THE FALLEN

In Steidl’s novel set in a snow-covered Minnesota in the late 1980s, a chance encounter between two acquaintances develops into an intricate web of emotions, secrets, and unexpected connections.

On a cold night in 1989, Rowan McAllister collapses with a fever in a snowstorm while running through the St. Thomas campus in Saint Paul, Minnesota, where she works as a teaching assistant, directing a production of Macbeth. She’s rescued by the enigmatic Christian Atherton, a musician who’s the nephew of one of the college’s deans. They’ve met before, briefly, but they find that they now have an immediate connection. Later, she wonders if she imagined the spark, and she also wonders about his relationship with a man named Ashton Tate; as it turns out, Ashton’s supernatural secret makes Christian’s story far more complex. As Rowan finds out more about the man who saved her life, she’s drawn into a world where past traumas, fate, and love intertwine in ways she never anticipated. Steidl’s prose is rich and immersive, painting vivid images of the novel’s evocative setting. “The snow-shrouded campus of St. Thomas looked mystical, its buildings rising like an ancient abbey,” Rowan observes, setting the tone for a novel steeped in atmosphere. Later, the novel shifts to more intimate spaces, highlighting Steidl’s ability to blend grand, gothic visuals with deeply personal reflections. Rowan is shown to be intelligent and introspective, navigating the complexities of her relationships with a blend of caution and curiosity. Christian, with his quiet intensity and unspoken past, adds an air of mystery that keeps the reader engaged. Their interactions are filled with tension, as when Christian asks, “Do you believe in fate?”—a question that echoes throughout the story. Rowan’s relationship with Ian is particularly well drawn, with moments of tenderness and realism. The novel’s introspective nature allows for deep character exploration, particularly as Christian’s past comes to light: “There are things about me that would shock you more than what you saw last night,” he admits early, hinting at buried truths that unravel gradually.

An evocative and absorbing tale of love, destiny, and the power of the past.