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Age of Dread #1
The Age of Dread 1
'Stephen Aryan puts the epic into Epic Fantasy.'
Den Patrick
Thousands died when mages sundered the earth and split the sky.
It was a war that devastated entire kingdoms.
Now one man believes eradicating magic is the only way to ensure a lasting peace. He and his followers will do anything to achieve his goal - even if it means murdering every child born with the ability.
'Aryan's battle scenes are visceral masterpieces that transport the reader deep into the melee'
Taran Matharu on Battlemage
'A vivid and rousing adventure with the kind of magic that punches you right in the face'
Jen Williams on Battlemage
Den Patrick
Thousands died when mages sundered the earth and split the sky.
It was a war that devastated entire kingdoms.
Now one man believes eradicating magic is the only way to ensure a lasting peace. He and his followers will do anything to achieve his goal - even if it means murdering every child born with the ability.
'Aryan's battle scenes are visceral masterpieces that transport the reader deep into the melee'
Taran Matharu on Battlemage
'A vivid and rousing adventure with the kind of magic that punches you right in the face'
Jen Williams on Battlemage
496 pages, ebook
First published October 3, 2017
131 people are currently reading
2520 people want to read
About the author
Stephen Aryan
17 books753 followersI’m a lifelong fan of fantasy and science fiction. It started with The Hobbit, The Belgariad, the Earthsea books, the Shannara books, DragonLance and then David Gemmell, who was a huge influence on my writing.
My novels include:-
The Nightingale and the Falcon trilogy
The Judas Blossom (July 2023)
The Blood Dimmed Tide (9 July 2024)
The Judas Blossom 3 (July 2025)
The Quest for Heroes duology
-The Coward (June 2021)
- The Warrior (August 2022)
Age of Darkness (first trilogy)
- Battlemage
- Bloodmage
- Chaosmage
Age of Dread (second trilogy)
-Mageborn
-Magefall
-Magebane
A prequel novella to everything, Of Gods and Men, was published in February 2018.
I am represented by Juliet Mushens of Mushens Entertainment.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
September 7, 2017
Mage Born is the first epic fantasy I've really enjoyed in a long, long time.
Plotting surrounds a group of people connected to the Red Tower, a center of learning and networking for mages, re-established after an international war caused by rogue magicians. Magic users had historically been viewed with suspicion and fear, so the Red Tower sought to identify and teach young practitioners. However, decades-long fear and bias are hard to erase, and a movement to ban magic seems to be growing (as I write this, I find myself pondering parallels in the US political climate).
"Many of the older students who'd learned to conceal their magic were taught how to stay in control, to keep themselves safe and prevent accidents in their communities. They were often middle-aged men and women, approached with discretion, so as not to alert their friends and neighbours. Most had no desire to learn more, didn't want to become a Battlemage and wanted nothing to do with the Red Tower. These days it was becoming too dangerous with so much anti-magic sentiment."
Narratives include Habreel and Akosh, uneasy allies working to ban magic-use; Munroe, a woman with a troublesome past who has become an exceedingly strong sorcerer; her husband, Choss, who trains young students in combat; Tianne and Wren, young women who have just come to the Red Tower to learn how to develop and control their abilities; Tammy, Guardian of the Peace; and a few other rare perspectives. The multitude of viewpoints are woven together around two main plots: the atmosphere in the Red Tower for the new students, and the attempt to protect magic users in the community while Habreel works against them. Additionally, Tammy is tasked with an old murder case--discovering who killed her husband so many years ago. At times, I was not sure how all the dual stories would connect, but they eventually dovetailed. There's a level of danger in the Tower that seems inappropriate for an enlightened school setting, although that ends up being intriguingly hinted at the end.
I enjoyed the characterization, wishing only that we spent more time with fewer characters, as I wanted to know more about the school and more about Munroe (it turns out there's more about Munroe in an earlier trilogy, so back to the series I go). I was fascinated and uncomfortable with Habreel's sedition, but believed his sincerity in his cause. I loved Munroe's cocky confidence--that she completely owns and deserves--and Tammy's understanding of human nature. I also love that Tammy is an older woman who has been through a lot in her life and professional career. Wren and her friend Tianne are members of different ethnic groups, so there's an added level of complexity there as they seek to integrate into the Tower and their peer group. There was increasing tension as the book progressed, and I found myself trying to read faster. When I finished, I was left with one of those book-hangovers that signal deep involvement in a book.
There are a few challenges for me in the smoothness of the writing, primarily as we shifted viewpoint to viewpoint. I also generally prefer a little more world-building, but I think it was adequate for the story and allowed the author to focus on dialogue and action. However, I can forgive quite a bit, particularly when I realized in retrospect that most of the perspectives were female, and they were just, you know, people. It isn't even until I'm listing perspectives in my review that I realized how many are female, and how many different roles they filled (student, leader, ruler, police officer, sorcerer, deity). Contrast that with my last review in the Night Angel series, Beyond the Shadows, when I realized almost every single woman was defined by her sexuality.
I grew up on fantasy, and if there was one thing I realized early, it was the dearth of people like me. Lord of the Rings, The Belgariad (excepting Polgara), Sword of Shannara (Wren is the only female I remember in the early series, and look how that turned out), The Wheel of Time series (Egwene and her hair-flipping), the Dragonlance chronicles (none), Robert Lynn Asprin (none), and don't get me started on Piers Anthony (who I generally loved): all primarily male characters and a token woman who embodies a stereotype. Then there's the subset of epic fantasy that had a few female characters, but included rape and violence against women (Jennifer Robinson, McCaffrey's Dragonflight, Thomas Covenant series). I think I had burned out on the genre before people started doing more interesting things with it.
So yes. While there may be issues--I might wish for more vivid writing or more detailed world-building, a largely personal preference--they are relatively insignificant. Stephen Aryan's books scratch a decades-old epic itch in a satisfying way. I can't wait until the next one.
Thank you to Jenni at Orbit and Aryan for an advance copy of this book.
Plotting surrounds a group of people connected to the Red Tower, a center of learning and networking for mages, re-established after an international war caused by rogue magicians. Magic users had historically been viewed with suspicion and fear, so the Red Tower sought to identify and teach young practitioners. However, decades-long fear and bias are hard to erase, and a movement to ban magic seems to be growing (as I write this, I find myself pondering parallels in the US political climate).
"Many of the older students who'd learned to conceal their magic were taught how to stay in control, to keep themselves safe and prevent accidents in their communities. They were often middle-aged men and women, approached with discretion, so as not to alert their friends and neighbours. Most had no desire to learn more, didn't want to become a Battlemage and wanted nothing to do with the Red Tower. These days it was becoming too dangerous with so much anti-magic sentiment."
Narratives include Habreel and Akosh, uneasy allies working to ban magic-use; Munroe, a woman with a troublesome past who has become an exceedingly strong sorcerer; her husband, Choss, who trains young students in combat; Tianne and Wren, young women who have just come to the Red Tower to learn how to develop and control their abilities; Tammy, Guardian of the Peace; and a few other rare perspectives. The multitude of viewpoints are woven together around two main plots: the atmosphere in the Red Tower for the new students, and the attempt to protect magic users in the community while Habreel works against them. Additionally, Tammy is tasked with an old murder case--discovering who killed her husband so many years ago. At times, I was not sure how all the dual stories would connect, but they eventually dovetailed. There's a level of danger in the Tower that seems inappropriate for an enlightened school setting, although that ends up being intriguingly hinted at the end.
I enjoyed the characterization, wishing only that we spent more time with fewer characters, as I wanted to know more about the school and more about Munroe (it turns out there's more about Munroe in an earlier trilogy, so back to the series I go). I was fascinated and uncomfortable with Habreel's sedition, but believed his sincerity in his cause. I loved Munroe's cocky confidence--that she completely owns and deserves--and Tammy's understanding of human nature. I also love that Tammy is an older woman who has been through a lot in her life and professional career. Wren and her friend Tianne are members of different ethnic groups, so there's an added level of complexity there as they seek to integrate into the Tower and their peer group. There was increasing tension as the book progressed, and I found myself trying to read faster. When I finished, I was left with one of those book-hangovers that signal deep involvement in a book.
There are a few challenges for me in the smoothness of the writing, primarily as we shifted viewpoint to viewpoint. I also generally prefer a little more world-building, but I think it was adequate for the story and allowed the author to focus on dialogue and action. However, I can forgive quite a bit, particularly when I realized in retrospect that most of the perspectives were female, and they were just, you know, people. It isn't even until I'm listing perspectives in my review that I realized how many are female, and how many different roles they filled (student, leader, ruler, police officer, sorcerer, deity). Contrast that with my last review in the Night Angel series, Beyond the Shadows, when I realized almost every single woman was defined by her sexuality.
I grew up on fantasy, and if there was one thing I realized early, it was the dearth of people like me. Lord of the Rings, The Belgariad (excepting Polgara), Sword of Shannara (Wren is the only female I remember in the early series, and look how that turned out), The Wheel of Time series (Egwene and her hair-flipping), the Dragonlance chronicles (none), Robert Lynn Asprin (none), and don't get me started on Piers Anthony (who I generally loved): all primarily male characters and a token woman who embodies a stereotype. Then there's the subset of epic fantasy that had a few female characters, but included rape and violence against women (Jennifer Robinson, McCaffrey's Dragonflight, Thomas Covenant series). I think I had burned out on the genre before people started doing more interesting things with it.
So yes. While there may be issues--I might wish for more vivid writing or more detailed world-building, a largely personal preference--they are relatively insignificant. Stephen Aryan's books scratch a decades-old epic itch in a satisfying way. I can't wait until the next one.
Thank you to Jenni at Orbit and Aryan for an advance copy of this book.
April 24, 2020
[review by James's assistant Elisabeth]
Mageborn (2017) is the first book in Stephen Aryan’s second trilogy, The Age of Dread. Its story centres around Salem-esc magic testing performed by Seekers, and the anxieties and ‘accidents’ that are caused by them. Magic is feared to the degree that it is hated in the world of Mageborn, and those found with the ability are often exiled or killed.
While the main story is about larger social and political events, it’s told through the personal narratives of each character. I felt this close-up view made the book easy to engage with and kept the story moving. A lot of fantasy books get bogged down in long tedious descriptions or dull political dialogue, but Mageborn didn’t have this problem (at least that I noticed)—it felt like there was always something happening. And the perspectives were varied enough that being personal didn’t make it subjective. We’re given a range of perspectives providing some agency about what we choose to believe. The world is intricate but not difficult to understand, and the intertwining of characters storylines—whether they physically meet or are affected from afar by each other’s actions—was fantastic.
Having such an array of characters made the story interesting but, like any book that jumps between perspectives, felt a little choppy at points—especially towards the beginning. I found the first five chapters or so difficult to get through, we never stayed in one place long enough to get a feel for the story. Luckily this didn’t last through the whole book though, and eventually the narrative fell into a nice pace.
Mageborn is not the first of Ayran’s books set in this world. His previous trilogy, The Age of Darkness, is our first introduction. Mageborn is set over a decade later, following the storylines of some familiar characters while also introducing some new names and faces. I have to admit, I didn’t realise there was another trilogy I was meant to have read before starting Mageborn, but it didn’t hinder my enjoyment of the book. Starting with The Age of Darkness books would have provided some more depth and context to the world and characters, but I wouldn’t say it’s necessary. In fact, having no context was sometimes good. It created suspense and mystery around some characters that wouldn’t have existed if I knew their backstories, and made some of the reveals towards the end of the book even more impactful. I don’t think it matters what order you tackle the books, there are pros and cons either way. My plan is: The Age of Dread, The Age of Darkness, back to The Age of Dread, then finish things off with Of Gods and Men.
All in all, Mageborn was a good read. The language is accessible and the story moves—so it’s a quick read, but still a good one. My only other complaint is that it ended so suddenly. I felt like things were really starting to happen then, done, it was over. Luckily Aryan released the next two books ( Magefall 2018, and Magebane 2019) shortly after Mageborn, so there’s no waiting for the story to keep going!
October 7, 2018
I really don't know what to say about this book. The story was great, the characters great but I could not get into it. I am going to try the second book and see if I can sink into it more.
Perhaps it also would have been better to start with the trilogy before.
Perhaps it also would have been better to start with the trilogy before.
February 6, 2021
Mageborn is the first book of a second trilogy set in the same high fantasy world. It takes places several years after the war in the original trilogy and is focused on the cultural hang ups left over from the events of that war. You don't need to have read the first trilogy to enjoy this book, however. I haven't, and I still immensely enjoyed the reading process.
The two strongest points of this book for me were the characters and the magic system. This book bounces through a variety of POVs with great skill. Multiple POVs normally bothers me in a book, but Aryan is able to navigate their different voices properly and the different viewpoints really enhances the narrative. The magic system was also fascinating, with a nice mix of detail to grasp the basic rules and structure but with enough mystery to know there will be exciting reveals in later books.
I don't often pick up high fantasy, but this was well worth my time. I'm probably going to go back and read the original trilogy before continuing with this, but I'll definitely be reading more from Stephen Aryan in the future.
The two strongest points of this book for me were the characters and the magic system. This book bounces through a variety of POVs with great skill. Multiple POVs normally bothers me in a book, but Aryan is able to navigate their different voices properly and the different viewpoints really enhances the narrative. The magic system was also fascinating, with a nice mix of detail to grasp the basic rules and structure but with enough mystery to know there will be exciting reveals in later books.
I don't often pick up high fantasy, but this was well worth my time. I'm probably going to go back and read the original trilogy before continuing with this, but I'll definitely be reading more from Stephen Aryan in the future.
dnf
August 9, 2019Second try and I just can not get into it or care
June 26, 2018
Even tho it took me a long time to read this, I enjoyed it very much.
the writing style is different and the story is very interesting.
I will continue with the series.
the writing style is different and the story is very interesting.
I will continue with the series.
January 14, 2019
3 🌟
Story become more interesting towards the end.
Kids, villages of families being killed in order to setup the mages and turn people against them because some seekers believes no one no children should have the gift of magic and must die.
Interesting, lots of characters and their roles in the story was intriguing. I may continue just to see where a few characters has gone and see if their magic improved.
Just okay.
Story become more interesting towards the end.
Kids, villages of families being killed in order to setup the mages and turn people against them because some seekers believes no one no children should have the gift of magic and must die.
Interesting, lots of characters and their roles in the story was intriguing. I may continue just to see where a few characters has gone and see if their magic improved.
Just okay.
September 14, 2018
The first chapter put me off. It opens with the two main 'bad' characters, which would normally be interesting, but Habreels motivation smacked of nonsensical hypocrisy so quickly it was hard to take him seriously. I know the motivations that drive people in real life don't always make perfect logical sense, but as an introduction to the story it was hard to overlook. The more the story wears on, the more this duality on the character bothered me. The story attempted to account for this by showing him debating whether he was taking the right path with certain decisions, then completely undercut any suggestion of his moral thought being complex by making him order another bad deed with very little trouble. I plugged away at it anyway, because a few of the characters in following chapters seemed like they would shape up to be a bit more interesting. Some of them did, but it wasn't enough, because often the plot points they were taking part in either didn't interest me or didn't make sense to me. Characters meet each other for obscure reasons, or say things in front of each other for no reason other than plot convinience (why do teachers openly discuss secret information in front of a student?). This was particularly problematic with Habreel and Akosh: Akosh claims to be supporting Habreel for her own ends, but when you get more clues about what her ends really are, you realise she had no reason to actually reveal herself to Habreel. She could have capitalised on what he was doing without revealing herself to him, and it would have been less trouble for her. It also makes his character entirely redundant by the end of the book: he hasn't actually done anything for the plot by the time he departs from the page, other than make a show of moralising. This relates to a problem all the characters suffer from: there isn't enough space in the book to get an audience to care about all the different characters who are made central. A longer book might have the space to juggle this many characters without compromising our view of them, but this is a relatively short book and doesn't have that luxury. The plot also isn't complex enoguh to justify all these different viewpoints so far. We seem to learn the same thing from different perspectives repeatedly. The point of using multiple perspectives in a story like this is so that the reader gets information from each one, providing the audience with a fuller picture of what's going on than following one or two characters can. Then suspense can be built on the fact that the reader knows something that a characters may not. Showing different characters discovering the same thing back to back does nothing for the reader. Although the stakes are quite high in the story - we're seeing a set of nations on the verge of a kind of civil war - the book doesn't do much to make this feel important. Similarly, there's a sense of enevitability about everything - no one seems to be worried about stopping events in their tracks, or getting to the bottom of things; instead they all seem quite content to accept the way things are going and jut work within the narrow parameters left to them - for instance, the evacuation of the school, the withdrawal of the Seekers. By the end of the book I didn't have a clear understanding of how magic in this world is supposed to work - perhaps this is because I haven't read his previous series - which seems problematic when trying to get into a book about magic. It references events I have no idea about, with no time taken to explain them in any kind of detail. Finally, when it gets to the end where three students of the magic school go of on their own, I struggled to see why - I mean, obviously in the next book they are going to be useful as a separate little team for what ever happens next, but from my current perspective it's hard to see why they would have done this. They have no real motivation to go off on their own. They have no desires or quests of their own that would cause them to want to go it alone; no promises to keep or mysteries they might be trying to solve. They just choose to endanger themselves, and the only explanation given is that for one of the characters, it felt like the right thing to do. Basically, there was little to impress me in this book, and I won't be acquiring the next one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 19, 2018
Mageborn, by Stephen Aryan. Book 1 of the Age of Dread. 4 / 5 stars.
*As with all of my reviews, if I say “men”, it simply refers to humankind, both men AND women. I suppose I really should be writing it as ‘men, but when I’ve tried before, it’s always autocorrected out, and is really a pain in the ass to manually correct. You’ll see equal combinations of both, I’m sure, but they can be used interchangeably. Anywho~
I previously read Stephen Aryan’s Age of Darkness trilogy, and was pleasantly surprised when the adventure seemed to improve with each book. Now Mageborn—book one in the Age of Dread—returns to the same world, set a decade after the events of Battlemage. In Battlemage (without spoiling too much), a war engulfs the entire continent, at the forefront featuring battles fought between mages that could otherwise reap men like wheat. These titanic struggles not only set the mood for the initial series, but also help set the tone for this followup. As with anything that allows ‘men to summon flames, unmake stone, or transform sheep into waffle-cones—magic is misunderstood by the masses. And—as is common with anything lacking of basic understanding on the whole—this inspires fear. The events of the Battlemage War soured folk so much so that magic, once respected and revered, has become a curse, something to be hated or feared, something that some in the world have set out to eradicate once and for all.
So begins the Age of Dread.
While it seems that no prior knowledge of Aryan’s books are required to begin this new series, several of the POV characters reprise their roles from the previous trilogy, lending the story some familiar faces to play alongside the fresh ones.
These fresh faces are led by Wren, Danoph and Tianne: three students of the recently reformed Red Tower—a school that teaches both children and adults to control their magic lest it harm them or others around them. The other pair—Akosh and Habreel—represent a faction fiercely determined to eradicate magic once and for all, for the good of the world itself. For those of you that have read any of the Age of Darkness, among the returning POVs are Tammy, Munroe and Choss. These help fill in a lot of the gaps between the two factions, if only in brief.
I loved the events portrayed in the Age of Darkness trilogy, especially as the series progressed. In the same vein as this, Mageborn feels very much like the set up to an excellent series. But therein lies the problem. It feels like a set-up. An excellent series is more than a sum of its parts, with each individual book a complete tale in and of itself. When I got to the end of Mageborn, it felt… somewhat lacking. It’s not a bad book—ye gods, no—it just feels… incomplete. As the first book in a series it’s often difficult to tell, but I would say that Mageborn could very easily be the start of an excellent series. It’s just as an individual tale that it falls short. Though easily the shortest of Aryan’s books—which, at 392 pages, is by no means “short”—Mageborn has a nice intro and a nice wrap-up. It has a nice meaty center to it. It is quite and enjoyable ride. It’s just… when the book ended I kept flipping pages because not all the POV characters received a proper fulfillment. A few character-arcs were left hanging, feeling incomplete or setting up to be resolved in the next installment. The trouble with this is what I expressed earlier. An excellent series is more than just the sum of its parts. To be perfectly enjoyable, each part should tell its own, complete story. Mageborn, while good, fails to do this. Even after the book ended, the… shall we say “sub-story” remained unfinished. While I realize that there should be elements that remain unfinished if one is to set up for a potential sequel, this was more than that. It felt as if not all the arcs came to fruition, not all threads were tied. I guess we’ll see how they’re captured in the second. While by no means a deal-breaker, this knocks off a star in my book.
While I hesitate to label Mageborn as grimdark, it shares a lot more commonality with the genre than what I would call more “classic” fantasy. Saying nothing about the ending itself, the world is rather less of a ‘good vs. evil’ and more of a realistic driven ‘shades of grey’. In addition, the mood seems darker and more tense, with themes of hope and gloom and desperation ruling rather than the old ‘jolly adventure’. If you usually go for something that’s a ‘good vs. evil’ adventure, maybe skip Mageborn. If you’re like me and enjoy something that is deliciously dark, slightly dark, or even simply more realistic, then maybe give it a try.
While not the perfection that I felt Chaosmage had achieved, Mageborn is a strong entry into a new series set in a vivid and already well-defined fantasy world that still has so much unused potential. While I felt that the summary was a bit lacking, a bit disappointing, Mageborn shows that Stephen Aryan is more than just a one-hit-wonder, and can still deliver now that his initial story has been resolved. I look forward to more, and greater things from him.
And if the man himself happens to read this, just know that an ARC of Book 2 may do wonders for my continued love of his world. Just sayin’. If not, a map would certainly be appreciated. I’m getting a headache linking all the places together. BOTH, THOUGH… both would be above and beyond. Something to be truly envied.
You know, please?
*As with all of my reviews, if I say “men”, it simply refers to humankind, both men AND women. I suppose I really should be writing it as ‘men, but when I’ve tried before, it’s always autocorrected out, and is really a pain in the ass to manually correct. You’ll see equal combinations of both, I’m sure, but they can be used interchangeably. Anywho~
I previously read Stephen Aryan’s Age of Darkness trilogy, and was pleasantly surprised when the adventure seemed to improve with each book. Now Mageborn—book one in the Age of Dread—returns to the same world, set a decade after the events of Battlemage. In Battlemage (without spoiling too much), a war engulfs the entire continent, at the forefront featuring battles fought between mages that could otherwise reap men like wheat. These titanic struggles not only set the mood for the initial series, but also help set the tone for this followup. As with anything that allows ‘men to summon flames, unmake stone, or transform sheep into waffle-cones—magic is misunderstood by the masses. And—as is common with anything lacking of basic understanding on the whole—this inspires fear. The events of the Battlemage War soured folk so much so that magic, once respected and revered, has become a curse, something to be hated or feared, something that some in the world have set out to eradicate once and for all.
So begins the Age of Dread.
While it seems that no prior knowledge of Aryan’s books are required to begin this new series, several of the POV characters reprise their roles from the previous trilogy, lending the story some familiar faces to play alongside the fresh ones.
These fresh faces are led by Wren, Danoph and Tianne: three students of the recently reformed Red Tower—a school that teaches both children and adults to control their magic lest it harm them or others around them. The other pair—Akosh and Habreel—represent a faction fiercely determined to eradicate magic once and for all, for the good of the world itself. For those of you that have read any of the Age of Darkness, among the returning POVs are Tammy, Munroe and Choss. These help fill in a lot of the gaps between the two factions, if only in brief.
I loved the events portrayed in the Age of Darkness trilogy, especially as the series progressed. In the same vein as this, Mageborn feels very much like the set up to an excellent series. But therein lies the problem. It feels like a set-up. An excellent series is more than a sum of its parts, with each individual book a complete tale in and of itself. When I got to the end of Mageborn, it felt… somewhat lacking. It’s not a bad book—ye gods, no—it just feels… incomplete. As the first book in a series it’s often difficult to tell, but I would say that Mageborn could very easily be the start of an excellent series. It’s just as an individual tale that it falls short. Though easily the shortest of Aryan’s books—which, at 392 pages, is by no means “short”—Mageborn has a nice intro and a nice wrap-up. It has a nice meaty center to it. It is quite and enjoyable ride. It’s just… when the book ended I kept flipping pages because not all the POV characters received a proper fulfillment. A few character-arcs were left hanging, feeling incomplete or setting up to be resolved in the next installment. The trouble with this is what I expressed earlier. An excellent series is more than just the sum of its parts. To be perfectly enjoyable, each part should tell its own, complete story. Mageborn, while good, fails to do this. Even after the book ended, the… shall we say “sub-story” remained unfinished. While I realize that there should be elements that remain unfinished if one is to set up for a potential sequel, this was more than that. It felt as if not all the arcs came to fruition, not all threads were tied. I guess we’ll see how they’re captured in the second. While by no means a deal-breaker, this knocks off a star in my book.
While I hesitate to label Mageborn as grimdark, it shares a lot more commonality with the genre than what I would call more “classic” fantasy. Saying nothing about the ending itself, the world is rather less of a ‘good vs. evil’ and more of a realistic driven ‘shades of grey’. In addition, the mood seems darker and more tense, with themes of hope and gloom and desperation ruling rather than the old ‘jolly adventure’. If you usually go for something that’s a ‘good vs. evil’ adventure, maybe skip Mageborn. If you’re like me and enjoy something that is deliciously dark, slightly dark, or even simply more realistic, then maybe give it a try.
While not the perfection that I felt Chaosmage had achieved, Mageborn is a strong entry into a new series set in a vivid and already well-defined fantasy world that still has so much unused potential. While I felt that the summary was a bit lacking, a bit disappointing, Mageborn shows that Stephen Aryan is more than just a one-hit-wonder, and can still deliver now that his initial story has been resolved. I look forward to more, and greater things from him.
And if the man himself happens to read this, just know that an ARC of Book 2 may do wonders for my continued love of his world. Just sayin’. If not, a map would certainly be appreciated. I’m getting a headache linking all the places together. BOTH, THOUGH… both would be above and beyond. Something to be truly envied.
You know, please?
March 31, 2020
Stephen Aryan s’était déjà illustré avec sa première trilogie sortie chez Bragelonne. Mage de guerre, Mage de sang et Mage du chaos nous ont fait découvrir un univers fantasy en variant les plaisirs pour chaque tome. Pourtant sa seconde trilogie dans le même univers n’a pas l’air de motiver l’éditeur plus que ça, alors je l’ai achetée en VO et j’attaque avec le premier tome, Mageborn.
Dix ans ont passé depuis la fameuse guerre contre le roi fou, le traumatisme des populations face au déchainement des mages est encore très présent. Pourtant Balfruss, Eloïse et Garvey ont rouvert la Tour Rouge pour accueillir les enfants sensibles à la source et les former à maitriser cette force. Les Chercheurs sillonnent les villages pour détecter les enfants doués et leur éviter une fin sinistre, car ils représentent un danger pour la population et finissaient souvent noyés ou jetés d’une falaise. Mais malgré leurs efforts, la population recommence petit à petit à se méfier des mages, des histoires circulent, les Chercheurs affrontent de plus en plus de foules en colères lors de leur quête. Il semblerait que ces évènements ne soient pas le fruit du hasard, on a vu des meneurs répandre leurs histoires et manipuler les foules. Qui est derrière tout ça ?
Comme à son habitude, l’auteur nous fait suivre plusieurs points de vue, et nous aurons le plaisir de recroiser certains personnages connus. Munroe est envoyée par la tour des mages pour enquêter sur ces rumeurs et prévenir les Chercheurs qu’ils sont en danger. Elle croisera la Gardienne Tammy qui a à peu près la même mission pour le compte de la Reine Morganse. Et les petits nouveaux seront Wren et Tianne, deux élèves qui vont assister aux évènements depuis la Tour rouge, mais elles devront aussi affronter quelques dangers internes. On suivra parfois quelques personnages moins centraux comme Choss ou encore un certain Habreel qui œuvre dans l’ombre.
Après avoir touché à la fantasy guerrière, à la pègre et à l’horreur, Stephen Aryan revient à quelque chose de plus classique mais avec une bonne maitrise de son univers. Le concept de la Tour Rouge avait déjà été évoqué dans les romans précédents mais là on exploite ça à fond, c’est au cœur du livre. C’est surtout l’image des mages dans la population qui va servir d’enjeu, et les manipulateurs qui veulent retourner le peuple contre les mages vont aller de plus en plus loin pour discréditer la Tour. Pourtant, ils sont censés rendre service à la population en détectant les mages potentiels et en les recrutant avant qu’un accident arrive à cause de leur manque de maitrise. Cette progression de « l’opinion publique » est très bien gérée, l’évolution est crédible et les tragédies apparaissent inévitables.
On n’a pas de grandes batailles ou de boules de feu géantes dans ce roman, l’histoire se concentre sur les personnages et leurs investigation pour savoir qui tire les ficelles, et bien sûr les mésaventures de Wren, Tianne et Danoph dans la Tour Rouge. L’atmosphère est tendue, la politique s’en mêle, et tout ça reste très accrocheur, surtout grâce à ces protagonistes très bien mises en place, qui ont chacune des enjeux intéressants et des histoires personnelles touchantes. Munroe effectue sa première mission en tant que mage mais doit laisser son fils et son mari derrière elle. Tammy est toujours hantée par le meurtre non élucidé de son mari, mais son boulot passe avant tout. Et puis c’est cool un casting féminin, tiens, hop, un bon point.
Contrairement à la trilogie précédente, ce premier tome n’est pas tout à fait indépendant et sert clairement d’introduction. C’est une introduction efficace et accrocheuse (heureusement que j’ai déjà les 3 tomes) mais elle a l’air de constituer la mise en place de quelque chose de plus vaste vu la fin qu’on nous propose. Mais ça ne veut pas dire que le livre n’est pas satisfaisant pour autant, j’ai trouvé l’aventure très agréable à lire, équilibrée et entrainante. La tension monte petit à petit et on voit la tragédie qui arrive, l’inéluctable drame qui se met en place, point essentiel de ce premier tome. Le seul petit défaut notable est peut-être quelques relations politiques un peu floues entre les nations (la première trilogie est loin donc je me rappelais plus de tous les pays, une carte aurait peut-être aidé).
Stephen Aryan nous propose avec Mageborn un début de trilogie prometteur et efficace, dans une fantasy focalisée sur les personnages et une tragédie qui se met en place doucement. J’ai hâte de replonger dans cette saga pour la suite, ce qui ne devrait pas tarder.
https://ours-inculte.fr/mageborn/
Dix ans ont passé depuis la fameuse guerre contre le roi fou, le traumatisme des populations face au déchainement des mages est encore très présent. Pourtant Balfruss, Eloïse et Garvey ont rouvert la Tour Rouge pour accueillir les enfants sensibles à la source et les former à maitriser cette force. Les Chercheurs sillonnent les villages pour détecter les enfants doués et leur éviter une fin sinistre, car ils représentent un danger pour la population et finissaient souvent noyés ou jetés d’une falaise. Mais malgré leurs efforts, la population recommence petit à petit à se méfier des mages, des histoires circulent, les Chercheurs affrontent de plus en plus de foules en colères lors de leur quête. Il semblerait que ces évènements ne soient pas le fruit du hasard, on a vu des meneurs répandre leurs histoires et manipuler les foules. Qui est derrière tout ça ?
Comme à son habitude, l’auteur nous fait suivre plusieurs points de vue, et nous aurons le plaisir de recroiser certains personnages connus. Munroe est envoyée par la tour des mages pour enquêter sur ces rumeurs et prévenir les Chercheurs qu’ils sont en danger. Elle croisera la Gardienne Tammy qui a à peu près la même mission pour le compte de la Reine Morganse. Et les petits nouveaux seront Wren et Tianne, deux élèves qui vont assister aux évènements depuis la Tour rouge, mais elles devront aussi affronter quelques dangers internes. On suivra parfois quelques personnages moins centraux comme Choss ou encore un certain Habreel qui œuvre dans l’ombre.
Après avoir touché à la fantasy guerrière, à la pègre et à l’horreur, Stephen Aryan revient à quelque chose de plus classique mais avec une bonne maitrise de son univers. Le concept de la Tour Rouge avait déjà été évoqué dans les romans précédents mais là on exploite ça à fond, c’est au cœur du livre. C’est surtout l’image des mages dans la population qui va servir d’enjeu, et les manipulateurs qui veulent retourner le peuple contre les mages vont aller de plus en plus loin pour discréditer la Tour. Pourtant, ils sont censés rendre service à la population en détectant les mages potentiels et en les recrutant avant qu’un accident arrive à cause de leur manque de maitrise. Cette progression de « l’opinion publique » est très bien gérée, l’évolution est crédible et les tragédies apparaissent inévitables.
On n’a pas de grandes batailles ou de boules de feu géantes dans ce roman, l’histoire se concentre sur les personnages et leurs investigation pour savoir qui tire les ficelles, et bien sûr les mésaventures de Wren, Tianne et Danoph dans la Tour Rouge. L’atmosphère est tendue, la politique s’en mêle, et tout ça reste très accrocheur, surtout grâce à ces protagonistes très bien mises en place, qui ont chacune des enjeux intéressants et des histoires personnelles touchantes. Munroe effectue sa première mission en tant que mage mais doit laisser son fils et son mari derrière elle. Tammy est toujours hantée par le meurtre non élucidé de son mari, mais son boulot passe avant tout. Et puis c’est cool un casting féminin, tiens, hop, un bon point.
Contrairement à la trilogie précédente, ce premier tome n’est pas tout à fait indépendant et sert clairement d’introduction. C’est une introduction efficace et accrocheuse (heureusement que j’ai déjà les 3 tomes) mais elle a l’air de constituer la mise en place de quelque chose de plus vaste vu la fin qu’on nous propose. Mais ça ne veut pas dire que le livre n’est pas satisfaisant pour autant, j’ai trouvé l’aventure très agréable à lire, équilibrée et entrainante. La tension monte petit à petit et on voit la tragédie qui arrive, l’inéluctable drame qui se met en place, point essentiel de ce premier tome. Le seul petit défaut notable est peut-être quelques relations politiques un peu floues entre les nations (la première trilogie est loin donc je me rappelais plus de tous les pays, une carte aurait peut-être aidé).
Stephen Aryan nous propose avec Mageborn un début de trilogie prometteur et efficace, dans une fantasy focalisée sur les personnages et une tragédie qui se met en place doucement. J’ai hâte de replonger dans cette saga pour la suite, ce qui ne devrait pas tarder.
https://ours-inculte.fr/mageborn/
July 28, 2020
Publishing Date: 2017
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 2.3
Review: I had such high hopes for this series, based on Battlemage, that I purchased all of the Age of Dread series at once. After getting through what felt like a novella length read, I was disappointed in the layout of the story line. To wit, there were multiple paragraphs following one question that might be asked. These paragraphs spewed lengthy back story, odd self-recriminatory babbling or rehashing's of the events previously endured. There was so much circularity to the story line, that at times I thought the author was attempting to drive home relevant issues. Nope. Just a way to kick start a series with character introductions.
This was slower than a slug at a salt lick, but I will say after having started Mage Fall, that there is hope to be had.
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 2.3
Review: I had such high hopes for this series, based on Battlemage, that I purchased all of the Age of Dread series at once. After getting through what felt like a novella length read, I was disappointed in the layout of the story line. To wit, there were multiple paragraphs following one question that might be asked. These paragraphs spewed lengthy back story, odd self-recriminatory babbling or rehashing's of the events previously endured. There was so much circularity to the story line, that at times I thought the author was attempting to drive home relevant issues. Nope. Just a way to kick start a series with character introductions.
This was slower than a slug at a salt lick, but I will say after having started Mage Fall, that there is hope to be had.
October 6, 2017
3.5 stars.
As always this review can also be found on my blog The Tattooed Book Geek: https://thetattooedbookgeek.wordpress...
I received a free copy of this book courtesy of the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Mageborn is the first book in Stephen Aryan’s new epic fantasy trilogy Age of Dread set ten years after the conclusion of his previous trilogy Age of Darkness (I have to admit that I haven’t read the first trilogy).
The Red Tower has reopened and its aim is to train children to control their magic and become mages. Seekers roam the land testing children for magic but a plot by some to ban all magic is manifesting as sedition is spread, playing on people’s fear and prejudice of mages and magic due to the Warlock and the events of the Age of Darkness trilogy.
I feel the need to mention the lack of a map. I know, I know, I can hear some of you collectively groaning about such a small and trivial thing (it doesn’t impugn on my opinion of the book – which I enjoyed). However, it’s only my personal opinion but I like maps in fantasy books and would have liked to have seen one in Mageborn as it is the first book in the trilogy and. With various places and locations mentioned throughout it would have been nice to have had a map for reference purposes (yes, I’m one of the sad people who actually look at the map in a fantasy book).
The world building was decent enough and serviceable but I’d have liked to have seen Aryan delve deeper into certain areas and give us more history. Likewise, I felt the same with certain characters too and their lack of backstory. I do feel, however, that a large part of that feeling is due to me being a ‘new‘ reader to Aryan and his world and that ‘old‘ readers who are already acquainted with his work and have read his previous trilogy would recognise places and characters from the Age of Darkness trilogy.
I did think during the course of Mageborn that there were a couple of times where certain aspects of the story were glossed and skimmed over and I would have preferred further elaboration. Similarly, some events that transpired also appeared to escalate rather quickly. It’s not really a negative, more a musing on my part as I can see why Aryan did this to keep the plot focused and the pacing fast.
There’s a lot of PoV characters (Habreel and Akosh who have an uneasy alliance as they plot to eradicate magic. Munroe, a sorcerer. Munroe’s husband, Choss, a combat trainer at the Red Tower. Tammy, a Guardian of the Peace. Tianne and Wren, both students at the Red Tower. And, other sporadic PoV too) in Mageborn and we flit from location to location and character to character as the story moves forward. The story ARC’s are interesting and the characters themselves offering various different cultures (Wren is from a different culture to the other students in the Red Tower and seeing how she adapts is one of the standout aspects of the book) views and personalities are engaging.
My favourite main characters in Mageborn would have to be Akosh, Wren and Munroe. I also really liked Samara (Munroe’s mother) she’s only a minor character but I found her to be a great addition.
Admittedly, it did take a while for my interest to be piqued when reading Mageborn. There wasn’t that moment early on that pulled me into the story. It really was a tale of two halves as the first hundred pages of the book I was just ‘reading‘ to be reading and doing something. But then, somewhere along the way, it all seemed to ‘click‘ into place and I became invested in both the story that Aryan was telling and in the characters that he had created.
After finishing, I struggled to rate Mageborn. On my blog I rate with a ‘Hell No‘, ‘It’s OK‘ or a ‘Hell Yeah‘ rating. Mageborn definitely wasn’t a ‘Hell No‘ review but deciding between ‘It’s OK‘ and ‘Hell Yeah‘ proved rather tricky for me! Mageborn was a read that I enjoyed, there’s a lot to like within the pages and after the ending, well, I’m certainly intrigued to see where Aryan will take his characters and story next. But, as you can tell from my review, I also, unfortunately, had some issues with the book that tempered my enjoyment and I was also left with the feeling that overall I just wanted ‘more‘ from my time spent with Mageborn. In the end, I decided to go with an ‘It’s OK‘ rating for Mageborn which is my equivalent in stars of a 3 or 3.5 out of 5. It was a higher end ‘It’s OK‘ so I’d give it 3.5 out of 5 or 7 out of 10 which I feel to be fair.
Whilst Mageborn failed to hit the heights of books in my favourite fantasy trilogies I still found it to be a decent read and start to a new trilogy by Aryan. In short, Mageborn is a worthwhile read for fans of epic fantasy.
As always this review can also be found on my blog The Tattooed Book Geek: https://thetattooedbookgeek.wordpress...
I received a free copy of this book courtesy of the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Mageborn is the first book in Stephen Aryan’s new epic fantasy trilogy Age of Dread set ten years after the conclusion of his previous trilogy Age of Darkness (I have to admit that I haven’t read the first trilogy).
The Red Tower has reopened and its aim is to train children to control their magic and become mages. Seekers roam the land testing children for magic but a plot by some to ban all magic is manifesting as sedition is spread, playing on people’s fear and prejudice of mages and magic due to the Warlock and the events of the Age of Darkness trilogy.
I feel the need to mention the lack of a map. I know, I know, I can hear some of you collectively groaning about such a small and trivial thing (it doesn’t impugn on my opinion of the book – which I enjoyed). However, it’s only my personal opinion but I like maps in fantasy books and would have liked to have seen one in Mageborn as it is the first book in the trilogy and. With various places and locations mentioned throughout it would have been nice to have had a map for reference purposes (yes, I’m one of the sad people who actually look at the map in a fantasy book).
The world building was decent enough and serviceable but I’d have liked to have seen Aryan delve deeper into certain areas and give us more history. Likewise, I felt the same with certain characters too and their lack of backstory. I do feel, however, that a large part of that feeling is due to me being a ‘new‘ reader to Aryan and his world and that ‘old‘ readers who are already acquainted with his work and have read his previous trilogy would recognise places and characters from the Age of Darkness trilogy.
I did think during the course of Mageborn that there were a couple of times where certain aspects of the story were glossed and skimmed over and I would have preferred further elaboration. Similarly, some events that transpired also appeared to escalate rather quickly. It’s not really a negative, more a musing on my part as I can see why Aryan did this to keep the plot focused and the pacing fast.
There’s a lot of PoV characters (Habreel and Akosh who have an uneasy alliance as they plot to eradicate magic. Munroe, a sorcerer. Munroe’s husband, Choss, a combat trainer at the Red Tower. Tammy, a Guardian of the Peace. Tianne and Wren, both students at the Red Tower. And, other sporadic PoV too) in Mageborn and we flit from location to location and character to character as the story moves forward. The story ARC’s are interesting and the characters themselves offering various different cultures (Wren is from a different culture to the other students in the Red Tower and seeing how she adapts is one of the standout aspects of the book) views and personalities are engaging.
My favourite main characters in Mageborn would have to be Akosh, Wren and Munroe. I also really liked Samara (Munroe’s mother) she’s only a minor character but I found her to be a great addition.
Admittedly, it did take a while for my interest to be piqued when reading Mageborn. There wasn’t that moment early on that pulled me into the story. It really was a tale of two halves as the first hundred pages of the book I was just ‘reading‘ to be reading and doing something. But then, somewhere along the way, it all seemed to ‘click‘ into place and I became invested in both the story that Aryan was telling and in the characters that he had created.
After finishing, I struggled to rate Mageborn. On my blog I rate with a ‘Hell No‘, ‘It’s OK‘ or a ‘Hell Yeah‘ rating. Mageborn definitely wasn’t a ‘Hell No‘ review but deciding between ‘It’s OK‘ and ‘Hell Yeah‘ proved rather tricky for me! Mageborn was a read that I enjoyed, there’s a lot to like within the pages and after the ending, well, I’m certainly intrigued to see where Aryan will take his characters and story next. But, as you can tell from my review, I also, unfortunately, had some issues with the book that tempered my enjoyment and I was also left with the feeling that overall I just wanted ‘more‘ from my time spent with Mageborn. In the end, I decided to go with an ‘It’s OK‘ rating for Mageborn which is my equivalent in stars of a 3 or 3.5 out of 5. It was a higher end ‘It’s OK‘ so I’d give it 3.5 out of 5 or 7 out of 10 which I feel to be fair.
Whilst Mageborn failed to hit the heights of books in my favourite fantasy trilogies I still found it to be a decent read and start to a new trilogy by Aryan. In short, Mageborn is a worthwhile read for fans of epic fantasy.
July 20, 2018
It was a very solid book with a lot of magical intrigues but I definitely felt like I am missing out on something as there was background to these characters that I wasn't aware of (having not read the previous books). Having said that, It still was a very good book.
November 16, 2017
Find this review at Forever Lost in Literature!
Mageborn is the first book in Stephen Aryan new epic fantasy series, Age of Dread. The plot was interesting and the entire premise had me hooked: one man, Habreel, believe that all magic should be eradicated after a war that occurred ten years ago caused extreme loss and mayhem by magic users.. In general, it's not the most unique or inventive idea I've ever heard, but the execution was done in a fascinating manner that allowed the reader to follow multiple POVs from every side, thus giving a better overall picture of the events of the book. Aryan also introduced his own inventive ideas that help this book stand out. (Note: Since finishing the book, I have discovered that Aryan's first series, written prior to this one, includes the war and backstory to much of the events in this book, though it is not necessary to read that one first--I hadn't.)
Speaking of multiple POVs: there are a quite a few. If I'm counting correctly, there are six main POVs: Habreel, Akosh, Tammy, Munroe, Wren, Tianne. Along with these are a few minor POVs that pop up, but aren't repeated much. I liked getting in the head of each of these characters and for the most part I felt that Aryan developed each of them very well. Habreel is one of the more interesting characters because, although he isn't necessarily doing 'right' things, as a reader we can understand where his thought process comes from in relation to his now seemingly drastic actions, which makes him difficult to place into a 'good' or 'bad' box. Akosh, however, is brilliantly written as a rather ruthless, uncaring woman--one which I would not want to run into, but also one which I am immensely intrigued by. Tammy and Munroe are also really well-written female characters, though I will be honest and say that I mixed them up a few times, simply because they are both strong woman who know how to kick ass and therefore sort of seem similar at times. Wren and Tianne are two students at the Red Tower, and I really enjoyed seeing each one's insight into the happenings that occurred at the Red Tower, the other students, and the instructors.
My only small niggle in regards to that characters is that wish that Aryan had maybe spent a little bit more time on individual characters and not had quite so many POVs to jump right into, but I do see how the multiple viewpoints really added to the story as well.
Where this book lost me was its lack of depth and passion. It's hard for me convey this because I can't really complain about any specific aspects of the book--the characters were well-developed, the plot had plenty of intrigue--but there was just something missing. Some of the dialogue felt a bit too 'perfect' or clunky, for one. I also felt that many actions were too predictable--such as what a character would say or do in reaction to something. There are plenty of unexpected twists and surprises, but there also many predictable surprises to go with that. Things felt very forced, neat, and far too tidy for it to feel realistic enough to become fully immersed in the story.
IN addition to what I've just said, the worldbuilding itself was lacking too much for my liking. I had a general idea of what things were like, but there was really no development or explanation for what type of world this was. As mentioned, I have since discovered that Aryan has a previous series that features many of the characters from this new series that provides much more background about the characters, the world itself, and the magic system, so that does help me understand a bit more why this book didn't go into as much depth. That being said, if this is considered a series that you can read without reading previous does (which I'm fairly certain that is how it's being marketed, but I could be wrong), then you might find yourself wanting more from this world.
Also, this is a minor detail, but an important one--I wanted a map so badly! Growing up, I never understood or used maps when reading fantasy, but over the past few years they have become indispensable to me and I feel that Mageborn could have majorly benefited from having one. I'm not counting this against the book or in my rating, but it's just a minor quibble of mine.
Overall, I've given Mageborn three-and-a-half stars! Despite it falling short of being on par with some of the great epic fantasies, Mageborn is still a solid, decent read that I would still recommend to any fantasy fan. I will probably check out the next book as well to see what happens and if there are any improvement, and I might also go back and check out Aryan's previous series, which is supposedly better than this one.
Mageborn is the first book in Stephen Aryan new epic fantasy series, Age of Dread. The plot was interesting and the entire premise had me hooked: one man, Habreel, believe that all magic should be eradicated after a war that occurred ten years ago caused extreme loss and mayhem by magic users.. In general, it's not the most unique or inventive idea I've ever heard, but the execution was done in a fascinating manner that allowed the reader to follow multiple POVs from every side, thus giving a better overall picture of the events of the book. Aryan also introduced his own inventive ideas that help this book stand out. (Note: Since finishing the book, I have discovered that Aryan's first series, written prior to this one, includes the war and backstory to much of the events in this book, though it is not necessary to read that one first--I hadn't.)
Speaking of multiple POVs: there are a quite a few. If I'm counting correctly, there are six main POVs: Habreel, Akosh, Tammy, Munroe, Wren, Tianne. Along with these are a few minor POVs that pop up, but aren't repeated much. I liked getting in the head of each of these characters and for the most part I felt that Aryan developed each of them very well. Habreel is one of the more interesting characters because, although he isn't necessarily doing 'right' things, as a reader we can understand where his thought process comes from in relation to his now seemingly drastic actions, which makes him difficult to place into a 'good' or 'bad' box. Akosh, however, is brilliantly written as a rather ruthless, uncaring woman--one which I would not want to run into, but also one which I am immensely intrigued by. Tammy and Munroe are also really well-written female characters, though I will be honest and say that I mixed them up a few times, simply because they are both strong woman who know how to kick ass and therefore sort of seem similar at times. Wren and Tianne are two students at the Red Tower, and I really enjoyed seeing each one's insight into the happenings that occurred at the Red Tower, the other students, and the instructors.
My only small niggle in regards to that characters is that wish that Aryan had maybe spent a little bit more time on individual characters and not had quite so many POVs to jump right into, but I do see how the multiple viewpoints really added to the story as well.
Where this book lost me was its lack of depth and passion. It's hard for me convey this because I can't really complain about any specific aspects of the book--the characters were well-developed, the plot had plenty of intrigue--but there was just something missing. Some of the dialogue felt a bit too 'perfect' or clunky, for one. I also felt that many actions were too predictable--such as what a character would say or do in reaction to something. There are plenty of unexpected twists and surprises, but there also many predictable surprises to go with that. Things felt very forced, neat, and far too tidy for it to feel realistic enough to become fully immersed in the story.
IN addition to what I've just said, the worldbuilding itself was lacking too much for my liking. I had a general idea of what things were like, but there was really no development or explanation for what type of world this was. As mentioned, I have since discovered that Aryan has a previous series that features many of the characters from this new series that provides much more background about the characters, the world itself, and the magic system, so that does help me understand a bit more why this book didn't go into as much depth. That being said, if this is considered a series that you can read without reading previous does (which I'm fairly certain that is how it's being marketed, but I could be wrong), then you might find yourself wanting more from this world.
Also, this is a minor detail, but an important one--I wanted a map so badly! Growing up, I never understood or used maps when reading fantasy, but over the past few years they have become indispensable to me and I feel that Mageborn could have majorly benefited from having one. I'm not counting this against the book or in my rating, but it's just a minor quibble of mine.
Overall, I've given Mageborn three-and-a-half stars! Despite it falling short of being on par with some of the great epic fantasies, Mageborn is still a solid, decent read that I would still recommend to any fantasy fan. I will probably check out the next book as well to see what happens and if there are any improvement, and I might also go back and check out Aryan's previous series, which is supposedly better than this one.
October 24, 2017
Oh man, what can I say about this book? Just read it.
There is so much here to love. Now, I will say, while it is the start of a new trilogy, you REALLY need to have read the first trilogy - all sorts of characters and events are referenced. So it's really book 4 set 10 years later. Do not start here.
But that's okay, the first three books were awesome.
I think what really hooked me about this book is that it shows there are consequences to actions, even well-intentioned ones. This book really explores the themes of power and consequences, and how even power used for good can cause fear. I pretty much couldn't stop reading. As a bonus, all of the characters are flawed - and in very fascinating ways.
In addition, this book happily avoids two of my most hated pitfalls in modern fantasy. First, there are not too many perspectives. You do have several story lines, but none of this massive multi-perspectival nonsense popularized by G.R.R. Martin. Second, while the characters are flawed, imperfect human beings, there isn't a sense of despair that everyone is horrible and the world sucks, it's imperfect people living in an imperfect world trying to find a good way forward. Magnificent! The climax of this novel had a surprising emotional impact on me - I wasn't expecting just how things turned out for several of the characters, and it was very moving.
My biggest complaint is that I want the next one now. I don't want to wait, I want to see what's happening, what the deal is with some of these characters, and where this world is going.
Aryan's writing continues to mature. He is definitely an author I'll be following for a long time. Next book in the series is an automatic pre-order for me for sure!
There is so much here to love. Now, I will say, while it is the start of a new trilogy, you REALLY need to have read the first trilogy - all sorts of characters and events are referenced. So it's really book 4 set 10 years later. Do not start here.
But that's okay, the first three books were awesome.
I think what really hooked me about this book is that it shows there are consequences to actions, even well-intentioned ones. This book really explores the themes of power and consequences, and how even power used for good can cause fear. I pretty much couldn't stop reading. As a bonus, all of the characters are flawed - and in very fascinating ways.
In addition, this book happily avoids two of my most hated pitfalls in modern fantasy. First, there are not too many perspectives. You do have several story lines, but none of this massive multi-perspectival nonsense popularized by G.R.R. Martin. Second, while the characters are flawed, imperfect human beings, there isn't a sense of despair that everyone is horrible and the world sucks, it's imperfect people living in an imperfect world trying to find a good way forward. Magnificent! The climax of this novel had a surprising emotional impact on me - I wasn't expecting just how things turned out for several of the characters, and it was very moving.
My biggest complaint is that I want the next one now. I don't want to wait, I want to see what's happening, what the deal is with some of these characters, and where this world is going.
Aryan's writing continues to mature. He is definitely an author I'll be following for a long time. Next book in the series is an automatic pre-order for me for sure!
May 24, 2022
Crying. Screaming. Devastated. I had some feelings from page 1 and my instincts did not betray me.
Good introduction of new characters and continuation of old. Stephen knows how to pull the reader and dance around their emotions, their distaste and affection; how to make it unable to put the book down and stop thinking about the story.
Delving into topics of war and its' lasting effects, fear of the different and unknown, the danger of ignorance and greed. Along with love, friendship, loss and the excitement of personal growth, new beginnings and the inevitable sadness of moving on. I suffered and laughed and felt proud and cried. Get ready for a rollercoaster.
There are some parts I wish had gone into more detail... seemed to have been skimmed over, like they had to be included for the sake of plot progression but did not sit right/add up or fit in as well as they could have. Felt the need for more details or seemed a bit rushed. Some areas were predictable. Debated between 3/4 stars but enjoyed the plot too much and am too fond of the characters for my own good.
Cannot wait to start the next book.
Valentina.
Good introduction of new characters and continuation of old. Stephen knows how to pull the reader and dance around their emotions, their distaste and affection; how to make it unable to put the book down and stop thinking about the story.
Delving into topics of war and its' lasting effects, fear of the different and unknown, the danger of ignorance and greed. Along with love, friendship, loss and the excitement of personal growth, new beginnings and the inevitable sadness of moving on. I suffered and laughed and felt proud and cried. Get ready for a rollercoaster.
There are some parts I wish had gone into more detail... seemed to have been skimmed over, like they had to be included for the sake of plot progression but did not sit right/add up or fit in as well as they could have. Felt the need for more details or seemed a bit rushed. Some areas were predictable. Debated between 3/4 stars but enjoyed the plot too much and am too fond of the characters for my own good.
Cannot wait to start the next book.
Valentina.
April 8, 2023
Actual Rating 3.5
I'll preface this by saying I love the first trilogy (Age of Darkness) set in this world. Those characters are some of my all time favourites in fantasy. And that's one of the reasons it took me so long to warm up to this book.
While I was still seeing characters from that trilogy, I wasn't getting enough from the ones I loved and was having to adjust to new characters too. But thankfully the story did pick up once I had adjusted.
Aryan does a fantastic job of ratcheting up the tension as we see fear and hatred grow towards mages and magic users of any kind. It was both fascinating and horrifying to see how people can turn against you so quickly.
I enjoyed the plot and seeing my favourite characters, I even grew to like the new characters before the end. Given that ending, I think book two is going to be even better and if the series continues in the same vein as the first, then the third book is going to be one hell of a finale. At least that's my hope!
I'll preface this by saying I love the first trilogy (Age of Darkness) set in this world. Those characters are some of my all time favourites in fantasy. And that's one of the reasons it took me so long to warm up to this book.
While I was still seeing characters from that trilogy, I wasn't getting enough from the ones I loved and was having to adjust to new characters too. But thankfully the story did pick up once I had adjusted.
Aryan does a fantastic job of ratcheting up the tension as we see fear and hatred grow towards mages and magic users of any kind. It was both fascinating and horrifying to see how people can turn against you so quickly.
I enjoyed the plot and seeing my favourite characters, I even grew to like the new characters before the end. Given that ending, I think book two is going to be even better and if the series continues in the same vein as the first, then the third book is going to be one hell of a finale. At least that's my hope!
April 2, 2018
Have you read Battlemage? No? Then go and read it.
Yes? It’s pretty damn good, aye? As is Blood Mage and Chaos Mage. So enjoyable. Balfruss is awesome. And you just want to hear more about Choss, Fray and Katja...
Anyhow, Mageborn is not part of that trilogy. But it’s in the same world and it has some of the same characters to start the next arc of what’s going on. You don’t need to have read the original trilogy, but I’d recommend you do. Because they’re great, not because you need it to know what’s going on. No spoilers here. Just comments on certain characters. And the characters are superb to read about. You want and need to know what’s happening and are kind of annoyed that the next book isn’t out yet.
Unless you’re reading this in the future when it has been released. In which case, lucky you, future person. Damn you. Damn you for being able to read the next one right now.
So yeah, great book (and great previous books). Go try them!
Yes? It’s pretty damn good, aye? As is Blood Mage and Chaos Mage. So enjoyable. Balfruss is awesome. And you just want to hear more about Choss, Fray and Katja...
Anyhow, Mageborn is not part of that trilogy. But it’s in the same world and it has some of the same characters to start the next arc of what’s going on. You don’t need to have read the original trilogy, but I’d recommend you do. Because they’re great, not because you need it to know what’s going on. No spoilers here. Just comments on certain characters. And the characters are superb to read about. You want and need to know what’s happening and are kind of annoyed that the next book isn’t out yet.
Unless you’re reading this in the future when it has been released. In which case, lucky you, future person. Damn you. Damn you for being able to read the next one right now.
So yeah, great book (and great previous books). Go try them!
June 3, 2018
Really enjoyable and just such a great adult high fantasy. I have such high standards for this genre and there were only a few things Mageborn lacked because you can't get everything you want. The only real drawback is there were so many povs that while I liked all of the characters, there wasn't enough of them each to really fall for them.
December 6, 2024
I really hate that this is Vol 1 of a series. I realized after starting that this book is a continuation of a previous trilogy. There is so much narration that was lost on me because it was referencing previous events that happened in the author's series. That being said, I did like his writing style. I might go back and read the previous series.
December 16, 2017
You keep going 'what the heck is going on' and you realize that there really is a point but the author keeps you off kilter to keep you guessing. The different characters and their points of view help to start to develop the whole picture. Definitely want to read the next book in the series.
April 16, 2018
I found it quite hard to get into this book, but once half way through I began to really get into the plot. The politics cleverly reflects a lot which goes on in our society, while set in more fantastical circumstances. By then end I was engaged and will look for the sequels.
November 28, 2018
Great plot and characters
I found myself lost in this new world (in a good way) and looking forward to learning more about each of the characters and wondering what the plot holds for them. On to book two!!
I found myself lost in this new world (in a good way) and looking forward to learning more about each of the characters and wondering what the plot holds for them. On to book two!!
Read
February 19, 2018Good book, now need to read his first three and wait for the second in this trilogy
March 17, 2018
What a great start to a new series! I haven't felt this jazzed about a fantasy novel in awhile. While I've read this kind of a story before, the characters were striking and refreshing to me.
July 6, 2022
Mozda prije 3.5* nego 4, interesantna priča i malo usporena na početku, ali likovi i njihovi životi su tako lijepo upleteni.
December 27, 2022
Overall, I did like this book. Took a while to build up and most of the action was in the last third of the book. Felt like this book was definitely setting up for a larger story, which I’m guessing occur in the following books. I have no real attachment to the characters yet though. I did not read the Battlemage series but found I was able to follow along just fine without it.
October 5, 2018
Really interesting first book and it has alot of room for development. Will be looking forward to read next book.
August 17, 2018
3.5 stars. This book sets the stage for the series. The characters are real and imperfect so you become invested in their stories.
October 17, 2017
I haven’t been reading a lot of fantasy lately. But when I read the book description of ‘Mageborn’, I found myself being excited to read this one. And when I saw that cover, I got even more excited. That cover is just so damn pretty!
From the moment I started reading ‘Mageborn’ I found myself being intrigued by this read. The setting of the world was really interesting and I loved getting to know it bit by bit. It still took me a little while to really get into this story, but this didn’t bother me at all. The whole setting around the ‘Red Tower’ was really interesting and it made me want to keep on reading.
The characters Stephen Aryan wrote were also really interesting to read about. But there were a lot of them, and especially in the beginning I had some trouble keeping everyone apart. I would have liked the opportunity to get to know some of the characters a little more too. For example Wren. I loved that character and found myself looking forward to reading Wren’s point of view above that of other characters.
As a fantasy novel, Mageborn was definitely a good one. But I still found myself being unable to be completely hooked to this read. I don’t know why exactly, but there was just something I missed.
Overall, Mageborn was an interesting and fun read. And I’d definitely like to read more in this series!
From the moment I started reading ‘Mageborn’ I found myself being intrigued by this read. The setting of the world was really interesting and I loved getting to know it bit by bit. It still took me a little while to really get into this story, but this didn’t bother me at all. The whole setting around the ‘Red Tower’ was really interesting and it made me want to keep on reading.
The characters Stephen Aryan wrote were also really interesting to read about. But there were a lot of them, and especially in the beginning I had some trouble keeping everyone apart. I would have liked the opportunity to get to know some of the characters a little more too. For example Wren. I loved that character and found myself looking forward to reading Wren’s point of view above that of other characters.
As a fantasy novel, Mageborn was definitely a good one. But I still found myself being unable to be completely hooked to this read. I don’t know why exactly, but there was just something I missed.
Overall, Mageborn was an interesting and fun read. And I’d definitely like to read more in this series!
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