Review: Rise of the Pendragon (Islands in the Mist, Book 3) by J.M. Hofer
A turning point where myth deepens, alliances strain, and the cost of duty grows heavier.
Tour dates: January 19 - February 20, 2026. To see the full schedule of stops, visit the iRead Book Tours page here:
iRead Book Tours - Islands in the Mist Tour Schedule.
Disclosure: I received a copy of Rise of the Pendragon (Islands in the Mist, Book 3) as part of an iRead Book Tours event. All thoughts are my own.
Welcome to my stop on the iRead Book Tours review tour for Rise of the Pendragon (Islands in the Mist, Book 3) by J.M. Hofer.
About Rise of the Pendragon
Rise of the Pendragon By J.M. Hofer
Series: Islands in the Mist Series #3
Published by CreateSpace on 12/06/2016
Genres: Historical Fantasy, Fantasy, Myths & Legends
Formats: Audiobook, eBook, Paperback
Pages: 624
The last of the Romans have left Britannia, leaving greedy and ruthless men to seize power and rip the land asunder. Without the discipline of Rome to stop them, relentless Pictii come down from the North to raid her settlements, and boatloads of Saxons sail west from Germania to pillage her shores.
Grown soft with nearly five generations of Roman order, most men in Brython are unable to defend their homes against these threats, both from within and without. But there is hope. Emrys and Uthyr, the two youngest sons of Constantine, the last great Roman leader in Britannia, have come of age and return to Brython to avenge their father and reclaim his usurped throne. Along with their strange druid advisor, Myrthin Wyllt, they lead a campaign to unite the clans of Brython against the tyranny of her enemies, vowing to restore the peace and order once enjoyed under Rome's protection.
Bran knows the war for Brython is far larger than any one clan can hope to win alone. He pledges fealty to Emrys and his obligations thicken. His strength, compassion and loyalty are continually put to the test as he struggles to meet the mounting demands of his country, clan, wife and family, as well as those of his otherworldly master, Arawn, who has daunting plans of his own for him.
Meanwhile, strange, winding roads beckon to Taliesin, leading him to worlds both sublime and dark. Arhianna's fate leads her home, but at a frightening and terrible cost. Gareth finds himself duty-bound to Mynyth Aur, but, like his father, longs for the horizon. In Bran's absence, Lucia strives to remain a strong leader and mentor for her children and the people of her clan, determined to keep those she loves and cares for united in mind and spirit.
New and unlikely alliances are forged while old enemies churn forth new grievances, testing the limits of every relationship. All struggle to meet their responsibilities within the chaos surrounding their homeland, but remain hopeful they will succeed in putting a just king on the throne who will usher in a new age free from terror and tyranny.
Review at a Glance
| Genre: | Adult Fantasy |
| Setting: | Post-Roman Britannia |
| Length: | 624 pages |
| Content Rating: | PG-13 +M |
| My Rating: | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4.0) |
| Quick Take: | A darker, more complex continuation that deepens the saga and raises the emotional and political stakes. |
My Thoughts
It's wonderful to continue the life journey with Bran and Lucia in Rise of the Pendragon. By the third installment, these characters feel lived-in, shaped by duty, loss, and hard-earned loyalty. Their relationship remains a grounding force amid the growing chaos surrounding Britannia.
The story begins to get more complicated with the addition of new characters, many of whom will feel familiar to readers who know Arthurian legend. Their arrival adds political and mythic weight, but it also increases the narrative complexity.
The book opens with a brief explanation of Book 2, which is helpful, but I still recommend reading the series in order. The emotional impact and character development build cumulatively, and this installment relies heavily on what has come before.
Compared to the earlier books, the flow of Book 3 felt a little strained for me. That may have been on me, simply because I expected certain parts to develop differently. The scope is larger, the demands on each character heavier, and the pacing reflects that increased complexity.
This one also feels a little more adult, with some of the horrors visited on the characters. Even when moments are not graphically depicted, the tone is darker and the stakes feel more personal.
Despite its weightier tone, this is still a fascinating part of the Islands in the Mist series, and it left me eager to continue on to Book 4.
Closing Notes
Rise of the Pendragon marks a clear turning point in the Islands in the Mist series. The story grows broader and darker here, asking more of its characters and, at times, more of the reader as well. While the pacing felt slightly uneven for me compared to earlier installments, the emotional weight and expanding mythic scope kept me fully invested.
This is a book that deepens relationships, complicates loyalties, and reinforces the high cost of leadership in a land still reeling from chaos. It may not be the most effortless entry in the series, but it is an important one - setting the stage for what comes next and leaving the reader eager to continue on to Book 4.
Series note: This review is part of a five-book iRead tour run for J.M. Hofer's Islands in the Mist series.
If you missed my thoughts on the first two books in the series, you can also read my review of
Islands in the Mist (Book 1) and Across the Sea (Book 2).
Content Note: Rated PG-13 +M. Contains mild profanity, occasional non-explicit sexual content, and non-graphic battle violence. Note that Book 4 in the series includes a rape scene.
View Rise of the Pendragon on Goodreads
About the Author
About J.M. Hofer
From J.M. Hofer:
As a child, whenever anyone would ask me, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I would answer, “I want to write books!” That enthusiasm has never wavered. Fifty years later, I still feel most fulfilled when I'm writing.
As a reader, I regularly devour books on mythology, folklore and fairy tales. I believe the stories we choose to tell generation after generation are doorways into the heart of humanity. These are the stories that assure us we're not the first to doubt ourselves or face what seems an impossible challenge; the stories that help us realize we're not alone in our struggles. Most importantly, they inspire us to summon the courage to leave behind the familiar and find out what we're made of--to face the dragon, resist the trickster, and heed the advice the village elder gives us.
My aim as a storyteller is to transport you to a world that feels ancient yet somehow familiar, where the veil between realms is thin and magic is very, very much alive.
Where to Buy
Also available from Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million.
Book Trailer
Prefer video? You can watch the official book trailer here:
Watch the trailer for Islands in the Mist series
Giveaway
Enter to win signed copies of the Islands in the Mist book series (all 5 books) (one winner) (USA only). Ends February 27, 2026.
ISLANDS IN THE MIST by J.M. Hofer Book Tour Giveaway
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Giveaway link
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Author: @jmhoferauthor | iRead: @iReadBookTours
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