Book Title: RISE OF THE PENDRAGON (Book 3) by J.M. Hofer
Category: Adult Fiction (18 yrs +), 624 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Indie
Release date: Nov 24, 2016
Content Rating: PG-13 +M: 1) contains mild profanity, 2) contains occasional non-explicit sex scenes, but Book 4 has a rape scene, hence the rating, 3) contains battle violence but it's not gory or explicit
Category: Adult Fiction (18 yrs +), 624 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Indie
Release date: Nov 24, 2016
Content Rating: PG-13 +M: 1) contains mild profanity, 2) contains occasional non-explicit sex scenes, but Book 4 has a rape scene, hence the rating, 3) contains battle violence but it's not gory or explicit
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About the Book
The
last of the Romans have left Britannia, leaving greedy and ruthless men
to seize power and rip the land asunder. Without the discipline of Rome
to stop them, relentless Pictii come down from the North to raid her
settlements, and boatloads of Saxons sail west from Germania to pillage
her shores. Grown soft with nearly five generations of Roman order, most
men in Brython are unable to defend their homes against these threats,
both from within and without. But there is hope.
Emrys and Uthyr, the two youngest sons of Constantine, the last great Roman leader in Britannia, have come of age and return to Brython to avenge their father and reclaim his usurped throne. Along with their strange druid advisor, Myrthin Wyllt, they lead a campaign to unite the clans of Brython against the tyranny of her enemies, vowing to restore the peace and order once enjoyed under Rome's protection.
Bran knows the war for Brython is far larger than any one clan can hope to win alone. He pledges fealty to Emrys and his obligations thicken. His strength, compassion and loyalty are continually put to the test as he struggles to meet the mounting demands of his country, clan, wife and family, as well as those of his otherworldly master, Arawn, who has daunting plans of his own for him.
Meanwhile, strange, winding roads beckon to Taliesin, leading him to worlds both sublime and dark. Arhianna's fate leads her home, but at a frightening and terrible cost. Gareth finds himself duty-bound to Mynyth Aur, but, like his father, longs for the horizon.
In Bran's absence, Lucia strives to remain a strong leader and mentor for her children and the people of her clan, determined to keep those she loves and cares for united in mind and spirit.
New and unlikely alliances are forged while old enemies churn forth new grievances, testing the limits of every relationship. All struggle to meet their responsibilities within the chaos surrounding their homeland, but remain hopeful they will succeed in putting a just king on the throne who will usher in a new age free from terror and tyranny.
Emrys and Uthyr, the two youngest sons of Constantine, the last great Roman leader in Britannia, have come of age and return to Brython to avenge their father and reclaim his usurped throne. Along with their strange druid advisor, Myrthin Wyllt, they lead a campaign to unite the clans of Brython against the tyranny of her enemies, vowing to restore the peace and order once enjoyed under Rome's protection.
Bran knows the war for Brython is far larger than any one clan can hope to win alone. He pledges fealty to Emrys and his obligations thicken. His strength, compassion and loyalty are continually put to the test as he struggles to meet the mounting demands of his country, clan, wife and family, as well as those of his otherworldly master, Arawn, who has daunting plans of his own for him.
Meanwhile, strange, winding roads beckon to Taliesin, leading him to worlds both sublime and dark. Arhianna's fate leads her home, but at a frightening and terrible cost. Gareth finds himself duty-bound to Mynyth Aur, but, like his father, longs for the horizon.
In Bran's absence, Lucia strives to remain a strong leader and mentor for her children and the people of her clan, determined to keep those she loves and cares for united in mind and spirit.
New and unlikely alliances are forged while old enemies churn forth new grievances, testing the limits of every relationship. All struggle to meet their responsibilities within the chaos surrounding their homeland, but remain hopeful they will succeed in putting a just king on the throne who will usher in a new age free from terror and tyranny.
My Review
The Characters Drive the Story. Initially, in the first book, I was daunted by the number of characters and relationships. Now, that is the part of the series that I enjoy the most. As characters grow and change, their responses to the storyline change as well--some characters are growing older, some are growing up. There’s hesitation in some characters. There's a clear sense that every choice is going to cost something. The characters do not feel out of place or out-of sync--but, more like the natural progression of someone being pushed into responsibility (or out of it) whether he’s ready or not.
This book definitely slows down in places. There’s more focus on clan politics, strategy, and leadership decisions than on quests and constant action. It’s not a fast-moving fantasy with some chapters falling much heavier on discussion than adventure. For me, this actually made the world feel more solid. The stakes feel earned because we see the buildup. When conflict comes, it doesn’t feel random.
The audiobook performance continues to be a strong point. John Keating keeps his narration steady. He doesn’t try to over-perform the emotional moments, which works in the story’s favor. The tone feels consistent with the historical setting, and I never felt pulled out of the experience.
Would I recommend Rise of the Pendragon? Absolutely — especially to readers who appreciate layered historical fantasy. This isn’t flashy storytelling. It builds. It takes its time. And by the end, I realized how invested I’d become in where all of this is heading. The pace was slower, but if anything, this novel made me more eager to see how the larger storyline unfolds.
Learn about Islands in the Mist: Book 1 in my book review spotlight.
Read my Review of Across the Sea, Book 2.
Next in the Series
Book Title: INTO THE SHADOWS (Book 4) by J.M. Hofer
Category: Adult Fiction (18 yrs +), 331 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Indie
Release date: Mar 7, 2018
Content Rating: PG-13 +M: 1) contains mild profanity, 2) contains occasional non-explicit sex scenes, but Book 4 has a rape scene, hence the rating, 3) contains battle violence but it's not gory or explicit
About the Book
Taliesin escapes Affalon to discover things in the world are much changed. Uthyr Pendragon has taken Gorlois’ widow, Igerna, as his wife, and elevated Caer Leon to its former Roman glory. He learns Brython is preoccupied with threats from a warlord who claims to be Octa, son of Hengist, though he was believed to have been executed in front of thousands at Uthyr’s victory games in Caer Lundein.That is not all Taliesin learns from Uthyr. He discovers Nimue has left Affalon as well, traveling under her mortal name of Viviaine, and has allied herself with Myrthin. Sick with the bitterness of her betrayal, he races north to warn Arhianna. In his efforts to protect her, he strays into an ever-more complicated labyrinth of deceit.
Arhianna still remembers nothing of Knockma. She goes north with her husband in search of his clan, knowing he will never be content until he discovers what has become of his people. Her decision changes her fate in drastic ways, sending her on a dark journey that takes everything from her but her will to survive.
All have an immense role to play in the great wars to come; wars that threaten to take far more from the clans of Brython than their fortresses, fields and forests. Should they fail, their enemies will lay waste to their gods and stories, ancient rites and sacred places, leaving nothing in their wake but the history they choose to write across their trampled bones.
By the end of their struggle, none will have escaped succumbing to the shadow within; lies will be told by the most honest, oaths broken by the most loyal, and weakness will torment the strongest, as all strive to defend and protect what they cherish most.
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Book Title: THE YOUNG STAG (Book 5) by J.M. Hofer
Category: Adult Fiction (18 yrs +), 472 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Indie
Release date: Oct 28, 2021
Content Rating: PG-13 +M: 1) contains mild profanity, 2) contains occasional non-explicit sex scenes, but Book 4 has a rape scene, hence the rating, 3) contains battle violence but it's not gory or explicit
About the Book
Soon after Arhianna begins her training at Dun Scáthach, restored memories throw her into a perilous emotional tailspin that results in deadly consequences. Her path winds into ever darker places in her search for redemption, triggering a painful transformation.Taliesin, desperate to gain the skills required to defend his loved ones against the ancient powers that stalk them, commits to an apprenticeship under Amergin the Bard. His journey takes him far from Caer Leon, leaving Igerna to bear the heavy secret of Morgen’s parentage alone.
Igerna shoulders her responsibility well, at first, raising Morgen as twin sister to her only son, Arthur. A twin birth is auspicious, and the people of Caer Leon rejoice that their king and queen have been so blessed. As the years pass, however, Morgen’s birthright becomes more apparent, inciting gossip among the house servants. Morgen is, as expected, an enchanting and special child, gifted with supernatural abilities in spades. Unable to reach Taliesin and fearful that Morgen may soon become the object of ridicule—or worse, persecution—Igerna takes matters into her own hands. She journeys home with her children to seek the advice of the one other person in the world she feels might be able to help her daughter.
The wheel of fate turns as Morgen and Arthur come of age, sending them in separate directions. Once outside the safety of Caer Leon, those seeking to influence the two promising youths close in quickly, some well-intentioned, others ruthless and opportunistic.
Arthur is catapulted into the position he was born to fulfill, though perhaps not in the way anyone expected. Morgen, too, finds herself pulled toward an expected destiny, but conversely, one marked by efforts to prevent it, rather than facilitate it.
Both stand poised on the precipice of immense power, pulling everyone around them into their wake as they step into the roles that will be sung of for centuries to follow.
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Meet the Author
As a child, whenever anyone would ask me, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I would answer, “I want to write books!” That enthusiasm has never wavered. Fifty years later, I still feel most fulfilled when I'm writing.As a reader, I regularly devour books on mythology, folklore and fairy tales. I believe the stories we choose to tell generation after generation are doorways into the heart of humanity. These are the stories that assure us we're not the first to doubt ourselves or face what seems an impossible challenge; the stories that help us realize we're not alone in our struggles. Most importantly, they inspire us to summon the courage to leave behind the familiar and find out what we're made of--to face the dragon, resist the trickster, and heed the advice the village elder gives us.
My aim as a storyteller is to transport you to a world that feels ancient yet somehow familiar, where the veil between realms is thin and magic is very, very much alive.
connect with the author: website ~ X ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ goodreads
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