So, here's the thing: I love religious epic poetry in a-- well, religiously, you could say. I've adored The Divine Comedy ever since I first read it, and to be honest, I didn't think I'd ever find a similar work that could rival it. And then comes Paradise Lost, which might actually be my favourite of the two now.

I'm so fascinated by the depictions of celestial beings and Heaven and Hell (and all those sorts of things) in religious poetry, and the way those portrayals evolve, and when so naturally I had to read Paradise Lost. It took me a while to get the book, but I'm really glad I did, because it's so, so good, even better than I imagined.

When you first start, it's a little hard to get into because of the old English, but good news, don't despair: it's very phonetic, and so it's easy to get into the rhythm and figure out the words once you really make sure to sound them out. Also, not sure if it was just me, but I read it in a Scottish accent, so. That makes it more enjoyable too, if you like reading things in different voices.

This book is so rich and complex, and I literally ran out of space on the Google note I was keeping for it because of the insane amounts of quotes and themes and motifs I noticed that I just had to write down. It's full of things that are still relevant and important, and things we still debate, and I just feel like I could never stop talking about this if someone let me ramble. Not to mention, a lot of the points that Milton brings up seem revolutionary for the time it was written, which I always love in literature.

I 100% think everyone should read this, or at least give it a shot. I promise, it won't disappoint, and it'll definitely leave an impact on your life.

Also, a side note for Good Omens fans: the sheer amount of connections and parallels that can be made between these two books is incredible on its own! Come for the nuanced portrayal of Satan, stay for the flaming sword at the Eastern gate. :)