Be Not Afraid, Book 1

“They want to treat me like a lamb for slaughter - but I am not a lamb. I have teeth. I am a predator.”

This is truly an astonishing piece of art. Without a doubt, Koja Kalos is on my auto-buy list and I hope to see many many books from her in the future.

Be Not Afraid is a dark, biblical adaption of if Revelations was at humanity’s doorstop and one girl has the Key to unlock it all. Except, she’s quite literally the Key because a star decided to bond with her soul without her knowledge and now the angels and the Heavens and the fate of humanity is on the shoulders of Kae “you’ve got to be fucking kidding me” Lambros.

I LOVE Kae as a main character. She’s witty, smart, empathic and one hell of a main character. It’s clear that Kalos has some scientific background writing this story because Kae’s desire to go to medical school and understand intricate theories in seconds is told in a very academic way. That’s not a complaint, in fact that’s a compliment. She somehow manages to make scientific wording sound both advanced and yet not elitist at the same time. It’s written in a very consumable way and it helps add to Kae’s detailed character background, her desire to help everyone around her, and her determination when things get tough. She's still a flawed character, but her flaws are so relatable it's like someone reached into my soul and decided to put a mirror there.

Every other character is VERYYYY well written. The banter between Kae and Malak is to DIE for (can a hot blonde angel refer to me as Dawn and him as Dusk sometime soon too???). I will not speak on Abbadon except to say that motherfucker had me side eyeing him from day one. And the Council? PLEASE! I threw my phone reading this at one point I was SOOOO MAD. That’s all to say - everyone was very well written and I have strongggg emotions toward them all.

“They wanted someone to be responsible for the darkness, so they gave it my name.”

Kalo’s take on angels and Heaven/Hell is so incredibly complex and nuanced in a good way. There are multiple Spheres of angels and Powers, dimensions such as the Abyss and Elohim, hierarchies within the angels, and much more. It really is such a new take on a biblical adaption that I’ve never seen before (and trust me, as someone who grew up in a very religious household I have read many takes over the years). Every ounce of this book is filled with meaning down to the names of every angel, the places they travel, the languages they speak. You are given a lot of information without it feeling overwhelming since it’s so well woven into the story.

“Fresh air, my ass. I’m equally anxious, except now I’m anxious outside, where the sun is too bright.”

The humor in this book is the perfect blend of someone who can actually write Gen-Z as being Gen-Z and not feeling cringy at all. It’s a comedic relief without feeling like it’s forced. Kalos really captures the banter I love to see in any book, but mix that with the realistic sarcasm of Kae and you’ve got a BANGER FMC. I equally love how badass her best friend is and we get a more in-depth sneak peek at that near the end.

“If there’s some kind of angel mob out there printing money, then I’d prefer to keep my plausible deniability.”

This book dived deep into religious references and interpretations and yet felt like an entirely new work of art that can stand up on its own. I received this as an ARC, but trust me when I say all opinions are entirely my own and I can’t recommend this enough! I am so so excited to see what Kalos releases in the future and I NEEEED book 2 now!!!

5 ⭐️ | A Theatrical, Apocalyptic Fever Dream in the Best Way

Be Not Afraid by Koja Kalos completely consumed me.

This wasn’t just a fantasy read — it was a full theatrical experience. The kind of book where you look up at 2 a.m., disoriented, wondering how you got emotionally entangled in celestial politics and winged angel drama when you were only supposed to read “one chapter.”

Our FMC is a sarcastic, sleep-deprived med student who feels so real it hurts. She’s exhausted, overwhelmed, and somehow still sharp enough to keep up with divine beings who have been playing political chess since the beginning of time. Her banter? Elite. Her internal commentary? Hilarious. Her resilience? Quietly powerful.

Then we have Malak and Abaddon — complete opposites in personality and presence, yet equally compelling. Watching their dynamic unfold alongside hers was electric. The tension, the friendship, the possibility of something more… it all felt layered rather than forced.

What truly sets this apart is the scale. The political intrigue isn’t confined to kingdoms or courts — it’s celestial. We’re talking revelations-level, rapture-imminent, end-of-the-world stakes. And the locust army? Absolutely not your backyard cicadas. These are metal-bodied, humanoid, black-eyed, scorpion-tailed creatures that are equal parts horrifying and fascinating. The imagery is vivid and cinematic without losing emotional grounding.

I felt fully immersed in this world — the theology-inspired mythos, the looming apocalypse, the moral tension, the relationships. It balanced humor and dread in a way that made everything hit harder.

Be warned: this is only the first book in a series. And when it ends, you will be left staring at the wall, slightly feral, already desperate for the next installment.

If you love:
• Angel lore with bite
• Celestial political intrigue
• End-of-the-world stakes
• Sharp banter
• A human FMC trying to survive divine chaos

This one is for you.

And yes… I lost sleep for this book. Zero regrets.

Firstly, this is one of the most unique books I've read recently, especially in the past few years since BookTok blew up, and actually probably in my entire life too.

Secondly, this is exceptionally well-written for a debut author. You can tell Koja Kalos has a born talent for writing and storytelling. And it's a huge bonus that this is thankfully missing the volume of spelling/grammar errors that debuts and new-pub authors tend to have floating around in their books.

Third: the world building is immaculate. Lots of details (but not to the point where it feels extraneous) and imagery, which makes it so easy to see the author's true vision while reading. when i first applied for this arc, part of what drew me to it was the concept of religious sacrilege in a book, just because i felt that was very unusual to find. I'm not a particularly religious person, and it's damn near impossible to offend me, so... anyway. this book is easy to understand even with a limited religious knowledge, which is perfect; I do think I may have enjoyed it more if I had a deeper, more complex knowledge of religion and, more specifically, the Bible, but then the reader would also likely walk the line of offendedness.

Lastly, this book not only successfully demonstrates all of the above, but also has the elements of Romantasy that BookTok and Bookstagram have gone absolutely feral for recently: a riveting plot with twists and turns, gripping romance (and spice, of course), depth of characters/development, all mixed in with relatable real-world conflicts despite magical realism themes and "magic" /PNR system brought into it given the existence of Angels, God, etc.

Koja Kalos absolutely captivated me with Be Not Afraid.

From the very first page I was pulled into a dark, haunting world that felt both terrifying and impossible to look away from. This story blends gothic romance, dark fantasy, and horror in a way that completely grips you and refuses to let go.

Kae Lambros is such a compelling heroine. Watching her struggle with relentless visions, fear, and the weight of a destiny she never asked for made her feel incredibly real and easy to root for. Her journey is emotional, intense, and layered with moments that make you question what is truly good or evil.

And then there is Abaddon. Powerful, dangerous, and deeply magnetic. His presence brings a dark, seductive tension to the story that kept me completely hooked. The dynamic between him and Kae walks that perfect line between desire and danger, making every interaction feel electric.

The world building is vivid and chilling. The Abyss, the fallen angels, and the looming prophecy create an atmosphere that is dark, eerie, and beautifully written. Koja Kalos has a way of painting scenes that make you feel like you are standing right there in the shadows with the characters.
If you love dark fantasy romance with high stakes, morally complex characters, and a touch of horror, this book is an absolute must read. It is intense, seductive, and unforgettable.

Koja Kalos has created something truly special with Be Not Afraid, and I cannot wait to see where this series goes next. Highly recommend adding this one to your TBR.

Be Not Afraid is truly everything you could ask for in a fantasy debut.

It’s hard to imagine that this is the first book Koja Kalos has written. It had me engaged from the very very start.

The characters are relatable and nuanced, with the “bad” guys having moments of goodness and the “good” guys having moments of cruelty. It’s a refreshing take in a world that is so often divided into black and white.

The main character, Kae, is intelligent, motivated, and knows who the hell she is. She’s not going to be easily pushed around by these archangels.

I found this books to be incredibly well researched. As someone who grew up in a Christian household and took not one but two college courses about the Bible, it can be hard to see biblical characters outside of their original context. The author clearly did their research, crafting their angels to easily fit into known canon while offering new and refreshing takes on the story.

I could talk for hours about this book and need absolutely everyone to put it on their TBR so I can keep yapping about it forever.

HOLY SHIT!!! Think the TV show Lucifer, but on steroids!

When promised with morally grey angels, it was not hard to decide to sign up for the ARC team for Koja Kalos. Nothing is as it seems in this first instalment of Be Not Afraid and everything you think you know about angels may be questioned.

We follow Kae in her journey to (hopefully) save the earth. After having not slept for a long time due to nightmares, she finds out she may be THE one to make sure her nightmares won’t come true. We meet different interesting characters. While some are there for you to hate them, some to love, some you only find out too late if you should have liked them or not. I felt like Koja took us through Kae’s emotions perfectly because I found myself feeling the same as her. I found myself confused at the same time as her, just as her anger felt justified.

I, ofcourse, don’t want to spoil too much as it definitely is a book you have to experience yourself, but the world is written beautifully! It was as if I found myself right there between the angels. As someone who doesn't have any knowledge about religion I didn’t feel like I missed something or didn’t understand. Koja explains and writes it very naturally into the story. Something I don’t find a lot in books. This is such a big plus! The author also included an playlist at the beginning of the book, plus a pronunciation guide.

What I loved about Kae as a character is that she is what some people would describe as a difficult woman. No, she just knows what she wants, says if she doesn't agree with you and takes no bullshit. She is not someone who wants to be rescued but will do the rescuing herself. I loved this!

Before you pick up this amazing book (and you should!). Please remember that it is a dark novel. There are a couple of trigger warnings you should definitely see through before opening this book. Don’t expect something light and faithful!

My favorite quote: “You need to get off your high fucking horse and stop thinking you know everything because you’re older than dirt. You’re a hypocritical, manipulative piece of shit with a God complex.”

Apocalyptic dreams & a world ending prophecy? Yes, please!

This dark fantasy book packs a punch. I stumbled upon the ARC sign-up and was drawn to its unique premise and tropes, the storyline and writing have blown me away! The fact that it's the debut novel of an indie author is mind-boggling -- it reads like the work of a seasoned pro.

At first, it brings "For Whom the Belle Tolls" to mind because of the main character Kae's irreligion, but the further I delve, the more I'm reminded of the TV show "Supernatural", particularly in its depiction of angels and demons and their general shenanigans. I won't lie-- I wasn't expecting angels to be so spicy, but I don't hate it 😅

As a college student, Kae's insomnia and graduation are her biggest concerns - until a mysterious angel appears, flirts with her mercilessly, then tries to recruit her for a secret mission. It turns out that her apocalyptic nightmares are part of a bigger picture, where Kae is the key to saving humanity. No big deal, right?

I definitely will be adding this to my "favorites" list. It had me gasping, cackling, and highlighting entire pages! I highly recommend that you add this one to your TBR, to your Goodreads, your wish list - everything. Just do it.

*Please do note that this story touches on some heavy themes; these elements however are handled thoughtfully- aiming to enrich character development and the plot, rather than for shock value.