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The Saga of Recluce #19
The Mongrel Mage
The Saga of Recluce chronicles the history of this world with world-building detail and an ingenious and disciplined magic system. L. E. Modesitt, Jr., returns to his longest and bestselling fantasy series with volume nineteen, The Mongrel Mage, which marks the beginning of a new story arc. In the world of Recluce, powerful mages can wield two kinds of magic--the white of Chaos or the black of Order. Beltur, however, has talents no one dreamed of, talents not seen in hundreds of years that blend both magics. On the run from a power-hungry white mage, Beltur is taken in by Order mages who set him on the path to discover and hone his own unique gifts and in the process find a home. However, when the white mage he fled attempts to invade his new home, Beltur must hope his newfound power will be enough to save them all.
560 pages, Hardcover
First published October 31, 2017
409 people are currently reading
1064 people want to read
About the author
L.E. Modesitt Jr.
191 books2,591 followersL. E. (Leland Exton) Modesitt, Jr. is an author of science fiction and fantasy novels. He is best known for the fantasy series The Saga of Recluce. He graduated from Williams College in Massachusetts, lived in Washington, D.C. for 20 years, then moved to New Hampshire in 1989 where he met his wife. They relocated to Cedar City, Utah in 1993.
He has worked as a Navy pilot, lifeguard, delivery boy, unpaid radio disc jockey, real estate agent, market research analyst, director of research for a political campaign, legislative assistant for a Congressman, Director of Legislation and Congressional Relations for the United States Environmental Protection Agency, a consultant on environmental, regulatory, and communications issues, and a college lecturer and writer in residence.
In addition to his novels, Mr. Modesitt has published technical studies and articles, columns, poetry, and a number of science fiction stories. His first short story, "The Great American Economy", was published in 1973 in Analog Science Fiction and Science Fact.
-Wikipedia
He has worked as a Navy pilot, lifeguard, delivery boy, unpaid radio disc jockey, real estate agent, market research analyst, director of research for a political campaign, legislative assistant for a Congressman, Director of Legislation and Congressional Relations for the United States Environmental Protection Agency, a consultant on environmental, regulatory, and communications issues, and a college lecturer and writer in residence.
In addition to his novels, Mr. Modesitt has published technical studies and articles, columns, poetry, and a number of science fiction stories. His first short story, "The Great American Economy", was published in 1973 in Analog Science Fiction and Science Fact.
-Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
October 12, 2021
Beltur is quite a lot like all the other MCs in the series. Stolid, balanced, hard-working, kind, and heroic. He might just be cut out of the same old cloth as all the other MCs in the rest of the books, with the exception of time and place.
This MIGHT be a problem for anyone who is wanting a different kind of book from L.E. Modesitt Jr., but frankly, it's L.E. Modesitt Jr.'s style and handling of these precise characters that is so GOOD. Why would I say this? Because most heroes in fiction are not all that balanced or even likable. They're correcting for something that is overwhelmingly evil rather than just being a steady force for change, reacting where one needs to react from a sense of rightness.
These books DO. So while a lot of this series seems to be a lot of the same thing, repeating themes and characters, it's still CATHARTIC and different from the rest of the fantasy genre. It began uniquely, it played to its strengths and kept to its strengths. I have no complaints because I still enjoy it.
For those of you who have joined me on this little trip through the series, you understand. We're not reading it for originality anymore. We're reading it for stability.
This MIGHT be a problem for anyone who is wanting a different kind of book from L.E. Modesitt Jr., but frankly, it's L.E. Modesitt Jr.'s style and handling of these precise characters that is so GOOD. Why would I say this? Because most heroes in fiction are not all that balanced or even likable. They're correcting for something that is overwhelmingly evil rather than just being a steady force for change, reacting where one needs to react from a sense of rightness.
These books DO. So while a lot of this series seems to be a lot of the same thing, repeating themes and characters, it's still CATHARTIC and different from the rest of the fantasy genre. It began uniquely, it played to its strengths and kept to its strengths. I have no complaints because I still enjoy it.
For those of you who have joined me on this little trip through the series, you understand. We're not reading it for originality anymore. We're reading it for stability.
November 3, 2017
first part of a new arch set in Candar sometime after the last arc (Heirs of Cyador/Lerial which took place a generation after the fall of Cyador so in the early-to-mid 400's in the chronology) though so far unclear quite when as there are some references to Cigoerne as an independent state in Hamor and the previous books seem to imply that Cigoerne unified Hamor fairly soon after Lerial's time, while on the other hand personages from the time of the fall of Cyador (~400) are legendary now so a couple centuries at least have passed since then (the arc is said to be set around the late 600's in the online chronology but I have not seen anything so far to validate that for sure) - also weirdly the novel has a detailed map of Hamor and the usual one of the world but no Candar map despite that the action takes place only there (in Gallos and Spidlaria - and in particular in the capital of Gallos, Fenrad, in the southwestern outland regions of Gallos, Analeria, and in the major river port city of Spidalria, Elparta, which is closest city of Spidlaria to the Gallosian border) and locations have some importance with logistics, travel time etc - had to keep the online map of Candar handy when reading this
a slow start that took me quite a while to get into the novel, but then things start getting interesting - although much of the book is about the day to day life of Beltur, our "mongrel mage" hero, rather than action, so not unlike the first books in Rahl or Lerial's 2 book story arcs (these are among my big time Recluce favorites) and as there, the action gets fats and furious in the last 150 pages or so
enjoyed it a lot and looking forward to the second part in 2018
a slow start that took me quite a while to get into the novel, but then things start getting interesting - although much of the book is about the day to day life of Beltur, our "mongrel mage" hero, rather than action, so not unlike the first books in Rahl or Lerial's 2 book story arcs (these are among my big time Recluce favorites) and as there, the action gets fats and furious in the last 150 pages or so
enjoyed it a lot and looking forward to the second part in 2018
October 29, 2017
Recluce! Order and chaos! Addictive!
I continue to find Modesitt's thesis on chaos and order absolutely fascinating. I have been a devotee of all of the Recluce series right from the very first release and I have never grown tired of them. Indeed I enjoy every fiction novel Modesitt has written. Truly talented, I am continually enthralled by, and addicted to, his work.
As a supposedly White Mage and practitioner of the chaotic arts, and apprentice to his uncle, the White Mage Kaerylt, Beltur struggles to be a good enough magician. It seems he looks at things slightly differently from others. There is an order to his use of chaos, which is contrary to what is the norm. That use of order is hinted to him by the red-haired healer Margrena, a young healer he finds himself attracted to.
When Kaerylt and Beltur are called to report before Denardre, Prefect of Gallos, they are attacked As they leave the Prefect's presence by the Prefect's Arms Mage, Wyath. Beltur is forced to flee Gallos. He seeks shelter in the City of Elparta, Spidlar, a place where Black Mages, those committed to the practice of Order, reside. Here Beltur is able to extend his perspectives and understandings. He has the ability to detect chaos and order and use both, and with a master smith pursues the long lost art of casting cupridium.
As Beltur's education continues he struggles with what sort of Mage he is.
I know looking for chaos in sheep, and rotten parts of piers might seem mundane but as the process of Belthurs learning continues so does our understanding of chaos and order, the cornerstones of the Recluse novels.
A trade war is forced upon Spidlar, by the arrogant, despotic Prefect of Gallos. Beltur becomes part of the armed forces where he is forced under fire to develop his powers in new ways. It seems Beltur has enemies amongst the Black Mages, who see his powers as impure, 'mongrel' in heritage.
Whilst initially not as stunning as some in the series, Mongrel Mage is a solid contribution to furthering our understanding of this amazing world that Modesitt continues to grow. It earns its five stars status because of its intricate exploration of chaos and order alongside an equalling compelling human interest story of self-realization, struggle, intrigue and love.
I am so looking forward to more in this splinter series, with Beltur taking center place.
A NetGalley ARC
I continue to find Modesitt's thesis on chaos and order absolutely fascinating. I have been a devotee of all of the Recluce series right from the very first release and I have never grown tired of them. Indeed I enjoy every fiction novel Modesitt has written. Truly talented, I am continually enthralled by, and addicted to, his work.
As a supposedly White Mage and practitioner of the chaotic arts, and apprentice to his uncle, the White Mage Kaerylt, Beltur struggles to be a good enough magician. It seems he looks at things slightly differently from others. There is an order to his use of chaos, which is contrary to what is the norm. That use of order is hinted to him by the red-haired healer Margrena, a young healer he finds himself attracted to.
When Kaerylt and Beltur are called to report before Denardre, Prefect of Gallos, they are attacked As they leave the Prefect's presence by the Prefect's Arms Mage, Wyath. Beltur is forced to flee Gallos. He seeks shelter in the City of Elparta, Spidlar, a place where Black Mages, those committed to the practice of Order, reside. Here Beltur is able to extend his perspectives and understandings. He has the ability to detect chaos and order and use both, and with a master smith pursues the long lost art of casting cupridium.
As Beltur's education continues he struggles with what sort of Mage he is.
I know looking for chaos in sheep, and rotten parts of piers might seem mundane but as the process of Belthurs learning continues so does our understanding of chaos and order, the cornerstones of the Recluse novels.
A trade war is forced upon Spidlar, by the arrogant, despotic Prefect of Gallos. Beltur becomes part of the armed forces where he is forced under fire to develop his powers in new ways. It seems Beltur has enemies amongst the Black Mages, who see his powers as impure, 'mongrel' in heritage.
Whilst initially not as stunning as some in the series, Mongrel Mage is a solid contribution to furthering our understanding of this amazing world that Modesitt continues to grow. It earns its five stars status because of its intricate exploration of chaos and order alongside an equalling compelling human interest story of self-realization, struggle, intrigue and love.
I am so looking forward to more in this splinter series, with Beltur taking center place.
A NetGalley ARC
November 22, 2017
Another good addition to the series, but very similar to others so it didn't really add much. I liked it & probably would have liked it more if I hadn't just finished reading the rest of the series again recently. This is the typical young mage learning his powers & life in a new arc. Likely there will be a follow up as more than a few conflict threads are hanging, although it wraps up well overall. If he does write another, I'll read it eagerly, but ending here wouldn't be the end of the world. Sometimes things just don't get resolved, but there's obviously scheming & corruption going on behind the scenes in this one that could lead to another book.
The main point of this one seemed to be showing how a derogatory label such as mongrel is just what you make of it. The detractors' arguments were too weak, unfortunately. This is the first time I recall a gay couple featuring prominently. It's well done. I detest obligatory nods to current social trends that are obviously tacked in, so was pleased that this flowed naturally.
The world building was good, as usual. I like the way he handles horses & smithing. The bits of other craft & tech in the world are well done, too. The scene with the flour mill was excellent. He pays attention to oft overlooked necessities.
This takes place on Candar, although weirdly there isn't a good map of Candar in the front of the book, just one of the entire world & one of Hamor. It helps to download & print out the Candar map. There are good ones HERE for all his books.
For the chronology of this series, see my first review here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The main point of this one seemed to be showing how a derogatory label such as mongrel is just what you make of it. The detractors' arguments were too weak, unfortunately. This is the first time I recall a gay couple featuring prominently. It's well done. I detest obligatory nods to current social trends that are obviously tacked in, so was pleased that this flowed naturally.
The world building was good, as usual. I like the way he handles horses & smithing. The bits of other craft & tech in the world are well done, too. The scene with the flour mill was excellent. He pays attention to oft overlooked necessities.
This takes place on Candar, although weirdly there isn't a good map of Candar in the front of the book, just one of the entire world & one of Hamor. It helps to download & print out the Candar map. There are good ones HERE for all his books.
For the chronology of this series, see my first review here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
July 2, 2021
Always good to return to this world and it had been some time since I had visited. I don't know what exactly it is about these books but I love them.
This one had a few strange continuity errors but aside from that was a good edition to the world. We follow a mage who believes he is white but is really black, or more likely grey. There are the good people who take him in, the learning how to be a black mage in a foreign country where he knows almost nobody and the war and military pieces that follow. I enjoyed getting to see Elparta and all the little ways black magery can be used to help others, reduce damage to machinery and save lives.
While not the strongest in the series, still very enjoyable although it definitely needs the follow up book as there were a few too many things left unanswered.
This one had a few strange continuity errors but aside from that was a good edition to the world. We follow a mage who believes he is white but is really black, or more likely grey. There are the good people who take him in, the learning how to be a black mage in a foreign country where he knows almost nobody and the war and military pieces that follow. I enjoyed getting to see Elparta and all the little ways black magery can be used to help others, reduce damage to machinery and save lives.
While not the strongest in the series, still very enjoyable although it definitely needs the follow up book as there were a few too many things left unanswered.
December 19, 2017
I read these books every time they come out, but recently I feel as if the best days are behind us in this series. The plots and characters are recycled constantly. You have a magic-user who serves in the military, discovers new ways to use his powers, and miraculously saves the day at the last moment. He's supported by a wise woman. There are bad people who are merely props to make the hero look more virtuous.
The references to past books sail over my head, as I can't remember something I read years and hundreds of books ago.
This one had some errors at the beginning. I read a few lines of dialog several times and they still didn't make sense, because of missing, extra, or incorrect words or punctuation.
On page 344 in the hardcover edition Jorhan is referenced, but he's the wrong character.
I did a lot of skimming and was relieved when I got to the end.
The references to past books sail over my head, as I can't remember something I read years and hundreds of books ago.
This one had some errors at the beginning. I read a few lines of dialog several times and they still didn't make sense, because of missing, extra, or incorrect words or punctuation.
On page 344 in the hardcover edition Jorhan is referenced, but he's the wrong character.
I did a lot of skimming and was relieved when I got to the end.
Read
December 8, 2020“Trying to be something you’re not always makes one weaker.”
The latest installment of Modisett’s long-running Recluse series. Where other multi-part series tend to go sideways, with little character or plot motion, Modisett pushes forward in time and cast. Lots of pithy aphorisms. Too easy plot resolution, but that’s the bane of these never-ending tales.
“Beltur carefully replaced the letter in the envelope and slipped it inside his tunic.”
A quasi-medieval culture would not waste paper on envelopes. Lower rating because recurring illogic knocks the reader out of the story to mull what Modisett means. A good story, but ….
“He glanced around the small room, no more than four yards across and perhaps slightly more than three deep.” Small?
Quibbles: Despite (or maybe because of) the depth of world building, Modisett avoids common American units of measure, like miles and feet. But the result is ambiguity. He measures moderate lengths in yards, which can’t be nearly as long as ours. Why? And his “k” distance measure, while apparently a kilometer, could be a thousand anything. His horses get tired, but never wear out or throw a horse shoe despite traveling on cobblestones when softer surfaces are available.
“Unhappily, the knowledge to see things in advance comes with experience, and experience is a costly tutor.”
The latest installment of Modisett’s long-running Recluse series. Where other multi-part series tend to go sideways, with little character or plot motion, Modisett pushes forward in time and cast. Lots of pithy aphorisms. Too easy plot resolution, but that’s the bane of these never-ending tales.
“Beltur carefully replaced the letter in the envelope and slipped it inside his tunic.”
A quasi-medieval culture would not waste paper on envelopes. Lower rating because recurring illogic knocks the reader out of the story to mull what Modisett means. A good story, but ….
“He glanced around the small room, no more than four yards across and perhaps slightly more than three deep.” Small?
Quibbles: Despite (or maybe because of) the depth of world building, Modisett avoids common American units of measure, like miles and feet. But the result is ambiguity. He measures moderate lengths in yards, which can’t be nearly as long as ours. Why? And his “k” distance measure, while apparently a kilometer, could be a thousand anything. His horses get tired, but never wear out or throw a horse shoe despite traveling on cobblestones when softer surfaces are available.
“Unhappily, the knowledge to see things in advance comes with experience, and experience is a costly tutor.”
February 20, 2025
The weakest of the Recluse books l've read to this point, but still enjoyable. Quite a dull section in the middle of the book.
Beltur is an orphan, being raised by his uncle, who is a white mage. Beltur has good ability for sensing magic but is a disappointment to his uncle in the use of chaos.
This story follows him through a personal tragedy and changes in his circumstances which has him learning and applying order.
Beltur is an orphan, being raised by his uncle, who is a white mage. Beltur has good ability for sensing magic but is a disappointment to his uncle in the use of chaos.
This story follows him through a personal tragedy and changes in his circumstances which has him learning and applying order.
August 28, 2017
Modesitt fans are getting spoiled in 2017 with two different Recluce books! I wasn't even aware that the 19th installment in the saga was on its way. So with Recluce Tales published earlier this year and The Mongrel Mage being released this fall, this is an unexpected surprise.
Even better, this is the beginning of a brand new story arc. If the past is any indication, this one will likely be another two-volume sequence. Time will tell, but I have a feeling that fans of the author will be happy no matter how many novels comprise Beltur's tale.
Here's the blurb:
The Saga of Recluce chronicles the history of this world with world-building detail and an ingenious and disciplined magic system. L. E. Modesitt, Jr. returns to his longest and bestselling fantasy series with volume nineteen, The Mongrel Mage, which marks the beginning of a new story arc.
In the world of Recluce, powerful mages can wield two kinds of magic—the white of Chaos or the black of Order. Beltur, however, has talents no one dreamed of, talents not seen in hundreds of years that blend both magics.
On the run from a power hungry white mage, Beltur is taken in by Order mages who set him on the path to discover and hone his own unique gifts and in the process find a home.
However, when the white mage he fled attempts to invade his new home, Beltur must hope his new found power will be enough to save them all.
Personally, I feel that the worldbuilding is always one of the most fascinating facets of these new Recluce books. Indeed, it allows readers to discover how people and events shaped history during their lifetime. In the last few novels, Modesitt first showed how Saryn's involvement in protecting the regency culminated in drastic changes throughout Lornth, shaping that country into what it would become in later years. Saryn's coming down from Tower Black and the Roof of the World echoed down the centuries the same way the deeds of an inexperienced Lerial, a young man forced to grow up before his time, would change Hamor forever with his attempts to save Cigoerne from its many enemies. It's too early to tell how Beltur's story will fit in the greater scheme of things, yet I'm looking forward to discovering how he'll leave his own indelible mark upon the Recluce timeline.
As is usually his wont, Modesitt continues to explore the relationship between Order and Chaos, one of the trademarks of this series. In Cyador's Heirs and Heritage of Cyador, being able to manipulate both Order and Chaos forced Lerial to test the limits of what he could do, often with unanticipated results. The same goes for Beltur. Although trained as a White Mage, he soon finds out that he's more Black than he ever thought possible. This strange dichotomy doesn't sit well with some of his newfound allies, who sometimes refer to him as a mongrel mage.
The characterization would probably have benefited from more POV characters. In the last Recluce story arc, Lerial, a teenager with an inquisitive mind, was a sympathetic protagonist which was easy to root for. Although his heart is always in the right place, Beltur can be dense at times and he's not as endearing as Lerial turned out to be. Still, rediscovering how to forge cupridium and his experiments to use Order to help defeat the Gallosian forces bent on conquering his new home make Beltur an interesting young man to follow. The supporting cast is particularly engaging, chief among them the gay couple comprised of the Black Mages Athaal and Meldryn, the Healers Margrena and her daughter Jessyla, as well as Captain Laugreth and Squad Leader Gaermyn.
Not surprisingly, the pace was an issue at times. Modesitt's novels are never fast-paced affairs and The Mongrel Mage is no exception to that rule. As was the case in every Recluce installment, the author needs time to establish the various plotlines. Once done, you then follow the main character as he or she must learn, experiment, and puzzle out ways to escape a number of predicaments before the endgame can take place. In that respect, The Mongrel Mage follows the classic Recluce recipe and long-time fans end up with another compelling read. And yet, even though it's the first chapter in a much bigger tale, it felt as though this novel was not as self-contained at other similar Recluce offerings. There is a lot more to Beltur's story, that goes without saying. But I feel that this one didn't stand as well on its own and wasn't as satisfying as other first installments in previous Recluce story arcs.
When all is said and done, The Mongrel Mage turned out to be another solid effort by L. E. Modesitt, jr. Smart, thoughtful, and entertaining without any of the bells and whistles so prevalent in epic fantasy these days, this is adult fantasy by an author who remains in perfect control of his craft and his universe. Looking forward to what comes next!
For more reviews, check out www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com
Even better, this is the beginning of a brand new story arc. If the past is any indication, this one will likely be another two-volume sequence. Time will tell, but I have a feeling that fans of the author will be happy no matter how many novels comprise Beltur's tale.
Here's the blurb:
The Saga of Recluce chronicles the history of this world with world-building detail and an ingenious and disciplined magic system. L. E. Modesitt, Jr. returns to his longest and bestselling fantasy series with volume nineteen, The Mongrel Mage, which marks the beginning of a new story arc.
In the world of Recluce, powerful mages can wield two kinds of magic—the white of Chaos or the black of Order. Beltur, however, has talents no one dreamed of, talents not seen in hundreds of years that blend both magics.
On the run from a power hungry white mage, Beltur is taken in by Order mages who set him on the path to discover and hone his own unique gifts and in the process find a home.
However, when the white mage he fled attempts to invade his new home, Beltur must hope his new found power will be enough to save them all.
Personally, I feel that the worldbuilding is always one of the most fascinating facets of these new Recluce books. Indeed, it allows readers to discover how people and events shaped history during their lifetime. In the last few novels, Modesitt first showed how Saryn's involvement in protecting the regency culminated in drastic changes throughout Lornth, shaping that country into what it would become in later years. Saryn's coming down from Tower Black and the Roof of the World echoed down the centuries the same way the deeds of an inexperienced Lerial, a young man forced to grow up before his time, would change Hamor forever with his attempts to save Cigoerne from its many enemies. It's too early to tell how Beltur's story will fit in the greater scheme of things, yet I'm looking forward to discovering how he'll leave his own indelible mark upon the Recluce timeline.
As is usually his wont, Modesitt continues to explore the relationship between Order and Chaos, one of the trademarks of this series. In Cyador's Heirs and Heritage of Cyador, being able to manipulate both Order and Chaos forced Lerial to test the limits of what he could do, often with unanticipated results. The same goes for Beltur. Although trained as a White Mage, he soon finds out that he's more Black than he ever thought possible. This strange dichotomy doesn't sit well with some of his newfound allies, who sometimes refer to him as a mongrel mage.
The characterization would probably have benefited from more POV characters. In the last Recluce story arc, Lerial, a teenager with an inquisitive mind, was a sympathetic protagonist which was easy to root for. Although his heart is always in the right place, Beltur can be dense at times and he's not as endearing as Lerial turned out to be. Still, rediscovering how to forge cupridium and his experiments to use Order to help defeat the Gallosian forces bent on conquering his new home make Beltur an interesting young man to follow. The supporting cast is particularly engaging, chief among them the gay couple comprised of the Black Mages Athaal and Meldryn, the Healers Margrena and her daughter Jessyla, as well as Captain Laugreth and Squad Leader Gaermyn.
Not surprisingly, the pace was an issue at times. Modesitt's novels are never fast-paced affairs and The Mongrel Mage is no exception to that rule. As was the case in every Recluce installment, the author needs time to establish the various plotlines. Once done, you then follow the main character as he or she must learn, experiment, and puzzle out ways to escape a number of predicaments before the endgame can take place. In that respect, The Mongrel Mage follows the classic Recluce recipe and long-time fans end up with another compelling read. And yet, even though it's the first chapter in a much bigger tale, it felt as though this novel was not as self-contained at other similar Recluce offerings. There is a lot more to Beltur's story, that goes without saying. But I feel that this one didn't stand as well on its own and wasn't as satisfying as other first installments in previous Recluce story arcs.
When all is said and done, The Mongrel Mage turned out to be another solid effort by L. E. Modesitt, jr. Smart, thoughtful, and entertaining without any of the bells and whistles so prevalent in epic fantasy these days, this is adult fantasy by an author who remains in perfect control of his craft and his universe. Looking forward to what comes next!
For more reviews, check out www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com
October 10, 2017
https://koeur.wordpress.com/2017/10/1...
Publisher: Tor
Publishing Date: October 2017
ISBN:9780765394682
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 4.4/5
Publishers Description: In the world of Recluce, powerful mages can wield two kinds of magic—the white of Chaos or the black of Order. Beltur, however, has talents no one dreamed of, talents not seen in hundreds of years that blend both magics.
Review: A wonderfully written tale about a young mage finding his true place in the world of magic. Although Beltur is a little dense at times, he manages to escape death at the hands of the ruling Prefect and finds a corner of the kingdom to hide while discovering a different form of magic.
Wow, this was really good world building and character development. So much so, that you feel a part of the story line and manage to care what happens. I looked forward to the nightly immersion while reading about the travails and successes of Beltur.
The only minor drawbacks in characterization were the lack of character flaws in Beltur and Jessayla. Jessayla is all vim and vinegar while being hotter than a half-fugged fox in a February forest fire. She gives so much of herself that she almost dies while healing all the sick and injured. There is also a weird insertion of gay characters that strangely works in this novel as it isn’t this overt rendering that most authors like to parade around.
Get this and enjoy yourself for awhile.
Publisher: Tor
Publishing Date: October 2017
ISBN:9780765394682
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 4.4/5
Publishers Description: In the world of Recluce, powerful mages can wield two kinds of magic—the white of Chaos or the black of Order. Beltur, however, has talents no one dreamed of, talents not seen in hundreds of years that blend both magics.
Review: A wonderfully written tale about a young mage finding his true place in the world of magic. Although Beltur is a little dense at times, he manages to escape death at the hands of the ruling Prefect and finds a corner of the kingdom to hide while discovering a different form of magic.
Wow, this was really good world building and character development. So much so, that you feel a part of the story line and manage to care what happens. I looked forward to the nightly immersion while reading about the travails and successes of Beltur.
The only minor drawbacks in characterization were the lack of character flaws in Beltur and Jessayla. Jessayla is all vim and vinegar while being hotter than a half-fugged fox in a February forest fire. She gives so much of herself that she almost dies while healing all the sick and injured. There is also a weird insertion of gay characters that strangely works in this novel as it isn’t this overt rendering that most authors like to parade around.
Get this and enjoy yourself for awhile.
November 6, 2025
UPDATE July 1, 2019:
NOTE: I gave this a go again to re-familiarize in preparation for "Mage-Fire War (Recluce 21)".
Nothing much really has changed from my last reading - except maybe to emphasize more with the major characters, the clearer picture of the final battles and a better appreciation of the beginnings and groundwork for Beltur & Jessyla's relationship.
Still a good addition in the series (not great!) & has a nice protagonist quite different than what I've been used to (take that, Lerris!!).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nov. 10, 2017:
A interesting combo from "The Magic Engineer" & "Towers of Sunset".
Somewhat of a re-tread but then I'm always down with returning to the world of Recluce, in whatever capacity.
Also, for the first time the inclusion of a non-traditional relationship makes its way into the Recluce saga and that's fine - just didn't care how that played out (the usual).
Recommended for hardcore fans only (I am). Eagerly looking forward to its sequel "Outcasts of Order"
NOTE: I gave this a go again to re-familiarize in preparation for "Mage-Fire War (Recluce 21)".
Nothing much really has changed from my last reading - except maybe to emphasize more with the major characters, the clearer picture of the final battles and a better appreciation of the beginnings and groundwork for Beltur & Jessyla's relationship.
Still a good addition in the series (not great!) & has a nice protagonist quite different than what I've been used to (take that, Lerris!!).
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Nov. 10, 2017:
A interesting combo from "The Magic Engineer" & "Towers of Sunset".
Somewhat of a re-tread but then I'm always down with returning to the world of Recluce, in whatever capacity.
Also, for the first time the inclusion of a non-traditional relationship makes its way into the Recluce saga and that's fine - just didn't care how that played out (the usual).
Recommended for hardcore fans only (I am). Eagerly looking forward to its sequel "Outcasts of Order"
February 26, 2018
The first Modesitt book I almost couldn't finish. The first half was slow slow yet moderately interesting as the main character (forgot his name already) discovers how to use magic with no instruction. Halfway through the book when I realize that the entire rest of the book is going to be about a pointless and uninteresting war with a faceless enemy, I almost gave up. The ending was as expected. Predictable and uninspiring.
December 7, 2017
Just a lot of nothing
This is one of the most useless, actionless, uninteresting books I have read in awhile. It's a total rehash of past Modesitt books and I am more than a little upset that I wasted money buying it.
This is one of the most useless, actionless, uninteresting books I have read in awhile. It's a total rehash of past Modesitt books and I am more than a little upset that I wasted money buying it.
March 22, 2024
Why do we still keep reading about Recluse? I might tell you after I finigh the last novel. :p
November 16, 2017
I am a fan of Modesitt. At his best, his writing is amazing - check out The Ghosts of Columbia - but I haven’t read all the Recluce novels and when I was reading them, back in the Dawn of Time, it was way before I was writing reviews. So I was interested to see this one on Netgalley and give it whirl. I’m so glad I did.
Modesitt is a master at crafting a solid world. While there is mayhem and chaos unleashed in abundance, we generally also spend a fair amount of time alongside his protagonist as he goes about his daily life. We learn what he wears, who he chats to and his impressions about them and above all – we learn what he eats. Modesitt always tells you in some detail about what his character is eating. It’s a neat trick. Because you immediately learn how wealthy the food provider is, how effective they are at food preparation and at what level technically and culturally they are operating at.
Though none of this would matter if I didn’t care about Beltur. However, I do. His careful, wary attitude speaks of early loss and pain – and the fact he doesn’t take anything for granted. It doesn’t help that he is something of a failure and despite his uncle’s painstaking training, his mastery of white magic is rather poor, leading his uncle’s official apprentice, Sydon, to look down on him and bully him when his uncle isn’t there.
I thoroughly enjoyed the sortie into the countryside, when we learn a lot about the politics as the Prefect sends out Kaerylt with his two young charges to look into the matter of women fleeing from local towns and villages and making their way to Westwind. If you are looking for foot-to-the-floor constant action, then this isn’t the story for you. But it does mean that when the action suddenly roars in – it matters and is a shock. This pacing is particularly effective if said action comes out of apparently nowhere when treachery is involved – and my jaw dropped at a specific incident and I couldn’t then put the book down to save my life.
All in all, this is Modesitt doing what he does best – painstakingly constructing a world through the eyes of a sympathetic, slightly distanced protagonist and letting him loose in a politically complex world where a huge power struggle is going on. I loved it – it’s a worthy addition to the Saga of Recluce series and a very nifty introductory book for those who haven’t yet had the pleasure. Highly recommended for fans of epic fantasy.
9/10
Modesitt is a master at crafting a solid world. While there is mayhem and chaos unleashed in abundance, we generally also spend a fair amount of time alongside his protagonist as he goes about his daily life. We learn what he wears, who he chats to and his impressions about them and above all – we learn what he eats. Modesitt always tells you in some detail about what his character is eating. It’s a neat trick. Because you immediately learn how wealthy the food provider is, how effective they are at food preparation and at what level technically and culturally they are operating at.
Though none of this would matter if I didn’t care about Beltur. However, I do. His careful, wary attitude speaks of early loss and pain – and the fact he doesn’t take anything for granted. It doesn’t help that he is something of a failure and despite his uncle’s painstaking training, his mastery of white magic is rather poor, leading his uncle’s official apprentice, Sydon, to look down on him and bully him when his uncle isn’t there.
I thoroughly enjoyed the sortie into the countryside, when we learn a lot about the politics as the Prefect sends out Kaerylt with his two young charges to look into the matter of women fleeing from local towns and villages and making their way to Westwind. If you are looking for foot-to-the-floor constant action, then this isn’t the story for you. But it does mean that when the action suddenly roars in – it matters and is a shock. This pacing is particularly effective if said action comes out of apparently nowhere when treachery is involved – and my jaw dropped at a specific incident and I couldn’t then put the book down to save my life.
All in all, this is Modesitt doing what he does best – painstakingly constructing a world through the eyes of a sympathetic, slightly distanced protagonist and letting him loose in a politically complex world where a huge power struggle is going on. I loved it – it’s a worthy addition to the Saga of Recluce series and a very nifty introductory book for those who haven’t yet had the pleasure. Highly recommended for fans of epic fantasy.
9/10
November 1, 2023
Beltur is a bad apprentice to his uncle, a chaos mage. After Beltur is forced to flee their city, he rapidly realizes that he was bad at chaos, very good at order, and even better at occasionally weaving them together. He tries various professions and has just settled on helping a blacksmith when war breaks out and Beltur is forced to serve.
550+ pages pass in which Beltur and whatever random character he's talking to ask each other questions and answer in dry factual monologues. I found this book incredibly dull. Once in a while Beltur is mildly sad, worried, or happy, but the majority of the time he's completely dispassionate. Beltur has a very low key romance with a healer, and by low key I mean despite knowing each other for most of the book neither says a single romantic thing to the other. They just meet occasionally and compliment each other on how useful and selfless they are. I enjoy a slow-burn romance, but there was no burn! No romance! The war itself is mostly Beltur telling his commander how far away the enemy is, asking a question about strategy, and then using his shields and concealment to win the skirmish. At no point was I worried about Beltur and at no point did I care about the city he was protecting or who won the war.
Frankly it felt like someone fed the first 18 books in the Recluse series to an AI and it generated this book.
550+ pages pass in which Beltur and whatever random character he's talking to ask each other questions and answer in dry factual monologues. I found this book incredibly dull. Once in a while Beltur is mildly sad, worried, or happy, but the majority of the time he's completely dispassionate. Beltur has a very low key romance with a healer, and by low key I mean despite knowing each other for most of the book neither says a single romantic thing to the other. They just meet occasionally and compliment each other on how useful and selfless they are. I enjoy a slow-burn romance, but there was no burn! No romance! The war itself is mostly Beltur telling his commander how far away the enemy is, asking a question about strategy, and then using his shields and concealment to win the skirmish. At no point was I worried about Beltur and at no point did I care about the city he was protecting or who won the war.
Frankly it felt like someone fed the first 18 books in the Recluse series to an AI and it generated this book.
January 2, 2019
Another solid installment with a new story/character arc. Once again, primarily geo-political drama told in extreme detail. Parts were hard to get through but the last 100-200 pages were enjoyable. I'll check out the next installment.
May 12, 2020
People are born self-centered, and unless taught otherwise, will always strive for their own personal betterment, regardless of the cost inflicted upon others.
The world doesn’t respond to hope. Sometimes, it even ignores hard work and great effort. Those who are evil are the hardest workers, and everyone wonders why they prosper.
—
This book could have been shorter. However, if you like to immerse yourself in a book for a bit, this Recluce installment provides it.
The world doesn’t respond to hope. Sometimes, it even ignores hard work and great effort. Those who are evil are the hardest workers, and everyone wonders why they prosper.
—
This book could have been shorter. However, if you like to immerse yourself in a book for a bit, this Recluce installment provides it.
November 12, 2019
This is the 19th book in the Recluse Saga so you should know what you are going to get. L.E Modesitt books are unique in the genre, they are a good cup of tea in a world of energy drinks. I love them and have read every single one written but his writing style is not for everyone.
March 5, 2021
Update March 2021:
Beltur is actually pretty interesting for Modesitt as he is not quite as determined at the start as his other protagonists. The only one that comes close is Lerris, but Beltur isn't even disaffected, he's happy out generally in his life and if it wasn't for events forcing him to change he probably wouldn't have done much. I can relate to him pretty well.
Another aspect that struck me was that here I didn't enjoy the campaigns at the start and end as much as I usually do, my favourite parts were the day to day experiences, especially when he's trying to get set up in Elparta in the middle sections. It's also a quadrilogy, a first in the Recluce series.
Original: July 2018
Another good solid entry in the world of Recluce. All the ingredients that usually make up a Modesitt novel are here. A young, determined, self-depreciating, naive protagonist slowly comes into his powers while overcoming hardships, a new life, and enemies trying to make him fail. This novel is rather early in the Recluce timeline, after the fall of Cyador/founding of Westwind but before the founding of Recluce and is set in Candor.
Beltur is our guy here, working for his uncle as a white mage but not having much power and just doing what he's told until realising that he is maybe not that white after all and has an affinity for order. Things fairly quickly (for Modesitt) deteriorate and Beltur has to learn and work and overcome the obstacles in his path.
Like I said there's nothing really new here. The love interest is identified early on, and a long courtship occurs with a lot of politeness and silences of things left unsaid. Beltur does things nobody has done before, or for a very long time but thinks he is useless. A lot of the book is basically slice of life, trying to earn money and survive. This sounds like it is boring. It is not. There is something about Modesitt's book, on paper they sound boring and repetitive, if you've read one you know the general way the story is going to work, but I love reading them. I find them interesting and realistic. Just because you have great power doesn't mean people are going to hand you money. You still need to eat and have somewhere to live and be able to afford clothes. The economic reasons for major political events are explored and every action has consequences, both globally and personally.
This is a start of a new duology (maybe trilogy?) and though it's book 19 in the series you could probably start here without having read any of the earlier books.
Please see this and other reviews at https://barrysbloodybooks.home.blog/
Beltur is actually pretty interesting for Modesitt as he is not quite as determined at the start as his other protagonists. The only one that comes close is Lerris, but Beltur isn't even disaffected, he's happy out generally in his life and if it wasn't for events forcing him to change he probably wouldn't have done much. I can relate to him pretty well.
Another aspect that struck me was that here I didn't enjoy the campaigns at the start and end as much as I usually do, my favourite parts were the day to day experiences, especially when he's trying to get set up in Elparta in the middle sections. It's also a quadrilogy, a first in the Recluce series.
Original: July 2018
Another good solid entry in the world of Recluce. All the ingredients that usually make up a Modesitt novel are here. A young, determined, self-depreciating, naive protagonist slowly comes into his powers while overcoming hardships, a new life, and enemies trying to make him fail. This novel is rather early in the Recluce timeline, after the fall of Cyador/founding of Westwind but before the founding of Recluce and is set in Candor.
Beltur is our guy here, working for his uncle as a white mage but not having much power and just doing what he's told until realising that he is maybe not that white after all and has an affinity for order. Things fairly quickly (for Modesitt) deteriorate and Beltur has to learn and work and overcome the obstacles in his path.
Like I said there's nothing really new here. The love interest is identified early on, and a long courtship occurs with a lot of politeness and silences of things left unsaid. Beltur does things nobody has done before, or for a very long time but thinks he is useless. A lot of the book is basically slice of life, trying to earn money and survive. This sounds like it is boring. It is not. There is something about Modesitt's book, on paper they sound boring and repetitive, if you've read one you know the general way the story is going to work, but I love reading them. I find them interesting and realistic. Just because you have great power doesn't mean people are going to hand you money. You still need to eat and have somewhere to live and be able to afford clothes. The economic reasons for major political events are explored and every action has consequences, both globally and personally.
This is a start of a new duology (maybe trilogy?) and though it's book 19 in the series you could probably start here without having read any of the earlier books.
Please see this and other reviews at https://barrysbloodybooks.home.blog/
May 1, 2019
As it happens, Mongrel Mage was the first book I have read in the Saga of Recluce series. Yes, I know it is Book 19. What happened was that I read all 12 of the Imager Portfolio series books. At the end of the last Imager Portfolio series book the author included the first chapter or so of Mongrel Mage. I read it and liked it. AND I didn't want to have to give up reading this author!
So, it is true that sometimes you CAN jump into an ongoing series without having read the first book first. Mongrel Mage was the 2017 book. It also was the first book featuring the character Beltur. Some mention was made of previous history in this world (which apparently is what the first 18 books covered). But I was able to jump in and not only not be lost but enjoy the book quite a bit.
Beltur is an unusual mage because he is not primarily a chaos (white) mage nor an order (black) mage. (There are gray mages but apparently no one thinks Beltur is a gray.) I was pleased that I was able to get right into the book and that the way chaos & order were described made sense to me. And I am especially pleased that Beltur is in Book 20 Outcasts of Order, which apparently picks up quite shortly after the end of Book 19.
Mongrel Mage is highly recommended for fans who enjoy well-told fantasy tales. Like the Imager Portfolio series, the Saga of Recluce is again the tale of people being people, even though some are mages and can hold shields or throw thunderbolts.
This is not epic fantasy with damsel princesses in distress and princes riding dragons to the rescue (or princesses off to rescue princes, either!). People have to work to support themselves, including assisting the constables by catching thieves/cutpurses (i.e. criminals who would rather steal than work an honest job).
But already I'm finding the Saga of Recluce a very satisfying read!
So, it is true that sometimes you CAN jump into an ongoing series without having read the first book first. Mongrel Mage was the 2017 book. It also was the first book featuring the character Beltur. Some mention was made of previous history in this world (which apparently is what the first 18 books covered). But I was able to jump in and not only not be lost but enjoy the book quite a bit.
Beltur is an unusual mage because he is not primarily a chaos (white) mage nor an order (black) mage. (There are gray mages but apparently no one thinks Beltur is a gray.) I was pleased that I was able to get right into the book and that the way chaos & order were described made sense to me. And I am especially pleased that Beltur is in Book 20 Outcasts of Order, which apparently picks up quite shortly after the end of Book 19.
Mongrel Mage is highly recommended for fans who enjoy well-told fantasy tales. Like the Imager Portfolio series, the Saga of Recluce is again the tale of people being people, even though some are mages and can hold shields or throw thunderbolts.
This is not epic fantasy with damsel princesses in distress and princes riding dragons to the rescue (or princesses off to rescue princes, either!). People have to work to support themselves, including assisting the constables by catching thieves/cutpurses (i.e. criminals who would rather steal than work an honest job).
But already I'm finding the Saga of Recluce a very satisfying read!
August 30, 2019
If you include one collection of short stories, "The Mongrel Mage" is the twentieth book in Modesitt's fantasy series, "The Saga of Recluce," a series that, while not uniformly excellent, has given me a huge amount of pleasure. I recognize the series is far from being to every reader's taste, but I have loved it. While many of the individual books seem to fall into a standard epic-fantasy mold, with heroes learning how to wield magic powers against daunting odds, collectively they are thoughtful and thought-provoking. The detailed worldbuilding explores how different laws and different rulers shape their respective countries over a broad sweep of time, including economics, logistics, politics. Yes, the stories feature soldiers and mages and magical healers, but there are also smiths, bakers, coopers, carpenters, sailors, mill boys, scriveners, and traders.
"The Mongrel's Mage" introduces a new main character, Beltur, whom I found very likable, together with several very likable supporting characters (including the first significant homosexual couple that I recall in the series). I found it a particularly enjoyable entry in a thoroughly enjoyable series. When I was reading it, I wanted nothing more than to keep on reading. And now that I have come to the end, I am very sad that I must wait six months for the next installment in Beltur's tale. Alas, alas, alas.
6/18/2018 update: re-read this in preparation for the imminent release of the sequel, "Outcasts of Order," which I am eagerly awaiting.
8/30/2019 update: re-re-read (and enjoyed!) in preparation for reading "The Mage-Fire War," the third book about Beltur.
"The Mongrel's Mage" introduces a new main character, Beltur, whom I found very likable, together with several very likable supporting characters (including the first significant homosexual couple that I recall in the series). I found it a particularly enjoyable entry in a thoroughly enjoyable series. When I was reading it, I wanted nothing more than to keep on reading. And now that I have come to the end, I am very sad that I must wait six months for the next installment in Beltur's tale. Alas, alas, alas.
6/18/2018 update: re-read this in preparation for the imminent release of the sequel, "Outcasts of Order," which I am eagerly awaiting.
8/30/2019 update: re-re-read (and enjoyed!) in preparation for reading "The Mage-Fire War," the third book about Beltur.
August 26, 2018
A hard working young man who has the ability to sense order discovers he might have a new way of thinking about order and chaos than the others around him. He ends up with amazingly strong shields, is unflinchingly honest, and talks politics and governance with everybody until he ends up in a conflict he didn't choose.
Was that this book I read, or one of the previous dozen Modesitt books?
There were a few changes, including a bit more time spent on structural misogyny in this book than I recall seeing in other books of the series, but overall it's precisely what I expect. I've definitely lost patience with the series; I'm not even sure why I keep picking them up. If I were stuck on a trip with limited options available, the books are reliable, but nowadays I usually skim pretty heavily. If it were the first time I had picked it up, I probably would have enjoyed this book quite a bit.
Was that this book I read, or one of the previous dozen Modesitt books?
There were a few changes, including a bit more time spent on structural misogyny in this book than I recall seeing in other books of the series, but overall it's precisely what I expect. I've definitely lost patience with the series; I'm not even sure why I keep picking them up. If I were stuck on a trip with limited options available, the books are reliable, but nowadays I usually skim pretty heavily. If it were the first time I had picked it up, I probably would have enjoyed this book quite a bit.
June 6, 2024
MAY 2019: It was a great run, and I loved most of the series, but I fear the creative well is running dry in Recluse. Modesitt is and remains a great writer and artist with the written word, but the Mongrel Mage is just a retelling of plot lines and character arcs we've seen in other Recluse stories, and better told:
Young mage; learning/developing abilities; empathetic mentor; drawn into military service; innovative use of Order; wins battles and respect; someone else is out to get him/ruin him/kill him (a plot line in this work that was completely unnecessary, and totally underdeveloped); budding love; blah blah blah.
Disappointing. But with that being said, I remain ever hopeful and will read the next one that comes out. After all, I paid to see all 8 Star Wars movies in the theater, and only IV and V didn't completely suck . . . clearly I don't learn from my mistakes.
JUN 2024: I just re-read this one. My prior review still stands...
Young mage; learning/developing abilities; empathetic mentor; drawn into military service; innovative use of Order; wins battles and respect; someone else is out to get him/ruin him/kill him (a plot line in this work that was completely unnecessary, and totally underdeveloped); budding love; blah blah blah.
Disappointing. But with that being said, I remain ever hopeful and will read the next one that comes out. After all, I paid to see all 8 Star Wars movies in the theater, and only IV and V didn't completely suck . . . clearly I don't learn from my mistakes.
JUN 2024: I just re-read this one. My prior review still stands...
January 9, 2018
He needs new IDEAS!
I will never buy another one of his books! I own the whole Recluse and Imager series and I get suckered every time! It’s the same book over and over again. I swear the Flat Boats on the River during war has happened multiple times throughout the series, it feels like he’s just copying and pasting!
You need new ideas, this is JUST LAZY! I’ve been feeling this way for the past 5 books and I had to speak up! The sameness of the books is out of control and he and TOR should be embarrassed trying to pass this off as a new book in Recluse series!
LAZY,LAZY,LAZY WRITING!
I will never buy another one of his books! I own the whole Recluse and Imager series and I get suckered every time! It’s the same book over and over again. I swear the Flat Boats on the River during war has happened multiple times throughout the series, it feels like he’s just copying and pasting!
You need new ideas, this is JUST LAZY! I’ve been feeling this way for the past 5 books and I had to speak up! The sameness of the books is out of control and he and TOR should be embarrassed trying to pass this off as a new book in Recluse series!
LAZY,LAZY,LAZY WRITING!
March 25, 2018
Please L.E. Modesitt Jr. do not do what Terry Brooks did with Shannarra keep writing titles with no new content. Regurgitating the same story over and over. I hope your editor tells you when it is a good time to walk away from the world.
I was and have been a huge fan of the works, I love the world building, the interesting factoids about different skills like blacksmith, wood working etc.. I have read and re-read many of those titles.
I believe it is time to sadly let recluse fade away to be enjoyed by fans instead of making us read new titles that appear to bring nothing new or unique instead of another variant of the same tale told over.
I know real fans may disagree and want more, I know I do. But in the end I know it will cause me to dislike the series as a whole, like it slowly has gnawed at me with other series (shannarra for instance).
I was and have been a huge fan of the works, I love the world building, the interesting factoids about different skills like blacksmith, wood working etc.. I have read and re-read many of those titles.
I believe it is time to sadly let recluse fade away to be enjoyed by fans instead of making us read new titles that appear to bring nothing new or unique instead of another variant of the same tale told over.
I know real fans may disagree and want more, I know I do. But in the end I know it will cause me to dislike the series as a whole, like it slowly has gnawed at me with other series (shannarra for instance).
February 18, 2021
TLDR; 2.5 stars Overall well written book with interesting premise and setting. Good book and I would recommend to one just starting to read the fantasy genre.
Now I picked this book up December 2018/ January 2019. This is the first book of LE Modest Jr that I have read and by extension the first book of this series I have read. As such I can not comment on how this goes in to the rest of the series. As far as I am aware this book is like the hobbit is to the Lord of the ring. Set in the same world yet sperate stories.
Personal opinion:
My personal opinion on the book is that it has set the new standard for me on what an average fantasy is. There was not a single point of the book I can find a fault with yet at the same time not a single point of the book that stood out (there was one but I will address that later). The book constantly was keeping me on the edge with the feeling of "it will get good soon" for so long that I read to page 689/751 in just a couple of days and I put it down until 2 years later when I finally felt the urge to finish it and get it off of my reading pile. Truly the issue might be that I picked up the 19th book written in this series but I felt as if it was lacking due to me not having knowledge from the previous books.
Story synopsis (mild spoilers!):
The book follows Beltur, a young aspiring White mage, under the care and tutelage of his uncle. Beltur shows minimal talent in using chaos and is often tasked with the more menial tasks. His uncle has separated himself from the other white mages and works for hire while teaching his two apprentices. After his fellow apprentice sells out his uncle, Beltur is forced to flee the city with the help of his love interest, a young healer under the apprenticeship of her mother. With their help he is able to leave with a black mage of Order, who take Beltur in and teaches him how to use Order. Until the very kingdom Beltur fled from wages war with the new kingdom Beltur has settled in.
Story break down:
Character progression - I do not believe any characters were able to progress throughout the entire story. The way how they were first introduced is how they remain till the end. The only time I was surprised by a character was when it was stated that two men were a gay couple. This was a pleasant surprise since I did not catch this right away and the author had not made their whole personality revolve around that single point
Plot - very rarely do I say this but I feel as if the author needed to slow down the progression of his story. Constantly the sub plots were suddenly finished or regulated to only a few pages. Consistently moving on before they were given enough depth to fully immerse myself within the story. This caused me to constantly read not due to interest in what is happening but the potential that it showed. Time after time believing that it is about to get to the main point of the book only to be let down over and over until I finally finished the book. The main cast is given a job that they head out on and we learn of the magic and Beltur learning from his uncle with intrigue of why they were given this job? Into the tight action of his uncle's fight immediately into the suspension of his escape. Then into the slow pace of him feeling lost and being taught order magic. Then into him trying to find a job for himself as a order mage. Eventually getting a job crafting a forgotten metal that only one who can use both order and chaos can craft. Finally into the war that ends all too quickly. Finally by the end of the book battles and sometimes even days were regulated to nearly single sentences or paragraphs.
Romance - almost none existent in the book and almost felt forced with how head over heels both of them became of each other and how quickly it happened.
Magic - although a lot of potential was shown very little of it was touched upon in the book. This might be due to how many books in the series there are but what was shown felt ... underwhelming.
Side cast - honestly I was not invested in any of them (and was not that invested in the main character either). I was not able to feel anything when any of the side characters died. Beltur was shown to have been hit seriously by these events yet I was unable to feel any emotion at their deaths. This is partially due to how abrupt their death scenes were and also partially due to the abruptness of the story itself giving you little to feel attached to. An example of this is when a character was described as a hardened veteran I missed this entirely due to how artificial all of the few pages of dialogue with the character had felt.
Biggest complaints - I was never able to get over the fact that the author flipped what a black mage and white mage should of been. The series originally started back in 1991 just 1 year after the original final fantasy release in the US. So it could of been an by design to not seem like he copied the game but if that is the case why note call them chaos mage or order mage instead of white mage or black mage. It threw me out of the immersion of the story every time it was brought up. Also the author really should just use standard names for things. What I mean by this is the days of the week being refered to as first day, second day, etc. This is true for time and distance as well. Easy enough to convert to it's modern counter part but annoying it enough due to having leave the immersion to make the connect of what he is talking about.
Ending thoughts: If I find the sequel in a library I might give it a read but over all it didn't leave any impact on me enough to want to read the next book.
Now I picked this book up December 2018/ January 2019. This is the first book of LE Modest Jr that I have read and by extension the first book of this series I have read. As such I can not comment on how this goes in to the rest of the series. As far as I am aware this book is like the hobbit is to the Lord of the ring. Set in the same world yet sperate stories.
Personal opinion:
My personal opinion on the book is that it has set the new standard for me on what an average fantasy is. There was not a single point of the book I can find a fault with yet at the same time not a single point of the book that stood out (there was one but I will address that later). The book constantly was keeping me on the edge with the feeling of "it will get good soon" for so long that I read to page 689/751 in just a couple of days and I put it down until 2 years later when I finally felt the urge to finish it and get it off of my reading pile. Truly the issue might be that I picked up the 19th book written in this series but I felt as if it was lacking due to me not having knowledge from the previous books.
Story synopsis (mild spoilers!):
The book follows Beltur, a young aspiring White mage, under the care and tutelage of his uncle. Beltur shows minimal talent in using chaos and is often tasked with the more menial tasks. His uncle has separated himself from the other white mages and works for hire while teaching his two apprentices. After his fellow apprentice sells out his uncle, Beltur is forced to flee the city with the help of his love interest, a young healer under the apprenticeship of her mother. With their help he is able to leave with a black mage of Order, who take Beltur in and teaches him how to use Order. Until the very kingdom Beltur fled from wages war with the new kingdom Beltur has settled in.
Story break down:
Character progression - I do not believe any characters were able to progress throughout the entire story. The way how they were first introduced is how they remain till the end. The only time I was surprised by a character was when it was stated that two men were a gay couple. This was a pleasant surprise since I did not catch this right away and the author had not made their whole personality revolve around that single point
Plot - very rarely do I say this but I feel as if the author needed to slow down the progression of his story. Constantly the sub plots were suddenly finished or regulated to only a few pages. Consistently moving on before they were given enough depth to fully immerse myself within the story. This caused me to constantly read not due to interest in what is happening but the potential that it showed. Time after time believing that it is about to get to the main point of the book only to be let down over and over until I finally finished the book. The main cast is given a job that they head out on and we learn of the magic and Beltur learning from his uncle with intrigue of why they were given this job? Into the tight action of his uncle's fight immediately into the suspension of his escape. Then into the slow pace of him feeling lost and being taught order magic. Then into him trying to find a job for himself as a order mage. Eventually getting a job crafting a forgotten metal that only one who can use both order and chaos can craft. Finally into the war that ends all too quickly. Finally by the end of the book battles and sometimes even days were regulated to nearly single sentences or paragraphs.
Romance - almost none existent in the book and almost felt forced with how head over heels both of them became of each other and how quickly it happened.
Magic - although a lot of potential was shown very little of it was touched upon in the book. This might be due to how many books in the series there are but what was shown felt ... underwhelming.
Side cast - honestly I was not invested in any of them (and was not that invested in the main character either). I was not able to feel anything when any of the side characters died. Beltur was shown to have been hit seriously by these events yet I was unable to feel any emotion at their deaths. This is partially due to how abrupt their death scenes were and also partially due to the abruptness of the story itself giving you little to feel attached to. An example of this is when a character was described as a hardened veteran I missed this entirely due to how artificial all of the few pages of dialogue with the character had felt.
Biggest complaints - I was never able to get over the fact that the author flipped what a black mage and white mage should of been. The series originally started back in 1991 just 1 year after the original final fantasy release in the US. So it could of been an by design to not seem like he copied the game but if that is the case why note call them chaos mage or order mage instead of white mage or black mage. It threw me out of the immersion of the story every time it was brought up. Also the author really should just use standard names for things. What I mean by this is the days of the week being refered to as first day, second day, etc. This is true for time and distance as well. Easy enough to convert to it's modern counter part but annoying it enough due to having leave the immersion to make the connect of what he is talking about.
Ending thoughts: If I find the sequel in a library I might give it a read but over all it didn't leave any impact on me enough to want to read the next book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 8, 2018
The story was lacking in contrast. The ending was entirely disappointing for Recluse book. I liked 90% of the book but the ending was not satisfying at all. Modesitt has done better and this one was phoned in without a conclusion. Meh.
November 2, 2017
*copy from Netgalley in exchange for a review*
Mongrel Mage is the nineteenth in L.E. Modesitt Jr.’s ‘Saga of Recluce’ fantasy series. Yes, nineteenth. I think I picked up the first one in the mid-nineties, and since then, Recluce has always delivered. Modesitt is known for top-notch world building and solid, convincing characterisation wrapped in an interesting and entertaining plot – so I was looking forward to his latest entry in the series.
Recluce has developed a rich world history over the course of preceding books, looking at the rise and fall of kingdoms, empires and nation-states. We’ve seen the declining high technology of Cyador, the brutal mines of Hamor, and the city of chaos, Fairhaven, amongst others. This time we’re looking at a conflict between Spidlar and Gallos. The Spidlarians are mercantile, pragmatic, and if prone to bouts of greed, also somewhat socially progressive. The Prefect of Gallos, by contrast, seems calculatingly brutal – prepared to take control of as much of the continent as he can get away with. The conflict between them evokes some of the later wars of the medieval period – groups of professionals, backed by the general population, crawling through mud and fire in an effort to make their lords holdings a few feet larger.
Of course, in this case, the wars are backed by magic. Recluce has a highly systematised system of magic, or ‘Chaos and Order’. Order mages tend toward healing, invisibility and subtler, defensive arts, whilst Chaos mages lean more toward fireballs. There’s a balance between the forces – the more unused Chaos there is in the world, the more Order is available, and vice versa. Modesitt has put some serious thought into the way that the two types of magic work with each other, and if you’re a fan of logical systems for your magery, this one is for you.
Our protagonist here is Beltur, a young man being brought up as a user of Chaos. Beltur is thoughtful and has a talent for self-reflection, whilst also demonstrating a lack of practical experience. He lives under the shadow of his uncle, a powerful user of Chaos magic, His uncle clearly loves Beltur, but also clearly knows more than he’s saying, and feels convincingly disappointed by Beltur’s weak talents in the area of Chaos magic. The relationship between them is clearly a complex one, with mixed obligations, expectations and emotional freight; the prose works hard to make this initil conflict between Beltur and his uncle have meaning, and largely succeeds – the conflicts in their relationship feel genuine, as well as familiar.
Beltur isn’t defined by that conflict, though it does help shape him. Instead, he’s the portrait of a young man trying to work out who he is, and what he wants to do. Modesitt has always had a gift for putting us inside his character’s heads, and exercises it to the fullest here. Beltur’s inner voice is compassionate, occasionally mystified, and self-aware enough that the reader can go along for the ride, sharing and empathising with his trials and tribulations. Beltur’s journey of the self is convincingly portrayed - and works as a coming of age tale, even without the addition of magic.
Beltur is joined by a very strong supporting cast. It’s difficult to get a handle on the antagonists; as-is, they seem to exist mostly to drive the plot. I would have liked to spend a little more time on their side of the fence, to give them a bit more depth. However, they serve perfectly well as insidious adversaries, and the more positive characters are complex, charming, and entirely believable as individuals. Modesitt has often produced strong characters, and I have to admit he’s done well here. All of Beltur’s acquaintances feel like they have lives of their own, which we happen to be casting an eye over. In some ways, they lack a passionate intensity, but the subtle, quiet moments fof emotional resonance which are scattered throughout the narrative make them compelling characters.
The plot…well, it’s one part coming-of-age, one part war story. There’s some romance, and it’s plausibly portrayed and not overwrought. There’s magical battles, with fireballs, cavalry charges, and cast-iron consequences. There’s also the story of Beltur, trying to work out who he is, and what he wants, in the crucible of war. It’s good stuff. Certain elements may seem familiar to readers of Modesitt’s other work, but the story is compelling enough that it probably won’t matter.
In the end, Mongrel Mage works as a way in to the larger Recluce series, as a stand-alone novel, and as a part of the series as a whole. Its well-crafted plot, convincing characters and imaginative world make it a firm recommendation from me.
Mongrel Mage is the nineteenth in L.E. Modesitt Jr.’s ‘Saga of Recluce’ fantasy series. Yes, nineteenth. I think I picked up the first one in the mid-nineties, and since then, Recluce has always delivered. Modesitt is known for top-notch world building and solid, convincing characterisation wrapped in an interesting and entertaining plot – so I was looking forward to his latest entry in the series.
Recluce has developed a rich world history over the course of preceding books, looking at the rise and fall of kingdoms, empires and nation-states. We’ve seen the declining high technology of Cyador, the brutal mines of Hamor, and the city of chaos, Fairhaven, amongst others. This time we’re looking at a conflict between Spidlar and Gallos. The Spidlarians are mercantile, pragmatic, and if prone to bouts of greed, also somewhat socially progressive. The Prefect of Gallos, by contrast, seems calculatingly brutal – prepared to take control of as much of the continent as he can get away with. The conflict between them evokes some of the later wars of the medieval period – groups of professionals, backed by the general population, crawling through mud and fire in an effort to make their lords holdings a few feet larger.
Of course, in this case, the wars are backed by magic. Recluce has a highly systematised system of magic, or ‘Chaos and Order’. Order mages tend toward healing, invisibility and subtler, defensive arts, whilst Chaos mages lean more toward fireballs. There’s a balance between the forces – the more unused Chaos there is in the world, the more Order is available, and vice versa. Modesitt has put some serious thought into the way that the two types of magic work with each other, and if you’re a fan of logical systems for your magery, this one is for you.
Our protagonist here is Beltur, a young man being brought up as a user of Chaos. Beltur is thoughtful and has a talent for self-reflection, whilst also demonstrating a lack of practical experience. He lives under the shadow of his uncle, a powerful user of Chaos magic, His uncle clearly loves Beltur, but also clearly knows more than he’s saying, and feels convincingly disappointed by Beltur’s weak talents in the area of Chaos magic. The relationship between them is clearly a complex one, with mixed obligations, expectations and emotional freight; the prose works hard to make this initil conflict between Beltur and his uncle have meaning, and largely succeeds – the conflicts in their relationship feel genuine, as well as familiar.
Beltur isn’t defined by that conflict, though it does help shape him. Instead, he’s the portrait of a young man trying to work out who he is, and what he wants to do. Modesitt has always had a gift for putting us inside his character’s heads, and exercises it to the fullest here. Beltur’s inner voice is compassionate, occasionally mystified, and self-aware enough that the reader can go along for the ride, sharing and empathising with his trials and tribulations. Beltur’s journey of the self is convincingly portrayed - and works as a coming of age tale, even without the addition of magic.
Beltur is joined by a very strong supporting cast. It’s difficult to get a handle on the antagonists; as-is, they seem to exist mostly to drive the plot. I would have liked to spend a little more time on their side of the fence, to give them a bit more depth. However, they serve perfectly well as insidious adversaries, and the more positive characters are complex, charming, and entirely believable as individuals. Modesitt has often produced strong characters, and I have to admit he’s done well here. All of Beltur’s acquaintances feel like they have lives of their own, which we happen to be casting an eye over. In some ways, they lack a passionate intensity, but the subtle, quiet moments fof emotional resonance which are scattered throughout the narrative make them compelling characters.
The plot…well, it’s one part coming-of-age, one part war story. There’s some romance, and it’s plausibly portrayed and not overwrought. There’s magical battles, with fireballs, cavalry charges, and cast-iron consequences. There’s also the story of Beltur, trying to work out who he is, and what he wants, in the crucible of war. It’s good stuff. Certain elements may seem familiar to readers of Modesitt’s other work, but the story is compelling enough that it probably won’t matter.
In the end, Mongrel Mage works as a way in to the larger Recluce series, as a stand-alone novel, and as a part of the series as a whole. Its well-crafted plot, convincing characters and imaginative world make it a firm recommendation from me.
September 3, 2022
he Saga of Recluce is an interesting series, told in small book arcs and self-contained novels, jumping back and forth through the timeline, with each story adding more depth and color to the world. Books 19 through 21 form one such arc, centered around a mage by the name of Beltur. They are an interesting read, but not one of L.E. Modesitt Jr.’s better efforts.
While the books do have their moments, I found them to be largely dry in both the telling and the details, sluggish in their pacing, and repetitive in content. I’m okay with a leisurely told story, so long as it does move forward, developing the characters and advancing the plot. In The Mongrel Mage we spend the first 150 pages riding to a handful of identical villages, having the same conversations with the same stock characters, and watching as Beltur skulks around similar-looking walls, listening to similarly banal snippets of conversation. In Outcasts of Order we spend 200 pages healing, smithing, marching, talking, and walking through snow. In The Mage-Fire War we seem to keep reading in circles, with characters doing something in one chapter, talking about it in the next, and thinking about in the one that follows.
It doesn’t help that Beltur is such a bland protagonist. He does grow on you, but he’s too good, too nice, too even to be interesting. It’s rare that we see any emotion from him other than casual concern for the social injustices of the world or mildly frustrated romantic longing for Jessyla. Okay, so that last one is a bit unfair as his courtship of Jessyla is one of the high points of the trilogy (alongside Taelya), and the books only really come alive when either of them step onto the page.
Where the books do excel, and this is something Modesitt always does well, is in the more intellectual aspects. There are puzzles and mysteries galore, medical and magical experimentation that further builds upon what we know of Order, Chaos, and the shades of grey in between. There is a solid story behind all that, an intellectual journey that establishes Beltur’s place in history, and were the three books condensed into one, with all the repetition removed, there’s a strong novel to be found.
Everything does end on a high note inThe Mage-Fire War (which was, otherwise, the weakest of the three books), with the standoff in Haven, the establishment of Fairhaven, and the development of Taelya – who, despite my reservations about this arc, I’m eager to catch up with in Fairhaven Rising next year.
https://femledfantasy.home.blog/2020/...
While the books do have their moments, I found them to be largely dry in both the telling and the details, sluggish in their pacing, and repetitive in content. I’m okay with a leisurely told story, so long as it does move forward, developing the characters and advancing the plot. In The Mongrel Mage we spend the first 150 pages riding to a handful of identical villages, having the same conversations with the same stock characters, and watching as Beltur skulks around similar-looking walls, listening to similarly banal snippets of conversation. In Outcasts of Order we spend 200 pages healing, smithing, marching, talking, and walking through snow. In The Mage-Fire War we seem to keep reading in circles, with characters doing something in one chapter, talking about it in the next, and thinking about in the one that follows.
It doesn’t help that Beltur is such a bland protagonist. He does grow on you, but he’s too good, too nice, too even to be interesting. It’s rare that we see any emotion from him other than casual concern for the social injustices of the world or mildly frustrated romantic longing for Jessyla. Okay, so that last one is a bit unfair as his courtship of Jessyla is one of the high points of the trilogy (alongside Taelya), and the books only really come alive when either of them step onto the page.
Where the books do excel, and this is something Modesitt always does well, is in the more intellectual aspects. There are puzzles and mysteries galore, medical and magical experimentation that further builds upon what we know of Order, Chaos, and the shades of grey in between. There is a solid story behind all that, an intellectual journey that establishes Beltur’s place in history, and were the three books condensed into one, with all the repetition removed, there’s a strong novel to be found.
Everything does end on a high note inThe Mage-Fire War (which was, otherwise, the weakest of the three books), with the standoff in Haven, the establishment of Fairhaven, and the development of Taelya – who, despite my reservations about this arc, I’m eager to catch up with in Fairhaven Rising next year.
https://femledfantasy.home.blog/2020/...
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