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The Rogue Mage
Elika crosses the Bridge to Magic to find the world ruled by magic, where nothing is as it seems. Mages run the streets, whilst the tsaren, their masters, war with each other. Though it is men who pay the price with their lives.
Faced with the injustice of the mages and the new world order, Elika discovers her own untapped gifts that may yet shift the balance of power back into the hands of men. But her dabbling in the power she does not understand draws the attention of the dreaded demigod Syn’Moreg.
Elika must now outwit the shadow that hunts her, whilst seeking a way to free mankind from their oppressors. Yet dark grows her heart, and to darkness it reaches for that which the shadow denies.
As whispers of newly found heir to the Sacred Crowns grow to cries of war, Elika comes to realise that she may not be the saviour of mankind after all. Mite has proclaimed himself King Northwind, and marches on Terren to claim what is rightfully his. Elika is certain he will fail, unless she can vanquish the one power standing in his way. But to do that, she must convince the court and the archmage that she is the demigoddess Arala returned.
“How could she live in a world where nothing was certain? Where reality was as cutting as a sword and yet as waning as a dream?”
Faced with the injustice of the mages and the new world order, Elika discovers her own untapped gifts that may yet shift the balance of power back into the hands of men. But her dabbling in the power she does not understand draws the attention of the dreaded demigod Syn’Moreg.
Elika must now outwit the shadow that hunts her, whilst seeking a way to free mankind from their oppressors. Yet dark grows her heart, and to darkness it reaches for that which the shadow denies.
As whispers of newly found heir to the Sacred Crowns grow to cries of war, Elika comes to realise that she may not be the saviour of mankind after all. Mite has proclaimed himself King Northwind, and marches on Terren to claim what is rightfully his. Elika is certain he will fail, unless she can vanquish the one power standing in his way. But to do that, she must convince the court and the archmage that she is the demigoddess Arala returned.
“How could she live in a world where nothing was certain? Where reality was as cutting as a sword and yet as waning as a dream?”
674 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 1, 2024
19 people are currently reading
3159 people want to read
About the author
Alex Thornbury
3 books148 followersAlex Thornbury is an award-winning author. She grew up in Cheshire UK, and developed deep love of history and fantasy thanks to the many castles she visited as a child. Though she grew up to be an Alchemist by trade, she never stopped fantasising about other worlds, dragons and epic battles.
She has abandoned her Alchemy and potion making career, and is now a full time author of high fantasy.
Her debut fantasy novel, The Bridge to Magic, has won multiple awards, including the 2022 Royal Dragonfly Book Award, 2022-23 Reader Views Literary Awards for Overall Grand Prize in Fiction (Silver), Gold medal for YA Fiction, Silver medal for Fantasy, Best Teen/YA Book of the Year and Australia Global Award.
You can find her on:
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/alexthornbu...
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/author.alext...
Website - https://alexthornbury.com/
She has abandoned her Alchemy and potion making career, and is now a full time author of high fantasy.
Her debut fantasy novel, The Bridge to Magic, has won multiple awards, including the 2022 Royal Dragonfly Book Award, 2022-23 Reader Views Literary Awards for Overall Grand Prize in Fiction (Silver), Gold medal for YA Fiction, Silver medal for Fantasy, Best Teen/YA Book of the Year and Australia Global Award.
You can find her on:
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/alexthornbu...
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/author.alext...
Website - https://alexthornbury.com/
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
December 2, 2023
Curse my eyes and my pitiful author's soul, but yes, I will be the first to give this book a rating. Why? Because I have bled over it in the last two years. And yes, I will give it 5 stars because I feel like ... ahem, I bled all over it. Does it deserve it? I have absolutely no idea. So please, please let me know what you think. And if you love it, know that I am now writing book 3 of the Sundered Web trilogy.
April 4, 2024
A Fantastic, Satisfying Sequel
In The Rogue Mage, we learn more about this fascinating world that Alex Thornbury has created. The plot is intriguing and fast-paced, pulling the reader in from the very beginning. Elika continues to be a strong, endearing lead, and her arc is well written and well developed. Truly, this sequel builds upon the framework set up in the first book, and it gives the reader a better understanding of the rules and limitations of magic. I was captivated throughout the entire book, and despite the length, I could have easily finished it in one sitting. I highly recommend this novel to all fans of dark fantasy and complex magical worlds!
In The Rogue Mage, we learn more about this fascinating world that Alex Thornbury has created. The plot is intriguing and fast-paced, pulling the reader in from the very beginning. Elika continues to be a strong, endearing lead, and her arc is well written and well developed. Truly, this sequel builds upon the framework set up in the first book, and it gives the reader a better understanding of the rules and limitations of magic. I was captivated throughout the entire book, and despite the length, I could have easily finished it in one sitting. I highly recommend this novel to all fans of dark fantasy and complex magical worlds!
April 12, 2024
‘The Rogue Mage’ is the second book in a series I enjoyed. It was a pleasure to reconnect with familiar characters and meet new ones as the story unfolded. Thornbury surprised me by delving into the theme of slavery and highlighting the role of an ordinary woman in making a difference and shaping her world for the better.
The author's ability to seamlessly weave together elements of dark fantasy with thought-provoking themes added depth to the narrative. The character development was well done, with each character facing their own challenges and growth throughout the story.
Overall, ‘The Rogue Mage’ is a captivating read that delves into important themes. It also keeps readers engaged with its intriguing plot and well-rounded characters. I consider it a must-read for fans of dark fantasy.
The author's ability to seamlessly weave together elements of dark fantasy with thought-provoking themes added depth to the narrative. The character development was well done, with each character facing their own challenges and growth throughout the story.
Overall, ‘The Rogue Mage’ is a captivating read that delves into important themes. It also keeps readers engaged with its intriguing plot and well-rounded characters. I consider it a must-read for fans of dark fantasy.
March 31, 2024
Love this book
I love this series. I highly recommend reading this series if you are looking for a moment way from your day to day. This is well written, and it is so easy to enjoy this fantasy.
I love this series. I highly recommend reading this series if you are looking for a moment way from your day to day. This is well written, and it is so easy to enjoy this fantasy.
October 23, 2024
7 weeks
are you kidding me
*me having a existential crisis*
me reading this for so so long has nothing to do with the book. i've been in a slump lately and it's so tragic that i've just undone my hard work at the start of the year. i'm really annoyed at myself.
it's annoying because this book is so good and i took away so much time from reading this because i couldn't be bothered for the whole of september and october to read.
edit 23/10/24: SHOUTOUT TO BOOKSIRENS (i forgot to add this)
initial thoughts after i read it...
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
the ending just happened so quicklyyyyy to be honest and to be even more honest... a third of the book was maybe a bit long??? like it took a while (personally) for the book to pick up some traction. maybe that's the only point that i slashed off and that's why it's not a 5. the rest of it though was so amazing and i probably read half of the book in the last week.
i read the first book 2 years ago and i think i think my overall vibe for that one was that it was just fine. this one though i really liked. there were more things happening here at least from what i remember of the first book.
i just had a quick gander at my first review and i will say that this is infinitesimally better than book 1.
enough with the comparisons
we follow eli immediately after destroying and crossing the bridge. she ends up in al-terren. i said from the last book that i was sad that i got invested in terren and now we're leaving it but to hear that al-terren is basically terren was nice because i still knew what terren looked like in my head. she is captured and sent to mage aeon-rah and he assigns her with mistress oblana to work for until she earns i think 50 coppers for her freedom. meanwhile she has to wear this metal thing on her neck. meena and liffy also work there where they weave textile for the upper class to make into dresses. everyone prays in al-terren to be blessed with magic because it makes their products more profitable. happens to be that our eli here is already magical. she finesses her stay with oblana and every week she gets a day off of wander the city. she meets a couple of people at this pub and meets old people as well. pebble is an important one, he's a bard of some sorts. he's also a tane??? to be honest there's so many terms that i still am not super familiar with all of it. but it's fine. he's part godly. we encounter blood dog as well. i don't remember if we've met him i think we have though. rory we've definitely met. he's boss man here of a gang against magic people. anywayssss eli soon realises some extent of her powers and uses them to unravel mages every night. she picks a couple of them through pebble and she becomes the infamous "rogue mage". soon she's being followed by a shadow. shoran. 3 don't get me started. i'm sad about this. anywayssssss. eli's getting better at her powers so she tries killing shoran but he's too powerful. if this were pokemon, eli keeps going to gyms that she's not ready for and keeps getting obliterated. shoran is actually kind of nice and tries to help her by putting her through tane rosalina's finishing school for girls. she runs away but she keeps coming back. oh! also in the background of all this eli sees mite again and he's trying to be king. there's this ongoing battle going on between northwind (mite) and southfire on who's going to rule seramight. that's all ongoing throughout the book and eli does her best to help. where was i? umm... at this point eli's killed the mage aeon rah and she's basically on her own now. she stays with rosalina for a bit and then she's on her own again. her and shoran are also kind of close now. i clocked this so soon. i can't even with this. i can't discuss this bc i'm devastated. still. more and more she's learning about the lore of magic. which is so great that we're learning it with her as we go through the book. we learn about arala soooo much because she's important. she learns that there's no point killing mages if their boss-man keeps making mages so the rest of the book for a while is eli trying to kill tridamor. she teams up with rory. oh also just a tangent penny is alive and is taking care of rory's son. that's why eli and rory are in semi-good graces. anyways they team up bc if mite wins the throne or whatever, rory becomes a lord and also he hates magic so there's incentive in him helping eli who at this point people are aware she is the rogue mage. tensions between shoran and eli escalate blah blah blah i'm crying and weeping. eli manages to kill tridamor via southfire just letting her into his palace or whatever. eli fucks off for a bit because she keeps using all her powers an whatnot and ends up almost dying and shoran here keeps reviving this lady. eli returns to rory and he basically betrays her because she too powerful. she almost dies. AGAIN. shoran kills everyone bc of... love? revives eli AGAIN. then they confess their love or whatever. *sobbing*. they fuck. then he takes her to meet his mom. bless. they get "married". then shoran disappears! THEN ELI GOES AFTER HIM. SHE FUCKING FINDS THE FUCK OUT THAT SHORAN IS SYN MOREG THE FUCKING BOSS BATTLE OF THE CENTURY HAPPENS IN 2 SENTENCES BASICALLY AND NOW HE'S DEAD. BUT HE LOVES HER BUT ALSO HE'S A LIAR. LIKE I HATE HIM BUT I LOVE HIM. then eli helps out mite win the war and reval find her and brings him back to his island in the sun. also i didn't mention this but syn moreg is a demi god who is ruling over the realms because arala fucking died and syn moreg is the one who sundered the worlds and shoran is syn moreg what the actual fuck!? also arala is eli but she keeps denying this fact. everyone's obsessed with arala as well. also reval is annoying all the goddamned time and just floats on his little island calling out for arala. and also that's not the end because it can't be.
chaossss
i loved eli this time around. i feel like we're a bit more fleshed out. we're a bit more grown up. i always had this illusion that she was a child in book one so to meet her as an adult so soon was very weird. it was an adjustment for sure. it kind of does help that i read this 2 years ago and technically it's been 2 years since mite crossed the bridge and it also nearly took me 2 months to read so her growing up wasn't super jarring. i love that she welcomed her powers now. my criticism in book one was how annoying it was that all she did was get rid of her powers and not use them until the end. it's nice that we actually get magic scenes here.
shoran broke my heart. i love him. that's literally all i'm saying.
all the side characters were effective imo. everyone had their purpose when they needed to be in the scene. this book is quite hefty so there were a lot of characters. a couple we knew and couple new ones. no one detracted too much which was nice. i hate getting invested and they're actually not that important. everyone else was good support for eli.
i love that we extended from terren into other territories. we spent a lot of time in shoran's tower, and little bit in that place where demi-gods live (i forgot what it was called lol). i loved that she could portal herself into these other places. if she wanted to sleep somewhere else, she'd just go to shoran's and back into terren if she wanted. if she was "magically" hungry, she could also go to that demi-god place. i don't know but i like the settings. that magic place gave me garden of eden vibes.
the hidden part below are kindle notes. i like to leave them in here in case my computer explodes and deletes everything.
my heart is very broken because of this book and all i want to do is to will everything to be undone and everyone to just have a happily ever after. maybe that's for the next book.
i am curious how eli and reval's blood are also bound? maybe that's why shoran was like "don't you fucking forget that we're endgame."
i'm running out of characters but i will definitely read the next book now. i don't know when but when i do i sure hope that someone explains to me what the fuck just happened and why is shoran a lying sack of s----------
disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. :)
are you kidding me
*me having a existential crisis*
me reading this for so so long has nothing to do with the book. i've been in a slump lately and it's so tragic that i've just undone my hard work at the start of the year. i'm really annoyed at myself.
it's annoying because this book is so good and i took away so much time from reading this because i couldn't be bothered for the whole of september and october to read.
edit 23/10/24: SHOUTOUT TO BOOKSIRENS (i forgot to add this)
initial thoughts after i read it...
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
the ending just happened so quicklyyyyy to be honest and to be even more honest... a third of the book was maybe a bit long??? like it took a while (personally) for the book to pick up some traction. maybe that's the only point that i slashed off and that's why it's not a 5. the rest of it though was so amazing and i probably read half of the book in the last week.
i read the first book 2 years ago and i think i think my overall vibe for that one was that it was just fine. this one though i really liked. there were more things happening here at least from what i remember of the first book.
i just had a quick gander at my first review and i will say that this is infinitesimally better than book 1.
enough with the comparisons
we follow eli immediately after destroying and crossing the bridge. she ends up in al-terren. i said from the last book that i was sad that i got invested in terren and now we're leaving it but to hear that al-terren is basically terren was nice because i still knew what terren looked like in my head. she is captured and sent to mage aeon-rah and he assigns her with mistress oblana to work for until she earns i think 50 coppers for her freedom. meanwhile she has to wear this metal thing on her neck. meena and liffy also work there where they weave textile for the upper class to make into dresses. everyone prays in al-terren to be blessed with magic because it makes their products more profitable. happens to be that our eli here is already magical. she finesses her stay with oblana and every week she gets a day off of wander the city. she meets a couple of people at this pub and meets old people as well. pebble is an important one, he's a bard of some sorts. he's also a tane??? to be honest there's so many terms that i still am not super familiar with all of it. but it's fine. he's part godly. we encounter blood dog as well. i don't remember if we've met him i think we have though. rory we've definitely met. he's boss man here of a gang against magic people. anywayssss eli soon realises some extent of her powers and uses them to unravel mages every night. she picks a couple of them through pebble and she becomes the infamous "rogue mage". soon she's being followed by a shadow. shoran. 3 don't get me started. i'm sad about this. anywayssssss. eli's getting better at her powers so she tries killing shoran but he's too powerful. if this were pokemon, eli keeps going to gyms that she's not ready for and keeps getting obliterated. shoran is actually kind of nice and tries to help her by putting her through tane rosalina's finishing school for girls. she runs away but she keeps coming back. oh! also in the background of all this eli sees mite again and he's trying to be king. there's this ongoing battle going on between northwind (mite) and southfire on who's going to rule seramight. that's all ongoing throughout the book and eli does her best to help. where was i? umm... at this point eli's killed the mage aeon rah and she's basically on her own now. she stays with rosalina for a bit and then she's on her own again. her and shoran are also kind of close now. i clocked this so soon. i can't even with this. i can't discuss this bc i'm devastated. still. more and more she's learning about the lore of magic. which is so great that we're learning it with her as we go through the book. we learn about arala soooo much because she's important. she learns that there's no point killing mages if their boss-man keeps making mages so the rest of the book for a while is eli trying to kill tridamor. she teams up with rory. oh also just a tangent penny is alive and is taking care of rory's son. that's why eli and rory are in semi-good graces. anyways they team up bc if mite wins the throne or whatever, rory becomes a lord and also he hates magic so there's incentive in him helping eli who at this point people are aware she is the rogue mage. tensions between shoran and eli escalate blah blah blah i'm crying and weeping. eli manages to kill tridamor via southfire just letting her into his palace or whatever. eli fucks off for a bit because she keeps using all her powers an whatnot and ends up almost dying and shoran here keeps reviving this lady. eli returns to rory and he basically betrays her because she too powerful. she almost dies. AGAIN. shoran kills everyone bc of... love? revives eli AGAIN. then they confess their love or whatever. *sobbing*. they fuck. then he takes her to meet his mom. bless. they get "married". then shoran disappears! THEN ELI GOES AFTER HIM. SHE FUCKING FINDS THE FUCK OUT THAT SHORAN IS SYN MOREG THE FUCKING BOSS BATTLE OF THE CENTURY HAPPENS IN 2 SENTENCES BASICALLY AND NOW HE'S DEAD. BUT HE LOVES HER BUT ALSO HE'S A LIAR. LIKE I HATE HIM BUT I LOVE HIM. then eli helps out mite win the war and reval find her and brings him back to his island in the sun. also i didn't mention this but syn moreg is a demi god who is ruling over the realms because arala fucking died and syn moreg is the one who sundered the worlds and shoran is syn moreg what the actual fuck!? also arala is eli but she keeps denying this fact. everyone's obsessed with arala as well. also reval is annoying all the goddamned time and just floats on his little island calling out for arala. and also that's not the end because it can't be.
chaossss
i loved eli this time around. i feel like we're a bit more fleshed out. we're a bit more grown up. i always had this illusion that she was a child in book one so to meet her as an adult so soon was very weird. it was an adjustment for sure. it kind of does help that i read this 2 years ago and technically it's been 2 years since mite crossed the bridge and it also nearly took me 2 months to read so her growing up wasn't super jarring. i love that she welcomed her powers now. my criticism in book one was how annoying it was that all she did was get rid of her powers and not use them until the end. it's nice that we actually get magic scenes here.
shoran broke my heart. i love him. that's literally all i'm saying.
all the side characters were effective imo. everyone had their purpose when they needed to be in the scene. this book is quite hefty so there were a lot of characters. a couple we knew and couple new ones. no one detracted too much which was nice. i hate getting invested and they're actually not that important. everyone else was good support for eli.
i love that we extended from terren into other territories. we spent a lot of time in shoran's tower, and little bit in that place where demi-gods live (i forgot what it was called lol). i loved that she could portal herself into these other places. if she wanted to sleep somewhere else, she'd just go to shoran's and back into terren if she wanted. if she was "magically" hungry, she could also go to that demi-god place. i don't know but i like the settings. that magic place gave me garden of eden vibes.
the hidden part below are kindle notes. i like to leave them in here in case my computer explodes and deletes everything.
my heart is very broken because of this book and all i want to do is to will everything to be undone and everyone to just have a happily ever after. maybe that's for the next book.
i am curious how eli and reval's blood are also bound? maybe that's why shoran was like "don't you fucking forget that we're endgame."
i'm running out of characters but i will definitely read the next book now. i don't know when but when i do i sure hope that someone explains to me what the fuck just happened and why is shoran a lying sack of s----------
disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. :)
February 7, 2024
I don’t know how to tell readers about this book without gushing like a fangirl. Just WOW. I got so caught up in this story and its rich, complex characters that I have ignored cooking, cleaning, laundry… I probably would have forgotten to breathe if it weren’t on autopilot. This crazy world full of gods, demigods, mages, humans, and a host of others just grabbed me. The characters sank their fangs, claws, and whatever else deep within me. Then the intricately woven web of treachery, deceit, murder, war, magic, madness, and royal bed-hopping (the things that make reads in this genre so much fun) put me into a spin cycle that would not let me go until every last emotion had been wrung from me.
It’s tough for a reader to jump into the second book of an epic trilogy without having read the first. Yep. I’m that kind of fool- I started with book 2 of Alex Thornbury’s The Sundered Web series, “The Rogue Mage,” having sadly missed the first book of the trilogy. There was a definite learning curve at the beginning as I tried to catch up with characters and events that fans of the first book were already familiar with. The first few chapters felt like “sink-or-swim” moments as I worked out the various characters as well as a little of what had gone on before the opening of this novel. This story features a rather unusual-looking girl who has lived her life (to date) living with a pack of pick-pockets on the streets. She’s spent much of her time dressed as a boy and going by the name of Eli Spider. Her actual name is Elika, although she has many nicknames she answers to. I was soon to find out this is only part of her unique nature.
Elika finds herself in another realm where magic rules and mere humans are considered unwelcome immigrants and thrown into slavery until they can purchase their freedom from their masters. This was not a welcome concept for her, a person who has lived life on her own terms for as long as she can remember. She is placed in the home of her new master, a dreadful woman who owns a silk shop. As she grapples with this new life in a strange place with rules she doesn’t understand, she attempts to seek out any of her old street gang. She desperately needs a friendly face. And her freedom.
A terrible realization finally struck her. The tsaren, the enemies of mankind, the ones who had started the Sundering War—were here. They had not vanished or died, only crossed the bridge long ago. She had not merely stepped into another world, but another time which her own people had long ago resigned to history.
As you can imagine, Elika’s previous life has taught her to be a survivor. She is tough, smart, and manipulative. She tries to be a chameleon and fit in, but it’s not in her personality to do so. She’s headstrong and reactionary- again, traits that worked well for her in her previous life. But they are destructive to the new life she’s been thrust into. But as she sees the injustice all around her, she realizes that she may just have the power to make a difference. If so, she’s willing to do that at any cost to free the world of magic.
Elika is surrounded by an incredible cast of complex characters whose public persona may differ entirely from their true nature. Some are extremely powerful; some have no power at all. Others will stab you in the back and walk on your corpse if it gives them an edge. Virtually none of them seem truly trustworthy.
Power was a compelling and demanding beast. It was food to starved vanity, fuel for ambition. It was glorious and all-consuming.
But the most intriguing personality to interact with Elika is Shoran, a man of intimidating power who sticks to the shadows, stalks Elika as she discovers she has some magic, and truthfully—wants to kill her. Their connections are raw, unforgiving, and exploding with tension. Theirs is a cat-and-mouse game with no winners.
Lonely was the path of lies and wickedness, she thought, for there was no solace from it.
Once Shoran entered her life, attempting to defeat her, this tale truly had me engrossed. It became imperative that I kept my head in this book to find out what was going to happen. Ms. Thornbury has created a masterful world here that quickly swept me up even though I knew nothing of these people or realms in the beginning. Her ability to bring me up to speed and have me quickly care about characters who were already established from the first book is a credit to her abilities as an author.
This novel and series fall into the genre of sword and sorcery fantasy, as well as genuinely epic, romantic, and dark fantasy. As such, I highly recommend it to fans of this genre. But please, be smarter than me. Start with the award-winning first book of the trilogy, “The Bridge to Magic.” Once it has woven its magic and left you spellbound, you won’t be able to miss this amazing novel.
Readers may attempt to leave this realm as the book ends, but it won’t leave you. This is one of those consummate reads; brilliantly written, emotionally charged, and frighteningly intriguing. Fantasy fans will not want to miss Alex Thornbury’s The Sundered Web series, including this, the fabulous second book, “The Rogue Mage.”
It’s tough for a reader to jump into the second book of an epic trilogy without having read the first. Yep. I’m that kind of fool- I started with book 2 of Alex Thornbury’s The Sundered Web series, “The Rogue Mage,” having sadly missed the first book of the trilogy. There was a definite learning curve at the beginning as I tried to catch up with characters and events that fans of the first book were already familiar with. The first few chapters felt like “sink-or-swim” moments as I worked out the various characters as well as a little of what had gone on before the opening of this novel. This story features a rather unusual-looking girl who has lived her life (to date) living with a pack of pick-pockets on the streets. She’s spent much of her time dressed as a boy and going by the name of Eli Spider. Her actual name is Elika, although she has many nicknames she answers to. I was soon to find out this is only part of her unique nature.
Elika finds herself in another realm where magic rules and mere humans are considered unwelcome immigrants and thrown into slavery until they can purchase their freedom from their masters. This was not a welcome concept for her, a person who has lived life on her own terms for as long as she can remember. She is placed in the home of her new master, a dreadful woman who owns a silk shop. As she grapples with this new life in a strange place with rules she doesn’t understand, she attempts to seek out any of her old street gang. She desperately needs a friendly face. And her freedom.
A terrible realization finally struck her. The tsaren, the enemies of mankind, the ones who had started the Sundering War—were here. They had not vanished or died, only crossed the bridge long ago. She had not merely stepped into another world, but another time which her own people had long ago resigned to history.
As you can imagine, Elika’s previous life has taught her to be a survivor. She is tough, smart, and manipulative. She tries to be a chameleon and fit in, but it’s not in her personality to do so. She’s headstrong and reactionary- again, traits that worked well for her in her previous life. But they are destructive to the new life she’s been thrust into. But as she sees the injustice all around her, she realizes that she may just have the power to make a difference. If so, she’s willing to do that at any cost to free the world of magic.
Elika is surrounded by an incredible cast of complex characters whose public persona may differ entirely from their true nature. Some are extremely powerful; some have no power at all. Others will stab you in the back and walk on your corpse if it gives them an edge. Virtually none of them seem truly trustworthy.
Power was a compelling and demanding beast. It was food to starved vanity, fuel for ambition. It was glorious and all-consuming.
But the most intriguing personality to interact with Elika is Shoran, a man of intimidating power who sticks to the shadows, stalks Elika as she discovers she has some magic, and truthfully—wants to kill her. Their connections are raw, unforgiving, and exploding with tension. Theirs is a cat-and-mouse game with no winners.
Lonely was the path of lies and wickedness, she thought, for there was no solace from it.
Once Shoran entered her life, attempting to defeat her, this tale truly had me engrossed. It became imperative that I kept my head in this book to find out what was going to happen. Ms. Thornbury has created a masterful world here that quickly swept me up even though I knew nothing of these people or realms in the beginning. Her ability to bring me up to speed and have me quickly care about characters who were already established from the first book is a credit to her abilities as an author.
This novel and series fall into the genre of sword and sorcery fantasy, as well as genuinely epic, romantic, and dark fantasy. As such, I highly recommend it to fans of this genre. But please, be smarter than me. Start with the award-winning first book of the trilogy, “The Bridge to Magic.” Once it has woven its magic and left you spellbound, you won’t be able to miss this amazing novel.
Readers may attempt to leave this realm as the book ends, but it won’t leave you. This is one of those consummate reads; brilliantly written, emotionally charged, and frighteningly intriguing. Fantasy fans will not want to miss Alex Thornbury’s The Sundered Web series, including this, the fabulous second book, “The Rogue Mage.”
March 21, 2024
Another Intriguing Web of Dark Fantasy
This is a great second story in the Sundered Web Fantasy Series. It is well-written and filled with beautiful characters put in some difficult circumstances. Yet, the story allows the reader to enjoy the fantastic and unique world.
Really enjoyed Elika’s journey and growth as a character. She grows before the readers eyes as she finds herself out upon to make decisions and move from the sidelines to the field where she has to make life and death choices in this mystical world filled with magic and violence.
The spiders are an interesting choice and make sense in the overall storyline. It reminded me of another fantasy series that employed the same creatures.
Really enjoyed the dark and twisted feeling that permeated the world and characters as well as the dark magic in the series. Also, as I said before, enjoyed Elika’s growth as she struggles with her new responsibilities and the weight of her actions and their consequences.
Great world building here. As a reader, understand that there is another story in the works. This is a springboard story.
This is a great second story in the Sundered Web Fantasy Series. It is well-written and filled with beautiful characters put in some difficult circumstances. Yet, the story allows the reader to enjoy the fantastic and unique world.
Really enjoyed Elika’s journey and growth as a character. She grows before the readers eyes as she finds herself out upon to make decisions and move from the sidelines to the field where she has to make life and death choices in this mystical world filled with magic and violence.
The spiders are an interesting choice and make sense in the overall storyline. It reminded me of another fantasy series that employed the same creatures.
Really enjoyed the dark and twisted feeling that permeated the world and characters as well as the dark magic in the series. Also, as I said before, enjoyed Elika’s growth as she struggles with her new responsibilities and the weight of her actions and their consequences.
Great world building here. As a reader, understand that there is another story in the works. This is a springboard story.
March 25, 2024
Mages and other stuff.
The opening of the book reminds me a little of Dickens and how his Oliver Twist character is lost in the city of London. Elika is in a similar plight in a strange land looking for a “band of orphans” she could join in order to live out the night. Very like Oliver but the writer is English and has perhaps been influenced by the English classics.
The way the magic hurts there by making her hungry reminds me of another character who I won’t mention here. The character I know weakens when he uses magic and loses his strength. The market is a bit like that scene in Harry Potter when they go shopping for wands. It reminds one too of the bazaars of The Middle East - that kind of vibe.
A distinct chill along my back when the bird flew over and warned the assembly. Syn Moreg sounds like a Welsh name. That influence again, perhaps?
The characterisation throughout is wonderful: Elika herself, Mite, Pebble, The Mistress, Penny, Rory, Shoran, Blood Dog, Syn Moreg, Warwind and the damned crow.
It didn’t end as I expected but left things kind of open for a third book and story.
The opening of the book reminds me a little of Dickens and how his Oliver Twist character is lost in the city of London. Elika is in a similar plight in a strange land looking for a “band of orphans” she could join in order to live out the night. Very like Oliver but the writer is English and has perhaps been influenced by the English classics.
The way the magic hurts there by making her hungry reminds me of another character who I won’t mention here. The character I know weakens when he uses magic and loses his strength. The market is a bit like that scene in Harry Potter when they go shopping for wands. It reminds one too of the bazaars of The Middle East - that kind of vibe.
A distinct chill along my back when the bird flew over and warned the assembly. Syn Moreg sounds like a Welsh name. That influence again, perhaps?
The characterisation throughout is wonderful: Elika herself, Mite, Pebble, The Mistress, Penny, Rory, Shoran, Blood Dog, Syn Moreg, Warwind and the damned crow.
It didn’t end as I expected but left things kind of open for a third book and story.
April 9, 2024
great read
"Alex Thornbury's 'The Rogue Mage' captivates with its enthralling narrative of magic entwined with power dynamics. We trail Elika, navigating a world governed by spellcasters, brought vividly to life by Thornbury's rich, evocative descriptions and immersive prose. This novel introduces an enticing mythology, drawing readers deep into the fabric of its creation. As Elika seeks justice and autonomy, Thornbury masterfully unfolds an adventure that's both thrilling and leaves readers in eager anticipation of future revelations."
Thornbury's novel is an enthralling masterpiece, seamlessly blending thrilling action with a profound quest for freedom. The characters are vividly drawn, each with their own depth and complexity, while the plot intricately unfolds, captivating readers and drawing them into a world brimming with imaginative and artistic details. Thornbury masterfully crafts a narrative that not only entertains but also deeply engages, transporting readers into a richly envisioned universe that lingers long after the last page is turned.
"Alex Thornbury's 'The Rogue Mage' captivates with its enthralling narrative of magic entwined with power dynamics. We trail Elika, navigating a world governed by spellcasters, brought vividly to life by Thornbury's rich, evocative descriptions and immersive prose. This novel introduces an enticing mythology, drawing readers deep into the fabric of its creation. As Elika seeks justice and autonomy, Thornbury masterfully unfolds an adventure that's both thrilling and leaves readers in eager anticipation of future revelations."
Thornbury's novel is an enthralling masterpiece, seamlessly blending thrilling action with a profound quest for freedom. The characters are vividly drawn, each with their own depth and complexity, while the plot intricately unfolds, captivating readers and drawing them into a world brimming with imaginative and artistic details. Thornbury masterfully crafts a narrative that not only entertains but also deeply engages, transporting readers into a richly envisioned universe that lingers long after the last page is turned.
January 3, 2025
Eli Spider never wanted to cross the bridge, but when necessity pushed her, she was not ready for what she found on the other side. Where she thought the other side held nothing but barrenness and death, she found a vibrant world filled with life and magic. But in a world filled with magic, is anything really what it appears to be?
Elika finds that the mages and their masters have forced enslavement and injustice on the humans. When things become heated between the Majren and humans, Elika remembers her own powers and discovers that she may be able to help the humans in their fight for their freedom.
While still learning how to use and control her magic, Elika begins to hunt the worst of the majren, but her actions lead her to being hunted herself, and not just by the majren but by a shadow. As the war grows around her and a new heir to the throne of the Sacred Crowns emerges, Elika must learn how her actions affect all those around her.
Will she be able to help humankind, or will she be the monster they never needed?
I love these books. I really love the world-building and the way that the characters are portrayed. The world-building, which you might have thought was done after the first book, has just exploded into one of the best world-buildings that I have ever read. I love all of the intricate details that make this world so easy to see and imagine. All of the different settings are well conveyed by the author; you really feel like you are seeing and experiencing these places.
I love the characters as well. Unlike in a lot of fantasy novels that I have read, these characters have issues. They have problems, and they don’t always see the whole picture and the consequences of their actions, which makes them so easy to connect to; they seem more real because of it. Elika herself has got to be my favorite character. For all her conviction, she is flawed and struggling, but she is also trying to do the very best that she can, not just for herself, which would be tempting in her situation, but for everyone around her.
The ending. I still cannot believe that ending. I have put myself through the wringer with that ending. I don’t want to reveal the ending, but I am still so floored by this ending. I have no other words, and I am hoping that I will be able to read the third book as soon as possible because I have to know what happens next. I have to.
Elika finds that the mages and their masters have forced enslavement and injustice on the humans. When things become heated between the Majren and humans, Elika remembers her own powers and discovers that she may be able to help the humans in their fight for their freedom.
While still learning how to use and control her magic, Elika begins to hunt the worst of the majren, but her actions lead her to being hunted herself, and not just by the majren but by a shadow. As the war grows around her and a new heir to the throne of the Sacred Crowns emerges, Elika must learn how her actions affect all those around her.
Will she be able to help humankind, or will she be the monster they never needed?
I love these books. I really love the world-building and the way that the characters are portrayed. The world-building, which you might have thought was done after the first book, has just exploded into one of the best world-buildings that I have ever read. I love all of the intricate details that make this world so easy to see and imagine. All of the different settings are well conveyed by the author; you really feel like you are seeing and experiencing these places.
I love the characters as well. Unlike in a lot of fantasy novels that I have read, these characters have issues. They have problems, and they don’t always see the whole picture and the consequences of their actions, which makes them so easy to connect to; they seem more real because of it. Elika herself has got to be my favorite character. For all her conviction, she is flawed and struggling, but she is also trying to do the very best that she can, not just for herself, which would be tempting in her situation, but for everyone around her.
The ending. I still cannot believe that ending. I have put myself through the wringer with that ending. I don’t want to reveal the ending, but I am still so floored by this ending. I have no other words, and I am hoping that I will be able to read the third book as soon as possible because I have to know what happens next. I have to.
March 27, 2024
Great story
"The Rogue Mage" is a well-written page-turner that will leave you breathless. Elika, the protagonist, is both relatable and fierce. Thrust into a world she barely understands, she uncovers a truth so shocking it compels her to fight back. But the path to freedom is paved with sacrifice, and Elika soon discovers the line between hero and villain can be razor-thin.
The fast-paced and engaging plot keeps you glued to the pages. The romance adds another layer to the story, but it's not a fluffy subplot. It's a powerful force that both strengthens and complicates Elika's choices. By the end, you'll be left questioning who the real monsters are, and wondering if Elika can truly save humanity without succumbing to the darkness she fights.
If you're looking for a captivating fantasy with a strong female lead, a richly imagined world, and a plot that twists and turns like a labyrinth, then "The Rogue Mage" is a must-read. Just be prepared to stay up late – you won't want to put it down.
"The Rogue Mage" is a well-written page-turner that will leave you breathless. Elika, the protagonist, is both relatable and fierce. Thrust into a world she barely understands, she uncovers a truth so shocking it compels her to fight back. But the path to freedom is paved with sacrifice, and Elika soon discovers the line between hero and villain can be razor-thin.
The fast-paced and engaging plot keeps you glued to the pages. The romance adds another layer to the story, but it's not a fluffy subplot. It's a powerful force that both strengthens and complicates Elika's choices. By the end, you'll be left questioning who the real monsters are, and wondering if Elika can truly save humanity without succumbing to the darkness she fights.
If you're looking for a captivating fantasy with a strong female lead, a richly imagined world, and a plot that twists and turns like a labyrinth, then "The Rogue Mage" is a must-read. Just be prepared to stay up late – you won't want to put it down.
April 2, 2024
The sequel that doesn’t disappoint.
"The Rogue Mage" by Alex Thornbury is a captivating continuation of the enchanting journey begun in "The Bridge to Magic."
This second installment follows protagonist Elika as she delves deeper into the mesmerizing yet perilous world of the Sundered Web. Embracing her newfound powers as a mage, Elika faces fresh challenges while uncovering long-hidden secrets about her past and the intricate tapestry of her world.
Thornbury's storytelling prowess shines once again, as "The Rogue Mage" is filled to the brim with thrilling action, rich world-building, and well-developed characters that keep readers spellbound from the first page to the last.
For fans of the fantasy genre, "The Rogue Mage" is an absolute must-read, delivering all the excitement and intrigue expected from a worthy sequel.
"The Rogue Mage" by Alex Thornbury is a captivating continuation of the enchanting journey begun in "The Bridge to Magic."
This second installment follows protagonist Elika as she delves deeper into the mesmerizing yet perilous world of the Sundered Web. Embracing her newfound powers as a mage, Elika faces fresh challenges while uncovering long-hidden secrets about her past and the intricate tapestry of her world.
Thornbury's storytelling prowess shines once again, as "The Rogue Mage" is filled to the brim with thrilling action, rich world-building, and well-developed characters that keep readers spellbound from the first page to the last.
For fans of the fantasy genre, "The Rogue Mage" is an absolute must-read, delivering all the excitement and intrigue expected from a worthy sequel.
April 1, 2024
Another stellar entry into the dark fantasy trilogy(?)/series(?). This one picks right up where the first book ends where Elika crosses the bridge, and she's forced to readapt to this 'new' city to survive. I thought this sequel added a lot more intrigue and suspense along with ramping up the action. There's a bit more humanity in this one too. (I'm talking about things pulling on your heartstrings.) The world-building, I felt, was built up even more. I still felt a little disconnected with the characters, but I'd recommend the Sundered Web trilogy/series to a lover of high fantasy.
April 10, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The Rogue Mage is a gripping, darkly enchanting fantasy that explores power, identity, and rebellion in a world where magic corrupts and only the bold survive. Alex Thornbury weaves a masterful tale of intrigue and transformation, with Elika’s journey blazing across the pages like a spark in a storm.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The Rogue Mage is a gripping, darkly enchanting fantasy that explores power, identity, and rebellion in a world where magic corrupts and only the bold survive. Alex Thornbury weaves a masterful tale of intrigue and transformation, with Elika’s journey blazing across the pages like a spark in a storm.
March 19, 2024
Powerful and Captivating
I just finished the second book in the series, and it was just as captivating as the first. Elika's journey into a magic-ruled world, her discovery of her own powers, and her struggle against the demigod Syn’Moreg make for a thrilling read. The vivid descriptions, especially of Aeon-Greengrass' house with its twisted beauty, deepen the intriguing setting. Elika's internal conflict and the looming war add layers of complexity. This installment skillfully continues the series' blend of magic, intrigue, and moral dilemmas, making it a compelling follow-up for fans eager to see where Elika's journey takes her next.
I just finished the second book in the series, and it was just as captivating as the first. Elika's journey into a magic-ruled world, her discovery of her own powers, and her struggle against the demigod Syn’Moreg make for a thrilling read. The vivid descriptions, especially of Aeon-Greengrass' house with its twisted beauty, deepen the intriguing setting. Elika's internal conflict and the looming war add layers of complexity. This installment skillfully continues the series' blend of magic, intrigue, and moral dilemmas, making it a compelling follow-up for fans eager to see where Elika's journey takes her next.
March 21, 2024
Amazing Read
This book got me hooked on its dark fantasy tale set in a magic-ruled world with romantic vibes. The talented author creates an epic journey following heroine Elika as she faces danger and mysteries while exploring deep themes like oppression, identity, freedom's costs, magic's power, and complex relationships in a dark world. If you enjoy vivid fantasy realms with strong female leads, this book will be your new addiction!
This book got me hooked on its dark fantasy tale set in a magic-ruled world with romantic vibes. The talented author creates an epic journey following heroine Elika as she faces danger and mysteries while exploring deep themes like oppression, identity, freedom's costs, magic's power, and complex relationships in a dark world. If you enjoy vivid fantasy realms with strong female leads, this book will be your new addiction!
March 23, 2024
Imaginative Fantasy
Elika, the main character seeks to release mankind from bondage. She discovers her own hidden gifts, drawing the attention of Syn Moreg. Then Elika realizes she's not that powerful at all. The Rogue Mage is very interesting fantasy. I look forward to the next book. Great work.
Elika, the main character seeks to release mankind from bondage. She discovers her own hidden gifts, drawing the attention of Syn Moreg. Then Elika realizes she's not that powerful at all. The Rogue Mage is very interesting fantasy. I look forward to the next book. Great work.
March 29, 2024
Engauging and interesting
This is the second book in the Bridge to Magic. It would help if you read it before starting this book. Like the first one, I found it engaging, gripping, and a fast page-turner. My only question is, would you have liked the excellent sketch art that the first book had, other then that I really enjoyed it, thank you :)
This is the second book in the Bridge to Magic. It would help if you read it before starting this book. Like the first one, I found it engaging, gripping, and a fast page-turner. My only question is, would you have liked the excellent sketch art that the first book had, other then that I really enjoyed it, thank you :)
April 12, 2024
great continuation of Elika!
There were so many twists and turns after crossing the bridge of magic! I personally hate spiders, and of course it is a spider web that holds the worlds together, but Elika finally finds some of her power, but I feel like there is so much more to come in book 3 and hope it arrives before 2025!
There were so many twists and turns after crossing the bridge of magic! I personally hate spiders, and of course it is a spider web that holds the worlds together, but Elika finally finds some of her power, but I feel like there is so much more to come in book 3 and hope it arrives before 2025!
December 30, 2023
The Rogue Mage (The Sundered Web Book 2) by Alex Thornbury
This book was recommended by a female friend of my wife and me. I don't usually read books about magic and romance, but I read this one as a favor. The book has a strong female protagonist, which I was happy to see. Though I am a male, I believe that women have been under-rated far too long.
As it turned out, I found the book to be highly imaginative and a well-written page turner. It was fast-paced and engaging with lots of unexpected twists. Whether or not I will read another such book, I don't know, but I'm glad I read this one. To anyone interested in the genre, I highly recommend it.
This book was recommended by a female friend of my wife and me. I don't usually read books about magic and romance, but I read this one as a favor. The book has a strong female protagonist, which I was happy to see. Though I am a male, I believe that women have been under-rated far too long.
As it turned out, I found the book to be highly imaginative and a well-written page turner. It was fast-paced and engaging with lots of unexpected twists. Whether or not I will read another such book, I don't know, but I'm glad I read this one. To anyone interested in the genre, I highly recommend it.
March 29, 2024
Fantasy and Magic
In this page turner you’ll find adventure, fantasy, magic and well developed characters. Follow along as Elika finds her way as a mage with adventure, romance suspense and intrigue
In this page turner you’ll find adventure, fantasy, magic and well developed characters. Follow along as Elika finds her way as a mage with adventure, romance suspense and intrigue
April 30, 2025
Great sequel
What I like most about this series is the world building. Even though the world was explained in the first book, Elika enters a brand new one that expands on the ideas of the original and creates a more complex world in this book. I enjoyed the story.
What I like most about this series is the world building. Even though the world was explained in the first book, Elika enters a brand new one that expands on the ideas of the original and creates a more complex world in this book. I enjoyed the story.
July 9, 2024
WOW this is literature 🤌 I am so happy I started this series. I liked this book even more than the first one, incredibly well written. I will be recommending it to everyone. The plot twists! They kept catching me off guard even more so than in the first book. Every time I felt like I knew what was going to happen BAM things get switched up. Such an exciting read throughout the entire book and that’s saying something because this was a long one, close to 700 pages. All worth it though for that story line. So much was answered and so much more remains. I need book three!
The characters in this book! Elika had so much growth throughout, I was continuously impressed and frustrated with her the entire time. But she is such a unique female lead character it’s very refreshing. Also SHORAN 🫢
One thing I will say though is I did feel like I needed to take notes at times because pretty much every character has multiple names that they use or others use in reference to them. It can be a bit difficult to adjust to, but it got less confusing as the story went on and I was remembering them better.
The only thing I missed from the first book were the beautiful illustrations! Especially because the world and settings in this addition were gorgeous. I was definitely getting Studio Ghibli vibes from the general ambience of this one. I think these books would make a wonderful animated series!
So excited for book 3
The characters in this book! Elika had so much growth throughout, I was continuously impressed and frustrated with her the entire time. But she is such a unique female lead character it’s very refreshing. Also SHORAN 🫢
One thing I will say though is I did feel like I needed to take notes at times because pretty much every character has multiple names that they use or others use in reference to them. It can be a bit difficult to adjust to, but it got less confusing as the story went on and I was remembering them better.
The only thing I missed from the first book were the beautiful illustrations! Especially because the world and settings in this addition were gorgeous. I was definitely getting Studio Ghibli vibes from the general ambience of this one. I think these books would make a wonderful animated series!
So excited for book 3
February 2, 2024
Great read
March 16, 2024
Thank you NetGalley and author Alex Thornbury for the copy in exchange for an honest review.
"Elika crosses the Bridge to Magic to find the world ruled by magic, where nothing is as it seems. Mages run the streets, whilst the tsaren, their masters, war with each other. Though it is men who pay the price with their lives.
Faced with the injustice of the mages and the new world order, Elika discovers her own untapped gifts that may yet shift the balance of power back into the hands of men. But her dabbling in the power she does not understand draws the attention of the dreaded demigod Syn’Moreg.
Elika must now outwit the shadow that hunts her, whilst seeking a way to free mankind from their oppressors. Yet dark grows her heart, and to darkness it reaches for that which the shadow denies.
As whispers of newly found heir to the Sacred Crowns grow to cries of war, Elika comes to realise that she may not be the saviour of mankind after all. Mite has proclaimed himself King Northwind, and marches on Terren to claim what is rightfully his. Elika is certain he will fail, unless she can vanquish the one power standing in his way. But to do that, she must convince the court and the archmage that she is the demigoddess Arala returned."
I thoroughly enjoy this book.
"Elika crosses the Bridge to Magic to find the world ruled by magic, where nothing is as it seems. Mages run the streets, whilst the tsaren, their masters, war with each other. Though it is men who pay the price with their lives.
Faced with the injustice of the mages and the new world order, Elika discovers her own untapped gifts that may yet shift the balance of power back into the hands of men. But her dabbling in the power she does not understand draws the attention of the dreaded demigod Syn’Moreg.
Elika must now outwit the shadow that hunts her, whilst seeking a way to free mankind from their oppressors. Yet dark grows her heart, and to darkness it reaches for that which the shadow denies.
As whispers of newly found heir to the Sacred Crowns grow to cries of war, Elika comes to realise that she may not be the saviour of mankind after all. Mite has proclaimed himself King Northwind, and marches on Terren to claim what is rightfully his. Elika is certain he will fail, unless she can vanquish the one power standing in his way. But to do that, she must convince the court and the archmage that she is the demigoddess Arala returned."
I thoroughly enjoy this book.
March 1, 2024
Alex Thornbury continues her tale of teenage Elika who was raised on the hard streets of Terren on the half of the world without magic. Thief and pickpocket, she hides the magic inside her even as that side of the world succumbs to desolation. She is the last living soul in the city to cross The Bridge to Magic (paper) and soon finds herself in a world dominated by mages, pieces of magic animating dead humans. Elika might be related to the Gods, whose universe rarely touches the world of humans. As she survives and then learns to harness her magic, she discovers she can destroy the magic animating the corpses, and becomes known as The Rogue Mage (ebook from Shadow Lore Publishing) but the consequences of the destruction is a corresponding blight. A demi-god starts training her in her magic and she finds her first love, but that brings her to the attention of other demi-gods. A third book will complete this fascinating and absorbing tale, Wow so far.
March 22, 2024
A friend recommended The Rogue Mage by Alex Thornbury, and I downloaded it. The book exceeded my expectations with its captivating narrative, rich character development, and immersive world-building. Elika's transformation from a passive observer to a pivotal character in a world of magic and turmoil is inspiring and heart-wrenching, delving into complex moral dilemmas rarely seen in dark fantasy. The novel masterfully combines dark fantasy elements with an exploration of the human psyche, making it a compelling read for those drawn to morally gray characters and themes of identity and sacrifice. Despite some pacing issues and occasional confusion with the magic system, this book remains a captivating and worthwhile addition to the fantasy genre, promising an engaging journey for readers.
March 14, 2024
Beautifully Crafted, Uniquely Epic
Originally reviewed for Reader Views, the full review can be found at: https://readerviewsarchives.wordpress...
I don’t know how to tell readers about this book without gushing like a fangirl. Just WOW. I got so caught up in this story and its rich, complex characters that I have ignored cooking, cleaning, laundry… I probably would have forgotten to breathe if it weren’t on autopilot. This crazy world full of gods, demi-gods, mages, humans, and a host of others just grabbed me. The characters sank their fangs, claws, and whatever else deep within me. Then the intricately woven web of treachery, deceit, murder, war, magic, madness, and royal bed-hopping (all the things that make reads in this genre so much fun) put me into a spin cycle that would not let me go until every last emotion had been wrung from me.
It's tough as a reader to jump into the second book of an epic trilogy without having read the first. There was a definite learning curve at the beginning as I tried to catch up with characters and events that fans of the first book are already familiar with. The first few chapters felt like “sink-or-swim” moments as I worked out the various characters as well as a little of what had gone on before the opening of this novel. This story features a rather unusual looking girl who has lived her life (to date) living with a pack of pick-pockets on the streets. She’s spent much of her time dressed as a boy and going by the name of Eli Spider. Her actual name is Elika, although she has many nicknames she answers to. I was soon to find out this is only part of her unique nature.
Elika finds herself in another realm where magic rules and mere humans are considered unwelcome immigrants and thrown into slavery until they can purchase their freedom from their master. This was not a welcome concept for her, a person who has lived life on her own terms for as long as she can remember. She is placed in the home of her new master, a dreadful woman who owns a silk shop. As she grapples with this new life in a strange place with rules she doesn’t understand, she attempts to seek out any of her old street gang. She desperately needs a friendly face. And her freedom.
As you can imagine, Elika’s previous life has taught her to be a survivor. She is tough, smart, and manipulative. She tries to be a chameleon and fit in, but it’s not in her personality to do so. She’s headstrong and reactionary- again, traits that worked well for her in her previous life. But they are destructive to the new life she’s been thrust into. But as she sees the injustice all around her, she realizes that she may just have the power to make a difference. If so, she’s willing to do that at any cost to free the world of magic.
Elika is surrounded by an incredible cast of complex characters whose public persona may differ entirely from their true nature. Some are extremely powerful; some have no power at all. Others will stab you in the back and walk on your corpse if it gives them an edge. Virtually none of them seem truly trustworthy.
But the most intriguing personality to interact with Elika is Shoran, a man of intimidating power who sticks to the shadows, stalks Elika as she discovers she has some magic, and truthfully—wants to kill her. Their connections are raw, unforgiving, and exploding with tension. Theirs is a cat and mouse game with no winners.
Once Shoran entered her life, attempting to defeat her, this tale truly had me engrossed. It became imperative that I kept my head in this book to find out what was going to happen. Ms. Thornbury has created a masterful world here that quickly swept me up even though I knew nothing of these people or realms in the beginning. Her ability to bring me up to speed and have me quickly caring about characters who were already established from the first book is a credit to her abilities as an author.
This novel and series fall into the genre of sword and sorcery fantasy, as well as genuinely epic, romantic, and dark fantasy. As such, I highly recommend it to fans of this genre. But please, be smarter than me. Start with the award-winning first book of the trilogy, “The Bridge to Magic.” Once it has woven its magic and left you spellbound, you won’t be able to miss this amazing novel.
Originally reviewed for Reader Views, the full review can be found at: https://readerviewsarchives.wordpress...
I don’t know how to tell readers about this book without gushing like a fangirl. Just WOW. I got so caught up in this story and its rich, complex characters that I have ignored cooking, cleaning, laundry… I probably would have forgotten to breathe if it weren’t on autopilot. This crazy world full of gods, demi-gods, mages, humans, and a host of others just grabbed me. The characters sank their fangs, claws, and whatever else deep within me. Then the intricately woven web of treachery, deceit, murder, war, magic, madness, and royal bed-hopping (all the things that make reads in this genre so much fun) put me into a spin cycle that would not let me go until every last emotion had been wrung from me.
It's tough as a reader to jump into the second book of an epic trilogy without having read the first. There was a definite learning curve at the beginning as I tried to catch up with characters and events that fans of the first book are already familiar with. The first few chapters felt like “sink-or-swim” moments as I worked out the various characters as well as a little of what had gone on before the opening of this novel. This story features a rather unusual looking girl who has lived her life (to date) living with a pack of pick-pockets on the streets. She’s spent much of her time dressed as a boy and going by the name of Eli Spider. Her actual name is Elika, although she has many nicknames she answers to. I was soon to find out this is only part of her unique nature.
Elika finds herself in another realm where magic rules and mere humans are considered unwelcome immigrants and thrown into slavery until they can purchase their freedom from their master. This was not a welcome concept for her, a person who has lived life on her own terms for as long as she can remember. She is placed in the home of her new master, a dreadful woman who owns a silk shop. As she grapples with this new life in a strange place with rules she doesn’t understand, she attempts to seek out any of her old street gang. She desperately needs a friendly face. And her freedom.
As you can imagine, Elika’s previous life has taught her to be a survivor. She is tough, smart, and manipulative. She tries to be a chameleon and fit in, but it’s not in her personality to do so. She’s headstrong and reactionary- again, traits that worked well for her in her previous life. But they are destructive to the new life she’s been thrust into. But as she sees the injustice all around her, she realizes that she may just have the power to make a difference. If so, she’s willing to do that at any cost to free the world of magic.
Elika is surrounded by an incredible cast of complex characters whose public persona may differ entirely from their true nature. Some are extremely powerful; some have no power at all. Others will stab you in the back and walk on your corpse if it gives them an edge. Virtually none of them seem truly trustworthy.
But the most intriguing personality to interact with Elika is Shoran, a man of intimidating power who sticks to the shadows, stalks Elika as she discovers she has some magic, and truthfully—wants to kill her. Their connections are raw, unforgiving, and exploding with tension. Theirs is a cat and mouse game with no winners.
Once Shoran entered her life, attempting to defeat her, this tale truly had me engrossed. It became imperative that I kept my head in this book to find out what was going to happen. Ms. Thornbury has created a masterful world here that quickly swept me up even though I knew nothing of these people or realms in the beginning. Her ability to bring me up to speed and have me quickly caring about characters who were already established from the first book is a credit to her abilities as an author.
This novel and series fall into the genre of sword and sorcery fantasy, as well as genuinely epic, romantic, and dark fantasy. As such, I highly recommend it to fans of this genre. But please, be smarter than me. Start with the award-winning first book of the trilogy, “The Bridge to Magic.” Once it has woven its magic and left you spellbound, you won’t be able to miss this amazing novel.
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