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Transgressions
An elderly male wizard, whose body has been destroyed by powerful unknown attackers, possesses the soul-less body of a young female half-elf. A new lease on life perhaps. However, first he must not only protect his home and a new forbidden love from an invisible malevolent spirit, but also solve the mystery of who wanted him dead in the first place.
- GenresFantasy
ebook
First published November 26, 12
13 people are currently reading
79 people want to read
About the author
Phillip Berrie
10 books44 followersPhill Berrie is retired and lives in Yass, Australia with his wife and stepson.
He has a Bachelors degree in Applied Physics, a Masters in Information Science and a Graduate Diploma in Education. During this career he worked in the back rooms of education-related institutions for most of his life as an IT professional helping academics with the computational aspects of their professions. This included such diverse activities: as analysing the mineral potential of rock samples, authenticating and distributing electronic editions of famous Australian literature, and helping science teachers teach science.
Phill is a futurist and has had a lifelong love affair with science, speculative fiction and gaming. His love of roleplaying led him to start writing and his attention to detail helped him fall into editing. He is now on the downhill run for his first century and in full procrastination mode over his writing career.
Phill has been a long time member of the CSFG and was made a lifetime member of the ACT Writers Centre in 2018. He is also a member of the Yass Valley Writers Group and produces audio segments for this group which are aired periodically on the Yass Community Radio station.
He has a Bachelors degree in Applied Physics, a Masters in Information Science and a Graduate Diploma in Education. During this career he worked in the back rooms of education-related institutions for most of his life as an IT professional helping academics with the computational aspects of their professions. This included such diverse activities: as analysing the mineral potential of rock samples, authenticating and distributing electronic editions of famous Australian literature, and helping science teachers teach science.
Phill is a futurist and has had a lifelong love affair with science, speculative fiction and gaming. His love of roleplaying led him to start writing and his attention to detail helped him fall into editing. He is now on the downhill run for his first century and in full procrastination mode over his writing career.
Phill has been a long time member of the CSFG and was made a lifetime member of the ACT Writers Centre in 2018. He is also a member of the Yass Valley Writers Group and produces audio segments for this group which are aired periodically on the Yass Community Radio station.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 17, 2013
The things I don't like about this book are the things I don't like about the genre, so I can't fault the author there.
I dislike castles and taverns and guards who challenge you at every step and holders of some high office or other who do nothing but sleaze and smirk. But as I say, these are tropes - they're gonna be there, most likely, and if I don't like them, tough.
As for the writing, it's always strong - though as a writer myself, my eyes hiccupped whenever the same word was used more than once in a paragraph, sometimes in a sentence - but possibly that's just a writerly thing - maybe other readers won't even notice.
All that notwithstanding, there's some wonderful stuff here. I loved the book whenever it let loose. When Berrie let his imagination go - when he revealed to us his elementals, his air spirits, his sea things like vast membranes blocking the wind - his vision of many alternative worlds in a Golden Void - his ghastly beautiful alien Prometheus -- his touches of Eastern mysticism, recalling, for me at least, David Lindsay's VOYAGE TO ARCTURUS...
I was engaged by Wamzut, the hero. I was charmed by the fact he isn't described by some fancy synonym for 'wizard' - he's a wizard, and that's all there is to it ... though I was disappointed that this simple philosophy wasn't always extended to the rest of the world building. There's a Turkey City Lexicon thing warning SFF writers to call a rabbit a rabbit... Faeries and vampyres and magick - and other such spellings - are apologia and attempts at verisimilitude, in my opinion. (Again, this is a trope, sort of, so I might not be the one to judge.) So. Four stars. Admittedly, one of the stars is a quasar or pulsar or something, its fusion processes a bit wobbly, to indicate my unfamiliarity with this sort of story. But the other three burn steadily. Philip Berrie has a big imagination. I hope he keeps letting it have his head.
I dislike castles and taverns and guards who challenge you at every step and holders of some high office or other who do nothing but sleaze and smirk. But as I say, these are tropes - they're gonna be there, most likely, and if I don't like them, tough.
As for the writing, it's always strong - though as a writer myself, my eyes hiccupped whenever the same word was used more than once in a paragraph, sometimes in a sentence - but possibly that's just a writerly thing - maybe other readers won't even notice.
All that notwithstanding, there's some wonderful stuff here. I loved the book whenever it let loose. When Berrie let his imagination go - when he revealed to us his elementals, his air spirits, his sea things like vast membranes blocking the wind - his vision of many alternative worlds in a Golden Void - his ghastly beautiful alien Prometheus -- his touches of Eastern mysticism, recalling, for me at least, David Lindsay's VOYAGE TO ARCTURUS...
I was engaged by Wamzut, the hero. I was charmed by the fact he isn't described by some fancy synonym for 'wizard' - he's a wizard, and that's all there is to it ... though I was disappointed that this simple philosophy wasn't always extended to the rest of the world building. There's a Turkey City Lexicon thing warning SFF writers to call a rabbit a rabbit... Faeries and vampyres and magick - and other such spellings - are apologia and attempts at verisimilitude, in my opinion. (Again, this is a trope, sort of, so I might not be the one to judge.) So. Four stars. Admittedly, one of the stars is a quasar or pulsar or something, its fusion processes a bit wobbly, to indicate my unfamiliarity with this sort of story. But the other three burn steadily. Philip Berrie has a big imagination. I hope he keeps letting it have his head.
December 27, 2012
Transgressions by Phillip Berrie is the first book in what I assume will be a fantasy trilogy. The following review contains minor spoilers, but nothing pertaining to vital plot elements.
Transgressions is about Wamzut, a wizard who, before the action begins, lost his body and almost died in a magical battle. He was saved as a disembodied soul only due to a magical insurance device he had in place. The story opens with a priestess, Nessa, helping him take possession of a body whose soul has vacated it due to an unrelated magical attack. The new body is not that of an 80 year old man, however, but of a young, half-elven woman.
There is plenty of scope for this to go badly in terms of how it is treated in the text, but Berrie pulls it off without making it creepy. Wamzut, now going by Attina, the name of the woman whose body he's possessing, vows to find and stop the magical creature that killed Attina and commences that quest more or less immediately (after dealing with a few practical matters). Of course, things don't go entirely to plan and so, a more-epic-than-intended journey begins.
As far as the trans aspect goes, Wamzut is still at heart a man and refers to himself as male unless he's specifically referring to his body (and even then he usually says "Attina's body"). He also continues to be attracted to women and, after some (entertaining) urging on Nessa's part, a physical relationship blooms between them. I do think perhaps a bit more time could have been devoted to him angsting about his new genitalia, instead of being skimmed over, but the "how to be a woman" conversation was also skimmed over, underscoring that the focus of the story is on magical events rather than the new gender.
The world building was well thought out. There were lots of small world-fleshing out bits dropped in, which I enjoyed. A particular favourite was the psychic wave that rolls with the sunrise which interferes with some types of magic and jolts magic-wielders awake if they're sleeping.
I found the prose a little stilted at times, but given that it's told in first person by a technically 80 year old man, it is, perhaps, understandable. I got used to the style more quickly than I expected to but I suppose your mileage may vary.
Transgressions is very much a book 1. A lot of goals are introduced which Wamzut begins to world towards but not all are completed. The book did end at a logical break point but I was left wanting to know "but what about...?" It's definitely the first portion of a larger story and I am keen to read the next instalment to find out what happens.
I recommend Transgressions to fantasy fans, particularly those who enjoy stories about travelling between worlds/dimensions. Although I didn't think the trans aspect was handled poorly, I'm not sure I'd recommend it as a trans narrative; it's definitely more a story about magic than gender.
4 / 5 stars
Disclaimer: The author is a friend and once upon a time I read an early draft of part of the opening, which influenced my reading slightly (thanks to vaguely remembered story facts), but not my review.
You can read more of my reviews on my blog
Transgressions is about Wamzut, a wizard who, before the action begins, lost his body and almost died in a magical battle. He was saved as a disembodied soul only due to a magical insurance device he had in place. The story opens with a priestess, Nessa, helping him take possession of a body whose soul has vacated it due to an unrelated magical attack. The new body is not that of an 80 year old man, however, but of a young, half-elven woman.
There is plenty of scope for this to go badly in terms of how it is treated in the text, but Berrie pulls it off without making it creepy. Wamzut, now going by Attina, the name of the woman whose body he's possessing, vows to find and stop the magical creature that killed Attina and commences that quest more or less immediately (after dealing with a few practical matters). Of course, things don't go entirely to plan and so, a more-epic-than-intended journey begins.
As far as the trans aspect goes, Wamzut is still at heart a man and refers to himself as male unless he's specifically referring to his body (and even then he usually says "Attina's body"). He also continues to be attracted to women and, after some (entertaining) urging on Nessa's part, a physical relationship blooms between them. I do think perhaps a bit more time could have been devoted to him angsting about his new genitalia, instead of being skimmed over, but the "how to be a woman" conversation was also skimmed over, underscoring that the focus of the story is on magical events rather than the new gender.
The world building was well thought out. There were lots of small world-fleshing out bits dropped in, which I enjoyed. A particular favourite was the psychic wave that rolls with the sunrise which interferes with some types of magic and jolts magic-wielders awake if they're sleeping.
I found the prose a little stilted at times, but given that it's told in first person by a technically 80 year old man, it is, perhaps, understandable. I got used to the style more quickly than I expected to but I suppose your mileage may vary.
Transgressions is very much a book 1. A lot of goals are introduced which Wamzut begins to world towards but not all are completed. The book did end at a logical break point but I was left wanting to know "but what about...?" It's definitely the first portion of a larger story and I am keen to read the next instalment to find out what happens.
I recommend Transgressions to fantasy fans, particularly those who enjoy stories about travelling between worlds/dimensions. Although I didn't think the trans aspect was handled poorly, I'm not sure I'd recommend it as a trans narrative; it's definitely more a story about magic than gender.
4 / 5 stars
Disclaimer: The author is a friend and once upon a time I read an early draft of part of the opening, which influenced my reading slightly (thanks to vaguely remembered story facts), but not my review.
You can read more of my reviews on my blog
July 20, 2013
I enjoyed reading this very much. I was introduced to it after reading one of Phillip Berrie's short stories set in the same 'verse, which piqued my interest.
The story deals with the plight of Wamzut, an elderly wizard who is fatally attacked while in the Golden Void (this is a good example of the arresting nomenclature in the book). Wamzut is left disembodied, but with the assistance of a Gifted priestess, his spirit is rehoused in the body of a half-elf, who has just been robbed of her soul by...what?
There's the rub! Wamzut finds himself in the body of a young woman. As he started out as an 88-year-old wizard, this is rather a shock for the poor man. The sexual aspect of the story is handled with wit and delicacy. In some ways, it reminded me of a wizardly version of 'Some Like it Hot' in which Wamzut, though still very powerful, experiences the advantages and disadvantages of the female sex he has suddenly been saddled with.
The story is a great page-turner. Wamzut has several mysteries to solve; who killed him (and his friend) in the Void, and who or what robbed the half-elf of her soul.
This part of the book is very well-paced and keeps the reader on their toes, following Wamzut through the mystery. I found it quite hard to put the book down (or the Kindle!) which is always a good sign. When it ended, I wanted more.
If I have any criticisms, they are that it ended too suddenly. I wanted to know what happened next, and I wanted a sequel! The main mystery was rounded off almost too neatly, but there were a number of loose ends - though as 'Transgressions' is the first book in a series, I hope these will be resolved in due course.
I was very taken with the characterisation, especially of the hero/heroine. I felt all the characters were engaging, and that the author had given equal attention to the detail of the minor characters.
The magic of the world or 'verse is carefully thought out and explored. The wizard's principal power is one of astral travel, and this was beautifully imagined.
I really enjoyed 'Transgressions'. To me it is a well-written traditional fantasy, without being hackneyed in any way. I look forward to reading more by this author and also hope that he will return to Wamzut's adventures in the future.
The story deals with the plight of Wamzut, an elderly wizard who is fatally attacked while in the Golden Void (this is a good example of the arresting nomenclature in the book). Wamzut is left disembodied, but with the assistance of a Gifted priestess, his spirit is rehoused in the body of a half-elf, who has just been robbed of her soul by...what?
There's the rub! Wamzut finds himself in the body of a young woman. As he started out as an 88-year-old wizard, this is rather a shock for the poor man. The sexual aspect of the story is handled with wit and delicacy. In some ways, it reminded me of a wizardly version of 'Some Like it Hot' in which Wamzut, though still very powerful, experiences the advantages and disadvantages of the female sex he has suddenly been saddled with.
The story is a great page-turner. Wamzut has several mysteries to solve; who killed him (and his friend) in the Void, and who or what robbed the half-elf of her soul.
This part of the book is very well-paced and keeps the reader on their toes, following Wamzut through the mystery. I found it quite hard to put the book down (or the Kindle!) which is always a good sign. When it ended, I wanted more.
If I have any criticisms, they are that it ended too suddenly. I wanted to know what happened next, and I wanted a sequel! The main mystery was rounded off almost too neatly, but there were a number of loose ends - though as 'Transgressions' is the first book in a series, I hope these will be resolved in due course.
I was very taken with the characterisation, especially of the hero/heroine. I felt all the characters were engaging, and that the author had given equal attention to the detail of the minor characters.
The magic of the world or 'verse is carefully thought out and explored. The wizard's principal power is one of astral travel, and this was beautifully imagined.
I really enjoyed 'Transgressions'. To me it is a well-written traditional fantasy, without being hackneyed in any way. I look forward to reading more by this author and also hope that he will return to Wamzut's adventures in the future.
January 27, 2014
This was a very interesting read. There was a very carefully studied and thought through thread on gender behavior running through this book; I found it very logically handles, and logic is important to me. I loved the handling of magic as well, treating it as an energy, or perhaps a certain kind of molecule found better in some places than others, very interesting, if you ask me. And the story? Well, the story was a cluster of problems on top of problems which fostered more problems. It kept me rooted, and I'm thinking it will you too. Check it out. If you are at all a fan of magic and magic users, your time will be well spent.
January 19, 2013
Transgressions, Phillip Berrie's first full-length published work, is the story of Wamzut, an elderly male wizard, whose body has been destroyed by powerful unknown attackers. Fortunately for Wamzut, he has been able to claim the soul-less body of a young female half-elf. A new lease on life, perhaps, but first he must not only protect his home and a new forbidden love from an invisible spirit monster, but also solve the mystery of who wanted him dead in the first place.
This is a highly imaginative novel, dealing with Wamzut's situation in a creative and original way. The story is almost episodic in style, so that we are dragged along from adventure to misadventure to love scene to squabble to fight - in short, there is always something going on and the reader needs to have alert wits to keep up with the convoluted plot. Towards the end we have a veritable helter-skelter ride of events.
Written in the first person, Transgressions is not always an easy read. Berrie has, quite deliberately, I assume, given us the writing style of an elderly academic, a man who takes himself and his position as a mage very seriously - as well he should, for Wamzut is in danger from go to whoa. However, this means that there is little variation in style over the course of the book. Even in passages that should be fraught with tension, the sentences are long and the vocabulary complex.
The big danger in first person point-of-view is that the author can fall into the trap of telling rather than showing, and sadly, Transgressions is an example of how easily that can happen. We get Wamzut's mental processes, but not nearly enough of his sensations and emotions. Wamzut's constant thinking sometimes makes for tedious reading. Much of the time, he is describing the action rather than living it, so we don't have the kind of immersion experience that makes the tension sizzle. This might be in character, but it is of little help to the reader, because we don't get much of a picture of his world. Nor do we see enough of the kind of problems that one must surely experience when one suddenly finds oneself in a body created for a member of the other sex! He also gets into long descriptions of how his magic works, when what's needed is more skillful showing.
There is not as much dialogue as I would have liked, either. Although we do get delightful cameos of minor characters, they disappear all too soon, and we find ourselves back in Wamzut's head. This means that there is little input to give us breaks from Wamzut's ponderousness.
This seems to be planned as a series in which the over-arching plot is the important thing. Little is resolved by the end of Transgressions, and some readers may feel cheated, as this is quite out of line with current practice. Most readers expect each book of a series to contain a plot that is self-contained and self-sufficient, so that s/he feels at least partially satisfied. This is especially important when further books in the series are not yet available.
Nevertheless, if you like a complicated adventure story, give Wamzut a chance to strut his stuff on your inner stage. Supply your own scenery and emotional input and you will enjoy the show for the variety and originality of the situations and characters, and, no doubt, look forward to further episodes.
This is a highly imaginative novel, dealing with Wamzut's situation in a creative and original way. The story is almost episodic in style, so that we are dragged along from adventure to misadventure to love scene to squabble to fight - in short, there is always something going on and the reader needs to have alert wits to keep up with the convoluted plot. Towards the end we have a veritable helter-skelter ride of events.
Written in the first person, Transgressions is not always an easy read. Berrie has, quite deliberately, I assume, given us the writing style of an elderly academic, a man who takes himself and his position as a mage very seriously - as well he should, for Wamzut is in danger from go to whoa. However, this means that there is little variation in style over the course of the book. Even in passages that should be fraught with tension, the sentences are long and the vocabulary complex.
The big danger in first person point-of-view is that the author can fall into the trap of telling rather than showing, and sadly, Transgressions is an example of how easily that can happen. We get Wamzut's mental processes, but not nearly enough of his sensations and emotions. Wamzut's constant thinking sometimes makes for tedious reading. Much of the time, he is describing the action rather than living it, so we don't have the kind of immersion experience that makes the tension sizzle. This might be in character, but it is of little help to the reader, because we don't get much of a picture of his world. Nor do we see enough of the kind of problems that one must surely experience when one suddenly finds oneself in a body created for a member of the other sex! He also gets into long descriptions of how his magic works, when what's needed is more skillful showing.
There is not as much dialogue as I would have liked, either. Although we do get delightful cameos of minor characters, they disappear all too soon, and we find ourselves back in Wamzut's head. This means that there is little input to give us breaks from Wamzut's ponderousness.
This seems to be planned as a series in which the over-arching plot is the important thing. Little is resolved by the end of Transgressions, and some readers may feel cheated, as this is quite out of line with current practice. Most readers expect each book of a series to contain a plot that is self-contained and self-sufficient, so that s/he feels at least partially satisfied. This is especially important when further books in the series are not yet available.
Nevertheless, if you like a complicated adventure story, give Wamzut a chance to strut his stuff on your inner stage. Supply your own scenery and emotional input and you will enjoy the show for the variety and originality of the situations and characters, and, no doubt, look forward to further episodes.
December 2, 2016
The middle of this book was great. Once the wizard becomes a little more comfortable in his new skin and we start to know the characters a little better, we become a bit more invested. Once we figure out the sort of world we're in, we find that it's a pretty magical and fascinating place. The story telling is smooth and you can easily just get lost in what you're reading.
The beginning and ending felt pretty mis-jointed, however. Dropping into a new world is usually pretty difficult. Dropping into this world was unusually difficult. We find ourselves facing the same confusion and displacement that our wizard is feeling, and at the same time we're trying to figure out the characters and the world. Not only that, but it feels like we're set down in the middle of a war zone in the beginning. I'm all for some action in the beginning to get you interested, but this was a little more than necessary and added some confusion that made it more difficult to get into the story.
As for the ending, I was pretty confused. I understand this is the first book in a series and that more will be explained as the series continues. You MUST read the epilogue in order to have any idea what's going on.
At the end of the story, we have a few short stories that give you more insight into the characters. Though I didn't read them first, it might have been helpful if I had. Also, there's a glossary of terms in the back of the book that I wish I'd have read first as well. I found both of these things once I'd finished the story, but I really feel like both of them would have helped with world creation and character setting and my confusion wouldn't have lasted as long. This is also one of those rare cases where reading the blurb on the back of the book is helpful.
If you do a bit of prep work, this is actually a pretty good story. I think now that I'm past the confusing setting stage, I would like to know more. My favorite character has gone missing and I know that I definitely want more information there.
The beginning and ending felt pretty mis-jointed, however. Dropping into a new world is usually pretty difficult. Dropping into this world was unusually difficult. We find ourselves facing the same confusion and displacement that our wizard is feeling, and at the same time we're trying to figure out the characters and the world. Not only that, but it feels like we're set down in the middle of a war zone in the beginning. I'm all for some action in the beginning to get you interested, but this was a little more than necessary and added some confusion that made it more difficult to get into the story.
As for the ending, I was pretty confused. I understand this is the first book in a series and that more will be explained as the series continues. You MUST read the epilogue in order to have any idea what's going on.
At the end of the story, we have a few short stories that give you more insight into the characters. Though I didn't read them first, it might have been helpful if I had. Also, there's a glossary of terms in the back of the book that I wish I'd have read first as well. I found both of these things once I'd finished the story, but I really feel like both of them would have helped with world creation and character setting and my confusion wouldn't have lasted as long. This is also one of those rare cases where reading the blurb on the back of the book is helpful.
If you do a bit of prep work, this is actually a pretty good story. I think now that I'm past the confusing setting stage, I would like to know more. My favorite character has gone missing and I know that I definitely want more information there.
March 1, 2014
This is great fantasy. The environment that this book is set in has many, many layers. So much so that the author could continue to write sequels until he had outdone the prolific JK Rowling's 'Harry Potter' series.
The hero is a dead wizard (male, of course), that chanced upon a lovely female elf warrior's still-alive body, that had had its soul 'eaten' by a soul eating monster. With the help of his lovely assistant, he begins the process of attaching to and getting used to this female body, simultaneously solving the mystery of the soul eating monster - before it gets his soul and the souls of those he cares for.
I really like it when authors provide reasonable, believable explanations for the workings of fantasy. The author pull this off nicely, providing just enough detail to allow the reader accept things, and then move along with the action. There's even a bonus short story at the end of the book for those who, line me, want to enjoy some more of that world.
My only complaint is that I have discovered this author too early. I would rather have discovered him later - when all of these sequels had been written!
The hero is a dead wizard (male, of course), that chanced upon a lovely female elf warrior's still-alive body, that had had its soul 'eaten' by a soul eating monster. With the help of his lovely assistant, he begins the process of attaching to and getting used to this female body, simultaneously solving the mystery of the soul eating monster - before it gets his soul and the souls of those he cares for.
I really like it when authors provide reasonable, believable explanations for the workings of fantasy. The author pull this off nicely, providing just enough detail to allow the reader accept things, and then move along with the action. There's even a bonus short story at the end of the book for those who, line me, want to enjoy some more of that world.
My only complaint is that I have discovered this author too early. I would rather have discovered him later - when all of these sequels had been written!
September 25, 2017
Transgressions by Phillip Berrie built a wonderful world and drew me in. There’s magic(k), but I believed it. The main character is complex, and flawed, and deep. Indeed, all the characters felt real, as if their histories extended well beyond the pages of this book. The story is rich and textured and disturbing, and it drew me along. The pacing sped up towards the end and I wanted more. There’s lots to like, but I particularly enjoyed a very one-sided conversation, and a god in a strange court.
May 16, 2017
one of the best gender swap books I have read in a very long time. can't wait for the next book in this series
May 28, 2024
A talented old wizard has a bookful of bad luck and much interaction with evil beings. Borrowed unlimited Kindle. Read Kindle book using Alexa audio asset.
September 29, 2016
I was interested to read this novel after enjoying some of Phillip Berrie's other work. The gender-swapping main character, Wamzut, is written sympathetically, and the secondary characters are also well-fleshed out and multi-dimensional.
The worldbuilding is very thorough and vivid, and I was impressed by the author's well-thought out magic system. I particularly enjoyed the action scenes, where Wamzut's abilities as a wizard shone, all as he learnt the capabilities - and limitations - of his new body. The twist at the end definitely left me wanting to read on.
All in all, a very enjoyable read, and I look forward to reading Transitions, the second instalment of this trilogy, when it's published.
The worldbuilding is very thorough and vivid, and I was impressed by the author's well-thought out magic system. I particularly enjoyed the action scenes, where Wamzut's abilities as a wizard shone, all as he learnt the capabilities - and limitations - of his new body. The twist at the end definitely left me wanting to read on.
All in all, a very enjoyable read, and I look forward to reading Transitions, the second instalment of this trilogy, when it's published.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews