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Pharim War #1
Shadowguard
Sponsored by a rich patron, Jez attends the Carceri Academy, the mystical school where many of the country's elite go to study. Though his patron forbids him to learn it, Jez finds he has an aptitude for battle magic. When a sleeping sickness sweeps the land, Jez begins experiencing strange visions of the creation of the world. He investigates them and discovers a trail of dark magic that indicates his patron may not be as benevolent as he originally believed, and Jez himself may be much older than anyone suspects.
228 pages, Paperback
First published August 27, 2015
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365 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 1, 2017
This has a very classical fantasy setting with its own unique elements. The world is great, and the characters are good. As a Middle Grade book, the story may feel rushed to adults, and the solutions simpler. But for a MG book, there is quite a bit going on, and the writing is not condescending. There are a lot of typos, though I’ve often seen worse.
August 12, 2017
I picked this book up for free on my Kindle recently, probably due to some promotion to heighten awareness of the latest book in the Pharim War series. As the first book in this series, Shadowguard doesn’t waste any time getting down into the action of the story. Somewhat light on exposition and description, the world created here is still vibrant and fascinating, regardless. The story's characters and setting immediately immersed me in the world, and that's not even mentioning the interesting magic system Gama Ray Martinez has created. It fell in line with the fantasy genre without being too derivative of it.
Some may say a series of books about a magical boy learning magic at an illustrious school sounds a lot like the Harry Potter series. The fact that the Pharim War series has a fantasy world setting, and isn't just a hidden part of our real world, makes it distinctly different from J.K. Rowling’s wizards. Despite having only seen the Harry Potter movies, I almost prefer the “wizardry school” in the Pharim War series since it’s on a friggin’ volcano! The magic system does make a lot of sense in this book and even has it categorized into a set of different abilities.
Aside from the occasional proofreading error (about once a chapter), my only qualm was that the book was almost too concise. Knowing this was the first book in the series almost made me wonder if the main antagonist would be dealt with in this book or not. Granted, with a reasonably conclusive character arc, Shadowguard does not have an annoying, cliffhanger ending, but still has potential to explore the characters in the next installment. In fact, this book was so good I am heavily contemplating buying the rest of the series . . . especially since I now know it’s been completed and I won’t have to wait for future books to be released.
An incredible, action-packed YA fantasy, I give Shadowguard 4.5 stars out of 5.
For more reviews of books and movies like this, please visit www.benjamin-m-weilert.com
Some may say a series of books about a magical boy learning magic at an illustrious school sounds a lot like the Harry Potter series. The fact that the Pharim War series has a fantasy world setting, and isn't just a hidden part of our real world, makes it distinctly different from J.K. Rowling’s wizards. Despite having only seen the Harry Potter movies, I almost prefer the “wizardry school” in the Pharim War series since it’s on a friggin’ volcano! The magic system does make a lot of sense in this book and even has it categorized into a set of different abilities.
Aside from the occasional proofreading error (about once a chapter), my only qualm was that the book was almost too concise. Knowing this was the first book in the series almost made me wonder if the main antagonist would be dealt with in this book or not. Granted, with a reasonably conclusive character arc, Shadowguard does not have an annoying, cliffhanger ending, but still has potential to explore the characters in the next installment. In fact, this book was so good I am heavily contemplating buying the rest of the series . . . especially since I now know it’s been completed and I won’t have to wait for future books to be released.
An incredible, action-packed YA fantasy, I give Shadowguard 4.5 stars out of 5.
For more reviews of books and movies like this, please visit www.benjamin-m-weilert.com
August 17, 2022
The general idea of this book is really interesting, but the way it was presented was not especially Klepper. All the characters are one dimensional, with only a single defining character trait and no side hobbies or personality quirks. Everybody said pretty much exactly what they meant. And while I was excited about the magic system, which gets positive comments from other reviewer‘s, the other skirts around actually happened to explain any of it by making it instinctive for the main character. So no magic education or clever skills are actually developed. There’s a lot of potential here but didn’t fully come together for me.
October 10, 2017
Amazing
I really enjoyed this book. An author I follow on FB recommend it and said it was a great read specially for a young audience. I have kids and have been stockpiling different books for them to read once they get older. Even though it's for a pre-teen/teenage age group I found it enjoyable and fun. I will definitely be reading the others in the series and possibly to my kiddos.
I really enjoyed this book. An author I follow on FB recommend it and said it was a great read specially for a young audience. I have kids and have been stockpiling different books for them to read once they get older. Even though it's for a pre-teen/teenage age group I found it enjoyable and fun. I will definitely be reading the others in the series and possibly to my kiddos.
February 15, 2017
Tough one. 3.5
Reader thoughts: School where they teach magic? Yes! MC who's naturally gifted and draws the attention of professors? Yes! MC who finds everything easy because he's actually immortal? Not as much.
Still, it was a fun book. I liked the idea of magical winged creatures who fight for justice, but I'm bothered by their similarity to angels. Just leave angels and demons out of the story, IMHO. They're real and don't belong in fantasy books.
Jez had the opportunity to gain enough power to defeat the bad guy easily, but he refused because it was too much of a sacrifice (affecting only him). This made him seem selfish and short-sighted.
Things happened in a rush (not that there weren't enough details, but like there weren't enough try-fail cycles). Jez and the O guy meet, and BAM they're best friends the next day. Jez's patron goes from attacking him to adopting him to arresting him in the space of a few hours.
So, why 4 stars? Because of the pace and danger and balance of elements (fight, learn, sneak, backstory, etc.).
Still, I doubt I'll read the next one. There wasn't a lot of depth to Jez the human, and he acted like a jerk to people just because they were rich (mostly). There is NEVER a reason to act like a jerk; I don't care if they were rude to you or your friends first, and Jez's actions were not justified.
Writer thoughts: The cover is amazing. I had hoped, though, that It's a good story idea, but the cover takes that potential to the next level. Now, how do I do that?
Timing was odd. I felt like the book had several starting places. It started on Jez's last day with his patron before going to school, but it could have started six months earlier when he got the patron. Or it could have started a couple weeks later when he reaches the school. Or it could have started a couple months later when he finds out his dad is dying (well, maybe). There was a lack of overlap of conflicts to the first third of the book. I didn't get a sense of building tension in the downtime (needed more rumors of the sleeping sickness, perhaps? Or hints that it was demonic?). It just seemed like a regular, talented-boy-goes-to-school-and-makes-enemies-of-rich-students.
Reader thoughts: School where they teach magic? Yes! MC who's naturally gifted and draws the attention of professors? Yes! MC who finds everything easy because he's actually immortal? Not as much.
Still, it was a fun book. I liked the idea of magical winged creatures who fight for justice, but I'm bothered by their similarity to angels. Just leave angels and demons out of the story, IMHO. They're real and don't belong in fantasy books.
Jez had the opportunity to gain enough power to defeat the bad guy easily, but he refused because it was too much of a sacrifice (affecting only him). This made him seem selfish and short-sighted.
Things happened in a rush (not that there weren't enough details, but like there weren't enough try-fail cycles). Jez and the O guy meet, and BAM they're best friends the next day. Jez's patron goes from attacking him to adopting him to arresting him in the space of a few hours.
So, why 4 stars? Because of the pace and danger and balance of elements (fight, learn, sneak, backstory, etc.).
Still, I doubt I'll read the next one. There wasn't a lot of depth to Jez the human, and he acted like a jerk to people just because they were rich (mostly). There is NEVER a reason to act like a jerk; I don't care if they were rude to you or your friends first, and Jez's actions were not justified.
Writer thoughts: The cover is amazing. I had hoped, though, that It's a good story idea, but the cover takes that potential to the next level. Now, how do I do that?
Timing was odd. I felt like the book had several starting places. It started on Jez's last day with his patron before going to school, but it could have started six months earlier when he got the patron. Or it could have started a couple weeks later when he reaches the school. Or it could have started a couple months later when he finds out his dad is dying (well, maybe). There was a lack of overlap of conflicts to the first third of the book. I didn't get a sense of building tension in the downtime (needed more rumors of the sleeping sickness, perhaps? Or hints that it was demonic?). It just seemed like a regular, talented-boy-goes-to-school-and-makes-enemies-of-rich-students.
December 8, 2015
My 10 year old son doesn't like to read books without pictures. He does, however, enjoy being read to. Always looking for new alternatives to Harry Potter, I picked this up on a recommendation from a friend. It's an adventure story about a boy with a powerful secret he's not even aware of and machinations he doesn't understand until it's nearly too late.
The basic idea is interesting and compelling, which I won't explain because spoilers. Jez as a character is genuine, and he struggles with being a part of two worlds at once in many ways, that of rich and poor, powerful and not, child and adult, savant and idiot. His station allows him to mix with the upper crust and he predictably befriends an outcast boy from the lower class instead of his arrogant peers. This friend, Osmund, helps Jez understand his own peculiarities and uncover truths bout the world and the mystery they face.
As a coming of age tale, the path presented to maturity is a harsh one. Jez is forced to leave his father behind, to do study what his patron demands, and to face life-or-death challenges. It has action wedged in around the instructional sequences, and I liked the adult characters of Besis and Balud as dispensers of information, bad news, and guidance.
Where this book falters is in its editing. There are too many typos for me to feel comfortable ignoring them, and several of the action sequences left me confused about what just happened.
Overall, both my son and I enjoyed this book. It gets the 10 year old boy stamp of approval. I recommend this for anyone who likes the first and second Harry Potter books. It has similar charming qualities without the teen-centered issues of the later series.
The basic idea is interesting and compelling, which I won't explain because spoilers. Jez as a character is genuine, and he struggles with being a part of two worlds at once in many ways, that of rich and poor, powerful and not, child and adult, savant and idiot. His station allows him to mix with the upper crust and he predictably befriends an outcast boy from the lower class instead of his arrogant peers. This friend, Osmund, helps Jez understand his own peculiarities and uncover truths bout the world and the mystery they face.
As a coming of age tale, the path presented to maturity is a harsh one. Jez is forced to leave his father behind, to do study what his patron demands, and to face life-or-death challenges. It has action wedged in around the instructional sequences, and I liked the adult characters of Besis and Balud as dispensers of information, bad news, and guidance.
Where this book falters is in its editing. There are too many typos for me to feel comfortable ignoring them, and several of the action sequences left me confused about what just happened.
Overall, both my son and I enjoyed this book. It gets the 10 year old boy stamp of approval. I recommend this for anyone who likes the first and second Harry Potter books. It has similar charming qualities without the teen-centered issues of the later series.
April 4, 2016
Heard about this book on a podcast, the author was a guest. I liked his "elevator pitch" enough to pull the trigger and wasn't disappointed. Typos abound in the kindle version, however they were not TOO distracting... And I liked how even though there is a continuing story here (3 books?) this one wrapped up the primary plot of this book, just leaving the characters to have a new adventure in the next.
September 18, 2016
The author and I spent a week together at the Writing Excuses retreat in 2014. But he didn't ask me to read the book or for a review.
This was a fun, easy read. The main character Jez is relatable and interesting. The world, while a little cliche, spins enough difference to make it its own. I plan on recommending this to my 10-year-old daughter and reading the rest of the series.
This was a fun, easy read. The main character Jez is relatable and interesting. The world, while a little cliche, spins enough difference to make it its own. I plan on recommending this to my 10-year-old daughter and reading the rest of the series.
November 9, 2015
Well written, good story, a little predictable."
Enjoyed it, a little formulaic, but well done.
I will like purchase a second book if it is done soon.
Enjoyed it, a little formulaic, but well done.
I will like purchase a second book if it is done soon.
May 1, 2017
This was a cool first novel, taking some known themes (wizard school, epic fantasy realm) and mixing in angelic beings and demons. The main character's journey was not the standard one, so I was pleasantly surprised by the turn of events. Looking forward to the other books!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews