What do you think?
Rate this book
Card Mage #2
Card Mage: Tournament Topdecker
“This is the kind of card game story I’ve wanted to read for a long time…" Will Wight, author of Cradle, for Card Slumdog Deckbuilder.
Master your power. Defy the odds. Survive the game.
A year has passed since Hick embraced his destiny as a legendary Card Mage, but now his power threatens to destroy everything he’s fought for. Bound to the slums of Domstadt, he enters a ruthless tournament that could give him and his friends a chance to escape—but an uncontrollable force stirs within him, threatening to expose his secret.
With his father now an enemy and the religious fanatics who rule the city watching his every move, Hick must win or face unimaginable consequences. The cards are stacked against him, and the price of failure is more than losing—it’s death by fire.
Master your power. Defy the odds. Survive the game.
A year has passed since Hick embraced his destiny as a legendary Card Mage, but now his power threatens to destroy everything he’s fought for. Bound to the slums of Domstadt, he enters a ruthless tournament that could give him and his friends a chance to escape—but an uncontrollable force stirs within him, threatening to expose his secret.
With his father now an enemy and the religious fanatics who rule the city watching his every move, Hick must win or face unimaginable consequences. The cards are stacked against him, and the price of failure is more than losing—it’s death by fire.
- GenresFantasy
496 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 27, 2024
95 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
Benedict Patrick
21 books384 followersBenedict Patrick is from a small town in Northern Ireland called Banbridge, but has been living and working in Scotland since he moved there at the age of eighteen. Tragically, that was quite a while ago.
He has been writing for most of his life, and has been reading for pretty much all of it (with help from mum and dad at the beginning). Benedict's life changed when a substitute primary school teacher read his class part of The Hobbit and later loaned him the book – he fell in love with the fantasy genre and never looked back.
They Mostly Come Out At Night is his debut novel, and is the first novel in The Yarnsworld series.
Try out some free Yarnsworld stories by signing up to the mailing list: http://eepurl.com/b4UNHj
He has been writing for most of his life, and has been reading for pretty much all of it (with help from mum and dad at the beginning). Benedict's life changed when a substitute primary school teacher read his class part of The Hobbit and later loaned him the book – he fell in love with the fantasy genre and never looked back.
They Mostly Come Out At Night is his debut novel, and is the first novel in The Yarnsworld series.
Try out some free Yarnsworld stories by signing up to the mailing list: http://eepurl.com/b4UNHj
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
October 5, 2024
Absolutely brilliant. This book gives so much in character development and teasers leaving a space waiting to be filled by the next book. It’s one of those books that takes you on a journey you are reluctant to leave. I love the dynamics between the characters they are complex and a bit of reality in this fantasy world.
Can’t wait to find out more about Hick and his family and more about the reality and lies behind the Ecclesiarchy.
Can’t wait to find out more about Hick and his family and more about the reality and lies behind the Ecclesiarchy.
March 16, 2026
Ruined potential more than anything.
They introduce arena types in this book, which would be really cool if it actually did something to the games.
They describe the different looks, and then nothing happens with them.
The pacing is still weird. Time skips where it isn't needed.
During the big tournament, only two out of five battles are written out, or rather one and a half.
Eventually, it takes too long or something, and it just gets wrapped up in a small summary.
The mc feels inconsistent
There's so much that's not explained. Mystery is fun but it feels like the author doesn't really know either.
like with how some powers work, even the health of the shields is inconsistent. (or I'm stupid which could be true too)
I liked the side characters.
that's kinda it
I won't be reading the next one.
They introduce arena types in this book, which would be really cool if it actually did something to the games.
They describe the different looks, and then nothing happens with them.
The pacing is still weird. Time skips where it isn't needed.
During the big tournament, only two out of five battles are written out, or rather one and a half.
Eventually, it takes too long or something, and it just gets wrapped up in a small summary.
The mc feels inconsistent
There's so much that's not explained. Mystery is fun but it feels like the author doesn't really know either.
like with how some powers work, even the health of the shields is inconsistent. (or I'm stupid which could be true too)
I liked the side characters.
that's kinda it
I won't be reading the next one.
January 24, 2025
Great second installment of this fantastic series. Card Mage is on the surface a series about deckbuilding cardgames (think Magic – The Gathering, etc.), only that these games are held in arenas and the cards come to life. But it is so much more than just that: Card Mage is about (found) family, dedication, social differences, religion, and so much more. And I freaking love it!
December 23, 2024
This is the second book in the Card Mage series and it's a banger! If you like LitRPG and Magic the Gathering or Hearthstone style card games, this is going to knock your socks off. But definitely start with Book 1!
We see more of Hick and his friends (Gunne and Pep) - as well as more of what the different cards/decks do and what their rapport abilities can allow the owners to do. Great character development for Hick in this book as well as some slow reveals about his Mom and Dad's histories and a bit more about the mysterious and powerful Ecclesiarchy.
There were some startlingly horror-adjacent scenes that really gave this some grit. Definitely looking forward to Book 3 and hopefully more reveals about Hick's Mom!
I read this back in the summer, so definitely my bad on not getting a review up faster. I did receive an e-ARC of this book for review. 4.5 stars that I've rounded up to 5 for self-publishing, as is my usual practice.
We see more of Hick and his friends (Gunne and Pep) - as well as more of what the different cards/decks do and what their rapport abilities can allow the owners to do. Great character development for Hick in this book as well as some slow reveals about his Mom and Dad's histories and a bit more about the mysterious and powerful Ecclesiarchy.
There were some startlingly horror-adjacent scenes that really gave this some grit. Definitely looking forward to Book 3 and hopefully more reveals about Hick's Mom!
I read this back in the summer, so definitely my bad on not getting a review up faster. I did receive an e-ARC of this book for review. 4.5 stars that I've rounded up to 5 for self-publishing, as is my usual practice.
October 2, 2024
Look Out Brandon Sanderson!
Excellent worldbuilding and a magic system that's both original and actually systematic explain why the comparison devil that dogs us all made me think of Brandon Sanderson. I loved Benedict Patrick's other two series, both of which featured strikingly original settings and plots, but the Card Mage books focus less on supernatural idiosyncracies and more on humanity. A class-divided magical tbeocracy with a socially-underpinning bread-and-circuses dynamic is the backdrop against which young Hick, the Card Mage, fights while striving to find the truth behind the disappearance of a parent. Very readable, and very good. I'm looking forward to the next in this series.
Excellent worldbuilding and a magic system that's both original and actually systematic explain why the comparison devil that dogs us all made me think of Brandon Sanderson. I loved Benedict Patrick's other two series, both of which featured strikingly original settings and plots, but the Card Mage books focus less on supernatural idiosyncracies and more on humanity. A class-divided magical tbeocracy with a socially-underpinning bread-and-circuses dynamic is the backdrop against which young Hick, the Card Mage, fights while striving to find the truth behind the disappearance of a parent. Very readable, and very good. I'm looking forward to the next in this series.
January 31, 2025
After devouring the first book I immediately had to start the second book and I was not disappointed. Thrilling from start to finish. I NEED BOOK 3!!! And to get my hands on the kickstarter edition of the 1st book which I missed out on 🥲 maybe the second book will get the kickstarter special edition treatment and can get my hands on it then 👀
February 1, 2025
very very very good!!
Ok, I picked up this first book purely on spec when it came up on a Kindle “books you might enjoy” type thing.
Thankfully i started and have just binged both books in a few days. I will be gutted if there are no more, I’m not eloquent to tell you all reasons you should read them but please, just them a go, you won’t be disappointed!!
Ok, I picked up this first book purely on spec when it came up on a Kindle “books you might enjoy” type thing.
Thankfully i started and have just binged both books in a few days. I will be gutted if there are no more, I’m not eloquent to tell you all reasons you should read them but please, just them a go, you won’t be disappointed!!
October 12, 2024
A giant of the genre
I know card game LITRPG/deck building stories are not a terribly wide subset of the fantasy genre.
But as it gets wider and grows in popularity, I can’t imagine this one doing anything other than sitting at the top.
I know card game LITRPG/deck building stories are not a terribly wide subset of the fantasy genre.
But as it gets wider and grows in popularity, I can’t imagine this one doing anything other than sitting at the top.
October 20, 2024
Smoothly written keeping me hooked throughout. Happily admitting my inner nerd danced with joy reading this, it definitely continued the magic of the first book. The struggle of the MC and the complicated relationship with his father was brilliant. I look forward to reading more!
November 13, 2024
I can't wait for the next book!
This was an instant purchase for me because I loved the first book in the series so much. This book further expands on the world of Card Mage and I really look forward to seeing where the story goes next.
This was an instant purchase for me because I loved the first book in the series so much. This book further expands on the world of Card Mage and I really look forward to seeing where the story goes next.
September 28, 2024
What a great second book. Exciting and unexpected turns throughout. Hick, Pep, and Gunne are using their strategy to the fullest. Great card characters, new players and fun!
September 29, 2024
best card building litrpg so far
I can honestly say this card game could be a kickstarter that actually works for this author. Excellent series. Tense moments abound. Unputdownable
I can honestly say this card game could be a kickstarter that actually works for this author. Excellent series. Tense moments abound. Unputdownable
October 1, 2024
Excellent
Very good pacing, card games were amazing. I like Hick, he is a very relatable guy who is dealing with complex problems. Hope the next book comes out soon.
Very good pacing, card games were amazing. I like Hick, he is a very relatable guy who is dealing with complex problems. Hope the next book comes out soon.
January 23, 2025
Excellent
A very well put together sequel much like the first book but with a darker twists to the story line
A very well put together sequel much like the first book but with a darker twists to the story line
March 19, 2026
great (chancing) series! Looking forward to book 3!
If you like the litrpg/gaming/fantasy genre, give this series a try!
If you like the litrpg/gaming/fantasy genre, give this series a try!
May 21, 2025
What a fun deck-building litRPG adventure. And it starts 'xactly where it should, in a game of course! The style of game is like the deck-building anime that I've watched. Where players take turns pulling a card onto the playing field, the card pulled is random chance, but dependent on how you've built your deck. This is Hicks story. Hick along with his best friends and gaming mates Gunne, and Pep. But there's danger lurking everywhere, when the Priests are out there, when they know you're name, and they're ever vigilant, while looking out for anyone with illegal cards too. Hicks got more problems than just a card, he can't control the spell cards! And wow the Fae Queen is talking to him, and she not cooperating, in fact she furious with him... Now when your Card's throwing a hissy fit, you definitely have problems!!! In the mean time Hick is also looking into the mystery of his mother's disappearance. And wow do I love me some tournaments.
So yeah, grab the book and get to training, and mending bridges.
So yeah, grab the book and get to training, and mending bridges.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews