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Merchant and Empire #1
Merchant and Magic
When Magic Fails...
Tycho Rhonarida Galnaar trades hides—hides tanned, hides untanned, with and without fleeces, nothing risky. He prefers steady, low-key trade, a quiet home life, and reliable business partners. Slow and steady bring wealth and do not draw the attention of nobles, thieves, or the gods. Especially not of the gods!
Counterfeit coin and cursed grain...
But the gods have other plans. Tycho's secret—his absolute inability to work or even see magic in a world that depends on it—may be the key to solving a mystery, and saving a city. Tycho wants no part in mysteries or adventure. He's a merchant, nothing more.
Trade is Tycho's world. That world changes under his feet.
Tycho Rhonarida Galnaar trades hides—hides tanned, hides untanned, with and without fleeces, nothing risky. He prefers steady, low-key trade, a quiet home life, and reliable business partners. Slow and steady bring wealth and do not draw the attention of nobles, thieves, or the gods. Especially not of the gods!
Counterfeit coin and cursed grain...
But the gods have other plans. Tycho's secret—his absolute inability to work or even see magic in a world that depends on it—may be the key to solving a mystery, and saving a city. Tycho wants no part in mysteries or adventure. He's a merchant, nothing more.
Trade is Tycho's world. That world changes under his feet.
- GenresFantasy
244 pages, ebook
Published May 12, 2018
95 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 17, 2024
This book follows Tycho Rhonarida Galnaar, a hide trader, a father of 5 living children, and a collector of interesting coins. Tycho is a typical middle age man: all he really wants is a good bed, a safe journey, and to be treated well by his fellow man and the gods. In this book we follow Tycho as he travels south - more south than he has ever before - for trade and also to follow the mysterious rumors of counterfeit coins.
This is very much a slice of life story. While being attacked by bandits on the road can happen, most of Tycho's evenings are spent checking in on his great haulers (giant birds that pull the wagons), having a plain dinner, and then turning in early. While that might sound boring to some readers, I was drawn to every page. The author spent a lot of time in the museums of Lübeck and Hamburg, studying how the Hanse trade occurred in the Middle Ages, and it's so well reflected in the narrative! It really feels like you're on the road with Tycho, dealing with greedy lords taking larger tributes, or having to convert to a new currency in every major town you come across.
I also liked that there were so many gods in this world! At times it feels like Lois McMaster Bujold's World of the Five Gods, but the gods are never exactly explained or explicitly described. It's a lived experience for the characters in this world, which is my favorite way of engaging with religion. For the most part of this book I wasn't even sure if the Gods were real (as in magical beings) or more like in our world (as in someone prayed to but without the magical powers to back it up). That gets cleared up pretty well by the end of the book!
The one down side is that because this has been self published there are occasional grammatical mistakes and typos. Far more than you'd see in books that've had an editor. I would love to see the author get this proofread, as it only needs a bit of polishing to become outstanding.
At the end of the day I think this is the perfect book for anyone who wants a good "on the road" narrative without too much epic drama. That plot is there, but it is slowly doled out over the rest of the series. There are so many fascinating elements of trade and how trading worked historically that I'd say this works very well as a piece of historical fiction as well.
This is very much a slice of life story. While being attacked by bandits on the road can happen, most of Tycho's evenings are spent checking in on his great haulers (giant birds that pull the wagons), having a plain dinner, and then turning in early. While that might sound boring to some readers, I was drawn to every page. The author spent a lot of time in the museums of Lübeck and Hamburg, studying how the Hanse trade occurred in the Middle Ages, and it's so well reflected in the narrative! It really feels like you're on the road with Tycho, dealing with greedy lords taking larger tributes, or having to convert to a new currency in every major town you come across.
I also liked that there were so many gods in this world! At times it feels like Lois McMaster Bujold's World of the Five Gods, but the gods are never exactly explained or explicitly described. It's a lived experience for the characters in this world, which is my favorite way of engaging with religion. For the most part of this book I wasn't even sure if the Gods were real (as in magical beings) or more like in our world (as in someone prayed to but without the magical powers to back it up). That gets cleared up pretty well by the end of the book!
The one down side is that because this has been self published there are occasional grammatical mistakes and typos. Far more than you'd see in books that've had an editor. I would love to see the author get this proofread, as it only needs a bit of polishing to become outstanding.
At the end of the day I think this is the perfect book for anyone who wants a good "on the road" narrative without too much epic drama. That plot is there, but it is slowly doled out over the rest of the series. There are so many fascinating elements of trade and how trading worked historically that I'd say this works very well as a piece of historical fiction as well.
April 7, 2019
This book was not what I was expecting, but was nonetheless enjoyable.
It is mostly a travelogue in a (largely) imaginary land, rather than a story with conflict, climax, etc. It does have a story, but it's a pretty weak story on its own; by far the bulk of the book is simply describing this interesting country.
The author knows a lot about the Hanseatic league of merchants in the middle ages, and draws heavily on that background. So this is *almost* a historical novel, except for all the place names have been changed, and magic has been injected into the world. (For all I know, the people of that era might have believed in magic as much as the people in this story.)
The author really makes that period come alive; the people do not feel at all like moderns somehow injected into that period, but living, breathing medieval people with medieval concerns. (Except that they are distinctly pagan, not even superficially Christian--that does make a difference.) So many "historical" novels, or even fantasy novels, feel anachronistic because the people have modern concerns and modern outlooks; these people feel genuinely foreign to us, and yet the author makes them understandable. That's what makes it interesting reading.
I kept waiting for the story to start as I read and read and read, and finally a few things started happening toward the end. But, as I said, this really is more of a travelogue, not a drama. The world is interesting, the way the people think is interesting; the characters are interesting (partly because they are foreign, and yet relatable); the action, such as there is, is moderately interesting. But if you're looking for a pulse-pounding thriller, you should try a different book.
I found it interesting enough to read the next couple of books (and I'll probably read more after that). They are basically the same style: travelogue into a (non-Christian) medieval land, with a little bit of action.
It is mostly a travelogue in a (largely) imaginary land, rather than a story with conflict, climax, etc. It does have a story, but it's a pretty weak story on its own; by far the bulk of the book is simply describing this interesting country.
The author knows a lot about the Hanseatic league of merchants in the middle ages, and draws heavily on that background. So this is *almost* a historical novel, except for all the place names have been changed, and magic has been injected into the world. (For all I know, the people of that era might have believed in magic as much as the people in this story.)
The author really makes that period come alive; the people do not feel at all like moderns somehow injected into that period, but living, breathing medieval people with medieval concerns. (Except that they are distinctly pagan, not even superficially Christian--that does make a difference.) So many "historical" novels, or even fantasy novels, feel anachronistic because the people have modern concerns and modern outlooks; these people feel genuinely foreign to us, and yet the author makes them understandable. That's what makes it interesting reading.
I kept waiting for the story to start as I read and read and read, and finally a few things started happening toward the end. But, as I said, this really is more of a travelogue, not a drama. The world is interesting, the way the people think is interesting; the characters are interesting (partly because they are foreign, and yet relatable); the action, such as there is, is moderately interesting. But if you're looking for a pulse-pounding thriller, you should try a different book.
I found it interesting enough to read the next couple of books (and I'll probably read more after that). They are basically the same style: travelogue into a (non-Christian) medieval land, with a little bit of action.
July 8, 2023
Quality. Lately I've been seeking good writing and it's hard to find just from book blurbs and what's popular. This series was recently recommended by a favorite sci-fi author (EM Foner) who writes interesting stories that have great ideas throughout the series. Based solely on this recommendation I bought the Kindle series and just finished the first book.
This book was a quiet read, yet I couldn't wait to get back to it to continue the journey. I agree with the reviewer that compared the writing to Nathan Lowell's calm slice-of-life style. There's a similarity. Also, there's a similarity to one of Becky Chamber's books where she had obviously done a lot of research on human space travel and had many interesting details woven into the story.
Merchant and Magic had how-it-works information included with just a few words - without side-tracking into detailed explanations- those bits gave depth and authenticity to the story. At the end of the book the author recommended historical research books she drew on and that was one explanation of why this book was so enjoyable. No detailed sex or gore, no silly characters. The author's imagination created the world with magic and gods around the details of life in a satisfying amazing way.
Quality writing. Good story telling.
This book was a quiet read, yet I couldn't wait to get back to it to continue the journey. I agree with the reviewer that compared the writing to Nathan Lowell's calm slice-of-life style. There's a similarity. Also, there's a similarity to one of Becky Chamber's books where she had obviously done a lot of research on human space travel and had many interesting details woven into the story.
Merchant and Magic had how-it-works information included with just a few words - without side-tracking into detailed explanations- those bits gave depth and authenticity to the story. At the end of the book the author recommended historical research books she drew on and that was one explanation of why this book was so enjoyable. No detailed sex or gore, no silly characters. The author's imagination created the world with magic and gods around the details of life in a satisfying amazing way.
Quality writing. Good story telling.
March 27, 2025
The worldbuilding is careful well thought through and charming.
This is not an alternate Earth. If it were sold as science fiction, I would guess at a 'Forgotten Colony' that has met disaster and lost its memory of the past.
The people are people. There are some Earth animals, but, for instance, no riding beasts, wagons are pulled by giant birds. There are Earth grains, but also many strange plants.
But. There is magic. And many very active gods.
The geography is strange, and not really logical, a map would be a great help. So would a Dramatis Personae.
Still. There was a Great Cold, and people have only very vauge ideas about history before that...
This is well told, the Main Character is charming.
Recommended if you enjoy good worldbuilding. If you need big battles in every other chapter, maybe not.
This is not an alternate Earth. If it were sold as science fiction, I would guess at a 'Forgotten Colony' that has met disaster and lost its memory of the past.
The people are people. There are some Earth animals, but, for instance, no riding beasts, wagons are pulled by giant birds. There are Earth grains, but also many strange plants.
But. There is magic. And many very active gods.
The geography is strange, and not really logical, a map would be a great help. So would a Dramatis Personae.
Still. There was a Great Cold, and people have only very vauge ideas about history before that...
This is well told, the Main Character is charming.
Recommended if you enjoy good worldbuilding. If you need big battles in every other chapter, maybe not.
October 11, 2022
A good story, but too complex for my tastes
I read the first chapter before deciding it wasn't for me. The writing was well done, but the names and customs were overly complex. Reading was more work than pleasure.
I did read the afterward and was impressed with the amount of historical research the author appears to have done. I just found the text to be too dense to get much enjoyment from reading it.
I read the first chapter before deciding it wasn't for me. The writing was well done, but the names and customs were overly complex. Reading was more work than pleasure.
I did read the afterward and was impressed with the amount of historical research the author appears to have done. I just found the text to be too dense to get much enjoyment from reading it.
October 8, 2018
Patience is rewarded
The writing is very nice, but the pace of the plot is downright glacial. A thoroughly constructed world, with solid characters.
I didn’t get a good feel for the geography, though that may have been things I missed.
This is not action packed. It is family friendly.
No notable proofing errors.
I will KU the next book.
The writing is very nice, but the pace of the plot is downright glacial. A thoroughly constructed world, with solid characters.
I didn’t get a good feel for the geography, though that may have been things I missed.
This is not action packed. It is family friendly.
No notable proofing errors.
I will KU the next book.
December 26, 2020
The title says it
As someone who has experience in markets ( but not with magic) this was enjoyable. The way the main character is constantly pondering and considering how to make coin from his surroundings and knowledge rings very true. Enjoyed the distraction of getting to visit in a different yet somehow familiar world.
As someone who has experience in markets ( but not with magic) this was enjoyable. The way the main character is constantly pondering and considering how to make coin from his surroundings and knowledge rings very true. Enjoyed the distraction of getting to visit in a different yet somehow familiar world.
July 24, 2018
Interesting
A trader, magic and vile plots afoot. At times I found it to be a little dry, yet it was well thought out and researched. I will look for the other books in this series to see more of the world and it's characters.
A trader, magic and vile plots afoot. At times I found it to be a little dry, yet it was well thought out and researched. I will look for the other books in this series to see more of the world and it's characters.
August 4, 2018
Fiction with clever merchant in setting with magic
Fantasy touches include animals that are extinct or fictional, different belief systems and nations. Also full of interesting trade procedures based on Hanseatic League of medieval Germany.
Fantasy touches include animals that are extinct or fictional, different belief systems and nations. Also full of interesting trade procedures based on Hanseatic League of medieval Germany.
January 14, 2025
Incredible World Building
I sometimes think that Alma gets more pleasure from building her worlds and their economies and personalities than she does from the adventures her chosen genre requires. Her books could turn into theses with little change.
I sometimes think that Alma gets more pleasure from building her worlds and their economies and personalities than she does from the adventures her chosen genre requires. Her books could turn into theses with little change.
February 1, 2022
Very good!
A good story, not about a sword hero, but the humble merchant that provides all we have and use. Good yarn!
A good story, not about a sword hero, but the humble merchant that provides all we have and use. Good yarn!
October 13, 2018
Good story, good writing
This is a really good writer. I am looking at some of her other books now. This novel includes magic and gods and I thought it would be a pleasant fantasy novel. It was a great fantasy novel and she writes it with the feel of really good historical fiction. The detail is fantastic.
When I read about her research, I appreciated the effort and the talent she applied even more. She based the book on the Hanse trading network of Baltic and German Medieval Europe. It is a full color snapshot of the merchants and practices of the period, from guild to household, almost a "One day in the Life of The Hanse".
The characters are fully formed and their concerns, limitations and motivations are clearly demonstrated. The writing is so gentle and respectful of the subject that I was overwhelmed.
This is a good book and a great writer. I have to read more from her.
This is a really good writer. I am looking at some of her other books now. This novel includes magic and gods and I thought it would be a pleasant fantasy novel. It was a great fantasy novel and she writes it with the feel of really good historical fiction. The detail is fantastic.
When I read about her research, I appreciated the effort and the talent she applied even more. She based the book on the Hanse trading network of Baltic and German Medieval Europe. It is a full color snapshot of the merchants and practices of the period, from guild to household, almost a "One day in the Life of The Hanse".
The characters are fully formed and their concerns, limitations and motivations are clearly demonstrated. The writing is so gentle and respectful of the subject that I was overwhelmed.
This is a good book and a great writer. I have to read more from her.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews