“Drakeford crafts a complex geopolitical environment, and Emrael is a joy to follow and root for.”—Booklist

“[This} superbly crafted and epic fantasy saga is the first volume in his new ‘Age of Ire’ series and will keep enthusiastic readers eagerly awaiting the next installment. ”—Midwest Book Review

“This book commits almost every crime against heroic fantasy that I can imagine … and I have not been able to put it down.” —Glen Cook, bestselling author of The Black Company

“Rise of Mages opens a door into a character-driven world of distinctive magic, rousing adventure, and corruption of the first order. Fantasy lovers will experience the full range of curiosity, anger, delight, frustration, joy, and satisfaction.” —Kel Kade, New York Times bestselling author

“This is old-school and new-school epic fantasy rolled into one. Drakeford has built a superbly crafted world infused with a myriad of well-rounded characters and plenty of action, magic, and mystery. Rise of the Mages is a fast-paced adventure that will satisfy any fantasy fan young or old.” —Brian Lee Durfee, author of The Forgetting Moon

“Rise of the Mages is a proper adventure, bursting with bloody action and exciting twists. Emrael is a fantastic lead, full of strength and loyalty, but also a hot-headed impulsiveness and a compelling inner darkness that I couldn’t get enough of.” —Brian Naslund, author of Blood of an Exile

“An immersive world epic fantasy fans will be glad to return to.” —Publishers Weekly

“Drakeford has certainly laid the groundwork for a truly captivating epic fantasy series.”—Out of This World SFF