Moreau’s interpretation of the Four Horsemen myth accounts for contemporary ideas of religion while simultaneously putting an intriguing spin on the concept. That Conquest and his brothers are in the mortal dimension to initiate a deadly purge is never in question. This being a recurring event initiated by either good or evil when one side tips the balance too far plants the Horsemen solidly in the gray area of the morality spectrum while simultaneously freeing them to wreak destruction as needed. The Horsemen not knowing who set their work in motion this go-around is a fascinating but subtle inciting incident that compelled me to keep reading.
I’ll be honest and note that this was my second try at reading this book. The first time, I gave it up at around the 10 percent mark. While the prologue of Conquest’s last trip to Earth introduces many fascinating characters, the switch to Raziel’s perspective was a bit harder to initially get through. Despite being curious about the details that set him apart from other Angels, his circumstances after being dropped to earth felt a bit overwrought. Learning that Moreau is the pen name of one of my favorite authors finally tempted me back to this world, and I’m pleased that this time I powered through to Raziel and Conquest meeting each other on the page. Afterward, I was in for the long haul as the plot thickened with the mystery of Raziel’s true nature and identity. Moreau drops these details well amidst the scenes showing how Raziel and Conquest begin to connect in a much deeper manner than Conquest originally intended.
Conquest certainly leans into his morally gray nature in his original plans for Raziel. However, while Conquest is manipulative, Raziel isn’t stupid – only innocent. The innocence that irked me near the beginning transformed nicely into an endearing characterization that swept me up as much as it did Conquest. The final plot twist concerning Raziel’s identity brings so much about this world into question, but how it threatens to rip him and Conquest apart makes for an equally strong and emotion-laden arc.
The shifting balance between the Heavens and Hells makes the premise of the Horsemen’s current purge even more complicated. This novel ends on a solid point for our heroes, but as a series opener, the story ends on a minor cliffhanger for the overarching plot and offers teases for future pairings. Despite needing more than one attempt to get into this book, I won’t hesitate to dive into the sequel.