Champion of the Fallen: An Epic Fantasy Adventure

Rivenworld #2

by M.L. Spencer

Aram and Markus's story continues as they fight enemies both Above and Below…

When war comes to Skyhome itself, Aram has no choice but to flee. An ancient evil, more powerful than anything he has ever faced, has marked him as its target, threatening everyone and everything he holds dear. Separated from Markus and Calise, he journeys to the one place where the knowledge he desperately needs still the Void between worlds, where the memories of fallen civilizations await.

In this new heart-stirring epic, journey with Aram and his dragon Agaroth on a quest to learn the secrets of the ancients.

And with Calise, who has been swept away to a dangerous land where she must explore her own wild magic and confront the shadows within herself.

And with Markus, as he searches to find a purpose without the Champion he has sworn to protect.

The dangers ahead are too vast for any one Champion to face. Only together can they hope to defend and heal their Riven World.

Genres: Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Dragons, Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy, Adult

853 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication March 31, 2026

About the author

M.L. Spencer is an epic fantasy author. Her debut novel Darkmage won the 2012 IndieReader Discovery Award for Fantasy, and her novel Dragon Mage won the 2021 Readers' Favorite Gold Award for Fantasy.

Reviews

[LambchoP]

One of my most anticipated sequels! Hope it's not too long of a wait, I Absolutely loved Dragon Mage.

We need a cover reveal! :)

[Sam]

When is it released?

[Blaise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was given ARC from the author in exchange for a honest review. The long awaited sequel to Dragon mage finally enters the world and it doesn’t disappoint! Loved the characters, progression, of the story, and of course the writing style. Only thing to note is the story will not go where you expect it too. Plus that ending! So much to look forward too! Cheers!

[Rachel Young]

Seeing this release date announced in my email this morning made my entire day.

Does my world need more epic fantasy, dragon stories with neurodivergent protagonists, amazing world-building, and exquisite writing? Why yes, yes it does. Am I salivating in anticipation of this release (and have been since I discovered Dragon Mage three years ago)? Why yes, yes I am.

Pre-order: ✅
Schedule cleared for 3/31: ✅
Reread of Dragon Mage (book 1) initiated: ✅
Rabid Fangirl mode activated: ✅

BRING IT ON, ML SPENCER!!!!!!!!!

[Miriam O'Shea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an exceptional read, I loved it from start to finish.
5 years ago I devoured Dragon Mage in the space of a few days and felt I had discovered a new level in Fantasy excellence - well, Champion of the Fallen continues that story, adds to it, develops it, broadens it and adds so many layers it just blew me away.
I was planning a reread of Dragon Mage before starting Champion but I was offered an arc so I dived straight in. I think in 5 years I had forgotten certain details, so when I do reread the two books I know I will get even more out of it.
Aram and Markus are two of my favourite characters ever, their bond is so wholesome, their loyalty to eachother is brilliantly written.
There were so many twists and shocks in Champion, things I did not see coming, every time I put it down I couldn’t help but think about it, this is epic fantasy at its absolute best.
And great news - it ended suddenly with everything poised to kick off in book 3, and I can’t wait.

[Beba Andric · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what an intricate web! Spun so brilliantly, I was caught in the delicate web, bound like a fly, except I didn't want to escape! No one is as they appear, no one is who they were, circumstances dictate what they must do, history dictates what they must avoid, the very future of the world depends on it.

This is a fabulous continuation of Dragon Mage, once again each and every character filled out perfectly. The pacing was incredibly well done, it ebbed and flowed in just the right places to really sink deep within me, to feel them, to see it, to experience everything the characters do. The world building felt smooth and seamless and the plot progression was superb. There were absolutely no stagnant moments at all. Ms Spencer took over my mind, completely, for the duration of this read, she sure did have me going "what the heck???" a few times with the twists, which I honestly wasn't expecting. Like Sergan??? Heck I was floored! And Logarin, I was not expecting him to seek out Aram and I certainly wasn't expecting the revelations that he spewed forth! Brilliant brilliant twist! I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop but it didn't drop how I expected it, hells, it just got more complex, as characters appeared. Geez, when Raginor tells Aram another truth, my jaw dropped! This author delivered a full glutinous meal, each course better than the next, like the bonds that built, and showed, between Marcus and Aram which is a thing of beauty, which makes THAT "fight" even more realistic. Both characters held a sliver of my heart, I wanted to cry a few times, I did cry a few times... fighting assassins, fighting to stay whole and true to themselves, I didn't for a moment assume I knew where this tale was heading, because the author twisted it another 360 at every turn. Whoa excellent! I love how the author depicted all the characters, Esmir and Astia are wonderful, Esmir I can feel his despair, Astia I can feel her exuberance, she's an absolute delight. Then the boat ride through the swamps had me barely breathing! I was seriously worried for Aram and Agaroth, tense and terrifying and then Ms Spencer turned it around again! The drama escalates, the suspense intensifies, I'm caught off guard so many times, heck, I wasn't prepared for the events in Daro! I was unprepared for much of the read, Markus, Calise, oh my heck!

Aram, I adored from book 1, I felt him to my core, his motivation, his dedication, his PTSD, his inability to allow anyone to suffer for him, his sense of right. I adore his bravery, his sense of right burning brighter and fiercer that even dragon fire. He would never allow others to suffer in his place, to suffer because of him, so he does the only thing he can do, he goes back to the very place he was tortured. He's confronted by so many "truths", by those who tortured him, sapped him, and OMG, my jaw dropped at at the mind bend of discoveries! Aram in just awesome, so unique. He notices everything, panics internally, and acts calm anyway. He's an exasperated, under qualified problem-solver who cares deeply and he's autistic. He sees things others can't, he does things others can't. Aram discovers the truth on his journey into the void, The Sundering had physically shattered the world. Actually shattered it—broken it into pieces. The world had literally been torn apart. Aram weighs his odds up carefully, heavy on his shoulders, he's the only one who can try and reverse what has happened, because, as he says, “In my time, the Archons are winning. I am all that’s left to stop them. No one else. Just me.I’m the last of us. And I’m…I don’t know what I’m doing. That’s why I came here. To learn." But what he learns nearly shatters him anew.The convergence of the fractured past with the fractured present, sublimely penned!

The complexities of the characters cannot be captured by simple words, they are layered upon layered. These characters are so incredible, too banal a word to use but the only one I can come up with, Ms Spencer gives them all a truism, an intricate role, a vital part of a gorgeous and complex story that spans different worlds and realities. Archon's, gods and deities trying to outdo the other, humans caught in their crossfire, betrayals of the highest order, by the most unlikely of them, and a quest for knowledge of the very fabric of magic. Gee whiz, Aram navigates uncharted waters, dangerous waters, the world depends on it. I love that we get to see how Aram's mind works, his extraordinary senses at full hilt. His excitement at being able to understand what he instinctively did, see patterns. He's alone for much of this book, Markus is held captive, Calise is on her own journey, another twisty twist is where she ends up! Like oh my heck nooooo! Poor Calise, all she wanted was to be a healer, have a life, a husband, kids, but fate kicks her right in the teeth, as Luvana says, “Life has a way of choosing us, not the other way around. Because it’s not about what we want. It’s about what the world needs us to be." Both Calise and Aram are forced to choose, they are driven worlds apart, literally, for duty, for friendship, to learn and hone their skills. Their fledgeling romance has to take a major back seat as they venture into the unknown. This is a multi POV, exceptionally penned, I felt everything each one was going through, their despair, their resilience, their distress, my word, the awful conundrum Calise faces, day in and day out, had my heart in tatters! Her fear of letting the ancient magic out, weighed against the torture of Zandril is so credible, I can taste her helplessness. As I could them all. Erok, Raginor, brothers, descendants of gods, these two men loved each other with a devotion that ultimately broke the world.

There truly is much to appreciate and to grasp in this spectacular read, it's impossible to convey the majesty of this book, impossible to attempt to capture what this read did to me emotionally. From despair to hope to shattered, only to go through the same over and over, as I lived through them all. Saw them grow, saw their strength taking the upper hand. Golly do I admire and love Aram for not allowing defeat to override him! The exchange with Erok, violent and gory, it showed how resilient and resolute he is, how determined to learn, to never give up. As we follow Aram, Calise and Markus, we see the vileness of some and, dare I say, the redemption of others, like...Sergan, although, I'm still on the fence about him. Oh my heck, those last few chapters I couldn't swallow, my tongue felt too thick, the tension! There wasn't a dull moment! Not once! I loved the twists Ms Spencer threw in, heavens help me, I didn't see them coming! Like whoa, mindboggling! Calise? Earthshattering! All the characters are so credible, their reaction to real fear and consequences tangible, I felt every single traumatic thought, I felt every single blow, I felt every single traumatic thought, I felt every single blow, I felt every single thing! Oh my heck, those last few chapters I couldn't swallow, my tongue felt too thick, the tension! There wasn't a dull moment! Not once! I loved the twists Ms Spencer threw in, heavens help me, I didn't see them coming! At the end I was agog! All the characters are so credible, their reaction to real fear and consequences tangible. Credible.

This review was not easy to compile, there was much I wanted to say, there was too much I HAD to say, edit after editing myself, this poor rendition hopefully will give you a glimpse of this exceptional read! This book speaks to the author's immense talent, that I felt as though someone thrust a spear through my heart, I swear I could smell the stench from the hole, the toxic Wellspring Calise, Iver and Corley discover in the woods, so vivid! But hells bells I was in physical pain from the onslaught of events! This prose is incredibly graphic and sharp, I cried as though it has happened to me, she sure don't pull her punches! I love the way Ms Spencer keeps building the plot, twisting it in as many knots as Aram can visualise, tightening them like a noose. This was a gorgeous, intricate read, not as dark as DM, but still devastatingly, deliciously dark and unputdownable!

[Laure · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aaaaarrrrrrg!

I did not want this book to end. Wow, I don’t know where to start but let me just say that I will not write a book to review this book. Aram, Calise, and Markus will each have their own dangerous journeys to survive. Aram has been targeted by an ancient evil who wants him dead and he will travel with Agaroth, his dragon, to the void between the worlds where he can learn ancient secrets of magic in order to defeat the evil being hunting him. Markus finds himself trapped, and once again forced to protect the mage he despises. Calise has her own challenges when she is forced into a land she knows nothing about but will also find out more about the wild magic inside herself that terrifies her.
I could go on and on about these absolutely fantastic characters but instead I will just say that they are all fascinating and I loved every single one of them. They are all so engaging that it was difficult to put this book down. This is an epic fantasy adventure with magic, dragons, betrayal, and so many unexpected and surprising twists in the plot that I was left reeling. I loved this book and I would give it 10 stars if I could. I am already looking forward to the next book in the Rivenworld series.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary ARC provided by the author.

[Lana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this epic fantasy book so much I just had to read it in one sitting as I could not put it down. It is a heartbreaking tale about the champion Aramon and his dragon Aragoth, and that of his warden and closest friend Markus and Siroth his dragon, who live in Skyhome. Until the day Illith Kumaro, the sorceress and an exilari, with eyes the colour of the creatures from the void, comes in search of Aram. She wants to take him to the world above, but Aram had already experienced great torture in the world above where he had been imprisoned for four years. Also an assassin turns up to kill Aram, because he had in turn killed an Archon, but in the end Markus gets taken instead of Aram leaving his friend and Siroth devastated, then Aram goes in search for him traveling to the void together with both dragons, in a very perilous journey which nearly cost them their lives. Both men end up being kept in the void apart, and used as pawns in a game of power between mages, Archons and others. Our three young heroes Aram the champion, Markus his shield, and Calise his beloved, who are tied to one another through love, loyalty and duty are taken on different and challenging journeys, whereby they learn more about themselves and their strengths, but will these be enough to save one another from the challenges they are facing, and will they be able to save their world from the tyranny of the power hungry archons. I love this excellent and riveting book which just leaves me wanting to read on. Ms. Spencer writes dark and gritty epic fantasy at its best with heartbreaking scenes about the bonds between dragons and their bonded riders which many a time brought me to tears. This is a must read book.

[P.L. Stuart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely, so far, a book-of-the-year contender! Incredible! Review to come!