What do you think?
Rate this book
The Rite of Wands #1
The Rite of Wands
One boy…one Rite… And a world of deadly secrets that could change the course of history—forever.
And so begins the tale of Mierta McKinnon. When a horrible fate reveals itself during his Rite of Wands ceremony, he must find a way to change not only his destiny but also the land of Iverna’s.
Forbidden from revealing the future he foresees to anyone, he is granted a wand and his magical powers, but still must master the realm of magic in order to save himself and those he loves.
But Mierta is not the only one with secrets…especially when it’s impossible to know who to trust.
And so begins the tale of Mierta McKinnon. When a horrible fate reveals itself during his Rite of Wands ceremony, he must find a way to change not only his destiny but also the land of Iverna’s.
Forbidden from revealing the future he foresees to anyone, he is granted a wand and his magical powers, but still must master the realm of magic in order to save himself and those he loves.
But Mierta is not the only one with secrets…especially when it’s impossible to know who to trust.
252 pages, Paperback
First published March 10, 2017
7 people are currently reading
248 people want to read
About the author
Mackenzie Flohr
7 books509 followers2020 Honorable Mention - Royal Dragonfly Book Awards
2019 Top Ten Finalist - Author Elite Awards - Fantasy
2018 Literary Classics Awards Gold Medal Winner: Best Young Adult Fantasy Novel
2018 Imadjinn Award for Best Fantasy Novel
2018 International Book Awards Finalist in the Fiction: Fantasy
2017 Foreword INDIES Book of Year Awards Silver Medal Winner: Fantasy
Mackenzie Flohr is a TV screenwriter and a multi-award-winning novelist. She writes character-driven stories with a mission to push through and overcome life's challenges. When she's not writing, Mackenzie's an in-demand speaker for comic con conventions, where she talks about the writing process and the British television show Doctor Who.
2019 Top Ten Finalist - Author Elite Awards - Fantasy
2018 Literary Classics Awards Gold Medal Winner: Best Young Adult Fantasy Novel
2018 Imadjinn Award for Best Fantasy Novel
2018 International Book Awards Finalist in the Fiction: Fantasy
2017 Foreword INDIES Book of Year Awards Silver Medal Winner: Fantasy
Mackenzie Flohr is a TV screenwriter and a multi-award-winning novelist. She writes character-driven stories with a mission to push through and overcome life's challenges. When she's not writing, Mackenzie's an in-demand speaker for comic con conventions, where she talks about the writing process and the British television show Doctor Who.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
May 18, 2020
Mierta must claim his magic, to save his people from and awful fate. Orlynd is thrown into a dangerous court, and has to work out who to trust.
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
When Mierta turns twelve, he is able to take part in the Rite of Wands, a mysterious ceremony that tests if he is worthy of wielding magic.
During the test, Mierta sees his past, his present, and a potential future where he dies in a plague along with everybody else.
Fueled by the knowledge of his potential fate, Mierta throws himself into his training, going to any lengths to find a cure.
Orlynd is 14 years old when his father, the King's old advisor, is exiled.
Keen for the young warlock to do his part, his father sees that Orlynd stays at court and takes his place as the new advisor.
Orlynd is wonderfully naive, as he is thrust into a society he doesn't understand. He has to contend with a morally-questionable prince, and his ambitiously-questionable betrothed. He sees danger everywhere he looks, but doesn't understand the courtly-nuances of when not to tell the truth.
I follow the author on social media and I've had this book on my radar for a long time, so I was excited to get a review copy during a recent blog tour.
I was a little apprehensive that, with the age of the characters this might be a little young for my tastes. But The Rite of Wands is a solid YA fantasy. Although they are young, the characters are quite mature, and this follows them as they come of age.
Unfortunately, a lot of the book didn't work for me.
Despite there being a detailed map at the beginning, and a detailed glossary of terms, I never felt like I understood the world in which the story was based. There was no explanation of the different countries, or the magic system. It hinted that warlocks only existed in Mierta's country, but didn't categorically say they weren't elsewhere. It also left a big blank over what society was like for those who didn't take the Rite of Wands, and people born from non-magic families was just blurry.
It felt like Flohr was so familiar with her world, she forgot about us newcomers.
The narrative got to off to a rocky start.
Mierta is in the middle of a secret rite, with no idea what's going on. We follow him as first he thinks he's dying, then failing the test, then getting visions, then thinks he's failing again.
Jumping through the visions is a tool to build Mierta's background, and establish his motivation.
The narrative is shared with Orlynd, whose exiled father breaks into the king's quarters and thrusts Orlynd into the service of the king. For reasons.
You don't know why Orlynd's father is exiled, or why he still gets an audience with the king, or what he wants from Orlynd.
The king - for reasons - takes on the magically-untrained-country-bumpkin-son of his newest enemy as an advisor, then doesn't listen to his warnings.
As the story progresses, I found the narrative very "talky".
Mierta in particular talked to himself, explaining to the reader what his thoughts and motivations were. I found this form of telling very off-putting.
I was not a fan of Orlynd's speech. I understand that he's a country lad, but he's the son of a great lord and lady - I can't believe his accent would be that broad.
No one else speaks like this, and it was near impossible to follow what he was saying, which made it hard to stay invested. There is a translation guide at the front, but it's not practical to try jumping back to it at every sentence.
Like many fantasy worlds, his speech seems based on British. As a proud Yorkshirewoman with family in Scotland, I ended up cringing at a lot of his speech. I know this is a fantasy world, and the author is free to take as many liberties as she likes; but it was a little too close to reality, and it didn't mean what you think it meant.
Overall, this was a great idea, but the book wasn't for me.
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
When Mierta turns twelve, he is able to take part in the Rite of Wands, a mysterious ceremony that tests if he is worthy of wielding magic.
During the test, Mierta sees his past, his present, and a potential future where he dies in a plague along with everybody else.
Fueled by the knowledge of his potential fate, Mierta throws himself into his training, going to any lengths to find a cure.
Orlynd is 14 years old when his father, the King's old advisor, is exiled.
Keen for the young warlock to do his part, his father sees that Orlynd stays at court and takes his place as the new advisor.
Orlynd is wonderfully naive, as he is thrust into a society he doesn't understand. He has to contend with a morally-questionable prince, and his ambitiously-questionable betrothed. He sees danger everywhere he looks, but doesn't understand the courtly-nuances of when not to tell the truth.
I follow the author on social media and I've had this book on my radar for a long time, so I was excited to get a review copy during a recent blog tour.
I was a little apprehensive that, with the age of the characters this might be a little young for my tastes. But The Rite of Wands is a solid YA fantasy. Although they are young, the characters are quite mature, and this follows them as they come of age.
Unfortunately, a lot of the book didn't work for me.
Despite there being a detailed map at the beginning, and a detailed glossary of terms, I never felt like I understood the world in which the story was based. There was no explanation of the different countries, or the magic system. It hinted that warlocks only existed in Mierta's country, but didn't categorically say they weren't elsewhere. It also left a big blank over what society was like for those who didn't take the Rite of Wands, and people born from non-magic families was just blurry.
It felt like Flohr was so familiar with her world, she forgot about us newcomers.
The narrative got to off to a rocky start.
Mierta is in the middle of a secret rite, with no idea what's going on. We follow him as first he thinks he's dying, then failing the test, then getting visions, then thinks he's failing again.
Jumping through the visions is a tool to build Mierta's background, and establish his motivation.
The narrative is shared with Orlynd, whose exiled father breaks into the king's quarters and thrusts Orlynd into the service of the king. For reasons.
You don't know why Orlynd's father is exiled, or why he still gets an audience with the king, or what he wants from Orlynd.
The king - for reasons - takes on the magically-untrained-country-bumpkin-son of his newest enemy as an advisor, then doesn't listen to his warnings.
As the story progresses, I found the narrative very "talky".
Mierta in particular talked to himself, explaining to the reader what his thoughts and motivations were. I found this form of telling very off-putting.
I was not a fan of Orlynd's speech. I understand that he's a country lad, but he's the son of a great lord and lady - I can't believe his accent would be that broad.
No one else speaks like this, and it was near impossible to follow what he was saying, which made it hard to stay invested. There is a translation guide at the front, but it's not practical to try jumping back to it at every sentence.
Like many fantasy worlds, his speech seems based on British. As a proud Yorkshirewoman with family in Scotland, I ended up cringing at a lot of his speech. I know this is a fantasy world, and the author is free to take as many liberties as she likes; but it was a little too close to reality, and it didn't mean what you think it meant.
Overall, this was a great idea, but the book wasn't for me.
September 11, 2017
Kings, queens, warlocks, seers, evil villains, and dragons populate this exciting Middle Age Sci-fi fantasy adventure (Yes, it’s all that and more!) by Author MacKenzie Flohr. With a colorful display of characters, glorious visions of castles and manor estates, and a story line that could charm the socks off a fox, readers are temptingly pulled into a complex world filled with magic, adventure, and thrills. At first, “Rite of Wands’ seems like simple fare, focusing on the lives of two preteens longing to be more than who they are, and to make a name for themselves in the eyes of their fathers and the kingdom. But as Flohr’s seemingly charming and enrapturing story progresses, the reader is quickly taken off-guard when the author reveals that a subversive assassination plots is already in motion, long-kept secrets are being brought to light, and a terrible darkness is descending upon the land—one that only a 12-year-old boy named Mierta can stop.
Flohr’s protagonists, Mierta and Orlynd, are instantly endearing but intricately complex as they seek their separate destinies and try to discover the truth behind their family secrets. When we first meet Mierta, he is an innocent and rambunctious, trouble-seeking 12-year-old who nearly loses his life trying to become a warlock in order to fulfill a prophecy and prevent a deadly plague that will destroy the world. As he matures into a young adulthood, he is consumed by his one obsession—to find the cure and save not only those unfortunates who have contracted the disease but his father and himself. While Mierta’s obsesses to find this cure, we find his preteen innocence and optimism being ripped away, and as Florh delves into the maturing warlock’s seemingly twisted thinking, she leaves the reader wondering at the duality of his character. The question of whether Mierta is good vs. evil easily drives the reader’s curiosity to find out which side he is playing in this dangerous game of cat and mouse.
Flohr’s other main protagonist, Orlynd, is a somewhat mature but inexperienced 14-year-old who, when he first arrives at King Francis’ court, is merely trying to find his place in the world—a world that has suddenly come crashing down upon him when his father suddenly abandons him to his demanding king. The young wizard’s coming of age is quick and hard as he desperately tries to fulfill his new role as the king’s seer, but finds himself up against a formidable group of spies and conspirators bent on assassinating the ruler and taking over his kingdom.
Flohr’s “The Rite of Wands” is a Middle Age fantasy fix for the mind, and readers will find no issue immersing themselves in this amazing tale which seems destined to become a classic. With enemies lurking all around, the plot thickening, assassins and traitors invading the court, and several more attempts to seize power and rule the kingdom, “The Rite of Wands” is a reader’s dream novel that will definitely leave one wanting more—much, much more.
Flohr’s protagonists, Mierta and Orlynd, are instantly endearing but intricately complex as they seek their separate destinies and try to discover the truth behind their family secrets. When we first meet Mierta, he is an innocent and rambunctious, trouble-seeking 12-year-old who nearly loses his life trying to become a warlock in order to fulfill a prophecy and prevent a deadly plague that will destroy the world. As he matures into a young adulthood, he is consumed by his one obsession—to find the cure and save not only those unfortunates who have contracted the disease but his father and himself. While Mierta’s obsesses to find this cure, we find his preteen innocence and optimism being ripped away, and as Florh delves into the maturing warlock’s seemingly twisted thinking, she leaves the reader wondering at the duality of his character. The question of whether Mierta is good vs. evil easily drives the reader’s curiosity to find out which side he is playing in this dangerous game of cat and mouse.
Flohr’s other main protagonist, Orlynd, is a somewhat mature but inexperienced 14-year-old who, when he first arrives at King Francis’ court, is merely trying to find his place in the world—a world that has suddenly come crashing down upon him when his father suddenly abandons him to his demanding king. The young wizard’s coming of age is quick and hard as he desperately tries to fulfill his new role as the king’s seer, but finds himself up against a formidable group of spies and conspirators bent on assassinating the ruler and taking over his kingdom.
Flohr’s “The Rite of Wands” is a Middle Age fantasy fix for the mind, and readers will find no issue immersing themselves in this amazing tale which seems destined to become a classic. With enemies lurking all around, the plot thickening, assassins and traitors invading the court, and several more attempts to seize power and rule the kingdom, “The Rite of Wands” is a reader’s dream novel that will definitely leave one wanting more—much, much more.
February 11, 2020
*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free copy in exchange of an honest review.*
Can people speak French if there has never been a France? Is using an outdated and insulting way to portray the Scottish burr to write a character's speech ok? Where is all the world-building? Is this little novel ever going to end?
These questions kept popping into my head while reading this book. The plot is flimsy, the world-building is barely sketched, and the characters are not well rounded.
Can people speak French if there has never been a France? Is using an outdated and insulting way to portray the Scottish burr to write a character's speech ok? Where is all the world-building? Is this little novel ever going to end?
These questions kept popping into my head while reading this book. The plot is flimsy, the world-building is barely sketched, and the characters are not well rounded.
February 23, 2017
It was a great read, I am sorry I don't have the sequel right now. It is a well thought out story and has engaging characters. I am looking forward to the rest of the series to see what happens to the characters in the story.
The story shifts point of view throughout and the author does a good job handling the switches. The author kept me engaged and I finished it in a matter of days.
I received this product for free from the publisher in exchange for this post.
The story shifts point of view throughout and the author does a good job handling the switches. The author kept me engaged and I finished it in a matter of days.
I received this product for free from the publisher in exchange for this post.
July 19, 2022
Mackenzie Flohr is a peach of a person and her love of fantasy is apparent in her prose. I, however, am not as well-versed in high fantasy and I think that affected how I read this story. There's a map and a pronunciation guide at the start of the book but I still struggled to understand Orlyand's speech and got a little confused on world. The Rite of Wands, despite being the title of the book, didn't seem to be the overall focus. I liked the different characters but there was a 22 year gap in the action (this lost time is covered in another companion book!) and the motivation of the character's change in that time.
There was a lot going on in this book but I read it fairly quick with it only clocking in around 250 pages. Again, I think me being so new to this genre didn't help my reading experience since I'm so green with it and with the tropes that go along with it. But Mackenzie lives in this world and is a delightful person, so I urge anyone looking for a friendly magical tale to give this a try!
There was a lot going on in this book but I read it fairly quick with it only clocking in around 250 pages. Again, I think me being so new to this genre didn't help my reading experience since I'm so green with it and with the tropes that go along with it. But Mackenzie lives in this world and is a delightful person, so I urge anyone looking for a friendly magical tale to give this a try!
September 1, 2017
The Rite of Wands by Mackenzie Flohr is a fast paced magical adventure involving kings, queens, warlocks, and witches. There are mysteries behind each of the main characters, as well as murders and poisonings. The Rite of Wands refers to the ceremony by which the warlocks are certified by the last remaining dragon as actual warlocks. Only one kingdom, Arcelly, has this magical power, but their witches and warlocks go around the world as advisors to kings and queens.
The book begins with the main characters as adolescents and continues into their adulthood. The mysteries are not all resolved at the end, but lead into the next book. The book is suitable for YA Young Adult to Adult audiences.
The book begins with the main characters as adolescents and continues into their adulthood. The mysteries are not all resolved at the end, but lead into the next book. The book is suitable for YA Young Adult to Adult audiences.
March 7, 2017
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Wands at the ready for a tale of magic and secrets! Mierta McKinnon experiences a terrible vision of the future during his Rite of Wands ceremony - an initiation all Warlocks must face. He becomes obsessed with finding a way to change his destiny and does everything in his power to change the future, unaware of how his decisions will one day reshape the kingdom.
I found the exterior to be visually appealing, with a simple but elegant cover that matches the story well. Inside I was pleasantly surprised to find an interesting looking map - a nice touch by the author. Coming from England, I found the shape of the map very familiar! However, it was well edited to reflect the geography of the world I was about to enter. Flicking to the back, I found a couple of sections which provided information on the meaning and pronunciation of the various words and dialects used.
I immediately felt invested in Mierta's quest and was fascinated by the development of his character. He serves as a great example of how persistence and single mindedness can slowly turn into obsession, fundamentally changing a person. Orlynd on the other hand, gave me a sense of satisfaction, cheering him on as he made the journey from a young, unconfident boy to a brave and trustworthy advisor to the King. I found his sense of duty and the extent he goes to protect his king very touching. Overall there was a good mix of characters with a variety of motivations, from the deeply focused young Warlock Mierta, to royalty with hidden agendas.
The book is structured using a common approach, with the story told through multiple characters in multiple locations by alternating chapters - in this case between the characters Mierta and Orylnd. However, it did not always alternate by chapter, at some points switching after short sections or every few pages. This made it hard to stay immersed in a plot which swapped storylines at a rapid pace, though I admit it also kept me on my toes.
'The Rite of Wands' is interesting from a linguistic point of view. Orylnd uses a dialect that was a little hard to decipher at first, but which I got used to, mainly thanks to the useful guide at the back. It was definitely a fun experience learning a dialect while following the story, but also initially a little time consuming having to stop and look words up. For the most part, the author's work reads smoothly though at times I felt some word choices were a bit unnatural causing me to re-read sentences, weakening my immersion.
The way that the events developed the characters was enjoyable and kept me guessing. Just as you've made your mind up about someone, they make a choice which can completely change your outlook.
This story is suitable for Fantasy fans of all ages and will hook both older and younger audiences. I would definitely recommend giving 'The Rite of Wands' a read and look forward to the next installment in the series.
Wands at the ready for a tale of magic and secrets! Mierta McKinnon experiences a terrible vision of the future during his Rite of Wands ceremony - an initiation all Warlocks must face. He becomes obsessed with finding a way to change his destiny and does everything in his power to change the future, unaware of how his decisions will one day reshape the kingdom.
I found the exterior to be visually appealing, with a simple but elegant cover that matches the story well. Inside I was pleasantly surprised to find an interesting looking map - a nice touch by the author. Coming from England, I found the shape of the map very familiar! However, it was well edited to reflect the geography of the world I was about to enter. Flicking to the back, I found a couple of sections which provided information on the meaning and pronunciation of the various words and dialects used.
I immediately felt invested in Mierta's quest and was fascinated by the development of his character. He serves as a great example of how persistence and single mindedness can slowly turn into obsession, fundamentally changing a person. Orlynd on the other hand, gave me a sense of satisfaction, cheering him on as he made the journey from a young, unconfident boy to a brave and trustworthy advisor to the King. I found his sense of duty and the extent he goes to protect his king very touching. Overall there was a good mix of characters with a variety of motivations, from the deeply focused young Warlock Mierta, to royalty with hidden agendas.
The book is structured using a common approach, with the story told through multiple characters in multiple locations by alternating chapters - in this case between the characters Mierta and Orylnd. However, it did not always alternate by chapter, at some points switching after short sections or every few pages. This made it hard to stay immersed in a plot which swapped storylines at a rapid pace, though I admit it also kept me on my toes.
'The Rite of Wands' is interesting from a linguistic point of view. Orylnd uses a dialect that was a little hard to decipher at first, but which I got used to, mainly thanks to the useful guide at the back. It was definitely a fun experience learning a dialect while following the story, but also initially a little time consuming having to stop and look words up. For the most part, the author's work reads smoothly though at times I felt some word choices were a bit unnatural causing me to re-read sentences, weakening my immersion.
The way that the events developed the characters was enjoyable and kept me guessing. Just as you've made your mind up about someone, they make a choice which can completely change your outlook.
This story is suitable for Fantasy fans of all ages and will hook both older and younger audiences. I would definitely recommend giving 'The Rite of Wands' a read and look forward to the next installment in the series.
February 25, 2018
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange from an honest review. Though, reading through the other reviews left here, I can't help but wonder if the publisher sent me a different book to the one which everyone else seems to have read?
Despite trying to give it a fair crack all the way through, I unfortunately had to DNF this book at chapter 4, having found no signs of anything worth continuing for. The early plot was a jumble of rushed fantasy tropes (kid going through a coming of age ritual in order to gain magic and getting a tragic backstory in the process, plus a scene between a dodgy king, a dodgy duke, and the duke's naive, abused son who has the Gift of Prophecy...). There's no time spent on characterisation or fleshing out any particular moments, it's just endless quick-fire plot points held together with cliched dialogue. Old tropes can be done well, but they need to be coupled with an interesting hook - be that an obvious new twist, or simply the early introduction of characters the audience is interested in. Neither were in evidence here.
The writing quality is also poor - from outright incorrect words ("patronage" instead of "parentage" in chapter 2), to overuse of adjectives and adverbs, to (apparently unintentional) repetition of words in a sentence, to POV issues where we switch from one limited third person viewpoint to another in the space of sentences. I'm not a snob about prose styles but the basic lack of competence here make the book unreadable.
The Rite of Wands needed a lot more work before being released into the world, and unfortunately I can't recommend it to anyone...
Despite trying to give it a fair crack all the way through, I unfortunately had to DNF this book at chapter 4, having found no signs of anything worth continuing for. The early plot was a jumble of rushed fantasy tropes (kid going through a coming of age ritual in order to gain magic and getting a tragic backstory in the process, plus a scene between a dodgy king, a dodgy duke, and the duke's naive, abused son who has the Gift of Prophecy...). There's no time spent on characterisation or fleshing out any particular moments, it's just endless quick-fire plot points held together with cliched dialogue. Old tropes can be done well, but they need to be coupled with an interesting hook - be that an obvious new twist, or simply the early introduction of characters the audience is interested in. Neither were in evidence here.
The writing quality is also poor - from outright incorrect words ("patronage" instead of "parentage" in chapter 2), to overuse of adjectives and adverbs, to (apparently unintentional) repetition of words in a sentence, to POV issues where we switch from one limited third person viewpoint to another in the space of sentences. I'm not a snob about prose styles but the basic lack of competence here make the book unreadable.
The Rite of Wands needed a lot more work before being released into the world, and unfortunately I can't recommend it to anyone...
March 22, 2020
I received a free copy from NetGalley for an honest review. I looked at the 5 star reviews and like many thought, I was talking about a different book here.
I managed to get a quarter of the way through this book before giving up. The story is not engaging and the dialogue seems largely pointless. I have absolutely no idea what the point of the book is. I don’t mind mystery and intrigue where you find out what is going on in piecemeal but this is not that. Orlynd’s speech is also annoying, it makes him sound like a half-wit. Why is he the only one that speaks that way when even his Father did not? Also the pronunciation guide at the front is fine, but none of the words have a meaning. I flicked back at one point to try to work out what was being said and found I could pronounce it but had no clue to the meaning. For such a short book, it would have been really important to get the story going and moving because there was less time to let your readers know what is going on. I think this will stay on my DNF pile, which is surprisingly small given the amount of books I have read.
I managed to get a quarter of the way through this book before giving up. The story is not engaging and the dialogue seems largely pointless. I have absolutely no idea what the point of the book is. I don’t mind mystery and intrigue where you find out what is going on in piecemeal but this is not that. Orlynd’s speech is also annoying, it makes him sound like a half-wit. Why is he the only one that speaks that way when even his Father did not? Also the pronunciation guide at the front is fine, but none of the words have a meaning. I flicked back at one point to try to work out what was being said and found I could pronounce it but had no clue to the meaning. For such a short book, it would have been really important to get the story going and moving because there was less time to let your readers know what is going on. I think this will stay on my DNF pile, which is surprisingly small given the amount of books I have read.
March 10, 2020
ARC from NetGalley
Well, I gave this one a good go. I made it to 49% before I just couldn't do it anymore. This book is told between various perspectives that are still not fully realized half way through the book.
Orlynd is a little bitch. Prince Deor is a stereotypical villain who kicks sand in the eyes of puppies and sneers constantly. He is also 14 but talks like an adult, if a petulant adult.
This story really makes no sense. I have no idea where we started, where we are, where we're going or why.
The characters are almost all incredibly irritating and flat. The story is confusing. This book isn't really bringing anything to my table. DNF it is.
Well, I gave this one a good go. I made it to 49% before I just couldn't do it anymore. This book is told between various perspectives that are still not fully realized half way through the book.
Orlynd is a little bitch. Prince Deor is a stereotypical villain who kicks sand in the eyes of puppies and sneers constantly. He is also 14 but talks like an adult, if a petulant adult.
This story really makes no sense. I have no idea where we started, where we are, where we're going or why.
The characters are almost all incredibly irritating and flat. The story is confusing. This book isn't really bringing anything to my table. DNF it is.
September 7, 2017
Delightful magical fantasy.
Mackenzie Flohr has created a beautiful world of magical kingdoms in which ambition and conspiracy work to undermine the rightful order and overthrow the rule of the rightful king.
The story is populated by beautifully complex characters, among whom Mierta McKinnon and Orlynd O'Brien take the lead roles. Very few of the characters are transparent at all, so the story keeps on developing interest and intrigue as it progresses. The very fact that Mierta is so complicated and driven a character draws the reader into his thoughts and aspirations, and engages one deeply in the events of the story as they unfold.
It would be too simplistic to say that this is a story of a battle between good and evil. It may be so, but there are nuances and shades of truth and revelation, and of injustice and vindication, that obscure some elements of the characters and of the story so that the reader is never really able to foresee or predict what is yet to come. In this story, the only thing that is sure is that anything could happen.
The story finished at a logical point of resolution, although I really didn't want it to. A number of questions, both incidental and central to the story, remain to be answered in future books. I'm very keen for the next book!
All in all, this is shaping up to be the series I have been waiting for since I finished reading Harry Potter the seventh time over. It's not more of the same - the world, the characters and the problems they face are very different, but The Rite Of Wands does capture the imagination in the same fantastic, magical way.
Mackenzie Flohr has created a beautiful world of magical kingdoms in which ambition and conspiracy work to undermine the rightful order and overthrow the rule of the rightful king.
The story is populated by beautifully complex characters, among whom Mierta McKinnon and Orlynd O'Brien take the lead roles. Very few of the characters are transparent at all, so the story keeps on developing interest and intrigue as it progresses. The very fact that Mierta is so complicated and driven a character draws the reader into his thoughts and aspirations, and engages one deeply in the events of the story as they unfold.
It would be too simplistic to say that this is a story of a battle between good and evil. It may be so, but there are nuances and shades of truth and revelation, and of injustice and vindication, that obscure some elements of the characters and of the story so that the reader is never really able to foresee or predict what is yet to come. In this story, the only thing that is sure is that anything could happen.
The story finished at a logical point of resolution, although I really didn't want it to. A number of questions, both incidental and central to the story, remain to be answered in future books. I'm very keen for the next book!
All in all, this is shaping up to be the series I have been waiting for since I finished reading Harry Potter the seventh time over. It's not more of the same - the world, the characters and the problems they face are very different, but The Rite Of Wands does capture the imagination in the same fantastic, magical way.
March 5, 2017
I was thrilled to read this book after getting a glimpse of the synopsis, and I was not at all disappointed.
The novel was short, but I got a lot of insight into the characters, particularly taking interest in Mierta. His precocious nature as a child was appealing, and over time you watch him gradually change into a man warped by what fate has set out for him. This level of development has always drawn me into a plot, for I feel that strong characters such as him and Orlynd carry the tale with grace.
I look forward to the sequel! (I'm also going to do a more extensive analysis on my blog in the coming days!)
The novel was short, but I got a lot of insight into the characters, particularly taking interest in Mierta. His precocious nature as a child was appealing, and over time you watch him gradually change into a man warped by what fate has set out for him. This level of development has always drawn me into a plot, for I feel that strong characters such as him and Orlynd carry the tale with grace.
I look forward to the sequel! (I'm also going to do a more extensive analysis on my blog in the coming days!)
August 18, 2019
Amazing new fantasy series! In The Rite of Wands Mackenzie Flohr establishes her own world where both magic and non-magic folk live. This book introduces many fascinating characters: Mierta, a 12 year old boy who learns his future in a magical rite of passage; Orlynd, a soothsayer who becomes an adviser to the king; as well as the political intrigue of a royal family.
Flohr's characters are complex and interesting; her story is fascinating.
My only complaint is that I want more, but as this is the first book in the series that should soon be remedied.
Book two is slated to appear in 2020.
Flohr's characters are complex and interesting; her story is fascinating.
My only complaint is that I want more, but as this is the first book in the series that should soon be remedied.
Book two is slated to appear in 2020.
December 1, 2018
Warlocks, seers, evil villains, and dragons are some of the mythical beings you can find in this classic fantasy book written by Mackenzie Flohr. I enjoyed all of the characters and thought Mackenzie did a brilliant job of writing this book.
I have come to love books that switch point of views which Mackenzie handled wonderfully.
The only issue I had with the story was with the narrator. At times i found it hard to understand him and also to pay attention to his flat tone.
I had the pleasure of receiving this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Mackenzie Flohr. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
I have come to love books that switch point of views which Mackenzie handled wonderfully.
The only issue I had with the story was with the narrator. At times i found it hard to understand him and also to pay attention to his flat tone.
I had the pleasure of receiving this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Mackenzie Flohr. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
August 11, 2021
I liked the book and I didn't like it at the same time. I liked the characters and how they changed over time. The language of Orland was sometimes hard to decipher (there is a glossary at the start of the book). The time line was hard to follow even though the date was at the start of each chapter. I would have rather had the timeline explained in the story.
June 20, 2019
Doctor Who meets Harry Potter with a dash of Game of Thrones :) Brilliantly written and capitvating
May 6, 2020
*I received a free ARC from Netgalley for an honest review.*
Summary: 12 year old Mierta McKinnon is shown visions of his past, present, and future during his Rite of Wands ceremony. He discovers his fate is to die in 22 years at the hands of the Shreya, a vicious plague sweeping through Iverna leaving tons of bodies in its wake. Mierta is determined to learn everything he can in order to craft a cure to stop the plague. After all, his life depends on it. 16 year old Orlynd O'Brien is the newly appointed advisor to the King of Vandolay. When the king is poisoned, Orlynd is determined to protect the crown prince from meeting the same fate.
This YA fantasy is unlike any I've read before. Let's find out why:
- The Rite of Wands ceremony: We start off right at the beginning of Mierta's rite. The early pages make it out to be this intense test used to determine if a 12 year old is worthy of becoming a magical citizen. Mierta is so worried he will fail and disappoint his father. In actuality, the so called test was just showing Mierta some visions. I don't understand how this was a test at all? There are repercussions for failing, but literally nothing happened that could warrant a person to fail. Very anticlimactic. I'm surprised something that inspired the title of this book could be so... boring.
- The Worldbuilding: The worldbuilding in this book was SORELY lacking. Things were mentioned in passing with no real explanation, and they were never mentioned again. I have no idea how this world works. To be a warlock, you have to be born in the Kingdom of Aracelly. Why? What happens if two mortal parents decide to have their baby in Aracelly? Will the baby become a warlock or is it genetic? Furthermore, there are all these mentions of the O'Briens being a disgraced family for something Orlynd's father did, but it's never said what he did! I think it has something to do with the persecution of the Magulians, the people who fail the Rite of Wands ceremony and are not granted magic, but I have no idea. The Magulians were mentioned a few times, but I still don't know what happened. It also doesn't make sense to me why they were persecuted or even executed. They'll never disappear if 12 year olds keep failing the Rite of Wands. Are they just going to kill a bunch of 12 year olds? If it's not obvious, I am very confused.
- The Plot: I can sum this up in one word- nonexistent. Nothing actually happened until about halfway and even then it barely picked up. There's this mention of a prophecy throughout the whole book but nothing happens with it. The pieces to the prophecy are still falling into place. This felt like a prequel to a novel I didn't read, not the first book to a series. I also felt like there were a few obvious and annoying plot devices. For example, why would a complete stranger offer to teach, feed, and house a kid he met two seconds ago? Why would the king's royal guard let the last person of royal blood wander off alone in the middle of a forest because he can hear a woman crying? And he's the only one who can hear her?? That's not ominous or anything. These things were very unbelievable and felt like it was just a cheap trick the author pulled to get the "plot" to go where she wanted it to.
- The Characters: Mierta was supposed to be 12 in the beginning, but he did not speak like a 12 year old. He also tries so hard to be funny that it's not funny at all. The reader is bombarded with his supposed-to-be-funny thoughts for every action he takes. At one point he pulls a bone off a shelf and thinks something like "I've got nothing funny about this one." Why does everything need to be funny? Just describe the scene! Ugh. And then to make matters worse he becomes a totally different person by the end. This would be fine if the reader got to see the events that changed him but oh, wait we skipped 22 years into the future. I have no idea what happened to him during that time, but now he's willing to take a person's free will away. Oh-kay. Anya's character also makes no sense to me.
The Setting: This is a medieval fantasy. There's jousting. I was not expecting that from the synopsis, so that's just a heads up. Also, somehow French is a language even though France is not a country that exists in this world? At this point I don't even care anymore.
Overall, I was left with far more questions than answers. I didn't want to overwhelm you with all the questions I still have left because this review is already too long. There is a second book that was recently released, but it doesn't look it's going to answer most of my questions. From the synopsis, it takes place during that 22 year gap, but again it will not shed light on the prophecy. It took 3 years for the second book to be released, and I wouldn't want to wait 3 more before I get any answers, so I will not be reading it.
For those reasons, I'm out.
Summary: 12 year old Mierta McKinnon is shown visions of his past, present, and future during his Rite of Wands ceremony. He discovers his fate is to die in 22 years at the hands of the Shreya, a vicious plague sweeping through Iverna leaving tons of bodies in its wake. Mierta is determined to learn everything he can in order to craft a cure to stop the plague. After all, his life depends on it. 16 year old Orlynd O'Brien is the newly appointed advisor to the King of Vandolay. When the king is poisoned, Orlynd is determined to protect the crown prince from meeting the same fate.
This YA fantasy is unlike any I've read before. Let's find out why:
- The Rite of Wands ceremony: We start off right at the beginning of Mierta's rite. The early pages make it out to be this intense test used to determine if a 12 year old is worthy of becoming a magical citizen. Mierta is so worried he will fail and disappoint his father. In actuality, the so called test was just showing Mierta some visions. I don't understand how this was a test at all? There are repercussions for failing, but literally nothing happened that could warrant a person to fail. Very anticlimactic. I'm surprised something that inspired the title of this book could be so... boring.
- The Worldbuilding: The worldbuilding in this book was SORELY lacking. Things were mentioned in passing with no real explanation, and they were never mentioned again. I have no idea how this world works. To be a warlock, you have to be born in the Kingdom of Aracelly. Why? What happens if two mortal parents decide to have their baby in Aracelly? Will the baby become a warlock or is it genetic? Furthermore, there are all these mentions of the O'Briens being a disgraced family for something Orlynd's father did, but it's never said what he did! I think it has something to do with the persecution of the Magulians, the people who fail the Rite of Wands ceremony and are not granted magic, but I have no idea. The Magulians were mentioned a few times, but I still don't know what happened. It also doesn't make sense to me why they were persecuted or even executed. They'll never disappear if 12 year olds keep failing the Rite of Wands. Are they just going to kill a bunch of 12 year olds? If it's not obvious, I am very confused.
- The Plot: I can sum this up in one word- nonexistent. Nothing actually happened until about halfway and even then it barely picked up. There's this mention of a prophecy throughout the whole book but nothing happens with it. The pieces to the prophecy are still falling into place. This felt like a prequel to a novel I didn't read, not the first book to a series. I also felt like there were a few obvious and annoying plot devices. For example, why would a complete stranger offer to teach, feed, and house a kid he met two seconds ago? Why would the king's royal guard let the last person of royal blood wander off alone in the middle of a forest because he can hear a woman crying? And he's the only one who can hear her?? That's not ominous or anything. These things were very unbelievable and felt like it was just a cheap trick the author pulled to get the "plot" to go where she wanted it to.
- The Characters: Mierta was supposed to be 12 in the beginning, but he did not speak like a 12 year old. He also tries so hard to be funny that it's not funny at all. The reader is bombarded with his supposed-to-be-funny thoughts for every action he takes. At one point he pulls a bone off a shelf and thinks something like "I've got nothing funny about this one." Why does everything need to be funny? Just describe the scene! Ugh. And then to make matters worse he becomes a totally different person by the end. This would be fine if the reader got to see the events that changed him but oh, wait we skipped 22 years into the future. I have no idea what happened to him during that time, but now he's willing to take a person's free will away. Oh-kay. Anya's character also makes no sense to me.
The Setting: This is a medieval fantasy. There's jousting. I was not expecting that from the synopsis, so that's just a heads up. Also, somehow French is a language even though France is not a country that exists in this world? At this point I don't even care anymore.
Overall, I was left with far more questions than answers. I didn't want to overwhelm you with all the questions I still have left because this review is already too long. There is a second book that was recently released, but it doesn't look it's going to answer most of my questions. From the synopsis, it takes place during that 22 year gap, but again it will not shed light on the prophecy. It took 3 years for the second book to be released, and I wouldn't want to wait 3 more before I get any answers, so I will not be reading it.
For those reasons, I'm out.
April 11, 2023
It was alright, but i felt like it was missing a bit to the character. He was a bit bland and boring to me.
I got this eARC from Netgalley
I got this eARC from Netgalley
March 7, 2017
The Rite of Wands is interesting, a perfect fantasy book for MG and YA fantasy lovers. It is told in alternating points of view by Mierta McKinnon and Orlynd O'Brien, two young teens. Mierta goes through the Rite of Wands and sees a dark future for himself. Orlynd is brought to King Francis to act as his warlock.
Mierta is a potion maker, a skill that he uses to try to avoid his fate. Orlynd has visions though he can't always interpret them as quickly as he needs to. He is caught in the schemes of Anya, the woman who is brought to marry Francis's son.
The author is very good on detailing the environment in which the characters find themselves, helping the reader to visualize in great detail the surroundings of Mierta and Orlynd. I found the dialogue a bit stilted at times and I personally didn't like Orlynd's dialect. There's a glossary in the back to help interpret what he was saying, but I found his speech distracting and it kept taking me out of the story. Other readers may not have this issue. I'd also warn the readers that this has a cliffhanger ending.
I'd like to thank the publisher for providing me with a copy of this ARC. I did enjoy the story and I'm eager to see what happens next.
Mierta is a potion maker, a skill that he uses to try to avoid his fate. Orlynd has visions though he can't always interpret them as quickly as he needs to. He is caught in the schemes of Anya, the woman who is brought to marry Francis's son.
The author is very good on detailing the environment in which the characters find themselves, helping the reader to visualize in great detail the surroundings of Mierta and Orlynd. I found the dialogue a bit stilted at times and I personally didn't like Orlynd's dialect. There's a glossary in the back to help interpret what he was saying, but I found his speech distracting and it kept taking me out of the story. Other readers may not have this issue. I'd also warn the readers that this has a cliffhanger ending.
I'd like to thank the publisher for providing me with a copy of this ARC. I did enjoy the story and I'm eager to see what happens next.
February 25, 2020
The Rite of Wands by Mackenzie Flohr is a fast paced adventure book about Dragons, witches, warlocks, Kings and Queens. It is about the coming of age of one boy who learns his destiny in the Rite and is determined to change it.
The book starts out with Mierta who has come of age and is ready to be the man he was raised to be. Yes he is “of age” but he makes decisions as an adolescent that proves that he doesn’t have to grow up too fast.
Then there’s Orlynd. His family is disgraced but he is given a chance because of his mother’s legacy as he has something to prove to the King, to the countrymen and to himself.
The book Goes from POV to POV to tell it’s story and all the lives are synchronized painting a picture.
That being said I do wish the story wasn’t quite so fast paced. I feel like because it is some of the plot points weren’t as fleshed out as others and it missed the mark a bit.
All in all it was an okay read. I wouldn't read the sequel but I would recommend to someone. They might have better luck with it than I did
2.5/5
The book starts out with Mierta who has come of age and is ready to be the man he was raised to be. Yes he is “of age” but he makes decisions as an adolescent that proves that he doesn’t have to grow up too fast.
Then there’s Orlynd. His family is disgraced but he is given a chance because of his mother’s legacy as he has something to prove to the King, to the countrymen and to himself.
The book Goes from POV to POV to tell it’s story and all the lives are synchronized painting a picture.
That being said I do wish the story wasn’t quite so fast paced. I feel like because it is some of the plot points weren’t as fleshed out as others and it missed the mark a bit.
All in all it was an okay read. I wouldn't read the sequel but I would recommend to someone. They might have better luck with it than I did
2.5/5
February 2, 2017
This book is FANTASTIC!!!!!!
This book is a combination of Thriller, Death, Suspense, and a many more other things.
I rate this book 5 STARS and, I would recommend this book for people aged 8 and above.
This book is a combination of Thriller, Death, Suspense, and a many more other things.
I rate this book 5 STARS and, I would recommend this book for people aged 8 and above.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 8, 2017
A YA high fantasy, “The Rite of Wands” is the first book in its series.
Read full review in the 2017 November issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2017 November issue of InD'tale Magazine.
September 2, 2020
This was not what I was expecting and it didn't grab my attention. Possibly just not my cup of tea. DNF after around 25%.
December 2, 2018
Back in October I had the opportunity to attend a class by Mackenzie Flohr regarding audiobooks. As part of it, she played a snippet from her latest, The Rite of Wands. I was interested enough from hearing just a couple of minutes, so I decided to check the entire thing out.
At the beginning we are introduced to Mierta McKinnon, a young warlock-to-be, who goes through The Rite of Wands, a major stepping stone for any magic folk who want to become an official witch or warlock. As part of it, he’s shown his future: one where his homeland is ravaged by a deadly plague, and he must use his skills to find a cure before it claims both his life and that of everyone he loves. Needless to say, this is a huge burden (and secret to keep) for young Mierta, and he immediately plunges into preparing to alter the future.
We also have Orlynd, a soothsayer to the king, who is haunted by his own visions of the future and the responsibility of serving a royal family that has as much intrigue and backstabbing as any in Game of Thrones.
The storytelling in this book is excellent; YA fantasy isn’t my normal go-to, but I genuinely enjoyed The Rite of Wands. The characters grow and change in many nuanced ways, and it keeps the listener engaged and invested in seeing their story through. Characters that we thought were purely good at the beginning change toward the end (and vice versa), but those changes are understandable in the face of what each of them is tasked to do. There’s a twenty-plus year leap in the middle of the book, but it’s handled very well, and we’re able to see that the older characters’ personalities grew in a realistic manner without twenty years’ worth of exposition. I was especially impressed that several of the main characters aren’t portrayed as 100% likable, in fact, I can only think of one who might be close. That’s a bold choice to make, but it definitely worked in the context of the plot.
The ending is done extremely well; Flohr is very clear that this is the beginning of at least a duology, but the close of the book isn’t an obnoxious cliffhanger, it wraps this book up neatly yet definitely whets your appetite for the next installment. Since obnoxious cliffhangers are one of my biggest pet peeves, I was very pleased at how well the end of Wands was done. Bravo!
As I did listen to the audiobook, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the narrator as well. Chris Walker-Thomson did a superb job of voicing all the characters; I never had any problem realizing who was speaking or thinking. He handled different accents, ages, and personality types, plus two female characters, and did so without it ever sounding forced or cheesy. There are sound effects embedded as well, which definitely enhanced the listening experience, and it truly elevated this book to another level, letting the listener visualize what was going on as he narrated it and the sound effects provided the score.
As Flohr has indicated, fans of Dr. Who and Harry Potter will definitely enjoy this book, but it’s not dependent upon enjoying those; the storytelling in The Rite of Wands stands easily on its own merit, and I wholeheartedly recommend you check it out! Five stars from this bookworm!
*-*-*-*-*
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Mackenzie Flohr. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it. Review has also been posted to TwintypeBooks.com
At the beginning we are introduced to Mierta McKinnon, a young warlock-to-be, who goes through The Rite of Wands, a major stepping stone for any magic folk who want to become an official witch or warlock. As part of it, he’s shown his future: one where his homeland is ravaged by a deadly plague, and he must use his skills to find a cure before it claims both his life and that of everyone he loves. Needless to say, this is a huge burden (and secret to keep) for young Mierta, and he immediately plunges into preparing to alter the future.
We also have Orlynd, a soothsayer to the king, who is haunted by his own visions of the future and the responsibility of serving a royal family that has as much intrigue and backstabbing as any in Game of Thrones.
The storytelling in this book is excellent; YA fantasy isn’t my normal go-to, but I genuinely enjoyed The Rite of Wands. The characters grow and change in many nuanced ways, and it keeps the listener engaged and invested in seeing their story through. Characters that we thought were purely good at the beginning change toward the end (and vice versa), but those changes are understandable in the face of what each of them is tasked to do. There’s a twenty-plus year leap in the middle of the book, but it’s handled very well, and we’re able to see that the older characters’ personalities grew in a realistic manner without twenty years’ worth of exposition. I was especially impressed that several of the main characters aren’t portrayed as 100% likable, in fact, I can only think of one who might be close. That’s a bold choice to make, but it definitely worked in the context of the plot.
The ending is done extremely well; Flohr is very clear that this is the beginning of at least a duology, but the close of the book isn’t an obnoxious cliffhanger, it wraps this book up neatly yet definitely whets your appetite for the next installment. Since obnoxious cliffhangers are one of my biggest pet peeves, I was very pleased at how well the end of Wands was done. Bravo!
As I did listen to the audiobook, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the narrator as well. Chris Walker-Thomson did a superb job of voicing all the characters; I never had any problem realizing who was speaking or thinking. He handled different accents, ages, and personality types, plus two female characters, and did so without it ever sounding forced or cheesy. There are sound effects embedded as well, which definitely enhanced the listening experience, and it truly elevated this book to another level, letting the listener visualize what was going on as he narrated it and the sound effects provided the score.
As Flohr has indicated, fans of Dr. Who and Harry Potter will definitely enjoy this book, but it’s not dependent upon enjoying those; the storytelling in The Rite of Wands stands easily on its own merit, and I wholeheartedly recommend you check it out! Five stars from this bookworm!
*-*-*-*-*
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Mackenzie Flohr. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it. Review has also been posted to TwintypeBooks.com
November 30, 2018
First, let me just say that I really love this book cover. It really drew me in and I like the cleverness of it, like the cover itself is a fancy book with clasps and such. I feel like a wizard-in-training just looking at this book cover.
I have to say that the main character, Mierta, has a very unfortunate name. It’s just one letter off from a popular Spanish cuss word and when listening to an audiobook a ‘t’ can easily sound like a ‘d’. It’s as if our main character was named Shet, which could easily be confused with a vulgar word. So, I had to get all the giggles out before I could take this story seriously. That done, Mierta really is a serious character and not someone I would want to cross. Indeed, I would never make fun of his name within his hearing.
This tale takes place in the 1200s and almost has a King Arthur feel to it. Several of the characters start off innocent, or at least good, and as they mature and life seasons them, some turn onto a dark path. Plus there’s Queen Anya who is power-hungry. There’s very few female characters in this tale, which also matches many King Arthur tales. I wanted more ladies and more out of them. Queen Anya is good at manipulation but she doesn’t have any power of her own; she relies on the men around her to attain and stay in power.
Orlynd is an interesting young man. He finds himself unexpectedly in the King’s circle. His family fell out of favor in a previous generation and Orlynd and his dad are still paying for it. I did find him a bit naive but he provides a good balance to Mierta, especially later in the book.
Plague! Plague is coming! You can’t run fast & far enough to avoid it. Hide if you like, but only chance can save you. Mierta is plagued by visions of this deadly plague and as he ages, it really shapes his character. He has been desperate for years to find a way to avoid the plague or to cure it. This was the aspect of the story I liked the most. After all, it’s biology versus a warlock. Who will win? You’ll need the sequel to find out. All told, it’s a fun tale with some dark edges. 4/5 stars.
The Narration: Chris Walker-Thomson does a great job with this book. I loved his various regional accents for the characters, keeping them all distinct. His female voice for Queen Anya was feminine. I really liked his accent for Orlynd, one that other characters found amusing or unique. There were no technical issues with this recording. 5/5 stars.
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Mackenzie Flohr. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
I have to say that the main character, Mierta, has a very unfortunate name. It’s just one letter off from a popular Spanish cuss word and when listening to an audiobook a ‘t’ can easily sound like a ‘d’. It’s as if our main character was named Shet, which could easily be confused with a vulgar word. So, I had to get all the giggles out before I could take this story seriously. That done, Mierta really is a serious character and not someone I would want to cross. Indeed, I would never make fun of his name within his hearing.
This tale takes place in the 1200s and almost has a King Arthur feel to it. Several of the characters start off innocent, or at least good, and as they mature and life seasons them, some turn onto a dark path. Plus there’s Queen Anya who is power-hungry. There’s very few female characters in this tale, which also matches many King Arthur tales. I wanted more ladies and more out of them. Queen Anya is good at manipulation but she doesn’t have any power of her own; she relies on the men around her to attain and stay in power.
Orlynd is an interesting young man. He finds himself unexpectedly in the King’s circle. His family fell out of favor in a previous generation and Orlynd and his dad are still paying for it. I did find him a bit naive but he provides a good balance to Mierta, especially later in the book.
Plague! Plague is coming! You can’t run fast & far enough to avoid it. Hide if you like, but only chance can save you. Mierta is plagued by visions of this deadly plague and as he ages, it really shapes his character. He has been desperate for years to find a way to avoid the plague or to cure it. This was the aspect of the story I liked the most. After all, it’s biology versus a warlock. Who will win? You’ll need the sequel to find out. All told, it’s a fun tale with some dark edges. 4/5 stars.
The Narration: Chris Walker-Thomson does a great job with this book. I loved his various regional accents for the characters, keeping them all distinct. His female voice for Queen Anya was feminine. I really liked his accent for Orlynd, one that other characters found amusing or unique. There were no technical issues with this recording. 5/5 stars.
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Mackenzie Flohr. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
December 2, 2018
If your parents were warlocks and your grandparents were warlocks, wouldn’t that mean that you too would be a warlock? Not necessarily, according to the Rite of Wands. Those who are born warlocks are forced to take the Rite of Wands once they reach a certain age. If they pass, they get to proceed with their magic, but if they fail–magic is taken from them. What a horrible way to live life, knowing that you could have done something great but it was stripped away because of some choices you’d made early in life. The wisdom sets in the older you get, but these youths are forced to take the test none-the-less to see if they can handle their destiny. Flohr has an entertaining and action-packed young adult fantasy novel that will engulf readers into a new world.
Mierta McKinnon has pass his Rite of Wands, only to be dreadfully concerned about the plague that kills him and his family as a young adult. He knows that Lord Kaeto’s warning to start researching apothecary using his father’s potion book is the right way to go, but he finds himself running into hardships in order to get there. Unable to stress the urgency of what was shown to him through his Rite of Wands, his father is reluctant to grant him access for fear of unleashing his own secrets. Within a neighboring kingdom, another warlock has been accepted by the king as his new soothsayer out of respect for his mother. He foresees the king’s untimely death, but is not believed and the story continues to follow both warlocks through their fascinating, yet harsh life of friendship, poison, death, and dishonor. Can both warlocks find a way to fight against the destinies that had been shown to them in their Rite of Wands in order to save their people and kingdom?
Flohr has a fantastic story, filled with creativity, world-building, and originality. The pace is a bit slower in the beginning and quickens throughout the read. This is typically due to the fantasy content and consistency of world-building elements. The story appears to be written fairly well. Since this review compliments the audiobook, the narrator was phenomenal with his voice relay. The scenes were vivid for the imagination and characters were entertaining along with the corresponding background noises. This is the first installment in the Rite of Wands Series; therefore, you can jump right in. If you are interested in action and young adult fantasy, this may be a perfect fit.
An audiobook was provided to Turning Another Page by Audiobookworm Promotions and in no way affects the honesty of this review. We provide a five-star rating to The Rite of Wands by Mackenzie Flohr.
Mierta McKinnon has pass his Rite of Wands, only to be dreadfully concerned about the plague that kills him and his family as a young adult. He knows that Lord Kaeto’s warning to start researching apothecary using his father’s potion book is the right way to go, but he finds himself running into hardships in order to get there. Unable to stress the urgency of what was shown to him through his Rite of Wands, his father is reluctant to grant him access for fear of unleashing his own secrets. Within a neighboring kingdom, another warlock has been accepted by the king as his new soothsayer out of respect for his mother. He foresees the king’s untimely death, but is not believed and the story continues to follow both warlocks through their fascinating, yet harsh life of friendship, poison, death, and dishonor. Can both warlocks find a way to fight against the destinies that had been shown to them in their Rite of Wands in order to save their people and kingdom?
Flohr has a fantastic story, filled with creativity, world-building, and originality. The pace is a bit slower in the beginning and quickens throughout the read. This is typically due to the fantasy content and consistency of world-building elements. The story appears to be written fairly well. Since this review compliments the audiobook, the narrator was phenomenal with his voice relay. The scenes were vivid for the imagination and characters were entertaining along with the corresponding background noises. This is the first installment in the Rite of Wands Series; therefore, you can jump right in. If you are interested in action and young adult fantasy, this may be a perfect fit.
An audiobook was provided to Turning Another Page by Audiobookworm Promotions and in no way affects the honesty of this review. We provide a five-star rating to The Rite of Wands by Mackenzie Flohr.
July 19, 2017
This is a good read for MG and YA readers. I found the story intriguing and full of both mystery and fantasy that serves as a real page-turner. We see the events progress, mainly through the eyes of two similarly aged warlocks Mierta and Orlynd, and how they come to fill their roles in this realm.
I liked the jumping between the POV of the two characters, and although there seemed to be sporadic leaps back and forth between places and time, I was able to follow along quite well without any feelings of disconnect. The author also does a wonderful job supplying the reader with the pronunciations of spells, and with Orlynd's Celtic dialect. You can tell she really put forth a lot of time and effort into the creation of this work.
One thing that I think needs improving however, is the fact that there were specific actions or behaviors of some of the characters that seemed off to me. There were a few moments when a main character performed an action that seemed unlikely of him because the information or knowledge that he had of a situation should have prompted him to act differently. I don't want to get into details for the sake of preventing spoilers, so I'll leave it there. But I did notice a few instances like this that caused either an inconsistency or a slight plot hole.
One thing that I think is very promising: I noticed, especially in Part II of this book, when the main characters who were teens in Part I are now adults. There seems to have been events in the gap of time between Parts I and II that may have changed these characters for the better or the worse, but we're unsure as they show signs of both cruelty and kindness (except for Orlynd, who seems steady and unchanging in morals and loyalty throughout), so it's difficult to tell who are the protagonists and the antagonists. At first this bothered me as I felt character development was inconsistent, but the more I reflected on the reading, I got the sense that the author intended to develop this theme that not everything is as it seems, which is very clever and unique if played out right. Perhaps that there is much that has happened in the twenty-four year gap between Part I and Part II, that will be later explained in future novels.
All in all, this appears to be an excellent start to a new YA fantasy series, with solid writing skills and promising character dynamics, and I look forward to seeing how it all progresses.
I liked the jumping between the POV of the two characters, and although there seemed to be sporadic leaps back and forth between places and time, I was able to follow along quite well without any feelings of disconnect. The author also does a wonderful job supplying the reader with the pronunciations of spells, and with Orlynd's Celtic dialect. You can tell she really put forth a lot of time and effort into the creation of this work.
One thing that I think needs improving however, is the fact that there were specific actions or behaviors of some of the characters that seemed off to me. There were a few moments when a main character performed an action that seemed unlikely of him because the information or knowledge that he had of a situation should have prompted him to act differently. I don't want to get into details for the sake of preventing spoilers, so I'll leave it there. But I did notice a few instances like this that caused either an inconsistency or a slight plot hole.
One thing that I think is very promising: I noticed, especially in Part II of this book, when the main characters who were teens in Part I are now adults. There seems to have been events in the gap of time between Parts I and II that may have changed these characters for the better or the worse, but we're unsure as they show signs of both cruelty and kindness (except for Orlynd, who seems steady and unchanging in morals and loyalty throughout), so it's difficult to tell who are the protagonists and the antagonists. At first this bothered me as I felt character development was inconsistent, but the more I reflected on the reading, I got the sense that the author intended to develop this theme that not everything is as it seems, which is very clever and unique if played out right. Perhaps that there is much that has happened in the twenty-four year gap between Part I and Part II, that will be later explained in future novels.
All in all, this appears to be an excellent start to a new YA fantasy series, with solid writing skills and promising character dynamics, and I look forward to seeing how it all progresses.
February 14, 2020
I received a free advance reader's copy in exchange for my honest review. Thank you Netgalley and BHC Press!
The Rite Of Wands is a medieval fantasy about a warlock, Mierta who foresees a horrific future in his Rite Of Wands ceremony, a ceremony which of initiation all witches and warlocks must go through. Scared, Mierta starts working towards preventing the tragedy he has been shown. Meanwhile, in the castle where Mierta's father works as a court physician, there are people who are full of secrets and nobody knows who to trust.
When I opened this book and saw the translations for Orlynd's speech, I was a bit concerned I would not be able to understand the book. However, it was pretty easy to understand what he was saying without having to check the list too often.
This story had such a medieval feel to it. I felt like I was transported back to the days of dragons and witchcraft. I particularly liked the use of terms we do not normally see like 'warlock' and 'soothsayer.' There was even a banshee thrown in.
The plot moved quickly enough that I finished the book a lot faster than I expected. My only issue was that at some points, the author included a bit of unnecessary explanations.
My favorite character was Orlynd, the new soothsayer at the castle. He was the only person I felt to be truly trustworthy and loyal. I was glad when the king realized his worth.
I would actually like to continue this series and see what happens next. This series would appeal to those who love fantasy and medieval stories.
Recurrent themes: Magic. Potions. Royalty. Secrets. Poisoning. Murder. Deception
Violence: A character was shot with an arrow. Characters were poisoned. A violent explosion mars a character's face badly
Sexual Content: The sexuality of one of the characters is hinted at and used to her advantage but there is no detailed description
Profanity: None
Religious Themes: A character prays to God
Alcohol/Drugs/Smoking: Mead is drunk at parties
The Rite Of Wands is a medieval fantasy about a warlock, Mierta who foresees a horrific future in his Rite Of Wands ceremony, a ceremony which of initiation all witches and warlocks must go through. Scared, Mierta starts working towards preventing the tragedy he has been shown. Meanwhile, in the castle where Mierta's father works as a court physician, there are people who are full of secrets and nobody knows who to trust.
When I opened this book and saw the translations for Orlynd's speech, I was a bit concerned I would not be able to understand the book. However, it was pretty easy to understand what he was saying without having to check the list too often.
This story had such a medieval feel to it. I felt like I was transported back to the days of dragons and witchcraft. I particularly liked the use of terms we do not normally see like 'warlock' and 'soothsayer.' There was even a banshee thrown in.
The plot moved quickly enough that I finished the book a lot faster than I expected. My only issue was that at some points, the author included a bit of unnecessary explanations.
My favorite character was Orlynd, the new soothsayer at the castle. He was the only person I felt to be truly trustworthy and loyal. I was glad when the king realized his worth.
I would actually like to continue this series and see what happens next. This series would appeal to those who love fantasy and medieval stories.
Recurrent themes: Magic. Potions. Royalty. Secrets. Poisoning. Murder. Deception
Violence: A character was shot with an arrow. Characters were poisoned. A violent explosion mars a character's face badly
Sexual Content: The sexuality of one of the characters is hinted at and used to her advantage but there is no detailed description
Profanity: None
Religious Themes: A character prays to God
Alcohol/Drugs/Smoking: Mead is drunk at parties
February 14, 2020
The Rite Of Wands is a medieval fantasy about a warlock, Mierta who foresees a horrific future in his Rite Of Wands ceremony, a ceremony which of initiation all witches and warlocks must go through. Scared, Mierta starts working towards preventing the tragedy he has been shown. Meanwhile, in the castle where Mierta's father works as a court physician, there are people who are full of secrets and nobody knows who to trust.
When I opened this book and saw the translations for Orlynd's speech, I was a bit concerned I would not be able to understand the book. However, it was pretty easy to understand what he was saying without having to check the list too often.
This story had such a medieval feel to it. I felt like I was transported back to the days of dragons and witchcraft. I particularly liked the use of terms we do not normally see like 'warlock' and 'soothsayer.' There was even a banshee thrown in.
The plot moved quickly enough that I finished the book a lot faster than I expected. My only issue was that at some points, the author included a bit of unnecessary explanations.
My favorite character was Orlynd, the new soothsayer at the castle. He was the only person I felt to be truly trustworthy and loyal. I was glad when the king realized his worth.
I would actually like to continue this series and see what happens next. This series would appeal to those who love fantasy and medieval stories.
Recurrent themes: Magic. Potions. Royalty. Secrets. Poisoning. Murder. Deception
Violence: A character was shot with an arrow. Characters were poisoned. A violent explosion mars a character's face badly
Sexual Content: The sexuality of one of the characters is hinted at and used to her advantage but there is no detailed description
Profanity: None
Religious Themes: A character prays to God
Alcohol/Drugs/Smoking: Mead is drunk at parties
When I opened this book and saw the translations for Orlynd's speech, I was a bit concerned I would not be able to understand the book. However, it was pretty easy to understand what he was saying without having to check the list too often.
This story had such a medieval feel to it. I felt like I was transported back to the days of dragons and witchcraft. I particularly liked the use of terms we do not normally see like 'warlock' and 'soothsayer.' There was even a banshee thrown in.
The plot moved quickly enough that I finished the book a lot faster than I expected. My only issue was that at some points, the author included a bit of unnecessary explanations.
My favorite character was Orlynd, the new soothsayer at the castle. He was the only person I felt to be truly trustworthy and loyal. I was glad when the king realized his worth.
I would actually like to continue this series and see what happens next. This series would appeal to those who love fantasy and medieval stories.
Recurrent themes: Magic. Potions. Royalty. Secrets. Poisoning. Murder. Deception
Violence: A character was shot with an arrow. Characters were poisoned. A violent explosion mars a character's face badly
Sexual Content: The sexuality of one of the characters is hinted at and used to her advantage but there is no detailed description
Profanity: None
Religious Themes: A character prays to God
Alcohol/Drugs/Smoking: Mead is drunk at parties
February 21, 2020
Thr rite of wands by Mackenzie Flohr
This was a kind of book which left me curious for more. A tale of magic, trust, betrayal, prophecies, love, hate, sorrow, family, secrets and wands. This was a a book with a different vibe to it with the historical society and characters who will definitely keep you curious. To be honest it took me a long time to read this book. The writing was a bit different but later after a few chapters I was comfortable with it. The author has an unique style and I acknowledge that it's beautiful.
This is a tale of a kingdom and it's prophecies that need to come true and some people trying to stop it. At the heart of this tale is betrayal, trust and magic that gives the whole thing a blissful uplift that will ensnare you if, you are a fan of historical fiction. The rite of wands is a procedure that every warlock must undergo and thus whatever happens at that time should not be told to anyone no matter what. That being the only rule complicates things. A murdered mother, a murdered king... So many events yet hidden to the eyes. A quest of the warlocks to see justice done with a wonderfully crafted book. I loved the characters both dark and good with the plot of the story.
The multiple pov's in this book keep the anticipation up if what is to come and that acts as a treat to the reader. The landscape setup was a bit confusing but I thoroughly enjoyed the circumstances and how the story just flowed from past, future and present without too many hitches. If you are looking for a grasping read with a touch of magic you can surely pick this book up.
#netgalley #theriteofwands
This was a kind of book which left me curious for more. A tale of magic, trust, betrayal, prophecies, love, hate, sorrow, family, secrets and wands. This was a a book with a different vibe to it with the historical society and characters who will definitely keep you curious. To be honest it took me a long time to read this book. The writing was a bit different but later after a few chapters I was comfortable with it. The author has an unique style and I acknowledge that it's beautiful.
This is a tale of a kingdom and it's prophecies that need to come true and some people trying to stop it. At the heart of this tale is betrayal, trust and magic that gives the whole thing a blissful uplift that will ensnare you if, you are a fan of historical fiction. The rite of wands is a procedure that every warlock must undergo and thus whatever happens at that time should not be told to anyone no matter what. That being the only rule complicates things. A murdered mother, a murdered king... So many events yet hidden to the eyes. A quest of the warlocks to see justice done with a wonderfully crafted book. I loved the characters both dark and good with the plot of the story.
The multiple pov's in this book keep the anticipation up if what is to come and that acts as a treat to the reader. The landscape setup was a bit confusing but I thoroughly enjoyed the circumstances and how the story just flowed from past, future and present without too many hitches. If you are looking for a grasping read with a touch of magic you can surely pick this book up.
#netgalley #theriteofwands
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews