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Paranoid Mage #5
Sovereign Mage
The portal to the Night Lands is closed, and vampires are barred from Earth, but at a high cost. Not only does Callum have to deal with the fallout of the vampire race’s final spasms, but the political consequences of demonstrating his ability and willingness to attack portal worlds directly. The forces that were moving to control a weakened GAR have come out into the open, and Callum has to deal with stakes much higher than his personal freedom.
It's time to join with his allies and move to open conflict. Even the secret of supernatural presence on Earth is at play, and the Archmage’s Council and the Seven Lesser Courts threaten the very concept of human sovereignty. Everything comes down to removing the would-be tyrants, and so preserving the Earth as it should be.
It's time to join with his allies and move to open conflict. Even the secret of supernatural presence on Earth is at play, and the Archmage’s Council and the Seven Lesser Courts threaten the very concept of human sovereignty. Everything comes down to removing the would-be tyrants, and so preserving the Earth as it should be.
340 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 30, 2023
119 people are currently reading
92 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
July 6, 2023
This was a satisfying conclusion to the series and I'm really glad it ended. That might sound strange to some people, but I am always happy to see a story accomplish what it came to do and then make a polite exit without overstaying its welcome.
All too often, I see a series hang around long past the point of accomplishing anything new. It reminds me of a sad and broken-down fighter who should have retired 5 fights ago but won't, since they're addicted to the sound of the crowd. I also read a lot of gamelit, a genre that often has a mentality of quantity over quality, not just in word count but also in the number of volumes. But for me, I think 3-5 volumes is usually an ideal length for a series and this story did a great job of sticking the landing at a natural-feeling stopping point.
I enjoyed how grounded and consistent the magic was, and how wild and free-form the fae magic was by comparison. It's refreshing when I can tell an author spent a lot of time with the nuts and bolts of their magic system and made the world operate in a way that made sense.
I'm excited to see where the author goes with their next series and I might even be curious enough to check out their debut series. I usually find it interesting to follow an author's progression and what lessons they seem to have learned from each of their works.
All too often, I see a series hang around long past the point of accomplishing anything new. It reminds me of a sad and broken-down fighter who should have retired 5 fights ago but won't, since they're addicted to the sound of the crowd. I also read a lot of gamelit, a genre that often has a mentality of quantity over quality, not just in word count but also in the number of volumes. But for me, I think 3-5 volumes is usually an ideal length for a series and this story did a great job of sticking the landing at a natural-feeling stopping point.
I enjoyed how grounded and consistent the magic was, and how wild and free-form the fae magic was by comparison. It's refreshing when I can tell an author spent a lot of time with the nuts and bolts of their magic system and made the world operate in a way that made sense.
I'm excited to see where the author goes with their next series and I might even be curious enough to check out their debut series. I usually find it interesting to follow an author's progression and what lessons they seem to have learned from each of their works.
July 12, 2023
A bit of a soft landing of an ending, not much of a splash, just tying up most loose ends. The thrill of magic discovery and watching Callum progress was the main interesting aspects of this story to me. After the first two or three books his learning waned and his ability to think up new and clever uses for magic happened less. So tying up the story without any big battles/life or death fights for Callum worked story wise but also didn't create the same connection and draw the first two books did.
Overall a good series to read or listen to but it won't be as memorable or recommended as others.
Overall a good series to read or listen to but it won't be as memorable or recommended as others.
July 4, 2023
As an end to the series, this book did a great job. Despite the extreme fantasy elements it managed to remain believable. Callum seemed even more relatable as he figuratively embraced family and friends.
I think the author managed to create something truly original here. I was particularly taken with the Fae and their route to power via the stories they decided to live. It was almost like some of Seanan McGuire's writing but more clearly spelled out. Marvelous!
I think the author managed to create something truly original here. I was particularly taken with the Fae and their route to power via the stories they decided to live. It was almost like some of Seanan McGuire's writing but more clearly spelled out. Marvelous!
July 12, 2023
Kind of a fizzle. a happy but dull ending
I used to absolutely LOVE those old sci-fi stories that had big ideas in them. They would have paper thin characters, klunky plots, and cringe inducing dialog. But that's not what the story was about. The story was just a delivery vehicle for a BIG IDEA. usually a new idea. Something so stupefying that you could think about it for years, and you would hardly notice that the story had major plot holes, was logically inconsistent, and actually didn't even have a real ending. It was about that new idea.
-This series doesn't have anything that profound, but there are several really tantalizing concepts in here that elevate what would be a mediocre series.
Number one is Faerie magic. Wow! I haven't real an idea so original outside of a Tim Powers book. There were a few other interesting things, some of them I think the author achieved by accident.
But other than that I feel like this series just ran out of gas and Inadvisably Compelled had the very good sense to wrap it up.
So nice to have a definitive conclusion in a world of incomplete series where the author tried to leave it open for the next book that never got finished.
I used to absolutely LOVE those old sci-fi stories that had big ideas in them. They would have paper thin characters, klunky plots, and cringe inducing dialog. But that's not what the story was about. The story was just a delivery vehicle for a BIG IDEA. usually a new idea. Something so stupefying that you could think about it for years, and you would hardly notice that the story had major plot holes, was logically inconsistent, and actually didn't even have a real ending. It was about that new idea.
-This series doesn't have anything that profound, but there are several really tantalizing concepts in here that elevate what would be a mediocre series.
Number one is Faerie magic. Wow! I haven't real an idea so original outside of a Tim Powers book. There were a few other interesting things, some of them I think the author achieved by accident.
But other than that I feel like this series just ran out of gas and Inadvisably Compelled had the very good sense to wrap it up.
So nice to have a definitive conclusion in a world of incomplete series where the author tried to leave it open for the next book that never got finished.
July 16, 2023
I really want this story to continue. Especially about the kids.
July 12, 2023
So I did like this series yes. It was good and fun.
However!
I think the Author sort of probably without intention made the opposite story in which they were trying to tell. This was the MC story of standing up to the corrupt overlord government and setting people free to make it safer for mundanes. All that other jazz too.
Nice, but....The author by the end of this book sort of made it so GAR and Duvall had a point. Sure the vampires had to go and there was corruption. However [again], Some of what they did was needed. Yes the MC was a good guy and so was Gale. So we don't think about it but, what if they weren't. What if the MC had been a serial killer or anarchist or Gale. Imagine what someone with Goo could do in a city, kill the whole thing just with walking through it? How about the MC portal box planet cracker.
With more portals to earth and more mages being born, without GAR to register each mage affinity and train them, any random criminal or bad guy can learn those powers and others. With them having a portal world to run to now, whats to stop them from destroying earth as a whole? I can see why Duvall said what he was doing was forbidden because it only takes one space mage to destroy worlds and portal realms. Hell just to open a portal to a horror world and leave it open. I can see why she is scared. The MC is good but that is with 6 portals and mage houses and GAR controlling them. What happens when a mortal in the Middle East and part of ISIS or something gets space or healing or something else power and sets it against the world to be reborn for his sacrifice?
Space mages were rare compared to how many mages but with more mortals imagine how rare they'd be with say even 1 billion mages. Out of 1 billion mages with no GAR to register and train them and see the problem makers, have forbidden magics. Well someone is going to turn out bad and spoil it.
So sadly, as much as I liked the series and story. By the end for the safety of the world and portal worlds, honestly it would been better if the MC hadn't learned what he did, he'd gotten trained and mages were still all registered and monitored. The servitude of GAR was bad but a draft to have him trained in how to use his magic and made sure he wasn't a danger or any mage was reasonable. It's the only way to keep a rogue mage from destroying the world. Which at the start seemed silly but by the end of the series, seeing what a mage could do. That was far less silly.
It's just healing and Space mages, so rare you say? Okay what happens when a water mage learns to split water molecules? Sure due to blast size most likely that will be the end of that mage but still only takes one experiment then boom hydrogen bomb. Earth Mage sets off Yellow stone. Ect Ect..
However!
I think the Author sort of probably without intention made the opposite story in which they were trying to tell. This was the MC story of standing up to the corrupt overlord government and setting people free to make it safer for mundanes. All that other jazz too.
Nice, but....The author by the end of this book sort of made it so GAR and Duvall had a point. Sure the vampires had to go and there was corruption. However [again], Some of what they did was needed. Yes the MC was a good guy and so was Gale. So we don't think about it but, what if they weren't. What if the MC had been a serial killer or anarchist or Gale. Imagine what someone with Goo could do in a city, kill the whole thing just with walking through it? How about the MC portal box planet cracker.
With more portals to earth and more mages being born, without GAR to register each mage affinity and train them, any random criminal or bad guy can learn those powers and others. With them having a portal world to run to now, whats to stop them from destroying earth as a whole? I can see why Duvall said what he was doing was forbidden because it only takes one space mage to destroy worlds and portal realms. Hell just to open a portal to a horror world and leave it open. I can see why she is scared. The MC is good but that is with 6 portals and mage houses and GAR controlling them. What happens when a mortal in the Middle East and part of ISIS or something gets space or healing or something else power and sets it against the world to be reborn for his sacrifice?
Space mages were rare compared to how many mages but with more mortals imagine how rare they'd be with say even 1 billion mages. Out of 1 billion mages with no GAR to register and train them and see the problem makers, have forbidden magics. Well someone is going to turn out bad and spoil it.
So sadly, as much as I liked the series and story. By the end for the safety of the world and portal worlds, honestly it would been better if the MC hadn't learned what he did, he'd gotten trained and mages were still all registered and monitored. The servitude of GAR was bad but a draft to have him trained in how to use his magic and made sure he wasn't a danger or any mage was reasonable. It's the only way to keep a rogue mage from destroying the world. Which at the start seemed silly but by the end of the series, seeing what a mage could do. That was far less silly.
It's just healing and Space mages, so rare you say? Okay what happens when a water mage learns to split water molecules? Sure due to blast size most likely that will be the end of that mage but still only takes one experiment then boom hydrogen bomb. Earth Mage sets off Yellow stone. Ect Ect..
December 25, 2025
I read all 5 of the books of this series one after the other on Royal Road before the physical versions arrived. Unfortunately that means I cant separate out my thoughts on the individual books but overall its still really good.
It starts with a non-typical urban fantasy protagonist who takes one look at the secrets of the magical world and decides he wants nothing to do with the multi generational authoritarian nonsense it represents. The main character has a single rare type of magic that he gets to abuse with modern physics against the magical group thats largely locked into the 1800's to become a real menace, and there is a lot of the early story that is the established mages relentlessly hunting him down.
Eventually he manages to establish a safe operating base at which point the tone changes a bit, it doesnt get worse with the shift in a rare example of the type, but it is very different once the main character can stop running and starts being able to kill.. pretty much anyone he needs to at ranges that can not be contested.
At this point a side story thats been running since the start comes a bit more into the spotlight, where a more standard group of urban fantasy protagonists get to start working in the chaos the actual main character created and really? its just fun, with fairly consistent worldbuilding and a soft magic system that still makes sense in the lore of the world.
It might not be worth paying for the physical version, but for a story thats still fully free on RR its a great way to kill a few days reading.
It starts with a non-typical urban fantasy protagonist who takes one look at the secrets of the magical world and decides he wants nothing to do with the multi generational authoritarian nonsense it represents. The main character has a single rare type of magic that he gets to abuse with modern physics against the magical group thats largely locked into the 1800's to become a real menace, and there is a lot of the early story that is the established mages relentlessly hunting him down.
Eventually he manages to establish a safe operating base at which point the tone changes a bit, it doesnt get worse with the shift in a rare example of the type, but it is very different once the main character can stop running and starts being able to kill.. pretty much anyone he needs to at ranges that can not be contested.
At this point a side story thats been running since the start comes a bit more into the spotlight, where a more standard group of urban fantasy protagonists get to start working in the chaos the actual main character created and really? its just fun, with fairly consistent worldbuilding and a soft magic system that still makes sense in the lore of the world.
It might not be worth paying for the physical version, but for a story thats still fully free on RR its a great way to kill a few days reading.
June 25, 2024
Wowowow what an ending! Honestly this whole series has just been so fun and different than most things I've read--it's been a pleasure to read. I loved Callum's approach to his magic, it was very relatable to how I would react. I will admit that there were places that I stalled now and again, but this last book was a lot harder to put down than the others. Also the ending was so great! I enjoyed how everything resolved so nicely--I was getting a bit worried. It felt a tiny bit anticlimactic after some of the big plot points in the other books, but I guess that just demonstrates how OP Callum and his allies have gotten. (Also, I adored how Felicia and Ray became like a fae queen and king. Who knew that some random agents investigating a string of murders would become such big players. My favorite plot twist). I think I would have liked to see a little bit more romance between Callum and Lucy, but I get that that's not really the focus of the book. I also loved how they were just casually building their family amidst the chaos. I also love how his kids become sci-fi explorers/botanists. Part of me wants to keep reading about their adventures. Sigh. It was a good time. I'm glad the comments in the Webtoon version of this story pointed me to the real books, because they are so good! There is some swearing, and some violence, but that's about it content-wise.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 26, 2023
Overall a fantastic series, I'd argue the only weak book being the last one and even then it was still pretty good. A the end of the book, the author actually talks about some of the weaker points in the series and why they occured, which match a few of my own and I personally thought it showed a lot of interspection and is a good sign that this already great writer is only going to improve in any future series.
The conlusion to the series I though was suitably epic for a finale with some lovely flashes at the future, which I always like to see in a series as readers come to care about these characters and like to see their lives continue and flourish after the latest fiasco.
If there was any truely disapointing thing to the series, it was that we never got to see any direct interaction with our MC and Duval, shame we didnt get to see it but honestly not a big deal in the grand scheme.
I think I'm content to leave these characters to their conclusion, but I wouldnt mind seeing further tales in this universe perhaps in another time and place. I will also certainly attempt to keep an eye out for future series written by this author.
The conlusion to the series I though was suitably epic for a finale with some lovely flashes at the future, which I always like to see in a series as readers come to care about these characters and like to see their lives continue and flourish after the latest fiasco.
If there was any truely disapointing thing to the series, it was that we never got to see any direct interaction with our MC and Duval, shame we didnt get to see it but honestly not a big deal in the grand scheme.
I think I'm content to leave these characters to their conclusion, but I wouldnt mind seeing further tales in this universe perhaps in another time and place. I will also certainly attempt to keep an eye out for future series written by this author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 12, 2025
The rating I would give this volume is 3⭐️, it was mostly tying-up loose ends and was kind of boring in some places. I finished it only to be done with the series. The innovative ways that Callum used to deal with problems that shined at the start stopped being relevant, no new ones were invented and half of the conflicts were resolved by other people instead of Callum as he just watched from the sidelines. It's repeated multiple times that this is the point but it still makes the reading experience a bit lacking.
Overall a pretty good series, it lost some of it's charm after the first two books but it was still an enjoyable read.
Overall a pretty good series, it lost some of it's charm after the first two books but it was still an enjoyable read.
July 1, 2023
Great Ending
I am sad to see the end to the adventures of The Ghost, but I am happy where it finished. From a mundane stumbling into a magical world to a bogeyman curtailing the excesses of magical power, he managed to stay true to his ideals.
Also, I appreciate the epilogue exploring both the slice-of-life aspects of his family as well as an exciting intervention into an assassination attempt. I look forward to the next series and hope others pick up this one in the future.
I am sad to see the end to the adventures of The Ghost, but I am happy where it finished. From a mundane stumbling into a magical world to a bogeyman curtailing the excesses of magical power, he managed to stay true to his ideals.
Also, I appreciate the epilogue exploring both the slice-of-life aspects of his family as well as an exciting intervention into an assassination attempt. I look forward to the next series and hope others pick up this one in the future.
April 20, 2024
3 stars. For the most part, I liked this series. But after a while, things seem a bit repetitious and there really wasn't much true drama/suspense or much emotional connection to the characters. In retrospect, I think the author could just as easily have told the overall story in 3 books and added more emotional content involving the primary characters.
Bottom line: I liked the series and am glad I read it, but it could have been better.
Bottom line: I liked the series and am glad I read it, but it could have been better.
July 27, 2024
I mentioned this in my first review, because you know, only the first book reviews really matter. I just wanted to say, I'm... disappointed, in myself for reading this far, or the author, I can't tell.
I figured out this was just a typical powerfantasy/self-insert after the first two books, so this shouldn't come as a surprise. But this series felt like it had a lot of potential. And this... ending, the whole road here. Real people just aren't that dumb. It's just not believeable.
I figured out this was just a typical powerfantasy/self-insert after the first two books, so this shouldn't come as a surprise. But this series felt like it had a lot of potential. And this... ending, the whole road here. Real people just aren't that dumb. It's just not believeable.
September 12, 2025
That was a satisfying end to the series. It was dramatic and had some surprises, but felt like a natural growth for the characters. And the politics were very realistic (which is often a missing element in immature writers). I really enjoyed this story. Well written on all levels.
If you're into technical magic systems and complex political struggles (with lots of battle and some clean romance) then I recommend this series.
If you're into technical magic systems and complex political struggles (with lots of battle and some clean romance) then I recommend this series.
July 12, 2023
Excellent Completed Series
This story of a guy who finds out he’s a mage at thirty and is supposed to serve the magical society for decades says hell no and runs away was fantastic. He learns on his own and rightfully takes out the monsters preying on regular humans while running from the magic police. Great Read
This story of a guy who finds out he’s a mage at thirty and is supposed to serve the magical society for decades says hell no and runs away was fantastic. He learns on his own and rightfully takes out the monsters preying on regular humans while running from the magic police. Great Read
October 18, 2023
I'm still enjoying the series, but it has gone far past what I thought would happen. Never expected "the ghost" to put himself out like that.
Wow. It seems it's the end of the series. Really didn't expect it to go this way.
I hope the author has more enjoyable stories to tell us.
3/5 Stars
Wow. It seems it's the end of the series. Really didn't expect it to go this way.
I hope the author has more enjoyable stories to tell us.
3/5 Stars
October 24, 2023
A good ending for a series that will be missed.
Most of the loose ends were tied up by the end. There is some small room for another story or a spin-off story that takes place in the same universe.
The only thing that upset me about this being the end is that we never learned who Callum’s father is/was and why he has the abnormalities that he does.
Most of the loose ends were tied up by the end. There is some small room for another story or a spin-off story that takes place in the same universe.
The only thing that upset me about this being the end is that we never learned who Callum’s father is/was and why he has the abnormalities that he does.
July 1, 2023
solving paranoia
You don’t have to worry about people being out to get you when you scare *everybody*.
A bit slow as it seeks to wrap up all the threads. Satisfying, though.
I wonder what Mr Compelled Will write next? Worth pre-ordering.
You don’t have to worry about people being out to get you when you scare *everybody*.
A bit slow as it seeks to wrap up all the threads. Satisfying, though.
I wonder what Mr Compelled Will write next? Worth pre-ordering.
July 3, 2023
a remarkable series
Story telling at its best. I can absolutely see this series made into a movie. The hero is relatable and the magic rules are well laid out. There is both action and dialogue and I highly recommend the series to anyone who enjoys the genre.
Story telling at its best. I can absolutely see this series made into a movie. The hero is relatable and the magic rules are well laid out. There is both action and dialogue and I highly recommend the series to anyone who enjoys the genre.
July 17, 2023
Favorite book in the series
I loved this book most of all out of the series. A very satisfying conclusion. Loved the epilog. If you made it this far, you're going to enjoy it for sure.
I loved this book most of all out of the series. A very satisfying conclusion. Loved the epilog. If you made it this far, you're going to enjoy it for sure.
July 28, 2023
Great end to a great Series! It Wrapped up nicely. Nice epilogue too! And the author notes that if they use this world again it'll be placed far in the future to not be tripping up on this books contents. What a welcome thing to hear! I had great joy reading this series. Many thanks to the author.
August 7, 2023
Perfect
Just... just the best final book it could possibly be. Absolutely wraps up the story and does it so well. Less action than other books of the series but that's to be expected with a conclusion. I eagerly await the author's next creation.
Just... just the best final book it could possibly be. Absolutely wraps up the story and does it so well. Less action than other books of the series but that's to be expected with a conclusion. I eagerly await the author's next creation.
August 9, 2023
The happy ending was satisfying. What a fun series! The audiobook narrator does a stellar job, too.
One unanswered question that I wanted to see an answer to: If you know, please tell me.
One unanswered question that I wanted to see an answer to: If you know, please tell me.
September 23, 2023
Well written series with a magical system that the MC learns. I do not give stars easily. I can be a tough critic. I would give it 4 1/2 stars there are some areas that I would change but overall its a nice read.
May 22, 2024
A good ending, if I have something to complain is that after the time skip I expected to be shown some of Callum advancement as a mage and if he is finally operating at the level of a true Archmage.
September 22, 2024
A wonderful series
I loved reading through this series! I'd honestly recommend it for those who like adventure books and fantasy, without a lot of the olde English. I'll be looking into more works from this author.
I loved reading through this series! I'd honestly recommend it for those who like adventure books and fantasy, without a lot of the olde English. I'll be looking into more works from this author.
July 7, 2023
A great conclusion
Rating: 5/5
Cover: 3/5
Narration: 4/5 (weird woman voice)
Favorite line: NA.
Rating: 5/5
Cover: 3/5
Narration: 4/5 (weird woman voice)
Favorite line: NA.
July 8, 2023
Great Read
Like the entire series. Recommend it. Like the cliff hanger. Will re-read in the future to. X X X X.
Like the entire series. Recommend it. Like the cliff hanger. Will re-read in the future to. X X X X.
July 8, 2023
very satisfying
Well done and greatly enjoyed. Wasn’t sure how the reveal would be resolved Found it interesting and enjoyable Great work
Well done and greatly enjoyed. Wasn’t sure how the reveal would be resolved Found it interesting and enjoyable Great work
July 15, 2023
Wow!
Final book - incredibly well done and satisfying end for the saga of Ghost. Fun read, with lots of action.
Final book - incredibly well done and satisfying end for the saga of Ghost. Fun read, with lots of action.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews