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The Last Magus: Dragonfire and Steel
The Magus were legendary magic casters/warriors, able to cast spells and wield powerful magical weapons. They were the guardians of magic in Attlain but were cast out and feared for their power. Marcus Gideon was trained by The Last Magus, destined to restore the dignity of the order.
After graduating from the Basilon Magical Academy, Gideon sets off for his master’s homeland. Plodoro was an isolated city in the far north of the Skjem-Tur mountains. Surrounded by giants and blanketed in an endless winter, Gideon traveled to the far-flung region to fulfill a final request of his master and return a sacred weapon to his people. He must finish this task to return to his true love, Wren.
The First Princess of Attlain fell in love with Gideon during their time at Basilon. Now, to win her parents’ approval, Gideon must win the Helios Arcanum Magical Arts Festival. This celebration showcases the best magic casters in Attlain, and Gideon is the first Magus to compete in over a hundred years. As he fights for his life and reputation, a dark shadow looms over him as the Ulbrecht Domo―the Shadow Lord of Ishtar―has other plans for The Last Magus.
After graduating from the Basilon Magical Academy, Gideon sets off for his master’s homeland. Plodoro was an isolated city in the far north of the Skjem-Tur mountains. Surrounded by giants and blanketed in an endless winter, Gideon traveled to the far-flung region to fulfill a final request of his master and return a sacred weapon to his people. He must finish this task to return to his true love, Wren.
The First Princess of Attlain fell in love with Gideon during their time at Basilon. Now, to win her parents’ approval, Gideon must win the Helios Arcanum Magical Arts Festival. This celebration showcases the best magic casters in Attlain, and Gideon is the first Magus to compete in over a hundred years. As he fights for his life and reputation, a dark shadow looms over him as the Ulbrecht Domo―the Shadow Lord of Ishtar―has other plans for The Last Magus.
370 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 15, 2023
3 people want to read
About the author
Mark Piggott
10 books66 followersMark Piggott, a native of Phillipsburg, N.J., enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1982, beginning a 23-year career.
He served on four aircraft carriers and various duty stations as a Navy Journalist before he attained the rank of Chief Petty Officer. He retired from active duty in 2006.
His first novel, Forever Avalon, was published in 2009, followed by his second novel, The Dark Tides, in 2014. The Outlander War: Book Three of the Forever Avalon series from Austin Macauley Publishing was released in 2020. In 2021, he published the start of a new steampunk fantasy series with The Last Magus: A Clockwork Heart from Lulu.com. At the end of 2021, Mark signed with Curious Corvid Publishing as one of their new authors for this small, independent publisher.
His novels have won a slew of awards over the past years. The Outlander War won second place for fantasy in the 2021 Firebird Book Awards, The Last Magus won first place for steampunk, and in 2022, Forever Avalon won second place for fantasy. Additionally, The Last Magus won the Grand Prize for Fiction in the 2022 Authors Marketing Guild Indie Book Awards.
His latest fantasy novella, The River of Souls, in collaboration with poet Ashley Valitutto, was published in 2022 through Curious Corvid Publishing. Coming in 2023, get ready to dive into a steampunk historical fiction, Corsair and the Sky Pirates and the next book in The Last Magus series, Dragonfire and Steel, and the fourth book in the Forever Avalon series, The Prometheus Engine!
He has a variety of short stories published, including two through The Publishing Room and through Curious Corvid Publishing in the Magpie Messenger and their upcoming anthology.
He and his wife, Georgiene, live in Alexandria, Virginia. They have three children.
He served on four aircraft carriers and various duty stations as a Navy Journalist before he attained the rank of Chief Petty Officer. He retired from active duty in 2006.
His first novel, Forever Avalon, was published in 2009, followed by his second novel, The Dark Tides, in 2014. The Outlander War: Book Three of the Forever Avalon series from Austin Macauley Publishing was released in 2020. In 2021, he published the start of a new steampunk fantasy series with The Last Magus: A Clockwork Heart from Lulu.com. At the end of 2021, Mark signed with Curious Corvid Publishing as one of their new authors for this small, independent publisher.
His novels have won a slew of awards over the past years. The Outlander War won second place for fantasy in the 2021 Firebird Book Awards, The Last Magus won first place for steampunk, and in 2022, Forever Avalon won second place for fantasy. Additionally, The Last Magus won the Grand Prize for Fiction in the 2022 Authors Marketing Guild Indie Book Awards.
His latest fantasy novella, The River of Souls, in collaboration with poet Ashley Valitutto, was published in 2022 through Curious Corvid Publishing. Coming in 2023, get ready to dive into a steampunk historical fiction, Corsair and the Sky Pirates and the next book in The Last Magus series, Dragonfire and Steel, and the fourth book in the Forever Avalon series, The Prometheus Engine!
He has a variety of short stories published, including two through The Publishing Room and through Curious Corvid Publishing in the Magpie Messenger and their upcoming anthology.
He and his wife, Georgiene, live in Alexandria, Virginia. They have three children.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 25, 2024
I could not wait to return to Gideon's captivating world. It was pure delight as the familiar blend of adventure, magic, and vibrant characters filled the pages once more. In this installment of the series, Gideon starts by embarking on a compelling journey to the isolated city of Plodoro to fulfill his late master's final wishes. And that's just the beginning. He has to make it to the Helios competition and not only compete but win. Despite facing relentless moral dilemmas and external pressures, Gideon's unwavering commitment to doing what's right shines through.
This series excels not only in its fantastical elements but also in its exploration of universal themes like duty, love, and the complexities of human (and sometimes non-human) nature. While each book stands on its own, offering a complete and immersive experience, the overarching narrative adds depth for returning readers. With its evocative storytelling and timeless moral resonance, Gideon's saga continues to offer a captivating escape into a world of wonder and integrity.
As always – the incredibly beautiful covers are the first draw!
This series excels not only in its fantastical elements but also in its exploration of universal themes like duty, love, and the complexities of human (and sometimes non-human) nature. While each book stands on its own, offering a complete and immersive experience, the overarching narrative adds depth for returning readers. With its evocative storytelling and timeless moral resonance, Gideon's saga continues to offer a captivating escape into a world of wonder and integrity.
As always – the incredibly beautiful covers are the first draw!
December 14, 2023
This book continues from where The Last Magus: A Clockwork Heart ended. While it does help to have read the first book, it can also be read as a stand alone, as little tidbits from the first book are scattered throughout. But why would you? I was happy to fall right back into the incredible world that Mark Piggott created, the world of Attlain--a sort of alternate universe to ours. Once again, I was treated to a perfect, seamless blend of fantasy, steampunk, magic and magical creatures, and amazing weapons. We find our protagonist, Marcus Gideon, immersed in several quests: to return a magical sword back to the Storm Giants, to compete in competition with a goal to win so he may find status and standing to win the hand of the girl he loves, Wren, who just happens to be a princess, and to seek out those responsible for kidnapping the princess and make them pay. Great feats and impossible challenges, with many satisfying moments. Oh, and Mourne Wolves! And how exciting is it to see Mr Piggott is working on book three! Cannot wait!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews