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Matabar #2
Matabar 2: A Progression Fantasy Epic
From Kirill Klevanski, the bestselling author of Dragon Heart, comes book 2 of this epic new Progression Fantasy adventure about a young wizards rise to power, featuring a detailed magic system, expansive world-building, slow-build power progression, epic action, and unforgettable characters.
588 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 4, 2026
114 people are currently reading
31 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 5, 2026
Not great
Magic? Academy? No and no. I would segment this story into 3 parts. The first is his childhood where he learns about the natural world and its heritage. The second is him adapting to being the last of the matabar in a human world. The third part which fully encompasses this book is just a slog thru a grim dark steam punk city. Clearly the queen broke her oath to the fae but that apparently doesn't matter. Just one of many examples of how much nonsense is in the story. Matabar is just a slur and no more. Learning magic? Not really. Attending the university? Again not really. Doing anything at all for his own good? Nope. At no point do I care for anyone in the story or what happens to them as each and every character is a genuinely terrible person. Books should be, in my opinion, an escape from reality and this is just a depressing slog thru a depressing world of depressing people and the only real mystery is what is the point of the story? By the end of the book I was just trying to wade thru the mediocre nonsense mysteries while playing a game of "who can abuse the MC the most?" Its a slog of a read and its such a depressing and boring read that the only thing that saved it from being a one star was that its a very well written book. Really makes you feel how awful everyone and everything is in the story.
Magic? Academy? No and no. I would segment this story into 3 parts. The first is his childhood where he learns about the natural world and its heritage. The second is him adapting to being the last of the matabar in a human world. The third part which fully encompasses this book is just a slog thru a grim dark steam punk city. Clearly the queen broke her oath to the fae but that apparently doesn't matter. Just one of many examples of how much nonsense is in the story. Matabar is just a slur and no more. Learning magic? Not really. Attending the university? Again not really. Doing anything at all for his own good? Nope. At no point do I care for anyone in the story or what happens to them as each and every character is a genuinely terrible person. Books should be, in my opinion, an escape from reality and this is just a depressing slog thru a depressing world of depressing people and the only real mystery is what is the point of the story? By the end of the book I was just trying to wade thru the mediocre nonsense mysteries while playing a game of "who can abuse the MC the most?" Its a slog of a read and its such a depressing and boring read that the only thing that saved it from being a one star was that its a very well written book. Really makes you feel how awful everyone and everything is in the story.
February 8, 2026
will the book cover ever match the story
It is a great story. Good action. Good adventure. Great book length. Good developed characters although I often wanted to choke out the mc when he spaced out and then slap him silly.
Where to improve:
1) the world is too detailed without explanations. There was too much detail about things that don’t matter like room decor when the logistics of a city of 22 million goes unexplained. Especially in a freezing land how do they get food, tobacco, glass, metal, fuel etc for 22 million people? There is a water port but the enemy could wipe out millions just by destroying railways that are clearly vulnerable. Anyhow…
2) the book opened in the middle of an action sequence.
3) there was no summary.
4) modern Earth references like the mc talking about dung beetles and idioms like ‘drop the ball’.
It is a great story. Good action. Good adventure. Great book length. Good developed characters although I often wanted to choke out the mc when he spaced out and then slap him silly.
Where to improve:
1) the world is too detailed without explanations. There was too much detail about things that don’t matter like room decor when the logistics of a city of 22 million goes unexplained. Especially in a freezing land how do they get food, tobacco, glass, metal, fuel etc for 22 million people? There is a water port but the enemy could wipe out millions just by destroying railways that are clearly vulnerable. Anyhow…
2) the book opened in the middle of an action sequence.
3) there was no summary.
4) modern Earth references like the mc talking about dung beetles and idioms like ‘drop the ball’.
March 26, 2026
Very well written, which is incredibly rare in this genre. IMO, the writing alone is worth 5 stars. However, the book is far from perfect and there are plenty of glaring problems. Like book 1, the problems mostly boil down to poor editing. There are too many long sections of rambling and repeating inner dialogue for me to believe someone seriously edited this thoroughly. Fire the editor, get someone else Mr. Author
February 10, 2026
Awesome Stuff But
It got really hard to imagine the last third of this book. I mostly enjoyed reading this story even though I wish the Mc gets time to grow into a man with out him being in life threatening situations weekly.
It got really hard to imagine the last third of this book. I mostly enjoyed reading this story even though I wish the Mc gets time to grow into a man with out him being in life threatening situations weekly.
March 3, 2026
Fantastic progression fantasy. continues to expand the world and deepen the characters. i wish the descriptions were shorter, and he would cut Ard a break on the sleep and clothes side, he keeps ruining suits, but a great story. loved the Dresden easter egg!
March 24, 2026
This series is really well written in all facets and has the potential to become an all time favorite if the quality keeps up, and based on this second book it's hard to imagine the author slowing down. I'm even tempted to continue reading on royalroad.
February 15, 2026
Wow!
This story is getting better and better! I cannot wait for the next instalment! The ending in this book was perfectly written and quite thrilling.
This story is getting better and better! I cannot wait for the next instalment! The ending in this book was perfectly written and quite thrilling.
February 28, 2026
Good read
The first book was great. This one was good but a little wordy at times and I found myself skim reading through many parts. I will try book 3.
The first book was great. This one was good but a little wordy at times and I found myself skim reading through many parts. I will try book 3.
March 14, 2026
Great book
Stage was set with book one. Book 2 takes it to the next level. I'm really looking forward to the next one.
Stage was set with book one. Book 2 takes it to the next level. I'm really looking forward to the next one.
April 11, 2026
Incredible
Had me hooked from the start until the end. Looking forward to the next book release, and all the rest after that.
Had me hooked from the start until the end. Looking forward to the next book release, and all the rest after that.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews