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Kingmaker, Kingbreaker #2
The Awakened Mage
"The evil foretold has risen . . . and we are all that stands between it and the end."
Asher has come a long way for a fisherman's son. Together with his friend Prince Gar, he has defended their kingdom against its bitterest enemy, but at great cost.
Now, the evil mage Morg is preparing for his most deadly assault. Desperate, trapped in a broken body, Morg has little time and fewer scruples. And he has a plan.
As Gar and Asher unwittingly fall into a dangerous deception, Morg gets ever closer to his goal. And this victory would be particularly sweet? For who better to destroy the kingdom than the two who would give anything to save it?
Asher has come a long way for a fisherman's son. Together with his friend Prince Gar, he has defended their kingdom against its bitterest enemy, but at great cost.
Now, the evil mage Morg is preparing for his most deadly assault. Desperate, trapped in a broken body, Morg has little time and fewer scruples. And he has a plan.
As Gar and Asher unwittingly fall into a dangerous deception, Morg gets ever closer to his goal. And this victory would be particularly sweet? For who better to destroy the kingdom than the two who would give anything to save it?
712 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
250 people are currently reading
4876 people want to read
About the author
Karen Miller
121 books1,144 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. Please see this thread for more details.
Also writes as "K.E. Mills"
Lord, do you really want to know?
Oh, all right.
I was born in Vancouver, Canada, and came to Australia with my parents when I was 2. I think. Dad’s an Aussie, Mum’s English, go figure. Talk about Fate and Destiny. But three passports come in handy.
I’ve always lived in Sydney, except when I didn’t. After graduating with a BA Communications from the then Institute of Technology (now University) a few years ahead of Hugh Jackman, dammit, talk about rotten timing, I headed off to England and lived there for 3 years. It was interesting. I worked for a bunch of nutters in a community health centre and got the sack because I refused to go do EST with them (you stand in the middle of a circle and thank people for hurling verbal abuse at you for your own good, they said, and then were surprised when I said no), was a customer services officer for DHL London (would you believe at one time I knew every single airport code for every single airport in the world, off by heart?!?), got roped into an extremely dubious life insurance selling scheme (I was young and broke, need I say more?) and ended up realizing a life-long dream of working professionally with horses. After 18 grueling months I woke up, and came home.
Since then I’ve done customer service in the insurance and telecommunications industries, been a training officer, PR Officer in local government, production assistant in educational publishing, taught English and Business Communication at TAFE, been a supervisor and run my own sf/fantasy/mystery bookshop. Money for jam, there! I also managed to squeeze in a Master’s Degree in Children’s Literature from Macquarie University.
I used to have horses of my own, and spent lots of time and money showing, breeding, training and judging, but then I came off one time too many and so a large part of my life ended.
When I’m not writing I’m heavily involved in the Castle Hill Players, my local community theatre group, as an actor, director, prompt, stage manager (but not all at once!) and publicity officer.
I’m a story junkie. Books, film, tv ... you name it. Star Wars, Star Trek, Babylon 5, Battlestar Galactica (the new series), Stargate, Firefly, X-Men, Buffy, Angel, Supernatural, The Professionals, Forever Knight, Due South, The West Wing, The Shield, Sandbaggers, Homicide, Wiseguy, The Shield, The Closer ... and the list goes on. And that’s just the media stuff!
I love music. While writing I listen primarily to film soundtracks, because they’ve been written primarily to evoke emotional responses in the listener. This helps access emotion during tough scenes. Plus, the music is pretty. At least the stuff I listen to is. Favourite film composers include Hans Zimmer, Alan Silvestri, James Horner and John Williams. Vocalists I enjoy are Josh Groban, Russell Watson, Sarah McLachlan, Simon and Garfunkel , Queen, The Moody Blues, Steeleye Span, Meatloaf, Mike Oldfield ... anyone who can carry a tune, basically.
In short, I’m an only child with an overactive imagination, 3 dogs, 2 cats and not enough hours in the day. I don’t drink, smoke, or do enough exercise. I make periodic stabs at eating properly. Chocolate is my besetting downfall.
So that’s me. You can wake up now ...
Also writes as "K.E. Mills"
Lord, do you really want to know?
Oh, all right.
I was born in Vancouver, Canada, and came to Australia with my parents when I was 2. I think. Dad’s an Aussie, Mum’s English, go figure. Talk about Fate and Destiny. But three passports come in handy.
I’ve always lived in Sydney, except when I didn’t. After graduating with a BA Communications from the then Institute of Technology (now University) a few years ahead of Hugh Jackman, dammit, talk about rotten timing, I headed off to England and lived there for 3 years. It was interesting. I worked for a bunch of nutters in a community health centre and got the sack because I refused to go do EST with them (you stand in the middle of a circle and thank people for hurling verbal abuse at you for your own good, they said, and then were surprised when I said no), was a customer services officer for DHL London (would you believe at one time I knew every single airport code for every single airport in the world, off by heart?!?), got roped into an extremely dubious life insurance selling scheme (I was young and broke, need I say more?) and ended up realizing a life-long dream of working professionally with horses. After 18 grueling months I woke up, and came home.
Since then I’ve done customer service in the insurance and telecommunications industries, been a training officer, PR Officer in local government, production assistant in educational publishing, taught English and Business Communication at TAFE, been a supervisor and run my own sf/fantasy/mystery bookshop. Money for jam, there! I also managed to squeeze in a Master’s Degree in Children’s Literature from Macquarie University.
I used to have horses of my own, and spent lots of time and money showing, breeding, training and judging, but then I came off one time too many and so a large part of my life ended.
When I’m not writing I’m heavily involved in the Castle Hill Players, my local community theatre group, as an actor, director, prompt, stage manager (but not all at once!) and publicity officer.
I’m a story junkie. Books, film, tv ... you name it. Star Wars, Star Trek, Babylon 5, Battlestar Galactica (the new series), Stargate, Firefly, X-Men, Buffy, Angel, Supernatural, The Professionals, Forever Knight, Due South, The West Wing, The Shield, Sandbaggers, Homicide, Wiseguy, The Shield, The Closer ... and the list goes on. And that’s just the media stuff!
I love music. While writing I listen primarily to film soundtracks, because they’ve been written primarily to evoke emotional responses in the listener. This helps access emotion during tough scenes. Plus, the music is pretty. At least the stuff I listen to is. Favourite film composers include Hans Zimmer, Alan Silvestri, James Horner and John Williams. Vocalists I enjoy are Josh Groban, Russell Watson, Sarah McLachlan, Simon and Garfunkel , Queen, The Moody Blues, Steeleye Span, Meatloaf, Mike Oldfield ... anyone who can carry a tune, basically.
In short, I’m an only child with an overactive imagination, 3 dogs, 2 cats and not enough hours in the day. I don’t drink, smoke, or do enough exercise. I make periodic stabs at eating properly. Chocolate is my besetting downfall.
So that’s me. You can wake up now ...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 579 reviews
January 26, 2022
Awesome book. I really enjoyed the characters. Characterization is an important part of staying engaged with a book for me, and is ultimately what provides the immersive experience I crave when I enter a book. Reading is an escape for me more compete than a television or video game for sure. If the book is right, my mind can completely disappear into the authors world, at least for a little while. I have since learned that well crafted characters are the key ingredients that make this happen, and this author is a master of them.
The pacing is well done throughout and there are drops of foreshadowing early in the first book that still payoff with suspenseful scenes late in the second. For example, the fate of Timon Spake is clearly dramatic irony and that memory is never far from our minds.
The author ended the story well. At no point did I encounter a feeling of wishing to get the book done to move one. Each moment played out carefully and I was left unsure exactly who would survive and how damaged they might be. And I cared.
Five stars loved this book
The pacing is well done throughout and there are drops of foreshadowing early in the first book that still payoff with suspenseful scenes late in the second. For example, the fate of Timon Spake is clearly dramatic irony and that memory is never far from our minds.
The author ended the story well. At no point did I encounter a feeling of wishing to get the book done to move one. Each moment played out carefully and I was left unsure exactly who would survive and how damaged they might be. And I cared.
Five stars loved this book
October 29, 2016
The Innocent Mage wasn't a bad read but a vast majority of it was filler. It was a nice way to introduce the cast but it drug on for a rather long time before actually getting to the "meat" of the book. The Awakened Mage feels the same way. It drags on for so long, in fact, that over halfway through the book I began to wonder if there would be a third installment simply because I couldn't imagine this book wrapping up in time. I was shocked when I realized that this is, indeed, the end of this part of the story; I was on the edge of my seat wondering how Miller pulled it off.
It has a little more to it than The Innocent Mage but way too much time is spent inside the minds of the characters rather than on the main plot.
What's even more disappointing is that, despite the large amount of time the author dedicates to everything but actively pushing the main plot, most of the characters fail to grow. The main character begins the series as an annoying jerk and is even more frustrating by the end of the tale. He's no hero and yet he's referred to as a good guy all throughout the series. Having everyone say he's a good guy isn't enough; you actually need to show it which Miller failed to do.
Then there is the female lead, Dathne, who starts out as a strong, intelligent woman but turns into a blathering fool. Her dialogue by the end of the series is so unlike her it's uncomfortable to read.
The only character that really makes much of a change is Darran. I don't think that spending this much time on "filler" should result in undeveloped characters... So much potential wasted. I don't want to hate my hero! Give your readers something - a redeemable quality, an interesting backstory, anything.
Also an issue is the fact that all of this magic exists and it all ties together somehow and yet by the end of this book, you aren't really sure how. You know this does this and that does that but have no idea why. You don't understand why Barl made the decisions that she did or why she was treated like a holy figure.. And once you realize why Morg is so evil, you can't help but go, "What? Really? That's it?!"
I think the idea is interesting but the execution was sloppy. If you want me to invest more time in reading your work, give me a good reason to. Between the two books you are already looking at over 1200 pages; I don't think I should have to delve into yet another installment to understand certain plot points when the first two books were so disappointing.
It has a little more to it than The Innocent Mage but way too much time is spent inside the minds of the characters rather than on the main plot.
What's even more disappointing is that, despite the large amount of time the author dedicates to everything but actively pushing the main plot, most of the characters fail to grow. The main character begins the series as an annoying jerk and is even more frustrating by the end of the tale. He's no hero and yet he's referred to as a good guy all throughout the series. Having everyone say he's a good guy isn't enough; you actually need to show it which Miller failed to do.
Then there is the female lead, Dathne, who starts out as a strong, intelligent woman but turns into a blathering fool. Her dialogue by the end of the series is so unlike her it's uncomfortable to read.
The only character that really makes much of a change is Darran. I don't think that spending this much time on "filler" should result in undeveloped characters... So much potential wasted. I don't want to hate my hero! Give your readers something - a redeemable quality, an interesting backstory, anything.
Also an issue is the fact that all of this magic exists and it all ties together somehow and yet by the end of this book, you aren't really sure how. You know this does this and that does that but have no idea why. You don't understand why Barl made the decisions that she did or why she was treated like a holy figure.. And once you realize why Morg is so evil, you can't help but go, "What? Really? That's it?!"
I think the idea is interesting but the execution was sloppy. If you want me to invest more time in reading your work, give me a good reason to. Between the two books you are already looking at over 1200 pages; I don't think I should have to delve into yet another installment to understand certain plot points when the first two books were so disappointing.
June 1, 2013
I give up I give up.
I was still willing, at the end of The Innocent Mage, to see this through. I love Gar. I kind of loved some of the more minor characters too (Matt, who seemed about the only person with sense sometimes; Darran, because he's not always nice but he's so loyal to Gar). But god I can't stand Asher anymore, I don't care about Dathne, and if Morg launched into the greatest hits of EvilMcEvilPerson laughs, I wouldn't be surprised. And the pacing, aaarghhh. And I started being able to guess the entire plot, chapters and chapters ahead.
So I got my girlfriend to tell me the whole plot, and then chucked The Innocent Mage, The Awakened Mage, A Blight of Mages, The Prodigal Mage and The Reluctant Mage off my shelves. I will still attempt the Godspeaker trilogy, but my patience will likely be quite short.
So much potential, but it needed someone to say, and sternly, that changes needed to be made. In my opinion, anyway. Gar might've been the more typical choice for a hero for a book in this genre, but he almost always came out better than Asher, to me (except when he acted uncharacteristically), and I wish it had been all about him.
I was still willing, at the end of The Innocent Mage, to see this through. I love Gar. I kind of loved some of the more minor characters too (Matt, who seemed about the only person with sense sometimes; Darran, because he's not always nice but he's so loyal to Gar). But god I can't stand Asher anymore, I don't care about Dathne, and if Morg launched into the greatest hits of EvilMcEvilPerson laughs, I wouldn't be surprised. And the pacing, aaarghhh. And I started being able to guess the entire plot, chapters and chapters ahead.
So I got my girlfriend to tell me the whole plot, and then chucked The Innocent Mage, The Awakened Mage, A Blight of Mages, The Prodigal Mage and The Reluctant Mage off my shelves. I will still attempt the Godspeaker trilogy, but my patience will likely be quite short.
So much potential, but it needed someone to say, and sternly, that changes needed to be made. In my opinion, anyway. Gar might've been the more typical choice for a hero for a book in this genre, but he almost always came out better than Asher, to me (except when he acted uncharacteristically), and I wish it had been all about him.
November 5, 2007
My review of Book 1 admired the story-telling and the page turning nature of its narrative, though was slightly disappointed by the (admittedly comforting) safeness of its tale. The (erm) cliffhanging ending, however, left me interested in the tale’s outcome, so I was not too upset at taking on the slightly larger second volume.
However because of the book’s nature, following on from Volume 1, there are points that I’m going to have to develop.
MINOR SPOILERS FOLLOW.
The second volume starts just before the point we left it in Volume 1. As the story takes speed, the disastrous consequences of the deaths at the end of Innocent Mage leave us with some intriguing puzzles: how are Prince Gar and his friend Asher to deal with the kingdom of Lur turned upside down? How is Asher to meet his prophetic future, to be the Innocent Mage, born to save the world from blood and death, when the prophecy tells of apocalyptic proceedings as a result?
Well, as you might expect, there is a change in roles and responsibilities. Prince Gar now becomes King Gar, Weather-Worker for the nation. Asher is promoted from his assistant position to Ambassador for Olken Affairs. Dathne becomes Asher’s assistant to help deal with the increased workload as a consequence of Gar now being King Gar.
The city of Dorana deals with the royal deaths with stunned grief but is partly calmed by King Gar showing that his recently-found ability to manipulate the weather works. What they don’t know though is that, due to the earlier actions of Morg, Gar’s magic has failed and that it is actually Asher who wields the power: an action punishable under Barl’s law by death. As Morg becomes more powerful, the kingdom is split by upheaval and deception.
END OF SPOILERS.
I said in my review of Volume 1 there were niggles that could make the well-read reader of Fantasy less enamoured of this book than those new to the genre or those looking for nothing more than a comfortable read. There was little here to change that view, though the pace was faster, the niggles slightly less – niggly - and some of the consequences of earlier actions quite interesting in their resolution. Karen is a skilful writer in engaging the reader with traditional plot developments and enough action, particularly in the last section of this book, to keep those pages turning.
Having said that, parts of the book definitely did not work for me. In particular for me, love scenes between two of the main characters were just cringing in their expression and execution. In addition, there are plot resolutions that may be too convenient for some. Despite these areas of concern, ultimately the story is resolved, the prophecy is achieved and the story is ended in a manner which is satisfactory, though not really unpredictable.
In my review of Volume 1, I said that the book was ‘Not clever, not particularly original or uniquely stylish, but written well enough to keep the reader’s interest, this is a book that will create a warm sense of comfort for many Fantasy readers out there who wish to be charmed rather than challenged.’ As the books clearly run together, I would still stand by that for Volume 2, and with that view in mind I am ultimately pleased (though with some reservations) with the way the duology has developed and completed. There will be a lot of readers out there who will read these books in order to be no more than uplifted and entertained by them, and as such there is, in the end, much to get pleasure from. Those who enjoyed the first book will be further contented to find much more to enjoy here.
(And as a footnote, it has just been announced that Karen will be writing more of Lur soon: according to Karen’s website (link below) ‘there'll be a standalone prequel telling the story of Morgan and Barl, and a double-barrelled sequel following on from the events of Innocence Lost/The Awakened Mage. The sequel is due to be published first.’)
However because of the book’s nature, following on from Volume 1, there are points that I’m going to have to develop.
MINOR SPOILERS FOLLOW.
The second volume starts just before the point we left it in Volume 1. As the story takes speed, the disastrous consequences of the deaths at the end of Innocent Mage leave us with some intriguing puzzles: how are Prince Gar and his friend Asher to deal with the kingdom of Lur turned upside down? How is Asher to meet his prophetic future, to be the Innocent Mage, born to save the world from blood and death, when the prophecy tells of apocalyptic proceedings as a result?
Well, as you might expect, there is a change in roles and responsibilities. Prince Gar now becomes King Gar, Weather-Worker for the nation. Asher is promoted from his assistant position to Ambassador for Olken Affairs. Dathne becomes Asher’s assistant to help deal with the increased workload as a consequence of Gar now being King Gar.
The city of Dorana deals with the royal deaths with stunned grief but is partly calmed by King Gar showing that his recently-found ability to manipulate the weather works. What they don’t know though is that, due to the earlier actions of Morg, Gar’s magic has failed and that it is actually Asher who wields the power: an action punishable under Barl’s law by death. As Morg becomes more powerful, the kingdom is split by upheaval and deception.
END OF SPOILERS.
I said in my review of Volume 1 there were niggles that could make the well-read reader of Fantasy less enamoured of this book than those new to the genre or those looking for nothing more than a comfortable read. There was little here to change that view, though the pace was faster, the niggles slightly less – niggly - and some of the consequences of earlier actions quite interesting in their resolution. Karen is a skilful writer in engaging the reader with traditional plot developments and enough action, particularly in the last section of this book, to keep those pages turning.
Having said that, parts of the book definitely did not work for me. In particular for me, love scenes between two of the main characters were just cringing in their expression and execution. In addition, there are plot resolutions that may be too convenient for some. Despite these areas of concern, ultimately the story is resolved, the prophecy is achieved and the story is ended in a manner which is satisfactory, though not really unpredictable.
In my review of Volume 1, I said that the book was ‘Not clever, not particularly original or uniquely stylish, but written well enough to keep the reader’s interest, this is a book that will create a warm sense of comfort for many Fantasy readers out there who wish to be charmed rather than challenged.’ As the books clearly run together, I would still stand by that for Volume 2, and with that view in mind I am ultimately pleased (though with some reservations) with the way the duology has developed and completed. There will be a lot of readers out there who will read these books in order to be no more than uplifted and entertained by them, and as such there is, in the end, much to get pleasure from. Those who enjoyed the first book will be further contented to find much more to enjoy here.
(And as a footnote, it has just been announced that Karen will be writing more of Lur soon: according to Karen’s website (link below) ‘there'll be a standalone prequel telling the story of Morgan and Barl, and a double-barrelled sequel following on from the events of Innocence Lost/The Awakened Mage. The sequel is due to be published first.’)
August 31, 2012
I finished this a couple of days ago and am just now sitting down to review it. I was greatly taken with and even somewhat surprised by the first book in this duology. From the synopsis I thought it would not be the "type" book I generally like. In some ways it wasn't/isn't but it's written (in my opinion) exceptionally well. I was drawn in and wanted to follow the story.
Here I have a slight caveat about the second book. It's still well written, it's still a good story and I still give it 4 stars. If you know how I rate books you know that is an excellent rating, I give few 5s. BUT this book isn't quite (again in my opinion) as good, as absorbing, as "interest holding" as the first.
So...first the sulfur. As we follow the story of our protagonist and those who surround him and those whose lives he intersects there are a few bumps. For one thing the angst is so thick you can cut it with a gutting knife . We cover the basics on emotions but then we go on, and on, and on, and on....and on ad nauseum. Then there are a few places where the book is just a little heavy handed . There was a point in this where I came to a "this is a long book" moment. Not good and not something that happened with the first volume. Also, one final "whine" (and I hate whining) the climax feels sort of abrupt. Like okay I promised you a final confrontation so here it is. Could be just me I suppose.
Okay, you've had a bit of the sulfur (without major spoilers involved) now the molasses to help it go down. The plot is still sound. The characters are pretty much true to themselves (even more so in the "woe is me" category). All in all...or over all this is an excellent book. While I've listed the negatives that doesn't mean I don't like it. I do. I recommend both these and only want to give a heads up that the second may not be quite up to what the first leads one to expect. These are excellent novels and I will most likely try other books by the writer.
Recommended.
Here I have a slight caveat about the second book. It's still well written, it's still a good story and I still give it 4 stars. If you know how I rate books you know that is an excellent rating, I give few 5s. BUT this book isn't quite (again in my opinion) as good, as absorbing, as "interest holding" as the first.
So...first the sulfur. As we follow the story of our protagonist and those who surround him and those whose lives he intersects there are a few bumps. For one thing the angst is so thick you can cut it with a gutting knife . We cover the basics on emotions but then we go on, and on, and on, and on....and on ad nauseum. Then there are a few places where the book is just a little heavy handed . There was a point in this where I came to a "this is a long book" moment. Not good and not something that happened with the first volume. Also, one final "whine" (and I hate whining) the climax feels sort of abrupt. Like okay I promised you a final confrontation so here it is. Could be just me I suppose.
Okay, you've had a bit of the sulfur (without major spoilers involved) now the molasses to help it go down. The plot is still sound. The characters are pretty much true to themselves (even more so in the "woe is me" category). All in all...or over all this is an excellent book. While I've listed the negatives that doesn't mean I don't like it. I do. I recommend both these and only want to give a heads up that the second may not be quite up to what the first leads one to expect. These are excellent novels and I will most likely try other books by the writer.
Recommended.
February 13, 2023
A good ending to the duology, this book had similar strength and weakness as in book 1. The pros are clearly Asher and Gar and the general writing of the book. Plot pacing is a little uneven with action too back-ended for it to be particularly exciting. Plus, the villain continued to be particularly egregious is his OTT shenanigans. It was like he had escaped from a soap-opera - not my favourite. Passible but not great.
This book works bests when we are more tightly focused on the characters - which is good for me as I happen to like the two protagonists. This teetered between 3.5 stars and 4 for me but I am rounding up to 4 stars as I kind of loved how irascible Asher was. He is rude, crass, impatient and extremely loyal - I kind of loved that. It isn't a normal hero - or even anti-hero - but I know people like this IRL so it rung very true to me.
A nice little set which is worth checking out IMO. Now only if it hadn't taken me 10 years to get through this.
This book works bests when we are more tightly focused on the characters - which is good for me as I happen to like the two protagonists. This teetered between 3.5 stars and 4 for me but I am rounding up to 4 stars as I kind of loved how irascible Asher was. He is rude, crass, impatient and extremely loyal - I kind of loved that. It isn't a normal hero - or even anti-hero - but I know people like this IRL so it rung very true to me.
A nice little set which is worth checking out IMO. Now only if it hadn't taken me 10 years to get through this.
January 7, 2009
*already feeling the need to gnaw own leg off*
...this isn't getting any better is it? *sigh*
...this isn't getting any better is it? *sigh*
August 1, 2019
I really liked 'The Innocent Mage' a lot and the way it ended abruptly on a cliffhanger made me picked this second book kind of right away! It was a mix of good and bad things for me and quite average as compared to the first part!
My biggest problem with this was the pacing, unlike the first one! In the first 70-80% of the book, nothing much of significance happened and in the last 20%, we had all the revelations. Final showdown for which we had all that buildup throughout the whole two books, was quite underwhelming!
As you can see from the title, you would think that this whole book is going to be about Asher getting to know about his powers and dealing with all the stuff he was clueless about in the first book (but we as a reader know!). But NOTHING like that happened, that part of getting know about himself also happened in the last few chapters which was a massive let down for me!
The only saving grace for this book was its political intrigue and my attachment with these characters from the previous book, otherwise, I would have rated it even less. The ending for some of my favourite characters was quite rough and it really broke my heart!
Even after finishing both books, I do not have a clear grasp of their magic system and the world, hence many things felt unfinished in some ways. But as we have a prequel released after this book explaining how it all started, I guess that will provide us with more explanations and understanding of things.
I am going to take some time before picking the third one and next series by Karen Miller for now!
MY RATING - 3 Stars!
The Innocent Mage (Book 1)- 4 Stars!
My biggest problem with this was the pacing, unlike the first one! In the first 70-80% of the book, nothing much of significance happened and in the last 20%, we had all the revelations. Final showdown for which we had all that buildup throughout the whole two books, was quite underwhelming!
As you can see from the title, you would think that this whole book is going to be about Asher getting to know about his powers and dealing with all the stuff he was clueless about in the first book (but we as a reader know!). But NOTHING like that happened, that part of getting know about himself also happened in the last few chapters which was a massive let down for me!
The only saving grace for this book was its political intrigue and my attachment with these characters from the previous book, otherwise, I would have rated it even less. The ending for some of my favourite characters was quite rough and it really broke my heart!
Even after finishing both books, I do not have a clear grasp of their magic system and the world, hence many things felt unfinished in some ways. But as we have a prequel released after this book explaining how it all started, I guess that will provide us with more explanations and understanding of things.
I am going to take some time before picking the third one and next series by Karen Miller for now!
MY RATING - 3 Stars!
The Innocent Mage (Book 1)- 4 Stars!
May 26, 2012
This book. Ah, what to say about Awakened Mage. I have so many mixed emotions with this story. So let’s start at the beginning with a brief summary:
Now that the Royal family is dead, Gar is the only one left, King by default and left with sputtering limited magic that was given to him by the Weather Master Durm who is currently possessed by Morg. Not that Gar knows his magic is limited or was given to him—instead he ‘s convinced he’s a late bloomer and all is somewhat well—or as well as can be, until the magic fades and then the meat of the story begins. (and there will be massive spoilers so, be warned)
First the good:
Asher: He’s a wonderful lead. I love how he has an accent and uses words like nowt and scumbling which really adds to his sort of backwoods nature. Even though he’s not the most well-educated, he’s hard working and does his best to support Gar doing his various duties as Olken Administrator. He is also realistically selfish in the beginning, not wanting to get in trouble for first seeing Gar preform magic and later performing the Weatherworking himself—since he has a great deal more to lose should things go wahooney shaped. I really loved to read about his interactions with most of the other characters, namely Gar, Matt and Pellen. Though, I don’t think his relationship with Gar is as strong as it was in the last book, which is understandable given the circumstances.
Gar: Gar is the one I enjoyed reading all the way to the end. Ultimately he was doing his best, for his people and for the Olken people. He wanted to continue his father’s legacy for others, not just for himself and was willing to bear the pain. Even when forcing Asher to do the Weatherworking, it was only because there was no other choice. Even betraying Asher in the end, it was for the good of the many Olken. His back was against the wall and he made the hard decisions and suffered for it. This is what makes him a strong king in my eyes. Yes, some things were regrettable, but he did what he did for the majority of the Olken who would have suffered greatly from Jarrault/Morg’s purge.
Matt: Matt was really enjoyable to read. He was the sensible one, much beleaguered and in the middle of things too big for him. I really appreciated his levelheadedness about things even when hurtful things were happening. Though I can’t exactly say I loved him. But I appreciated his character. I also really loved his interactions with Asher. Scant as they were you can really tell these men like and respect each other.
As for the story itself, for the most part it was enjoyable up to a certain point. The grieving was realistic and even when there were some moments of character stupidity in order to get the plot rolling (both on the heroes and the villains part) it was easy to look around and enjoy. And then we come to the bad. And when I say bad, I mean it made me want to throw the book against the wall. Of course this is all your mileage may vary, but, this is my mileage and my god, was it hard to sit through these parts.
Dathne: Oh lord this woman. This is going to be a rant in two parts. The first part reflects her characterization—which is not necessarily a mistake. That is to say, it’s okay to have supremely annoying characters and not everyone will like the same thing. But she was annoying as hell. She was manipulative, harsh, and in some cases just blatantly a dumbass. Also she was a know-it-all, letting her title as Jevalt’s Heir go to her head. She was okay to read in the first book but in the second every scene got harder and harder to read. But yes, she was annoying, fine. I could stand that. . .
If not for the romance subplot.
Oh my god. The romance subplot. Dear readers, I hated it. I loathed it. First and foremost, their great love came right the hell out of nowhere. There was no build-up. It was just love. Which can work, except that I didn’t see any reason that they should be in love. They didn’t have anything in common. They don’t talk about anything other than business or how much they love each other. They’re somewhat attracted to one another. I suppose because mostly they had zero chemistry and I felt like I was hit over the head constantly with:
They’re in love! Omg epic romance! Believe in their love! How tragic! How beautiful!
No. Just no. Sometimes I had to outright skim those parts. And some of the problem stems from that, again, all they talked about was plot related stuff or love. Also… and remember you’re under a spoiler cut—and this is either a big spoiler or a stupid spoiler or a little bit of both…
But one morning, Dathne feels sick to her stomach.
Guess what? She’s pregnant!
Oh man was I pissed. I don’t even know why. Other than it’s such a trope and cliché that it set my teeth on edge. But, you know, if the baby had some impact or purpose in the story—no…no none. Nothing at all. Dathnae stayed behind on the first foray into the city to rescue Asher. I thought, okay, fine. She’s pregnant. So wouldn’t want to get into a situation where she could get caught/tortured…
Except that she goes with Asher into the city when all freaking hell breaks loose and there are demons and shit. There was no reason for this pregnancy now. None at all. I don’t mind if it would have happened later but—just, it bothered me.
Though, on the flip side, one scene I really did like with them as a couple, was after Dathnae and Asher had made love (not their first time) Asher is sleeping and Dathnae wakes up and it’s snowing indoors because of some kind of subconscious power from Asher. That was beautiful. I really loved that scene and I almost, almost could buy them as a couple.
The relationship aspect was really the only thing that really really bothered me. The rest was tolerable and/or disappointing.
Morg: Not much to say here. He was conniving and failed sometimes which was interesting and a neat take. But in the end he was just a flat one dimensional villain, most of them were. Also there was this huge buildup where it would take time to tear down Barl’s wall but no—no it happened pretty easily. He was evil but just being evil especially for someone once human, doesn’t really cut it for me. I wished he had something else.
Asher’s Magic: Yeah I knew he was the Innocent Mage. I mean you knew from the first book. But I never felt that he was all that integrated with it. Except for the Weatherworking. I really love that scene with Gar in the tower where he’s Weatherworking with him. Or rather for him. Knowing all the symbols. That seemed really peaceful and natural. But then all of a sudden in the end he was calling up demons and warfire it’s just too abrupt and too easy and we never see really how that feels or how he feels about it.
Asher himself: He got really annoying by the end. It was one thing to be irritated with Dathnae because how do you discern between what is love and what is meddling because of the prophecy? But his loathing of Gar was just really annoying. Actually most of his yelling at Gar and wanting to pass the crown tosomeone else was really irritating. It was as if he didn’t understand there were other lives on the line than his own. Like it wasn’t his responsibility. I mean, yeah I get that he was afraid and he just wanted his boat but he never seemed to want to help others.
The entire end of the book where Asher is preparing to face and facing the big bad is way too rushed. People are killed for no good reason other than to…I don’t know inspire drama I guess. I don’t think it was really necessary and also I think it was told from the wrong POV. Asher is the one who has the power and responsibility for this. We should have seen it through his eyes, not Dathnae’s who shouldn’t have even been there if she was pregnant. I mean, I’m all for women going wherever they want and doing whatever they want within reason while pregnant but come on. You want to get the both of you killed? Even if Asher does save the day hes’ going to be devastated if you died.
I’m also really conflicted on Gar’s death. I think he blamed himself too much and reorganized things so that he would die as he should rather than Asher as he was meant to. But in the end, there is no need for a Weatherworker, so why can’t Gar be king? Why kill him needlessly? I guess Asher can’t die because he’s the hero but really I felt like Gar was the strongest character out of them all.
In the end, I would recommend this book. It’s not a good ending , but it’s a decent ending and the character relationships, for the most part, are fun. But I think it could have been so much better than it was.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 7, 2012
When I finished the previous book, The Innocent Mage, I had enjoyed it enough to eagerly seek out this one. But by the end of this book, I no longer cared about the characters or what happened to them or their country, and finished it only because I hate leaving books unfinished and as I was listening to the audio version, I was able to do productive things like cook and wash dishes while I finished, so it didn't feel like a complete waste of time.
The protagonist has come into his power, and spends the whole book whining about how he doesn't want it, didn't ask for it, he's just a fisherman, he only ever wanted to be a fisherman, etc. It's probably supposed to show how the power hasn't changed him, and how he hasn't come to despise his humble origins, but it did nothing so much as annoy me and remind me of Dante's slacker lament in Clerks: "I'm not even supposed to be here today!" Also, he constantly refuses to listen to what other people have to say. When an author wants to withhold information from a character or the audience for plot or effect, it's probably okay to have a character refuse to listen to someone once, but to use this device over and over again is not only obvious and annoying, but makes the character look like an arrogant jerk.
I was so annoyed with the protagonist by the end that I was relieved when it was over. The final battle was just boring and annoying because I really didn't care if he lived through it or not, I just wanted to be done with the book.
Aside from issues with the protagonist, both this book and its predecessor have one major flaw--the author tells us, over and over, that the two peoples have different kinds of magic, that it works differently, etc., but never actually explains or shows the difference, except in the vaguest terms. And given her vague description of the difference, that the Olken magic is natural and works with nature, while Doranen magic is flashy and presumably, unnatural, then the whole situation that explains why the Olken accepted the Doranen rule in the first place...makes no sense at all. Personally, I got the sense that the author didn't carefully think through the systems of magic she created, and just had whichever magic do whatever was convenient for the plot at the time.
Personally, I quite enjoy reading books set in a world which has different rules from our own, or I wouldn't read fantasy in the first place. But even a fictional world should *have* rules--a clear sense of what works and what doesn't, what magic can do and what it can't--or it stops feeling like a "real" world, and starts feeling like a construct that can change at any time to suit the convenience of the author. And that's part of why I lost interest in the characters and the fate of their country--because it no longer felt like a real place.
It's a shame, because there was potential here, but altogether, in the end, it was very disappointing.
The protagonist has come into his power, and spends the whole book whining about how he doesn't want it, didn't ask for it, he's just a fisherman, he only ever wanted to be a fisherman, etc. It's probably supposed to show how the power hasn't changed him, and how he hasn't come to despise his humble origins, but it did nothing so much as annoy me and remind me of Dante's slacker lament in Clerks: "I'm not even supposed to be here today!" Also, he constantly refuses to listen to what other people have to say. When an author wants to withhold information from a character or the audience for plot or effect, it's probably okay to have a character refuse to listen to someone once, but to use this device over and over again is not only obvious and annoying, but makes the character look like an arrogant jerk.
I was so annoyed with the protagonist by the end that I was relieved when it was over. The final battle was just boring and annoying because I really didn't care if he lived through it or not, I just wanted to be done with the book.
Aside from issues with the protagonist, both this book and its predecessor have one major flaw--the author tells us, over and over, that the two peoples have different kinds of magic, that it works differently, etc., but never actually explains or shows the difference, except in the vaguest terms. And given her vague description of the difference, that the Olken magic is natural and works with nature, while Doranen magic is flashy and presumably, unnatural, then the whole situation that explains why the Olken accepted the Doranen rule in the first place...makes no sense at all. Personally, I got the sense that the author didn't carefully think through the systems of magic she created, and just had whichever magic do whatever was convenient for the plot at the time.
Personally, I quite enjoy reading books set in a world which has different rules from our own, or I wouldn't read fantasy in the first place. But even a fictional world should *have* rules--a clear sense of what works and what doesn't, what magic can do and what it can't--or it stops feeling like a "real" world, and starts feeling like a construct that can change at any time to suit the convenience of the author. And that's part of why I lost interest in the characters and the fate of their country--because it no longer felt like a real place.
It's a shame, because there was potential here, but altogether, in the end, it was very disappointing.
June 25, 2014
First, this is book 2 of course there are gonna be spoilers from book 1, duh.
Book 1 ended with a bang, for a book that is pretty light then that was sure an evil ending. She killed almost the entire royal family, only prince Gar was left standing. Yes evil indeed. So that is where the book starts. What on earth will happen now? Prince Gar recently found his magic. But can he keep the weather in check? Can he keep his keep stupid Lord Jarralt away from the throne? Can Ashe be safe as others around him think he has risen too fast. And what about Morg, trapped in Durm's body? All hell will break lose if he gets what he wants, which is everyone and everything dead and eaten.
I know it's a total cliche to say it BUT in this book the pages just flew by. Such a cliche thing to say but they did. I read it in record time. The book was 700 pages? What? No, it was like 300 cos it was so light and suddenly I was 300 pages into the story and the next time I was done. The pages turned themselves.
I wish there were more books though, I think it had been better as a trilogy. Then the suspense could have grown bigger and bigger and ended with the OMG! NOOO! thing and the next book could have been a battle. But hey I am not complaining, the series is done and I am happy it all worked out. There is another series with 2 books that takes place like 20 years after or something and I will read that one soon too. I can't wait.
Light, good, fun fantasy.
Book 1 ended with a bang, for a book that is pretty light then that was sure an evil ending. She killed almost the entire royal family, only prince Gar was left standing. Yes evil indeed. So that is where the book starts. What on earth will happen now? Prince Gar recently found his magic. But can he keep the weather in check? Can he keep his keep stupid Lord Jarralt away from the throne? Can Ashe be safe as others around him think he has risen too fast. And what about Morg, trapped in Durm's body? All hell will break lose if he gets what he wants, which is everyone and everything dead and eaten.
I know it's a total cliche to say it BUT in this book the pages just flew by. Such a cliche thing to say but they did. I read it in record time. The book was 700 pages? What? No, it was like 300 cos it was so light and suddenly I was 300 pages into the story and the next time I was done. The pages turned themselves.
I wish there were more books though, I think it had been better as a trilogy. Then the suspense could have grown bigger and bigger and ended with the OMG! NOOO! thing and the next book could have been a battle. But hey I am not complaining, the series is done and I am happy it all worked out. There is another series with 2 books that takes place like 20 years after or something and I will read that one soon too. I can't wait.
Light, good, fun fantasy.
September 18, 2012
This progressed a little slowly for me.. Maybe that had a little to do with the fact that I read half of it, then went on vacation and didn't pick it back up for over a week, and am just now finishing it... But I don't think that was all of it. Book one ended in a huge cliffhanger, and I expected book two to be a nonstop fast paced progression to the conclusion. Instead, not much happened until the last few chapters, the rest was just set up for the final battle. People going here and there, talking and puttering away time. I still really enjoyed it, I just expected more from it.
I did like the ending though, and as a whole, I really enjoyed the duology. I'll be trying out the prequel at some point for sure, and then maybe someday the series that follows this one.
I definitely recommend this duology to any classic epic fantasy fans. It's good old fashioned magic stuffed fantasy done well, which I haven't run into in a long time. 3.5 stars for this one, and over all I'd give the set of two 4.25 stars.
I did like the ending though, and as a whole, I really enjoyed the duology. I'll be trying out the prequel at some point for sure, and then maybe someday the series that follows this one.
I definitely recommend this duology to any classic epic fantasy fans. It's good old fashioned magic stuffed fantasy done well, which I haven't run into in a long time. 3.5 stars for this one, and over all I'd give the set of two 4.25 stars.
July 18, 2011
While an improvement from the first half of the story, this book is still not that rewarding. The buddy relationship between the main characters is first strained and then torn apart for most of the book. The Mage finally gets his magic (how can you go through an entire book titled "The Innocent Mage" without the character in question ever using magic or even knowing he can?), but loses his humor. Asher's humor and friendship to the common people gets stripped away while his surliness and pride remain. So much duty and the weight of the world on everyone.
At least the plot moves. The bad guy comes out and gets nasty, the hidden prophecy-bearers have their day, there's a final battle. But some of the plot devices are laughably bad. (spoilers...a look alike character appears out of nowhere to take Asher's place on the chopping block, has almost no second thoughts, and is gone once his pitiful plot purpose is achieved...seriously one of the worst cop-outs in the history of fiction. The hated sniveller gets his by being dropped on the concrete in a pile of blood and fat??? We're in slapstick parody land now.)
Karen Miller does write better prose than some fantasy authors such as Feist or Sanderson. But her actual storytelling is just not there. She also has a gruesome sadistic streak that she actually explores in Empress, the only book of hers I found interesting. (And also one of the most cruel stories I've ever read.)
If this duology had been one book it would have been passable pulp. 1200+ pages, don't waste your time. There's lots of alternatives that at minimum have entertaining storylines.
At least the plot moves. The bad guy comes out and gets nasty, the hidden prophecy-bearers have their day, there's a final battle. But some of the plot devices are laughably bad. (spoilers...a look alike character appears out of nowhere to take Asher's place on the chopping block, has almost no second thoughts, and is gone once his pitiful plot purpose is achieved...seriously one of the worst cop-outs in the history of fiction. The hated sniveller gets his by being dropped on the concrete in a pile of blood and fat??? We're in slapstick parody land now.)
Karen Miller does write better prose than some fantasy authors such as Feist or Sanderson. But her actual storytelling is just not there. She also has a gruesome sadistic streak that she actually explores in Empress, the only book of hers I found interesting. (And also one of the most cruel stories I've ever read.)
If this duology had been one book it would have been passable pulp. 1200+ pages, don't waste your time. There's lots of alternatives that at minimum have entertaining storylines.
August 28, 2016
Whilst I still enjoyed this book, it really did feel too long. I feel like there could have been 150 pages less and we would have had the complete story.
The middle dragged, but I enjoyed the ending. I really appreciated the amount of hatred that Asher had, and that he wasn't willing to immediately forgive the betrayal that came to him. As much as I love it when everyone just gets along, it isn't realistic.
Essentially, I would say ignore the mixed reviews on this, and try it out!
The middle dragged, but I enjoyed the ending. I really appreciated the amount of hatred that Asher had, and that he wasn't willing to immediately forgive the betrayal that came to him. As much as I love it when everyone just gets along, it isn't realistic.
Essentially, I would say ignore the mixed reviews on this, and try it out!
December 17, 2015
[2.5 Stars] This duology should have just been a standalone. There are probably 400 pages of fluff that could have been removed between the two books, and then it would have been great. Only the last 100 pages or so of this volume we're actually interesting to me. The ended was alright, so at least I'm satisfied with that.
February 29, 2016
Urgh. Everything cliched and wrong about the Fantasy genre is on full display here. Way too many pages for the little bit of story contained therein. Padded to the extreme. Cliched plot and character. Utterly dreadful.
May 26, 2021
You can find this review and many more on my blog:
Into The Heartwyld
Well this sequel did not go as I thought it was going to. As my previous review stated I was looking forward to where this book would pick up based on the whirlwind of a cliffhanger The Innocent Mage left us on. To be quiet honest and fair, I was let down. I was expecting the same high energy to start us out but was not given that. It took a few pages before the book caught back up to where book one ended. After that it was just a whirlwind of pacing, and not the good kind either, it was fast, then slow, then fast, then it felt like it dragged on, it was so all over the place. This should have been cut down and both books could have been smashed together to create one book, a stretched out mostly mind numbing duology just wasn't the route it should have gone.
You spend a majority of the first small percent of the book dealing with the aftermath of the end of book one and it puts a lot of strain on Gar and pretty much sets into motion his behavior for the rest of the book. One of the few parts of this book that I really did like was the erratic behavior Gar had through it. This guy has been through a lot and it was written so well in showing how he was just not handling it well at all. One minute he was kind the next he was a raging beast, then the next a grieving mess, and this is something the was used through the whole story, which gave him a very realistic behavior and one that I feel not a lot of writers touch upon when dealing with a character who has been through more than any person should ever have to go through, and the things he goes through only continue to pile on as the story continues. I really did end up liking Gar's portion of this story.
Now Asher, Asher I have mixed feelings about, one on hand I love the guy on the other not so much. But given the state of everything he is going through and that he is constantly being coerced into agreeing to and essentially tricked, blackmailed or manipulated into, his rage and anger are completely understandable. To be quiet fair both Gar and Asher spent a lot of time in this book being angry and yelling, and fighting with every person possible.
Mid way through this book that dreaded romance rears its big ugly head again and by the gods was it so awful and just lasted FOREVER. Look, I don't want anyone to get the wrong idea about me, I do not hate romance, what I hate is UNNECESSARY romance. And for me the romance brought nothing to the actual story besides being a means to create drama between the two characters involved. When the romance appeared in the first book it felt so out of place and for a good majority of this book it became a heavy focus and just felt like it did not belong. What made me even more annoyed by it was how it was being initiated from our female character, she manipulated the male character and used his feelings for her to "keep control of his destiny" yet Miller also wanted me to believe that said female character was actually in love with him as well. Sorry but up til that point she only ever referred to him in regards to the Prophecy and how important he was. And all this did was bring about drama between two male characters and later drama between the two "lovers" which resulted in the classic "I hate you but guess what we are still end game and i'll totally forgive all the lies, deceit and manipulation because we might die and oh we are having baby now" Sorry but I guess I'm different and don't find love built on manipulation, lies and deceit romantic.
Now with that being said, the romance was my biggest issue with this book, but my next big issue was the lack of villain actually being present. He makes a few small appearances in the start but then pretty much does not come back into full play until the last 20% again. Actually all the "good stuff" didn't start until the last 20% just like with book one. All the build up to the major battle was stretched out for so long with having all the characters constantly bickering and arguing, so the final battle ended up only being a few pages, and was just not satisfying. There was no big magic battle, there was some monsters "demons" that killed people and weather magic making havoc. But as for watching Morg and Asher have a battle of the mages like I thought was going to happen it wasn't anything like that, a few spells and bam we are done. Plus some characters died and I felt nothing, because it felt like their deaths didn't matter to anyone in the story. My favorite character was ripped to PIECES and it felt like no one cared which made it hard for me to care, even in the epilogue, he was just mentioned as a passing death, yet was prominent in both books as being a good friend to Asher (not that Asher wasn't a total dick to him in this book though which ticked me off)
The Awakened Mage was a total mess and a complete miss for me. From the unnecessary romance and constant bickering among all the characters and the long dragged out feeling that the book gives you, it just didn't make this journey worth it. I honestly really wanted to DNF this book and only made it through with the help of the audiobook. I really wish I had liked this more but unfortunately not all books can be a winner.
Into The Heartwyld
Well this sequel did not go as I thought it was going to. As my previous review stated I was looking forward to where this book would pick up based on the whirlwind of a cliffhanger The Innocent Mage left us on. To be quiet honest and fair, I was let down. I was expecting the same high energy to start us out but was not given that. It took a few pages before the book caught back up to where book one ended. After that it was just a whirlwind of pacing, and not the good kind either, it was fast, then slow, then fast, then it felt like it dragged on, it was so all over the place. This should have been cut down and both books could have been smashed together to create one book, a stretched out mostly mind numbing duology just wasn't the route it should have gone.
You spend a majority of the first small percent of the book dealing with the aftermath of the end of book one and it puts a lot of strain on Gar and pretty much sets into motion his behavior for the rest of the book. One of the few parts of this book that I really did like was the erratic behavior Gar had through it. This guy has been through a lot and it was written so well in showing how he was just not handling it well at all. One minute he was kind the next he was a raging beast, then the next a grieving mess, and this is something the was used through the whole story, which gave him a very realistic behavior and one that I feel not a lot of writers touch upon when dealing with a character who has been through more than any person should ever have to go through, and the things he goes through only continue to pile on as the story continues. I really did end up liking Gar's portion of this story.
Now Asher, Asher I have mixed feelings about, one on hand I love the guy on the other not so much. But given the state of everything he is going through and that he is constantly being coerced into agreeing to and essentially tricked, blackmailed or manipulated into, his rage and anger are completely understandable. To be quiet fair both Gar and Asher spent a lot of time in this book being angry and yelling, and fighting with every person possible.
Mid way through this book that dreaded romance rears its big ugly head again and by the gods was it so awful and just lasted FOREVER. Look, I don't want anyone to get the wrong idea about me, I do not hate romance, what I hate is UNNECESSARY romance. And for me the romance brought nothing to the actual story besides being a means to create drama between the two characters involved. When the romance appeared in the first book it felt so out of place and for a good majority of this book it became a heavy focus and just felt like it did not belong. What made me even more annoyed by it was how it was being initiated from our female character, she manipulated the male character and used his feelings for her to "keep control of his destiny" yet Miller also wanted me to believe that said female character was actually in love with him as well. Sorry but up til that point she only ever referred to him in regards to the Prophecy and how important he was. And all this did was bring about drama between two male characters and later drama between the two "lovers" which resulted in the classic "I hate you but guess what we are still end game and i'll totally forgive all the lies, deceit and manipulation because we might die and oh we are having baby now" Sorry but I guess I'm different and don't find love built on manipulation, lies and deceit romantic.
Now with that being said, the romance was my biggest issue with this book, but my next big issue was the lack of villain actually being present. He makes a few small appearances in the start but then pretty much does not come back into full play until the last 20% again. Actually all the "good stuff" didn't start until the last 20% just like with book one. All the build up to the major battle was stretched out for so long with having all the characters constantly bickering and arguing, so the final battle ended up only being a few pages, and was just not satisfying. There was no big magic battle, there was some monsters "demons" that killed people and weather magic making havoc. But as for watching Morg and Asher have a battle of the mages like I thought was going to happen it wasn't anything like that, a few spells and bam we are done. Plus some characters died and I felt nothing, because it felt like their deaths didn't matter to anyone in the story. My favorite character was ripped to PIECES and it felt like no one cared which made it hard for me to care, even in the epilogue, he was just mentioned as a passing death, yet was prominent in both books as being a good friend to Asher (not that Asher wasn't a total dick to him in this book though which ticked me off)
The Awakened Mage was a total mess and a complete miss for me. From the unnecessary romance and constant bickering among all the characters and the long dragged out feeling that the book gives you, it just didn't make this journey worth it. I honestly really wanted to DNF this book and only made it through with the help of the audiobook. I really wish I had liked this more but unfortunately not all books can be a winner.
October 27, 2024
I love the world and plot of the two books. I must admit that at times I thought too much time was spent on the daily developments of their lives. It's great at building attachment to characters and there is key developments that happen that the details great for but I think it left too little time for the endings in both books. I flew through the last part of the book and felt somewhat dissapointed. Like all the build up meant it was too easy of a resolution at the end. Couldn't fully feel the attachment to the characters in the end as all the great fleshed out descriptions throughout the book were absent at the end. Would have loved a rebalance of where the details were spent as did take me a while to get through most of the book as just wasnt as captivating throughout. Though that isn't to say I didn't love all the characters and plot.
February 15, 2020
Innocence Lost (Kingmaker, Kingbreaker, #2);
Who is this for? People who love (the development of) relationships in a solid fantasy setting.
story 4/5 Loved the focus on the relations and politics, pleasant read.
characters 4/5
writing 4/5
audio/paper Paper.
reread? I might!
Recommend it? Yes.
Voor wie? Voor mensen die houden van (de ontwikkeling) allerlei relaties in een fijne fantasie setting.
Verhaal: 4/5 Vond de focus op de politiek en de relaties tussen de karakters heel fijn lezen.
Karakters: 4/5
Schrijfstijl: 4/5
Papier/audio? Papier.
Herlezen: Misschien!
Aanrader? Ja.
Who is this for? People who love (the development of) relationships in a solid fantasy setting.
story 4/5 Loved the focus on the relations and politics, pleasant read.
characters 4/5
writing 4/5
audio/paper Paper.
reread? I might!
Recommend it? Yes.
Voor wie? Voor mensen die houden van (de ontwikkeling) allerlei relaties in een fijne fantasie setting.
Verhaal: 4/5 Vond de focus op de politiek en de relaties tussen de karakters heel fijn lezen.
Karakters: 4/5
Schrijfstijl: 4/5
Papier/audio? Papier.
Herlezen: Misschien!
Aanrader? Ja.
September 26, 2022
This review is really for both books in the Kingmaker, Kingbreaker series, though my star rating is only for The Awakened Mage.
I'll preface by saying that I really do like these books—though after reading through them a second time, I can definitely see their glaring weaknesses as well.
I think whether you'll enjoy this series really depends on what you're looking for in a novel. First of all, the copy on these books' covers sorely misrepresents their contents. This is not an action-packed story. It is a slow, patient look at the lives of those unexpectedly caught up in a fate they didn't ask for and how they react when its strings pull taut around them. A look at how the details of history and religion blur and shift over the long passing of time, and how the delineations of right and wrong and law are not always clear. It is a story about choice, responsibility, promises and friendship.
The majority of these novels center around character development and intrigue. If you like getting to know a novel's characters well and exploring how their relationship dynamics change in times of stress and upheaval, then I'd recommend this series to you. If you're looking for tons of battles and action, look elsewhere.
That said, there are definitely some significant weak points in these books, the second one in particular.
Strengths:
• I really enjoy Miller's writing style. It's witty and punchy and very down to earth, and she paints images and feeling so clearly without relying on florid or overly lengthy phrasing. Each of her characters has a very distinct voice as well, so even just reading the dialogue is a pleasure.
• I like the world and how it's introduced to us. It's a fairly simple setting for what you might expect of fantasy (think more along the lines of what you'd find in a Fire Emblem or Tales of game), but it works well as a framework for the story, and we're never bogged down with tons of exposition or unneeded facts. The way Miller describes the kingdom of Lur feels very natural and lived-in; we notice small details as its residents go about their business in Dorana, just like you'd gradually become adjusted to a new city you'd moved to.
• And the greatest strength by far: Miller's created an excellent cast of characters. Gar is one of my favorite characters from anything I've ever read, watched or played. Dathne, Matt, Veira and Darran are all incredible characters as well, each so unique and with excellent development throughout. I really love the shifting viewpoints between these characters throughout the series, and how Miller overturns our intial preconceptions about a character to make us love, or at least sympathise with, a character we once disliked.
Weaknesses:
• The main villain is so over-the-top villain-y that I can't take him seriously. He's just tiring and annoying, and I found myself speed-reading through the portions from his point of view.
• This is a very slow and lengthy story. The excitement promised on the book's covers doesn't kick into high gear until part three, or page 365, of The Awakened Mage. That wasn't a problem for me in the first book. I only felt like it dragged a bit in the middle of the second one. But that was a pretty big disappointment because—
• The conclusion of the book flies by way too quickly, reads more like a first draft than a finished piece, and is frankly unsatisfying. Up until the point when Asher is finally told who he is, I love the books. After that, it becomes frustrating for me, largely because of Asher himself. I won't get into spoilers, but there are a few characters who absolutely deserved a better ending than they received—bridges that needed to be mended much, much sooner. Voices I wish we'd heard from more at the end. Poetic justice that was left undealt. People who, frankly, were just more interesting than Asher was by that point.
Ok fine, I'll get a little spoilery here:
Asher's and Gar's friendship was the shining light of both novels, and his friendships with the others were just as heartwarming in their own way. Take those away after letting us grow so damn attached to the other characters, and then deny us the satisfaction of seeing those relationships restored and an admission from Asher that he'd also done wrong, and how are we supposed to keep rooting for him? By the end I just kept thinking "Jesus, what a stubborn, bratty c***" every time Asher spoke, and I only wanted him to succeed for the sake of the others. I wish Miller had given less time to Asher's complaining, had let him grow more mature, and mended well bridges before the final confrontation.
All of that said, I still find these two novels to be very comforting and entertaining to read. Its characters stuck with me long, long after I first read the series back in 2013 (which is actually what prompted me to read them again—to reacquaint myself with those characters), and it was very pleasant to return to them six years later. I imagine Gar and Dathne will stick around with me for years longer, as will my appreciation for Miller's way with words.
But I also think I'd like to see some good fanfiction that rewrites the ending.
I'll preface by saying that I really do like these books—though after reading through them a second time, I can definitely see their glaring weaknesses as well.
I think whether you'll enjoy this series really depends on what you're looking for in a novel. First of all, the copy on these books' covers sorely misrepresents their contents. This is not an action-packed story. It is a slow, patient look at the lives of those unexpectedly caught up in a fate they didn't ask for and how they react when its strings pull taut around them. A look at how the details of history and religion blur and shift over the long passing of time, and how the delineations of right and wrong and law are not always clear. It is a story about choice, responsibility, promises and friendship.
The majority of these novels center around character development and intrigue. If you like getting to know a novel's characters well and exploring how their relationship dynamics change in times of stress and upheaval, then I'd recommend this series to you. If you're looking for tons of battles and action, look elsewhere.
That said, there are definitely some significant weak points in these books, the second one in particular.
Strengths:
• I really enjoy Miller's writing style. It's witty and punchy and very down to earth, and she paints images and feeling so clearly without relying on florid or overly lengthy phrasing. Each of her characters has a very distinct voice as well, so even just reading the dialogue is a pleasure.
• I like the world and how it's introduced to us. It's a fairly simple setting for what you might expect of fantasy (think more along the lines of what you'd find in a Fire Emblem or Tales of game), but it works well as a framework for the story, and we're never bogged down with tons of exposition or unneeded facts. The way Miller describes the kingdom of Lur feels very natural and lived-in; we notice small details as its residents go about their business in Dorana, just like you'd gradually become adjusted to a new city you'd moved to.
• And the greatest strength by far: Miller's created an excellent cast of characters. Gar is one of my favorite characters from anything I've ever read, watched or played. Dathne, Matt, Veira and Darran are all incredible characters as well, each so unique and with excellent development throughout. I really love the shifting viewpoints between these characters throughout the series, and how Miller overturns our intial preconceptions about a character to make us love, or at least sympathise with, a character we once disliked.
Weaknesses:
• The main villain is so over-the-top villain-y that I can't take him seriously. He's just tiring and annoying, and I found myself speed-reading through the portions from his point of view.
• This is a very slow and lengthy story. The excitement promised on the book's covers doesn't kick into high gear until part three, or page 365, of The Awakened Mage. That wasn't a problem for me in the first book. I only felt like it dragged a bit in the middle of the second one. But that was a pretty big disappointment because—
• The conclusion of the book flies by way too quickly, reads more like a first draft than a finished piece, and is frankly unsatisfying. Up until the point when Asher is finally told who he is, I love the books. After that, it becomes frustrating for me, largely because of Asher himself. I won't get into spoilers, but there are a few characters who absolutely deserved a better ending than they received—bridges that needed to be mended much, much sooner. Voices I wish we'd heard from more at the end. Poetic justice that was left undealt. People who, frankly, were just more interesting than Asher was by that point.
Ok fine, I'll get a little spoilery here:
Asher's and Gar's friendship was the shining light of both novels, and his friendships with the others were just as heartwarming in their own way. Take those away after letting us grow so damn attached to the other characters, and then deny us the satisfaction of seeing those relationships restored and an admission from Asher that he'd also done wrong, and how are we supposed to keep rooting for him? By the end I just kept thinking "Jesus, what a stubborn, bratty c***" every time Asher spoke, and I only wanted him to succeed for the sake of the others. I wish Miller had given less time to Asher's complaining, had let him grow more mature, and mended well bridges before the final confrontation.
All of that said, I still find these two novels to be very comforting and entertaining to read. Its characters stuck with me long, long after I first read the series back in 2013 (which is actually what prompted me to read them again—to reacquaint myself with those characters), and it was very pleasant to return to them six years later. I imagine Gar and Dathne will stick around with me for years longer, as will my appreciation for Miller's way with words.
But I also think I'd like to see some good fanfiction that rewrites the ending.
October 7, 2018
3.5 🌟 to by było takie dobre... gdyby nie było tyle gadania
June 10, 2019
Better than the first book, and very hard to put down. One of those ones that had to be finished that night.
May 15, 2011
What a turn about from the first book. After the first 200 pages, this book was utter drivel. The characters totally fell apart and constantly acted in ways that I disagreed with. I'm not usually one for spotting inconsistencies in books, but this one was littered with them. In one scene the characters can't leave on a journey at night for fear of attracting attention with their lights. They leave following morning only to travel throughout the day and then light torches. gah. In another scene it has been raining for days. torrential downpours. the worst weather you can imagine. the author wrote that the sky "bled rain" is was coming down so hard, yet a few lines later there were burning buildings. uhmm, okay. seriously this is the worst book I have read in five years easily. What a shame since the first was, although not perfect, quite charming in its simplicity.
The best parts were:
-finishing it.
-the cuban cigar I smoked while reading part of it.
-the bookmark that Delia made for me.
I could go on, but seriously, why bother?
The best parts were:
-finishing it.
-the cuban cigar I smoked while reading part of it.
-the bookmark that Delia made for me.
I could go on, but seriously, why bother?
September 30, 2010
It would have gotten two stars like the first book of the series, but honestly, the ending aggrivated and frustrated me like few books have ever done. The ending to this book feels like Miller was at the publisher's deadline, and just needed to submit something. There are loose ends that don't get resolved, the big finale was stale and just ends almost abrubtly. The worst possible event that comes to pass, has almost no effect. It was just a terrible, terrible ending. I don't think I've ever really wished this, but I'd like my time back from reading the last 100 pages of this series.
November 25, 2008
The final book of the duology is much weaker than the debut degenerating into run of the mill "big bad lord" taking over, almost winning, but tripped at the last moment by the hero saved by his loyal friends and the villain's blind spots...
Still a page turner so 2 stars for what is a very mediocre finish to the series that started so well in Innocent Mage.
Still a page turner so 2 stars for what is a very mediocre finish to the series that started so well in Innocent Mage.
November 18, 2017
I enjoyed it more than the first.
May 18, 2020
A very exciting read! Like the first book, the overall plot is very vague, but becomes much clearer in the second half. (Again, this did not detract from my enjoyment of the book!)
I sat all day for two days just reading this book. Every page had me wanting more!
Again, there is a romantic subplot. It's more pronounced in this book than in the first, but the romantic relationship is not made secondary to the friendship between the two main characters - making it a great read for an aro/ace reader like myself.
I sat all day for two days just reading this book. Every page had me wanting more!
Again, there is a romantic subplot. It's more pronounced in this book than in the first, but the romantic relationship is not made secondary to the friendship between the two main characters - making it a great read for an aro/ace reader like myself.
May 10, 2017
With much more suspense then the first book, the innocent mage, it was an enjoyable book...
December 16, 2017
Well this would have needed some editing and some of the characters were truly annoying.
June 15, 2018
soo it was an ok read. The first book kind of dragged on and on. The second was more interesting. I think I would have liked it better had there been more history of Barl et al. All you got was like a page of what happened 600 years ago, in the last 200 pages of the book. I didn't feel that was in depth enough. I still have questions as to why can't Olkens use magic? What happened between Morg and Barl?
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