“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

A young warrior and his improbable band of allies face impossible odds as they seek to rescue his brother from the servants of the Fallen God.

Emrael Ire is a student of war with lofty ambitions, despite being so poor his boots are more hole than leather. He and his talented younger brother Ban work hard to build themselves a better life at the Citadel, a school that specializes in both infusori Crafting and military arts.

Their lives are upended when the power-hungry Lord Governor of the neighboring province invades the school with the help of a sinister sect of priests devoted to the newly awakened Fallen God of Glory. Many of the infusori Crafter students are captured—Including Ban.

Though Emrael stands little chance against the Lord Governor and his armies, he’s desperate to save his brother—even if that means accepting the help of allies with uncertain motives, or becoming a practitioner of a forbidden magic. There is nothing he won't sacrifice to save his brother, but what happens when the cost of success is not his to pay?

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Praise for this book

“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




About the Author

SCOTT DRAKEFORD was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. He currently lives in the PNW with his badass tech wizard of a wife, their tenacious children, and two dogs.

Scott is a longtime lover of the written word, especially fantasy fiction. His father convinced him to read The Belgariad as a youngster, and the best books soon became Scott’s world. The Wheel of Time, Harry Potter, The Saga of Recluce, and many other books influenced Scott deeply. Later, he was tricked into becoming a “responsible adult”, getting a degree in engineering, and living the corporate life. Still, his addiction to books lived on, and more recent favorites like The Name of the Wind and Red Rising convinced him that writing could be his way of contributing something beautiful and meaningful to the world.

While Scott spends most of his time working and writing, when he has time he enjoys cooking, NBA basketball (go Jazz!), weightlifting, video games, hunting, fishing, and (of course) reading.


Title: Rise of the Mages
Author(s): Scott Drakeford
Volume: 1
ISBN: 9781250180070
Copyright 2022
Release Date: February 08, 2022
Publisher: Tor Publishing Group
Countries: United States, Canada | Learn more about available countries
Language: English
Format: ePub,mobi | Learn More about our supported formats
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