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Guild Mage #1
Apprentice
There are a lot of things wrong with Liv Brodbeck.
She’s too small, for one thing. When she works in the castle kitchens with her mother, she can’t carry a sack of flour or roll a keg of ale.
Baron Summerset’s chirurgeon says that she has brittle bones, so she isn’t allowed to wrestle or sword fight with the other children. Even sledding downhill in the winter brings the risk of breaking an arm or a leg if she falls.
Everyone says that she ruined her mother’s life when she was born. Not when they think Liv is in the room, of course, but she overhears all the same. In the kitchen of a less kind lord, a cook bearing a bastard child would have been more than cause enough for both of them to be out on the street.
No, a child like Liv doesn’t have much hope. But when she accidentally unleashes a surge of wild magic, she takes her first step on a journey which will lead her from the kitchens of Castle Whitehill, to the cold palaces of the Eld, and beyond, to the graves of gods...
She’s too small, for one thing. When she works in the castle kitchens with her mother, she can’t carry a sack of flour or roll a keg of ale.
Baron Summerset’s chirurgeon says that she has brittle bones, so she isn’t allowed to wrestle or sword fight with the other children. Even sledding downhill in the winter brings the risk of breaking an arm or a leg if she falls.
Everyone says that she ruined her mother’s life when she was born. Not when they think Liv is in the room, of course, but she overhears all the same. In the kitchen of a less kind lord, a cook bearing a bastard child would have been more than cause enough for both of them to be out on the street.
No, a child like Liv doesn’t have much hope. But when she accidentally unleashes a surge of wild magic, she takes her first step on a journey which will lead her from the kitchens of Castle Whitehill, to the cold palaces of the Eld, and beyond, to the graves of gods...
350 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 18, 2025
249 people are currently reading
157 people want to read
About the author
David Niemitz
10 books26 followersDave Niemitz is a writer and teacher; he lives with his wife, son, a black cat named Charlie, and a Pug named Duncan.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
December 21, 2025
Decent coming of age story of a castle scullion who awakens her magical abilities while rescuing a young girl. Good writing and editing.
November 4, 2025
Really good. I'm addicted.
The people feel real and realistic. Interesting magic system and world. Good pacing, with fitting time-skips.
The people feel real and realistic. Interesting magic system and world. Good pacing, with fitting time-skips.
August 18, 2025
Need More Chapters! (it's that good)
Overall, this is the book I've enjoyed reading the most, thus far. And there's a reason for that! You just can't get enough of the Guild Mage.
The style feels professional. The author conveys everything perfectly, and it makes for an awesome read that really immerses the reader in the story.
The story itself is really well done, with amazing world building and plot. Everything builds on everything, and there doesn't seem to be any plot holes or dead spots in the story. There are a few slow paced chapters, though, but they're necessary for the story's progression.
Obviously, the grammar acts as the magic glue for everything. And, even though it holds everything together, there's nothing to say about it, really. There's no errors, and the way everything is written transports you into the medieval setting. It's a well written, grammatically sound fiction.
Lastly, the characters. They're unique, they have personality, and there's a variety of them. You don't really need anything else. Except maybe emotion, but that covered as well.
It's a really well done fiction that feels likeit shouldn't be on Royal Road (it's now stubbed on RR) because it's so good. I would definitely recommend reading it!
Overall, this is the book I've enjoyed reading the most, thus far. And there's a reason for that! You just can't get enough of the Guild Mage.
The style feels professional. The author conveys everything perfectly, and it makes for an awesome read that really immerses the reader in the story.
The story itself is really well done, with amazing world building and plot. Everything builds on everything, and there doesn't seem to be any plot holes or dead spots in the story. There are a few slow paced chapters, though, but they're necessary for the story's progression.
Obviously, the grammar acts as the magic glue for everything. And, even though it holds everything together, there's nothing to say about it, really. There's no errors, and the way everything is written transports you into the medieval setting. It's a well written, grammatically sound fiction.
Lastly, the characters. They're unique, they have personality, and there's a variety of them. You don't really need anything else. Except maybe emotion, but that covered as well.
It's a really well done fiction that feels like
August 18, 2025
Underdog Half-elf Ice Princess Comes of Age in a Medieval World of Might, Magic, and Intrigue
This is one of my favorite currently being written stories on the serialized novelization site Royal Road. If you haven't checked out RR you certainly should. There are many wonderful stories such as this one being written there every day by great and terrible aspiring and ascendant authors you have probably never heard of.
They have many different types of stories, but I stick mostly to the fantasy genre. This novel lands well within that category and is a standout among them. The MC, Livara tär Valtteri kaen Syvä, Liv for short. starts her life as an underdog in a post-apocalyptic medieval fantasy setting. The Gods of this world were defeated in a great war 1000 years in the past and she sprouts up among the remnants of their power and might.
The author weaves an interesting slow-burn tale of magic mixed with vanished technology. As she and her experiences grow, so does her power and command of the knowledge of the world that was. Secrets and plots are slowly uncovered and we, along with her, find that some of the old gods are not as dead as once thought.
There is intrigue in abundance here as well as a great cast of accompanying characters and a vivid and well-crafted world with differing races and factions, all with their own goals and agendas. This is all set amidst a new great war being threatened, which she and her companions are trying desperately to prevent.
I highly recommend this story to anyone who is a fan of fantasy and hope that you all will enjoy it as much as I am. Can't say enough good things about it. Go out and read it now !!
This is one of my favorite currently being written stories on the serialized novelization site Royal Road. If you haven't checked out RR you certainly should. There are many wonderful stories such as this one being written there every day by great and terrible aspiring and ascendant authors you have probably never heard of.
They have many different types of stories, but I stick mostly to the fantasy genre. This novel lands well within that category and is a standout among them. The MC, Livara tär Valtteri kaen Syvä, Liv for short. starts her life as an underdog in a post-apocalyptic medieval fantasy setting. The Gods of this world were defeated in a great war 1000 years in the past and she sprouts up among the remnants of their power and might.
The author weaves an interesting slow-burn tale of magic mixed with vanished technology. As she and her experiences grow, so does her power and command of the knowledge of the world that was. Secrets and plots are slowly uncovered and we, along with her, find that some of the old gods are not as dead as once thought.
There is intrigue in abundance here as well as a great cast of accompanying characters and a vivid and well-crafted world with differing races and factions, all with their own goals and agendas. This is all set amidst a new great war being threatened, which she and her companions are trying desperately to prevent.
I highly recommend this story to anyone who is a fan of fantasy and hope that you all will enjoy it as much as I am. Can't say enough good things about it. Go out and read it now !!
August 22, 2025
Very solid, very entertaining.
A thousand years ago, the world was ruled by 'gods'. Humans and Elden (for story purposes, might as well be elves) were property. Occasionally there were half-breed children with some of their parents' magic. The old world was brought down by civil war and rebellion, and now the 'gods' are gone, though some of their artifacts remain. Now one of the old gods is returning. (Goddess of blood; that can't be good.)
This book is told from the perspective of a young girl. At the start she is twelve years old - and thanks to her half-Elden heritage, she appears to be six. She doesn't know about old gods or new politics. She scrubs pots, scrubs chamberpots, and helps in the kitchen. As she grows, and her world becomes larger - and as she comes into the magic which is also part of her heritage - the reader starts being exposed to a larger world and a larger story.
Good, well-paced story telling and world building.
A thousand years ago, the world was ruled by 'gods'. Humans and Elden (for story purposes, might as well be elves) were property. Occasionally there were half-breed children with some of their parents' magic. The old world was brought down by civil war and rebellion, and now the 'gods' are gone, though some of their artifacts remain. Now one of the old gods is returning. (Goddess of blood; that can't be good.)
This book is told from the perspective of a young girl. At the start she is twelve years old - and thanks to her half-Elden heritage, she appears to be six. She doesn't know about old gods or new politics. She scrubs pots, scrubs chamberpots, and helps in the kitchen. As she grows, and her world becomes larger - and as she comes into the magic which is also part of her heritage - the reader starts being exposed to a larger world and a larger story.
Good, well-paced story telling and world building.
September 24, 2025
This is an exceptionally well written book.
Unfortunately, it is not my cup of tea.
The story boils down to the difficulty of maturation (mentally and physically) of a mixed race elf/human. It is a "coming of age" story that becomes too emotional and tedious for my tastes.
I am near 70 years of age, and I have little patience/empathy for stories about immature, indecisive, petulant, thumb-sucking teenagers, who are actually about 30 years of age. I like stories where the character develops/progresses. I am not so fond of stories where the protagonist has arrested psychological development. This character becomes emotionally dependent upon everyone around her (clingy) and is unable to stand on her own as an adult, even after 30 years. That is frankly, quite disturbing to read about/watch.
Well written, but hard to read. :-)
Unfortunately, it is not my cup of tea.
The story boils down to the difficulty of maturation (mentally and physically) of a mixed race elf/human. It is a "coming of age" story that becomes too emotional and tedious for my tastes.
I am near 70 years of age, and I have little patience/empathy for stories about immature, indecisive, petulant, thumb-sucking teenagers, who are actually about 30 years of age. I like stories where the character develops/progresses. I am not so fond of stories where the protagonist has arrested psychological development. This character becomes emotionally dependent upon everyone around her (clingy) and is unable to stand on her own as an adult, even after 30 years. That is frankly, quite disturbing to read about/watch.
Well written, but hard to read. :-)
September 25, 2025
I normally don’t read slow burn stories, but I was drawn in by Liv, the MC of this story, as she slowly displayed her kind spirit and curiosity which led her to take a very active role in events. From a progression perspective, I thoroughly enjoyed all the chapters detailing Liv’s various lessons while having concrete examples of her periodic growth (mana increase, total number of spells). The worldbuilding was phenomenal and I loved the detail provided in the language based magic system. This is a coming of age story, as Liv is exploring who she wants to become in the future, while managing the complexities of her humble upbringing as a non-human in a society governed by nobles. I’ve loved the development Liv has with all of the various characters introduced. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this read and look forward to future books in the series!
August 19, 2025
This book delivers a captivating story centered around a compelling female protagonist who feels genuine and multi-dimensional. Her emotions and struggles are portrayed with depth, making her journey both relatable and inspiring.
The protagonist’s abilities are impressive but well-balanced, ensuring she remains grounded and engaging. The narrative spans multiple cities, each brought to life with vivid detail, adding richness and depth to the world.
The pacing is expertly handled, blending action, character development, and worldbuilding seamlessly. This dynamic combination of a strong yet relatable main character and an expansive, immersive setting makes the story extremely enjoyable to read.
The protagonist’s abilities are impressive but well-balanced, ensuring she remains grounded and engaging. The narrative spans multiple cities, each brought to life with vivid detail, adding richness and depth to the world.
The pacing is expertly handled, blending action, character development, and worldbuilding seamlessly. This dynamic combination of a strong yet relatable main character and an expansive, immersive setting makes the story extremely enjoyable to read.
August 18, 2025
Guild Mage leans into some typical tropes of the slow-burn, progression-based fantasy genre, such as following a main character from the lowest castes of society who possesses astounding magical talent, but its innovative magic system and fleshed-out characters bring an element of freshness and excitement to the genre. Niemitz consistently writes in a style of prose that easily captures the reader’s attention and promotes a seamless flow between sentences and ideas. Overall, I am extremely impressed with the world building and character development throughout this book and can’t wait to see more of Lviv’s adventures!
October 27, 2025
An interesting take on elves and a fun magical system.
One thing about this that I thought was interesting vs other books with elves or their analogues is that this book shows them growing out of childhood much slower. Usually you see them growing at the same rate as humans and then they're just young adults for a couple hundred years. Not this time. The book also goes a good job of showing how the purely human characters age and the other things that go along with that slow grow up. The words of power magic system was a solid one as well, and I enjoyed the characters very much.
One thing about this that I thought was interesting vs other books with elves or their analogues is that this book shows them growing out of childhood much slower. Usually you see them growing at the same rate as humans and then they're just young adults for a couple hundred years. Not this time. The book also goes a good job of showing how the purely human characters age and the other things that go along with that slow grow up. The words of power magic system was a solid one as well, and I enjoyed the characters very much.
August 18, 2025
Amazing read, with it's own unique world building
I really liked reading this book. The world is well thought out and creative while not falling into the commonly used tropes.
The authors style of writing was spectauclar and stayed fresh avoiding repeating common phrases and words.
I get the vibe that this book was not the authors first just by how well it turned out, like it was written by a seasoned author. But if it was I'd tell them to pat their back on a job well done.
I really liked reading this book. The world is well thought out and creative while not falling into the commonly used tropes.
The authors style of writing was spectauclar and stayed fresh avoiding repeating common phrases and words.
I get the vibe that this book was not the authors first just by how well it turned out, like it was written by a seasoned author. But if it was I'd tell them to pat their back on a job well done.
October 7, 2025
Stupendous read
This book pleasantly surprised me, a coming of age story but with a twist. The main character, a half-elf, ages at half the speed of a human. The reader experiences excellent world building alongside our protagonist as she learns more about her world and heritage. This book kept me riveted front to back, I cannot recommend it highly enough and can’t wait for book 2.
This book pleasantly surprised me, a coming of age story but with a twist. The main character, a half-elf, ages at half the speed of a human. The reader experiences excellent world building alongside our protagonist as she learns more about her world and heritage. This book kept me riveted front to back, I cannot recommend it highly enough and can’t wait for book 2.
December 4, 2025
An absolutely gem of a story. Original high fantasy with a likeable main character and set in an interesting world. The magic system is engaging, and you look forward to discovering it together with the protagonist.
It very much reminded me of the coming-of-age elements found in fantasy classics like Feist's Magician: Apprentice, which I am a huge sucker for.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book. I would give it 6/5 stars if I could.
It very much reminded me of the coming-of-age elements found in fantasy classics like Feist's Magician: Apprentice, which I am a huge sucker for.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book. I would give it 6/5 stars if I could.
January 19, 2026
Great! Liv is delightful. I like the world she lives in, I like her teachers and peers. Everyone feels like real, compassionate people that occasionally have to do hard things. There seems to be quite the trouble brewing out of the main frame, so I'm interested to see how that pans out. I'm also looking forward to some more time skips so Liv grows up a little more. She's still kinda teen-ish even if it doesn't come up too much
August 20, 2025
The story is wonderfully and lovingly crafted. The main cast of characters are interesting and fun to read. The protagonist Liv is engaging and fleshed out. The prose and grammar are appropriate with few errors. It reads wonderfully, and pulls you in for more with every chapter! Would reccomend to fans of the Ranger's Apprentice, Alanna of Trebond and Eragon book series's.
September 16, 2025
Loved It
I really loved this story. It was very different from the type that I usually go for, but still it was well written with intriguing characters. I loved Living story, and it definitely made me feel all the good emotions that a good book makes you feel. Im definitely waiting on book 2.
I really loved this story. It was very different from the type that I usually go for, but still it was well written with intriguing characters. I loved Living story, and it definitely made me feel all the good emotions that a good book makes you feel. Im definitely waiting on book 2.
September 28, 2025
Really enjoyed this book!
I think it’s the superb writing that gives this book an edge over the dozens of other books I’ve recently read. The PC’s story plot is absolutely interesting and the secondary characters and threads have such depth that the entire story weaves into a 5-star example of creative, highly entertaining “goodness”. Very much looking forward to book 2.
I think it’s the superb writing that gives this book an edge over the dozens of other books I’ve recently read. The PC’s story plot is absolutely interesting and the secondary characters and threads have such depth that the entire story weaves into a 5-star example of creative, highly entertaining “goodness”. Very much looking forward to book 2.
September 29, 2025
A gem of the genre, this was a refreshing blend of older, traditional coming of age fantasy with more modern progression fantasy elements. The main character’s development—both in their magic and as a person—is exciting and drags you along, but the story also handles topics like aging and death with grace. Good stuff!
October 14, 2025
Excellent
Wonderful world building. Grabbed my attention from the beginning, AND maintained it throughout the entire story.
I won’t give details- the excerpt is enough to give you an insight into what this is about.
What I will say, is that I enjoyed this book so much, that I’m excited to read the next one!
Wonderful world building. Grabbed my attention from the beginning, AND maintained it throughout the entire story.
I won’t give details- the excerpt is enough to give you an insight into what this is about.
What I will say, is that I enjoyed this book so much, that I’m excited to read the next one!
February 8, 2026
This is a solid coming of age fantasy with few surprises. While full of the usual tropes, they're done well and supported by a sympathetic protagonist.
The magic system is the most original part of the story. It's cleverly wound into the local feudal politics, as a protected resource. Clever.
The second book will test my tolerance, as I'm not a fan of fantasy-academia. We'll see.
The magic system is the most original part of the story. It's cleverly wound into the local feudal politics, as a protected resource. Clever.
The second book will test my tolerance, as I'm not a fan of fantasy-academia. We'll see.
August 11, 2025
I read this book on Royal Road. Fantastic story and it had me waiting excitedly for each new chapter. It has medieval fantasy, adventure, cooking, deep magic system, and eventually more (don’t want to spoil the fun of discovery). Get the audio or buy a written copy, just buy it!
October 9, 2025
Read it
As a serial reader of all things Kindle Unlimited, I must stress that anyone coming across this review needs to pick up this book and read it. I have no doubt that David Niemitz will soon have reserved shelf space in all book stores nationwide.
As a serial reader of all things Kindle Unlimited, I must stress that anyone coming across this review needs to pick up this book and read it. I have no doubt that David Niemitz will soon have reserved shelf space in all book stores nationwide.
December 8, 2025
Fun book to read. I think my only criticism is that some of the book feels rushed. There are times where I would have liked more detail - or more time to process pivotal moments with the characters in the book. Looking forward to reading more from the series.
December 17, 2025
FMC is a little special but then again that's why I read these kinds of books. The world is very well thought out with a different magic system and history that is familiar but different. There are mean girls which really gets exhausting.
January 3, 2026
Good fantasy book, it kept me engrossed. One departure from the usual sword-and-sorcery book is the use of portals for traveling between population centers. It avoids having to describe long journeys.
January 24, 2026
Nice epilogue
Enjoyed the story. The shifting viewpoints became very confusing and I don't understand why some were included. Perhaps Its foreshadowing for something that happens in book 2?
Enjoyed the story. The shifting viewpoints became very confusing and I don't understand why some were included. Perhaps Its foreshadowing for something that happens in book 2?
February 7, 2026
Very enjoyable
Livara is young woman caught between two worlds , she lives with her mother and doesn't quite fit in , then she unexpectedly comes into her power , a legacy from her father and things become clearer but she has to be patient and await her time.
Livara is young woman caught between two worlds , she lives with her mother and doesn't quite fit in , then she unexpectedly comes into her power , a legacy from her father and things become clearer but she has to be patient and await her time.
August 3, 2025
I read this on Royal Road, and am eagerly awaiting the print version.
August 11, 2025
One of the few series on RoyalRoad that I would buy a copy of.
August 12, 2025
Excellent series!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews