The City of Wizards

The Averot'h Saga #1

by George Mazurek

This is an alternate-cover edition for B00OPBURQC.

When a young boy Syrdan arrives to a mythical city of Averot’h, everything seems perfect. Both humans and wizards live here in peace and harmony, four Spires shine brightly high in the skies, wizards cruise the air on their tephirs and an Arena, a place of a magic tournament, is just amazing…

But within the City of Mages, something is badly wrong. What was meant to be a brief trip turns into a battle to save his brother, his new love and his own life from the most powerful of mages…

An entertaining young adult novella from a unique fantasy world is just the first book of the Averot’h saga.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction

157 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

I'm a Czech writer of sci-fi and fantasy books and short stories with 6 books and over 30 stories published in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland. Also, I'm an avid reader, my favorite authors are Roger Zelazny, Brandon Sanderson, GRRM, JRRT, Isaac Asimov, Arthur Clarke, etc...
I live near Ostrava and I'm a professor at Silesian University, where I teach maths and statistics.

Reviews

[Phrynne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would have been a much better book if the author had not tried to contain it all in so few pages. I am not usually one to recommend padding but in this case so much was left out! The result was that the reader was left short changed by the world building and that the main character went from being an ordinary child to an incredibly talented wizard in the space of a few minutes. I even felt the need to check that my Kindle was not malfunctioning and leaving out whole chapters.

So basically there was a good story,interesting ideas and some entertaining characters but all of them insufficiently developed. The ending was a cliff hanger regarding one of the main characters but I am not sure that I will pursue it.

[Rosemary Standeven · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has the potential to be great. All the main fantasy themes are there: wizards; magical creatures; cure-all herbs; tournaments and trials; a young adopted farm boy with a hitherto unsuspected destiny to fulfil; a beautiful maiden for love interest; constant peril …
The back story of the world is that the two distinct races, wizards and humans, have coexisted in peace in the magical city of Averot’h since their alliance to destroy the dragons, who were laying waste to both their communities. Every four years a tournament of magic takes place there. Wizards and enchanters can try their luck in the truels (duels for three), and the ultimate winner is offered a place on the ruling wizard council, conditional on passing the perilous Trial of the Three Elements. The hero (and narrator), Syrdan, accompanies his brother, Lokmi, to Averot’h, where Lokmi hopes to find success in the tournament, despite having minimal magical talent. Of course, the peace of Averot’h is not all that it seems, and Syrdan must discover who and what he really is to escape the machinations of the evil behind the facade.
The relationship between the two brothers is very believable and well developed – actually all the relationships between the main characters are excellently portrayed, in particular the burgeoning love affair between Syrdan and Elisa. The city and the surroundings are well described and leap into life. The magical creatures, the tephirs, who transport the wizards around are a wonderful invention – a real improvement on broomsticks or magic carpets. In fact, each little facet of the story is very well crafted. The problem is that the little sections just don’t hang together very well. The action jumps precipitously from one situation to the next without clear linking. I can cope with a young wizard suddenly acquiring the magical skills and duelling experience of a top sorcerer overnight, but I need to know by what device this has happened. Often the “how” is missing, and sometimes the “why”.
There is so much going on in this story, and it needs a lot more space to do it justice. It could easily fill a tome of at least three times the length.
Despite these niggles, this is a fast paced, action-packed fantasy adventure with likeable and noble heroes, and enough twists to keep you on your toes.

[Aleksandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was encouraged to read the book by the author, who informed me that it is now free on Amazon. How could I resist such a temptation?

At the beginning of the story I thought it was something for children. Really! And it was because of the style of writing - imaginative descriptions like in a tale and the fact that we meet two youngsters who are heading for a tournament in the city where humans and wizards live side by side. BTW, this idea is brilliant, I really liked it that unlike in other stories about magic, they are able to cooperate and live in peace. But it turned out to be slightly different. Meh... And the other thing I find exceptional is how you tell somebody is a wizard. It was cool.

But back to the topic! How incorrect I was about it. Here we have Tephirs who are fed with human flesh and a lot of death. Later on we receive more action and combats, but also lose that imagination, infantility and loveliness I adored.

But letting our imagination run wild is not always a good thing to do. I had a feeling that Syrdan is too powerful to be real. He defeated many Ka'tans, which was quite untrustworthy, because just few days earlier he discovered he is actually a wizard and it was just few days he practised magic.

Nonetheless, The City of Wizards was a good read and I enjoyed most of the story. Too bad, it was so short, I couldn't befriend protagonists.

Sorry for all grammar and vocabulary mistakes ;'D

[Emsy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm sorry but, no.
The ideas are there, I can see them. But everything else is just not worth it. I didn't understand half of what I was reading, I know it's a story about wizards but I didn't know you had to use magic yourself to understand the story! Too fast, too little explanation, too many things left unsaid for the reader to fully appreciate what is going on.
I think it could have been an interesting book, if only it was unfolded better: 100 pages to introduce a fantasy world, characters, history, and actually make something happen are clearly not enough. And please, Syrdan and Elisa have known each other for 1 day and they are already madly in love?

[Alyson Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book: City of Wizards
Author: George Mazurek
Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars

I was asked by George to take a look at this book when it was free on Kindle.

First off, wow, George is great at creating a sense of adventure. I found myself flying through the book and was just hooked on the world that City of Wizards created. The descriptions were just wow and it just really threw the reader into the world. I could just picture the events in my head.

This book should not have been a novella. There is just way too much going on for 123 pages to cover it. At times, it felt really choppy and that there was just too much. This book could have easily been 300-400 pages. I normally do not say this, but there just was not enough time to a proper world building. I think that with some more pages, this would have been a five star book.

Keeping with the trend that it was too much for so few pages. While I did like the characters, there were just too many. It was really difficult for me to keep them all straight. Number one, it is really hard to develop this many characters in so few pages. I really do get that. Number two, the fact that the names were so hard to remember, made it next to impossible for me to remember who was who and what their role was in the story. Plus, the main character was really passive. He just seemed to act like the reader should know what is going on without really talking about it.

The creative nature of the writer is what save this book from getting a lower rating. Everything is here to make a great fantasy novel. It just need to either be longer or have some things cut from it.

[Mike Siedschlag · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was offered a free ecopy of The City of Wizards by George Mazurek for review. Brilliant person that I am, I downloaded the book on the wrong day and wound up paying for it (I rarely pay for it).

Fortunately for all concerned, The City of Wizards was worth it.

As the title implies the story is tale of magic. Not sword and sorcery because... no swords! Even with out swords there is plenty of action in this fairly short quick read. There is also romance, troubled of course. There is even a Wrestlemania style magic competition (Wizardmania?)

The City of Wizards is a nice story if you don't feel ready to commit several days to a longer book. It moves quickly to ARGGHH! a cliffhanger ending!

There are obviously more installments to come, and I for one am interested in how the main story is resolved. Lovers of magic, action, romance, intrigue and justice will not be disappointed by The City of Wizards.

The disappointment (and it's minor) for me comes from the length of the book. Many important details are glossed over; the history of the main character for one, and, the city of Averot'h itself. It felt like a lot was sacrificed for brevity. Advice for author George Mazurek, slow down. You have a good story here, take the time to flesh it out more. Both for the characters, and the world you're creating. I'm confident your audience will stick with you through a longer work. I know I will. Enjoy!


Mike

[Yvonne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a lot shorter then I thought it was going to be and I think the story suffered for it. Everything felt quite a bit rushed and I felt that a lot of details were missing. There was so much information wrapped up into this little package and my head is swimming with all of it.
Despite that the details that were given regarding the magical world this book takes place in were very imaginative and fun. It was a fun quick read but it didn’t leave me with much of a lasting impact.

The main character was interesting, but I had a hard time rooting for him because I don’t think I ever got a feel for who he really was. His circumstances changed so quickly through out the story that it almost felt like everything he accomplished was handed to him on a silver platter. It made him feel a bit like a Gary Stu (male version of a Mary Sue) to me.

I plan on reading the next book, eventually, because I am curious to see what happens. Hopefully I will have more invested in the characters because they will have grown on me.

[Ruth York · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has a good foundation to be a great book. Good story line potential. However, I felt that much of it was a bit rushed. In one paragraph, the main character is trapped in a tunnel and sees a crack in the side. And in the next paragraph, the character has already made it back to his inn, washed, acquired new clothes, and meeting with another character. More detail would have made this a very good book. Also, could have used a bit of proof reading, as there were grammar and punctuation mistakes, that unfortunately, my brain picks up on. Entertaining overall, in it's simplicity, but because it left me wanting more in the way of the story, I only gave it three stars.

[Krystal · Rating 1 out of 5]

I tried, I really tried. The story is there but the writing is so terrible I was forcing myself to read it. If the author is a child this is a decent effort but this is a great example of why I don't recommend self-publishing. Once again I feel pretty awful giving such a terrible review when this was a free copy in exchange for an honest review. But I am honest, and I could not read more than halfway. I was initially intrigued by the blurb and by the short word count, assuming I would finish it in a matter of days. (This review is about a month overdue so my sincerest apologies for that.) Unfortunately the word count is bad news for this story; there's far too many ideas (and characters) for a story of such a short length. While things happen quickly, so much could have been omitted to make room for a stronger storyline and greater characterisation. I liked the ideas and the creativity is certainly there but I lost interest after barely a page of bad writing. There is so much more to writing a novel than just having good ideas, and I think that's a mistake many who self-publish make. I think it's good to be rejected by a publisher or two, because it makes you humble, and go back and refine your work. Beyond the story itself, I get the sense that the author has a limited grasp of English grammar so if he intends to continue writing I'd recommend he either write in his native tongue and get a professional to translate or take a course in basic grammar. My major issue was all those ellipses - completely unnecessary.
If this was the creative writing assignment of someone 8-10yrs old, I'd be giving it high marks because it is creative and some pretty cool ideas. But it has obvious cliches and stereotypes and seems far too amateur to be considered publishable. As a novella, I can't give it more than one star but I do hope the author continues to refine his style and overcome these obstacles because the imagination is certainly there.

[Drishti · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I picked up this book, the first thing that struck me was the writing style. It was too... childish? I don't know if it was because this book is a translation (?), but I have read other translations. And never has the writing style put me off in such a way!

Then there was the insta love. All it takes for Syrdan and Elisa to fall in love is one meeting! Even though all Elisa did was be irritated at Syrdan during this meeting!

I felt like some things in this book were very inconsistent.
An example: I started this book thinking it was for a YA audience. The writing style spoke otherwise, so I thought that perhaps this book was for preteens. But then, the sex scenes threw me off because, of course, you don't find them in middle grade books, do you?
Conclusion: I'm still confused about the target audience of this book.

Now on to the world building aka the most important part of any high fantasy book... Most of the world building in this book happened in info dumps. IMHO, info dumps are something authors should steer clear of because these are a big turn-off for many readers (me included).

The characters... too many of them were introduced and done with within the course of a few paragraphs. What I would have liked was for the author to flesh them out and let the readers understand them. Because that's what we readers love!

To be honest, this book has a lot of potential. It definitely has. But what it needs is some editing to help it realize the said potential.

[Shelle Perry · Rating 4 out of 5]

The City of Wizards is a story of wizards and humans of the city of AveRot’h. It is about a young farmer named Syrdan who has come to the city to watch his foster brother compete in a wizard tournament. While there he meets a young woman who opens his eyes to what is really happening in the city and helps him unravel the mystery of his parentage, giving him a chance to claim his destiny.

I enjoyed getting to know the world of AveRot’h. The complex relationships throughout the tale were a challenge to keep up with. The mounting division between wizards and human was matched only by the internal politicking of the wizard factions. The tournament provided an appropriate background to the real battles taking place in the dark places and high towers of the city.

I do think that perhaps some things moved a bit fast. The love story might have benefitted from at least a few more days of heating up and Syrdan coming into his own was not surprising except that one day he was a human farmer and the next he the wizard nemesis of dark wizards that all powerful wizards and humans feared and was quite capable without any training at all. All in all, I will definitely look forward to the sequels to see where Syr’Dan’s adventures take him.

[Gustav Tarras madsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so lucky to get a free copy by on amazon.
Well my first impression was really good, it was a fine introduction, and the storyline was overall really good. It was one of the shorter stories i have read over the years, and maybe therefore, i hoped that it was longer when it was done. The descriptions of characters and the different scenes and landscapes was not overwhelming, but not that detailed either, which i missed a little.
Syrdan is a nice characters with an original background story, and of course born with special powers that he develop when the story moves on. But it went to fast, he learns to use them over what is days, from a surprised farmer boy, to the world’s most powerful wizard (warlock).
The universe is nice, and the creatures are both original and some total new.
Well now I’m just waiting for the next one.

[Tomas Grizzly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better 4. Very quick read. Story of a young man that has a hidden magical talent and needs to save the world from a war between humans and wizards while learning what is happening on the go. Due to the short length, it all happens quite fast. For those wanting a quick read, this might be good one.

[E.M. McIntyre · Rating 4 out of 5]

The City of Wizards by Czech author George Mazurek is an enjoyable and unique fantasy novella. The city of Averot'h, the main setting of the story, is governed by four bodies, each represented by a spire or tower. This creates a complex battle for power, which the citizens seem to be unaware of. This work is full of imaginative characters and original ideas and I look forward to the next step in Syrdan's path. A good Sunday afternoon read for young adults and up.

[Ian · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent enough story but there is enough here for a five hundred page saga, not a 100-odd page novella. That means that things inevitably feel rushed, the hero goes from zero to powerfully competent in the blink of an eye, love is instantaneous, deaths occur in next to no time and the climactic battle feels perfunctory.
Honestly it's quite decent with traditional sword and sorcery ideas and feel, but it could have been so much more.

[Wende · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some books start off with bang and halfway through it fizzles out. Not this book. It was fast-paced and it never gave you a chance to catch your breath. Syrdan was a young farmer that had a surprising bloodline he knew nothing about. He had magic coursing through him. He meets Elisa (the one thing I didn't like) and they almost instantly fall in love. I will admit the ending is a cliffhanger so not my cup of tea. The book though is a wonderful blend of fantasy and the world building is great.

[omiczech · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hezky napsaná kniha. Příběh se nikde nezdržuje a rychle odsýpá. Původně jsem vzhledem k objemu nečekal, že se toho stihne udát tolik, ale bylo to příjemným překvapením. I když člověk čeká jak zhruba kniha skončí, přesto se vždy najde nějaký nečekaný zvrat. Život v městě čarodějů je popsán originálně, i když staví na známých archetypech.

[Marcia Whitley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good reading


I truly enjoy a good fantasy book and this is one of them. From the first page you have a chance to meet many characters, then the balancing of each one's position and part are formed. It has a quick storyline, but you don't loose track of it. I have to look up the others in this series, because I'm very interested in seeing this through to the end.

[Dionne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book. I enjoyed reading it. In fact, it was one of those books I couldn't put down until the end. I loved the main character. He really works for this story. Great imagination and all.

[Stefani · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Very promising start and interesting world even though some part were a little too complicated. I'd definitely be interested in reading the next books...especially after that ending.

[Elisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed reading the book. It was an easy read, managed to finish it less than 3 hours.
There were few pages sounded a little bit dull, but overall the book was good. Four stars.

[Cheré · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some of the grammar in the book is off, but considering Englsh is not George's first language, and the fact that despite the grammatical flaws I still could not put the book down, I was pulled into the story and was disappointed when I suddenly read "the end" - I want more!

[Michal · Rating 2 out of 5]

http://overdeadbooks.blogspot.cz/2015...

[Denisé · Rating 5 out of 5]

it's very interesting!

[Dionne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great story. I look forward to reading more along with reading this story over and over again. It was that good.

[Jenna Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun, fast-paced and easy to read. I only wish it was longer so some of the story lines could have more development and natural progress. Free on Amazon until January 25! Go check it out!

[Bassey Blessing · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hi, I’m Bassey, an enthusiastic ARC reader and passionate advocate for great storytelling. As a writer and beta reader, I enjoy diving into new worlds, analyzing characters, and providing thoughtful feedback to help authors shine. When I’m not reading, I’m crafting stories of my own or collaborating with fellow writers to refine theirs. I recently had the privilege of receiving this book from the talented author George, and I’m thrilled to share my review of it.
The City of Wizards is an imaginative and action-packed fantasy that introduces readers to a world where wizards and humans live in fragile harmony. The story has all the ingredients of a great fantasy tale: magical tournaments, dangerous trials, mysterious creatures, and a young hero discovering his destiny. These elements create a solid base for an engaging adventure.
The book shines in its creative ideas. The magical city of Averot’h feels unique, and the concept of wizards and humans working together is refreshing. The tephirs, magical creatures used for transport, are a clever and fun twist on the usual broomsticks or magic carpets. The relationships between the characters, especially the bond between Syrdan and his brother Lokmi, are heartfelt and believable. Some parts of the world-building are vivid and exciting, pulling the reader right into the story.
However, the book’s short length holds it back. Some parts of the story feel rushed, and important details are missing. Syrdan’s sudden transformation from a beginner to a powerful wizard happens so quickly that it’s hard to buy into it without more explanation. The story also jumps from one scene to the next without enough connection, which can make it feel choppy at times.
That said, the fast pace and constant action keep things exciting. While the story introduces a lot of intriguing ideas, it doesn’t have enough room to fully develop them. With more pages to explore the characters, the world, and the plot, the book could deliver on its full potential.
The City of Wizards is an enjoyable read for anyone who loves magic and adventure. It’s a promising story that leaves you wishing for more depth and detail—and could easily become something truly great with further development.

[Liora Veil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful YA Fantasy

The City of Wizards by George Mazurek is a refreshing addition to the YA fantasy genre, standing out in a market often filled with familiar tropes. This captivating story centers on a tender young romance, wrapped in a vibrant world of magic and hidden secrets. Mazurek crafts a setting that feels alive, with bustling streets, shimmering enchantments, and mysterious corners that spark the imagination. From glowing markets to ancient, rune-covered towers, the world is rich with colorful details that make every scene vivid and immersive.
The characters are a highlight, each distinct and thoughtfully developed. The protagonists, navigating their budding love, feel authentic with their hopes, fears, and quirks, while the supporting cast—from cunning wizards to secretive allies—adds layers of intrigue. The interplay of magic, with its unique rules and limitations, weaves seamlessly into the plot, driving both the romance and the unraveling of long-buried secrets. Unlike many YA fantasies, this book feels fresh, avoiding clichés and delivering a story that’s both heartfelt and unpredictable. The City of Wizards is a delightful read for anyone craving a well-crafted, imaginative escape.

[Lidia · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this especially as I got a free copy from the author but I unfortunately did not liked, couldn't actually finish it...
Maybe the hardcore readers that love high fantasy could enjoy this book, but this kind of fiction is not my cup of tea, it contains a world of wizards that make intricated spells, a tournament, is about a boy more a youngster that finds out he is actually adopted by his family and turns out he is in fact a wizard, a romance that seems corny and too much physical attraction, maybe men will like this kind of romance but for me is a NO.

[Megadethine · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's not a bad book or a good one either. Just everything happens so fast. In less than hundred pages, a guy from nowhere without nothing get the girl, the power and the whole city. It's not that badly writing but everything it's so predictable we can get bored easily, and it's getting disapointed somehow. And seriously three books for the whole story? Stop with trilogy, here it's definitely pointless