Review of "Daybreak: A Novel"

At the time of this writing, the war in Ukraine is approaching its second bloody anniversary, with no definitive end in sight. Two years of fighting. Which is to say about one year and 364 days longer than the average American’s attention span. I’d be lying if I told you I was up-to-date on the happenings there. Or in Gaza. Or Yemen. Or Kansas City for that matter. With so much conflict, what’s a fella to do? I say this somewhat tongue-in-cheek, of course, but there’s truth there.

But Paxton has more than one motive for coming to Ukraine. Paxton dreams of finding Svitlana, a woman with whom he’d shared a romance as a young soldier. She had played a pivotal role in his life during an uncertain time—before and during a traumatic deployment to Afghanistan—but the romance ended badly and the two lovers had gone their separate ways. Now, with war ravaging Ukraine, and the years softening sour memories, Paxton hopes to find Svitlana, right past wrongs, and, perhaps, salvage part of a happier past. Gallagher’s novel is an exploration of why we make the choices we do and whether we, as the choosers, are always aware of our own true motives. Paxton comes to Ukraine driven—all be it lightly—to join the fight but when his plans are forced to change, we see his motivations shift, or perhaps his true motivations bubble to the surface. Throughout the book, Paxton’s plans and motives remain malleable, he seems as adrift inside himself as he is in the physical world and this attribute of being unmoored seemingly becomes a strength for him, allowing him to adapt and reminding us that the world rarely cares about our carefully constructed schemes—especially in a combat zone.

At times, Matt’s descriptions of the war are jarring, especially when our notions of the Ukraine War are shaped by TikTok videos and 10-second news clips on Twitter. In the hustle of our everyday lives, it's easy to forget or choose to look away from the fact that, yes, this war is real and, yes, many people are dying in terrible ways. That’s why works like Daybreak are so vital, if for nothing else than to remind us of the plights of our fellow humans in a society that encourages connection in such a disconnected way. Noticeably missing from most of the novel is the physical presence of the enemy, the Russian invaders. Instead, Matt lets the Russian threat remain amorphous through most of the narrative, looming overhead like the constant threat of aerial bombardment.

Daybreak is an elegantly written novel and Matt’s first-hand experiences and expertise lend an unparalleled authenticity to the story. If you’re looking for flowery descriptions and droning exposition, you’ve come to the wrong novel. Rarely a single word is wasted and Matt’s prose is efficient, effective, and real. Daybreak is a dark love story, a redemption story. But mostly, it's a stark look at both a conflict that deserves our attention and a generation of young veterans, lost without war.

Brett Allen is a humor writer and author of the Afghanistan war novel, Kilroy Was Here. His latest novel is called Sly Fox Hollow. Follow him on Twitter at @hogwashwriting.