Phoenix Rising

by Michael Reit

1 September 1939

As Hitler's armies pour across the Polish border, three lives are forever changed.

Jewish refugee Felix Wolff believes he has found safety in England, but he is arrested and thrown into a British internment camp as a suspected Nazi spy. To clear his name and join the fight against Hitler, he must break free of a system that mistakes him for the very evil he fled.

Fresh off his ruthless campaign in Poland, Sicherheitsdienst agent Karl Vogt is sent on a chilling to devise a system for controlling the growing Jewish population within the Reich. His cold efficiency lays the groundwork for a coming horror the world has yet to comprehend.

In Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia, Adela Beran risks everything to pass secrets from a weapons factory to the Czech resistance. When she’s asked to help assassinate Heinrich Himmler in Berlin, she faces a terrifying stay in the shadows or strike a deadly blow against tyranny.

Phoenix Rising is the second installment in the Covert War Chronicles. It is a powerful story of courage, survival, and resistance across a war-torn Europe. Perfect for fans of Alan Furst, Kate Quinn, and WWII espionage thrillers rooted in real history.

Genres: Historical Fiction

424 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 8, 2026

About the author

Michael Reit writes page-turning historical fiction. His books focus on lesser-known events and people in World War II Europe.

Born in the Netherlands, he now lives in beautiful Vienna, Austria, with his partner Esther and daughter Bibi. You can connect through michaelreit.com or Facebook (Michael Reit Author).

Reviews

[Dina Ovando-Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Phoenix Rising is the 2nd book in the Covert War Chronicles, and my 2nd book by Michael Reit. While Phoenix Rising could be read as a standalone, you experience much more depth and background reading the very well written, "The Eagle’s Shadow" first.
Phoenix Rising is also an outstanding WWII historical fiction and continues to follow the three main characters, Felix Wolf, Karl Vogt, and Adela Beran as war spreads throughout Europe and the various circumstances they contend with.
The author pulls you into various plots and places that each main character is in with descriptive details that immerse you into the suspense, horror and rising tension of the escalating war. Felix is in a British internment camp, where all the refugees were initially suspected of being Nazi's, that perspective was an eye opening one. Anna, still in Czechoslovakia, is helping the resistance and working with little known Albert Goring, a real historical figure and such an intriguing and inspirational man. Karl Vogt is now tasked with controlling the growing Jewish population within the Reich and how to be "effective and efficient" in brutal and cruel ways.
The subplots are also captivating with kidnapping, double crossing, betrayal as well as acts of courage, loyalty and kindness. There are some graphic details appropriate to the circumstances, language is also aligned to the war without being overly graphic.
This is a vivid retelling of WWII that is grim, inspiring, poignant, compelling and brings to life little known historical events and figures that contributed to the both sides of the war. I highly recommend this 4.5 stars book to those who enjoy well written WWII stories with deeply engaging characters, fleshed out little known historical events and authors notes that add to the overall narrative. Looking forward to the next book!
A deep note of gratitude to NetGalley and Book Whisperer for the ARC, it was truly a pleasure and privilege to read. All opinions expressed are my own

[Toni Osborne · Rating 5 out of 5]

1 September 1939

This installment chronicles the lives of four people as Hitler’s armies pushes across the Polish border.

Felix Wolff, a Jewish refugee thought he found save heaven in England but soon was arrested and thrown into an internment camp. To clear is name he joins the fight against Hitler.

Sicherheitsdienst agent Karl Vogt is sent to control the growing Jewish population within the Reich. His actions were the groundwork for Poland’s Jewish annihilation and the horrors that came with it.

Adela Beran, in occupied Czechoslovakia risks everything to pass secrets from a weapons factory to the Czech resistance and is asked to help assassinate Heinrich Himmler at Berlin….

In a central role we have Albert Göring using his famous name and position to help the resistance in the Protectorate to sabotage production and hamper the Nazi.

This is a recreation what may have happened during the war.

My thoughts:

This is a powerful story of courage, survival and resistance. It is told in vivid and grim details. You can feel in the author’s words how Karl is an impassioned and cold -hearted individual with only task is to eliminate the Jewish population. While Felix, faces one horror after the other and gives his all to the war effort. Mr. Reit gives him sensibility and a strong will to succeed. With the help of Albert Göring, the factory manager and the brother of the infamous henchmen Hermann Goring, Adela shows how a courageous individual she is and behind the words you feel as apprehensive as her.

A mention: Albert Göring used his famous name to save hundreds from Nazi persecution….not all German were cruel, although what he did put a target on his back.

The story is active and very captivating…even for those who may have read more then their share of war stories it is an excellent read. ..

Well said and well done.

My thanks to the Book Whisperer and Netgalley for this ARC

[Tammy]

📚Phoenix Rising
✍🏻Michael Reit
Blurb:
1 September 1939

As Hitler's armies pour across the Polish border, three lives are forever changed.

Jewish refugee Felix Wolff believes he has found safety in England, but he is arrested and thrown into a British internment camp as a suspected Nazi spy. To clear his name and join the fight against Hitler, he must break free of a system that mistakes him for the very evil he fled.

Fresh off his ruthless campaign in Poland, Sicherheitsdienst agent Karl Vogt is sent on a chilling to devise a system for controlling the growing Jewish population within the Reich. His cold efficiency lays the groundwork for a coming horror the world has yet to comprehend.

In Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia, Adela Beran risks everything to pass secrets from a weapons factory to the Czech resistance. When she’s asked to help assassinate Heinrich Himmler in Berlin, she faces a terrifying stay in the shadows or strike a deadly blow against tyranny.

Phoenix Rising is the second installment in the Covert War Chronicles. It is a powerful story of courage, survival, and resistance across a war-torn Europe. Perfect for fans of Alan Furst, Kate Quinn, and WWII espionage thrillers rooted in real history.
My Thoughts:
Felix Wolff, a Jewish refugee thought he found save heaven in England but soon was arrested and thrown into an internment camp. To clear is name he joins the fight against Hitler.This is a powerful story of courage, survival and resistance. It is told in vivid and grim details. The Cliffhanger in this one will have me up for nights to come wondering what is going to happen in the future.I really enjoyed this book. A lot of history
Thanks NetGalley, 700 Miles Publishing and Michael Reit for the advanced copy of "Phoenix Rising" I am leaving my voluntary review in appreciation,
#NetGalley
#700MilesPublishing
#MichaelReit
#PhoenixRising
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 2 finds us back with the three main central characters introduced in the first book in the series. Felix Wolff is now a refugee in England, who undergoes a rocky time as the war settles in as a foreign national; Karl is involved in Poland with the Jewish settlements and isn’t finding life quite as rosy and easy as he did in the first book; and Adela in Czechoslovakia is helping to fight the Germans whilst working in a munitions factory. Added to the mix in this book is Albert Goring, Herman Goring’s brother, who is the manager of the munitions factory in Czechoslovakia. The events in this book cover most of the first two years of the Second World War, with chapters focusing on the key events for each of the main characters.

As you can imagine some of the events in the story are not easy to take because of the atrocities they cover. Overall though, like with the first book in the series, this is a very enjoyable and very readable book. The characters are very well drawn and add extra interest in the book. It does manage to bring the events and the fear of the time for each of the characters, and those around them, very much to life.

It is difficult to review the book without leaving spoilers about the events that each of the main characters become involved in. However it does leave off at key points in the lives of the three main characters, and I for one cannot wait for the third book in the series to see how events turn out for them.

I really loved this book and the events it portrayed, as well as its very readable style. I strongly recommend this book and the first book in the series, and whilst it could be read as a standalone you’d get much more out of it if you read the first book in the series before reading this one.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phoenix Rising is the second in The Covert War Chronicles and is every bit as phenomenal as the first. Felix, Karl and Adela are involved in World War II in completely different ways. Felix is a mentally strong but battered Jewish refugee who unfortunately leaves one horror for another. Karl is an impassioned cold-hearted Nazi who is tasked with expediently eliminating the Jews. Adela works in the Resistance and due to her skills and intelligence advances up the ranks. All their lives are at risk every moment, especially those of Felix and Adela and the people they are desperate to help. The actions of one person alone and in tandem make a big difference, on all sides. The gut wrenching brutality is described with a raw and grave sensitivity which pains but is so, so important to know about and feel.

Many stories tore my heart out but the most impactful for me is the prisoners in chains told in vivid and grim detail. Though I have read hundreds of WWII accounts, I had never heard of the Škoda Works connection and knew very little of Albert Göring. Talk about an intriguing person to learn about! Operation Barbarossa is woven in as well. Details are rich and convincing and completely immersed me.

Reit's author notes are very helpful, as always. His writing is superb and transportive. When I read his books, it is easy to ignore everything else in that moment. I appreciate learning more about lesser-known people and events from this important time. Really looking forward to the third instalment!

[Trudy Dowling · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have become obsessed with this series. The Cliffhanger in this one will have me up for nights to come wondering what is going to happen in the future. My curousity grows about all the complicated levels of World War Two. Thanks to Michael Reit I have so much research to keep me busy for weeks to come. The more I know, the more we all know, the better off the future will hopefully be.

Phoenix Rising explores Felix's life after making it to England. He and other Jewish refugees, soon to be named enemy aliens, will not be easy. The Americans weren't the only ones with interment camps. Thankfully, the British government knows when to take advantage of resources.

While Felix is living in England, Adela, the woman that helped him escape the Nazis, is still working for the resistance. Get ready for some extreme nail biting moments. The dangers are increasing as the Nazis become more and more determined to crush any and all resistance.

Jealousy exists even in the Nazi government. Reading of the horrors brought upon the Jewish people was heartbreaking. Watching the dance for power and control enlightening. To see what some will do to have control was fearful. I am completely puzzled as to way some issues are occurring. I can't wait to be a fly on the wall as Nazi controls come crumbling down.

Phoenix Rising is an intriguing story. The drama was intense. The horrors had me in tears. I can't wait for the war to turn and the Nazis get what they deserve.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Phoenix Rising by Michael Reit is the second in a series developing the stories of three young people during the Holocaust. It is not typical of most Holocaust novels. The first was Karl, a rising star in Nazi intelligence, used to accomplishing and framing happenings in the Nazi philosophy, who is now help to set up a work camp om Poland; the second is Adela, a Polish resistance worker; and Felix, a young man from Vienna whom Adela had helped to escape to England after losing his father, and possibly his mother. Adela was fortunate to work for Albert Goring, the brother of Nazi Hermann Goring, a Nazi leader. Albert disagreed heartily with his brother on this issue and had helped people escape the regime in the past.

This characters are well-written and interesting, proving that not all Holocaust stories take place in concentration camps. There is much activity in all three lives: Felix being an enemy alien in London; Adela in constant danger; and Karl, pursuing his beliefs in a concrete way. Phoenix Rising is interesting and well-done. The plot thickens as the was carries on, not surprisingly and life gets more dangerous for all three. It is a well-done novel, full of surprises and humanizing all the players.

I was invited to read Phoenix Rising by Book Whisperer. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #BookWhisperer #MichaelReit #PhoenixRising

[Darren Bourn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had received a copy of this book from the author and the fine folks at Bookwhisperer in return for an honest review.

Phoenix Rising by Michael Reit is a highly-rated WWII espionage thriller that is fast-paced, has authentic characters, and features the author's ability to intertwine actual historical events with the fictional narrative. It is the second installment in The Covert War Chronicles series.

Synopsis
Phoenix Rising is a WWII espionage thriller set against the backdrop of Hitler's invasion of Poland, where the lives of three individuals are dramatically altered:

Felix Wolff: A Jewish refugee who flees to England but is wrongly interned as a suspected Nazi spy. He must escape his internment to fight the evil he fled.

Karl Vogt: An efficient Sicherheitsdienst agent tasked with devising a system to control the Jewish population, laying the groundwork for the Holocaust.

Adela Beran: A woman in Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia who risks her life to pass secrets to the Czech resistance and is eventually faced with the terrifying choice of helping to assassinate Heinrich Himmler.

Their fates collide in a gripping tale of survival and resistance across a war-torn Europe.

On my self-determined five-star scale, this book is worthy of a definite four stars, and aficionados of historical military fiction would find it worthy of a read

[Janine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the second installment in the Covert War Chronicles (Book 1 being The Eagle’s Shadow), a WWII novel following three characters, Felix Wolf, Karl Vogt, and Adela Beran as war takes over Europe. While I hadn’t realized this was Book 2, it didn’t take me long to become deeply involved in the story line.

The book starts in 1939 with Felix being thrown into a British internment camp as a suspected German spy. Karl is in Poland setting up systems to control the Jews, and Adela is in Czechoslovakia working with the Resistance funneling secrets to help the cause. The story alternates between these three taking us to 1940 and the impending Russia invasion.

The three characters are nicely developed. You root for Felix to break from his shell and recognize his true courage and capabilities. You grow to despise Karl as the representative of an evil dictatorship - his character is especially well made. And you immensely admire Adela. But the character of Albert Göring (Herman’s real brother) becomes pivotal to the story - be sure to read the author’s note at the end about him and other historical facts captured in this book.

This book is very accurate to events and real people at this time in history which helps contributed to why this is such an awesome read. It’s also a well developed story - and as noted above with well developed characters. I’d probably encourage reading Book 1 (and I’m definitely going to do that) but even if you haven’t or don’t, you will get an excellent read nonetheless.

I’d like to thank NetGalley and the publisher, 700 Miles Publishing, for allowing me to read this ARC.

[Maria Lew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phoenix Rising is the sequel to The Eagle’s Shadow, which was a 5 star read for me. The story continues following the lives of Adela Beran, Felix Wolf, and Karl Vogt. In this installment we meet Albert Göring. He is a German engineer, businessman, and the younger brother of Hermann Göring.

Adela Beran works at Albert Görings factory which makes bombs and weapons. With Albert's help they assist the Czech 🇨🇿 resistance in carrying out some very dangerous acts against the Reich.

Felix Wolf is now in England 🇬🇧, safe he thought, but not. He is now trying to break free from the title of spy. He meets Anna, but she is taken away just when things were starting. "This is just for now. We're forever." 💔 😢
Hopeful words that brought a tear to my eye.

Karl Vogt is still a vile and a heartless being. He's now in Poland placed in charge of fixing and controlling what to do with the Jewish people. He sets forth the beginning to end them.

"Hope is the last thing war can strip away." Powerful words from the masterful writer Michael Reit. I have read all 9 of his epic books 📚. All are 5 star ⭐ reads in my book. I highly recommend them all. Enjoy. ❤️

I'm so looking forward to reading what will happen to all of these amazing characters in the third book in this series.

Thank you BookFunnel and Michael Reit for the ebook advance reader copy.

[Su Thor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phoenix Rising by Michael Reit book 2 of The Covert War Chronicles. Although free standing if you haven't read the first.
Just when Felix thinks he is safe beginning his new life in England, he is arrested by the British and thrown into an internment camp. The race is on to clear his name. Meanwhile action darts across Europe. The story is as fast paced as book 1. If you enjoyed book 1, book 2 is every bit as exciting as the author tells us about the tyranny and the horrors of living in this time (especially for the Jews) and also gives an incite into life on the run from the point of view of the chaser and the chased. Read it to experience the endurance, bravery, resilience and the familiarity of period through fresh eyes. My thanks to the Book Whisperer and Netgalley for this ARC. Thanks Michael Reit for this new instalment. Looking forward to the next.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 2 of the Covert War Chronicles provides suspense, thrills, and disgust of human frailties that mankind implode on one another in times of war or unrest among communities, religious sects, and nations. Phoenix Rising covers the timeline of September, 1939, to May, 1941, and tells the stories of three individuals: Karl, who has led the operation that launched Nazi Germany into the invasion of Poland; Felix, a displaced Jew, who has survived escaping from Austria to winding up in England yet to be placed in an area that makes him a victim of religious discrimination; and Adela, a resistance fighter in Czech Republic. Thanks to NetGalley and Book Whisper for an e-digital ARC of this action-filled historical fiction: this is my honest opinion of the book. Praise to the author Michael Reit for this series: I eagerly await his next book in order to learn further of WWII history.

[Carey Mundy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The saga continues as we follow the three protagonists from book 1 as WWII begins. Felix has escaped to England but when the war begins he is imprisoned on the Isle of man with other Germans. But he has a lot to offer England and will play a unique role. Karl is making a name for himself as Heydrich’s
Organization, responsible for handling the Jews population in Poland. With competing forces at every turn, he must watch his back. Adela is now outside of Prague and working with the resistance to thwart the Nazis. Her job with Goring’s brother running the Skoda factory provides some unique opportunities. So glad a third book in the works to continue this great series!

[R Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

The most frustrating thing about this book was that it is the second in a series of three. It was easy to pick up the threads from the first book and the three stories intertwined well but you only find out what happens to the three leads in a future instalment. The book is really good at picking out relatively unknown events in ww2 and exploring them, like the treatment of Jewish internees and the collapse of the British spy network in Europe in 1939. Even though( there are three separate stands the book hangs together well as a novel

[Andrea A · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thanks to Net Galley and Book Whisperer for this EXCELLENT read

Very enjoyable and well written. I loved Karl, Felix, and Adela s stories. However it seemed like this was 3 separate books. Each could have been a stand alone. I was looking for a connection with the 3 main characters. I keptwanting more. I hope the next book resolves things. Does Anna appear again? Do we get more of Felix in his new role? Will the 3 main characters connect in some way.

Highly recommend.

[Diane Saul · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a definite 4* until the ending. The main characters were left with no resolution. I assume the next book will address that, but I find it annoying. If you like historical fiction and don’t mind being left hanging, wondering what will happen to the main characters in the book, this is for you. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

[Wilmet McLin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phoenix Rising

Michaelÿ Reit's second Covert Ear Series book does not disappoint. We follow characters introduced in book one on new exciting adventures to the very last page. Adela, Felix, and Karl face challenges and changes to their situations. I can't wait for the next book to see what happens.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good second book in this series. The storytelling was very emotional and visually vivid that I felt like I was there It was also just a tad long! Looking forward to the next one. Would definitely recommend.

[Lionel B. Dyck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent book by the author. The historical detail, the character development, the story, and the way the author gets the reader to genuinely care about, or to dislike, the characters is superb.

This is book two of a series and I am so looking forward to the next installment.

[Caroline 'relaxing with my rescue dogs' · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was really interesting and I learnt a lot that I didn't know (and that is saying something married to an amateur ww2 historian). It brought the events to life and it was very engaging. This is book 2 and really does need to be read in order to really get into the characters.

[Natalia Plutzerova · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great, albeit sad, story of brave people fighting against the political establishment and abuse of power... Stay strong, Felix and Adela 💕.

[Kristen Worth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, lots of ups and downs, really draws you into the story. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good story line and a book they don't want to put down.