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The Age of Oracles #1
The Rogue Mage
With all of magic at her command, Alydian is born to power. She and the other oracles serve the people, guiding kings and commoners with their ability to know the future. Yet despite Alydian’s power she cannot foresee the coming betrayal, for a rogue mage lurks in their midst, and plots an alliance with the mighty guild of Verinai. Under the guise of benevolence the Verinai offer their magic to all, while their expanding reach is noticed by none.
Except the Soldier.
Branded a traitor, wanted for murder, the mysterious man is no ordinary bandit. For six years he has hidden behind a mask, hunting Verinai with his band of Defiant. But now his war is about to escalate, for he has targeted Alydian to send a message, that even an oracle can be killed. Beset by foes, Alydian will require more than magic to survive, for if she cannot change her future . . .
She will fall to her fate.
Except the Soldier.
Branded a traitor, wanted for murder, the mysterious man is no ordinary bandit. For six years he has hidden behind a mask, hunting Verinai with his band of Defiant. But now his war is about to escalate, for he has targeted Alydian to send a message, that even an oracle can be killed. Beset by foes, Alydian will require more than magic to survive, for if she cannot change her future . . .
She will fall to her fate.
368 pages, Paperback
Published June 12, 2017
69 people are currently reading
145 people want to read
About the author
Ben Hale
50 books353 followersAs an avid snowboarder from Utah, Ben grew up with a passion for learning. This thirst for knowledge led him to sports, music, and academic endeavors. After a year of college, he did volunteer work in Brazil and became fluent in three languages. Graduating from the University of Central Florida, he started and ran several successful businesses before publishing his first novel in June of 2012. By the end of the year he'd sold almost ten thousand copies of The Second Draeken War, and he began writing full-time. Now spanning 10,000 years, ten titles, and two series, The Chronicles of Lumineia represents a sprawling YA series that has sold over fifty thousand copies, and continues to expand its readership across all ages. Each of his books has been inspired by his wonderful wife and five beautiful children.
To contact the author, discover more about Lumineia, or find out about upcoming novels, check out his website at Lumineia.com. You can also follow Ben on twitter @ BenHale8 or on Facebook.
To contact the author, discover more about Lumineia, or find out about upcoming novels, check out his website at Lumineia.com. You can also follow Ben on twitter @ BenHale8 or on Facebook.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
August 18, 2017
This is a fantastic YA adventure tale that is created in complex world with a slew of marvelous characters. It's one of those books that everyone in the family can read and appreciate. It's almost like a mix of Lord of the Rings with The Chronicles of Narnia; there's plenty of action and intrigue mixed with a good, solid plot. I can't wait to read the rest of this series and need to know what happened after that slight cliffhanger ending!
July 9, 2024
Fabulous story
Definitely a book you can’t put down. The story twists and turns in almost every page. Ben Hale is a Master Storyteller!
Definitely a book you can’t put down. The story twists and turns in almost every page. Ben Hale is a Master Storyteller!
August 14, 2018
This book was fine. I just finished reading the entire series, and I'd say that the first book is the best. Listen, I read the whole series. I enjoyed it. That said, it doesn't come close to representing a pinnacle of fantasy writing, and is best describe as an easy summer read/beach/airport book. It's the Mammia Mia 2 of books. It's got a lot of weaknesses, but on the whole, eh - it's just entertaining and was quick.
Strengths:
Characters are likable
The world itself is an interesting place that I wanted to learn more about (I haven't yet read any of Hale's other works in this world)
The magic system was somewhat unique and interesting.
Narrated by my favorite audio book narrator, Kate Reading (which is entirely why I picked it up in the first place).
Weaknesses:
The plot and entire book was entirely too predictable.
Filled with fantasy tropes.
While there was, at least, gender parity between the characters, we didn't really see any variation in "types" - almost all of the characters are youngish, warrior types, whether they're men or women. They essentially just have different weapons/abilities. It would have been nice to see people play different roles in the series.
The main characters are ridiculously overpowered, with little-to-know explanation as to how they got that way. The main characters also succeed far too easily - things that would, in reality, take years to master, take the main characters days or weeks - just because they "persevere" or "have suffered."
Hale's conception of this world is far too black-and-white. The bad guys, a huge group of people, are nearly monolithic in their bad-ness. If this is YA, it'd be good to model or do more than extremely simplistic hand-waving, that the bad guys have complex and varied motivations.
Strengths:
Characters are likable
The world itself is an interesting place that I wanted to learn more about (I haven't yet read any of Hale's other works in this world)
The magic system was somewhat unique and interesting.
Narrated by my favorite audio book narrator, Kate Reading (which is entirely why I picked it up in the first place).
Weaknesses:
The plot and entire book was entirely too predictable.
Filled with fantasy tropes.
While there was, at least, gender parity between the characters, we didn't really see any variation in "types" - almost all of the characters are youngish, warrior types, whether they're men or women. They essentially just have different weapons/abilities. It would have been nice to see people play different roles in the series.
The main characters are ridiculously overpowered, with little-to-know explanation as to how they got that way. The main characters also succeed far too easily - things that would, in reality, take years to master, take the main characters days or weeks - just because they "persevere" or "have suffered."
Hale's conception of this world is far too black-and-white. The bad guys, a huge group of people, are nearly monolithic in their bad-ness. If this is YA, it'd be good to model or do more than extremely simplistic hand-waving, that the bad guys have complex and varied motivations.
July 12, 2019
Enjoyable read!!!
I almost did not read this series because I accidentally read the series following this first. However, I am glad I went back in time and am committed to reading this oracle series through. This first book was delightful and I found myself unable to put it down. It was well worth starting at the beginning and following the intrigue...even though, like the oracles in the pages of the book, I can see what their future descendants will reap because of the decisions made in these pages.
I almost did not read this series because I accidentally read the series following this first. However, I am glad I went back in time and am committed to reading this oracle series through. This first book was delightful and I found myself unable to put it down. It was well worth starting at the beginning and following the intrigue...even though, like the oracles in the pages of the book, I can see what their future descendants will reap because of the decisions made in these pages.
July 27, 2022
A Very Good Start.
A good start to a new series set in the world that is an alternate Earth. You will have to read other books by Mr. Hale to see the beginning of this world. Meantime, this is not connected to another story and the series is standalone. If you like magic and magical creatures then author Hale is for you.
A good start to a new series set in the world that is an alternate Earth. You will have to read other books by Mr. Hale to see the beginning of this world. Meantime, this is not connected to another story and the series is standalone. If you like magic and magical creatures then author Hale is for you.
September 12, 2022
Great read
This is a great read Alydian is an Oracle she can see what the future holds depending on someone's actions. She is being trained to join the other Oracles to help the rulers of her world, but not all is as it seems & Alydian has to learn how to care for herself as well as preventing war.
A great start to the trilogy
This is a great read Alydian is an Oracle she can see what the future holds depending on someone's actions. She is being trained to join the other Oracles to help the rulers of her world, but not all is as it seems & Alydian has to learn how to care for herself as well as preventing war.
A great start to the trilogy
July 13, 2023
Awesome read about good mages and "magicless" humans trying to save themselves and others from the Verinai and traitorous mages. Alydian and Raiden fight for the weak until Alydien is taken prisoner.
Yeah, it's a cliffhanger but all the book in the series are out so it's not so bad.
A couple of kisses and no swearing whatsoever.
As for the narration: Kate Reading is wonderful!
Yeah, it's a cliffhanger but all the book in the series are out so it's not so bad.
A couple of kisses and no swearing whatsoever.
As for the narration: Kate Reading is wonderful!
July 17, 2017
This book is the first in the series and it is just an OK read. There is nothing special about the story or the characters that make you want to read this, frankly a little boring. I won't be reading any more, it just couldn't hold my interest.
July 20, 2017
It's a decent first book for the series. Would have been better with more character development in order to make a bigger impact on the reader in some plot lines in the third act. It ends with a big cliffhanger so I will be coming back for the next book in the series
August 7, 2017
Wonderful addition to the existing catalogue
If you have not read Elseerian, I suggest you start there. It will provide context and more gradually build an understanding of the world and it's people. Where you go from there is up to you, but come back to this one.
If you have not read Elseerian, I suggest you start there. It will provide context and more gradually build an understanding of the world and it's people. Where you go from there is up to you, but come back to this one.
October 6, 2018
Amazing book
I wasn’t sure if I would like going backwards but what an amazing journey . I could have never predicted the course of events and I am glad. This book was impossible to put down. Amazing book.
I wasn’t sure if I would like going backwards but what an amazing journey . I could have never predicted the course of events and I am glad. This book was impossible to put down. Amazing book.
November 3, 2021
I listened to this on Audible. Good but not amazing. I'm not a huge fan of big war stories which this turned into. It ends on a cliffhanger and I wasn't in love enough to continue to the next in the series. The narrator did a great job though!
June 19, 2017
Great book as usual.
Could hardly put book down to go to bed. New strong heroine and hero. Magic is great. Ended to soon. Can't wait for next one.
Could hardly put book down to go to bed. New strong heroine and hero. Magic is great. Ended to soon. Can't wait for next one.
June 25, 2017
Good story
All of the books in this series have been good reads. Enjoyable story that I hope will be made into a movie. Read them all, they are good.
All of the books in this series have been good reads. Enjoyable story that I hope will be made into a movie. Read them all, they are good.
July 8, 2017
Fantastic
I look forward to the next book in this series oracles and the future. The heroine is strong and noble and makes hard choices to help the people.
I look forward to the next book in this series oracles and the future. The heroine is strong and noble and makes hard choices to help the people.
November 22, 2017
Great book
Loved it. Another great book series. I can’t wait to read the next one and future books. I love seeing the new characters come to life to explain history.
Loved it. Another great book series. I can’t wait to read the next one and future books. I love seeing the new characters come to life to explain history.
June 9, 2018
Not a bad book, not a fan of the ending but all in all pretty good. I will continue with the series
December 20, 2018
This story takes us back to the time when there were still five oracle bloodlines in Lumineia. It's a coming of age story with a bit of romance.
October 3, 2023
Great Book!
Loved this series. Really good writing and storyline. Great characters.
Fantastic Narration!
Loved this series. Really good writing and storyline. Great characters.
Fantastic Narration!
January 21, 2024
A fantastic start to "The Age of Oracles" what a great world Ben Hale has developed, a real page turner.
June 17, 2025
Enjoyed. Excited to come back to finish the trilogy. Some cool aspects to the book.
General themes: magic, training, infiltration
General themes: magic, training, infiltration
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 1, 2026
52 Book Club 2026 Challenge – uneven number of chapters; three-syllable word in the title; character with a secret identity; featuring a conspiracy
July 27, 2017
Ben Hale started out with the story of Taryn in the Second Draeken War in the Chronicles of Lumineia and has gone from there to greatly expand his world. He has written a great deal about the time surrounding Taryn and his quest to save the world in the Second Draeken War and has also jumped forward millenium as we find out that Lumineia is actually Earth with magic users co-existing with us in secret. Now, with The Rogue Mage, Ben takes us *backwards* millenium to the Age of Oracles. There have been hints here and there (especially, I think, in the List Unseen) about the Age of Oracles and now we get to read what actually happened.
As always, Hale does a great job in this book. He takes a new approach at the start of this book; beginning with a dramatic incident and then going backwards in time to the events that preceeded the reveal of "the Rogue Mage". As he does, we learn a lot about the state of civilization and magic during this Age. It's interesting: this isn't quite like the Wheel of Time in which the past was MUCH more technologically advanced than the present due to a cataclysmic series of events that reset civilization all the way back to pre-industrial revolution technology. In "The Rogue Mage", I didn't detect a drastic difference in tech between the Age of Oracles and Taryn's time. The main differences deal more with the use of magic and the council of Oracles themselves. Also, the big difference, is the stratification of classes in society which is largely based on magic. There are kings mentioned in the book, so the nobility/commoner division seems to still exist. The Oracles act as a sort of advisory council to the various governments. However, there is a division between those who can use magic and can't and possible a greater division between magic users who can only control one aspect, or element, of magic and the Verinai, magic users who can control multiple aspects. This elevation of the Verinai forms the contention of the book as they have become corrupt in their power. There is an active rebellion against the Verinai specifically and magic users as a ruling class in general. This is tough given the magic users have the future seeing Oracles on their side, and we learn a lot about the Oracles abilities in this book.
Hale does his typical great job of creating fantastic characters that I empathize with almost immediately. I think that has been his great strength throughout all of his books. Those characters sweep me up into the story and propel it forward, and I'm excited to read the subsequent books to see how exactly it all turns out. I am also interested in how this Age relates to what Hale revealed in the Jack Myst series. I'm not sure we'll find out anything new as there was no mention of the gods in this book at all. Yet I feel like the revelations about Skorn and Ero are pretty important in the whole scheme of Lumineia, even if I haven't wrapped my head around it fully. We'll see if that comes up in this series.
As always, Hale does a great job in this book. He takes a new approach at the start of this book; beginning with a dramatic incident and then going backwards in time to the events that preceeded the reveal of "the Rogue Mage". As he does, we learn a lot about the state of civilization and magic during this Age. It's interesting: this isn't quite like the Wheel of Time in which the past was MUCH more technologically advanced than the present due to a cataclysmic series of events that reset civilization all the way back to pre-industrial revolution technology. In "The Rogue Mage", I didn't detect a drastic difference in tech between the Age of Oracles and Taryn's time. The main differences deal more with the use of magic and the council of Oracles themselves. Also, the big difference, is the stratification of classes in society which is largely based on magic. There are kings mentioned in the book, so the nobility/commoner division seems to still exist. The Oracles act as a sort of advisory council to the various governments. However, there is a division between those who can use magic and can't and possible a greater division between magic users who can only control one aspect, or element, of magic and the Verinai, magic users who can control multiple aspects. This elevation of the Verinai forms the contention of the book as they have become corrupt in their power. There is an active rebellion against the Verinai specifically and magic users as a ruling class in general. This is tough given the magic users have the future seeing Oracles on their side, and we learn a lot about the Oracles abilities in this book.
Hale does his typical great job of creating fantastic characters that I empathize with almost immediately. I think that has been his great strength throughout all of his books. Those characters sweep me up into the story and propel it forward, and I'm excited to read the subsequent books to see how exactly it all turns out. I am also interested in how this Age relates to what Hale revealed in the Jack Myst series. I'm not sure we'll find out anything new as there was no mention of the gods in this book at all. Yet I feel like the revelations about Skorn and Ero are pretty important in the whole scheme of Lumineia, even if I haven't wrapped my head around it fully. We'll see if that comes up in this series.
July 12, 2017
Another great work by Ben. The book drew me in quickly and never let go. I can't wait to read the rest of the series.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews