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The Nyepsium Wars #1
An Assassin's Tool
When Kaber is killed right in front of Mathonwey, he is thrust into a race against time to solve the murder and find another source of nyepsium. With only a couple days nyepsium, his trusty familiar Ogma, and a few weapons, Mathonwey is set against unknown enemies in a race against time. If he loses, he is certain to fail his one and only chance to make Adept, have his hand cut off, and be cast out of the Institute forever.
Trevor Darby has been writing for many years. This short story was first published in the January 2015 issue of New Realm Magazine.
Trevor Darby has been writing for many years. This short story was first published in the January 2015 issue of New Realm Magazine.
- GenresFantasyShort Stories
20 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 31, 2015
6 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
Trevor Darby
17 books19 followersOnce upon a time...
Trevor's mom got a call from his third grade teacher.
Trevor had never arrived at school. His mom grew worried. She searched high and low for him. He was nowhere to be found.
Until she opened the door to a small sewing room...
Trevor was sitting on a pile of blankets, reading his favorite book. His mother scolded him and sent him to school. He was not deterred and continued reading his book as he walked to school.
To this day...
Trevor is most often found in a comfortable niche, reading his next favorite book.
But sometimes...
He can also be found writing.
Influences include: Dave Wolverton, L.E. Modesitt, Michael Moorcock, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, George Orwell, Jim Butcher, Terry Pratchett, and Anne McCaffrey.
For new releases and special offers please subscribe to Trevor Darby’s mailing list:
Mailing List: http://eepurl.com/cQDb_j
Trevor's mom got a call from his third grade teacher.
Trevor had never arrived at school. His mom grew worried. She searched high and low for him. He was nowhere to be found.
Until she opened the door to a small sewing room...
Trevor was sitting on a pile of blankets, reading his favorite book. His mother scolded him and sent him to school. He was not deterred and continued reading his book as he walked to school.
To this day...
Trevor is most often found in a comfortable niche, reading his next favorite book.
But sometimes...
He can also be found writing.
Influences include: Dave Wolverton, L.E. Modesitt, Michael Moorcock, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, George Orwell, Jim Butcher, Terry Pratchett, and Anne McCaffrey.
For new releases and special offers please subscribe to Trevor Darby’s mailing list:
Mailing List: http://eepurl.com/cQDb_j
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
February 24, 2018
An Assassin's Tool - a review by Rosemary Kenny
Mat(honwey) is a young would-be Adept [at a Hogwarts-like-but-not-so-'nice' school]. Like Harry Potter he's got a 'familiar' - an owl called Ogma.
There the HP similarity weakens, for unlike him, Mat and most of his friends use narcotic buds from the nyepsium plant to enhance their powers if they're not 'Naturals'. Problem is, Mat needs one a day, at least until he passes his finals in four days - and he only has two left!
Where does Mat go to find his usual supplier and what unexpectedly happens to them?
What does Mat pick up and take from the market? Who does he chase?
Who is Barish and can/will he help Mat with his issues?
Why does Mat go to see Professor Aeron and what advice does he get from the meeting?
Who meets Mat in the courtyard and what challenge does this person make?
When Mat is attacked later, who is responsible - and what is their motive?
After the final battle, who is wounded - and who helps them?
What do Mat and Barish find in Professor Aeron's study and how does it help both of them?
As the action moves from place to place, the danger mounts and magic and muscle must combine to keep Mat and his friends alive. Trevor Darby's novel engages the reader fully, drawing them into a new realm where fantasy and friendship meld in a fight against evil practitioners of the Adept's Art. A must for fans of Harry Potter and fantasy action-thrillers - get your copy today!
Mat(honwey) is a young would-be Adept [at a Hogwarts-like-but-not-so-'nice' school]. Like Harry Potter he's got a 'familiar' - an owl called Ogma.
There the HP similarity weakens, for unlike him, Mat and most of his friends use narcotic buds from the nyepsium plant to enhance their powers if they're not 'Naturals'. Problem is, Mat needs one a day, at least until he passes his finals in four days - and he only has two left!
Where does Mat go to find his usual supplier and what unexpectedly happens to them?
What does Mat pick up and take from the market? Who does he chase?
Who is Barish and can/will he help Mat with his issues?
Why does Mat go to see Professor Aeron and what advice does he get from the meeting?
Who meets Mat in the courtyard and what challenge does this person make?
When Mat is attacked later, who is responsible - and what is their motive?
After the final battle, who is wounded - and who helps them?
What do Mat and Barish find in Professor Aeron's study and how does it help both of them?
As the action moves from place to place, the danger mounts and magic and muscle must combine to keep Mat and his friends alive. Trevor Darby's novel engages the reader fully, drawing them into a new realm where fantasy and friendship meld in a fight against evil practitioners of the Adept's Art. A must for fans of Harry Potter and fantasy action-thrillers - get your copy today!
May 19, 2018
Who'd have thunk it? Magicians in training need an "edge" to get through, especially at exam time. Mathonwey is one such magician, and when his dealer is killed by an unknown assassin right in front of him, Mathonwey doesn't pine, he goes looking for more "seeds." The alternative doesn't beggar belief.
An Assassin's Tool is a short story, rife with sardonic humour and stereotypes from a school-type environment. As Mathonwey seeks his edge, the plot morphs from "where's my fix" to a bigger mystery. Fun, lightweight and hinting at a bigger world buried within.
An Assassin's Tool is a short story, rife with sardonic humour and stereotypes from a school-type environment. As Mathonwey seeks his edge, the plot morphs from "where's my fix" to a bigger mystery. Fun, lightweight and hinting at a bigger world buried within.
December 2, 2020
4.5 stars
I should start by saying that novellas can be hit or miss for me because it always takes me time to get into the rhythm of the story, and by the time I start to become invested, the story is over. With this one, it took me half the short story to figure out what was going on, but the ending was really great! So because it was short, I went back and listened to the whole thing a second time and I enjoyed it even more. As short as it is, I really like the main character and I am hopeful that because this is listed as book #1 of the Nyepsium Wars, that it is just the prelude of many stories to come. This is the 4th series/universe of stories I've visited with this author and falls in the top two, next to Finneas Grey. But I've only read one book in the Mermaid Academy series and suspect I could easily be drawn back into that universe. Suffice it to say that I think Trevor Darby is a great middle school/teen author, and I love the variety of settings that he creates. Because of the minor fighting/death, I would recommend this for older kids (14-16?), but it's not any more gruesome than Percy Jackson. I will definitely be happy to read more books in this universe! The only reason I didn't round up is that it's a short story and I had to read it twice to get the full impact of the story. That may just be me and not others, though. I really enjoyed the narrator with this one.
Special thanks to the author for this copy of the audiobook. It did not affect my rating of the story. I just really enjoy his writing and think that some of my students would enjoy it as well!
I should start by saying that novellas can be hit or miss for me because it always takes me time to get into the rhythm of the story, and by the time I start to become invested, the story is over. With this one, it took me half the short story to figure out what was going on, but the ending was really great! So because it was short, I went back and listened to the whole thing a second time and I enjoyed it even more. As short as it is, I really like the main character and I am hopeful that because this is listed as book #1 of the Nyepsium Wars, that it is just the prelude of many stories to come. This is the 4th series/universe of stories I've visited with this author and falls in the top two, next to Finneas Grey. But I've only read one book in the Mermaid Academy series and suspect I could easily be drawn back into that universe. Suffice it to say that I think Trevor Darby is a great middle school/teen author, and I love the variety of settings that he creates. Because of the minor fighting/death, I would recommend this for older kids (14-16?), but it's not any more gruesome than Percy Jackson. I will definitely be happy to read more books in this universe! The only reason I didn't round up is that it's a short story and I had to read it twice to get the full impact of the story. That may just be me and not others, though. I really enjoyed the narrator with this one.
Special thanks to the author for this copy of the audiobook. It did not affect my rating of the story. I just really enjoy his writing and think that some of my students would enjoy it as well!
August 1, 2018
Mat has a problem. He's a magician in training and has a big test coming up - fail and it's a lifetime of service to the academy to repay the debt of his tuition (that is if they don't take his hands in payment and throw him out for being considered a cheat). Bad enough, but now he's got double the pressure: for one thing he's not a "Natural" magic user, he's an Imp(erfect) who needs a daily dose of nyepsium to keep his powers at full strength. For another, the only seller of nyepsium has just been murdered in the middle of their transaction. He needs a new supply fast, but where from? And who would kill a man in a crowded market place, quasi-legal magical pill-pusher or not?
There's a huge amount of details that has gone into building this story world, and once you've got your head around it there's plenty to like. It can feel quite heavy at first, and perhaps it's a little bit much to need to take in so quickly. Magical drug-pushers and social inequalities between Naturals and the Imperfects who need said substances make for an unusually gritty take on the magic school theme. My only tiny nit-pick about the otherwise excellent writing would be an over-reliance on commas to string together sentences when a different approach might make for easier reading.
Difficulty breaking through the lore-heaviness aside, it's certainly a new take on magic and mayhem and one which hopefully gets expanded upon!
-I received a free copy of this ebook in a giveaway-
There's a huge amount of details that has gone into building this story world, and once you've got your head around it there's plenty to like. It can feel quite heavy at first, and perhaps it's a little bit much to need to take in so quickly. Magical drug-pushers and social inequalities between Naturals and the Imperfects who need said substances make for an unusually gritty take on the magic school theme. My only tiny nit-pick about the otherwise excellent writing would be an over-reliance on commas to string together sentences when a different approach might make for easier reading.
Difficulty breaking through the lore-heaviness aside, it's certainly a new take on magic and mayhem and one which hopefully gets expanded upon!
-I received a free copy of this ebook in a giveaway-
August 21, 2021
Mathonwey is an adept also called and Imperfect in the academy, he is in need of nyepsium, It is used to help with the knack that the assassins use. Some are born naturally to the magic, others need the seed to help them. On this day, the only dealer, Kaber, in the city is killed right before he's going to ask for some. He needs to help pass his Adept exams. Without, he will fail. He only has two seeds left and needs two more. He goes back to the Institute to ask his best friend. It is bad manners to ask someone for the seed. When mat goes to find some seeds, he finds out why someone wanted Kaber dead.
This was an interesting story. The nyersium seeds help bring out the ability of only some that do not have the natural knack. Also, each person in the academy has a familiar, in Mat's case, it is an owl named Omega. That is also something I liked, Oh and the owl talks and gives advice.
November 3, 2020
This is a great little prequel (if there is a series in the works).
Please say there's a series in the works.
This is a tale of the haves and the have-nots.
Those that have the Knack (magical talent) and those that don't... naturally have it. Those that aren't born with it need nyepsium to manifest the power.
So, what does one do when one needs nyepsium? Go on the hunt for it. I mean, they'd buy it if their supplier wasn't killed.
But the Haves... (Those that naturally have the knack), have different ideas.
I like this. I want more. If there were more stories in this series, I'd at least put the next one on my "to-read" shelf.
Please say there's a series in the works.
This is a tale of the haves and the have-nots.
Those that have the Knack (magical talent) and those that don't... naturally have it. Those that aren't born with it need nyepsium to manifest the power.
So, what does one do when one needs nyepsium? Go on the hunt for it. I mean, they'd buy it if their supplier wasn't killed.
But the Haves... (Those that naturally have the knack), have different ideas.
I like this. I want more. If there were more stories in this series, I'd at least put the next one on my "to-read" shelf.
Read
December 1, 2020An Assassin's Tool (The Nyepsium Wars,#1), my first read/listen from author Trevor Darby. An author that's new, to me, in this short (36-minute) the story-line story-line quickly gets better & better drawing the reader deeper & deeper. Narrator Jarret Lemaster’s narration adds greatly to the book’s enjoyment. I have to admit to speeding up the playback the story was so enthralling. I was given an Audible copy of this book & am voluntarily reviewing it. I’ll be reading more from this author and in this series as soon as I get the books. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).
August 31, 2017
This a is fast paced, short story filled with magic, intrigue, and combat. Trevor Darby does an amazing job of plunking the reader right down into the middle of the action. You can tell there is a rich and detailed history before the story starts and so much promised to follow. The hardest part is trying to keep up as Matt navigates his unplanned predicament and tries to find a solution before time runs out. Definitely eager for the second installment.
December 28, 2020
Great beginning to a new series and I highly recommend it. Trevor Darby's books just keep getting better and better with each succeeding book that I have the privilege of hearing. My only complaint is the book was too short and it left me wanting more. Jarret Lemaster does an awesome job with the narration and I could listen to more from him. I was given a free copy of the audiobook and I have voluntarily left this review.
August 24, 2017
An Assassin's tool. Great descriptive scenes and action. Interesting beginning to a story. Heck of a fighter for a Mage. Friendships and loyalties tested. Leaves you wanting for more !
Excited about seeing what foes and friendships forged and tested as the true battles begin!
Excited about seeing what foes and friendships forged and tested as the true battles begin!
December 6, 2020
A super short that starts with the murder of a local seed (drug) dealer. Retrieving the murder weapon, the buyer uses it to kill the murderer. Murder and magic used for age old problem s - greed and hatred.
August 17, 2017
Hmmm, I wouldn't see this as a book one, maybe a prequel to the story. I would be interested to see where this story goes.
September 19, 2017
Received copy from author for review.
I really enjoyed this short story and it was entertaining as all the characters were really well written and made me want to read more.
I really enjoyed this short story and it was entertaining as all the characters were really well written and made me want to read more.
October 6, 2017
A great introductory book to get your attention for the rest. Not to be missed
January 21, 2019
A good start into a land of strangeness with people (or whatever they were) killing so easy and quickly in their hurry to pass the exams they needed to pass to improve their lives! Interesting.
September 11, 2015
Of course I loved it--I wrote it. But I would certainly love to hear what you think of it.
October 6, 2015
An enticing short story. Leaves me wanting a whole series! Very Nice!
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews