The Age of Mages

Mage Tales #1

by Ilana Waters

"A mage should be able to handle anything, but really, the circumstances are getting quite ridiculous."

Joshua’s witch mother has been missing and presumed dead since he was a teen. Years later, when he learns she might be alive, all he can think of is finding her. His antagonistic vampire father agrees to help, but Joshua fears he has ulterior motives. The situation gets even more complicated when they discover why she she possessed a mysterious crystal whose powers remain a secret.

Unfortunately, Joshua and his father aren’t the only ones interested in the crystal. As their search leads them from New York to Las Vegas to Rome, they’re pursued by the Paranormal Investigation Agency, the High Council of Witches, and yet more vampires. In the process, they uncover a plot to wake the deadliest vampire who ever lived.

If Joshua can find the crystal, he might find his mother—and stop a massacring blood-seeker from rising. But that means not fighting with his father long enough to hold off adversaries both human and supernatural.

It might just be more than one mage can handle.

Genres: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Vampires, Paranormal, Magic, Witches, Ebooks

206 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 26, 2015

About the author

Hi! I’m Ilana Waters, USA Today bestselling author of the Mage Tales and Dark Fae Decree.

I write urban fantasy for those who like it fast, funny, and fierce. If you’re into cross-blended creatures (witch-vampire hybrids, half-breed mages) and supernatural ass-kicking, I'm all over that. Ditto if your book turn-ons are equal parts creepy and action-packed (ancient cities, crypts, beheadings, bombs, etc.).

Reviews

[☆☆Hannah☆☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a nice quick read. I liked how even though the father and son weren't close they were still willing to work together to find the mother and wife. I saw that some people in their reviews didn't like how the main character addressed us readers but I thought it was cool. This book is a good example of why it's best to make you own opinions and not not let others sway you.

[Anne Monteith · Rating 5 out of 5]

While Joshua was the protagonist, it was Titus that kept me reading, I loved his snark and I am going to be reading to see how this relationship evolves. I don’t see why Joshua only has traits from his mother and none from his father, perhaps this will be explained in later books. I also though he was a bit of a brat and hope that he matures in future books as we discover more about this magical world the author has created. My biggest problem and the one that I hated the most is where he addresses the readers, it was beyond annoying but didn’t stop me from reading.

4/5 STARS

[E.G. Manetti]

I really wanted to like this book. The premise is excellent - slightly gawky mage has issues with his overbearing vampire-dad and goes searching for his missing witch-mother. I could not get past Ms. Waters' writing style. First person narration does not bother me. First person narration where the narrator keeps addressing the reader is annoying and distracting.

Examples of his cruelty and viciousness are far too graphic to divulge here, gentle reader.

I am something of a half-breed, though I'd rather you didn't use such a vulgar term to describe me. You seem far too well mannered for that.

Just could not finish it.

[Danielle Shipley · Rating 3 out of 5]

The narrative voice was the biggest selling point for me. While I felt the story could have moved a lot faster (excessive, somewhat repetitive chatter and drawn-out magical posturing dragged the pace more than was good for my full engagement), the main character’s amusing, conversational tone continually reminded me why I kept the pages turning. I especially enjoyed watching him snip back and forth with his horrible father. …aka, I confess, my favorite character in the book. A fun, light urban fantasy read.

[Dick SantaCruz · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book sucked more than a starving vampire

Some good ideas but lacked any professional editing. A very annoying habit of addressing the reader. Fight scenes were unrealistic and immature. I.e. Playing 3 way catch against 6 vampires.
Dialogue was childish and petty.
Good idea but poor execution.
One star is generous.

[♥ Joy Joy ♥ · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found the writing and dialogue immature, pompous, and eye roll worthy. It was an intense struggle to complete this book (and only did so because I needed it for a reading challenge).

[Dev · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this book had some interesting world-building and Joshua was a fun character, but it was a little bit one-note overall. Like ...we get it. Your dad is an asshole. You don't get along. You're not sure if he ever even loved your mother. You guys fight a lot. We. Get. It. I know it was important to the plot but I still feel like it was over-repeated and that that page time could have been put to better use. Also I know a lot of people don't like the casual style of the narration here [asides where the narrator is talking directly to the reader, etc] but that was one of the things that I liked and made me laugh. I am definitely planning on checking out some of the other books in the series, but I hope we've gotten the majority of the daddy issues out of the way and can focus on something else now.

[Elayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book had some nice ideas and plotting.

It would suit the YA audience very well.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual rating 3.5

I enjoyed this book. I love a little history thrown in with my fantasy, and I'm a sucker for a love story....which this could possibly turn into. The main character, Joshua is likeable enough, I'm waiting to see how much he improves his magical ability. I think he will surprise us all. I'm also eager to see how Titus develops as a character , I'm rooting for that hard ass SOB. Um.....as far as a recommendation....read this book. It is a quick and fun read, and...you'll get a few good chuckles out of it as well.

[Jordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good, the writing was entertaining and free of any glaring mistakes. The combat was enjoyable with an interesting magic system, as well as some fun dialogue between father and son. Unfortunately there were some bland moments and few scenes that made me think "really?" But overall I was quite happy with the book and would recommend a friend to give it a try, especially at the reasonable price it sells for.

[Chris Pacheco · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sadly, this book was hard for me to finish. I'm not a literary genius and I can never pretend to be, but I can appreciate an author that knows how to write a story that holds their readers captive while staying true to their style of writing. Perhaps fight scenes and epic dialogue are not this authors area of expertise, but those area of the book where these were the primary focus were a big disappointment.

[Arref Mak · Rating 2 out of 5]

Possible good start to series. Things I liked: a fluid running perspective from the protagonist.

Things I did not like, an extremely insecure point of view, mixed with drama queen tendencies.

That could even out if I pick up more adventures.

[Kat Lebo · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Age of Mages, Mage Tales, Book 1
by Ilana Waters

It took me a bit to get used to this author's writing style, especially where her main character, Joshua, who is also the narrator of the book, was concerned. While the story takes place in modern day, the language Joshua used, particularly when he was narrating, rather than speaking dialogue, was a bit more stuffy than I would imagine a young man of today -- even one born to an almost witch and a combination witch and vampire -- would use. But I got used to it relatively soon, and began to look forward to the next aside, where he would address the reader directly, as though sitting with them in the living room telling his story. Phrases such as "gentle reader," were definitely part of what made his narration seem so stiff.

But, overall, the book is well written. There is an unfortunate confusing spot at the very first of the book (between location 56 and 62 on my Kindle, where we open to find Joshua, who is a mage (according to Waters, that's more than a human, less than a witch) fighting a vampire in a back alley. The author has the narrator/main character refer to being glad he didn't fall, as the ground was forty feet below, but then, just a few lines later, talks about fighting on the ground in the back alley. It wasn't until later yet, that there is a mention of both the vampire and Joshua had the ability to fly, which tied the "forty feet below" line into a fight that seemed to be taking place on the ground, rather than a few stories up from the ground. I did almost stop reading there, but I'm glad I decided to stay with the book, as no more editing/proofing errors or confusing descriptions occurred.

So, characters are interesting a well-fleshed out. Plotting and pacing seemed to flow well. Waters' take on vampirism and being Wiccan was a bit different than usual. There was an interesting mystery involving the disappearance of Joshua's mother when he was a teenager, and Joshua's search for her, with what seemed to him at times to be reluctant help from his father.

In a nutshell: Joshua is the son of an ancient Roman general who is both a witch and a vampire and a woman who is completing her training as a witch at the time she becomes pregnant with Joshua. His mother and father lived apart when he was a boy, because as much as they were attracted to one another, they also couldn't be together without fighting. One night, as his mother was packing her work bag for the next day and Joshua was in his room down the hall, he hears her scream and by the time he gets to her room, she is gone, abducted with no trace as to who was behind the abduction or why she was taken. Now, as an adult, he is constantly searching for her. His father, who is a business tycoon in the today timeline, joins in the search. His father is constantly criticizing Joshua - from his style of dress to his use/non-use of magic. They've heard that Joshua's mother, Abigail, was abducted because she owned a crystal that had great power. The vampires believe it will help in the resurrection of another ancient Roman vampire, Feroux, who was also Joshua's father, Titus's, sworn enemy during Roman times. The witch ruling group, the High Council, wants them to stop their search, as they fear if the crystal falls into Titus's hands, he will use it to join with his old enemy and take over control of the world, and perhaps, even though Titus is half witch himself, destroy the power the witches currently enjoy. Then there is the PIA (Paranormal Investigation Agency), a group of mortals who keep tabs, and sometimes more, on the paranormals of the world. While they have files on Titus and Abigail, they were, at the start of this book, unaware of the existence of Joshua, which allows him to infiltrate their ranks to do research on the crystal to help in his search for his mother.

So, the vampires hate the witches, the witches hate the vampires, and the PIA hates them all. Will Joshua and his father find his mother, and will she still be alive after 20 years? Will they find the crystal? Will it be used to resurrect Titus's ancient enemy? Who will survive and what will happen next.

All in all it was an interesting book and an enjoyable, easy read. My biggest complaint about it was the cliffhanger ending. Yes, the big issues of this first in a series book were relatively resolved at the end of the book. Yet, the author saw fit to leave the protagonist and his family and friend still in mortal danger at the end of the book. While this is an established series and I can get the next in the series immediately, it still pisses me off when authors have so little confidence in their abilities that they think a cliffhanger ending is needed. Note to Author: That ending cost your work a star.

So, will I read more? Maybe. We'll see.

[Damian Southam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of the potential myriad reasons there might be an elephant in the room between a son and his father I'd be pretty confident in taking a stab that a missing mother, and therefore wife, would be among the most reasonable and important ones. I suspect if your father was named Titus Aurelius, even in the absence of context, there's bound to be a whole bunch of baby elephants trying to prove who's trunk is biggest; or is that tusk? Regardless of what ever it is meant to be, most of those long nosed buggers would undoubtedly be hooting something about honour and duty before everything else. At least they'd be able to report back to dear ol' Titus that bravado is in spades even if ability is found wanting. Well that is, what any spectators witnessing Joshua Alderman's attempts to get the missing locale of his mother from the vampire in the opening sequences of the novel would've seen. Of course none of the reporting was really necessary given vampire dad was watching in the background all along. A lot can be said for mum's ideas of a first name, Joshua - Hebrew for 'he who saves', and dad's opinions given he wanted Maximus - meaning 'greatest'. On this day despite two decades of looking Joshua still wouldn't emulate either.

As it so happens, the aforementioned context is however a two millennia old natural born witch, turned vampire Roman General, spouting every maneuver and missed opportunity that went by-the-by because despite being a mage you should never have planned to rely on a spell. Most people would wonder why daddy dearest would stand by and watch the pummeling of their son at the hands of a vampire, especially one possibly having answers to the question of where is their missing wife. But they'd not have spent the sum of their years being a supposed failure. The former is definitely a consideration when all said father needed to do was pummel the vampire and then stand back looking very menacing, and said vampire spewed those reasons; although frustratingly not the where.

As with many magical crimes the answers of the missing mother and wife, Abigail, relate to mythical magic relics. Initially believed to be necessary to awaken an ancient and malevolent vampire, Callix Ferox, from an imposed slumber in the ancient ruins beneath Rome, she is believed to be the bearer of the relic or at the least know of it's location. Unfortunately any more than the why Abigail was taken would go with the vampire into his death. That Titus has a history with Callix possibly being raised seems to slip by without any major focus. It seems despite his resentment toward his father's lacking esteem, the issues provided by the line of reasoning present in the why, would perhaps be addressed at a later stage. Even in the magical world the most important thing following a murder is to establish a good distance from the kill, and the accompanying alibi. You might be able to take the vampire general out of ancient Rome but you can't take the ancient Rome out of the general.

With all known sources of supernaturals potentially involved in Abigail's disappearance now questioned, or in the afterlife, and with the troubling possibilities of a group of Callix' zealots seeking an immensely powerful relic, father and son can see only one solution in moving forward: the Paranormal Investigation Agency, or simply PIA. Whilst the risks of infiltration are among the list of threats to Joshua's life span, Titus world arouse far too many suspicions. If for no other reasons, of which there are several, Titus' problems with sunburn would paint a far too greater challenge to overcome, and give away an image of his magical heritage. Joshua has been hiding in plain sight for a significant portion of his life and is thus far more suited to the role and least likely to be known to PIA. Given PIA does exactly what the agency's name suggests, finding any of their members to be supernaturals would be hazardous to those members health. The agency is well known for its swift and often final resolution to infiltration. Nonetheless, Joshua and Titus both suspect if any others were to know of, or have access to, the sought after relic this ancient sect of mortals would be that group.

Living in the shadows of magnates has both motivational and debilitating effects of those in the shade. Like trees in an orchard, those in the shade seek to grow with greateer strength in order to reach for the sun. But those who, for whatever reason, cannot find enough of the sun's rays may never grow to reach their full potential. The magnate themself may set standards unreasonable for any number of reasons, and can judge incorrectly or inadequately the sapling in their shadow. Joshua has spent his life seeking recognition that seems to only ever have been given under sufferance; but still in some ways the recognition exists even if it isn't given voice. He also seems to question as much, or possibly more, the events which allowed his hitherto unseen birth.

A steady pace with a good number of magical duels keeps the story interesting. The woolgathering by Joshua is frequent, and in hindsight it may have benefited to note the things he assured the audience will be answered, and either weren't or are yet to be. In a less common technical feature seen in novels, the direct engagement with the reader is an enjoyable aspect that adds humour and reader's own commentary. What Joshua lacks for in the manner of power, witch/mage magic that is, he compensates with a sharp intelligence, years of physical training, and lateral thinking. Daring is certainly a well present capacity but not always the best choice. He also has an inclusive heart in his approach to other beings, never permitting stereotypes and prejudice to alter his dealings. I enjoyed the book and found it to be the type of read that keeps you reading so as to satisfy your wonder at what might happen next. In some ways the storylines come across as the beginnings of bigger and bolder endeavours to come. They have also established the contexts for several possible prequels.

[Mandy Walkden-Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun, very enjoyable urban fantasy.
Rather kicking myself thst this has been in my TBR pile for so long. Wish books could speak up for themselves and point out that they're really worthwhile reading, especially when they're well written, have plenty of action, great characters and are humorous to boot.

Joshua managed some rather unusual magic whilst simultaneously battling foes and trying to live up to his father's expectations. And speaking of whom, General Titus Aurelius, is a two thousand year old witch vampire, and a prior General of Rome, is an extremely interesting character. It was pretty useful to have actually just read his backstory, or at least his relatively recent past in the prequel book, Blood and Magic. Think there would need to be a massive number of books to encompass his full 2,000 years of existence.

Darn it, yet another series I'm hooked on!

[Kerry Dillenburg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very nearly exceptional.

Hi Iilana. I found parts of your book very unique and captivating. My biggest problem is just that. I would be absorbed in the events unfolding and you would have the storyteller pull me away by speaking directly to me to give an aside or bit of explanation. Thereby tearing my focus away from the "meat-and-potatoes" of the current action. Sometimes it worked well but others not so much. I don't remember being exposed to that technique being used so much so maybe that's why I had trouble with its use.
I would have given your hard work a 4.5 if it had been possible but alas it was not to be.
Thanks for an entertaining read.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dit boek heeft potentieel, Joshua een mage met een witch als moeder en een witch/vampier als vader. Hij had eigenlijk niet moeten bestaan, want vampieren kunnen geen kinderen krijgen. Recent is hij erachter gekomen dat zijn moeder die 20 jaar geleden ontvoerd is nog leeft. Hij gaat, gedeeltelijk samen met zijn vader met wie hij geen beste band, heeft op zoek naar zijn moeder. De zoektocht brengt hem in Rome en onder de aandacht van meerdere groepen waar hij liever niet de aandacht van had getrokken.

Het enige minpuntje aan dit boek is dat Joshua meerdere keren tijdens het verhaal letterlijk het woord richt tot de lezer. Dat is niet mijn ding, net zomin als de cliffhanger aan het einde.

[Jesse Skelton · Rating 4 out of 5]

New Kid in Town

Forget the old school standards, now it's the Mage's turn. A part old fashioned witch turned vampire falls in love with a new hippie style witch and the impossible happens. She gets pregnant and a live son is born. As he grows up his mom disappears. A crystal might br the key to finding her. If he can believe his father. Rome awaits an answer for him, maybe. Full of fighting, family issues, societies of many kinds and some cattiness, this was a fun read. Will read the next book in the series.

[Shirley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Age of Mages is an excellent story of magical beings and does extend my knowledge somewhat about the differences in some of the labels. The story is of a young man who will go to any length to find his mother against insurmountable odds. The young man even works with his father to though he is unsure of his fathers reasons to help him. Is there something more sinister in play for Titus to help his son? I loved the book and the story. Can't wait till the next book.

[Annemarie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the writing style of this story. I don't often like first person perspective, but in this case it was very well done! It felt like the main character was telling his story to you, and I really enjoyed that.

The story itself was interesting, I especially thought Marcus Aurelius was an interesting character. Very enjoyable read!

[Valery · Rating 3 out of 5]

Engaging, though it is a little strange to have the pov shift from the story to a one-sided conversation with the reader.
There are also some strange similes creating those awkward "huh?" moments that draw you from the story. But, all in all, not a bad read.

For my clean readers: language, including one f-bomb, violence, murder, implied romance, and rape threats in the dialogue.

[Fantus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mage of fun......

I gave this book a four star rating because it is fun. Pure fun. Light hearted! I enjoy the banther between the characters. So give this a read. It does not take itself to seriously!!

[TE · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Age of Mages is a good start to the Mage Tales series and a fun, easy read. Can't wait to read the next one.

For those who want to know: This one has some mild language (not much) and some non-graphic violence.

[Sneha · Rating 2 out of 5]

The plot of the story as well as characters are very good. the writing of the author is understandable and simple enough. The only thing lacking was the tone of the book. the book lacked excitement...

[Deborah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok, written in the first person

Not a huge fan of the first person monalogue / narration style of writing & the constant references to you don't need to know this now, maybe tell you more later gets annoying. Over all average, not terrible but won't be buying book 2

[Kerry Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Follow Joshua as he tries to find his mother who disappeared about twenty years ago.
Magic and vampires do exist but are kept from the normal people of the world.
With characters that are well rounded and wonderfully voiced this is a great read.

[Kristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is the age for the Age of Mages Tales

Thoroughly entertaining! Finally a book with some humor. A father, a son, a mother…and a tale to be told sitting by firelight and candle light. Enjoy!

[Tamara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mages

I don't know this story didn't catch and keep me interested I like vampires and magic and such but this story just didn't keep me hooked. I hope others like it

[Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I look forward to reading the next book.

[Dionne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!

When this story reached the top of my reading list I didn't know how it would be. But as I read it I found the story fascinating and I couldn't put it down. Great idea!