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Small Miracles
A little bit of sin is good for the soul.
Gadriel, the fallen angel of petty temptations, has a bit of a gambling debt. Fortunately, her angelic bookie is happy to let her pay off her debts by doing what she does best: All Gadriel has to do is tempt miserably sinless mortal Holly Harker to do a few nice things for herself.
What should be a cakewalk of a job soon runs into several roadblocks, however, as Miss Harker politely refuses every attempt at temptation from Gadriel the woman, Gadriel the man, and Gadriel the adorable fluffy kitten. When even chocolate fails to move Gadriel’s target, the ex-guardian angel begins to suspect she’s been conned. But Gadriel still remembers her previous job… and where petty temptations fail, small miracles might yet prevail.
Olivia Atwater explores love, grief, and the very last bit of chocolate in this sweet modern fantasy, full of wit and heart. Pick up Small Miracles, and enjoy a heavenly faerie tale from the author of Half a Soul.
Gadriel, the fallen angel of petty temptations, has a bit of a gambling debt. Fortunately, her angelic bookie is happy to let her pay off her debts by doing what she does best: All Gadriel has to do is tempt miserably sinless mortal Holly Harker to do a few nice things for herself.
What should be a cakewalk of a job soon runs into several roadblocks, however, as Miss Harker politely refuses every attempt at temptation from Gadriel the woman, Gadriel the man, and Gadriel the adorable fluffy kitten. When even chocolate fails to move Gadriel’s target, the ex-guardian angel begins to suspect she’s been conned. But Gadriel still remembers her previous job… and where petty temptations fail, small miracles might yet prevail.
Olivia Atwater explores love, grief, and the very last bit of chocolate in this sweet modern fantasy, full of wit and heart. Pick up Small Miracles, and enjoy a heavenly faerie tale from the author of Half a Soul.
250 pages, ebook
First published May 6, 2022
174 people are currently reading
5992 people want to read
About the author
Olivia Atwater
16 books3,578 followersOlivia Atwater writes whimsical historical fantasy with a hint of satire. She lives in Montreal, Quebec with her fantastic, prose-inspiring husband and her two cats. When she told her second-grade history teacher that she wanted to work with history someday, she is fairly certain this isn't what either party had in mind. She has been, at various times, a historical re-enactor, a professional witch at a metaphysical supply store, a web developer, and a vending machine repairperson.
Searching for more Regency faerie tales? Sign up for the Atwater Scandal Sheets at oliviaatwater.com and get ongoing updates, along with the exclusive novella The Latch Key.
Searching for more Regency faerie tales? Sign up for the Atwater Scandal Sheets at oliviaatwater.com and get ongoing updates, along with the exclusive novella The Latch Key.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 581 reviews
January 10, 2026
So, this is my 5th book of 2023, and amazingly it only took me 3 days to read. In part because I spent nearly 5 hours on various trains, in part because it's short, and in part because it's a very easy read. And I don't mean that last bit as anything other than a positive.
It requires considerable skill to write a book that isn't actively a chore to read. A bunch more to write a book that can be swiftly devoured with zero indigestion.
This is a light, feel-good story. Which is great, feeling good is good. It's well written and entertaining. Atwater freely acknowledges the inspiration from Pratchett and Gaiman's Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch. The "reality level" captured is similar to that in the aforementioned (fine) book and many sitcoms - you can engage with the characters emotionally because the degree of veracity is sufficient whilst still having a "soft focus" that insulates us from reality's sharpest corners and keenest edges. It had something of an "About A Boy" vibe about it - the film - I've not read the book.
Anyway, an angel and a fallen angel who are on friendly-ish terms vie gently over the fate of a woman (and later her adopted child) in a comparitatively low stakes (because it involves the happiness of at most a handful of people rather than the fate of thousands), cozy, tale.
I found it very readable, I stormed through it, and I enjoyed the experience quite a bit.
An interesting, though perhaps underplayed aspect was the numerical sin-count maintained on two of the characters.
One point of annoyance was the overuse of one phrase - I'll put it in spoilers here so as not to sensitize you to it before you read the book, but come here after and tell me you didn't notice .
But yes, a fine little book that is a worthy winner of the SPFBO (beating 299 other entries) and one you should snatch up right now if it sounds the least bit like your thing, or perhaps an interesting experiment.
Small Miracles is the SPFBO champion.
With a record equalling score it became the 8th winner of the contest.
Check out the other great finalists SPFBO and links to all contestants:
https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/...
Join my Patreon
Join my 3-emails-a-year mailing list #prizes
...
It requires considerable skill to write a book that isn't actively a chore to read. A bunch more to write a book that can be swiftly devoured with zero indigestion.
This is a light, feel-good story. Which is great, feeling good is good. It's well written and entertaining. Atwater freely acknowledges the inspiration from Pratchett and Gaiman's Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch. The "reality level" captured is similar to that in the aforementioned (fine) book and many sitcoms - you can engage with the characters emotionally because the degree of veracity is sufficient whilst still having a "soft focus" that insulates us from reality's sharpest corners and keenest edges. It had something of an "About A Boy" vibe about it - the film - I've not read the book.
Anyway, an angel and a fallen angel who are on friendly-ish terms vie gently over the fate of a woman (and later her adopted child) in a comparitatively low stakes (because it involves the happiness of at most a handful of people rather than the fate of thousands), cozy, tale.
I found it very readable, I stormed through it, and I enjoyed the experience quite a bit.
An interesting, though perhaps underplayed aspect was the numerical sin-count maintained on two of the characters.
One point of annoyance was the overuse of one phrase - I'll put it in spoilers here so as not to sensitize you to it before you read the book, but come here after and tell me you didn't notice .
But yes, a fine little book that is a worthy winner of the SPFBO (beating 299 other entries) and one you should snatch up right now if it sounds the least bit like your thing, or perhaps an interesting experiment.
Small Miracles is the SPFBO champion.
With a record equalling score it became the 8th winner of the contest.
Check out the other great finalists SPFBO and links to all contestants:
https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/...
Join my Patreon
Join my 3-emails-a-year mailing list #prizes
...
August 30, 2024
(4.5) so lovely!!!! olivia atwater will every time deliver a slow burn romance between genuine characters and based purely on interactions and chemistry!!! no insta love here ❌❌ olivia atwater i love you
May 1, 2023
It's a story about rebellious angels in modern London and witty; comparisons to Good Omens (by Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett) are unavoidable. So what makes this stand out from that book? It's lower stakes, in a homey way. It's a story more about sneaked pieces of chocolate than the impending apocalypse. It's also more organized and focused than Good Omens in the plot department.
I was feeling middling about this novel, but the heartwarming ending won me over.
I was feeling middling about this novel, but the heartwarming ending won me over.
November 23, 2024
Chocolate shouldn't be a sin at all. Everyone deserves a bit of chocolate.
rating: 4.25★
this was like little hug 🥹 a low stakes good omens-esque story about a former guardian angel obsessed w chocolate (can't blame them) fulfilling a debt. genderfluid mc and a slowburn queer romance set in modern london.
i love the sin "points system" and very clever little addendums about biblical references, even to non-christian religions.
I can't face up to an angel of the apocalypse, even if she is on holiday!
Just as God created the platypus out of spare parts, Lucifer created the original chihuahua out of spare spite.
but the heart of the story is about love, grief and family, and taking all the little moments of goodness in life that add up to something amazing.
“...plenty of people claim they love someone because they get the warm fuzzies around them-but love is something you do. Quite often, it's something you choose.”
Why, he wondered, were there so many Rules concerned with collecting virtue and so few concerned with collecting moments like this one?
rating: 4.25★
this was like little hug 🥹 a low stakes good omens-esque story about a former guardian angel obsessed w chocolate (can't blame them) fulfilling a debt. genderfluid mc and a slowburn queer romance set in modern london.
i love the sin "points system" and very clever little addendums about biblical references, even to non-christian religions.
I can't face up to an angel of the apocalypse, even if she is on holiday!
Just as God created the platypus out of spare parts, Lucifer created the original chihuahua out of spare spite.
but the heart of the story is about love, grief and family, and taking all the little moments of goodness in life that add up to something amazing.
“...plenty of people claim they love someone because they get the warm fuzzies around them-but love is something you do. Quite often, it's something you choose.”
Why, he wondered, were there so many Rules concerned with collecting virtue and so few concerned with collecting moments like this one?
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February 28, 2023This is so far outside of my wheelhouse that I'm not going to rate it, as it would be unfair to do so.
I read (or listened to, actually) this as one of the SPFBO8 finalists, and while giving all titles a fair shot, I'm not going to pretend that this one won me over. I thought it was absolutely terrible, but that big caveat is there to say that this is absolutely not to sort of book I would ever read under my own steam (hence no rating), so there's every chance that if you like this sort of thing, it will at least work for you.
The writing is completely not my style, but there's nothing inherently wrong with it, it's just a conflict of tastes. I didn't like a lot of the humour in it, and particularly in the footnotes, which were annoying enough for me to listen to, without additional ones being added for unnecessary jokes. The change of tone to a snooty upper-class narration for the footnotes also did not work for me at all.
In the audio itself, the sheer number of footnotes—94, if I counted correctly, in a 250 page book—broke up the flow as well, as each was bookended by the strumming of a harp, and of course, footnotes don't always come at a convenient place in the text. With so many of these—nine in chapter one alone—I found that my eyeballs started to twitch every time I heard that harp.
I didn't find anything of note for the plot or the characters. Both aspects were well-enough written, but without any memorable merit to speak of. Once more, however, this is really not my thing, so that, as with the rest of my review, should be taken with a humongous pinch of salt.
I read (or listened to, actually) this as one of the SPFBO8 finalists, and while giving all titles a fair shot, I'm not going to pretend that this one won me over. I thought it was absolutely terrible, but that big caveat is there to say that this is absolutely not to sort of book I would ever read under my own steam (hence no rating), so there's every chance that if you like this sort of thing, it will at least work for you.
The writing is completely not my style, but there's nothing inherently wrong with it, it's just a conflict of tastes. I didn't like a lot of the humour in it, and particularly in the footnotes, which were annoying enough for me to listen to, without additional ones being added for unnecessary jokes. The change of tone to a snooty upper-class narration for the footnotes also did not work for me at all.
In the audio itself, the sheer number of footnotes—94, if I counted correctly, in a 250 page book—broke up the flow as well, as each was bookended by the strumming of a harp, and of course, footnotes don't always come at a convenient place in the text. With so many of these—nine in chapter one alone—I found that my eyeballs started to twitch every time I heard that harp.
I didn't find anything of note for the plot or the characters. Both aspects were well-enough written, but without any memorable merit to speak of. Once more, however, this is really not my thing, so that, as with the rest of my review, should be taken with a humongous pinch of salt.
July 20, 2024
Actual Rating: 7.5/10
This was the winner of SPFBO 8, also an atypical winner in that it is cozy fantasy rather than brutal grimdark or epic fantasy following the previous trend. The story is said to take inspiration from Good Omens by Pratchett and Gaiman. That kind of made me hesitant to start it as I wasn't a big fan of that novel and actually ended up DNFing it. However, it was an enjoyable read.
I think this was good and I can see why it was compared to the other series. They are kind of similar in theory but very different in execution. My problem with this book is that it wasn't very memorable. It was a feelgood read and it was a light read but compared to other SPFBO winners, it wasn't on the same level.
If you are into something lighter, I think it would still be a cool book to read!
This was the winner of SPFBO 8, also an atypical winner in that it is cozy fantasy rather than brutal grimdark or epic fantasy following the previous trend. The story is said to take inspiration from Good Omens by Pratchett and Gaiman. That kind of made me hesitant to start it as I wasn't a big fan of that novel and actually ended up DNFing it. However, it was an enjoyable read.
I think this was good and I can see why it was compared to the other series. They are kind of similar in theory but very different in execution. My problem with this book is that it wasn't very memorable. It was a feelgood read and it was a light read but compared to other SPFBO winners, it wasn't on the same level.
If you are into something lighter, I think it would still be a cool book to read!
February 8, 2024
4.5*
Quick funny *sweet* story inspired by Good Omens but lower stakes and verging on cozy in modern day London setting as we follow the ex-Angel of Small Miracles (now Fallen Angel of Petty Temptations) who is so #relatable as they find themselves suckered into a task to repay a debt to Barry aka Barachiel 😅
I really enjoyed this from the inter-Angel discussions on the merits of chocolate, the sin/virtue score board and the endlessly enjoyable endnotes which lowkey break the fourth wall 😂
This was such a joy read and kept me grinning with snark and some slow burn reveals that I won't spoil but can wholeheaterdly encourage anyone looking for a short fulfilling story to give this a whirl!
Different vibe to Ms Atwater's Faerie Tale series but no less whimsical and an utter gem of a read 🤩
Quick funny *sweet* story inspired by Good Omens but lower stakes and verging on cozy in modern day London setting as we follow the ex-Angel of Small Miracles (now Fallen Angel of Petty Temptations) who is so #relatable as they find themselves suckered into a task to repay a debt to Barry aka Barachiel 😅
I really enjoyed this from the inter-Angel discussions on the merits of chocolate, the sin/virtue score board and the endlessly enjoyable endnotes which lowkey break the fourth wall 😂
This was such a joy read and kept me grinning with snark and some slow burn reveals that I won't spoil but can wholeheaterdly encourage anyone looking for a short fulfilling story to give this a whirl!
Different vibe to Ms Atwater's Faerie Tale series but no less whimsical and an utter gem of a read 🤩
December 8, 2022
High 3! I went through this book in depth while reading SPFBO finalists! Check it out https://youtu.be/dltIH3lNXIw
This book is wholesome fun. Now, wholesome isn't usually my thing, but this was extremely well written and just a solidly good time. It had a good message, and I really loved Gadriel as the main character. I thought the culture of the angels, while quirky, was very well done. I wish that we had had a little more plot throughout rather than just at the end, but I liked the bit we got. I also wish that there had been a little more focus and development on the side characters rather than just Gadriel. Highly recommend if you're looking for a cozy/heartwarming read with a touch of whimsy magic.
This book is wholesome fun. Now, wholesome isn't usually my thing, but this was extremely well written and just a solidly good time. It had a good message, and I really loved Gadriel as the main character. I thought the culture of the angels, while quirky, was very well done. I wish that we had had a little more plot throughout rather than just at the end, but I liked the bit we got. I also wish that there had been a little more focus and development on the side characters rather than just Gadriel. Highly recommend if you're looking for a cozy/heartwarming read with a touch of whimsy magic.
April 6, 2023
Small Miracles charmed me with its simple, effortlessly funny story and likable characters. It's whimsical, often amusing, and there is hardly a dull moment.
Gadriel, the fallen angel of petty temptations, is persuaded by her angelic bookie to pay off her gambling debt. No big deal; she has to tempt a sinless mortal, Holly Harker, into sin. Just a little bit, so her cumulative sin metric isn't so low. A piece of chocolate here, a white lie there, done. Only Holly doesn't like chocolate and seems untemptable.
Small Miracles captures the reader's attention with its engaging writing style and witty humor. I especially enjoyed the author's writing style, which is easy to read and captivating throughout the book. Atwater has a talent for creating vibrant, likable characters who are easy to root for and who draw the reader into their world.
All in all, Small Miracles is a delightful novel that offers an exciting adventure with likable characters and plenty of humor. Although the straightforward writing style may not appeal to readers looking for a more complex and challenging read, it makes for a light and enjoyable experience.
Gadriel, the fallen angel of petty temptations, is persuaded by her angelic bookie to pay off her gambling debt. No big deal; she has to tempt a sinless mortal, Holly Harker, into sin. Just a little bit, so her cumulative sin metric isn't so low. A piece of chocolate here, a white lie there, done. Only Holly doesn't like chocolate and seems untemptable.
Small Miracles captures the reader's attention with its engaging writing style and witty humor. I especially enjoyed the author's writing style, which is easy to read and captivating throughout the book. Atwater has a talent for creating vibrant, likable characters who are easy to root for and who draw the reader into their world.
All in all, Small Miracles is a delightful novel that offers an exciting adventure with likable characters and plenty of humor. Although the straightforward writing style may not appeal to readers looking for a more complex and challenging read, it makes for a light and enjoyable experience.
December 13, 2022
4.5/5
April 15, 2023
Another adorable book delivered by Olivia Atwater. This was funny, wholesome and heartwarming.
March 31, 2023
3.5 stars
I feel conflicted about the rating because SMALL MIRACLES is incredibly readable, funny, and heartwarming — I tore through it within two hours. It’s not a romance, so don’t go in with those expectations (there’s a temporary-ish HFN which makes sense with the story, but it’s NOT a capital R Genre Romance). The heart of the story concerns a hapless aunt struggling to connect with her wayward orphaned niece, and the guardian fallen angel who falls in love with the family.
The book shares DNA with Good Omens and The Good Place, so it shares the flaws of those works as well. I’m not going to critique the point system and Christian-centric ideology, though I did like Gadriel’s exasperation/cynicism with the system. If you analyze the worldbuilding too much, it’s easy to find cringe aspects but I wasn’t too bothered by the Celestial Bureaucracy structure.
What did irk me:
- The footnotes. I appreciate the Good Omens nod and maybe it works in print, but it’s a pain-in-the-ass for an ebook. I kept clicking through the chapter end and then clicking back to the text. Eventually I gave up and read the footnotes when I reached the chapter end, but at that point the humor/significance lost impact because I couldn’t remember the specific text.
- I’m an American and even I noticed some inaccurate British terminology. I just don’t get why this had to be set in London — the story could’ve easily worked in NYC or Toronto. Again: this doesn’t personally bother me but I know it’s a dealbreaker for some folks. It wasn’t egregious but definitely present.
- The ending is… interesting and makes me feel uncomfortable.
Disclaimer: I received a free e-ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I feel conflicted about the rating because SMALL MIRACLES is incredibly readable, funny, and heartwarming — I tore through it within two hours. It’s not a romance, so don’t go in with those expectations (there’s a temporary-ish HFN which makes sense with the story, but it’s NOT a capital R Genre Romance). The heart of the story concerns a hapless aunt struggling to connect with her wayward orphaned niece, and the guardian fallen angel who falls in love with the family.
The book shares DNA with Good Omens and The Good Place, so it shares the flaws of those works as well. I’m not going to critique the point system and Christian-centric ideology, though I did like Gadriel’s exasperation/cynicism with the system. If you analyze the worldbuilding too much, it’s easy to find cringe aspects but I wasn’t too bothered by the Celestial Bureaucracy structure.
What did irk me:
- The footnotes. I appreciate the Good Omens nod and maybe it works in print, but it’s a pain-in-the-ass for an ebook. I kept clicking through the chapter end and then clicking back to the text. Eventually I gave up and read the footnotes when I reached the chapter end, but at that point the humor/significance lost impact because I couldn’t remember the specific text.
- I’m an American and even I noticed some inaccurate British terminology. I just don’t get why this had to be set in London — the story could’ve easily worked in NYC or Toronto. Again: this doesn’t personally bother me but I know it’s a dealbreaker for some folks. It wasn’t egregious but definitely present.
- The ending is… interesting and makes me feel uncomfortable.
Disclaimer: I received a free e-ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
November 22, 2023
This was cozy and sweet. How have I not heard of this before?
January 16, 2025
what a charming lovely read, the chocolate was the best part
May 7, 2023
4.5/5 I had a really good time with this.
If you combined Good Omens with the 2014 film "Guidance" and also added maybe a splash of "School of Rock," you'd have a vibe of this book. (Given how little attention "Guidance" got, I really need to know if Olivia Atwater has seen it and was influenced by it. And if not I need her to at least watch the first half to note the similarities with Gadriel. 😂)
Cozy fantasy, hot cocoa, knit vests. Yes, there are problems that can be blown out of proportion and tipped toward a more cosmic scale, but they can also be resolved through heart-to-hearts and cupcakes.
Also, I just have to note that this book is a whole lot gender. Which ended up in one of my favourite, long-running jokes. (nodnod. So terribly gauche.)
Also also, I adored the footnotes. Just the right touch of witty and sassy.
Also also also, it is NOT WEIRD to opt for a spoon when eating curry, okay? So commonplace as to not even be notable. Curry can be soupy; it just makes sense. Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.
If you combined Good Omens with the 2014 film "Guidance" and also added maybe a splash of "School of Rock," you'd have a vibe of this book. (Given how little attention "Guidance" got, I really need to know if Olivia Atwater has seen it and was influenced by it. And if not I need her to at least watch the first half to note the similarities with Gadriel. 😂)
Cozy fantasy, hot cocoa, knit vests. Yes, there are problems that can be blown out of proportion and tipped toward a more cosmic scale, but they can also be resolved through heart-to-hearts and cupcakes.
Also, I just have to note that this book is a whole lot gender. Which ended up in one of my favourite, long-running jokes. (nodnod. So terribly gauche.)
Also also, I adored the footnotes. Just the right touch of witty and sassy.
Also also also, it is NOT WEIRD to opt for a spoon when eating curry, okay? So commonplace as to not even be notable. Curry can be soupy; it just makes sense. Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.
December 12, 2023
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
After reading The Witchwood Knot by Olivia Atwater I jumped into reading her entire catalog. Most are regency faery stories but this one is unique in her collection. Small Miracles is a stand alone novel featuring a fallen angel, Gadriel, who owes someone on the other side a favor that is about to be called in. It should be easy, help Holly Harker loosen up and relax a little, committing a few small sins to help her enjoy her life more. All Gadriel needs is 20 measly points and their debt is paid. Only thing is Holly just can't seem to be tempted, even by chocolate. Gadriel is going to have to put a little more effort into this and possibly dig into their bag of tricks from their former life.
This was such an easy read and overall a feel good story. Holly is a likable character, taking on her niece after the death of her sister. She might not know how to raise a teenage girl but she is doing her best. Gadriel takes one look at this situation and is sure that the way to tempt Holly will be though her niece Ella. But as the story unwinds Gadriel can't help but think something more is afoot and the angel is going to have to take a more active role in both of their lives if they are getting out of this job.
Everyone in this books has something to learn and a discovery to make about themselves, even our fallen angel. I liked all of the footnotes, they added a bit of whimsy to the story and helped keep a tally of the sin counts for things. It was a very interesting take on how the balance of what side you fall on could be and how all the little good and evil deeds add up over time. I also like that at the heart of the story is the message of love and hope between Holly and Ella and how they are trying to live this new life together. While there is a small romance involved, I would have almost preferred it wasn't there as I was so focused on Holly and Ella's relationship. Also angel/human romance is always a happily for now scenario as Angel = immortal and humans have an expiration date.
Overall, a cute feel good book with some very fun moments throughout.
After reading The Witchwood Knot by Olivia Atwater I jumped into reading her entire catalog. Most are regency faery stories but this one is unique in her collection. Small Miracles is a stand alone novel featuring a fallen angel, Gadriel, who owes someone on the other side a favor that is about to be called in. It should be easy, help Holly Harker loosen up and relax a little, committing a few small sins to help her enjoy her life more. All Gadriel needs is 20 measly points and their debt is paid. Only thing is Holly just can't seem to be tempted, even by chocolate. Gadriel is going to have to put a little more effort into this and possibly dig into their bag of tricks from their former life.
She’d always delighted in the tiny banalities of existence—the lucky coin on the street; the butterfly that lands on your shoulder; the bread that bakes perfectly on the first try. Somewhere along the way, Gadriel had decided that yes, small pleasures like plucked daffodils and bits of chocolate were more important than pleasing the boss.
This was such an easy read and overall a feel good story. Holly is a likable character, taking on her niece after the death of her sister. She might not know how to raise a teenage girl but she is doing her best. Gadriel takes one look at this situation and is sure that the way to tempt Holly will be though her niece Ella. But as the story unwinds Gadriel can't help but think something more is afoot and the angel is going to have to take a more active role in both of their lives if they are getting out of this job.
But while God’s angels had since become very fond of smiting the fallen, they rather had their hands full with the louder, angrier rebels like Lucifer and Beelzebub; none of them could really be bothered to visit divine judgement upon someone who spent their time tempting mortals to eat just one more crisp.
Everyone in this books has something to learn and a discovery to make about themselves, even our fallen angel. I liked all of the footnotes, they added a bit of whimsy to the story and helped keep a tally of the sin counts for things. It was a very interesting take on how the balance of what side you fall on could be and how all the little good and evil deeds add up over time. I also like that at the heart of the story is the message of love and hope between Holly and Ella and how they are trying to live this new life together. While there is a small romance involved, I would have almost preferred it wasn't there as I was so focused on Holly and Ella's relationship. Also angel/human romance is always a happily for now scenario as Angel = immortal and humans have an expiration date.
Overall, a cute feel good book with some very fun moments throughout.
You needn’t feel bad for the chihuahua. Just as God created the platypus out of spare parts, Lucifer created the original chihuahua out of spare spite. There may be many greater evils in this world, but one would be hard-pressed to find a more concentrated form of evil than the average chihuahua.
February 9, 2023
I have provided an honest review of this book – “Small Miracles” by author Olivia Atwater – below for purposes of the Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off (SPFBO) Number 8 competition, in which this book is one of ten finalists. Before We Go Blog (where I am one of the judges) is assigned the book, along with the other 9 judging blogs, to help determine which one of 10 books will emerge as the SPFBO 8 Champion.
In 1990, two iconic fantasy authors, Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, collaborated to write the famed novel “Good Omens” (full title: “Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch”.
This is NOT a review of that book. Yet unavoidably, there will be comparisons between “Small Miracles” by Atwater, and that seminal work by Gaiman and Pratchett.
And that’s a good thing.
Atwater pokes great fun at the celestial realm of angels and demons in her marvellous work, and with such features in “Small Miracles”, one will definitely be reminded of “Good Omens”. Additionally, Atwater has also noted, in the acknowledgement section at the back of the book, that she has drawn inspiration from “Good Omens” in her work.
Although there is no impending, world-ending disaster lurking in “Small Miracles” – this is considerably lighter fare. But its lightness doesn’t mean it’s not a worthwhile, intriguing book.
The plot of the novel appears simple and fun, at first glance. Described as eminently unremarkable and plain-looking, Gadriel, the chocolate-loving, gambling-addicted main character, is the Fallen Angel of Petty Temptations. But he/she has “fallen” more over policy violations than any real horrific sin.
His/Her purview is minor transgressions. He’s/she’s not really evil despite the fallen angel status, but rather mischievous, and his/her agenda is not really sinister. What Gadriel does is prod humans to succumb to minor temptations, and thus achieve overall increased happiness and satisfaction with their lot in life.
While companionably meeting up over a coffee, Gadriel becomes indebted to his/her non-fallen angelic bookie and sibling, Barachiel, after losing a friendly wager. Barachiel is the Angel of Good Fortune.
But Gadriel has an out. In what appears to be a simple task for the formidable powers of an angel, if Gadriel can successfully tempt a mortal without sin, named Holly Harker, to stray, his/her debt will be erased.
Says Barachiel of Holly,
“She has one of the lowest cumulative sin metrics I’ve ever seen. Truly she must be even more miserable than a Greek Cynic…. I want you to tempt her… just enough to make sure she’s enjoying her life?”
Gadriel is confident, even a bit cocky, about his/her chances of success in terms of seducing Holly to give into temptation.
Yet, true to her advanced sin metrics, Holly proves remarkably incorruptible, despite Gadriel’s initial efforts to inveigle Holly to live a little, and treat herself to some of the better things life has to offer. So Gadriel is forced to up his/her game, and use small miracles to achieve his/her ends.
I fell head over heels for Gadriel, Holly, and the characters in this book. Since for me, every great book begins with great characters and great characterization by the author, I was, pardon the shameless pun, in Heaven here.
The endearing, smart, yet somewhat naive and slightly fumbling and flawed Gadriel was a wonderful main character. Once she finds out she’s out of her depth in provoking Holly to acquiesce to sin, she resorts to something different, but Holly’s intractability also leads to Gadriel and Holly forming a great relationship, as they get to know one another better.
This allows us some of the novel’s best, most light-hearted amusing, and yet tender and poignant moments, as these two characters interact.
Holly is absolutely lovely, yet complicated, and her childhood traumas have influenced her adult life, and hold the sad key to why she is so staunch in her virtue.
Holly’s gruff niece Ella was also a fabulous character, and her teenage life at school provided more exceptional opportunities for character development for all three: Gadriel, Holly, and Ella. Both Holly and Ella are dealing with emotional and psychological pain, and the bond between the three becomes one of catharsis and healing, in unintended ways for all of them.
And while this is indeed a less heavy book than “Good Omens” (featuring such portentous figures as the Anitchrist and the four “bikers” of the Apocalypse) the ominous character Wormwood – an inexperienced devil whose mandate is to tempt humans to hell – from C.S. Lewis’s “Screwtape Letters”, appears in “Small Miracles”, to provide an antagonist, if there is one, for the book.
Whimsy and satire is employed in highly effective fashion by Atwater to convey some fairly stark and challenging themes in the book. Love, loss, grief, death, forgiveness, redemption, family. Atwater shows a very deft hand in handling these issues.
And, I absolutely adore the theme of gods or demi-gods or beings such as angels, interfering with the lives of mortals, and producing unplanned-for results. The overriding sense here is one of hope and optimism, and despite Gadriel meddling to try and tempt Holly to sin, you know everything is going to work out for the best, in the end.
The worldbuilding is definitely Pratchett-esque. Set for the most part in modern-day London, England, with the backdrop of the heavens looming, one of the most interesting features of the novel’s world, and a clever plot device, is how sin is accounted for and tallied up. With each good deed, a mortal gets a little in the black on the ledgers, while each infraction earns a little in the red.
There are numerous witty footnotes spread throughout the book, again like Pratchett, that amusingly prompt the reader to keep their own personal tally of the sin lost or virtue gained on the balance books. I loved this feature of the worldbuilding, and laughed out loud at some of the footnotes.
Kudos to how Atwater approaches gender fluidity in the novel! As per many interpretations of Angels from a Christian perspective, which denotes them as not being assigned a gender in the way humans can comprehend. Atwater notes in her work, casually,
“Angels… chose a gender for the day, in rather the same way that you or I might choose a shirt or trousers…
Really liked how this was done!
Atwater is a seasoned, accomplished writer of many books, and it shows in her prose. Polished, graceful, and ultimately, highly readable, there are ZERO stumbling blocks to devouring this book. Save stopping to read the footnotes, which for me, I didn’t find distracting, but rather, enriching, though I can see how some might not feel the same.
The verdict?
Atwater takes slice of life, regular folk’s existence that has more depth than at first realized, combined with playfully misbehaving angels doing petty pranks that turn out to have bigger consequences, compelling themes handled light and very adroitly, brilliant characters, wonderful prose, satire, and that cozy feel that is so popular right now, to spin an absolute delight of a novel.
Were Pratchett alive, I dare to hope he’d agree with my rating, if he read the book, which according to Atwater, is somewhat of a homage to his “Good Omens”.
Paul’s Individual SPFBO Score: 9.0 out of possible 10.
Overall cumulative score from Before We Go Blog: 8.0 out of possible 10.
In 1990, two iconic fantasy authors, Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, collaborated to write the famed novel “Good Omens” (full title: “Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch”.
This is NOT a review of that book. Yet unavoidably, there will be comparisons between “Small Miracles” by Atwater, and that seminal work by Gaiman and Pratchett.
And that’s a good thing.
Atwater pokes great fun at the celestial realm of angels and demons in her marvellous work, and with such features in “Small Miracles”, one will definitely be reminded of “Good Omens”. Additionally, Atwater has also noted, in the acknowledgement section at the back of the book, that she has drawn inspiration from “Good Omens” in her work.
Although there is no impending, world-ending disaster lurking in “Small Miracles” – this is considerably lighter fare. But its lightness doesn’t mean it’s not a worthwhile, intriguing book.
The plot of the novel appears simple and fun, at first glance. Described as eminently unremarkable and plain-looking, Gadriel, the chocolate-loving, gambling-addicted main character, is the Fallen Angel of Petty Temptations. But he/she has “fallen” more over policy violations than any real horrific sin.
His/Her purview is minor transgressions. He’s/she’s not really evil despite the fallen angel status, but rather mischievous, and his/her agenda is not really sinister. What Gadriel does is prod humans to succumb to minor temptations, and thus achieve overall increased happiness and satisfaction with their lot in life.
While companionably meeting up over a coffee, Gadriel becomes indebted to his/her non-fallen angelic bookie and sibling, Barachiel, after losing a friendly wager. Barachiel is the Angel of Good Fortune.
But Gadriel has an out. In what appears to be a simple task for the formidable powers of an angel, if Gadriel can successfully tempt a mortal without sin, named Holly Harker, to stray, his/her debt will be erased.
Says Barachiel of Holly,
“She has one of the lowest cumulative sin metrics I’ve ever seen. Truly she must be even more miserable than a Greek Cynic…. I want you to tempt her… just enough to make sure she’s enjoying her life?”
Gadriel is confident, even a bit cocky, about his/her chances of success in terms of seducing Holly to give into temptation.
Yet, true to her advanced sin metrics, Holly proves remarkably incorruptible, despite Gadriel’s initial efforts to inveigle Holly to live a little, and treat herself to some of the better things life has to offer. So Gadriel is forced to up his/her game, and use small miracles to achieve his/her ends.
I fell head over heels for Gadriel, Holly, and the characters in this book. Since for me, every great book begins with great characters and great characterization by the author, I was, pardon the shameless pun, in Heaven here.
The endearing, smart, yet somewhat naive and slightly fumbling and flawed Gadriel was a wonderful main character. Once she finds out she’s out of her depth in provoking Holly to acquiesce to sin, she resorts to something different, but Holly’s intractability also leads to Gadriel and Holly forming a great relationship, as they get to know one another better.
This allows us some of the novel’s best, most light-hearted amusing, and yet tender and poignant moments, as these two characters interact.
Holly is absolutely lovely, yet complicated, and her childhood traumas have influenced her adult life, and hold the sad key to why she is so staunch in her virtue.
Holly’s gruff niece Ella was also a fabulous character, and her teenage life at school provided more exceptional opportunities for character development for all three: Gadriel, Holly, and Ella. Both Holly and Ella are dealing with emotional and psychological pain, and the bond between the three becomes one of catharsis and healing, in unintended ways for all of them.
And while this is indeed a less heavy book than “Good Omens” (featuring such portentous figures as the Anitchrist and the four “bikers” of the Apocalypse) the ominous character Wormwood – an inexperienced devil whose mandate is to tempt humans to hell – from C.S. Lewis’s “Screwtape Letters”, appears in “Small Miracles”, to provide an antagonist, if there is one, for the book.
Whimsy and satire is employed in highly effective fashion by Atwater to convey some fairly stark and challenging themes in the book. Love, loss, grief, death, forgiveness, redemption, family. Atwater shows a very deft hand in handling these issues.
And, I absolutely adore the theme of gods or demi-gods or beings such as angels, interfering with the lives of mortals, and producing unplanned-for results. The overriding sense here is one of hope and optimism, and despite Gadriel meddling to try and tempt Holly to sin, you know everything is going to work out for the best, in the end.
The worldbuilding is definitely Pratchett-esque. Set for the most part in modern-day London, England, with the backdrop of the heavens looming, one of the most interesting features of the novel’s world, and a clever plot device, is how sin is accounted for and tallied up. With each good deed, a mortal gets a little in the black on the ledgers, while each infraction earns a little in the red.
There are numerous witty footnotes spread throughout the book, again like Pratchett, that amusingly prompt the reader to keep their own personal tally of the sin lost or virtue gained on the balance books. I loved this feature of the worldbuilding, and laughed out loud at some of the footnotes.
Kudos to how Atwater approaches gender fluidity in the novel! As per many interpretations of Angels from a Christian perspective, which denotes them as not being assigned a gender in the way humans can comprehend. Atwater notes in her work, casually,
“Angels… chose a gender for the day, in rather the same way that you or I might choose a shirt or trousers…
Really liked how this was done!
Atwater is a seasoned, accomplished writer of many books, and it shows in her prose. Polished, graceful, and ultimately, highly readable, there are ZERO stumbling blocks to devouring this book. Save stopping to read the footnotes, which for me, I didn’t find distracting, but rather, enriching, though I can see how some might not feel the same.
The verdict?
Atwater takes slice of life, regular folk’s existence that has more depth than at first realized, combined with playfully misbehaving angels doing petty pranks that turn out to have bigger consequences, compelling themes handled light and very adroitly, brilliant characters, wonderful prose, satire, and that cozy feel that is so popular right now, to spin an absolute delight of a novel.
Were Pratchett alive, I dare to hope he’d agree with my rating, if he read the book, which according to Atwater, is somewhat of a homage to his “Good Omens”.
Paul’s Individual SPFBO Score: 9.0 out of possible 10.
Overall cumulative score from Before We Go Blog: 8.0 out of possible 10.
April 28, 2023
I knew I was going to like this, but even I hadn’t anticipated how much. I’ve liked all of Olivia’s books in the past and so I just opened this one up without knowing what the inspiration for the book was.
Good Omens.
Okay. So, just one look at my name and you may figure I’m a fan of Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman’s book, Good Omens. You would be correct, reader.
Gadriel is a fallen angle who specializes in petty temptations. They’re not trying to bring down humanity, they just want to make sure we’re enjoying it sufficiently. They’re still a “fallen” angel, though, so they were surprised when their sibling, Barachiel, shows up and WANTS them to try and tempt a human into sinning. Just a little bit of sinning. This human, Holly, has lived such a joyless life that even the “good” angels are like, okay, wtf, that woman needs some happiness, STAT.
In this world, which is essentially just our own + confirmed angels, sin and good deeds are measured in a way that reminds me a tad of The Good Place. When you sin you get negative points, and when you do something righteous or selfless/good, you gain some points. Chocolate is technically considered a sin, although Gadriel thinks that’s an injustice and has been fighting for centuries about it. Anywho, Gadriel accepts the mission since it will set her square with the angel, which as I understand has been outstanding for quite some time and they’re happy to be rid of the debt. What they hadn’t anticipated is how hard it would be to get Holly to sin.
This is a small scale story focused on people and their relationships, there really aren’t high stakes so your mileage may vary, but I found this so charming. This is also what sets it apart from Good Omens, this is like if you took day and life of Good Omens before the end of the world was nye. It’s a slice of life fantasy that was like a balm to my soul. I had actually read this a while ago, back when I had put my dog down just a few days prior, and it was the first time I had smiled in days. I didn’t necessarily laugh out loud, but it was just pleasant and warming the whole way through.
The world is more or less based around the modern day without a whole lot added to it other than the religious aspect of angels being real and all that. This may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I didn’t personally mind since that’s fairly common when you’re writing kind of a biblical fantasy satire kind of thing.
The writing is what I found most impressive. It is so hard to carry this kind of a tone without going too far and overworking and overburdening the prose. I think it’s so ambitious to try and be Good Omens adjacent, but create something unique to you and your voice, and not fall on your face.
Overall, I would recommend this to anyone who likes smaller scale stories, warm cozy stories, and some wit with their prose.
Ratings:
Plot: 12/15
Characters: 14/15
World Building: 12/15
Writing: 15/15
Pacing: 15/15
Originality: 12/15
Enjoyment: 10/10
Final Score: 90/100 or 9/10 for SPFBO
Good Omens.
Okay. So, just one look at my name and you may figure I’m a fan of Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman’s book, Good Omens. You would be correct, reader.
Gadriel is a fallen angle who specializes in petty temptations. They’re not trying to bring down humanity, they just want to make sure we’re enjoying it sufficiently. They’re still a “fallen” angel, though, so they were surprised when their sibling, Barachiel, shows up and WANTS them to try and tempt a human into sinning. Just a little bit of sinning. This human, Holly, has lived such a joyless life that even the “good” angels are like, okay, wtf, that woman needs some happiness, STAT.
In this world, which is essentially just our own + confirmed angels, sin and good deeds are measured in a way that reminds me a tad of The Good Place. When you sin you get negative points, and when you do something righteous or selfless/good, you gain some points. Chocolate is technically considered a sin, although Gadriel thinks that’s an injustice and has been fighting for centuries about it. Anywho, Gadriel accepts the mission since it will set her square with the angel, which as I understand has been outstanding for quite some time and they’re happy to be rid of the debt. What they hadn’t anticipated is how hard it would be to get Holly to sin.
This is a small scale story focused on people and their relationships, there really aren’t high stakes so your mileage may vary, but I found this so charming. This is also what sets it apart from Good Omens, this is like if you took day and life of Good Omens before the end of the world was nye. It’s a slice of life fantasy that was like a balm to my soul. I had actually read this a while ago, back when I had put my dog down just a few days prior, and it was the first time I had smiled in days. I didn’t necessarily laugh out loud, but it was just pleasant and warming the whole way through.
The world is more or less based around the modern day without a whole lot added to it other than the religious aspect of angels being real and all that. This may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I didn’t personally mind since that’s fairly common when you’re writing kind of a biblical fantasy satire kind of thing.
The writing is what I found most impressive. It is so hard to carry this kind of a tone without going too far and overworking and overburdening the prose. I think it’s so ambitious to try and be Good Omens adjacent, but create something unique to you and your voice, and not fall on your face.
Overall, I would recommend this to anyone who likes smaller scale stories, warm cozy stories, and some wit with their prose.
Ratings:
Plot: 12/15
Characters: 14/15
World Building: 12/15
Writing: 15/15
Pacing: 15/15
Originality: 12/15
Enjoyment: 10/10
Final Score: 90/100 or 9/10 for SPFBO
December 28, 2023
A charming romantic comedy about fallen angels, friendship, chocolate and tiny problems.
This has all the Good Omens vibes but softer and cozier, with witty characters it's a joy to spend time with.
This has all the Good Omens vibes but softer and cozier, with witty characters it's a joy to spend time with.
January 16, 2025
very cute !
January 27, 2023
An absolutely delightful story!
Watch our live discussion here! https://youtu.be/4ZsH1TkAh_Y
Watch our live discussion here! https://youtu.be/4ZsH1TkAh_Y
June 2, 2024
Is it just me or would this be smash hit if someone turned this into a musical?
This is my 3rd Atwater read this year, and I just find her stuff extremely charming. I’m not religious, but I know enough to realize what sweet gem this is.
I picked this one up because she won #spfbo in 2022 & I totally get why.
I’ll be slowly reading previous #spfbo winners (up next is The Sword of Kaigen by M. L. Wang) this summer along with potential winners for #spfbox.
This is my 3rd Atwater read this year, and I just find her stuff extremely charming. I’m not religious, but I know enough to realize what sweet gem this is.
I picked this one up because she won #spfbo in 2022 & I totally get why.
I’ll be slowly reading previous #spfbo winners (up next is The Sword of Kaigen by M. L. Wang) this summer along with potential winners for #spfbox.
August 7, 2023
Oh this was lovely, exactly whats needed on a lazy rainy day!
December 28, 2022
3.5 stars (rounded up)
Small Miracles is a book that I probably wouldn’t have picked up if it hadn’t been for the SPFBO competition, but I am so glad I did! This is a cosy, low-stakes urban fantasy with characters that will just immediately capture your heart with their wit and charm.
The plot is fairly simple and intimate. We follow fallen angel of petty temptations Gadriel, who has been challenged to tempt the seemingly untemptable Holly Harker into a little sin, just enough so that she may start to enjoy life again. Armed with their chocolate and their charm, they confidently set out to complete their assignment, but what should be an easy job for our fallen angel quickly turns out to be a lot more difficult when emotions and feelings start to get involved.
I was utterly enchanted by this heartwarming story. There is no world-ending threat here, but that doesn’t mean that there are zero stakes; they are just more personal and small-scale than you might be used to as a fantasy reader. The tension and conflict comes from the individual and often invisible battles that these characters are fighting on a daily basis, which makes this a very vulnerable and intimate story. I loved that heavy themes such as grief, loss, family, forgiveness, virtue and sin are explored in a careful, joyous and heartfelt way. These characters were all so unique and had really strong personalities, which just made this story all the more vibrant and engaging. Their interactions were entirely too amusing and I loved seeing the relationship of love and trust between these characters start to bloom and grow over the course of the novel.
I also really appreciated that this book is just delightfully queer. Gender, sexuality and love are explored in an authentic and non-judgemental way, which made this just such a wholesome read. There are definitely some hints of romance here, but I would not describe this as a fantasy romance whatsoever. There’s simply an organic development of feelings between characters who can bring each other the joy that they had been missing in their lives, which brought a huge smile to my face.
The writing style also perfectly fits the cosy vibe of the story and I thought Atwater struck the perfect balance between light-hearted banter and emotional, heartfelt conversations. The footnotes also worked extremely well for me, but keep in mind that I listened to this one on audio, so I don’t know if I would feel the same while physically reading. I personally thought that they were extremely amusing and served as a smooth way to inject some more world building into the story.
The only quibbles I had with this story are completely down to personal preference. For one thing, I was kinda disappointed that a significant part of this novel focused on an angry young teen's troubles at school, which I personally just didn't really care for. I didn't mind listening to those scenes, but I did find myself wishing to get back to Gadriel and their shenanigans.
Aside from that, I also would have loved to dive a little deeper into the world building with the virtue/sin point system, but I can acknowledge that that wasn't really the point of this story. The author accomplished what they set out to do and I think she did so masterfully.
Overall, I just had a wonderful time with this story and I think it will warm the hearts of many readers. If you like stories such as Good Omens or Legends & Lattes, then this is 100% the book for you. Small Miracles was the miracle that I didn’t know my reading life needed. Go pick it up if you need a good comfort read!
Small Miracles is a book that I probably wouldn’t have picked up if it hadn’t been for the SPFBO competition, but I am so glad I did! This is a cosy, low-stakes urban fantasy with characters that will just immediately capture your heart with their wit and charm.
The plot is fairly simple and intimate. We follow fallen angel of petty temptations Gadriel, who has been challenged to tempt the seemingly untemptable Holly Harker into a little sin, just enough so that she may start to enjoy life again. Armed with their chocolate and their charm, they confidently set out to complete their assignment, but what should be an easy job for our fallen angel quickly turns out to be a lot more difficult when emotions and feelings start to get involved.
I was utterly enchanted by this heartwarming story. There is no world-ending threat here, but that doesn’t mean that there are zero stakes; they are just more personal and small-scale than you might be used to as a fantasy reader. The tension and conflict comes from the individual and often invisible battles that these characters are fighting on a daily basis, which makes this a very vulnerable and intimate story. I loved that heavy themes such as grief, loss, family, forgiveness, virtue and sin are explored in a careful, joyous and heartfelt way. These characters were all so unique and had really strong personalities, which just made this story all the more vibrant and engaging. Their interactions were entirely too amusing and I loved seeing the relationship of love and trust between these characters start to bloom and grow over the course of the novel.
I also really appreciated that this book is just delightfully queer. Gender, sexuality and love are explored in an authentic and non-judgemental way, which made this just such a wholesome read. There are definitely some hints of romance here, but I would not describe this as a fantasy romance whatsoever. There’s simply an organic development of feelings between characters who can bring each other the joy that they had been missing in their lives, which brought a huge smile to my face.
The writing style also perfectly fits the cosy vibe of the story and I thought Atwater struck the perfect balance between light-hearted banter and emotional, heartfelt conversations. The footnotes also worked extremely well for me, but keep in mind that I listened to this one on audio, so I don’t know if I would feel the same while physically reading. I personally thought that they were extremely amusing and served as a smooth way to inject some more world building into the story.
The only quibbles I had with this story are completely down to personal preference. For one thing, I was kinda disappointed that a significant part of this novel focused on an angry young teen's troubles at school, which I personally just didn't really care for. I didn't mind listening to those scenes, but I did find myself wishing to get back to Gadriel and their shenanigans.
Aside from that, I also would have loved to dive a little deeper into the world building with the virtue/sin point system, but I can acknowledge that that wasn't really the point of this story. The author accomplished what they set out to do and I think she did so masterfully.
Overall, I just had a wonderful time with this story and I think it will warm the hearts of many readers. If you like stories such as Good Omens or Legends & Lattes, then this is 100% the book for you. Small Miracles was the miracle that I didn’t know my reading life needed. Go pick it up if you need a good comfort read!
October 19, 2022
Small Miracles is Team Queen's Book Asylum's SPFBO 8 finalist. Our group review can be read on Queen's Book Asylum, and our overall rating was 8.3/10.
My personal rating is 9/10, it was also my semi-finalist pick
I admit, Small Miracles was one of the books in our batch that instantly caught my attention. When I reached the “fallen angel” part in the blurb, I was sold. Mentioning angels is a sure way to perk up my attention. I’ve never read Olivia Atwater‘s books before, although I’ve heard a lot about Half a Soul and intended to read it at some point.
This book focuses on Gadriel (not to be mistaken for Gabriel), a fallen angel of petty temptations, who has strong views on chocolate not being a sin. As a favor for their heavenly sibling, Barachiel, Gadriel agrees to tempt Holly Harker to sin some, which sounds simple enough, but we know things are never simple. As Gadriel tries to figure out what is going on, they get to discover some long-lost parts of themselves.
Gadriel is a fun and interesting character, and a flawed one as you might expect from a fallen angel. At first, I found it weird that everyone took it in stride when one moment he appeared male, then female, without asking questions much, then again, who are we to question how others want to appear? Ultimately, I liked that Holly, her niece and everyone else around them just accepted Gadriel as they are. Which is one of the messages of this book, although probably not the main one. Still.
Being set in modern-day London, there isn’t much worldbuilding per se, and a lot of that happens in footnotes. Some might find that insufficient or annoying, personally, I enjoyed the added tidbits and religious references.
Small Miracles is a short book with 250 pages that can be easily read in a day or over a weekend. What I found refreshing about it is that it has a bit of a slice-of-life feel to it. The conflicts are small scale, there is no world-threatening big baddy, no imminent war on the horizon. It’s about the life of a family who knew grief and has no idea how to mend the gap between them. It’s about love and friendship and self-discovery and acceptance of others. In short, it’s a book that pushes all the right buttons for me.
My personal rating is 9/10, it was also my semi-finalist pick
I admit, Small Miracles was one of the books in our batch that instantly caught my attention. When I reached the “fallen angel” part in the blurb, I was sold. Mentioning angels is a sure way to perk up my attention. I’ve never read Olivia Atwater‘s books before, although I’ve heard a lot about Half a Soul and intended to read it at some point.
This book focuses on Gadriel (not to be mistaken for Gabriel), a fallen angel of petty temptations, who has strong views on chocolate not being a sin. As a favor for their heavenly sibling, Barachiel, Gadriel agrees to tempt Holly Harker to sin some, which sounds simple enough, but we know things are never simple. As Gadriel tries to figure out what is going on, they get to discover some long-lost parts of themselves.
Gadriel is a fun and interesting character, and a flawed one as you might expect from a fallen angel. At first, I found it weird that everyone took it in stride when one moment he appeared male, then female, without asking questions much, then again, who are we to question how others want to appear? Ultimately, I liked that Holly, her niece and everyone else around them just accepted Gadriel as they are. Which is one of the messages of this book, although probably not the main one. Still.
Being set in modern-day London, there isn’t much worldbuilding per se, and a lot of that happens in footnotes. Some might find that insufficient or annoying, personally, I enjoyed the added tidbits and religious references.
Small Miracles is a short book with 250 pages that can be easily read in a day or over a weekend. What I found refreshing about it is that it has a bit of a slice-of-life feel to it. The conflicts are small scale, there is no world-threatening big baddy, no imminent war on the horizon. It’s about the life of a family who knew grief and has no idea how to mend the gap between them. It’s about love and friendship and self-discovery and acceptance of others. In short, it’s a book that pushes all the right buttons for me.
January 5, 2025
this was so cute!!!!! it felt like it started out as good omens fanfiction but then it expanded into its own thing. about grief and bad thoughts and growing up and being kind and chocolate and gender and learning how to live for yourself while also being responsible. just ridiculous and silly and very understanding of what a teenage girl is like
also i listened to the audiobook (which was great) and everytime there was a footnote, there was an angelic sound and i thought that was So cute and So fun
…
reread for bookclub! a very quick read (last time i audiobooked so it took a bit longer) which means you i’m talking to YOU 🫵bookclub member should read it before our next meeting! anyways held up, though i knew what was coming. still sweet and funny!
also i listened to the audiobook (which was great) and everytime there was a footnote, there was an angelic sound and i thought that was So cute and So fun
…
reread for bookclub! a very quick read (last time i audiobooked so it took a bit longer) which means you i’m talking to YOU 🫵bookclub member should read it before our next meeting! anyways held up, though i knew what was coming. still sweet and funny!
May 11, 2023
good omens is one of my novels of all time and i really enjoyed the way that this was a homage to my beloved good omens while also being something totally its own (atwater says in the afterword that this is about small, personal events instead of, you know, the antichrist). anyway. this was a pleasure to read and i laughed multiple times AND there were footnotes so this was a huge win for me. 10/10 i loved this
February 16, 2024
Another whimsical read from one of my favorite authors! It’s rare that I *literally* laugh out loud while reading, but this book had me cackling with all its silly puns. I loved the queer characters 5/5 stars.
May 5, 2023
An enjoyable, upbeat, gently humorous story by a very talented author.
I thought at the start that this might be a retread of Good Omens with slightly naughty and mildly good angels cooperating. But the story quickly shows itself to be very different - although some of the lead characters, who are angels, remain gentle and sympathetic (in most cases).
This isn’t usually my fantasy stamping ground. I frequently wade through rivers of blood and gore in the company of the most morally corrupt people that fantasy authors can create for me to read. But I have sometimes found that more upbeat reads fill a niche for me and, in general, this story did that.
It’s witty, whimsical and with some nice plot ideas. For example, I think I recall that angels, in traditional mythology, don’t have a defined gender and I thought it was clever how the author allowed the main Angel characters (the three main ones, I think) to select the gender they’d appear in that day almost on a random basis! Confusing sometimes for the human characters in the story but they seemed to get used to it.
I won’t dwell on the story details. It deliberately seeks out the small pleasures of contemporary life that occur everyday and help you wade through the daily grind. Chocolate being one major example. I had already read and very much enjoyed an earlier self published trilogy by the author (E.g. Half a Soul) which gently satirised Jane Austen/Brontë sister storylines by inserting a slightly harder edge to life in those periods, and with more contrarian characters. Maybe that harder undertone to the plot which I’d liked wasn’t quite as clear here as in that previous trilogy. My only other concern was the use of footnotes, which I’m not a fan of, especially when reading in my preferred ebook format. Fortunately their use wasn’t excessive and I saw why they were used in some instances.
Overall, I’m surprised and pleased that such an upbeat book won SPFBO. It’s nice to have a variety in your reading and this has set me up nicely for a return to the more apocalyptic themes I often read!
4.5* as I think it’s not quite as good as the author’s Regency Fairie Tales trilogy which I strongly recommend. I’ll be looking out for more by this author.
I thought at the start that this might be a retread of Good Omens with slightly naughty and mildly good angels cooperating. But the story quickly shows itself to be very different - although some of the lead characters, who are angels, remain gentle and sympathetic (in most cases).
This isn’t usually my fantasy stamping ground. I frequently wade through rivers of blood and gore in the company of the most morally corrupt people that fantasy authors can create for me to read. But I have sometimes found that more upbeat reads fill a niche for me and, in general, this story did that.
It’s witty, whimsical and with some nice plot ideas. For example, I think I recall that angels, in traditional mythology, don’t have a defined gender and I thought it was clever how the author allowed the main Angel characters (the three main ones, I think) to select the gender they’d appear in that day almost on a random basis! Confusing sometimes for the human characters in the story but they seemed to get used to it.
I won’t dwell on the story details. It deliberately seeks out the small pleasures of contemporary life that occur everyday and help you wade through the daily grind. Chocolate being one major example. I had already read and very much enjoyed an earlier self published trilogy by the author (E.g. Half a Soul) which gently satirised Jane Austen/Brontë sister storylines by inserting a slightly harder edge to life in those periods, and with more contrarian characters. Maybe that harder undertone to the plot which I’d liked wasn’t quite as clear here as in that previous trilogy. My only other concern was the use of footnotes, which I’m not a fan of, especially when reading in my preferred ebook format. Fortunately their use wasn’t excessive and I saw why they were used in some instances.
Overall, I’m surprised and pleased that such an upbeat book won SPFBO. It’s nice to have a variety in your reading and this has set me up nicely for a return to the more apocalyptic themes I often read!
4.5* as I think it’s not quite as good as the author’s Regency Fairie Tales trilogy which I strongly recommend. I’ll be looking out for more by this author.
May 18, 2023
Definitely a 4.5 and I’m rounding up.
I neglected writing this review for more than a month, so I don’t have the words or energy to write now. But I thoroughly enjoyed this mostly cozy, cute romance and family story about finding love, grieving your losses, and still moving on. Totally worth winning the SPFBO award this year.
I neglected writing this review for more than a month, so I don’t have the words or energy to write now. But I thoroughly enjoyed this mostly cozy, cute romance and family story about finding love, grieving your losses, and still moving on. Totally worth winning the SPFBO award this year.
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