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A Crown of Chains
Reviews, Jan 27, 2023

The Magician’s Nephew Taught Me Christ’s Compassion in the Midst of Grief
Elijah David in Articles, Jan 26, 2023

Rose Petals and Snowflakes
Book Quests, Jan 25, 2023

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Silver Bounty, Victoria McCombs
A Sword for the Immerland King, F. W. Faller
Calor, J. J. Fisher
Once Upon A Ren Faire, A. C. Castillo
Exile, Loren G. Warnemuende
Aberration, Cathy McCrumb
The Truth Beyond the Lies, Kathleen Bird
Frost, Winter's Lonely Guardian, E. E. Rawls
Dream of Kings, Sharon Hinck
The Change, Bradley Caffee
Quest of Fire: Desperation, Brett Armstrong
Wishtress, Nadine Brandes
Flight, Kristen Young
The Deliverer, Jason William Karpf
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146. How Did Animators Adapt The Wingfeather Saga For Streaming TV? | with Keith Lango
Fantastical Truth, Jan 24, 2023

145. How Did Edmund Spenser’s ‘The Faerie Queene’ Shape Christian Fantasy? | with Rebecca K. Reynolds
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144. Which Top Six Fantasy Franchises Gave Fans Grief in 2022?
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142. What Christmas Gift ‘Tools, Not Toys’ Helped You Grow As a Person?
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141. Ten Years After ‘An Unexpected Journey,’ Must We Really Hate The Hobbit Films? | with Rilian of NarniaWeb
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Rose Petals and Snowflakes
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On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness
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A Crown of Chains
“A Crown of Chains creatively retells a biblical tale to explore themes of providence, racism, faith, and fidelity.”
—Lorehaven on Jan 27, 2023

Lander’s Legacy
“Lander’s Legacy stacks modern thrills and complex characters on a foundation of biblical what-ifs.”
—Lorehaven on Jan 20, 2023

Prince Caspian
“Pacing starts slow but creature lore grows in C. S. Lewis’s sequel, introducing practical tyrants and talking-beast politics into a Narnian resistance.”
—Lorehaven on Jan 13, 2023

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
“New and returning readers of all ages would do well to seek deeper magic within C. S. Lewis’s faithful classic.”
—Lorehaven on Jan 13, 2023

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Lorehaven helps Christian fans explore fantastical stories for Christ’s glory: fantasy, science fiction, and beyond. Articles, the library, reviews, podcasts, gifts, and the Lorehaven Guild community help fans discern and enjoy the best Christian-made fantastical stories, applying their meanings to the real world Jesus Christ calls us to serve. Subscribe free to get any updates you choose and to access the Lorehaven Guild.
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‘Heaven Came Down’ Portrays a Battle For the Soul

Bryan Davis’s new The Oculus Gate series begins with this stellar reading experience.
Meagan Myhren-Bennett · Jun 24, 2020 · 2 comments

Their arrival brought hope to a world in pain.1 But before long those who looked beyond the beautiful facade presented to the world saw something else. The heavenly visitors who came to earth were heralded by many as angels sent by God. But those who refused to worship the angels were soon destroyed.

Rebellion has arisen but they are in danger of falling to these beings who demand everything, even the human soul. The Garrisons—Ben, Jack, and Trudy—have joined the rebellion, seeking to save humanity and the world they call home from these insidious beings who are enslaving everyone.

Word has come to the last bastion of rebels that they are about to be targeted by the angels by a toxin that will kill all who are within the dispersal zone. With a desperate plan to save their people from this latest attack the Garrisons target the enemy’s headquarters. But all is not as it seems and soon Ben, Trudy, Jack find themselves facing a situation they never expected: becoming hosts for their enemy.

With little time to act and even less support, the battle for humanity and the human soul has entered a critical juncture, one that once begun there is no chance of going back. Sometimes saving the world calls for the ultimate sacrifice, a sacrifice that few have the strength to carry through. But has such a time come? Only time will tell.

Heaven Came Down is the first book in Bryan Davis’s The Oculus Gate series, and if this book is any indication it will be a stellar reading experience. The fate of many depends upon the actions of a few and as a reader one just can’t help wondering at times who can be trusted. The book has a steady pace with periods of action that kept this reader turning the page. This is different from Bryan Davis’s previous works but still written with the same quality and attention to detail that one has come to expect from him. The book ends so that the reader is left with questions but not hanging from a cliff until book 2 is released, which is on the author’s part an incredible kindness.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

  1. This review was originally published at Blooming with Books, and has been reprinted here at Speculative Faith with the writer’s permission. Lorehaven reviews are written by our in-house review team, based on curated books, and follow a specific format. Learn more about official Lorehaven reviews here. ↩
Lorehaven may use referral links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Meagan Myhren-Bennett
Meagan Myhren-Bennett is a book reviewer, librarian, and lover of books who loves to share her love of the written word with all who want a recommendation of well-written fiction.
Website ·
  1. Miralee Ferrell says:
    June 24, 2020 at 4:14 pm

    Wonderful review! I loved this book as well. It’s incredibly unique and so well written.

    Reply
  2. Travis Perry says:
    July 3, 2020 at 2:31 pm

    This book sounds very interesting!

    Reply

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Lorehaven helps Christian fans explore fantastical stories for Christ’s glory: fantasy, science fiction, and beyond. Articles, the library, reviews, podcasts, gifts, and the Lorehaven Guild community help fans discern and enjoy the best Christian-made fantastical stories, applying their meanings to the real world Jesus Christ calls us to serve. Subscribe free to get any updates you choose and to access the Lorehaven Guild.
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