Angel Down (pulitzer Prize Winner) by Daniel Kraus

Angel Down (pulitzer Prize Winner)

A Novel

Daniel Kraus

Atria Books · Print & ebook · May 12, 2026

PULITZER PRIZE WINNER • NEW YORK TIMES TOP TEN BOOKS OF THE YEAR • USA TODAY BESTSELLER 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.

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Who it’s for
Readers interested in World War I historical settings
Themes
war, supernatural, moral conflict
Pacing
Mixed

About this book

PULITZER PRIZE WINNER • NEW YORK TIMES TOP TEN BOOKS OF THE YEAR • USA TODAY BESTSELLER 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.

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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.

Who it’s for

  • Readers interested in World War I historical settings
  • Fans of supernatural and moral conflict narratives

Where it sits

World War I Historical Fiction95%
War Fiction71%
The Occult & Supernatural50%

Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.

Publisher categories

  • World War I Historical Fiction
  • Literary Fiction
  • Supernatural Thrillers
Authors
Daniel Kraus
Publisher
Atria Books
Published
May 12, 2026
Format
Print & ebook
Theme
war · supernatural · moral conflict
Reading lane
World War I Historical Fiction