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A Man of His Word #1
Der Weg nach Kinvale
The Man of His Word series debut--a novel "with enough fresh ideas to allow it to sit unashamedly alongside the great fantasy books of recent times" (Fantasy Book Review).
The tale of Magic Casement begins gently, even slowly, with Inosolan enjoying an idyllic childhood in a tiny backwater kingdom, too carefree and innocent even to understand that the feelings she shares with her friend Rap are more than friendship. Mystery, menace, and the gods appear in short order, and from then on the story grows in scope and power to straddle the world, and adversity thrusts rapid maturity on Rap and Inos. Populated by unforgettable characters--Aunt Kade, Little Chicken, Doctor Sagorn, and many more--Pandemia is an incredible world of credible people and infinite surprises.
The tale of Magic Casement begins gently, even slowly, with Inosolan enjoying an idyllic childhood in a tiny backwater kingdom, too carefree and innocent even to understand that the feelings she shares with her friend Rap are more than friendship. Mystery, menace, and the gods appear in short order, and from then on the story grows in scope and power to straddle the world, and adversity thrusts rapid maturity on Rap and Inos. Populated by unforgettable characters--Aunt Kade, Little Chicken, Doctor Sagorn, and many more--Pandemia is an incredible world of credible people and infinite surprises.
443 pages, Paperback
First published November 13, 1990
123 people are currently reading
3566 people want to read
About the author
Dave Duncan
140 books590 followersOriginally from Scotland, Dave Duncan lived all his adult life in Western Canada, having enjoyed a long career as a petroleum geologist before taking up writing. Since discovering that imaginary worlds were more satisfying than the real one, he published more than 60 novels, mostly in the fantasy genre, but also young adult, science fiction, and historical.
He wrote at times under the pseudonym Sarah B. Franklin (but only for literary purposes) and Ken Hood (which is short for "D'ye Ken Whodunit?")
His most successful works were fantasy series: The Seventh Sword, A Man of His Word and its sequel, A Handful of Men, and seven books about The King’s Blades. His books have been translated into 15 languages, and of late have been appearing in audiobook format as well.
He and Janet were married in 1959. He is survived by her, one son and two daughters, as well as four grandchildren.
He was both a founding and honorary lifetime member of SFCanada, and a member of the CSFFA Hall of Fame.
He wrote at times under the pseudonym Sarah B. Franklin (but only for literary purposes) and Ken Hood (which is short for "D'ye Ken Whodunit?")
His most successful works were fantasy series: The Seventh Sword, A Man of His Word and its sequel, A Handful of Men, and seven books about The King’s Blades. His books have been translated into 15 languages, and of late have been appearing in audiobook format as well.
He and Janet were married in 1959. He is survived by her, one son and two daughters, as well as four grandchildren.
He was both a founding and honorary lifetime member of SFCanada, and a member of the CSFFA Hall of Fame.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 163 reviews
January 20, 2015
He had traveled the far south and seen devastation wrought by dragons. For so young a man, he had visited an incredible list of places. He had been to Faerie itself, bathing on its golden beaches, paying a silver penny for a ride on a hippogryff. He had met gnomes and dwarves and elves. He had haggled for tapestries in crowded bazaars and edged along walls in sinister alleyways; he had watched beautiful slave girls dance before their masters in opulent courts. He had sailed the Summer Sea in barques with silken sails curved by the scented winds. He had wept at the baleful song of merfolk lamenting a dying moon.
Rap, the proverbial stable boy of every fantay epic, listens open mouthed to the siren song of the mysterious stranger named Andor, an experienced journeyer despite his apparent youth. Like Rap, I am once again falling under the spell of yet another magical realm to explore, of yet more treasures and magical artefacts to discover, of fantastic beasts to meet and unlikely friendships to me made along the way. Dave Duncan doesn't set out to revolutionize the genre, witness the stock characters he has chosen as his protagonists : two youngsters from a miniature sized kingdom, the poor stable boy with the hidden magical talents and the willful, resourceful princess who may be his destined love interest. Witness also the stock races that populate the world of Pandemia : goblins, dwarves, elfs, djinnis, imps, merfolk, jotunns (vikings / northern barbarians), even some dragons somewhere in the south. But in the hands of a master storyteller, and Duncan is without doubt one of the best in the field, these building blocks combine into a fresh and exciting adventure. Here's the opening passage, simply setting up the background where we will soon meet Rap and princess Inosolan:
Since long before the coming of Gods and mortals, the great rock of Krasnegar had stood amid the storms and ice of the Winter Ocean, resolute and eternal. Throughout long arctic nights it glimmered under the haunted dance of aurora and the rays of the cold, sad moon, while the icepack ground its useless anger around its base. In summer sun its yellow angularity stood on the shining white and blue of the sea like a slice of giant's cheese on fine china. Weather and season came and went and the rock endured unchanging, heeding them no more than it heeded the flitting generations of mankind.
I would position Duncan as a midfielder in the fantay genre : more grown up, more articulate and more original than the imitators of Tolkien in the late seventies (Brooks, Goodkind), paying his respects to the master, but striking out to explore new possibilities. And less grim, less dark, less morally relativistic and cynical than the majority of the current crop of fantasy authors. So, we have here a fairytale where the simple young man will probably slay the dragon and win the hand of the maiden in the bargain, but he will have to face many perils and he will have to make a lot of difficult choices between duty, friendship, love, etc.
A bonus for me, beside the richness of the worldbuilding (of which we only get a glimpse in the first volume through Andor's boasting), is the magic system that allows both for superpowers in the hands of the four warlocks of Pandemia and for apprentices / beginners like Rap who stumble their way almost blindly towards talent.
All magic, all power, comes from certain words. There are a great many of them; no one knows how many. But they are what gives sorcerers their abilities.
Here again Dave Duncan is a step ahead of his fellow writers, as he integrates the magic smoothly into he plot and avoids the easy traps of enchanted swords or evil overlords. The best example of his original approach I need to put into spoiler brackets, as the secret of the powers is only revealed in the last chapter.
Before I finish, I will bring one more argument for the series : it may not be deep, and it may be escapist, but it is FUN! I had a good time and quite a few laughs around Rap, Inosolan and even with a fierce goblin savage with a taste for torture that bears the unlikely moniker of Little Chicken.
I hear now the second volume calling for me, so I'm saying goodbye with a quote from Masefield, one of several highbrow references that the author uses to spice up the transitions between chapters:
I must down to the seas again,
for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call
that may not be denied.
December 3, 2014
Okay I know a lot of people are looking at that rating and asking themselves..."what's wrong with that guy?"
Sorry. There were times I was sure I was going to get into this book and really like it. The first half of this is so slow and annoying as to drive me (and I assume some others) up the nearest wall. While the sections on Rap drew my attention, the story told from Inosolan's point of view are slow, dull, irritating, aggravating and even...vexatious (vexatious: causing vexation; troublesome; annoying: a vexatious situation.)
Inosolan is a spoiled, whiny immature girl and she acts like it. Of course that's the point in the character so I can't really fault Duncan for accomplishing what he went for.
I will say this however. About the middle of the book it picked up and got very interesting.
Sadly it didn't stay that way...by the end (a setup for book 2) I was so bored I just jumped on through.
I know from the reviews that many love this/these so I definitely suggest you decide on this one for yourself. As for me??? Well I returned it to Audible and don't have any plans to follow the series. It only gets a 2 because I can see the quality of the writing in part of the book. Duncan has written other books I've liked a great deal, this sadly isn't one for me.
Sorry. There were times I was sure I was going to get into this book and really like it. The first half of this is so slow and annoying as to drive me (and I assume some others) up the nearest wall. While the sections on Rap drew my attention, the story told from Inosolan's point of view are slow, dull, irritating, aggravating and even...vexatious (vexatious: causing vexation; troublesome; annoying: a vexatious situation.)
Inosolan is a spoiled, whiny immature girl and she acts like it. Of course that's the point in the character so I can't really fault Duncan for accomplishing what he went for.
I will say this however. About the middle of the book it picked up and got very interesting.
Sadly it didn't stay that way...by the end (a setup for book 2) I was so bored I just jumped on through.
I know from the reviews that many love this/these so I definitely suggest you decide on this one for yourself. As for me??? Well I returned it to Audible and don't have any plans to follow the series. It only gets a 2 because I can see the quality of the writing in part of the book. Duncan has written other books I've liked a great deal, this sadly isn't one for me.
February 4, 2017
3.5 stars
I really don't know what to say. I think I liked it.
Didn't love it, didn't hate it. It's a bit better than meh.
Loved the hero (Rap) but found the heroine annoying and TSTL at times.
The writing was way too flowery than necessary.
I just didn't feel it.
I hated that the heroine was fooled by Andor but I guess she couldn't help it. I wish Rap and Inos (what a stupid name) would just fall in love already but sadly it seems this is going to take 3 books to get to it.
I guess overall I liked it enough to go on to the second book. This one was KU but I am not purchasing it. The others I am getting on hoopla for free.
Safety - Torture mentioned & violence
June 19, 2013
This series and the sequel series are some of my all-time favorite books that I've ever read. The characters are endearing and relatable, the world is richly imagined and unique, and the magical system is ingenious. I used to reread this series at least once a year, and it honestly served as a heavy influence on how I write my own stories.
This first series, beginning with The Magic Casement, is a fresh, sweeping tale of romance and adventure as Rap the stable boy loyally seeks to serve Princess Inos. Inos is a spunky, beautiful heroine who keeps landing in deep waters, but never just sits idly by waiting to be rescued. And Rap is a most unexpected romantic lead. He's not good-looking and he has zero expectations of ending up romancing his childhood friend, given their relative stations in life. However, when Inos is in trouble, he treads doggedly in her wake, traveling the world in his efforts to save her and enduring all manner of pain and perils because he cannot abide by the thought of Inos being in danger. Ultimately, Rap's stubborness, humor, loyalty, and good heart landed him a place among my literary boyfriends, as I now harbor quite the crush on him. Read these books once and you're quite likely to find yourself reading them again and again like yours truly!
This first series, beginning with The Magic Casement, is a fresh, sweeping tale of romance and adventure as Rap the stable boy loyally seeks to serve Princess Inos. Inos is a spunky, beautiful heroine who keeps landing in deep waters, but never just sits idly by waiting to be rescued. And Rap is a most unexpected romantic lead. He's not good-looking and he has zero expectations of ending up romancing his childhood friend, given their relative stations in life. However, when Inos is in trouble, he treads doggedly in her wake, traveling the world in his efforts to save her and enduring all manner of pain and perils because he cannot abide by the thought of Inos being in danger. Ultimately, Rap's stubborness, humor, loyalty, and good heart landed him a place among my literary boyfriends, as I now harbor quite the crush on him. Read these books once and you're quite likely to find yourself reading them again and again like yours truly!
November 6, 2007
This is the first in a series of four (all on this shelf) that are simply the best fantasy/alternate reality/what have you books I have ever read. I read each one as they came out and could not wait till the next one. It has everything: good, clear, witty writing; beautiful imagery; a strong, non-stereotypical female protagonist (and a strong male protagonist as well); a fully conceived, internally consistent universe; and a heck of a gripping plot. Don't be scared off by the cheesy sci fi covers and give it a chance - especially good for young adults who want rollicking adventure.
April 14, 2012
Dave Duncan always exceeds expectations, and this book is no exception. The writing and characters are, as always, superb. Having reached the end of the first installment, I don't at all know where the series is headed from here, in the best possible way.
November 4, 2014
A very competently written story, with a good magic system, well described setting on both world scale and in localities. Characters are easy to empathize with. The only think lacking are those quintessentially poignant moments that develop naturally from the story, which make for a true five-star book. Tearjerking is good, if it is done well, but in this book it wasn't done. Likewise for the comedy. There are evocative ups and downs, but their amplitude on the star-scale is four, not five. An enjoyable story, but not one you'll remember in ten years.
October 11, 2021
“Magic Casement”, Dave Duncan’s 1990 fantasy novel, is a pleasant introduction into his four-part Man of His Word epic fantasy series. It manages to engage the reader in with enjoyable characters (that are just the right side of cliche, but it’s a near thing) and an intriguing magic system, but would be unsatisfactory if treated on its own for its slow burn and the abrupt gear-shifting in the final act.
(This review is part of my “Nostalgia” series, where I infrequently revisit a small collection of fantasy novels in my possession--most of which I inherited when I was younger--to determine if they hold up decades later and are worth keeping.)
Describing “Magic Casement” in broad strokes could unfairly induce eyerolls. In a tiny, peaceful kingdom at the northern edge of civilization, a childhood friendship and blooming romantic love between an orphan stable boy (Rap) and a tomboy princess (Inos) appears doomed as the two are set to go their separate paths. She is headed to what amounts to an Austen-inspired finishing school and he to greater responsibility as part of the working class. Of course, it turns out that he has a gift that promises to reshape his destiny--a word of power--and that makes him a target for those who seek to gain control of it even as he must rescue the girl he loves from a threat she is not even aware exists.
Despite these all-too-familiar elements, Duncan manages to make it work and to somehow feel fresh. His success rests with his competent writing and the way he weaves together a light, but entertaining narrative. The characters are not overly complex, but even within the space of the short opening novel we already see some growth that reflect the maturing of the main characters over the months as they adapt to young adulthood. In particular, we like and sympathise with the protagonist, Rap, and admire his (magically-supported) competence. At the same time, the reader is apt to like the strength of character and resilience of Princess Inos, despite the strong damsel-in-distress overtones being constructed.
What really drives the story forward is a sense of curiosity, particularly in the unusual magic system that Duncan has constructed using words of power, which heighten or awaken innate or latent abilities. These words are shareable, but weaken with each sharing, and stackable with geometric increases in effect. As Rap is introduced to this arcane element of his world, the mystery around the events and the motivations of the characters connected to the small, isolated kingdom also begins to deepen.
Where the book falls down is the inconsistent pace of the narrative. It starts with a slow build to the story--not in itself a bad thing--but culminates in what feels like an unearned sudden ramp up to a major climax that is abruptly followed by a deus ex machina facilitated cliffhanger. Even so, it feels like a minor sin when taken in as part of the whole. It does mean, however, that “Magic Casement” can not exist on its own, even when compared to other first books in a multi-part series.
Overall, “Magic Casement” hits its marks with respect to developing sufficient interest and curiosity to pull the reader into the series and is enjoyable and fresh enough to balance the more obvious tropes, even if it is a bit unbalanced.
(This review is part of my “Nostalgia” series, where I infrequently revisit a small collection of fantasy novels in my possession--most of which I inherited when I was younger--to determine if they hold up decades later and are worth keeping.)
Describing “Magic Casement” in broad strokes could unfairly induce eyerolls. In a tiny, peaceful kingdom at the northern edge of civilization, a childhood friendship and blooming romantic love between an orphan stable boy (Rap) and a tomboy princess (Inos) appears doomed as the two are set to go their separate paths. She is headed to what amounts to an Austen-inspired finishing school and he to greater responsibility as part of the working class. Of course, it turns out that he has a gift that promises to reshape his destiny--a word of power--and that makes him a target for those who seek to gain control of it even as he must rescue the girl he loves from a threat she is not even aware exists.
Despite these all-too-familiar elements, Duncan manages to make it work and to somehow feel fresh. His success rests with his competent writing and the way he weaves together a light, but entertaining narrative. The characters are not overly complex, but even within the space of the short opening novel we already see some growth that reflect the maturing of the main characters over the months as they adapt to young adulthood. In particular, we like and sympathise with the protagonist, Rap, and admire his (magically-supported) competence. At the same time, the reader is apt to like the strength of character and resilience of Princess Inos, despite the strong damsel-in-distress overtones being constructed.
What really drives the story forward is a sense of curiosity, particularly in the unusual magic system that Duncan has constructed using words of power, which heighten or awaken innate or latent abilities. These words are shareable, but weaken with each sharing, and stackable with geometric increases in effect. As Rap is introduced to this arcane element of his world, the mystery around the events and the motivations of the characters connected to the small, isolated kingdom also begins to deepen.
Where the book falls down is the inconsistent pace of the narrative. It starts with a slow build to the story--not in itself a bad thing--but culminates in what feels like an unearned sudden ramp up to a major climax that is abruptly followed by a deus ex machina facilitated cliffhanger. Even so, it feels like a minor sin when taken in as part of the whole. It does mean, however, that “Magic Casement” can not exist on its own, even when compared to other first books in a multi-part series.
Overall, “Magic Casement” hits its marks with respect to developing sufficient interest and curiosity to pull the reader into the series and is enjoyable and fresh enough to balance the more obvious tropes, even if it is a bit unbalanced.
April 25, 2022
4.5 stars, Metaphorosis Reviews
Summary
Rap is a stableboy. Inos is a princess. But in the tiny, isolated kingdom of Krasnegar, they've become friends. But when Rap displays surprising powers and mysterious strangers begin to appear, things get complicated - especially when goblins get involved.
Review
This series was my introduction to Dave Duncan, and I still think it's one of the best things he wrote, along with its sequel series. Re-reading it (again) now, it's just as I recalled it - light (but moving), entertaining YA fantasy. The good guys are good, the bad guys are bad, and there's not a lot of grey area (though more comes in in later books). It is a bit heavy on the traditional gender roles, but it does so (I think) knowingly, and while Inos is a princess, she's not helplessly waiting to be rescued, and while Rap is the strong commoner, he's not always right, or always doing the rescuing. They're genuine (if young and not overly complex) people.
One of the things that intrigued me about the series when I first read it is Duncan's treatment of race. There are imps, jotnar, goblins, fauns, etc., but it's quite clear that they're just varieties of human with different phenotypes and customs, with differences among individuals of a race. I don't recall seeing this approach before these books.
On this recent reading, I did find some quibbles - areas where I think some more editing or resequencing would have helped - but overall, I think the book holds up very well, and I'd recommend it to fantasy readers young and old who want some time away from grimdark stories. I read this book at the same time as Aspects , a much more mature and mannered fantasy, beautifully written, with complex and subtle characters. I enjoyed that, but this was the book I was always more eager to pick up. It may not be as sophisticated, but on the whole, it's a better book.
Summary
Rap is a stableboy. Inos is a princess. But in the tiny, isolated kingdom of Krasnegar, they've become friends. But when Rap displays surprising powers and mysterious strangers begin to appear, things get complicated - especially when goblins get involved.
Review
This series was my introduction to Dave Duncan, and I still think it's one of the best things he wrote, along with its sequel series. Re-reading it (again) now, it's just as I recalled it - light (but moving), entertaining YA fantasy. The good guys are good, the bad guys are bad, and there's not a lot of grey area (though more comes in in later books). It is a bit heavy on the traditional gender roles, but it does so (I think) knowingly, and while Inos is a princess, she's not helplessly waiting to be rescued, and while Rap is the strong commoner, he's not always right, or always doing the rescuing. They're genuine (if young and not overly complex) people.
One of the things that intrigued me about the series when I first read it is Duncan's treatment of race. There are imps, jotnar, goblins, fauns, etc., but it's quite clear that they're just varieties of human with different phenotypes and customs, with differences among individuals of a race. I don't recall seeing this approach before these books.
On this recent reading, I did find some quibbles - areas where I think some more editing or resequencing would have helped - but overall, I think the book holds up very well, and I'd recommend it to fantasy readers young and old who want some time away from grimdark stories. I read this book at the same time as Aspects , a much more mature and mannered fantasy, beautifully written, with complex and subtle characters. I enjoyed that, but this was the book I was always more eager to pick up. It may not be as sophisticated, but on the whole, it's a better book.
September 27, 2016
3.5 stars, which means I enjoyed reading it. Actually, I read and listened, alternatively. Good narration, but a bit fuzzy, indistinct.
3rd person POV (my favorite for fiction) set in a medieval world called Pandemia, inhabited by about 13 races of humans/ humanoids: men, goblins, dwarves, elves, gnomes, trolls, faeries, pixies, djinn, mermen, imps, etc.
So, Duncan's magical fantasy series begins here, with a stable boy, a princess, magical words, politics, and several mysteries. No sex or swearing, but it does get grisly at times, especially in goblin land. It's also fairly heartwarming at times, and occasionally just mildly amusing. A thin thread of romance runs through it -- a stableboy yearning for a princess.
I enjoyed the plot, but wasn't crazy about the princess. I'm rooting for Rap, the stableboy who grew up by the end of this first book. Hooray also for Fleabag the wolf. I am also strangely attached to Little Chicken, the goblin.
Curious to learn more about the world of Pandemia and the magic system, involving power words. The words are rare, coveted, and guarded. People kill for them, of course. Knowing 1 word makes you a genius in your special area of expertise. Knowing 2 words makes you an adept, a fast learner in all areas. Knowing 3 words makes a mage, and 4 words makes a sorcerer. If you know 5 words of power....that's another level entirely.
Good map in the book -- even higher resolution map at the author's website.
Quibble: Duncan writes very well, but IMO, he uses too much anachronistic language in this series (on book 2 now) which yanks me out of the medieval setting. Examples: He didn't want to run over "pedestrians" with his horse-drawn wagon. One guy yelled, "Move your little buns!" Someone else had "a handicap" and a thief was "casing" the joint (jungle).
3rd person POV (my favorite for fiction) set in a medieval world called Pandemia, inhabited by about 13 races of humans/ humanoids: men, goblins, dwarves, elves, gnomes, trolls, faeries, pixies, djinn, mermen, imps, etc.
So, Duncan's magical fantasy series begins here, with a stable boy, a princess, magical words, politics, and several mysteries. No sex or swearing, but it does get grisly at times, especially in goblin land. It's also fairly heartwarming at times, and occasionally just mildly amusing. A thin thread of romance runs through it -- a stableboy yearning for a princess.
I enjoyed the plot, but wasn't crazy about the princess. I'm rooting for Rap, the stableboy who grew up by the end of this first book. Hooray also for Fleabag the wolf. I am also strangely attached to Little Chicken, the goblin.
Curious to learn more about the world of Pandemia and the magic system, involving power words. The words are rare, coveted, and guarded. People kill for them, of course. Knowing 1 word makes you a genius in your special area of expertise. Knowing 2 words makes you an adept, a fast learner in all areas. Knowing 3 words makes a mage, and 4 words makes a sorcerer. If you know 5 words of power....that's another level entirely.
Good map in the book -- even higher resolution map at the author's website.
Quibble: Duncan writes very well, but IMO, he uses too much anachronistic language in this series (on book 2 now) which yanks me out of the medieval setting. Examples: He didn't want to run over "pedestrians" with his horse-drawn wagon. One guy yelled, "Move your little buns!" Someone else had "a handicap" and a thief was "casing" the joint (jungle).
December 13, 2011
Book #1 of A Man of His Word
Book Description:
MAN OF HIS WORD A princess and a stableboy? It sounds like the worst sort of hackneyed formula romance. Think again, for "A Man of His Word" may well be the most original fantasy you ever read. The magic is unique and applied in unexpected ways, some of which the late Lester del Rey admitted he had not met in fifty years as writer and editor. The world itself is unique - there are no humans in Pandemia, only imps, elves, gnomes, jotnar, and many more, all of whom you will recognize as "human". MAGIC CASEMENT In MAGIC CASEMENT the tale begins gently, even slowly, with Inosolan enjoying an idyllic childhood in her father's tiny backwater kingdom, too innocent even to understand that the feelings she shares with her friend Rap are more than friendship. Mystery, menace, and the gods appear in short order, and from then on the story grows in scope and power to straddle the world, and adversity thrusts rapid maturity on Rap and Inos. Populated by unforgettable characters - Aunt Kade, Little Chicken, Doctor Sagorn, and many more - Pandemia is an incredible world of credible people and infinite surprises.
I was taken by surprise by the premise of this series, but once I started, I never looked back.
Book Description:
MAN OF HIS WORD A princess and a stableboy? It sounds like the worst sort of hackneyed formula romance. Think again, for "A Man of His Word" may well be the most original fantasy you ever read. The magic is unique and applied in unexpected ways, some of which the late Lester del Rey admitted he had not met in fifty years as writer and editor. The world itself is unique - there are no humans in Pandemia, only imps, elves, gnomes, jotnar, and many more, all of whom you will recognize as "human". MAGIC CASEMENT In MAGIC CASEMENT the tale begins gently, even slowly, with Inosolan enjoying an idyllic childhood in her father's tiny backwater kingdom, too innocent even to understand that the feelings she shares with her friend Rap are more than friendship. Mystery, menace, and the gods appear in short order, and from then on the story grows in scope and power to straddle the world, and adversity thrusts rapid maturity on Rap and Inos. Populated by unforgettable characters - Aunt Kade, Little Chicken, Doctor Sagorn, and many more - Pandemia is an incredible world of credible people and infinite surprises.
I was taken by surprise by the premise of this series, but once I started, I never looked back.
June 2, 2023
A book that has been buried on my TBR for years. I picked it up at a library sale. Each time I have reached for it the cover (so hokey-lol) has discouraged me. I suppose this is one of those times when you truly should not judge a book by the cover.
Dave Duncan takes us into the fantastic world of Pandamia. There are small Kingdoms laying in the shadow of a much larger one, One of the best things about this story , even though some characters look human, all of them come from either pure blood or mixed non-human Imp, Djinn, Trolls Elves, etc.
The plot of the story revolves around a dying King with no male heir. His decision to pass the kingdom to his daughter is not popular with some of the population. Not expecting to die so early in life, the King sends his daughter to the larger kingdom to learn the rules and etiquette of court and ruling a kingdom.
The characters and the magic system are all fantastic and I am so happy I finally got to this book. It was a quick fun read and I am also thrilled to have found book 2 in my stack.
Old time Fantasy readers will love this one.
Dave Duncan takes us into the fantastic world of Pandamia. There are small Kingdoms laying in the shadow of a much larger one, One of the best things about this story , even though some characters look human, all of them come from either pure blood or mixed non-human Imp, Djinn, Trolls Elves, etc.
The plot of the story revolves around a dying King with no male heir. His decision to pass the kingdom to his daughter is not popular with some of the population. Not expecting to die so early in life, the King sends his daughter to the larger kingdom to learn the rules and etiquette of court and ruling a kingdom.
The characters and the magic system are all fantastic and I am so happy I finally got to this book. It was a quick fun read and I am also thrilled to have found book 2 in my stack.
Old time Fantasy readers will love this one.
May 20, 2025
“Seek to find the Good, and above all, remember love! If you do not trust in love, then all will be lost.”
Excellent epic fantasy adventure set in a medieval European analog universe with Middle Earth and Narnian races, except for humans. Characters tend toward mythic stereotypes but fondly presented. Fresh storytelling and magic. Opens a four-part series.
Growing up was becoming a stranger to yourself again, just when you thought you’d got to know yourself.
Alternates between protagonists as world and character development follow the story. Potential romance develops slowly enough to trigger expected and unexpected detours. Good inner dialogue and limited, often erroneous, insight into the actions and motives of others.
“[Redacted] uses people like spoons or forks—women for pleasure, men for profit. He is the ultimate cynic.”
Story ends without much resolution, a common feature of modern fantasy literature. Could, perhaps should, have been consolidated into a couple chapters opening the next volume. (Cover art unrelated to story.)
Yet it had not changed and she hated herself because it was she who had changed.
Excellent epic fantasy adventure set in a medieval European analog universe with Middle Earth and Narnian races, except for humans. Characters tend toward mythic stereotypes but fondly presented. Fresh storytelling and magic. Opens a four-part series.
Growing up was becoming a stranger to yourself again, just when you thought you’d got to know yourself.
Alternates between protagonists as world and character development follow the story. Potential romance develops slowly enough to trigger expected and unexpected detours. Good inner dialogue and limited, often erroneous, insight into the actions and motives of others.
“[Redacted] uses people like spoons or forks—women for pleasure, men for profit. He is the ultimate cynic.”
Story ends without much resolution, a common feature of modern fantasy literature. Could, perhaps should, have been consolidated into a couple chapters opening the next volume. (Cover art unrelated to story.)
Yet it had not changed and she hated herself because it was she who had changed.
June 30, 2008
Genre: High Fantasy
I found this book slower/harder to get into then the other Dave Duncan series I've read... which isn't to say it's not a fun read, it is. It's just slow to ramp up.
The story involves the different races on Pandemia - goblins, fawns, elves, imps, jotan (and probably more). At this point I'm unclear if Duncan intended these groups to truly be different species or if they're simply fantastical names for different human racial groups. Multiple of the principal actors in the novel are half-breeds, and the descriptions of what the races look like - the racial characteristics - read more like ethnic groups then like different species. So I'm unclear; it's an interesting take on the standard fantasy tropes.
Another interesting take is how magic works - the source of all magic appears to be these words of power. If you know one then you're super-human in some way (which you already leaned towards), for instance one of the characters is the world's best interior decorator 'cause he knows a Word. Another is a seducer par execelance. The Word just improves their national tendencies. A second word makes you great at all human endeavors, and super-human feats like forsight and such tend to go with a second word. A third makes you a sorcerer with arcane powers. However, each person who knows a Word shares the power of the Word - so the more people who know the Word the less power you have. Therefore Words are dangerous to know, and are jealously guarded. It makes an interesting basic assumption to the world, and is the main crux of the story (so far).
While the world is very interesting (obviously) the characters are not quite as engrossing... but I'm hopeful that they'll improve over the course of the series.
I found this book slower/harder to get into then the other Dave Duncan series I've read... which isn't to say it's not a fun read, it is. It's just slow to ramp up.
The story involves the different races on Pandemia - goblins, fawns, elves, imps, jotan (and probably more). At this point I'm unclear if Duncan intended these groups to truly be different species or if they're simply fantastical names for different human racial groups. Multiple of the principal actors in the novel are half-breeds, and the descriptions of what the races look like - the racial characteristics - read more like ethnic groups then like different species. So I'm unclear; it's an interesting take on the standard fantasy tropes.
Another interesting take is how magic works - the source of all magic appears to be these words of power. If you know one then you're super-human in some way (which you already leaned towards), for instance one of the characters is the world's best interior decorator 'cause he knows a Word. Another is a seducer par execelance. The Word just improves their national tendencies. A second word makes you great at all human endeavors, and super-human feats like forsight and such tend to go with a second word. A third makes you a sorcerer with arcane powers. However, each person who knows a Word shares the power of the Word - so the more people who know the Word the less power you have. Therefore Words are dangerous to know, and are jealously guarded. It makes an interesting basic assumption to the world, and is the main crux of the story (so far).
While the world is very interesting (obviously) the characters are not quite as engrossing... but I'm hopeful that they'll improve over the course of the series.
November 23, 2008
This was one of my favorite fantasy series in years. One of the fun parts about reading the books was how he tied the title of the chapter in with the quote at the end. It's never clear why the title has its name until the end, and then it is a fun trick to see the quote at the end and find the chapter title in it. The books themselves are a good example, as they all draw their titles from the poem "Ode to a Nightingale" by Keats.
The voice I hear this passing night was heard
In ancient days by emperor and clown:
Perhaps the self-same song that found a path
Through the sad heart of Ruth, when, sick for home,
She stood in tears amid the alien corn;
The same that oft-times hath
Charm’d magic casements, opening on the foam
Of perilous seas, in faery lands forlorn.
Anyway, the premise doesn't sound like much, and it takes a little time to build, but the book is filled with dozens of fun characters, as well as some moments that are wonderfully awesome and epic. Somebody please read this series so I have someone to share it with.
The voice I hear this passing night was heard
In ancient days by emperor and clown:
Perhaps the self-same song that found a path
Through the sad heart of Ruth, when, sick for home,
She stood in tears amid the alien corn;
The same that oft-times hath
Charm’d magic casements, opening on the foam
Of perilous seas, in faery lands forlorn.
Anyway, the premise doesn't sound like much, and it takes a little time to build, but the book is filled with dozens of fun characters, as well as some moments that are wonderfully awesome and epic. Somebody please read this series so I have someone to share it with.
October 24, 2014
I read all the books in this series and wasn't impressed. The one thing most reviews say is that the magic system is very clever, and it is. But the problem lies more in that it's about the only thing that is clever.
The story itself is a straightforward adventure romp who gain magic power and end up together. The world described never struck me as interesting either. Every standard fantasy sentient appears (faeries, imps, goblins, fauns) with the only twist that these are all human, just with some racial differences (halfbreeds everywhere).
The ending of the series fell flat as well, because it continued on after they 'completed the quest' and turned into a 'will they get together or not?' story. Which is boring because you know from the first chapters in book 1 that the answer is going to be yes.
Final verdict:
Entertaining in it's own way, but do not expect to be dazzled.
The story itself is a straightforward adventure romp who gain magic power and end up together. The world described never struck me as interesting either. Every standard fantasy sentient appears (faeries, imps, goblins, fauns) with the only twist that these are all human, just with some racial differences (halfbreeds everywhere).
The ending of the series fell flat as well, because it continued on after they 'completed the quest' and turned into a 'will they get together or not?' story. Which is boring because you know from the first chapters in book 1 that the answer is going to be yes.
Final verdict:
Entertaining in it's own way, but do not expect to be dazzled.
August 24, 2012
Simply put, the most amazing Fantasy series I've ever read. It's just pure unadulterated fun and surprises you at every turn. Dave Duncan's best ever series.
March 23, 2020
I picked up this series after thoroughly enjoying Duncan's The Seventh Sword series, excited to see that he had so many more series and novels in print. Using past tense, as in "was excited" may be a little premature, but I'm not finding the characters in the Man of His Word series to be nearly as engaging as those in The Seventh Sword. It may be because of their ages - teens on the cusp of adulthood. I am a sucker for a coming of age novel/series, but the characters seem almost, but not quite, one-dimensional. It probably doesn't help that soon after starting, I saw The Magic Casement referred to as "similar to Assassin's Apprentice" in reference to the characters and coming of age. Uh ... no. Not similar, and not even close to the magic that Robin Hobb weaves in her character development. All that said, and not very nicely, I did finish it, enjoyed it, and have moved on to the next in the series. The story itself is good enough to keep me reading, and maybe the young people will stop blushing whenever they meet the eyes of the opposite sex, and worrying about the state of their hair and clothes, and manage to stop their knees from trembling in the coming pages.
June 15, 2024
The ONLY reason I didn’t dnf this book is cuz my dad recommended it and got it for me from the library. Even still, it took me more the a month to finish and the only reason I did finish is cuz I got the audiobook set it to 1.9x speed and sacrificed hours of my day just so I could get it out of the way. READING A BOOK SHOULD NOT FEEL LIKE A CHORE!
Why I didn’t like it:
- Characters were very dry and mostly boring
- Everything happened SO slowly
- The wording was difficult to decipher (At time I’d spend a whole minute trying to figure what was happening in a single paragraph)
- Overall, the syntax was very old, like ancient talk, I don’t know about you but that’s hard on my teenage brain😅
- Honestly the story in general just wasn’t interesting, the magic and world building had some potential but it was just NOT GONNA HAPPEN with these characters
- I was not a fan of the perspective in which the story was told (what would this be called? Like omnipotent observer or something) it’s was like mega confusing, I like first person much better
Why I didn’t like it:
- Characters were very dry and mostly boring
- Everything happened SO slowly
- The wording was difficult to decipher (At time I’d spend a whole minute trying to figure what was happening in a single paragraph)
- Overall, the syntax was very old, like ancient talk, I don’t know about you but that’s hard on my teenage brain😅
- Honestly the story in general just wasn’t interesting, the magic and world building had some potential but it was just NOT GONNA HAPPEN with these characters
- I was not a fan of the perspective in which the story was told (what would this be called? Like omnipotent observer or something) it’s was like mega confusing, I like first person much better
April 3, 2017
The summary of this book promised me that this story may well be the most original fantasy you ever read. ....Eh? I thought it was 'mediocre' at its finest. Quite generic. (Though I suppose the idea if a faun being among goblins is pretty original!)
I did like the story though - had fun reading it.
I did like the story though - had fun reading it.
October 11, 2021
Likeable characters, cool magic. What more do I need? The next book ofc :)
February 2, 2021
Rating
Review
*** This review originally appeared on Out of this World Reviews. ***
Sometimes a book just doesn’t grab you, but you plod on anyway because you’ve heard good things about it, or maybe you have past experience with the author, or maybe deep down you just really want the book to work for you. Maybe even all of the above. Such was the case for me with Magic Casement. This book isn’t going to sweep you off your feet or throw you off a cliff or blast you into smithereens…you get the idea. It may, however, draw you in, albeit very slowly, such that you’re willing to give it and the subsequent trio of books in the series a good, thorough try.
The late Dave Duncan has always been one of my favorite fantasy authors, so I came into this somewhat biased. His Alchemist and King’s Swords books are superb, with an engaging variety of characters and vast worldbuilding. A Man of His Word very much satisfies these criteria as well, thought it wasn’t until the third book that I really felt I was hooked. That’s not exactly a formula for success for a new author, but while this was an early series for Duncan, he since has a long list of novels so longevity and success were his before his passing regardless of how this series might have done when it was released.
All that aside, I will say this about Magic Casement: it may start slow, but the payoff later on in the series is well worth it.
In this first book, Inosolan and Rap stand at opposite ends of society’s hierarchy. Inos is a princess and Rap, a simple stable boy with a mixed heritage that is tolerated yet always seems to raise an eyebrow. In the world of Pandemia, there are no humans, but rather imps, elves, gnomes, jotnar, djinni, and others. Their reach is vast too, with kingdoms far and wide. Yet our two main characters hail from a far simpler place called Krasnegar, by most accounts an insignificant, backwater kingdom that is, irregardless, important enough that gods and wizards interfere in the fates of our main characters at the moment when the kingdom’s ruler, Inos’s father, dies. Forced to flee, the two are separated and each find themselves hundreds (or thousands) of miles from home. Much traveling ensues as Inos, who has lost her kingdom, must navigate a political landscape bereft of her father’s wisdom and Rap, who makes a promise to see Inos returned to her throne, must fight for his life almost every step of the way as he hopes to reunite with his sworn liege. The relationship between these characters is more than princess and subject, of course, though neither of them realizes it until they’ve been forced to face many new realities and challenges apart from one another.
Of the two characters, I found Rap much more engaging. Inos often comes across as spoiled, which I suppose was the author’s intent, and seems to want things handed to her. When they are not, she often becomes flummoxed, not sure what to do about it other than pout. Rap, on the other hand, has had nothing handed to him, so he is already armed with many life lessons. For Rap, it is more about learning and accepting that he can be so much more than “only” a stable boy. In many ways, the act of transporting each of these characters to faraway lands, while not appreciated at the time, is ultimately what allows them to grow far beyond anything they might have become had they remained in tiny Krasnegar.
The magic system is unique, or was back in 1990 when this book was first published. Power rests in special words. The more words one knows, the more power one has. Words are therefore extremely valuable and often at the center of much intrigue.
I’m giving the first book in the A Man of His Word series three rockets. It’s a slow start that didn’t immediately grab me and I even found my focus waning throughout. But I’m currently reading the third book, so I know it’s a gateway to something bigger and better and it does lay the foundation for the characters and the story in a mostly satisfactory way.
Review
*** This review originally appeared on Out of this World Reviews. ***
Sometimes a book just doesn’t grab you, but you plod on anyway because you’ve heard good things about it, or maybe you have past experience with the author, or maybe deep down you just really want the book to work for you. Maybe even all of the above. Such was the case for me with Magic Casement. This book isn’t going to sweep you off your feet or throw you off a cliff or blast you into smithereens…you get the idea. It may, however, draw you in, albeit very slowly, such that you’re willing to give it and the subsequent trio of books in the series a good, thorough try.
The late Dave Duncan has always been one of my favorite fantasy authors, so I came into this somewhat biased. His Alchemist and King’s Swords books are superb, with an engaging variety of characters and vast worldbuilding. A Man of His Word very much satisfies these criteria as well, thought it wasn’t until the third book that I really felt I was hooked. That’s not exactly a formula for success for a new author, but while this was an early series for Duncan, he since has a long list of novels so longevity and success were his before his passing regardless of how this series might have done when it was released.
All that aside, I will say this about Magic Casement: it may start slow, but the payoff later on in the series is well worth it.
In this first book, Inosolan and Rap stand at opposite ends of society’s hierarchy. Inos is a princess and Rap, a simple stable boy with a mixed heritage that is tolerated yet always seems to raise an eyebrow. In the world of Pandemia, there are no humans, but rather imps, elves, gnomes, jotnar, djinni, and others. Their reach is vast too, with kingdoms far and wide. Yet our two main characters hail from a far simpler place called Krasnegar, by most accounts an insignificant, backwater kingdom that is, irregardless, important enough that gods and wizards interfere in the fates of our main characters at the moment when the kingdom’s ruler, Inos’s father, dies. Forced to flee, the two are separated and each find themselves hundreds (or thousands) of miles from home. Much traveling ensues as Inos, who has lost her kingdom, must navigate a political landscape bereft of her father’s wisdom and Rap, who makes a promise to see Inos returned to her throne, must fight for his life almost every step of the way as he hopes to reunite with his sworn liege. The relationship between these characters is more than princess and subject, of course, though neither of them realizes it until they’ve been forced to face many new realities and challenges apart from one another.
Of the two characters, I found Rap much more engaging. Inos often comes across as spoiled, which I suppose was the author’s intent, and seems to want things handed to her. When they are not, she often becomes flummoxed, not sure what to do about it other than pout. Rap, on the other hand, has had nothing handed to him, so he is already armed with many life lessons. For Rap, it is more about learning and accepting that he can be so much more than “only” a stable boy. In many ways, the act of transporting each of these characters to faraway lands, while not appreciated at the time, is ultimately what allows them to grow far beyond anything they might have become had they remained in tiny Krasnegar.
The magic system is unique, or was back in 1990 when this book was first published. Power rests in special words. The more words one knows, the more power one has. Words are therefore extremely valuable and often at the center of much intrigue.
I’m giving the first book in the A Man of His Word series three rockets. It’s a slow start that didn’t immediately grab me and I even found my focus waning throughout. But I’m currently reading the third book, so I know it’s a gateway to something bigger and better and it does lay the foundation for the characters and the story in a mostly satisfactory way.
March 23, 2010
This book was a little bit slow in the beginning, but it picked up in pace as the severity of the issues grew. I imagine a lot of fantasy books are slow at first because they have to describe the world in which the story is set. This story follows a coming-of-age princess who has been told to find a husband to marry for love, not just because the marriage will benefit his or her family in a certain way. The magic and powers in this world are interesting (I don't want to give anything away!) and are obtained in a fashion different from other fantasy worlds I've read.
I'm looking forward to book number two and the continuing fantasy world.
My sister gave me this book and I can pass it on to anyone who wants to read it next. I also obtained books 2, 3, and 4 from her this weekend.
I'm looking forward to book number two and the continuing fantasy world.
My sister gave me this book and I can pass it on to anyone who wants to read it next. I also obtained books 2, 3, and 4 from her this weekend.
March 3, 2010
If you're planning on reading this book then be very prepared to be bored for at least half of it before the plot actually begins to progress and unfold. Virtually nothing of consequence happens in the first half of the book. The two main characters, Rap and Princess Inos are basically doing everyday mundane things that does very little to impact their character development. The first half of the book is actually more about the princess settling into her boring life of dances and embroidery at a distant kingdom so she could learn more about courtly manners and such as well as be suited by ugly old nobles and being bored alot. I knew how she felt because the plot was moving so slowly. Once the story picks up at the half way point it gets better, but it's still not great. Don't be fooled like I was by the high rating this book has gotten on here.
June 10, 2010
I've made the mistake of underestimating Duncan before, so I won't abandon this series just yet. There seems to be a big world out there of which this is just a part.
Traditionally I've never seen the twists in the plot coming. This holds for TV shows too, it's not limited to books - and so any writing transparent enough that even I can see where it's going is cause for pause. But though I latched immediately onto some of the big factors, the story remained unpredictable enough to hold me and the last few pages certainly ramp up the tension. The output from the Casement, which was so underplayed and avoided all the way through, becomes the burning question, and I can only hope that as with the Kings Blades, this series picks up for me.
Traditionally I've never seen the twists in the plot coming. This holds for TV shows too, it's not limited to books - and so any writing transparent enough that even I can see where it's going is cause for pause. But though I latched immediately onto some of the big factors, the story remained unpredictable enough to hold me and the last few pages certainly ramp up the tension. The output from the Casement, which was so underplayed and avoided all the way through, becomes the burning question, and I can only hope that as with the Kings Blades, this series picks up for me.
September 7, 2011
I liked the last Dave Duncan series that I read, and this was a good start to another series. In a world of imps, jotunn, fauns, faeries, pixies, gnomes, elves, and dwarves -- all of them recognizably human -- the stableboy Rap and the princess Inos live on a small island. Adventures ensue, often revolving around a novel system of magic based on magic words. One word makes a genius, able to do one or two things very well; two words makes an adept, a genius in any skill he practices; three words makes a mage, capable of temporarily changing the world; and four words makes a sorcerer. The adventures are fun, but the cast of characters kept me reading.
July 21, 2012
Goblins, princesses, magic...this book has everything, and the power of words is the ultimate. Rap is just a stable boy, but he is probably the most honorable stable-boy you will ever meet. His love and commitment to Princess Inosolan is something rarely seen now-adays. He befriends a goblin during his journey to protect the princess from an evil plot. Meanwhile, the Princess is off to the center of aristocracy to (hopefully) find a suitor. This book beautifully illustrates the lifestyles of the rich, the poor, and the people in-between, and leaves a wonderful cliff-hanger as an ending! I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
October 9, 2009
I've never been disappointed by a Dave Duncan book. They have strong intriguing characters, interesting settings, and are just so much fun. These are not books you read to because Oprah told you to or because they won some award; these are the books you read when you just want to curl up and be entertained. Even the Dave Duncan books you've never read are instant old friends the moment you pick them up. (Ignore the covers - they look like the worst sort of fantasy trash and are deeply unfair to the words inside!)
January 9, 2017
After 20 years my memories are rather fuzzy and for the rest of the I might have thrown in some other books. So I expect this re-read to still hold some surprises.
This first installment, as many others have noted, starts off very slow, but ends at quite a pace. I enjoyed it about as much as I remember from the mid-90s. Good, somewhat epic, fantasy. On to the next one!
This first installment, as many others have noted, starts off very slow, but ends at quite a pace. I enjoyed it about as much as I remember from the mid-90s. Good, somewhat epic, fantasy. On to the next one!
July 29, 2012
An original fantasy story with an interesting plot twist. So now I have to find the next one as it has a cliff-hanger ending.
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