themadnessofsam's review
4.0
AHHH! The cliffhanger! I have other things that need reading. Now I HAVE to know what happens. Off to the next book while my To Read pile gathers dust.
wdbuck01's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
vms_lcsw's review
3.0
This novel tracks the young life of the son of Asher, who was the protagonist in the two books Innocent Mage and Awakened Mage. Rafel, Asher's son, is growing up with a sister, Deenie, and both have some odd magic due to their father having both the Doranen and Olken magic in him.
As I begin to write the review I realize I've forgotten half the character's names though I read this fairly recently. I wonder if that means I'm getting old or the characters were not very memorable. Hmm.
The problems that were thought to have been overcome in the other series have come back to haunt everyone. Of course there is another Doranen who hates Olkens and has a son who he breeds to hate Olkens as well.
In the beginning of the book we hear quite a bit about Asher and his wife and how things have changed in the passed decade. Then we find that Lur (the earth) feels sick and something is very wrong. As the story progresses it becomes more about how Rafel wants to use magic and his father won't let him because he's afraid Rafel will get hurt or the Doranen will hate him for using their magic.
The storytelling itself is very good and there is a well-structured and interesting society that Karen Miller has built for these stories. There are a few styles of magic including the Olken magic which is never quite described aside from being refered to as 'earthy'. The Doranen magic is said to be more warlike but that most dangerous parts have been banned and/or lost and so there are some powerful Doranen who wish they could do the old magic their people used.
There is something called WeatherMagic (long story) that was developed by a woman thousands of years earlier who is now worshipped as a goddess (forgot her name, too). This WeatherMagic was something that was to be used to keep a protecting wall strong and that wall is now coming down. You sort of have to read the other books to understand what is going on.
The characters are likeable and most Olkens speak as though they're from Yorkshire and could be a character in Wuthering Heights. The main characters all have realistic personalities and interesting quirks that identify them and make them personable.
The story is more political and person-driven than magic or action driven. You won't find epic battles or sweeping adventure, but the story is entertaining nonetheless.
As I begin to write the review I realize I've forgotten half the character's names though I read this fairly recently. I wonder if that means I'm getting old or the characters were not very memorable. Hmm.
The problems that were thought to have been overcome in the other series have come back to haunt everyone. Of course there is another Doranen who hates Olkens and has a son who he breeds to hate Olkens as well.
In the beginning of the book we hear quite a bit about Asher and his wife and how things have changed in the passed decade. Then we find that Lur (the earth) feels sick and something is very wrong. As the story progresses it becomes more about how Rafel wants to use magic and his father won't let him because he's afraid Rafel will get hurt or the Doranen will hate him for using their magic.
The storytelling itself is very good and there is a well-structured and interesting society that Karen Miller has built for these stories. There are a few styles of magic including the Olken magic which is never quite described aside from being refered to as 'earthy'. The Doranen magic is said to be more warlike but that most dangerous parts have been banned and/or lost and so there are some powerful Doranen who wish they could do the old magic their people used.
There is something called WeatherMagic (long story) that was developed by a woman thousands of years earlier who is now worshipped as a goddess (forgot her name, too). This WeatherMagic was something that was to be used to keep a protecting wall strong and that wall is now coming down. You sort of have to read the other books to understand what is going on.
The characters are likeable and most Olkens speak as though they're from Yorkshire and could be a character in Wuthering Heights. The main characters all have realistic personalities and interesting quirks that identify them and make them personable.
The story is more political and person-driven than magic or action driven. You won't find epic battles or sweeping adventure, but the story is entertaining nonetheless.
jentrevellan's review
1.0
This was a big disappointment. I really enjoyed Kingmaker Kingbreaker as well as the prequel but this sequel was just lacking in everything.
It took 400 pages for the plot to appear, and it was pretty obvious what the plot would be too from the first line of the book.
Most of it felt like fanfiction with the romance, and the rivalry between Rafe & Arlin was just unbelievable.
The final 100 pages were really good, and the final scene was tense but could've been done much longer.
In summary, the really long parts could've been short, and the short ones could've been long.
I shall crack on with the next book with the faint hope that the good writing of the final few pages will continue into the next books...
It took 400 pages for the plot to appear, and it was pretty obvious what the plot would be too from the first line of the book.
Most of it felt like fanfiction with the romance, and the rivalry between Rafe & Arlin was just unbelievable.
The final 100 pages were really good, and the final scene was tense but could've been done much longer.
In summary, the really long parts could've been short, and the short ones could've been long.
I shall crack on with the next book with the faint hope that the good writing of the final few pages will continue into the next books...
squishnak's review
This follows the previous book's main character's child and it simply didn't grip me. I struggled through the previous two books and couldn't bring myself to finish this one.
adamdavidcollings's review
4.0
The Prodigal Mage is quite unique amongst fantasy novels that I've read. It is very much character-driven so you should not expect a breakneck paced plot. The father / son relationship is central to the story and is explored quite well.
Rather than facing a human villain in this story, the main antagonistic force is the land itself - the weather. The land is dying, poisoned by left-over magic from a defeated dark lord. While this may sound potentially bland, I felt the sense of impending doom as much as any other book I've read. This is also not to say that this book doesn't have it’s fair share of human antagonists. There is plenty of conflict here - amongst people who have strong disagreements but must ultimately live together.
This was my first Karen Miller book. While the first of a series, it also follows on from a previous series. This was not a stumbling block for me, it simply felt like I was stepping into a fully realised world with a very rich back-story. All I needed to know was explained, though the theology and religious beliefs of the world remained something of a mystery to me. This was fine though, it just made the world feel familiar yet exotic.
The world-building was nicely done. The focus was not on geography, or even culture, it was all about the people. The inhabitants of this world had their own turns of phrase, which gave them a unique voice but without feeling clunky and unnatural. In fact, the dialog was one of this book’s biggest strengths. It definitely brought the characters to life.
In the third act, the plot headed in the direction I had been hoping for. The book ended on a big cliffhanger which left me keen to get into book 2 so I can continue this adventure.
Rather than facing a human villain in this story, the main antagonistic force is the land itself - the weather. The land is dying, poisoned by left-over magic from a defeated dark lord. While this may sound potentially bland, I felt the sense of impending doom as much as any other book I've read. This is also not to say that this book doesn't have it’s fair share of human antagonists. There is plenty of conflict here - amongst people who have strong disagreements but must ultimately live together.
This was my first Karen Miller book. While the first of a series, it also follows on from a previous series. This was not a stumbling block for me, it simply felt like I was stepping into a fully realised world with a very rich back-story. All I needed to know was explained, though the theology and religious beliefs of the world remained something of a mystery to me. This was fine though, it just made the world feel familiar yet exotic.
The world-building was nicely done. The focus was not on geography, or even culture, it was all about the people. The inhabitants of this world had their own turns of phrase, which gave them a unique voice but without feeling clunky and unnatural. In fact, the dialog was one of this book’s biggest strengths. It definitely brought the characters to life.
In the third act, the plot headed in the direction I had been hoping for. The book ended on a big cliffhanger which left me keen to get into book 2 so I can continue this adventure.
woolfardis's review
2.0
This book didn't make me feel sympathetic or any other kind of connection with the characters to make me want to read the sequel to it. All the characters seemed to be really extreme: either extremely cocky, extremely arrogant, extremely stupid, extremely fragile, extremely helpless, extremely annoying or extremely ignorant. There seemed to be no middle ground, no mixture, people either listened or they didn't, or they were too arrogant to even think about anything else. I don't think it was realistic in terms of character.
Disappointing since I had read Karen Miller's Riven Kingdom trilogy and thoroughly enjoyed them; perhaps these books are far too "Young-Adult" for my liking. Possibly Kingmaker: Kingbreaker should have been read first, though if Asher is anything like he is in these books in those too then I doubt that. There was a lot of refrencing to those books, and fair enough, this does come after those, though it isn't necessary. Perhaps Young-Adult isn't the way forward, though I am still very disappointed and highly recommend the Riven Kingdom series of books, particularly if you didn't seem to enjoy these books much, either.
Disappointing since I had read Karen Miller's Riven Kingdom trilogy and thoroughly enjoyed them; perhaps these books are far too "Young-Adult" for my liking. Possibly Kingmaker: Kingbreaker should have been read first, though if Asher is anything like he is in these books in those too then I doubt that. There was a lot of refrencing to those books, and fair enough, this does come after those, though it isn't necessary. Perhaps Young-Adult isn't the way forward, though I am still very disappointed and highly recommend the Riven Kingdom series of books, particularly if you didn't seem to enjoy these books much, either.
jennyreadsromance's review against another edition
4.0
This is the third book I have read by Karen Miller, I think she is very creative.
The Prodigal Mage was hard for me to get through but once I got to a certain point it went really quickly. I do have some qualms about the character development though...< I don't like the relationship between Rafel and Deenie. Rafel was very mean to her and instead of trying to listen to her he would always just call her a coward, it seemed as though he had no love for her. Deenie on the other hand loved her brother and it is obvious, I just don't understand why she put up with his abuse, well, not abuse necessarily but indifference may be the better term. />
The Prodigal Mage was hard for me to get through but once I got to a certain point it went really quickly. I do have some qualms about the character development though...< I don't like the relationship between Rafel and Deenie. Rafel was very mean to her and instead of trying to listen to her he would always just call her a coward, it seemed as though he had no love for her. Deenie on the other hand loved her brother and it is obvious, I just don't understand why she put up with his abuse, well, not abuse necessarily but indifference may be the better term. />
rogue_runner's review
3.0
SO FRUSTRATING
This is a lot of character building (into not the most interesting characters) and a lot of plot buildup into really nothing happening at all. Also what did happen was super obvious through the foreshadowing, which just felt kinda ham-handed and ultimately lame. An annoying book, because Miller has really lovely writing and style, but just nooooottthhhiiiinnnggggg happens.
This is a lot of character building (into not the most interesting characters) and a lot of plot buildup into really nothing happening at all. Also what did happen was super obvious through the foreshadowing, which just felt kinda ham-handed and ultimately lame. An annoying book, because Miller has really lovely writing and style, but just nooooottthhhiiiinnnggggg happens.