a fake leather couch. Like the smell of fried food that gets stuck in your hair after you spend the day working at a greasy spoon. And the point (we think) is that these are all a part of life - things that Dee doesn't get to experience until he meets Molly.
If a book with slightly disgusting imagery, not a small helping of tragedy, plus a lot of gallows humor, this might be right up your alley.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
Death/Azrael/Neshama'le/Dee isn't exactly the Grim Reaper as you imagine him. Sure, he travels the world and collects souls from every dying person, but he wears thrift store t-shirts and a duster with tons of little pockets sewn into it to keep each soul safe. One day, he takes the wrong soul - and this puts him on a path that will change basically everything.
The important thing to know about this book is that the writing is extremely evocative - but of the normal, slightly disgusting parts of life we all experience but try not to think about. What, exactly, do we mean? Like the feeling of your legs sticking to a fake leather couch. Like the smell of fried food that gets stuck in your hair after you spend the day working at a greasy spoon. And the point (we think) is that these are all a part of life - things that Dee doesn't get to experience until he meets Molly.
If a book with slightly disgusting imagery, not a small helping of tragedy, plus a lot of gallows humor, this might be right up your alley.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
February 28, 2023
Thank you netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.
I’m going to be honest that I would definitely have dnf’ed this book in the first few pages if it wasn’t an arc.
I’m going to start with the writing problems then move on to some of the weird stuff that happened that made me think I was going crazy 🤯
‘This sentence is grammatically correct, but it’s wordy and hard to read’ sums up a lot of my thought process throughout this book (although i’m pretty sure there were grammar errors in this book as well).
The writing was extremely confusing and in a very strange style - packed with unnecessary details and worded in a confusing way - someone else said in their review that it made them question their grasp on the english language and I think that just sums up the writing style of this book perfectly 😭
Another problem with the writing is that towards the middle/end of the book there started being loads of time jumps ⏭️ which made it difficult to keep up with and the reader miss out on a lot of character development. Furthermore, the romance between the two characters felt kind of underdeveloped - it felt like the main character just suddenly stopped disliking the love interest and the romance just happened abruptly without any development.
Also, sometimes it just randomly switched povs without telling you which got very confusing, and sometimes random stuff would happen and the next chapter would skip over it / act like it hadn’t happened - it felt like the author was just thinking of random things to fill the story with and forgot what they were writing as they were writing the book.
To add on, the world building was so confusing (there was some but not nearly enough) that everything was extremely hard to understand and it was difficult to know what was going on or what other characters were talking about at certain points.
Now onto the weird stuff 😭 First thing is there was this weird line repeated throughout the book that I took screenshots of every time it was said - 5 times after I started recording it so I know for a fact it was said even more than that 😭 It was bad at first but it kept being said which just made it harder to ignore 😭 Every few chapters you would read ‘yuh-oh, they thought, this is going to be trouble’ and I know that may not seem that bad but to me it just gives me disney channel vibes - reminding me of when a character says something like ‘he’s right behind me isn’t he ☝️😳😫🫣’
Furthermore, there was this scene where one of death’s (the love interest who collects souls because he’s death 😋) souls he was collecting ran away from him and hid in the main characters breast 😭 ngl that was kind of weird but anyways 🌝
Another thing is that there was this whole weird description and references throughout to how death like made his own penis and then cut off two parts of it and put them on his belly to make love handles
Not gonna lie I could’ve done without that information 🫣😳
Also the book kept giving really weird names for his penis 😭 repeatedly calling it ‘ornament’ or ‘toy’ 😭 There was also this one scene (tw SA) where the other angels kept pulling at it while he told them to get off and I really think that was not needed and unnecessary.
Another weird scene that happened is that death had to like pretend to pee in a urinal or something and his ‘pee’ was like hydrogen / radioactive and it ended up breaking the urinal and the urinal exploded. This scene was also then never mentioned again and I think it was very unnecessary to the story and I genuinely thought I had imagined it until I re-read the page just to make sure 🤨
There was loads of other weird stuff that happened or I feel was unnecessary / a bit random but i’m pretty sure this review sums most things up.
⭐️/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I’m going to be honest that I would definitely have dnf’ed this book in the first few pages if it wasn’t an arc.
I’m going to start with the writing problems then move on to some of the weird stuff that happened that made me think I was going crazy 🤯
‘This sentence is grammatically correct, but it’s wordy and hard to read’ sums up a lot of my thought process throughout this book (although i’m pretty sure there were grammar errors in this book as well).
The writing was extremely confusing and in a very strange style - packed with unnecessary details and worded in a confusing way - someone else said in their review that it made them question their grasp on the english language and I think that just sums up the writing style of this book perfectly 😭
Another problem with the writing is that towards the middle/end of the book there started being loads of time jumps ⏭️ which made it difficult to keep up with and the reader miss out on a lot of character development. Furthermore, the romance between the two characters felt kind of underdeveloped - it felt like the main character just suddenly stopped disliking the love interest and the romance just happened abruptly without any development.
Also, sometimes it just randomly switched povs without telling you which got very confusing, and sometimes random stuff would happen and the next chapter would skip over it / act like it hadn’t happened - it felt like the author was just thinking of random things to fill the story with and forgot what they were writing as they were writing the book.
To add on, the world building was so confusing (there was some but not nearly enough) that everything was extremely hard to understand and it was difficult to know what was going on or what other characters were talking about at certain points.
Now onto the weird stuff 😭 First thing is there was this weird line repeated throughout the book that I took screenshots of every time it was said - 5 times after I started recording it so I know for a fact it was said even more than that 😭 It was bad at first but it kept being said which just made it harder to ignore 😭 Every few chapters you would read ‘yuh-oh, they thought, this is going to be trouble’ and I know that may not seem that bad but to me it just gives me disney channel vibes - reminding me of when a character says something like ‘he’s right behind me isn’t he ☝️😳😫🫣’
Furthermore, there was this scene where one of death’s (the love interest who collects souls because he’s death 😋) souls he was collecting ran away from him and hid in the main characters breast 😭 ngl that was kind of weird but anyways 🌝
Another thing is that there was this whole weird description and references throughout to how death like made his own penis and then cut off two parts of it and put them on his belly to make love handles
Not gonna lie I could’ve done without that information 🫣😳
Also the book kept giving really weird names for his penis 😭 repeatedly calling it ‘ornament’ or ‘toy’ 😭 There was also this one scene (tw SA) where the other angels kept pulling at it while he told them to get off and I really think that was not needed and unnecessary.
Another weird scene that happened is that death had to like pretend to pee in a urinal or something and his ‘pee’ was like hydrogen / radioactive and it ended up breaking the urinal and the urinal exploded. This scene was also then never mentioned again and I think it was very unnecessary to the story and I genuinely thought I had imagined it until I re-read the page just to make sure 🤨
There was loads of other weird stuff that happened or I feel was unnecessary / a bit random but i’m pretty sure this review sums most things up.
⭐️/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
December 4, 2023
This book thrust me into a dream state much like twilight sedation. I asked the book gods for a romance or love story that’s unique and boy did they deliver. This book came to f*ck sh*t up and that’s just what it did.
It’s fantastical in vocabulary, style, and plot. There were sentences I had to reread and words I had to look up - sometimes because I didn’t understand the meaning and sometimes because I couldn’t believe what was happening.
I think people are either going to love this one or hate it. Regardless, I think everyone can agree that’s is an oddity and you’ll either find that delightful, horrifying, or maybe delightfully horrifying. I, for one, loved it. I am craving more stories that melt my mind and challenge the formulaic tropes and characters too often used in paranormal and fantasy romance. It’s also layered and nuanced and explores some deep themes and questions about life.
There are some events and mentions of situations that could be potentially triggering, though brief and not explored in depth.
It’s fantastical in vocabulary, style, and plot. There were sentences I had to reread and words I had to look up - sometimes because I didn’t understand the meaning and sometimes because I couldn’t believe what was happening.
I think people are either going to love this one or hate it. Regardless, I think everyone can agree that’s is an oddity and you’ll either find that delightful, horrifying, or maybe delightfully horrifying. I, for one, loved it. I am craving more stories that melt my mind and challenge the formulaic tropes and characters too often used in paranormal and fantasy romance. It’s also layered and nuanced and explores some deep themes and questions about life.
There are some events and mentions of situations that could be potentially triggering, though brief and not explored in depth.
March 2, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The blurb intrigued me as there is a personification of Death (Dee) in this novel, who takes people’s soul by touching their belly button. The story starts when he is supposed to take Molly’s soul, but instead he takes her grandmother’s life. The relationship of the two characters evolves and thus follows a love story.
I liked Molly and Dee's discrepancy. While Molly has a sharp tongue, Dee is more awkward and naïve, making you grin easily. Death may have been there for 200,000 years; he does not know how to interact with the living which makes some scenes very funny, like the one with the policemen and the bacon.
Here are some quotes/scences that made me smile:
Apart from that, I found this novel disappointing. I mostly liked the funny things Dee said but I didn’t really connect with the story and even if I was trying my best to enjoy it, deep down, I just wanted to get rid of it. I am not saying that this book is horrible, I don’t think that, but even if the concept is original, it’s not the kind of book that I find memorable and that I often think about.
I don't want to spoil anything, but there is a trope that I don't like and I would have preferred the book without.
I think I have now read 150 books in English but sometimes I still struggle to understand, and I am sure that sometimes I just don’t understand. However, this book was another level, some passages just didn’t make sense to me. If English is not your first language, beware, you’re very likely to struggle.
To sum up, I found this book funny but I didn't enjoy it as much as I would have liked.
The blurb intrigued me as there is a personification of Death (Dee) in this novel, who takes people’s soul by touching their belly button. The story starts when he is supposed to take Molly’s soul, but instead he takes her grandmother’s life. The relationship of the two characters evolves and thus follows a love story.
I liked Molly and Dee's discrepancy. While Molly has a sharp tongue, Dee is more awkward and naïve, making you grin easily. Death may have been there for 200,000 years; he does not know how to interact with the living which makes some scenes very funny, like the one with the policemen and the bacon.
Here are some quotes/scences that made me smile:
Dee writing this note:
I wan to she yu something rilly rilly cool that willklarefyclariphiemake evereethng cleer. Meet me at […] Bleker and Hutson at 19:48:16:456,
Deth
Ps
Pls don be lat
“It makes me feel very… very shaky and spicy.”
“Angry, maybe?”
“I just used spit and polished” (taking about the dishes)
“You what?”
“I’m perfectly sterile.”
Apart from that, I found this novel disappointing. I mostly liked the funny things Dee said but I didn’t really connect with the story and even if I was trying my best to enjoy it, deep down, I just wanted to get rid of it. I am not saying that this book is horrible, I don’t think that, but even if the concept is original, it’s not the kind of book that I find memorable and that I often think about.
I don't want to spoil anything, but there is a trope that I don't like and I would have preferred the book without.
I think I have now read 150 books in English but sometimes I still struggle to understand, and I am sure that sometimes I just don’t understand. However, this book was another level, some passages just didn’t make sense to me. If English is not your first language, beware, you’re very likely to struggle.
To sum up, I found this book funny but I didn't enjoy it as much as I would have liked.
April 10, 2023
I received an e-ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. Review can also be found on *Milky Way of Books*
It is no secret that I loved Maria Vale's books. Her series Legends of all Wolves is a must-read that brings together our love for the paranormal but with the sensitivity and deep love for nature as also romance.
This book gave me great vibes of "Meet Joe Black" and "The Ghost".
Molly Molloy and the Angel of Death was quite the wild ride. I knew that I just wanted to read it, despite the premise which always makes me cry because anything metaphysical always hits that spot in my heart that knows....that we don't know anything about the after.
Death is...not exactly an angel but a being beyond time and creation itself who has been demoted into gathering the souls of mortals...which he so drily pulls from the bodies he calls Rags, and sends them...Upstairs. I loved the sarcastic way he does the job? Like a public sector worker who just does the routine and finds no satisfaction in anything anymore.
And then when he goes to pull the soul of a Molloy, he realizes that he can be seen and that the woman whom he should he taken the soul is still alive.
Molly Molloy lives her life, without actually living, filled with grief and a dry sense of humor which was born of circumstances of pain and loss. When she realizes who and what Death is, a strange companionship will bloom between them, one that will defy the powers of...Upstairs.
There is a lot of emotion to unpack here. From the way, Molly slowly and surely integrates Death into human life to Death's understanding of how precious life is, despite being short for humans. It's almost comely how often he acts like a child or a teenager with his behavior and Molly is the one being the adult in the relationship. Additionally, I found the description of how Upstairs looks like quite hilarious, the combination of Latin for their rules and the idea that souls are connected to the human body through the omphalos (greek word for bellybutton-also an ancient mythological belief-) was a nice touch.
The ending had me crying but as Death adjusts to change, you slowly realize that his story never ends, and love can come and find him again through endless time.
This was one of the best books of 2023 for me and I totally recommend it.
It is no secret that I loved Maria Vale's books. Her series Legends of all Wolves is a must-read that brings together our love for the paranormal but with the sensitivity and deep love for nature as also romance.
This book gave me great vibes of "Meet Joe Black" and "The Ghost".
Molly Molloy and the Angel of Death was quite the wild ride. I knew that I just wanted to read it, despite the premise which always makes me cry because anything metaphysical always hits that spot in my heart that knows....that we don't know anything about the after.
Death is...not exactly an angel but a being beyond time and creation itself who has been demoted into gathering the souls of mortals...which he so drily pulls from the bodies he calls Rags, and sends them...Upstairs. I loved the sarcastic way he does the job? Like a public sector worker who just does the routine and finds no satisfaction in anything anymore.
And then when he goes to pull the soul of a Molloy, he realizes that he can be seen and that the woman whom he should he taken the soul is still alive.
Molly Molloy lives her life, without actually living, filled with grief and a dry sense of humor which was born of circumstances of pain and loss. When she realizes who and what Death is, a strange companionship will bloom between them, one that will defy the powers of...Upstairs.
There is a lot of emotion to unpack here. From the way, Molly slowly and surely integrates Death into human life to Death's understanding of how precious life is, despite being short for humans. It's almost comely how often he acts like a child or a teenager with his behavior and Molly is the one being the adult in the relationship. Additionally, I found the description of how Upstairs looks like quite hilarious, the combination of Latin for their rules and the idea that souls are connected to the human body through the omphalos (greek word for bellybutton-also an ancient mythological belief-) was a nice touch.
The ending had me crying but as Death adjusts to change, you slowly realize that his story never ends, and love can come and find him again through endless time.
This was one of the best books of 2023 for me and I totally recommend it.
February 10, 2024
I have no idea how I came upon this book. It was just there in my Holds file. Some reviewers think it is a Romance (I never read Romances). Molly Molloy is to Romances as lust is to necrophancy. This smallish book serves up a unique interpretation of the cosmos, describes love at its most tender, and makes you believe that eternity is really the accumulation of all the mundane things in life. Plus, it is wickedly clever, devilishly original, and it even wrung a few snorts of laughter from me when I didn't see them coming.
December 12, 2023
This left me absolutely breathless -
I knew by the first page that this was either going to be one of the worst books I've read all year or one of the best. I knew by the third chapter that it was going to be the best.
The reviews are so mixed on this, and I absolutely see why - I think the typical person who picked up this book was a romance reader like me. Looking for a fun, care-free, possibly spicy romance exactly like the other 200 books I've read this year. And as stated in the disclaimer, while this is a love story, it is NOT a romance. It is way, WAY out of and above the league of basic romance. Not only in subject matter but in the way it's written in general.
This is an amazing work of fiction, both wildly creative and scarily wise. While a beautiful portrait of modern life and what it is to be human, the novel is also incredibly entertaining and offers perspectives on the Before and After that I never really thought about (from a theology perspective).
All of the characters are lovable, even the ridiculous ones. The pacing of this is literally exquisite - I can't think of a better word. Delicious, maybe? I CONSUMED this. This was one of those books that while reading, I was so emotionally involved that to be interrupted felt like I was being physically jerked out of my seat.
The way the author uses language is amazing. Astounding. I don't know why I want to keep comparing this to something edible, but seriously, I felt like I had the honor of being served a rich and perfectly crafted meal by a Michelin star chef as I was fed this beautiful composition. I could close my eyes and sip this like fine wine.
I am a romance reader at heart, so this one really hurt. But while I'm always going to want the neat and tidy HEA, what Vale gave us what so much better.
I knew by the first page that this was either going to be one of the worst books I've read all year or one of the best. I knew by the third chapter that it was going to be the best.
The reviews are so mixed on this, and I absolutely see why - I think the typical person who picked up this book was a romance reader like me. Looking for a fun, care-free, possibly spicy romance exactly like the other 200 books I've read this year. And as stated in the disclaimer, while this is a love story, it is NOT a romance. It is way, WAY out of and above the league of basic romance. Not only in subject matter but in the way it's written in general.
This is an amazing work of fiction, both wildly creative and scarily wise. While a beautiful portrait of modern life and what it is to be human, the novel is also incredibly entertaining and offers perspectives on the Before and After that I never really thought about (from a theology perspective).
All of the characters are lovable, even the ridiculous ones. The pacing of this is literally exquisite - I can't think of a better word. Delicious, maybe? I CONSUMED this. This was one of those books that while reading, I was so emotionally involved that to be interrupted felt like I was being physically jerked out of my seat.
The way the author uses language is amazing. Astounding. I don't know why I want to keep comparing this to something edible, but seriously, I felt like I had the honor of being served a rich and perfectly crafted meal by a Michelin star chef as I was fed this beautiful composition. I could close my eyes and sip this like fine wine.
I am a romance reader at heart, so this one really hurt. But while I'm always going to want the neat and tidy HEA, what Vale gave us what so much better.
Read
April 18, 2023The writing was a bit confusing sometimes and it took me too long to figure out the tone of the book.
I think if I had known that the tone of this book was more zany/silly I would’ve known this wasn’t the book for me. I also had a hard time understanding Molly’s motivations if I’m honest.
This is not going to have vibes like more recent popular death personification books such as Belladonna or The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. That’s what I was expecting from the title and honestly the blurb didn’t help much either.
This is a bonkers almost slapstick look at Death not a clever morally gray Death like I’m used to.
Thanks to Wild & Ash and Netgalley for this arc. All opinions are honest and my own.
I think if I had known that the tone of this book was more zany/silly I would’ve known this wasn’t the book for me. I also had a hard time understanding Molly’s motivations if I’m honest.
This is not going to have vibes like more recent popular death personification books such as Belladonna or The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. That’s what I was expecting from the title and honestly the blurb didn’t help much either.
This is a bonkers almost slapstick look at Death not a clever morally gray Death like I’m used to.
Thanks to Wild & Ash and Netgalley for this arc. All opinions are honest and my own.
December 30, 2023
Now I do not normally read romance novels, but a positive New York Times review and a steady diet of Hallmark Christmas movies made me pick up Maria Vale's Molly Molloy and the Angel of Death. I really liked this puppy. The Angel of Death returns to his small town for Christmas from the big city where he is working too hard and is unable to get into the spirit of Christmas.With the luck of running into his old girlfriend, Molly along with a Christmas tree farm and the big Christmas festival, The Angel of Dat finds true love!! Actually that may have been the story of the last Hallmark movie I just saw. Molly Molloy and the Angel of Death Reads more like a Neil Gaiman storyThe Grim Reaper meets cute with Molly Molloy when he mistakenly saves her from choking to death on a chicken wing. He falls for the charming Molly and they begin a loving relationshipFor someone immortal, the Angel of Death struggles to blend into the lives of the living. But as he adapts, he becomes endearing and like a strong case of tinea pedis (athlete's foot)Your heart is encased in a fungal infection that no spray, ointment, or balm can cure. By the end of the book You will probably be a sobbing mess, making everyone else sitting nearby in the Barnes and Noble cafe extremely concerned you may have more than a few marbles looseThis sucker was really good and I would recommend it to anyone into reading romances, or love, or appreciates a really well written story that touches you in places that would not be appropriate to point at in mixed company.
July 17, 2023
thank you netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review
the characters? unlikable and unmemorable; i couldn't care less about them. the plot? confusing and random. i struggled to follow most of the time because of the basically non- existent timeline of the book and the random names and places that were introduced suddenly and for one chapter, only for them to never be mentioned again.
the author tried so hard to make the mc molly seem "bad-ass" but she was just annoying. also how could she fall in love with Death when he was acting like a 10 year old boy in an adult man's body? didn't make any sense. adding to all that, the weird scenes and comments throughout the book (like calling Death's genitals an "ornament") were unnecessary and to be honest made the whole book more confusing and boring.
don't recommend
the characters? unlikable and unmemorable; i couldn't care less about them. the plot? confusing and random. i struggled to follow most of the time because of the basically non- existent timeline of the book and the random names and places that were introduced suddenly and for one chapter, only for them to never be mentioned again.
the author tried so hard to make the mc molly seem "bad-ass" but she was just annoying. also how could she fall in love with Death when he was acting like a 10 year old boy in an adult man's body? didn't make any sense. adding to all that, the weird scenes and comments throughout the book (like calling Death's genitals an "ornament") were unnecessary and to be honest made the whole book more confusing and boring.
don't recommend
July 16, 2024
What a unique story!
Azriel (aka "ragpicker" according to the other angels) has collected souls of the dying in his great overcoat for millennia, then feeding them into the great tube system that goes to heaven. When Azriel (known to humans as "Death") goes to a New York hospital to collect the soul of Molly Malloy - who is supposed to choke to death on a chicken wing - he accidentally takes the soul of her dying grandmother, MARY Malloy. Oops! Now what does death do to make the great Accounting Ledger of heaven correct?
Molly has lost everyone in her life: her parents at an early age, her great love in the orphanage, and now her grandmother. But Death - of all creatures - pats her back and she chokes out the chicken wing. Thus begins Molly defying Death to take her soul, b/c he just.keeps.turning.up!
This isn't a romantic story, b/c humans and "angels" can't have love stories (according to the blurb), but... what an unusual relationship Molly and Death have!
I highly recommend this fun story -- my first Hoopla download from my local library. 5 stars.
Azriel (aka "ragpicker" according to the other angels) has collected souls of the dying in his great overcoat for millennia, then feeding them into the great tube system that goes to heaven. When Azriel (known to humans as "Death") goes to a New York hospital to collect the soul of Molly Malloy - who is supposed to choke to death on a chicken wing - he accidentally takes the soul of her dying grandmother, MARY Malloy. Oops! Now what does death do to make the great Accounting Ledger of heaven correct?
Molly has lost everyone in her life: her parents at an early age, her great love in the orphanage, and now her grandmother. But Death - of all creatures - pats her back and she chokes out the chicken wing. Thus begins Molly defying Death to take her soul, b/c he just.keeps.turning.up!
This isn't a romantic story, b/c humans and "angels" can't have love stories (according to the blurb), but... what an unusual relationship Molly and Death have!
I highly recommend this fun story -- my first Hoopla download from my local library. 5 stars.
February 14, 2023
This was my first ARC from NetGalley, and I am really glad that I started off with such an enjoyable one! Thank you to Maria Vale, the publisher, and NetGalley for letting me read this book.
I really liked the premise of the book- Death, who in this adaptation is simultaneously jaded by humanity and wholly innocent to it, accidentally takes the wrong soul to the afterlife after a mistake with a chicken wing. Molly Molloy, the woman who was supposed to die, can now see Death- and is very uninterested in letting her soul be reaped to fix his administrative mistake.
Maria Vale says that while this is a love story it isn’t necessarily a romance, and that’s definitely true in the story. The love story is definitely present, but the novel is more of a study of human nature- grief, and the ability to keep loving even after being hurt deeply. Through the book doesn’t shy away from some pretty intense content (I can give content warnings after the book is released to avoid spoilers!) it is also intensely funny, with a humor that is a bit reminiscent of Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman’s Good Omens.
I liked this book, but didn’t love it. That’s not the book’s fault. It’s well-written and I was happy I read it, but some of the plot twists included tropes I personally don’t love. It was, however, done very well, and I definitely think it should be on the TBRs of people who want a funny, sincere, and unique take on the Death/mortal lover trope.
I really liked the premise of the book- Death, who in this adaptation is simultaneously jaded by humanity and wholly innocent to it, accidentally takes the wrong soul to the afterlife after a mistake with a chicken wing. Molly Molloy, the woman who was supposed to die, can now see Death- and is very uninterested in letting her soul be reaped to fix his administrative mistake.
Maria Vale says that while this is a love story it isn’t necessarily a romance, and that’s definitely true in the story. The love story is definitely present, but the novel is more of a study of human nature- grief, and the ability to keep loving even after being hurt deeply. Through the book doesn’t shy away from some pretty intense content (I can give content warnings after the book is released to avoid spoilers!) it is also intensely funny, with a humor that is a bit reminiscent of Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman’s Good Omens.
I liked this book, but didn’t love it. That’s not the book’s fault. It’s well-written and I was happy I read it, but some of the plot twists included tropes I personally don’t love. It was, however, done very well, and I definitely think it should be on the TBRs of people who want a funny, sincere, and unique take on the Death/mortal lover trope.
March 9, 2023
Move over "Good Omens" and make space for "Molly Molloy and the Angel of Death"!
A brilliant, original take on the paranormal romance genre and refreshingly different from the standard PNR novels.
This book is darkly comical in places (I can't start to count all the howl-with-laughter moments I had just in the first few pages), but it is also highly observant of the countless and varied slices of human nature. The story also contains sad moments, tragedy, and grief, all narrated beautifully by a true wordsmith.
The mix of funny and thought-provoking is perfectly balanced and it made me pause to reflect more than once.
This novel is full of quirky ideas that took me by surprise (in a good way!).
I loved the main characters (Molly and Death).
Mortal Molly who - despite life's struggles - maintains a kick-ass no-nonsense attitude, and Death (botched Molly's death! Oh dear...) who tries to be human but can't quite get it right. And let's face it: He isn't exactly acing his immortal life either.
Oh! Death's eating habits are out of this world.
The author's writing style is captivating, and every scene flows effortlessly. I love the unusual, but context-appropriate vocabulary and the use of Latin.
Perfect for word nerds like myself 😄
This book is not only a new favourite, but a certain re-read.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Thanks for this fabulous ARC⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A brilliant, original take on the paranormal romance genre and refreshingly different from the standard PNR novels.
This book is darkly comical in places (I can't start to count all the howl-with-laughter moments I had just in the first few pages), but it is also highly observant of the countless and varied slices of human nature. The story also contains sad moments, tragedy, and grief, all narrated beautifully by a true wordsmith.
The mix of funny and thought-provoking is perfectly balanced and it made me pause to reflect more than once.
This novel is full of quirky ideas that took me by surprise (in a good way!).
I loved the main characters (Molly and Death).
Mortal Molly who - despite life's struggles - maintains a kick-ass no-nonsense attitude, and Death (botched Molly's death! Oh dear...) who tries to be human but can't quite get it right. And let's face it: He isn't exactly acing his immortal life either.
Oh! Death's eating habits are out of this world.
The author's writing style is captivating, and every scene flows effortlessly. I love the unusual, but context-appropriate vocabulary and the use of Latin.
Perfect for word nerds like myself 😄
This book is not only a new favourite, but a certain re-read.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Thanks for this fabulous ARC⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
February 17, 2023
A heartwarming love story between two unlikely individuals. Molly has wit, street smarts, and a sharp tongue while Azrael/Dee is so sweet and naive. The story provided so many beautiful moments between these two and other supporting characters, as well as some unexpected tearjerker moments (especially involving music boxes and radish salads).
While Dee’s ignorance felt a bit annoying at times, he was like a lovable puppy, you just had to let it slide.
My only critique are the moments with the ethereal Custodes. While I understand and appreciate the concept and language, the overall writing in their plot sections was so jumbled and confusing. Some passages were so nonsensical, I felt like I was having a stroke reading them and had to re-read multiple times hoping for clarity. It didn’t always come. The further in to the story the better it got, but you need to wade through so much in the beginning. Readers be warned, it starts a bit confusing but ultimately makes sense and is worth it for the main plot love story!
Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing for my advanced copy.
While Dee’s ignorance felt a bit annoying at times, he was like a lovable puppy, you just had to let it slide.
My only critique are the moments with the ethereal Custodes. While I understand and appreciate the concept and language, the overall writing in their plot sections was so jumbled and confusing. Some passages were so nonsensical, I felt like I was having a stroke reading them and had to re-read multiple times hoping for clarity. It didn’t always come. The further in to the story the better it got, but you need to wade through so much in the beginning. Readers be warned, it starts a bit confusing but ultimately makes sense and is worth it for the main plot love story!
Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing for my advanced copy.
February 4, 2024
I loooooved this one. I'll admit I judged it by its name and cover and thought it would be less substantial than it turned it to be. It was poetic, beautiful, philosophical, funny and genuinely moving. I love the fantasy genre when it incorporates religious mythology and I thought this pulled it off so thoughtfully and well.
February 12, 2023
I agree with another reviewer; this seriously made me question my grasp of the English language. Overall, it’s a sweet love story, but parts of it were clunky and hard to read. I like the idea, but would have appreciated a warning for the pregnancy body horror.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. I’m leaving this review voluntarily.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. I’m leaving this review voluntarily.
April 29, 2023
Molly Molloy and the Angel of Death is a love story with a dash of humor.
The Angel of Death accidently saves the life of the person he was to collect. Thus the beginning of this love story. The whole atmosphere of the story makes great spring time reading. The characters are adorable and the love is charming.
ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Angel of Death accidently saves the life of the person he was to collect. Thus the beginning of this love story. The whole atmosphere of the story makes great spring time reading. The characters are adorable and the love is charming.
ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
dnf-s
February 14, 2023DNF'ed at 7%: really odd writing style and immediate characterization of Death that seemed weird and read more like fanfiction than an actual novel
April 19, 2024
This is a very unusual, weirdly humorous and utterly delightful and unexpected romance story. Azrael is the Angel of Death. During a stop to pick up the soul of Molly’s very old and ill grandmother, he pats her back as she chokes on a chicken wing, only to discover he made a mistake and should have come for Molly. Told to rectify his error, he returns and unsurprisingly Molly is not interested in dying. She can see him, talk to him and question him. She is his miracle.
August 10, 2024
I enjoyed this book, especially at the beginning. It was funny and clever and original, but it felt distant, and I fear I just didn’t connect with the characters the way I hoped I would.
March 25, 2024
So great! Started funny and a bit silly and by the end I was smitten.
June 11, 2024
It was an ok read. While I enjoyed the plot, it was hard to get into this book. Some things were over explained while others weren’t explained enough/glossed over. The story dragged on, but the ending felt rushed. This was a story full of contradictions. I’m not quite sure how to put how I felt about the book into the right words.
May 19, 2024
Molly Molloy is the most beautiful and masterfully crafted book I have read in a very long time. She is full of hurt and laughter and love, death and living, sporks and wisdom, and so so many "mistakes and miracles." I AM DISTRAUGHT. I don't know what to do with myself besides cry but am consoled by the inevitability that I shall see Molly and Death in another read. 🥲 (also, highly recommend annotating!! 🐽)
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