Fanfic Controversial Review of a fan favourite
This story is usually recommended as being extraordinary well plotted, written, full of Original Flavour and an overall outstanding example of how to write a good roleswap AU for Good Omens. I can’t agree with this. In fact, I’d say the exact opposite is true. The story is riddled with plotholes and fridgelogic. What the characters do make no sense in any of the chapters, they are all too dumb to live and the only reason they do things seems to be because the plot says so AKA the author had an idea that had to be put in whether or not it makes any sense. Aziraphale and Crowley have been turned into the standard abusive but oh-so-mysterious!Seme and cowardly but cute!Uke roles you find in so many bad fanfics. The other characters are mere cardboard cutouts who are only there to tell the reader what to think about the main characters. By being so scared of them, musing how little a chance they stand against them, how sorry they feel for them etc. (A paraphrased example from the climax: (Spoilers) ‘We can’t fight him. there is nothing we can do to a (broken) mind like his’ My arse. You have a bloody angel. There’s a church nearby. Exorcise the motherf*cker) In short, the entire work is a gargantuan wangstfest and nothing more. If you like wangstfests with 2-dimensional characters and a forced plot without any rhyme or reason, Sacred & Profane is a story for you.
Fanfic overhyped, but enjoyable
I came into the "Good Omens" fandom rather late, so when I asked for fanfic recs, everyone gave me the title of this fic. I read it, expecting a horrifying angst-fest that would crush my heart but blow my mind with its amazingness.
What I got was very good. Not as great as everyone made it out to be, but still very good. Given how much everyone in the fandom hypes the fic up, it's not too surprising that it fell short of my expectations. Don't let this stop you from reading, though - it's a very well-written character study that puts an interesting spin on a very common AU in the fandom. It is a very sad story (I suggest reading the original immediately after to recover), but it's a quick read — I finished it in the day. If you're in the fandom and you want to see a new take on the characters you know in love, check it out.