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Master of the Void
BOOK 1 OF 3:
In the Seven Lands, magic is everything. So what happens when you’re the only person who has none?
Nothing matters more to Derrius Mendi than forging a better life for his family by pursuing a formal magical education at the University, something his parents have sacrificed what little they had to make possible. When disaster strikes on the eve of his thirteenth birth moment—the day he was to receive his magical gift from the Stars—will he choose perseverance or bitterness as he struggles against a society that would rather forget he exists than help him succeed?
As the third son of an archmage, Orimund Laetus has spent his life living up to the expectations of others. When his testing goes horribly wrong, he must decide who he truly is when his carefully crafted upbringing is rendered useless. Setting off on an epic adventure of self-discovery, Orimund must find his place in the world before a looming evil destroys everything he holds dear.
From swashbuckling sea voyages and magical heists to unlikely friendships and budding romances, Master of the Void is a sweeping coming-of-age journey that follows a cast of misfit friends through times of heartbreak, fear, joy, laughter, failure, and triumph.
In the Seven Lands, magic is everything. So what happens when you’re the only person who has none?
Nothing matters more to Derrius Mendi than forging a better life for his family by pursuing a formal magical education at the University, something his parents have sacrificed what little they had to make possible. When disaster strikes on the eve of his thirteenth birth moment—the day he was to receive his magical gift from the Stars—will he choose perseverance or bitterness as he struggles against a society that would rather forget he exists than help him succeed?
As the third son of an archmage, Orimund Laetus has spent his life living up to the expectations of others. When his testing goes horribly wrong, he must decide who he truly is when his carefully crafted upbringing is rendered useless. Setting off on an epic adventure of self-discovery, Orimund must find his place in the world before a looming evil destroys everything he holds dear.
From swashbuckling sea voyages and magical heists to unlikely friendships and budding romances, Master of the Void is a sweeping coming-of-age journey that follows a cast of misfit friends through times of heartbreak, fear, joy, laughter, failure, and triumph.
- GenresFantasyYoung AdultAdult
585 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 11, 2023
22 people are currently reading
880 people want to read
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April 15, 2024
My SPFBO9 finalist review of Master of the Void is published at Before We Go Blog.
“Derrius stood, furtively wiping his eyes with the sleeve of his shirt. He was thirteen years old, he shouldn’t be crying like a child.”
Master of the Void is the C.S. Lewis-inspired SPFBO9 finalist by Wend Raven, an epic fantasy and coming-of-age story that will capture the imagination of readers of all ages.
Wend Raven’s debut takes place in the magic-infused Seven Lands. The children of the Seven Lands are evaluated for their magical abilities precisely thirteen years following their birth.
The various magical abilities are categorized by color and connected to astrological symbols from the moment of their birth. Those few souls without magical abilities are imprinted with the dreaded Void Mark on their hand, making them outcasts in a world where magic means everything.
Master of the Void has a vibrant cast of characters, consisting mostly of young teenagers as they find their paths forward within this society. Although there are several points of view, the book features two main protagonists. First is Orimund Laetus, the third son of an archmage, who has studied diligently as he tries to meet the high expectations of his parents:
“At fourteen and fifteen, Orimund’s older brothers had already passed their testing and had begun to excel in their magical practices. Most days, the pressure of living up to their successes was only a nagging thought in the back of his mind. Other days, he thought he might drown in it.”
But when Orimund’s testing goes terribly wrong, he must make a new path for himself.
The other lead protagonist is Derrius Mendi, a poor boy with uncommon abilities who studies hard to build a better life for himself and his family. But an ill-timed disaster on the eve of his testing forces Derrius to reevaluate his plans.
Master of the Void also features an outstanding group of side characters, several of whom get point-of-view duties throughout the novel. I especially enjoyed reading from the perspectives of Orimund’s best friend, Imber, who has an arranged engagement to Orimund’s older brother, Arrin. Both Imber and Arrin are willing to exploit the engagement as a means to help the troubled Orimund.
Master of the Void is full of positive messages as the children overcome their challenges, gaining self-confidence and finding purpose:
“‘Eventually, I came to the realization that no one in the Seven Lands had the power to make me feel good about myself,’ his brother continued. ‘Even if Father had suddenly decided to hug me and tell me he was proud, or the prettiest girl in school decided she was crazy about me, it wouldn’t mean anything if I wasn’t already happy with who I am.’”
These personal journeys are set against a rising evil that threatens to destroy the only world the children have known.
Master of the Void embraces all the well-worn tropes of middle grade and young adult fantasy. There are also the usual themes of friendship, familial relationships, overcoming adversity, and finding joy in a time of suffering, as well as an innocuous love triangle. Yes, all of this has been done before in countless other novels. But Wend Raven accomplishes everything so compelling in Master of the Void that I really can’t fault her for her embrace of classic tropes.
Master of the Void is a wholesome fantasy that parents can give to their middle-grade children without worrying about objectionable content. Wend Raven even captured my imagination as an adult reader who has seen these tropes innumerable times, providing a truly entertaining read that I am delighted to recommend.
Most of all, I’d consider Master of the Void to be a perfect gateway book for introducing young readers to fantasy, which could very well foster a lifelong love of reading. Honestly, I can’t think of any higher praise than that.
Master of the Void is the first book in a planned trilogy. The story continues in Book Two: Creature of the Void.
“Derrius stood, furtively wiping his eyes with the sleeve of his shirt. He was thirteen years old, he shouldn’t be crying like a child.”
Master of the Void is the C.S. Lewis-inspired SPFBO9 finalist by Wend Raven, an epic fantasy and coming-of-age story that will capture the imagination of readers of all ages.
Wend Raven’s debut takes place in the magic-infused Seven Lands. The children of the Seven Lands are evaluated for their magical abilities precisely thirteen years following their birth.
The various magical abilities are categorized by color and connected to astrological symbols from the moment of their birth. Those few souls without magical abilities are imprinted with the dreaded Void Mark on their hand, making them outcasts in a world where magic means everything.
Master of the Void has a vibrant cast of characters, consisting mostly of young teenagers as they find their paths forward within this society. Although there are several points of view, the book features two main protagonists. First is Orimund Laetus, the third son of an archmage, who has studied diligently as he tries to meet the high expectations of his parents:
“At fourteen and fifteen, Orimund’s older brothers had already passed their testing and had begun to excel in their magical practices. Most days, the pressure of living up to their successes was only a nagging thought in the back of his mind. Other days, he thought he might drown in it.”
But when Orimund’s testing goes terribly wrong, he must make a new path for himself.
The other lead protagonist is Derrius Mendi, a poor boy with uncommon abilities who studies hard to build a better life for himself and his family. But an ill-timed disaster on the eve of his testing forces Derrius to reevaluate his plans.
Master of the Void also features an outstanding group of side characters, several of whom get point-of-view duties throughout the novel. I especially enjoyed reading from the perspectives of Orimund’s best friend, Imber, who has an arranged engagement to Orimund’s older brother, Arrin. Both Imber and Arrin are willing to exploit the engagement as a means to help the troubled Orimund.
Master of the Void is full of positive messages as the children overcome their challenges, gaining self-confidence and finding purpose:
“‘Eventually, I came to the realization that no one in the Seven Lands had the power to make me feel good about myself,’ his brother continued. ‘Even if Father had suddenly decided to hug me and tell me he was proud, or the prettiest girl in school decided she was crazy about me, it wouldn’t mean anything if I wasn’t already happy with who I am.’”
These personal journeys are set against a rising evil that threatens to destroy the only world the children have known.
Master of the Void embraces all the well-worn tropes of middle grade and young adult fantasy. There are also the usual themes of friendship, familial relationships, overcoming adversity, and finding joy in a time of suffering, as well as an innocuous love triangle. Yes, all of this has been done before in countless other novels. But Wend Raven accomplishes everything so compelling in Master of the Void that I really can’t fault her for her embrace of classic tropes.
Master of the Void is a wholesome fantasy that parents can give to their middle-grade children without worrying about objectionable content. Wend Raven even captured my imagination as an adult reader who has seen these tropes innumerable times, providing a truly entertaining read that I am delighted to recommend.
Most of all, I’d consider Master of the Void to be a perfect gateway book for introducing young readers to fantasy, which could very well foster a lifelong love of reading. Honestly, I can’t think of any higher praise than that.
Master of the Void is the first book in a planned trilogy. The story continues in Book Two: Creature of the Void.
Read
January 6, 2024An SPFBO finalist here, still only on 40 ratings! Try it out - you could be among the first to discover a gem :D
I've not read this yet, but it's the first finalist for SPFBO 9, one of 10 finalists to be chosen from the 300 entries this year.
That's got to mean it's good - so give it a go.
Check out this year's contest here:
https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/...
See this year's finalist table here:
https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/...
Read up on the SPFBO in general here:
https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/...
.
I've not read this yet, but it's the first finalist for SPFBO 9, one of 10 finalists to be chosen from the 300 entries this year.
That's got to mean it's good - so give it a go.
Check out this year's contest here:
https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/...
See this year's finalist table here:
https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/...
Read up on the SPFBO in general here:
https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/...
.
September 5, 2023
I received a gifted copy of MASTER OF THE VOID by Wend Raven from the author for the purpose of reviewing it for #SPFBO9 for the team created by @coverswithcassidy.
MASTER OF THE VOID is set in a world of magic. When youths reach their thirteenth birth moment they can be tested to determine their magical proficiency and their worthiness for entry into a formal magical education. Orimund has been raised in a powerful and magical family and he has spent his whole life studying to follow his older brothers into University. When his testing day comes and he is told he is without magic and branded a void, he is embarrassed and heartbroken, leaving home behind to strike out on his own.
Derrius is another young man who dreams about entering the University. He’s been raised in a working class family and works hard to study with any resources he can lay his hands on. He hopes that magic will give him an inroads to improving his family’s life. When an unavoidable disaster interferes with his testing moment, he must fight to determine if he can still be deemed magical.
I really quickly fell into this book and loved my time with it. The book takes on a lot and I did worry at times if it might be a case of taking on too much and not fully fleshing everything out, but I soon learned to trust the author. I think the book did a fantastic job of building out the world as the story progressed with good descriptions without giving too much at once. I do think the book might benefit from a glossary in the back as I found myself making some notes to keep the different types of magics straight with their different names, associated colors, and various powers, but the book also does well at reminding you when you do need to know something.
I found the world building to be really interesting, particularly when it came to the magic. The concept of one’s birth moment being so crucial to their magic in addition to other factors in their lives was very interesting. The premise of being labeled a void and how that comes about in someone also added some mystery to the story. We get glimpses of a dark figure as well with magic of his own between the chapters of the main plot which also had me making guesses about what was going on (not all of which were right).
The cast of characters is well built out. In addition to Ori and Derrius who are our main two POVs, we also witness the world through a few other eyes in various positions. As the book goes on, Ori’s brothers and his best friend try to follow in his footsteps and track him down. This gives us a good understanding of what is happening in different places in the world while Ori and Derrius are more centered on their own identities and struggles. I think the author did well at building out different personalities between characters, even in the supporting cast.
In terms of plot, there is a lot going on in the book and it really kept me wanting to pick it back up. It really gelled with my preferences in terms of balancing action and character development. I had a lot of questions about where the plot was heading early on and I made a few accurate guesses, but the author did manage to make some twists I didn’t expect.
Overall this was a book and a writing style that really worked well for me. It added a lot of complexities to the world and the characters and raised a lot of questions about morality and identity. I did see that this was recently added to Kindle Unlimited, so it is definitely worth picking up for the fantasy fans!
We already know that this was nominated by Sandra @gotathingforthings as a semi-finalist for the team from @coverswithcassidy and it was definitely my favorite read among my allotment of books for the team, so it gets seconded as a semi-finalist for me as well!
MASTER OF THE VOID is set in a world of magic. When youths reach their thirteenth birth moment they can be tested to determine their magical proficiency and their worthiness for entry into a formal magical education. Orimund has been raised in a powerful and magical family and he has spent his whole life studying to follow his older brothers into University. When his testing day comes and he is told he is without magic and branded a void, he is embarrassed and heartbroken, leaving home behind to strike out on his own.
Derrius is another young man who dreams about entering the University. He’s been raised in a working class family and works hard to study with any resources he can lay his hands on. He hopes that magic will give him an inroads to improving his family’s life. When an unavoidable disaster interferes with his testing moment, he must fight to determine if he can still be deemed magical.
I really quickly fell into this book and loved my time with it. The book takes on a lot and I did worry at times if it might be a case of taking on too much and not fully fleshing everything out, but I soon learned to trust the author. I think the book did a fantastic job of building out the world as the story progressed with good descriptions without giving too much at once. I do think the book might benefit from a glossary in the back as I found myself making some notes to keep the different types of magics straight with their different names, associated colors, and various powers, but the book also does well at reminding you when you do need to know something.
I found the world building to be really interesting, particularly when it came to the magic. The concept of one’s birth moment being so crucial to their magic in addition to other factors in their lives was very interesting. The premise of being labeled a void and how that comes about in someone also added some mystery to the story. We get glimpses of a dark figure as well with magic of his own between the chapters of the main plot which also had me making guesses about what was going on (not all of which were right).
The cast of characters is well built out. In addition to Ori and Derrius who are our main two POVs, we also witness the world through a few other eyes in various positions. As the book goes on, Ori’s brothers and his best friend try to follow in his footsteps and track him down. This gives us a good understanding of what is happening in different places in the world while Ori and Derrius are more centered on their own identities and struggles. I think the author did well at building out different personalities between characters, even in the supporting cast.
In terms of plot, there is a lot going on in the book and it really kept me wanting to pick it back up. It really gelled with my preferences in terms of balancing action and character development. I had a lot of questions about where the plot was heading early on and I made a few accurate guesses, but the author did manage to make some twists I didn’t expect.
Overall this was a book and a writing style that really worked well for me. It added a lot of complexities to the world and the characters and raised a lot of questions about morality and identity. I did see that this was recently added to Kindle Unlimited, so it is definitely worth picking up for the fantasy fans!
We already know that this was nominated by Sandra @gotathingforthings as a semi-finalist for the team from @coverswithcassidy and it was definitely my favorite read among my allotment of books for the team, so it gets seconded as a semi-finalist for me as well!
April 16, 2024
Read for SPFBO9 as part of team Fantasy Book Critic. This is just my personal opinion, group verdict may differ widely.
7/10
Filled with loveable young characters, great magical school vibes, rich diverse cultures, exciting sea voyages, intriguing astrologically influenced magic, and a little dash of teenage angst, Master of the Void is coming-of-age fantasy done right!
Welcome to the Seven Lands, a world where magic is everything. At the passing of their thirteenth birth moment, kids are tested for their magical ability and sorted into one of the five groups of power. At least, that is how it is supposed to happen. The lives of the two young boys Derrius and Orimund are completely shattered when they receive the shocking results of their tests, setting them both off on similar yet terrifyingly different journeys of tumultuous self-discovery.
Right from the start, the high levels of intrigue and wonder really captured my imagination, simply forcing me to keep turning the pages. Not only was I captivated by the smooth introduction of the multifaceted magic system, but the setting of the Seven Lands also quickly felt very immersive to me and I really enjoyed exploring this epic world in all its glory from so many different perspectives.
Normally I prefer to follow a smaller cast of characters, but I actually found that the frequently rotating POVs gave this story a deliciously addictive ‘just one more chapter’ quality. It does admittedly take a while to get a good sense of how all the separate plot lines are going to connect, but trust me when I say that the eventual convergence is simply masterful and oh so satisfying.
I do have to admit that I ended up preferring certain character perspectives over others, and sometimes I found myself wondering if we really needed all the POVs we got. For me, Orimund’s storyline was easily the most captivating, especially once he embarked on his quest of self-discovery and came in contact with all kinds of intriguing people, cultures, and creatures inhabiting this world.
Both the breadth and depth of the world building really impressed me, and I loved that there were so many mysteries and conflicting ideologies organically woven into the narrative. There are plenty of exciting reveals and clever twists and turns, which is exactly what made Master of the Void such a wonderful page turner.
That said, I can’t sit here and pretend that the pacing didn’t feel a bit rocky to me in certain parts. Not only was the passage of time rather unclear to me at times, making it hard to gauge the believability of the levels of character- and relationship development, but I also thought the middle section was just quite slow in general.
Fortunately, everything did ramp up again after certain reunions happened, and I was thoroughly amused by all the little bits of teenage angst, familial banter, and romantic tension dripped into the narrative. Moreover, there’s a looming sense of dread present throughout the entire novel, which ends up exploding in a truly exhilarating final sequence that had me on the edge of my seat.
It is truly beyond me how Raven managed to weave all the threads of this sprawling and highly ambitious story together in such a satisfying way, but here we are. In a way, Master of the Void could almost be treated as a standalone, but then there’s that damned mystifying and intriguing epilogue that will virtually demand you come back for more.
All in all, I had a really fun time with this story, and I am honestly surprised by how easily I breezed to this beautiful chunker of a book. Equal parts comfortably familiar and excitingly unpredictable, Master of the Void will offer much to love for both fantasy veterans and complete newbies to the genre!
7/10
Filled with loveable young characters, great magical school vibes, rich diverse cultures, exciting sea voyages, intriguing astrologically influenced magic, and a little dash of teenage angst, Master of the Void is coming-of-age fantasy done right!
Welcome to the Seven Lands, a world where magic is everything. At the passing of their thirteenth birth moment, kids are tested for their magical ability and sorted into one of the five groups of power. At least, that is how it is supposed to happen. The lives of the two young boys Derrius and Orimund are completely shattered when they receive the shocking results of their tests, setting them both off on similar yet terrifyingly different journeys of tumultuous self-discovery.
Right from the start, the high levels of intrigue and wonder really captured my imagination, simply forcing me to keep turning the pages. Not only was I captivated by the smooth introduction of the multifaceted magic system, but the setting of the Seven Lands also quickly felt very immersive to me and I really enjoyed exploring this epic world in all its glory from so many different perspectives.
Normally I prefer to follow a smaller cast of characters, but I actually found that the frequently rotating POVs gave this story a deliciously addictive ‘just one more chapter’ quality. It does admittedly take a while to get a good sense of how all the separate plot lines are going to connect, but trust me when I say that the eventual convergence is simply masterful and oh so satisfying.
I do have to admit that I ended up preferring certain character perspectives over others, and sometimes I found myself wondering if we really needed all the POVs we got. For me, Orimund’s storyline was easily the most captivating, especially once he embarked on his quest of self-discovery and came in contact with all kinds of intriguing people, cultures, and creatures inhabiting this world.
Both the breadth and depth of the world building really impressed me, and I loved that there were so many mysteries and conflicting ideologies organically woven into the narrative. There are plenty of exciting reveals and clever twists and turns, which is exactly what made Master of the Void such a wonderful page turner.
That said, I can’t sit here and pretend that the pacing didn’t feel a bit rocky to me in certain parts. Not only was the passage of time rather unclear to me at times, making it hard to gauge the believability of the levels of character- and relationship development, but I also thought the middle section was just quite slow in general.
Fortunately, everything did ramp up again after certain reunions happened, and I was thoroughly amused by all the little bits of teenage angst, familial banter, and romantic tension dripped into the narrative. Moreover, there’s a looming sense of dread present throughout the entire novel, which ends up exploding in a truly exhilarating final sequence that had me on the edge of my seat.
It is truly beyond me how Raven managed to weave all the threads of this sprawling and highly ambitious story together in such a satisfying way, but here we are. In a way, Master of the Void could almost be treated as a standalone, but then there’s that damned mystifying and intriguing epilogue that will virtually demand you come back for more.
All in all, I had a really fun time with this story, and I am honestly surprised by how easily I breezed to this beautiful chunker of a book. Equal parts comfortably familiar and excitingly unpredictable, Master of the Void will offer much to love for both fantasy veterans and complete newbies to the genre!
January 10, 2024
Read for SPFBO, this is just my *personal* opinion, group verdict might differ widely! 💥
While Master of the Void by Wend Raven isn't a perfect book, it absolutely managed to hook me and keep me entertained all the way through. So take all my little niggles and complaints as that - small things that took the book from a 5* to a 4*, not major issues that hampered me overly much!
So, what worked well? I really enjoyed the setting and the world building! Intriguing magic system, with kids being sorted into 5 different types of magic on their 13th birthday. The magic also depends on the stars, and to me it felt well developed and believable.
The story also was gripping, and even though the foreshadowing was a bit heavy handed for me, I was always wanting to know what happens next. There's quite some tropes in here, but in a way I liked. I mean those tropes are tropes because a lot of people like them! A book with a lot of magic, fireballs and all, was a nice change to the pretty low on magic ones I recently read.
Friendships and loyalties! I never get enough of string bonds that are not dependent on romance.
There's a bit of a "which boy will she end up with" situation in here, but for once it wasn't overly soppy or annoying. It was a normal part of the characters, and didn't even annoy me, who usually hates all the romance drama. I think I liked how it's a side topic, as staying alive is the main goal for now. I've always *hated* the scenes when the world is ending, every second counts, but the characters have time for a good snog or shag.
Brownie points for some animals included!
So why not 5 stars?
The characters voices are a bit too similar. I actually had to pay attention to the names to know who's on the page. Great characters speak for themselves so well you can easily identify them just by their tone and actions...
I found quite some bits, including the big twist, quite predictable. I'd have liked a little bit less explanations and foreshadowing. To be fair though, I have read so much fantasy, I find most of it predictable at this point.
While Master of the Void by Wend Raven isn't a perfect book, it absolutely managed to hook me and keep me entertained all the way through. So take all my little niggles and complaints as that - small things that took the book from a 5* to a 4*, not major issues that hampered me overly much!
So, what worked well? I really enjoyed the setting and the world building! Intriguing magic system, with kids being sorted into 5 different types of magic on their 13th birthday. The magic also depends on the stars, and to me it felt well developed and believable.
The story also was gripping, and even though the foreshadowing was a bit heavy handed for me, I was always wanting to know what happens next. There's quite some tropes in here, but in a way I liked. I mean those tropes are tropes because a lot of people like them! A book with a lot of magic, fireballs and all, was a nice change to the pretty low on magic ones I recently read.
Friendships and loyalties! I never get enough of string bonds that are not dependent on romance.
There's a bit of a "which boy will she end up with" situation in here, but for once it wasn't overly soppy or annoying. It was a normal part of the characters, and didn't even annoy me, who usually hates all the romance drama. I think I liked how it's a side topic, as staying alive is the main goal for now. I've always *hated* the scenes when the world is ending, every second counts, but the characters have time for a good snog or shag.
Brownie points for some animals included!
So why not 5 stars?
The characters voices are a bit too similar. I actually had to pay attention to the names to know who's on the page. Great characters speak for themselves so well you can easily identify them just by their tone and actions...
I found quite some bits, including the big twist, quite predictable. I'd have liked a little bit less explanations and foreshadowing. To be fair though, I have read so much fantasy, I find most of it predictable at this point.
January 10, 2024
I have never written a review since I have always believed my opinions really don’t mean anything since people should like what they want to like and move on. I am writing this because this book is sitting at 18 reviews and deserves to be reviewed for future readers.
I had this book sitting on my tbr back when the 100 SPFBO announcement was made because its premise sounded cool. I honestly enjoyed the world, the coming of age story and the magic system. It is a tremendous fantasy and happy to see that it has now made the top 10 this year and rightfully so. I hope you win it all Wend Raven! Rooting for you and excited to continue the series when Book 2 comes out. You have a fan in me!
Quick Overview:
Characters: Coming of age and pretty great at narrating slice of life and moral/ethical dilemmas that arise in the book. Characters felt very authentic and natural concerning actions and internal struggles.
Magic: Really interesting and connected with astronomy. Not very complex, but is easy to follow and leaves room to explore more in future series. They push a very structural vs natural form of performing magic that I found really interesting in the story.
Story: Good amount of Slice of Life and High Stakes. The Pacing at times advance weeks or days later, but they do a tremendous job making sense of it as it comes together, I wont go into detail because some may see it as a “twist,” but I naturally came to the conclusion of what was happening as I read the story which was pretty fun to do as I read.
I had this book sitting on my tbr back when the 100 SPFBO announcement was made because its premise sounded cool. I honestly enjoyed the world, the coming of age story and the magic system. It is a tremendous fantasy and happy to see that it has now made the top 10 this year and rightfully so. I hope you win it all Wend Raven! Rooting for you and excited to continue the series when Book 2 comes out. You have a fan in me!
Quick Overview:
Characters: Coming of age and pretty great at narrating slice of life and moral/ethical dilemmas that arise in the book. Characters felt very authentic and natural concerning actions and internal struggles.
Magic: Really interesting and connected with astronomy. Not very complex, but is easy to follow and leaves room to explore more in future series. They push a very structural vs natural form of performing magic that I found really interesting in the story.
Story: Good amount of Slice of Life and High Stakes. The Pacing at times advance weeks or days later, but they do a tremendous job making sense of it as it comes together, I wont go into detail because some may see it as a “twist,” but I naturally came to the conclusion of what was happening as I read the story which was pretty fun to do as I read.
November 9, 2024
So, the author's insta was one of those recommended accounts on my insta feed. I looked through their posts and was like, "Oh cool! An upcoming indie fantasy novel. The graphics for the marketing looks hype. I wanna read." Because I'm a huge sucker for pretty book covers, colorful graphics, and anything fantasy related.
And, well, the stars must've aligned that day because wow! Master of the Void was such a fun, delightful read! I quickly fell in love with the author's writing. Their rich descriptions of settings, places, and cities were wonderfully written that I could feel myself being physically there. Specifically, I loved the descriptions of Rhallawia, Droxel, and Mombadahn. I could smell the salty sea and air of Droxel, and picture the Rhallawi village that one of the MCs lived for a time.
The book itself is a chonk, so it took me a while to finish it. But honestly, there weren't really any dull moments in the story. Even if a scene contained minimal action, learning about the world that this novel took place in was always a treat. There was a lot of showing instead of telling, so it makes you feel as if you're already somewhat familiar with the world, its politics, and its various nations and cultures. Even a brief mention of a made-up card game seems like a normal thing.
I'll admit, the government and religious beliefs could've been explained slightly better, but it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the novel. Though, I think it might've been even better if the creation myths (which ended up playing such a HUGE role) would've been introduced much earlier on in the story.
I loved how the author treated the reader as an equal. There were occasions where concepts (such as the magic system or the world's history) needed to be described, but it was done in a way where the author didn't need to hold the reader's hand.
This is one of those novels where I ended up liking and caring for the entire cast of characters, both the main cast and secondary characters. Hell, even the Big Bad was morally grey for a time and I could understand and even sympathize with his ideas and goals. Although I did wish that the POC coded characters weren't relegated to side characters and had more of a larger role in the story.
Anyway, I'm so, so glad the algorithm worked out for me to have found this gem of an indie fantasy novel. Wend Raven, you've gained a new fan. I can't wait to read the next installment! (And literally anything else they'll release in the future.)
And, well, the stars must've aligned that day because wow! Master of the Void was such a fun, delightful read! I quickly fell in love with the author's writing. Their rich descriptions of settings, places, and cities were wonderfully written that I could feel myself being physically there. Specifically, I loved the descriptions of Rhallawia, Droxel, and Mombadahn. I could smell the salty sea and air of Droxel, and picture the Rhallawi village that one of the MCs lived for a time.
The book itself is a chonk, so it took me a while to finish it. But honestly, there weren't really any dull moments in the story. Even if a scene contained minimal action, learning about the world that this novel took place in was always a treat. There was a lot of showing instead of telling, so it makes you feel as if you're already somewhat familiar with the world, its politics, and its various nations and cultures. Even a brief mention of a made-up card game seems like a normal thing.
I'll admit, the government and religious beliefs could've been explained slightly better, but it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the novel. Though, I think it might've been even better if the creation myths (which ended up playing such a HUGE role) would've been introduced much earlier on in the story.
I loved how the author treated the reader as an equal. There were occasions where concepts (such as the magic system or the world's history) needed to be described, but it was done in a way where the author didn't need to hold the reader's hand.
This is one of those novels where I ended up liking and caring for the entire cast of characters, both the main cast and secondary characters. Hell, even the Big Bad was morally grey for a time and I could understand and even sympathize with his ideas and goals. Although I did wish that the POC coded characters weren't relegated to side characters and had more of a larger role in the story.
Anyway, I'm so, so glad the algorithm worked out for me to have found this gem of an indie fantasy novel. Wend Raven, you've gained a new fan. I can't wait to read the next installment! (And literally anything else they'll release in the future.)
March 26, 2024
Master of the Void did a couple of things right for me from page 1. I appreciated that I got to know the characters before something important happened. This gave me a sense of Orimund and Derrius, and others, before their personalities were put to the test. I would say there are a good number of characters in the book, however, I can’t personally say that I was confused at any stage by them. I was able to clearly draw a line in between the main and the secondary characters from early on. What I was oblivious to, until the clue that made every piece fall into place, was the big and clever twist in the book. I found this trap clever, covering the tracks in the sand, so to speak. Well played, Wend Raven. You caught me!
Going back to my simple joy of enjoyment, I knew from the first page that I was going to gel with the prose. It was to my taste in terms of revealing info and details in an exploratory manner. Not only that, but there were also small passages where the description of one moment or other was done so well, it made me stop for a minute to appreciate it. This book is the Zack Snyder version of Justice League, the 3,5 hour long one, in the sense that you get all the bits and bobs during the slow buildup, you get to see the lives and dreams and personalities before things take a dangerous turn. Might not be to everyone’s taste, but damn did it click with me.
This is a coming-of-age story, with a Young Adult vibe all the way through, and I truly, truly enjoyed it. Yes, it has a love triangle, but it’s not cringe-y and it doesn’t fumble. No graphic battle scenes, no crude and gruff men. Simply magic of the most cosmic sense, adventure to span the years, and a sort of a clash of cultures. There’s sea voyage, even! But also, the impending doom. Of course.
To me, Master of the Void was one of the more complex stories at its foundation compared to some other titles I have read in the SPFBO9. I didn’t feel lost or swamped with info, I was enjoying my time with the book, and I can only give credit to the style of prose for delivering the expansive plot so well. This is one of my top titles in SPFBO9. I found very little if anything to pick at. Perhaps the start was a bit on the shaky legs, but looking at the big picture, this ended up being quite a wholesome fantasy read for me and I can’t wait to read what happens next!
Going back to my simple joy of enjoyment, I knew from the first page that I was going to gel with the prose. It was to my taste in terms of revealing info and details in an exploratory manner. Not only that, but there were also small passages where the description of one moment or other was done so well, it made me stop for a minute to appreciate it. This book is the Zack Snyder version of Justice League, the 3,5 hour long one, in the sense that you get all the bits and bobs during the slow buildup, you get to see the lives and dreams and personalities before things take a dangerous turn. Might not be to everyone’s taste, but damn did it click with me.
This is a coming-of-age story, with a Young Adult vibe all the way through, and I truly, truly enjoyed it. Yes, it has a love triangle, but it’s not cringe-y and it doesn’t fumble. No graphic battle scenes, no crude and gruff men. Simply magic of the most cosmic sense, adventure to span the years, and a sort of a clash of cultures. There’s sea voyage, even! But also, the impending doom. Of course.
To me, Master of the Void was one of the more complex stories at its foundation compared to some other titles I have read in the SPFBO9. I didn’t feel lost or swamped with info, I was enjoying my time with the book, and I can only give credit to the style of prose for delivering the expansive plot so well. This is one of my top titles in SPFBO9. I found very little if anything to pick at. Perhaps the start was a bit on the shaky legs, but looking at the big picture, this ended up being quite a wholesome fantasy read for me and I can’t wait to read what happens next!
April 21, 2025
Top tier coming of age fantasy. I loved all the characters, worldbuilding, and magic system. I can't wait to continue the series!
I'd also add that I recommend reading this if you liked Priory of the Orange Tree, not because of the epic gay romance element, but the way Wend Raven slowly reveals the world and uses the plot device of scattered characters in different locations coming together to fight the big bad really reminded me of Samantha Shannon's writing style, so if you liked one, I'm fairly confident you'd like the other.
I'd also add that I recommend reading this if you liked Priory of the Orange Tree, not because of the epic gay romance element, but the way Wend Raven slowly reveals the world and uses the plot device of scattered characters in different locations coming together to fight the big bad really reminded me of Samantha Shannon's writing style, so if you liked one, I'm fairly confident you'd like the other.
April 15, 2024
Master of the Void combines an elemental magic system with a coming of age tale that illustrates what happens when children are caught up in an adult conflict... and pay the price.
Derrius and Orimund are two such young protagonists on opposite ends of a strict class system dividing the world into who can and cannot become an educated magician. When the testing that each of them undergoes produces unexpected results, each of them find themselves on a lonely path where they must forge the future of themselves and their magic on their own. As the story unfolds, we are given glimpses into the perspectives of other characters around Derrius and Orimund.
While Master of the Void doesn't reinvent the wheel when it comes to elemental magic, I really enjoyed the way the classes of magic were laid out and explained. I think that the magic was integrated really seamlessly with the characters and world.
Where this book began to struggle for me was in the characterization and execution. There were quite a few moments when I could see the plot pivot and the forward momentum came at the expenses of character motives and what had previously been established.
The execution felt young adult due to the fact that the large scale conflicts were pared down into the perspectives of younger protagonists, letting their youthful relationship angst drive much of the emotional tension. Instead of young characters being pulled into an adult world, it felt more as if the world were made smaller to fit them.
The plot did move at a very steady and readable pace, and I found it easy to fall into the "just one more chapter" trap each night I picked it up.
Derrius and Orimund are two such young protagonists on opposite ends of a strict class system dividing the world into who can and cannot become an educated magician. When the testing that each of them undergoes produces unexpected results, each of them find themselves on a lonely path where they must forge the future of themselves and their magic on their own. As the story unfolds, we are given glimpses into the perspectives of other characters around Derrius and Orimund.
While Master of the Void doesn't reinvent the wheel when it comes to elemental magic, I really enjoyed the way the classes of magic were laid out and explained. I think that the magic was integrated really seamlessly with the characters and world.
Where this book began to struggle for me was in the characterization and execution. There were quite a few moments when I could see the plot pivot and the forward momentum came at the expenses of character motives and what had previously been established.
The execution felt young adult due to the fact that the large scale conflicts were pared down into the perspectives of younger protagonists, letting their youthful relationship angst drive much of the emotional tension. Instead of young characters being pulled into an adult world, it felt more as if the world were made smaller to fit them.
The plot did move at a very steady and readable pace, and I found it easy to fall into the "just one more chapter" trap each night I picked it up.
January 21, 2024
This is a really ambitious book with everything you see in fantasy books, (apart from the fantasy kitchen sink) being thrown in to the story
The magic system is the highlight and definitely my favourite element of the story. Which is unusual for me, as I don't normally overly care about the magic system. However the magic in this book, is enough for me to want to continue the series
I didnt particularly connect with any of the characters which kept me from falling in love with the book. I didnt really enjoy the non/mis communications and didnt really ever feel attached to the connections the two main protagonists created with the other characters.
I did however like that this book had multiple levels and we got some twists and turns, which I didnt piece together.
Overall, I liked the idea but I would have liked it to have been stripped back a little, and it definitely didn't need to be nearly 600 pages (I normally love chonkers). The magic was cool, the plot twists exciting, but the characters needed more depth and the world building was a little lacking
Wouldn't be suprised if it won spfbo this year mind. This will really land for some people
The magic system is the highlight and definitely my favourite element of the story. Which is unusual for me, as I don't normally overly care about the magic system. However the magic in this book, is enough for me to want to continue the series
I didnt particularly connect with any of the characters which kept me from falling in love with the book. I didnt really enjoy the non/mis communications and didnt really ever feel attached to the connections the two main protagonists created with the other characters.
I did however like that this book had multiple levels and we got some twists and turns, which I didnt piece together.
Overall, I liked the idea but I would have liked it to have been stripped back a little, and it definitely didn't need to be nearly 600 pages (I normally love chonkers). The magic was cool, the plot twists exciting, but the characters needed more depth and the world building was a little lacking
Wouldn't be suprised if it won spfbo this year mind. This will really land for some people
Read
April 12, 2024DNF 20%
This book is not for me, I won't be star-rating it.
This book is not for me, I won't be star-rating it.
April 7, 2024
Originally reviewed for SPFBO for Queen’s Book Asylum
Read: 100%
The first 10% of Master of the Void is the hardest to get through and I think a lot of people might simply DNF the sample, which would be their loss. (I am allergic to the “as you know” or “tell me again about X” infodumping and the book’s prologue starts with the words “remind me again why we’re out here.”) If I weren’t a SPFBO judge, I might have stopped reading on sentence #1. 1/3 through the book grabbed me, when I had to go to sleep I was at 50% mark and felt sleep was very overrated, the plot twist didn’t make me fall off the sofa but threw me at the wall on the opposite side of the room, and the ending was *flawless*. I immediately looked for the sequel and my feelings were hurt when I discovered it isn’t available yet.
Every chapter is written from a character’s point of view. Many characters get their chance to shine. Too many, for me. I couldn��t remember who was whose brother/sister/lover/parent, and when I thought I figured it out, another POV showed up at 30% mark. This one was important, but I didn’t know that. Later, yet another arrived, and that one was not important. I may be mixing them up. It reminded me of Silmarillion, where Tolkien names the many, many sons of Feanor, none of whom will ever appear in the book again. Except, in Master of the Void, they have a point, which makes Wend Raven better than Tolkien. (I’m joking. Sort of. Not entirely. I am more likely to re-read Master of the Void than Silmarillion.)
There’s a lot of rich worldbuilding, including detailed descriptions of sandwiches, which I must admit I skimmed (the descriptions, not sandwiches). I loved the Rhallawi culture, the characters, the magic system. I am extremely tempted to give a spoiler here. Unfortunately, it would ruin THE plot twist. I’ll settle for “things are not as easy as they seem.” Master of the Void reminded me of Dan Fitzgerald’s The Living Waters and saying this is a bit of a spoiler already, even though there is nothing those books have in common except for all the things they have in common. (This is a compliment.)
That ending is what sells the sequel – it’s a masterpiece. I know some people DNF it early on and they really, really miss out, in my opinion. Despite the unfortunate beginning, Master of the Void delivered way more than I hoped for. A wonderful debut that could have turned out much better, but also worse, with a thorough developmental edit. I loved cranking up the heat, I just wish it didn’t start at lukewarm.
(8.5/10 rounded to 4* for Goodreads)
My ratings:
5* = this book changed my life
4* = very good
3* = good
2* = I probably DNFed it, so I don't give 2* ratings
1* = actively hostile towards the reader
Read: 100%
The first 10% of Master of the Void is the hardest to get through and I think a lot of people might simply DNF the sample, which would be their loss. (I am allergic to the “as you know” or “tell me again about X” infodumping and the book’s prologue starts with the words “remind me again why we’re out here.”) If I weren’t a SPFBO judge, I might have stopped reading on sentence #1. 1/3 through the book grabbed me, when I had to go to sleep I was at 50% mark and felt sleep was very overrated, the plot twist didn’t make me fall off the sofa but threw me at the wall on the opposite side of the room, and the ending was *flawless*. I immediately looked for the sequel and my feelings were hurt when I discovered it isn’t available yet.
Every chapter is written from a character’s point of view. Many characters get their chance to shine. Too many, for me. I couldn��t remember who was whose brother/sister/lover/parent, and when I thought I figured it out, another POV showed up at 30% mark. This one was important, but I didn’t know that. Later, yet another arrived, and that one was not important. I may be mixing them up. It reminded me of Silmarillion, where Tolkien names the many, many sons of Feanor, none of whom will ever appear in the book again. Except, in Master of the Void, they have a point, which makes Wend Raven better than Tolkien. (I’m joking. Sort of. Not entirely. I am more likely to re-read Master of the Void than Silmarillion.)
There’s a lot of rich worldbuilding, including detailed descriptions of sandwiches, which I must admit I skimmed (the descriptions, not sandwiches). I loved the Rhallawi culture, the characters, the magic system. I am extremely tempted to give a spoiler here. Unfortunately, it would ruin THE plot twist. I’ll settle for “things are not as easy as they seem.” Master of the Void reminded me of Dan Fitzgerald’s The Living Waters and saying this is a bit of a spoiler already, even though there is nothing those books have in common except for all the things they have in common. (This is a compliment.)
That ending is what sells the sequel – it’s a masterpiece. I know some people DNF it early on and they really, really miss out, in my opinion. Despite the unfortunate beginning, Master of the Void delivered way more than I hoped for. A wonderful debut that could have turned out much better, but also worse, with a thorough developmental edit. I loved cranking up the heat, I just wish it didn’t start at lukewarm.
(8.5/10 rounded to 4* for Goodreads)
My ratings:
5* = this book changed my life
4* = very good
3* = good
2* = I probably DNFed it, so I don't give 2* ratings
1* = actively hostile towards the reader
September 15, 2023
4.5 STARS
I’m reading my way through the finalists and some of the other books in SPFBO9. Master of the Void was announced as the first finalist from Team @CoversWithCassidy! Well worth it.
Master of the Void has a very accessible writing style and short chapters. The magic system and terms are explained as you go. I think the book can appeal to both adult and YA readers and could also serve as a “bridge” book.
That said, do not think this is juvenile or generic! The worldbuilding is excellent. The innate hard magic system and mythology is well-developed. Each person can get tested on their 13th birthday to see what magical inheritance they have: earth, life, fire, water, mind. The magic is tied to the stars. One of the other pieces of the book I was most impressed by was Raven’s detail surrounding the Rhallawi society and culture.
The characters do not have particularly distinct voices or personality traits. I still liked them and was able to connect with them on some level because of their interesting experiences. Just note that Master of the Void is more of a plot-driven book than character-driven one. While there were stories and characters I liked more than others, I think the overall pacing of the book is good and doesn’t lag.
With teen characters, we do get impulsive decision making and a little drama. Note that there is a love triangle, which seems organic and makes sense for these circumstances and characters. It also doesn’t take over the story but remains on the side.
Raven does a fantastic job of bringing all the plot threads together. The conclusion nicely wraps up the main conflict in this book, leaves some questions, and tees up problems to be solved in the next book. This is a series I am honestly excited to continue.
I’m reading my way through the finalists and some of the other books in SPFBO9. Master of the Void was announced as the first finalist from Team @CoversWithCassidy! Well worth it.
Master of the Void has a very accessible writing style and short chapters. The magic system and terms are explained as you go. I think the book can appeal to both adult and YA readers and could also serve as a “bridge” book.
That said, do not think this is juvenile or generic! The worldbuilding is excellent. The innate hard magic system and mythology is well-developed. Each person can get tested on their 13th birthday to see what magical inheritance they have: earth, life, fire, water, mind. The magic is tied to the stars. One of the other pieces of the book I was most impressed by was Raven’s detail surrounding the Rhallawi society and culture.
The characters do not have particularly distinct voices or personality traits. I still liked them and was able to connect with them on some level because of their interesting experiences. Just note that Master of the Void is more of a plot-driven book than character-driven one. While there were stories and characters I liked more than others, I think the overall pacing of the book is good and doesn’t lag.
With teen characters, we do get impulsive decision making and a little drama. Note that there is a love triangle, which seems organic and makes sense for these circumstances and characters. It also doesn’t take over the story but remains on the side.
Raven does a fantastic job of bringing all the plot threads together. The conclusion nicely wraps up the main conflict in this book, leaves some questions, and tees up problems to be solved in the next book. This is a series I am honestly excited to continue.
June 23, 2024
This was so good! I loved the writing and the lush descriptions of the world and the author wrote some memorable characters. The pacing of the plot was good, it did slightly dragged around the 50% mark and there were some parts of the story that left me with some questions but overall, enjoyed the book! And the way things ended and the reveal... oh my goodness! That was well done!
I can’t wait for book 2!! Highly recommend Master of the Void!!
I can’t wait for book 2!! Highly recommend Master of the Void!!
Read
July 11, 2023I read this for my batch of SPFBO9 books under judge Covers with Cassidy. Check out my reading vlog here: https://youtu.be/dl0dFLjXKAg
I really liked the world and the development we got from the characters. I also very much enjoyed how the story and the POVs connected in the end. This is my choice for semi-finalist!
I really liked the world and the development we got from the characters. I also very much enjoyed how the story and the POVs connected in the end. This is my choice for semi-finalist!
January 27, 2024
Video review to come!
January 29, 2024
I read this for SPFBO. To find out more about the SPFBO contest and to see the participating bloggers/authors and reviews follow the links below
Master of the Void is a coming-of-age tale that follows two young men and their groups of friends.
The story took me awhile to get into for whatever reason, I’m not sure because I pretty much like all the tropes. In this case it was more that I could see the direction it was heading early on- I might add that this had more to do with the number of years/books I’ve read, than anything to do with the story itself- so a lot of my time was waiting for it to get there
In Master of the Void both Derrius and Orimund are relying on entering the University for a formal education in magic to start the next step of their life. Derrius needs to succeed to help support his family, and Orimund’s family, have very high expectations of him along with a prestige he needs to uphold.
Unfortunately, neither of them has a magic ability and they both fail their test and are unable to fulfill their dreams and suddenly are having to reassess their futures.
*
There are a lot of characters introduced early-on and pov changes, because of that, I didn’t find the characters were distinct enough at times esp. in the beginning, and I would occasionally confuse Orimund and Derrius’s beginnings/family/friends, thinking one boy was the other. A longer period of time with each boy might have helped that.
Later that problem works its way out, as each of the boys have someone memorable- like Cati and Dawn in their group to help place them.
The fun of Master of the Void for me, was in seeing how different a person’s life can turn out; by their attitude, support of friends, and/or the choices each person makes along the way.
And I thought it did a fine job of showcasing its friendships and its different cultures. I always enjoy strong friendships in stories.
The ending of MotV was very strong. It sets up the world and future books nicely- making room to continue and for bad guys to be bigger and stronger etc. Since our hero/s were pretty green but obviously powerful, this set it up so someone who knows nothing managing to win, seemed fair, while also letting the scale grow for next book. The ending made for a promising book two.
SPFBO score 6 or 3 stars (4.5-6/10)
Learn more about the contest here-
https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/...
Finalist board is here
https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/...
Master of the Void is a coming-of-age tale that follows two young men and their groups of friends.
The story took me awhile to get into for whatever reason, I’m not sure because I pretty much like all the tropes. In this case it was more that I could see the direction it was heading early on- I might add that this had more to do with the number of years/books I’ve read, than anything to do with the story itself- so a lot of my time was waiting for it to get there
In Master of the Void both Derrius and Orimund are relying on entering the University for a formal education in magic to start the next step of their life. Derrius needs to succeed to help support his family, and Orimund’s family, have very high expectations of him along with a prestige he needs to uphold.
Unfortunately, neither of them has a magic ability and they both fail their test and are unable to fulfill their dreams and suddenly are having to reassess their futures.
*
There are a lot of characters introduced early-on and pov changes, because of that, I didn’t find the characters were distinct enough at times esp. in the beginning, and I would occasionally confuse Orimund and Derrius’s beginnings/family/friends, thinking one boy was the other. A longer period of time with each boy might have helped that.
Later that problem works its way out, as each of the boys have someone memorable- like Cati and Dawn in their group to help place them.
The fun of Master of the Void for me, was in seeing how different a person’s life can turn out; by their attitude, support of friends, and/or the choices each person makes along the way.
And I thought it did a fine job of showcasing its friendships and its different cultures. I always enjoy strong friendships in stories.
The ending of MotV was very strong. It sets up the world and future books nicely- making room to continue and for bad guys to be bigger and stronger etc. Since our hero/s were pretty green but obviously powerful, this set it up so someone who knows nothing managing to win, seemed fair, while also letting the scale grow for next book. The ending made for a promising book two.
SPFBO score 6 or 3 stars (4.5-6/10)
Learn more about the contest here-
https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/...
Finalist board is here
https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/...
May 6, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. It's a great start to a series and I can't wait to see where this goes. It reminded me other fantasy series, but done in a unique and original way. So, happy that I got a chance to read this.
November 13, 2023
I loved reading this book and feel it would make an amazing movie! The story line was interesting and mysterious and I am looking forward to a sequel! Very well written, not a dull moment.
Want to read
April 12, 2024 Price Drop!
.99 on Kindle April 12, 2024
.99 on Kindle April 12, 2024
January 3, 2024
Omg. What a fucking hit this book is!
I picked this up after seeing Cassidy's review and after it became a finalist for SPFBO and it did NOT disappoint.
This is a classic-style coming of age fantasy following 2 young boys as they try to navigate life in a magical world, with seemingly no powers.
At 13 years old, both boys are tested to learn what magical gift they will possess, but are devastated to learn they are void of magic, something that will undoubtedly lead to exhile, but when mages start to disappear, including one of the boys' father, they are forced to carve paths for themselves.
I think the thing I adored most about this book was definitely the world building. Our cast of characters traverse through various parts of the world on their adventures and I adored exploring with them. From cold and bleak villages, to towering academies and finally (and my favourite) remote tropical islands. What makes this truly magical is the depth within each area to include animals, tribes, cultures and magical aspects to really bring that area to life.
The world building was woven seamlessly with an incredibly fast-paced plot that would defy any reading slump. There were twists and turns at every corner and I adored plotting (and messaging the author) with every theory as it popped into my head.
I loved almost everything about this book, I think my only minor criticism is that sometimes the characters didn't feel distinguishable in their dialogue. Whilst I could understand their characters, I did find it sometimes difficult to differentiate in conversations. I did worry I didn't care enough for them until the end sequence which had me holding my breath for around 50 pages (thankfully I'm still here to talk about it) - and where I was incredibly worried about the fate of all our characters - including our antagonist.
Which brings me onto the next part I just loved - Raven has created such a wonderfully deep antagonist, who, despite everything, I found myself routing for (sometimes more than the protagonist 🙈🤣). His character was incredibly believable and tbh, I may have been alongside him 🤣
The other great thing about this is the content is perfect for 12+ reading age, I wouldn't describe this as a child's book, but it can certainly be enjoyed by all 🥰
I'm also a little baffled by the quality of the writing given this is a debut without a professional editor. Honestly this read with the confidence of a well seasoned author and I couldn't fault the prose at all. The pacing was perfect for me, imagery wonderful and it was a 10/10 for enjoyment and style.
I could go on and on about the things I loved about this book for a long time - truth be told it may have sky rocketed to my number 1 indie book and after the explosive ending, I need book 2 immediately.
GO READ IT PLZ
I picked this up after seeing Cassidy's review and after it became a finalist for SPFBO and it did NOT disappoint.
This is a classic-style coming of age fantasy following 2 young boys as they try to navigate life in a magical world, with seemingly no powers.
At 13 years old, both boys are tested to learn what magical gift they will possess, but are devastated to learn they are void of magic, something that will undoubtedly lead to exhile, but when mages start to disappear, including one of the boys' father, they are forced to carve paths for themselves.
I think the thing I adored most about this book was definitely the world building. Our cast of characters traverse through various parts of the world on their adventures and I adored exploring with them. From cold and bleak villages, to towering academies and finally (and my favourite) remote tropical islands. What makes this truly magical is the depth within each area to include animals, tribes, cultures and magical aspects to really bring that area to life.
The world building was woven seamlessly with an incredibly fast-paced plot that would defy any reading slump. There were twists and turns at every corner and I adored plotting (and messaging the author) with every theory as it popped into my head.
I loved almost everything about this book, I think my only minor criticism is that sometimes the characters didn't feel distinguishable in their dialogue. Whilst I could understand their characters, I did find it sometimes difficult to differentiate in conversations. I did worry I didn't care enough for them until the end sequence which had me holding my breath for around 50 pages (thankfully I'm still here to talk about it) - and where I was incredibly worried about the fate of all our characters - including our antagonist.
Which brings me onto the next part I just loved - Raven has created such a wonderfully deep antagonist, who, despite everything, I found myself routing for (sometimes more than the protagonist 🙈🤣). His character was incredibly believable and tbh, I may have been alongside him 🤣
The other great thing about this is the content is perfect for 12+ reading age, I wouldn't describe this as a child's book, but it can certainly be enjoyed by all 🥰
I'm also a little baffled by the quality of the writing given this is a debut without a professional editor. Honestly this read with the confidence of a well seasoned author and I couldn't fault the prose at all. The pacing was perfect for me, imagery wonderful and it was a 10/10 for enjoyment and style.
I could go on and on about the things I loved about this book for a long time - truth be told it may have sky rocketed to my number 1 indie book and after the explosive ending, I need book 2 immediately.
GO READ IT PLZ
September 23, 2023
This book got me out of a reading slump, where I DNFd every book that I picked up. I saw that it was an SPFBO finalist and thought that I would give it a go, and I am glad that I did. I liked the sorting of people by the colour of their magic, and I liked that we slowly found out more about the characters who received the void mark and what that turned out to mean for them.
January 16, 2024
I received a copy of this book from a friend of the author. All opinions here are my own.
The prologue had me gripped but sad to say, this book did not work for me. I think the author sought out to write a clever book, not tell a compelling story. The first 50% of the book, we just jump from POV to POV across so many characters that I felt incredibly detached from all of them. The writing was also very dry, like history textbook-style. Lots of recounting events and telling the reader what a character's personality is instead of letting us draw out own conclusions.
The pacing was also not great for me. This book dragged and dragged until all of a sudden, all this action kicked into gear. The magic system kind of broke down for me near the end and I had so many questions that were left unanswered.
All in all, you may like this if you like elemental magic and an 'aha' moment where the clues were peppered from the start.
The prologue had me gripped but sad to say, this book did not work for me. I think the author sought out to write a clever book, not tell a compelling story. The first 50% of the book, we just jump from POV to POV across so many characters that I felt incredibly detached from all of them. The writing was also very dry, like history textbook-style. Lots of recounting events and telling the reader what a character's personality is instead of letting us draw out own conclusions.
The pacing was also not great for me. This book dragged and dragged until all of a sudden, all this action kicked into gear. The magic system kind of broke down for me near the end and I had so many questions that were left unanswered.
All in all, you may like this if you like elemental magic and an 'aha' moment where the clues were peppered from the start.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 8, 2023
Not quite 4 stars, but pretty damn close. Somewhere between 3.5 and 4.0.
I really liked the story and the magic system, as well as our band of characters, especially Orimund and everyone around him. I was less of a fan of Derrius and didn't find his character arc completely believable. It needed a bit more time / subtlety for me to truly believe his journey, I think. I thought the timeline idea was interesting, but could have been better executed. In general, I think my main pet peeve with this book was that everything was spelled out and explained, as if the author was afraid that the reader wouldn't understand the subtext of someone's feelings or the punchline of a joke. More subtle writing would have helped, I think, and this kind of bothered me throughout.
Nevertheless, it was a fun read with a good story and some really interesting world building. Also, - despite me saying I would like more subtlety - I was completely taken by surprise by the final twist even though I had been racking my brain for the last ~150 pages or so about how it all fit together. So, I really loved that twist, because I love surprises and looking back at the book it made 100% sense without me realising the twist was coming. Good foreshadowing with all the necessary breadcrumbs neatly hidden in the book.
This was the first book I read for SPFBO 9 (I am going to read all the finalists!) and this one certainly did not disappoint. Very happy to have found another cool indie fantasy book.
I really liked the story and the magic system, as well as our band of characters, especially Orimund and everyone around him. I was less of a fan of Derrius and didn't find his character arc completely believable. It needed a bit more time / subtlety for me to truly believe his journey, I think. I thought the timeline idea was interesting, but could have been better executed. In general, I think my main pet peeve with this book was that everything was spelled out and explained, as if the author was afraid that the reader wouldn't understand the subtext of someone's feelings or the punchline of a joke. More subtle writing would have helped, I think, and this kind of bothered me throughout.
Nevertheless, it was a fun read with a good story and some really interesting world building. Also, - despite me saying I would like more subtlety - I was completely taken by surprise by the final twist even though I had been racking my brain for the last ~150 pages or so about how it all fit together. So, I really loved that twist, because I love surprises and looking back at the book it made 100% sense without me realising the twist was coming. Good foreshadowing with all the necessary breadcrumbs neatly hidden in the book.
This was the first book I read for SPFBO 9 (I am going to read all the finalists!) and this one certainly did not disappoint. Very happy to have found another cool indie fantasy book.
December 20, 2023
Disclaimer: I have challenged myself to read all the SPFBO 9 finalists this year - this is a personal goal and I have no link to the competition.
Epic fantasy with an interesting mash up of cultural references. From a western feeling druidic society to a Polynesian style island community this touched some interesting bases.
There is an interesting and well developed magic system at the center of this story, with a clever way different cultures approach the same thing. The characters we follow are all magic users of various types, with different natural affinities. Some can manipulate water, some fire, some even the mind. These users have all been systemized into 6 different 'colours' of mage.
Mostly we follow through 3 different sets of characters. First we have Orimund - the youngest scion of a great magic family. When he runs away, his brothers and best friend go out searching for him (forming the second set of characters). The final main POV is Derrius, another young man who dreams of entering the university to learn magic.
The plotting is cleverly done. Whilst a classic coming of age fantasy it also has some really good use of rise of a dark lord as a trope as well. The characters are extremely well fleshed out, distinct in their voice and the camaraderie is well drawn. Their motivations are all easily understandable. The prose is well written and easy to read.
I thoroughly enjoyed this. It takes some established tropes and plays well with them, whilst incorporating some interesting and unusual cultural references. A fun read!
Epic fantasy with an interesting mash up of cultural references. From a western feeling druidic society to a Polynesian style island community this touched some interesting bases.
There is an interesting and well developed magic system at the center of this story, with a clever way different cultures approach the same thing. The characters we follow are all magic users of various types, with different natural affinities. Some can manipulate water, some fire, some even the mind. These users have all been systemized into 6 different 'colours' of mage.
Mostly we follow through 3 different sets of characters. First we have Orimund - the youngest scion of a great magic family. When he runs away, his brothers and best friend go out searching for him (forming the second set of characters). The final main POV is Derrius, another young man who dreams of entering the university to learn magic.
The plotting is cleverly done. Whilst a classic coming of age fantasy it also has some really good use of rise of a dark lord as a trope as well. The characters are extremely well fleshed out, distinct in their voice and the camaraderie is well drawn. Their motivations are all easily understandable. The prose is well written and easy to read.
I thoroughly enjoyed this. It takes some established tropes and plays well with them, whilst incorporating some interesting and unusual cultural references. A fun read!
November 10, 2023
Master of the Void by Wend Raven
How do you survive in a world run with magic when you are not a mage. This is one of the questions tackled in this book. Master of the Void follows multiple boys as they learn to live in a world of magic and power.
So what worked for me?
Characters: I really liked the boys journey through the story and wanted to see the future holds for them. They were so lively and I felt for the boys so much. I have a soft spot for characters for no powers (see Cradle as my favorite series). I want to spend more time with them and to see them grow
What did not work for me?
Writing: The pacing was stressful at times where I wanted to see more of the world and how the characters interacted with the setting. I wanted to stay longer with certain characters. Additionally, there were times that major events were pasted over and only mentioned versus actually seeing it on the page. Also the story slipped from my mind faster than I would have liked which could have been a me problem.
Recommendation?
This is a very fast paced coming of age story. I feel this is good for most any level of fantasy reader. I personally love the absence of magic in a world of magic and how the characters work within the story.
Score: 8/10
Character: 8
Plot: 8
World-Building: 8
Writing: 8
Enjoyment: 8
How do you survive in a world run with magic when you are not a mage. This is one of the questions tackled in this book. Master of the Void follows multiple boys as they learn to live in a world of magic and power.
So what worked for me?
Characters: I really liked the boys journey through the story and wanted to see the future holds for them. They were so lively and I felt for the boys so much. I have a soft spot for characters for no powers (see Cradle as my favorite series). I want to spend more time with them and to see them grow
What did not work for me?
Writing: The pacing was stressful at times where I wanted to see more of the world and how the characters interacted with the setting. I wanted to stay longer with certain characters. Additionally, there were times that major events were pasted over and only mentioned versus actually seeing it on the page. Also the story slipped from my mind faster than I would have liked which could have been a me problem.
Recommendation?
This is a very fast paced coming of age story. I feel this is good for most any level of fantasy reader. I personally love the absence of magic in a world of magic and how the characters work within the story.
Score: 8/10
Character: 8
Plot: 8
World-Building: 8
Writing: 8
Enjoyment: 8
October 31, 2023
7/10
I’ll be putting out a YouTube episode for this one at the beginning of next week most likely, Friday if everything goes right.
This is gonna be a bit of a weird one for me eating wise. It’s a well written and entertaining storyline with great world building and a really good magic system.
So why the 7/10 when in theory I should have loved it? Well I have a few things I really dislike as plot points in a book and this has two of the ones I tend to dislike the most.
1. It has a pacifist people who still get themselves into trouble and are in danger of being wiped out on more than one occasion because they won’t defend themselves. There are few things in fantasy that set me off more…
2. I don’t really care for the angry or naive teenager character type and a majority of the 8-10 POV characters who are present in the book are roughly 13-15 years old.
I was also a bit confused at the beginning because I swear there was a time jump for most characters but one was the same age he was when the story began but there were time jumps after he had been introduced tue first time.
All of that being said I wouldn’t be surprised if this boom ended up doing really well in SPFBO 9. It is a really well written book and it has absolutely top notch world building. If I didn’t really dislike some of the plot devices then it would be an 8 or 9/10 for me.
I’ll be putting out a YouTube episode for this one at the beginning of next week most likely, Friday if everything goes right.
This is gonna be a bit of a weird one for me eating wise. It’s a well written and entertaining storyline with great world building and a really good magic system.
So why the 7/10 when in theory I should have loved it? Well I have a few things I really dislike as plot points in a book and this has two of the ones I tend to dislike the most.
1. It has a pacifist people who still get themselves into trouble and are in danger of being wiped out on more than one occasion because they won’t defend themselves. There are few things in fantasy that set me off more…
2. I don’t really care for the angry or naive teenager character type and a majority of the 8-10 POV characters who are present in the book are roughly 13-15 years old.
I was also a bit confused at the beginning because I swear there was a time jump for most characters but one was the same age he was when the story began but there were time jumps after he had been introduced tue first time.
All of that being said I wouldn’t be surprised if this boom ended up doing really well in SPFBO 9. It is a really well written book and it has absolutely top notch world building. If I didn’t really dislike some of the plot devices then it would be an 8 or 9/10 for me.
September 12, 2023
I loved it! The Seven Lands totally draw you in and Orimund's journey in particular is so compelling as he faces so many challenges. It's witty and the mystery unfolds so well throughout the story. I love reading deep, rich characters and I can't wait for the second book!!
My in-depth review with some author art is here:
https://penningsofpamela.wordpress.co...
My in-depth review with some author art is here:
https://penningsofpamela.wordpress.co...
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