Book Review: Heaven Came Down

What if a legion of beings claiming to be angels visited Earth in the aftermath of an apocalyptic war… but in exchange for restoring order, they demanded absolute obedience?

That’s the question asked by Bryan Davis’s upcoming novel, Heaven Came Down, the first in a sci-fi series called The Oculus Gate.

And boy, are you in for a mind-bending ride if you pick it up!

(Just look at this cover, for starters!)

Heavenly messengers, or deadly parasites?

In the chaotic aftermath of apocalyptic war, the strange lights in the sky heralding the coming of unearthly beings seemed like an answer to prayer. When the heavenly visitors entered selected people and transformed them into angels who demanded obedience in exchange for the restoration of order, the majority accepted their new rulers.

But Ben Garrison and his siblings, Jack and Trudy, have seen a dark side to these so-called angels. They join a rebel faction with one goal: destroy the invaders and free the world from their tyranny.

When the rebels catch wind of an angel plot to invade the resistance region and spread a deadly contagion, the Garrisons embark on a crucial mission to swap the angel troops’ vaccine with a fake injection, stealing the real vaccine to save the rebels. The catch: Ben and Trudy, in disguise as doctors, must volunteer to become implanted by angels and fake their implantation.

The rebels’ plan, however, is soon exposed, jeopardizing the mission and their lives. Their only hope for rescue lies in an odd bounty hunter, a young angel priestess, and a mysterious spy embedded among the angels—a woman whose identity the rebels have yet to discover.

Wow, where do I BEGIN? I think I enjoyed this one even more than Let the Ghosts Speak, which—if you read my review of it a couple of months ago—is already one of my favorite Bryan Davis books.

Cast of Characters

As usual, the cast of characters is vibrant and varied, ranging from the steadfast Captain Barks to a young priestess on the run to a zany bounty hunter.

I especially loved the Garrison siblings and their interactions. Sibling stories are already one of my favorite things, but I feel like I haven’t read that many where the siblings are adults. Ben’s struggle between mercy and unflinching justice… Jack’s charismatic exterior overlaying deep hurt… Trudy’s tough-as-nails skills and desire to prove herself on the field… Each of them were unique, and I found their relationships both realistic and strong.

Eerily Relevant Themes

If words like vaccine and contagion in the blurb popped out at you, you’re probably already thinking, “Hmm, this sounds a bit like current affairs.” Bryan Davis states in the afterword that he wrote this story before the whole COVID-19 situation, and the parallels between the Garrisons’ world and our world became apparent during the final editing stages. Needless to say, whatever your stance on the issue, it’s interesting to fictionalize some of today’s questions and extrapolate them into something even deadlier!

Mind-Bending Plot Twists

A hallmark of Bryan Davis’s novels is complex character motivations, and that particular strength really shone here in Heaven Came Down. I can’t remember the last time a story contained so many double agents!

It kept me on my toes, not knowing who to trust. In fact, given the angels’ ability to implant themselves in human consciousnesses, the main characters had no idea who was all compromised. So… lots of guesswork, conflict, and some big reveals!

Impossible Situations

Pitting three humans against supernatural beings who can feign a normal appearance, read minds, or out-muscle and out-gun even the best soldiers? That’s insane. But that’s exactly what happens. The Garrisons stand as the remnant against mass evil, and though they face impossible odds at every turn, they possess the smarts, steely moral backbone, and deeply personal incentive to fight back.

This is how you write heroes you can cheer for, people!

Fast Pace

Not only does most of the story take place over the course of a single day and night, but the tension ratchets up with every chapter. Subterfuge, gunfights, chase scenes, and a fusion of sci-fi tech with supernatural events made for a potent brew indeed! Well-placed moments of quiet conversation and inner turmoil also serve to balance it out.

The Promise of More

After the whirlwind of plot twists, the story ends with just enough closure to be satisfying… and the right combination of unanswered questions and new threats to segue into the next book. This definitely promises to be a fantastic series! When I reached the final page, it reminded me of the feeling I got when I first read Bryan Davis’s Dragons in Our Midst and Oracles of Fire series, except this one is sci-fi instead of fantasy and seems more geared towards the adult/new adult market instead of YA.*

*That doesn’t mean it isn’t clean—it is! I’m talking about the age of the characters: mostly 20s and up.

And if I’m not mistaken, long-time fans of Bryan Davis’s work will find a subtle nod to another certain series of his involving a supernatural element. 😉 I’ll let you find this little Easter egg yourself!

Overall, it’s another 5-star read! Expect moral dilemmas, danger, a ticking clock, and sacrificial bravery. And bring your brain, because you’ll need it to keep track of the constantly shifting stakes and motives!

Find the Book

• On Amazon.com (Kindle preorders are open! The print version releases June 15th, with the Kindle releasing July 1st. Preorders mean a lot to an author and the success of a book, so please consider preordering if you can!)
• On Goodreads

About the Author

Bryan Davis is the author of the Dragons in Our Midst, Oracles of Fire, Children of the Bard, Reapers, Dragons of Starlight,Tales of Starlight, and Time Echoes series, contemporary/fantasy books for young adults and adults. The first book, Raising Dragons, was released in July of 2004, and several books in the series have hit various bestseller lists, including Eye of the Oracle, which hit number one on the CBA Young Adult best-seller list in January of 2007.

Find him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or his author website.

Okay, questers, tell me! Is this hitting your TBR list or what?