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Keiran: The Eternal Mage #2

Wolves of the Wastes

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Banished from his village, an archmage enters the mana-dry wastes.

Keiran, millennia old archmage, has managed to successfully control the reincarnation cycle and retain all of his memories and skills. That’s about the only thing that’s gone right. Mana seems to have all but disappeared, and a cabal of mages from a nearby city have been using the villagers of his new home as a mana farm for their own purposes.

How long was Keiran gone? Where did the mana go? Does it have anything to do with the missing moon from the sky or the bizarre loss of the written language from his first life? Why are the best mages on the level of bumbling apprentices? Filled with questions and determined to find answers, Keiran journeys to the city of Derro.

The Wolf Pack rules over the desert city, and if Keiran wants access to the knowledge they hold, he’ll have to fight for it, one bloody step at a time. For all his skill, he’s trapped in the body of a child in a world where mana is as scarce as gold.

Can he overcome a group of mages who’ve had decades to grow their power base, or will the Wolves of the Wastes drag him down and eat him alive?

A reincarnated archmage's journey to the peak – perfect for fans of The Beginning After the End, Imperial Wizard, and Birth of the Demonic Sword.

A top rated novel on Royal Road with over a million views, now professionally edited and available on Amazon and Audible narrated by John Joseph Rogers and Rylee Kuberra. Buy a copy or read free with Kindle Unlimited!

476 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 19, 2024

547 people are currently reading
80 people want to read

About the author

D.E. Sherman

9 books46 followers

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5 stars
974 (55%)
4 stars
520 (29%)
3 stars
188 (10%)
2 stars
46 (2%)
1 star
12 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
Profile Image for Tony Hinde.
2,181 reviews79 followers
June 30, 2024
3.5 stars

I enjoyed this a little more than book one. For most of the book, Keiran seemed under the gun and there was some doubt he could succeed – not that he showed a moment of concern. This tension, when combined with a fast pace (over a long span) kept things moving.

If you're sensitive to morally grey characters then you'll have issues with Keiran's calmness in the face of so many murders. Sure he didn't go out of his way to kill the innocent but that's a long way from being a hero.

I was a little disappointed when the mystery of the missing moon was revealed. Particularly when later in the book Keiran implied it would be super easy, barely an inconvenience to fix it all.
259 reviews
November 1, 2024
DNF For me, the mc is not someone who I want to survive the series

The first book wasn't to bad. Reading about a 3 year old was a little hard to believe. I don't think the author has ever met one. Even if he has the memories of an adult, the is no way for his 3 year old brain to have the hand eye coordination to do anything. Knowledge and action are two different things. Otherwise we would all be professional athletes.

I quit reading because the MC was a typical "might makes right" anti-hero who finally reveals that murder is just something he does whenever. It was mentioned multiple times he has the capability to wipe memories in order to keep secrets, but murder is so much easier even when they are innocent.
Profile Image for Akshay.
856 reviews6 followers
November 30, 2024

"Wolves of the Wastes" by D.E. Sherman is the second installment in the "Keiran: The Eternal Mage" series, a compelling entry in the burgeoning progression fantasy genre. This novel continues the epic journey of Keiran, an eternal mage facing formidable challenges in a richly crafted fantasy world.



Plot and Premise:



The narrative of "Wolves of the Wastes" centers around Keiran, a protagonist who has lived for two millennia, as he confronts a powerful group of mages who have spent decades building their power base. The central conflict revolves around Keiran's struggle to overcome these adversaries while facing the threat of the enigmatic "Wolves of the Wastes," which seek to consume him. This premise sets the stage for an intense exploration of power dynamics, personal growth, and the consequences of wielding ancient magic.



Characters:




Keiran: The protagonist, an eternal mage who has lived for 2,000 years. Keiran's character arc is central to the series, as he grapples with the limits of his worn-out body and the challenges of his extended existence. His journey from a "gutter rat" to an archmage forms the backbone of the narrative, embodying the core tenets of progression fantasy.
The Mages: A group of powerful adversaries who have spent decades amassing their strength. These characters likely serve as significant antagonists, presenting formidable obstacles for Keiran to overcome.
Wolves of the Wastes: While not explicitly described as characters, they represent a significant threat within the narrative, possibly serving as both literal and metaphorical challenges for Keiran.


Themes and Genre Elements:



"Wolves of the Wastes" embraces key themes common in progression fantasy:




Power Progression: The novel likely focuses on Keiran's growth in magical abilities and personal strength, a hallmark of the genre.
Longevity and Its Consequences: Keiran's two-thousand-year lifespan introduces themes of immortality, wisdom, and the burden of extended existence.
Conflict and Adversity: The struggle against powerful mages and the mysterious Wolves of the Wastes drives the narrative, challenging the protagonist's resolve and abilities.
World-Building: Sherman's work is noted for its detailed world-building and intricate magic system, providing a rich backdrop for the story's events.


Writing Style:



D.E. Sherman's writing style in the "Keiran: The Eternal Mage" series is characterized by its focus on progression fantasy elements. The author balances action-packed sequences with moments of introspection, allowing for both thrilling adventures and deeper character development. Sherman's approach to storytelling involves a blend of traditional fantasy elements with innovative twists, creating a unique narrative that appeals to fans of the genre.



Comparison to Contemporaries:



When compared to other contemporary progression fantasy novels, "Wolves of the Wastes" shares similarities with popular series while carving out its own niche:




Like Will Wight's "Cradle" series, Sherman's work focuses on a protagonist's journey to increase their power and abilities. However, Keiran's ancient age and the "eternal mage" concept provide a unique twist on this trope.
Similar to Andrew Rowe's "Arcane Ascension" series, "Wolves of the Wastes" likely features a detailed magic system and character progression. The focus on an already powerful protagonist facing even greater challenges sets it apart.
While Brandon Sanderson's "The Stormlight Archive" incorporates elements of progression fantasy, Sherman's work appears to be more firmly rooted in the subgenre, with a tighter focus on the protagonist's power growth.


The concept of an eternal mage facing the limits of his existence adds a layer of complexity not commonly seen in other progression fantasy works, potentially offering a fresh perspective on themes of power and mortality.



Reader Appeal:



"Wolves of the Wastes" is likely to appeal to readers who enjoy:




Detailed magic systems and world-building
Character-driven narratives with a focus on personal growth and power progression
Exploration of themes related to immortality and the consequences of extended lifespans
Epic conflicts between powerful magical entities


Conclusion:



"Wolves of the Wastes" by D.E. Sherman presents an intriguing addition to the progression fantasy genre. Its unique premise of an eternal mage facing both internal and external challenges offers a fresh perspective on familiar tropes. Sherman's blend of detailed world-building, character development, and exploration of complex themes positions this novel as a noteworthy entry in the contemporary fantasy landscape.



For readers who enjoy series like "Cradle," "Arcane Ascension," or "The Stormlight Archive," Sherman's "Keiran: The Eternal Mage" series, including "Wolves of the Wastes," offers a promising new world to explore, filled with magical challenges, character growth, and the unique perspective of an ancient protagonist facing the limits of his extraordinary existence.

158 reviews
July 5, 2024
Great entertaining read

Overall, I enjoyed this book. I was more than satisfied with the level of progression and the main characters, personal power, as well as uncovering some of the mysteries that the author had introduced in the first book.

The level of writing is strong, and there were no glaring typos. It is by no means masterpiece, however, I did find myself drawn in and have no major complaints. Besides the fact that I can see the main character is going to grow incredibly strong and no level of obstacle will seem insurmountable. I hope the author has a way of making this still feeling like a challenge to the main character instead of having him roll over everything and have the reading experience be meaningless.
Profile Image for Jonathan Edenfield.
2 reviews1 follower
April 29, 2025
Okay Book

It's a great idea for a book/series, but poor execution. Unfortunately, the writers style suffers from a lot of bloat by continuously repeating information already provided. As an example, when talking about magical wards every time the MC encounters them, the author rexplains how wards work sometimes multiple times in the same chapter. This happens with most magical elements in the book, making it tedious to re-read the same stuff over and over.
Profile Image for Gareth Otton.
Author 5 books133 followers
June 21, 2024
This is a really solid sequel for this series, delivering exactly the same highlights and negatives as the last book. Therefore, if you liked the first book, then you should enjoy your time with the second book.

That being said, I do think this story has more potential that it isn't exploiting right now. Picking up the pacing of the overarching plot and adding in some character work to help the main character grow beyond his uncaring self-interest would go a long way into elevating this into the 5-star review realm.

I think it would make the protagonist more compelling if he was less aloof, and I would be far more invested in him as a result. I don't need him to go 100% into being an altruistic character, but I struggle to identify with the kind of character who can ignore the plight of children living a life of starvation, danger and hardship on the street when it is well within his power (barely an inconvenience) to change their fates. In this particular novel, doing so might even have allowed him to achieve his goals faster. I'm all for the breath of fresh air of a self-interested main character, but there is a fine line between a character driven by self-interest and a despicable human being. The first is a protagonist I can enjoy reading about; the second is not.

Overall though, this was a fun, easy-reading sequel that I think will only get better when read back in the binge model as part of a larger series. I am looking forward to the next book to see where the story goes next.
Profile Image for Ford Miller.
732 reviews7 followers
July 20, 2024
Enjoyable. Very over explained. Lot of fuller and useless info dumps.

To enjoyable story. My favorite part of this series is so far, in the first two books, the main character retains his agency. It's so enjoyable to read a story where the main character directs what he wants to do, and how he will overcome obstacles. So many authors today lead the main character by creating events that they have no control over and they must go from a to b to c to D....
The only issue I have with the series is the constant inner reflection the character has on every situation. This contemplation will start with there are three ways to do this.. only for the author to continue with none of them being viable and he does something completely different. If this took place within the paragraph, no problem. Whoever the author sometimes goes into exposition pages long that end up being meaningless as an information dump with no bearing on the story, except to expand upon the world building from the main character's past life. If some of that inter contemplating dialogue would actually end up as foreshadowing, the reader could forgive the author, but it never does. That said, it's an okay story. It's a little predictable but fun. Pacing is slow sometimes with over-explaining, but overall a good story..
Profile Image for Ray Frank.
13 reviews
April 2, 2025
**"An Epic Sequel That Exceeds Expectations—Fantasy at Its Finest!"**

*Wolves of the Wastes* picks up right where *The Faded Land* left off, continuing the breathtaking journey with the same masterful world-building and immersive storytelling. D.E. Sherman proves once again that he is a force in the fantasy genre, crafting a sequel that not only matches but even surpasses the first book.

The characters feel incredibly life like. The world remains richly detailed, making every scene feel vivid and real. The pacing keeps you turning pages late into the night, and the stakes only grow higher as the story unfolds.

This series is shaping up to be one of the best I’ve ever read, and I cannot wait to see where the journey goes next. If you loved *The Faded Land*, you will be blown away by *Wolves of the Wastes*. Highly recommended!
9 reviews
September 12, 2024
Better than book 1, but still has issues with too much inner dialogue overanalyzing and over explaining everything.

I do like that there is a wider cast of characters the MC regularly interacts with now, which somewhat helps alleviate the main issue stated above. The mystery of where/when he is, is explained in a mostly satisfying way. I almost predicted what had happened with the world and the other moon, but there were some unexpected revelations that were interesting. There are still a lot of questions that need answering, but I'm assuming book 3 will likely get around to those. The author has stated on Reddit that they only plan on there being 5 books in this series, so I'm glad there is a coherent and finite roadmap for the story.
Profile Image for Nathan.
1,099 reviews4 followers
September 10, 2025
neutral evil

We had hints that Kieran was Not A Good Person, but a few actions push him from Chaotic Neutral to Neutral Evil. And from his autobiographical asides, he may have been a dark lord with a hate-on for snooty nobles for his first few centuries before he calmed down.

At the end of the day, KieranGravin is just a wizard who cheated death, and who is indirectly responsible for destroying the fabric of mana and society as he knew it while waiting for rebirth.

Maybe next time you try to reincarnate, leave a trusted lieutenant to watch that other mages don’t wreck the world like a sixteen year old throwing a house party.
Profile Image for Kevin.
1,765 reviews32 followers
October 20, 2024
Another Legend of the Arch Magus knockoff.

I really do love a competent protagonist. Will definitely be reading the sequel to see how the protag deals with his issues.

After reading two of the author's books, I can see he isn't a YA author who has his characters behaving foolishly.

I am considering trying another series by the author under a different pen name, that also has a young protagonist. I don't know if the author has two pen names to separate the YA from the adult, but I will try that Emergencycomplaints books.

3/5 Stars
5 reviews
November 10, 2024
Overpowered, No Tension. Fixing History

We have here a reasonable story, entertaining. Definitely a power fantasy. And how.

The plot has some promise of mystery - where did things go wrong? Who else is out there? What needs fixing?

The magic system is perfectly fine. Great, even.

But I consider it a 3.5* book for a couple of reasons - mostly, it's (so far) a bit short on characters, sophisticated plot, great humor -- e.g. i want more from an author before i say that a book is great.

Its good.

Profile Image for tester.
381 reviews1 follower
June 5, 2025
The mc turns into a little murder hobo in this one, but the writing is better, still going on tangents though. Seems the author was trying to convey the cold calculation of the thousand year old being, it's kind of believable here, the mc sees kill as the more convenient solution to many of his problems. There is more of a plot and some actual characterization here diving into the polictic machinations of a city. Though I feel finding out the actual political structure first, would have saved a lot of time and effort for the MC...
2,529 reviews17 followers
June 22, 2024
I’m not sure I’d have enjoyed this one if I didn’t like him from the first book. In this book he’s constantly murdering people to ‘tie up loose ends’ and yet this always causes more loose ends. Which he murders. Whether this is meant to be a lesson for us about how murdering doesn’t pay, I don’t know, but it doesn’t exactly warm your heart. Besides, he murders his way to victory in the end and doesn’t learn a thing.
Profile Image for Mike Goodman.
1,602 reviews12 followers
June 30, 2024
Excellent Stuff

This story of a reborn archmage who was able to keep his memories from his previous life was fantastic. He is a four year old taking down the current government. He also finds out his former apprentices destroyed the mana of the world. He needs to grow and fix the world.
254 reviews5 followers
June 22, 2024
A very good read

A very good read the story is very strong and well written .the imagination had to go a bit to make a 4 year old fit in and not just assume ? Give this book a go it will make u think!
18 reviews
June 24, 2024
Disappointing sequel. The writing is decent, but far too much exposition this time around. There were more interesting characters in the first book. This time around, the MC is a narcissistic sociopath that just goes murderhobo because he wants others property. I wish he would just die already.
105 reviews2 followers
June 25, 2024
A happy accident

I discovered this author by accident, and I’m glad I gave their books a try. I enjoyed both Book 1 and Book 2, and I’m eagerly looking forward to Book 3. To me, Keiran is an antihero who loves his family and is willing to do anything to keep them safe.”
Profile Image for M.
598 reviews22 followers
June 25, 2024
I read the first one as a lark. Not a big fan of little kids fighting with adults and wiping the floor with them ... height of lunacy. So I was quite surprised when I read the first one in one sitting. I really really liked it. Defeats the kabal.
64 reviews
July 23, 2024
another awesome book

Love this series. It’s action packed, and full of adventures. Main character is a little bit of a donkey but hey that’s what being the best can do to a person.
Can’t wait for the next one.
770 reviews4 followers
July 23, 2024
wolves of the wastes book 2

I enjoyed the book. It was fast paced with real characters. As with all stories it had parts I did not like. Since I have no talent for writing take that wit a grain of salt.
1,115 reviews15 followers
August 1, 2024
The protagonist is a sociopath!

The protagonist becomes more and more a mass murdering murder hobo. Most of the killings could have been avoided. The death of the noble girl was a pure and absolutely unnecessary murder!
97 reviews
September 17, 2024
this book was even better than the first one!

This book was very hard to put down especially once you really since your teeth into it. Can’t wait to learn more about the world and Keiran’s place in it. Keep up the good work!
Profile Image for James Riley.
1,263 reviews16 followers
September 25, 2024
A great sequel

Simply put. If you liked the first book, you'll like this one. It picks up right after the first book ends. I'm looking forward to the next one.

Highly recommended.

Profile Image for Travis.
2,945 reviews49 followers
December 21, 2024
This story just keeps getting better and better. Love the way the main character has to deal with all the problems of being a child, but still handle adult situations. It's all very entertaining, and of course, the magic is a plus too. Looking forward to reading the n ext one in the series.
116 reviews
February 1, 2025
The series continues wonderfully

I am verry happy I found this series. It's a wonderfully written story and told from a very developed character's perspective. Can't wait for the next book.
Profile Image for Lester.
90 reviews
March 31, 2025
Skimmed through 80% of the book

It was a lot of inner dialogue for me, and a lot of analysis which I usually don’t mind but it didn’t work for me here. Good book though from what i’ve been able to read
1,108 reviews4 followers
April 25, 2025
So clever

DE Sherman is a highly intelligent author and it’s displayed through every bit of this book. The thought processes and strategies are excellent and lead to unexpected surprises. Great read.
512 reviews1 follower
June 21, 2024
Dark but interesting

There's Lots of violence and death but also insight, introspection and good world building. Good pacing. I liked the story .
Profile Image for John Edward.
28 reviews3 followers
June 25, 2024
Unique fantasy series

Great progression and concept of reincarnation as well as morality. Does not build characters other than the main one much though.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews

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