Katie’s Reviews > The Awakened Mage > Status Update

Miller brings the emotions of her characters to vivid life. Their motivations and conflicted feelings are always understandable and sympathetic to the reader. She's also ramped up the stakes, and along with it the tension of her story. The descriptive writing has also become horrifying and creepy. I wasn't sure how she'd fare when the end of days started, but I shouldn't have worried. It's terrible and captivating.

I'm glad to say the Awakened Mage has finally attained the same gold standard of its predecessor - it's become "un-put-down-able!" I could easily read it all through the night; I need to know what happens! Unlike some earlier aspects of the novel, I can't predict how it will end.

The pace has picked up markedly since the halfway point, the plot has become more compelling and Miller has ramped up the emotion. The quality of the second half of the novel is much higher than the first, so I'm enjoying myself a lot more now!

My criticism that the villain didn't do enough to back up his reputation in Book 1 thankfully doesn't apply to this book. Finally, Morg is being evil! Maybe now there will be more action. My prediction about what would happen to Asher and Willer's role in it was correct. Hopefully the rest of the plot will be more unpredictable.

Finally Morg did something! It's about time. I have no idea why the author thought it was a good idea to have the villain be incapacitated for 50% of the book. The plot couldn't really get going in earnest without him, he is the one trying to destroy the world after all. He's pretty of necessary. -.-

This book just took an abrupt, unwanted turn into romanceland; make-outs galore! They're out of place & jarring & they change the tone of the novel & stop the narrative momentum. I wish Miller would get on to the good stuff: the prophecy, but we get Asher & Dathne hooking up! But I like Asher's problems with Matt. Reminds me of book 1's family drama. She does interpersonal conflict & emotion so well, I want more!

Also, still hate Willer. He is by far the least developed, unique and sympathetic character in the novel, and yet he's central to the plot, so he gets a lot of page time. I don't find him interesting in the least, especially due to the fact that I can easily predict what will happen with his story. It's taken away a lot from the tension and suspense of the novel, since I can already tell what Asher's fate will be.

I'm not as enamoured with this book as I was with its predecessor. I miss the family dynamics that made the first book so captivating. The increased focus on Doranen society and its institutions was isolated to the first few chapters. Most of the book has instead wallowed in melancholy, and there hasn't been a ton of action, just hints at doom. The one thing I am really loving though are the scenes with magic.

Oh my God, I hate Willer so much. He's such a cliche evil person character! At least give him some subtlety, like the manipulative, ambitious Jarralt, or bring some humanity to him, like the reformed Darran. More positively, love the continued development of the magic system & Gar's story. I'm worried that something terrible is going to happen to him, but his plot arc is creative and interesting.

Finally, we get to learn more about the weather magic! Of all the world-building, the magic was the least explored and developed in the Innocent Mage. I'm finding learning more about it through the experiences of the characters fascinating!