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Wrath of the Wraith King: An Epic Fantasy Novel
“Underworld meets The Witcher in this Epic Fantasy debut, set in a realm torn by ancient conflicts and industrial revolution. A new threat is awakening upon the land, and in the midst of it, a veteran of war and a young Vampyr Princess must join forces to prevent the Wraith King's army from invading Arcana.”
Arcana: a land scarred by the Human-Vampyric Wars. The Faëkin races have been banished by mankind and rejected for their non-human tendencies. Yet, somewhere in the quaint town of Riverden, retired war veteran Thaleron Oakheart, has his Yuletide festivities interrupted by demonic Night Wraiths unleashed upon the settlement.
Suffering the consequence of survival, Thaleron must now uncover the culprits behind the massacre and in the process, find an ally in the exiled Varda-kai princess Salaena, who finds herself on a mission of her own to prepare Arcana for a grander threat – one linked to the Night Wraith’s massacre and an ancient enemy of her people – the return of the Vampyric Wraith King and his armies of undead!
Arcana: a land scarred by the Human-Vampyric Wars. The Faëkin races have been banished by mankind and rejected for their non-human tendencies. Yet, somewhere in the quaint town of Riverden, retired war veteran Thaleron Oakheart, has his Yuletide festivities interrupted by demonic Night Wraiths unleashed upon the settlement.
Suffering the consequence of survival, Thaleron must now uncover the culprits behind the massacre and in the process, find an ally in the exiled Varda-kai princess Salaena, who finds herself on a mission of her own to prepare Arcana for a grander threat – one linked to the Night Wraith’s massacre and an ancient enemy of her people – the return of the Vampyric Wraith King and his armies of undead!
537 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 1, 2024
10 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
About the author
Caesar Daniels
4 books10 followersCreative director and fantasy-epic writer. Floridian living in California. Lover of sci-fi/fantasy, greek epics and slashers, Lovecraft and vampires.
Caesar Daniels' career as a writer and VFX supervisor spans for nearly a decade––blessed with the opportunity to collaborate alongside many talented artists in the entertainment industry. Yet at heart, he is mostly a huge pop culture nerd and film enthusiast.
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Caesar Daniels' career as a writer and VFX supervisor spans for nearly a decade––blessed with the opportunity to collaborate alongside many talented artists in the entertainment industry. Yet at heart, he is mostly a huge pop culture nerd and film enthusiast.
Join my Newsletter to check what I'm up to!
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 7, 2024
When I first started reading this book it was very confusing. There is a lot of jargon, which isn’t necessarily bad, but it makes it difficult to understand. However by the time I was a few chapters in, I found that I really enjoyed the book. For me, it was a heavier read due to all of the world specific and description words, so be prepared to slow down when reading. Thankfully, there is a glossary at the end of the book, so you can reference that if you get too confused.
The descriptions of the world in this book were amazing, they really brought the world to life. There is so much world building and it makes me excited to read the next books! The politics and conflicts really stood out because of how much detail was in them. There were multiple plot twists that I didn’t see coming until it happened.
On another note, some of the word choices and ways that the sentences were phrased either didn’t flow smoothly or didn’t seem to work at all. While the book wasn’t overwhelmed by those occurrences, they definitely happened often enough to the point where it frustrated me.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The descriptions of the world in this book were amazing, they really brought the world to life. There is so much world building and it makes me excited to read the next books! The politics and conflicts really stood out because of how much detail was in them. There were multiple plot twists that I didn’t see coming until it happened.
On another note, some of the word choices and ways that the sentences were phrased either didn’t flow smoothly or didn’t seem to work at all. While the book wasn’t overwhelmed by those occurrences, they definitely happened often enough to the point where it frustrated me.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 31, 2024
First thing, It took me alittle bit to get into this book, but I am Glad I stayed with it, it kept me wanting more and I had to know what was going to happen next. It really kept you interested on the happenings of the main characters. I can not wait for the Next book in this series. I Ended up Really Enjoying Reading this book from a Great Writer.
July 18, 2024
I always appreciate when books include their own maps of the fictional world and a wealth of knowledge about it. "Wrath of the Wraith King" offers both, with a plethora of lore/information included in the book's appendix. To begin with, the cover art really caught my attention, but I did not know what to expect as I'm not an avid reader of Steampunk fantasy. I am a fan of media like World of Warcraft and Dungeons & Dragons, so I was thoroughly surprised to find myself enjoying the story as it progressed, set in it’s Victorian-inspired setting and showcasing a diverse cast of fantasy races.
Book can be a little dragged out at times, but to my luck, it was actually a smooth read and well written considering this is the author’s debut – woven with a blend of steampunk and vampire fantasy – not to mention, filled with a well-thought-out magic system and intricate mechanical “steampunkish” creations. The inventive world-building and gripping plot has definitely something going for it, but the cliffhanger ending does end up leaving us with more questions than answers (I guess that’s a good thing when trying to get readers into your series?). 4 stars mostly because occasionally the level of detail felt overwhelming, could move story faster. Nevertheless, I do highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys dark/epic fantasy and/or steampunk adventures.
Book can be a little dragged out at times, but to my luck, it was actually a smooth read and well written considering this is the author’s debut – woven with a blend of steampunk and vampire fantasy – not to mention, filled with a well-thought-out magic system and intricate mechanical “steampunkish” creations. The inventive world-building and gripping plot has definitely something going for it, but the cliffhanger ending does end up leaving us with more questions than answers (I guess that’s a good thing when trying to get readers into your series?). 4 stars mostly because occasionally the level of detail felt overwhelming, could move story faster. Nevertheless, I do highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys dark/epic fantasy and/or steampunk adventures.
August 16, 2024
As an advanced reader, I signed up to leave this review based on my experience with the ARC. All opinions are my own.
The debut novel in the Runes of Arcana series, Wrath of the Wraith King by Caesar Daniels is a gripping dark fantasy epic, one that to my surprise included a complex tale of inner-conflict, deception and camaraderie.
The story is a sub-genre blend of vampire and steampunk fantasy set in a world inhabited by humans and non-humans alike, packed with classical fantasy tropes that I greatly enjoy, like cross-continental adventures, intense battle sequences, legendary weapons, and even some sprinkled politics – all with multiple POV’s to experience different plot points and regions of the world. Much of the novels strengths lie in its mythology and in-depth lore of the world of Arcana. Daniels has masterfully created a vast and intricate universe that captures the imagination, drawing comparisons to renowned authors like Tolkien and Martin. However, it maintains its unique identity rather than being a mere imitation of existing worlds - a common flaw in this genre.
There is a lot to take in when reading Wrath, at times it can be extremely overwhelming the amount of informaiton that is thrown at you, but Daniels does a good job explaining most of the terms, events and key players through the appendix. The plot move quick and the story progresses to different regions in the span of a multiple chapters. Normally, this can be a problem when rushing through the story, but with 533 pages of content, I feel Daniels does a good job scratching enough of the surface for each location, leaving us wanting to know more.
The plot is enriched by political and regional conflicts that affect the MC’s, as well as personal vendettas, with well-developed supporting characters adding depth. Through the exploration of various regions, we encounter different fantasy races such as Dwarfs and off-world Vampire Elves called Varda-kai - which is a unique touch to the classical vampire tropes. However, at times, Daniels relies on death of key players or shock tactics to create emotional impact for the reader, but I can’t shake the feeling that it would have been more satisfying to see them play a more integral role in the story rather than being killed off so abruptly.
Despite this flaw, I was completely absorbed in the journeys and struggles of the main characters. Salaena and Caeden's character development were especially captivating, as they both navigated the harsh realities of the world at a young age – facing betrayal, loss, and being forced to cope without a guiding/parental figure. This theme of separation from guardians, whether it be a parental figure or a guardian like Thaleron becomes for Salaena, is prevalent throughout the book. (Plus, we’ll hopefully get to see Caeden as a Dragon Rider??? *Fingers Crossed*)
To sum up, "Wrath" is far from perfect, but is definitely a proper addition to the bookshelf of any fantasy reader seeking to engage in a world filled with lore, magic and exciting adventures.
The debut novel in the Runes of Arcana series, Wrath of the Wraith King by Caesar Daniels is a gripping dark fantasy epic, one that to my surprise included a complex tale of inner-conflict, deception and camaraderie.
The story is a sub-genre blend of vampire and steampunk fantasy set in a world inhabited by humans and non-humans alike, packed with classical fantasy tropes that I greatly enjoy, like cross-continental adventures, intense battle sequences, legendary weapons, and even some sprinkled politics – all with multiple POV’s to experience different plot points and regions of the world. Much of the novels strengths lie in its mythology and in-depth lore of the world of Arcana. Daniels has masterfully created a vast and intricate universe that captures the imagination, drawing comparisons to renowned authors like Tolkien and Martin. However, it maintains its unique identity rather than being a mere imitation of existing worlds - a common flaw in this genre.
There is a lot to take in when reading Wrath, at times it can be extremely overwhelming the amount of informaiton that is thrown at you, but Daniels does a good job explaining most of the terms, events and key players through the appendix. The plot move quick and the story progresses to different regions in the span of a multiple chapters. Normally, this can be a problem when rushing through the story, but with 533 pages of content, I feel Daniels does a good job scratching enough of the surface for each location, leaving us wanting to know more.
The plot is enriched by political and regional conflicts that affect the MC’s, as well as personal vendettas, with well-developed supporting characters adding depth. Through the exploration of various regions, we encounter different fantasy races such as Dwarfs and off-world Vampire Elves called Varda-kai - which is a unique touch to the classical vampire tropes. However, at times, Daniels relies on death of key players or shock tactics to create emotional impact for the reader, but I can’t shake the feeling that it would have been more satisfying to see them play a more integral role in the story rather than being killed off so abruptly.
Despite this flaw, I was completely absorbed in the journeys and struggles of the main characters. Salaena and Caeden's character development were especially captivating, as they both navigated the harsh realities of the world at a young age – facing betrayal, loss, and being forced to cope without a guiding/parental figure. This theme of separation from guardians, whether it be a parental figure or a guardian like Thaleron becomes for Salaena, is prevalent throughout the book. (Plus, we’ll hopefully get to see Caeden as a Dragon Rider??? *Fingers Crossed*)
To sum up, "Wrath" is far from perfect, but is definitely a proper addition to the bookshelf of any fantasy reader seeking to engage in a world filled with lore, magic and exciting adventures.
August 6, 2024
Wrath of the Wraith King by Caesar Daniels is a dark fantasy novel and the first book of the Runes of Arcana series. It is a blend of vampire and steampunk set in a world inhabited by humans and non-humans alike.
The strength in this novel lies in its worldbuilding. Daniels has crafted a detailed and vast world that seems to be trying its best to rival the works of Tolkien and Martin but still has its own flair. However, great worldbuilding doesn’t always make for great novels and the worldbuilding is really where the quality ends.
The plot moves at a frantic pace, with very short chapters that invoke the feeling of distinct movie scenes rather than chapters of a novel. On many occasions there's a chapter change that seems to have no reason other than a character has moved from inside to outside. There's not a lot of time given for the reader to learn who the characters are and be immersed in the world before being thrown into the gauntlet. This left me feeling disjointed and unable to relate.
Daniels leans heavily on sacrifice and death to lend some emotional weight to his story, but the breakneck pace means that we aren't given any time to really feel these losses effectively. We rush from plot point to plot point and from region to region, only really scratching the surface of any given place.
It is clear that Daniels loves his world and wants to show it off in his debut novel, but we are told about it in large info dumps that often give the feeling of reading an encyclopaedia rather than a novel. The characters themselves also suffer from the same problem. The dialogue often over-explains in unnatural ways and characters will repeat things that we have already seen, leading to a frustrating sense of deja vu that could be avoided if Daniels just used indirect dialogue instead.
This is true also in the prose itself. Often, explanations are added to the story that could have been inferred from context cues, or information that we already know is repeated just in case we didn't quite get it the first time. It gives the distinct feeling that some of the chapters might have been written as short stories and then placed into the novel without much thought for the context.
The prose itself is borderline purple and frequently has dubious word choices that don't quite work for what Daniels is trying to say.
Ultimately, it is clear that there is a lot of love here. The appendix included is a wealth of information about the lore of the world and I can see that Daniels had a clear vision. I just don't think that it quite hit the mark.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
The strength in this novel lies in its worldbuilding. Daniels has crafted a detailed and vast world that seems to be trying its best to rival the works of Tolkien and Martin but still has its own flair. However, great worldbuilding doesn’t always make for great novels and the worldbuilding is really where the quality ends.
The plot moves at a frantic pace, with very short chapters that invoke the feeling of distinct movie scenes rather than chapters of a novel. On many occasions there's a chapter change that seems to have no reason other than a character has moved from inside to outside. There's not a lot of time given for the reader to learn who the characters are and be immersed in the world before being thrown into the gauntlet. This left me feeling disjointed and unable to relate.
Daniels leans heavily on sacrifice and death to lend some emotional weight to his story, but the breakneck pace means that we aren't given any time to really feel these losses effectively. We rush from plot point to plot point and from region to region, only really scratching the surface of any given place.
It is clear that Daniels loves his world and wants to show it off in his debut novel, but we are told about it in large info dumps that often give the feeling of reading an encyclopaedia rather than a novel. The characters themselves also suffer from the same problem. The dialogue often over-explains in unnatural ways and characters will repeat things that we have already seen, leading to a frustrating sense of deja vu that could be avoided if Daniels just used indirect dialogue instead.
This is true also in the prose itself. Often, explanations are added to the story that could have been inferred from context cues, or information that we already know is repeated just in case we didn't quite get it the first time. It gives the distinct feeling that some of the chapters might have been written as short stories and then placed into the novel without much thought for the context.
The prose itself is borderline purple and frequently has dubious word choices that don't quite work for what Daniels is trying to say.
Ultimately, it is clear that there is a lot of love here. The appendix included is a wealth of information about the lore of the world and I can see that Daniels had a clear vision. I just don't think that it quite hit the mark.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
August 10, 2024
I am leaving a review because I received an advanced reader copy. This honest review was based off my experiencing this ARC, which in no way biased me. All opinions are my own.
Whew! What a read! Gimme book 2, cause where the heck did Salaena go after that final battle sequence?!! Regardless, these are my thoughts on “Wrath of the Wraith King”. Daniels has skillfully created an epic adventure set in a Victorian-inspired world of Arcana, where magic and industry commonly clash. It is clear Daniels has put much work into this setting, layered with a complex magic system and diverse cast of characters and locations.
From exploring various regions and fantasy races to facing off alien-vampires known as Varda-kai, the story is full of political conflict and character exploration. Though the plot can feel a bit convoluted at times, the merging of politics, magic, and personal vendettas adds depth to the narrative, as I did find myself rooting for the MC’s and fearing for their safety. (Some really solid supporting characters are even killed off too early for my liking!) With that being said, Daniels does a good job in developing interesting characters and making them feel as they belong in this world, though at times he relies on surprise deaths – which are upsetting because it would have been nice to see many of these characters simmer in the plot and stay around much longer, probably could have felt the impact of such loss a bit more…(ahem "cool female sorceress” anyone?)
Anyways, despite being the first book of the series, I found myself eagerly following the main POV characters, their journeys and their conflicts. Without giving too much away, Caeden's character arc is particularly intriguing to me. He begins as a vulnerable and frightened teenager, but due to circumstances beyond his control, he becomes a prisoner of war. However, he later discovers that he is connected to a powerful lineage of warriors (possibly Dragon Riders), which adds an interesting twist to his story after enduring a long journey as a captive.
Finally, the pace of the story does feel akin to that of a movie, which is what the author seemed to be going for based on the preface. However, I can understand how this may be off-putting to some readers as it does drive the plot forward quickly, and lays out a ton of exposure at times. Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed the story, and look forward to reading what happens next!
In conclusion, for any fantasy fan seeking a new captivating world and exciting adventure to follow, this is a must-read!
Whew! What a read! Gimme book 2, cause where the heck did Salaena go after that final battle sequence?!! Regardless, these are my thoughts on “Wrath of the Wraith King”. Daniels has skillfully created an epic adventure set in a Victorian-inspired world of Arcana, where magic and industry commonly clash. It is clear Daniels has put much work into this setting, layered with a complex magic system and diverse cast of characters and locations.
From exploring various regions and fantasy races to facing off alien-vampires known as Varda-kai, the story is full of political conflict and character exploration. Though the plot can feel a bit convoluted at times, the merging of politics, magic, and personal vendettas adds depth to the narrative, as I did find myself rooting for the MC’s and fearing for their safety. (Some really solid supporting characters are even killed off too early for my liking!) With that being said, Daniels does a good job in developing interesting characters and making them feel as they belong in this world, though at times he relies on surprise deaths – which are upsetting because it would have been nice to see many of these characters simmer in the plot and stay around much longer, probably could have felt the impact of such loss a bit more…(ahem "cool female sorceress” anyone?)
Anyways, despite being the first book of the series, I found myself eagerly following the main POV characters, their journeys and their conflicts. Without giving too much away, Caeden's character arc is particularly intriguing to me. He begins as a vulnerable and frightened teenager, but due to circumstances beyond his control, he becomes a prisoner of war. However, he later discovers that he is connected to a powerful lineage of warriors (possibly Dragon Riders), which adds an interesting twist to his story after enduring a long journey as a captive.
Finally, the pace of the story does feel akin to that of a movie, which is what the author seemed to be going for based on the preface. However, I can understand how this may be off-putting to some readers as it does drive the plot forward quickly, and lays out a ton of exposure at times. Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed the story, and look forward to reading what happens next!
In conclusion, for any fantasy fan seeking a new captivating world and exciting adventure to follow, this is a must-read!
December 8, 2024
What I read of the book was very good. The author did a great job conveying the plot and the dialogue was interesting. Unfortunately it wasn't my type of book I usually reach for but if you like high fantasy with some action, this one's for you.
April 17, 2024
What a full on powerful read this is. Beautifully written by a fantastic author. - see more on https://simplyhonestreviews.webador.c...
July 18, 2024
Love the pictures !! The story takes you to so many different places and keeps you on the seat, love drama and you develop a connection with the characters ! Worth the read
July 24, 2025
I was given a copy of this book by Author for a honest review. Bit like Harry Potter. Enjoyable has some twists. I wanted to finish book to see what happens.
May 19, 2025
Enjoyable fantasy but too many different alien peoples in too many different places. A sort of 3 books in one. The main characters were engaging though and the quest left open for further instalments. I thought the Blade Wraith was a clever character and very useful.
November 4, 2024
This book is a great example of what not to do as a writer. Bland characters, a meandering story, and an ending with no real resolution for any of the story arcs.
But, worst of all, is the writing. Repetitive explanations (we get it, Copperheads are called Copperheads because their helmets are copper! I don’t have to read that five times), purposeless lore dumps/exposition (and this is coming from a guy who loves lore and exposition, but they have to actually add something to the story to be good), overly-technical analysis of how particular parts of magic/technology work (which, again, are repeated incessantly), and multiple inconsistencies (one scene a character is laying unconscious on a wooden table, the next it’s a stone table; one moment a character has the ability to regenerate from his injuries to keep fighting, the next he’s too injured to do anything but watch the battle).
And the mistakes! Syntax errors, grammatical errors, dialogue errors, nonsensical tense shifting, homophone errors (he used “weather” when he meant “whether” and “soar” when he meant “sore,” along with several more). This is like a printed version of the roughest of rough drafts. There’s no way it was ever professionally edited.
To its credit, the world is fairly interesting and developed. It takes a lot of very-much-done-before ideas and gives them just unique enough of a twist to make them feel somewhat new. But I think that’s the real problem with it. This reeks of a writer who got so obsessed with the world building that he lost sight of telling a good story in that world, and what he ended up with just falls flat. Couple that with the amateurish writing, and this was actually a real struggle to read. I was bored through most of it. I forced myself through because, well, I paid for it, so might as well, right? And with all of the glowing reviews on Amazon and other sites, I thought it might at least end well. But nope. Just blah, from start to finish. I actually signed up for good reads to leave this review, because somebody needs to post something truthful. All of the five star reviews have to be bought and paid for.
Long story short, save your time and money! Wrath of the Wraith King is most certainly not worth it.
But, worst of all, is the writing. Repetitive explanations (we get it, Copperheads are called Copperheads because their helmets are copper! I don’t have to read that five times), purposeless lore dumps/exposition (and this is coming from a guy who loves lore and exposition, but they have to actually add something to the story to be good), overly-technical analysis of how particular parts of magic/technology work (which, again, are repeated incessantly), and multiple inconsistencies (one scene a character is laying unconscious on a wooden table, the next it’s a stone table; one moment a character has the ability to regenerate from his injuries to keep fighting, the next he’s too injured to do anything but watch the battle).
And the mistakes! Syntax errors, grammatical errors, dialogue errors, nonsensical tense shifting, homophone errors (he used “weather” when he meant “whether” and “soar” when he meant “sore,” along with several more). This is like a printed version of the roughest of rough drafts. There’s no way it was ever professionally edited.
To its credit, the world is fairly interesting and developed. It takes a lot of very-much-done-before ideas and gives them just unique enough of a twist to make them feel somewhat new. But I think that’s the real problem with it. This reeks of a writer who got so obsessed with the world building that he lost sight of telling a good story in that world, and what he ended up with just falls flat. Couple that with the amateurish writing, and this was actually a real struggle to read. I was bored through most of it. I forced myself through because, well, I paid for it, so might as well, right? And with all of the glowing reviews on Amazon and other sites, I thought it might at least end well. But nope. Just blah, from start to finish. I actually signed up for good reads to leave this review, because somebody needs to post something truthful. All of the five star reviews have to be bought and paid for.
Long story short, save your time and money! Wrath of the Wraith King is most certainly not worth it.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews