The critically acclaimed author of the “crazily enjoyable” (The New York Times) Whalefall returns with an immersive, cinematic novel about five World War I soldiers who stumble upon a fallen angel that could hold the key to ending the war.

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 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.

I’ll be honest. I was a little nervous going into this one. I liked “Whalefall”, but I didn’t love it the way so many others did. It was a solid read, just not unforgettable for me. Still, the premise of this one grabbed me immediately. World War I soldiers stumbling across a fallen angel in No Man’s Land? I added it to my TBR as soon as I read that.

Then I started hearing about the structure. The book is written in a single, run-on sentence for the entire book. Normally, that’s a hard no for me. I find those literary stunts frustrating more often than not. They usually feel like a gimmick that draw attention to the writing rather than the story. Still, I gave it a chance (with a lot of trepidation at first).

Surprisingly, I never got annoyed. Not even close.

From the first paragraph, I was hooked. The style that I was afraid would piss me off? It works. It more than works. In fact, I can’t imagine the book working as well without it. It was (surprisingly) necessary. The lack of punctuation creates a pounding forward motion that mirrors the chaos of war. It’s urgent and desperate. I felt trapped with our character. It’s claustrophobic, and completely immersive.

The story follows five soldiers tasked with venturing into No Man’s Land to mercy-kill a wounded man that they’ve heard screaming in pain. What they find instead is a fallen angel. Not a metaphor, but a literal celestial being, wings and all. The encounter could change the course of the war. Maybe even end it. But this is where it gets interesting and the moral ambiguity of the characters comes into play. These aren’t noble men. They’re scared, selfish, angry, traumatized. Each one brings his own baggage into the mission. They spiral, fracture, and unravel in real time as the pressure mounts. Greed creeps in. Paranoia takes hold. Things get real (and questionable) real quick.

We see the horrors through the eyes of Cyril, the main character. He’s not a hero. He’s not even particularly likable at first. He lies, cheats, and manipulates to survive. But, watching his internal shift from self-preserving coward to something more complex is one of the most fascinating parts of the book. His arc is jagged, messy, and fully earned.

This is a story about war, so, yes, it’s intense and it is brutal. The author doesn’t shy away from that. The presence of the angel is both a blessing and a curse. This supernatural element could have easily derailed the story, but it didn’t. It blends seamlessly with the historical setting. The angel doesn’t feel out of place. It feels like a disruption of reality that somehow makes more sense than the war itself. It also provides a sense of hope amongst the horrors and despair these men have been living in.

This is one of the most original books I’ve read this year. It’s intense, unrelenting, and beautifully executed. I finished it in a single sitting and immediately wanted to talk to someone about it. It’s not an easy read, but it’s a memorable one. I can’t stop thinking about it. If you like war fiction with a surreal edge, morally complicated characters, and bold narrative choices, this one is worth your time. Even if you’re skeptical of the format like I was, give it a chance. This is one of those rare times the risk pays off.