MetalMagic: Talisman

by Derek Donais

An elusive magic. A stricken kingdom. A twisted sorceress bent on the conquest of Evarlund's six realms.

For fifteen-year-old Jaren Haldannon, the key to wielding metalmagic—a feat that maddeningly defies him—is hidden in the mists of time and further complicated by his lack of awareness. With time running out, Jaren must discover within himself the key to solving the magic's riddle.

Morgaine, Jaren's older sister, is tired of her brother's meddling and of her responsibility to look after him. In the magic, Morgaine has found a calling in which Jaren cannot interfere. She has great potential, but her arcane talent arouses resentment and unwanted attention in their village of Dal Farrow.

Prince Aldrain has accepted the fact that he'll inherit the throne of Carathon. That day, however, seems far away and the heir apparent would rather spend his time hunting and courting. Unknown to all, a sinister plot is unfolding within the capital, one that will thrust great responsibility into Aldrain's hands much sooner than he ever anticipated.

Against these three unwitting heroes is arrayed the fearsome might of the Warwitch. Through unnatural means, she has used the metalmagic to transform herself into an unstoppable adversary. Armed with an old-world weapon of mass destruction, the Witch moves to subdue any who might oppose her.

Loyalties of blood and honor will be tested. Ages-old deceit will be revealed. In the end, who will remain to claim mastery of the metalmagic?

Genres: Fantasy

442 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published September 15, 2010

About the author

I'm a husband, father and writer. I'm also a huge geek. I can say that now because being a geek is cool. Right? Hello?

Aside from writing, I like to read, lift weights, and do martial arts. I have a love/hate relationship with running.

I'm going to go and pretend that I'm doing one of the above activities, though I'll probably just be playing Angry Birds.

Stupid birds.


Yours in Truth,

Derek Donais

Reviews

[Jo-Anne Sieppert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Metal Magic is a fantastic book, with great characters, Jaren and Morgaine's sibling relationship is brilliant. Prince Aldrain is forced into the throne before he is ready, but steps up brilliantly. A must read for all those who love adventure!!

[John Gregory Wynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story. Was not a perfect book but was entertaining. Cool world, characters engaging and i am sure book 2 will be even better.

[Tod Langley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Donais Delivers a Heartfelt, Adrenaline-Laced Adventure with MagicMetal

This review is from: MetalMagic: Talisman (Paperback)

Derek Donais' initial entry into Fantasy Fiction is a heartfelt, adrenaline-laced adventure that gives readers what they want while providing keen insights. The book's first chapter introduces readers to the main character, an inquisitive boy that wants to understand Metanduil and its link to those that are gifted enough to use the alloy to perform magic. Jaren's sister, Morgaine, has the ability to use the magic metal but Jaren does not, despite the increasing connection he feels to the magic.

An immediate conflict emerges between Jaren, Morgaine, and another gifted village girl. It is a conflict that will force the brother and sister to leave everything behind in search of refuge, but the pair is chased across the land by sinister agents. Morgaine has the potential to become a truly powerful Valir (someone that wields Metanduil and acts as an advisor to the land's various kings). The agents are desperate to reach Morgaine and deliver her to a corrupted Valir that has developed a weapon that can destroy kingdoms with a single blow. The Warwitch has already killed one king and her army threatens to overrun the rest of the world.

What none of them, including Jaren, realize is that the boy is the most powerful of them all. Jaren can use magic without the use of magic metal, but his first attempt at controlling the power is an utter failure...and without control, Jaren knows that he will destroy everything around him, including those he loves.

Donais' writing style is fluid while providing outstanding descriptive narrative; it is the kind of writing style that readers of any age should enjoy because the author understands all of the creative elements of a great story: plot, tempo, theme, and mood. Most importantly, MagicMetal has a message for all of us that live in the modern, technically driven world: science and technology are tools, they are neither good nor evil. It is how we, as individuals, decide to use these tools that determine if we are good.

The climatic finish kept me on edge for the last hour of reading as I fought beside Donais' heroes. I could see the instant flashes of magic in a multitude of colors. I could feel the power of the spells. I felt the emotions of Jaren and his sister as they struggled to survive against the Warwitch...

This was an outstanding first book for a new voice in Fantasy Fiction. I highly recommend reading this novel and watching Derek Donais over the coming years. I am hoping for many more novels from this writer.

Tod Langley
Author, Prince Kristian's Honor

[Barbara Galler-Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Derek Donais' Metal Magic: Talisman

Review by Barb Galler-Smith

Sometimes life intervenes to keep us from reading books we really want to read. When the chance to finally sit down and start reading gets interrupted almost continually, it sometimes makes it hard to remember what went on before.

Not so with Derek Donais' "Talisman", the first book in the Metal Magic series. This book starts so strongly, it was always easy to pick up and remember just what had happened before, even is a few weeks intervened between readings.

Then it happened for me. There came a point where the book was impossible to put down. It went everywhere with me, in case I had an uninterrupted minute.

The magic is unique and compelling, and as the story progresses, we discover it's not quite as simple as we might guess in early chapters, and so we can't quite figure out what's going to happen next. Twists and turns are as common as the tortuous journey the hero Jaren and his family must undertake to save the free world from enslavement by a wielder of the most powerful magic ever seen. Only Jaren has a hope of defeating her, and he is untrained.

Several point of view characters grace these pages: young Jaren, unable to use the ancient metal magic, yet capable of much more than he can imagine; his canny and independent friend Iselle; Jaren's gifted sister Morgaine; and Prince Aldrain, who suddenly becomes King after the annihilation of his family and the shocking destruction of the royal castle fortress. The antagonists are just as intriguing, and the political machinations behind the scenes are enticing.

The protagonists must separate, and the stories of each are engaging. The transitions between plot lines work exceedingly well. There is always something to propel us forward at the end of each scene or chapter, even while changing locations and characters. These changes are so smooth they come as easily as turning the page.

This is much bigger and better than just a story of a lad coming into his own. Strong magics, neither good nor bad in themselves, are wielded in a battle for supremacy. The end of the book came too soon, and just as the companions are brought back together, they are mysteriously separated again. Yet, the reader is left completely satisfied that this portion of the story is over, in spite of more questions burning of what happens next.

I'm so glad the sequel to this novel--Metal Magic: Revelations is almost ready for release. I whole-heartedly recommend this book!

[Domenico Composto-Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Metalmagic: Talisman is a fantastic, fast-paced, descriptive, and character-driven read.

The story revolves around three very likable, adolescent villagers: Iselle, Jaren, and his older sister Morgaine. Morgaine has been deemed by the Valir (a guild for those who have mastered the use of magic through Metanduil) to possess the ability to wield magic. Jaren desperately wants to possess this talent, but slowly discovers that he may not be able to do so. And Iselle is a strong-willed, at times comical, friend who has a particular fondness for Jaren.

What is enjoyable about the book is the dynamic relationships between these three characters as they progress through the story, which reveals the deep bond shared between siblings while also detailing the commotions of sibling rivalries.

This trio is sent out from their village of Dal Farrow to soon discover that they are caught up in the greater workings of a conspiracy by the Warwitch, an evil sorceress who is determined to rule Evarlund's six realms. In the Witch's arsenal is a powerful weapon that has already destroyed part of the Kingdom of Carathon's castle compound killing members of the royal family thus thrusting the initially reluctant prince Aldrain to the throne.

Will the Warwitch succeed in capturing and manipulating Morgaine's magical talents? Will King Aldrain live up to the responsibilities of the throne and guide his kingdom through the deadly, conspiring forces that seek to destroy him and his people? Will Jaren accept his inability to use Metanduil? These are the questions that will haunt the reader as they are quickly pulled into the book's very descriptive, well-written, and character-driven story.

Derek Donais has created a vivid and original fantastical world that is fast-paced, enjoyable, and very easy to follow. It is a pleasant and fun read that I would recommend to any fan of fantasy.

[Samantha Adkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

MetalMagic is filled with creativity and imagination. While Evarlund is a purely fictional land, it is realistic enough to be believed. The people and magicians who populate Evarlund operate with emotion and motive. Donais masterfully offers multiple problems and questions to keep the reader in suspense.

Main characters Morgaine, Iselle and Jaren are easy to identify and empathize with, possibly because they are still children. The struggles of adolescence and sibling rivalry are compounded by the mysterious power of the magic.

King Aldrain is another likeable character who has recently lost his mother and father in the mysterious destruction of their kingdom. He is therefore thrust into the role of leader in the midst of chaos and ruin, unable to explain what has happened and facing enemies he doesn’t know. The story is told from many points of view and allows the thoughts and motives of even the evil characters to be revealed. The Warwitch is a very compelling villain.

The story is filled with action and well describes the ongoing battle between good and evil. My problem with fantasy is often that there is not enough character development, but Donais skillfully builds all of his characters which will keep readers turning pages in his inventive series.

[R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Detail, Action and Adventure!

I enjoyed MetalMagic: Talisman immensely! The immersive detail throughout the novel really draws readers into the action and the environment. The connections between the characters are very sincere and there are some really shocking moments throughout the novel!
Overall, it is a great read and I cannot wait for the sequel!

[Everlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

all in all I am looking forward to reading MetalMagic Revelation.
Very hsppy you took the time to write a glssary page of people and places,very helpfull.
now that I know how to prononce names and places the second book will flow with ease and enjoyment.




thank you for your abuilty to write
so I can enjoy a goodread.
Everlie

[Chy · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was a lot about this book I really liked. Not just the magic system, but its history. The events progressed in interesting ways. And I dig the group dynamics. Additionally, I love characters like Ver.

And dig this: the kind of prologue I like; useful, and non-spoilery.

What kept going through my mind, with the characters, plot, history, and world was, Oh, man, with more development, this could have been amazing.

One thing that I kept going back to was, actually, the prologue. It seemed this perfect thing to let the reader know that An-Valir weren't actually "bad guys." What with new mentionings of them in the "current" time, and the hints that pretty much everybody believes they were evil, it was a neat tidbit to have.

However, when we get us an An-Valir in the story, no one seems to fear what that person might become. Even when the fledgling An-Valir fears it, it's on par with other magic-users. The prologue set up this perfect reader window into the fact that they're not always evil, and the first mentionings of them in the present showed that people believed they had been (and by the history, do we understand why). It made it look like I was in for some great tension, what with my reader knowledge and the misleading history the characters knew.

The plot definitely held my interest, but it didn't read as if it was fleshed out all the way. Everything fit together nicely, but the edges showed in some places.

I love the ideas for the characters, but they weren't fully developed. They made a good cast, but they weren't quite people.

That's what it all boils down to; I definitely liked this book, but it lacks development.

Still, there's obvious talent in the writer, and I have faith that he's only going to get better and better. Even if I didn't have that faith, I'd still need to read the next book. There're definitely a few things I need to keep up with, and at least one good hook tugging me along.

[Trevor Genge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read the whole book in less then a week, It could use more detail in filling out what is around to give a better view in my mind; maybe i am too used to the massive novels I read. But the story line is good, cant wait till the third book is out.

[Amy Mathers · Rating 3 out of 5]

http://amysmarathonofbooks.ca/metalma...

[Drew Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

My sons teacher wrote this book. When I found out, I felt i needed to read it just out of sheer curiosity.

What I didn’t expect was how much I’d be sucked into the world. While it may seem like I am biased, any fan of fantasy MUST give this a try. A truly different approach to magic and recurrent tropes found in most fantasy novels, and at the same time you can see that Donais is well versed in fantasy literature.

A much shorter and easier read than the likes of Sanderson, Jordan, or Rothfuss, but it is also meant to be. It seems appropriate for advanced readers of a younger age, or the young-adult demographic.

Can’t wait to read the next, and fingers crossed for the third book sometime soon!

[Kes · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cool magic idea, poor execution. I did like the siblings, especially the bit about Morgraine being jealous, but the rest felt very same-y.

[Ashley Newell · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted so badly to love this book. The back description gave me high hopes for a magical adventure story. Unfortunately, as I read, I found that what I had purchased was a rough draft of someone's first book. While there is underlying potential in these pages, it needs serious revision before I would recommend anyone else purchase it. The work is poorly structured, has weak development, and has tremendous inconsistency in the narrative tone(s). For the amount of Young Adult Fantasy available, including the works that have clearly been used as templates for building this story, "MetalMagic: Talisman", as it is in its current condition, does not measure up to what audiences should expect from this genre.

I have not yet read the sequel, and while I hope that the author has since developed in his own skill, I am concerned that the lack of care taken in publishing his first piece may extend to the rest of the series.

Creating a work-in-progress is not a crime, but selling one to unsuspecting readers is disrespectful to the integrity of the art.

[Caitlin Perry · Rating 1 out of 5]

In terms of story, the plot felt mostly like set up all the way to the finish and I ended up retaining little, making the whole thing feel like a foggy dream. The tone often shifted to such a degree that I didn’t know who the target audience was despite it being a Young Adult novel, nor could I maintain a mental grasp on the characters’ ages because of the instability of the style. The characters themselves were flat and I found it difficult to feel empathy for any of them.

While I would praise the basic concept, given the execution of the first book I think that time and revision would benefit this text. Until then I’d give it a pass.