beautiful work, wildly impressive, great characters
Rating: 5 🌈
It’s been since February 27, 2022 when I read the fabulously horrifying book Buried Mage, fourth in Michael Taggert’s wildly imaginative, densely packed and beautifully detailed fantasy series, Fledgling God.
So seeing that Taggert had finally released another book in the series is a great joy and, one that takes a bit to remember all that has happened in the previous novels as it’s been a while .
This is a series I think might be worth waiting for all the books to be published and then binge reading them all together . You might be absolutely book drunk at the end but you’ve had the most amazing experience and it’s been a journey you will remember.
Individually, each book stops and starts right after the other has ended. Taggert’s picking up his narrative as though there’s been no interruption. Such as having to write another book!
Honestly, I seem to overlook things here that otherwise would normally make me narratively have issues with the story simply because the of the incredible ideas, the wildly wackadoodle flights of imagination that are the hallmarks of this author and series.
Every character. Including the House of House Louisville has a uniquely fascinating personality. One that continues to grow and deepen throughout the series in surprising ways. It’s not just about the characters. It’s magical charms and crystals, Marks and soul creations like tiny Miners and Surfers, and more importantly, each type of being that two of the mages, Jason and Annabeth, encounter here or create, vividly come to life on the page and mean something special to the reader. It’s a uniquely beautiful and powerful cast of characters that , from bugs to crystals to enslaved mages, they draw the reader inside the story and whatever small sections they inhabit.
This time the focus is primarily narrowed down to Jason and Annabeth, although we do get some new information about the other three members of the House. They have to enter a contest and what a contest it is . The book ends before the contest is finished. It’s simply epic. A giant quest, a RPG with real teams and on a planet where things can mess up your team. Sort of.
I can’t begin to explain what this is about. And normally I’d say that Taggert has too much laid in his story that slows down his narrative . But I can’t. Every crazy, zany, over-the-top scene this author has thought of and written, and I’m talking Tim Gunn narrating a male fashion show for Jason type of insanity, and I’m totally committed. I’m 100 percent invested.
And he does this over and over. And it works. Wild side trips here and there, junkets to vaults, it’s just so fun or personal and imaginative while sticking with the same theme and emotions. It keeps the reader connected and fascinated and thrilled with everything that is happening.
Then, boom . We need to wait for the next one to come. Sigh. Which I will.
Taggert does a small book by book recap at the beginning but it’s not even close to what happened. So do think about what type of reader you are and the experience you want to get into here.
Either way, these books are a must read.
Love the cover.
Fledgling God:
Misfit Mage #1
Melee Mage #2
Gathering Mage #3
Buried Mage #4
Tournament Mage #5