Quirky Cat
I received a copy of Mirka Andolfo's Un/Sacred Vol. 1 in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Mirka Andolfo's Un/Sacred Vol. 1 originally caught my attention for two reasons. First, there's that cover. It looks light and fun, with more than a fair share of humor. The second reason is that I have read Mirka Andolfo's previous works, and have found myself utterly charmed in the past.
So it is safe to say that I went into Mirka Andolfo's Un/Sacred Vol. 1 with high expectations. However, before I actually dive into my review, I should probably describe the premise of this series.
In this world created by Mirka Andolfo, an angel and a devil happen to meet, and eventually, fall in love. No, there's nothing figurative about that description. A literal angel, and a literal devil. Everything about their adventure, from their first meeting to the very last page, is marketed at sex-positive humor, with a slice of life feeling. Oh, and lots of humor, in case that wasn't clear.
There certainly wasn't any shortage of humor in Mirka Andolfo's Un/Sacred Vol. 1. There was essentially a joke to be found on every single page of this series. The jokes varied from being quick one-liners to requiring a full page of buildup.
Almost all of them revolved around the relationship between Angelina and Damiano, and their quirky adventures. On that note, there's no doubt that the series is sex-positive. It highlighted the good and the bad, the trials, efforts, and conversations that go into having a healthy relationship.
However, I do think that the series dropped the ball on a few points, and that is the reason I didn't like it more. Damiano and his friends are frequently portrayed as pigs (especially earlier in the novel), while Angelina very much reads like a bimbo at times. Both portrayals feel unfair, both to the characters and the readers.
It's a bit surprising, considering some of the complex writing I've seen from Andolfo in the past. Then again, this series does have a stronger humorous vein, so perhaps that is the biggest difference here.
I'll confess that this isn't quite the cute and comical series that I anticipated, given the cover. It is still a quirky and entertaining read, just not to the same level that I had hoped.
See more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks