In the world of Revin, magic must be written in ink, and read. In the history of the world, only once has there been a true Artificer, a magician who could wield magic with a thought; and his power came from a magical artifact that has been lost for centuries. The story and potential of the Sigil of Enderune, however, still draws many to search for this ultimate talisman of power.
Excellent! This is a brilliant start to a new series! I read it twice in 2 days because I was soo addicted to it I speed read it the first time figure out what happens and then I read it the 2nd time to catch the details I missed. Lots of details, lots of action, great character development-I love watching Ro’s characters grow. If you’re looking for a great fantasy adventure this is your book!!
Sigil of Enderune carries the weight and atmosphere of a classic fantasy epic. It reminded me of the wonder I felt reading Shannara, Lord of the Rings, or even Earthsea as a kid. The story feels grand, with young characters stepping into roles larger than themselves. While the emotional distance created by the omniscient narration kept me from fully connecting to the characters, the prose and plot provided enough richness to keep me invested. By the midpoint, I was curious to see where these characters would be taken and who would ultimately emerge as the heart of the tale.
This is a story where characters often feel swept along by events rather than shaping them—except for a few standouts. Fayden quickly became the most interesting character for me, since he makes real choices and drives the story through his own agency. Syngin follows close behind, with his decisions and influence adding weight. Fin, as the apprentice, feels more passive, though his dynamic with Syngin has potential. Because of the head-hopping narration, I never felt deeply anchored to a single perspective, but I still found the master/apprentice question intriguing—whose story is it really? The characters felt well-placed, but often more acted upon than acting.
The plot is where this novel shines. It’s layered, carefully constructed, and has that sprawling, “classic fantasy” feel that makes it easy to sink into. The first several chapters feel more like backstory or setup, and much of the pacing can be uneven—some moments that felt important were glossed over while smaller details were lingered on at length. The meandering style does echo Tolkien, complete with heavy backstory, which some readers will love and others may find too slow.
The prose is rich and often beautiful, but there’s a tendency toward over-explaining. It sometimes feels like the author doesn’t trust the reader to pick up on subtleties without being told directly. The dialogue, too, can be bloated or even a little campy at times, slowing down the flow. That said, the writing style does capture the spirit of older fantasy epics, where narration leaned heavier and dialogue often carried a theatrical weight. It may not always be smooth, but it matches the story’s tone.
The world is intriguing, layered with history, myth, and the sense of something larger always in motion. There’s a richness in the lore and setting that makes it easy to imagine beyond the page. However, because so much of this history is told rather than shown, it can weigh down the pacing. Still, the sense of scale and the unfolding conflicts gave me the feeling of stepping into a lived-in, carefully considered world. It’s classic-feeling fantasy, built on tradition but offering fresh young characters to carry it forward.
Sigil of Enderune is a thoughtful, classic-style fantasy that will appeal to readers who love the epic sprawl of Tolkien or Brooks, the quiet wisdom of Earthsea, and the sense of mythic weight behind every decision. While this was not the book for me, the story itself is interesting, the world richly imagined, and characters like Fayden and Syngin provide enough agency to keep the narrative moving. It feels like a true “throwback” fantasy, with young heroes on the cusp of greatness and a world that demands their growth.
Ro can write. Don't listen to his bald little friend!
Jokes aside, this is some quality, classic-feeling fantasy with rich writing and young characters forced to step into their own, and I'm all about it. Well done!
Thoroughly enjoyable story all the way through, never predictable (or wonky on the other extreme), and some great humor sprinkled throughout (magic dragon dung was not on my bingo card for this book 😂).