Huntsman

The Hunted Mage Trilogy #1

by Michael R. Wilson

~AD 1011 Ancient Finland~ Once upon a time…Words held more Power and dragons roamed the world. For Eyulf, the youngest son of a minor lord, the opportunity to train with a Rune-Singer Mage was the chance of a lifetime. He is content…until he discovers a volume of Lost Words, powerful Runes forgotten through the ages. Corrupted by Magic he cannot control, things go wrong quickly. Jaakko, a simple huntsman, returns to his home late one night to find his village destroyed by a creature out of legend. Obsessed with the monster and his desire for revenge, he spends fruitless years hunting the beast before he realizes that it toys with him and he lacks the Power to destroy it. When Avitus, an officer aboard a Byzantine ship of war, learns that his captain’s orders are to sell their ship and abandon the crew in the far North, he finds himself a penniless outlander. When he finds work as Steward to a future king he feels all will be well...until the crippled Mage comes to court. Aila, spurned by Eyulf in his quest for Power, has quite happily made a new life for herself without him. When he returns, and tries to claim her once more as his betrothed, her fear of the potent magic he wields keeps her from confiding in the few people she feels she can trust. One by one, they are drawn into Eyulf's treachery. The Hunted Mage Trilogy incorporates a blend of History, Fantasy and Ancient Finnish folklore.

386 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 30, 2012

Reviews

[Daniell Van Voorhis · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I finished "The Huntsman" by Michael Wilson and it was very enjoyable. I highly recommend that you pick it up. So here is my review;

I picked up the sample eBook and unlike so many that give you the title page and maybe the table of contents this gives you four chapters! After the first chapter I was intrigued after the second chapter I grew enthralled after chapter three I couldn't put it down. I purchased the book and was not disappointed.

The story follows three trails that of Eyulf, a Mage who through an accident destroys his home and disfigures himself. The second Jaakko, a huntsman and his determination to hunt down a vicious beast that devastated his village. The last story we follow Avitus a soldier/sailor who becomes stranded in a new northern land lost to his profession, an older gentleman, finds his way into a kings service.

As the stories progress we see the world unfold with a coming threat. I can see that as I wait for book two to come out, that the stories will further intertwine.

This story is a very interesting view of the fantasy genre the interesting use of magic being tied to old Swedish folklore of rune-singers somehow singing the elements into shape and form.

All in all by the end of the book it left me wanting more leaves me wondering where the story will go. I highly recommend it. From what I hear it should be in paperback soon...