Angel Down by Daniel Kraus was a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions for myself. First, I was looking forward to a new novel from the New York Times bestselling author, then I discovered it was written in an unconventional format that was likely going to be hard for me to comprehend, and finally after reading the novel Kraus proved my apprehensions wrong in the best possible way.
Private Cyril Bagger has managed to survive the unspeakable horrors of the Great War through his wits and deception, swindling fellow soldiers at every opportunity. But his survival instincts are put to the ultimate test when he and four other grunts are given a deadly mission: venture into the perilous No Man’s Land to euthanize a wounded comrade.
What they find amid the ruined battlefield, however, is not a man in need of mercy but a fallen angel, seemingly struck down by artillery fire. This celestial being may hold the key to ending the brutal conflict, but only if the soldiers can suppress their individual desires and work together. As jealousy, greed, and paranoia take hold, the group is torn apart by their inner demons, threatening to turn their angelic encounter into a descent into hell.
Angel Down plunges you into the heart of World War I and weaves a polyphonic tale of survival, supernatural wonder, and moral conflict.
Daniel Kraus has never been one to shy away from taking risks and pushing boundaries to craft a story that stands out in a crowd. I would say for the most part this has worked in his favor over the years which makes me wonder why I have any reservations about Angel Down. Kraus used a format that is unusual for most causal readers–a single sentence structure throughout the novel–that may be a stumbling block for some, but in the end what unfolded was something truly special.
The unconventional storytelling turns into a truly immersive experience, which brought me deeper into the mystery, emotion, and atmosphere within the pages. What I have learned is that Kraus doesn’t just simply tell a story–he invites us to piece it together along the way, actively engaging us with a haunting reading experience that is like nothing else. The format also added to the overall atmosphere.
Looking past the format used to tell this tale it is a story about war–but it’s more than that–it’s about that horrors of war, those who fight in said wars and the true selfishness of humans. The book is dark and horrifying in so many ways with outstanding twists. The visual descriptors are so vivid I could really feel the weight of the tale. A truly haunting novel.
Daniel Kraus isn’t afraid of creative risks–actually the complete opposite–and Angel Down is proof that those risk can really pay off in such profound ways. Kraus trusts our intelligence, our patience, and our love for curiosity with each and every story he crafts. The combination of the story and its structure makes Angel Down an undeniable masterpiece.
Angel Down hits bookstores everywhere on July 29, 2025 from Atria Books. The audiobook is available for pre-order at Libro.fm!
