After the reorganization of the world that humanity nearly destroyed and with it themselves, was an event called the bloom. After certain people discovered they had unique abilities. One of these is a woman who can read the history of an object as it passed from owner to owner. Fresh from the academy with top honors she takes a job assisting in a historical excavation and restoration project. Unearthed is a teacup that draws her in so deep that it sets off a chain connection that won't let go even when she does.

In a time not so long before our modern day is an engineer who's becoming disillusioned with his job. When a series of protests wakes him to the destructive nature of our supply chain and consumer economy he suddenly feels not only like his work is meaningless but even his greatest passion and entertainment is also excessively detrimental. He becomes haunted at every turn unable to unsee how desperate the global situation is.

Near the start of the 19th century is a girl sold into servitude to the Chinese turf boss. More than territory, he holds the police that patrol it in his pocket. Forced into performing both domestic duties and sexual service, she is desperate to find her way out. She is frozen by fear of the consequences of failure. Yet she has an impression that there is danger for her beyond her captor and in it also hope. A fiery one.

“Down in the Sea of Angels” is a book that spirals through timelines. Within these coils is a story about stewardship, resistance, connection, defiance, and fellowship. While at its core it may be a climate-dystopia, in some ways the theme seemed more of a method to show interconnection that went beyond objects or bloodlines. It is equally a commentary on the repetition of the human behavior that has withstood time thus far.

For some readers this may come off as too on-the-nose of heavy handed. .Personally I think it is well worth a read. First and foremost I have to praise the strong character work. Each voice was not only distinct but each timeline was its own genre. The 1900s was a story of oppression. The 2000s was a philosophical and moral reawakening. The third was an all out sci-fi political drama with its own high adrenaline moments. The very method of laying out the different timelines felt fresh to other flip flopping or multi-generational tales. The cherry on top was the various friend and community groups. Each provided really great side characters that contributed not just as filler to the central character's stories but were active in it.

A really fun romp through time that is on occasion absolutely depressing and nihilistic.On the flip side it is also bittersweet, hopeful, and empowering.

This was such a great STORY with such important messages about misinformation, the othering of people we see as different, and the future of the planet. That being said, I found myself bored a bit of the time. Not all of the time, but some. I think perhaps it was the writing. Either way, these characters are phenomenal, and the plot is original and important. I feel like it's possible I could have done without the bits from the perspective of the oldest family member. I think those were the sections that bored me the most, and I wasn't really sure what they were contributing to the overall story except to add more emphasis on the mistreatment of people that we consider "other." The future/dystopian timeline so mirrored much of what is happening in our world today that it felt like humanity is doomed to follow the same destructive circuit over and over again, but I did feel like it ultimately ended on a happy note. Definitely an interesting read with important messages. I just wish it had been a little more gripping.