Why write a review for a mediocre fantasy duology? Because the story reminded me of a much better fantasy trilogy I once read.
KingMaker, Kingbreaker
The titles of the 2 novels in this duology are:
- The Innocent Mage
- The Awakened Mage.
The second novel is sometimes referred to as Innocence Lost.
From the cover of the first novel The Innocent Mage:
Enter the kingdom of Lur, where to use magic unlawfully means death. The Doranen have ruled Lur with magic since arriving as refugees centuries ago. Theirs was a desperate flight to escape a powerful mage who started a bitter war in their homeland. To keep Lur safe, the native Olken inhabitants agreed to abandon their own magic. Magic is now forbidden them, and any who break this law are executed. Asher left his coastal village to make his fortune. Employed in the royal stables, he soon finds himself befriended by Prince Gar and given more money and power than he’d ever dreamed possible. But the Olken have a secret; a prophecy. The Innocent Mage will save Lur from destruction and members of The Circle have dedicated themselves to preserving Olken magic until this day arrives. Unbeknownst to Asher, he has been watched closely. As the Final Days approach, his life takes a new and unexpected turn …
From the cover of the second novel The Awakened Mage:
“The evil foretold has risen … and we are all that stands between it and the end.”
Asher has come a long way for a fisherman’s son. Together with his friend Prince Gar, he has defended their kingdom against its bitterest enemy, but at great cost.
Now, the evil mage Morg is preparing for his most deadly assault. Desperate, trapped in a broken body, Morg has little time and fewer scruples. And he has a plan.
As Gar and Asher unwittingly fall into a dangerous deception, Morg gets ever closer to his goal. And this victory would be particularly sweet, for who better to destroy the kingdom than the two who would give anything to save it?
Review
The Innocent Mage
Rating: 6/10 or 
I would put these books in the category fast-food. Fast-food books are an entertaining read for a couple of hours (per book) or an evening or two. Don’t expect the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything, though-provoking issues, sarcasm, witty remarks, or life-changing insights. I just wanted to spend some quiet evenings reading, nothing more and nothing less. These 2 books have served their purpose. After all, a bad book is still better than a good movie or TV series.
Karen Miller could use some help with her characters. Asher, the main protagonist is impatient, rude, bad-tempered and full of self-pity (what have I done to deserve this, why is everyone always picking on me). Not once did I feel any sympathy for him. Not once.
Why spend time writing a review for a mediocre fantasy duology? While reading these novels I got this feeling that I had read something similar before, but better. I kept hoping that it would come back to me, but it was only after I finished the second novel that I made the connection with a fantasy trilogy that I had read some years before.
The plot:
- 2 types of magic, one used by the nobility, the other used by outcasts who are hunted down and killed
- main protagonist swears absolute loyalty to his master, a prince and future king
- main protagonist discovers that he has magic too and uses it to help his master at great personal risk
- main protagonist makes few friends and lots of enemies
- main protagonist discovers that he has both kinds of magic
- main protagonist’s powers are discovered, he is hunted down, beaten, tortured, found guilty and (nearly) executed
- main protagonist is saved from death by a small group of loyal friends
- main protagonist saves the kingdom
The Awakened Mage
Where have I read this before? I am so glad that it came back to me and I immediately wanted to return to the library to get The Farseers Trilogy by Robin Hobb and reread it … again:
- Assassin’s Apprentice
- Royal Assassin
- Assassin’s Quest
Robin Hobb is a far better writer than Karen Miller when it comes to storytelling, giving the characters depth, describing the landscape, …
Also by Robin Hobb in the same universe and with some of the same characters: The Liveship Traders Trilogy, The Tawny Man Trilogy, Soldier Son Trilogy and The Rain Wild Chronicles.
PS: I have read the books in Dutch: De Onschuldige Magiër and De Magiër Ontwaakt. A story can be affected by the translation, but in this case I doubt I would have to make any changes to my review.
| Abandon the search for the Truth; settle for a good fantasy. |
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
The Soldier Son trilogy doesn’t actually happen in the same universe as the rest of Hobb’s books.
You are right. It has been a while since I’ve read them and I thought that the Soldier Son Trilogy was about Fitz’s biological and adopted sons, but these stories are part of the Tawny Man Trilogy.