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Wayward Mages #1
The Late Great Wizard
A young woman must work with a magician who is not what he seems to find her father in this new contemporary portal fantasy series.
With her father vanished under suspicious circumstances and her old life destroyed, Tessa Andrews is determined to pick up the pieces and forge ahead. If only their borrowed house didn't shake and rumble as if haunted. But at least she and her mom have a roof over their heads, so her luck couldn't be all bad, could it?
As if to prove her wrong, Tessa gets an urgent call for help one night from crusty old Professor Brandard, one of the people on her charity meals route. She dashes over, only to find the house in flames and the professor gone. A handsome young man steps out of the ashes to request her assistance, claiming to be the professor and a Phoenix wizard. She not only has to believe in him, but in magic, for an ancient evil is awakening and it will take the two of them, plus a few shady friends, to stand against it.
Because the rejuvenation ritual has gone horribly wrong. The late, great wizard desperately needs to get his mojo back, for only if Brandard regains all his magic do they stand any chance of defeating this deadliest of perils.
With her father vanished under suspicious circumstances and her old life destroyed, Tessa Andrews is determined to pick up the pieces and forge ahead. If only their borrowed house didn't shake and rumble as if haunted. But at least she and her mom have a roof over their heads, so her luck couldn't be all bad, could it?
As if to prove her wrong, Tessa gets an urgent call for help one night from crusty old Professor Brandard, one of the people on her charity meals route. She dashes over, only to find the house in flames and the professor gone. A handsome young man steps out of the ashes to request her assistance, claiming to be the professor and a Phoenix wizard. She not only has to believe in him, but in magic, for an ancient evil is awakening and it will take the two of them, plus a few shady friends, to stand against it.
Because the rejuvenation ritual has gone horribly wrong. The late, great wizard desperately needs to get his mojo back, for only if Brandard regains all his magic do they stand any chance of defeating this deadliest of perils.
336 pages, Paperback
First published September 11, 2018
29 people are currently reading
523 people want to read
About the author
Sara Hanover
3 books12 followersSara Hanover is a pen name. She lives with a hoard of books, rather like a dragon, and works on improving her imagination daily. She loves plot twists and cats, family and crispy autumn leaves, traveling and good food. She thanks her parents for supporting her first efforts in writing, and her husband for continuing to encourage her, along with the many good people at DAW Books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
September 11, 2018
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Sara Hanover's debut is a fun story. It's chock full of magic and adventure and betrayals and a big scary villain. It's got ghosts and spirits and dwarves and phoenix wizards and magical relics. It's one of those books that I just expected to fall in love with.
Unfortunately, the book felt... incomplete, unfinished, lacking something. The plot was all over the place, and some of the events felt forced or shoved into the story just to have an exciting moment rather than making sense for the story overall.
I definitely think she was setting up a series, because this book spends 75% of the book or so setting up the main series villain before making a sharp turn into "here's the villain of THIS book" territory. It spent the rest of the book focusing on that before swapping back to the main villain after the climax.
Basically the dialogue and banter felt a little forced, the relationships weren't overly believable (I mean she knew them all of like a day before she cared deeply for all of them?), and the plot was kinda messy. It felt like part of a bigger story that was left unfinished. It *felt* like setup, world building, without any of the payoffs of it being a complete story on its own that just happened to also setup more.
I gave it three stars (more like two and a half rounded up) because I like the world she created and all the fun types of magic, and because I think she has potential, but if there's a book two, it's going to need to show major growth over this one for me to continue past that.
Sara Hanover's debut is a fun story. It's chock full of magic and adventure and betrayals and a big scary villain. It's got ghosts and spirits and dwarves and phoenix wizards and magical relics. It's one of those books that I just expected to fall in love with.
Unfortunately, the book felt... incomplete, unfinished, lacking something. The plot was all over the place, and some of the events felt forced or shoved into the story just to have an exciting moment rather than making sense for the story overall.
I definitely think she was setting up a series, because this book spends 75% of the book or so setting up the main series villain before making a sharp turn into "here's the villain of THIS book" territory. It spent the rest of the book focusing on that before swapping back to the main villain after the climax.
Basically the dialogue and banter felt a little forced, the relationships weren't overly believable (I mean she knew them all of like a day before she cared deeply for all of them?), and the plot was kinda messy. It felt like part of a bigger story that was left unfinished. It *felt* like setup, world building, without any of the payoffs of it being a complete story on its own that just happened to also setup more.
I gave it three stars (more like two and a half rounded up) because I like the world she created and all the fun types of magic, and because I think she has potential, but if there's a book two, it's going to need to show major growth over this one for me to continue past that.
September 11, 2018
Publishing Date: September 2018
Publisher: DAW
ISBN: 9780756414344
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 3.7/5
Publisher’s Description: A young woman must work with a magician who is not what he seems to find her father in this new contemporary portal fantasy series. With her father vanished under suspicious circumstances and her old life destroyed, Tessa Andrews is determined to pick up the pieces and forge ahead. If only their borrowed house didn’t shake and rumble as if haunted. But at least she and her mom have a roof over their heads, so her luck couldn’t be all bad, could it?
Review: Wow, two excellent novels in a row. How lucky am I? While you’re picking jaw off of said floor, this was not all cookies and cream. Let us start with…..
The Good~ Tessa is a great character. Strong willed, tough in a fight, independent and curious. She grows wonderfully with the movement while the supporting cast is purveyed in a slow reveal. The story line, overall, is interesting and the magic, palatable.
The Bad~ Intentionally slow parsing of critical information was relayed between the characters in order to create suspense. This muddling of the story line does not a good novel make. It tended to lurch here and there, especially when Tessa had critical information. She keeps clandestine interactions mostly to herself when that knowledge would benefit the group and enhance the quest. This faulty reasoning insures that things will eventually go awry.
The Ugly~ This goes out to all authors of the YA/Romance bent. We (men), do not fucking smell like pine needles, leather and musky chocolate. At best, we smell like turpentine and b.o. . Mostly we smell like ass. We do not know anyone named Kai, and if we did we would beat him senseless. So why, why, why did Ms. Hanover ruin a very good novel with this teen-lusting crush shit, slavered within a love tribangle? My bet is a covering of the bases by appealing to all types of readers in hopes of scoring a popular read. Did she succeed?
Tuco’s Remarks~ I think the romance was secondary to Tessa’s outlook on life and the novel, as a whole, really shined with the authors writing ability. There is a highly creative mind behind the pen and I look forward to any subsequent novel by this author.
Check out more reviews, here.
Publisher: DAW
ISBN: 9780756414344
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 3.7/5
Publisher’s Description: A young woman must work with a magician who is not what he seems to find her father in this new contemporary portal fantasy series. With her father vanished under suspicious circumstances and her old life destroyed, Tessa Andrews is determined to pick up the pieces and forge ahead. If only their borrowed house didn’t shake and rumble as if haunted. But at least she and her mom have a roof over their heads, so her luck couldn’t be all bad, could it?
Review: Wow, two excellent novels in a row. How lucky am I? While you’re picking jaw off of said floor, this was not all cookies and cream. Let us start with…..
The Good~ Tessa is a great character. Strong willed, tough in a fight, independent and curious. She grows wonderfully with the movement while the supporting cast is purveyed in a slow reveal. The story line, overall, is interesting and the magic, palatable.
The Bad~ Intentionally slow parsing of critical information was relayed between the characters in order to create suspense. This muddling of the story line does not a good novel make. It tended to lurch here and there, especially when Tessa had critical information. She keeps clandestine interactions mostly to herself when that knowledge would benefit the group and enhance the quest. This faulty reasoning insures that things will eventually go awry.
The Ugly~ This goes out to all authors of the YA/Romance bent. We (men), do not fucking smell like pine needles, leather and musky chocolate. At best, we smell like turpentine and b.o. . Mostly we smell like ass. We do not know anyone named Kai, and if we did we would beat him senseless. So why, why, why did Ms. Hanover ruin a very good novel with this teen-lusting crush shit, slavered within a love tribangle? My bet is a covering of the bases by appealing to all types of readers in hopes of scoring a popular read. Did she succeed?
Tuco’s Remarks~ I think the romance was secondary to Tessa’s outlook on life and the novel, as a whole, really shined with the authors writing ability. There is a highly creative mind behind the pen and I look forward to any subsequent novel by this author.
Check out more reviews, here.
September 4, 2018
*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Fantasy / Epic / Arthurian / Action & Adventure
*Rating* 3.5-4
*Thoughts*
The Late Great Wizard, by debut author Sara Hanover, is the first installment in the Wayward Mages series. The Wayward Mages is a urban fantasy series that follows 19-year old Tessa Andrews as she becomes embroiled in magical mysteries in her quest to find her father, John Andrews who disappeared after apparently draining the families money to pay off gambling debts, leaving Tessa and her mother pretty much at the mercy of a great-Aunt.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
*Genre* Fantasy / Epic / Arthurian / Action & Adventure
*Rating* 3.5-4
*Thoughts*
The Late Great Wizard, by debut author Sara Hanover, is the first installment in the Wayward Mages series. The Wayward Mages is a urban fantasy series that follows 19-year old Tessa Andrews as she becomes embroiled in magical mysteries in her quest to find her father, John Andrews who disappeared after apparently draining the families money to pay off gambling debts, leaving Tessa and her mother pretty much at the mercy of a great-Aunt.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
January 31, 2019
This was . . . okay. I started it Christmas Eve and kept getting pulled away to family stuff, or other books that were due at the library. The characters are likable, the situation at the beginning intrigued me. I think the problem (for me) was that it never quite conveyed the sense of urgency it needed.
Also, if you're the sort of person that picks up on language quirks in international English, there will be moments when it's clear that while the book might be set in Virginia, the author is not (acknowledgments suggest maybe Australia or NZ). But in those cases, I blame the publisher/copy editor for not fixing usage issues. Then again, I might have enjoyed the book more if the author had set it on her home turf.
Also, if you're the sort of person that picks up on language quirks in international English, there will be moments when it's clear that while the book might be set in Virginia, the author is not (acknowledgments suggest maybe Australia or NZ). But in those cases, I blame the publisher/copy editor for not fixing usage issues. Then again, I might have enjoyed the book more if the author had set it on her home turf.
July 16, 2018
The Late Great Wizard by Sara Hanover
When I got this book I had such high hopes. The concept of this book seemed very interesting. At its basis this book was about the fantastical and magical world being a part of the modern-day world. I personally love books that bring magic into the everyday modern world but as I read the first chapter those hopes were reduced to nothing very quickly.
I believe that this book could have been amazing after all it had a great foundation and concept to build from, but there were several major issues I personally had with the writing and story telling aspects of this book.
The story is told from the perspective of Tessa. Tessa is a young woman who is attending college while living with her mother and aunt. Through out the story Tessa becomes entwined with the magical and mystical world. The issues that I had with Tessa/her perspective was that everything seemed to blur together. I had issues detecting where one thought ended and the next began, and some of the rather dangerous and scary situations that she is thrust into barely seem to faze her.
Brian (another main character) bothered me even more than Tessa. Brian is supposed to be a phoenix, but instead of acting like some great mythological creature he acts more like a whiny teenage boy. There was so much potential for his character but sadly Brian fell short as well.
Another big issue I had was the whole ordeal surrounding Tessa’s father and the way it was handled. For instance, when Tessa’s mother is tricked into believing that an Iron Dwarf is a mob cash collector she hardly acts the way one would expect in such a situation. It was little things like this that really bothered me and made it difficult for me to enjoy this book.
Overall I did not enjoy this novel. I think that if the characters reactions to situations was more genuine and believable I would have liked it more, however, I think the right reader could enjoy this novel. After all it does have a good foundation.
When I got this book I had such high hopes. The concept of this book seemed very interesting. At its basis this book was about the fantastical and magical world being a part of the modern-day world. I personally love books that bring magic into the everyday modern world but as I read the first chapter those hopes were reduced to nothing very quickly.
I believe that this book could have been amazing after all it had a great foundation and concept to build from, but there were several major issues I personally had with the writing and story telling aspects of this book.
The story is told from the perspective of Tessa. Tessa is a young woman who is attending college while living with her mother and aunt. Through out the story Tessa becomes entwined with the magical and mystical world. The issues that I had with Tessa/her perspective was that everything seemed to blur together. I had issues detecting where one thought ended and the next began, and some of the rather dangerous and scary situations that she is thrust into barely seem to faze her.
Brian (another main character) bothered me even more than Tessa. Brian is supposed to be a phoenix, but instead of acting like some great mythological creature he acts more like a whiny teenage boy. There was so much potential for his character but sadly Brian fell short as well.
Another big issue I had was the whole ordeal surrounding Tessa’s father and the way it was handled. For instance, when Tessa’s mother is tricked into believing that an Iron Dwarf is a mob cash collector she hardly acts the way one would expect in such a situation. It was little things like this that really bothered me and made it difficult for me to enjoy this book.
Overall I did not enjoy this novel. I think that if the characters reactions to situations was more genuine and believable I would have liked it more, however, I think the right reader could enjoy this novel. After all it does have a good foundation.
January 5, 2019
Third star is for ambition. Otherwise two.
It's carefully plotted, I'll admit. But things develop very unevenly, slow for a while then leaping ahead.
Whenever Carter is on the scene, this instantly becomes a Stephanie Plum novel. And he's so DULL.
ANd I cannot, will not, even with luck magic, accept Tessa guessing a computer password on the first try. Feh. Pfui. Ecch.
First novel, OK. Promising? Yes. Will I read #2? Probably not.
I might look for the next thing after this series.
It's carefully plotted, I'll admit. But things develop very unevenly, slow for a while then leaping ahead.
Whenever Carter is on the scene, this instantly becomes a Stephanie Plum novel. And he's so DULL.
ANd I cannot, will not, even with luck magic, accept Tessa guessing a computer password on the first try. Feh. Pfui. Ecch.
First novel, OK. Promising? Yes. Will I read #2? Probably not.
I might look for the next thing after this series.
September 10, 2018
I’m going to admit up front that I had a hard time reviewing this book. I really did enjoy it overall, but there were a couple things that bothered me a little. First things first, the elements in this books weren’t the same old, same old, which I enjoyed. The book felt fresh, and I was engrossed throughout most of it. There really wasn’t too much action, but I still wanted to know what was going to happen next. Now, here is where the cons come in: I really, really found Brian to be annoying at times. So much so, I really wanted to yell at him, and not in a good way. For being sort of an old wizard, he sure acted like an immature kid (can’t say too much as I don’t want to put spoilers). And, there were times I was confused as to what was going on. These two things drew me out of the story, but I did like the book very much. If you like light urban fantasy with very little romance, give this a try. Recommend! I was provided the e-book which I voluntarily reviewed.
September 11, 2018
⭐⭐⭐.5
I enjoyed this book because it was filled with action, magic and a great adventure. I loved the diversity of characters too from iron dwarfs, middle aged men and a Phoenix wizard. I liked how the group was such a mix of age and size but after everything they go through on their journey they become a weird sort of family. It is the first raw magic based fantasy book I have read in a long while and it was refreshing to be back in that type of world. I found the story really entertaining; following Tessa and the guys as they tried to find hidden objects connected to the professors past, which would help him regain his power. Overall I enjoyed this book it had a fun story and great characters
I enjoyed this book because it was filled with action, magic and a great adventure. I loved the diversity of characters too from iron dwarfs, middle aged men and a Phoenix wizard. I liked how the group was such a mix of age and size but after everything they go through on their journey they become a weird sort of family. It is the first raw magic based fantasy book I have read in a long while and it was refreshing to be back in that type of world. I found the story really entertaining; following Tessa and the guys as they tried to find hidden objects connected to the professors past, which would help him regain his power. Overall I enjoyed this book it had a fun story and great characters
September 6, 2018
Really 3.5 stars.
An interesting mystery and a well pace plot are inhabited by an engaging cast of characters.
A lot happens over the course of the story, I'm actually amazed at how well Hanover managed to cram so much into the pages, but the "Late Great Wizard" of the title is frequently just an afterthought and often the least interesting character.
I enjoyed following along with Tessa and meeting all the supernatural characters, enough that I'm willing to give this series a second book opportunity. I just hope that we get more answers to all the elements set up in this book.
An interesting mystery and a well pace plot are inhabited by an engaging cast of characters.
A lot happens over the course of the story, I'm actually amazed at how well Hanover managed to cram so much into the pages, but the "Late Great Wizard" of the title is frequently just an afterthought and often the least interesting character.
I enjoyed following along with Tessa and meeting all the supernatural characters, enough that I'm willing to give this series a second book opportunity. I just hope that we get more answers to all the elements set up in this book.
August 25, 2018
How can I share how much I love this book? This book bit me hard! I got it in the mail and spent the next three hours reading until I finished it, and wished that I could read it again! It’s lovely, and it’s absolutely the book that broke my reluctance in reading. It’s filled to the brim with magic, mystery, and even a missing person!
This book instantly shot to the absolute top favorite list of fantasy novels! I loved every bit of it from beginning to end. Tessa is a cool character, Brian is a fascinating one, and there’s plenty of action, mystery, and family drama to be had within this book to make you wanting more.
I seriously hope there’s going to be a sequel to this book, because it’s built up enough of a backstory to warrant the return of several characters that I want to know more about. This was a book that will be one that I want to buy as it comes out on shelves, and I believe I’ll buy the hardcover, it’s that good! I’m definitely giving it 5/5 stars, and I hope it gets the detention it definitely deserves! I may re-read this for Halloween, because it’s got the perfect atmosphere for such a holiday!
{Review also posted on my blog}
This book instantly shot to the absolute top favorite list of fantasy novels! I loved every bit of it from beginning to end. Tessa is a cool character, Brian is a fascinating one, and there’s plenty of action, mystery, and family drama to be had within this book to make you wanting more.
I seriously hope there’s going to be a sequel to this book, because it’s built up enough of a backstory to warrant the return of several characters that I want to know more about. This was a book that will be one that I want to buy as it comes out on shelves, and I believe I’ll buy the hardcover, it’s that good! I’m definitely giving it 5/5 stars, and I hope it gets the detention it definitely deserves! I may re-read this for Halloween, because it’s got the perfect atmosphere for such a holiday!
{Review also posted on my blog}
September 9, 2018
The Late Great Wizard was a good escapist read for a dreary weekend.
Other than having a father who mysterious disappeared, college student Tessa has a pretty ordinary life until she meets Professor Brandard while delivering meals to the elderly. The professor is a little strange, but Tessa doesn’t realize how much so until his house catches fire and she finds a naked young man cowering in the bushes in his backyard. It turns out that Brandard is a phoenix wizard capable of rejuvenating through fire, but the process hasn’t been completed, leaving his powers depleted. Scenting weakness, the wizard’s enemies start to attack, and Tessa and other magical beings try to help him escape their clutches. During their adventures, Tessa crosses paths with the hot young cop she has a crush on (who just happens to have his own secrets) and discovers what happened to her missing father, too.
The story is a standard urban fantasy tale in a lot of ways, but the author avoids the clichés that often come with the genre. Tessa isn’t a special girl with great powers. Yes, she has a few magical tricks up her sleeve, but she mostly gets by through a combination of bravery, good sense, and athletic strength. (Having a sense of humor doesn’t hurt, either.) There’s no love triangle; young Brandard is handsome, but romance isn’t on the table. And while Tessa has a crush, she doesn’t get sidetracked into schmoopy musings about her hot cop when she should be focused on getting things done, thank goodness.
My one criticism is that the plot seems a little overstuffed. There are several different antagonists, only one set of which is definitively removed from the action at the end. The characters also spend a lot of time running around to what sometimes seems very little effect. Still, I enjoyed Tessa's voice enough that I was willing to just go with the flow of the story.
This book would be a good choice for anyone looking for a fun light read to while away the time. A sequel is clearly in the works, and I’m looking forward to finding out what happens next to Tessa and her friends.
A copy of this book was provided through NetGalley for review; all opinions expressed are my own.
Other than having a father who mysterious disappeared, college student Tessa has a pretty ordinary life until she meets Professor Brandard while delivering meals to the elderly. The professor is a little strange, but Tessa doesn’t realize how much so until his house catches fire and she finds a naked young man cowering in the bushes in his backyard. It turns out that Brandard is a phoenix wizard capable of rejuvenating through fire, but the process hasn’t been completed, leaving his powers depleted. Scenting weakness, the wizard’s enemies start to attack, and Tessa and other magical beings try to help him escape their clutches. During their adventures, Tessa crosses paths with the hot young cop she has a crush on (who just happens to have his own secrets) and discovers what happened to her missing father, too.
The story is a standard urban fantasy tale in a lot of ways, but the author avoids the clichés that often come with the genre. Tessa isn’t a special girl with great powers. Yes, she has a few magical tricks up her sleeve, but she mostly gets by through a combination of bravery, good sense, and athletic strength. (Having a sense of humor doesn’t hurt, either.) There’s no love triangle; young Brandard is handsome, but romance isn’t on the table. And while Tessa has a crush, she doesn’t get sidetracked into schmoopy musings about her hot cop when she should be focused on getting things done, thank goodness.
My one criticism is that the plot seems a little overstuffed. There are several different antagonists, only one set of which is definitively removed from the action at the end. The characters also spend a lot of time running around to what sometimes seems very little effect. Still, I enjoyed Tessa's voice enough that I was willing to just go with the flow of the story.
This book would be a good choice for anyone looking for a fun light read to while away the time. A sequel is clearly in the works, and I’m looking forward to finding out what happens next to Tessa and her friends.
A copy of this book was provided through NetGalley for review; all opinions expressed are my own.
March 2, 2019
I liked this book, but didn't love it.
I enjoyed the main character, Tessa, a sporty, slightly tomboyish, somewhat underachieving college student, though I'd have liked to see more of her regular life depicted before she (and the reader) got thrown headlong into the magical plot line. Some of the other characters are interesting, with very imaginative supernatural attributes, but there are A LOT of character for a book of this length, so their development gets spread thin. The bulk of the plot involves a sort of scavenger hunt for various magical objects, with the characters having various motivations for involving themselves. Tessa's crush on the local policeman (of the "more than he seems!" type) is endearing but feels a little out of place; her relationships with her parents are supposed to be complex but there is a telling-not-showing problem. My main issue is that the whole package is just... not very memorable? I guess I was just kind of bored a lot of the time. There's a lack of narrative tension.
The last few chapters went some ways towards redeeming the whole thing for me. Well done there.
I'd be curious to see if this author hones her writing in future series or standalone books, as she's got great ideas, but I'm not sure if I'd continue with this particular series.
** I received a Review Copy of this book via NetGalley **
I enjoyed the main character, Tessa, a sporty, slightly tomboyish, somewhat underachieving college student, though I'd have liked to see more of her regular life depicted before she (and the reader) got thrown headlong into the magical plot line. Some of the other characters are interesting, with very imaginative supernatural attributes, but there are A LOT of character for a book of this length, so their development gets spread thin. The bulk of the plot involves a sort of scavenger hunt for various magical objects, with the characters having various motivations for involving themselves. Tessa's crush on the local policeman (of the "more than he seems!" type) is endearing but feels a little out of place; her relationships with her parents are supposed to be complex but there is a telling-not-showing problem. My main issue is that the whole package is just... not very memorable? I guess I was just kind of bored a lot of the time. There's a lack of narrative tension.
The last few chapters went some ways towards redeeming the whole thing for me. Well done there.
I'd be curious to see if this author hones her writing in future series or standalone books, as she's got great ideas, but I'm not sure if I'd continue with this particular series.
** I received a Review Copy of this book via NetGalley **
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June 1, 2020lost interest @ 20%
December 3, 2019
Originally posted at www.archeddoorway.com
I’ve been a bit burnt out on urban fantasy lately, but I thought this book sounded pretty good when I received it in the mail a few weeks ago and decided it could be worth the read. Discovering new authors and books is always one of the best feelings in the world to me, and I think it’s twice as good when it’s a debut novel like this one is. The Late Great Wizard by Sara Hanover was a fun read full of intense action, a fascinating supernatural world, and one of the more interesting magic systems that I’ve read about in a few years now. I actually had a long list of chores and activities planned out for the day I received this book in the mail but ended up getting nothing done as a spent most of the day lazing about in my recliner and reading.
I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect when I started reading this book, but it only took me a few chapters before I knew that my favorite thing about the book was going to be the protagonist Tessa and the interesting supernatural world she finds herself thrust into. I’ve always thought that the best urban fantasy authors are those who create characters and worlds that feel like they could exist and be easily hidden within our own world. I think Sara Hanover did that with The Late Great Wizard as I felt like I could look up at any time while reading and see Tessa or one of her new preternatural friends.
The other thing that I think really stood out about this book is the way that the main character Tessa knows nothing about the supernatural before she’s suddenly thrust into it. So many books in the genre follow a character who’s already clued in on the supernatural world, so I thought it was interesting to see how someone would react when they are introduced to such a world. Some people may say that Tessa accepted the existence of magic a little bit too easily, but I can’t help but feel like I and many others would have reacted the exact same way.
One issue I did have with this book though, is how much new information and characters we sometimes got introduced to at one time. It often felt like the author was trying to cram in as many new characters as possible before the end of the book. I honestly felt like it bogged down the story quite a bit for a while before things started to pick back up again as the book spiraled towards its great ending.
Though, all in all, I would say this was a fantastic debut novel by Sara Hanover and I can’t wait to see what happens next in the series. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend The Late Great Wizard to anyone looking for a new book to read — I think it’s a great addition to the genre!
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I’ve been a bit burnt out on urban fantasy lately, but I thought this book sounded pretty good when I received it in the mail a few weeks ago and decided it could be worth the read. Discovering new authors and books is always one of the best feelings in the world to me, and I think it’s twice as good when it’s a debut novel like this one is. The Late Great Wizard by Sara Hanover was a fun read full of intense action, a fascinating supernatural world, and one of the more interesting magic systems that I’ve read about in a few years now. I actually had a long list of chores and activities planned out for the day I received this book in the mail but ended up getting nothing done as a spent most of the day lazing about in my recliner and reading.
I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect when I started reading this book, but it only took me a few chapters before I knew that my favorite thing about the book was going to be the protagonist Tessa and the interesting supernatural world she finds herself thrust into. I’ve always thought that the best urban fantasy authors are those who create characters and worlds that feel like they could exist and be easily hidden within our own world. I think Sara Hanover did that with The Late Great Wizard as I felt like I could look up at any time while reading and see Tessa or one of her new preternatural friends.
The other thing that I think really stood out about this book is the way that the main character Tessa knows nothing about the supernatural before she’s suddenly thrust into it. So many books in the genre follow a character who’s already clued in on the supernatural world, so I thought it was interesting to see how someone would react when they are introduced to such a world. Some people may say that Tessa accepted the existence of magic a little bit too easily, but I can’t help but feel like I and many others would have reacted the exact same way.
One issue I did have with this book though, is how much new information and characters we sometimes got introduced to at one time. It often felt like the author was trying to cram in as many new characters as possible before the end of the book. I honestly felt like it bogged down the story quite a bit for a while before things started to pick back up again as the book spiraled towards its great ending.
Though, all in all, I would say this was a fantastic debut novel by Sara Hanover and I can’t wait to see what happens next in the series. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend The Late Great Wizard to anyone looking for a new book to read — I think it’s a great addition to the genre!
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 13, 2020
Fun in a somewhat shallow way. To be fair, I was reading it concurrently with a re-read of the Wheel of Time series, books where you spend a large amount of time with a tangled cast and intersecting motivations, so a slim novel with only a few significant characters was never going to feel too developed. But, for all that, the main character is *really* passive and collecting the various plot devices seemed barely a struggle.
The basic premise is intriguing: Tessa Andrews, economically down on her luck, lives with her mother while attending community college (her father having gone missing several years back after draining their accounts gambling). She has developed a bond with some of the elderly residents on her street, to whom she delivers dinners as a part-time job. But when one house on her route burns down, belonging to an elderly professor, she learns it was not an accident; foul play may be at work. Even more mysteriously, she finds a young man in the professor's backyard, who claims to *be* the professor, secretly a wizard, freshly rejuvenated in a magical phoenix ritual after he was attacked.
The execution from that premise was a little disappointing, however. Characters show up with hidden motives, but their conflicts seem half-hearted at best; Tessa somehow manages to be so lucky that she stumbles into a clue or makes allies wherever she goes. The characterization somehow just feels thin.
It's a paranormal romance series in fast forward. I'm not sure what age range it's targetting; parts reminded me of the classic Archer's Goon (although AG still felt like the side characters had more of their own development), which was definitely aimed at a younger set. I might continue the series; I never disliked it, but if I had put it down, I don't know how long it'd have been before I got back to it.
The basic premise is intriguing: Tessa Andrews, economically down on her luck, lives with her mother while attending community college (her father having gone missing several years back after draining their accounts gambling). She has developed a bond with some of the elderly residents on her street, to whom she delivers dinners as a part-time job. But when one house on her route burns down, belonging to an elderly professor, she learns it was not an accident; foul play may be at work. Even more mysteriously, she finds a young man in the professor's backyard, who claims to *be* the professor, secretly a wizard, freshly rejuvenated in a magical phoenix ritual after he was attacked.
The execution from that premise was a little disappointing, however. Characters show up with hidden motives, but their conflicts seem half-hearted at best; Tessa somehow manages to be so lucky that she stumbles into a clue or makes allies wherever she goes. The characterization somehow just feels thin.
It's a paranormal romance series in fast forward. I'm not sure what age range it's targetting; parts reminded me of the classic Archer's Goon (although AG still felt like the side characters had more of their own development), which was definitely aimed at a younger set. I might continue the series; I never disliked it, but if I had put it down, I don't know how long it'd have been before I got back to it.
February 10, 2021
The pieces of the whole are good. I wish the whole was more gripping but I still liked it. It's a nice little piece of urban fantasy. I appreciated the main character being a university student struggling to get by in the world. It made it easier to connect with the character, yet at the same time harder because as a reader you are discovering and buying into the supernatural world of this book at the same time she is and that element felt a little roughly done. It's still nice she isn't a magical badass from the get go and has a good backstory.
The concept and character of the phoenix wizard was awesome, and the dwarven dude was great. There are magical relics, a mysterious organization, and a dark lord type figure of impending doom. All can be enjoyable. But the impending doom guy had some frustrating inconsistencies in his doom delivering capabilities in my opinion, and our little band of good guys are not always the sharpest tools in the shed in ways that are very maddening.
So to me the individual elements are done well, but I wish they had meshed better. There are some rough uneven aspects to the book but I still enjoyed reading it. Would recommend depending on how much you like urban fantasy and how demanding of a reader you are.
The concept and character of the phoenix wizard was awesome, and the dwarven dude was great. There are magical relics, a mysterious organization, and a dark lord type figure of impending doom. All can be enjoyable. But the impending doom guy had some frustrating inconsistencies in his doom delivering capabilities in my opinion, and our little band of good guys are not always the sharpest tools in the shed in ways that are very maddening.
So to me the individual elements are done well, but I wish they had meshed better. There are some rough uneven aspects to the book but I still enjoyed reading it. Would recommend depending on how much you like urban fantasy and how demanding of a reader you are.
September 12, 2018
**received ARC for review**
“Tessa doesn’t believe in magic...but magic believes in Tessa.”--Sara Hanover
This brilliantly encapsulates the beginning of the story where the heroine, Tessa, is just an average college student struggling to pay for tuition, balance her extracurriculars—both voluntary and not-so-voluntary—with family, friends, frenemies, and an intriguing slightly-older crush. Everything seems normal, if a bit hectic, until the neighborhood erupts in a housefire at her elderly acquaintance’s eccentric home and suddenly Tessa is thrown into a world where not only does magic exist, but it’s been in her life for much longer than she realized.
I enjoyed this first book in the Wayward Mages series by Sara Hanover and learning more about Tessa’s whirlwind adventures in magic, chaos, friendships, and family life. It’s clear that this book is to get us acquainted with Tessa and the cast of characters while building a world and magic system that seems to be quite intricate and complex the more that is revealed in “The Late Great Wizard.” Can’t wait to see what happens next!
--MS
“Tessa doesn’t believe in magic...but magic believes in Tessa.”--Sara Hanover
This brilliantly encapsulates the beginning of the story where the heroine, Tessa, is just an average college student struggling to pay for tuition, balance her extracurriculars—both voluntary and not-so-voluntary—with family, friends, frenemies, and an intriguing slightly-older crush. Everything seems normal, if a bit hectic, until the neighborhood erupts in a housefire at her elderly acquaintance’s eccentric home and suddenly Tessa is thrown into a world where not only does magic exist, but it’s been in her life for much longer than she realized.
I enjoyed this first book in the Wayward Mages series by Sara Hanover and learning more about Tessa’s whirlwind adventures in magic, chaos, friendships, and family life. It’s clear that this book is to get us acquainted with Tessa and the cast of characters while building a world and magic system that seems to be quite intricate and complex the more that is revealed in “The Late Great Wizard.” Can’t wait to see what happens next!
--MS
September 11, 2019
I struggled with this book for all the wrong reasons. It is a great story but poorly executed in my opinion. A few of the issues I had include:
Editing- I have no idea who edited this book (or if there even was editing) but the grammatical and spelling errors constantly pull you from the story and book.
Character development - the main character had little to no development and she constantly was gaining skills and abilities out of nowhere (4/5 way though the book all of a sudden she is a hacking genius?!?!). The book could’ve dealt with some development in the beginning rather than jump right into it (why was she so accepting of magic and wizardry and why did everyone in her life belong to that world without her knowledge - she just accepts it).
Story board - it jumped around so much and randomly. Why did they go on a giant quest to two different states and why was there a random person willing to drive them?! It just felt like a lot of the story developed because the author got to that point and didn’t know what to do next.
I wanted to like this book. But just struggled.
Editing- I have no idea who edited this book (or if there even was editing) but the grammatical and spelling errors constantly pull you from the story and book.
Character development - the main character had little to no development and she constantly was gaining skills and abilities out of nowhere (4/5 way though the book all of a sudden she is a hacking genius?!?!). The book could’ve dealt with some development in the beginning rather than jump right into it (why was she so accepting of magic and wizardry and why did everyone in her life belong to that world without her knowledge - she just accepts it).
Story board - it jumped around so much and randomly. Why did they go on a giant quest to two different states and why was there a random person willing to drive them?! It just felt like a lot of the story developed because the author got to that point and didn’t know what to do next.
I wanted to like this book. But just struggled.
August 22, 2020
I enjoyed this. The heroine takes most of what happens in stride, neither being too stupid to breathe (we've all read about those) nor possessed of ever zincreasing heretofore unknown skills. Nope, she's a pretty normal girl who's learned to work hard for her success. She has only a few friends and treats them as the gifts they are. She also has a strong sense of right and follows her instincts, even if those around her don't agree.
Best of all, she mostly talks to people, like her mother and her team mates, rather than keeping them in the dark while she goes off to bumble her way through saving the whatever. And her mother is a sensible type as well. She doesn't reject the idea of magic when it's presented to her, she doesn't tell her daughter to stay out of it. She does, however, force some balance, as in no you can't just go galvanizing off. You have classes to attend. Work around it
I look forward to book two if I can find it. Not a great book, but it's good enough to want more and good enough to recommend.
Best of all, she mostly talks to people, like her mother and her team mates, rather than keeping them in the dark while she goes off to bumble her way through saving the whatever. And her mother is a sensible type as well. She doesn't reject the idea of magic when it's presented to her, she doesn't tell her daughter to stay out of it. She does, however, force some balance, as in no you can't just go galvanizing off. You have classes to attend. Work around it
I look forward to book two if I can find it. Not a great book, but it's good enough to want more and good enough to recommend.
July 16, 2020
I attempted to get into this book, however, I just couldn't. There were several glaring editorial mistakes that distracted me from the story. It also felt like the author attempted to jam every trope into the book that she possibly could:
cool wizard? check
Unbeliever of magic main character? check
Random dwarf? check
Sudden memory loss that contributes to confusion? check
Mysterious disappearance that doesn't seem overly connected? check
Main character that suddenly develops highly technical skills without training? check
Several "are they bad/are they good" characters? check
There was way too much going on, the plot was difficult to follow and often too convoluted to be believable. I very rarely set aside books without finishing them, but I just could not finish reading this book. It was poorly developed and needed a better editor. This saddens me because the premise of the book was fascinating and I really wanted to like it.
cool wizard? check
Unbeliever of magic main character? check
Random dwarf? check
Sudden memory loss that contributes to confusion? check
Mysterious disappearance that doesn't seem overly connected? check
Main character that suddenly develops highly technical skills without training? check
Several "are they bad/are they good" characters? check
There was way too much going on, the plot was difficult to follow and often too convoluted to be believable. I very rarely set aside books without finishing them, but I just could not finish reading this book. It was poorly developed and needed a better editor. This saddens me because the premise of the book was fascinating and I really wanted to like it.
November 8, 2019
Eh? It has definite potential but it just shows signs of writing inexperience? For example, there is a whole character that didn't need to be there at all. Then, another character disappeared but was almost immediately replaced by someone absolutely identical in every respect. So, why did the first one go away? Then there the, well, wandering, of the plot all over the place. And I was never sure who was supposed to be the romantic interest. Ok, there were potentially two but one of them was so juvenile that it made me throw up a bit. And I just never bought it. Plus, the big baddy is a bad copy of Voldemort, in a way that makes no sense in the world as written.
I read the whole thing hoping it would get better. It didn't. I really hope that as Hanover gets more skilled at writing that most of these problems will go away.
I read the whole thing hoping it would get better. It didn't. I really hope that as Hanover gets more skilled at writing that most of these problems will go away.
February 15, 2020
I wish I had quit this book halfway through when I wasn't feeling it. Instead, I persevered, and now I feel like I wasted a week reading something I didn't like. The concept of a Phoenix Wizard is interesting, but this story is not really about him, and he ends up being a forgettable character for someone that the book is named after. I really didn't find the main character, Tessa, all that interesting. The book was a combination of light urban fantasy and teen girl romance, and she didn't stand out as a character in either sense. Also, it feels horribly unfinished, like nothing at all was resolved. I finished, but I won't read the next book.
September 27, 2018
Bopped back and forth on Kindle and Audible for this book. Terrific narrator on the audiobook. Loved the twists and turns in the story, kept me up late to find out what would happen next. I loved that Tessa delivered meals to seniors, even though she did it reluctantly. Other favorite parts? Loved the places they went to find clues. Never heard of a Phoenix Wizard and thought it a terrific thing. The characters had loads of depth and surprises of their own. Totally fooled me in most cases. I cried in one part. I hope the next book comes out quick! I usually enjoy Daw books but this one exceeded my expectations. Recommend this book to anyone who loves urban fantasy, not the dark dreary kind, but one that is fresh, fast and fantastic.
November 15, 2018
After her father disappeared, Tessa Andrews spent her last year of High School delivering food to the local elderly. Then one of her clients, Professor Brandard, has his house go up in flames with him turning back to his twenties. That was Tessa’s introduction to magic. Unfortunately a very powerful wizard is making his way to America and Tessa has to help the The Late Great Wizard (paper from DAW) help find the relics that have pieces of his memory and are scattered all over the North East cities. Other eccentric wizards sometimes help and sometimes hinder. When she learns her father has been caught in a magical trap, it makes the quest personally important to her. A fun tale. Review printed by Philadelphia Free Press
February 14, 2020
An interesting premise but the characters were fairly shallow and underdeveloped. A lot of the main character's decisions made no sense in the moment and despite having an inner monologue no explanation was given for her thought process on multiple occasions. When you're living in a character's head it's especially jarring to have them behave erratically.
Not a critique of the writing per se but the book was lousy with typos and grammatical errors, something I'd expect from a self published book on Kindle Unlimited, but something I'm not so quick to forgive in a printed book I paid $10 for. Guessing it was the editor's first or last day, maybe both.
If you're intrigued by the premise, and you should be, get it from the library and save your money.
Not a critique of the writing per se but the book was lousy with typos and grammatical errors, something I'd expect from a self published book on Kindle Unlimited, but something I'm not so quick to forgive in a printed book I paid $10 for. Guessing it was the editor's first or last day, maybe both.
If you're intrigued by the premise, and you should be, get it from the library and save your money.
July 16, 2020
I can sum up this entire book in 2 words: Mary Sue.
July 2, 2022
Frantic action as college student Tessa gets involved in the magical world in an effort to help her elderly professor/now young man phoenix-like friend. Problems: Enemies conveniently become friends/allies, nobody seems concerned about evading the people who are chasing them and taking magical items away (or otherwise trying to keep them from taking the items), Tessa's backpack is stolen, but later somehow she still has it, and she notices magical things that other magical personages don't, yet they poo-poo the idea that she might have some magical ability herself. But the action was great, and I loved the group of iron dwarves who come in and fix the things that get smashed (wouldn't we all love a team come into our lives like that!)
December 2, 2019
One of the best urban fantasy books I've read this year. The protagonist is smart and capable. It's so refreshing to have a main character that knows at least as much about magic as any well-read fantasy reader. The protagonist acts exactly as I would expect. She accepts that magic exists without spending a page or two in shock or contemplating how weird her life is.
The plot was a little weird. The big climax involved side characters that felt a little shoehorned into the last scene. That, and the portrayal of Richmond, VA as a small town where everyone knows everyone else are the only things that kept this from a 5 star rating.
The plot was a little weird. The big climax involved side characters that felt a little shoehorned into the last scene. That, and the portrayal of Richmond, VA as a small town where everyone knows everyone else are the only things that kept this from a 5 star rating.
January 9, 2021
While this is a shorter book (which is not always a positive sign for urban fantasy) it is a fun read, There is good pacing and the lead character is likable and relatable. This book doesn't start with the premise that everyone knows magic is real, but the way that the lead character, Tessa is introduced to it is novel and well written. The book has a good mix of action and humor against a believable version of someones real life
I personally found the start of the book a little meandering, which was one one hand, a nice way to be introduced to the characters, but on the other hand felt disconcerting based on the books length.
I personally found the start of the book a little meandering, which was one one hand, a nice way to be introduced to the characters, but on the other hand felt disconcerting based on the books length.
October 3, 2018
Well, I HOPE the author just leaves the book here, no series. It was jst too reminiscent of other things to really catch me. Might be nice to think the author just stopped, they went on with their lives unresolved, but [shrug]. I didn't dislike it, really a 3.5 star, but it felt at turns like a YA concept of a Harry Potter universe, or like a series that would keep going like the Dresden files, and occasionally like other things. I can't say why, because - obviously - writers are readers first, and get their ideas.
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