This book puts a human spin on God, Jesus, and Satan. God takes antidepressants, Jesus has schizophrenia, and Satan flies kites. Along with so much more! This is an amazing twist on Lucifer’s Fall turned into personal discovery. I enjoyed every minute!

4.5⭐️ (rounded up for NetGalley)

Firstly, I want to put my own bookish sins in order here: I am absolutely guilty of judging a book by its cover, and that almost caused me to miss out on this amazing read. I will also be the first to admit that as someone who mostly reads queer books, I wasn't entirely sure if I was going to enjoy a book advertised as being about Satan falling in love with a woman. I was completely wrong!

"Satan's Diary" is truly like taking a walk with this incredibly complex and human character that you think you know, but you certainly do not. From his beginnings and toxic relationship with God, to finding himself on Earth through the years, the whole story is incredibly character driven, and the large cast that Lucifer meets in his many years are slowly and easily introduced in a way that isn't overwhelming or hard to keep track of.

I read a lot of biblical retellings, and this book still found ways to change up the narrative that felt unique and surprising to me. I wouldn't dare spoil them, but I find myself giggling while I look through my notes. Some of them are incredibly funny, and some are incredibly heartbreaking.

I don't see this book currently getting a lot of attention and I truly hope that changes. I will absolutely recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of biblical retellings and subverting the traditional good angel vs. evil demon trope. No one in this book is truly good or bad, the characters, even the non-human ones, are incredibly human.

My only critique is that a few things felt a bit unresolved in the end for me, and there is a bit of a gap between the end of Satan's Diary and the modern point of time he is recounting it from. I would love to read a second Satan's Diary recounting his time on Earth from the end of this story until modern day!

Thank you to the author, publisher and Net Galley for providing a free ebook ARC of this title in exchange for my review.

I have to admit, I loved this book. Those with serious, strict religious beliefs probably wouldn't enjoy it, but I thought it was great. IT felt creative and well researched and crafted. Characters were interesting with very human traits and stories and feelings. Immortals still have everyday human problems. Who knew!

Once I started on this one, I had a hard time putting it down. IT was a great read, and I would recommend it to anyone who can see the humor in this religion related story.

4 stars.

Clever and entertaining view of the most favored of angels - of his creation and fall, and interactions with humans. Not the big bad guy with horns, but the Morningstar who has his own views on things!

Satan's Diary by Nicholas Ponticello--There are areas of excellence in this book. The author fleshes out the characters in this retelling of Satan's "fall" in a way that is compelling and worth visiting. However, some of the story decisions can be baffling. When you're jumping forward for broad swaths of time in human history, the places you do step in need to be justified. With that said, this can be compared to books like Song of Achilles in that it tries to recontextualize a well known historical relationship between God and Satan. In that aim, I think the book partially succeeds, though I don't think it sticks the landing. The book's summary talks about angels with iPads and bringing a modern spin to a heavenly story. The story provides that...in the epilogue. I don't think it lived up to my expectations, though there are some touching parts. I received an advance review copy of the book, and if you want to see how much you agree with my analysis, check it out when it's published in July. Sideways thumbs.

First, I want to give thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this magnificent novel.
Now, onto the book.
What first drew me into this book was its title, for I am always quite interested in books that entwine religious or biblical references. The description, at least at the beginning, threw me off a bit, if I'm being honest. I was expecting the whole book to be satirical and leaning into comedy, which I'm obviously not against, but I wasn't personally in the headspace for that kind of story. However I still decided to give it a chance and I'm very glad I did.
Despite the Devil, Lucifer, being such a recurrent character in today's literary/cultural landscape, Ponticello's novel manages to twist it into something genuinely refreshing and different. I would venture to say that, in general, media tends to portray Lucifer either as the most evil thing to ever have existed and with no redemption whatsoever, or as a very aloof and cynical and self-aware character. Not to say that these portrayals are bad, they're just getting very common. In Satan's Diary, however, we get a Lucifer who is so human and reflective. We never see this kind of caricature-like moments of "mwuahaha I'm evil and I hate humans and God just because"; we get his reasoning and his actions in a de-mythified way.
This work takes its basis on the "story is written by whoever wins war", the winners here being God and the angels. However, what we see is the other side of the coin, Lucifer's.
The actions portrayed are quite interesting and meddle with religiousness in what I would even argue is a quite respectful manner. Now, I wouldn't recommend this book to someone who gets offended by blasphemy and non-canonical representations of the Bible, however, the way that the novel is structured is –at least from my point of view– not trying to make fun of believers, rather present a different way of approaching spirituality. I'm working on this review from an analytical and literary sense, but if I may be allowed, even my catholic-self didn't feel mocked by the book, rather it came from a deeply curious way of approaching the world and its beginning.
The prose is light and delectable, with Lucifer's voice distinctive and easy to follow and understand.
I truly and deeply recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good biblical retelling with a few winks to some relevant historical figures.

Satan's Diary by Nicholas Ponticello is an epistolary-esque novel which follows the man/angel/entity known as Lucifer Morningstar, from his own point of view. Lucifer muses on his role throughout history, from his initial creation to his infamous fall and everything in-between as he explores a universe created by God and his place in it.

Lucifer's explorations take him throughout Heaven, onto Earth, and into Hell as he learns what it is to live amongst mortals. He (and others) cement their roles in history as the story moves towards modern day and they learn the motivation behind God's creations.

Overall, this is a very well-written novel; while it's a divergence from books I've read lately, it fit in well with my interests and I really enjoyed it. The pace is quicker at times than others, so I would consider this medium-paced, and this is a very good novel if you're looking for a reflective and interesting read.

Jesus is schizophrenic.
God takes antidepressants.
Satan flies kites.
…and so much more!

Satan’s Diary is incredibly clever. It is humorous, well-researched, and well-written. Nicholas Ponticello offers his own version of the Fall of Lucifer. Rather, it is not a fall, but a journey of self-discovery through time and history (without giving away too much).

The combination of religious mythology with modern rhetoric is delightful. The author’s interpretation of the theme of good vs. evil is philosophically rich while simultaneously making light of many extreme religious beliefs.

This book recalls Milton’s Paradise Lost, Bulgakov’s The Master and the Margarita, La Vey’s Satanic Bible, The Bible (obviously) and many other literary classics. Ponticello provides a thoroughly enjoyable reading experience, with many laughs throughout various fascinating plot lines. Squires is perhaps my favorite character, recalling, of course, Eliza Doolittle. Thank you to the author for my first 5 star read in a while.

Thank you to NetGalley for proving an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Humorous throughout. If you get offended easily, this isn't for you.
I enjoyed it. Good concept. We usually hear about one side.
How about the other?
Original

This highly entertaining and original novel tells the story of Lucifer. Through his diary we witness the events that led to his fall and everything that happened in his life through the centuries and up to the present day.
Charismatic and peculiar characters come together to create a very human story, where the protagonists do not cease to have feelings and everyday problems because they are immortal.
Of course you won't be able to stop reading until you know the end.