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Mage Errant #1-2
Mage Errant Books 1-2
Into the Labyrinth, Book One:
Hugh of Emblin is, so far as he's concerned, the worst student that the Academy at Skyhold has ever seen. He can barely cast any spells at all, and those he does cast tend to fail explosively. If that wasn't bad enough, he's also managed to attract the ire of the most promising student of his year - who also happens to be the nephew of a king. Hugh has no friends, no talent, and definitely doesn't expect a mage to choose him as an apprentice at all during the upcoming Choosing.
When a very unusual mage does choose him as apprentice, however, his life starts to take a sharp turn for the better. Now all he has to worry about is the final test for the first years - being sent into the terrifying labyrinth below Skyhold.
Jewel of the Endless Erg, Book Two:
After surviving Skyhold's deadly labyrinth, Hugh and his friends are looking forwards to an uneventful summer. Their teacher, Alustin, has chartered a sandship for a training expedition into the vast sea of sand known as the Endless Erg, aiming for the wealthy and powerful desert city of Theras Tel. Hugh's happier than he's been in a long, long time, and he's quite excited for the fresh air, sunshine, and quiet.
Of course, given Hugh's luck, their summer is going to be anything but quiet. They're about to be plunged into a morass of pirates, monsters, warring cults, flesh-tearing sandstorms, and a conspiracy against Indris Stormbreaker, the dragon queen of Theras Tel herself.
At least Hugh's going to get plenty of fresh air and sunshine.
Hugh of Emblin is, so far as he's concerned, the worst student that the Academy at Skyhold has ever seen. He can barely cast any spells at all, and those he does cast tend to fail explosively. If that wasn't bad enough, he's also managed to attract the ire of the most promising student of his year - who also happens to be the nephew of a king. Hugh has no friends, no talent, and definitely doesn't expect a mage to choose him as an apprentice at all during the upcoming Choosing.
When a very unusual mage does choose him as apprentice, however, his life starts to take a sharp turn for the better. Now all he has to worry about is the final test for the first years - being sent into the terrifying labyrinth below Skyhold.
Jewel of the Endless Erg, Book Two:
After surviving Skyhold's deadly labyrinth, Hugh and his friends are looking forwards to an uneventful summer. Their teacher, Alustin, has chartered a sandship for a training expedition into the vast sea of sand known as the Endless Erg, aiming for the wealthy and powerful desert city of Theras Tel. Hugh's happier than he's been in a long, long time, and he's quite excited for the fresh air, sunshine, and quiet.
Of course, given Hugh's luck, their summer is going to be anything but quiet. They're about to be plunged into a morass of pirates, monsters, warring cults, flesh-tearing sandstorms, and a conspiracy against Indris Stormbreaker, the dragon queen of Theras Tel herself.
At least Hugh's going to get plenty of fresh air and sunshine.
425 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 20, 2019
274 people are currently reading
428 people want to read
About the author
John Bierce
11 books1,169 followersJohn Bierce is a fantasy novelist, history and science buff, SFF fan, and general all-around dork. He is currently traveling the world as a digital nomad, but spends a lot more time observing the urban ecology of drainage ditches in other countries than visiting glamorous tourist destinations. (Did you know that Southeast Asia has freshwater crabs? Who are apparently fantastic parents, unlike basically every other crab species ever? It’s definitely surprising the first time you see a crab wandering around in a ditch hundreds of miles from the ocean.)
https://johnbierce.com/
https://johnbierce.com/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
November 3, 2019
This is definitely something younger audiences would enjoy.
It has:
• Teenage protagonists
• Starting off weak, isolated, and bullied, and slowly growing out of it
• The young protagonist pulling off feats that many adults never did.
• Sweaty hand-holding
• Magical school, dragons and demons, oh my
• Friendship overcomes all
• Etc
It was "okay", but it was too "sterile" for me. The plot was great, and it told a gripping story of overcoming weakness to be a better person. But that just isn't my type of book. I grew out of reading these "wholesome" books years ago.
I will probably not be picking up the sequel.
3/5 Stars
It has:
• Teenage protagonists
• Starting off weak, isolated, and bullied, and slowly growing out of it
• The young protagonist pulling off feats that many adults never did.
• Sweaty hand-holding
• Magical school, dragons and demons, oh my
• Friendship overcomes all
• Etc
It was "okay", but it was too "sterile" for me. The plot was great, and it told a gripping story of overcoming weakness to be a better person. But that just isn't my type of book. I grew out of reading these "wholesome" books years ago.
I will probably not be picking up the sequel.
3/5 Stars
August 13, 2020
Most entertaining read in a long time
My current job doesn’t allow me much time for leisure reading, so when I took some time off I was looking forward to reading something for fun. Both books 1&2 were great, the build up is masterful—the climax was exciting, and the endings were clever. Perfect!
My current job doesn’t allow me much time for leisure reading, so when I took some time off I was looking forward to reading something for fun. Both books 1&2 were great, the build up is masterful—the climax was exciting, and the endings were clever. Perfect!
April 10, 2020
Overall: +7
A light and fun adventure read that'll definitely leave you with a smile.
Writing/Plot/Pace: +7
Book 1 was a bit straight forward book which faithfully sticks to all the tropes of the genre. Yes, the writing style and underlying vein of humours still makes this a fun read. Book 2 takes you to a different city and we see the more of the wonderful worldbuilding author has achieved. The setting feel special and unlike similar places in other books. Plot is also straightforward yet still engaging enough to keep you turning the pages.
What sets this book apart is the sense of adventure and fun that permeates every page written!
Characters: +7
Though this sticks to the tropes, the various factions, monsters, groups etc are quite unique. We get sunmaws and dragons, imps and other whatnots mixed in. There's enough backstory in characters to gain understanding and a nice revelation at the end.
A light and fun adventure read that'll definitely leave you with a smile.
Writing/Plot/Pace: +7
Book 1 was a bit straight forward book which faithfully sticks to all the tropes of the genre. Yes, the writing style and underlying vein of humours still makes this a fun read. Book 2 takes you to a different city and we see the more of the wonderful worldbuilding author has achieved. The setting feel special and unlike similar places in other books. Plot is also straightforward yet still engaging enough to keep you turning the pages.
What sets this book apart is the sense of adventure and fun that permeates every page written!
Characters: +7
Though this sticks to the tropes, the various factions, monsters, groups etc are quite unique. We get sunmaws and dragons, imps and other whatnots mixed in. There's enough backstory in characters to gain understanding and a nice revelation at the end.
January 3, 2020
I really wanted to like this book. The premise was great, but the first half of the first book is almost all exposition. I don't just want to read about the world and the magic system. I want the characters to do something. One whole chapter was nothing but the kids telling themselves their own back stories. Very frustrating.
April 4, 2025
This series gets better as it goes on, and it's easily in my top 15 favorite book series of all time. HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT. LOVE IT. Epic scope, well-thought-through magic system, great characters and world-building. This really has it all.
February 23, 2020
I’ve found a new favorite author – John Bierce.
Choosing a new audiobook is always stressful. Many things run through my mind.
What if I don’t like it? It sounds good…but it probably won’t be as good as _______ (insert title of last favorite listen). How long do I need to ‘give it a try’ before I can quit listening? ……. etc.
You know. All those sorts of “normal” questions any avid listener/reader asks themselves when desperately searching for their next great escape.
Well, I took the leap and tried John Bierce’s Mage Errant series. I got lucky. I found my new favorite series! I actually enjoyed this even more than Twinborn Chronicles by J.S. Morin (which I enjoyed immensely). Mage Errant moves a bit faster and has a more focused plot (fewer characters and minimal sub-plots.) All-in-all, it made for a great listen.
So if you liked Harry Potter or Angie Sage’s Septimus Heap series, you might want to check out Mage Errant by John Bierce.
This book will be added to my “favorites” list. The well-developed characters, the humor, and the themes/values in the story make this a worthwhile read.
Sensitive Reader Alert/A Note for Parents:
There are many great themes in this book like:
- overcoming your fears
- learning you don’t have to face your struggles alone
- loyalty and friendship
- recognizing your own value (self-worth)
- not being afraid to be different
- learning that just because you are different doesn’t mean there is something wrong with you
- and many others…
However, there are a few things parents should be aware of if they are letting their younger children read it. The third book (A Traitor in Skyhold) contains a few innuendoes, which are by no means vulgar compared to stuff on TV, and references to “contraceptive cantrips” (spells). Also one of the main characters is a homosexual. He is a loyal, friendly, patient, courageous, and caring individual. However, if you have not discussed same-sex attraction with your children, this book will raise questions as the third book deals a little bit with him and his relationship.
Visit my blog to see what other books I've enjoyed.
https://reading4fun.blog
Choosing a new audiobook is always stressful. Many things run through my mind.
What if I don’t like it? It sounds good…but it probably won’t be as good as _______ (insert title of last favorite listen). How long do I need to ‘give it a try’ before I can quit listening? ……. etc.
You know. All those sorts of “normal” questions any avid listener/reader asks themselves when desperately searching for their next great escape.
Well, I took the leap and tried John Bierce’s Mage Errant series. I got lucky. I found my new favorite series! I actually enjoyed this even more than Twinborn Chronicles by J.S. Morin (which I enjoyed immensely). Mage Errant moves a bit faster and has a more focused plot (fewer characters and minimal sub-plots.) All-in-all, it made for a great listen.
So if you liked Harry Potter or Angie Sage’s Septimus Heap series, you might want to check out Mage Errant by John Bierce.
This book will be added to my “favorites” list. The well-developed characters, the humor, and the themes/values in the story make this a worthwhile read.
Sensitive Reader Alert/A Note for Parents:
There are many great themes in this book like:
- overcoming your fears
- learning you don’t have to face your struggles alone
- loyalty and friendship
- recognizing your own value (self-worth)
- not being afraid to be different
- learning that just because you are different doesn’t mean there is something wrong with you
- and many others…
However, there are a few things parents should be aware of if they are letting their younger children read it. The third book (A Traitor in Skyhold) contains a few innuendoes, which are by no means vulgar compared to stuff on TV, and references to “contraceptive cantrips” (spells). Also one of the main characters is a homosexual. He is a loyal, friendly, patient, courageous, and caring individual. However, if you have not discussed same-sex attraction with your children, this book will raise questions as the third book deals a little bit with him and his relationship.
Visit my blog to see what other books I've enjoyed.
https://reading4fun.blog
November 21, 2020
I have mixed feelings about these two books and I would give them a 3.8 rating. In the first book I was intrigued by the new magic system and by the many categories and magic affinities. This however was countered by my frustration with the MC’s socially inept character. When reading I love putting my self in the characters’ shoes and getting lost in the story, but this MC really made that hard to do in this book series. I had hope that in the second book it would be better; and indeed there was some character development but the MC always seems to take the weak minded approach to problem solving. I understand that this is largely due to his past and I don’t expect him to be very charismatic, but the story would have been leagues better if the MC acted like a regular individual instead of a simp all the time.
.... I know this may come off as me ranting, but this story has so much unfulfilled potential. I would still read the next instalments in the series and hopefully there would be much more character growth.
.... I know this may come off as me ranting, but this story has so much unfulfilled potential. I would still read the next instalments in the series and hopefully there would be much more character growth.
April 12, 2021
Wow! This was better than a young adult novel has any right to be. Fleshed out three dimensional characters, an interesting world and magic system, strong indications of future plot developments and threads... really good stuff.
Some may be put off by the pacing and world building. We've seen seemingly little of the world John Bierce has envisioned as of yet in the series, and there is much time spent on studies, characters reading and training, and so on. However, I enjoy that aspect, and once the pace gets moving it's lightning quick.
I really look forward to spending more time with this series as it develops. Hopefully Bierce can write and publish quickly. :)
====================================
Re-reading the series now to recap for reading book four and five and it's just as good as I remember. :)
Some may be put off by the pacing and world building. We've seen seemingly little of the world John Bierce has envisioned as of yet in the series, and there is much time spent on studies, characters reading and training, and so on. However, I enjoy that aspect, and once the pace gets moving it's lightning quick.
I really look forward to spending more time with this series as it develops. Hopefully Bierce can write and publish quickly. :)
====================================
Re-reading the series now to recap for reading book four and five and it's just as good as I remember. :)
March 25, 2021
Really solid piece of progressive Fantasy
It starts out a little slow with the first book being very short but it hits its stride and just keeps going. I really enjoy the characters although I have found the issue with writing teenagers is that they tend to be too extreme in their emotions. Hugh is too much of an anti social recluse and Talia is too much of a teenager who wears her heart on her sleeve and reacts more physically than she needs to. The underlying magic system is really fun and interesting and I look forward to seeing how it evolves, the fact there are all these conspiracies underlying what our main characters are experiencing also allows for some future excitement.
If you are a fan of progressive Fantasy and don't mind reading about teenagers and all the sometimes negative tropes that come with that, I'd definitely recommend this book to you.
It starts out a little slow with the first book being very short but it hits its stride and just keeps going. I really enjoy the characters although I have found the issue with writing teenagers is that they tend to be too extreme in their emotions. Hugh is too much of an anti social recluse and Talia is too much of a teenager who wears her heart on her sleeve and reacts more physically than she needs to. The underlying magic system is really fun and interesting and I look forward to seeing how it evolves, the fact there are all these conspiracies underlying what our main characters are experiencing also allows for some future excitement.
If you are a fan of progressive Fantasy and don't mind reading about teenagers and all the sometimes negative tropes that come with that, I'd definitely recommend this book to you.
November 29, 2020
Audio book review.
I really enjoyed the setup and the worldbuilding. I love how this ragtag group of students who thought they were the worst are actually singled out, because they use magic in a way that others do not see or respect. I love the discussions that can be had because this was included. However, my own personal taste swings more to character development and less to action sequences, which both parts of this book had in abundance. Unfortunately, my mind was wandering constantly during the large action scenes with tons of spell-casting. I really did enjoy both books otherwise, just hard to follow exactly what's going on. I think both books could have been twice as long, and I probably would have gotten the balance I was looking for. Ah well, still would recommend!
I really enjoyed the setup and the worldbuilding. I love how this ragtag group of students who thought they were the worst are actually singled out, because they use magic in a way that others do not see or respect. I love the discussions that can be had because this was included. However, my own personal taste swings more to character development and less to action sequences, which both parts of this book had in abundance. Unfortunately, my mind was wandering constantly during the large action scenes with tons of spell-casting. I really did enjoy both books otherwise, just hard to follow exactly what's going on. I think both books could have been twice as long, and I probably would have gotten the balance I was looking for. Ah well, still would recommend!
December 31, 2020
Misfit school fantasy. Some of the characters were slightly one dimensional. I was surprised by the role one of the secondary characters played at the end and thought he should have played a bigger part at the end of the story. The world was well planned. The first book's story arc was a little flat, but the second was excellent. It had a satisfying conclusion with enough loose ends to make you want to read the next book.
January 9, 2021
3.75 stars
These books remind me of the Harry Potter series, especially the first book. The student mages have a similar feel, but the magic is different and the world is different enough for it to not be a copy.
It was light, entertaining and fun at times. It lacks the undercurrent of terrible forces or threat brewing I prefer in a more complex book. Its not very deep or nuanced and certainly suitable for ages 12 and up.
These books remind me of the Harry Potter series, especially the first book. The student mages have a similar feel, but the magic is different and the world is different enough for it to not be a copy.
It was light, entertaining and fun at times. It lacks the undercurrent of terrible forces or threat brewing I prefer in a more complex book. Its not very deep or nuanced and certainly suitable for ages 12 and up.
November 26, 2020
I've been using Kindle Unlimited to read a lot of litrpg recently. A lot a lot. Barrels of a lot.
This wasn't as much of a changeup from litrpg as I expected. Somewhere along the way I got it into my head that fantasy was either very Tolkeinesque (farmboy off to save the world, queue the opera music) or grimdark (where even your heroes were awful).
This is not that kind of fantasy.
This was highly readable. And enjoyable. Even the parts that aren't "fun".
I think it is fairly non-spoilery to state that the main character in the series has a bit of a social phobia. He doesn't do well with people. There are reasons for this that compound the issue. I found this character to be relatable while also not being recognizably me and was able to be empathic towards them.
This is one of those things I look for in books.
And battle librarians. THOSE are very definitely my sort of thing.
I'm looking forward to reading more from this series. To make sure it doesn't go too quickly, it won't be the very next thing I read (despite books 3 and 4 being out, I believe) - but it is going onto the spreadsheet I use to track series in progress. This is not a typical step for for KU books, but the ones that I love seem to make it on there.
This wasn't as much of a changeup from litrpg as I expected. Somewhere along the way I got it into my head that fantasy was either very Tolkeinesque (farmboy off to save the world, queue the opera music) or grimdark (where even your heroes were awful).
This is not that kind of fantasy.
This was highly readable. And enjoyable. Even the parts that aren't "fun".
I think it is fairly non-spoilery to state that the main character in the series has a bit of a social phobia. He doesn't do well with people. There are reasons for this that compound the issue. I found this character to be relatable while also not being recognizably me and was able to be empathic towards them.
This is one of those things I look for in books.
And battle librarians. THOSE are very definitely my sort of thing.
I'm looking forward to reading more from this series. To make sure it doesn't go too quickly, it won't be the very next thing I read (despite books 3 and 4 being out, I believe) - but it is going onto the spreadsheet I use to track series in progress. This is not a typical step for for KU books, but the ones that I love seem to make it on there.
May 9, 2023
I'm not sure if its the pacing or the narrator but the story seemed boring. It wasn't mind you, the characters are decently fun, and the concepts are very intriguing.
The magic system while not unique was incredibly expansive and versatile. I'd call it a soft magic system since not enough hard set rules are placed in these first two books.
The first book pulls a lot of surprise elements without enough hint for you to have gotten to that conclusion on your own. This is due however to the main character being the pov and him not being particularly observant. I feel like this would have been better as a prequel or if it had had wome form of secondary report going on in between chapters. Similar to Enders Game or Mistborn.
The second book provides an interesting peak into the world. It was more mystery solving then I had expected and the main character is much more observant this time around. It made would could be a simple fight series into a twisting story with unexpected outcomes.
This isn't a high priorty series, yet, but I will definitely continue it.
The magic system while not unique was incredibly expansive and versatile. I'd call it a soft magic system since not enough hard set rules are placed in these first two books.
The first book pulls a lot of surprise elements without enough hint for you to have gotten to that conclusion on your own. This is due however to the main character being the pov and him not being particularly observant. I feel like this would have been better as a prequel or if it had had wome form of secondary report going on in between chapters. Similar to Enders Game or Mistborn.
The second book provides an interesting peak into the world. It was more mystery solving then I had expected and the main character is much more observant this time around. It made would could be a simple fight series into a twisting story with unexpected outcomes.
This isn't a high priorty series, yet, but I will definitely continue it.
August 31, 2022
Combining the first two books of the series into a single "publishers' pack" was definitely a good idea. Not only does it let you get to know the world better, but it also allows for a little more character growth and get a better sense of what to expect going forward. The magic system is a fun one, mostly stemming for how varied it allows the different mages in the world to be. I won't spoil too much but it seems like if it exists in any substantial quantity, then there can be an affinity for it.
This series is a magic school/university series first and foremost. It doesn't shy away from leaving Skyhold when it wants to, but if you don't like the university setting in your fantasy series then you will have a hard time with this. From what I've seen there are some readers who struggle with the main character and even a member or two of his supporting casts. This is pretty normal in a progression fantasy series in my opinion. If they protagonist is already nice, confident, powerful, and attractive, then there really isn't a lot of room for growth is there.
TLDR: A fun start to an fun series.
This series is a magic school/university series first and foremost. It doesn't shy away from leaving Skyhold when it wants to, but if you don't like the university setting in your fantasy series then you will have a hard time with this. From what I've seen there are some readers who struggle with the main character and even a member or two of his supporting casts. This is pretty normal in a progression fantasy series in my opinion. If they protagonist is already nice, confident, powerful, and attractive, then there really isn't a lot of room for growth is there.
TLDR: A fun start to an fun series.
May 12, 2023
A Very Different Hero
I REALLY enjoyed these stories, but then I usually like coming-of-age stories about an underdog of a young man who proves himself.
Hugh is first introduced in a very large and well known mage school. He's a failure, unpopular, laughed at, and bullied. He and two other "failures" are chosen as apprentices by a mysterious mage. Hugh finally has a few people who will at least hang out with him. But that's only the beginning.
I'm glad I bought the 2-volume pack that had the audio book. I have to say the narrator was not my favorite. He does do different voices pretty well, but he seems to have only two emotions - regular and angry.
I'd rate this book PG, only for the fighting, some violence, and death.
I highly recommend these two books.
(Read and listened to with Kindle Unlimited subscription.)
I REALLY enjoyed these stories, but then I usually like coming-of-age stories about an underdog of a young man who proves himself.
Hugh is first introduced in a very large and well known mage school. He's a failure, unpopular, laughed at, and bullied. He and two other "failures" are chosen as apprentices by a mysterious mage. Hugh finally has a few people who will at least hang out with him. But that's only the beginning.
I'm glad I bought the 2-volume pack that had the audio book. I have to say the narrator was not my favorite. He does do different voices pretty well, but he seems to have only two emotions - regular and angry.
I'd rate this book PG, only for the fighting, some violence, and death.
I highly recommend these two books.
(Read and listened to with Kindle Unlimited subscription.)
November 3, 2024
I really enjoyed this as a fun magic-based coming of age fantasy. The main character started out quite annoying but the plot handled that well. The secondary characters were really interesting and well developed. The action scenes were surprisingly well done and creative.
The settings felt a bit simplistic but I feel that developed as the main character's perspective grew. There were twists and intrigue too. My main downside was that there are two women that feature heavily and the narrator handles one of their voice's horribly. The characters also felt poorly written at points but not badly enough to detract from the overall story.
Definitely a young adult magic/fantasy book but still readable.
The settings felt a bit simplistic but I feel that developed as the main character's perspective grew. There were twists and intrigue too. My main downside was that there are two women that feature heavily and the narrator handles one of their voice's horribly. The characters also felt poorly written at points but not badly enough to detract from the overall story.
Definitely a young adult magic/fantasy book but still readable.
May 11, 2020
Fun romp
Something in the vein of Harry Potter, though not as well written.
The world is interesting and deserves praise, but as usually in these kind of books, the characters are even more important.
The characters are likable, and different from each other and unique enough. Their interaction is quite well written with the humor being the one glaring issue. It is very rare I appreciated the the jokes exchanged by the characters, so it made for somewhat awkward reading moments.
There is a magical labyrinth in the first one, unsurprisingly, and it will obviously only become more important, I don’t know why this became a trope.
Something in the vein of Harry Potter, though not as well written.
The world is interesting and deserves praise, but as usually in these kind of books, the characters are even more important.
The characters are likable, and different from each other and unique enough. Their interaction is quite well written with the humor being the one glaring issue. It is very rare I appreciated the the jokes exchanged by the characters, so it made for somewhat awkward reading moments.
There is a magical labyrinth in the first one, unsurprisingly, and it will obviously only become more important, I don’t know why this became a trope.
January 10, 2021
A very shy wizard learns how to use his powers and makes friends
The first two books of the series, included here, are excellent. Hugh is a very shy wizard with a tough life who overcomes his challenges and starts to grow up. This is all pretty standard stuff but really well executed.
His group of friends is well drawn and interesting and the background world building is really great. The city they visit in the second book sounded flat out awesome. It totally seemed like a place I’d like to visit.
I read this on Kindle unlimited and I’d have to put it in the top 1%. Fun, well written and easy to read.
The first two books of the series, included here, are excellent. Hugh is a very shy wizard with a tough life who overcomes his challenges and starts to grow up. This is all pretty standard stuff but really well executed.
His group of friends is well drawn and interesting and the background world building is really great. The city they visit in the second book sounded flat out awesome. It totally seemed like a place I’d like to visit.
I read this on Kindle unlimited and I’d have to put it in the top 1%. Fun, well written and easy to read.
May 1, 2021
I’m rounding up to 4 for this pair, though the writing is a bit lazy in the first book. Push through the segment where they all tell their backstories, and it gets better. If you enjoy spending time in the worlds of Harry Potter and Codex Alera, then they are more of the same and a thoroughly fun romp. All the tropes are honoured, but the magic system and world crafting are very imaginative and engaging. Hugh is a socially awkward nerd, and Talia is obnoxiously strident, but the books are well-paced, with interesting plots, good resolutions and much more impressive magic than Harry ever gets to do.
October 1, 2020
Great fun, well written
A lot of magic academy stories fall prey to one failing or another-- the ugly duckling apprentice becomes single handedly OP, overly focused on romance, and not on magic, or simply lacking in the feel of magic. This book comes through on all counts, giving the apprentices challenges they need to be clever to overcome, and interesting talents that don't immediately outstrip everyone else. The relationships work well, Hugh alone would just feel too isolated. His friends provide balance and perspective. Looking forward to the rest!
A lot of magic academy stories fall prey to one failing or another-- the ugly duckling apprentice becomes single handedly OP, overly focused on romance, and not on magic, or simply lacking in the feel of magic. This book comes through on all counts, giving the apprentices challenges they need to be clever to overcome, and interesting talents that don't immediately outstrip everyone else. The relationships work well, Hugh alone would just feel too isolated. His friends provide balance and perspective. Looking forward to the rest!
July 27, 2021
What a cool magic system! The tale of a bunch of misfits at a magic school who come together to stop great evil is a common trope, but the things that make this fun for me are 1) the larger suite of characters, so it's not 100% about the main characters and 2) the really fun system of magic where people can be magical in so many ways. I find myself wondering what new magical ideas the author can come up with in each book. The plot twist in the latest book has me longing for resolution, dear author please write faster! 😆
July 29, 2021
Fragmented story, bogged down with side story CW romance that is terrible and does nothing but take away from the main story. Most parts of these books you forget who is even the MC.
Trainers/teachers actually go out their way to ensure the children are put in danger and NOT protect them. Even use them as bait, time and time again.
Trainers/teachers are all too willing to use children as soldiers
The teens in these books don't have a lick of sense to ask why these jerk off Trainers/teachers are even still employed or why are they following someone who you can't trust.
May 3, 2023
Young mages ahoy! Progression fantasy set in magic school, sand ships and a city run by a dragoness.
This was quite enjoyable but took a turn for the worse with introduction of more POVs. The characters are interesting but quite stereotypical and focused on being the supporting cast of Hugh, who can do no wrong.
Also, they sometimes do dubious things that are out of character for plot reasons.
I had fun, but now it's time to drop the series.
This was quite enjoyable but took a turn for the worse with introduction of more POVs. The characters are interesting but quite stereotypical and focused on being the supporting cast of Hugh, who can do no wrong.
Also, they sometimes do dubious things that are out of character for plot reasons.
I had fun, but now it's time to drop the series.
May 5, 2020
Fun reading
From the moment I started reading, I could not stop. It's a fun book with likeable characters and enough spins to keep you wanting more. I reccomend for lovers of magic, dragons and adventure novels.
From the moment I started reading, I could not stop. It's a fun book with likeable characters and enough spins to keep you wanting more. I reccomend for lovers of magic, dragons and adventure novels.
May 25, 2020
Bullied, misunderstood kid becomes an amazing mage with the help of other misfit kids who are also going to mage school. The first book shows a lot of promise. The second book bogs down quite a bit a loses a little bit of the initial interest.
March 9, 2021
Very Very Good
I always wonder how someone can write a book like this and keep all the characters moving in the same dirrection and keep the reader held in a magic grip so that won`t stop reading until they finish the book. Thanks
I always wonder how someone can write a book like this and keep all the characters moving in the same dirrection and keep the reader held in a magic grip so that won`t stop reading until they finish the book. Thanks
November 30, 2021
A rich and vast universe to explore
Thoroughly enjoyed these, will be reading all of them. Particularly of interest was the in-universe description of the way magic is used and cultivated, like D&D meets college physiology. Very cool!
Thoroughly enjoyed these, will be reading all of them. Particularly of interest was the in-universe description of the way magic is used and cultivated, like D&D meets college physiology. Very cool!
May 17, 2022
great ya fantasy
I really enjoyed the way magic works in the world. Both books were fun and enjoyable. Maybe a little fast paced causing a lack in character development but in all it’s fun to see the progress of the story!
I really enjoyed the way magic works in the world. Both books were fun and enjoyable. Maybe a little fast paced causing a lack in character development but in all it’s fun to see the progress of the story!
April 8, 2023
adventure YA
Cute YA read about 4 friends learning to control and grow their magic. The characters are being fleshed out well — nice to see a shy male teen as a hero along with a circle of supportive friends. Slow in parts but moves well along through politics and intrigue and of course teen insecurities.
Cute YA read about 4 friends learning to control and grow their magic. The characters are being fleshed out well — nice to see a shy male teen as a hero along with a circle of supportive friends. Slow in parts but moves well along through politics and intrigue and of course teen insecurities.
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