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Convergence #2
The Wandering Mage
The convergence is over, but Sesskia’s role in preventing it has left her far from her friends and husband Cederic.
As she tries to travel north to rejoin them, events keep interfering. The mad God-Empress of Castavir is in control of an army that threatens to sweep over the newly rejoined countries of Balaen and Castavir. Men and women who use magic like Sesskia’s have sprung up after the convergence, and Balaen’s ineffectual king wants to use them for his personal protection. New friends, and new enemies, broaden Sesskia’s horizons and challenge her loyalties.
Though Sesskia wants only to be reunited with Cederic, she is drawn into the political conflict between two countries lying intertwined with each other, and finds within herself leadership abilities she never could have guessed.
As she tries to travel north to rejoin them, events keep interfering. The mad God-Empress of Castavir is in control of an army that threatens to sweep over the newly rejoined countries of Balaen and Castavir. Men and women who use magic like Sesskia’s have sprung up after the convergence, and Balaen’s ineffectual king wants to use them for his personal protection. New friends, and new enemies, broaden Sesskia’s horizons and challenge her loyalties.
Though Sesskia wants only to be reunited with Cederic, she is drawn into the political conflict between two countries lying intertwined with each other, and finds within herself leadership abilities she never could have guessed.
380 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 23, 2017
33 people are currently reading
91 people want to read
About the author
Melissa McShane
94 books861 followersMelissa grew up a nomad, following her family all over the United States, and ended up living in the shadow of the Wasatch Mountains with her husband, four kids, and three very needy cats. Her love of reading was always a constant during those uncertain years, and her love of writing grew out of that. She wrote reviews and critical essays for many years before turning to fiction, and was surprised at how much she liked it. She loves the fantasy genre and how it stretches the imagination.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 1, 2017
Final review, first posted on Fantasy Literature:
The Wandering Mage, the second volume of the CONVERGENCE trilogy by Melissa McShane, picks up right where the first volume, The Summoned Mage, left off (so there are, necessarily, some major spoilers here for that first book). Their world was split apart many centuries ago by a misuse of magic, but now the worlds have converged again. A complex spell, involving the work of many mages, has helped to minimize the physical damage caused by the convergence, but its aftermath left our main character, the Balaen mage Sesskia, many miles away from her now-husband Cederic, leader of the Castavir mages.
Their reunited land, which recombined the countries of Balaen and Castavir, is not only in some physical disarray but, far more importantly, political and social turmoil. Cities and towns from the two different countries have landed next to each other (not on top of each other, thank goodness), but the people now speak entirely different languages and have different cultures. Misunderstandings, conflicts and fights arise almost immediately. To make matters worse, the beautiful but criminally insane God-Empress of Castavir is leading an army in an attempt to gain control over the entire country.
Sesskia soon realizes that her initial plan ― to travel back to the capital city and find Cederic as soon as humanly possible ― has to be set aside for the time being. Her knowledge of both countries and their languages, and her magical powers, may be vital to helping bring the two countries together, and helping to combat the God-Empress’s takeover. Sesskia ends up being more important to both magical and political developments than she ever would have guessed.
The Wandering Mage is that relatively rare thing: a middle book in a trilogy that I enjoyed more, and thought was a better novel, than the first book. I particularly appreciated the additional development of the conflicting magical systems in this world, and how that played out in the battles between the major powers. Sesskia continues to learn more about the elusive nature of magic, and becomes a teacher of other mages, many of whom have newly discovered magical gifts as a result of the convergence. The mage training sessions were unexpected fascinating, especially in combination with some lessons in spying, and there’s political intrigue as well. Also: Mage wars! What’s not to like?
Like the previous book, The Wandering Mage is told in diary form. Sesskia is writing in her journal as events occur; it does require some suspension of disbelief to imagine she would be taking so much time to handwrite about everything that’s happening, in great detail, while her life and all around her is in such great turmoil. But it does give a sense of immediacy to Sesskia’s story. (McShane acknowledges the debt she owes to Andrea K. Höst’s TOUCHSTONE trilogy for the inspiration to use the diary approach.)
Also like The Summoned Mage, The Wandering Mage ends on a note of uncertainty. It’s perhaps not quite the cliffhanger that the first book had, but interested readers will want to promptly continue with the final third of the story, told in The Unconquered Mage.
I received a free copy of this book from the author for review.
The Wandering Mage, the second volume of the CONVERGENCE trilogy by Melissa McShane, picks up right where the first volume, The Summoned Mage, left off (so there are, necessarily, some major spoilers here for that first book). Their world was split apart many centuries ago by a misuse of magic, but now the worlds have converged again. A complex spell, involving the work of many mages, has helped to minimize the physical damage caused by the convergence, but its aftermath left our main character, the Balaen mage Sesskia, many miles away from her now-husband Cederic, leader of the Castavir mages.
Their reunited land, which recombined the countries of Balaen and Castavir, is not only in some physical disarray but, far more importantly, political and social turmoil. Cities and towns from the two different countries have landed next to each other (not on top of each other, thank goodness), but the people now speak entirely different languages and have different cultures. Misunderstandings, conflicts and fights arise almost immediately. To make matters worse, the beautiful but criminally insane God-Empress of Castavir is leading an army in an attempt to gain control over the entire country.
Sesskia soon realizes that her initial plan ― to travel back to the capital city and find Cederic as soon as humanly possible ― has to be set aside for the time being. Her knowledge of both countries and their languages, and her magical powers, may be vital to helping bring the two countries together, and helping to combat the God-Empress’s takeover. Sesskia ends up being more important to both magical and political developments than she ever would have guessed.
The Wandering Mage is that relatively rare thing: a middle book in a trilogy that I enjoyed more, and thought was a better novel, than the first book. I particularly appreciated the additional development of the conflicting magical systems in this world, and how that played out in the battles between the major powers. Sesskia continues to learn more about the elusive nature of magic, and becomes a teacher of other mages, many of whom have newly discovered magical gifts as a result of the convergence. The mage training sessions were unexpected fascinating, especially in combination with some lessons in spying, and there’s political intrigue as well. Also: Mage wars! What’s not to like?
Like the previous book, The Wandering Mage is told in diary form. Sesskia is writing in her journal as events occur; it does require some suspension of disbelief to imagine she would be taking so much time to handwrite about everything that’s happening, in great detail, while her life and all around her is in such great turmoil. But it does give a sense of immediacy to Sesskia’s story. (McShane acknowledges the debt she owes to Andrea K. Höst’s TOUCHSTONE trilogy for the inspiration to use the diary approach.)
Also like The Summoned Mage, The Wandering Mage ends on a note of uncertainty. It’s perhaps not quite the cliffhanger that the first book had, but interested readers will want to promptly continue with the final third of the story, told in The Unconquered Mage.
I received a free copy of this book from the author for review.
Read
May 23, 2017Inhaled.
I will say up front, readers who enjoy the opening of the first will really want to have all volumes right at hand; though each ends at an appropriate shift in the action, because this is truly a long arc story, there are dangling threads all over the place.
So, this volume is definitely Act Two of a long-arc story, and not filler, as too many fantasy trilogies sometimes seem. I guess someone *could* begin here, as Sesskia finds herself in a totally new situation, and now has to find out where she is, and find her way back, but I strongly urge readers to begin with the first book, The Summoned Mage to not only get the background, but to understand the stakes, both situational and emotional.
The book begins at a run, and keeps going that way as Sesskia slowly discovers the shape of the world she is in, and keeps writing it out in her diary. She now discovers as she travels how ordinary people have reacted to what happened—which is in a variety of ways, as humans do. Many of them very threatening to strangers.
Sesskia travels for much of the book, seeking the Castaviri mages and also her new husband. Along the way she meets mages from her own world—first a secret mage, who becomes a friend and traveling companion—and she begins to learn about those created as a result of the climactic segment of the previous novel.
And when she finally catches up with those she had come to know and value, it is with a great deal of new experience behind her, including an interesting relationship. Tension heightens as two armies work to decide whether to fight one another, or is there an alternative, considering the greater danger threatening them all.
The book ends with everybody in lock and load mode, facing what needs to be done to restore peace to the world.
I think that’s reasonably spoiler free. What I want to highlight is the handling of relationships in this book. I love the way Sesskia, long a loner, thinks her way into the convoluted path of friendship—and that includes with those who would like to be friends with benefits.
McShane’s adults talk to each other like actual adults, something I really appreciate reading. They don’t behave like hormonal teens, though the hormones are definitely there. But truth, trust, honor, and how to handle profound emotional hurt while still working together, get explored—all while the plot zips along with magic razzle-dazzle and discoveries, errors with consequences, action, and steadily accelerating tension.
I love how her newlyweds—with their typical newlywed humina-humina—still talk, and get frustrated with one another, but come back to work it out, each trusting the other even though they are going into danger. And sometimes, oh yes, it hurts horribly.
I continue to enjoy the way McShane handles friendships and familial relationships. I also like how Sesskia’s background as a thief influences how she thinks.
I did hit a couple of minor walls . The building tension carried me right past those slight falters, and into starting the third book very late at night.
Advanced Reading Copy provided by author.
I will say up front, readers who enjoy the opening of the first will really want to have all volumes right at hand; though each ends at an appropriate shift in the action, because this is truly a long arc story, there are dangling threads all over the place.
So, this volume is definitely Act Two of a long-arc story, and not filler, as too many fantasy trilogies sometimes seem. I guess someone *could* begin here, as Sesskia finds herself in a totally new situation, and now has to find out where she is, and find her way back, but I strongly urge readers to begin with the first book, The Summoned Mage to not only get the background, but to understand the stakes, both situational and emotional.
The book begins at a run, and keeps going that way as Sesskia slowly discovers the shape of the world she is in, and keeps writing it out in her diary. She now discovers as she travels how ordinary people have reacted to what happened—which is in a variety of ways, as humans do. Many of them very threatening to strangers.
Sesskia travels for much of the book, seeking the Castaviri mages and also her new husband. Along the way she meets mages from her own world—first a secret mage, who becomes a friend and traveling companion—and she begins to learn about those created as a result of the climactic segment of the previous novel.
And when she finally catches up with those she had come to know and value, it is with a great deal of new experience behind her, including an interesting relationship. Tension heightens as two armies work to decide whether to fight one another, or is there an alternative, considering the greater danger threatening them all.
The book ends with everybody in lock and load mode, facing what needs to be done to restore peace to the world.
I think that’s reasonably spoiler free. What I want to highlight is the handling of relationships in this book. I love the way Sesskia, long a loner, thinks her way into the convoluted path of friendship—and that includes with those who would like to be friends with benefits.
McShane’s adults talk to each other like actual adults, something I really appreciate reading. They don’t behave like hormonal teens, though the hormones are definitely there. But truth, trust, honor, and how to handle profound emotional hurt while still working together, get explored—all while the plot zips along with magic razzle-dazzle and discoveries, errors with consequences, action, and steadily accelerating tension.
I love how her newlyweds—with their typical newlywed humina-humina—still talk, and get frustrated with one another, but come back to work it out, each trusting the other even though they are going into danger. And sometimes, oh yes, it hurts horribly.
I continue to enjoy the way McShane handles friendships and familial relationships. I also like how Sesskia’s background as a thief influences how she thinks.
I did hit a couple of minor walls . The building tension carried me right past those slight falters, and into starting the third book very late at night.
Advanced Reading Copy provided by author.
Read
November 27, 2023This book is the only one I've written where my husband didn't read it as I wrote it. He is extremely patient and willing to read a few chapters at a time when I need feedback as to how it's going, but he doesn't enjoy doing it. It started out just a coincidence that he hadn't read it, and then I decided to make it a personal challenge. I don't know that it affected the quality at all, but it was certainly an interesting experiment.
I was worried, with this one, that the sheer amount of traveling Sesskia does would put readers off. I hate writing travel because it feels, as I'm writing it, extremely boring and looooong. She has enough adventures that it's probably less of an issue than I think. I especially liked giving her companions whose magic is the same as hers, and Jeddan is my favorite of her friends. Jeddan was originally meant to fill the interpersonal role Mattiak Tarallan ended up with, and I like this version, in which he becomes a trusted friend, much better. Sesskia had so many women friends in The Summoned Mage that I wanted to give her a male friend who wasn't romantically interested in her. He kept the journey from being too boring.
I have to admit here that everything I know about war strategy I learned from Bernard Cornwell novels and 25 years of playing Dungeons & Dragons. Sesskia, fortunately for me, understands very little of war and has no interest in becoming an expert, so I think it all worked out well in the end.
I was worried, with this one, that the sheer amount of traveling Sesskia does would put readers off. I hate writing travel because it feels, as I'm writing it, extremely boring and looooong. She has enough adventures that it's probably less of an issue than I think. I especially liked giving her companions whose magic is the same as hers, and Jeddan is my favorite of her friends. Jeddan was originally meant to fill the interpersonal role Mattiak Tarallan ended up with, and I like this version, in which he becomes a trusted friend, much better. Sesskia had so many women friends in The Summoned Mage that I wanted to give her a male friend who wasn't romantically interested in her. He kept the journey from being too boring.
I have to admit here that everything I know about war strategy I learned from Bernard Cornwell novels and 25 years of playing Dungeons & Dragons. Sesskia, fortunately for me, understands very little of war and has no interest in becoming an expert, so I think it all worked out well in the end.
Read
June 14, 2017This is book two in the trilogy. Don't start here. I mean you conceivably COULD, but it's a much better idea to read book one first. They really all go together in one big story arc.
Anyway... In this book we find out what happens after the Convergence and just how hard it is to try to deal with two countries coming together and all of the factions involved. We see Sesskia away from her beloved and her friends and how much she's changed. At one point she wouldn't have worried about being alone, but now she has family and friends and misses them all.
One of my favorite things about this volume is the friendships Sesskia creates that, surprise, do not turn into love triangles. Grown ups talking to each other and taking care of each other and showing the benefits of platonic love. People who can care desperately for each other and the future without it turning to romance. It was lovely. Even the one romantic case turns out well.
More in the last review... keep reading! It gets better.
Anyway... In this book we find out what happens after the Convergence and just how hard it is to try to deal with two countries coming together and all of the factions involved. We see Sesskia away from her beloved and her friends and how much she's changed. At one point she wouldn't have worried about being alone, but now she has family and friends and misses them all.
One of my favorite things about this volume is the friendships Sesskia creates that, surprise, do not turn into love triangles. Grown ups talking to each other and taking care of each other and showing the benefits of platonic love. People who can care desperately for each other and the future without it turning to romance. It was lovely. Even the one romantic case turns out well.
More in the last review... keep reading! It gets better.
September 24, 2021
A worthy sequel to the first. There’s still plenty to figure out about how magic works and what will happen with the peoples, after the end of the world.
Read
May 23, 2017... will say a bit about what I loved in the series in The Unconquered Mage
September 4, 2019
I got an ARC of this story from the author in exchange for an honest review :) this is the second book in a trilogy that basically tells one story, so I cannot possibly share my opinions about the second installment without some major spoilers from that first book :) so what I'm gonna do is tell you a bit more about the premise of the series in general and encourage you to give it a try, for all of you people who are new to it, and then we will get into some spoilery thoughts about this installment :)
This is a fantasy series written in a diary format from the perspective of our main character, Sesskia ;) she is a mage in a world who fears them, so she hides her abbilities and at the same time tries her best to learn more... at the beginning of that first book, she is suddenly transported to a whole new world... along with her we are slowly learning how exactly she got there and what is going on...because there is a certain very big event coming, that may alter both of the worlds in an unpredictable way... we see Sesskia growing closer to new people she met... mages like her in a world that supports them and their gifts... for someone who is used to being alone all the time, seeing her open up to friendships is absolutely amazing... and yes, there is a romance part in that first book as well, but it's very subtle and definitely not at the forefront of the story ;) that is basically everything I can share when it comes to that first book without spoilers :) I highly recommend you guys to read it, cause I enjoyed it immensly :) last warning, that first installment ends in a mother of all cliffhangers, just so you know what to expect :) but all three books are already available, so it's not like you have to wait for months to learn what happens next :) ok, now I will get into my thoughts and feelings about this second installment, and it WILL contain some major spoilers about the first book :) so if you already read it, or you just don't mind knowing some big surprising twists before reading a book, proceed :) the rest of you guys, you should better avert your eyes, go get that first book and then come back ;)
LAST WARNING, spoilers about the first book ahead :) and don't worry, I don't spoil anything that happens in this installment :) so we pick up right after we left off... which is after Sesskia was transported who knows where, when the magic spell... it's not called like that in the book, but we don't have the time to get into all the intricacies of the magic system right now :) that was designed to save both worlds from crashing and destroying each other actually worked :) but she was separated from all of her friends and her husband... told ya, there would be major spoilers about the first book ;) so you can't be mad at me right now ;) ok, back to the review :) Sesskia spends the majority of this installment working her way back to the people she left behind and discovering how the convergence of the worlds affected everything... the book itself takes place over the span of a few weeks, and a lot of thigns happened in that time... we slowly get more and more answers, although we had to wait for a pretty long time to catch up with certain people... ;) ok, now that we have some basic informations about what this installment is about, let me tell you some more about my thoughts and feelings ;)
I really loved this book :) I knew from the start that it will be at least 4 / 4,5 stars book, but now that I actually had the time to think about it, I will change my mind and rate it a full 5 stars :) let me tell you why :) I think my favourite part of this whole series, and other books written by this lovely author, cause I already have a few of them under my belt, is the fact that her grown up characters actually behave like adults :) there's no stupid or unnecessary drama, no angst or miscommunications... people actually talk to one another... yes, there are conflicts and arguments, but they are all handled with maturity the matter at hands deserve :) I loved that Sesskia met a new mage on her way, a man, and to my utter delight, they became friends and the situation did not evolve into a love triangle :) even though I have missed terribly all the wonderful people we met in the first book and I was wondering alongside with Sesskia what exactly happened with them, her journey was absolutely enthralling... I was really impressed by how mature decision she made, choosing to do the right thing even though the consequences meant she was forced to stay in one place instead of moving forward... and don't worry, there is a reunion in this book, although I won't spoil you when exactly, just be patient :) I very highly recommend you guys this book, and this series in general :) already can't wait to dive into the last installment and see what's gonna happen... because this one does not end on as huge cliffhanger as the last one, but that ending definitely packs a punch ;)
XOXO
A
This is a fantasy series written in a diary format from the perspective of our main character, Sesskia ;) she is a mage in a world who fears them, so she hides her abbilities and at the same time tries her best to learn more... at the beginning of that first book, she is suddenly transported to a whole new world... along with her we are slowly learning how exactly she got there and what is going on...because there is a certain very big event coming, that may alter both of the worlds in an unpredictable way... we see Sesskia growing closer to new people she met... mages like her in a world that supports them and their gifts... for someone who is used to being alone all the time, seeing her open up to friendships is absolutely amazing... and yes, there is a romance part in that first book as well, but it's very subtle and definitely not at the forefront of the story ;) that is basically everything I can share when it comes to that first book without spoilers :) I highly recommend you guys to read it, cause I enjoyed it immensly :) last warning, that first installment ends in a mother of all cliffhangers, just so you know what to expect :) but all three books are already available, so it's not like you have to wait for months to learn what happens next :) ok, now I will get into my thoughts and feelings about this second installment, and it WILL contain some major spoilers about the first book :) so if you already read it, or you just don't mind knowing some big surprising twists before reading a book, proceed :) the rest of you guys, you should better avert your eyes, go get that first book and then come back ;)
LAST WARNING, spoilers about the first book ahead :) and don't worry, I don't spoil anything that happens in this installment :) so we pick up right after we left off... which is after Sesskia was transported who knows where, when the magic spell... it's not called like that in the book, but we don't have the time to get into all the intricacies of the magic system right now :) that was designed to save both worlds from crashing and destroying each other actually worked :) but she was separated from all of her friends and her husband... told ya, there would be major spoilers about the first book ;) so you can't be mad at me right now ;) ok, back to the review :) Sesskia spends the majority of this installment working her way back to the people she left behind and discovering how the convergence of the worlds affected everything... the book itself takes place over the span of a few weeks, and a lot of thigns happened in that time... we slowly get more and more answers, although we had to wait for a pretty long time to catch up with certain people... ;) ok, now that we have some basic informations about what this installment is about, let me tell you some more about my thoughts and feelings ;)
I really loved this book :) I knew from the start that it will be at least 4 / 4,5 stars book, but now that I actually had the time to think about it, I will change my mind and rate it a full 5 stars :) let me tell you why :) I think my favourite part of this whole series, and other books written by this lovely author, cause I already have a few of them under my belt, is the fact that her grown up characters actually behave like adults :) there's no stupid or unnecessary drama, no angst or miscommunications... people actually talk to one another... yes, there are conflicts and arguments, but they are all handled with maturity the matter at hands deserve :) I loved that Sesskia met a new mage on her way, a man, and to my utter delight, they became friends and the situation did not evolve into a love triangle :) even though I have missed terribly all the wonderful people we met in the first book and I was wondering alongside with Sesskia what exactly happened with them, her journey was absolutely enthralling... I was really impressed by how mature decision she made, choosing to do the right thing even though the consequences meant she was forced to stay in one place instead of moving forward... and don't worry, there is a reunion in this book, although I won't spoil you when exactly, just be patient :) I very highly recommend you guys this book, and this series in general :) already can't wait to dive into the last installment and see what's gonna happen... because this one does not end on as huge cliffhanger as the last one, but that ending definitely packs a punch ;)
XOXO
A
June 5, 2017
Two down, one more to go
A very very solid continuation of Sesskia's story, and no sophomore slump here. I'm immediately on to the third book. Im not giving much (well, any) details of the story here because I don't want to spoil any surprises...just trust that if you liked the first, you'll like this one.
A very very solid continuation of Sesskia's story, and no sophomore slump here. I'm immediately on to the third book. Im not giving much (well, any) details of the story here because I don't want to spoil any surprises...just trust that if you liked the first, you'll like this one.
July 10, 2017
Great follow-up.
December 20, 2017
Excellent follow up to the first one! I didn't think I was going to like the diary format, but I ended up really liking it, especially in the end when you get another perspective!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews