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A review by sarahcophagus
Dark Wizard by Jeffe Kennedy
4.0
This is a really fascinating premise and story that’s effortlessly readable. Sex/pregnancy rituals to bind wizards and familiars together for life?! I was dying to see how it would play out. But I do think some of the world building elements don’t really land for me. The Convocation is a system that doesn’t make any sense that they could even be sustainable without someone questioning their barbaric methods before Gabriel does. Especially since they seem so fine with him participating without thoroughly vetting or explaining the rules to him. I do enjoy (in a dark way) how ruthlessly selfish all of the wizards are (besides Gabriel of course) even if their abusive nature to their familiars is utterly startling. All of the character motivations make sense from Gabriel wanting to restore his family’s home by any means necessary, until he realizes that cost will be that his wife and the mother of his child will basically be his slave for life. And poor Veronica having to constantly reevaluate her changing circumstances to avoid constant fresh & horrible future outcomes pretty much on the fly. I was hoping this would feel like more of a complete story. Instead it feels more like the first third of one story, and I’m unsure if I want to keep reading more.