Spellwright (Spellwright, #1)

Oct 15, 2011 Stacey rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, owned-hardcovers, signed

I wrote a nice pithy review of this... in my head last night, right before I went to sleep. I might have had a dose (or two!) of Dayquil in me, and we all know how a little of the good stuff enhances creativity!

Sadly, the entire review stayed in Dreamland, so you're stuck with the usual not-entirely-relevant kind.

This book was good. I liked it.

Just kidding. That's not my real review. GOTCHA! {--- might still be the Dayquil. Apologies.

Spellwright got off to a bit of a slow start for me. The fi...more

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Aug 31, 2011 Jason rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: e-books, read-2011

5 Stars

I just finished this amazing book and need a bit of time to digest all that I took in. This was one of those rare gems that slowed me down to take my time and read each and every word.

Sure this book plays out a coming of age story that has been done so many times before, but it found a way to be fresh, to be literate. It is really funny that a book that is called Spellwright, is about a young man that misspells, yet it is written in a way that makes everything about the books' words seem...more

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Oct 03, 2011 Jonathan rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: fantasy lovers

Shelves: fantasy, favourites

It's very rarely now that an original fantasy novel arrives and this is what Spellwright is. It's an incredibly original story focusing on a world where all magery is controlled by the casting of runes and language. Throughout the story the magical power of language is explored and the idea that various forms of magical languages exist proved fascinating. I hope the sequel proves as interesting as the debut in this series because if it does it will prove a worthwhile read. And while I lack the t...more

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Jul 17, 2011 Ashley Schroeder rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

I really liked this book. Lame, Fourth-Grade-Book-Report opening, I know, but I really DID like it. I think I was surprised that I liked it as much as I did because a lot of it was derivative (as most fantasy tends to be in some way, like I have said in the past). This whole Magical Institution of Higher Learning thing is getting kind of old to me. And Nicodemus? Really? COME ON, that is an old rat from NIMH and sounds like a name the guy from Gentlemen Broncos would've made up. Plus, the plot s...more I really liked this book. Lame, Fourth-Grade-Book-Report opening, I know, but I really DID like it. I think I was surprised that I liked it as much as I did because a lot of it was derivative (as most fantasy tends to be in some way, like I have said in the past). This whole Magical Institution of Higher Learning thing is getting kind of old to me. And Nicodemus? Really? COME ON, that is an old rat from NIMH and sounds like a name the guy from Gentlemen Broncos would've made up. Plus, the plot suffers from First Time Novel syndrome: loopholes, deus ex machina galore, a pre-fabbed feeling.

But, I said! I LIKED it:

- The magic system is brilliant and believable. I LOVED this part of the book and it made me go back and rethink my own system in the piece I am working on. Magic should be like a science: explainable, understandable, and possibly able to be made real.

- The protagonist and the world is based off of what Charlton KNOWS. Charlton is dyslexic, so Nicodemus is too. Charlton is a medical school student, so his magic is centered on "Language Prime" (view spoiler). Charlton is a writer, so to manifest spells in his magic system, you write (or code) them. I LOVED this aspect of the book, and made it completely believable to me.

- It is fantastic that his protagonist is "handicapped" by his disability. Fantasy often strays away from social issues, and I like how Charlton confronts how we think of disabled people in our society. He can, after all, because he knows what it's like. He injects his sense of frustration, of failure, of societal perception, and, ultimately, of self-acceptance, into every character, every action, and every plot device (awkward though they sometimes may be).

-(view spoiler) As writers or fans of the English language, this book is all about what we get our jollies off on.

I admire Charlton's pride as a writer and a student, as a guy who makes the most out of the hand he's been dealt, accepting himself fully for who he is, but only after intense personal struggles. This comes through in his writing, and I am excited to see how the other two novels in the trilogy grow.(less)

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Dec 09, 2010 Terri rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult

Sometimes when I’m having a more daydreamy day than normal, I imagine that I can fling my magic at someone who frustrates me like water out of a squirt gun. In Charlton’s debut novel, you really can fling magic at your enemies.

In the fantasy-appropriately named academy of Starhaven, great wizards conduct magical research, and apprentice wizards train in the magical languages. Wizards trained in magical languages can forge spells in their arm muscles and propel them out into the world to serve th...more Sometimes when I’m having a more daydreamy day than normal, I imagine that I can fling my magic at someone who frustrates me like water out of a squirt gun. In Charlton’s debut novel, you really can fling magic at your enemies.

In the fantasy-appropriately named academy of Starhaven, great wizards conduct magical research, and apprentice wizards train in the magical languages. Wizards trained in magical languages can forge spells in their arm muscles and propel them out into the world to serve their purpose, or peel already-written spells from the pages of magical texts. An ancient prophecy spoke of a boy who would become the Halcyon, “a powerful spellwright who would prevent the apocalypse known as the Disjunction.” Many thought Nicodemus Weal would be the Halcyon, until one thing became abundantly clear: Nicodemus is cacographic, meaning that when he touches spells, the letters switch around and the spells fail dangerously. At 25, Nicodemus is still an apprentice to Magister Shannon, not able to wield anything but the simplest spells without error, mistrusted by the rest of the academy and constantly confronted with the fact that he can never be a great wizard, much less the Halcyon he was prophesied to be. Instead, it is feared that he is the manifestation of a different prophesy, a bringer of great destruction who will usher in a crusade of evil. Nicodemus longs for a way to cure his cacography, and playing on this desire, an evil creature begins to send Nicodemus dreams, telling him that his cacography is the result of a curse and not an innate disability. Under threat from multiple sources, Nicodemus must defeat the evil creature and figure out what his cacography truly is.

Characterization was good, especially with Nicodemus. He’s terribly frustrated by his disability, always seeking a way to cure it and to be better than he is. He’s convinced that he’s meant for more, but not in a power hungry way. He needs to triumph over his disability to prove to himself that people can overcome anything. The evil creature uses this against him, and Magister Shannon butts heads with N. on more than one occasion, telling him that he needs to embrace his disability and learn to overcome it, rather than cure it. A win for the book is that Charlton is dyslexic, and by making Nicodemus cacographic, the reader feels like they’re seeing a fragment of the author’s own experience.

Pacing was fair. The book was a bit like a roller coaster: slow climb WOOSH slow climb WOOSH big hill WOOOOOOOOOOSH. There were several points where I felt that I had reached the Big Important Event, signalling the climax and the ending, but I hadn’t. Because there were so many of these events, I’ve had some trouble remembering exactly what happened and when, and determining which of these things is important to the story and what could’ve been left out. 7 or 8 times, the action and subsequent revelations were written in such a way that I thought it was signalling the end of the book, except I had 200 pages to go.

Someone mentioned this debut by Charlton as rendering Brandon Sanderson’s magic systems as “cute by comparison.” While I don’t agree that he’s trumped Sanderson’s extremely cool and original magical systems*, I do agree that Spellwright’s magical system holds its own. Charlton is an author and a med student, and he’s woven biological AWESOME into the magic of spellwriting. For example, Language Prime, which is the original language of the Creator, is made up of only 4 runes, spelled in inumerable different combinations. This didn’t register with me until I read this Amazon review, and then I felt stupid for not seeing it before. (DNA is composed of four unique animo acids which compose the entire human genetic code. See what I mean about the AWESOME?) It’s clear that Charlton has put an enormous amount of logic and thought into his magical system, based on his real life experience. It makes me feel like he’s mastered it, and he’s got control of it going into the next two books of the trilogy. It would be an incomplete review if I didn’t give the author a nod for writing such an awesome book AND being a full-time medical student. Doing either one of those things is a reason for kudos, but doing both at the same time is mind-boggling.

3.5 stars, because the pacing bothered me, but the detail of the magic system was phenomenal. I’m very excited to read the next book, and this is yet another good read that I’m adding to my Amazon cart.

*Frequent readers of this blog will remember that Sanderson and McKinley are my favorites, and anyone who suggests that they have been trumped will be immediately discredited. My loyalty is absolute as it relates to their literary accomplishments.

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May 22, 2012 Hendrik rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is a very pleasant read. The story is solid, and I got immersed in the world and the character. The magic system is also very original and very interesting. Well done to the author for messing around with the trope of the 'chosen one'. Early in the story you get told that the main character is definitely NOT the 'chosen one', later you find out he might be, or he is the complete opposite of the chosen one. It gives you a feeling of a character who can do great things, but that he isn't rail...more

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Jul 16, 2011 Jo rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy-and-science-fiction

I wish Goodreads had half stars, I would give the book 3 ½ stars.

I wanted to love it but I couldn’t quite get there. I understand that it’s the author’s first novel, as well as being the first in a trilogy. The book got better as it went along so maybe the following books will be better. I did like this one well enough to know that I’m going to find the next one and read it.

Nicodemus Weal is a student at the magical academy of Starhaven, where students are taught how to use magical languages to...more I wish Goodreads had half stars, I would give the book 3 ½ stars.

I wanted to love it but I couldn’t quite get there. I understand that it’s the author’s first novel, as well as being the first in a trilogy. The book got better as it went along so maybe the following books will be better. I did like this one well enough to know that I’m going to find the next one and read it.

Nicodemus Weal is a student at the magical academy of Starhaven, where students are taught how to use magical languages to forge spells of great power. However, his grasp of magic is precarious due to his cacography, which corrupts his spellwriting and can distort others' magic if he touches it.

I absolutely loved that in Spellwright, Blake Charlton created a magical system unlike any I've read before [I’ve been reading Fantasy books for (ouch) over 30 years] and it’s well-done, complex and intriguing. I also loved the language and writing puns scattered throughout (“purple prose!” Hee!). I think the creation of a character with, essentially, magical dyslexia is inspired. I loved the way the story dealt with Nicholas’ day-to-day coping with his cacography (magical dyslexia). It's clearly inspired by Charlton's own struggle with dyslexia as the reality rings through.

I wish Nicholas had been a little more developed as a character otherwise though because I had a little difficulty connecting with him initially. For me, the handful of main characters were oddly stiff at times. My favorite character actually turned out to be Simple John (or maybe Azure).

The pacing of the book was kind of choppy and this was somewhat exacerbated by infodumps, generally given in conversation between two characters relaying information that should already be common knowledge to the two speaking, or a villain soliloquy [although I understand why they were done, and some of them did help explain the magical system]. The book’s pacing improved in the second half and there should be less need for the infodumping in the next book since we’ll be familiar with that backstory already. The final battle scene was exciting and satisfying and sets up the next volume in interesting ways, but the last chapter seemed kind of tacked on.

So you see, there’s a lot to be intrigued and excited about in the book, I just wish it was better written throughout. But, I am looking forward to seeing what happens in the next book.
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May 31, 2012 FantasyWereld rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: volwassenen

Nicodemus Kras is een geletterde. Hij kent de magische talen en kan daardoor spreukschrijven. Doordat hij als jongste geletterde de twee talen van de magiërs – het Numinus en het Magnus – beheerst, werd hij in het verleden door diverse stromingen als de geprofeteerde gezien.
Maar Nicodemus heeft een groot probleem: hij is een kakograaf en kan dus niet spellen. Wanneer een van de begaafdste magiërs wordt gedood door een fout gespelde spreuk, zijn gelijk alle vingers op hem en zijn meester gericht....more Nicodemus Kras is een geletterde. Hij kent de magische talen en kan daardoor spreukschrijven. Doordat hij als jongste geletterde de twee talen van de magiërs – het Numinus en het Magnus – beheerst, werd hij in het verleden door diverse stromingen als de geprofeteerde gezien.
Maar Nicodemus heeft een groot probleem: hij is een kakograaf en kan dus niet spellen. Wanneer een van de begaafdste magiërs wordt gedood door een fout gespelde spreuk, zijn gelijk alle vingers op hem en zijn meester gericht. Wie anders dan Nicodemus Kras, assistent van de grote magister Agwu Shannon, kan voor de pijnlijke dood gezorgd hebben?
De boze magiërs zijn echter niet Nicodemus' grootste probleem, zij willen hem slechts voor de rest van zijn leven censureren. Een wezen in een witte mantel heeft zijn pijlen op de jonge kakograaf gericht en hij doet er alles voor om hem te krijgen.

Meesterlijke wereld, verraderlijke taal
De wereld die Charlton schetst is meesterlijk. Taal is niet slechts een communicatiemiddel, maar het doel op zich. Met taal kunnen spreukbeelden gemaakt worden, stenen wezens met een beperkt denkvermogen die, indien hun denkvermogen uit wordt gebreid, zelf ook kunnen spreukschrijven. Met botte zinnen kunnen knuppels worden gevormd, met scherpe woorden messen en door subteksten kun je onzichtbaar worden. Deuren worden niet met gewone sleutels geopend, maar met spreuken, variërend van enkele woorden in een gemeenschappelijke taal tot lastige paragrafen in het Numinus of Magnus. Al na de eerste pagina's is de rangorde duidelijk: De taal bestaat niet in de wereld, maar de wereld bestaat uit taal.

In deze wereld leven niet enkel mensen, maar ook diverse andere wezens. Elk soort heeft zijn eigen geschiedenis, zijn eigen cultuur, zijn eigen goden en zijn eigen talen. Om elk wezen met elkaar te kunnen laten communiceren, bestaan er meerdere gemeenschappelijke talen. Maar er is een ding wat geen van de soorten gemeen heeft: hun doelen. Door middel van taal communiceren ze, maar taal is verraderlijk. Het kent diepere lagen, dubbelzinnige woorden en ondoorgrondelijke structuren.

Wil je de volledige recensie lezen? Klik hier:
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Mar 11, 2011 Anu rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-adored, waiting-on-sequel

I completely enjoyed this book! usually, when the author is setting up the new universe and getting things rolling, the momentum takes a while to pick up... To say this was untrue for this work would be a euphemism. I got completely bowled over by the premise... and the nouns are completely fantastic - as is the language and vocabulary. Maybe I found the sudden dynamism of Nicodemus' character toward the end a bit abrupt - but that would be asking for perfection :) I totally loved this book and...more

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May 12, 2013 John rated it 4 of 5 stars

I read this book while recovering in hospital following surgery on a broken leg.

When unable to sleep at night due to pain and the painkillers doing a complete lack of any pain killing, this book completely took me away from that (so Blake: 1 - Opiate Based Painkillers: Nil).

That should be strong enough recommendation for anyone but if I was to apply a little more of a critique; this book did rely on some pretty standard fantasy tropes prophecy, demons, wise masters, young boy learning of his des...more

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Apr 13, 2013 Stuart Macmartin rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2013, fantasy

Well, I finished it. The magic system was a bit bizarre for me. The writing was adequate usually, if inconsistent, but the magic system demands eloquence and simplicity holding layers of subtext, much as J. Carey captures the essence of Terre D'Ange and its characters in her wording. You'll understand when you read the book. But there is a brilliant moment 1/3 way through where the number of runes in a language makes everything clear, and allows the author several moments of social commentary (a...more

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Feb 03, 2013 Haralambi Markov rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. ‘Spellwright’ and Blake Charlton registered on my radar since August 2009. Given that Aidan from ‘A Dribble of Ink’ spent a series of posts dedicated to this debut’s path to publication, my interest intensified and with each new notification I began to anticipate March and read this book. Quite naturally, I jumped at the opportunity to read a ‘Spellwright’ ARC. I wasn’t disappointed and I am happy to report that the good rep given by several well-known authors is not artificial marketing hype. Q...more ‘Spellwright’ and Blake Charlton registered on my radar since August 2009. Given that Aidan from ‘A Dribble of Ink’ spent a series of posts dedicated to this debut’s path to publication, my interest intensified and with each new notification I began to anticipate March and read this book. Quite naturally, I jumped at the opportunity to read a ‘Spellwright’ ARC. I wasn’t disappointed and I am happy to report that the good rep given by several well-known authors is not artificial marketing hype. Quite the opposite. ‘Spellwright’ is my February’s top read and in my list of all-time favorites.

Although fantasy has adopted a violent, gritty mantle with almost irredeemable characters and exploration of the darkness, which lurks in the human soul, ‘Spellwright’ ploughs straight through well trodden paths and will ring a very nostalgic bell. The villains have no qualities to suggest any excuse for their actions and the protagonists are drawn and sworn to subdue the arising chaos. Lives are at stake. The world as it is known is threatened. There is a mission and prophecies, which will be fulfilled by a few destined ones. Sounds familiar in general, but rest assured that clichés associated with these fundamental for the genre tropes are not hiding in between the pages. It’s all a matter of execution and Charlton is a natural. His prose is a rare breed of scholarly sophistication and lyrical streaks, which grabs the mind, ensnares it and makes sure that the reader will keep reading.

The biggest delight in ‘Spellwright’, however, is the magic system. Fantasy without magic as an element would be crippled and in almost every magic system, language and words enable spellcasters to perform miracles or inflict pain. Charlton takes this basic trait of magic a step further and devices a world, where languages hold the power. Wizards are linguists, devoted to their studies. Each language follows a different logic, owns separate syntax, formulas and set of runes and serves a different purpose. So far in ‘Spellwright’ the reader is treated most to Magnus, a language with effects on the material, and Numinous, a language that affects light and energy. However, we are also introduced to other languages with other properties and other dimensions, because each spell must be cast from the spellcaster’s muscles and becomes both visible and corporeal.

With this I am just scratching the surface. There more evolved concepts such as constructs, which are sentient and complex spells with a shape and a function. Durable metaspells and powerful godspells. Quaternary thoughts, which enable a person to think unthinkable thoughts and the potential danger, when handling these languages. Precision and skill are required at all times or otherwise the spellwrights may end up hurting themselves with spells, which have exploded and backfired. There are no inconsistencies within this magic system, which is also a possibility due to the high complexity involved.

As drawbacks here, I would point out that the reader must be patient about explanations, regarding several spells or other ideas as far as magic and the history behind it is concerned. Because the story uses the Starhaven academy and the protagonists are academics, what they narrate about is known to them and unnecessary to explain, when it pops up. I had a few moments, where I had to use the logic within the world to piece what a spell’s purpose was, but explanations were provided at an appropriate moment for their justification. At the same time the reader must be patient with the stage-setting, explanatory paragraphs and the bits and pieces of information until the world becomes familiar enough, so that the action sequences do not raise eyebrows in confusion, when spells start flying around. I personally had no issues with any of this and welcomed the extensive world-building.

‘Spellwright’ is as much scholarly as it is dynamic. However, untypical for epic fantasy, the events in the novel transpire on Starhaven Academy’s grounds. There are no parties with the hard task to travel across the world. Nevertheless Starhaven’s massive size and labyrinthine architecture bring danger and the characters never know what they can expect from the halls and bridges, spanning from tower to tower. Speaking of the characters, I was intrigued by the majority of the characters, primary and secondary alike.

Nicodemius’ struggles with his condition to misspell magic texts are earnest and heartfelt. His soul is torn between the reality he has known that he is a retard in a world, where literacy is supreme, and the hope that perhaps he is not supposed to be cacographic, but whole. Normal and capable, not powerless. Not someone, who people look down upon. To a level everybody can relate to such an emotional turmoil and since Charlton himself is a dyslexic, the internal conflict about one’s worth packs a bigger punch, because it has been written by someone, who has first-hand experience. However, Nicodemius would not be as intriguing, if it were not for the blind Magister Agwu Shannon with a violent political past and his construct bird Azure, Amadi and her intrusive and authoritarian persona, Deirdre and her devotion and selflessness in order to please her goddess, Fellworth and his nefarious schemes, etc.

Perhaps, my only issue with ‘Spellwright’ is how the novel ended. While the culmination was spectacular and rich in revelations that foreshadow events to come, I would have preferred the novel ended there, while I was still high on the adrenaline and my interest was in my highest. However, the story continues well past that, covering Nicodemius’ training for the upcoming battles, which will define the world’s fate. I feel that this would have better fitted the sequel ‘Spellbound’, because it suggests a buildup for a new adventure.

Verdict: [A++] I am quite biased, when talking about this book. It appealed to me on so many levels to a point, where even if there are serious issues with ‘Spellwright’, I would never spot them. Charlton has converted a life-long fan in me and I am recommending ‘Spellwright’ left and right to everyone. Certainly a superior book and a promising debut, which most likely will result in a healthy and long-lived career.(less)

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Jan 15, 2013 I. Black99 rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

What caught my attention about Blake Charlton's debut novel "Spellwright" was the really beautiful designed cover of the book. I was intantly intrigued by it. And I must say, I was definitely not disappointed. I know people say you shouldn't judge a book by its cover. But I do think having a nicely designed cover can also help people take more notice of your book. A what an exciting, entertaining read "Spellwright" was.

Blake seems to have a way with words that really grips you and doesn't let y...more

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Jan 08, 2013 Amy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

Words are powerful, and in Spellwright words are powerful magic. (!!!) A quick summary: the magic system Mr. Charlton created is words and languages and swirling, sparkling sentences and paragraphs. (If "they" could make this book a movie, without royally screwing it up, it would be visually stunning.) Any incorrectly spelled word or poorly constructed sentence ruins the spell and has disastrous results.

Clever. Very clever, creative writing. I'll try not to rant too much, but the play on words,...more

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Aug 30, 2012 Rosemarie Herbert rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been crossposted from my blog at The Cosy Dragon . Please head there for more in-depth reviews by me, which appear on a timely schedule.

Nicodemus Weal is both blessed and cursed. Once thought to be the saviour of humanity, his ability with spells is actually warped so that he misspells everything creating chaos. This sound bad enough, but add re-emerging golems and a couple of murders and you have a real recipe for disaster.

The idea of this book came from the author's own dyslexi...more This review has been crossposted from my blog at The Cosy Dragon . Please head there for more in-depth reviews by me, which appear on a timely schedule.

Nicodemus Weal is both blessed and cursed. Once thought to be the saviour of humanity, his ability with spells is actually warped so that he misspells everything creating chaos. This sound bad enough, but add re-emerging golems and a couple of murders and you have a real recipe for disaster.

The idea of this book came from the author's own dyslexia which I think adds a lovely depth and essential detail to the novel. Personal experience can be such a weath to mine and produce something wonderful. In this case, it is an extremely complicated and novel system of word forging. As the novel progresses, the reader is introduced to more of the complex spellwriting languages.

The introductory chapter of this book was unnecessarily wordy, even if it did explain well the system of magic operating in this world. The magic system was what redeemed this book for me, and I only wish there had been a better way of explaining how it worked, and I also would have liked some more information about the other languages.

Nicodemus and Shannon are really flat, transperant characters. Nicodemus was sure he was the chosen one, even when he wasn't obviously one. Even with the million hints pointing to him being something else, he wasn't able to realise that! Plus he should have kept a better grip on that damn emerald. As if you wouldn't sew it into your skin so you didn't lose it again. I actually liked Shannon, and although he wasn't fleshed out, I still empathised with him, and felt sorry for him.

The twist with the Druid wasn't lead up to properly, and I didn't understand her stupid fits at all! Nicodemus was far too trusting, and noone seemed able to make the obvious connections that were there. The rest of the time the Druid didn't make sense, and her place in the Arc's protection was not obvious. The reader wasn't even able to make the same connections as Nicodemus about her magic abilities, because they weren't given enough information.

The perspective changes in this novel could have been used more, but they did work for me. I just wished I had had more information on the motives of all parties, rather than the focus on Nicodemus (although he was the main character, the other characters were equally important I think).

I'd say that this book was suitable for both teens and adults in terms of content, although the style of writing is certainly for adults. It wasn't a bad book, just not an outstanding one because I didn't connect with the main character. There is another book in this series (it is a triology) and although I enjoyed this book (mainly due to the magic system, not the characters), the sequel is not on my ever-growing to-read-soon list.(less)

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Jun 16, 2012 Seregil of Rhiminee rated it 5 of 5 stars

Spellwright has been praised a lot and there's been a lot of hype about it. I was especially interested in this book, because Robin Hobb, Daniel Abraham, Kate Elliott and Tad Williams have praised it. That's why it was interesting to read a PDF version of it before its publication.

I think it was refreshing to read classic and traditional fantasy, which contains lots of magic, because most modern fantasy books contain only a small amount of magic and lots of realism. I know that many readers are...more

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Aug 25, 2011 Skye rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

I really wanted to give this book 5 stars. (Oh Goodreads, why don't you have half stars??) It's the magic system that makes this book for me, and the writing style that breaks it. In the the end, this book is very much a "first novel", lacking a certain polish in my very humble opinion--I couldn't write a book if my life depended upon it. But the magic system, oh the magic system. I read Fall of Hyperion *after* this book, and I'm still ruminating on the magic system from Spellwright, despite al...more

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Aug 06, 2011 Bianca rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

"Die Grammatikerin war kurz davor, an ihren eigenen Worten zu ersticken."

Und das im wahrsten Sinne des Wortes. Denn in "Nicodemus - Der Zauberverschreiber" können Worte richtigen Schaden anrichten und sogar töten.

Aber lasst uns erst mal über das Cover reden. Das hab ich in meinen Rezensionen bis jetzt noch nie gemacht, aber Nicodemus hat es verdient, denn das Cover sieht einfach richtig toll und mystisch aus, und man meint, man könnte die Runen richtig fühlen die aus der Hand des Zauberschreibe...more "Die Grammatikerin war kurz davor, an ihren eigenen Worten zu ersticken."

Und das im wahrsten Sinne des Wortes. Denn in "Nicodemus - Der Zauberverschreiber" können Worte richtigen Schaden anrichten und sogar töten.

Aber lasst uns erst mal über das Cover reden. Das hab ich in meinen Rezensionen bis jetzt noch nie gemacht, aber Nicodemus hat es verdient, denn das Cover sieht einfach richtig toll und mystisch aus, und man meint, man könnte die Runen richtig fühlen die aus der Hand des Zauberschreibers aufsteigen. Dafür bekommt das Buch einen besonderen Platz in meinem Regal.

"Wie alle Zauberschreiber besaß Nicodemus von Geburt an die Gabe, seine Körperkraft in Runen von reinster magischer Energie verwandeln zu können. Indem er seinen Bizeps anspannte, formte er in seinem Arm etliche Runen. Er konnte die silbrigen Worte sehen, die durch Haut und Sehnen hindurch schimmerten. Erneut spannte er seinen Oberarm an, verband die Zeichen zu einem Satz und ließ sie in seinen Unterarm fließen.
Mit einer schwungvollen Handbewegung gab er den einfachen Zauberspruch frei, der sich daraufhin in der Luft wand wie eine silberne Schlange aus Rauch."

Klingt toll, oder? Das sind also Zauberschreiber, doch Nicodemus, der Hauptcharakter, hat eine besondere Bürde zu tragen: er ist ein Kakograph. Die Kakographen, also die Zauberverschreiber, können kaum ganze Fehlerfreie Sätze in den einfachen Zaubersprachen schreiben, und wenn sie einen schon bestehenden Zauber berühren, wird dieser mit Fehlern behaftet.

So berührt Nicodemus zum Beispiel am Anfang des Buches einen verzauberten Wasserspeier, worauf dieser völlig durchdreht. Dabei hatte ich den Wasserspeier eigentlich schon sehr ins Herz geschlossen. Ich hoffe wir sehen ihn im nächsten Buch mal wieder. :)

Wie ihr seht, dreht sich in dem Buch alles um Sprache und Wörter und Bücher, und das in einer Weise, wie ich sie vorher noch nirgendwo gelesen oder gehört habe. Mich hat das alles sehr fasziniert, und ich wollte unbedingt noch mehr von der Welt und der Art wie sie funktioniert kennen lernen. Als Nicodemus das erste Mal unterrichten durfte, konnte ich kaum genug von der Unterrichtsstunde bekommen. Die Welt die Blake Charlton geschaffen hat ist richtig und im wahrsten Sinne des Wortes, fantastisch.

Seine Erzählweise ist sehr einfach gehalten und man kann ziemlich flüssig durchlesen. Auch die länge der Kapitel (bzw. die Kürze der Kapitel :) ) fand ich sehr passend, und macht es für mich immer angenehmer ein Buch zu lesen. Denn wenn man weiß, dass das jetzige Kapitel gar nicht mehr so lang ist, und das nächste auch gar nicht so lang, liest man immer und immer weiter, ohne zu merken wie weit man schon ist.
Ich finde gerade dadurch wird es auch zu einem tollen Jugendbuch für die, die noch nicht so viel lesen.

Was ich noch besonders erwähnen möchte, sind die vielen tollen "seltsamen" Worte die Blake Charlton eingebunden hat, wie zum Beispiel: Kakographie, Compluvium, Neophyten, Prezeptor…. Ich glaube ihr wisst was ich meine.
Ich war schon immer ein Leser, der sich gefreut hat neue "schräge" Worte zu lesen und sie in sich aufzunehmen. Das konnte ich in "Nicodemus - Dem Zauberverschreiber" sehr oft und mit viel Freude tun. :)

Ich würde das Buch auf jeden Fall jedem weiterempfehlen.
Eine Welt, die aus Sprachen geschaffen wurde, muss einfach gelesen werden. (less)

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Jul 12, 2011 grellian rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: epic-fantasy

Probably I should not be so frank, but the first thing that caught my attention in the description of “Spellwright” (besides the cover art – majestic!) prior to actually reading it was, quite unexpectedly, the author’s biography. It is a rare feat to successfully combine writing fantasy fiction with the demanding life of a medical student (seriously, how does Blake Charlton manage?), and even more so to overcome dyslexia.

In fact, it should not be surprising that the main character himself suffe...more Probably I should not be so frank, but the first thing that caught my attention in the description of “Spellwright” (besides the cover art – majestic!) prior to actually reading it was, quite unexpectedly, the author’s biography. It is a rare feat to successfully combine writing fantasy fiction with the demanding life of a medical student (seriously, how does Blake Charlton manage?), and even more so to overcome dyslexia.

In fact, it should not be surprising that the main character himself suffers from the impediments of such a disorder, called cacography. The author has imprinted the protagonist with a great woe and has thus given depth to the character of mature and disillusioned Nicodemus Weal, who once was believed to be the savior of mankind, the guardian of human languages and the scourge of demons. All changed, though, when his inability to spell magical texts correctly was uncovered, resulting in his being virtually ostracized from the all-powerful magical community and sent to the tower where other dangerous cacographers reside. His greatest power – magic – becomes a perilous, disobeying and likely catastrophic force of nature when Nicodemus spells even the most elementary of magical prose.

However, wicked things start occurring around the main character, while the future of mankind is decided upon by representatives of all magical academies. A respected and influential master has been murdered; a white-clad figure lurks in the shadows; unspeakable horrors haunt the dreams of all… Some even go as far as accusing Nicodemus of being the Storm Petrel, the man to unleash the destructive power of demons by corrupting the magical languages. A close friend is accused of a number of atrocious acts, while strangers claiming to be druids strive to entangle Nicodemus in their own disputable prophecies. Vicious deaths follow the protagonist in every step he takes, while he tries to uncover the truth about himself.

“Spellwright” is an action-packed fantasy following the growth of Nicodemus and his reconciliation with himself and his talents. Although the book can hardly be classified as a coming-of-age novel (as the main character is beyond the age limit) I definitely got that unmistakable feel of self-doubt and low-esteem, so cherished in literature. Do not draw the wrong conclusions, though, as Blake Charlton’s debut is certainly a must-read for everyone who cannot breathe without a healthy dose of magic, wizards and… lots of magic.

To my astonishment, Charlton’s magical system is even more thrilling than Brandon Sanderson’s bizarre (and cute by comparison) experiments *my opinion, guys*. The world of “Spellwright” is heavily suffused with magic that is written in the form of prose in a variety of languages. There are those that influence material objects and those that shape the metaphysical. The possibilities are endless and the author has fully and successfully exploited the concepts of written magic. Gargoyles that are equivalents of magically-rendered robots, clay and metal golems carrying their creator’s spirit, voracious magical dragons, creatures infesting the imagination of a child, disembodied gods – all are here and wander the streets of Starhaven. It is impossible to fully explain without giving away too much, but I believe that Blake Charlton has created one of the most unique magical systems in fantasy fiction.

Besides, “Spellwright” features a cast of some mature-acting and convincingly shrewd heroes whose adventures are thoroughly enjoyable. The characterization of the author is excellent and his main protagonist, Nicodemus, is extremely amiable. Moreover, I found the compact and intelligent prose of Charlton very satisfying. All in all, the first installment in Blake Charlton’s trilogy is well-worth the time.

There are, of course, flaws with the stereotyped plot and the infodumps that practically litter the pages of the book. These I can easily let pass as insubstantial, but the biggest disappointment in the novel was the ending. After the climatic and epic battle that can be anticipated from the very beginning, Charlton has decided to add a dozen or so totally redundant (in my humble opinion) pages that hardly contribute to the story. Nevertheless, “Spellwright” is one of the best fantasy books I have read this year. An intriguing main character, a badass villain with more power than it is healthy, a totally original magical system that allows for epic power struggles and a couple of unexpected plot twists – this book will sweep you away.
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Jun 27, 2011 Judith rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: c

Nicodemus Kras is een magiërsleerling met grote talenten. Hij woont dan ook niet voor niets in Sterrenstee: dé universiteitsstad voor magiërs. Hij heeft echter een groot probleem: hij kan niet spellen. In een wereld waar de magie bestaat uit het geschreven woord, is dat een grote handicap. Anders kan er van alles misgaan met je spreuk. Door zijn handicap is het voor hem onmogelijk om ooit een groots magiër te worden. Assistent van magister Agwu Shannon is alles wat er voor hem inzit. Toch zijn e...more

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Jun 01, 2011 Amanda rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, coulda-been-better, young-adult

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I liked the idea built around this debut, where the system of magic marks it different from your average fantasy novel. It is set in a world where magic - or "text", as they call it - takes form in exactly that - woven words, paragraphs, thrown into the air.

The story follows Nicodemus Weal, an apprentice wizard, who suffers from cacography. His condition is similar to that of which we know as dyslexia; anything but simple texts are corrupted, or "mispelled" by his touch. Due to his mysterious pa...more

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Mar 23, 2011 Ole Imsen rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

Charlton is quick to get the reader into the story. And he is also quick to introduce a central mystery that is
both interesting and intriguing. The mystery part of the story is presented to us in the first couple of chapters, and while this seems pretty ordinary at first the setting makes it something else entirely.
While the story at times can seem predictable, there are several layers of complexity added as it progresses, and it takes several turns that I didn't expect. It is not an especial...more Charlton is quick to get the reader into the story. And he is also quick to introduce a central mystery that is
both interesting and intriguing. The mystery part of the story is presented to us in the first couple of chapters, and while this seems pretty ordinary at first the setting makes it something else entirely.
While the story at times can seem predictable, there are several layers of complexity added as it progresses, and it takes several turns that I didn't expect. It is not an especially long novel, for fantasy, but it contains a lot of action and suspense. One of Charlton's strengths is that he does not overwrite, but lets the story flow without unnecessarily slowing it down.

I love fantasy that has history, a world that has seemingly organically grown, and Charlton presents us with that. It is not done in info dumps, but is trickled out at natural points as the story progresses. By the end of the novel you'll have an idea of the world Nicodemus inhabits that makes it interesting to see what comes next.
Even in the somewhat constricted world of Starhaven we get glimpses into the politics and conflicts of the wider world. Something Charlton does very well. The rivalries between different groups is handled with skill, and adds a lot to the story.

What separates this most from other works of fantasy is the magic system. Charlton has created a language based magic system that at first seems pretty straight forward and simple, but as we learn more it comes apparent that it is very complex.
The magic is also in many ways integrated seamlessly into the story. And not used as a way of getting the characters out of impossible situations as we often see in fantasy. It is great to see magic in fantasy presented in a way that feels fresh and original.

In conclusion, I can say that this is a thoroughly enjoyable and suspense-filled debut from Charlton. It is not a book that is overly taxing to read, and it has a legacy rooted more in the traditional epic fantasy than the "gritty" or "new weird" that seem to be the vogue these days.
I'd recommend this to any fan of fantasy, but especially to those that enjoy a good and complex magic system.

This review was originally published on my blog http://weirdmage.blogspot.com (less)

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Feb 06, 2011 Sean Randall rated it 4 of 5 stars

“Humanity uses the word ‘prophecy' as if it were synonymous with the word ‘destiny.' Nothing is destined. Prophecy is like rain falling on a mountain. The
water must flow down. It must find its course in creeks and streams and rivers. One might calculate where the water would flow in a static world. In an
unchanging landscape, we might say that this drop is destined to flow into this lake, this river flow into this ocean. But the world is always changing.”

Not since The Way Of Kings have I seen suc...more

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Oct 12, 2010 Katie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010

This book had a really interesting "magic system" where the magic was actually written out, and the written words or paragraphs were actually thrown through the air (or whatever) to produce the magic. So that part of the book was pretty neat. The plot was okay, it somehow gave me the impression of being really intense, and yet dragging along at the same time. I was rather unhappy with the end of the book as everything wrapped up rather abruptly, and *none* of the loose ends were covered. This le...more

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Sep 03, 2010 Andrew Liptak rated it 4 of 5 stars

Blake Charlton‘s Spellwright is a fantastic, entertaining entry into the genre that has been fairly well received throughout the lit world, and for good reason. Charlton has put together a wholly original fantasy novel, changing up a couple of familiar elements, then replacing them in a familiar environment and letting the story go from there.

The story’s plot is probably the weak point in the entire package, but to be very honest, that’s something that I’m more than fine with – the fantasy story...more Blake Charlton‘s Spellwright is a fantastic, entertaining entry into the genre that has been fairly well received throughout the lit world, and for good reason. Charlton has put together a wholly original fantasy novel, changing up a couple of familiar elements, then replacing them in a familiar environment and letting the story go from there.

The story’s plot is probably the weak point in the entire package, but to be very honest, that’s something that I’m more than fine with – the fantasy story of a learner in school, guided by a mentor is something that’s a pretty resilient story, and its something that works well between different books and authors. Spellwright is no copy of Harry Potter, but the similarities in setting would most likely appeal to a lot of people out there. With the opening of the book, a wizard is murdered during a Convocation in Starhaven, a wizard stronghold, setting Nicodemus Weal and his master, Magister Shannon, into a story that has been orchestrated by ancient forces, bent on returning to power. Nicodemus had been thought to be a sort of savior magician, for is abilities as a spell caster. The only issue was that he was afflicted by an inability to spell – Cacography, which makes him dangerous. As Nicodemus’s friends are targeted by the killer, he has to uncover the motives behind the murderer, and the prophecy behind him.

There are a couple of elements that really impressed me with this read, primarily the world-building, and Charlton’s use of his own personal experiences as subject matter for this book. In this world, Cacography is akin to dyslexia, which Charlton himself is afflicted with, and in a couple of recent interviews, he’s talked about how that affected him, and how fantasy literature gave him a sort of path and direction to take. There’s a real amount of attention paid here to words, and the magical system that has been invented here is really fantastic, almost like a sort of programming language for magicians. Here, words have power, but like any set of directions, the spells and abilities of magicians depend upon the correct components in order to get the right effect. It makes quite a bit of sense, and it gives Spellwright a very different feel throughout, which sets it apart from similar books.

In particular, Nicodemus as the central character, proves to be an interesting protagonist, as someone who’s suffering from a disability, especially when considering how Charlton’s magical system has been set up: words, sentences, paragraphs and prose make up the magical effects, and it’s quite something to imagine being attacked by words themselves, or imagining the core of existence essentially complicated magic composed of words. The end result, especially for someone who loves books, is thrilling to read about.

The book isn’t perfect – there’s a little too much repetition, and the last couple of chapters seem like they’ve been dropped in, with too much showing over telling, but that doesn’t really detract from the rest of the book. By the end, it seemed as if I had read through a six hundred word book, rather than a three hundred page book, and at the end, I felt that I wanted quite a lot more out of this world. Spellwright, in a way, is a bit of a tease, considering the world and history that has been set up for it.

This is the other major aspect in which Spellwight shines brightly: the world has been pretty well conceived, with a background history, traditions, societies and magical environment. But, while these sorts of things are good, what’s better is that this background information is directly used and impacts the story as a whole, turning it from pretty scenery into a plot point, which is very good for a novel like this, and it more than makes up for the issues that I do have with the book.

I’m very eagerly awaiting for the next installment in the larger story – Charlton’s hard at work on book number 2, and that will certainly be something to look out for.
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Jun 15, 2010 Shaun Duke rated it 3 of 5 stars

Blake Charlton's debut novel, Spellwright, is a mixed bag, with some particularly strong points to be found in its characterization and its heavy, almost hard fantasy focus on an often ridiculed method of producing magic: language. While the novel is not without flaws, Charlton makes up for it with strong action sequences that often result in a little of the gosh-wow that many have argued is sorely missing from fantasy's cousin, science fiction.

Spellwright follows Nicodemus Weal, a wizard in tra...more Blake Charlton's debut novel, Spellwright, is a mixed bag, with some particularly strong points to be found in its characterization and its heavy, almost hard fantasy focus on an often ridiculed method of producing magic: language. While the novel is not without flaws, Charlton makes up for it with strong action sequences that often result in a little of the gosh-wow that many have argued is sorely missing from fantasy's cousin, science fiction.

Spellwright follows Nicodemus Weal, a wizard in training at an academy. He was once considered to be the Halcyon, a mythical figure prophesied to return to stop the Disjunction--a battle against the demons of the old world from across the ocean. The only problem is that Nicodemus is a cacographer, whose dangerous misspells of common languages makes him potentially dangerous to any other magic user. His cacography makes him anything but the "one." When a grand wizard at the academy is killed by a powerful misspell, Nicodemus and his teacher, Shannon, are the prime suspects. And as politics and prejudice play out in the academy, something with intimate ties to the forgotten, blasphemous magical languages from the old world sets a plan in motion that could destroy the academy and bring about the Disjunction, an event the Nicodemus will be a part of, whether he wants to be or not.

What sets Charlton's novel apart from other fantasy works is its magic system. Firmly rooted in the author's dyslexic past, the magic system ofSpellwright avoids spoken language and instead places all of the power in the written word. Spells have to literally be written within the body and then passed down through the arms to be cast. Likewise, you have to know the language(s) to be able to use them effectively (and there are many languages). The great part about this is that it creates a lot of fantastic limitations: particularly large and powerful spells take a long time to cast, not knowing how to spell properly can be unintentionally deadly, as is the case with Nicodemus, and magical languages become protected entities from other groups, because without knowing a particular language, you can't see or cast against it.

Taking a detour from the magic, I think it's important to note that the characterization in Spellwright, while not as well-developed as I would have liked, does show a lot of promise. The fact that the main character and Charlton share a common origin shouldn't be misconstrued as a kind of Mary Sue (or Gary Stu, since Charlton is a man), but instead seen for what it is: an intimate portrayal of a character with a mental disability who must battle against a world that views him not as a person with some value, but as kind of disease. Nicodemus is not difficult to like. His struggles, motivations, and outbursts all make sense. I suspect that many will identify with Nicodemus, even if they have no disabilities (for lack of a better word) themselves; we can empathize with people who have been ostracized for one reason or another. To be critical for a moment, I do think that the characterization that exploded in the last third of the novel should have come more gradually throughout. The ending does feel somewhat rushed in terms of the characters, and it would make more sense for them to develop less abruptly.

The action, however, will likely be seen as the novel's strongest point. It becomes clear early on that Charlton has thought through how his wizards will fight. A standard wizardly slug match where users just toss fireballs and the like at one another won't do, namely because spells that can do the most damage can't generally be put together on the fly (though some can). We see only a glimpse of the potential in Charlton's magic as a combat system, because the novel itself is not set within the Disjunction, but in a somewhat peaceful time. That glimpse is enough, though. The fights are exciting, the magic equally so, and all the creations that come as a result make for a very fast-paced book.

The novel's weaknesses seem to be more within the realm of continuity and genre trappings than anythingels. The magic system, while unique and quite intriguing, often isn't set in stone. For example, it's mentioned numerous times that characters cannotspellwright within the walls of the academy, and yet we see numerous characters do just that. Either I missed something, or the author didn't make it clear enough that he meant only certain characters (or something else).

Finally, while I understand that fantasy is often repetitive, I have to wonder when we're going to see enough of this prophesy business. I like Charlton's novel, but the prophesy subplot plays a crucial role in the overall story, and I feel as though this takes away from the potential of the novel. Here is a book that has a great magic system, an interesting past, and interesting "races," yet it finds itself stuck using the all-too-familiar furniture of a genre burdened with familiar furniture. Prophesies are sort of like the cheap bookshelves you get at Walmart: a lot of people have them, and they're all the same--cheap, colorless, and weak. Move away from prophesy. We need more characters who rise up to the occasion on their own, without prompting from people who think they are something else. There's nothing heroic about someone fulfilling their destiny; it's just...expected.

Spellwright's prophesy subplot does have a twist in it and much of the novel is spent dispelling the belief that Nicodemus is the Halycon, but the prophesy bit is still there in the background. Fantasy has sort of built up its foundations on recycled themes, and it continues to do so, because that's sort of how it's done; some of these themes, I think, should simply disappear.

But moving away from that, I'll try to get back on a positive note, because I don't think it's fair to point all the fingers at Charlton, or to try to take away from what works in the novel. Charlton has a lot of potential. He could take the concepts of his novel very far: so much can be done with thecacography and all the unique languages he has created for his magic system. If he keeps pressing the details in his future novels, I think he'll become a strong player in the fantasy realm. Right now,Spellwright is fun, unique, and engaging, despite being a tad cliche. Hopefully we'll seem some improvement in the second book.(less)

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Mar 22, 2010 Amanda rated it 2 of 5 stars

Definitely interesting, but I had a few problems with the story that I couldn't get past.

But first, the things I liked. I liked that Charlton created an interesting complex magical world. Come on, a world where a hero could be a grammarian?! As a proud grammar gremlin, I say thank you, Blake Charlton, thank you. The story itself was pretty well-paced, taking you through a beginning, middle, and cliffhanger end, with an appropriate amount of twists and turns, comedic and dramatic moments. A nice...more

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Dec 15, 2009 Aidan rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is an excerpt, for the full review please visit my blog, A Dribble of Ink:

It’s obvious from the very early pages of Spellwright that Blake Charlton is a child of late-eighties and early-ninties Fantasy. It’s full of dastardly villains, righteous youths and hidden destinies. Like contemporaries Brandon Sanderson and Peter V. Brett, Charlton is doing his damnedest to bring back the type of fantasy where the good guys are good, and the bad guys are bad (barring a few genuinely surprising twist...more This is an excerpt, for the full review please visit my blog, A Dribble of Ink:

It’s obvious from the very early pages of Spellwright that Blake Charlton is a child of late-eighties and early-ninties Fantasy. It’s full of dastardly villains, righteous youths and hidden destinies. Like contemporaries Brandon Sanderson and Peter V. Brett, Charlton is doing his damnedest to bring back the type of fantasy where the good guys are good, and the bad guys are bad (barring a few genuinely surprising twists in the final pages) and the fate of the world’s at risk of being overrun by demon hordes.

And that’s not where the comparisons to Brett and Sanderson end. Both of those novelists are known for their intricate, imaginative magic systems, which are not only cool spectacles and a catalyst for visceral battle scenes, but also intimately woven into the plot and world of their stories, and Charlton’s work is no different. Spellwriting, which gives the caster the ability to ‘write’ complex magical formulas–much like a computer programming language–and manifest nearly anything they can think of (including cognizant, living spells called constructs and golems), is at the centre of Charlton’s story, with the main hook being that the protagonist, Nicodemus Weal (who was once thought to be a hero from prophecy) is a cacographer, a dyslexic Spellwright who can neither write his own spells nor come in contact with another’s spell without causing disastrous results.

The history of this character’s disability can be traced directly back to Charlton’s own struggles growing up with severe dyslexia, and this gives a real weight to Weal’s struggles, as one might consider the novel to have a semi-autobiographical nature, though surely Charlton never had to face the idea that only his disability was standing in the way of saving the world from certain doom. Spellwriting and Weal’s struggle to come to terms with his disability are certainly the meat of the story, given the generic overall plot of the novel (demons are bad, want to take over the world, et al.), and for the most part gives the reader a compelling reason to stick with the novel.

[...:]

Speaking of which, world-building and setting are light in Spellwright, with most of the novel taking place in the confines of Starhaven a magical academy for Spellwrights, but with a more grown-up, academical air than Harry Potter’s Hogwarts, and a shadowy, ancient history not unlike that established for Green Angel Tower in Tad Williams’ Memory, Sorrow and Thorn trilogy. Though ostensibly an Epic Fantasy from the outside, Spellwright’s narrow setting, intimate plot and tight cast of characters reminds one of classic Sword & Sorcery novels, including James Enge’s recent novel, Blood of Ambrose (minus the foreskin jokes, of course).

[...:]

Charlton might not win over the Abercrombie/Martin/Lynch crowd, but there’s certainly something there for fans of you-know-who-to-root-for Fantasy, and those who grew up on Brooks, Williams and Feist will certainly find a lot to like about Spellwright. Though not perfect, Charlton’s inventive debut is comfortable in its tropes, but also willing to turn convention on its head and remind us of that sense of wonder than drew us to Fantasy in the first place.(less)

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May 23, 2013 Merida rated it 5 of 5 stars

First at all - excuse my bad English, I am not native English speaker.

There are books, which are intended for some people. It will take some time before the reader and this book will find each other, but it is never too long. And finally - the reunion! Mutual love and praise ;)

This is what happened with me and "Spellwright". I bought it guided by instinct and read after some time from the purchase - and just spit in the face that it took so long.

Blake is a master of the unexpected solutions and...more

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Dec 31, 2011 David Zaine Aarons rated it 4 of 5 stars

Spellwright is a very strong debut, but it does have a few markings that identify it clearly as a first novel. Blake Charlton has a great writer in him, and he writes well, but he has a tendency to lean just a bit too hard on expository dialogue, and occasionally sets up moments of unnecessary repetition (when something a reader knows is re-explained, albeit briefly, to a character in the dark). There's also a bit of a problem with the final chapters of the book. The story builds nicely to the c...more

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