Angel Down is such a groundbreaking novel. This story and the way it is written is so unique and special. In a nutshell, we follow Bagger, who mainly digs latrines, during World War 1. One of his superiors calls upon him and a few of his comrades to venture into No Man's Land to euthanize a fallen soldier. They end up finding a celestial being, injured by artillery. As the story unfolds, it casts a bleak light on the sheer horror and chaos of war, the brutality of it and the ugliness that can be found in humanity when you are up against the most terrible things a human can experience. There were times I had to put this down while I was reading because it made me feel so anxious and uncomfortable. I feel that Daniel did something super special here. Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC. You can pick this up when it publishes July 29, 2025!

Private Cyril Bagger is a conman turned soldier fighting in World War I when he and four other soldiers are tasked with taking care of a wounded comrade on the battlefield. But when Bagger approaches the soldier, he sees and rescues a fallen angel instead. With intense and disturbing descriptions of the horror of battle, well-developed characters grappling with their own desires, and Bagger’s perspective that is unending with no periods and commas leading to the next paragraph, this read is an unputdownable historical horror book.

As someone who never shut up about Whalefall, I had very high expectations for Angel Down by Daniel Kraus. From a very high level view - this book is the story of a solder during World War 1, who would absolutely rather be back home swindling people, who gets tasked with the terrible job of crossing no man's land to end the life of a fallen soldier who won't stop screaming. What he finds when he gets there is nothing short of a miracle - an angel who has been shot down. That is the very basic synopsis of what the book is about but I assure you that there is nothing basic about this book at all.

When I first started reading this story, which starts in the middle of a sentence and that seemingly never ends, I was a little uncertain of the readability. Would I like the style? Would I be able to keep up with the story that was just one long never-ending sentence? The book is written almost lyrically in a way that gives the story a great rhythm - something that kept me propelled forward just as much as the narrative itself. The story that unfolded was one about greed and power and what dark desires can be uncovered when given the opportunity to meet a being that can make them come true.

At the heart of the story is Cyril Bagger, a man notorious for trying to avoid any combat by taking on the lowest duties (grave & latrine digging), who (prior to the war) spent all of his time swindling people for their money. He starts as someone lost and directionless, someone who wants no responsibility and nothing to do with the war but the way his character evolves over the period of a few days in the presence of the angel could potentially be one of my favorite character arcs that I've read all year, maybe ever. There are tiny hints that he might be a better person than he seems, but as the story progresses and his decisions become more dire it's obvious that he's a man who is going to try to do the right thing, even if his extremely flawed nature sometimes gets in the way of that.

In the end, I don't know if I loved this book as much as I did Whalefall, but it's certainly close. Close enough to merit a 5 star review and me recommending this to anyone who will listen, much the way I did with Whalefall.

This book was written in a strange way with so many commas, and it just felt like it was run on sentences at first. It didn't take long to see what Daniel Krause was doing.
In this compelling narrative, Private Cyril Bagger has survived the horrific realities of World War I by relying on his cleverness and deceit, often exploiting his comrades for personal gain. However, his survival skills are truly challenged when he and four fellow soldiers are assigned a perilous mission into the dangerous expanse of No Man’s Land to assist a wounded brother-in-arms in dying peacefully.

To their surprise, what they encounter amid the devastated terrain is not a man begging for release, but a heavenly being, seemingly brought down by explosive fire. This ethereal entity could be the answer to stopping the savage war, but it requires the soldiers to overcome their selfish impulses and collaborate effectively. As feelings of jealousy, greed, and distrust emerge, their camaraderie unravels, threatening to turn their divine meeting into a harrowing descent into turmoil.

I was such a huge fan of the author’s previous novel, and wasn’t sure quite what to expect from this one. But wow--it took me a few days to get Angel Down out of my head, and I’m sure it’s still rattling around in there somewhere. It’s hallucinatory, brutal, visceral, and there was no way to predict where the story was going to go next. For Kraus to go from a book that’s mostly about a single very enclosed setting to this sprawling hellscape shows his range as a writer, and if you’re interested in totally original stories, this is the one to pick up. I recommend it wholeheartedly!

Thank you to Atria Books for the free ARC of Angel Down via NetGalley and physical!

This book quite literally breaks the rating scale for me. Mindblowingly well-written, in a format you don't expect. There's one chapter towards the end, Chapter 43, that just really blew my mind specifically. And the way Daniel Kraus uses imagery is unlike anything anyone else is doing at the moment. I really felt like I was there with Bagger, especially in his emotions as well. The themes of religion would usually turn me off a book, but it's done so expertly here. I have so many quotes I want to share and will once the final copy is published!

If you like literary horror with a historical fiction twist, please read this. It was incredible.

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.

Reading Daniel Kraus's "Angel Down" was an intense and, frankly, quite stunning experience for me. The premise itself – five World War I soldiers stumbling upon a fallen angel amidst the devastation of No Man's Land – is incredibly bold and unlike anything I've encountered before. I found the way Kraus blends the visceral, unflinching horrors of war with this element of supernatural wonder utterly compelling from the very beginning.

What also stood out was the writing style; reviewers mentioned its unique, comma-driven prose, and I felt it created an immediate sense of breathless urgency and immersion that perfectly captured the frenzied, nightmarish setting of the battlefield. It really pulls you directly into the soldiers' desperate situation and psychological states.

Beyond the striking concept and style, the novel delves into profound themes – exploring humanity (and its absence), the raw instinct for survival, the complexities of belief, and the intense moral conflicts that arise when something inexplicable confronts people pushed to their limits. It doesn't shy away from brutality, but uses it purposefully, I think, to examine the characters' reactions to both horror and potential hope. The story and its haunting imagery definitely stayed with me long after finishing.

Overall, "Angel Down" struck me as a truly innovative and powerful novel. It's challenging, deeply atmospheric, and beautifully written, pushing boundaries in its blend of war fiction, horror, and the supernatural. While the intensity is high, I found it to be an exceptionally crafted and thought-provoking read.

I liked this book! the author had a great voice in the story telling. I liked their writing style a lot! I think it was a bit of a bittersweet story, there were many things going on, and it was unique!

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

It’s hard to put into words how I feel about “Angel Down” by Daniel Kraus. The incomprehensible brutality of war is juxtaposed with a journey of self reflection, friendship. It took me a bit to get into this book partially due to its unique format of a run on sentence and every paragraph beginning with “and” but then it grabbed me and never let go. Kraus’ absolutely beautiful prose depicts the abominable horrors of war so effectively I found myself rereading parts to fully absorb them. This book is a momentous achievement in challenging the reader to think about the whole of human history and how we have chosen to rain endless violence upon the earth while also depicting those small familial and friendship connections that truly define the beauty of our lives. This book will remain in my thoughts for a long time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I give Kraus all the credit in the world for what he does: A completely new approach EVERY single time he writes a book.

He has way more hits than misses, but for me, this one is a miss.

This time he's barking up the "literary novel" tree, with this World War I novel.

I just couldn't get into the flow of his writing. Go read another one of his books, because he really is a genius storyteller.

Pvt. Cyril Bagger has spent his life as a shiftless degenerate. In the Army, he swindles his way to survival by working the burial detail. He avoids frontline conflict as adroitly as he avoids emotional connection. All of that changes when he and a raggle-taggle squad of outsiders find an angel on the battlefield. What follows is as unexpected as it is harrowing.
This novel is breakneck unpredictability. Kraus is an absolute master of pacing, and it is on full display in “Angel Down.” Written in a single, run-on sentence, it conveys a sense of headlong flight to the reader. It is rapid, breathless, and moves like a whirlwind. Then, with expert aplomb, the action stops in a deliberate moment to allow the reader a breath, a sigh, a pause in which to step away from the unrelenting pace. Only to fling them back in the trenches a moment later.
Despite the traumas of war being presented, the prose is elegant. The descriptions are rich, flowing, and descriptive. There are so many lines in this book that are heartrendingly beautiful. Kraus is a consummate researcher; his attention to detail is unparalleled. That depth of knowledge makes the descriptions of war so very believable and haunting.
“Angel Down” is a masterfully written piece of historical horror. It is gritty, dark, and absolutely unrelenting. I couldn’t put it down.

In direct conversation with Dies: A Sentence by Vanessa Place, Angel Down by Daniel Kraus is a stunning, challenging read that heavily rewards all who see it through. With beautiful prose, it's an astonishing read that is highly recommended.

I'm blown away, Kraus' writing took me captive from the get go, the entire book is one sentence...I KNOW, extremely propulsive and engaging I've never read anything like this, doubt I ever will, I thought it was action packed, emotional and thought provoking, amazing!

I have never, ever read a book like Angel Down before and I doubt I ever will again.

In Angel Down by Daniel Kraus, my newest review book from Net Galley, a group of soldiers in the middle of a war are sent to find out who is making a loud shrieking noise. They investigate and find out that its an Angel. Their lives will never be the same.

Thats all I’ll tell you about Angel Down’s plot. However if I want do a review of Angel Down, then I have talk about how its written. You could totally skip the rest of this review if you don’t want spoilers about that. I understand. I’ll tell you right now that Angel Down is a masterpiece. Its a beautiful book that I feel very lucky to get to read and review. Are you going? I can wait.

Are you gone yet?

Last chance.

Okay. Still here? Angel Down is one sentence. The entire book is written as one continuous sentence. There are many commas but no periods. There are paragraph breaks and chapters but there is always an and to tell you that the sentence continues in the next chapter. If the entire book had been written without paragraph breaks and no chapters, well, it would’ve been impossible to read. And the book totally breaks the paragraph rule later on and has a section with no paragraph break that was a bit difficult to read but I was already invested in the book. There was no way I was stopping.

I have to admit at first I wasn’t sure if I was into the way the book was written. I considered maybe not finishing the book at first. The book was readable but I wasn’t sure if it was grabbing my attention. And then I thought to myself Well try to read it aloud. So I started to read the book aloud and the story started to CLICK. Angel Down feels like a story that someone is telling aloud to someone else. It feels like a breathless narrative that someone is telling and they can’t stop because if they stop they won’t be able to finish the story. The narrative so very intense.

Angel Down is a book that you wouldn’t hand a kid. Not because there aren’t kids that would be able to read the book. There are some pretty smart kids out there. However Angel Down is a very graphic, no holds barred story that gives you what you expect to see in a graphic war story. And what you don’t expect to see too. We never saw this kind war in Saving Private Ryan or many other war movies out there. This war isn’t pretty. Its heart-breaking. Your heart will break throughout this book.

And its beautiful. The entire book is beautiful.

Its written in third person, with one character’s point of view. Its tragic and heart-breaking and gasp inducing and poetry and its unlike anything I’ve read. And yes I’m totally borrowing some of its unique style for this for review. Though I definitely think I could never write this entire review as one sentence. I love sentence endings too much.

Angel Down is a brilliant book. It won’t be for everyone. Some people who start it, won’t finish it. Other people will declare it a masterpiece like I do and some likely will think its trash. Its a brave book by a brave author. Angel Down is a total risk. And this reviewer believes with his whole heart that it works.

If you stayed this long for this review, then you know what, you owe to yourself to read Angel Down. You should. Be brave and take a risk. Its not for the faint of heart but if you are brave and you believe, not in me, but you believe that there are books that can reach to your soul and show you something new then this book might be for you. Angel Down could be a life changing book. Then again, it may just be a book. A brave book. Whatever you take from this book, it’ll really depend on you. The book giveth and the book eventually ends.

I’ll never forget Angel Down. And you better believe it’ll be on my list of best books of 2025. Thats going to be one hell of a list. This year has been unbelievable for books!

Angel Down by Daniel Kraus comes out on July 29th, 2025. Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for this book. Thank you to the writer for being so brave,

Thanks to Atria and NetGalley for letting me read an eARC of Angel Down by Daniel Kraus. I absolutely loved this brisk, action-packed novel from the author of Whalefall, which was another great read. Private Cyril Bagger is a brilliant protagonist as he is thrust into becoming a protector for an angel against the backdrop of World War I. The action was propulsive and kept me turning the page to find out what would happen to Bagger and the angel. I highly recommend reading Angel Down when you get a chance if you love historical war and action novels.

Daniel Kraus delivers another unexpected and wildly unique stunner of a novel. “Angel Down” is unlike any war story you’ve read or will probably read. Written using almost only commas, there is a breathless pacing to the book. The prose perfectly envelopes you with the horrors and nightmares of war. A group of soldiers in WWI find an angel on the battlefield and you aren’t prepared for or expecting anything that comes next. I love stories that make me ponder how a mind could dream this up and “Angel Down” is one of those. The structure, the plot, the characters are all expertly realized. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC!

ANGEL DOWN – by Daniel Kraus

‘Private Cyril Bagger has managed to survive the unspeakable horrors of the Great War. . . . 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 Mans Land to euthanize a wounded comrade.’

Daniel Kraus’ writing style in ANGEL DOWN is not only unique but a perfect fit for the narrative of this supernatural horror story…

‘Bagger, already weighed down in mud and blood, further heavies in the dreary certainty that the shriek won’t ever end, just like the war won’t ever end, like the carnage won’t ever end, it’s a sentence in a book careening without periods, gasping with too many commas, a sentence that, once begun, can’t ever be stopped, a sentence doomed to loop back on itself to form a terrible black wheel that, sooner or later, will drag each and every person to their grave …’

Recommend!

Scheduled For Release – July 29, 2025 – Though Subject To Change

Thank you, NetGalley and Atria Books (Simon & Schuster), for providing me with an eBook of ANGEL DOWN at the request of an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing this digital advanced book! I am leaving this review voluntarily.

In the movie 1917, the director used a unique filming technique that presented the entire story in one continuous, long scene. I enjoyed this so much because I, as the viewer, felt like I was right there, the unbroken storyline creating an intimacy that made the horror of war even more alarming. This book reminded me of that.

This writing style was different and unique. From a letter written by Daniel Kraus’s editor, it is explained that this is the first manuscript presented by Kraus in this style. And I have to admit, it worked really well. I’ve always disliked reading Faulkner because I was turned off by the long paragraphs and run-on sentences. But this? This hooked me.

Let me explain. The story opens with the word ‘and’, continuing on in a stream of consciousness for the duration of the book. Please don’t let this dissuade you from reading this! While there was not even one single period in this book, I found the writing to be well-crafted and masterful. The message of the story, the deep-seated trauma and gore of war paired with shaking courage and hesitant friendship, towered over the more traditional presentation of syntax and grammar.

Let’s talk about the angel. It is a stereotypical image of angels throughout time: beautiful, lithe, ethereal, otherworldly. But there is something a little off about the angel, and as our characters discover throughout the novel, it might present a barrier to what we think we’ve always known about angels and religion in general. I feel Kraus wrote this angel creatively and cannily, exhibiting a new body of knowledge related to where we stand in the greater crux of the universe. He did well in making Bagger, the main character, feel as small as an ant against the churning machine of war and death, asking the question of what it means to be a soldier, a human, a willing friend, while balancing his more base instincts of protecting himself and his life.

Bagger tries so hard to dislocate his involvement in the war, his place in the disgusting and dirty grit of it but ultimately feels himself slowly broken open by a much-too young boy in Army fatigues who has no business in the trenches of France. It is this friendship that everything in the story hinges upon. It’s heartbreaking and touching. I found myself absorbing the story as I would someone verbalize it to me. I’m not much of an audiobook listener, but I imagine this story would be a great audiobook. Either way, it worked well for me and I truly enjoyed this one.

4.5/5 stars

A historical horror was not what I was expecting from this author but it was so disturbingly perfect! I read Whalefall in 2023 and have been itching for another Danial Kraus release that sounded up my alley. I didn't even release this was a thing until I saw this while browsing Netgalley. And this was sooo good, let me tell you, I was devouring this so quickly whenever I picked it up. The setting and atmosphere were very well written, the characters (Bagger, Arno, and Veck mainly) and their trauma all felt very raw and quite true to the ways war can destroy a person's life. One of the best part about this book was the writing, the style itself was so strange but weirdly fitting for the story, and the prose itself was stunning. I was continuously highlighting sections of paragraphs, and I NEVER highlight anything in books. I'm gonna be babbling about this for a while, sorry not sorry. Can't wait to get my hands of the finished copy!