What do you think?
Gage Black
Gage Black and the Void Dragon
Will he become the monster everyone expects? Or the hero no one saw coming?
Gage Black’s presence is a death sentence. Plants wither, magic fades, and elementals die when he gets too close. He's branded as cursed and cast out by society, and things only get worse when he accidentally summons a void dragon—an ancient beast feared for devouring worlds.
His only hope is a magical academy where students train for war. Even there, he’s an outcast, ignored by his teachers and hated by his classmates. But when powerful invaders threaten their kingdom, Gage and his dragon might be the only ones strong enough to stop them.
Eragon meets Ranger’s Apprentice in this clean, fast-paced fantasy series filled with magic, adventure, and danger. Perfect for young teens and beyond!
Gage Black’s presence is a death sentence. Plants wither, magic fades, and elementals die when he gets too close. He's branded as cursed and cast out by society, and things only get worse when he accidentally summons a void dragon—an ancient beast feared for devouring worlds.
His only hope is a magical academy where students train for war. Even there, he’s an outcast, ignored by his teachers and hated by his classmates. But when powerful invaders threaten their kingdom, Gage and his dragon might be the only ones strong enough to stop them.
Eragon meets Ranger’s Apprentice in this clean, fast-paced fantasy series filled with magic, adventure, and danger. Perfect for young teens and beyond!
520 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 11, 2025
About the author
Britt Asher
8 books33 followersAuthor of clean, fast-paced fantasy for young teens and beyond!
Britt lives in the frigid wasteland known as Minnesota. While she hates the cold and snow, she appreciates the nice summers, the lack of lethal creepy crawlies, and the pretty forests and lakes. Outside of writing, she loves reading, high-speed walking, and high-speed walking while reading--yes, that’s a thing, and no, she hasn’t accidentally walked off a cliff (yet). One of her favorite places is Japan, where she lived for nearly three years and ate far too many sweet potatoes.
Britt lives in the frigid wasteland known as Minnesota. While she hates the cold and snow, she appreciates the nice summers, the lack of lethal creepy crawlies, and the pretty forests and lakes. Outside of writing, she loves reading, high-speed walking, and high-speed walking while reading--yes, that’s a thing, and no, she hasn’t accidentally walked off a cliff (yet). One of her favorite places is Japan, where she lived for nearly three years and ate far too many sweet potatoes.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
April 15, 2026
I downloaded this on my Kindle, having really low expectations, thinking it'd be pretty boring and childish. But I was surprised, the book was actually really good!
I loved the idea of the different magic types, and I loved the elementals you could summon based on your magic: water feline, wind avian, fire lizard, earth beetle. And of course, the dragons if you were an Innaran or void user.
My favorite part of this book was, simply, Spark. Nightspark is the cutest dragon, I loved his little dialogue parts, I love baby dragon talk. I also loved how he'd always steal food and hide under tables and such, it was hilarious and adorable.
The storyline was pretty good, I enjoyed it a lot. It followed a very common theme: a young boy finds he has magic that isn't supposed to exist anymore and is considered "evil" or "bad". I liked the fact that Gage didn't act overpowered at all for the book, he just wanted to help people and become a healer. While at some points, it was a little boring, I was easily interested again for those small parts.
The characters were fun and interesting, my favorites were probably Nihsa and Spark. I loved that while the book was focused on Gage, you still were able to enjoy the side characters.
Lastly, the ending of the book?! I wasn't expecting that to happen. I won't say much about it, but that last chapter was super surprising, and I'm excited to read the next book.
(Too bad my KU subscription is over so I can't read book 2 immediately :( Oh well. )
I loved the idea of the different magic types, and I loved the elementals you could summon based on your magic: water feline, wind avian, fire lizard, earth beetle. And of course, the dragons if you were an Innaran or void user.
My favorite part of this book was, simply, Spark. Nightspark is the cutest dragon, I loved his little dialogue parts, I love baby dragon talk. I also loved how he'd always steal food and hide under tables and such, it was hilarious and adorable.
The storyline was pretty good, I enjoyed it a lot. It followed a very common theme: a young boy finds he has magic that isn't supposed to exist anymore and is considered "evil" or "bad". I liked the fact that Gage didn't act overpowered at all for the book, he just wanted to help people and become a healer. While at some points, it was a little boring, I was easily interested again for those small parts.
The characters were fun and interesting, my favorites were probably Nihsa and Spark. I loved that while the book was focused on Gage, you still were able to enjoy the side characters.
Lastly, the ending of the book?! I wasn't expecting that to happen. I won't say much about it, but that last chapter was super surprising, and I'm excited to read the next book.
(Too bad my KU subscription is over so I can't read book 2 immediately :( Oh well. )
March 22, 2026
A very good YA fantasy. The storyline is a classic: a young boy finds out he has destructive magic, which supposedly no longer exists. He wants to become a healer and help people, but the king thinks his magic can end the war. The plotlines are fairly predictable, but the magic is in how the author handles them - things never turned out quite the way I expected. Problems were rarely completely resolved, always leaving a bit of unknown to keep the forward momentum.
Content: Everything was clean, and the main character was a 12 year old boy, so it seems like it would appeal to MG level readers. However, it is pretty long, with lots of action/fight scenes, several of which are fairly intense. So better for older MG/younger YA crowd
Content: Everything was clean, and the main character was a 12 year old boy, so it seems like it would appeal to MG level readers. However, it is pretty long, with lots of action/fight scenes, several of which are fairly intense. So better for older MG/younger YA crowd
December 14, 2025
This is probably my favorite book of the year! Vibes wise it reminded me of all my favorite animes, but the chef's kiss was little Gage... he just wants to be good :'O Seriously tugged at my heartstrings so bad. Readers talk about book boyfriends, but I'd like to make Gage my book adopted child. This book would be great for anyone able to read it; it's definitely long for a middle grade, but highly worth it and I think kids and adults alike will love it. The story quickly hooks you and even though it's a chunker of over 500 pages, I felt like it felt as quick as a novella. 6 stars! ;D
March 20, 2026
If Pikachu met Avatar...
Very much a middle grade fantasy action adventure. The story follows Gage Black - a 12 year old boy who is viewed as cursed until he is tested for the academy and it is discovered he is a void user. The opposite of magic that is still yet also magic.
The tone of the story is serious yet no real harm. It has skirmishes and grand showdowns between enemies, but no one is really hurt in the end. It very much made me think of a cross between Avatar the Last Airbender and Pokémon. It even had cute little pets, elementals, for each magic user, with Gages' little void dragon, Nightspark, very much stealing the spotlight from time to time.
Endearing and sweet overall, with secrets and a foreboding doom that is countered with fun hopeful characters. Decent read!
Very much a middle grade fantasy action adventure. The story follows Gage Black - a 12 year old boy who is viewed as cursed until he is tested for the academy and it is discovered he is a void user. The opposite of magic that is still yet also magic.
The tone of the story is serious yet no real harm. It has skirmishes and grand showdowns between enemies, but no one is really hurt in the end. It very much made me think of a cross between Avatar the Last Airbender and Pokémon. It even had cute little pets, elementals, for each magic user, with Gages' little void dragon, Nightspark, very much stealing the spotlight from time to time.
Endearing and sweet overall, with secrets and a foreboding doom that is countered with fun hopeful characters. Decent read!
March 5, 2025
Like Multiple Books in One—Loved Every Second!
While I wasn’t wholly aware of what kind of story this would be, I fell in love with it early on. It’s incredibly fast-paced, jumping right into the action. Overall, my only complaint is that while the main character is twelve years old, he acts much more like an older teen, and I feel like the story would’ve worked just a bit better if he was fourteen or fifteen instead. Nonetheless, it doesn’t change much. I still enjoyed the story thoroughly!
I was initially surprised by how many chapters are in this book. It’s a bit long for a middle-grade book (about 97k words), and there are seventy-three total chapters, but the fast pace of the story makes it fly by. Furthermore, the up and down of the journey makes it feel like a trilogy all in one book!
I downloaded a free ARC ePub of this book from BookSirens and listened along on my computer.
As I’ve already mentioned, the twelve-year-old main character Gage Black feels more naturally like a fourteen- or fifteen-ear-old, given his mental maturity and general interactions with other characters, but this may also be due to the severe mistreatment he faced throughout his youth at the hands of the people around him. For ten years, he was deemed “cursed”, only kept around by the gold provided by a mysterious benefactor, who is not revealed in this book (though we’re given enough clues to deduce who it likely could be). Other characters include Alphen, a seventeen-year-old who saves and befriends Gage early on, and two others—Thad and his daughter Nihsa—who take Gage in as family.
Gage never had a family, being an orphan and then severely abused for ten years, but as soon as he joins Runadel Academy, he begins finding his people. He sees Alphen and Nihsa as older siblings, and finds a father-figure in his mentor Thad, who is a healer just like Gage wants to be. His strong sense of justice is also mirrored in Alphen, who is a rebellious and misunderstood magic user who nonetheless lets Gage under his guard.
Overall, the writing was really good, if a bit cringey at times. As a story for middle-grade and younger readers, this is fine, as the characters are allowed to be a bit silly to counteract the darkness and destruction around them. I love the humour and minimal romance woven in.
As I’ve said, this book was fast-paced. We jump straight into the action, and even in the lull between battles, there are no breaks for our characters—especially Gage and his elemental companion, Nightspark. Asher does an excellent job of making this single book feel like three totally different adventures as she compacts so much growth and character evolution into one novel without it being overwhelming.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I highly recommend it to young readers! People who loved The Inheritance Cycle are sure to be fans of this book!
While I wasn’t wholly aware of what kind of story this would be, I fell in love with it early on. It’s incredibly fast-paced, jumping right into the action. Overall, my only complaint is that while the main character is twelve years old, he acts much more like an older teen, and I feel like the story would’ve worked just a bit better if he was fourteen or fifteen instead. Nonetheless, it doesn’t change much. I still enjoyed the story thoroughly!
I was initially surprised by how many chapters are in this book. It’s a bit long for a middle-grade book (about 97k words), and there are seventy-three total chapters, but the fast pace of the story makes it fly by. Furthermore, the up and down of the journey makes it feel like a trilogy all in one book!
I downloaded a free ARC ePub of this book from BookSirens and listened along on my computer.
As I’ve already mentioned, the twelve-year-old main character Gage Black feels more naturally like a fourteen- or fifteen-ear-old, given his mental maturity and general interactions with other characters, but this may also be due to the severe mistreatment he faced throughout his youth at the hands of the people around him. For ten years, he was deemed “cursed”, only kept around by the gold provided by a mysterious benefactor, who is not revealed in this book (though we’re given enough clues to deduce who it likely could be). Other characters include Alphen, a seventeen-year-old who saves and befriends Gage early on, and two others—Thad and his daughter Nihsa—who take Gage in as family.
Gage never had a family, being an orphan and then severely abused for ten years, but as soon as he joins Runadel Academy, he begins finding his people. He sees Alphen and Nihsa as older siblings, and finds a father-figure in his mentor Thad, who is a healer just like Gage wants to be. His strong sense of justice is also mirrored in Alphen, who is a rebellious and misunderstood magic user who nonetheless lets Gage under his guard.
Overall, the writing was really good, if a bit cringey at times. As a story for middle-grade and younger readers, this is fine, as the characters are allowed to be a bit silly to counteract the darkness and destruction around them. I love the humour and minimal romance woven in.
As I’ve said, this book was fast-paced. We jump straight into the action, and even in the lull between battles, there are no breaks for our characters—especially Gage and his elemental companion, Nightspark. Asher does an excellent job of making this single book feel like three totally different adventures as she compacts so much growth and character evolution into one novel without it being overwhelming.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I highly recommend it to young readers! People who loved The Inheritance Cycle are sure to be fans of this book!
November 20, 2025
My Thoughts:
There are some scenes which are not quiet believable. It took a willful stubbornness on my part to turn a blind eye on those scenes and suspend disbelief. But the story is beautiful. There are dragons and magic, after all! The book didn't really say "elf". They are called Innarans, instead.
The ending of course, is hanging and points to the theme of the next book while ending the dilemma in the book. I knew that this is a series when I picked the book up, so, I was prepared for that.
So, who was that benefactor that kept sending gold for Gage's upkeep while he was in Talid??
And who is Adrian Black!!
This is my first William Turbett listen and I would buy audiobooks by him again.
Quantitative Evaluation:
Story telling quality = 4
Character development = 4
Story itself = 4.5
Writing Style = 4
Ending = 3.5
World building = 5
Cover art = 4
Pace = (9 hrs and 42 mins listening time)
Plot = 4
Narration = 5
Character development = 4
Story itself = 4.5
Writing Style = 4
Ending = 3.5
World building = 5
Cover art = 4
Pace = (9 hrs and 42 mins listening time)
Plot = 4
Narration = 5
Overall Rating: 4 out of 5
March 25, 2025
I have to be perfectly honest: going into this book, I half expected it to be very watered down and a little bit too "kiddy" for me. But I was pleasantly surprised by it.
I was soon in love with the setting and the characters and how the author's voice sounds exactly the way I would expect a 12-year-old boy to be speaking. It made the entire story so immersible.
I pretty much fell in love with all of the characters almost immediately. This was a super cute and fun read and I'm now disappointed because I'm going to have to wait so long for the second book!
Solid 4 stars, honestly. And totally waiting in anticipation for book two! Also ... that surprise little twist at the end was a total "chef's kiss"! I actually did not see that coming!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I was soon in love with the setting and the characters and how the author's voice sounds exactly the way I would expect a 12-year-old boy to be speaking. It made the entire story so immersible.
I pretty much fell in love with all of the characters almost immediately. This was a super cute and fun read and I'm now disappointed because I'm going to have to wait so long for the second book!
Solid 4 stars, honestly. And totally waiting in anticipation for book two! Also ... that surprise little twist at the end was a total "chef's kiss"! I actually did not see that coming!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 27, 2025
A magical roller coaster for the ages
Young hero screwed by society, rumors, and belief? Check
Penchant for breaking every rule around in order to donwhat isnright? Check
Adorable companion that adds the right dose of adorable wholesomeness and pranks? Check and check.
This book series is shaping up to be everything you want for young adults to read. The struggle from the start, the courage to do what is right even in the face of insurmountable odds and the compassion to not care about rules if it meant saving just one more person. Add in a fun cast of side characters, each with their own compelling stories to tell and a cast of adorable magical creatures, and this series is bound to hook its claws in and never let go, especially with the hidden twists at the end. Can't wait for book 2.
Young hero screwed by society, rumors, and belief? Check
Penchant for breaking every rule around in order to donwhat isnright? Check
Adorable companion that adds the right dose of adorable wholesomeness and pranks? Check and check.
This book series is shaping up to be everything you want for young adults to read. The struggle from the start, the courage to do what is right even in the face of insurmountable odds and the compassion to not care about rules if it meant saving just one more person. Add in a fun cast of side characters, each with their own compelling stories to tell and a cast of adorable magical creatures, and this series is bound to hook its claws in and never let go, especially with the hidden twists at the end. Can't wait for book 2.
March 19, 2025
I only bought this book yesterday, but I couldn't put it down. It was fast-paced and engaging. I loved the characters. Thad, Nihsa, Alphen and Gage all have my whole heart. ♡
I love the worldbuilding so far, too. Simple but effective. Gage was refreshing as a protag. Having magic that breaks other magic, being despised... and for him to fight, to be accepted and appreciated... Good stuff. 👍
As for the brotherhood I love to read about and was waiting for, Alphen and Gage's relationship melted my heart. It was so wholesome. 😭 They're both such heathens, especially Alphen, it was hilarious. It makes sense their dragons had so much personality too. I cracked a lot of smiles.
Can't wait to see where this series goes!!
I love the worldbuilding so far, too. Simple but effective. Gage was refreshing as a protag. Having magic that breaks other magic, being despised... and for him to fight, to be accepted and appreciated... Good stuff. 👍
As for the brotherhood I love to read about and was waiting for, Alphen and Gage's relationship melted my heart. It was so wholesome. 😭 They're both such heathens, especially Alphen, it was hilarious. It makes sense their dragons had so much personality too. I cracked a lot of smiles.
Can't wait to see where this series goes!!
February 12, 2025
Gage Black and the Void Dragon is Book 1 in the gate lack Series by Britt Asher. I found this book to be fantastic. I could not put the book down. The author wrote a story that unfolded and in my opinion, there is no slow or dragging in this story. I felt Gage was written perfectly and with everything that happened to him, he is compassionate, smart and strong in void magic. I love his dragon, Nightspark. I found the story perfectly written with excellent characters and I was so surprised at the end. I can't wait for Book 2. I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.
August 24, 2025
For someone who’s not afraid of long series, this book felt like a lot wrapped into a single standalone (though honestly, it could easily spin into more).
It’s fast-paced, full of action, and still manages to deliver a solid story with heart. There were definitely parts I wished had been explored more deeply, but that didn’t take away from the overall experience.
At the end of the day—dragons. And really, who doesn’t enjoy a fun, adventurous book with dragons? This one is a joy to read, and I think a lot of fantasy fans would agree.
It’s fast-paced, full of action, and still manages to deliver a solid story with heart. There were definitely parts I wished had been explored more deeply, but that didn’t take away from the overall experience.
At the end of the day—dragons. And really, who doesn’t enjoy a fun, adventurous book with dragons? This one is a joy to read, and I think a lot of fantasy fans would agree.
February 4, 2026
HOLY CRUD PUPPY - WHAT A RIDE!
I stumbled upon this book and thought "sure, I'll give it a go"... Ummm, excuse me? No one told me that this book would take me on such a wildly amazing Ride!
Every part of this story was so well written that I couldn't help but live through every moment.
And that cliffhanger twist! I am flabbergasted at this insanely amazing story line.
Read it. Just read the book.
I stumbled upon this book and thought "sure, I'll give it a go"... Ummm, excuse me? No one told me that this book would take me on such a wildly amazing Ride!
Every part of this story was so well written that I couldn't help but live through every moment.
And that cliffhanger twist! I am flabbergasted at this insanely amazing story line.
Read it. Just read the book.
February 24, 2025
I really liked this book. It was different from other fantasy books. It ended with a surprise confirmation, but I had suspected it for a little bit. It kept me hooked, and I couldn't put it down, wanting to know what would happen. I started and finished it in under 7 hours, including breaks and lunch. I definitely want to continue this story with the next book in the series.
April 30, 2025
Adventure, bromance, and witty dialogue! This wholesome, fast-paced fantasy is perfect for 11-15yos, especially fans of The False Prince, Eragon, and Ranger’s Apprentice. Britt Asher is a master at writing humorous character relationships. The dynamic between Gage and Alphen is so endearing, and I love it every time they’re on the same page.
December 21, 2025
When Does Destruction Become A Constructive Force?
Before anything new is built, the broken, worn, corrupt, useless, and defunct must be cleared away. So in the longer time frame the destruction contributes to the growth and progress of the world. This story focuses on how destruction makes the world a better place.
The novel is a good read.
Before anything new is built, the broken, worn, corrupt, useless, and defunct must be cleared away. So in the longer time frame the destruction contributes to the growth and progress of the world. This story focuses on how destruction makes the world a better place.
The novel is a good read.
July 3, 2026
Nice clean story
I like that I can recommend this book for young people... Or old. It is easy to read with plenty of action that keeps one reading without bad language or excessive horror. There are scary situations and rejection, but I appreciate the author's resolutions. I enjoyed the surprise ending!
I like that I can recommend this book for young people... Or old. It is easy to read with plenty of action that keeps one reading without bad language or excessive horror. There are scary situations and rejection, but I appreciate the author's resolutions. I enjoyed the surprise ending!
July 20, 2026
Book 1
Book 1 was a fun read and had a few errors throughout. The plot and characters are developed well and the story has a few good twists throughout. Some of the information is repetitive, predictable, and sometimes confusing, but eventually sorts itself out. The book ends on a somewhat cliffhanger and is a good starting point for book 2.
Book 1 was a fun read and had a few errors throughout. The plot and characters are developed well and the story has a few good twists throughout. Some of the information is repetitive, predictable, and sometimes confusing, but eventually sorts itself out. The book ends on a somewhat cliffhanger and is a good starting point for book 2.
April 1, 2025
super fun
A super fun read where I fell in love with the world and its people. I typically would like a lil more structure to how and why magic works but honestly it didn’t distract me too much! Loved it
A super fun read where I fell in love with the world and its people. I typically would like a lil more structure to how and why magic works but honestly it didn’t distract me too much! Loved it
Read
May 28, 2025Fabulous
Awesome story great characters filled with passion for life - looking forward to reading book 2- gage and the youngest prince will save the day - I am surprised that the king is not good
Awesome story great characters filled with passion for life - looking forward to reading book 2- gage and the youngest prince will save the day - I am surprised that the king is not good
September 11, 2025
Unexpectedly wonderful
I usually do not read books written for a much younger age bracket, but I'm glad that I did. No foul language, no sex scenes; unexpectedly wonderful. It's definitely worth five stars.
I usually do not read books written for a much younger age bracket, but I'm glad that I did. No foul language, no sex scenes; unexpectedly wonderful. It's definitely worth five stars.
September 13, 2025
Very Good
I'll start by saying that I'm probably not the target demographic for this book. That being said, it's pretty damn good. I quite enjoyed it. If you like something like The Rangers Apprentice, but with magic, then you'll probably like this one.
Highly recommended.
I'll start by saying that I'm probably not the target demographic for this book. That being said, it's pretty damn good. I quite enjoyed it. If you like something like The Rangers Apprentice, but with magic, then you'll probably like this one.
Highly recommended.
November 10, 2025
new dragon power
A real surprise as I was expecting a childish fairy tale, but this was an exciting and novel approach to dragon wars. Well worth the read and I’m looking forward to the next book
A real surprise as I was expecting a childish fairy tale, but this was an exciting and novel approach to dragon wars. Well worth the read and I’m looking forward to the next book
March 13, 2025
Fascinating world-building and new concepts for me to explore. You've got magic, a dragon, and adventure, what more can you ask for? Great start to a new series by Britte Asher!
June 18, 2025
absolutely blown away
Absolutely blown away, as soon as I started it grabbed a hold of me and wouldn’t let go,my new favourite book I’ve read all year
Absolutely blown away, as soon as I started it grabbed a hold of me and wouldn’t let go,my new favourite book I’ve read all year
July 15, 2025
Excellent
An excellent start to what I hope to be another enthralling series from Britt Asher. Read it you won’t be disappointed.
An excellent start to what I hope to be another enthralling series from Britt Asher. Read it you won’t be disappointed.
September 1, 2025
Wonderful!
A great fantasy read that was compelling from start to finish. Absolutely loved the characters, the action, and the mystery. One of my new favorite books!
A great fantasy read that was compelling from start to finish. Absolutely loved the characters, the action, and the mystery. One of my new favorite books!
October 2, 2025
Not good
It could have been a good book but the writer could not deliver , the mc killed everything around him but he wanted to heal? Really?
It could have been a good book but the writer could not deliver , the mc killed everything around him but he wanted to heal? Really?
December 7, 2025
cliffhanger
I loved the story until the last page when I realized it was a cliffhanger. So now I’m not sure if I’ll read the next one. The story was well written and a joy to read.
I loved the story until the last page when I realized it was a cliffhanger. So now I’m not sure if I’ll read the next one. The story was well written and a joy to read.
December 28, 2025
Fun read
Good character development. This was a quick fun read. I look forward to the next book in the series and seeing how the plot progresses.
Good character development. This was a quick fun read. I look forward to the next book in the series and seeing how the plot progresses.
January 8, 2026
It's effectively a pokemon story, very readable, middle school level.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews