My thanks to Net Galley and Book Whisperer for this EXCELLENT read!

Very enjoyable and well written. I loved Karl, Felix, and Adela s stories . However it seems this was like reading 3 separate books. Each could have been a stand alone novel. I was looking for more of a connection with the.3 main characters. I kept wanting more. I hope the next resolves some. The ending with Adela left me hanging. Does Anna appear again? Do we get more from Felix in his new role? Will the 3 main characters connect in some way?

Highly recommend!

As the book ends, I felt myself in free fall along with Adela. and just knew there was more to the story! While I have read many books about WWII, I had not known about the resistance in Czech Republic and the involvement of Skoda Works. Enjoyed how the characters developed, especially Karl. Although not my favorite, he does get what he deserves, and then ends up landing on his feet. Great book!

The most frustrating thing about this book was that it is the second in a series of three. It was easy to pick up the threads from the first book and the three stories intertwined well but you only find out what happens to the three leads in a future instalment. The book is really good at picking out relatively unknown events in ww2 and exploring them, like the treatment of Jewish internees and the collapse of the British spy network in Europe in 1939. Even though( there are three separate stands the book hangs together well as a novel

This book is the second installment in the Covert War Chronicles (Book 1 being The Eagle’s Shadow), a WWII novel following three characters, Felix Wolf, Karl Vogt, and Adela Beran as war takes over Europe. While I hadn’t realized this was Book 2, it didn’t take me long to become deeply involved in the story line.

The book starts in 1939 with Felix being thrown into a British internment camp as a suspected German spy. Karl is in Poland setting up systems to control the Jews, and Adela is in Czechoslovakia working with the Resistance funneling secrets to help the cause. The story alternates between these three taking us to 1940 and the impending Russia invasion.

The three characters are nicely developed. You root for Felix to break from his shell and recognize his true courage and capabilities. You grow to despise Karl as the representative of an evil dictatorship - his character is especially well made. And you immensely admire Adela. But the character of Albert Göring (Herman’s real brother) becomes pivotal to the story - be sure to read the author’s note at the end about him and other historical facts captured in this book.

This book is very accurate to events and real people at this time in history which helps contributed to why this is such an awesome read. It’s also a well developed story - and as noted above with well developed characters. I’d probably encourage reading Book 1 (and I’m definitely going to do that) but even if you haven’t or don’t, you will get an excellent read nonetheless.

I’d like to thank NetGalley and the publisher, 700 Miles Publishing, for allowing me to read this ARC.

Phoenix Rising is the second in The Covert War Chronicles and is every bit as phenomenal as the first. Felix, Karl and Adela are involved in World War II in completely different ways. Felix is a mentally strong but battered Jewish refugee who unfortunately leaves one horror for another. Karl is an impassioned cold-hearted Nazi who is tasked with expediently eliminating the Jews. Adela works in the Resistance and due to her skills and intelligence advances up the ranks. All their lives are at risk every moment, especially those of Felix and Adela and the people they are desperate to help. The actions of one person alone and in tandem make a big difference, on all sides. The gut wrenching brutality is described with a raw and grave sensitivity which pains but is so, so important to know about and feel.

Many stories tore my heart out but the most impactful for me is the prisoners in chains told in vivid and grim detail. Though I have read hundreds of WWII accounts, I had never heard of the Škoda Works connection and knew very little of Albert Göring. Talk about an intriguing person to learn about! Operation Barbarossa is woven in as well. Details are rich and convincing and completely immersed me.

Reit's author notes are very helpful, as always. His writing is superb and transportive. When I read his books, it is easy to ignore everything else in that moment. I appreciate learning more about lesser-known people and events from this important time. Really looking forward to the third instalment!

1 September 1939

This installment chronicles the lives of four people as Hitler’s armies pushes across the Polish border.

Felix Wolff, a Jewish refugee thought he found save heaven in England but soon was arrested and thrown into an internment camp. To clear is name he joins the fight against Hitler.

Sicherheitsdienst agent Karl Vogt is sent to control the growing Jewish population within the Reich. His actions were the groundwork for Poland’s Jewish annihilation and the horrors that came with it.

Adela Beran, in occupied Czechoslovakia risks everything to pass secrets from a weapons factory to the Czech resistance and is asked to help assassinate Heinrich Himmler at Berlin….

In a central role we have Albert Göring using his famous name and position to help the resistance in the Protectorate to sabotage production and hamper the Nazi.

This a recreation what may have happened during the war.

My thoughts:

This is a powerful story of courage, survival and resistance. It is told in vivid and grim details. You can feel in the author’s words how Karl is an impassioned and cold -hearted individual with only task is to eliminate the Jewish population. While Felix, faces one horror after the other and gives his all to the war effort. Mr. Reit gives him sensibility and a strong will to succeed. With the help of Albert Göring, the factory manager and the brother of the infamous henchmen Hermann, Adela shows how a courageous individual she is and behind the words you feel as apprehensive as is.

A mention: Albert Göring used his famous name to save hundreds from Nazi persecution….not all German were cruel, although what he did put a target on his back.

The story is active and very captivating…even for those who may have read more then their share of war stories it is an excellent read. ..

Well said and well done.

Phoenix Rising by Michael Reit book 2 of The Covert War Chronicles. Although free standing if you haven't read the first.
Just when Felix thinks he is safe beginning his new life in England, he is arrested by the British and thrown into an internment camp. The race is on to clear his name. Meanwhile action darts across Europe. The story is as fast paced as book 1. If you enjoyed book 1, book 2 is every bit as exciting as the author tells us about the tyranny and the horrors of living in this time (especially for the Jews) and also gives an incite into life on the run from the point of view of the chaser and the chased. Read it to experience the endurance, bravery, resilience and the familiarity of period through fresh eyes. My thanks to the Book Whisperer and Netgalley for this ARC. Thanks Michael Reit for this new instalment. Looking forward to the next.

Phoenix Rising is the 2nd book in the Covert War Chronicles, and my 2nd book by Michael Reit. While Phoenix Rising could be read as a standalone, you experience much more depth and background reading the very well written, "The Eagle’s Shadow", first.
Phoenix Rising is also an outstanding WWII historical fiction and continues to follow the three main characters, Felix Wolf, Karl Vogt, and Adela Beran as war spreads throughout Europe and the various circumstances they contend with.

The author pulls you into various plots and places that each main character is in with descriptive details that immerse you into the suspense, horror and rising tension of the escalating war. Felix is in a British internment camp, where all the refugees were initially suspected of being Nazi's, that perspective was an eye opening one. Anna, still in Czechoslovakia, is helping the resistance and working with little known Albert Goring, a real historical figure and such an intriguing and inspirational man. Karl Vogt is now tasked with controlling the growing Jewish population within the Reich and how to be "effective and efficient" in brutal and cruel ways.
The subplots are also captivating with kidnapping, double crossing, betrayal as well as acts of courage, loyalty and kindness. There are some graphic details appropriate to the circumstances, language is also aligned to the war without being overly graphic or offensive.
This is a vivid retelling of WWII that is grim, inspiring, poignant, compelling and brings to life little known historical events and figures that contributed to the both sides of the war. I highly recommend this 4.5 stars book to those who enjoy well written WWII stories with deeply engaging characters, fleshed out little known historical events and authors notes that add to the overall narrative. Looking forward to the next book!
A deep note of gratitude to NetGalley and Book Whisperer for the ARC, it was truly a pleasure and privilege to read. All opinions expressed are my own.

Book 2 of the Covert War Chronicles provides suspense, thrills, and disgust of human frailties that mankind implode on one another in times of war or unrest among communities, religious sects, and nations. Phoenix Rising covers the timeline of September, 1939, to May, 1941, and tells the stories of three individuals: Karl, who has led the operation that launched Nazi Germany into the invasion of Poland; Felix, a displaced Jew, who has survived escaping from Austria to winding up in England yet to be placed in an area that makes him a victim of religious discrimination; and Adela, a resistance fighter in Czech Republic. Thanks to NetGalley and Book Whisper for an e-digital ARC of this action-filled historical fiction: this is my honest opinion of the book. Praise to the author Michael Reit for this series: I eagerly await his next book in order to learn further of WWII history.