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The Hidden Wizard #1
Pool of Knowledge
Finding out you are a wizard… …is only half the story. Alrion answers the call with a mixture of fear and excitement. Finally, a chance to prove himself and discover his true purpose. But his potential was kept a secret his entire life. What else were they hiding? Tales of the Blight hint at darkness and danger. A mysterious force that sounds like it’s from a fairy tale. As he travels Alrion starts to understand the truth. His power is unique, and the spread of the Blight and his emergence as a wizard are not a coincidence. Many trials and an impossible quest lay ahead of Alrion. Can he rise above his lack of training and overcome the twisted creatures of the Blight? Or will he falter and suffer a fate worse than death? You’ll love this action-packed fantasy adventure because of the interesting magic system, the steady growth of the lead character, and the surprising twists and turns. Get it now. Pool of Knowledge is book 1 of The Hidden Wizard Series. This complete four book series is outlined below. The Hidden Wizard Series Book 1: Pool of Knowledge Book 2: Vault of Silence Book 3: Spark of Truth Book 4: Soul of Light Also The Wandering Prequel to the Hidden Wizard The Hidden The Complete Series
270 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 27, 2017
348 people are currently reading
193 people want to read
About the author
Vaughan W. Smith
21 books29 followersVaughan W. Smith is a fiction writer from Sydney, Australia, who explores big life questions through story. His favourite genres are Fantasy, Mystery, Science Fiction and Thrillers.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
July 29, 2018
This is definitely the worst novel I have read all of in my adult life. But I did manage to read all of it, which I guess counts for something.
The story itself is not terrible, but the writing and the pacing are disastrous. The characters are wooden, impossible to relate to, and feel too much just like generic stock archetypes badly forced in.
But the real trouble, the reason I could not give it more than a single star, was the dialogue. It was like reading my own first nanowrimo attempt or dialogue written by an AI that had never been shown samples of human speech but had just had the concept explained.
The story has promise. It is just a shame that the prose utterly fails to support that promise.
The story itself is not terrible, but the writing and the pacing are disastrous. The characters are wooden, impossible to relate to, and feel too much just like generic stock archetypes badly forced in.
But the real trouble, the reason I could not give it more than a single star, was the dialogue. It was like reading my own first nanowrimo attempt or dialogue written by an AI that had never been shown samples of human speech but had just had the concept explained.
The story has promise. It is just a shame that the prose utterly fails to support that promise.
August 24, 2021
I've read roughly a couple of chapters. The characters are too inhuman. Their speech is badly written, their reactions are badly written, and their manners and emotions are just....inhuman. Quoting from another review, 'They're wooden characters'.
A wizard arrives on the doorstep of a woman, and tells her that her husband is the son of one of the Wizard Headmaster of the Wizard academy. And that he's looking for the grandson of said wizard because he's super powerful, or something. What does the Mum do? She hardly bats an eyelid, and invites him in for tea. When the Dad comes home, he seems totally relaxed with the stranger in his home, even after said stranger reveals that he changed his name, etc. The characters are too 'not-realistic'.
A wizard arrives on the doorstep of a woman, and tells her that her husband is the son of one of the Wizard Headmaster of the Wizard academy. And that he's looking for the grandson of said wizard because he's super powerful, or something. What does the Mum do? She hardly bats an eyelid, and invites him in for tea. When the Dad comes home, he seems totally relaxed with the stranger in his home, even after said stranger reveals that he changed his name, etc. The characters are too 'not-realistic'.
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April 13, 2023Everything was a bit too constructed for my taste. the conversations didnt feel real, the reactions to the events were artificial. (Example: A mom learns that her husband is the son of the biggest wizard in history - her son has immense magical potential and will leave to a school for at least half a year and her reaction is like "fine - cya")
I think this is maybe one of the first books of this author and he wants to get to his main plot too fast. but it totally lost me after about 30% of the book.
As usual no rating if i stopped early.
I think this is maybe one of the first books of this author and he wants to get to his main plot too fast. but it totally lost me after about 30% of the book.
As usual no rating if i stopped early.
April 26, 2019
I love this first book of the series. I read it in one day. This book is gripping and has a well told story. everything seems to come alive. The characters well balanced leaving you rooting for them throughout. The author really does a great job. Great Reading Everyone!!!!!!!
May 16, 2017
Terrible.
I literally managed about 30 minutes. So full of bad clichés it was painful. Not recommend! Wish I'd listened to the other reviews.
I literally managed about 30 minutes. So full of bad clichés it was painful. Not recommend! Wish I'd listened to the other reviews.
July 25, 2017
good plot, and enjoyable story. the character dialogue was amateurish.
December 17, 2017
It is a bit inconsistent, and the characters seem to completely reverse themselves from one paragraph to the next. I think the cover art is okay.
June 6, 2025
The whole plot of the book is based on the most basic archetype of fantasy fiction - an old wise man (wizard) visits a young man, to inform him that he is the chosen one - but the author does little to add any colour, originality, character or twists to this basic premise.
A phone book reads smoother. There is little to recommend in descriptions or action. Most of the story is in the form of unnecessarily overblown dialogue - the author just doesn't know when to lift the pen from the page, leave some things unspoken or trust the reader's intelligence to fill in the blanks. There is a reason why in movies we never see characters saying "hello" when picking up the phone. Cardboard cutouts at the mall have more dimensions and depth then characters in this book - we have overexcited child repeating "wow" at every minor new information (more times that I could count) and rambling old teacher quick to point out child's "good instincts" every time they observe something obvious.
The language in those dialogues is also that of a modern teenager (or to be more precise someone a bit older desperately trying to write a young person speaking and failing miserably) not properly stylized "fantasy speak".
As an adult man I was terrified at the number of times my face cringed in uncontrollable uncomfortable contortions when subjected to this embarrassing piece of fiction.
Action doesn't flow logically, jumps erratically, scenes and events take place without rhyme or reason for mere plot convenience or to bloat the page count. There is no point or any weight in the father's decision to change their name, the whole plotpoint was basically useless. The whole academy initiation and associated secrecy plotpoint was but a lame excuse to pick up a crystal and inform the main character how special he is - which was pointless anyway as they left almost immediately. A grown man ignores his responsibilities to his workshop, livelyhood and wife to go for an adventure because he felt like it. The kid wakes up in the middle of the night to witness two mages duking it out basically out of nowhere. Did this book have any editorial oversight at all?
Not a recommend.
A phone book reads smoother. There is little to recommend in descriptions or action. Most of the story is in the form of unnecessarily overblown dialogue - the author just doesn't know when to lift the pen from the page, leave some things unspoken or trust the reader's intelligence to fill in the blanks. There is a reason why in movies we never see characters saying "hello" when picking up the phone. Cardboard cutouts at the mall have more dimensions and depth then characters in this book - we have overexcited child repeating "wow" at every minor new information (more times that I could count) and rambling old teacher quick to point out child's "good instincts" every time they observe something obvious.
The language in those dialogues is also that of a modern teenager (or to be more precise someone a bit older desperately trying to write a young person speaking and failing miserably) not properly stylized "fantasy speak".
As an adult man I was terrified at the number of times my face cringed in uncontrollable uncomfortable contortions when subjected to this embarrassing piece of fiction.
Action doesn't flow logically, jumps erratically, scenes and events take place without rhyme or reason for mere plot convenience or to bloat the page count. There is no point or any weight in the father's decision to change their name, the whole plotpoint was basically useless. The whole academy initiation and associated secrecy plotpoint was but a lame excuse to pick up a crystal and inform the main character how special he is - which was pointless anyway as they left almost immediately. A grown man ignores his responsibilities to his workshop, livelyhood and wife to go for an adventure because he felt like it. The kid wakes up in the middle of the night to witness two mages duking it out basically out of nowhere. Did this book have any editorial oversight at all?
Not a recommend.
June 2, 2017
Good Sword and Sorcery Novel, part 1
Smith, an Australian author, has written a good, interesting story of a young man undergoing the trials to become a wizard. Our protagonist Alrion's world has been affected by a dark blight that spreads easily, and mutates normal people into dark, evil beings. The protagonist's grandfather cleaned an area of the blight, but sacrificed himself in the process. His father, Vincent, rejected wizardry to become a highly skilled blacksmith (as if using fire to purify and strengthen iron was not wizardry, itself?)
Alrion gets the opportunity to study to become a wizard, but the process is one of journey and adventure. He begins his quest accompanied by his father and Fabric, formerly Alrion's wizard grandfather's assistant. And from this point, adventure and quest drive the novel.
I enjoyed reading the book. I think the author, perhaps, uses excessive dialog to begin the story, but that changes as the book progresses. He soon enters the action-driven stage of the story common to S & S novels. Interestingly, although the author is Australian, he writes in the familiar American fashion. A GOOD NOVEL, WELL WORTH READING.
Smith, an Australian author, has written a good, interesting story of a young man undergoing the trials to become a wizard. Our protagonist Alrion's world has been affected by a dark blight that spreads easily, and mutates normal people into dark, evil beings. The protagonist's grandfather cleaned an area of the blight, but sacrificed himself in the process. His father, Vincent, rejected wizardry to become a highly skilled blacksmith (as if using fire to purify and strengthen iron was not wizardry, itself?)
Alrion gets the opportunity to study to become a wizard, but the process is one of journey and adventure. He begins his quest accompanied by his father and Fabric, formerly Alrion's wizard grandfather's assistant. And from this point, adventure and quest drive the novel.
I enjoyed reading the book. I think the author, perhaps, uses excessive dialog to begin the story, but that changes as the book progresses. He soon enters the action-driven stage of the story common to S & S novels. Interestingly, although the author is Australian, he writes in the familiar American fashion. A GOOD NOVEL, WELL WORTH READING.
August 19, 2021
Firstly, to be clear, 3 stars means I did like the book. I have already read the second one.
The dialogue and grammar are sometimes a bit clumsy or stilted (more so than almost any book I have read) and there is not much depth to the story thus far.
I honestly kept thinking a certain character would return. There are a lot of contrived scenes which start the main questing and some of the character decision making is pretty random or claims don't make sense (one time thief is able to track people through multiple cities, floods of enemies, mysterious forests, etc?
Even given all that, the bones of the story have an interest, and the will and spark aspects are interesting. There are some positives and I will keep going
The dialogue and grammar are sometimes a bit clumsy or stilted (more so than almost any book I have read) and there is not much depth to the story thus far.
I honestly kept thinking a certain character would return. There are a lot of contrived scenes which start the main questing and some of the character decision making is pretty random or claims don't make sense (one time thief is able to track people through multiple cities, floods of enemies, mysterious forests, etc?
Even given all that, the bones of the story have an interest, and the will and spark aspects are interesting. There are some positives and I will keep going
May 24, 2017
DNF 64% very disappointing, so much potential yet a great big belly flop. Stilted conversation, little or no emotions displayed by the characters and the action scenes are very flat and uninteresting. I kept reading in the hopes of an improving tale, but my mind wandered so much that I kept having to go back and reread because I just didn't care about the story. I gave a 2 star rating because at least it was decently edited and had the beginning of a good story. Boring, though.
April 7, 2019
A different type of book
I can't say good or bad. Definitely a book you have to judge yourself. Makes me think of Battlestar Galacta 1980. Maybe a Radio announcer at a baseball game. The writing style evokes the books by Carol Hightshoe a local author I met at a comic con.I
A wizard saves a country and his son is unimpressed. Magic follows through his grandson who becomes the next chosen one and this is his story.
I can't say good or bad. Definitely a book you have to judge yourself. Makes me think of Battlestar Galacta 1980. Maybe a Radio announcer at a baseball game. The writing style evokes the books by Carol Hightshoe a local author I met at a comic con.I
A wizard saves a country and his son is unimpressed. Magic follows through his grandson who becomes the next chosen one and this is his story.
July 12, 2017
Questing Wizard
Well written take on a classic quest story. Interesting magic system,not too convoluted . I would place this in the YA category which could entertain many adults. I plan to pursue this light , fun quest.
Well written take on a classic quest story. Interesting magic system,not too convoluted . I would place this in the YA category which could entertain many adults. I plan to pursue this light , fun quest.
April 14, 2018
There are things that I absolutely love about this world, but too many things just happen to fall into place (ie: seem contrived). I gave the author the benefit of the doubt several times, but things got more contrived as things went on.
July 23, 2019
Slow and formulaic
The whole book is formulaic and pretty straightforward. You can see all the plot points well in advance if you read between the lines. Since it is a long series, hope the author improves his writing a whole lot.
The whole book is formulaic and pretty straightforward. You can see all the plot points well in advance if you read between the lines. Since it is a long series, hope the author improves his writing a whole lot.
September 13, 2022
I listened to the audiobook while at work on down time. Was okay an okay book. I did find myself drifting off and not paying attention at times, but all in all, served it’s purpose to fill the silence.
June 21, 2024
I thought to listen to this book at work. "No such thing as a bad idea" my shame is immeasurable. And once again I'm reminded of why "A quick and dirty read" to get out of a book hangover. It is often the saddest way to do it.
June 7, 2017
It was alright but nothing that blew my mind and made me love it.
March 10, 2019
Interesting
Interesting storyline with twists and turns as treachery abounds while lives are intertwined throughout the realm and it's magical place
Interesting storyline with twists and turns as treachery abounds while lives are intertwined throughout the realm and it's magical place
November 28, 2021
my first Vaughan Smith books and since this was an audio I thought I'd give it a go. I didn't like the narrator for this one but the book itself isn't to bad.
April 10, 2017
Pretty good
Well written adventure. Pretty short for my taste. Suspect it and the next should be one book. Very simple plot.
Well written adventure. Pretty short for my taste. Suspect it and the next should be one book. Very simple plot.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews