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Sacrificial Lamb Cake
"If you're a fan of Christopher Moore, have I got a book for you." ~ Big Al's Books and Pals
"Monroe...explores religious identity and redemption, giving a passing nod to comedy as she boldly showcases the psychological and physical horrors of radicalism... With a promising comedic beginning and over-the-top characters, the well-written story provides an often scathing indictment of the human condition." ~ Publishers Weekly
Rain Johnson escaped the insanity of her radical environmentalist family, only to end up waitressing for a living. Her scale of success—with her at the bottom—only goes as high as that college degree she never got, until she gets one hell of an epiphany from a Trinity Corporation public-relations guy who calls himself Jude. He tells her she’s the Lamb of God, and it’s time for that whole Second Coming thing. But when her first minor miracle gets her arrested and an ecoterrorist using the name Messiah starts blowing up pesticide plants, Rain and Judas are in for way more apocalypse than either of them expected.
Jude scrambles to save his personal plan for salvation, but Lucy, the devil herself, has her own well-laid plans. It doesn’t matter that Rain’s a conflict-avoiding lesbian and Jude is history’s worst traitor. They’re all that stands between humanity and an end of the world that wasn’t supposed to happen.
"Monroe...explores religious identity and redemption, giving a passing nod to comedy as she boldly showcases the psychological and physical horrors of radicalism... With a promising comedic beginning and over-the-top characters, the well-written story provides an often scathing indictment of the human condition." ~ Publishers Weekly
Rain Johnson escaped the insanity of her radical environmentalist family, only to end up waitressing for a living. Her scale of success—with her at the bottom—only goes as high as that college degree she never got, until she gets one hell of an epiphany from a Trinity Corporation public-relations guy who calls himself Jude. He tells her she’s the Lamb of God, and it’s time for that whole Second Coming thing. But when her first minor miracle gets her arrested and an ecoterrorist using the name Messiah starts blowing up pesticide plants, Rain and Judas are in for way more apocalypse than either of them expected.
Jude scrambles to save his personal plan for salvation, but Lucy, the devil herself, has her own well-laid plans. It doesn’t matter that Rain’s a conflict-avoiding lesbian and Jude is history’s worst traitor. They’re all that stands between humanity and an end of the world that wasn’t supposed to happen.
199 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 2014
47 people are currently reading
708 people want to read
About the author
Katrina Monroe
11 books394 followersKatrina Monroe is the author of They Drown Our Daughters; Graveyard of Lost Children; and Through the Midnight Door. A private investigator by day, she lives in Minnesota with her wife, two children, and Eddie, the ghost who haunts their bedroom closets.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
February 17, 2022
одного дня головна героїня дізналася, що вона месія і може помножувати бейгли й перетворювати воду на вино. а потім почитала біблію і зрозуміла, що вина їй знадобиться багато.
(здається, зараз ідеальний час на веселі книжки про апокаліпсис — дуже розслабляють).
(здається, зараз ідеальний час на веселі книжки про апокаліпсис — дуже розслабляють).
April 22, 2016
This was a funny change of pace from what I have been reading lately. I really enjoyed it! If you are a fan of the movie “Dogma” with Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, then you should enjoy this satirical version of the second coming. However the more religious readers may take offense, however I really didn’t feel that it was meant to be offensive at all and I am sure both religious and non religious readers will see the funny side.
So Rain has just found out that she is the lamb of God. And she is not happy about it. She is a lesbian raised by hippy parents after all. After performing some miracles with her now sidekick Jude, she resigns to the fact that she is the messiah. However a terrorist is blowing things up disguised as her, and the devil, ie “Lucy” is creating her own havoc. How is Rain going to find and fight the antichrist and save humanity?
I was reluctant to read this book at first, I try to avoid reviewing any sort of religious books. However this was a really enjoyable light fun ride. I really enjoyed her take on all the characters and there were quite a few moments that were hilarious.
It was a quick read and I really enjoyed the big twist near the end. I didn’t see it coming! Despite only a few more serious moments, it was pretty light and fluffy considering it was the end of the world. Loved Rain, Jude and “G”, and loved the adventures they had!
Would I recommend Sacrificial Lamb Cake?
Yes, to anyone who is after a light hearted read and who doesn’t mind the subject matter.
Many thanks to Katrina Monroe for a copy of Sacrificial Lamb Cake in exchange for my honest review.
For more reviews check out my blog
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December 7, 2015
SACRIFICIAL LAMB CAKE BY: KATRINA MONROE
4.5 Stars
Well, I can definitely say that this story was one HELL of a ride. *Bad pun intended!* I have to admit that when I was asked to read and review this, I was slightly hesitant. I'm not typically keen on heavy religiously themed stories, but honestly, the blurb and the way the author described it won me over. Especially when I started thinking that it sounded vaguely similar, with the modern day comedic based religious theme, to one of my favorite movies...Dogma.
So yeah, that solidified it for me.
Okay, Okay, back to the story. So I went for it, and honestly I am glad I did. The hilarious plot line of a tattooed, orange haired, trucker mouthed, lesbian being the second coming, and the big G and his disciples being the heads of a huge corporation, and Judas as the ultimate anti-hero, I loved every second of all of that!
Even with the comedic awesomeness aside, the characters were compelling, the action scenes were engaging, and the visuals that the author painted were extremely vivid, whether it was the urban setting, an exceedingly grotesque foe, or even a steamy little romp. Monroe seriously knows how to tell a story. The sarcasm, and medium use of profanity were just extra little perks, like the yummy cherry on top of a hot fudge sundae.
I also appreciated that you didn't have to be well versed in the bible to get a lot of what was going on and who key players were. I would say that even a person with very little biblical knowledge would easily be able to follow along and recognize most, if not all the big names.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 Stars
Well, I can definitely say that this story was one HELL of a ride. *Bad pun intended!* I have to admit that when I was asked to read and review this, I was slightly hesitant. I'm not typically keen on heavy religiously themed stories, but honestly, the blurb and the way the author described it won me over. Especially when I started thinking that it sounded vaguely similar, with the modern day comedic based religious theme, to one of my favorite movies...Dogma.
So yeah, that solidified it for me.
Okay, Okay, back to the story. So I went for it, and honestly I am glad I did. The hilarious plot line of a tattooed, orange haired, trucker mouthed, lesbian being the second coming, and the big G and his disciples being the heads of a huge corporation, and Judas as the ultimate anti-hero, I loved every second of all of that!
Even with the comedic awesomeness aside, the characters were compelling, the action scenes were engaging, and the visuals that the author painted were extremely vivid, whether it was the urban setting, an exceedingly grotesque foe, or even a steamy little romp. Monroe seriously knows how to tell a story. The sarcasm, and medium use of profanity were just extra little perks, like the yummy cherry on top of a hot fudge sundae.
I also appreciated that you didn't have to be well versed in the bible to get a lot of what was going on and who key players were. I would say that even a person with very little biblical knowledge would easily be able to follow along and recognize most, if not all the big names.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
August 25, 2018
A different take on the second coming in the same style as Christopher Moore. Rain (daughter of ecoterrorists) is told by Jude (Judas) that she will be Messiah. And it just gets stranger from there. This is definitely a summer read for when you don’t want anything too serious or taxing.
March 24, 2017
A fun cross between Christopher Moore's "Lamb" and Chuck Palahniuk's "Damned". If you liked either of those, you'll probably enjoy this one.
April 14, 2021
Oh. My. God.
Rain Johnson escaped the insanity of her radical environmentalist family, only to end up waitressing for a living. Her scale of success—with her at the bottom—only goes as high as that college degree she never got, until she gets one hell of an epiphany from a Trinity Corporation public-relations guy who calls himself Jude. He tells her she’s the Lamb of God, and it’s time for that whole Second Coming thing. But when her first minor miracle gets her arrested and an ecoterrorist using the name Messiah starts blowing up pesticide plants, Rain and Judas are in for way more apocalypse than either of them expected.
Jude scrambles to save his personal plan for salvation, but Lucy, the devil herself, has her own well-laid plans. It doesn’t matter that Rain’s a conflict-avoiding lesbian and Jude is history’s worst traitor. They’re all that stands between humanity and an end of the world that wasn’t supposed to happen.
The Review - I did not star this because I don't believe in tarnishing an author's ratings on Goodreads just because I didn't love it:
This book falls under the "satire and humor" category, but I confess I did not find it either. Because I believe the writing is sound and the structure of the novel has merit, I'm sharing the review but I want to emphatically note the content was not for me. To me, this is blasphemous. There is a story of redemption in here, but I simply could not get past the cussing disciples (and it's not like I believe Christianity is defined by my use of foul language - in fact, I'm glad it's not) so the redemption was difficult to ferret out. The premise of a modern day Judas seeking the fulfillment of his soul is a plausible idea; the presentation of it simply did not appeal to me.
But I believe all literature has merit and thought so I want to share where you can purchase or read the novel and form your own opinion. Katrina Monroe has witty prose and a sharp-tongue for writing, I just wish the subject had been different. This book would NOT shy me away from other writings by her, but I do hope for a less sensitive concept.
Here are the links where the book is available:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sacrificial-Lam...
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sacri...
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebo...
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id96...
Google: https://play.google.com/store/books/d...
And to read more about Katrina Monroe:
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
Author page on RAP: http://redadeptpublishing.com/#!/Monr...
Rain Johnson escaped the insanity of her radical environmentalist family, only to end up waitressing for a living. Her scale of success—with her at the bottom—only goes as high as that college degree she never got, until she gets one hell of an epiphany from a Trinity Corporation public-relations guy who calls himself Jude. He tells her she’s the Lamb of God, and it’s time for that whole Second Coming thing. But when her first minor miracle gets her arrested and an ecoterrorist using the name Messiah starts blowing up pesticide plants, Rain and Judas are in for way more apocalypse than either of them expected.
Jude scrambles to save his personal plan for salvation, but Lucy, the devil herself, has her own well-laid plans. It doesn’t matter that Rain’s a conflict-avoiding lesbian and Jude is history’s worst traitor. They’re all that stands between humanity and an end of the world that wasn’t supposed to happen.
The Review - I did not star this because I don't believe in tarnishing an author's ratings on Goodreads just because I didn't love it:
This book falls under the "satire and humor" category, but I confess I did not find it either. Because I believe the writing is sound and the structure of the novel has merit, I'm sharing the review but I want to emphatically note the content was not for me. To me, this is blasphemous. There is a story of redemption in here, but I simply could not get past the cussing disciples (and it's not like I believe Christianity is defined by my use of foul language - in fact, I'm glad it's not) so the redemption was difficult to ferret out. The premise of a modern day Judas seeking the fulfillment of his soul is a plausible idea; the presentation of it simply did not appeal to me.
But I believe all literature has merit and thought so I want to share where you can purchase or read the novel and form your own opinion. Katrina Monroe has witty prose and a sharp-tongue for writing, I just wish the subject had been different. This book would NOT shy me away from other writings by her, but I do hope for a less sensitive concept.
Here are the links where the book is available:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sacrificial-Lam...
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sacri...
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebo...
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id96...
Google: https://play.google.com/store/books/d...
And to read more about Katrina Monroe:
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
Author page on RAP: http://redadeptpublishing.com/#!/Monr...
July 5, 2016
Our heroine, Rain, is not a typical one. She has faults, but, her snarky attitude makes you laugh and love her at the same time.
Part I moves quickly, even though you are introduced to the main characters-with background, it is very entertaining.
Part II has a different feel. It's almost like the two parts were written at different times. It is still entertaining, but not the same.
Maybe there is a Book 2 in the future-Rain was such a fun character and the interaction between she and Jude was wonderful.
(I was given a copy of this book by the author for a review.)
Part I moves quickly, even though you are introduced to the main characters-with background, it is very entertaining.
Part II has a different feel. It's almost like the two parts were written at different times. It is still entertaining, but not the same.
Maybe there is a Book 2 in the future-Rain was such a fun character and the interaction between she and Jude was wonderful.
(I was given a copy of this book by the author for a review.)
April 22, 2018
This book was fairly good; and likely deserves a higher score. Unfortunately I went into this one expecting humour like that of @Christopher Moore; which this was not.
The storyline has some nice twists, and odd events that keep the story interesting throughout. I think I was just missing the connection to anyone other than the main two characters and for more silly humour.
The storyline has some nice twists, and odd events that keep the story interesting throughout. I think I was just missing the connection to anyone other than the main two characters and for more silly humour.
May 10, 2017
Going into this story it was not at all what I expected. It was funny, romantic, quirky and action packed. Even though it has a religious theme (and I'm not all religious) it didn't bother me.
The characters are easy to like and not over the top as I was afraid they would be. The plot is engaging and not easily guessed with a good twist.
The characters are easy to like and not over the top as I was afraid they would be. The plot is engaging and not easily guessed with a good twist.
August 2, 2018
Wow! And from a woman. Calling the Devil a female and God a dude.
I couldn't finish this book. Too many mistakes and the gender fuck up just put me off. Maybe, maybe I could have finished this if I could have gotten over our FEMALE author making us evil. Nope. I refuse to be put in that role again and don't have the time.
I couldn't finish this book. Too many mistakes and the gender fuck up just put me off. Maybe, maybe I could have finished this if I could have gotten over our FEMALE author making us evil. Nope. I refuse to be put in that role again and don't have the time.
August 7, 2018
Sharp and enigmatic
Sharp as razors and soldering irons on the ways of evil. Somewhat more enigmatic on those good characters.
Which might be okay if you really, really need those eureka moments, but a bit problematic for those of us struggling with our ethics.
Is it just me, or does elitism for the good actually work?
Sharp as razors and soldering irons on the ways of evil. Somewhat more enigmatic on those good characters.
Which might be okay if you really, really need those eureka moments, but a bit problematic for those of us struggling with our ethics.
Is it just me, or does elitism for the good actually work?
August 22, 2018
My feelings are...mixed. It’s definitely an engaging read, and the concept alone was interesting enough for me to actually spend $2 on it. Buuuuut...I dunno. Rain is a main character and at least half the book is from her perspective, but the last page reveals that it’s not really *about* her, which I resent.
Warning for abusive family and quite a lot of gore.
Warning for abusive family and quite a lot of gore.
August 25, 2018
No where near Christopher Moore
For those that love Christopher Moore, this is no where near. There is little humour and nothing clever. This is a quick read and has an interesting story and a few good characters.
For those that love Christopher Moore, this is no where near. There is little humour and nothing clever. This is a quick read and has an interesting story and a few good characters.
July 10, 2018
Sacrificial Lamb Cake and an enjoyable, light-hearted romp. As Armageddon should be.
August 13, 2018
”Insects. Blood. Frogs. These are what I have to deface a planet that’s done more damage to itself than I could cause in a thousand years.”
—Plague, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse in ‘Sacrificial Lamb Cake’
I loved this! If you enjoy AMC’s TV show “Preacher”, then I think you’ll love this book too.
It’s a hilariously written take on the apocalypse, yet it reflects a lot on the good and bad of humanity:
”The point, Rain, is for you to show them what it means to be human.”
It’s not even about being religious, it’s about accepting that everyone has good and bad in their souls (or perhaps even that good and bad are relative). But it’s our decisions that define us:
All that was to happen, had happened, and could possibly happen should things deviate from the plan. “Free will,” G said. “It’s a bitch.”
(Note that G is God).
I could go on and on analyzing this book.
So let me just say that I throughly enjoyed it!
Also, I did NOT see the twists coming in this book, so kudos for that!
September 12, 2018
Adorable....in that blood, guts, demons, and fallen angels way. Reminiscent of Christopher Moore. Quick, satisfying read.
February 7, 2019
I enjoyed this, like other reviews said if you like Christopher Moore you'll like Katrina Monroe. I want to check out some of her other work. This story had good pacing, and a good plot twist.
August 21, 2016
Rain is the Messiah, the second coming of Christ
Which surprises no-one as much as Rainfall (call her by her real name and suffer) – a lesbian, child of a rabid hippy and generally the last person you’d expect
But Jude – appointed by the Trinity Corporation – is determined to guide her to the second coming hopefully without setting off the apocalypse
Except big G seems to be playing his own game
I can see what this book is trying to do, I can see the theme it is trying to set. It’s the same kind of super-silly-yet hilarious theme you get with books like Christopher Moore’s and . These are the kind of books where we know the point from the beginning – it’s about being funny, about being silly. Yes there may be a plot and a world there, but it’s more to be a vehicle for the hilarity than anything else and, often, we’re not going to poke at it too closely because it’s not that kind of book.
Though it does have a plot with some very awesome points. I love the twist ending. The twist ending is amazing and perfect and really something I should have seen coming from a mile away but it was so well done. I have endless praise for the plot twist at the end
The plot was also very fun. Rain’s sudden diving into this whole new world, trying to learn it, trying to understand it and her various misadventures along the world – it was all kind of fun
And the idea of a super evil and repressive hippy also has a certain dark irony about it – though in addition to being played for laughs it was also a kind of dark lesson that fanaticism of any kind is a terrifying thing.
I’m also really amused by the attempts to prove she’s the messiah and how very very very awry they go. We live in a very different world and not every situation is improved by water turning to wine…
Her mother was an excellently over the top and terrifying character – the new age fanatic taken to extreme and horrendous extent, both funny and frightening and an excellent twist
And the horsemen? I really liked the horsemen
All of this worked.
Read More
Which surprises no-one as much as Rainfall (call her by her real name and suffer) – a lesbian, child of a rabid hippy and generally the last person you’d expect
But Jude – appointed by the Trinity Corporation – is determined to guide her to the second coming hopefully without setting off the apocalypse
Except big G seems to be playing his own game
I can see what this book is trying to do, I can see the theme it is trying to set. It’s the same kind of super-silly-yet hilarious theme you get with books like Christopher Moore’s and . These are the kind of books where we know the point from the beginning – it’s about being funny, about being silly. Yes there may be a plot and a world there, but it’s more to be a vehicle for the hilarity than anything else and, often, we’re not going to poke at it too closely because it’s not that kind of book.
Though it does have a plot with some very awesome points. I love the twist ending. The twist ending is amazing and perfect and really something I should have seen coming from a mile away but it was so well done. I have endless praise for the plot twist at the end
The plot was also very fun. Rain’s sudden diving into this whole new world, trying to learn it, trying to understand it and her various misadventures along the world – it was all kind of fun
And the idea of a super evil and repressive hippy also has a certain dark irony about it – though in addition to being played for laughs it was also a kind of dark lesson that fanaticism of any kind is a terrifying thing.
I’m also really amused by the attempts to prove she’s the messiah and how very very very awry they go. We live in a very different world and not every situation is improved by water turning to wine…
Her mother was an excellently over the top and terrifying character – the new age fanatic taken to extreme and horrendous extent, both funny and frightening and an excellent twist
And the horsemen? I really liked the horsemen
All of this worked.
Read More
May 7, 2015
4.5
*Book source ~ A review copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
Rainfall on the Desert Plains Johnson hightailed it from her insane family at the first possible opportunity. With high hopes of college and then job success Rain ends up waitressing for a living. She’s not the success she thought she’d be and while she’s not unhappy she’s thinking she really needs to get a new life. One night when a weird guy shows up at one of her tables her life changes dramatically. She doesn’t know Jude’s story, but the unbelievable things he’s telling her are coming to pass. Rain is to be the new Messiah. Her. The non-believing, pacifist, lesbian loser in Life’s footnotes. When she had decided she needed to do something with her life, this wasn’t exactly what she had in mind.
Delving into religion can be a tricky sell. Preach too much and you put off those who will never believe. Be too irreverent and you put off the hard-core believers. Right off I have to say that I don’t have any interest in religion and my knowledge is limited. That doesn’t matter with this book. Bible-type stuff is explained without boring me to tears and the humor sprinkled liberally throughout made me laugh out loud. In public. *nods* Well played Ms. Monroe. The plot, the writing and the characters are simply divine and I have to admit, as a fan of the expletive, that I found the occasional swearing to be quite amusing and not over the top. And bonus, the snark is strong with this one. Alternating POVs between Rain and Jude give the book a balanced feel and I have to admit the creative plotline as well as the inspired use of the Ultimate Traitor is what really sells this story.
Why, yes. Yes, I was.
*Book source ~ A review copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
Rainfall on the Desert Plains Johnson hightailed it from her insane family at the first possible opportunity. With high hopes of college and then job success Rain ends up waitressing for a living. She’s not the success she thought she’d be and while she’s not unhappy she’s thinking she really needs to get a new life. One night when a weird guy shows up at one of her tables her life changes dramatically. She doesn’t know Jude’s story, but the unbelievable things he’s telling her are coming to pass. Rain is to be the new Messiah. Her. The non-believing, pacifist, lesbian loser in Life’s footnotes. When she had decided she needed to do something with her life, this wasn’t exactly what she had in mind.
Delving into religion can be a tricky sell. Preach too much and you put off those who will never believe. Be too irreverent and you put off the hard-core believers. Right off I have to say that I don’t have any interest in religion and my knowledge is limited. That doesn’t matter with this book. Bible-type stuff is explained without boring me to tears and the humor sprinkled liberally throughout made me laugh out loud. In public. *nods* Well played Ms. Monroe. The plot, the writing and the characters are simply divine and I have to admit, as a fan of the expletive, that I found the occasional swearing to be quite amusing and not over the top. And bonus, the snark is strong with this one. Alternating POVs between Rain and Jude give the book a balanced feel and I have to admit the creative plotline as well as the inspired use of the Ultimate Traitor is what really sells this story.
Why, yes. Yes, I was.
October 15, 2020
Sounded funny. Wasn’t particularly funny. Irreverent, but not funny.
November 5, 2016
Holy Satire Batman!
I was a little hesitant with the religious connotations in this book but this was awesome.
You didn’t need to be well versed in the Bible to understand the concept behind this story and who the key players were, at all.
Rain is the least likely Messiah or Lamb of God, ever. She is a wild, orange haired, foul mouthed, tattooed lesbian living in sin with another lesbian who has more secrets than hair on her head. Also Rain was raised by rabid Hippie’s to boot! That says a lot there, ha!
Judas played a key role in preparing this new Messiah. Ms. Monroe made him sound so old and creepy. I kind of envisioned the creepy cult leader in Poltergeist II: The Other Side, Kane as what Judas might look like. Especially as he was described as being in a body too old to survive half of the stuff it was put through.
I absolutely loved that Lucifer is a chick. It’s so suiting. She was hell bent, pun intended; totally awesome. Totally worth it too. I also enjoyed the twist of who the Anti-Christ was.
This novel has a little bit of everything from steamy shower sex scenes (say that 5 times fast, ha ha), profanity, sarcasm and a ton of humor to keep you interested.
If you enjoyed the movie Dogma, then this book might just fill that void Dogma left. Wink!
Please visit me at Shh, I Am Reading for more reviews like this!
I was a little hesitant with the religious connotations in this book but this was awesome.
You didn’t need to be well versed in the Bible to understand the concept behind this story and who the key players were, at all.
Rain is the least likely Messiah or Lamb of God, ever. She is a wild, orange haired, foul mouthed, tattooed lesbian living in sin with another lesbian who has more secrets than hair on her head. Also Rain was raised by rabid Hippie’s to boot! That says a lot there, ha!
Judas played a key role in preparing this new Messiah. Ms. Monroe made him sound so old and creepy. I kind of envisioned the creepy cult leader in Poltergeist II: The Other Side, Kane as what Judas might look like. Especially as he was described as being in a body too old to survive half of the stuff it was put through.
I absolutely loved that Lucifer is a chick. It’s so suiting. She was hell bent, pun intended; totally awesome. Totally worth it too. I also enjoyed the twist of who the Anti-Christ was.
This novel has a little bit of everything from steamy shower sex scenes (say that 5 times fast, ha ha), profanity, sarcasm and a ton of humor to keep you interested.
If you enjoyed the movie Dogma, then this book might just fill that void Dogma left. Wink!
Please visit me at Shh, I Am Reading for more reviews like this!
April 23, 2016
This book came to my attention via Twitter and the cover sealed the deal, the title was perfect and the artwork appealed to me immediately.
The premise of this book was highly original and very, very funny - Judas Isacriot is given the chance to redeem himself but not really given much to work with, as Rain the new Messiah couldn't be more poorly suited to the role. Together, they have to avert the accidental apocalypse and save humanity - simple.
I liked the way in which this story brought the Bible into the twentyfirst century, acting out old stories in a modern setting with the weird and wonderful characters that we don't even look at twice today - namely Rain, the underachieving, former-hippy lesbian.
The 'deal with it' approach to having a lesbian main character was also beautifully refreshing!
This book was a little bit of a slow starter, but I was determined to stick with it and am glad that I did because the ending was phenomenal. It picked up the pace about halfway through and took a steady lope to the grand finale.
The characters weren't particularly relatable but they were very entertaining, my favourite being Rain's mother: the militant hippy with an axe to grind. She was definitely the funniest character, though this was unintentional on her part!
The premise of this book was highly original and very, very funny - Judas Isacriot is given the chance to redeem himself but not really given much to work with, as Rain the new Messiah couldn't be more poorly suited to the role. Together, they have to avert the accidental apocalypse and save humanity - simple.
I liked the way in which this story brought the Bible into the twentyfirst century, acting out old stories in a modern setting with the weird and wonderful characters that we don't even look at twice today - namely Rain, the underachieving, former-hippy lesbian.
The 'deal with it' approach to having a lesbian main character was also beautifully refreshing!
This book was a little bit of a slow starter, but I was determined to stick with it and am glad that I did because the ending was phenomenal. It picked up the pace about halfway through and took a steady lope to the grand finale.
The characters weren't particularly relatable but they were very entertaining, my favourite being Rain's mother: the militant hippy with an axe to grind. She was definitely the funniest character, though this was unintentional on her part!
August 20, 2016
Find the full review at http://spinesinaline.wordpress.com
This wasn't really the book for me but it was still funny and I was laughing along with Rain's misadventures. This is a fictional telling of many people from the Bible, much different than what you may have learned in church, so I wouldn’t be surprised if there are many Christians that are uncomfortable with this book. If the premise is already putting you off, I think you’d be better off avoiding this one. I don’t believe the author is intending this to be read as an alternative way of viewing Christianity. For myself, I was able to separate the two and read this as the satire it is intended as.
The humour in it is quite natural so it was a fun read, even though I was reading about the apocalypse. Somehow the author was able to keep it light even with the horrific events that took place. That’s not to say that she downplayed these events. Our main character, Rain, faces an entire upheaval of her life and this is given significant weight in the book. Still, it doesn’t weigh down the whole book so there’s this nice balance that the author has created.
Even though I didn't really enjoy this book, I'd like to try out some of the author's other books, because I do enjoy her narrative and humour.
This wasn't really the book for me but it was still funny and I was laughing along with Rain's misadventures. This is a fictional telling of many people from the Bible, much different than what you may have learned in church, so I wouldn’t be surprised if there are many Christians that are uncomfortable with this book. If the premise is already putting you off, I think you’d be better off avoiding this one. I don’t believe the author is intending this to be read as an alternative way of viewing Christianity. For myself, I was able to separate the two and read this as the satire it is intended as.
The humour in it is quite natural so it was a fun read, even though I was reading about the apocalypse. Somehow the author was able to keep it light even with the horrific events that took place. That’s not to say that she downplayed these events. Our main character, Rain, faces an entire upheaval of her life and this is given significant weight in the book. Still, it doesn’t weigh down the whole book so there’s this nice balance that the author has created.
Even though I didn't really enjoy this book, I'd like to try out some of the author's other books, because I do enjoy her narrative and humour.
May 10, 2015
I have actually seen a lot of books that take theology and twist it into modern fiction, but never have I seen it done as comedy. Satire, sure, but this was an entirely new experience for me.
Judas is a businessman. Not surprising. He's charming and dangerous. Also not surprising. Satan is a woman. Definitely not a surprise to me, but to a lot of readers, I bet it was.
The writing is light and slightly whimsical, surprising for the book's theme of good, evil and in between. I liked that the story never once got preachy. It was written as a story: if the Bible could have fan fiction, this was it.
I really liked Rain, the main character and Lamb of God, who escapes a family she doesn't fit in with to go her own way. She's independent and funny, taking everything in stride.
As much as the story is about the Second Coming and redemption, it is also about acceptance: acceptance of oneself, one's abilities and the acceptance to believe in what you cannot see. Beneath the humorous facade is a deeper meaning and I enjoyed discovering it.
Great writing and a unique take an a (very) old tale!
Judas is a businessman. Not surprising. He's charming and dangerous. Also not surprising. Satan is a woman. Definitely not a surprise to me, but to a lot of readers, I bet it was.
The writing is light and slightly whimsical, surprising for the book's theme of good, evil and in between. I liked that the story never once got preachy. It was written as a story: if the Bible could have fan fiction, this was it.
I really liked Rain, the main character and Lamb of God, who escapes a family she doesn't fit in with to go her own way. She's independent and funny, taking everything in stride.
As much as the story is about the Second Coming and redemption, it is also about acceptance: acceptance of oneself, one's abilities and the acceptance to believe in what you cannot see. Beneath the humorous facade is a deeper meaning and I enjoyed discovering it.
Great writing and a unique take an a (very) old tale!
May 13, 2015
If you’re a fan of Christopher Moore, have I got a book for you. The similarities between Moore’s work and Sacrificial Lamb Cake jumped out at me immediately. (That the title could even be a subtle nod to Moore’s Lamb didn’t occur to me until much later. Sometimes I’m slow.)
This is a fun, sometimes intense, adventure with God and his operations depicted as a large corporation (I’m not sure if this part is actually fiction), and appearances from a few biblical characters. Jude (you may know Mr Iscariot from his key role at The Last Supper) is given a chance at redemption, but his plans quickly go off the rails. If you’re up for a good laugh and some good-hearted poking of fun at organized religion, Sacrificial Lamb Cake will fill the bill. If you’re looking for something deeper, you should be able to find that here, too. If the idea sounds way too blasphemous to consider, move along, nothing to see here.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
This is a fun, sometimes intense, adventure with God and his operations depicted as a large corporation (I’m not sure if this part is actually fiction), and appearances from a few biblical characters. Jude (you may know Mr Iscariot from his key role at The Last Supper) is given a chance at redemption, but his plans quickly go off the rails. If you’re up for a good laugh and some good-hearted poking of fun at organized religion, Sacrificial Lamb Cake will fill the bill. If you’re looking for something deeper, you should be able to find that here, too. If the idea sounds way too blasphemous to consider, move along, nothing to see here.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
June 26, 2015
*review given in exchange for free copy from Netgalley*
"I don't even like people, Rain thought, and now I'm supposed to be their savior"
Very good and a lot of slightly creepy fun.
The opening, with "G" as the CEO of a multi-dimensional corporation really sets the scene: epic Biblical events taking place within the framework of the mundane and slightly absurd modern world.
Rain, a lesbian waitress who's pretty sick of the world by now, is an enjoyable character. Her reactions to being told she's the Second Coming are as realistic as such a thing can be.
World-weary (or death-weary) Judas is equally fun. The side characters are interesting, and I can't help but love the fact that Lucifer is now a woman- who calls herself "Lucy."
I thought it was less of a commentary on extremism (except for the parts about Rain's batshit family) and more of a humorous take on "what if the Apocalypse happened in modern American society with mass media, bakeries, and law enforcement" but that doesn't take away from it at all.
"I don't even like people, Rain thought, and now I'm supposed to be their savior"
Very good and a lot of slightly creepy fun.
The opening, with "G" as the CEO of a multi-dimensional corporation really sets the scene: epic Biblical events taking place within the framework of the mundane and slightly absurd modern world.
Rain, a lesbian waitress who's pretty sick of the world by now, is an enjoyable character. Her reactions to being told she's the Second Coming are as realistic as such a thing can be.
World-weary (or death-weary) Judas is equally fun. The side characters are interesting, and I can't help but love the fact that Lucifer is now a woman- who calls herself "Lucy."
I thought it was less of a commentary on extremism (except for the parts about Rain's batshit family) and more of a humorous take on "what if the Apocalypse happened in modern American society with mass media, bakeries, and law enforcement" but that doesn't take away from it at all.
December 21, 2015
See the full review on Books and Ladders!
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
"You people would give Lucifer’s hordes a run for their money. You all hate each other and come up with new reasons every day to stoke that fire."
I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed this one. I'm not always a fan of books that deal with religion because they come across as too preachy, but this one had such a good blend of snark and sarcasm that it was hard not to enjoy it. I liked that there was obviously more at play than what both Rain and Jude knew, but I would have liked just a teensy bit more for it to be fully developed. Otherwise, there wasn't much to complain about with this one.
I highly recommend this one if you're looking for a fun and quirky end of times read with a cool lesbian heroine.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
"You people would give Lucifer’s hordes a run for their money. You all hate each other and come up with new reasons every day to stoke that fire."
I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed this one. I'm not always a fan of books that deal with religion because they come across as too preachy, but this one had such a good blend of snark and sarcasm that it was hard not to enjoy it. I liked that there was obviously more at play than what both Rain and Jude knew, but I would have liked just a teensy bit more for it to be fully developed. Otherwise, there wasn't much to complain about with this one.
I highly recommend this one if you're looking for a fun and quirky end of times read with a cool lesbian heroine.
October 3, 2015
3.5 Stars
TITLE: Sacrificial Lamb Cake
LENGTH: 198 pages
GENRES: Fantasy
AUDIENCE: Adult
PUBLISHER: Red Adept
THE RUNDOWN
Trinity Corp. is facing a crisis of faith in Katrina Monroe's book, "Sacrificial Lamb Cake."
When the solution to the crisis is to trigger Armageddon by introducing the Second Coming to mankind, there's plenty of concern amongst the leaders of Trinity Corp. that the Big Guy might have become a little . . . lost.
That notion is given even more credence when G introduces the man handpicked to lead the Second Coming initiative: Judas Iscariot, the most infamous traitor in the history of Western civilization.
Just when G and Judas have the Board on board, they stumble once they introduce the Second Coming...
...read the rest of this review at UndergroundBookReviews (dot) com
TITLE: Sacrificial Lamb Cake
LENGTH: 198 pages
GENRES: Fantasy
AUDIENCE: Adult
PUBLISHER: Red Adept
THE RUNDOWN
Trinity Corp. is facing a crisis of faith in Katrina Monroe's book, "Sacrificial Lamb Cake."
When the solution to the crisis is to trigger Armageddon by introducing the Second Coming to mankind, there's plenty of concern amongst the leaders of Trinity Corp. that the Big Guy might have become a little . . . lost.
That notion is given even more credence when G introduces the man handpicked to lead the Second Coming initiative: Judas Iscariot, the most infamous traitor in the history of Western civilization.
Just when G and Judas have the Board on board, they stumble once they introduce the Second Coming...
...read the rest of this review at UndergroundBookReviews (dot) com
July 21, 2016
Probably a 4.5, but some of us need to give this one a push! I was sent a copy by the author, requesting a review. What a gift! Well written and a quick read, I was hooked in 5 pages! Loving Christopher Moore's Lamb and Neil Gaiman's writing, I understand the linkage to those authors. But this author put her own stamp and twists on a very different tale. With Jude/Judas as the unlikely protagonist and Rain, an equally unlikely Messiah, overseen by G, leading the Trinity Corporation, the reader knows something different is going on! Oh, let us not forget the role of free will, 'cause it can be a bitch! This book is a romp through what ifs and it is going to leave readers smiling and giggling. Enjoy!
February 21, 2015
What do you get when you combine a highly imaginative new author, a reluctant lesbian messiah, a notorious biblical traitor, and the egomaniacal ruler of Hell? You get awesome, that's what. Monroe uses her unique brand of wit, sarcasm, and insight to make an age-old story new again, and she gives the reader a cast of impossible to forget characters. As a bonus, she throws in a steamy shower scene that would make any erotica enthusiast delighted. Sacrificial Lamb Cake has earned a spot on my favorite all time reads list. I highly recommend for anyone looking for a smart, funny and engaging book to snuggle up with this winter.
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