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Havensgate Chronicles #1
The Accidental Apprentice
Brilliant and ambitious, Rezdin the Wizard has one goal: impress the king, but he answers to Baron von Dappenshien who refuses him access to Court. Before Rezdin can maneuver himself into the limelight, the king charges von Dappenshien for treason, and Rezdin goes to ground. The wizard finds himself dependent upon the wits and good will of a starving street urchin. But what can he offer little Tommy in return? When old dangers and new alliances rear their menacing heads, Rezdin must decide where his true loyalties lie, and what to do with his new-found entourage of one.
209 pages, Paperback
First published September 27, 2014
21 people are currently reading
218 people want to read
About the author
Anika Arrington
6 books8 followersAnika Arrington is a devoted wife, mother of six, a Scorpio, and an unabashed pluviophile. Unfortunately, she lives in the deserts of Arizona, so she passes the time with her kids baking (she is especially good at homemade macaroni and cheese, cheesecake, and pumpkin anything), reading, watching for clouds, and of course, writing.
Arrington studied communications for three years at NAU aspiring to be a speech writer before trading it all in for domestic bliss. She has studied physics at Stanford and history at Yale (free online classes count right?). And although she has been writing and occasionally illustrating her own stories since the age of 4,The Accidental Apprentice is Anika's first novel.
Arrington studied communications for three years at NAU aspiring to be a speech writer before trading it all in for domestic bliss. She has studied physics at Stanford and history at Yale (free online classes count right?). And although she has been writing and occasionally illustrating her own stories since the age of 4,The Accidental Apprentice is Anika's first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
September 29, 2014
Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Actual Rating- 4.5
Positives
The Accidental Apprentice is a wonderful and fascinating book, full of magic! I liked everything about the story and the characters. The Characters are one of the many ‘positives’ for the book, they are very well developed and quite influential. You can instantly connect with the characters as the book is written in various PoVs. I loved the fact that magic, in this book, is described so flawlessly that for a minute I was wondering about having powers within myself. This book is very beautifully written. Anika’s writing carries you magically through the entire story and leaves you craving for more at the end. The plot is aptly intriguing and the concept of DMZ (Demystifying Zone) is just amazing.
I can’t even pick up a favourite character, as each and every character felt so true!
Negatives
I would have greatly appreciated one more chapter from Erik’s PoV. I strongly feel that this chapter would have provided the character of Baron von Dappenshien a satisfying closure. I really, really missed him in the end. That’s the only reason for me to cut back on 1/2 a star in the rating. Also a different cover might have done wonders for the book!
Conclusion
The Accidental Apprentice is a wonderful book full of magic and surprises. It has successfully made it’s place amongst my favourites. I’d recommend it to all the high-fantasy readers.
PS: I really hope that the author writes a sequel to The Accidental Apprentice. I’d love to see Tommy’s progress in the Academy.
Read all my reviews (including this one) at The Reading Bud
Actual Rating- 4.5
Positives
The Accidental Apprentice is a wonderful and fascinating book, full of magic! I liked everything about the story and the characters. The Characters are one of the many ‘positives’ for the book, they are very well developed and quite influential. You can instantly connect with the characters as the book is written in various PoVs. I loved the fact that magic, in this book, is described so flawlessly that for a minute I was wondering about having powers within myself. This book is very beautifully written. Anika’s writing carries you magically through the entire story and leaves you craving for more at the end. The plot is aptly intriguing and the concept of DMZ (Demystifying Zone) is just amazing.
I can’t even pick up a favourite character, as each and every character felt so true!
Negatives
I would have greatly appreciated one more chapter from Erik’s PoV. I strongly feel that this chapter would have provided the character of Baron von Dappenshien a satisfying closure. I really, really missed him in the end. That’s the only reason for me to cut back on 1/2 a star in the rating. Also a different cover might have done wonders for the book!
Conclusion
The Accidental Apprentice is a wonderful book full of magic and surprises. It has successfully made it’s place amongst my favourites. I’d recommend it to all the high-fantasy readers.
PS: I really hope that the author writes a sequel to The Accidental Apprentice. I’d love to see Tommy’s progress in the Academy.
Read all my reviews (including this one) at The Reading Bud
October 21, 2014
original review @ JC's Book Haven.
The former street urchin in me wanted to spit at the baron's feet. The educated magician wanted to shrink him until he understood just how small he made others feel. But on the whole, I didn't fancy prison, so I let the temptations slip away.
The Good
So it has some fun spells as well as an interesting landscape. The history of the land and what was going on with the people, keeping some plotting and others loyal was great. While I liked a lot of the characters in the book, hero and villain, I wish there was more about Marco Calico. Rezdin's cat was my type of character; good, sarcastic, able to help but holding back because you asked him to (not realizing he could help). Its ok he believes you can do it lol.
The Bad
It took me a few chapters to get into the book. As there is a lot of ground work laid down, no real action and a lot of political plotting is going on at first. Oh and it has a bit of 'I'm rich so my magic toy needs to be better then so-n-so's magic toy or I'll throw a fit'.
The Romance
The romance was interesting as it was on the villain side. The villain takes advantage of her jellyfish of a husband to try and overthrow the government. Yet despite how she walks over him and treats him like dirt, ignoring him at times, he continues to love her.
Conclusion
Overall, a fun little fantasy book. The spells and few magic items are fantastic. The characters are different (No he-man/Conan heroes to be found that I can recall). If you enjoy government overthrows, plotting with the enemy with magic tossed in, I suggest you give this book a read.
The former street urchin in me wanted to spit at the baron's feet. The educated magician wanted to shrink him until he understood just how small he made others feel. But on the whole, I didn't fancy prison, so I let the temptations slip away.
The Good
So it has some fun spells as well as an interesting landscape. The history of the land and what was going on with the people, keeping some plotting and others loyal was great. While I liked a lot of the characters in the book, hero and villain, I wish there was more about Marco Calico. Rezdin's cat was my type of character; good, sarcastic, able to help but holding back because you asked him to (not realizing he could help). Its ok he believes you can do it lol.
The Bad
It took me a few chapters to get into the book. As there is a lot of ground work laid down, no real action and a lot of political plotting is going on at first. Oh and it has a bit of 'I'm rich so my magic toy needs to be better then so-n-so's magic toy or I'll throw a fit'.
The Romance
The romance was interesting as it was on the villain side. The villain takes advantage of her jellyfish of a husband to try and overthrow the government. Yet despite how she walks over him and treats him like dirt, ignoring him at times, he continues to love her.
Conclusion
Overall, a fun little fantasy book. The spells and few magic items are fantastic. The characters are different (No he-man/Conan heroes to be found that I can recall). If you enjoy government overthrows, plotting with the enemy with magic tossed in, I suggest you give this book a read.
December 1, 2014
A war has banished most of the wizards from Havensgate and those remaining have to comply with the rules of the kingdom. The protective magic barrier along the borders called the DMZ (Demystified Zone) is slowly being pushed and destroying land. The wizards that live in Havensgate are pretty much owned by the royals to do their bidding. Lady Felecia and Baron Erik von Dappenshien are at arms against each other on what should be done to protect Havensgate. A plot to open the magic barrier and let one of the deadliest wizards come get his revenge in Havensgate is set in place. Baron Erik is framed and his wizard Rezdin has to go into hiding. Rezdin now must rely on a street boy named Tommy Penceworth to save his life and the whole kingdom.
The characters in this story are incredibly compelling. You jump from each characters point of view and get inside their head and find out what makes them tick, even the “evil” ones. They don’t seem so evil when you see what motivates them. The descriptions in this story are so tangible it’s like you’re there. While reading, I pictured characters and places from “Merlin” the TV show. Like “Merlin”, The Accidental Apprentice has a King, royals, wizards, and magic is not very popular with the people. I’m hoping for a prequel story someday showing us the war that caused the separation of the wizards. I’m also waiting not-so-patiently for the next story to come out. There’s still a lot to happen with Rezdin and Tommy.
Anika is a wonderful storyteller and she works her own magic by bringing a whole new world alive. I found this book in the teen section of the bookstore but I believe all ages will find the characters and their stories irresistible.
The characters in this story are incredibly compelling. You jump from each characters point of view and get inside their head and find out what makes them tick, even the “evil” ones. They don’t seem so evil when you see what motivates them. The descriptions in this story are so tangible it’s like you’re there. While reading, I pictured characters and places from “Merlin” the TV show. Like “Merlin”, The Accidental Apprentice has a King, royals, wizards, and magic is not very popular with the people. I’m hoping for a prequel story someday showing us the war that caused the separation of the wizards. I’m also waiting not-so-patiently for the next story to come out. There’s still a lot to happen with Rezdin and Tommy.
Anika is a wonderful storyteller and she works her own magic by bringing a whole new world alive. I found this book in the teen section of the bookstore but I believe all ages will find the characters and their stories irresistible.
November 14, 2014
My son received this book for his birthday, and I picked it up and started reading it also. Soon we were trying to decide whose turn it was to read it. It's been a long, long time since I loved a book so much that I would stay up late to read it.
The characters have distinct and great personalities, and I came to enjoy each one. The ending was a good surprise, and I am hoping more books will follow.
The characters have distinct and great personalities, and I came to enjoy each one. The ending was a good surprise, and I am hoping more books will follow.
October 16, 2014
The Accidental Apprentice
Anika Arrington
The Accidental Apprentice is the debut novel by Anika Arrington. A magical fantasy set against a background of court intrigue, corruption and revenge, The Accidental Apprentice is unique and appealing.
Set in a world where the use of magic is rule-based, wizards cannot practice magic in its organic form but are contracted to use it per the whims of their masters.
The masters have their own agendas that set the stage for the central premise of The Accidental Apprentice.
Arrington chooses to tell the story using multiple points of views which added dimension to the story as characters plotted and recoiled as betrayals came to the fore-front.
Each character is driven by the ability to manipulate magic for better or worse and again, this adds more depth to the fate of the characters.
Noteworthy is the creativity behind the elements of magic, the rules of this world, the DMZ (the Demystifying Zone) and the markings, concepts that are unlike magical elements found in any fantasy I've read before and must say is the crux of why you need to read this book.
The Accidental Apprentice is beautifully written. Arrington has mastery over the use of language and that is refreshing, making the reading experience that much more pleasurable.
There is no graphic language or scenes that detract from the story. That translates to layer after layer of well orchestrated storytelling which adds to the appeal of Arrington's novel.
The story is steeped in plot, driven by conspiracy and scheming, focused on unraveling the machinations of the antagonists all within the space of confined rules.
The Accidental Apprentice is noteworthy; the magic distinct, the writing fluid with an entertaining storyline that makes for a stunning debut.
My rating: A must read for all fans of great writing that translates to great storytelling.
Read this and other reviews at The Author Visits
Anika Arrington
The Accidental Apprentice is the debut novel by Anika Arrington. A magical fantasy set against a background of court intrigue, corruption and revenge, The Accidental Apprentice is unique and appealing.
Set in a world where the use of magic is rule-based, wizards cannot practice magic in its organic form but are contracted to use it per the whims of their masters.
The masters have their own agendas that set the stage for the central premise of The Accidental Apprentice.
Arrington chooses to tell the story using multiple points of views which added dimension to the story as characters plotted and recoiled as betrayals came to the fore-front.
Each character is driven by the ability to manipulate magic for better or worse and again, this adds more depth to the fate of the characters.
Noteworthy is the creativity behind the elements of magic, the rules of this world, the DMZ (the Demystifying Zone) and the markings, concepts that are unlike magical elements found in any fantasy I've read before and must say is the crux of why you need to read this book.
The Accidental Apprentice is beautifully written. Arrington has mastery over the use of language and that is refreshing, making the reading experience that much more pleasurable.
There is no graphic language or scenes that detract from the story. That translates to layer after layer of well orchestrated storytelling which adds to the appeal of Arrington's novel.
The story is steeped in plot, driven by conspiracy and scheming, focused on unraveling the machinations of the antagonists all within the space of confined rules.
The Accidental Apprentice is noteworthy; the magic distinct, the writing fluid with an entertaining storyline that makes for a stunning debut.
My rating: A must read for all fans of great writing that translates to great storytelling.
Read this and other reviews at The Author Visits
October 5, 2014
I was given this book as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy). No that is not true. The title and the cover painting enticed me to request it. The marketing blurb was also exciting. Reminding me of my youthful reads and who does not want to return to the scene of the crime when reading was drought with less depth and complexity...
Whoa... Did I say less depth. Once you dig into this treasure you will find that it is anything but light reading should you want to spend time with it. Not to say that it is heavy, but it has complexities of society, structure and politics that you just might not expect to find, that you don't expect to find, and that shows that Mrs Arrington has spent a great deal of time on her world.
We encounter this world slowly with a piece peeled away at time until you are a third of the book and you think you know all, but there are still more layers that will be revealed. That is the artistry of Mrs Arrington, and worth your indulgence, should you be a fan of fantasy. It presents items in a new way, and also makes us want to know more about the background of our hero...
Yet the one fault perhaps is that there are so many POV characters to tell the tale, we learn about our hero in bits and pieces, and though the continuity of the story seems to flow along because the tellers each advance it a little, we want to delve further into the back story of this person or that, and only seem to get a taste here and then must wait a long time before that character is center stage and learn more about their life and motivation.
Still, despite never satisfying that itch to learn all about our leads, and having so many to be interested in, the tale comes to its conclusion. Will there be more? Can we think of how we would want the next chapter to play out in our mind as the dust settles, surely. Perhaps though we will one day have a prequel or a sequel and see what else happens here.
Whoa... Did I say less depth. Once you dig into this treasure you will find that it is anything but light reading should you want to spend time with it. Not to say that it is heavy, but it has complexities of society, structure and politics that you just might not expect to find, that you don't expect to find, and that shows that Mrs Arrington has spent a great deal of time on her world.
We encounter this world slowly with a piece peeled away at time until you are a third of the book and you think you know all, but there are still more layers that will be revealed. That is the artistry of Mrs Arrington, and worth your indulgence, should you be a fan of fantasy. It presents items in a new way, and also makes us want to know more about the background of our hero...
Yet the one fault perhaps is that there are so many POV characters to tell the tale, we learn about our hero in bits and pieces, and though the continuity of the story seems to flow along because the tellers each advance it a little, we want to delve further into the back story of this person or that, and only seem to get a taste here and then must wait a long time before that character is center stage and learn more about their life and motivation.
Still, despite never satisfying that itch to learn all about our leads, and having so many to be interested in, the tale comes to its conclusion. Will there be more? Can we think of how we would want the next chapter to play out in our mind as the dust settles, surely. Perhaps though we will one day have a prequel or a sequel and see what else happens here.
November 5, 2014
I really enjoyed this book. Arrigton weaves a complex tale of magic, mystery, and political subterfuge that kept me turning the pages! Throughout, there were many creative and unique ideas woven into the fabric of Arrington’s world, including the ‘demystified zone’, and the ‘marking’ of non-magic users who wish to use certain spells. Arrington took a calculated risk in using a first person perspective that switched characters between chapters. It was off putting at first, HOWEVER, Arrington’s strength is in the voices of her characters. Each perspective brings its own unique and well-written voice and carries you right into the character’s mind. Her unique approach showcased this talent marvelously. The conclusion of the story sets up a fantastic scenario for an even more tantalizing sequel that I hope comes out soon!
December 16, 2014
Awesome book
After I got into it I couldn't put it down. I hope there is a second book. I wonder what kind of mischief they will get up too. I will be keeping an eye out for this authorm
After I got into it I couldn't put it down. I hope there is a second book. I wonder what kind of mischief they will get up too. I will be keeping an eye out for this authorm
July 3, 2017
It started out very slow for me, but there was some info that needed to be told to get the story going. After a few chapters though it grabbed my interest and kept me going for the rest of the book. This is a fantastic action filled fantasy with some political conflict and fun magic mixed in. I would say this book is great for all from young teen and up.
Fred is one of my favorite narrators and this is the type of book that he is great at! There were lots of characters and he did an amazing job with them all!! The best I've listened to so far!
If you love good, clean fantasy, then I would recommend this one!
Fred is one of my favorite narrators and this is the type of book that he is great at! There were lots of characters and he did an amazing job with them all!! The best I've listened to so far!
If you love good, clean fantasy, then I would recommend this one!
September 2, 2017
Absolutely leaves you wanting more! I'll be watching for the sequel!
January 27, 2016
I received this book for free in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
I had high hopes when reading the overview for this story, but I have to be honest I did not enjoy it very much. I am an avid reader and I found myself ready to be done with the book as it jumped around a lot and just did not have a very good flow of words that makes a story interesting. Instead of intrigue, I found myself bored with the story and wanting more clarity and a better developed plot and story line. Too all over the place for my liking and I wouldn't recommend reading it to others.
I had high hopes when reading the overview for this story, but I have to be honest I did not enjoy it very much. I am an avid reader and I found myself ready to be done with the book as it jumped around a lot and just did not have a very good flow of words that makes a story interesting. Instead of intrigue, I found myself bored with the story and wanting more clarity and a better developed plot and story line. Too all over the place for my liking and I wouldn't recommend reading it to others.
January 11, 2015
I had the pleasure of reading a few parts of this book while it was a work in progress. Anika is a very talented author who created characters with depth and a plot that twists throughout the story line.
July 15, 2015
Not that good, jumps around too much from person to person.
Want to read
April 4, 2017no ocln
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews