Spellslinger by Sebastien de Castell (series) - Starting June 13th 2019

[Dannii]

There are three things that earn you a man’s name among the Jan’Tep. The first is to demonstrate the strength to defend your family. The second is to prove you can perform the high magic that defines our people. The third is simply to reach the age of sixteen. I was a few weeks shy of my birthday when I learned that I wouldn’t be doing any of those things.

Magic is a con game.

Kellen is moments away from facing his first mage's duel and the start of four trials that will make him a spellcaster. There's just one problem: his magic is gone. As his sixteenth birthday approaches, Kellen falls back on his cunning in a bid to avoid total disgrace. But when a daring stranger arrives in town, she challenges Kellen to take a different path. Ferius Parfax is one of the mysterious Argosi - a traveller who lives by her wits and the three decks of cards she carries. She's difficult and unpredictable, but she may be Kellen's only hope...

[Dannii]

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Date changed. Restarting June 13th 2019. Happy Reading ☺

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[Dannii]

First quarter of Spellslinger - (view spoiler)[I love magical academies and any sort of trials incorporated into the story-line, so this is already winning for me! Kellan's inability to do magic but the ruse he constructed to trick other that he can was super interesting and had me immediately hooked. I'm interested to see how else he will convince others that he has powers, or if his sister has ruined his con forever. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Second quarter of Spellslinger - (view spoiler)[No more cons have emerged, despite the appearance of the character of Ferius (who is my favourite) and her card tricks. I was hoping for more cons and tricks to have appeared, by now. I'm also convinced there is some sort of magical dampener occurring around Kellan. There have been repeated mentions of his mother smoothing the skin over his left eye. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Third quarter of Spellslinger - (view spoiler)[Still little mention of any cons, which I assumed to appear more frequently from the cover, tagline and synopsis. The political intrigue has been heightened, however, which is holding my interest. There is much unrest for a multitude of sides and Kellan is central to it all. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Fourth quarter of Spellslinger - (view spoiler)[Ooh the abductors were the Sha'tep and his Uncle is their leader. I never saw that coming! I love the dynamic it created and the emotional confusion it caused in Kellan. I'm no fan of his sister, but admire her brashness and so the ending was bittersweet. Kellan must find his own place in this world but it is not with her or their fami.y (hide spoiler)]

[Lizz (Beer, Books and Boos)]

I wasn't get notifications for this post

[Dannii]

Lizz wrote: "I wasn't get notifications for this post"

Oh no! I binged through this in the past 24 hours and have just started book 2

[Lizz (Beer, Books and Boos)]

I will be starting this soon.

Then I can catch up with you

[Dannii]

Lizz wrote: "I will be starting this soon.

Then I can catch up with you"

I can't wait to see your thoughts :)

[Dannii]

1/4 of Shadowblack - (view spoiler)[I'm really enjoying this one. The crew are on the run which means both the political discussions, the adventurous spirit, and the fight scenes have all been present from the very beginning. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

2/4 of Shadowblack - (view spoiler)[Kellan has managed to have contact with his sister and he uses the little time he has to speak to her to query about Nephemia??The reader knows little about her and so I can't reconcile Kellan's obsession with her character. To me it seems like a surface level infatuation and nothing that will last under the strain of war and distance placed between them.

Seneira is an intriguing character. I'm looking forward to learning more about her, though!

I'm still immensely enjoying this story-line but I have a few small niggles. The humour is a little off, for me. Scenes such as the one in the bathtub seem pointless and forcefully designed only for comedic effect, which it failed to do. (hide spoiler)]

[Lizz (Beer, Books and Boos)]

Just not getting into this right now. I am just having a hard time reading books on my kindle at the moment

[Dannii]

3/4 of Shadowblack - (view spoiler)[Kellan's feelings for Seneria were just as instantaneous and seemingly unfounded as his previous feelings for Nephemia. Can't individuals of the opposite gender ever just be friends in YA fantasy?

Mama Whispers is an interesting construct. I wonder why she appeared as so young to Kellan?

I'm also interested to learn more about the history between Ferius and Rosie. Ferius is keeping secrets and does seem to be holding Kellan back as he has learnt little under her tutelage. I still don't feel she is a bad character so I wonder why that is. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Lizz wrote: "Just not getting into this right now. I am just having a hard time reading books on my kindle at the moment"

I sometimes get like that with my kindle too. My library app has the audio so I'm listening along with reading the physical edition.

[Dannii]

4/4 of Shadowblack - (view spoiler)[Just as in the first book this retained its fun and fast-pace throughout. The humour doesn't always work for me, and neither does the romance, but the story-line is endlessly intriguing and I am never sure which new character to trust and who to fear. Learning more about the plague and the academy of the Seven Sands was an interesting element and helped this book feel like its own enclosed story-line. Dexan's explanation of the flatworms and how Kellan discovered the plague was a fluke was so inventive, I enjoyed this just as much as the first book and this is a solid 4-star read, for me. (hide spoiler)]