Fantasy Book Critic: SPFBO Champions' League: Small Miracles by Olivia Atwater

AUTHOR INFO: Olivia 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 repair person.

Lucas

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.

Mihir

Small Miracles is the type of book wherein the stakes aren’t world-shattering but its impact can be monumental. The author has confirmed that Small Miracles is definitely in the same vein as Good Omens but is even more charming (as crazy as that sounds).

The plot is focused on Gadriel, the chocolate-loving, gambling-addict who is also the Fallen Angel of Petty Temptations. After losing a wager to Barachiel, the Angel of Good Fortune, Gadriel is given a chance to cancel their debt by tempting Holly Harker. Thus begins the toughest assessment of Gadriel’s immortal life and the joyous story which lies within this slim novel.

Small Miracles was one of the SPFBO’s highest scoring champions and once you read this book, you will easily understand why. Olivia Atwater keeps this tale very low stakes and by doing so, lulls the reader in. However be forewarned, there’s some heavy emotional stuff within and the ending can be quite an emotional one. This I believe was the purpose here as the author definitely wants to highlight emotional bonds and strengths even while it might not seem so hard.

The characterization is good and Gadriel will often have the readers chucking with their aphorisms and wit. The author also included sin score tallies at the start of every chapter and footnotes at the end of every chapter. I thought this was quirky and a lot of fun but for some readers, this might be jarring and especially for audio listeners, it will be stopping the flow quite regularly.

Overall Small Miracles is the type of book which folks can read when they want a balm for their hearts or as a palette cleanser amidst some heavy reads or just if they wish to read a fascinatingly charming tale. Do yourself a favor and grab this slim volume, you will definitely see why Olivia Atwater has charmed so many folks with this brilliant story.

And here's the final order of SPBO Champions.