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BookLife (Publishers Weekly supplement, 17th Feb)

The “Humen” of a dystopian future Earth storm Heaven itself in this polished and confident climactic installment of Harland’s Ferren Trilogy. Pulsing with complex relationships—platonic, familial, and romantic—layered world-building, angel lore, and epic celestial battles involving great snakes, spike-guns, flamethrowers, and the Sword of Judgement itself, this entry offers a harrowing yet vividly imagined epic that spans realms. The tension ramps up quickly. Even as the Residual Alliance has rescued the fallen angel Miriael and defeated the evil Doctor Saniette, the angels above deliver a message for their earthly adversaries: “Surrender now or suffer your fate. Your terrible fate.” Led by archangel Uriel, the angels prepare to launch an attack on the vulnerable Humen. But the fallen angel Asmodai, Miriael’s former love, has other plans, moving to take over the Humen Camp and lure Miriael back into his awaiting wings.

As humanity’s secret weapon, Asmodai leads the fight to the Heavens, while Miriael, whose visionary dreams will aid the incursion, and her friends must pick a side and practice some tense diplomacy. The action is inventive and surprising, blending future tech and feathered hosts, as Harland establishes a brisk pace with emotional stakes that match the apocalyptic narrative. Though biblical figures abound—archangels Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, and Uriel—Harland presents them as players in a sweeping fantasy rather than symbols of faith or religious teachings. That allows for unexpected compacts, jolting betrayals, and a welcome sense, too rare in angel-driven epics, that anything can happen. The geography of Heaven and strategies involving the front and supply lines are as fascinating and clear as the emotions and choices faced by the heroes.

Fans of fantasy, angel lore, and desperate rebellions will find Ferren and the Invaders of Heavencompelling but are advised to start with the earlier volumes. For all this entry’s epic scope and long-built-to payoffs, Harland never loses sight of the human, emphasizing community, family bonds, and preserving the future as the tale races to an explosive conclusion.

https://booklife.com/project/ferren-and-the-invaders-of-heaven-97696

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Reviewed by Alexandria Ducksworth

The fantastic conclusion to an epic trilogy

Heaven and Earth are butting heads one last time in Richard Harland’s Ferren and the Invaders of Heaven. After the dreadful Humens have lost their leader, the fallen angel Asmodai takes up the role. But this spells disaster for Ferren, the Residuals, and Heaven.

Ferren must bring the Residuals (the last remainingremnants of the human race) together in an alliance to defeat the Humens once and for all. It would be ultimate doom if the Humens were to rule both Heaven and Earth, so Ferren and the gang must make a quick decision. But of course, Ferren is facing internal conflict too, particularly concerning his feelings for Kiet as Zonda tries to butt in into his life again.

Like the previous books in the Ferren trilogy, Harland knows how to draw people into his world of battling angels and technological monstrosities. The entire trilogy is a thematic battle between science and religion, with the Humens representing the scientific side trying to overstep the angels’ place in Heaven. We’re here to hope science/technology can only go so far.

The series presents themes about the afterlife too. With the angels’ existence in Ferren’s world, there is certainty where people go after they die. However, it doesn’t go as smoothly for all. There are Morphs like Peeper, half-alive beings waiting fortheir ascension. The Humens, technically alive, are soulless with barely any empathy toward anybody or anything. Harland has written a dystopian adventure with tons of thoughtful, underlying themes.

The protagonists in the Ferren trilogy have gone through tremendous growth. Readers have watched Ferren grow from a follower to a leader. Since he has met Miriael, Ferren has taken the brave steps to protect his tribe and maybe save the world from complete Humen takeover.

In this book, the angel Miriael battles feelings of her own after Asmodai betrayed her trust. Having grown a human heart when she fell to Earth, she learned the ways of the mortals and it shows. Being around them for an extensive amount of time has exposed her to feelings of complete sadness and love, even though that love was for the wrong man. The typical angel in Harland’s world only knows law and order. There is little space for any extra feelings. In this installment, Invaders of Heaven, Miriael becomes a livelier person than she’s ever been.

Harland has made a point with his pacing in this one. There’s always momentum, and it’s rarely slow moving. Action explodes off the page. Readers are on high alert from the moment the Residual Alliance escapes the Humens to the invasion of Heaven. From then on, it flies by like a captivating action movie. The author sure knows to keep his readers entertained.

Reaching the end of Harland’s Ferren trilogy is bittersweet. Bitter only because I didn’t want the adventure to end! The world is cleverly, deeply crafted and theprotagonists are given their rightful endings. Any fantasy reader looking for days of entertainment should read the Ferren books up to the very last period.

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Reviewed by Sheri Hoyte

5*

“Ferren and the Invaders of Heaven” by Richard Harland brings The Ferren Trilogy to a
breathtaking and unforgettable conclusion. After devouring “Ferren and the Doomsday Mission,” I was eager to see how Ferren’s journey would end. For now, let’s just say Harland does not hold back in this finale.

The story dives straight into the action with Heaven’s armies preparing for a final, all-out assault on the Humen stronghold at Bankstown Camp. Ferren, now a more battle-hardened and determined leader, faces the immense task of rallying the fractured Residual tribes into a united force. The stakes have never been higher, with the war between Heaven and Earth reaching its tipping point and dark forces gathering power on both sides. Meanwhile, Miriael, the fallen angel Ferren saved, struggles with painful memories and shifting allegiances as the dangerous and enigmatic Asmodai makes his return. Ferren’s mission to save the Residuals—and their very future—becomes a battle on every front, where survival feels increasingly uncertain.

One of the things I’ve come to love about this series is how Harland raises the stakes with each book, and here he pulls out all the stops. The scale of the war is epic—angels sweeping in across the sky, chariots of fire, the eerie hum of Humen force fields vibrating through the pages—yet even with all that, the story always feels deeply personal.

The characters are the beating heart of this book. Ferren’s transformation from a hesitant boy to a resolute leader is handled beautifully, and his changing relationship with Miriael reflects this growth. Their bond is tested as the war escalates, with each of them carrying their own burdens, but the strength of their connection remains vital to the story. At the same time, Ferren’s quiet realization that he’s loved someone else all along adds a deeply personal and introspective layer to his journey, reminding us of the humanity that endures even in the darkest times. Each character brings something vital to this finale.

Let’s talk about Asmodai—calculated, charismatic, and cruel—he is the perfect antagonist. He
exudes a chilling presence that makes every scene he’s in bristle with tension. His creation, the flying wing, is a horrifying extension of his genius, powered by the anguished cries of Morphs— a dark reminder of just how far he’ll go to achieve his goals. I could actually feel Miriael’s pain as it relates to Asmodai—as much as I loathed him, his presence commanded my full attention!

The writing itself is as immersive as ever, with vivid descriptions that made me feel like I was
right there on the battlefield, watching angels clash with Humen or creeping through the shadows with Ferren and his team. Harland also keeps the themes sharp—unity, sacrifice, loyalty, and the resilience of hope in the face of overwhelming odds.

By the time I reached the final pages, I couldn’t believe it was over. After following Ferren’s
journey through three extraordinary books, I felt a mix of satisfaction and sadness—it’s that rare kind of series that stays with you long after you’ve closed the cover. If you haven’t started this trilogy yet, do yourself a favor and pick up “Ferren and the Angel” immediately. And if you’ve been following along, you’ll find “Ferren and the Invaders of Heaven” a worthy, heart-pounding finale.

Richard Harland has delivered a series that’s one part epic fantasy, one part dystopian adventure, and all heart. What a ride!

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