Book Review | The Fallen Angel by Kenneth B. Andersen

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Book Description

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It’s been almost two years since Philip left Hell and returned to life—this time for good.

But things have changed and so has Philip. He’s haunted by terrifying nightmares and has never felt so lonely. Lonely and angry.

Then one day the impossible happens and Philip is brought back to Hell. Not by the Devil, but by the Almighty himself.

Although the Great Devil War ended a long time ago, the battle is far from over—and the worst is yet to come.

To see descriptions and reviews of books 1-4 please click on the appropriate button:

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My Review

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In Book 5, the war is over, and eight years have passed (that’s 1.5 years in mortal earth time). The story finds Philip in a bad place, emotionally. Though, through a strange chain of events, he is summoned back to the afterworld, this time by Jehovah himself. Jesus has gone missing, and Jehovah needs Philip to help solve the mystery of the disappearance and bring Jesus back to the Garden of Eden.

What I Loved

I found this installment to be much more emotional. Philip is not the same boy I have grown to love and admire through the series. He is a teenager now and added to that he is having some serious mental health issues. As he struggles with Depression, or quite possibly PTSD, I struggled with him, hating to see him go through this difficult time. It brings a much different tone to the story. One that is darker and heavier, reflecting the seriousness of his mental state. He is trapped in Hell in his mind and is lashing out at everybody and everything while he grapples with his choice to return.

I love that things have moved so far along in the afterworld. It is not the same place Philip left and, even Satina has long since moved on, as she should have. All his demon friends have jobs now, and Sam, even though he often thinks of Philip, has found his place in this world. The Garden of Eden has also changed, inexplicably, and they find that it is a much more dangerous place than it once was. There is an old truism that says, “You can’t go home again,” because the home you knew and loved no longer exists – it has grown and changed just as you have. This is an overriding theme in this story because interestingly, Philip considers the Afterlife home.

In typical situations, one would think that Philip’s changes make him more deserving of being with Lucifer – being his apprentice. Still, not one of the characters except himself sees it this way. Try as he might to fight the good inside him, it is inherent, and his actions are more reactionary toward his situation than they are reflective of what is in his soul. I could even argue that it is a direct consequence of Jehovah’s and Lucifer’s involvement in his life, thus taking away his free will. And free will is of the utmost importance when determining the state of one’s soul.

I loved that we get to see so many more recognizable figures, such as Jesus, Lilith, and Abraham, and in such a new context that brings them more to life than I have ever imagined them before. Their humanity stands out in Andersen’s tale, making them much more relatable and sympathetic.

To Read or Not to Read

The Fallen Angel is a much darker and more poignant episode in this series that reflects Philip’s growth and struggles as he comes to terms with all the changes in his life and longs to return to love lost. This series will entertain you, and it will take you on an emotional journey to define your place in this world, while Philip tries to find his own.

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About the Author

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Kenneth B. Andersen (1976) is an award-winning Danish writer. He has published more than forty books for children and young adults, including both fantasy, horror, and science fiction.
His books have been translated into more than 15 languages and his hit-series about the superhero Antboy has been turned into three movies. A musical adaptation of The Devil’s Apprentice, the first book in The Great Devil War series, opened in the fall 2018 and film rights for the series have been optioned.
Kenneth lives in Copenhagen with his wife, two boys, a dog named Milo, and spiders in the basement.