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Fall of Magic #1
Dark Apprentice
A psychopathic wizard. An immortal mage. An epic battle of wills.
Nikolai doesn’t want much out of life: sex, immortality, and the power to disembowel anyone who crosses him. But with dark magic forbidden, his only option is Medea–a mage so deadly even the Enforcers give her a wide berth. Despite dire warnings that her apprentices don’t survive, Nikolai won’t stop until she agrees to train him. After all, he’s a killer himself.
Barbaric and brutal, the training is a far cry from what Nikolai expects. When a mysterious illness strikes Nikolai down, he suspects he’s found the secret to Medea’s longevity. He resolves to find out what happened to her previous apprentices. If he can locate the source of her power, he can turn it against her.
Medea swore off training dark wizards–none of them take the craft seriously and the ungrateful bastards always try to kill her. This one definitely seems the backstabbing type, but magic is dying out and she hasn’t felt such magical strength in centuries. If she can control the boy, show him that magic is more than curses and necromancy, he might obtain the power he desires. If not, well . . .
What’s one more dead apprentice?
If you enjoy dark fantasy with quirky, morally grey characters and humorous banter (but no romance), this is the book for you!
Nikolai doesn’t want much out of life: sex, immortality, and the power to disembowel anyone who crosses him. But with dark magic forbidden, his only option is Medea–a mage so deadly even the Enforcers give her a wide berth. Despite dire warnings that her apprentices don’t survive, Nikolai won’t stop until she agrees to train him. After all, he’s a killer himself.
Barbaric and brutal, the training is a far cry from what Nikolai expects. When a mysterious illness strikes Nikolai down, he suspects he’s found the secret to Medea’s longevity. He resolves to find out what happened to her previous apprentices. If he can locate the source of her power, he can turn it against her.
Medea swore off training dark wizards–none of them take the craft seriously and the ungrateful bastards always try to kill her. This one definitely seems the backstabbing type, but magic is dying out and she hasn’t felt such magical strength in centuries. If she can control the boy, show him that magic is more than curses and necromancy, he might obtain the power he desires. If not, well . . .
What’s one more dead apprentice?
If you enjoy dark fantasy with quirky, morally grey characters and humorous banter (but no romance), this is the book for you!
Paperback
Published July 1, 2022
17 people are currently reading
3742 people want to read
About the author
Val Neil
5 books68 followersVal was diagnosed with autism at the age of forty-one and couldn't be happier to have her weirdness professionally validated. She lives in California with her ADHDer spouse, three children (two neurodiverse and one undecided), a normal number of dogs, and an abnormal number of birds.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 125 reviews
February 3, 2023
REREAD 10/01/23: Full review on my blog here!
Following dark wizard-aspirant Nikolai Fedorov in his quest to become the most powerful wizard in the world, the novel stands out as unique within its genre of dark fantasy by means of its tendency towards humor. It is by no means lighthearted—the author doesn't shy away from discussing the very real issues of the era within which the story is set—but the narrative intermixes these serious and comical moments in a way that reworks one's expectations of what a dark fantasy novel should be. Not all the jokes landed well, for a few seemed to be derived from popular ones found on the internet; the ones that did land, often those rooted in Nikolai being wrong or getting thwarted at every turn, had me in stitches. (One of the principal plot twists, revealed near the very end, was such a moment.)
Of the two major characters in this novel, one is a clinical psychopath. The other is autistic. This aspect of their characters is substantial in its effect on each of their thoughts, actions, and motivations, explored in depth by the author, but a reader unfamiliar with ASPD or autism—or at the very least unfamiliar with this detail behind our main cast—might find these same actions and motivations confusing. Early on in the novel, there's a scene where Nikolai confesses to dropping his "social mask" in front of an old man, leaving the man terrified by his "acerbic remarks and lack of emotional expression." Initially I wondered if the above was enough to warrant the old man pleading with the flat owners to remove Nikolai from his house; the slightest bit of research into the matter, however, cleared up my misconceptions. While I myself may not be able to speak on the quality of representation within the novel, the author has mentioned being diagnosed with autism, and others have spoken as to the depiction of Nikolai's psychopathy.
A quarter of this book is dedicated to Nikolai trying to gain an apprenticeship under the immortal mage Medea (not to be confused with the Greek mythological figure). When he finally succeeds—and no, this can't be considered a spoiler since it's mentioned in the blurb—one assumes that the novel will pick up its pace. It doesn't. This is part of the reason why I was shocked when I looked the book up again and discovered it was only 470 pages long, when during the read it felt like 600 at a minimum: it progresses very slowly, preferring to give time to each scene and character interaction. While I personally have no issue with such novels, to the point I often actively look for them to read, I'm aware other readers have varying preferences, so do keep that in mind when considering reading this one.
There's also a lot of description in the novel in order to allow the reader to visualize the world and its workings clearly. Coupled with the leisurely pace, this suggests that Dark Apprentice's main purpose is as an introductory novel setting up the series to come. Though by no means perfect, it is by far one of the most enjoyable novels I discovered last year, and I recommend it to all fantasy readers who prioritize character exposition and development over a briskly moving plot.
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REREAD 13/08/22: i reread it thinking i'd write a better review with the book fresh in my mind but then i just sat on it. again. anyway this is sexy and fun and i keep recommending it to everyone asking for recs to make up a 2023 tbr so!
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this book was so good that i'm actually going to review it in full on my blog (someday) (hopefully soon) (look i have exams upcoming). rtc!!
Following dark wizard-aspirant Nikolai Fedorov in his quest to become the most powerful wizard in the world, the novel stands out as unique within its genre of dark fantasy by means of its tendency towards humor. It is by no means lighthearted—the author doesn't shy away from discussing the very real issues of the era within which the story is set—but the narrative intermixes these serious and comical moments in a way that reworks one's expectations of what a dark fantasy novel should be. Not all the jokes landed well, for a few seemed to be derived from popular ones found on the internet; the ones that did land, often those rooted in Nikolai being wrong or getting thwarted at every turn, had me in stitches. (One of the principal plot twists, revealed near the very end, was such a moment.)
Of the two major characters in this novel, one is a clinical psychopath. The other is autistic. This aspect of their characters is substantial in its effect on each of their thoughts, actions, and motivations, explored in depth by the author, but a reader unfamiliar with ASPD or autism—or at the very least unfamiliar with this detail behind our main cast—might find these same actions and motivations confusing. Early on in the novel, there's a scene where Nikolai confesses to dropping his "social mask" in front of an old man, leaving the man terrified by his "acerbic remarks and lack of emotional expression." Initially I wondered if the above was enough to warrant the old man pleading with the flat owners to remove Nikolai from his house; the slightest bit of research into the matter, however, cleared up my misconceptions. While I myself may not be able to speak on the quality of representation within the novel, the author has mentioned being diagnosed with autism, and others have spoken as to the depiction of Nikolai's psychopathy.
A quarter of this book is dedicated to Nikolai trying to gain an apprenticeship under the immortal mage Medea (not to be confused with the Greek mythological figure). When he finally succeeds—and no, this can't be considered a spoiler since it's mentioned in the blurb—one assumes that the novel will pick up its pace. It doesn't. This is part of the reason why I was shocked when I looked the book up again and discovered it was only 470 pages long, when during the read it felt like 600 at a minimum: it progresses very slowly, preferring to give time to each scene and character interaction. While I personally have no issue with such novels, to the point I often actively look for them to read, I'm aware other readers have varying preferences, so do keep that in mind when considering reading this one.
There's also a lot of description in the novel in order to allow the reader to visualize the world and its workings clearly. Coupled with the leisurely pace, this suggests that Dark Apprentice's main purpose is as an introductory novel setting up the series to come. Though by no means perfect, it is by far one of the most enjoyable novels I discovered last year, and I recommend it to all fantasy readers who prioritize character exposition and development over a briskly moving plot.
-------
REREAD 13/08/22: i reread it thinking i'd write a better review with the book fresh in my mind but then i just sat on it. again. anyway this is sexy and fun and i keep recommending it to everyone asking for recs to make up a 2023 tbr so!
-------
this book was so good that i'm actually going to review it in full on my blog (someday) (hopefully soon) (look i have exams upcoming). rtc!!
January 2, 2022
EDIT: 4.75 its so GOOOOD
4 stars *may change
fantasy is such an inherently goofy genre with literal magic and wizards running around that a book finally decided to not follow the classic “everything is dark and bad and gloomy” approach … can we get more genuinely funny fantasies
4 stars *may change
fantasy is such an inherently goofy genre with literal magic and wizards running around that a book finally decided to not follow the classic “everything is dark and bad and gloomy” approach … can we get more genuinely funny fantasies
July 17, 2023
nikolai is so stupidly hilarious but medea is the real gem
July 23, 2022
I LOVED this book. and nikolai too, he was such an interesting character to get into, to see a different logic than most people, i could see why his action would make sense to him, he's always thinking in the extreme, no in between. at the same time, he felt very immature in how to deal with people, deal with life in general because he was too impulsive, he's probably gonna learn to be smarter and become even more viciously dangerous, i'm excited for the next book
i loved medea, how she was conflicted to teach him, being so done with her apprentices and knows they will always try to kill her but despite that will try again to be a good teacher with some modified rules for herself. I love how even after a thousands of years living she still misunderstand people and isnt the great sage. it was quite nice to see such a powerful autistic character, i also love that doesn't give up on nikolai and stay on her words even if hes doing every mistakes possible
their relationship is interesting, they're very different and nikolai had the tendency to believe everyone will have the same thought as him which is wrong of course, and made him in situation he could have easily avoided if only he had the ability to listen just a little more.their banter was very funny it could look ridiculous sometimes but in a good way.
honestly everytime a psychopathic character is mentioned i'm always careful of where it is going and it's the first time i have seen a correct representation, i really enjoyed reading it and love the plot too i will definitely read the next one, i want more of nikolai and medea
i loved medea, how she was conflicted to teach him, being so done with her apprentices and knows they will always try to kill her but despite that will try again to be a good teacher with some modified rules for herself. I love how even after a thousands of years living she still misunderstand people and isnt the great sage. it was quite nice to see such a powerful autistic character, i also love that doesn't give up on nikolai and stay on her words even if hes doing every mistakes possible
their relationship is interesting, they're very different and nikolai had the tendency to believe everyone will have the same thought as him which is wrong of course, and made him in situation he could have easily avoided if only he had the ability to listen just a little more.their banter was very funny it could look ridiculous sometimes but in a good way.
honestly everytime a psychopathic character is mentioned i'm always careful of where it is going and it's the first time i have seen a correct representation, i really enjoyed reading it and love the plot too i will definitely read the next one, i want more of nikolai and medea
June 11, 2025
If you liked Vicious by VE Schwab, you will love this!
1955: Medea is an immortal Magi, the most powerful and dangerous. Nikolai is a Russian immigrant, a psychopath and set on learning dark magic from the best mentor.
Medea refuses to take on any new apprentices as they always end up trying to kill her and she must kill them.
Both of these characters are extremes.
Nikolai is VERY manipulative. He is charming, a sweetheart, but really he is a telepath and either you are Useful and competition or Useless so worthless. And he is emotionless but has cultivated the best social mask.
I appreciated the author’s note that clarified that Medea is autistic and Nikolai does have Antisocial Personality Disorder. The author draws from personal experience, research, and sensitivity readers.
An unread book was just a cover—a promise of ideas or emotions. Like people, they introduced themselves and tried to put their best foot forward. It wasn’t until you spent time with them that you got to know their true nature.
You don’t get much of the historical setting in this, but it is more prevalent in book two.
I was not a fan of how religion was used to manipulate people. Especially how surface level and fickle faith was portrayed as.
This is a dark fantasy, however I did not find it that dark. Yes, there are darker themes and the characters do not shy from bad things (lots of murder), but it wasn’t extreme.
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1955: Medea is an immortal Magi, the most powerful and dangerous. Nikolai is a Russian immigrant, a psychopath and set on learning dark magic from the best mentor.
Medea refuses to take on any new apprentices as they always end up trying to kill her and she must kill them.
Both of these characters are extremes.
Nikolai is VERY manipulative. He is charming, a sweetheart, but really he is a telepath and either you are Useful and competition or Useless so worthless. And he is emotionless but has cultivated the best social mask.
I appreciated the author’s note that clarified that Medea is autistic and Nikolai does have Antisocial Personality Disorder. The author draws from personal experience, research, and sensitivity readers.
An unread book was just a cover—a promise of ideas or emotions. Like people, they introduced themselves and tried to put their best foot forward. It wasn’t until you spent time with them that you got to know their true nature.
You don’t get much of the historical setting in this, but it is more prevalent in book two.
I was not a fan of how religion was used to manipulate people. Especially how surface level and fickle faith was portrayed as.
This is a dark fantasy, however I did not find it that dark. Yes, there are darker themes and the characters do not shy from bad things (lots of murder), but it wasn’t extreme.
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December 30, 2021
4.5/5
i can't stop smiling,, omg.
medea: love of my life, just shot up my favourite characters/favourite female characters list ever. i love her so so much. she is so interesting and precious and relatable (so many of her little habits,, her inner thoughts, IVE DONE THOSE, IVE HAD THOSE INTERACTIONS WITH PEOPLE. AGHHH) didn't realise how much I love reading characters like her. I need More. she's such a nerd, ilovehersomuch. also if you love incredibly powerful and badass characters, she is so satisfying to read, love that she's given layers too (I want to know more about ******).
[edit: don’t know how i forgot to add it here but bonus if you’re looking for own voices autism rep! medea is autistic !!]
nikolai: i say this with a lot of affection but You Little Shit. he can be so arrogant, stubborn as hell, sometimes you want to hold his face with two slices of bread and yell at him "WHAT ARE YOU??", but he is also So Interesting and you can’t help but like the guy. I've literally never read from a perspective like his before (granted I'm still not that well versed in fantasy, so idk I'll take recommendations if I'm missing any), and it is so funny and sometimes a little tragic. He has so many funny scenes omfg, the second-hand embarrassment I get from some scenes when he think he's humbling medea,,, nikolai is also a psychopath, and the story never goes down the cliche route, the author took the time to handle this carefully, giving him layers and letting us understand how his mind views the world & people, basically making him a really compelling character to follow.
so you have two really interesting and refreshing characters to follow, and they play off each other so well. Their dynamic is so Fun [take a shot everytime i say fun]. You have the wise, immortal mentor figure and the stubborn arrogant student who thinks they know it all; it just creates such funny moments. it's clear the book doesn't take itself too seriously and it really works. the magic is really creative and well thought out as well, some of the spells and lessons that nikolai learn are so fun to read and discover, I love how its treated like a science.
this isn't one of those fantasy books with a clear plot, there's no real adventure quest, there is intrigue though (not going to go into detail, you go and experience it yourself). to oversimplify it, it's like one Big training arc but with enough events and with such amazing characters that I never got bored or felt like it dragged. this was such a fun time, yeah okay go read it! GO
i can't stop smiling,, omg.
medea: love of my life, just shot up my favourite characters/favourite female characters list ever. i love her so so much. she is so interesting and precious and relatable (so many of her little habits,, her inner thoughts, IVE DONE THOSE, IVE HAD THOSE INTERACTIONS WITH PEOPLE. AGHHH) didn't realise how much I love reading characters like her. I need More. she's such a nerd, ilovehersomuch. also if you love incredibly powerful and badass characters, she is so satisfying to read, love that she's given layers too (I want to know more about ******).
[edit: don’t know how i forgot to add it here but bonus if you’re looking for own voices autism rep! medea is autistic !!]
nikolai: i say this with a lot of affection but You Little Shit. he can be so arrogant, stubborn as hell, sometimes you want to hold his face with two slices of bread and yell at him "WHAT ARE YOU??", but he is also So Interesting and you can’t help but like the guy. I've literally never read from a perspective like his before (granted I'm still not that well versed in fantasy, so idk I'll take recommendations if I'm missing any), and it is so funny and sometimes a little tragic. He has so many funny scenes omfg, the second-hand embarrassment I get from some scenes when he think he's humbling medea,,, nikolai is also a psychopath, and the story never goes down the cliche route, the author took the time to handle this carefully, giving him layers and letting us understand how his mind views the world & people, basically making him a really compelling character to follow.
so you have two really interesting and refreshing characters to follow, and they play off each other so well. Their dynamic is so Fun [take a shot everytime i say fun]. You have the wise, immortal mentor figure and the stubborn arrogant student who thinks they know it all; it just creates such funny moments. it's clear the book doesn't take itself too seriously and it really works. the magic is really creative and well thought out as well, some of the spells and lessons that nikolai learn are so fun to read and discover, I love how its treated like a science.
this isn't one of those fantasy books with a clear plot, there's no real adventure quest, there is intrigue though (not going to go into detail, you go and experience it yourself). to oversimplify it, it's like one Big training arc but with enough events and with such amazing characters that I never got bored or felt like it dragged. this was such a fun time, yeah okay go read it! GO
July 22, 2022
Nikolai mon petit meow meow
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February 28, 2023Dark Mind is out now!
Buy direct and get the bonus epilogue included, or order from your favorite store.
Audiobook coming in May 2023. Preorder it here and use the code ILOVEAUDIO to get $12 off.
Buy direct and get the bonus epilogue included, or order from your favorite store.
Audiobook coming in May 2023. Preorder it here and use the code ILOVEAUDIO to get $12 off.
April 28, 2022
I read this book because it was recommended by a friend on twitter and she mentioned that it is humorous which is exactly what I loved about the book. It never gets too serious which makes it really easy to read, I need more fantasy books like this.
This book is mainly character driven, it follows two characters, Medea and Nikolai and is told from both of their povs. Both of the leads are neurodivergent, Medea is autistic and Nikolai is a psychopath or has Antisocial Personality Disorder. The author put in a lot of research to write an accurate representation of a psychopath.
Medea is the most powerful immortal magi, who is tired of taking apprentices to teach them magic only to end up killing them because they turn on her. She also values knowledge and loves to read books. I absolutely adored her character.
Nikolai in simple words power hungry, he wants to master dark magic so he seeks out Medea and tries to convince her to take him as an apprentice. Nikolai is also pretty competitive he wants to be the best at everything. He is a character you would love to hate or be annoyed by but I absolutely enjoyed reading his pov.
Nikolai and Medea's relationship was interesting, I loved their banter and the scenes they had together. Both of the characters are complex in their own way. I cannot wait for the sequel.
This book is mainly character driven, it follows two characters, Medea and Nikolai and is told from both of their povs. Both of the leads are neurodivergent, Medea is autistic and Nikolai is a psychopath or has Antisocial Personality Disorder. The author put in a lot of research to write an accurate representation of a psychopath.
Medea is the most powerful immortal magi, who is tired of taking apprentices to teach them magic only to end up killing them because they turn on her. She also values knowledge and loves to read books. I absolutely adored her character.
Nikolai in simple words power hungry, he wants to master dark magic so he seeks out Medea and tries to convince her to take him as an apprentice. Nikolai is also pretty competitive he wants to be the best at everything. He is a character you would love to hate or be annoyed by but I absolutely enjoyed reading his pov.
Nikolai and Medea's relationship was interesting, I loved their banter and the scenes they had together. Both of the characters are complex in their own way. I cannot wait for the sequel.
April 26, 2021
Incoming swearing!
This book sent me through it... The main character Nikolai, is also the main antagonist... I HATE him. Yes he's a psychopath and an interesting pov but oh my god, he's a fucking idiot.
You could tell this boy that 2+2=4 and he would automatically presume that you have an ulterior motive and want to kill him/ steal his youth.
Medea was a great character for the most part but it irritated me how she occasionally fawned over Nicolai. 'He's the most powerful... so much potential' etc. Does he? Where is the evidence of that?
Nicolai is a horrible mansplaining, murderous, little piece of shit and sometimes it's just too much.
I wish his thought process was a bit more logical at least some of the time.
Why did he want to kill Medea as a default feeling? It's not explained past 'why not?'
I still enjoyed the book but don't expect a three act story. This is heavy character interaction/world building.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book sent me through it... The main character Nikolai, is also the main antagonist... I HATE him. Yes he's a psychopath and an interesting pov but oh my god, he's a fucking idiot.
You could tell this boy that 2+2=4 and he would automatically presume that you have an ulterior motive and want to kill him/ steal his youth.
Medea was a great character for the most part but it irritated me how she occasionally fawned over Nicolai. 'He's the most powerful... so much potential' etc. Does he? Where is the evidence of that?
Nicolai is a horrible mansplaining, murderous, little piece of shit and sometimes it's just too much.
I wish his thought process was a bit more logical at least some of the time.
Why did he want to kill Medea as a default feeling? It's not explained past 'why not?'
I still enjoyed the book but don't expect a three act story. This is heavy character interaction/world building.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 27, 2021
solid characters and engaging plot; this had me hooked from the very beginning.
the characters are frustrating, but also very endearing. it's so interesting to read how they respond to different situations and it's also very entertaining to see how their minds work. i'm not likely to forget these characters– they're just brilliant and well-written.
it is hilarious, frustrating, and just delightful– i really enjoyed this! it might have actually pulled me out of this slump. strong 4 stars!
the characters are frustrating, but also very endearing. it's so interesting to read how they respond to different situations and it's also very entertaining to see how their minds work. i'm not likely to forget these characters– they're just brilliant and well-written.
it is hilarious, frustrating, and just delightful– i really enjoyed this! it might have actually pulled me out of this slump. strong 4 stars!
dnf
July 14, 2023dnf @18%
August 9, 2024
4.5/5 stars
medea my darling beloved meow meow 🫶🏽
medea my darling beloved meow meow 🫶🏽
January 5, 2024
5 stars
ahhh what a great book to start the new year with !! review will definitely come later, i need more people to read dark apprentice🫶🏻
ahhh what a great book to start the new year with !! review will definitely come later, i need more people to read dark apprentice🫶🏻
July 4, 2022
Okay but who allowed this book to be this good?!
Dark Apprentice follows, unsurprisingly, a master magician and her apprentice. And now I hear you thinking: ‘fine, we’ve seen that dynamic before’, BUT I promise you haven’t seen it done this way and I also promise that you don’t want to miss out!
Nikolai, the apprentice character, is… brace yourself… a fucking psychopath. And damn, do I want to applaud the author for making the bold choice to write such an unlikable character, because he essentially is both the protagonist and the antagonist of this story and that was incredibly interesting to follow.
Nikolai is absolutely one of the most frustrating, stubborn and arrogant characters that I have ever read about… but I also kinda loved him? I don’t know man, he was just such a tragic character that it just got incredibly funny to read about his antics.
Our other main character is the immensely powerful and immortal mage Medea, and I immediately fell in love with her. Even though it is never diagnosed or mentioned in the story, Medea is autistic and it was so interesting to read from her perspective. I am not autistic myself, but the author is and I think you can really see that in this story, because the rep felt very authentic and well done.
Anyway, Medea has been living for a very long time and she is a bit weary. Also, she is happiest when left alone and she had decided for herself not to take on any more apprentices, since they always end up attempting to kill her anyway. And yet… somehow she ended up reluctantly taking on Nikolai and the story takes off from there.
Now, if you are going into this book for the plot or worldbuilding, then I don’t think you will be satisfied. I can’t deny that this book really hinges on its characters, because the other aspects really weren’t all that special. This book is set somewhere in the mid-20th century in a version of our own world where magic exists… though it is slowly disappearing.
We essentially just follow Nikolai being a stubborn, paranoid little shit while Medea is trying her best to keep her calm (to varying degrees of success) and make him a better wizard. As a character driven reader, I absolutely had a blast, but I can see why this might not be everyone’s cup of tea.
These characters just really carried the story for me and I was super engaged all the way through. Oh and did I already mention that there is not a single flicker of romantic tension between our main characters? Thank fuck!!
So yeah, I really enjoyed this one. These characters are definitely an iconic duo and I can’t wait to read more about them in future books.
Highly recommend if you want a character driven, low fantasy with super complex characters, excellent banter and some fun, quirky elements.
Dark Apprentice follows, unsurprisingly, a master magician and her apprentice. And now I hear you thinking: ‘fine, we’ve seen that dynamic before’, BUT I promise you haven’t seen it done this way and I also promise that you don’t want to miss out!
Nikolai, the apprentice character, is… brace yourself… a fucking psychopath. And damn, do I want to applaud the author for making the bold choice to write such an unlikable character, because he essentially is both the protagonist and the antagonist of this story and that was incredibly interesting to follow.
Nikolai is absolutely one of the most frustrating, stubborn and arrogant characters that I have ever read about… but I also kinda loved him? I don’t know man, he was just such a tragic character that it just got incredibly funny to read about his antics.
Our other main character is the immensely powerful and immortal mage Medea, and I immediately fell in love with her. Even though it is never diagnosed or mentioned in the story, Medea is autistic and it was so interesting to read from her perspective. I am not autistic myself, but the author is and I think you can really see that in this story, because the rep felt very authentic and well done.
Anyway, Medea has been living for a very long time and she is a bit weary. Also, she is happiest when left alone and she had decided for herself not to take on any more apprentices, since they always end up attempting to kill her anyway. And yet… somehow she ended up reluctantly taking on Nikolai and the story takes off from there.
Now, if you are going into this book for the plot or worldbuilding, then I don’t think you will be satisfied. I can’t deny that this book really hinges on its characters, because the other aspects really weren’t all that special. This book is set somewhere in the mid-20th century in a version of our own world where magic exists… though it is slowly disappearing.
We essentially just follow Nikolai being a stubborn, paranoid little shit while Medea is trying her best to keep her calm (to varying degrees of success) and make him a better wizard. As a character driven reader, I absolutely had a blast, but I can see why this might not be everyone’s cup of tea.
These characters just really carried the story for me and I was super engaged all the way through. Oh and did I already mention that there is not a single flicker of romantic tension between our main characters? Thank fuck!!
So yeah, I really enjoyed this one. These characters are definitely an iconic duo and I can’t wait to read more about them in future books.
Highly recommend if you want a character driven, low fantasy with super complex characters, excellent banter and some fun, quirky elements.
July 9, 2022
Update 26/06/2022
You can find this and the rest of my reviews at An Ode to Fiction.| Subscribe to my Booktube channel
Official Release Date : April 4th 2021
Buy the book :
Amazon|Book Depository | Bookshop.org (affiliate) | Author's website (BONUS CONTENT included)
5/5 ⭐️
Dark Apprentice is a dark fantasy about learning magic and two neuro diverse wizards that is snarky, fun, hilarious, and should be added to your TBR.
When the year 2021 ended I had a few self published books that I have listed to read in 2022. Now that all of the moving and distractions are taken aside, I am slowly creeping back to my prime reading state. I finally tackled one self published book on my list and that book is Dark Apprentice by Val Neil. This book has been highly recommend by a few mutuals on Twitter. The ratings for Dark Apprentice is under 200 ratings on Goodreads. Surely this book is super underrated and for that I wanted to use my voice to promote this gem of a book.
Based on my reading experience I have read probably one book in the adult fantasy genre that have neurodiverse representation and that book is also self published. From blurbs and list of things to expect on the Neil’s pinned tweet, one character is a manipulative psychopath and the other is an autistic woman. What I find refreshing is the fact that Neil also mentioned that there is no romance contained in the story. This might be a turn off to some readers but for me romance isn’t necessary to plot and sometimes its better without it (unpopular opinion).
Before I dive into my review I would like to highlight the cover art of the book but I could not find the artist or it might be Val Neil that made the cover. Please someone kindly point the way so I can link the artist or Val Neil please help.
Dark Apprentice is Val Neil’s self published debut novel and first book to the Fall of Magic series. Medea has lived for over centuries, lived through many historical moments, and survived many attempts of murder by her apprentices. She has sworn off having an apprentice because they keep trying to murder her for some reason.
Nikolai is a power hungry psychopath that sees people as mere tools or stepping stones to be taken advantage of. He has been experiencing a lot of frustration about his progress as an apprentice for a local wizard. Feeling like he is going no where with the lessons, Nikolai sees an opportunity to further his dark magic cravings when he meets Medea. After digging around for information about her, Nikolai sets his trajectory to have her take him as apprentice.
Using his cunning instincts to manipulate his way into a situation where Medea could not refuse him, Nikolai gets his way. But being the apprentice of a grand master such as Medea is no walk in the park and Nikolai is going to learn a very hard lesson about magic and trust.
Reading the list of things to expect going into Dark Apprentice, I had expectations for fantastic character dynamics between Medea and Nikolai. If you are a reader that likes epic world building, complex magic systems, and a plot driven admirer, this book will not be your cup of tea. Dark Apprentice is centered around the characters and their relationship. Val Neil did not disappoint in delivering incredibly snarky one liners and writing seamless volleys between the master and apprentice that got me cackling throughout reading the book.
The main aspect of the story is communication. While it is a story about an apprentice trying to learn magic in a historical setting with soft fantastical elements, what Neil highlights the most is communication between Medea and Nikolai. How two neuro diverse characters, with their contrasting personalities and generation gap, interact in a confined space to find a middle point where they find understanding. It is not an adventure story with a clear quest to do something, it is a story about characters and how they are trying to understand each other.
Though it is a dual perspective story, the perspective that readers will interact most with is Nikolai’s. Seeing Nikolai’s thought process throughout the book is a triggering experience as he is a psychopath with an ego problem, but somehow I keep rooting for him to snap out of his stupor of stubborn thoughts. Readers should keep their minds open for Nikolai as he is a character that will need time to love.
Val Neil added layers into his characterization to give him dimensions. From Nikolai’s perspective Neil also gives an in depth exploration on the way he thinks and views the world around him, which he thinks is the same as his. The factor that makes Nikolai’s perspective interesting is seeing him being humbled over and over again. It is funny seeing him just struggle and writhe in pain over something he did. As much as I like seeing him suffer though, the development in his character throughout the book and his gradual change in thought process is satisfying in the end.
Readers will surely fall in love with Medea. Medea is an autistic wizard that loves knowledge and books. Medea’s characterization also has depth and is very well fleshed out. Throughout the book readers will gradually fall in love with her character. Even though she is knowledgeable in magic and meticulous when it comes to learning, she is not a people person. An introvert through and through. There is no huge development in her characterization per se, as it is the first book, but Medea did learn a lot from teaching Nikolai how to deal with people.
What I admire about Medea is how she takes care of her apprentice and always gives them the benefit of the doubt even though they are as terrible as Nikolai. She wants to see them succeed no matter what the cost and she will go to the ends of the earth to help them get there.
The fun part is seeing Medea giving zero fucks when she’s teaching her apprentice about magic. There is no training wheels when it comes to learning from Medea, the apprentice will learn things the hard way only and will probably nearly die a few times. Even though she is a harsh teacher she is reasonable and keen to discuss anything the apprentice is curious about. Reading Medea’s thought process is interesting, because readers will get to see the many relatable facets of her being. There is a quote that I love that she says about books that has put a smile on my face.
Final thoughts, Dark Apprentice is a medium paced character driven story about a relationship between two unlikely people that is filled with entertaining mishaps, face palm second hand embarrassing moments, uncontested dynamics, clear character development, and overall an intriguing learning experience about magic. I highly recommend this book for anyone that loves a character driven dark fantasy about magic or if you want to see a character being proved wrong so many times read this book.
Dark Apprentice is the perfect start to a series that I will indeed anticipate to continue. The second book Dark Mind is currently in the works and is set to release in November or December according to Val Neil’s website. It is an underrated gem of a book that I wish more people will read after reading this review because I had a fun time reading it. Please show your support by adding this book to your TBR and buy it on Amazon or if you want bonus content you can buy it straight from the author’s website.
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Official Release Date : April 4th 2021
Buy the book :
Amazon|Book Depository | Bookshop.org (affiliate) | Author's website (BONUS CONTENT included)
5/5 ⭐️
Fool her once, shame on them. Fool her a dozen times, and a pattern emerged.
Dark Apprentice is a dark fantasy about learning magic and two neuro diverse wizards that is snarky, fun, hilarious, and should be added to your TBR.
When the year 2021 ended I had a few self published books that I have listed to read in 2022. Now that all of the moving and distractions are taken aside, I am slowly creeping back to my prime reading state. I finally tackled one self published book on my list and that book is Dark Apprentice by Val Neil. This book has been highly recommend by a few mutuals on Twitter. The ratings for Dark Apprentice is under 200 ratings on Goodreads. Surely this book is super underrated and for that I wanted to use my voice to promote this gem of a book.
Based on my reading experience I have read probably one book in the adult fantasy genre that have neurodiverse representation and that book is also self published. From blurbs and list of things to expect on the Neil’s pinned tweet, one character is a manipulative psychopath and the other is an autistic woman. What I find refreshing is the fact that Neil also mentioned that there is no romance contained in the story. This might be a turn off to some readers but for me romance isn’t necessary to plot and sometimes its better without it (unpopular opinion).
Before I dive into my review I would like to highlight the cover art of the book but I could not find the artist or it might be Val Neil that made the cover. Please someone kindly point the way so I can link the artist or Val Neil please help.
“They want to learn how to kill people. And you’re surprised when they want to kill you?”
Dark Apprentice is Val Neil’s self published debut novel and first book to the Fall of Magic series. Medea has lived for over centuries, lived through many historical moments, and survived many attempts of murder by her apprentices. She has sworn off having an apprentice because they keep trying to murder her for some reason.
Nikolai is a power hungry psychopath that sees people as mere tools or stepping stones to be taken advantage of. He has been experiencing a lot of frustration about his progress as an apprentice for a local wizard. Feeling like he is going no where with the lessons, Nikolai sees an opportunity to further his dark magic cravings when he meets Medea. After digging around for information about her, Nikolai sets his trajectory to have her take him as apprentice.
Using his cunning instincts to manipulate his way into a situation where Medea could not refuse him, Nikolai gets his way. But being the apprentice of a grand master such as Medea is no walk in the park and Nikolai is going to learn a very hard lesson about magic and trust.
Witholding information felt dirty. Knowledge was the greatest gift one could bestow on another. It was meant to be shared.
Reading the list of things to expect going into Dark Apprentice, I had expectations for fantastic character dynamics between Medea and Nikolai. If you are a reader that likes epic world building, complex magic systems, and a plot driven admirer, this book will not be your cup of tea. Dark Apprentice is centered around the characters and their relationship. Val Neil did not disappoint in delivering incredibly snarky one liners and writing seamless volleys between the master and apprentice that got me cackling throughout reading the book.
The main aspect of the story is communication. While it is a story about an apprentice trying to learn magic in a historical setting with soft fantastical elements, what Neil highlights the most is communication between Medea and Nikolai. How two neuro diverse characters, with their contrasting personalities and generation gap, interact in a confined space to find a middle point where they find understanding. It is not an adventure story with a clear quest to do something, it is a story about characters and how they are trying to understand each other.
Who needed patience and sacrifice when you had persistence and cunning?
Though it is a dual perspective story, the perspective that readers will interact most with is Nikolai’s. Seeing Nikolai’s thought process throughout the book is a triggering experience as he is a psychopath with an ego problem, but somehow I keep rooting for him to snap out of his stupor of stubborn thoughts. Readers should keep their minds open for Nikolai as he is a character that will need time to love.
Val Neil added layers into his characterization to give him dimensions. From Nikolai’s perspective Neil also gives an in depth exploration on the way he thinks and views the world around him, which he thinks is the same as his. The factor that makes Nikolai’s perspective interesting is seeing him being humbled over and over again. It is funny seeing him just struggle and writhe in pain over something he did. As much as I like seeing him suffer though, the development in his character throughout the book and his gradual change in thought process is satisfying in the end.
As much as she wanted this one to live, she’d vowed to protect him from her training, not his own stupidity.
Readers will surely fall in love with Medea. Medea is an autistic wizard that loves knowledge and books. Medea’s characterization also has depth and is very well fleshed out. Throughout the book readers will gradually fall in love with her character. Even though she is knowledgeable in magic and meticulous when it comes to learning, she is not a people person. An introvert through and through. There is no huge development in her characterization per se, as it is the first book, but Medea did learn a lot from teaching Nikolai how to deal with people.
What I admire about Medea is how she takes care of her apprentice and always gives them the benefit of the doubt even though they are as terrible as Nikolai. She wants to see them succeed no matter what the cost and she will go to the ends of the earth to help them get there.
The fun part is seeing Medea giving zero fucks when she’s teaching her apprentice about magic. There is no training wheels when it comes to learning from Medea, the apprentice will learn things the hard way only and will probably nearly die a few times. Even though she is a harsh teacher she is reasonable and keen to discuss anything the apprentice is curious about. Reading Medea’s thought process is interesting, because readers will get to see the many relatable facets of her being. There is a quote that I love that she says about books that has put a smile on my face.
An unread book was just a cover—a promise of ideas or emotions. Like people, they introduced themselves and tried to put their best foot forward. It wasn’t until you spent time with them that you got to know their true nature.
Final thoughts, Dark Apprentice is a medium paced character driven story about a relationship between two unlikely people that is filled with entertaining mishaps, face palm second hand embarrassing moments, uncontested dynamics, clear character development, and overall an intriguing learning experience about magic. I highly recommend this book for anyone that loves a character driven dark fantasy about magic or if you want to see a character being proved wrong so many times read this book.
Dark Apprentice is the perfect start to a series that I will indeed anticipate to continue. The second book Dark Mind is currently in the works and is set to release in November or December according to Val Neil’s website. It is an underrated gem of a book that I wish more people will read after reading this review because I had a fun time reading it. Please show your support by adding this book to your TBR and buy it on Amazon or if you want bonus content you can buy it straight from the author’s website.
September 30, 2021
rep: half turkish psychopathic mc, autistic mc, mlm, lesbian and bi minor characters
4.5 stars
This is such a funny, wonderfully weird book, it didn't take themselves too seriously and i wish more fantasy books were like this. It follows Medea, an immortal autistic witch takes on an apprentice after she's killed all her others and Nikolai who has antisocial personality disorder and also just such a wants power and is planning to kill her because he's dumb(affectionate).
They are so funny I laughed multiple times, the characters thinking just made sense to me, also explicitly neurodivergent leads in fantasy are so rare and this was a breath of fresh air.
The characters were developed; Nikolai mansplaining, manwhoring and manipulating his way out of everything and Medea is a mage who's widely feared and her pov chapters were everything to me<3
Like yes the characters are absolutely abysmal at communication, yes the mc is a weird guy who licks frogs at one point(i can't with him), the murder played for comedy just had me, also the character development<33
Thank you to the author and BookSirens for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion in any way.
4.5 stars
This is such a funny, wonderfully weird book, it didn't take themselves too seriously and i wish more fantasy books were like this. It follows Medea, an immortal autistic witch takes on an apprentice after she's killed all her others and Nikolai who has antisocial personality disorder and also just such a wants power and is planning to kill her because he's dumb(affectionate).
They are so funny I laughed multiple times, the characters thinking just made sense to me, also explicitly neurodivergent leads in fantasy are so rare and this was a breath of fresh air.
The characters were developed; Nikolai mansplaining, manwhoring and manipulating his way out of everything and Medea is a mage who's widely feared and her pov chapters were everything to me<3
Like yes the characters are absolutely abysmal at communication, yes the mc is a weird guy who licks frogs at one point(i can't with him), the murder played for comedy just had me, also the character development<33
Thank you to the author and BookSirens for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion in any way.
December 30, 2023
This was a very fun book! It doesn't have much going plot wise since it's mostly magic training (or an attempt at it, because Nicholai is the densest idiot).
Nikolai is a simple man and want very little from life: sex, immortality and power (he's also an asshole). At his current apprenticeship he's getting neither the immortality nor power. He's not very content with this situation. In enters Medea, a notorious dark mage, and Nikolai decides she is his way to immortality and power. Small crux, she is also notorious for killing her apprentices. In Medea's defence they have the audacity to try and kill her in the first place. And vowed to never take another apprentice. Nikolai is not going to let such small obstacles be in his way to immortality and power so he manipulate and lie until she gives in and accepts him as her apprentice.
Nikolai and Medea is an unlikely duo. Nikolai is a psychopath and Medea is a They work on different wavelengths which often clash but also creates an interesting dynamic. It's interesting to see how one of them thinks and acts versus how the other interprets those thoughts and actions. Medea is a gem and deserves better than dealing with Nicholai. Still, having very despicable traits, Nikolai is still fun to follow because he's so unapologetic about everything he does.
Already read the second book, Dark Mind, which was almost better, so now I'm impatiently waiting for the third book, Dark Whispers.
Nikolai is a simple man and want very little from life: sex, immortality and power (he's also an asshole). At his current apprenticeship he's getting neither the immortality nor power. He's not very content with this situation. In enters Medea, a notorious dark mage, and Nikolai decides she is his way to immortality and power. Small crux, she is also notorious for killing her apprentices. In Medea's defence they have the audacity to try and kill her in the first place. And vowed to never take another apprentice. Nikolai is not going to let such small obstacles be in his way to immortality and power so he manipulate and lie until she gives in and accepts him as her apprentice.
Nikolai and Medea is an unlikely duo. Nikolai is a psychopath and Medea is a They work on different wavelengths which often clash but also creates an interesting dynamic. It's interesting to see how one of them thinks and acts versus how the other interprets those thoughts and actions. Medea is a gem and deserves better than dealing with Nicholai. Still, having very despicable traits, Nikolai is still fun to follow because he's so unapologetic about everything he does.
Already read the second book, Dark Mind, which was almost better, so now I'm impatiently waiting for the third book, Dark Whispers.
October 3, 2021
Never seen this pairing before: a budding wizard with anti-social personality disorder seeks lessons from an autistic immortal master of magic.
I found Nikolai to be insufferable, but I suppose that's the point. That knocked it down from five stars, but otherwise, I really enjoyed it.
I found Nikolai to be insufferable, but I suppose that's the point. That knocked it down from five stars, but otherwise, I really enjoyed it.
May 24, 2021
Dark Apprentice by Val Neil was a fun read. I liked both Medea and Nikolai as characters and enjoyed their interactions. The story kept me interested from start to finish and I ended Book One keen to find out what would happen next. This was a fantasy tale with a good dose of humour. At times I despaired over the characters' bad decisions and misunderstandings, but part of the fun was in seeing where those misconceptions would take them. I would definitely be interested to keep reading in this series. Dark Apprentice gets a solid four-stars from me.
I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 28, 2021
Good solid urban fantasy.well worth reading.
April 4, 2022
this was both insufferably delightful and delightfully insufferable!
May 27, 2021
"Dark Apprentice" is a fun, quick read with interesting characters and an intriguing world. It does remind one a little of a more grown up Harry Potter, insofar that it takes place in our world with mages and "Mundanes" living right next to each other. The magic system consist of different schools of magic, of spells and spirits and skill that has to be honed over a long time. It was fun to read about, even though it did sometimes make me think of video game magic. Casting spells and using magic relies on the mana pool of the mage and magic cannot be performed if that mana pool is empty.
Both main characters, Medea and Nikolai, are interesting and complex. I personally much preferred Medea and wanted more chapters from her pov, but Nikolai is an entertaining protagonist too. I found it interesting that he's written as a psychopath, and while I can't say how realistic the portrayal is, it's definitely a kind of character I haven't seen as a protagonist so far (at least as far as I remember).
I did have some issues with the book, though. For one, there is really just... not much of a plot. I was waiting for something more to happen, for some big reveals or twists or anything, but there's just nothing. It's a novel about a guy who becomes the apprentice of the most powerful mage in the known world, and because he is who he is he constantly thinks she's out to get him. That is it, until the very end. I guess the overarching plotline might be the disappearance of magic in the world, but that's just noted by Medea a few times. I'm just not sure where this series is supposed to go, plotwise. The whole book seems to be more or less setting up the sequels, but I just can't really tell you what it's setting up exactly.
While Nikolai is an interesting character and definitely not supposed to be likeable, I just never really connected with him. He thinks himself extremely cunning and clever, but really, most of his decisions are very very stupid. And while he does realize that he has been acting and thinking in a destructive way by the end of the book, it doesn't really feel like character development, maybe because he doesn't figure it out himself (though he has ample opportunity to do so) but has to be told by another character. Most of the time, he is honestly just frustrating, though there is definitely potential to develop him into a more well-rounded character in the sequels. I had similar issues with Medea really, although I do like her a lot. She has all this knowledge and wisdom yet sometimes makes decisions that don't really make sense for someone like her. Both characters don't offer much emotional depth which makes them, in the end, a little forgettable.
There is also a lot of tell-don't-show in this novel. There are entire pages full of dialogue with nothing inbetween, just one statement after the other and the other and the other. It read a little... fanfictiony at times. Still, other than that the writing flows very nicely and is fun and entertaining at all times.
"Dark Apprentice" is an entertaining read with a lot of potential. but the lack of an actual overarching plot beyond Nikolai just being wrong about everything and the characters that felt shallow and inconcistent at times will probably keep me from picking up the sequels.
Many thanks to Living Relic Press and Netgalley for the arc!
Both main characters, Medea and Nikolai, are interesting and complex. I personally much preferred Medea and wanted more chapters from her pov, but Nikolai is an entertaining protagonist too. I found it interesting that he's written as a psychopath, and while I can't say how realistic the portrayal is, it's definitely a kind of character I haven't seen as a protagonist so far (at least as far as I remember).
I did have some issues with the book, though. For one, there is really just... not much of a plot. I was waiting for something more to happen, for some big reveals or twists or anything, but there's just nothing. It's a novel about a guy who becomes the apprentice of the most powerful mage in the known world, and because he is who he is he constantly thinks she's out to get him. That is it, until the very end. I guess the overarching plotline might be the disappearance of magic in the world, but that's just noted by Medea a few times. I'm just not sure where this series is supposed to go, plotwise. The whole book seems to be more or less setting up the sequels, but I just can't really tell you what it's setting up exactly.
While Nikolai is an interesting character and definitely not supposed to be likeable, I just never really connected with him. He thinks himself extremely cunning and clever, but really, most of his decisions are very very stupid. And while he does realize that he has been acting and thinking in a destructive way by the end of the book, it doesn't really feel like character development, maybe because he doesn't figure it out himself (though he has ample opportunity to do so) but has to be told by another character. Most of the time, he is honestly just frustrating, though there is definitely potential to develop him into a more well-rounded character in the sequels. I had similar issues with Medea really, although I do like her a lot. She has all this knowledge and wisdom yet sometimes makes decisions that don't really make sense for someone like her. Both characters don't offer much emotional depth which makes them, in the end, a little forgettable.
There is also a lot of tell-don't-show in this novel. There are entire pages full of dialogue with nothing inbetween, just one statement after the other and the other and the other. It read a little... fanfictiony at times. Still, other than that the writing flows very nicely and is fun and entertaining at all times.
"Dark Apprentice" is an entertaining read with a lot of potential. but the lack of an actual overarching plot beyond Nikolai just being wrong about everything and the characters that felt shallow and inconcistent at times will probably keep me from picking up the sequels.
Many thanks to Living Relic Press and Netgalley for the arc!
April 13, 2023
dark humour and fantasy is such a powerful combination. i haven’t been this excited by a series in a while, very much looking forward to the sequels!!
Read
April 17, 2021Dark Apprentice – Book review
Wow, I really dislike Nikolai Fedorov.
I know this guy. He is the guy who smirks when they think you can't see. He is the guy convinced of their own superiority.
From the first page to the last Nikolai, the main character, is both protagonist and antagonist in his own story. He undoes himself at every turn. And, by the end, he has learned absolutely nothing, grown not one hair, and is still the conniving creature he was at the beginning.
Some readers might argue that Nikolai did "change" by the final scene. Nope. Look again. The only change was that he moved his teacher from his mental list of adversaries to his list of allies.
That is not growth. That is merely rearranging his opinion on someone's usefulness to him.
So, why did I stick with the novel to the end? Good question. I'll admit - I put it down twice and walked away. I think the thing that drew me back was a simple need to finish the thing so I could get it out of my head. And, because I think I know what Nikolai is hiding under all that calculating cunning. So, back I went.
Allow me to insert a note here: My degrees are in Soviet and E. European studies. My mother is a survivor of WWII. I have spent many hours speaking with people about the sieges of Leningrad and of Stalingrad. I have a well developed idea of just how grim a childhood was in one of those, or other Nazi occupied areas of the Soviet Union.
It makes sense that Nikolai would see the world as one brutal conflict to win - at all cost. So, on one hand I despise what he is and, on the other, I can pity him.
The other major player in the story is the immortal mage Medea. She takes Nikolai as an apprentice against all her better instincts. She has his measure and yet still takes on a power seeking, lying, cheating psychopath.
Her decision is explained late in the story. My response to the revelation was -- And your best solution was to teach him? Uhm. Yeah. Medea may be immortal, but I have serious problems with her judgement. This is not to say she is a paragon. She obviously has a few problems of her own.
As far as the technical side of things went, the writing was clear and the story moved along. But, the emotional depth of the characters left me wanting something more. I didn't so much make an emotional connection with the characters as I had an emotional reaction to them.
So, would I call this my usual "brain popcorn"? No. It's more like candy-corn, you either like it or loathe it. This is the first in a series - Will I read book #2? At this instant, I don't know if I'm willing to allow Nikolai to take up any more of my time.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Wow, I really dislike Nikolai Fedorov.
I know this guy. He is the guy who smirks when they think you can't see. He is the guy convinced of their own superiority.
From the first page to the last Nikolai, the main character, is both protagonist and antagonist in his own story. He undoes himself at every turn. And, by the end, he has learned absolutely nothing, grown not one hair, and is still the conniving creature he was at the beginning.
Some readers might argue that Nikolai did "change" by the final scene. Nope. Look again. The only change was that he moved his teacher from his mental list of adversaries to his list of allies.
That is not growth. That is merely rearranging his opinion on someone's usefulness to him.
So, why did I stick with the novel to the end? Good question. I'll admit - I put it down twice and walked away. I think the thing that drew me back was a simple need to finish the thing so I could get it out of my head. And, because I think I know what Nikolai is hiding under all that calculating cunning. So, back I went.
Allow me to insert a note here: My degrees are in Soviet and E. European studies. My mother is a survivor of WWII. I have spent many hours speaking with people about the sieges of Leningrad and of Stalingrad. I have a well developed idea of just how grim a childhood was in one of those, or other Nazi occupied areas of the Soviet Union.
It makes sense that Nikolai would see the world as one brutal conflict to win - at all cost. So, on one hand I despise what he is and, on the other, I can pity him.
The other major player in the story is the immortal mage Medea. She takes Nikolai as an apprentice against all her better instincts. She has his measure and yet still takes on a power seeking, lying, cheating psychopath.
Her decision is explained late in the story. My response to the revelation was -- And your best solution was to teach him? Uhm. Yeah. Medea may be immortal, but I have serious problems with her judgement. This is not to say she is a paragon. She obviously has a few problems of her own.
As far as the technical side of things went, the writing was clear and the story moved along. But, the emotional depth of the characters left me wanting something more. I didn't so much make an emotional connection with the characters as I had an emotional reaction to them.
So, would I call this my usual "brain popcorn"? No. It's more like candy-corn, you either like it or loathe it. This is the first in a series - Will I read book #2? At this instant, I don't know if I'm willing to allow Nikolai to take up any more of my time.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 18, 2021
I've read a handful of apprentice-narrative centered stories but nothing like this, I absolutely love the dynamic between Medea and Nikolai. The writing is true to the characters' afflictions and portrays a very solid representation of neurodiversity. There was never a dull moment when reading this book. The magic system is also realistic in a sense that it garners influences and references from the real world. Overall, this was such a fun and enlightening read, can't wait for the next one 🖤
May 30, 2024
nikolai: shes reading my mind to manipulate me. she put a spell to keep me on her island. shes poisoning me. shes sabotaging me because she wants me to fail. shes conspiring against me.
medea: hey how is it going
medea: hey how is it going
May 8, 2021
Nikolai is a young wizard with high aspirations. He wishes to achieve immortality and become a grandmaster of dark magic. But he's currently apprenticed to a mage who hasn't been quite satisfactory and he is stuck in a town where dark magic is banned. He's desperate to learn from Medea, an immortal mage with a reputation of killing all her apprentices and he goes to great lengths to manipulate her into accepting him. He gets what he wants but he's still not happy and spends all his time working out ways to avoid doing the work she asks of him. He also becomes chronically unwell and thinks it's all the work of Medea.
Medea has lived a very long time and has taken on many apprentices. But once they become competent they all try to kill her. And so her reputation, which isn't great to begin with, has taken quite a few knocks. She long ago decided she wouldn't take on another apprentice. Nikolai's persistence wins out, despite her misgivings, and soon she has an apprentice who makes her wish she had never taken him on.
Nikolai has to be one of the most unlikeable protagonists I've ever run across. He is cocky and selfish and has no interest in working at getting better at his magic. He spends most of his time trying to manipulate others. At times he is amazingly stupid and I did wonder how he managed to get through the academy he previously attended. He's very much an anti-hero and there is almost no room for sympathy for him. Essentially a psychopathic character.
On the other hand, Medea is quite old and you would think she has gained a lot of wisdom from her experience. Within the realm of magic, this might be true but when it comes to other humans she still has a certain naivety and often misreads people and situations. In other words, quite typically autistic.
These two don't exactly work well very well together and it's often a wonder Nikolai learns anything at all. He is so resistant to learning things Medea's way that he wastes enormous amounts of time and gets into all sorts of difficulty. It's almost comical how ridiculous he behaves in one situation after another. Meanwhile, Medea carries on with him anyway because of her promise, which she fully intends to honor so long as he wishes to continue.
Although I did enjoy this a lot in the end, I had a hard time dealing with the character of Nikolai. It's hard to persist with a character I don't like at all. Thank goodness we got to see and hear from Medea's point of view or I might not have persisted. I did like that this was not the straightforward master and apprentice story. It really veers off course from books I've read in the past and adds a new dimension to a genre that has been copied repeatedly.
Overall I give this four solid stars.
Thank you to Books Sirens and Living Relic Press for sharing an advanced reader copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Medea has lived a very long time and has taken on many apprentices. But once they become competent they all try to kill her. And so her reputation, which isn't great to begin with, has taken quite a few knocks. She long ago decided she wouldn't take on another apprentice. Nikolai's persistence wins out, despite her misgivings, and soon she has an apprentice who makes her wish she had never taken him on.
Nikolai has to be one of the most unlikeable protagonists I've ever run across. He is cocky and selfish and has no interest in working at getting better at his magic. He spends most of his time trying to manipulate others. At times he is amazingly stupid and I did wonder how he managed to get through the academy he previously attended. He's very much an anti-hero and there is almost no room for sympathy for him. Essentially a psychopathic character.
On the other hand, Medea is quite old and you would think she has gained a lot of wisdom from her experience. Within the realm of magic, this might be true but when it comes to other humans she still has a certain naivety and often misreads people and situations. In other words, quite typically autistic.
These two don't exactly work well very well together and it's often a wonder Nikolai learns anything at all. He is so resistant to learning things Medea's way that he wastes enormous amounts of time and gets into all sorts of difficulty. It's almost comical how ridiculous he behaves in one situation after another. Meanwhile, Medea carries on with him anyway because of her promise, which she fully intends to honor so long as he wishes to continue.
Although I did enjoy this a lot in the end, I had a hard time dealing with the character of Nikolai. It's hard to persist with a character I don't like at all. Thank goodness we got to see and hear from Medea's point of view or I might not have persisted. I did like that this was not the straightforward master and apprentice story. It really veers off course from books I've read in the past and adds a new dimension to a genre that has been copied repeatedly.
Overall I give this four solid stars.
Thank you to Books Sirens and Living Relic Press for sharing an advanced reader copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 14, 2022
5 stars and eagerly awaiting book 2!
Nikolai has massive dreams; he wants to rule the world with dark magic. His only opposition is finding the right mentor...one well versed in dark magic....and one he can (eventually) overthrow. Madea, an immortal sorceress, crosses paths with Nikolai and agrees to teach him. The catch? She has had too many apprentices attempt to kill her, so she limits his learning, much to Nikolai's frustration. Will Nikolai pick up on important lessons that Madea is trying to teach him? Or will he grow tired of her lessons and attempt to take her down?
I am absolutely angry with myself that I waited this long to read this book. It was so good....like, scary good. It kept me up at night, I drown everything out at work to listen to the audiobook when I couldn't be physically reading it, and now I'm left salivating for more. Madea is a rare gem, and gods bless her for it. I want to delve more into her mind in book 2, to see how she came to the magical conclusions she did when it comes to teaching. Nikolai has alot to learn in book 2, but I look forward to his blunders and success's. The pacing of this book was extraordinary, minor characters were placed perfectly, and the narrators of the audiobook were the best I've heard all year.
I adored this one and can't wait for more, 5 stars. As this is geared more towards adults I would recommend the reading age to be 16+ as there is gore and sex throughout the story. If you're looking for a fresh magic system, one bad ass sorceress, and a power hungry world look no further. You will not be disappointed....until you realize book 2 hasn't been published yet.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Nikolai has massive dreams; he wants to rule the world with dark magic. His only opposition is finding the right mentor...one well versed in dark magic....and one he can (eventually) overthrow. Madea, an immortal sorceress, crosses paths with Nikolai and agrees to teach him. The catch? She has had too many apprentices attempt to kill her, so she limits his learning, much to Nikolai's frustration. Will Nikolai pick up on important lessons that Madea is trying to teach him? Or will he grow tired of her lessons and attempt to take her down?
I am absolutely angry with myself that I waited this long to read this book. It was so good....like, scary good. It kept me up at night, I drown everything out at work to listen to the audiobook when I couldn't be physically reading it, and now I'm left salivating for more. Madea is a rare gem, and gods bless her for it. I want to delve more into her mind in book 2, to see how she came to the magical conclusions she did when it comes to teaching. Nikolai has alot to learn in book 2, but I look forward to his blunders and success's. The pacing of this book was extraordinary, minor characters were placed perfectly, and the narrators of the audiobook were the best I've heard all year.
I adored this one and can't wait for more, 5 stars. As this is geared more towards adults I would recommend the reading age to be 16+ as there is gore and sex throughout the story. If you're looking for a fresh magic system, one bad ass sorceress, and a power hungry world look no further. You will not be disappointed....until you realize book 2 hasn't been published yet.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
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