Thank you to the author for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
Before Adam, there was Eden. In that garden, the full force of God’s creativity was on display: a multitude of animals, plants…and angels. In a relentless pursuit of perfection, God brings forth The Light Bringer—Lucifer, a being designed as the Creator’s perfect counterpart. But when Lucifer is given freedom, responsibility, and the space to choose his own path, the relationships he forms with other angels begin to drive a wedge between him and God, setting the stage for a rupture of biblical proportions. It is a story many of us were raised on—but only from one perspective. If every conflict has two sides, perhaps it is time to hear Lucifer’s.
Satan’s Diary is the latest release from award-winning independent author Nicholas Ponticello, published in 2025. Reimagining the creation story through the perspective of Lucifer and the fallen angels, Ponticello takes a bold, compelling premise and develops it into a narrative that is literary, darkly funny, and unexpectedly human. The result is a fantasy novel that stands out not only for its inventive concept, but for the strength of its execution. At its core, the novel also explores the fragility of mental health—even among powerful beings who appear, from the outside, to have everything under control.
I give Satan’s Diary 5 out of 5 stars. I first encountered Nicholas Ponticello’s work through The Secret Order of the Scepter & Gavel, which showcased the full breadth of his worldbuilding. This novel demonstrates that same ambition, weaving Heaven and Earth together through portals while grounding the story in richly developed characters. The character work here is especially compelling. Each figure is flawed and emotionally nuanced—from a perfectionist God struggling with rejection aversion, to the narcissistic Mephistopheles, to a deeply dependent Lucifer. As in Ponticello’s previous work, mental health is handled with unusual care: these traits are woven organically into the characters, making them relatable before revealing the damage they can cause. I also appreciated the novel’s inclusion of both therapeutic and medical support, which gives the story additional emotional realism. Above all, I was impressed by the way Ponticello reimagines a figure traditionally cast as humanity’s ultimate adversary, transforming him into a complex, thought-provoking character who continues to evolve with every chapter.
Because of references to sex and death, this book is best suited for readers over 13. I would also caution anyone who is uncomfortable with religious humor or retellings of Biblical stories that depart from familiar interpretations. That said, readers who enjoy books like Interview with the Vampire or A Discovery of Witches will likely find much to admire here; it carries a similar appeal in its immortal characters, long emotional arcs, and atmospheric sense of time. I would also recommend it to readers who enjoyed stories such as The Happiness Collector, particularly for its depiction of gods living among mortals.
Satan’s Diary was released in 2025 and is available for purchase in our Bookshop.org store.
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What I’m Reading
- Current print book: Satan’s Diary, Nicholas Ponticello
- Current audio book: Some Like It Lethal, Brynn Kelly
- Book I’m most looking forward to: Pretty Dead Things, Kelsey Cox
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