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A review by user613
Apprentice of Magic by K.M. Shea
3.0
2.5 stars
Technically this book was sweet, cute, innocent and clean. However, at the same time, it still managed to feel mature.
Why?
The romance. Specifically the teacher loving his underage student,
Even worse, it doesn't feel wrong in the book. It seems all nature and cute and innocent like everything else in the book. And, based on the ending, I'd guess that in the next book Angelique is going to be equally in love with him. Which will make everything seem even more okay. But, in reality, it changes nothing.
Teachers should not be touching their students like Evariste was. No matter how small the age gap. No matter what they think their student feels. No matter how innocent the touch is. Especially when both parties aren't interested. When the older, wiser, teacher figure, is the one making all the unwanted advances. When the student obviously doesn't want it.
Which is what happened in this book.
Also, Angelique's dark fears of her war powers give the book a slightly mature feel. She's constantly battling those fears throughout the book, and believing she's an evil, horrible person because she has such power. (And, these doubts are part of the reason she is okay with her teacher's advances. Because she thinks she's not worth enough and needs to be grateful for everything he does.)
And, did I mention that Angelique is annoying? The book takes place over years and years. And, at the end of it she's still as annoying and immature and as much of a bratty teen as she was in the beginning.
The characters and development lacked depth in general. It would've served the book well if all the characters were younger, and if the years that the book took place over were narrowed to months, since there was no reason for all that time to pass.
All that said, this book had many fun, intricate, magical parts to it as well.
The world's well built world with many details that serve to make it feel even more interesting and real. Also, Angelique learns to fight physically too, and not only with her magic, which I thought was great.
And, the fairy tales woven into the story are cute, as well. Angelique plays a part in quite a few.
And, she's at the Christening of a princess who's cursed to die on her 18th birthday after being priked by a needle. Angelique gives her a blessing that she will fall into a deep sleep instead and a kiss from her true lover will wake her.
This book reminds me of both [b:Keeper of the Lost Cities|12842828|Keeper of the Lost Cities (Keeper of the Lost Cities, #1)|Shannon Messenger|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1326469854l/12842828._SX50_.jpg|17993650] and [b:Howl’s Moving Castle|6294|Howl’s Moving Castle (Howl’s Moving Castle, #1)|Diana Wynne Jones|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1630502935l/6294._SX50_.jpg|2001], though those books definitely had a more innocent feel to them. Again, the romance plays a big part in this book feeling so mature.
In fact, if you're looking for a fun, innocent, magical adventure, I'd recommend those books instead of this one.
Content Warnings
Romance
There's a mention of an illegimate child (no details). And, enchanters all have a magical beauty.
Most of the romance in the book is between Evariste and Angelique.
In the one or two chapters from Evariste's eyes, we hear that he's slowly falling in love with her, and wishes she felt the same.
A few girls flirt with Evariste, which she finds reassuring, but he's interested in no one but Angelique.
There are many casual touches between Angelique and her mentor, Evariste. Flirting, winks, hand-holding and embraces. Evariste calls her Angel as a nickname. Angelique is oblivious to his feelings and obviously doesn't feel anything in return and hates all his attentions. One hug she spends half a page protesting. And, while he doesn't do anything more than hug her, or casually place a hand on her shoulder/back, she. doesn't. want. it.
Underage romance should not be a thing. Especially when both parties aren't interested. Especially when the older, wiser, teacher figure, is the one making all the unwanted advances.
Violence
There are scary scenes. Killing. Violent fights. Dangerous chasing of criminals. Nothing is described graphically.
Angelique's parents were killed in a goblin attack.
They fight a troll.
Angelique has war magic that can kill people. She's deathly afraid to use it. She goes through extreme pain in one scene, to avoid hurting people. There are black magic users that use magic to kill people. Angelique and Evariste chase them down to stop them from hurting others. They kill people twice.
Evariste is kidnapped.
Other
Magic. The enchanters can control the weather, change their appearance, open portals that take them from place to place and more. There are many magical creatures including goblings, trolls, unicorns, elves, pheonix, and fairygodmothers and even a star constellation, Pegasus who has magic and take a bodily form. A horse made out of fire. He's summoned twice to carry Angelique and Evariste.
There is also a living puppet which Angelique thinks they might need holy water to overpower. (Though they end up using a different method)
Technically this book was sweet, cute, innocent and clean. However, at the same time, it still managed to feel mature.
Why?
The romance. Specifically the teacher loving his underage student,
Spoiler
and touching her whenever he can, knowing that not only does she not return his feelings, but she doesn't like any of it. It's all clean, true. He comforts her when she's afraid, hugs her, holds her hand, casually puts a hand on her back, nothing more than that. But it's her body. And she doesn't like it. He's completely and totally taking advantage of her. And she just lets him because of all her fears and doubts and all her own emotional baggage. The whole book we watch Evariste taking advantage of Angelique's weaknesses and his position of power and using it to fill his desires. Which is completelywrong. Why does a young adult book encourage such behavior?Even worse, it doesn't feel wrong in the book. It seems all nature and cute and innocent like everything else in the book. And, based on the ending, I'd guess that in the next book Angelique is going to be equally in love with him. Which will make everything seem even more okay. But, in reality, it changes nothing.
Teachers should not be touching their students like Evariste was. No matter how small the age gap. No matter what they think their student feels. No matter how innocent the touch is. Especially when both parties aren't interested. When the older, wiser, teacher figure, is the one making all the unwanted advances. When the student obviously doesn't want it.
Which is what happened in this book.
Also, Angelique's dark fears of her war powers give the book a slightly mature feel. She's constantly battling those fears throughout the book, and believing she's an evil, horrible person because she has such power. (And, these doubts are part of the reason she is okay with her teacher's advances. Because she thinks she's not worth enough and needs to be grateful for everything he does.)
And, did I mention that Angelique is annoying? The book takes place over years and years. And, at the end of it she's still as annoying and immature and as much of a bratty teen as she was in the beginning.
Spoiler
Also, after being apprenticed for more than eight years, you'd think at the very least that something would change in her feelings towards her magic. But nothing does. It would've been nice if her feelings towards her magic developed at least a bit more during the story.The characters and development lacked depth in general. It would've served the book well if all the characters were younger, and if the years that the book took place over were narrowed to months, since there was no reason for all that time to pass.
All that said, this book had many fun, intricate, magical parts to it as well.
The world's well built world with many details that serve to make it feel even more interesting and real. Also, Angelique learns to fight physically too, and not only with her magic, which I thought was great.
And, the fairy tales woven into the story are cute, as well. Angelique plays a part in quite a few.
Spoiler
She creates wolves to teach the boy who cried wolf a lesson. Enchants a duke to have beautiful clothing, then purposely drops the enchantment to teach him a lesson. She gives a boon to two girls - as an old lady then as a little girl - first diamonds, then frogs and snakes. (And, even better, she realizes that having jewels falling from the mouth of a peasant girl is at best useless and at worst dangerous and draws thieves.)And, she's at the Christening of a princess who's cursed to die on her 18th birthday after being priked by a needle. Angelique gives her a blessing that she will fall into a deep sleep instead and a kiss from her true lover will wake her.
This book reminds me of both [b:Keeper of the Lost Cities|12842828|Keeper of the Lost Cities (Keeper of the Lost Cities, #1)|Shannon Messenger|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1326469854l/12842828._SX50_.jpg|17993650] and [b:Howl’s Moving Castle|6294|Howl’s Moving Castle (Howl’s Moving Castle, #1)|Diana Wynne Jones|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1630502935l/6294._SX50_.jpg|2001], though those books definitely had a more innocent feel to them. Again, the romance plays a big part in this book feeling so mature.
In fact, if you're looking for a fun, innocent, magical adventure, I'd recommend those books instead of this one.
Content Warnings
Romance
There's a mention of an illegimate child (no details). And, enchanters all have a magical beauty.
Most of the romance in the book is between Evariste and Angelique.
In the one or two chapters from Evariste's eyes, we hear that he's slowly falling in love with her, and wishes she felt the same.
A few girls flirt with Evariste, which she finds reassuring, but he's interested in no one but Angelique.
There are many casual touches between Angelique and her mentor, Evariste. Flirting, winks, hand-holding and embraces. Evariste calls her Angel as a nickname. Angelique is oblivious to his feelings and obviously doesn't feel anything in return and hates all his attentions. One hug she spends half a page protesting. And, while he doesn't do anything more than hug her, or casually place a hand on her shoulder/back, she. doesn't. want. it.
Underage romance should not be a thing. Especially when both parties aren't interested. Especially when the older, wiser, teacher figure, is the one making all the unwanted advances.
Violence
There are scary scenes. Killing. Violent fights. Dangerous chasing of criminals. Nothing is described graphically.
Spoiler
Angelique's parents were killed in a goblin attack.
They fight a troll.
Angelique has war magic that can kill people. She's deathly afraid to use it. She goes through extreme pain in one scene, to avoid hurting people. There are black magic users that use magic to kill people. Angelique and Evariste chase them down to stop them from hurting others. They kill people twice.
Evariste is kidnapped.
Other
Magic. The enchanters can control the weather, change their appearance, open portals that take them from place to place and more. There are many magical creatures including goblings, trolls, unicorns, elves, pheonix, and fairygodmothers and even a star constellation, Pegasus who has magic and take a bodily form. A horse made out of fire. He's summoned twice to carry Angelique and Evariste.
There is also a living puppet which Angelique thinks they might need holy water to overpower. (Though they end up using a different method)