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A Wizard's Life #1
Apprentice
What would it be like to be a wizard's apprentice?
When a wizard visits Benen's village and chooses him for his apprentice, the boy's life is irrevocably changed. Unfortunately for Benen, his master is far from nice and often cruel. His education becomes a trial he must survive.
This book, the first in a series of three, covers the first part of Benen's life as a wizard: his apprenticeship.
Word count: ~35,000.
Please also check out the author's other books, including: The Reluctant Messiah, An Unexpected Apocalypse, False Messiah, Seven Tribes: The Spear's Point
When a wizard visits Benen's village and chooses him for his apprentice, the boy's life is irrevocably changed. Unfortunately for Benen, his master is far from nice and often cruel. His education becomes a trial he must survive.
This book, the first in a series of three, covers the first part of Benen's life as a wizard: his apprenticeship.
Word count: ~35,000.
Please also check out the author's other books, including: The Reluctant Messiah, An Unexpected Apocalypse, False Messiah, Seven Tribes: The Spear's Point
Kindle Edition
First published June 8, 2013
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658 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
October 7, 2025
Reading A Wizard Is Life was an emotional and captivating experience. From the very beginning, I was drawn into Benen’s world a simple village boy whose life takes a dramatic turn when he’s chosen to become a wizard’s apprentice. What I love most about this story is how it doesn’t romanticize the journey. Instead, it shows the harsh reality of growth, discipline, and endurance.
Eric Guindon does a wonderful job painting vivid scenes and emotions. I could almost feel Benen’s hope at the start and later, his pain and confusion as his master’s cruelty shaped his understanding of magic and life. The writing is both heartfelt and raw, and I found myself reflecting on how every struggle in life can be a form of learning even when it hurts.
This isn’t just a fantasy story; it’s a coming of age tale wrapped in magic, hardship, and courage. Benen’s story reminded me that true strength often comes from surviving what was meant to break you.
I genuinely enjoyed every chapter and can’t wait to read the rest of the series. If you love stories that mix fantasy with deep emotional lessons, A Wizard Is Life is a book you won’t want to miss.
Eric Guindon does a wonderful job painting vivid scenes and emotions. I could almost feel Benen’s hope at the start and later, his pain and confusion as his master’s cruelty shaped his understanding of magic and life. The writing is both heartfelt and raw, and I found myself reflecting on how every struggle in life can be a form of learning even when it hurts.
This isn’t just a fantasy story; it’s a coming of age tale wrapped in magic, hardship, and courage. Benen’s story reminded me that true strength often comes from surviving what was meant to break you.
I genuinely enjoyed every chapter and can’t wait to read the rest of the series. If you love stories that mix fantasy with deep emotional lessons, A Wizard Is Life is a book you won’t want to miss.
July 31, 2013
Think you've got a tough life? Consider poor Benen: Unceremoniously stuffed into a dirt cellar by his abrupt but well-meaning older sister, the boy ends up endangered anyway when an 800-year-old wizard shows up to claim his due.
Benen is the only child of proper age in his village to satisfy the malevolent master magician's search for an apprentice. The boy is torn from everything and everyone he's ever known and imprisoned in a tower in the sky, where he's forced into slave labor under constant threat of punishment.
When he finally gets a chance to start learning the ways of wizardry, Benen finds himself subjected to even more physical and mental trials. But through the help of an unlikely ally, he begins to expand his knowledge, build his power and forge a plan to fight back.
Author Eric Guindon has crafted an inventive tale that looks to the heavens to explain the magician's craft. Benen's education is no Disney-esque sorcerer's fantasy, and his often cruel master is far from the benevolent, distinguished-looking Gandalf of J.R.R. Tolkien's and filmmaker Peter Jackson's prodigious imaginations.
But poor Benen's suffering isn't for naught, and Guindon leaves his readers curious to find out what else awaits the young wizard as he begins the next phase of what promises to be a very long, adventurous life.
Good thing for Benen fans that Guindon's sequel, "Journeyman," in the three-novella "A Wizard's Life" series is available now.
Benen is the only child of proper age in his village to satisfy the malevolent master magician's search for an apprentice. The boy is torn from everything and everyone he's ever known and imprisoned in a tower in the sky, where he's forced into slave labor under constant threat of punishment.
When he finally gets a chance to start learning the ways of wizardry, Benen finds himself subjected to even more physical and mental trials. But through the help of an unlikely ally, he begins to expand his knowledge, build his power and forge a plan to fight back.
Author Eric Guindon has crafted an inventive tale that looks to the heavens to explain the magician's craft. Benen's education is no Disney-esque sorcerer's fantasy, and his often cruel master is far from the benevolent, distinguished-looking Gandalf of J.R.R. Tolkien's and filmmaker Peter Jackson's prodigious imaginations.
But poor Benen's suffering isn't for naught, and Guindon leaves his readers curious to find out what else awaits the young wizard as he begins the next phase of what promises to be a very long, adventurous life.
Good thing for Benen fans that Guindon's sequel, "Journeyman," in the three-novella "A Wizard's Life" series is available now.
December 8, 2014
I picked this book because i was getting it for free and it was a short book :)
The concept of the book it very very simple
A wizard taking a small boy(Benen) as Apprentice.
He keeps benen in his tower and keeps him in isolation. treats him very bad and forces him to do stuff, punishes . Benen meets a rat who can talk and becomes frnds.
the rat and benen plan to kill the master and he story moves on ..
I kind of anticipated the climax and like the way it turned out.
The best things about this book are
1) very simple story
2) fast paced book with good narrative
3) language is very easy and pleasing to read
4) short book with very less boring parts.
5) good climax
I will give this a 4/5
Devil D
The concept of the book it very very simple
A wizard taking a small boy(Benen) as Apprentice.
He keeps benen in his tower and keeps him in isolation. treats him very bad and forces him to do stuff, punishes . Benen meets a rat who can talk and becomes frnds.
the rat and benen plan to kill the master and he story moves on ..
I kind of anticipated the climax and like the way it turned out.
The best things about this book are
1) very simple story
2) fast paced book with good narrative
3) language is very easy and pleasing to read
4) short book with very less boring parts.
5) good climax
I will give this a 4/5
Devil D
July 2, 2016
Sloppy, but intriguing
The book was sloppy at the beginning--okay, the whole way through. And the seven year old boy was SO poorly written that I almost quit the book in chapter two (way too complex and self-aware for a child). But the plot was interesting songs read a little more and I'm glad I finished it.
Note: I love learning stories, especially magic learning, so if that isn't your thing then you probably won't be able to overcome the sloppy writing.
We'll see if he got any better in book two.
The book was sloppy at the beginning--okay, the whole way through. And the seven year old boy was SO poorly written that I almost quit the book in chapter two (way too complex and self-aware for a child). But the plot was interesting songs read a little more and I'm glad I finished it.
Note: I love learning stories, especially magic learning, so if that isn't your thing then you probably won't be able to overcome the sloppy writing.
We'll see if he got any better in book two.
November 8, 2013
Overall the book was really good. In the begiinging I think seven year old Benen was a bit too mature for his age, but over time as he got older that problem faded away. The climax had my heart pounding and the twist at the end threw me for a loop so incredibly hard. If you're are willing to deal with a certain level of middle school swear wrod based jokes in the begining, this is a great read for an hour or two of free time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 5, 2013
I really enjoyed these books. They are basically one book broken up to make more money but I think they're worth it. the prose is not the best because he packs a allot of years in three short books but I really like the world building. I like how the character was very strong and had believable weaknesses. He wasn't always the best at everything and had to work for what he had.
July 3, 2013
Pro :
Interesting concept of magic. Its make magic is something you really need to study for, not just having a talent and luck.
Con :
Its just too short.
All the character persona seems kinda shallow. Nothing is worth remember.
Interesting concept of magic. Its make magic is something you really need to study for, not just having a talent and luck.
Con :
Its just too short.
All the character persona seems kinda shallow. Nothing is worth remember.
December 9, 2013
Quite enjoyed this read. First in a series of 3 novellas aimed at early teens I would say. The only thing that really jarred with me was the use of the word loo it seemed much to modern for the rest of the book.
October 24, 2014
Quite a good short read.
December 26, 2015
I really don't know if I like this book or not. I suppose the only way I would read the rest of the series is if it was free like this first book.
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May 13, 2016Good book
It's a good book. I liked the twist at the end. He is at the starting point. I will be reading the next book.
It's a good book. I liked the twist at the end. He is at the starting point. I will be reading the next book.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews