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The Chronicles of Tevenar #1
The Fuller's Apprentice
All Josiah wants is a little excitement. His work as an apprentice fuller is boring, and playing in the mill’s machinery isn’t that dangerous. Everything goes fine—at first. All right, he’s lucky the wizard Elkan and his familiar, a donkey named Sar, are there to save his life. Even better, when his furious master fires him, Elkan offers him a job as his assistant. Josiah jumps at the chance. Traveling around Tevenar for a year, meeting all sorts of interesting people, helping the dedicated young wizard and clever donkey serve them with the Mother’s healing magic—what could be more fun? But Josiah soon learns that while matters of life and death may be exciting, they’re seldom fun. Impulsive actions, even when taken with the best of intentions, can have devastating consequences. And some choices have the power to change the future of Tevenar forever.
403 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 8, 2015
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May 28, 2019
5 stars - English Ebook 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 I have dyslexia 🦋🦋🦋
Quote from the book : Norlan let a few beats go by, as everyone wondered which guild would take the burn of his next Joke.
Oh, would you wed a spinner,
On a sunny Restday morning?
Oh, would you wed a spinner,
On a morning in the spring?
No, I would not wed a spinner,
Lest one day I wake and find,
she’d cut off my hair and whiskers,
And spun it on her spindle,
And left me bald and beardless,
On a sunny, sunny morning in the spring.
Twitters swept around the table. Norlan spun verse after verse, enumerating the reasons farmers, Brewers, herders, smiths ect would not marry at springtime. 🌹🌹🌹
Josiah is an apprentice to become a fuller. But he is also an atventures type who acts first and after the act thinks it true. One afternoon he is saved by a wizard Elkan and his familiar donkey Sar. When Josiah is sacked by his master Elkan invité Josiah on his years journey around their world of Tevenar to offer help to the people who do not have their own wizard. Ofcourse they meet a lot of good and bad people and Josiah still thinks after acting but bit by bit he learns. The hard way. And what will bring his last decision at he end of these novel to the world of Tevenar?
I conected with Josiah and Elkan. I could fell what the would have felt by things they experiensed. For my it was a great read and a new world to explore. Things have another name but you understand what they mean by the sentenses around them. 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Quote from the book : Norlan let a few beats go by, as everyone wondered which guild would take the burn of his next Joke.
Oh, would you wed a spinner,
On a sunny Restday morning?
Oh, would you wed a spinner,
On a morning in the spring?
No, I would not wed a spinner,
Lest one day I wake and find,
she’d cut off my hair and whiskers,
And spun it on her spindle,
And left me bald and beardless,
On a sunny, sunny morning in the spring.
Twitters swept around the table. Norlan spun verse after verse, enumerating the reasons farmers, Brewers, herders, smiths ect would not marry at springtime. 🌹🌹🌹
Josiah is an apprentice to become a fuller. But he is also an atventures type who acts first and after the act thinks it true. One afternoon he is saved by a wizard Elkan and his familiar donkey Sar. When Josiah is sacked by his master Elkan invité Josiah on his years journey around their world of Tevenar to offer help to the people who do not have their own wizard. Ofcourse they meet a lot of good and bad people and Josiah still thinks after acting but bit by bit he learns. The hard way. And what will bring his last decision at he end of these novel to the world of Tevenar?
I conected with Josiah and Elkan. I could fell what the would have felt by things they experiensed. For my it was a great read and a new world to explore. Things have another name but you understand what they mean by the sentenses around them. 🦋🦋🦋🦋
August 28, 2019
Josiah is a young man who is quite unsure of what he wants to do. He is at the age where he needs to chose a vocation and become an apprentice in his chosen trade, which is all important in this magical mystical story. He becomes a "fuller apprentice", working at mill churning out cloth. A typical youngster, he becomes bored easily, which always means he makes mistakes, much to the dismay of his Master, under whom he is studying. He regrets his choice to become a fuller very quickly, but he cannot quit as it would disgrace his family.
One day he decides to ease his boredom by playing and jumping through the mill's churning equipment - a dangerous idea he knows, but he's sure he can "make it" and enjoy some freedom away from his tasks. Suffice it to say he doesn't and is badly hurt.
Lucky for Josiah that a wizard happened to be at the mill that day and heals his injuries. However, his Master has had enough and fires Josiah who will return to his family in disgrace and make him the laughingstock of the community. The wizard, Elkan, is also looking for an apprentice after the chosen one cannot fulfill the roll. He offers to take Josiah on for a year, saving Josiah's face in the community and getting himself some much-needed help in his role as a traveling wizard and member of the Guild, serving far-flung communities as healer and judge of disputes.
Among the many delights in this book is a wizard's familiar, an animal who has been touched by The Mother to serve the wizard. Familiars can be any creature, ranging from a mountain cat to a donkey to a cat to a raccoon and on through the animal kingdom. Elkan's familiar is a donkey named Sar and he is extremely important to the story in many, many ways.
Angela Holder deftly weaves the threads of this magical story together. Her imagination is amazing and her characters are very well developed. Her descriptions of the villages and lands Elkan and Josiah travel through are perfect.
One day he decides to ease his boredom by playing and jumping through the mill's churning equipment - a dangerous idea he knows, but he's sure he can "make it" and enjoy some freedom away from his tasks. Suffice it to say he doesn't and is badly hurt.
Lucky for Josiah that a wizard happened to be at the mill that day and heals his injuries. However, his Master has had enough and fires Josiah who will return to his family in disgrace and make him the laughingstock of the community. The wizard, Elkan, is also looking for an apprentice after the chosen one cannot fulfill the roll. He offers to take Josiah on for a year, saving Josiah's face in the community and getting himself some much-needed help in his role as a traveling wizard and member of the Guild, serving far-flung communities as healer and judge of disputes.
Among the many delights in this book is a wizard's familiar, an animal who has been touched by The Mother to serve the wizard. Familiars can be any creature, ranging from a mountain cat to a donkey to a cat to a raccoon and on through the animal kingdom. Elkan's familiar is a donkey named Sar and he is extremely important to the story in many, many ways.
Angela Holder deftly weaves the threads of this magical story together. Her imagination is amazing and her characters are very well developed. Her descriptions of the villages and lands Elkan and Josiah travel through are perfect.
November 2, 2016
I absolutely loved the author’s previous book, ‘White Blood’, so naturally I couldn’t resist this one. Unlike the previous one, it’s the first part of a trilogy, but there are similarities, too, in particular, an interesting magic system, closely allied to the religion of the country. Wizards can only use magic in association with an animal familiar, and only in certain limited ways: for healing, for making legal judgements by examining actual events of the past, and to move things (or prevent them moving). These are interesting restrictions, and, as with all fantasy, part of the enjoyment is seeing the multitude of different ways even a limited application of magic can be used.
The two main characters are Josiah, the titular fuller’s apprentice, a young man of reckless impulsiveness, and the rather serious journeyman wizard, Elkan. The two meet when Josiah is amusing himself by running backwards and forwards through the fulling machinery (a scene that reminded me somewhat of the chompers scene in Galaxy Quest!). When things go wrong, Josiah is saved by the quick-thinking wizard, who then offers him a job as his assistant when the Master Fuller wants to fire Josiah.
The two of them, together with Elkan’s familiar, Sar (a donkey), begin a slow amble through the scenery which goes on for chapter after chapter. There’s a great deal of detail here about how the magical healing process works, how the legal system works, and also the wizard’s role as a kind of priest (he officiates at a marriage at one point). We even get a description of waulking (a precursor to fulling as a way of preparing woven materials). This is not uninteresting, but it’s very, very slow, and action moments are few and far between. It’s very tempting for an author who’s worked out all the subtleties of her invented world to the umpteenth degree to squeeze all of it into the story, but it does make the pace glacial. The problem is compounded by dialogue of greetings, detailed explanations of medical conditions, and so forth, which could easily have been condensed or skipped altogether.
Apart from the magic, the world-building is nothing earth-shattering. The population is largely agricultural, with all adults assigned to craft guilds, and trained in one or other craft, even if, in practice, they might be doing a variety of other tasks. This leads rather interestingly to the idea that children are named for their parents’ craft and their own, rather than taking a family name. Thus, Elkan is known as Elkan Farmerkin Wizard. Machinery is limited to simple mechanical devices (like the fulling mill), sailing ships, and the like.
The plot - well, there really isn’t much of a plot. Elkan and Josiah move about healing, judging and conducting religious ceremonies. There’s a sub-plot with bandits, who wander into the story from time to time causing trouble, but mainly the focus is on a variety of challenges for Elkan and his companion-in-magic, Sar the donkey. This makes the story very choppy and episodic. Every few chapters, there’s a new town or village, a new medical condition described in disconcertingly modern terms, followed by a cure, or a long discussion about why it can’t be done.
Of the characters, the conflicted and quite complex Elkan is the most interesting. At first he seems rather dull, happy in his work and disapproving of Josiah’s impulsiveness. But later, as we learn more about him, he becomes a little more nuanced. Josiah does some pretty stupid things, but he does learn to see things in less black and white terms. I’d have liked to know more about Sar the donkey, but perhaps that will come in future books. The other characters are mostly too numerous to be more than hastily-drawn sketches. Some effort is made to give the bandits some depth, but ultimately all these minor characters are either good guys or bad guys. The only character whose behaviour stretched my credulity was Meira. Her actions felt like plot-drivers, rather than something which would arise naturally. But it was a minor point.
But as the book goes on, the happy healer and fixer aspect is increasingly mired in difficult choices, and this is where the book really shines. It’s impossible not to share the grief when people die, despite the wizard’s best endeavours. How do you explain to simple folk that some things just can’t be fixed, even with magic? And when there’s a disaster, with many people needing help, how do you choose? And is it possible to give so much yet ask for nothing in return, not even personal happiness? All these questions and more are addressed by the end of the book, as well as the important one: the issue of free will. And although the characters don’t seem to be anything out of the ordinary, they still got under my skin so that I cared very much what happened to them.
The ending gave me a complete side-swipe. That was really NOT how I saw this going. But it all followed completely logically from the developments up to that point - one of those oh-of-course moments, not wait-what? And then everything is nicely set up for book 2.
A very readable book, well written and nicely thought out. It was terribly slow moving, and I often found myself muttering: yes, yes, but get on with it. Even so, I found myself thinking about aspects of the story while I was doing other things, and always picked it up again with pleasure. That’s the sign of a good book. I shall certainly be watching out for the next in the series. Recommended for the characters, the setting and the interesting magic system, rather than action. Four stars.
The two main characters are Josiah, the titular fuller’s apprentice, a young man of reckless impulsiveness, and the rather serious journeyman wizard, Elkan. The two meet when Josiah is amusing himself by running backwards and forwards through the fulling machinery (a scene that reminded me somewhat of the chompers scene in Galaxy Quest!). When things go wrong, Josiah is saved by the quick-thinking wizard, who then offers him a job as his assistant when the Master Fuller wants to fire Josiah.
The two of them, together with Elkan’s familiar, Sar (a donkey), begin a slow amble through the scenery which goes on for chapter after chapter. There’s a great deal of detail here about how the magical healing process works, how the legal system works, and also the wizard’s role as a kind of priest (he officiates at a marriage at one point). We even get a description of waulking (a precursor to fulling as a way of preparing woven materials). This is not uninteresting, but it’s very, very slow, and action moments are few and far between. It’s very tempting for an author who’s worked out all the subtleties of her invented world to the umpteenth degree to squeeze all of it into the story, but it does make the pace glacial. The problem is compounded by dialogue of greetings, detailed explanations of medical conditions, and so forth, which could easily have been condensed or skipped altogether.
Apart from the magic, the world-building is nothing earth-shattering. The population is largely agricultural, with all adults assigned to craft guilds, and trained in one or other craft, even if, in practice, they might be doing a variety of other tasks. This leads rather interestingly to the idea that children are named for their parents’ craft and their own, rather than taking a family name. Thus, Elkan is known as Elkan Farmerkin Wizard. Machinery is limited to simple mechanical devices (like the fulling mill), sailing ships, and the like.
The plot - well, there really isn’t much of a plot. Elkan and Josiah move about healing, judging and conducting religious ceremonies. There’s a sub-plot with bandits, who wander into the story from time to time causing trouble, but mainly the focus is on a variety of challenges for Elkan and his companion-in-magic, Sar the donkey. This makes the story very choppy and episodic. Every few chapters, there’s a new town or village, a new medical condition described in disconcertingly modern terms, followed by a cure, or a long discussion about why it can’t be done.
Of the characters, the conflicted and quite complex Elkan is the most interesting. At first he seems rather dull, happy in his work and disapproving of Josiah’s impulsiveness. But later, as we learn more about him, he becomes a little more nuanced. Josiah does some pretty stupid things, but he does learn to see things in less black and white terms. I’d have liked to know more about Sar the donkey, but perhaps that will come in future books. The other characters are mostly too numerous to be more than hastily-drawn sketches. Some effort is made to give the bandits some depth, but ultimately all these minor characters are either good guys or bad guys. The only character whose behaviour stretched my credulity was Meira. Her actions felt like plot-drivers, rather than something which would arise naturally. But it was a minor point.
But as the book goes on, the happy healer and fixer aspect is increasingly mired in difficult choices, and this is where the book really shines. It’s impossible not to share the grief when people die, despite the wizard’s best endeavours. How do you explain to simple folk that some things just can’t be fixed, even with magic? And when there’s a disaster, with many people needing help, how do you choose? And is it possible to give so much yet ask for nothing in return, not even personal happiness? All these questions and more are addressed by the end of the book, as well as the important one: the issue of free will. And although the characters don’t seem to be anything out of the ordinary, they still got under my skin so that I cared very much what happened to them.
The ending gave me a complete side-swipe. That was really NOT how I saw this going. But it all followed completely logically from the developments up to that point - one of those oh-of-course moments, not wait-what? And then everything is nicely set up for book 2.
A very readable book, well written and nicely thought out. It was terribly slow moving, and I often found myself muttering: yes, yes, but get on with it. Even so, I found myself thinking about aspects of the story while I was doing other things, and always picked it up again with pleasure. That’s the sign of a good book. I shall certainly be watching out for the next in the series. Recommended for the characters, the setting and the interesting magic system, rather than action. Four stars.
March 19, 2016
A solid novel
Reader thoughts: My favorite part of this book was that it held its characters to high expectations. There were consequences for impatience or thoughtlessness. The characters learned and grew and worked together. The trusted, depended, and forgave each other.
There were also deep concepts of morality explored. Like, why does the Mother allow diseases/disasters the wizards cannot stop? Or is a non-boring job worth the responsibility and stress?
There were a couple ways the characters felt shortened, in that we learn relatively little about anyone's backstory, and that they often showed no emotion (poor Elkan).
The end was good. It had all the right elements, and even surprised me (when I should have guessed the secret!). I worried one thing would be too easy, but it was not. The bandits wove the overarching plot line together and to the next book masterfully.
I liked how honest Josiah was. Eavesdropper, sure, but his words always say what he means.
I'm very eager for the next one!
Writer thoughtsThere were a few scenes that cut out as the pair traveled to a new place, and the next scene started in the middle with a new location a month or two later. I prefer a paragraph explaining the transition in both my reading and my writing. Some authors can cut straight to the next piece without confusing readers (Sigmund Brouwer is good at this), but some just make the scenes feel choppy.
I like that she kept the povs narrow in this book and expanded them (to, like, 12 povs) as the series progresses.
Warning: The first three books are fun to read, but the fourth book is inappropriate due to
Reader thoughts: My favorite part of this book was that it held its characters to high expectations. There were consequences for impatience or thoughtlessness. The characters learned and grew and worked together. The trusted, depended, and forgave each other.
There were also deep concepts of morality explored. Like, why does the Mother allow diseases/disasters the wizards cannot stop? Or is a non-boring job worth the responsibility and stress?
There were a couple ways the characters felt shortened, in that we learn relatively little about anyone's backstory, and that they often showed no emotion (poor Elkan).
The end was good. It had all the right elements, and even surprised me (when I should have guessed the secret!). I worried one thing would be too easy, but it was not. The bandits wove the overarching plot line together and to the next book masterfully.
I liked how honest Josiah was. Eavesdropper, sure, but his words always say what he means.
I'm very eager for the next one!
Writer thoughtsThere were a few scenes that cut out as the pair traveled to a new place, and the next scene started in the middle with a new location a month or two later. I prefer a paragraph explaining the transition in both my reading and my writing. Some authors can cut straight to the next piece without confusing readers (Sigmund Brouwer is good at this), but some just make the scenes feel choppy.
I like that she kept the povs narrow in this book and expanded them (to, like, 12 povs) as the series progresses.
Warning: The first three books are fun to read, but the fourth book is inappropriate due to
April 16, 2016
Two years ago I read the Game of Thrones series. It seemed to take forever and I often felt like it would never end. I stuck it out to the very end because the parts that were good, were very very good. I wanted to know how it would end. This book is like that.
It was very, very good in places and I read it through because I wanted to know how everything would end, but it felt really long and dragged in many places. There were things that didn't seem necessary to the plot of the story and felt more like filler. I wasn't impressed with the events towards the end of the story as I had hoped it would turn out differently. It did still have a sort of happy ending with promises of more adventures to come. However, I'm not sure if I will pursue the next book.
It was very, very good in places and I read it through because I wanted to know how everything would end, but it felt really long and dragged in many places. There were things that didn't seem necessary to the plot of the story and felt more like filler. I wasn't impressed with the events towards the end of the story as I had hoped it would turn out differently. It did still have a sort of happy ending with promises of more adventures to come. However, I'm not sure if I will pursue the next book.
July 25, 2022
4,25 stars - English Ebook
All Josiah wants is a little excitement. His work as an apprentice fuller is boring, and playing in the mill’s machinery isn’t that dangerous. Everything goes fine, at first.
All right, he’s lucky the wizard Elkan and his familiar, a donkey named Sar, are there to save his life. Even better, when his furious master fires him, Elkan offers him a job as his assistant. Josiah jumps at the chance.
Traveling around Tevenar for a year, meeting all sorts of interesting people, helping the dedicated young wizard and clever donkey serve them with the Mother’s healing magic, what could be more fun?
But Josiah soon learns that while matters of life and death may be exciting, they’re seldom fun.
Impulsive actions, even when taken with the best of intentions, can have devastating consequences. And some choices have the power to change the future of Tevenar forever
Good story with a well thought out adventure line. Good character development with depth. You get to know the characters. I like that not all is good in rhem. Their human and make mistakes.
This book did well in tying up the loose ends at the end and yet set up interest for the next book.
The adventure elements are each interesting and fully explored with their effect on the individuals nicely shown.
It played out like a movie in my mind. The storyline could easaly be followed. Sometimes in fantasy they jump a little to mutch from character to character, well away from one another. You get dissy then somwtimes. But not in this story.
The only drawbacks for me were the 'healing' sessions were too repetitive. To many time's the same thing. And Josiah did not seem to learn from his rash actions very well. Maby in the next book when he gets a little older.
I do recommend it as a fantasy read.
All Josiah wants is a little excitement. His work as an apprentice fuller is boring, and playing in the mill’s machinery isn’t that dangerous. Everything goes fine, at first.
All right, he’s lucky the wizard Elkan and his familiar, a donkey named Sar, are there to save his life. Even better, when his furious master fires him, Elkan offers him a job as his assistant. Josiah jumps at the chance.
Traveling around Tevenar for a year, meeting all sorts of interesting people, helping the dedicated young wizard and clever donkey serve them with the Mother’s healing magic, what could be more fun?
But Josiah soon learns that while matters of life and death may be exciting, they’re seldom fun.
Impulsive actions, even when taken with the best of intentions, can have devastating consequences. And some choices have the power to change the future of Tevenar forever
Good story with a well thought out adventure line. Good character development with depth. You get to know the characters. I like that not all is good in rhem. Their human and make mistakes.
This book did well in tying up the loose ends at the end and yet set up interest for the next book.
The adventure elements are each interesting and fully explored with their effect on the individuals nicely shown.
It played out like a movie in my mind. The storyline could easaly be followed. Sometimes in fantasy they jump a little to mutch from character to character, well away from one another. You get dissy then somwtimes. But not in this story.
The only drawbacks for me were the 'healing' sessions were too repetitive. To many time's the same thing. And Josiah did not seem to learn from his rash actions very well. Maby in the next book when he gets a little older.
I do recommend it as a fantasy read.
April 11, 2019
Short, but surprisingly good! I know, never judge a book by it’s cover, but this cover is remarkably bad.
It’s a great story for anyone interested in world building done right. Yes, there’s the odd bit of long winded exposition, but it’s never given to the reader just as description or with characters thinking the entire history of their country to themselves (as normal people seem to do in a lot of fantasy...). If there is a long history it’s told through characters teaching each other or telling stories, with a proper tone and opinion, and in the right place.
Plus, it’s an excellent world. It felt real. Once a system was established it followed its own rules and never threw anything random at you later. It helped that a lot of them were slight twists on expected tropes and modern ideals to let the reader use their own knowledge to fill in gaps.
And the characters fit into that world brilliantly. When they challenged established order it wasn’t just because they were ‘special’ and had always ‘stood apart’ but because they followed a natural progression of questioning. Who wouldn’t question their choice of career or religion when faces with constant hardship? Hardship that the writing actually showed a character dealing with. There was no magical leap from ‘bad thing’ to ‘the current world is terrible’, and honestly that’s refreshing after dipping into so much YA recently.
It’s a great story for anyone interested in world building done right. Yes, there’s the odd bit of long winded exposition, but it’s never given to the reader just as description or with characters thinking the entire history of their country to themselves (as normal people seem to do in a lot of fantasy...). If there is a long history it’s told through characters teaching each other or telling stories, with a proper tone and opinion, and in the right place.
Plus, it’s an excellent world. It felt real. Once a system was established it followed its own rules and never threw anything random at you later. It helped that a lot of them were slight twists on expected tropes and modern ideals to let the reader use their own knowledge to fill in gaps.
And the characters fit into that world brilliantly. When they challenged established order it wasn’t just because they were ‘special’ and had always ‘stood apart’ but because they followed a natural progression of questioning. Who wouldn’t question their choice of career or religion when faces with constant hardship? Hardship that the writing actually showed a character dealing with. There was no magical leap from ‘bad thing’ to ‘the current world is terrible’, and honestly that’s refreshing after dipping into so much YA recently.
November 6, 2016
Fantastic read
A take on magic I don't think I've seen before, Holder does a great job creating an enjoyable world. Character development is very well done and there are a few unexpected twists. If you're looking for an easy weekend read, I highly recommend this book!
A take on magic I don't think I've seen before, Holder does a great job creating an enjoyable world. Character development is very well done and there are a few unexpected twists. If you're looking for an easy weekend read, I highly recommend this book!
March 27, 2018
The setting of this book is neither dystopian nor purely utopian, but it is a worthy world: one in which people are generally well-intentioned and helpful, where almost everyone unequivocally condemns violence, where the whole society is built around working at honest trades. There's no ruling class, as such; the guildmasters fill that role, and they rise in their trades rather than being hereditary rulers. Everyone belongs to a guild - not necessarily their parents' guild; though that's often the case, anyone can apprentice to almost any trade that appeals to them.
One of those guilds is the Wizards' Guild, although in D&D terms they're not wizards, but clerics, empowered by the divine Mother. They can heal, open "windows" which allow them to see through time and space within limits (and hence establish the truth of disputed events in court, like having universal CCTV), and move objects with a form of telekinesis. They are unique in being specifically called to their guild by the Mother, rather than choosing it. And each one has a familiar, an animal they must work with and without whom they have no power, in order to keep them humble.
Built upon this background is a well-told, compelling story of a young apprentice fuller who, through his poorly-thought-through typically-early-teenage actions, ends up as an assistant to a journeyman wizard. As the wizard travels round the country districts on a circuit in order to qualify as a master, they encounter bandits and other people who are not fully aligned with the worthy society, as well as natural disasters and other major challenges. In the process, the journeyman's faith is tested, the apprentice learns a lot (including by making significant mistakes, because his good heart and sense of adventure aren't yet sufficiently tempered by wisdom), and important things change for the society as a whole, setting up for the next book to be quite different. Though the society is worthy and most of the characters good-hearted, there's no lack of conflict or challenge here.
While there were a good many apostrophe glitches and a few typos, this is otherwise well-edited, and certainly very capable from a storytelling perspective. I'll be bearing this series in mind when I'm next in the mood for something noblebright.
One of those guilds is the Wizards' Guild, although in D&D terms they're not wizards, but clerics, empowered by the divine Mother. They can heal, open "windows" which allow them to see through time and space within limits (and hence establish the truth of disputed events in court, like having universal CCTV), and move objects with a form of telekinesis. They are unique in being specifically called to their guild by the Mother, rather than choosing it. And each one has a familiar, an animal they must work with and without whom they have no power, in order to keep them humble.
Built upon this background is a well-told, compelling story of a young apprentice fuller who, through his poorly-thought-through typically-early-teenage actions, ends up as an assistant to a journeyman wizard. As the wizard travels round the country districts on a circuit in order to qualify as a master, they encounter bandits and other people who are not fully aligned with the worthy society, as well as natural disasters and other major challenges. In the process, the journeyman's faith is tested, the apprentice learns a lot (including by making significant mistakes, because his good heart and sense of adventure aren't yet sufficiently tempered by wisdom), and important things change for the society as a whole, setting up for the next book to be quite different. Though the society is worthy and most of the characters good-hearted, there's no lack of conflict or challenge here.
While there were a good many apostrophe glitches and a few typos, this is otherwise well-edited, and certainly very capable from a storytelling perspective. I'll be bearing this series in mind when I'm next in the mood for something noblebright.
June 21, 2019
Personally, this book was an answer to a prayer. For that reason alone it goes onto my 'favorites' shelf. But I want to make the case that it might go on yours, too. It is a lovely book. There is not a lot of battles, blood and guts (though some) or sex. Instead, there is wisdom, encouragement, compassion and a reflection on the deep and spiritual things in life. It is a coming of age story about a young person finding their purpose and a more experienced person questioning their purpose and coming to terms of having to make some of life's hard choices. These characters are so relatable whether you are ten or ninety. The author's decision to connect the people of Tevanar by familial last names based on their craft was lovely. The hominess of Tevenar was comforting. The spiritual world they live in is simple, kind and fair. The notion that one does not necessarily choose a trade, but might be chosen for a path (that always includes their free will right to reject the path) is a unique message that I think young people need to hear and older people might need to re-hear. This gave me so much encouragement for my own life's work and the challenges I face. This is not a flashy book, but for me, it was hard to put down because of it's thoughtful message and just really good writing. I can't wait to read the others in this series.
October 10, 2018
Good story with a well thought out adventure line. Good character development with depth setting up the players well for the future sequels. This book did well in tying up the loose ends at the end and yet set up interest for the next book. The adventure elements are each interesting and fully explored with their effect on the individuals nicely shown.
The only drawbacks for me were the 'healing' sessions were too repetitive, Josiah didn't seem to learn from his rash actions very well, and some of the 'tell' aspects might have been more dramatic if 'shown.'
I do recommend it as a fantasy read.
The only drawbacks for me were the 'healing' sessions were too repetitive, Josiah didn't seem to learn from his rash actions very well, and some of the 'tell' aspects might have been more dramatic if 'shown.'
I do recommend it as a fantasy read.
April 23, 2019
A wonderful book for everyone loving to read
A wonderful storyline from the start and incredible characters to which you are drawn to the more you read, their actions and reasoning wouldn't be out of place in the world we live in and also the challenges could well be 'real' if it wasn't for the wizardry involved. Absolutely brilliant and incredible journey that is so detailed described.
Worth more than the 5 stars to me .
A wonderful storyline from the start and incredible characters to which you are drawn to the more you read, their actions and reasoning wouldn't be out of place in the world we live in and also the challenges could well be 'real' if it wasn't for the wizardry involved. Absolutely brilliant and incredible journey that is so detailed described.
Worth more than the 5 stars to me .
May 27, 2019
An enjoyable read
At the beginning of the book I thought it was a bit preteen level. But as I stayed with it I changed my mind. The author created a very interesting world. I mostly liked the characters, the culture with all the different guilds is fascinating. I’m looking forward to reading the next book.
At the beginning of the book I thought it was a bit preteen level. But as I stayed with it I changed my mind. The author created a very interesting world. I mostly liked the characters, the culture with all the different guilds is fascinating. I’m looking forward to reading the next book.
June 5, 2019
Fantastic Fantasy
Well deserved rating for the first book of a trilogy. Wonderful characters and story line. What a fantastic imagination to create a whole world of characters and lives in this book. I was left wanting more ,one of books you want to carry on reading but not get to the end. Thank you Angela for this fantastic opportunity to get to know your characters.
Well deserved rating for the first book of a trilogy. Wonderful characters and story line. What a fantastic imagination to create a whole world of characters and lives in this book. I was left wanting more ,one of books you want to carry on reading but not get to the end. Thank you Angela for this fantastic opportunity to get to know your characters.
June 27, 2019
I picked up this book, not knowing anything about the author. I really liked it and will look for more from her.
The story, while fantasy, was action-filled. And I had an inkling of the ending, but it didn't turn out as I thought it would.
I recommend this book to all who like fantasy, especially wizards and their familiars.
The story, while fantasy, was action-filled. And I had an inkling of the ending, but it didn't turn out as I thought it would.
I recommend this book to all who like fantasy, especially wizards and their familiars.
March 23, 2020
Well Rounded
A little bit of fun, some sad parts and bits of tension and drama tossed in made this book a really good read. It never got boring. The main characters were lovable. The long names were a bit weird, but other than that, it was an enjoyable read. The animals were a great part of the story - loved them!
A little bit of fun, some sad parts and bits of tension and drama tossed in made this book a really good read. It never got boring. The main characters were lovable. The long names were a bit weird, but other than that, it was an enjoyable read. The animals were a great part of the story - loved them!
April 14, 2020
Enjoyable world building, brings characters to life
I enjoyed reading as this wizard world unfolded. The lives of the characters are described in enough details for the reader to feel their sadness, happiness, and care how their lives develop. I will read more of the books in this series.
I enjoyed reading as this wizard world unfolded. The lives of the characters are described in enough details for the reader to feel their sadness, happiness, and care how their lives develop. I will read more of the books in this series.
August 2, 2020
A great series starter
Good world building and a really interesting and new take on magic. Love the passion and real ness of the themes on love and sacrifice. I just wish there were more prominent female characters - why make a world with close to gender equality then make a story featuring men?!
Good world building and a really interesting and new take on magic. Love the passion and real ness of the themes on love and sacrifice. I just wish there were more prominent female characters - why make a world with close to gender equality then make a story featuring men?!
July 7, 2019
Lovable characters and animals. Josiah spends a year growing up and becoming responsible. Doesn't really trust or understand the Mothers power but he admires Wizard Elken and his Familiar Sar. Enjoyable book with enough action and entertainment to keep you reading. No bad language or sex.
July 28, 2019
Very interesting!
I enjoyed the story very much. It was well rounded and intelligent. I like the conflict and the realistic way that not everything was happily ever after. Life is untidy and was portrayed as such.
I enjoyed the story very much. It was well rounded and intelligent. I like the conflict and the realistic way that not everything was happily ever after. Life is untidy and was portrayed as such.
January 13, 2020
I enjoyed this book, any time you're involved enough with the characters to be irritated with them when they're being obtuse, or cheering them on when they're being heroic you know it's a good story and you're fully engaged in it.
April 2, 2020
Enthralling fantasy
This story had me enthralled. I loved the world that it created, and the way the religion and power worked together. Josiah was both realistic and relatable. The book reminded me of Lloyd Alexander's "Taran Wanderer."
This story had me enthralled. I loved the world that it created, and the way the religion and power worked together. Josiah was both realistic and relatable. The book reminded me of Lloyd Alexander's "Taran Wanderer."
July 21, 2021
Interesting
One of those books that grabs you from the get go. Description of the characters is in-depth makes you feel as if you know them and picture them. Story of a fullers apprentice and a wizard and their journey together.
One of those books that grabs you from the get go. Description of the characters is in-depth makes you feel as if you know them and picture them. Story of a fullers apprentice and a wizard and their journey together.
February 4, 2023
What A Story!
I loved this story start to finish! Things didn't go how I expected at all! Bug everything worked out in the end! This story really kept me interested and I enjoyed the world that has been created! I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
I loved this story start to finish! Things didn't go how I expected at all! Bug everything worked out in the end! This story really kept me interested and I enjoyed the world that has been created! I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
May 9, 2017
Wonderful story. I loved all the details that brought Tevenar to life. As soon as I finished reading I bought the next in the series.
June 11, 2017
Interesting concept. Lousy execution. I did finish it, which saves it from 1 star.
April 11, 2019
A surprising gem
An easy to get into, relaxed meander of a story with some excellent word building and a likable hero.
I will be buying the sequel.
An easy to get into, relaxed meander of a story with some excellent word building and a likable hero.
I will be buying the sequel.
April 14, 2019
Good read
Well written. A thoroughly entertaining write that pulls you into the story. Interesting characters and you feel involved with them
Well written. A thoroughly entertaining write that pulls you into the story. Interesting characters and you feel involved with them
April 16, 2019
Very good
I found the book captivating. Was a little slow at the start but soon picked up. I was disappointed that Josiah didn't bind with Tobi.
I found the book captivating. Was a little slow at the start but soon picked up. I was disappointed that Josiah didn't bind with Tobi.
May 15, 2019
Engaging
Well written and engaging. Thank you for a such wonderful story, Angela. I'll certainly be reading more of your work.
Well written and engaging. Thank you for a such wonderful story, Angela. I'll certainly be reading more of your work.
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