The Fifth God book series - Who is Hagala?

The Fifth God book series is an epic fantasy book series written by Dalibor Kovačec. So far it consists of two books: Black Dragons and Magic Of The Soul, but a third is on the way. From the very beginning, I set out to create a world where power, heartbreak, and vengeance collide in unforgettable ways—and at the heart of all this is Hagala, my most haunting creation.

Crafting Hagala’s Immortality

When I first imagined Hagala, I saw her as more than just a villain. She’s over a thousand years old, yet through her mastery of magic, she maintains the appearance of a woman barely past her mid-twenties—stunning and enigmatic. I wanted her beauty to carry the weight of centuries, hinting at both allure and tragedy. Her agelessness is integral to her identity, and I’ve found it’s what draws both characters and readers into her gravity.

Returning to L’ven

Exile has never meant defeat for Hagala. I sent her away from L’ven to a world as harsh as it was mysterious, knowing that she would only grow stronger in her separation. Her return shakes the foundations of the world she once called home, a place that wronged her and now must face her wrath. Crafting her triumphant and terrifying comeback gave me the chance to showcase how trauma can fuel unimaginable power.

Bargain with Black Dragons

Bringing Hagala back required allies worthy of her ambitions, so I gave her the black dragons, ancient, intelligent, and ruthless. They are not simple beasts, but partners in her campaign to ruin and reshape L’ven. Together, they strike fear from the highest towers to the darkest valleys, and I revel in writing the devastation they leave in their wake.

Awakening the Fifth God

Hagala’s ultimate goal is apocalyptic: to bring the Fifth God, an ancient evil, back into the world. It’s the kind of threat that makes every victory seem fleeting, every alliance fraught with risk. As the architect of this saga, I love exploring how Hagala’s disregard for L’ven’s fate mirrors her own unwillingness to accept the world’s rejection.

Gathering Followers

One of my favorite challenges in writing Hagala is showing how easily she manipulates those around her. She attracts greedy nobles and lost souls who crave power, seducing them with promises she has no intention of keeping. Building these alliances around her offered endless opportunities for betrayal, ambition, and shattered dreams.

Her Heartbreak, My Inspiration

Hagala’s pain comes from a love denied—a wound that shapes every choice she makes. I find her most intriguing when she’s driven less by power and more by the ache of rejection. Every act of revenge is a cry for what she can never reclaim. In crafting her story, I poured much of my own exploration of longing and loss into her journey.

Writing a Complicated Villain

What keeps me returning to Hagala is her complexity. She embodies the notion that villains are not born, but made through suffering, desire, and anger. Her strength lies in her vulnerability, and she forces every hero to confront the darkness within themselves. Through her, I explore forgiveness, redemption, and the possibility, however remote, of healing.

The Series’ Legacy

As The Fifth God saga grows, I’m overwhelmed by the fandom’s speculation about Hagala’s fate, the true nature of the Fifth God, and the future of L’ven. Readers see in her both a monster and a tragic figure, and I take pride in how her story challenges them to rethink what epic fantasy villains can be. The anticipation for the third book drives me each day as I write—for the world I built and, most of all, for Hagala’s unforgettable legacy.