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The Chronicles of Lumineia: The White Mage Saga #5
The Forge of Light
The Dark has nearly consumed the planet. Men and beasts have been stripped of their minds, their bodies twisted to serve the Master's will. Her army now numbers in the trillions and is led by two supreme generals. Even the mages have no power to stop her. Driving the survivors to a last bastion of freedom, she calls for the decimated army to surrender. But mankind stands defiant. From the ashes of nations the people have united, and together they brace for the impending storm. Bereft of retreat or refuge they hold to a single hope, that the Oracle can destroy the Dark before they are slaughtered. Facing the end, the Oracle must rise to her birthright and find that which can cleanse the Earth of darkness. The Forge of Light.
357 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 5, 2014
53 people are currently reading
190 people want to read
About the author
Ben Hale
50 books352 followersAs an avid snowboarder from Utah, Ben grew up with a passion for learning. This thirst for knowledge led him to sports, music, and academic endeavors. After a year of college, he did volunteer work in Brazil and became fluent in three languages. Graduating from the University of Central Florida, he started and ran several successful businesses before publishing his first novel in June of 2012. By the end of the year he'd sold almost ten thousand copies of The Second Draeken War, and he began writing full-time. Now spanning 10,000 years, ten titles, and two series, The Chronicles of Lumineia represents a sprawling YA series that has sold over fifty thousand copies, and continues to expand its readership across all ages. Each of his books has been inspired by his wonderful wife and five beautiful children.
To contact the author, discover more about Lumineia, or find out about upcoming novels, check out his website at Lumineia.com. You can also follow Ben on twitter @ BenHale8 or on Facebook.
To contact the author, discover more about Lumineia, or find out about upcoming novels, check out his website at Lumineia.com. You can also follow Ben on twitter @ BenHale8 or on Facebook.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
September 13, 2016
I really enjoyed this whole series. If you are a Harry Potter fan then give The White Mage Saga a try. The story is well paced, the characters are fun and quirky. The environment building was well done. I quickly moved from one book to the next because I just had to see how it all ended. Derek Perkins did a great job on the Audible narration.
August 9, 2023
Love the narrator and characters. Found the plot a 1.5⭐️. Chaotic fighting the entire book
February 8, 2016
This is the final book in the "White Mage Saga"; book 5. This book is the modern day mirror of "Seven Days", the final book of Ben Hale's "Chronicles of Lumineia". Again, the final remnants of the world's population are pitted against the forces of The Dark. The Dark, I feel, was never fully explained. It is a corrupting force? agent? entity? which has been controlled by powerful magic users in the past and is currently controlled by Alice, mother of the current Oracle and all-around bad guy.
I give this book 5 stars because I really enjoyed this book in particular and the series as a whole. Hale has spent the last four books building up emotional connections to characters and uses that in this book to make it feel more meaningful and real. As in "Seven Days", there are numerous deaths in this book to go with the overall sense of anxiety as the world is being consumed. These five stars are not to say that the book is perfect. There were a few minor plot points that really didn't seem connected to the rest of the story very well. But these were, as I said, minor and I didn't feel like they detracted from the overall story.
I've always felt that Hale's strengths have been character building and battle scenes. In particular, I've consistently felt empathy for the characters; they have always seemed very real and fleshed out to me, and this certainly continues in this book. There were a couple of times in this book that caused me to actually exclaim something out loud, which is abnormal for me. I was easily wrapped up into the story and the characters and quickly cruised through the book to find out what happens.
My personal preference is still for the "Chronicles"; I enjoyed Taryn and the Rock Trolls so much (Rock Trolls make a short-lived but pretty sweet appearance in this book). But I would certainly recommend this series to any fan of fantasy.
I give this book 5 stars because I really enjoyed this book in particular and the series as a whole. Hale has spent the last four books building up emotional connections to characters and uses that in this book to make it feel more meaningful and real. As in "Seven Days", there are numerous deaths in this book to go with the overall sense of anxiety as the world is being consumed. These five stars are not to say that the book is perfect. There were a few minor plot points that really didn't seem connected to the rest of the story very well. But these were, as I said, minor and I didn't feel like they detracted from the overall story.
I've always felt that Hale's strengths have been character building and battle scenes. In particular, I've consistently felt empathy for the characters; they have always seemed very real and fleshed out to me, and this certainly continues in this book. There were a couple of times in this book that caused me to actually exclaim something out loud, which is abnormal for me. I was easily wrapped up into the story and the characters and quickly cruised through the book to find out what happens.
My personal preference is still for the "Chronicles"; I enjoyed Taryn and the Rock Trolls so much (Rock Trolls make a short-lived but pretty sweet appearance in this book). But I would certainly recommend this series to any fan of fantasy.
June 11, 2018
Tedious repetition of story development from the previous books in this series. If the reader started with the fifth book in a series then not knowing what is going on should be expected. Also, I got very tired of the "corded muscles" used far too often to describe too many characters.
When Siarra showed up in the previous book, I was afraid that she was the ex machina. Fortunately, that wasn't the case.
The epilogue was tedious too as Hale for some reason felt the need to rehash who had died. Boring. His writing is ok, but doesn't leave me hungry for the next book or series.
When Siarra showed up in the previous book, I was afraid that she was the ex machina. Fortunately, that wasn't the case.
The epilogue was tedious too as Hale for some reason felt the need to rehash who had died. Boring. His writing is ok, but doesn't leave me hungry for the next book or series.
August 7, 2017
I thought I would hate this..
After the first book I found myself plowing through it, though every instance that was similar to Harry Potter drove me crazy. In the last three all similarities ended and I truly enjoyed these books! Definitely worth your time!
After the first book I found myself plowing through it, though every instance that was similar to Harry Potter drove me crazy. In the last three all similarities ended and I truly enjoyed these books! Definitely worth your time!
February 8, 2017
Fantastic
Ben Hale did a great job bringing this story to an end. Truly a must read, if you are into fantasy. Lots of unexpected twist and interwoven characters.
Ben Hale did a great job bringing this story to an end. Truly a must read, if you are into fantasy. Lots of unexpected twist and interwoven characters.
October 8, 2017
if I see "lopsided grin" in another novel. it will be too soon.
April 9, 2019
Awesome series
I recommend reading this series from the beginning. Tess is wonderful character, full of warmth, with a great burden and not much time.
I recommend reading this series from the beginning. Tess is wonderful character, full of warmth, with a great burden and not much time.
October 9, 2019
So happy to see a character from the earlier books in this one!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 15, 2016
A great saga ends, but leaves some inconsistency questions
There are lots of surprises and really good "bad guys". The story kept me reading and I finished this series in a week which means I couldn't put the book down, so it is good. However, I do feel like the following discrepancies have left me a little ... not sure of the word, unsettled perhaps as I think back on the overall story content.
There's a pretty good tie in from the Dark War series that occurred 10,000 years earlier. However, there are a few items that left me scratching my head. One is how the Drakaen Wars series Lumenia earth is so different from our today earth, with no explanation. The geography is definitely different, like this series was an afterthought, as the current earth geography is not explained as why it is different.
Another is how the first bad guy introduced in the first book of this series really had no major role in the series after being introduced. And how did the ultimate surprising second bad guy (Master) accomplish in seemingly hours what 1st bad guy had to do in 1000 years with taking on "The Dark"? Why didn't the author put the same effort in a very well developed back story for the second bad guy (Master), as was what done for the first bad guy in the first book of the series? I kept on thinking the 1st bad guy was going to make an ultimate comeback or else why go through all the character development in the first place?
Finally, I was hoping to see Tryton in his super powers suit come back to save the world, and was disappointed that it was Hawk since I got to really like Tryron from that series. I mean, Hawk was introduced in the other Draeken Wars series but not really fully developed as Tryton. Again, I spent allot of time getting to know Tryton but not much with Hawk. Therefore, I did not feel as close to the Hawk character as I would have.
I kept on hoping that Tryon would show up as one of the missing magic weapons that the Oracle needed to find. Nope.
So what happened to Tryton!? The only book I haven't read I'd the one following the 7 days war ending. Maybe he shows up there?
If not, I would really like to see Tryton in his battle suit take on some bad guys.
The author does mention some very interesting other stories like Atlantis, so maybe we'll see him there?
Other than that, it moves pretty quickly and you get to like the characters. I really wish our president at time of writing was the honorable good guy, and hero of this story. Oh well
There are lots of surprises and really good "bad guys". The story kept me reading and I finished this series in a week which means I couldn't put the book down, so it is good. However, I do feel like the following discrepancies have left me a little ... not sure of the word, unsettled perhaps as I think back on the overall story content.
There's a pretty good tie in from the Dark War series that occurred 10,000 years earlier. However, there are a few items that left me scratching my head. One is how the Drakaen Wars series Lumenia earth is so different from our today earth, with no explanation. The geography is definitely different, like this series was an afterthought, as the current earth geography is not explained as why it is different.
Another is how the first bad guy introduced in the first book of this series really had no major role in the series after being introduced. And how did the ultimate surprising second bad guy (Master) accomplish in seemingly hours what 1st bad guy had to do in 1000 years with taking on "The Dark"? Why didn't the author put the same effort in a very well developed back story for the second bad guy (Master), as was what done for the first bad guy in the first book of the series? I kept on thinking the 1st bad guy was going to make an ultimate comeback or else why go through all the character development in the first place?
Finally, I was hoping to see Tryton in his super powers suit come back to save the world, and was disappointed that it was Hawk since I got to really like Tryron from that series. I mean, Hawk was introduced in the other Draeken Wars series but not really fully developed as Tryton. Again, I spent allot of time getting to know Tryton but not much with Hawk. Therefore, I did not feel as close to the Hawk character as I would have.
I kept on hoping that Tryon would show up as one of the missing magic weapons that the Oracle needed to find. Nope.
So what happened to Tryton!? The only book I haven't read I'd the one following the 7 days war ending. Maybe he shows up there?
If not, I would really like to see Tryton in his battle suit take on some bad guys.
The author does mention some very interesting other stories like Atlantis, so maybe we'll see him there?
Other than that, it moves pretty quickly and you get to like the characters. I really wish our president at time of writing was the honorable good guy, and hero of this story. Oh well
March 27, 2019
I had been waiting for this book and was very very interesting to find out how the book ends.
But just like most of the series the last edition is the worst. I was not too impressed with this book too.
You can compare this book Seven Days. the oracle fighting the Dark and the Collected army fighting the twisted.
Seven days had an awesome narration , with lovely innovative war. Forge of light is dragged. Lots of pieces could have been removed.
The way the generals get killed is also not too impressive.
I did like the flow of the book thought , reminded me of seven days.
When you have read series like Elseerian. You want more from the next series from the author. Just because i had read Seven days before,
I rate this book 3/5
Devil D
But just like most of the series the last edition is the worst. I was not too impressed with this book too.
You can compare this book Seven Days. the oracle fighting the Dark and the Collected army fighting the twisted.
Seven days had an awesome narration , with lovely innovative war. Forge of light is dragged. Lots of pieces could have been removed.
The way the generals get killed is also not too impressive.
I did like the flow of the book thought , reminded me of seven days.
When you have read series like Elseerian. You want more from the next series from the author. Just because i had read Seven days before,
I rate this book 3/5
Devil D
January 2, 2015
Pure enjoyment
I can't speak highly enough about this book and series as a whole. I think this is a fantastic start to what I hope is a long and fruitful career for Ben Hale. Bravo, good sir.
I can't speak highly enough about this book and series as a whole. I think this is a fantastic start to what I hope is a long and fruitful career for Ben Hale. Bravo, good sir.
August 4, 2016
Loved the series from the very beginning of the first books of Luminea to the epilogue of this book! (We have listened to 9 books, just missing "The Assassins Blade." Will get that "bridge book" next.)
Nicely done Ben Hale!!
Nicely done Ben Hale!!
April 3, 2016
Solid ending
This book ends a five book series. I'm satisfied at the end, though not wowed. It was strong on character resolution but light on plot twists. That's why it gets four out of five stars. But it was still a good read.
This book ends a five book series. I'm satisfied at the end, though not wowed. It was strong on character resolution but light on plot twists. That's why it gets four out of five stars. But it was still a good read.
October 27, 2016
It was a good conclusion to the series, though I couldn't help but feel the ending was a bit "deus ex machina," which though wide spread in literature is still somewhat uninspired.
Still a good job overall with rewarding final confrontations between some of the series's key rivalries.
Still a good job overall with rewarding final confrontations between some of the series's key rivalries.
February 14, 2015
Forge of Light
Words can't describe how I feel about this last installment of The White Mage Saga. So many emotions but definitely an epic ending to a great storyline!
Words can't describe how I feel about this last installment of The White Mage Saga. So many emotions but definitely an epic ending to a great storyline!
March 7, 2015
Wow nice ending
The storey had me from book 1. With each one better. Only thing I'm having trouble if I like the second darken or this better
The storey had me from book 1. With each one better. Only thing I'm having trouble if I like the second darken or this better
July 21, 2016
I will be buying this series for my classroom. I think many of my students will really enjoy reading them.
September 2, 2016
Probably could have been a trilogy. Third and fourth book weren't quite paced as well.
Read
September 22, 2016Riveting
Great story line with enough detail that it gives a vision of the world he created, an unforgettable saga for sure.
Great story line with enough detail that it gives a vision of the world he created, an unforgettable saga for sure.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews