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forestpages's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
5.0
wyvernfriend's review against another edition
4.0
Asher is born the son of a fisherman but has bigger dreams about what to do with his life. He rescues the prince and becomes a friend. His life becomes complicated and involved with the politics of the kingdom. There's hidden magic involved in the plot and prophecy.
It's pretty predictable in parts but I did enjoy the story.
It's pretty predictable in parts but I did enjoy the story.
bekah_beks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
raidingbookshelves's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
mastersal's review against another edition
3.0
Finally read this book - almost 10 years later. Go me!!! Rating 3.5 stars
I listened to this on audio - narrated by Kirby Heyborne. I haven't heard any other books by her but I thought she did quite a good job with this book.
This book is a debut by Karen Miller and is set in a secondary world - a sort of enclosed kingdom which is populate by various races. There has been some calamity which we don't know of which has forced the magic using Dornan race to conquer this kingdom and then set up a magic wall to protect it. In the Kingdom the weather run rampant and is controlled by the King/Queen who is also a weather-mage. When this book opens we are following a prophecy of the advent of the Innocent Mage - who is he? How is connected to our fisherman hero (love that the hero is a fisherman!!) - etc.
It was a pretty interesting set-up - setting up a political and racial conflict between the native peoples and the conquerors. Combine that with weather magic, a prophecy and the potential "END OF THE WORLD" (because these things have to be capitalized after all) - and you've a pretty good mix for a series.
I will say - despite the ostensible set up - this isn't a particularly action-packed series. We don't have grand battles or armies or feats of high magic. Most of the book is really concerned with Asher - our hero - and his making his fortune in the capital city. This could have worked as historical fiction (for the most part) as well. The MC and the characters are the focus of the book - and basically the best part.
Asher especially was an enjoyable character. He has a mouth (which is sometimes foul) and an irreverence for authority which I found really funny. He is also smart, hardworking, kind of prickly, and such an optimist and champion of justice - I had a great time with him.
He is the main focus of the book but the supporting cast - are well done. A little too similar in character but that could be deliberate.
The quality of the writing was also solid. There wasn't that many memorable lines but there is a POV voice to the characters which I liked a lot. The exposition was well done without too many info-dumps and the world is revealed pretty naturally. I was impressed with that.
Generally, the book was well structured except for the last part which did come out of nowhere. It felt more like something that should have been done as part of book 2 - or its own separate novella.
The whole villian advent should have come much earlier to set up proper stakes. Right now - Morg was too mustache twirling for my liking and had nothing to do with what had been happening in the book earlier. I mean he literally takes over the court mage near the end but has not been around for most of the plot.
It wasn't bad per se - just a bit awkwardly structured. Probably had something to do with the fact that this is a duology and not a trilogy. The two books in the duology are likely one giant book instead of real separate books with their own arcs. Per se this doesn't bother me as I already have book 2 but I do think it's a weakness in the plotting.
Overall - going with 3.5 stars. Liked the character and their interactions but I need to read book 2 to see where this plot is going. This book doesn't really work on its own. The world is intriguing and I like the set-up but I need to see if there is actual pay-off before I can judge this book. I might bump this up to 4 stars if book 2 lands the ending - because then some of the promises of this book will be deliberate instead of me reading too much into things. (I have theories)
Looking forward to getting to book 2 shortly.
I listened to this on audio - narrated by Kirby Heyborne. I haven't heard any other books by her but I thought she did quite a good job with this book.
This book is a debut by Karen Miller and is set in a secondary world - a sort of enclosed kingdom which is populate by various races. There has been some calamity which we don't know of which has forced the magic using Dornan race to conquer this kingdom and then set up a magic wall to protect it. In the Kingdom the weather run rampant and is controlled by the King/Queen who is also a weather-mage. When this book opens we are following a prophecy of the advent of the Innocent Mage - who is he? How is connected to our fisherman hero (love that the hero is a fisherman!!) - etc.
It was a pretty interesting set-up - setting up a political and racial conflict between the native peoples and the conquerors. Combine that with weather magic, a prophecy and the potential "END OF THE WORLD" (because these things have to be capitalized after all) - and you've a pretty good mix for a series.
I will say - despite the ostensible set up - this isn't a particularly action-packed series. We don't have grand battles or armies or feats of high magic. Most of the book is really concerned with Asher - our hero - and his making his fortune in the capital city. This could have worked as historical fiction (for the most part) as well. The MC and the characters are the focus of the book - and basically the best part.
Asher especially was an enjoyable character. He has a mouth (which is sometimes foul) and an irreverence for authority which I found really funny. He is also smart, hardworking, kind of prickly, and such an optimist and champion of justice - I had a great time with him.
He is the main focus of the book but the supporting cast -
Spoiler
and especially the Prince and their friendshipSpoiler
I did like the fact that the Prince couldn't do magic - for most of the book - and how that impacted his sense of self-worth. The author has set up a great duo here. The name of the Prince - Gar - is pretty silly though.The quality of the writing was also solid. There wasn't that many memorable lines but there is a POV voice to the characters which I liked a lot. The exposition was well done without too many info-dumps and the world is revealed pretty naturally. I was impressed with that.
Generally, the book was well structured except for the last part which did come out of nowhere. It felt more like something that should have been done as part of book 2 - or its own separate novella.
Spoiler
The arrival of Morg as the main villian didn't fit into the book itself. It came almost in the last quarter even though it was really part of a new arc. This book is more properly book 1 - which is the first 2/3rd and then book 1.5 which the last part - that will also take us into Book 2.The whole villian advent should have come much earlier to set up proper stakes. Right now - Morg was too mustache twirling for my liking and had nothing to do with what had been happening in the book earlier. I mean he literally takes over the court mage near the end but has not been around for most of the plot.
It wasn't bad per se - just a bit awkwardly structured. Probably had something to do with the fact that this is a duology and not a trilogy. The two books in the duology are likely one giant book instead of real separate books with their own arcs. Per se this doesn't bother me as I already have book 2 but I do think it's a weakness in the plotting.
Spoiler
And that ending - a literal cliff hanger!Overall - going with 3.5 stars. Liked the character and their interactions but I need to read book 2 to see where this plot is going. This book doesn't really work on its own. The world is intriguing and I like the set-up but I need to see if there is actual pay-off before I can judge this book. I might bump this up to 4 stars if book 2 lands the ending - because then some of the promises of this book will be deliberate instead of me reading too much into things. (I have theories)
Looking forward to getting to book 2 shortly.
celiapowell's review against another edition
3.0
I didn't think I would like this when I began it - the gruff young country lad (complete with rustic accent) who makes his way to the city, being "ruggedly honest" (which comes across as bloody rude) with everyone he meets, including royalty. And of course, he's destined to save the land, wouldn't you know it?
But it actually gets better - Asher becomes more bearable as we get to know him, and I found the close friendship he develops with Prince Gar very touching. Prince Gar, a man without magic living in a land where to be without is to be a cripple (although I'm sure his terribly name doesn't help), is an interesting character, torn in his relationship with his magic-bearing sister, younger than he but because of her talent, heir to the throne. The royal family's purpose is to keep strong the Wall which surrounds the kingdom, keeping at bay the ancient enemy of their ancestors. We know they're not going to be successful, as it will fall to Asher (eventually, and not in this book), to save the day. As you can see, fairly rife with fantasy cliches, but good fun all the same, if you can get past the rustic accent. I'll definitely keep reading this series.
But it actually gets better - Asher becomes more bearable as we get to know him, and I found the close friendship he develops with Prince Gar very touching. Prince Gar, a man without magic living in a land where to be without is to be a cripple (although I'm sure his terribly name doesn't help), is an interesting character, torn in his relationship with his magic-bearing sister, younger than he but because of her talent, heir to the throne. The royal family's purpose is to keep strong the Wall which surrounds the kingdom, keeping at bay the ancient enemy of their ancestors. We know they're not going to be successful, as it will fall to Asher (eventually, and not in this book), to save the day. As you can see, fairly rife with fantasy cliches, but good fun all the same, if you can get past the rustic accent. I'll definitely keep reading this series.
goizi's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
lesserjoke's review against another edition
2.0
This was a pretty adequate fantasy novel. It wasn't awful, but it was definitely bogged down by the slow reveal of its relevant worldbuilding and a perpetually surly protagonist whose only friends spend the whole novel lying to him. Things pick up enough in the back half of the story -- right around when the main focus switches from Asher to Prince Gar -- that I'm willing to give the rest of the series a try. But I honestly don't have high hopes for those books based on this one.