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The Witch Queen Saga #1
Rageborn
Only One Who Cannot Be Bound by Magic Can Defeat the Witch Queen
Karn was just a boy when dark forces tore his home apart, leaving him orphaned and burning for vengeance. Taken in by an unlikely mentor, he finds himself thrust into The Forge—a brutal training ground where the Witch Queen molds her deadliest warriors. Strength is survival, and every lesson is paid for in blood.
But Karn is different. Magic cannot touch him. And in a world where power is everything, that makes him dangerous.
As he battles through ruthless trials and shifting alliances, Karn unearths secrets buried deep in his past—truths that could shatter the Witch Queen’s reign… or doom him to her service. The path to revenge is treacherous, and every choice comes with a cost.
To break free, Karn must is he a weapon forged for war, or something far more deadly?
Karn was just a boy when dark forces tore his home apart, leaving him orphaned and burning for vengeance. Taken in by an unlikely mentor, he finds himself thrust into The Forge—a brutal training ground where the Witch Queen molds her deadliest warriors. Strength is survival, and every lesson is paid for in blood.
But Karn is different. Magic cannot touch him. And in a world where power is everything, that makes him dangerous.
As he battles through ruthless trials and shifting alliances, Karn unearths secrets buried deep in his past—truths that could shatter the Witch Queen’s reign… or doom him to her service. The path to revenge is treacherous, and every choice comes with a cost.
To break free, Karn must is he a weapon forged for war, or something far more deadly?
- GenresFantasy
385 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 9, 2024
577 people are currently reading
443 people want to read
About the author
Simon Shugar
33 books37 followersHey, I’m Simon Shugar—fantasy author hooked on telling bold, emotional, action-heavy stories through raw, first-person journeys. If you like coming-of-age arcs, epic stakes, and human struggles in unreal worlds, you're in the right place!
I’m originally from Oxfordshire, England, now living in North Carolina with my wild little toddler and our very chill (and very spoiled) dog, Jasper. I’ve loved fantasy for as long as I can remember—drawn in by the magic, the grit, and the heart at the center of it all.
I studied game design for a bit, then pivoted into software engineering to pay the bills. But somewhere in between code and chaos, I started writing stories—and once I did, I couldn’t stop. Fast forward to now, I’ve written 13 novels across three trilogies and a standalone, with plenty more on the way.
I’m originally from Oxfordshire, England, now living in North Carolina with my wild little toddler and our very chill (and very spoiled) dog, Jasper. I’ve loved fantasy for as long as I can remember—drawn in by the magic, the grit, and the heart at the center of it all.
I studied game design for a bit, then pivoted into software engineering to pay the bills. But somewhere in between code and chaos, I started writing stories—and once I did, I couldn’t stop. Fast forward to now, I’ve written 13 novels across three trilogies and a standalone, with plenty more on the way.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
August 20, 2024
Good premise. Poor execution.
If only the main character wasn't a disappointment. I liked pretty much everything about the book EXCEPT the main character. Very weird.
The book had a good idea and the author built well fleshed out characters and did world building well. It was well written and well paced I thought. It was like the stated premise was at odds with the actual book. The book was supposed to be a driven young man out for revenge for his brutally murdered people, ruthlessly driving himself towards that ultimate goal. The story however, was pretty much a naive, good natured boy coming of age and attending an elite school. Harry Potter for fighters, sorta. Instead of driven, the MC was passive and had a weak personality. He was a doormat for most anyone who pushed him. He never stood up for himself and only survived due to luck or plot armor. The revenge was sorta in the background but he never actually did anything about it other than exactly what he was told to do. Again, would have been ok if it was just a normal kid growing into his own, but for a character who is on the path of vengeance and has been trained for years with that goal in mind? No. He should have been focused, controlled, somewhat ruthless and calculating towards his literal purpose in life. Instead, he was just foolish and pathetic. He bonded with and fought, to protect an antagonistic sadistic bully who was an outright cheat and coward and who would turn on him in heart beat and risked everything he has spent years training to do for, reasons? Don't know. Also would have gotten everyone who supported him tortured and murdered.
For those and other reasons,
I will not bother looking for a sequel.
If only the main character wasn't a disappointment. I liked pretty much everything about the book EXCEPT the main character. Very weird.
The book had a good idea and the author built well fleshed out characters and did world building well. It was well written and well paced I thought. It was like the stated premise was at odds with the actual book. The book was supposed to be a driven young man out for revenge for his brutally murdered people, ruthlessly driving himself towards that ultimate goal. The story however, was pretty much a naive, good natured boy coming of age and attending an elite school. Harry Potter for fighters, sorta. Instead of driven, the MC was passive and had a weak personality. He was a doormat for most anyone who pushed him. He never stood up for himself and only survived due to luck or plot armor. The revenge was sorta in the background but he never actually did anything about it other than exactly what he was told to do. Again, would have been ok if it was just a normal kid growing into his own, but for a character who is on the path of vengeance and has been trained for years with that goal in mind? No. He should have been focused, controlled, somewhat ruthless and calculating towards his literal purpose in life. Instead, he was just foolish and pathetic. He bonded with and fought, to protect an antagonistic sadistic bully who was an outright cheat and coward and who would turn on him in heart beat and risked everything he has spent years training to do for, reasons? Don't know. Also would have gotten everyone who supported him tortured and murdered.
For those and other reasons,
I will not bother looking for a sequel.
July 9, 2025
Top Notch
The story just keeps building the characters development. A page turner to keep you engaged. Looking forward to the next installment.
The story just keeps building the characters development. A page turner to keep you engaged. Looking forward to the next installment.
February 11, 2025
I started off not too sure and then was fairly quickly sucked in to the story and characters. In the end I found it hard to put the book down. An interesting well described world of the witch queens. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
May 22, 2025
I am interested to see where this goes. Pretty standard overarching themes but I love the different character dynamics.
October 17, 2025
This was an outstanding book! Karn's journey from a decimated village to learning to be an adopted son to learning to be a warrior was very well written! We see some cliches between nobility and low-born, but it was handled decently. Going from training for drills with Banar to the trials at the Forge was insane. Characters are well flushed out and story pacing is great!
On to book 2!
On to book 2!
July 30, 2025
Really entertaining fantasy. Nice premise and good tension through the dynamic between the students. Like the magic system so far and pacing is good.
November 17, 2024
robuster
It’s a little too repetitive. Going over past events a little more than necessary for the majority of readers.
Other than that , it’s a good story worth the time and effort to put into it.
It has vague similarities of Red Rising , Hunger Games and a couple of other novels I’ve cycled through.
It has a great hook . Outstanding hook.
It’s a little too repetitive. Going over past events a little more than necessary for the majority of readers.
Other than that , it’s a good story worth the time and effort to put into it.
It has vague similarities of Red Rising , Hunger Games and a couple of other novels I’ve cycled through.
It has a great hook . Outstanding hook.
November 5, 2024
Fantastic
Well written and thought out! Lots of action and the ending will leave you wanting to see what is going to happen next!
Well written and thought out! Lots of action and the ending will leave you wanting to see what is going to happen next!
July 10, 2025
The initial story sucked me in and I felt like it was setting up for a great coming of age / revenge story but nothing ever happened. MC never confronted anyone, acted like he was all about vengeance but never took action above basic training that everyone else was already doing. Dialogue felt very simple at times also. Still a great arc, but probably not reading book 2.
July 30, 2025
Overall this was a good but not great book. I liked the premise and it has potential but the pacing was awful. The beginning was way too slow, then the ending is way too fast. I appreciate a “shorter” book (370 isn’t short but it’s not TOG). But an extra 100-150 pages would’ve helped this book a lot.
October 17, 2024
Book 1
Book 1 was an okay read and had errors throughout. The plot and characters are developed well enough. The plot is a bit predictable but overall okay. The characters can be somewhat repetitive and annoying throughout the book.
Book 1 was an okay read and had errors throughout. The plot and characters are developed well enough. The plot is a bit predictable but overall okay. The characters can be somewhat repetitive and annoying throughout the book.
March 8, 2025
I just couldn’t buy into the idea that he forgave everyone about ten seconds after they’d murdered his entire village, and then went to school of all things. It was just so outlandish that anything good about the story was lost on me.
February 6, 2025
ummm it was ok but the writing was so bland and simple. it was all tell and no show. It feels like it was written for a 12 year old and nothing was really flushed out, its just there.
July 9, 2025
3.5 stars
October 27, 2025
Couldn't finish this one.
In theory the storyline is great but not that well executed in my opinion. Just not enough to keep you along for the ride.
In theory the storyline is great but not that well executed in my opinion. Just not enough to keep you along for the ride.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews