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The Artifactor #1
The Child Prince
Sevana Warran, reigning prodigy Artifactor of the age, has absolutely no desire to selflessly serve her fellow man. She wants, in fact, to be left alone so that she can putter about in her workroom.
But her efforts in avoiding other people prove to be in vain. The reigning family of Windamere is no longer sitting upon the throne and the Council has instead taken power. The sole hope of avoiding the evil machinations of the Council is Bellomi Dragonmanovich, Prince of Windamere. As a twenty-one year old cursed into the body of a perpetual eight year old, he lacks the power and ability to stop the Council.
Sevana, after a judicious review of the situation, decides that she cannot let things continue. If she did, she’d never be left alone and would instead be buried in paperwork if the Council has anything to say about it. So she kidnaps the prince from where he was locked away in the palace and sets about breaking his curse.
Prince and Artifactor quickly realize that simply breaking the curse won’t be enough to free Windamere from the Council. It will take training, cunning, allies, information and more than just a little magic if they are to reclaim the throne.
But her efforts in avoiding other people prove to be in vain. The reigning family of Windamere is no longer sitting upon the throne and the Council has instead taken power. The sole hope of avoiding the evil machinations of the Council is Bellomi Dragonmanovich, Prince of Windamere. As a twenty-one year old cursed into the body of a perpetual eight year old, he lacks the power and ability to stop the Council.
Sevana, after a judicious review of the situation, decides that she cannot let things continue. If she did, she’d never be left alone and would instead be buried in paperwork if the Council has anything to say about it. So she kidnaps the prince from where he was locked away in the palace and sets about breaking his curse.
Prince and Artifactor quickly realize that simply breaking the curse won’t be enough to free Windamere from the Council. It will take training, cunning, allies, information and more than just a little magic if they are to reclaim the throne.
419 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 17, 2013
321 people are currently reading
927 people want to read
About the author
Honor Raconteur
62 books841 followersEver since I was a toddler, I have been making up stories. I’d entertain anyone willing to listen to my wild fantasies about unicorns and gargoyles and amazing people. At 13, I started writing the stories down. At 23, I finished the first book that was, in my opinion, good enough to publish.
I spent three years trying to publish my book, Jaunten, the old fashioned way. The problem was my story was outside of the norm for young adult fantasy – it didn’t have vampires or the supernatural in it, it was clean enough to earn a PG rating, and there wasn’t any dark overlord to defeat. No literary agent would pick it up because it didn’t fit the “fantasy formula” that all of the popular books did.
I put the idea of having my book published off to the side for a while as I finished a Bachelors in English at Middle Tennessee State University. But as I worked on my third degree, the idea of being published came back to me. This time, while working as a paralegal, I had a better grasp of the laws involved of doing self-publishing. For six months, I did a great deal of research in how to do self-publishing the debt-free way.
It was hard. I was working full time, going to school full time, and living on my own. I never really had a break. I was always working on something. At times I felt like my brain would just go into meltdown from having to learn so many different things to make my idea work.
After six months, I thought I knew enough to publish myself. I put Jaunten out as an ebook, created a website and forum so that fans could communicate with me, and spread the word as best I could. Within three months, I was selling internationally. Within six months, I was making enough to quit my day job and sit at home, writing full time.
After six months of writing, publishing, and building up a reputation, I started to be approached by other people wanting to emulate what I did. I soon realized that there was a niche out there waiting for me to fill it—a place where original fiction could be published and released into the world. As of February 2012, I started my own publishing house, called Raconteur House. Since that point I have signed on four additional authors (not including yours truly) and am attracting more in a steady stream.
I have continued to write and publish the rest of the series through my House. When I’m not writing or editing, I like to go out into the community and give presentations of how to be an author. It’s actually really fun to talk to all of these people who want to be authors. Most people think that you can’t make any money being an author—actually, you can. And you can do quite well. It’s just a matter of working really hard, having a little talent, and knowing how to market your books. All I’m doing with these presentations is giving people the know-how to make their dreams come true.
While it’s true that you don’t need a college education to be an author, I encourage everyone to be as educated as possible. I have a lot of experience and education that most people don’t, and that’s what gives me an edge in writing. I’ve lived in places as obscure as Tehachapi, California and other places as large as Salt Lake City, Utah. I hold three different college degrees. I practice two different martial arts. I think I’ve tried every life experience that came my direction. All of that is incorporated into my books, and that’s what gives reality to my worlds and characters.
Even if I abruptly stop selling books tomorrow—which I don’t see happening—I would still continue to write. Creating characters and worlds is that much fun. Once you start, you become quickly addicted.
I spent three years trying to publish my book, Jaunten, the old fashioned way. The problem was my story was outside of the norm for young adult fantasy – it didn’t have vampires or the supernatural in it, it was clean enough to earn a PG rating, and there wasn’t any dark overlord to defeat. No literary agent would pick it up because it didn’t fit the “fantasy formula” that all of the popular books did.
I put the idea of having my book published off to the side for a while as I finished a Bachelors in English at Middle Tennessee State University. But as I worked on my third degree, the idea of being published came back to me. This time, while working as a paralegal, I had a better grasp of the laws involved of doing self-publishing. For six months, I did a great deal of research in how to do self-publishing the debt-free way.
It was hard. I was working full time, going to school full time, and living on my own. I never really had a break. I was always working on something. At times I felt like my brain would just go into meltdown from having to learn so many different things to make my idea work.
After six months, I thought I knew enough to publish myself. I put Jaunten out as an ebook, created a website and forum so that fans could communicate with me, and spread the word as best I could. Within three months, I was selling internationally. Within six months, I was making enough to quit my day job and sit at home, writing full time.
After six months of writing, publishing, and building up a reputation, I started to be approached by other people wanting to emulate what I did. I soon realized that there was a niche out there waiting for me to fill it—a place where original fiction could be published and released into the world. As of February 2012, I started my own publishing house, called Raconteur House. Since that point I have signed on four additional authors (not including yours truly) and am attracting more in a steady stream.
I have continued to write and publish the rest of the series through my House. When I’m not writing or editing, I like to go out into the community and give presentations of how to be an author. It’s actually really fun to talk to all of these people who want to be authors. Most people think that you can’t make any money being an author—actually, you can. And you can do quite well. It’s just a matter of working really hard, having a little talent, and knowing how to market your books. All I’m doing with these presentations is giving people the know-how to make their dreams come true.
While it’s true that you don’t need a college education to be an author, I encourage everyone to be as educated as possible. I have a lot of experience and education that most people don’t, and that’s what gives me an edge in writing. I’ve lived in places as obscure as Tehachapi, California and other places as large as Salt Lake City, Utah. I hold three different college degrees. I practice two different martial arts. I think I’ve tried every life experience that came my direction. All of that is incorporated into my books, and that’s what gives reality to my worlds and characters.
Even if I abruptly stop selling books tomorrow—which I don’t see happening—I would still continue to write. Creating characters and worlds is that much fun. Once you start, you become quickly addicted.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews
May 25, 2020
Quite enjoyable, more in the tonal vein of the Shiganmi Detective series.
I appreciate heroes that are introverts but are willing to be adopted by extroverts. 😆
On to book 2!
I appreciate heroes that are introverts but are willing to be adopted by extroverts. 😆
On to book 2!
March 17, 2014
i won this book throw a giveaway and i am so glad i did. it was an extremely good it has a good plot and it was smoothly written. it kept my interested. i will defiantly be read the rest of the series. i could barely put it down. to sleep. i would recommend everyone read it expeshuly if you like action, si fi,romans or comedy.
i will defonintly by rereading it soon.
i will defonintly by rereading it soon.
March 26, 2023
As a fellow introvert -- I just really understand her POV. Plus I enjoy snarky attitude in general. :)
August 13, 2019
Very good! It was a bit long but it has a good story line, with imaginative characters!
December 2, 2014
Should have been 4 stars, but several chapters and sub plots were cut short. Not unresolved, but not clearly dealt with, like the author was in a hurry to get on with the next chapter, or was making overly optimistic assumptions about what the reader would figure out from context.
Book 2 avoids these mistakes and is much less "choppy" than this one.
Book 2 avoids these mistakes and is much less "choppy" than this one.
July 8, 2017
This is the most exciting series I have read... can't wait till book two comes out and I have heard from the Author it is within days from coming out.
June 2, 2022
2020 bk 161. The Child Prince was cursed. The Prodigy Artifactor was bored. Was there ever a better match for friendship. This is a story of political intrigue, scientific and magical invention, and the development of interesting characters. It is still not my favorite of the author's books - but will do until a new Henry comes out. I did enjoy the story and the line of how curmudgeons learn to work with others.
March 9, 2020
Good!
Nice quick read, listened to half \ kindle read half. Narrator was good, love the world building, too notch!
So glad I can jump right into the next one.
Nice quick read, listened to half \ kindle read half. Narrator was good, love the world building, too notch!
So glad I can jump right into the next one.
October 17, 2022
I really love the FMC :D Grumpy and bad**s :D
June 13, 2021
Good
I love how abrasive Sevana is. It’s definitely a unique character trait. Although I feel like her powers are a little overkill. It felt like she was so powerful that she didn’t really have any challenges. If she had a problem, all she had to do was wave her wand and say a spell, and it was fixed. Or she makes something to fix the problem. She doesn’t really grow throughout the story. Bellomi does, and it was fun watching him grow. The way the king and prince took back their power from the Council seemed a little too easy, and I would have liked to maybe see more of a fight. Another thing that was amusing was how often Sevana’s workroom exploded or caught fire. Maybe she should start working on a device to help with that issue.
I love how abrasive Sevana is. It’s definitely a unique character trait. Although I feel like her powers are a little overkill. It felt like she was so powerful that she didn’t really have any challenges. If she had a problem, all she had to do was wave her wand and say a spell, and it was fixed. Or she makes something to fix the problem. She doesn’t really grow throughout the story. Bellomi does, and it was fun watching him grow. The way the king and prince took back their power from the Council seemed a little too easy, and I would have liked to maybe see more of a fight. Another thing that was amusing was how often Sevana’s workroom exploded or caught fire. Maybe she should start working on a device to help with that issue.
July 23, 2021
must be an early book
Clunky writing, much too long with not enough happening, and not one, but two Mary Sue characters, one female (the Artificer Prodigy) and one male (the Child Prince).
The Prince is one because he’s kind, honorable and so bright that after spending 10 years in a locked room, he learns everything he needs to know to rule his country in a couple of months—plus how to hunt like a mountain cat, how to charm any- and everyone, how to read people, how to haggle, etc., etc. Then there’s the Artificer Prodigy.
Some readers wrote reviews claiming her character isn’t a Mary Sue because she comes up with solutions to problems through trial and error. I think they’re deluding themselves. No, she doesn’t have extraordinary magic powers, but she does have extraordinary power to make magic potions, charms and devices, and that’s how she solves every problem in the story.
By the time the book begins, the Artificer has already created a vast arsenal of magic aids. She needs to travel around her own country quickly? Grandfather clock portals that allow her to step through from her home to many different cities and buildings. Needs to travel long distances fast? Far-seer glasses that move her to any point she’s looking at, or the Cloud Skimmer, a raft that uses cloud energy to draw itself along (energy the Artificer creates using a wand she also invented, of course). She even lives in a mountain that’s she’s magicked to be self-renovating and able to communicate with her, so she never has to deal with those pesky real-life limitations. She needs a new room? Big (the mountain) will make her one instantly. She blows up her workspace? Big recreates it for her, almost exactly as it was.
At her fingertips are diagnostic wands, shield charms, de-aging potions, swords that train people to fight, cosmetics to give people different faces, boots that let you walk on any surface, etc., etc., etc. . . Those are all fun ideas, but too much of the story depends on them.
How on earth is this person anything but a Mary Sue? She never has a problem she can’t solve—she even figures out a way to lift the supposedly insoluble curse. At no point in the story does she fail at anything. Ever. So that’s a major issue for me.
Next problem, the length of the book/too many details that don’t matter. At about 50% in I was very ready for it to be over and the last half was a real slog. I really didn’t need to know where people sat when they had conversations or exactly how much dust the maids left on the palace woodwork, or what every single mosaic in Varsh’s house looked like. Big chunks of the story consisted of “they went here, tried this possible cure and then they went home” all bogged down in details until I thought it was never going to end.
Conversely, there almost no description of anything. When Serena marches off to rescue kidnapped Prince Bel from the Fae, she knows when she’s arrived in the right place, because the trees are really big and really old, and the plants and animals look different. Different how? Description of Big’s outside: none. Description of Big’s insides: it’s stone. And there are tables, chairs and bookcases in the rooms. Description of Varsh’s house where Serena and Bel stay when they’re visiting the Water Dragons: there are tile mosaics everywhere that look just like real life—except they’re tile. But they look so real Bel thinks he could almost hear the waterfall depicted on the wall—except that would be silly, since it’s not a real waterfall. Just tile. Really realistic tile. You know, tile. (that’s my paraphrase of an actual moment in the story. Unfortunately I lost the quote saved for this review.)
None of the book’s scene setting works, because it’s all very vague or missing. Ms Raconteur makes almost no appeal to the senses or the imagination (except around the magical tools). For me that lack makes the book feel hollow, since much joy in fantasy comes from the delight of being pulled elsewhere or elsewhen. Concrete details allow the reader to make that leap, draw the reader fully into an author’s imagined reality. What color is the sky? How’s the wind blow in this particular weather? What do dragons look/sound/smell/taste like? We’re an embodied people and we need both minds and bodies immersed in an imagined reality.
One reason I think this must be an early piece of writing is that I’ve read other books by Ms. Raconteur that were much better done. She’s not the most sensual writer, but there’s usually a reasonable sense of place, and it’s missing in this book. Maybe because it’s YA? I’m not sure of the cause, it’s just lacking here, unfortunately.
Clunky writing, much too long with not enough happening, and not one, but two Mary Sue characters, one female (the Artificer Prodigy) and one male (the Child Prince).
The Prince is one because he’s kind, honorable and so bright that after spending 10 years in a locked room, he learns everything he needs to know to rule his country in a couple of months—plus how to hunt like a mountain cat, how to charm any- and everyone, how to read people, how to haggle, etc., etc. Then there’s the Artificer Prodigy.
Some readers wrote reviews claiming her character isn’t a Mary Sue because she comes up with solutions to problems through trial and error. I think they’re deluding themselves. No, she doesn’t have extraordinary magic powers, but she does have extraordinary power to make magic potions, charms and devices, and that’s how she solves every problem in the story.
By the time the book begins, the Artificer has already created a vast arsenal of magic aids. She needs to travel around her own country quickly? Grandfather clock portals that allow her to step through from her home to many different cities and buildings. Needs to travel long distances fast? Far-seer glasses that move her to any point she’s looking at, or the Cloud Skimmer, a raft that uses cloud energy to draw itself along (energy the Artificer creates using a wand she also invented, of course). She even lives in a mountain that’s she’s magicked to be self-renovating and able to communicate with her, so she never has to deal with those pesky real-life limitations. She needs a new room? Big (the mountain) will make her one instantly. She blows up her workspace? Big recreates it for her, almost exactly as it was.
At her fingertips are diagnostic wands, shield charms, de-aging potions, swords that train people to fight, cosmetics to give people different faces, boots that let you walk on any surface, etc., etc., etc. . . Those are all fun ideas, but too much of the story depends on them.
How on earth is this person anything but a Mary Sue? She never has a problem she can’t solve—she even figures out a way to lift the supposedly insoluble curse. At no point in the story does she fail at anything. Ever. So that’s a major issue for me.
Next problem, the length of the book/too many details that don’t matter. At about 50% in I was very ready for it to be over and the last half was a real slog. I really didn’t need to know where people sat when they had conversations or exactly how much dust the maids left on the palace woodwork, or what every single mosaic in Varsh’s house looked like. Big chunks of the story consisted of “they went here, tried this possible cure and then they went home” all bogged down in details until I thought it was never going to end.
Conversely, there almost no description of anything. When Serena marches off to rescue kidnapped Prince Bel from the Fae, she knows when she’s arrived in the right place, because the trees are really big and really old, and the plants and animals look different. Different how? Description of Big’s outside: none. Description of Big’s insides: it’s stone. And there are tables, chairs and bookcases in the rooms. Description of Varsh’s house where Serena and Bel stay when they’re visiting the Water Dragons: there are tile mosaics everywhere that look just like real life—except they’re tile. But they look so real Bel thinks he could almost hear the waterfall depicted on the wall—except that would be silly, since it’s not a real waterfall. Just tile. Really realistic tile. You know, tile. (that’s my paraphrase of an actual moment in the story. Unfortunately I lost the quote saved for this review.)
None of the book’s scene setting works, because it’s all very vague or missing. Ms Raconteur makes almost no appeal to the senses or the imagination (except around the magical tools). For me that lack makes the book feel hollow, since much joy in fantasy comes from the delight of being pulled elsewhere or elsewhen. Concrete details allow the reader to make that leap, draw the reader fully into an author’s imagined reality. What color is the sky? How’s the wind blow in this particular weather? What do dragons look/sound/smell/taste like? We’re an embodied people and we need both minds and bodies immersed in an imagined reality.
One reason I think this must be an early piece of writing is that I’ve read other books by Ms. Raconteur that were much better done. She’s not the most sensual writer, but there’s usually a reasonable sense of place, and it’s missing in this book. Maybe because it’s YA? I’m not sure of the cause, it’s just lacking here, unfortunately.
July 7, 2023
Content:
Language: None.
Violence: Very mild. Some fighting, but little to no blood, any deaths happen 'off-screen'.
Sexual: Mild. Some kisses, hugs, cuddles. There is one scene where one character reports that he had to give another character the birds and the bees talk, but it is also off screen.
TW: There is some child neglect and emotional neglect in the book. It is mild, but it deeply affects one character when he realizes how much he lost. I'd say the trigger is very mild, but it is there.
I'm starting to get a feel for Honor Raconteur's tone and style. This book is no different that others she's written in that there are some amusing characters, ie: the standoffish chaotic good one, the sweet cinnamon roll one, the too smart for their own good one, the oblivious but vital to the team one, and the animal sidekick.
The pacing of the book is very much a stroll. Tonally it reads more like slice of life with some high stakes. It's interesting how she can give major issues to the plot, things that are dire, and yet she still is able to say, but in reality they aren't going to be solved quickly. Because neither the antagonist or protagonist can plan and execute a plan that fast. So, we get this staged plot where they solve one issue at a time while working on the main huge issue. And in the process, there are of course more problems that pop up to solve.
All in all, I had fun reading it, even if it does lag somewhat. The story is more for the characters than the plot, which I prefer anyway. Character driven stories are my jam.
The magic system was super soft. It's basically just vague and waving wands, incantations, and a bit of chemistry/engineering mixed in? The actual spoken incantations were a gobbledygook font that I can't help but wonder how in the world they did it in the audiobook. I kinda wish the magic system had more rules rather than vague statements and waving hands. But Honor so far in her books doesn't typically lean toward hard magic systems. It's almost like she wants them to be hard, but doesn't want to have to figure them out in order to make them so. Thus, crazy fonts, magic wands, and waving hands. (Which I totally don't blame her, because hard magic systems are, well, hard.)
While I like Sevana fine, I'm not sure I'll continue the series. I was a bit disappointed that the next book wouldn't be featuring Bellomi, as I really enjoyed his character the most. If I do read, it'll be a bit down the road. I think I want to give it some time to digest.
AUDIOBOOK REVIEW:
1-2 out of 5
The narration was horrendous. There were so many pauses that it became rage-inducing annoying to listen to. Poor Cheridah Best needed an editor to give her more direction, or someone to post edit all of those ridiculous hesitations out. I sped the narration up as fast as I could without getting into chipmunk range, and it helped...a little. I got it to 1.7 speed but those pauses were still there to annoy. I highly highly recommend not listening to this on audiobook. It legitimately made me start hating the story. And just my little nitpicky thing: my eye twitched every time the word "asked" was said. She says it like "acksd" and it drove me nuts. I will say this, she had some fun Jamaican-esque accents that made me smile.
Language: None.
Violence: Very mild. Some fighting, but little to no blood, any deaths happen 'off-screen'.
Sexual: Mild. Some kisses, hugs, cuddles. There is one scene where one character reports that he had to give another character the birds and the bees talk, but it is also off screen.
TW: There is some child neglect and emotional neglect in the book. It is mild, but it deeply affects one character when he realizes how much he lost. I'd say the trigger is very mild, but it is there.
I'm starting to get a feel for Honor Raconteur's tone and style. This book is no different that others she's written in that there are some amusing characters, ie: the standoffish chaotic good one, the sweet cinnamon roll one, the too smart for their own good one, the oblivious but vital to the team one, and the animal sidekick.
The pacing of the book is very much a stroll. Tonally it reads more like slice of life with some high stakes. It's interesting how she can give major issues to the plot, things that are dire, and yet she still is able to say, but in reality they aren't going to be solved quickly. Because neither the antagonist or protagonist can plan and execute a plan that fast. So, we get this staged plot where they solve one issue at a time while working on the main huge issue. And in the process, there are of course more problems that pop up to solve.
All in all, I had fun reading it, even if it does lag somewhat. The story is more for the characters than the plot, which I prefer anyway. Character driven stories are my jam.
The magic system was super soft. It's basically just vague and waving wands, incantations, and a bit of chemistry/engineering mixed in? The actual spoken incantations were a gobbledygook font that I can't help but wonder how in the world they did it in the audiobook. I kinda wish the magic system had more rules rather than vague statements and waving hands. But Honor so far in her books doesn't typically lean toward hard magic systems. It's almost like she wants them to be hard, but doesn't want to have to figure them out in order to make them so. Thus, crazy fonts, magic wands, and waving hands. (Which I totally don't blame her, because hard magic systems are, well, hard.)
While I like Sevana fine, I'm not sure I'll continue the series. I was a bit disappointed that the next book wouldn't be featuring Bellomi, as I really enjoyed his character the most. If I do read, it'll be a bit down the road. I think I want to give it some time to digest.
AUDIOBOOK REVIEW:
1-2 out of 5
The narration was horrendous. There were so many pauses that it became rage-inducing annoying to listen to. Poor Cheridah Best needed an editor to give her more direction, or someone to post edit all of those ridiculous hesitations out. I sped the narration up as fast as I could without getting into chipmunk range, and it helped...a little. I got it to 1.7 speed but those pauses were still there to annoy. I highly highly recommend not listening to this on audiobook. It legitimately made me start hating the story. And just my little nitpicky thing: my eye twitched every time the word "asked" was said. She says it like "acksd" and it drove me nuts. I will say this, she had some fun Jamaican-esque accents that made me smile.
December 9, 2025
This series just makes for lovely comfort reading. It features a smart, capable heroine, interesting mysteries/ adventures, appealing side characters, and overall just has a light, fun tenor to it.
There's also a romance that builds up slowly later, and gains momentum in the last book. The hero is such a sweetheart. It's lovely to read because it's not something flashy or dazzling, but rather the sweet unsung devotion you'd see in their everyday life.
There's also a romance that builds up slowly later, and gains momentum in the last book. The hero is such a sweetheart. It's lovely to read because it's not something flashy or dazzling, but rather the sweet unsung devotion you'd see in their everyday life.
August 13, 2015
This book dragged on FOR EV ER! Oh my gosh it took so long to get through. It could have been trimmed considerably.
Some funny parts and it was clean, so that was tolerable.
Some funny parts and it was clean, so that was tolerable.
December 18, 2015
Very enjoyable, and I loved the characters. Problems were solved a little too easily for there to be any real tension though, and the book could use tighter editing. Look forward to the next one.
February 21, 2022
This isn't bad.. it's pretty decent actually. It just, feels a bit too young for me. I'd put it between 2 and 3 stars, so somewhere between it being "ok" and thinking it was good. It feels like it's for the younger end of YA, between middle grade and YA. So the problem is I'm not the target audience.
The main character Sevana is pretty cool, and i suspect she is neurodiverse, but she lacks some bite. By that I mean, it kind of annoys me that she is mostly bark, and the bite is severely lacking. (which I guess makes sense with this series being somewhat "young" she can't really follow through on most of her threats) She is a powerhouse however, and I do like how she manages to end the final conflict with a mic drop girlboss move. The story itself meanders a bit, and I feel like it could have been shorter. It just felt a bit unfocused. There were some funny moments, but it was hit and miss for me.
Prince Bellomi is annoying as fuck and I just wish I saw less of him. Luckily He seems to be mostly a one off character, there are some other side characters—fellow artifactors of Sevana—that I like well enough, and we get a feeling these will keep popping up in future books.
Honor Raconteur is pretty decent author, and I do love her Henri Davenforth series... so I'm gonna continue these, despite it's not being my main wheelhouse.
The main character Sevana is pretty cool, and i suspect she is neurodiverse, but she lacks some bite. By that I mean, it kind of annoys me that she is mostly bark, and the bite is severely lacking. (which I guess makes sense with this series being somewhat "young" she can't really follow through on most of her threats) She is a powerhouse however, and I do like how she manages to end the final conflict with a mic drop girlboss move. The story itself meanders a bit, and I feel like it could have been shorter. It just felt a bit unfocused. There were some funny moments, but it was hit and miss for me.
Prince Bellomi is annoying as fuck and I just wish I saw less of him. Luckily He seems to be mostly a one off character, there are some other side characters—fellow artifactors of Sevana—that I like well enough, and we get a feeling these will keep popping up in future books.
Honor Raconteur is pretty decent author, and I do love her Henri Davenforth series... so I'm gonna continue these, despite it's not being my main wheelhouse.
June 21, 2020
I'm reviewing all 5 books in this series together as they whilst all wonderful, complete stories in their own right, each one is as good as the last, and it is the impression of the characters, the world and their interactions that stand out.
I think Sevana might possibly be my most favourite character of Honor Raconteur's so far (maybe heading it up with Jamie and Mei). She is a child prodigy, fully aware that it is her brain and not her innate magic that make her so special. In fact, unusually for so many starring characters her magic ability is fairly weak and this frustrates Sevana greatly a times. She is not as egotistical as you might think (although never humble!) and goes on a very long journey of growing up and personal growth throughout these 5 books. She unwittingly makes allies where ever she goes and I love that she is always solving a problem, even if she should really be looking out for herself. The world here is also delightful, with magic, fae, Gods of differing pantheons, and a rich cultural diversity. Each story is complete, although Sevana is very much on her own journey and
I think Sevana might possibly be my most favourite character of Honor Raconteur's so far (maybe heading it up with Jamie and Mei). She is a child prodigy, fully aware that it is her brain and not her innate magic that make her so special. In fact, unusually for so many starring characters her magic ability is fairly weak and this frustrates Sevana greatly a times. She is not as egotistical as you might think (although never humble!) and goes on a very long journey of growing up and personal growth throughout these 5 books. She unwittingly makes allies where ever she goes and I love that she is always solving a problem, even if she should really be looking out for herself. The world here is also delightful, with magic, fae, Gods of differing pantheons, and a rich cultural diversity. Each story is complete, although Sevana is very much on her own journey and
October 7, 2021
The author has a highly competent MC and tells a good story, what more could you want? In this book the MC is convinced to undertaking breaking the prince's curse. The curse, laid on the prince 10 years ago, prevents the prince from aging. Since such a curse isn't necessarily malevolent it bypassed the prince's protections but is sufficient to prevent the prince from ever becoming king. So, not only does the MC have to break an incredibly powerful curse but she will also end up being drug into finding the perpetrator as well.
My only issue with this story is both subjective and (most likely) unreasonable. You see, while I found this story interesting, I did not find it compelling. As a result I will not be rushing off to buy the third book in the series (I already have the second). I will, however, look over the author's other titles in the hope of finding something of interest. (This series was my first time reading Honor Raconteur's works so I just took what was readily available and was pleasantly surprised. Now I'll put some effort into checking out the author's offerings.)
My only issue with this story is both subjective and (most likely) unreasonable. You see, while I found this story interesting, I did not find it compelling. As a result I will not be rushing off to buy the third book in the series (I already have the second). I will, however, look over the author's other titles in the hope of finding something of interest. (This series was my first time reading Honor Raconteur's works so I just took what was readily available and was pleasantly surprised. Now I'll put some effort into checking out the author's offerings.)
December 27, 2024
What’s Your Name, Again?
Artifactor1
Hilarious.
Grumpy Sevana Warren resents the time it takes to be polite. People take up so much energy and space. She has her mountain, her work, and a playful mountain lion to keep her occupied, with occasional visits from her best friend, who actually enjoys people, to sell her designs.
But, her friend lives in the real world, and life is getting harder for everyone else. So, Kip asks her to uncurse the Child Prince. No other magician has managed to undo it, and it would enhance her reputation. That doesn’t move her, but a permanent Artifactor license - that dispenses with the annual paperwork, that Sevana would move mountains for.
So, she kidnaps the prince, and sets up a training regimen for him, as she analyses what elements compose the anti-aging spell. The spell has been in stasis for ten years locking the now twenty one year old prince in an eight year old body.
It takes skill and talent and connections, but the prince is worth the hassles. Maybe.
Artifactor1
Hilarious.
Grumpy Sevana Warren resents the time it takes to be polite. People take up so much energy and space. She has her mountain, her work, and a playful mountain lion to keep her occupied, with occasional visits from her best friend, who actually enjoys people, to sell her designs.
But, her friend lives in the real world, and life is getting harder for everyone else. So, Kip asks her to uncurse the Child Prince. No other magician has managed to undo it, and it would enhance her reputation. That doesn’t move her, but a permanent Artifactor license - that dispenses with the annual paperwork, that Sevana would move mountains for.
So, she kidnaps the prince, and sets up a training regimen for him, as she analyses what elements compose the anti-aging spell. The spell has been in stasis for ten years locking the now twenty one year old prince in an eight year old body.
It takes skill and talent and connections, but the prince is worth the hassles. Maybe.
September 11, 2021
Fantastic Start To A New Series
Honor Raconteur has become my new favorite author to read.
And this 1st, in what looks to be a 5.5 book series, does a phenomenal job in setting up characters-some human,
some not so human-as well as the fantasy world, the surroundings, the areas, that I can see expanding as the series fleshes out.
I love the MC, Sevana’s quirky, no nonsense, take nothing attitude. There is a softer side that she prefers not to admit to or expose to the outer world, but I believe it’s there. Guess we will have to wait and see. And of course who can’t help but love Big, Baby, and Kip, her mountain, her mountain lion, and her long time childhood friend, who are all very devoted to Sevana. As well her eccentric, unconventional, madcap, yet innovative Master, and fellow Artifactors.
Her first adventure has plenty of twists and turns, with laughter, and light drama combined. Nothing too devious and dark.
I would highly recommend this one!
Honor Raconteur has become my new favorite author to read.
And this 1st, in what looks to be a 5.5 book series, does a phenomenal job in setting up characters-some human,
some not so human-as well as the fantasy world, the surroundings, the areas, that I can see expanding as the series fleshes out.
I love the MC, Sevana’s quirky, no nonsense, take nothing attitude. There is a softer side that she prefers not to admit to or expose to the outer world, but I believe it’s there. Guess we will have to wait and see. And of course who can’t help but love Big, Baby, and Kip, her mountain, her mountain lion, and her long time childhood friend, who are all very devoted to Sevana. As well her eccentric, unconventional, madcap, yet innovative Master, and fellow Artifactors.
Her first adventure has plenty of twists and turns, with laughter, and light drama combined. Nothing too devious and dark.
I would highly recommend this one!
September 14, 2025
Honor Raconteur has to be one of my favorite reads, but this is the first time I’ve ventured beyond the Henri Davenforth series.
It’s a lovely story about a cursed young prince and his equally cursed father whose roles are slowly being stolen by the city council, unbeknownst to the populace at large.
Helping overcome the curses is Sevana Warren, a somewhat crusty young artifactor whose only want in life is to have her artifactor’s license be permanent, so she doesn’t have to deal with bureaucratic nonsense— like people— once per year.
She, her sentient hillhome named Big and her companion Baby (a mountain lion) are about to be inundated with a young man who needs to regain his 10 years of stolen life, teach him how to make friends, give him the knowledge to reign and then discover and save his father from the same miscreants.
It has his moments, definitely, and Big, without saying a word, will steal your heart. It’s a great fairytale.
December 27, 2022
This was my first book from this author. I liked the story and characters overall. The thing is I didn't realize the story would be from 2 POV's. Personally I only like 2 POV's if it's coming from both main love interests. This was not that. For that reason I can only give it 3 stars. I really would've much rather read a story solely from the artifactor's pov. It made the book that much longer and to be honest I started skipping the prince's parts because I wasn't really interested in his character and he was kinda annoying a lot of the time. I don't think I'll be giving the next book, in this series, a shot unfortunately.
December 25, 2023
I am developing an obsession with Sevana Warran. I love how she talks like she is so self-centred and stone-hearted, but her actions ring more of meddling older sister than reclusive crone. I particularly love the premise behind this story. I have never before read of a magic-user so determined to circumvent bureaucracy that she would stage a royal kidnapping, break an impossible curse and forment a revolution. That is a powerful hatred of bureaucracy. If she would do this to avoid filing papers, I really wonder what she is going to do next!
I received a copy from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a copy from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 6, 2022
Really good, unusual fantasy novel.
This is a good story, quite different from many in this genre. It follows a young Artifactor, Sevana, and a Prince who has been cursed to remain a child. Sevana lives within a sentient mountain with a mountain lion as her companion, and it is here she brings the young Prince after a daring kidnap. Then she discovers his father, the King, is also under a curse, and decides she must do her best to free him also. Their travels and experiments are well written and fit perfectly into the tale.
This is a good story, quite different from many in this genre. It follows a young Artifactor, Sevana, and a Prince who has been cursed to remain a child. Sevana lives within a sentient mountain with a mountain lion as her companion, and it is here she brings the young Prince after a daring kidnap. Then she discovers his father, the King, is also under a curse, and decides she must do her best to free him also. Their travels and experiments are well written and fit perfectly into the tale.
January 17, 2024
Very interesting storyline...
I enjoy books about magic and complete kingdoms created from The genius creativity of writers like this author.
One complaint I had was the conclusion...too rushed, no wedding details, and we did not discover the fate of the Verlindens. Did she remain a frog? Which councilmen died? Too many hanging, open ended details. Four stars, though, and I'd still recommend this series to anyone. I just became so disappointed in the ending after such a beautifully detailed story and all its twists.
I enjoy books about magic and complete kingdoms created from The genius creativity of writers like this author.
One complaint I had was the conclusion...too rushed, no wedding details, and we did not discover the fate of the Verlindens. Did she remain a frog? Which councilmen died? Too many hanging, open ended details. Four stars, though, and I'd still recommend this series to anyone. I just became so disappointed in the ending after such a beautifully detailed story and all its twists.
April 26, 2019
Great Read
Sevana is a prodigy Artifactor. She is talked into helping Prince Bellomi break a curse of being in a perpetually eight years old body even though he is twenty one. I enjoyed watching her abrasive nature smooth a bit as she dealt with the Prince and others. It was interesting watching the Prince mature as Sevana dealt with the curse. I like the action, humor, and romance. I look forward to the next book.
Sevana is a prodigy Artifactor. She is talked into helping Prince Bellomi break a curse of being in a perpetually eight years old body even though he is twenty one. I enjoyed watching her abrasive nature smooth a bit as she dealt with the Prince and others. It was interesting watching the Prince mature as Sevana dealt with the curse. I like the action, humor, and romance. I look forward to the next book.
June 27, 2019
pretty good. Good worldbuilding, nice premise. A few grammatical and plotline issues, but not enough to pull me out of the story.
Sometimes when you read a good book that reaches its HEA, you still want to read about the open plot items and know how everything tied together but you don't always get it. This book closed all the open threads with a new bow. You aren't left wondering about anything because all the questions were answered.
overall, a bit long, but pretty good.
Sometimes when you read a good book that reaches its HEA, you still want to read about the open plot items and know how everything tied together but you don't always get it. This book closed all the open threads with a new bow. You aren't left wondering about anything because all the questions were answered.
overall, a bit long, but pretty good.
February 1, 2021
Excellent Read
Highly enjoyable read. Well developed characters in a fantasy world that grows effortlessly around you as you read. No flicking back chapters to recall character roles or locations. Fantastic magical artifacts, most of which I want to own. Honestly I thought the climax lacked the punch, the build up had led me to anticipate. However, it was interesting logical, and fitted the general tone of the novel. A quality read and we'll above the average.
Highly enjoyable read. Well developed characters in a fantasy world that grows effortlessly around you as you read. No flicking back chapters to recall character roles or locations. Fantastic magical artifacts, most of which I want to own. Honestly I thought the climax lacked the punch, the build up had led me to anticipate. However, it was interesting logical, and fitted the general tone of the novel. A quality read and we'll above the average.
Read
March 23, 2021I loved the scope of this fantasy adventure novel. Sevena is a woman after my own heart - picky, somewhat standoffish & with a wicked sense of humor. Bel is a young man trapped in a child's body trying to figure out a world that he's been locked away from for over 10 years. The changes in both of these characters throughout this book are wonderful! Highly recommend for the fantasy adventurist at heart!!
December 19, 2021
Interesting world
3.5 stars. It’s a clean YA fantasy, the beginning of a series. I thought Sevanna was an intriguing contradiction of a main character, and the child prince and additional cast of characters added interest. There’s some advice for authors of “show, don’t tell” … and this plot had a lot of telling and less showing going on, as well as some pacing issues and weak reasons for why things had to happen the way they did.
3.5 stars. It’s a clean YA fantasy, the beginning of a series. I thought Sevanna was an intriguing contradiction of a main character, and the child prince and additional cast of characters added interest. There’s some advice for authors of “show, don’t tell” … and this plot had a lot of telling and less showing going on, as well as some pacing issues and weak reasons for why things had to happen the way they did.
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