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Seals of the Duelists #1
Rebel Elements
Bayan's struggles to hide his emerging elemental magic from his family fail spectacularly in front of a visiting imperial eunuch named Philo, and he realizes that there is a worse fate than becoming a mountain-dwelling Skycaller: the empire will claim him as a Duelist.
Before Philo can deliver Bayan to the Duelist Academy for training, bandits ambush their retinue and leave behind a mysterious trinket. While Philo tracks down its true importance through ancient archives and noble manors, Bayan struggles to fit in at the Academy, where his anger at his situation gets him into as much trouble as his outlander appearance. Worse, his rage poisons his magic, making him a threat to his hexmates.
Bayan's dreams of escape begin to fade as he forms bonds of friendship. But when an assassin strikes close to home, a chain of events is set in motion, leading Bayan and Philo to uncover a deadly plot that could change the world as they know it. Bayan's fate stands at a crossroads: one path leads to the destruction of all he has come to know, and the other to his own.
Before Philo can deliver Bayan to the Duelist Academy for training, bandits ambush their retinue and leave behind a mysterious trinket. While Philo tracks down its true importance through ancient archives and noble manors, Bayan struggles to fit in at the Academy, where his anger at his situation gets him into as much trouble as his outlander appearance. Worse, his rage poisons his magic, making him a threat to his hexmates.
Bayan's dreams of escape begin to fade as he forms bonds of friendship. But when an assassin strikes close to home, a chain of events is set in motion, leading Bayan and Philo to uncover a deadly plot that could change the world as they know it. Bayan's fate stands at a crossroads: one path leads to the destruction of all he has come to know, and the other to his own.
- GenresFantasyMagicYoung Adult
325 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2013
19 people are currently reading
461 people want to read
About the author
Jasmine Giacomo
18 books26 followersJasmine Giacomo writes from Washington State, where she lives with her husband, two children, and a Bichon Frisé named Eddie. She graduated last millennium with a B.A. in English Literature from a college built atop a volcano.
Though she's been writing since the age of four, she also enjoys geocaching, history, natural science and games, and holds a black belt in Danzan Ryu Jujitsu. She particularly enjoys reading and writing fight scenes.
Her current writing project is PRODIGAL STEELWIELDER, book three in the SEALS OF THE DUELISTS series.
Though she's been writing since the age of four, she also enjoys geocaching, history, natural science and games, and holds a black belt in Danzan Ryu Jujitsu. She particularly enjoys reading and writing fight scenes.
Her current writing project is PRODIGAL STEELWIELDER, book three in the SEALS OF THE DUELISTS series.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
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March 12, 2017Was not able to finish. Weird jumps of POV. Good idea just not able to get into the story.
July 16, 2013
Jasmine Giacomo has envisaged a fantasy world that brings together diverse nations, with a rich history and a clever magic system that immediately put me in mind of the physical rituals demonstrated in the wonderful Avatar, the Last Airbender cartoon series. Giacomo uses her background in martial arts to combine hand-to-hand combat, with energy focusing katas that manifest themselves as elemental effects and summonings.
Rebel Elements opens in a wonderfully South-Asian setting of rice-paddies and agriculture. The settings are evoked so beautifully that they immediately become realised in the minds eye. This is also one of the issues of the book, in that the author at times forgets to describe sounds and smells, leaning more towards visually rich descriptions, almost like it is being presented through a fixed camera angle, so much so that occasionally details are missed out that the writer seems to take for granted.
The lead character, Bayan, is sympathetically introduced to us immediately through his affliction; a burgeoning power that will make him a pariah within his community. An outburst of magic soon lands him in the clutches of the Empire and he is shipped off to a special academy dedicated to training duelists (warlocks). The rest of the novel then proceeds with Bayan struggling to fit in, to come to terms with his role within the Empire that he has hated his whole life and learning the art of the Duelist.
The middle section of this book resonates strongly with the Harry Potter books, with the dynamic of Bayan being a fish-out-of-water and his supporting cast of characters. But once you get past this similarity you find a book with interesting settings and good character development. This is an interesting read and with time and experience, Jasmine Giacomo will surely become an excellent writer.
Rebel Elements opens in a wonderfully South-Asian setting of rice-paddies and agriculture. The settings are evoked so beautifully that they immediately become realised in the minds eye. This is also one of the issues of the book, in that the author at times forgets to describe sounds and smells, leaning more towards visually rich descriptions, almost like it is being presented through a fixed camera angle, so much so that occasionally details are missed out that the writer seems to take for granted.
The lead character, Bayan, is sympathetically introduced to us immediately through his affliction; a burgeoning power that will make him a pariah within his community. An outburst of magic soon lands him in the clutches of the Empire and he is shipped off to a special academy dedicated to training duelists (warlocks). The rest of the novel then proceeds with Bayan struggling to fit in, to come to terms with his role within the Empire that he has hated his whole life and learning the art of the Duelist.
The middle section of this book resonates strongly with the Harry Potter books, with the dynamic of Bayan being a fish-out-of-water and his supporting cast of characters. But once you get past this similarity you find a book with interesting settings and good character development. This is an interesting read and with time and experience, Jasmine Giacomo will surely become an excellent writer.
April 26, 2013
Bayan lives in a remote part of the world, his country of Balanganam having been only recently added to the ever growing Empire. When a surveyor comes to the Bayan’s city of Pangusay, all Bayan wants is for the surveyor to move on before he discovers that Bayan is hiding his emerging magic. Bayan has his life planned out and it doesn’t include being a Skycaller. Unfortunately, when he meets the surveyor, a eunuch named Philo, his magic runs wild creating a huge crater. Oops. However, Philo says that Bayan is not a Skycaller and that under the laws of the Empire he will be required to go to the Duelist Academy where he will be indentured to the Empire for the rest of his life. Need I say that Bayan is not pleased with this plan? But to the Duelist Academy he goes where he is poles apart in so many ways to the other duelists and his magic appears different than anyone else’s. Life just isn’t going as planned for Bayan. Will he ever fit in?
This is an excellent epic fantasy with several storylines coming together in a richly woven tapestry. The writing is smooth, the plot interesting and fast-flowing, the world varied and fascinating and the characters have depth and are well-developed. I was compelled to keep turning the pages to see what would happen next. I look forward to the next book in the series. In the meantime, I’m going to let my twelve-year-old read this and tell me what he thinks. He loves books with characters that use magic and he reads so much that I’m running out of recommendations for him.
*Book source ~ Many thanks to Red Adept for providing me with a review copy. Please see disclaimer page on my blog.
This is an excellent epic fantasy with several storylines coming together in a richly woven tapestry. The writing is smooth, the plot interesting and fast-flowing, the world varied and fascinating and the characters have depth and are well-developed. I was compelled to keep turning the pages to see what would happen next. I look forward to the next book in the series. In the meantime, I’m going to let my twelve-year-old read this and tell me what he thinks. He loves books with characters that use magic and he reads so much that I’m running out of recommendations for him.
*Book source ~ Many thanks to Red Adept for providing me with a review copy. Please see disclaimer page on my blog.
December 28, 2013
The story follows a fantasy trope. The protagonist, Bayan, is a young man from a small village who discovers he has magical powers. He doesn't want them, but the law says he must go to a magic academy and serve his empire. He does so and needs to master his anger issues before he can control his magic…
The "bad guy" has a simple, uninspired motive which is to get revenge on the people who cut his balls off. It's also very bluntly stated… "Now, the Waarden would pay. Pay for his father’s death. Pay for his own castration, and pay most dearly for making his sister’s life a cold and miserable hell." That's very similar to a story I started writing when I was a teenager.
Overall, I felt underwhelmed by the tell vs. show approach and the formulaic plot. It wasn't actually bad, however, it's just another story among hundreds without too much to set it apart. I'd probably give it 2.5 stars if that was an option...
Note - in full disclosure I'm also reading the Malazan series at the same time (written by Steven Erikson) which is an incredibly complex and nuanced series (not at all young adult). So, my opinion of Rebel Elements may be negatively impacted due to some unintentional comparisons.
The "bad guy" has a simple, uninspired motive which is to get revenge on the people who cut his balls off. It's also very bluntly stated… "Now, the Waarden would pay. Pay for his father’s death. Pay for his own castration, and pay most dearly for making his sister’s life a cold and miserable hell." That's very similar to a story I started writing when I was a teenager.
Overall, I felt underwhelmed by the tell vs. show approach and the formulaic plot. It wasn't actually bad, however, it's just another story among hundreds without too much to set it apart. I'd probably give it 2.5 stars if that was an option...
Note - in full disclosure I'm also reading the Malazan series at the same time (written by Steven Erikson) which is an incredibly complex and nuanced series (not at all young adult). So, my opinion of Rebel Elements may be negatively impacted due to some unintentional comparisons.
August 8, 2013
I finished this book just now in case any one reading this is wondering if this book is worth your time. I enjoyed it a great deal and it's one of those cases where after finishing it, I was very disappointed not to have the next in the series to read immediately. In some respects it's a familiar story of a young man who has to leave home and undergo training after finding out he has abilities most do not. But it's original, fresh and well written. The characters all seem well developed and three dimensional. The main character Bayan isn't perfect but is likable and grows to become a kick ass hero.
I enjoyed the system of magic here which involves a lot of physical training, so no soft mages in robes here. I hate writers who don't have some sort of organizing system to the magic of their worlds and especially where casting magic doesn't seem to involve any effort or cost to the mage. Jasmine Giacomo created a system where there are rules and limitations as well as physical cost to her magic which to me makes for a much, much more enjoyable read.
The only complaint I have is that the rest of the series isn't available right now.
I enjoyed the system of magic here which involves a lot of physical training, so no soft mages in robes here. I hate writers who don't have some sort of organizing system to the magic of their worlds and especially where casting magic doesn't seem to involve any effort or cost to the mage. Jasmine Giacomo created a system where there are rules and limitations as well as physical cost to her magic which to me makes for a much, much more enjoyable read.
The only complaint I have is that the rest of the series isn't available right now.
September 25, 2013
*I received a copy of this book for an honest review*
I am still in the process of reading this book but after the first chapter I was hooked. So far the story is brilliant! The author really knows how to capture you in the telling of this story! When I finish I hope to be able to buy it in a hard copy instead of just ebook on my kindle.
*will update my review when I am 100% done with the book.*
I am still in the process of reading this book but after the first chapter I was hooked. So far the story is brilliant! The author really knows how to capture you in the telling of this story! When I finish I hope to be able to buy it in a hard copy instead of just ebook on my kindle.
*will update my review when I am 100% done with the book.*
January 10, 2015
Enjoyed the unique magic system.
In summary this book would be a decent first draft.
The plot was weak. The perspective jumped to seemingly random characters. Non substantial info was brought in and then discarded, used only for a single chapter. This did not have the elements of a finished, polished book.
In summary this book would be a decent first draft.
The plot was weak. The perspective jumped to seemingly random characters. Non substantial info was brought in and then discarded, used only for a single chapter. This did not have the elements of a finished, polished book.
December 7, 2013
I always searching a new magic system. this is somewhat refreshing. its has eastern culture taste in the magic. my only problem is the character name, so hard to spell and remember.
August 17, 2016
A banal story with nothing separating it from the thousand similar novels, the only thing i enjoyed was the well thought magic system. The mechanical writing style ruined my reading experience.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews