The book being reviewed by TFA is not itself a review of Paradise Lost, but a study of how people have interpreted Paradise Lost since it was published in 1667. TFA says 'The biggest story that Reade is telling is that of slavery.'
YMMV, but I don't think that this was Milton's main message - IIRC from reading PL years ago at school, the main story was Satan's rebellion against God. Satan was presented as a sort of heroic anti-hero, who has some great lines, although he eventually (of course) loses. So, I guess I'm saying please don't let this review of a book that highlights lots of peoples' reactions to PL influence your judgement of the underlying source text.
Why do you care about "Milton's main message"? Is that more important than the historical results of his writing?
Marx didn't intend to invent sociology, yet he did. What do you think about that?
"the main story was Satan's rebellion against God"
so Satan rebelling against being enslaved?