"In the uneasy peace that followed I became an ambassador and fell in love with my former enemy, a Succae diplomat. Her name was Ischae, and she is dead now, murdered in the bed we once shared. I lost my love, lost my way -and that is how all begins."

Angel Falling: A Noir Fantasy Thriller is a really original novel, the first book in the Ambassador Azshael series, written by A.D. Landor, mixing the thriller genre with a fantasy setting, as we will be following Azshael, an angel, trying to investigate a mysterious murder among the Succae elite, committed on Angelic soil, which resembles closely what he suffered ten years ago.

The war between the Succae and Angels ended in a fragile truce, but this assassination happened at a moment that could break the equilibrium between the forces. A conspiration is rising, and Azshael is contracted to discover the truth behind the mystery; he will be forced to collaborate with a High Succae, Lytta.

With this premise, what we get is a classical thriller story, centered around mysteries and the politics among the races, in which the stakes are progressively growing, as we get to know more components of those worlds.
The worldbuilding is quite original, especially if we consider that Landor has taken two classic creatures, as Angels can be, and has given his own twist. Angelic characters really fall into the Machiavelian archetypes, focusing on having a golden appearance, and being corrupted on the inside.
The Succae instead of being the classic demons, are closer to vampiric creatures, with a strict code of honour, similar to Bushido; Landor draws some elements from biblical mythology, such as the Soul's Well. We see how they are guided by honour, respecting the orders given by their superiors.

"All I did was to break up the cults of those who I believed were taking us down the path of destruction."
"Like Yggael the Serpent?"
"Yes. Her cult was poisonous in all senses of the word."

Azshael is a character that has fallen in disgrace, but at the same time, he's one of the most prepared to investigate this case, as he was Ambassador and lived with the Succae for many years; we can see how he's broken, flawed, but he's still guided by his principles, and that will be key in the plot.
We get to know many other ones among the Succae and the Angels, most of them distinguishable by some characteristics, but outside of Lytta, they don't keep the spotlight for much time.

Pacing is frenetic, being sometimes a problem, as we are introduced to many places and names in a short time, which can cause confusion to the reader. Said that, the plot evolves well with this kind of pacing.

If you are looking for a thriller novel, with a different setting, and really original worldbuilding, I would consider giving it a try to Angel Falling. I can't wait to continue Azshael's adventures!