Micky O'Brady Books
Angel Down
Angel Down
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Daniel Kraus’s Angel Down won the 2026 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. This is the other Angel Down—Micky O’Brady’s YA sci-fi romance: alien “angels,” rebellion, forbidden romance, and one very dangerous Eleventh Commandment. If you found this one by accident… welcome. 😄
Curious about the two Angel Downs? Read the funny story →
★ Several 5-star reviews from Readers’ Favorite
Ten years ago, alien invaders known as the Founders—angel-like creatures who arrived in spaceships—conquered humanity. Seventeen-year-old Lea Akiyama knows all their rules by heart, especially the Eleventh Commandment: Thou Shalt Not Touch Those Descended From The Heavens. After all, breaking that rule got her parents killed.
Unfortunately, she does touch a Founder. Okay, she saves his life, but still. It would be eighteen-year-old Jamie’s right to kill her. Instead due to a weird twist of fate they both end up doing the bidding of the human Resistance.
Trapped and forced into cooperation, Jamie is the last person Lea expected to bond with. Granted, he’s definitely hot thanks to those uber-perfect Founder-genes, but he’s still one of them. Yet, as Lea and Jamie begin a dangerous double game for their freedom, the sparking tension between them becomes impossible to ignore.
Desperately trying to keep their distance from each other, Lea and Jamie uncover the Founders’ biggest secret—a secret that could change the course of the world and puts Lea in mortal peril not only by the Founders and their commandments, but even more by the boy she is falling for.
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Angel Down by Micky O'Brady is a compelling meld of science fiction and the supernatural, featuring memorable characters and a conflict that takes readers by the scruff of the neck and defies them to put the book down. This is an imaginative story that does not lack realism. Told from the perspective of Lea and in an exciting narrative voice, it seduces the reader right from the beginning. Micky O'Brady creates a story with a female protagonist that readers will care about. In fact, Micky O'Brady is able to open a path to escapism so cleverly that I crossed the threshold unknowingly. It is the kind of craftsmanship that elevates the art of storytelling to a worthy calling. I enjoyed the strong plot points, the excellent writing, the emotional depth of the characters, and the unforeseeable twists in the plot. Angel Down is a great read for anyone looking for an engaging science fiction story with hints of the supernatural.
Like most young adult fiction novels, the young protagonist narrates the tale. Lea has a tragic past from losing her parents, but her tone is pure sunshine in most cases as if she has learned to embrace her tragedy. As for Jamie, her love interest, O’Brady has done to angels what Stephenie Meyer has done to vampires. Micky O’Brady, however, explores Lea and Jamie’s relationship on a more grounded level, as their romance blooms at a time when humanity is on the brink of a great rebellion. Another amazing thing here is the divided feelings among humans about their receptiveness to the Founders’ rule, much like our differing stand on the dogmas of organized religion. Angels here are trying to save us from our own folly, but there seems to be a catch. The secret of the Founders that will determine the fate of humanity is something that you need to discover—a secret that makes Angel Down a must-read.
Angel Down by Micky O’Brady is a paranormal romance with action-adventure elements that appears eminently suited to the young adult audience. Angel Down includes the thrill of a forbidden romance, the excitement of reconnaissance, and the satisfaction of suspicions confirmed. O’Brady cleverly represents a class system based on inequity and institutionalized abuse of power, together with the struggle to right ancient wrongs. The confrontation between Jamie, Lea, and the Founder assemblage is dramatic, followed by the surprising sacrifice of an unexpected character. The characters created by Micky O’Brady are likable and complex, developing throughout the novel. Angel Down is full of surprises that Micky O’Brady cleverly unveils as the story progresses, and includes clever nuances that will make the story appeal during second and subsequent readings.
It should come as no surprise to readers of Micky O'Brady's work that I am a major fan of her writing. And her latest book, "Angel Down," does not disappoint. This one goes into science fiction territory and raises issues of religious freedom, though, at its heart, it's a love story that harkens back to Romeo and Juliet. The two main characters are literally, star-crossed lovers. O'Brady has a great feel for the emotions and desires of her protagonists. I also love that O'Brady's books feature strong female characters. This is an exciting book, hard to put down. I think any teen ... and many adults ... will enjoy it at least as much as I did.