The Sage and the Phoenix

The Tales of Bramoria #2

by Blake R. Wolfe

Tyler barely escaped the clutches of the evil king, but now he's lost in Bramoria. With tensions on the rise and old friendships falling apart, can he find the Sage in time and save himself and his friends?

Calling on the power of the mage stone, Tyler manages to teleport him and his companions into the open air over the ocean. After a splash landing and finding themselves stranded on a small chain of islands, tensions rise and fights break out. However, the group quickly finds out that the islands hold their own dangers.

Caught unawares by sirens and a giant frog trapped in a dimensional bag, Tyler has his mage stone stolen and is poisoned. His time is running out. Putting on a burst of speed they make for the mainland, trying to find a way to save him before the toxin takes its toll. Not only that, but when Danny collapses from a terrible seizure, Tyler knows he has to call the Sage to help them. But using the magic to do it could cost him his life.


The Sage and the Phoenix is the second installment of the character-driven LGBTQ series, the Tales of Bramoria. Great for fans of isekai, portal fantasy, and dungeons and dragons.

Genres: Fantasy, Audiobook, Romance, LGBT, Gay, Dragons

209 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 5, 2022

About the author

Blake R. Wolfe has adored werewolves and monsters since he was a child growing up in a small rural Michigan town. Now he lives near the shores of Lake Michigan with his two partners, two cats that need to be fed every three seconds, and a dog that is very spoiled. He spends most of his free time hiking through the nearby forest, thinking up the next great romance story for his readers.

Blake writes under three separate Pen Names:

--Blake R. Wolfe -- Gay Paranormal Romance

--Atreus Rosewood -- Gay Contemporary Romance

--Eoghan R. Cunningham -- LGBTQ+ Fantasy

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www.patreon.com/blakerwolfe

Reviews

[Clayton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had to give on on this series after the second installment. I just can't do perpetual whiny butts...

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely better than than the first one. Still a few grammatical and editorial mistakes, but Tyler isn’t as annoying.

[Ulysses Dietz · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Sage and the Phoenix (Tales of Bramoria 2)
by Blake Wolfe (aka Eoghan Cunningham)
UwU publishing, 2022
Four stars

The second stage of the Bramoria trilogy takes us first to a tropical archipelago in the middle of a vast ocean—which prompts mumbled allusions to “Gilligan’s Island.” Tyler Wilson has unwittingly launched himself and his little cohort—his friend Danny, Koto the cat-man, and Ninsar, King Clay’s ex-slave and Danny’s would-be girlfriend—without knowing the subtleties of teleportation.

Their journey, which (predictably) will be danger-filled and uncomfortable, has a single goal: to find the Sage in his citadel on the far side of Bramoria where Tyler believes they will also find a cure for Danny’s leukemia.

It is interesting what an important figure and symbol the phoenix is in this book (hence the title). It’s not the first time I’ve encountered the phoenix as a powerful creature—it has ancient roots, but in popular culture seems to date to the Harry Potter books as Dumbledore’s familiar. The phoenix plays a key role in the “Crowns and Quills” series (Casey Morales), and a similar but more discreet one here.

Tyler Wilson still has a lot to learn, and in this book the tension between him and Ninsar comes to a head. Both Clay and Danny have given themselves to Bramoria and its fantasy world; but Tyler clings to his “real” life, which made him unhappy. This becomes a critical motif in this book, as we learn the larger context for the boys’ fantasy and the very existence of Bramoria.

Is Bramoria a video-game like dream? Or is it something more that drew the three high school friends to it? Was it just chance that led them to discover the Grimoire of Kings, or was there something deeper at work?

Lots of hair-raising adventure here, along with more allusions to pop culture and the ongoing hope that Tyler will stop being a self-pitying jerk and begin to understand where is real power lies?

The cliffhanger at the end of this volume is less jarring—the reader is prepared for what has to come next, and I, for one, was ready to plunge in.

[Justin Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one picked up right where the 1st book left off. I enjoyed spending more time in this world and with these characters and meeting some new characters as well. Writting is the same as the first book with YA vibes. I like how this book clearly has LGBTQ representation but it isn't in your face the primary topic. It's subtle in the background with the fantasy story being the main focus. That's a bit refreshing for LGBTQ books, as I find so many are just overtly about the sexuality and don't focus in on the story as well. I am really having so much with this series. I plan to read the 3rd book tomorrow!

[Stacie Streck · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a HUGE step up from the first book, both story wise and the writing itself! Tyler was much more tolerable, though still a bit too whiny for my taste. I'm also really enjoying the slowness of the budding romance. I think this book may be considered more YA but I'm okay with that because the lack of smut is huge breath of fresh air and having the focus mostly on the adventure, and less on the romance, is a breath of fresh air. I'm diving right into book 3 because I simply can't wait to see how this ends.

[Matt Woelfsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Very Long Pre-amble Before You Get …

…to the good part. It seemed as if it 75% of the time for the three main characters to get it together, especially Tyler. Tyler had a lot of angst about his life in the “real” world that he needed to get over in order to service in Bramoria. It almost seemed useless and a waste of a lot of words. But then, on the Obsidian Rd, the narrative changed and Tyler became a lot more interesting. Well worth it.

[Brewergnome · Rating 2 out of 5]

Guh. Every time you think the MC is going to get smarter, better... he does for like 3 pages then reverts back to being a self-centered impulsive asshole again, no matter what the situation. Not going to finish the series, just dislike him too damned much.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still pretty average. Character progressions appear to only last for a few days before reversion to previous behaviour. And certain injuries are conveniently forgotten until they’re relevant again. But it is still quite an entertaining read. Possibly just needed more editorial input.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ends with a cliffhanger

Good read unfortunately in my opinion at least it ends with a major cliffhanger and to find out what happens you have to go read the next book.

[L.J. Canters · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this! Better than the first book. I read it in one go.
A hint of romance between Tyler and Koto

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

♥♥♥♥½

[Darryl Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series so much, there needs to be more adventures in bramoria

[Christal Tsunami · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute but still a bit cheesy and I really don't like Ninsar. I wish they would have left her behind with Danny while just Tyler and Koto continue on.

[MikeyBabyBad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Again the main MMC was so annoying but I got through it and I kinda wish they killed him off but it's cool hopefully the next one it gets better.

[Eddie Quintos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Better than the first but still pretty bad. The main character is insufferable. It took until chapter 5 of BOOK TWO for him to realize he actually sucks

[Meggie]

Audio

[Jay Rehman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great second book. Much better than the first where Tyler was a whiny little bitch. The action really picked up in the second installment and I'm finally seeing some of the LGBT elements

[Lolababy1025 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Continue the Journey Second book in the series much more polished than the first and it really starts to pull you in.