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Mysteries of the Material
The Great Wielders have awakened.
Fresh from torturous captivity, Jaslan and Francis search for their Fire and Terra counterparts. As Jack guides them south, they gain both information and support—and encounter a powerful new foe whose only goal is to help the Idol finish what she started.
While the Great Wielders test the extent of their powers, Jack investigates the Idol’s suspicious activities. Old wounds heal, new friendships bloom, and love grows stronger. But as Jaslan and Jack settle into a peaceful routine and explore the depths of their passion, the Idol sets her plan into motion.
When Jack is sent on a mission to investigate Ironite, he discovers a truth about the Idol that puts more than just the Great Wielders in danger. He and an unexpected ally aim to thwart the Idol’s plan, setting into motion a series of events that help the Great Wielders in their fight—but have disastrous consequences no one expected.
Mysteries of the Material is the sequel to the riveting romantic fantasy novel, The Way of the Wielder. Join Jaslan and Jack as they advance their magic, confront foes old and new, and venture into the unknown.
Fresh from torturous captivity, Jaslan and Francis search for their Fire and Terra counterparts. As Jack guides them south, they gain both information and support—and encounter a powerful new foe whose only goal is to help the Idol finish what she started.
While the Great Wielders test the extent of their powers, Jack investigates the Idol’s suspicious activities. Old wounds heal, new friendships bloom, and love grows stronger. But as Jaslan and Jack settle into a peaceful routine and explore the depths of their passion, the Idol sets her plan into motion.
When Jack is sent on a mission to investigate Ironite, he discovers a truth about the Idol that puts more than just the Great Wielders in danger. He and an unexpected ally aim to thwart the Idol’s plan, setting into motion a series of events that help the Great Wielders in their fight—but have disastrous consequences no one expected.
Mysteries of the Material is the sequel to the riveting romantic fantasy novel, The Way of the Wielder. Join Jaslan and Jack as they advance their magic, confront foes old and new, and venture into the unknown.
- GenresFantasy
542 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 26, 2024
14 people are currently reading
38 people want to read
About the author
Sarah J. Hoodlet
4 books27 followersSarah J. Hoodlet is a fantasy writer living in a small town in Northern New England. There, in a bright green writing room with southern sun exposure, she drinks copious amounts of tea and brings magical worlds to life. She lives with her husband and two rambunctious black cats.
For more information on what Sarah’s working on, visit her website: https://sarahjhoodlet.com/
Or follow her on Mastodon: @SJHoodlet@writing.exchange
For more information on what Sarah’s working on, visit her website: https://sarahjhoodlet.com/
Or follow her on Mastodon: @SJHoodlet@writing.exchange
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 28, 2025
Exceptional Sequel
Sarah J. Hoodlet has created a wonderful story that you should absolutely check out. Her character depth is fantastic, from the intense romance between Jack and Jaslan, to the exceptional love between Francis and Caius, and all the other details and personalities in the supporting cast. Her world-building is as smooth as silk, and her plot had me hooked. This is an exceptional book (with NO typos- holy cow!! Every other indie author book I’ve ever read has typos). From start to finish, I was immersed and loving it. If you haven’t read this series, you really should- it’s truly fantastic. And the ending!!! Can’t wait to sink my thoughts into the next one. Highly recommended, and superb kid from Sarah J. Hoodlet- bravo!
Sarah J. Hoodlet has created a wonderful story that you should absolutely check out. Her character depth is fantastic, from the intense romance between Jack and Jaslan, to the exceptional love between Francis and Caius, and all the other details and personalities in the supporting cast. Her world-building is as smooth as silk, and her plot had me hooked. This is an exceptional book (with NO typos- holy cow!! Every other indie author book I’ve ever read has typos). From start to finish, I was immersed and loving it. If you haven’t read this series, you really should- it’s truly fantastic. And the ending!!! Can’t wait to sink my thoughts into the next one. Highly recommended, and superb kid from Sarah J. Hoodlet- bravo!
January 19, 2025
Another great ride with these beautiful characters and their intriguing world. Well, not so great because that ending - YOU DIDN'T! 😢 Let me try to gather my thoughts while I clean the tears from my face...
I love Kizune so much, especially how they care about simple humans. I'm dying to know more about their mysterious story and world.
One thing I really appreciate is how figures of power aren't just painted as bad guys because that's what society expects. This is fantasy after all!
As much as this is a romance book, I have to admire how it doesn't hold back from gruesome battles, letting characters be realistic. They act how someone would really act, even if it's not what a "good person" by somebody else's morals would do. Well done Jaslan and Serge!
And I keep saying it - even if on the surface you might think the magic is just another elemental system (and I would still love it if it was just that), there's so much more to the worldbuilding that keeps being revealed bit by bit.
I also love how we see strong women who aren't just there to fill an agenda. They're the result of their struggles, as real as many women in our world, and that makes them stronger than anyone could imagine. Yet they don't hesitate to ask for help from their friends and lovers. Sometimes men put themselves in front to protect them, even when it's not needed - not because "that's what men do," but because that's what friends and lovers do. We don't want to portray women as princesses that need to be saved, but a man in love will always want to save his princess. I really love how we see the gray spectrum of the human soul and not just characters reduced to checking boxes on some list.
This and so many other details - the complex characters, the layered worldbuilding, the realistic relationships - are things to admire, both as a reader and somebody trying to write. A fantastic example of how to do things right!
I love Kizune so much, especially how they care about simple humans. I'm dying to know more about their mysterious story and world.
One thing I really appreciate is how figures of power aren't just painted as bad guys because that's what society expects. This is fantasy after all!
As much as this is a romance book, I have to admire how it doesn't hold back from gruesome battles, letting characters be realistic. They act how someone would really act, even if it's not what a "good person" by somebody else's morals would do. Well done Jaslan and Serge!
And I keep saying it - even if on the surface you might think the magic is just another elemental system (and I would still love it if it was just that), there's so much more to the worldbuilding that keeps being revealed bit by bit.
I also love how we see strong women who aren't just there to fill an agenda. They're the result of their struggles, as real as many women in our world, and that makes them stronger than anyone could imagine. Yet they don't hesitate to ask for help from their friends and lovers. Sometimes men put themselves in front to protect them, even when it's not needed - not because "that's what men do," but because that's what friends and lovers do. We don't want to portray women as princesses that need to be saved, but a man in love will always want to save his princess. I really love how we see the gray spectrum of the human soul and not just characters reduced to checking boxes on some list.
This and so many other details - the complex characters, the layered worldbuilding, the realistic relationships - are things to admire, both as a reader and somebody trying to write. A fantastic example of how to do things right!
September 8, 2025
In this second installment, we meet new characters while also seeing how Jaslan and Francis navigate their trauma and learn their new powers and abilities along with the other two.
This is a long book and I appreciate how it took the time for us to really learn about the characters, especially the new ones, but also experience they’re navigation of what’s new and other experiences. I loved the found family that grew here, not just between the Great Wielders, but with all of them and their lovers and friends.
I will admit that their relationships at times seemed odd to me. I kept being reminded that they’re all platonic, and it made me feel like I should be shown that, not told because at times a couple of them it did seem more than that, or there’s flirting when I think there shouldn’t be if they’re “platonic”.
The world is super unique, I just wish there was more explanation about certain things that are introduced. Like the Idol. I can’t say that I could truly explain about them, however, I get the impression the next book may explain things better or more.
I love love the relationship and romance between Jack and Jaslan. I just wish their communication with each other was a tad bit less repetitive or they used different words. Their romantic declarations were constantly repeated like they needed to remind me that they’re desperately in love with each other. I know that, and I felt that, but it got a tad bit annoying that the same thing was repeated all the time and I think it would have made it more special if they changed up the wording, or something.
I do think it would have helped shorten the book if there was a tad bit less repetition of certain things being said or done, but the chapters are on the shorter side and overall, it’s a wonderful series with wonderful magic and a unique and interesting world, and after the rather devastating, but expected and predicted, ending, I need to know how it continues.
Thank you to BookSirens and the author for the e-ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This is a long book and I appreciate how it took the time for us to really learn about the characters, especially the new ones, but also experience they’re navigation of what’s new and other experiences. I loved the found family that grew here, not just between the Great Wielders, but with all of them and their lovers and friends.
I will admit that their relationships at times seemed odd to me. I kept being reminded that they’re all platonic, and it made me feel like I should be shown that, not told because at times a couple of them it did seem more than that, or there’s flirting when I think there shouldn’t be if they’re “platonic”.
The world is super unique, I just wish there was more explanation about certain things that are introduced. Like the Idol. I can’t say that I could truly explain about them, however, I get the impression the next book may explain things better or more.
I love love the relationship and romance between Jack and Jaslan. I just wish their communication with each other was a tad bit less repetitive or they used different words. Their romantic declarations were constantly repeated like they needed to remind me that they’re desperately in love with each other. I know that, and I felt that, but it got a tad bit annoying that the same thing was repeated all the time and I think it would have made it more special if they changed up the wording, or something.
I do think it would have helped shorten the book if there was a tad bit less repetition of certain things being said or done, but the chapters are on the shorter side and overall, it’s a wonderful series with wonderful magic and a unique and interesting world, and after the rather devastating, but expected and predicted, ending, I need to know how it continues.
Thank you to BookSirens and the author for the e-ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
December 2, 2024
At long last, the second book of the series is here! After all the adventure and mystery of the first book, we’ll finally get some answers. What are these orbs? Who are the great wielders? And what is Ironite??
The second book of the Wielders series is action packed, filled with answers, answers, and more .. questions?
As with the first book, I read this book straight through in a matter of days. I simply didn’t want to stop reading! Definitely a worthy successor to the first book of the series.
The second book of the Wielders series is action packed, filled with answers, answers, and more .. questions?
As with the first book, I read this book straight through in a matter of days. I simply didn’t want to stop reading! Definitely a worthy successor to the first book of the series.
February 20, 2025
I'm needing Book 3 ASAP. Incredible character building. I immensely enjoyed the camaraderie. This book is full of important fundamentals to the whole story. The ending is an explosion of chaos. Be ready.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews