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The Souls Of Wrath #2
Battle Mage: Aquila
Author’s note
AQUILA is part 1 of the 2-part follow-up to the epic fantasy book BATTLE MAGE. Written as a prequel, it tells the story of Falco's father while introducing characters and threads that will feed through into the sequel which will continue from where Battle Mage finished. Although the events in this book take place earlier, it is ‘highly’ recommended that people read Battle Mage first.
The Story
For years, Aquila Danté has been fighting the Possessed with his dragon, Calon Tân. Together with the human armies they are holding the legions of hell at bay. But when a battle mage goes missing, Aquila and Tân encounter a new and terrifying demon known as Caim, The Cleaver of Souls.
Even as Aquila battles Caim, his wife is giving birth to their son, but fate deals a heavy blow, and Aquila begins a new battle against tragedy, grief and the endless machinations of the magi. And all the while, the scales of his beloved dragon grow darker. Calon Tân will soon turn black, and as everyone knows, black dragons are the enemy of humankind; black dragons are mad.
As Aquila and Tân fight to keep the madness at bay, another child is born in the Forsaken Lands of Beltane. Daughter to a healer and a failed battle mage, this child must survive years of danger and hardship. Only then will she receive her tribal name and ignite a spark of hope.
Meanwhile, Captain Mathilda Steinhardt wages war with her bodyguard of knights and an orphaned youth who has the potential to become a great knight if only he can stop joking around. And all the while, a captured battle mage writhes in agony while a novice mage descends into darkness as he seeks answers from a mysterious individual known only as the Sinner.
Heroes fall, and new heroes rise in the epic tale of Aquila, a battle mage who sows the seeds of victory even as his own tragic fate is sealed.
AQUILA is part 1 of the 2-part follow-up to the epic fantasy book BATTLE MAGE. Written as a prequel, it tells the story of Falco's father while introducing characters and threads that will feed through into the sequel which will continue from where Battle Mage finished. Although the events in this book take place earlier, it is ‘highly’ recommended that people read Battle Mage first.
The Story
For years, Aquila Danté has been fighting the Possessed with his dragon, Calon Tân. Together with the human armies they are holding the legions of hell at bay. But when a battle mage goes missing, Aquila and Tân encounter a new and terrifying demon known as Caim, The Cleaver of Souls.
Even as Aquila battles Caim, his wife is giving birth to their son, but fate deals a heavy blow, and Aquila begins a new battle against tragedy, grief and the endless machinations of the magi. And all the while, the scales of his beloved dragon grow darker. Calon Tân will soon turn black, and as everyone knows, black dragons are the enemy of humankind; black dragons are mad.
As Aquila and Tân fight to keep the madness at bay, another child is born in the Forsaken Lands of Beltane. Daughter to a healer and a failed battle mage, this child must survive years of danger and hardship. Only then will she receive her tribal name and ignite a spark of hope.
Meanwhile, Captain Mathilda Steinhardt wages war with her bodyguard of knights and an orphaned youth who has the potential to become a great knight if only he can stop joking around. And all the while, a captured battle mage writhes in agony while a novice mage descends into darkness as he seeks answers from a mysterious individual known only as the Sinner.
Heroes fall, and new heroes rise in the epic tale of Aquila, a battle mage who sows the seeds of victory even as his own tragic fate is sealed.
597 pages, Paperback
Published December 16, 2024
314 people are currently reading
2597 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
January 15, 2025
And done! Emotionally draining and a dark story to read. Though the ending was known, it’s the journal and dread of choices made which leaves a lingering effect for what is to come. Only a master storyteller could have written this. Cheers!
February 2, 2025
In the midst of demon war the greatest of Battle Mages will uncover the most vile of secrets. Madness, death & dragon doom surround …& a friendship tested.
Absolutely adored this prequel to Battle Mage. At once dark & foreboding it is also a story of love & honour.
This one is not the coming of age story found in Battle Mage. This instalment instead throws you right into the battle of knights, demons, magic and dragons.
I personally loved its grittiness. 😈
Excellent!
Absolutely adored this prequel to Battle Mage. At once dark & foreboding it is also a story of love & honour.
This one is not the coming of age story found in Battle Mage. This instalment instead throws you right into the battle of knights, demons, magic and dragons.
I personally loved its grittiness. 😈
Excellent!
January 13, 2025
Great Installment
Definitely dark and dreary but leaves room for triumph in the next book. The scenes and characters continue to evoke emotion. Can’t wait for the next one.
Definitely dark and dreary but leaves room for triumph in the next book. The scenes and characters continue to evoke emotion. Can’t wait for the next one.
January 5, 2025
Fantastic prequel
I approached this book with a bit of trepidation as we already knew what the end result was from reading Battlemage. I was wrong!
The book opens so many new avenues and answered questions I didn't even know I had. The two books together build an incredible story that I can't wait to see brought to a conclusion in book three.
I approached this book with a bit of trepidation as we already knew what the end result was from reading Battlemage. I was wrong!
The book opens so many new avenues and answered questions I didn't even know I had. The two books together build an incredible story that I can't wait to see brought to a conclusion in book three.
February 13, 2025
I've got to say this book exceeded all my expectations on what I expect not only in a book in this genre but on the next book in a series. I couldn't put it down. We knew some of the story in Falco's family history in battle mage but this gave me everything I wanted. All the twists and turns and suspense. Can't wait for the next one. Thank you.
February 6, 2025
Surely not as good as the first book? Bloody is!
Loved it. Picked out all of the key themes from the first book and set us up for a belter of a third. Wonderful to see subtle references to what is to come, and to live the heartbreaking story of Aquila and Simeon’s friendship. I loved it and will read it again several times, as I have done with Battle Mage.
Loved it. Picked out all of the key themes from the first book and set us up for a belter of a third. Wonderful to see subtle references to what is to come, and to live the heartbreaking story of Aquila and Simeon’s friendship. I loved it and will read it again several times, as I have done with Battle Mage.
February 23, 2025
Peter describes this book best in his address to his readers - it was a dark and heartbreaking tale.
I wanted so badly to learn of the history of Battle Mage; one of my few 5 star rated books. While I enjoyed learning the back stories of many different characters, it was a difficult read. The tales told in this book were, as expected, quite sombre. Despite my yearning for more information after every chapter, I dreaded the inevitable sorrows that were to follow.
I love Peter Flannery's writing style, his world building and his ability to grasp the reader by the heart strings. I would recommend this book to anybody who enjoyed Battle Mage. It's a daunting experience but, definitely worthwhile.
I wanted so badly to learn of the history of Battle Mage; one of my few 5 star rated books. While I enjoyed learning the back stories of many different characters, it was a difficult read. The tales told in this book were, as expected, quite sombre. Despite my yearning for more information after every chapter, I dreaded the inevitable sorrows that were to follow.
I love Peter Flannery's writing style, his world building and his ability to grasp the reader by the heart strings. I would recommend this book to anybody who enjoyed Battle Mage. It's a daunting experience but, definitely worthwhile.
December 31, 2024
Very good but the end is clear
It was a fun book with great battles, but it was hurt by me knowing what comes after, especially with th the fisherman etc!!
It was a fun book with great battles, but it was hurt by me knowing what comes after, especially with th the fisherman etc!!
February 12, 2025
Best stories ever
I loved every word of this book. I’m grateful for the author to include this 2-part expansion of his original work
I loved every word of this book. I’m grateful for the author to include this 2-part expansion of his original work
June 20, 2025
Brilliant
Battlemage has always stood out from the books I read. When I came across this I couldn't believe my eyes, what a story. Brilliant author please don't stop writing these.
Battlemage has always stood out from the books I read. When I came across this I couldn't believe my eyes, what a story. Brilliant author please don't stop writing these.
January 6, 2026
Nicht so gut wie der erste Band, der allerdings auch einen Standard gesetzt hat, der kaum erreichbar ist. Trotzdem hatte ich auch Schwierigkeiten, Verbindungen zu den Charakteren aufzubauen. Die einzige, die ich wirklich mochte, war Tilly. Alle anderen waren mir eher gleichgültig.
January 25, 2025
Was an amazing gift from good reads with a signed copy and a note love this
February 15, 2025
Phenomenal, tense from the beginning and doesn't stop. Keeps you on the edge of your seat. Yeah you know how it ends if you've read the first book but this tugs at your heart strings nether the less. Amazing. Can't wait for book 3!
October 3, 2025
★★★★★ — 4.99/5
Battle Mage Aquila echoes all the beauty and badassery of its first. It is beautiful and brutal and unforgettable. If you loved Battle Mage, just wait till you can feel every line again, but with this prequel leaving us the reader setting the pyre for the events of Falco and his story. Once you start, no going back!
ill write a longer review soon for this continued Amazing standard.
Battle Mage Aquila echoes all the beauty and badassery of its first. It is beautiful and brutal and unforgettable. If you loved Battle Mage, just wait till you can feel every line again, but with this prequel leaving us the reader setting the pyre for the events of Falco and his story. Once you start, no going back!
ill write a longer review soon for this continued Amazing standard.
June 30, 2025
4.75 ⭐️
I still really love this author’s writing style - a mixture of multiple POVs to paint a complete picture of the plot and aid in such creative, expansive world building. I do think this book is going to be a great precursor to Book #3 but didn’t really see it as a prequel to Battle Mage. I felt like I didn’t get any additional information about Aquila that I didn’t already know and was more captivated by other new characters who survived to the end and who I think will be part of Book 3’s plot. I’m glad he wrote this! But I’m more impatient for Book 3 now! Give me more dragons and more magic!
I still really love this author’s writing style - a mixture of multiple POVs to paint a complete picture of the plot and aid in such creative, expansive world building. I do think this book is going to be a great precursor to Book #3 but didn’t really see it as a prequel to Battle Mage. I felt like I didn’t get any additional information about Aquila that I didn’t already know and was more captivated by other new characters who survived to the end and who I think will be part of Book 3’s plot. I’m glad he wrote this! But I’m more impatient for Book 3 now! Give me more dragons and more magic!
July 1, 2025
Wow. Loved this book. Could of finished in a week, but since I read the original already, knew what to expect so I was hesitant to finish it because I just love this world so much. 10 out of 10 would recommend, love the back story and information about certain characters. Just a really good prequel.
July 17, 2025
Prequels rarely work, and this book is no exception.
The author spends hundreds of pages building up to a revelation we already knew from Book 1, so there’s no real suspense. It adds nothing substantial to the story that would justify its length. Honestly, this could have worked as a short novella—but not as a 600-page novel.
Skip it and hope Book 3 delivers something better.
The author spends hundreds of pages building up to a revelation we already knew from Book 1, so there’s no real suspense. It adds nothing substantial to the story that would justify its length. Honestly, this could have worked as a short novella—but not as a 600-page novel.
Skip it and hope Book 3 delivers something better.
December 23, 2024
First was good
This one was just history.
Fully leaves behind all one cared about from the 1st book.
Not worth my time.
This one was just history.
Fully leaves behind all one cared about from the 1st book.
Not worth my time.
February 19, 2025
Actual Rating = 5.0
A prequel that is every bit as good as Battle Mage! Can't wait for the next installment that will tie these two together!
A prequel that is every bit as good as Battle Mage! Can't wait for the next installment that will tie these two together!
March 8, 2025
Excellent book. Great prequel to Battle Mage. Looking forward to book 3.
April 13, 2025
Top notch
Another great book by Peter a fantastic lead up to battle mage ,plenty of characters to lead up to the third book
Another great book by Peter a fantastic lead up to battle mage ,plenty of characters to lead up to the third book
September 16, 2025
Great prequel story to Battle Mage. The story of Aquila was one heck of a beginning ending with brutal tragedy. The rise of the good will be grand!!
April 29, 2025
The book began with energy in the first 200 pages, but the following 500 pages were awfully written garbage. Where is the great prose that this author showed he was capable of in book 1? This is awful.
May 7, 2025
Solid story and great writing, just nowhere near as good as the first book. I feel this could have been longer, showing a lot more of the world and political machinations that drive the story.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews