Hierarchy of the Unseen

Thank you to Netgalley & the authors for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 / 5 Stars

CW: Death, Arson, Emotional Abuse, Violence


Sometimes you come across a book, that you havent had on your radar at all, because not everyone and their mother is talking about it. And you think:
"sounds interesting, let's check it out"
And then, once you're done, you're like:
Okay... WHY ISNT EVERYONE AND THEIR MOTHER TALKING ABOUT IT?!
Because that's how I felt after and while reading this one.

The ending leaves me itching and scratchig my need for m o r e ! of this world and these characters. Because I still have so many unanswered questions! So much desire to read at least 200 pages more of Kor & Mitzli - even though, Kor was probably my favourit. Nothing against Mitzli, they were an interesting character as well. Just liked Kor more. I hope there is a sequel. I kind of need one.

We follow both of them on their own for a while & at one point they are going to the same place & I'm thinking, boy oh boy, it's time for their paths to cross. Just for the authors to wink and say nope, not yet. Their actual meeting was way better than I hoped and the way they worked together was just as great. You could tell they ended up forming a friendship and mutual respect somewhere along the way.
I wasnt sure if they would also end up becoming lovers , but Im kind of glad they didn't. I'm open to it if - please - there is a sequel, but it would have felt rushed in this one. Especially because of the whole Yez thing.

Worldbuilding is certainly a highlight as well. I dont tend to have high standards in that regard but somehow , it feels like this book managed to top my almost non-existent expectations as well.

This book is casually diverse. As in, yes, both MCs are queer, but no, homo- & transphobia are not part of this book. Discrimination sure, but not because your bananas are dueling with each other.

Other things this book does amazingly:
- emotional manipulation/gaslighting
- discrimination
- magic

The book & religion are also things I could talk about. As in, the demons gave me cult vibes , while the Luketai weren't really much better either. I like that we never get that confirmation on who - if any - of them are having the right idea about their gods.


Final thoughts:
The book offers many different things one can enjoy and I feel like I adored all of them.

First of all, I would like to thank NetGalley for providing me an e-ARC of Hierarchy of the Unseen in exchange for an honest opinion.

This novel follows two queer characters who both were going to the same place. It took a while for them to meet, but their first meeting was really done well. It scratched an itch in my brain that I, myself, didn’t even know I had.

My favorite thing about this book is that the world building does not have homophobia and transphobia. It seems like such a cheap reason for it to be my favorite, but as a queer non-binary person, it’s so hard to find a novel without homophobia and transphobia that still fits my radar. I’m so glad this novel is one of those.

In addition, the world building is amazing. I didn’t have the highest expectations going into this novel, but the author— they amazed me. I would love to read more of their books.

gosh i enoyed this so much!

some minor quibbles with like pacing and stakes but such a richly realised, exciting world and an interesting central moral dilemma.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for sending me this Ebook Arc.
Wow. It’s not easy to come up with a new fantasy world full of new lore and it feel so fresh and engaging but the author has managed just this. Two opposites forced to work together in spite of everything they believe and save the world. Mitzli and Kor made for a great comedic duo. I really hope we get some more of these characters in a sequel because I feel that there is a lot more we could see these characters doing.
If you like queer books like priory of the orange tree with a rich lore of its world then I really recommend this read

Both Pigeon and Marsh have created a new world with so much to explore, so much lean about.

The pacing is a little slow, but it's purposeful in its guiding of the story that is really rich on characters. The characters qhitty banter and personality shines through and pushes the world forward. A world unencumbered by judgment of Queer folk.

I would like to see more from this fresh fantasy world

I didn’t realize that I was missing cozy, queer fantasy that maintains its coziness while still have existential, possibly apocalyptic, dread as the primary character compulsion… and then this wonderful novel came along and I realized what a lack I had in my life!

Right at the top it is important to say that it is refreshing to have fantasy where queerness is normalized and not commented on. None of the plot revolves around hate or ignorance-based trauma, and queerness is not used to set characters apart but instead as just one of many characteristics that define them.

As for the characters, they are the highlight of the story. We have two central characters that both feel distinct and real and filled with their own joys and strengths and neuroses. It is easy for odd-couple stories to go too broad, and make both characters perfect, exaggerated foils of one another, and that doesn’t happen here. The two have their own motivations and identities that change and develop and grow as the story progresses, which was great. The writing was comfortable, quickly falling into a rhythm of the chapters alternating points of view, which did help to keep things moving and give us the chance to consistently be looking at each situation from two different perspectives. The story wasn’t earth-shatteringly novel, but it explored ideas of faith and spirituality and meaning in ways that was interesting, and was built within an interesting world that felt fully-realized and full of potential. The writing and the story were both strong, but it did feel a little bit meandering in the middle. Although we do see the see the results of a moment of violence, and there are a few brief moments of violence depicted, this is definitely a cozy story, especially considering the subject matter and where different storytellers could have chosen to go with this plot (which may or may not involve the potential end of existence as both human and demon-kind know it). And sometimes in cozy, comfortable stories it is easy to fall into stretches where there really isn’t very much conflict to compel either the characters or the readers, and it is similarly lose sight of the ultimate stakes, which were actually really high but never felt that critical. I would love to go on hundreds of more pages of adventures with these two, but there has to be more actual things happening to and around them.

The novel ended in a place that is obviously designed to be continued in future novels, and that is exciting. There has been some good world and relationship building that I am excited to see explored more fully. I appreciate the comfort of the cozy/existential dread duality, but would like to cut out some of the meandering and have more actual adventures/complications, so we can feel like there is actual peril and our characters have actual emotional, intellectual, and physical skills that let them navigate those obstacles.

I want to thank the authors, the publisher EHLS, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The Hierarchy of the Unseen is a page-turning tale about power, corruption, and maintaining existential peace -- though it somehow achieves a cozy fantasy feel.

We follow two characters who are outcasts in different ways. Mitzli, a half-human/half-vampire, tries to keep their demonic impulses in check while hunting demons as part of a religious order. Kor, a shapeshifter demon, has misgivings about actually killing humans rather than tormenting them for fun.

There is much to appreciate about this novel. The world building is deliberate without exposition dumps, making for an immersive and comfortable read. I thought the authors handled physical embodiments of magic in interesting ways and used the "unlikely travel companions" trope well. There was also fascinating commentary on how those who maintain social hierarchies pass down creation myths that serve their own purposes.

I struggled a bit to understand the character motivations, which detracted somewhat from my investment in the plot twists that were clearly high-stakes for the characters. I wanted some more backstory on the main characters and antagonists.

One of my favorite parts of this story was its approach to gender. It takes place in a queer-normative society without a rigid gender binary; Mitzli wears assorted jewelry to express their gender identity and is shocked to learn that demons assign gender at birth. I love that these are world-building and character details, they’re not plot points -- there are no moments of queer phobia or transphobia. Rather, understandings of queerness and gender expansiveness add layers to an already rich world.

Finally, I really liked the writing style. Some contemporary "cozy" fantasies use language that is too modern, but the empire of Lu-nevet really felt like a world unto itself -- it almost reminded me of something out of a novel by Ursula K. Le Guin or Octavia Butler.

My thanks to the authors and NetGalley for an advanced reading copy of this book.

What drew me in immediately was the author's masterful storytelling prowess. The way they intricately wove together elements of mystery, mythology, and the supernatural kept me utterly engrossed from start to finish. Each revelation and plot twist felt like a tantalizing breadcrumb leading me deeper into the heart of the narrative.

One of the highlights for me was the richly imagined world that the author created. It was a place where ancient lore and modern sensibilities collided, giving rise to a tapestry of characters and settings that felt both familiar and refreshingly unique. Exploring this world alongside the diverse cast of characters was an adventure in itself, as I eagerly unraveled the secrets that lay hidden in its depths.

While the complexity of the narrative might be daunting for some, I personally found it to be a testament to the author's skill. The intricate web of plot threads kept me engaged and invested, eagerly piecing together the puzzle until the final, satisfying conclusion.