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The Golden Mage #1
The Kingdom of Eternal Sorrow
After waking to find her teenaged sister at her apartment in California begging to be allowed to stay after running away from home, Allison McNeal thought her biggest problem that day would be to keep her former stepfather from finding out before she could talk sense into her sister, not the series of strange, unnerving incidents throughout the morning that suddenly have her second-guessing her sanity, and especially not the brilliant light that abruptly flashes in front of them when the two sisters are walking in a nearby park as a hole is seemingly ripped into the very fabric of reality, sucking a terrified and screaming Allison within and ultimately into another world altogether.
Found within the kingdom of Lamia and suddenly manifesting frightening abilities she hasn’t the slightest clue how to control, Allison learns that the locals believe that she’s the Golden Mage, a figure of legend with the ability to perform powerful and terrible spells that haven’t been seen for centuries and destined to fulfill an ancient prophecy where a single decision will ultimately decide the fate of not only two warring kingdoms—one her new home and the other ruled by a cruel mage-king obsessed with Lamia’s conquest—but also a world moving closer to a prophesied time of possible annihilation.
In a world where many see her arrival as a curse and others as a powerful means towards a dark end, Allison’s only guides are a young Mage-general struggling with his own dark past of secrets and betrayals and the Brothers in Divinity, a secretive order of priests and mages whose only loyalties lie with their god and whose divine laws must be followed above all others.
War is swiftly approaching, and if the prophecy is to be believed, only she has the power to determine which kingdom will fall.
Found within the kingdom of Lamia and suddenly manifesting frightening abilities she hasn’t the slightest clue how to control, Allison learns that the locals believe that she’s the Golden Mage, a figure of legend with the ability to perform powerful and terrible spells that haven’t been seen for centuries and destined to fulfill an ancient prophecy where a single decision will ultimately decide the fate of not only two warring kingdoms—one her new home and the other ruled by a cruel mage-king obsessed with Lamia’s conquest—but also a world moving closer to a prophesied time of possible annihilation.
In a world where many see her arrival as a curse and others as a powerful means towards a dark end, Allison’s only guides are a young Mage-general struggling with his own dark past of secrets and betrayals and the Brothers in Divinity, a secretive order of priests and mages whose only loyalties lie with their god and whose divine laws must be followed above all others.
War is swiftly approaching, and if the prophecy is to be believed, only she has the power to determine which kingdom will fall.
408 pages, Paperback
First published September 4, 2015
70 people are currently reading
439 people want to read
About the author
C.G. Garcia
7 books27 followersC.G. Garcia lives in a small West Texas town whose claim to fame is having the world’s largest Rattlesnake Round-up. She has a degree in computer science, but due to life’s twisted sense of humor, ended up working in a pharmacy. A lifelong lover of all things fantasy and science fiction, she is the author of the Fractured Multiverse, Old Souls, and the Golden Mage fantasy series.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
September 21, 2015
This book was an enjoyable read for the most part. Some parts were too descriptive while others were a bit slow at times. The story itself is unique and refreshing although the "love story" is quite frustrating throughout. I am currently reading the 2nd book in the series and I will review when complete.
January 12, 2017
Needs an editor
Made it 15 pages before I gave up. Too many adverbs, adjectives, and grammatical errors. Someone cannot "almost immediately nearly" fall to the ground. That was where I gave up.
Made it 15 pages before I gave up. Too many adverbs, adjectives, and grammatical errors. Someone cannot "almost immediately nearly" fall to the ground. That was where I gave up.
May 27, 2020
2,5 stars. I really wanted to like this book more but...
This is the second book I read by the same author (although in the other one, a romance about dragon shifters, she had a different pen name). Once again, I'm noticing the same problems: interesting idea, a world that has potential... but executed in a lacklustre way that leaves you with a "meh" feeling in the end. This book especially had several good moments, the epic-ness in the fantasy genre was there, some chapters would have been really good even with some proper editing that would have removed the grammatical redundancies and tightened it up a bit. But overall? You have a protagonist who's supposed to be The Chosen One, who spends the whole book crying and fainting and screaming and falling on the arms of the male co-lead to cry some more. (A trait he values in her because, I kid you not, she's not like the other women he's met who are strong minded.) Anyway, you get the idea. It's a lovely premise, I just wish it was done better.
This is the second book I read by the same author (although in the other one, a romance about dragon shifters, she had a different pen name). Once again, I'm noticing the same problems: interesting idea, a world that has potential... but executed in a lacklustre way that leaves you with a "meh" feeling in the end. This book especially had several good moments, the epic-ness in the fantasy genre was there, some chapters would have been really good even with some proper editing that would have removed the grammatical redundancies and tightened it up a bit. But overall? You have a protagonist who's supposed to be The Chosen One, who spends the whole book crying and fainting and screaming and falling on the arms of the male co-lead to cry some more. (A trait he values in her because, I kid you not, she's not like the other women he's met who are strong minded.) Anyway, you get the idea. It's a lovely premise, I just wish it was done better.
May 11, 2017
This is a good beginning to an epic tale that has all the ingredients to satisfy fantasy lovers.
Well-written with realistic and believable characters and good world building.
Sucked from one world to another, the protagonist must come to terms with her true identity and learn to control the powers she didn't know she had.
Trouble is on the horizon...
Enjoyable.
Well-written with realistic and believable characters and good world building.
Sucked from one world to another, the protagonist must come to terms with her true identity and learn to control the powers she didn't know she had.
Trouble is on the horizon...
Enjoyable.
March 24, 2017
I just wasn't a huge fan of this. It was a hard read. It was almost like a long intro. The story was super slow. I just wasn't in love with it. The girl was way to whinny but supposed to be a hero? Yeah, a little too unbelievable.
September 30, 2018
3 stars. So-so. Not much happens
January 17, 2019
Good fantasy
Nice story and easy to read. Good build up of the plot and people on the story. Love the magic
Nice story and easy to read. Good build up of the plot and people on the story. Love the magic
April 3, 2020
Loved the storyline. Am waiting to read the next book hope it goes on kindle unlimited.. I can't wait to see if she is able to use more of her
abilities...
abilities...
February 19, 2022
This has potential but was poorly executed.
March 14, 2017
At first, I was not too sure about this book, but after the first chapter I could not put it down. From the start, you're tossed into a family drama in the modern world with hints of the supernatural, not what I thought I was getting into based off the synopsis. However, that is just a hint of the main character (Allison) life before she is whisked away to an alternate world where magic is real. I have always loved stories with alternate worlds/realities where the impossible ends up to be possible. In this new world, Allison discovers she has immense powers and must learn how to use them before she accidently hurts those around her and she is also needed to fight an evil that is bent on destroying this world and the world she came from. a She is part of a prophecy that keeps unfolding throughout the book. The story ends all too soon leaving a good cliffhanger that should segway into the next book, I can't wait to continue reading this fantastical story. What will happen to Allison, will she learn to control her powers in time or will she end up being used as the catalyst for the end of the world?
March 2, 2017
Disappointing. Non-ending and needs editing. The general lack of concern for her sister, especially initially makes no sense. 2 star
February 15, 2017
Story could be good but there are two things that prevent me from wanting to read further:
It is incredibly wordy. Everything is described over and over, multiple adjectives and adverbs, and explanations are repeated ad nauseum. Trim it back and concentrate more on the story.
Second, for someone who overcame issues with her stepfather, Allison is weak. Yes, I understand she's been through a major upheaval, but she shows no spine whatsoever. I find it hard to believe she will pull together to be a heroine when she whines and cries and berates herself constantly.
It is incredibly wordy. Everything is described over and over, multiple adjectives and adverbs, and explanations are repeated ad nauseum. Trim it back and concentrate more on the story.
Second, for someone who overcame issues with her stepfather, Allison is weak. Yes, I understand she's been through a major upheaval, but she shows no spine whatsoever. I find it hard to believe she will pull together to be a heroine when she whines and cries and berates herself constantly.
September 18, 2015
Astonishing fantasy involving a girl ripped from Earth through a portal to a strange world where she is believed to be a mage of legend destined to save (or destroy) all mankind. Very well written with fantastic storyline and imaginative characters that suck you in and don’t let go! If you are a fan of fantasy then this is a must read.
**This book was received in exchange for an honest review**
**This book was received in exchange for an honest review**
October 19, 2015
The MC is overpowered but doesn't have any control with her powers.
I like the world. Bit of a been-there-done-that story though.
Oh, not a broody, arrogant bad boy of an LI. Instalove? Maybe. They haven't acted on their feelings, yet.
I also like the side characters. I want to know their stories.
I like the world. Bit of a been-there-done-that story though.
Oh, not a broody, arrogant bad boy of an LI. Instalove? Maybe. They haven't acted on their feelings, yet.
I also like the side characters. I want to know their stories.
December 31, 2016
Great story
I enjoyed reading this book. I love the characters. I only wish that her sister could have come too. What happened to her sister when she vanished from the car. I would recommend this book to anyone that loves fantasy. I think that young people would enjoy this b.
I enjoyed reading this book. I love the characters. I only wish that her sister could have come too. What happened to her sister when she vanished from the car. I would recommend this book to anyone that loves fantasy. I think that young people would enjoy this b.
November 28, 2015
Is a great book to read
October 23, 2016
Historia envolvente y personajes complejos e interesantes.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews