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Winter. War. Chaos.

As Elder turns against Elder and riders clash, Holt and Ash fight to protect the people of the Fae Forest as Thrall seeks to blight every creature within it. On the front lines their only real aid comes from Holt’s new lunar blade, and a dangerous new ally whose claws cut both ways.

In the west, Athra and Risalia have dragged Talia into war. She can’t bring peace without pain; told she can’t be a rider and a queen; torn beyond duty and her dream beyond the dream. There are no good options, not without becoming the monster her enemies claim her to be.

Rake and Osric have missions of their own, one to right their past, the other to confront it. Both will step out of the known world, to the Green Sea of the east and beyond the desert’s end; both hunted by new scourge of immense power and skill.

Few will survive.

The reckoning has come.

867 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 15, 2025

688 people are currently reading
1531 people want to read

About the author

Michael R. Miller

13 books1,212 followers
Two free novellas in ebook AND audiobook for all who sign up to my mailing list. https://www.michaelrmiller.co.uk/signup

Those who use Discord can also join my server by following this link https://discord.gg/C7zEJXgFSc

Redditors can join the community here - https://www.reddit.com/r/MichaelRMiller/

Michael is ‘that guy’ who enjoys - well, enjoyed... - discussing the mad fan theories of Game of Thrones even more than the books or show, and knows more about World of Warcraft than is probably healthy.

You can contact him at michael@michaelrmiller.co.uk
www.michaelrmiller.co.uk

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 160 reviews
Profile Image for Booksblabbering || Cait❣️.
2,032 reviews800 followers
August 8, 2025
I am very conflicted.

I love Holt and Ash’s dynamic. I love the new take on the dragon rider troupe. I love the way Michael gives us so many perspectives to give us a taste of all parts of the world and conflict.

From the the cover, I was expecting darkness and tragedy and pain. Instead, I think this book only really had a huge impact in the last five chapters.
And this is a big book, so I don’t even know how that happens. Especially because I also flew through it?

”You don’t learn how to chop an onion through words–you learn by doing. Be free, Wolf. Don’t be chained to a code you didn’t create. Don’t blindly follow, and don’t be afraid to fail.”

P.S. I love Wolf and want to hug him.

I wonder if book four and five could have potentially been condensed into one, but obviously I haven’t read the finale, so I could be very wrong.

There wasn’t much mention of the Hive mind. This was more about the humane and alliance side of things.

Physical arc gifted by the author.

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Profile Image for James H.
42 reviews4 followers
August 19, 2025
Dragon books are hot again; whether it's riding, taming, maiming, slaying, or riding… They are hot, cold, shocking, blinding, mystical, and magical - all depending on their breath, magic, riders, and writers. Arguably, dragon books have never gone out of desire but once again they are thundering across our eyes, ears, brains, and hearts. Michael R. Miller delivers as one of the giants in the fantasy genre - indie or traditionally published. You continually see his growth as an author and self-imposed god of his universes. Each book delivers more world building, character growth, and plot twists to keep readers enthralled. 


Reckoning, is the fourth book of the epic Songs of Chaos series. It is split between four main point-of-views (POVs), Holt, Rake, Osric, and Talia with minor point-of-views from Paragons and the Speaker. Each story line is intimately woven together to keep the reader invested in the overarching plot, while just annoyed to be jumping POVs - a hallmark of a fantastic writer. 


Holt continues to struggle to find his place in the larger world, forever a chaosbringer; no matter how much he attempts to do what’s correct. We continue with his and Ash’s journey as they oppose Thrall, the expectations of the Orders, and the ever encroaching blight. Holt and Ash continue to push for advancement as they fight for and support their found family, which continues to grow, in the most unexpected way possible. 


Rake does what Rake does. He doesn’t stop, doesn’t sleep, barely eats all in the sake of his found family, Lordly Truth, and a self-imposed penance as he attempts to return Elya to a physical form. 


Osric and Nox were surprisingly one of my most enjoyable POVs from this book. Throughout the Songs of Chaos series we witness him turn from an antagonist, to an anti-hero status, into a main protagonist as he continues to face and conquer his own personal demons. I’m excited to see how his arch culminates within book 5.


Talia, Talia, Talia… we all have one POV we enjoy the least. For me it has always been Talia. Michael R. Miller (MRM) has made me sit down and really evaluate some potential preconceived subconscious biases. Why did I dislike her POV the most? There is nothing fundamentally wrong with his writing of this character or story line. So why did I find it annoying? Is it some subconscious misogynistic bias for a strongly written main woman character? Yeah, probably. The majority of the literature I consume has a male MC and less strong women MCs or they are relegated to supporting characters. Talia wants it all, to be queen, to be a dragon rider, and dare I say love? These desires come with some realistic and frustrating consequences throughout the story, but that’s life. Which in itself, is phenomenal writing from MRM. It will remind me to be mindful of my thoughts, feelings, and interactions in my everyday life; as I believe we embody the media we most frequently consume. 


In life, we set our own ceilings yet everyone has different societal barriers to overcome. MRM does a phenomenal job of being an universal advocate for inclusiveness throughout this story. We have dragons with varying disabilities, warriors with mental health conditions, and just people struggling through life. Every reader can find a character that resonates with them. 


5/5 stars. I will be sad when this epic journey ends, but ever so excited to see what MRM whips up next. 
Profile Image for Achim.
1,297 reviews86 followers
October 17, 2025
Do you know this feeling of satisfying exhaustion after turning the last page of a book? You're a bit overwhelmed by all the action and believe you went through enough of the right emotions, not to say you have a good feeling about the world you just visited. You now only need a bit of time to calm down before writing anything that could be called a review somehow … so after sleeping over it the dust settled and you're still good but the satisfaction is starting to struggle against a 'but' here and a 'hm?' there; yet you don't want to tarnish your first feeling. Then you know where I am at the moment.

No doubt I love the world Miller has created and I really believe he added something new to the dragon rider trope. It's nice to read a story where dragons are those powerful creatures, there elders even some kind of embodiment of nature forces like ice or storm, but in the end they are as conniving, stubborn, greedy and proud as humans and like humans they have a hard time to see advantage in diversity. Additionally there are hints that they are not the mighty beings since the dawn of time. Could be they even are in no position to accuse humans of stealing their magic because the might have done the same to other mystical beings before eradicate them. The phenix and the yeti-like kars from the last book could tell a story. Some others appear in this book, so that story line isn't concluded yet. I hope Miller finds a satisfying conclusion and doesn't take the easy way out. With that said I'm at one of those points I'm not so easy with in this book: seemed like he had to many balls in the air and rushed to knot some open threads e.g. his idea how to take Sol and his gang out of play for the time being was too easy and Neveh's final scene with the elder of ice a bit disappointing. Also the conclusion of Talia's final decision was kind of a let down. Not only how easy it all was solved but also that she had to make that decision. I would have liked to see her grow into the strong woman and queen she had sacrificed so much for but there she is with more magical power and with more experience but she nevertheless succumbs to the way life was before the fall of the old order. Ash and Holt are accepting their weakness, their errors, the chaos their decisions is bringing, are defining them as the core of their existence and what keeps them going; Osiric overcomes his self-hate and finds a way to go on despite his blood-thirsty past; Rake powers his way through everything only to find out he has to take a different approach. They are all going their way, growing by evolving their believes but Talia clings to the rules she learned in her early days as a rider.

Hm, again I'm bogged down. Originally I wanted to talk about Holt and Ash and how I always looked forward to their clique of outcasts being united again, wanted to talk about how much I loved the magic concept which was one of the reasons why I didn't mind that Vald had his own chapters while essentially being only a support character, planned to praise the details of the world building and planned to write some words about the hive mind and its evolving from tool to a player of its own mind but that would mean to start anew and I can't bring me to do that. Who reads such long reviews anyway.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
36 reviews5 followers
October 5, 2025
I am a huge fan of the Songs of Chaos series. This is the 4th book of the series so if you haven't read the first 3 yet, why are you here reading this? 😂 Go get the others first. Seriously, don't read this review if you have not caught up yet.

I am honoured to have received an ARC of this book by the author as the series got me hooked from the very first chapter in book 1, Ascendant. The bond between Holt and Ash is stronger than ever as they work on progressing their power with the help of his lunar blade and a mysterious creature who can also harness lunar power. There are a lot of POV's as the group is once again split after reuniting at the end of Defiant, each on their own path. I really like the different character quests as it gives me a wider understanding of Holt's world and what is going on in it.

The whole group are looking inwards at their souls to understand themselves better as part of their quest to grow and fight Thrall/Sovereign. Thrall continues to use the scrouge to eradicate the human race and convincing the Wild Flights to join him.

To me, the series just gets better with each book. It's like watching The Lord of the Rings movies. Everyone has their favourite part of the series. Mine so far is Defiant. Reckoning feels very much like the bit before the big battle. Everyone rushing around preparing, fighting little pockets of skirmishes here and there, healing the blight as they go before the final epic battle.

I can't wait to see what comes next. Can't recommend this series enough if you love dragon fantasy books. 10/10.
Profile Image for Nicolas Rion.
21 reviews3 followers
September 9, 2025
ARC Ebook offered by the author

Not as fast paced as the first 3 books as there’s lot going on.

I liked
The character arc and development. The philosophical aspect to growth.
The entanglement between each storyline.
The evolution of the story in general

I didn’t quite like
Side quests for some of the character make it feel slow moving
Orsic and Rake stories are a bit too easy and predictable.
Some characters feel useless (e.g. the speaker and the alchemist)

Overall a good read, very entertaining. Holt & Ash are definitely amongst my favourites characters across all books. Just not as much a page turner as the previous books were.

Profile Image for Joshua Kowalczik.
3 reviews
August 30, 2025
My favorite part of the series so far has been the character arcs and the development of magic that Miller is able to put into his books and reckoning did not disappoint. The way that Miller is able to connect you with the characters and have you truly feel how they are feeling in that moment is truly incredible and is so extremely prominent in the views of Holt, Osric and Rake. Between Holt's trauma ark and Osric, and Rake's independent soul discovery arcs, you truly get to know these characters and what is going on in their minds. We also get an insane look into the power level of paragons with Nehveh and Vald. Especially with Vald, as you see him progress through his journey beyond the final boundary. There is, of course, one of my favorite parts of each book, in abaranth's new discoveries of magic, and Holt and Ash, consistently being my favorite POV, though I have to say reading this book more than any other, I found myself itching to get back to all of the point of views at some point in the book, not just Holt and Ash's.


What this book does that no other has is just how action-packed it is, and not in a good guys always win kind of way. From nearly start to finish this book has a world that is in constant turmoil. The forces of evil and darkness are rising up in a way that this world hasn't seen before, and the good guys are struggling to even just stay alive. Between the multitude of povs, we get a idea of just how crazy the world is right now, we see the storm flight from Vald's point of view, the kingdoms as a whole from Talia's, the main battle within the forests from Holt's, the remainder of the order from Nehveh's, and the armies of thrall from the speaker. It was honestly insane and I loved every second of it. The ending of the book tied everything up in a nice neat bow while still leaving it so that the fifth book in the series can honestly go in any direction and it will make perfect sense.


I am so grateful to have received an advanced review copy and highly recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy novels it is genuinely my favorite series right now.
Profile Image for Joey, The Dragon Reread.
84 reviews40 followers
September 30, 2025
Check out the FULL review at SFF Insiders

Miller has created a dark, tour-de-force of near constant action and destruction in this penultimate novel that raises the stakes for the looming, ultimate confrontation. Defiant plunged the world into chaos with Paragons murdered, dragon Elders betraying all those around them, and the threat of the total annihilation of the Order on the horizon. Reckoning picks up the burning threads of chaos and pushes them to the limit, fraying the bond in ways the previous books haven’t touched.

Reckoning is the dark, brutal book that Miller needed to write to pull the deadly strings that set us up for the final confrontation. I anticipate that this is going to be a bloody, explosive conclusion to the Songs of Chaos and I’m alternatively filled with excitement and anticipation coupled with dread for what Miller might do to characters that I’ve grown to love. All I can say is sign me up for book 5!
2 reviews
August 14, 2025
I was privileged enough to receive an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. I’ll keep this review vague to avoid any spoilers, but this book has everything a fantasy lover could want: intricate world-building, compelling characters, and a plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

One of the highlights for me was the arc of Holt and Ash. I really connected with their journey as outsiders navigating a world that often feels hostile. Holt’s determination to protect those he cares about, combined with Ash’s fierce loyalty and wisdom, creates a compelling partnership that drives the story forward. Their struggles with identity and belonging add depth to their journey, making their triumphs feel all the more rewarding.

This book particularly excels at exploring themes of redemption, sacrifice, and the weight of choices. Without giving away too many details, the cast of characters face heart-wrenching decisions that force them to confront their past actions and the consequences that follow. This theme resonates throughout the whole book, showcasing how choices define not only individual paths but also the fate of those around them. Redemption is often a journey filled with sacrifice and self-discovery.

And the ending! I won’t give anything away, but I can honestly say I was left in shock. I thought I knew how it was going to end, but I was very wrong. The ending left me shocked and uneasy (in the way you’d want for the penultimate book in a fantasy series).

Overall, Reckoning is a fantastic addition that has left me eagerly anticipating the next book. If you’re a fan of epic fantasy, this is a must-read!
Profile Image for Jenna.
1 review1 follower
August 5, 2025
I’ve been hooked on Songs of Chaos since being introduced to Book 1 last year. Holt and Ash instantly became some of my favorite friendly duos. The dragons, the magical cooking, and the deeper spiritual threads all came together in a way that felt fresh being a lifetime fantasy addict. Book 2 kept things moving, but Book 3 lost me a bit with all the side quests and scattered pacing.

Enter Reckoning. And suddenly I remember why I fell for this series. This book brings the heart back with fantastic development for beloved characters and continued themes of friendship, sacrifice, and chosen family that definitely made me cry. Miller’s ability to blend epic fantasy with quiet, spiritual moments is what makes this series special.

That said, I am still craving more of that magical cooking as when it’s mentioned now it reads as almost nostalgic rather than being a developed part within the world building. ALSO I wish we got to see our OG duo meet with Rake and Elya so now the wait for book 5 is on.

Grateful to have read this early as part of the ARC team and I’m fully re-invested and emotionally wrecked. In a good way though
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Ami.
2,398 reviews14 followers
September 16, 2025
Reckoning is an amazing epic fantasy tome (#4) in the Songs of Chaos series. There is so much action spread across a huge portion of the world that I did not want to put it down for a second. Unfortunately, life got in my way and it took five days to read over 850 pages but, the sleep I gave up was well worth it. I already had a deep empathy with the main characters from the previous 3 books so I knew I would love this installment. I was still surprised to find a new character that grabbed my heart strings, Wolf-I just wanted to hug him or gently shake him throughout the story. There is so much packed into it that I could praise the wonderful creative talent of the master wordsmith, Michael R. Miller, for days. Instead, I urge you to read this series asap!

Disclaimer: I received this ARC from the author and this is my honest and voluntary opinion.
Profile Image for Kelsea.
5 reviews
August 19, 2025
Michael R. Miller strikes again at another fantastic installment of the Songs of Chaos Seriers.

When I found out I had been selected to become part of the advanced readers team for this book I got SO excited! Honestly, I have always been a big fan of dragons, and it started with the Inheritance Cycle.

This is the darkest book of the series so far, as the constant war over the last two years has been catching up to our main character Holt. Ash and Holt fail A LOT this book, but it only brings their triumphs even higher! Not to be left behind, Rake makes his final stand, Osric takes a journey back to the sands, and many other characters fill the pages with their thoughts.

This series takes an interesting twist on what it means to be a rider, and how an ablist society stifles creativity. All of our characters have disabilities in some way, and M.M. writes them very well! If you are at all interested in this YA series I would seriously consider it! Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this book early, I enjoyed every page!
3 reviews
September 15, 2025
“It’s easier to weather evil done to us than evil we do.”

Reckoning by Michael R. Miller, book four of the Songs of Chaos series, picks up in the aftermath of Defiant. The decisions that were made with good intentions are now being scrutinized by the world. What was meant to bring healing now leads to harm. In light of these consequences, our main cast must wrestle with how their individual choices have plunged the world into chaos.
We join Holt and Ash, Rake, Talia and Pyra, and Osric and Nox in their struggles to find a way to push forward while so much is holding them back. Miller masterfully forces his characters to confront their inner struggles and shows how healing can be found even through their pain.
Each of our main casts’ journeys is tailored to their individual needs, but they are not all equal in their quality. One storyline in particular felt very circular and could have used some fine tuning. But overall, everyone strove to find the answers that would propel them towards their goals. Miller does a great job keeping the reader engaged in so many different storylines and competing character goals.
Reckoning takes a world that already has charmed its readers and expands it further with new lands and lore that keeps the reader looking for more to discover. From the top of icy mountains to the depth of raging storms, the world of Songs of Chaos blossoms with new settings to captivate the imaginative reader.
Reckoning will receive a 4.5/5. Great character work and a masterful setting make this a worthwhile read. I look forward to seeing how Miller plans to conclude this series in the next 5th and final book.

I received an ARC ebook for Reckoning from Micheal R. Miller's team in exchange for my honest review.
1 review
August 10, 2025
Chaos abounds
Wow, what a journey this book takes you through. If you haven’t already read the first three books in the series, STOP! go back and read those first. Seriously this series is way better with the unexpected twist and turns being discovered by reading the books themselves.
That being said this book is a masterstroke of work in the series so far; up to this point I haven’t really thought of this series as being so much the songs of chaos as more the change which brings some chaotic elements, but man did this change in this book. Chaos really does abound in this book and the whole world stands on a knife’s edge, or maybe even several knives edges.
Be warned though that there are more perspectives in this book than the previous three, though each and every one of them is used to great effect to the tale at hand and lacking any of them the story would feel incomplete. Old allies stand, new allies are found and most importantly old prejudices burn.
We continue to see growth in all of our major characters; Talia as the leader of her nation while being forced into war, Rake on his journey to seek enlightenment into his problem, Osric as he seeks healing for his soul wounds, and finally our star character Holt and Ash as they seek their place in a world that rankles at their very existence. Many questions are answered and new one posed, but really the only question worth posing is, “where will the journey lead to from here?” Only time may tell where the songs of chaos will end as the story continues into book 5.
Profile Image for Gemma Best.
498 reviews
September 14, 2025
Reckoning is book four in the epic Songs of Chaos series. I have absolutely loved the first three books so I couldn’t wait to dive back into this world. This book does not disappoint! I love the world of Holt and Ash and the dragon riders. It’s a fantasy world on such a grand scale, following so many different characters but you never feel lost or unsure.

Reckoning reminds me how much I love these characters and their stories - Holt and Ash’s journey of self discovery is the heartbeat of the whole saga. Holt has come such a long way from the nervous boy of the first book and he is now well on his journey to becoming a Dragon Lord but there are so many obstacles in his way. Osric’s story is one of redemption and acceptance - trying to atone for the things he has done in the past with the help of his young dragon ‘Nox’. Talia’s story is one of strength as she struggles to balance being a ruler with being a dragon rider, constantly pulled in different directions. Rake’s journey to understand what happened to him all those years ago and relearn who he really is.

Michael R Miller has such an impressive ability to write such huge and epic stories whilst also making you feel connected to the characters and care so much about them. The only bad thing about getting to read an advanced copy of a book you love is having to wait extra long for the next book in the series!
Profile Image for Elithanathile.
1,927 reviews
Want to read
January 12, 2025
How I missed the title and cover reveal by this author I have no clue (as I am subscribed to the author's official newsletter) ... however when doing an active search in the "newsletter email" that I use specifically for newsletter subscriptions, THERE it all was :-D!!!!!

Soooo when I found out about the title and cover, I immediately came on Goodreads and added this wonderful promise of a book (AND its seriously stunning cover) into the Goodreads database, the official author page, and I attached it to the author's "Songs of Chaos" series qualifier, of course!!! All the books are together now :-D!!!! YAYYYYYY!!!

Note: I'll do the same for the 5th book and its cover once they are announced and revealed, if they aren't already added by the author or another Goodreads librarian :-D!!!





Profile Image for Chris.
195 reviews7 followers
August 20, 2025
Book four in the Songs of Chaos series! Thank you Michael R. Miller for the ARC of this beautiful book in an amazing dragon rider progression fantasy!

“Night has fallen, without moon or stars, but none of us know all ends. All may burn or yet flourish. There can be no despair.” This statement is a perfect encapsulation of this book! This series is a perfect illustration of friendship and how that friendship can positively affect those around you. I love T he side characters in this series and as they continue to grow and achieve a greater depth just lifts my spirit. This book was a good penultimate entry in the Songs of Chaos series. The action was there. It was engaging from cover to cover. The political intrigue was off the charts in continuation for the last book. The only thing I felt was a little lacking was the pacing. The story moved along but with periods that seemed to slog while others flew by. The last 20 percent seemed to go really hard until the final sequence and it seemed to end very abruptly. Overall this was a very solid book and one that does the series justice with how fun and engaging it has been up to this point. Can’t wait to find out how this series ends in the final installment!
1 review
August 26, 2025
What a fantastic book! Highly recommend for anyone into dragon rider tales and epic fantasy.

I was so excited to receive an ARC of this book and I cannot wait to read it again when my pre-ordered copy comes in.

A few things I love about the series:

-The author can take a classic trope and add his own twist, creating a fascinating world and keeping things fresh for the reader. It’s familiar enough to feel like picking up a beloved classic, but new enough to not be overly predictable.

-The characters all have ACTUAL strengths and weaknesses, but not every character can see those things in themselves. Some have fun quirks, some are frustrating. Some are set in their ways, and some change their minds about ideas they’ve held their entire lives. They have different opinions and ideals, both good and bad. It makes them interesting and relatable.

-It’s refreshing to find main characters who aren’t the standard. Take Ash and Holt for example- a blind dragon and a cook are not your typical heroes. One would think blindness to be a weakness in a dragon, how can he fly? But it’s not a disability, he’s truly differently abled. And a cook to be a dragon rider? Because of his lack of previous training, he thinks differently from the others, leading to advancement not only for himself and his dragon, but also assisting other dragon riders.

-The world is also incredibly diverse, though that doesn’t overshadow the story or the characters themselves. Sometimes when authors try to diversify their world, there’s too much emphasis on the color, gender, or sexuality of a character, to the point that it becomes the defining characteristic. This series doesn’t feel that way, it feels more natural.

-Rake. Always Rake.

Now for things I don’t love:

-I was a little disappointed to not see more of what was happening with Sovereign/Thrall. I would have liked to see that go a little deeper, even if it was just a few chapters towards the end. He almost felt like a different character. In a way, it was interesting to mostly see the perspective of the protagonists, but felt like there should have been a “holy sh*t!” moment or more life breathed into those chapters. It would have been nice to have more details on the new creatures as well, but maybe that will come in book 5.

-My only other complaint is that this book jumps around a little more than the others. It wasn’t terribly difficult to keep up, but it could be a little jarring at times.
Profile Image for Anya.
854 reviews46 followers
September 20, 2025
Too many POVs for my liking (why did we really need Vald or Neveh?) The storytelling felt too different from book one and two. It moved the story along but it didn't knock me off my socks as I expected. I'm hoping for a grand finale in book 5.
Profile Image for Su.Zanne.
19 reviews5 followers
Want to read
January 12, 2025
This cover is stunning! 😍

I just read Ascendant for the 2nd time and fell in love all over again. Then read Unbound during the Holiday, and just started Defiant. This series has become my top series. It is superbly written, with a great variety of well developed characters (and dragons!) that I keep falling in love with.
This world building is well thought of that it is fairly easy to follow, and the map helps lots.

The progression of powers is another theme I love. I admire the thought and time put into developing and progressing the powers and bonds, though can get a bit confusing. I know I'm going to have to re-read the different 'techniques'. Perhaps the author could include a page with a 1-phrase explanation for forging, cleansing, lifting, grounding, etc?

In any case, to anyone who is looking for a magic ridden adventure dragon riding filled story, I strongly encourage you to pick up Ascendant and get ready to fall in love with this epic series!
Profile Image for Sian Gathergood.
76 reviews
August 15, 2025
Firstly, a huge thank you to Michael Miller and the team for letting me read an early digital copy of this book. I’ve been a big fan of the series since discovering it last year, and I’ve been itching to see what happens in this latest instalment.

This is, without a doubt, the best of the four so far. The multiple POVs from a variety of characters, each at slightly different points in the timeline gave the story a consistently fast pace that kept me completely hooked. It delivered that perfect “edge-of-your-seat, what’s-going-to-happen-next?” anxiety I adore in this kind of epic storytelling.

Every character was truly put through their paces, and the plot was beautifully structured with strong, compelling arcs throughout. Some of the more unsavoury characters even made me feel a twinge of sympathy....almost. While I loved the continued development of Holt and Ash, the real standout for me was Osric’s storyline: both heartbreaking and wonderful in equal measure.

The pace built brilliantly towards the end, with some twists I absolutely did not see coming. Now I’m left eagerly wondering how these threads will be pulled together in book five.
Profile Image for Lucas Lima.
632 reviews4 followers
December 23, 2025
Another great book, man. Michael keeps this series as fun and compeling as an fantasy series needs to be.
And we see how an author can grows throughout an series. We got multi POVs on this one, with an all-out battle between Holt, Ash, The Riders and The Wild Flight against Thrall and The Scourge, as well Talia trying to solidify the New Order with being an Queen, and Osric and Rake walking they own path. And i just need to say it again: Osric is still my guy, and now, with Nox, i don't see a better character in the book, with a better plot and a redemption arc.

But again, an very nice pace in it. In these kind of long, 800 plus pages fantasy books, usually, it's hard to keep the reader locked in 100% of the time. You gonna lose them on some chapters. This happens here, but Michael knows how to make different chapters and measure the tension in the action between them to bring the reader back. Very nice job a writing a good book.

And them, the next one is the last, right? The ending of this one was wild, nothing close to what i was expecting. Can't wait for it.
Profile Image for Ashley Hobsonreads.
179 reviews3 followers
August 15, 2025
Been waiting for this book for a long time it feels like and was thrilled to be given the chance to read it early. I’ve loved Ash and Holt since the very first book and love the world the author has created. The plot quite literally thickens with this book as it’s quite a long book with many more different stories happening concurrently.

I do wish I’d re-read the series before picking this up again as I’d forgotten some of the characters in it but the prologue really helped remind you of what happened before. Quite a number of new characters are introduced as well which makes the picture so much more vivid in this world. Different cultures included!

Looking forward to book 5 but will defo be re-reading the series beforehand!
1 review
September 15, 2025
Thank you very much Michael for the ebook ARC in exchange for my honest review! Reckoning was full of action, with specific scenes that felt well thought through. What really stood out, as always with Michael R. Miller, were the characters, their relationships, the way they interact, and the journeys they go on, not just across the expanded world but emotionally and spiritually too. The magic system continues to be clear and easy to follow, with more focus this time on the Lords and Paragons. The new ideas introduced on both sides, good and bad, felt like a natural step forward for book four in the series. Also what I loved was that the world building and environments were vivid, and I really enjoyed seeing the supporting cast again. Yume, Eidolan, Fynn, Abernath, and the newcomer Wolf all added a lot.

Overall, Reckoning has everything that makes the Songs of Chaos world so strong but this time with bigger world building, deeper character arcs, and that sense of comfort in following Holt and Ash as their powers and beliefs grow.

Spoilers below:
Some of the standout moments for me were Holt and Ash defending the forest frontlines, Talia taking on Conrad’s forces in the city, and Rake’s defence of Friez. The way the Paragons were handled worked really well, with Neveh and Vald’s arcs a real highlight. I also liked the introduction of the Predators and the Dragon Soul, which kept the magic system feeling fresh.

I particularly enjoyed Rake and Osric’s journeys and felt they were handled in a satisfying way.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for The Roguish Reader.
146 reviews12 followers
September 16, 2025
Do you like dragons, magic, and chaos bringers? If yes, this series is for you!
Michael R Miller has a fantastic way with words. The detail and thought that goes into building the world, the magic system, and each character is amazing.
The fourth book in the Songs of Chaos series did NOT dissapoint. The character development is fantastic. The multiple povs flowed nicely. You get different pov of the same scene but at different parts of the book and it doesn't feel jumbled at all. It feels intentional and thought out. This book hooked me and kept me reading till I finished.
The only thing I am sad about is having to wait for the next book. A big thank you to Michael R Miller for the eARc of this amazing book! I can't wait for the next one!
4 reviews
August 25, 2025
Michael R Miller cannot miss! I was one of the privileged few on the ARC team who got to experience book 4 early, and it really is an experience. I grew up reading Eragon, LOTR, Fablehaven, The Chronicles of Narnia, basically any fantasy I could get my hands on and this series more than lives up to the rest, and I would even say outshines most of them! The ONLY regret I have is that this book ever ended, and now I’ll be waiting for the 5th book! My main consolation is that I have another reread of the series to look forward to when it comes out lol. Holy and Ash’s journeys together physical, mental, and spiritual are so amazing and have to be one of my favorites(even though Osric’s is one of my favorite character arcs). I can’t wait for the next book!
Profile Image for Matt Currey.
29 reviews
September 28, 2025
Once again a stellar book by Michael. This series has quickly installed itself as one of my all time favourites and for good reason.

The book is chunky in an amazing way following 4 main action packed characters who I’ve grow to know and love.

It’s amazing how the story telling tells 4 separate stories and 4 separate perspectives in a cohesive way while having one main story running at the same time.

The book ends in a way that answers lots of questions and feels conclusive while also making you want to read to find out more on how it progresses and concludes.

Thank you Michael for this amazing world you have created.

Now begins the wait for book 5
Profile Image for Bella Muster.
3 reviews
November 25, 2025
I really enjoyed this book like the rest of the series. My main issue was the balancing of all the different threads in the story. I think Miller did a better job in this book than in the last one if balancing all the different parts, but there where definitely sections of the story (mostly Talia’s POV) that I wanted to skip because it just didn’t feel relevant to the bigger picture. Holt and Ash are the main characters of the story, they are the characters I want to read about. I don’t mind the switch in pov occasionally but I would’ve liked a little more time with the main protagonists. It may just be personal preference though 🤷🏽‍♀️
6 reviews
August 24, 2025
I received an eBook ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Another Miller masterpiece! The way he keeps you hooked throughout every page is amazing. Keeping you engaged even with jumping from multiple POVs. There was one part where I realized "Oh I wonder what this character is doing?" and that character's pov was the very next chapter.With multiple POVs style books I always have a favorite pov that i just wish the author would go back to but that is simply not the case with this book. Not only that but the lore and world building is top-notch alomg with a really unique and cool magic system. This book and series definitely scratches that dragon rider itch I've had ever scine the end of the Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini.

10/10 would recommend
389 reviews41 followers
September 25, 2025
Firstly, thank you to Michael R Miller for the eARC of this book.

And now, on to the book, which was excellent! I loved being reunited with Holt, Ash and co. I enjoyed the story arcs and character development. Surprisingly, even Osric's....

I thought it was well paced, and whilst grim, I loved the actions scenes. They were very well written.

I look forward to seeing how things tie up in Book 5, the final book in the series. I've enjoyed the series and will be sad to see the end.

The series is great. I'd highly recommend it!
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