Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.

Start by marking “Day of Wrath (Taking Shield #5)” as Want to Read:

Other editions

Enlarge cover

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Open Preview

Day of Wrath

(Taking Shield #5)

Anna Butler (Goodreads Author)

4.64 · Rating details · 99 ratings · 28 reviews

In less than a week, Bennet will finally return to the Shield Regiment, leaving behind the Gyrfalcon, his father, his friends… and Flynn. Promotion to Shield Major and being given command of a battle group despite the political fallout from Makepeace the year before is everything he thought he wanted. Everything he’s worked towards for the last three years. Except for leav ...more

Get A Copy

ebook, 370 pages

Published June 28th 2018 by Anna Butler

More Details... Edit Details

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about Day of Wrath, please sign up.

Be the first to ask a question about Day of Wrath

Lists with This Book

June 2018 MM Releases

115 books — 232 voters

The Diminished by Kaitlyn Sage Patterson

2018 Queer Sci-fi and Fantasy

87 books — 87 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

Showing 1-53

Average rating 4.64 ·

Rating details

· 99 ratings · 28 reviews

More filters

Sort order

Start your review of Day of Wrath (Taking Shield #5)

Jul 09, 2018 Richard Derus rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: kindled, quiltbag

This is it. The last time we'll see Bennet and Flynn in a Taking Shield story.

I pause here for sad and lonely reflection.

The journey of the series has been a good, satisfying one, and I am deeply glad that I followed it. Bennet's growth as a man and an officer has been steady. He's gained enormous insight into his past and uses it, as one should, to guide his steps into the future. He's been separated from his true love by circumstances beyond his control...any military family will recognize thi This is it. The last time we'll see Bennet and Flynn in a Taking Shield story.

I pause here for sad and lonely reflection.

The journey of the series has been a good, satisfying one, and I am deeply glad that I followed it. Bennet's growth as a man and an officer has been steady. He's gained enormous insight into his past and uses it, as one should, to guide his steps into the future. He's been separated from his true love by circumstances beyond his control...any military family will recognize this reality...and has fought his hardest to return to his heart's home.

It is to Author Butler's great credit that she doesn't make the fight trivial by making it easy. She doesn't allow for any la-di-da fantasy of victorious sweetness, either. The Bennet who comes out of this book is a man who has lost and struggled and lost some more, so he's got his feet in the one place we all need to place them in the end: on rock bottom. Bennet has finally found his ground and he plants himself on the first really firm footing he's ever had.

He is not alone. All the characters we've come to love end up with their feet firmly planted. Some of them plant a lot more than their feet...Author Butler isn't afraid to swing the Grim Reaper's scythe. I was most vocally disgruntled about this, and was told by the lady herself that stories make demands that must be met so belt up and quit bellyaching. (I paraphrase. Barely.)

Bennet's life aboard the Gyrfalcon wasn't ever easy, and the return to the ship he's required to make by political events he can barely bring himself to tolerate is really a precisely calculated torture. Flynn is still there...his rigid, judgmental younger sister and his freewheeling younger brother are there...his starchy, duty-loving father is Captain. Not one of these things is calculated to make the uneasy political reality of Bennet's return comfy. Add in Flynn's whopper of a fuck-up of not-Bennet relationship partners and, well, this short reunion the two lovebirds are due to enjoy might just be more trouble than it's worth.

No. Never that for either man. They are each other's lobster, as Phoebe Buffay called Ross and Rachel on Friends all those decades ago. They're the true loves whose path seems never to be smooth, but Flynn really plants his size-13s in his mouth this time. When you get there, you'll know. So the problems ratchet up, the resolutions aren't obvious, and the politics that Flynn doesn't understand while Bennet plays them become orders of magnitude more difficult to navigate.

And then the real fun begins.

Trouble doesn't get bigger than this. Battlestar Galactica-sized big. It's in this moment of pure hell that Bennet crystallizes his priorities and acts on them for the first time in his life. It's a perfect moment, a small and intimate moment, and it's got huge implications for the future.

I don't know how else to say this except "this series deserves your attention and eyeblinks." Wait...yes I do:

BUY THE BOOKS AND READ THEM. ...more

flag 29 likes · Like · see review

Jul 08, 2018 Kaje Harper rated it it was amazing

Shelves: bittersweet, favorites, intense, m-m, scifi

Wow. That was an amazing gut-punch of a book. It ends this wonderful series in a way that is completely unexpected, and yet completely logical, and that's a real achievement.

For those who have followed and loved Flynn and Bennet through all these stories, they do have an ending together, with hope for forever. Not an HEA, but pretty much where we wanted to see them go in their relationship. But they reach it via trials by fire, and losses. Secondary characters we have been attached to die in th ...more

flag 21 likes · Like · see review

Aug 18, 2019 ⚣Michaelle⚣ rated it it was amazing

Shelves: lgbt, m-m-romance, m-m-scifi, series, scifi, favorites

Holy shit. I did NOT see that coming.

Well, I did part of it; after Makepeace there was speculation that (view spoiler) was aiding the Maess...and I guessed correctly in that respect (although not to the extent it was revealed).

What came after? Wow. Talk about devastating. And unlike some of the other events in the series where I am not ashamed to admit I bawled like a baby, I was too shocked and unable to process a lot of what happened near the end.

I think I men ...more

flag 5 likes · Like · see review

Aug 08, 2018 Alison rated it it was amazing

Shelves: my-e-things, queer, sff, favorites, lgbtq

The end of a spectacular series. Wow. This is stunning. I'm sad it's over and definitely have been feeling a little bereft lately at the fact that there will be no more Shield books (the author has said it straight up). Bennet completely captured my heart in the first book and reading his journey over these five books has been absolutely brilliant. This is an epic, powerful, queer military space opera and it's so involving. Note that this book does not stand alone and the series needs to be read ...more

flag 5 likes · Like · see review

Jul 06, 2018 Arshad Ahsanuddin rated it it was amazing

Shelves: mmr, reviewed, science-fiction, time-futuristic

“I am anti-life, the beast of judgment. I am the dark at the end of everything. The end of universes, gods, worlds...of everything. And what will you be then, Dreamlord?”
“I am hope.”
-- Neil Gaiman, Sandman

The author sought my advice some time ago on the structure of the story and how to market it, so I have known since the beginning how the basic outline the story would evolve from Makepeace to Day of Wrath. Even so, that foreknowledge pales before the execution, and I missed nothing by already ...more

flag 5 likes · Like · see review

Oct 04, 2018 Joyfully Jay rated it it was amazing

Shelves: sue

A Joyfully Jay review.

5 stars

I can’t remember a book where I was so invested and taken on such an emotional roller coaster. Day of Wrath starts of quietly, softly, and with no inkling of what lurks in the pages beyond. Bennett’s year in Fleet is over and, with his promotion to Shield Major, he’ll be taking over command of three ships of his own. His last job on the Gyrfalcon is to assist in the escort of the new President on her tour of the colonies. It means one more month under his father’s c ...more

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

Jan 06, 2019 Lori S. rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2019-biggerontheinside, science-fiction, lgbtqa-et-al

Despite (in spite of?) the end of this story, this was one heck of a ride. A bit of a bittersweet ending.

[ETA - 01/11/19]: Been thinking about the influences on this series and this book in particular so as my brain pulls this stuff up I need to write it down (view spoiler) ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Sep 26, 2018 Ay rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Excellent stuff.

Start with the first one.

This book will leave you wanting more stories about what happens next. I hope Butler gives us more.

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Jul 08, 2018 Tricia rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: all-time-favorites, military, sci-fi, political

First of all, I'm terribly sad to have the story ended. I waited over a year to read Chains of Their Sins (#4) because the author had posted that there was only one book remaining in the series. I didn't want to read #4 and then have to wait so long for #5. I also waited for a "long" weekend for me to read the two books because I didn't want to put them down.

So, Day of Wrath... I'm speechless. It was the perfect finale for the series; how appropriate that humanity's ending is a repeat of its own First of all, I'm terribly sad to have the story ended. I waited over a year to read Chains of Their Sins (#4) because the author had posted that there was only one book remaining in the series. I didn't want to read #4 and then have to wait so long for #5. I also waited for a "long" weekend for me to read the two books because I didn't want to put them down.

So, Day of Wrath... I'm speechless. It was the perfect finale for the series; how appropriate that humanity's ending is a repeat of its own history. I didn't catch onto the betrayal until just before it was happening, and then all those little hints throughout the books started to add up. Suddenly, all the connections, all the background histories, all the focus outside of the space battles, it all made sense. The two biggest battles in Day of Wrath were perfect - not too outlandish for the setting and the technology, perfectly fitting with the characters capabilities, and two completely different scenes: one on land, one in space. I love that Shield never goes away; it's an important balance between the other two Forces, and without it, humanity will not be successful.

As for the series, this has to be one of my favorite series of all time. Everything about the series was perfect. Do I wish it would continue forever, explore new areas of the universe, see Bennett and Flynn carry on and continue to grow? Yes, of course, but... it perfect how it is, too. The pacing throughout the series was excellent - not every book can be action-packed, not in this story. This story was full of action but it was also full of humanity. One of the key things that I love about the space opera style of sci-fi is the character relationships. Even though there is so much technology, so much that makes the future "better', humans are still humans. I thought that books #2 and #4 in particular were great balances for the drama and action in the remaining books. There were reasons why things happened, reasons based on people and their relationships to each other. Without these quieter moments/stories (I won't say slow because there was nothing slow about this series), Day of Wrath would have been lacking. There were so many pieces that resonated between what's happening today and this far distant future. And, to see these characters, these people grow... There were times that I hated Bennett: that he kept himself so removed from what he needed, that he was so arrogant to assume that there was no other path. There were times when I wanted to beat Flynn over the head. I hated the women, but I did understand that he was human and that he wasn't getting what he needed from the one he needed it from. And to see Bennett realize and make that decision by the end... humans can't fight battles forever, not without time and people to refresh and remind them what they're fighting for.

Brilliant, just Brilliant! ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Jul 28, 2018 Anne Barwell rated it it was amazing

Shelves: m-m, ebook, wish-list-print-copy

Wow. That was my initial response to this book, and the end of a series I’ve loved. It’s not the ending I expected, although I loved the last scene, and kudos to the author for taking the plot the way it went. I’ve enjoyed every book in this series, and fell in love with the characters as well as the storyline. Definitely one of my favourite reads, and it reminds me of why I enjoy SF as a genre. I already own hardcopies of the first two books in the series, and will need to complete it now. The Wow. That was my initial response to this book, and the end of a series I’ve loved. It’s not the ending I expected, although I loved the last scene, and kudos to the author for taking the plot the way it went. I’ve enjoyed every book in this series, and fell in love with the characters as well as the storyline. Definitely one of my favourite reads, and it reminds me of why I enjoy SF as a genre. I already own hardcopies of the first two books in the series, and will need to complete it now. The series is one hell of a journey, and although I’m sad it’s over, it’s one I’m sure I will re-read.

It’s not just the main characters who steal the stage in this story, but the side characters as well. All have their part to play, and again the plot is very political—which I love—and the world building is detailed and believable. I enjoyed the references to Earth, which is a planet left behind generations ago, and the echo of the colonies of old when Britain spread its empire.

The author does a great job in writing aliens who are so very alien, and ruthless to boot. The realisation as to what is happening is chilling and emotional, and choices that have to be made toward the end of the story are gut-retching, as are the descriptions of the aftermath of what has just happened. I thought that the character reactions were realistic, and I liked the scenes between Bennet and Flynn, although they were very bittersweet, considering the circumstances.

Although this is also Bennet and Flynn’s story, it’s so much more. One of the things I love about this story—and the series—is that, although there is a romance in the plot, it’s at its heart a military SF story which features two men who happen to be gay. I appreciated having Caeden’s—Bennet’s father—POV as well, as it gave a different perspective plus reiterated their family’s history as he remembers his own father.

The fight scenes are very well written, and detailed enough to feel realistic, yet not bogged down by it. I was on the edge of my seat as the story progressed. The author does a great job in building tension and that ‘oh shit’ feeling.

I’d recommend Day of Wrath to readers who enjoy military SF with interesting characters, and great world building. It will keep you reading and on the edge of your seat. However, the series does need to be read in order as each book builds on what has come before.
...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Sep 28, 2019 Sally rated it really liked it

Shelves: gay

Coming into a series with the 5th book is always a challenge, especially with high tech space opera, but I still found myself drawn into this almost from the start. So much drama, tension, and mystery, with a covert romance that was actually more intense for being restricted to stolen moments in the shadows.

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Jun 23, 2018 Daniel Mitton rated it it was amazing

(Originally reviewed for Love Bytes Reviews.)

Grief. It’s what I’ve been feeling for a couple days…and I’ve tracked it back to finishing this series. I loved the Taking Shield series, and the last installment was no exception. But the ending! OH MY GOD. I was so totally not expecting Ms. Butler to go there! No spoilers on that, but when you read this one, be prepared for a hell of a ride!

So, let’s talk about the book. We’re back with Bennet and Flynn and their continuing dysfunctional relationshi ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Jul 08, 2018 Molli B. rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2018-shelved, genre-m-m, genre-other, genre-queer-fiction, genre-spec-sf-sn-fant, length-novel, part-of-a-series, format-kindle, 2018-read, favorite-series

[endless internal screaming]

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Jun 26, 2018 2shay rated it it was amazing

Review By 2shay..........

I’m not sure where to start. Until reading the first book in this series, Gryfalcon, I was not a fan of science fiction books. Ms. Anna Butler changed that.

Sheild Captain Bennett captured my imagination, and with the help of brilliant writing drew me into his world ten thousand years in the future. Earth is gone, all that’s left is folklore and myths. The original evacuees from Earth were homeless seekers for three thousand years before finding Albion. Albion is beautifu Review By 2shay..........

I’m not sure where to start. Until reading the first book in this series, Gryfalcon, I was not a fan of science fiction books. Ms. Anna Butler changed that.

Sheild Captain Bennett captured my imagination, and with the help of brilliant writing drew me into his world ten thousand years in the future. Earth is gone, all that’s left is folklore and myths. The original evacuees from Earth were homeless seekers for three thousand years before finding Albion. Albion is beautiful. And it’s home. Generations have lived, loved and died there. Society thrives. Schools, universities, art, music and all the things that make life comfortable. Not much has changed over the millennia. They are human. They still explore, have active military, taxes and...politicians. Unfortunately, politics hasn’t changed much. There are still the same greedy, infighting, self-serving, power hungry politicians we see today.

Albion has colonies and outposts spread all over their galaxy. Some of those colonies feel ignored. The residents of Thorn, an Albion colony, are particularly upset and vocal about under representation and high taxes because of the hundred years of war against the Maess. Their dissatisfaction with the leadership from Albion leads to a horrifying betrayal.

Bennett is on a short mission with Flynn, taking a last flight together before Bennett is reassigned back to Shield. It’s pretty routine until they notice an anomaly. They quickly see what’s happening and start warning the ships on the Presidential convoy, but they are outmanned and outgunned. What happens next is a space battle that is so epic, it’s impossible to describe.

Throughtout human history, societies have always wanted what another group has, or wants to change them in some way. Land, gold, technology or simply a desire to rule the world. But humans have never fought against anything like the Maess. They aren’t human, and their technology’s so advanced that the best human minds haven’t been able to reverse engineer it, or even understand how it works. The humans fight heroically, but they may have met the unbeatable foe.

While weaving her story around Shield Captain Bennett and his love for a man he’s forbidden to be with by military regulations, Ms. Butler has touched every possible human emotion and motivation. She has taken us ten thousand years in the future and shown us the resiliency, drive and determination of the human race...the loyalty and love in the human spirit. And despair. And hope.

Kudos to the author for this stunningly brilliant series.

...more

flag Like · see review

Jun 19, 2018 R rated it it was amazing

Shelves: m-m, reviewed, sci-fi

Shield Major Bennett was preparing to leave Gyrfalcon. Returning to Shield, finally. Leaving his improved relationship with his father behind. He was more than ready to get back to his old life. Leaving Finn behind was harder. Even though they hadn't been together as other than friends for Bennett's on time Gyrfalcon, they still loved each other and it would hurt to say goodbye again.

The president decides she must visit the colonies. He had a theory, all politicians were bad, some were badder. S ...more

flag Like · see review

Oct 23, 2018 Amber rated it really liked it

Shelves: genre-m-m-future-scifi-alt-world

Ok I'm in the minority in that this last book didn't blow me away. Yes the ended shocked the hell out of me in the direction it took. Flynn and Bennett got their I won't say happily but they got a way to be together. The end went a lot darker than I thought it would and I respect the author for taking the story in that direction. My biggest problem was the convoluted plot line for the end involving the sketchy politics that I haven't really like through most of the series and Vines/Throm thing. ...more

flag Like · see review

Jul 01, 2018 Marge rated it it was amazing

Shelves: hurt-comfort, m-m, science-fiction, stars-5

Wow! This book certainly didn't go the direction I expected. The surprises were stunning. But the relationships between Bennet and his father and between Bennet and Flynn were wonderfully explored. I can't say they were resolved, exactly, but the conclusion was satisfying.

The author has said this is the end of the series, but I hope we see more of Bennet and Flynn in the future with a coda or two, or even a nice long adventure set a few years down the path. ...more

flag Like · see review

Jul 17, 2018 Karen Frederick rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

A brilliant series, Anna is a master craftsman. She brings these characters and their stories to life in a way that stays with me long after I have finished the book. Dark and intense. It was tough to read about the Maess' attack. And the fly by on Albion. The psychological impact it had on everyone was raw and jarring. I am sad to see this series ended, but so glad that Bennet finally opens up to love. ...more

flag Like · see review

Jul 01, 2018 Terry Ferko rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Felt hung out hungry for more

I know it’s just a story but I felt invested in it. My expectation is there has to be more. Feeling like the end of a relationship with no closure.

flag Like · see review

Sep 04, 2018 Lestatt rated it it was amazing

Battlestar Galactica

flag Like · see review

Jun 08, 2019 Sally rated it it was amazing

I liked this so much!

flag Like · see review

Dec 15, 2019 Stéphanie Amesse rated it it was amazing

What an ending! That was an excellent series.

flag Like · see review

Jun 06, 2020 Peche Esse rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Love this series.

flag Like · see review

Oct 05, 2018 Stonemagpie rated it liked it

Shelves: m-m, science-fiction

So hard to rate. I enjoyed the other four books and I enjoyed this one, stayed up late to finish it, but I found the ending... disappointing? Unsatisfying? Something.

flag Like · see review

Mar 06, 2020 Marissa rated it liked it

I'm giving this one a 3.5 stars, because this book fucking wrecked me. ...more

flag Like · see review

Jun 27, 2018 Kristin rated it it was amazing

Shelves: gay-book-reviews, m-m-romance

This novel cannot be read as a stand-alone. Please start with ‘Gyrfalcon’, the first book in the ‘Taking Shield’ series.

It’s the dawn of a new day for Albion and the outer planets. President Beatrice has Grand Plans to bring the planets back into the fold. For the first time in possibly centuries, she initiates a presidential tour, starting with the planet Thorn. Supreme Commander Jax is stepping down, Commander Caeden is being promoted into his place, and after this escort mission, Bennett will ...more

flag Like · see review

Jan 12, 2019 PaperMoon rated it it was amazing

I remain speechless .... I cannot say I was unaware of where the storyline was going throughout the five books in the series so far BUT I was still unprepared for the emotional impact from the "day of reckoning". ...more

flag Like · see review