I’ve had the pleasure of reading this gem of a novella twice since its release last Fall, and all my thoughts from my first read were solidified during my most recent reread. TREAD OF ANGELS starts off with a spectacular opening paragraph that immediately pulls you into the world. Interwoven into this mythological western is a nice lil mystery as our protagonist Celeste tries to prove her sister’s innocence. 

TREAD OF ANGELS presents an interesting conversation about who gets to claim virtuosity and the power that is given to “the virtuous.” Celeste is able to tread between being automatically assumed as virtuous and Fallen, and how she uses this privilege of passing allows Roanhorse to provide us with a thorough imagining of this society. In just 208 pages, we get a lot of development in Celeste and a pinpoint sharp rendering of the mining town of Goetia. 

I loved the street names and their Biblical references, and I thought this was smartly done without being overbearing. There’s heavy symbolism present in TREAD OF ANGELS, as The Virtues are reminiscent of the KKK with their white masks; anonymity — don’t know if your lawyer, doctor, or neighbor is one; and rhetoric of superiority.