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Dragon Riders of the 12th Battalion: A Military Fantasy of Duty and Honor in an Alternate World War II
Imagine the skies of World War II – not just filled with planes, but with dragons.
A WWII alternate history fantasy with dragons, magic, and myth reborn.
Pendragon Keep is crumbling. The guns of the Channel roar. And Captain Jack Hanlon walks the parapet with nine tons of storm-breathing wyrm above him, listening to the only rhythm that hasn’t betrayed him.
In 1944, the skies are no longer owned by aircraft alone. In a world where dragons are more than weapons, Jack leads the 12th an elite unit of dragon-riders tasked with surviving a war twisted by rune-charged infantry, phantom decoy flights, and arcane sabotage.
Allied generals issue commands. Jack listens to something older – stone, silence, and the pulse of Tempest, his dragon, whose instincts see what radar never will.
From mist-wrapped abbeys to fire-scorched marshes, the 12th flies into doubt, fire, and myth reborn. But leading dragons is the easy part. Leadership demands listening between the orders - knowing when to follow the map, and when to burn it.
Haunted by his mother’s field notes and the unspoken wisdom of the wyrm at his side, Jack must decide whether loyalty lies in obedience… or resonance.
Welcome to the skies of a war rewritten.
What awaits
• Epic alternate warfare – A gritty WWII reimagined with dragon fire and rune magic
• Sentient wyrms, not beasts – Ancient allies with instincts, memory, and agency
• Squad dynamics that matter – From fearless Costello to haunted Alvarez, the 12th isn’t just a team – it’s a crucible
• Resonant themes – Leadership. Silence. Sacrifice. Trust forged in fire
• Cinematic storytelling – Soaring dogfights, mist-laced ruins, and the moral weight of command
Perfect for readers who crave squad-driven war stories laced with myth, fire, and hard choices – where brotherhood is forged in battle, dragons carry more than riders, and silence can speak louder than command.
The dragons are ready. The orders have been given. But the rhythm of war is changing – and only those who listen will survive.
Dive into Dragon Riders of the 12th Battalion today or click “Read sample” to discover a world where history takes flight, and silence speaks louder than command.
A WWII alternate history fantasy with dragons, magic, and myth reborn.
Pendragon Keep is crumbling. The guns of the Channel roar. And Captain Jack Hanlon walks the parapet with nine tons of storm-breathing wyrm above him, listening to the only rhythm that hasn’t betrayed him.
In 1944, the skies are no longer owned by aircraft alone. In a world where dragons are more than weapons, Jack leads the 12th an elite unit of dragon-riders tasked with surviving a war twisted by rune-charged infantry, phantom decoy flights, and arcane sabotage.
Allied generals issue commands. Jack listens to something older – stone, silence, and the pulse of Tempest, his dragon, whose instincts see what radar never will.
From mist-wrapped abbeys to fire-scorched marshes, the 12th flies into doubt, fire, and myth reborn. But leading dragons is the easy part. Leadership demands listening between the orders - knowing when to follow the map, and when to burn it.
Haunted by his mother’s field notes and the unspoken wisdom of the wyrm at his side, Jack must decide whether loyalty lies in obedience… or resonance.
Welcome to the skies of a war rewritten.
What awaits
• Epic alternate warfare – A gritty WWII reimagined with dragon fire and rune magic
• Sentient wyrms, not beasts – Ancient allies with instincts, memory, and agency
• Squad dynamics that matter – From fearless Costello to haunted Alvarez, the 12th isn’t just a team – it’s a crucible
• Resonant themes – Leadership. Silence. Sacrifice. Trust forged in fire
• Cinematic storytelling – Soaring dogfights, mist-laced ruins, and the moral weight of command
Perfect for readers who crave squad-driven war stories laced with myth, fire, and hard choices – where brotherhood is forged in battle, dragons carry more than riders, and silence can speak louder than command.
The dragons are ready. The orders have been given. But the rhythm of war is changing – and only those who listen will survive.
Dive into Dragon Riders of the 12th Battalion today or click “Read sample” to discover a world where history takes flight, and silence speaks louder than command.
358 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 26, 2025
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
July 15, 2025
Dragon Riders of the 12th Battalion is a war novel like no other. It mixes the familiar grit of military life with a surreal, almost poetic fantasy about dragons integrated into a World War II-style campaign. The story follows Captain Jack Hanlon, a thoughtful but rigid officer, as he commands a squadron of dragon riders stationed at Pendragon Keep. These dragons aren’t just beasts of war, they are sentient, elemental, and emotionally resonant partners in a conflict that is both external and internal. As Hanlon tries to lead his team, he’s forced to confront not just enemy threats, but also the deeper rhythms of trust, instinct, and the unknown that define dragonkind and, eventually, himself.
The writing is vivid, lyrical, and strangely intimate. It has the grit of trench warfare, but also the quiet weight of a held breath. I loved how the dragons weren’t just weapons, they were characters with presence, agency, and weight. The author never over-explains their nature, which adds mystery, but he also doesn’t fall into fantasy tropes. Instead, everything feels grounded, as if dragons were a long-forgotten part of real military history. The prose, especially during the flight scenes, pulses like a living thing. It’s emotional without being sappy, epic without losing its sense of place.
That said, this isn’t an easy or conventional read. There’s very little exposition. The narrative drops you right into the fog of war and expects you to feel your way through it, like the characters do. Sometimes, I found myself rereading sections to track who was speaking or what exactly was happening. But even in confusion, the mood carried me. The emotional arc of Hanlon, his shift from rule-bound captain to instinct-led leader, was powerful, slow-burning, and deeply satisfying. His final decisions feel earned because they come from silence, not speeches. I also appreciated how the book didn't tie everything up neatly. It left room for questions and for wonder.
I’d recommend Dragon Riders of the 12th Battalion to readers who like their fantasy mature, moody, and mixed with real human stakes. It's perfect for fans of military fiction who aren’t afraid of a little metaphysics, or for fantasy readers who want dragons with more depth than fire and fury.
The writing is vivid, lyrical, and strangely intimate. It has the grit of trench warfare, but also the quiet weight of a held breath. I loved how the dragons weren’t just weapons, they were characters with presence, agency, and weight. The author never over-explains their nature, which adds mystery, but he also doesn’t fall into fantasy tropes. Instead, everything feels grounded, as if dragons were a long-forgotten part of real military history. The prose, especially during the flight scenes, pulses like a living thing. It’s emotional without being sappy, epic without losing its sense of place.
That said, this isn’t an easy or conventional read. There’s very little exposition. The narrative drops you right into the fog of war and expects you to feel your way through it, like the characters do. Sometimes, I found myself rereading sections to track who was speaking or what exactly was happening. But even in confusion, the mood carried me. The emotional arc of Hanlon, his shift from rule-bound captain to instinct-led leader, was powerful, slow-burning, and deeply satisfying. His final decisions feel earned because they come from silence, not speeches. I also appreciated how the book didn't tie everything up neatly. It left room for questions and for wonder.
I’d recommend Dragon Riders of the 12th Battalion to readers who like their fantasy mature, moody, and mixed with real human stakes. It's perfect for fans of military fiction who aren’t afraid of a little metaphysics, or for fantasy readers who want dragons with more depth than fire and fury.
Displaying 1 of 1 review