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The Heir Chronicles #2
The Wizard Heir
Sixteen-year-old Seph McCauley has spent the past three years getting kicked out of one exclusive private school after another. And it's not his attitude that’s the problem. It’s the trail of magical accidents—lately, disasters—that follow in his wake. Seph is a wizard, orphaned and untrained--and his powers are escalating out of control.
After causing a tragic fire at an after-hours party, Seph is sent to the Havens, a secluded boys’ school on the coast of Maine. At first, it seems like the answer to his prayers. Gregory Leicester, the headmaster, promises to train Seph in magic and initiate him into his mysterious order of wizards. But Seph's enthusiasm dampens when he learns that training comes at a steep cost, and that Leicester plans to use his students' powers to serve his own dangerous agenda.
In this companion novel to the exciting fantasy The Warrior Heir , everyone's got a secret to Jason Haley, a fellow student who’s been warned to keep away from Seph; the enchanter Linda Downey, who knew his parents; the rogue wizard Leander Hastings, and the warriors Jack Swift and Ellen Stephenson. This wizard war is one that Seph may not have the strength to survive.
After causing a tragic fire at an after-hours party, Seph is sent to the Havens, a secluded boys’ school on the coast of Maine. At first, it seems like the answer to his prayers. Gregory Leicester, the headmaster, promises to train Seph in magic and initiate him into his mysterious order of wizards. But Seph's enthusiasm dampens when he learns that training comes at a steep cost, and that Leicester plans to use his students' powers to serve his own dangerous agenda.
In this companion novel to the exciting fantasy The Warrior Heir , everyone's got a secret to Jason Haley, a fellow student who’s been warned to keep away from Seph; the enchanter Linda Downey, who knew his parents; the rogue wizard Leander Hastings, and the warriors Jack Swift and Ellen Stephenson. This wizard war is one that Seph may not have the strength to survive.
458 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2007
793 people are currently reading
23102 people want to read
About the author
Cinda Williams Chima
35 books11.6k followersNew York Times bestselling author Cinda Williams Chima comes from a long line of fortune-tellers, musicians and spinners of tales. She began writing romance novels in middle school, which were often confiscated by her teachers.
Her Heir Chronicles series (magic comes to contemporary Ohio) comprises The Warrior Heir The Wizard Heir . The Dragon Heir The Enchanter Heir, and the Sorcerer Heir.
Chima's Seven Realms series comprises The Demon King The Exiled Queen The Gray Wolf Throne and The Crimson Crown ).
Her Shattered Realms quartet comprises Flamecaster ( 2016) Shadowcaster (2017) Stormcaster (2018) and Deathcaster (2019.)
Her newest series, Runestone Saga, marries Norse magic and mythology with swordplay (axeplay?) and romance. Children of Ragnarok was released 11.8.22, and the sequel and conclusion, Bane of Asgard, is set for release 10-22-24.It is available for preorder now.
Chima is a graduate of Case Western Reserve University and the University of Akron. Chima has been a workshop leader, panelist, and speaker at writing conferences, including the Northern Ohio SCBWI Conference, the Western Reserve Writers’ Conference, and the World Fantasy Convention. She frequently speaks to young writers and readers at schools and libraries nationwide.
Chima lives in North Carolina with her family, and is always working on her next novel.
Her Heir Chronicles series (magic comes to contemporary Ohio) comprises The Warrior Heir The Wizard Heir . The Dragon Heir The Enchanter Heir, and the Sorcerer Heir.
Chima's Seven Realms series comprises The Demon King The Exiled Queen The Gray Wolf Throne and The Crimson Crown ).
Her Shattered Realms quartet comprises Flamecaster ( 2016) Shadowcaster (2017) Stormcaster (2018) and Deathcaster (2019.)
Her newest series, Runestone Saga, marries Norse magic and mythology with swordplay (axeplay?) and romance. Children of Ragnarok was released 11.8.22, and the sequel and conclusion, Bane of Asgard, is set for release 10-22-24.It is available for preorder now.
Chima is a graduate of Case Western Reserve University and the University of Akron. Chima has been a workshop leader, panelist, and speaker at writing conferences, including the Northern Ohio SCBWI Conference, the Western Reserve Writers’ Conference, and the World Fantasy Convention. She frequently speaks to young writers and readers at schools and libraries nationwide.
Chima lives in North Carolina with her family, and is always working on her next novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,630 reviews
September 23, 2023
"My mother specialized in illusions, glamours, spirituality, traveling outside the body using talismans."
It's only book two, and we have a completely new set of characters working on a completely different plot. Just as good as book 1, and had a fun time reading this.
Review to come.
"Those of us who are not students of history are condemned to repeat it."
It's only book two, and we have a completely new set of characters working on a completely different plot. Just as good as book 1, and had a fun time reading this.
Review to come.
"Those of us who are not students of history are condemned to repeat it."
June 24, 2017
3.5 stars
The first book was about Warriors, so now it's time to find out about the Wizards!
I do think I was a bit more invested in the characters this time around, so I've got to bump the rating up just a tad for this one.
On the surface, Seph...which is just the oddest nickname for Joseph I've ever heard...looks like just another a trust fund baby, who can't seem to stay in one school for very long without screwing up. But, in truth, he's a wizard who doesn't know how to control his power.
Lucky for him, a kindly giant with an overgrown beard swoops in to help him!
No. Wait. That was a different book.
There can be more than one story about a young wizard boy trying to grow up while being hunted by bad guys at every turn, right?
Right.
Anyway, after a particularly nasty fire that started because another wizard used a magical drug to roofie Seph's drink at a club, he ends up quickly shuttled off to a reform school out in the middle of BFE by his lawyer/guardian.
And once he's there, he has to choose between being a basketball star, or following his heart (& the girl of his dreams) and singing in the...
Nope, nope. That doesn't sound right, either.
Hang on.
*thumbs through pages*
Ok, yes, now I've got it.
It turns out that this is no regular reformatory for the rich and famous. The headmaster is, in fact, an evil wizard hell-bent on mentally torturing Seph until he basically gives up his free will, and hands over his power to him. And since Seph is untrained, it looks like Principal McEvil will win!
Until two little mice show up to save him!
Or...no. Um. Yeah, I think I may have seen the mice thing somewhere else.
My memory isn't what it used to be, you know?
Don't judge.
Look, I enjoyed this book quite a bit, even though it wasn't the bestsest thing I've ever read. So, if you're interested in seeing what actually happens why don't you just read this one for yourself?
The first book was about Warriors, so now it's time to find out about the Wizards!
I do think I was a bit more invested in the characters this time around, so I've got to bump the rating up just a tad for this one.
On the surface, Seph...which is just the oddest nickname for Joseph I've ever heard...looks like just another a trust fund baby, who can't seem to stay in one school for very long without screwing up. But, in truth, he's a wizard who doesn't know how to control his power.
Lucky for him, a kindly giant with an overgrown beard swoops in to help him!
No. Wait. That was a different book.
There can be more than one story about a young wizard boy trying to grow up while being hunted by bad guys at every turn, right?
Right.
Anyway, after a particularly nasty fire that started because another wizard used a magical drug to roofie Seph's drink at a club, he ends up quickly shuttled off to a reform school out in the middle of BFE by his lawyer/guardian.
And once he's there, he has to choose between being a basketball star, or following his heart (& the girl of his dreams) and singing in the...
Nope, nope. That doesn't sound right, either.
Hang on.
*thumbs through pages*
Ok, yes, now I've got it.
It turns out that this is no regular reformatory for the rich and famous. The headmaster is, in fact, an evil wizard hell-bent on mentally torturing Seph until he basically gives up his free will, and hands over his power to him. And since Seph is untrained, it looks like Principal McEvil will win!
Until two little mice show up to save him!
Or...no. Um. Yeah, I think I may have seen the mice thing somewhere else.
My memory isn't what it used to be, you know?
Don't judge.
Look, I enjoyed this book quite a bit, even though it wasn't the bestsest thing I've ever read. So, if you're interested in seeing what actually happens why don't you just read this one for yourself?
April 2, 2018
Seph started out pretty unlikable. He's always popular, people always like his ideas, and he uses his powers to persuade people. This third one doesn't stop and he actually uses his magic to get girls.. He grew on me though and he's a better character than Jack. It says something that the girl he falls for, Maddie, isn't effected by his magic. She's an interesting character.
The school has a creepy atmosphere and it's obvious something sinister is going on there. I didn't like the whole nightmare thing. Luckily, it doesn't last long. I liked Jason, (He was a better character than Seph) I wish he'd been in it more, that we got to see them playing around with magic instead of just being told about it.
There are two mysteries in Wizard; Who are Seph's parents and who is the Dragon. One was obvious but the other my first guess was actually wrong.
At about halfway, the characters from the first book show up and it got much better!
Ellen is different from Warrior. I like her better, even if she is more of a caricature. Jack used to be nonjudgmental but after the events in Warrior he hates wizards. I can't blame him but he's rather rude to Seph.
To stupid to live heroes alert! Evil wizards are hunting you. You finally got to a safe town, a sanctuary where they can't touch you, so of course it's a good idea to leave.. *Facepalm*
Why is it Chima summarizes the best parts? The action stops then we get a little bit a few months later. I needed more!
The school has a creepy atmosphere and it's obvious something sinister is going on there. I didn't like the whole nightmare thing. Luckily, it doesn't last long. I liked Jason, (He was a better character than Seph) I wish he'd been in it more, that we got to see them playing around with magic instead of just being told about it.
There are two mysteries in Wizard; Who are Seph's parents and who is the Dragon. One was obvious but the other my first guess was actually wrong.
At about halfway, the characters from the first book show up and it got much better!
Ellen is different from Warrior. I like her better, even if she is more of a caricature. Jack used to be nonjudgmental but after the events in Warrior he hates wizards. I can't blame him but he's rather rude to Seph.
To stupid to live heroes alert! Evil wizards are hunting you. You finally got to a safe town, a sanctuary where they can't touch you, so of course it's a good idea to leave.. *Facepalm*
Why is it Chima summarizes the best parts? The action stops then we get a little bit a few months later. I needed more!
December 4, 2008
Awesome... so awesome!
I still can't believe this simple, brilliant series.
A friend sent me my own personal copy of this book.
I retrieved it from the mail on Monday.
I finished it last night.
Those 24 hours are a blur.
I cried in relief when, halfway through the book, Linda Downey announced her arrival. I had been waiting to see who it was from the first volume that Seph would come into contact with. I had absolutely no reason whatsoever to expect it would be her. I figured he'd escape the Havens, walk all the way to the Sanctuary and encounter a certain pair of young warriors.
Wow.
Nothing will prepare you for the plot of this one.
It was just incredible. So many endearing characters...
Several times I found myself thinking "well why don't they just..." or "If only..." only to realize that, alas, with all of the fantasy books I have read of late, I was mixing up some various and completely different series!
What is the significance of the Witch's Hand? will it affect the bearer's magic or abilities? Will this be explained in better detail later?
Onward to the Dragon Heir!
I still can't believe this simple, brilliant series.
A friend sent me my own personal copy of this book.
I retrieved it from the mail on Monday.
I finished it last night.
Those 24 hours are a blur.
I cried in relief when, halfway through the book, Linda Downey announced her arrival. I had been waiting to see who it was from the first volume that Seph would come into contact with. I had absolutely no reason whatsoever to expect it would be her. I figured he'd escape the Havens, walk all the way to the Sanctuary and encounter a certain pair of young warriors.
Wow.
Nothing will prepare you for the plot of this one.
It was just incredible. So many endearing characters...
Several times I found myself thinking "well why don't they just..." or "If only..." only to realize that, alas, with all of the fantasy books I have read of late, I was mixing up some various and completely different series!
What is the significance of the Witch's Hand? will it affect the bearer's magic or abilities? Will this be explained in better detail later?
Onward to the Dragon Heir!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 26, 2019
3.5 stars
This continues to be a good contemporary fantasy series. The story is really straightforward and easy to listen to as an audiobook. Both my kids enjoyed it, but really, the problem is that it isn't The Seven Realms, which was brilliant. This is entertaining enough, but loses some luster in comparison to Chima's other series.
That said, it is interesting enough that I plan to read the next book. Chima definitely builds her stories across the books in a series, and I do want to see where she is going with everything.
This continues to be a good contemporary fantasy series. The story is really straightforward and easy to listen to as an audiobook. Both my kids enjoyed it, but really, the problem is that it isn't The Seven Realms, which was brilliant. This is entertaining enough, but loses some luster in comparison to Chima's other series.
That said, it is interesting enough that I plan to read the next book. Chima definitely builds her stories across the books in a series, and I do want to see where she is going with everything.
November 16, 2019
3,5 tan 4...YA fantastik,bir kaç değişiklikle aslında 5 lik bile olurdu...en azından üçüncü kitap çıkmış olsaydı keşke...kitapların kendince sonları var ,devamı gelmese bile okunur...
August 21, 2024
4.5
Well this was a HUGE improvement on book one in the series, and I am glad I got around to continuing the trilogy sooner than I expected.
Overall, this book was easier to get into, and generally much faster paced. Since we did not have to get explanation for the complex world in this sequel, we were able to be immersed in the story and atmosphere right away. I will say that the book did lose some steam for me at the end, leading me to believe this book could have been cut slightly shorter.
That said, the main character in this book, Seph, is very likable and super easy to root for. I feel like I knew him pretty well by the end of the book, and I hope he is featured in The Warrior Heir like Jack was in this companion novel.
All in all, this was a fabulous sequel to a book I was slightly underwhelmed by. I hope this upward trend continues into the final book of the original trilogy.
As a side note, this is the one of the few books that gave Harry Potter vibes at certain times so that’s a big plus.
Well this was a HUGE improvement on book one in the series, and I am glad I got around to continuing the trilogy sooner than I expected.
Overall, this book was easier to get into, and generally much faster paced. Since we did not have to get explanation for the complex world in this sequel, we were able to be immersed in the story and atmosphere right away. I will say that the book did lose some steam for me at the end, leading me to believe this book could have been cut slightly shorter.
That said, the main character in this book, Seph, is very likable and super easy to root for. I feel like I knew him pretty well by the end of the book, and I hope he is featured in The Warrior Heir like Jack was in this companion novel.
All in all, this was a fabulous sequel to a book I was slightly underwhelmed by. I hope this upward trend continues into the final book of the original trilogy.
As a side note, this is the one of the few books that gave Harry Potter vibes at certain times so that’s a big plus.
April 28, 2017
This was so amazing!
I mean, The Warrior Heir was pretty good but this just kicked it up a notch.
I literally didn't want to put it down on a night.
The perfect way to finish off April!
I mean, The Warrior Heir was pretty good but this just kicked it up a notch.
I literally didn't want to put it down on a night.
The perfect way to finish off April!
December 30, 2007
i LOVED this book. Seph, a very powerful wizard, doesn't realize that he's a wizard until he goes to the Havens when he's 16, a school for boys. The headmaster, Gregory Leicester, takes advantage of the fact that the wizards who go to his school are untrained and aren't affiliated with either of the two warring houses (the Red Rose and the White Rose), and the wizards that come to his school are mentally tortured by nightmares until they agree to link to Leicester. Seph refuses and nearly dies after months of mental torture, until his "guardian" comes to pick him up from the Havens, when Leicester has almost beaten Seph to death. but, although that seems to be a happy ending, there's a bigger picture in the process. Read this book to find out what happens! it's the BEST BOOK EVER!!! and trust me, i've read, like, every great fantasy/ fiction book for YA . . . well, maybe not all of them. but a lot of them . . .
July 13, 2018
3.5 Stars
November 7, 2012
Reviewed by Carrie Spellman for TeensReadToo.com
Sixteen-year-old Seph (Joseph) McCauley is a double orphan. His parents died in a tragic accident so long ago that he doesn't remember them. (At least that's what the paperwork says; Seph's pretty sure it's fake.) Not too long ago he lost Genevieve, the woman who raised him and cared for him. Since then he's been shipped from town to town, from school to school. The only thing that stays the same is the reason he keeps having to leave. Weird things happen around Seph--birds attacking, explosions, fires--and the last time, somebody died. Seph knows that if he could find someone to train him, he could control, or harness, or even use his magic. If it doesn't happen soon, he might just self-destruct. Literally.
His latest prison is an all-boys school in the middle of nowhere on the coast of Maine. Seph expected that the other students might be a bit different from what he's used to, but these kids are beyond weird. And the teachers, well, that's a whole other thing. Wonder of all wonders, the headmaster, Gregory Leicester, is a wizard, and wants to train Seph! It seems his prayers have been answered. But something still feels - off. The way the students behave towards the headmaster, the way the other teachers treat him, the "research students" in the special dorm... Leicester seems to want more than Seph is willing to give. A battle of wills, of frightening proportion, begins. The more Leicester wants him to do something, the less Seph is willing to give in. The only answer is escape or death. But what if escape is just the beginning?
Fun, exciting, non-stop reading. I didn't let it out of my sight until I found the time to finish it. I think I may have a crush on Seph. What can I say; I like the dark, edgy guys.
There is another book written by the author that fits in the timeline before this, called THE WARRIOR HEIR. That book is not at all necessary to read first. I haven't read it yet, and I really liked this book. Although you can bet I plan on devouring that one shortly! For readers of THE WARRIOR HEIR, I believe the main character is Jack, and rest assured he plays a big part in the second half of this book. Which gives me hope that Seph might turn up again.
Sixteen-year-old Seph (Joseph) McCauley is a double orphan. His parents died in a tragic accident so long ago that he doesn't remember them. (At least that's what the paperwork says; Seph's pretty sure it's fake.) Not too long ago he lost Genevieve, the woman who raised him and cared for him. Since then he's been shipped from town to town, from school to school. The only thing that stays the same is the reason he keeps having to leave. Weird things happen around Seph--birds attacking, explosions, fires--and the last time, somebody died. Seph knows that if he could find someone to train him, he could control, or harness, or even use his magic. If it doesn't happen soon, he might just self-destruct. Literally.
His latest prison is an all-boys school in the middle of nowhere on the coast of Maine. Seph expected that the other students might be a bit different from what he's used to, but these kids are beyond weird. And the teachers, well, that's a whole other thing. Wonder of all wonders, the headmaster, Gregory Leicester, is a wizard, and wants to train Seph! It seems his prayers have been answered. But something still feels - off. The way the students behave towards the headmaster, the way the other teachers treat him, the "research students" in the special dorm... Leicester seems to want more than Seph is willing to give. A battle of wills, of frightening proportion, begins. The more Leicester wants him to do something, the less Seph is willing to give in. The only answer is escape or death. But what if escape is just the beginning?
Fun, exciting, non-stop reading. I didn't let it out of my sight until I found the time to finish it. I think I may have a crush on Seph. What can I say; I like the dark, edgy guys.
There is another book written by the author that fits in the timeline before this, called THE WARRIOR HEIR. That book is not at all necessary to read first. I haven't read it yet, and I really liked this book. Although you can bet I plan on devouring that one shortly! For readers of THE WARRIOR HEIR, I believe the main character is Jack, and rest assured he plays a big part in the second half of this book. Which gives me hope that Seph might turn up again.
July 9, 2017
ACTUAL RATING: 3.5 STARS
This sequel was quite a great improvement from the first book (I've read this in one day and that rarely happens). Way more engaging in my opinion and less predictable. I found Seph, the main character, way more likeable than Jack or at least less whinny and more sensible and useful. And I'm kind of intrigued to see how the third book goes.
This sequel was quite a great improvement from the first book (I've read this in one day and that rarely happens). Way more engaging in my opinion and less predictable. I found Seph, the main character, way more likeable than Jack or at least less whinny and more sensible and useful. And I'm kind of intrigued to see how the third book goes.
October 8, 2014
Great book. Amazing plot,lots of character development and breath-taking twists!! I would write more but i'm kinda sick so i can't. But anyway,its a lovely book full of adventure and suspense and a bit of romance :)
February 3, 2018
This was a reread for me
I liked this more than the first book in the series
There was more mystery and intrigue
I liked the character development
I liked this more than the first book in the series
There was more mystery and intrigue
I liked the character development
July 4, 2011
This sequel to The Warrior Heir was a decent, if somewhat predictable follow up. At the end of the first book, I had wondered whether Chima would use the same characters in subsequent books. The Warrior Heir didn't end on a cliffhanger, so I thought she might start up with an entirely new cast of characters. I was pleased to find The Wizard Heir did have many of the same characters, albeit with the focus on a new main character, Seph (short for Joseph).
The Wizard Heir was, in certain sections, a darker book than its predecessor. Seph is an untrained orphan wizard who has spent his life in boarding schools and is haunted by strange fires and other unexplained accidents caused by releases of his wizard power. Seph's newest boarding school is run by a wizard who wants to steal Seph's power.
Over the course of this book, Seph unintentionally wounds, hurts and even kills innocent bystanders. His emotional journey through these events is believably difficult and I enjoyed how the citizens of Trinity helped Seph recover physically, mentally and emotionally from his boarding school nightmare.
I found Seph a likable character and I thought the inclusion of a Catholic wizard a nice touch. Faith is not always incompatible with fantasy. :-)
While I found this book more predictable than The Warrior Heir, I think The Dragon Heir is a strong finish to this series, so it's worth reading this book if only to round out your understanding of the world Chima has created.
The Wizard Heir was, in certain sections, a darker book than its predecessor. Seph is an untrained orphan wizard who has spent his life in boarding schools and is haunted by strange fires and other unexplained accidents caused by releases of his wizard power. Seph's newest boarding school is run by a wizard who wants to steal Seph's power.
Over the course of this book, Seph unintentionally wounds, hurts and even kills innocent bystanders. His emotional journey through these events is believably difficult and I enjoyed how the citizens of Trinity helped Seph recover physically, mentally and emotionally from his boarding school nightmare.
I found Seph a likable character and I thought the inclusion of a Catholic wizard a nice touch. Faith is not always incompatible with fantasy. :-)
While I found this book more predictable than The Warrior Heir, I think The Dragon Heir is a strong finish to this series, so it's worth reading this book if only to round out your understanding of the world Chima has created.
July 6, 2019
I definitely enjoyed this more than the The Warrior Heir! I think I'd been so focused on the fact that this series is more urban fantasy that I didn't take the time to appreciate the story for it's worth. The Wizard Heir feels distinctly more fantasy since a majority of this takes place in a secluded boarding school. Seph McCauley is sent to Hayden's after he causing a devastating accident; however, things are not all they seem at Hayden's. Seph is desperate for a magical teacher and a way to stay out of the clutches of the Headmaster.
I really enjoyed Seph's character. He was so strong and refused to give up when he was mentally tortured for months. We really get the quality time to see him develop throughout the story. I loved that Seph was brought into the main conflict and met Jack and Ellen. I had basically forgotten almost everything that happened in The Warrior Heir, but luckily Aunt Linda explained the situation to Seph.
I loved seeing the crossovers between Seph and the events that happened in the first book. I can't wait to see the other characters this series will draw in. I'm super excited to see what will happen next after the explosive ending of this installment.
I really enjoyed Seph's character. He was so strong and refused to give up when he was mentally tortured for months. We really get the quality time to see him develop throughout the story. I loved that Seph was brought into the main conflict and met Jack and Ellen. I had basically forgotten almost everything that happened in The Warrior Heir, but luckily Aunt Linda explained the situation to Seph.
I loved seeing the crossovers between Seph and the events that happened in the first book. I can't wait to see the other characters this series will draw in. I'm super excited to see what will happen next after the explosive ending of this installment.
November 7, 2025
I read this series out of order, so this one didn't have such a great feel. But most of that's my fault.
January 4, 2021
I enjoyed this book even more than the first one. Initially, I was a little thrown because once again the book started with a new character and, wary of the author’s other series Shadowcaster (which I abandoned because book 2 didn’t feature any of the main characters of book 1), I thought: not again! But luckily the new character hooked me right away as well and there were enough references to old characters to keep me connected and the two casts rejoined after not too long (30% of the book maybe). In the end, I liked this story even better, it was less predictable on how things would resolve... I’m excited for the next book...
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December 19, 2023This is for young young adults so I don't want to review/star out of the intended audience but I loved loved loved Chima's Demon King series so jumped into this one. I barely made it through the first one but saw it was a total character change for the second and moved forward, it didn't really improve to me. It is very basic and skews much younger even for young adult so this series is a pass for me.
(But seriously The Demon King is ammmaaaaazing and why I keep reading YA sometimes)
(But seriously The Demon King is ammmaaaaazing and why I keep reading YA sometimes)
February 10, 2021
Vaaauvvv diyorum başka diyecek bir şey kalmıyor..
Serinin ikinci kitabı da ilk kitabında olduğu gibi ilk bölümler de karakterleri olay örgüsüne oturturken sıkıcıydı. Ama sadece ilk üç bölüm ondan sonrası nefes almadan okumadım. İlk kitaba göre daha bir heyecan dolu olduğunu söyleyebilirim.
Serinin ikinci kitabı da ilk kitabında olduğu gibi ilk bölümler de karakterleri olay örgüsüne oturturken sıkıcıydı. Ama sadece ilk üç bölüm ondan sonrası nefes almadan okumadım. İlk kitaba göre daha bir heyecan dolu olduğunu söyleyebilirim.
April 25, 2012
Have you ever considered that there might be people in our world that contain certain magical powers, powers that in turn could be used for good or evil? This not a possibility, but a reality in Cinda Williams Chima’s book, “Wizard Heir”. In Chima’s captivating novel (the sequel to “The Warrior Heir”), she describes Seph McCauley’s evolution from being a young, untrained wizard in captivity to one of the worlds most powerful wizards.
Seph has been an orphan his whole life, and had been changing schools for as long as he could remember due to trouble’s knack for always following him around. His guardian told Jason that this new school, the Havens, was his last chance to straighten out his act, or he would be written out of his parents will. As soon as Seph got to the school, he knew something was not right. McCauley was recruited to join an evil clan of wizards headed by Gregory Leicester, and was heavily tortured when he refused. Seph was stuck in the school with no way of contacting the outside world. The only reason he survived was that he met another wizard named Jason who knew how to resist the torture. Jason tried to escape before Seph, and Seph having no way to know whether he made it had no other choice but to try himself. After many failed attempts at contacting his guardian, he finally broke into the headmaster’s office(the only computer with internet access, and only place with an unmonitored phone on campus) and wrote a desperate email. He wrote in the email that if nobody came to save him, he would kill himself after 24 hours. His guardian did get his email, and came straight to the rescue. Soon after, he was expunged from the biggest nightmare of his life.
Once rescued, he met his real mother, Linda Downey. Linda told him that she was sorry for not being there for him, but he would not have been safe with her. She lived a very dangerous lifestyle, involved heavily in wizard politics. She then took Seph to the sanctuary where her sister, and warriors Jack and Ellen lived. It is there where Seph mastered his wizardry, and recuperated from the torture he endured at the Havens. Seph had walked into a world full of chaos. The covenant that was meant to maintain peace in the weir world had been stolen, and the sanctuary was vulnerable.
Seph later found out that Jason did in fact escape, and became an operative for the Silver Dragon. He snuck into the heavily guarded Ravens Gyll, and found what is supposed to be the most powerful weapon in the world. The Dragon Heart is the one thing that can save the world or destroy it. Will they harness the powers of this powerful Talisman and free the world from the domination of wizards, or take all the power for themselves?
Seph McCauley is a very courageous and genuine character. Seph does all that he possibly can to save the people that he loves. He was brave enough to go to Second Sister island, even though it was an obvious trap. He knew he had to go there if there was any chance that the new covenant would be accepted. When all was hopeless at Second Sister, he was brave and outsmarted two of the most powerful wizards in the world. If he had not stood up, and figured out how to kill Leicester, the whole world would be slaves under him. Seph is also a genuine person. Every opportunity he gets, he helps clean up around the house. He also spends a lot of time with his girlfriend Madison Moss, and treats her with the utmost respect and care. He loves so many people, and would put his life down to save each and every one of them.
Cinda Williams Chima drives home the theme, with her characters and setting, that everyone can make a difference no matter what power you have. In the story, after escaping from the Havens, Jason felt useless because he was nowhere near as powerful as many of the wizards working for the Silver Dragon. Despite his insecurities, he did all he could to contribute somehow. He ended up finding the dragon heart, which is the most powerful Talisman in the world. Without this weapon, there would be no hope in restoring the balance to the weir world. When all odds were against him, Jason still made a huge impact to saving the world. No matter how tall, strong, or intelligent you are, there is no reason why you can’t make a difference.
I highly recommend this book because it is everything that I love: fantasy, romance, and violence. There were wizards and magic, which is a very intriguing topic to write about. This book also had great romance between Jack and Ellen, and great charisma between Seph and Madison. There were numerous fights in this novel, whether it was with wizards, warrior, or both. I would rate this book a ten out of ten because I have nothing but good things to say about it. Cinda Williams Chima is a brilliant author, and has yet again hit a homerun with this suspensful sequel to the Warrior Heir.
Seph has been an orphan his whole life, and had been changing schools for as long as he could remember due to trouble’s knack for always following him around. His guardian told Jason that this new school, the Havens, was his last chance to straighten out his act, or he would be written out of his parents will. As soon as Seph got to the school, he knew something was not right. McCauley was recruited to join an evil clan of wizards headed by Gregory Leicester, and was heavily tortured when he refused. Seph was stuck in the school with no way of contacting the outside world. The only reason he survived was that he met another wizard named Jason who knew how to resist the torture. Jason tried to escape before Seph, and Seph having no way to know whether he made it had no other choice but to try himself. After many failed attempts at contacting his guardian, he finally broke into the headmaster’s office(the only computer with internet access, and only place with an unmonitored phone on campus) and wrote a desperate email. He wrote in the email that if nobody came to save him, he would kill himself after 24 hours. His guardian did get his email, and came straight to the rescue. Soon after, he was expunged from the biggest nightmare of his life.
Once rescued, he met his real mother, Linda Downey. Linda told him that she was sorry for not being there for him, but he would not have been safe with her. She lived a very dangerous lifestyle, involved heavily in wizard politics. She then took Seph to the sanctuary where her sister, and warriors Jack and Ellen lived. It is there where Seph mastered his wizardry, and recuperated from the torture he endured at the Havens. Seph had walked into a world full of chaos. The covenant that was meant to maintain peace in the weir world had been stolen, and the sanctuary was vulnerable.
Seph later found out that Jason did in fact escape, and became an operative for the Silver Dragon. He snuck into the heavily guarded Ravens Gyll, and found what is supposed to be the most powerful weapon in the world. The Dragon Heart is the one thing that can save the world or destroy it. Will they harness the powers of this powerful Talisman and free the world from the domination of wizards, or take all the power for themselves?
Seph McCauley is a very courageous and genuine character. Seph does all that he possibly can to save the people that he loves. He was brave enough to go to Second Sister island, even though it was an obvious trap. He knew he had to go there if there was any chance that the new covenant would be accepted. When all was hopeless at Second Sister, he was brave and outsmarted two of the most powerful wizards in the world. If he had not stood up, and figured out how to kill Leicester, the whole world would be slaves under him. Seph is also a genuine person. Every opportunity he gets, he helps clean up around the house. He also spends a lot of time with his girlfriend Madison Moss, and treats her with the utmost respect and care. He loves so many people, and would put his life down to save each and every one of them.
Cinda Williams Chima drives home the theme, with her characters and setting, that everyone can make a difference no matter what power you have. In the story, after escaping from the Havens, Jason felt useless because he was nowhere near as powerful as many of the wizards working for the Silver Dragon. Despite his insecurities, he did all he could to contribute somehow. He ended up finding the dragon heart, which is the most powerful Talisman in the world. Without this weapon, there would be no hope in restoring the balance to the weir world. When all odds were against him, Jason still made a huge impact to saving the world. No matter how tall, strong, or intelligent you are, there is no reason why you can’t make a difference.
I highly recommend this book because it is everything that I love: fantasy, romance, and violence. There were wizards and magic, which is a very intriguing topic to write about. This book also had great romance between Jack and Ellen, and great charisma between Seph and Madison. There were numerous fights in this novel, whether it was with wizards, warrior, or both. I would rate this book a ten out of ten because I have nothing but good things to say about it. Cinda Williams Chima is a brilliant author, and has yet again hit a homerun with this suspensful sequel to the Warrior Heir.
January 13, 2022
Unfortunately, this was a disappointment for me. Formulaic and 2 dimensional characters really hurt, what I would call, a solid plot set up. I thought the plot was good and that's why this is a two star and not a one. The setting change to the school to give that academic angle was a smart choice by the writer but in execution was not enough to save the flat, uncomplicated, characters.
The crossover of the characters from the first book was also a smart choice but I CANNOT understand when side characters will just meet the main character and then *instantly* be willing to sacrifice their well-being and the well-being of their loved ones for the MC or the MC's "cause". Only for things to magically and conveniently worked out in the end.
Not for me and I'm sad because I really liked the first book in this series! And despite not liking this book I'm still debating continuing to the third...
The crossover of the characters from the first book was also a smart choice but I CANNOT understand when side characters will just meet the main character and then *instantly* be willing to sacrifice their well-being and the well-being of their loved ones for the MC or the MC's "cause". Only for things to magically and conveniently worked out in the end.
Not for me and I'm sad because I really liked the first book in this series! And despite not liking this book I'm still debating continuing to the third...
June 11, 2020
This one took me a while to get into because it starts off with a new character before we meet back with any old characters and I just struggled getting invested until that point. Once we met up with the overall plot I flew through it!
April 15, 2008
I loved it! I really liked the Warrior Heir and I think I flew though this novel even faster than the first book. I liked it even more than WH somehow. I think it's interesting that the author wrote the first book about a warrior--the lowest ranking member of the Weir society-- and chose a wizard (the highest) for the second. The two protagonists clearly have strong morals and virtues, and the books worked so well because they both challenged the traditional system as they came into their powers.
My favorite part of the book was that in Trinity, Seph stays with Jack. The wariness of their tentative friendship was cool... and it worked well that they ended up friends anyway even though they were so different.
And the secrets of Seph's parentage...I won't write any spoilers but it was so nice to see who they were. Although it might have been a little too obvious at a certain point. I admit I went back and re-read a certain section once I knew who his mom was, just to see it through a different lens. Hell, this book is just a lot of fun.
Also, I think I've identified a story close to tone (and genre) within YA that my book might be compared to. While I don't have magic in my book, both Chima's books and mine take place in current day, are not bogged down with fantasy or sci-fi speak, and feature character-driven plots. Ah HA.
I'm very anxious to read her next book...The Dragon Heir.
My favorite part of the book was that in Trinity, Seph stays with Jack. The wariness of their tentative friendship was cool... and it worked well that they ended up friends anyway even though they were so different.
And the secrets of Seph's parentage...I won't write any spoilers but it was so nice to see who they were. Although it might have been a little too obvious at a certain point. I admit I went back and re-read a certain section once I knew who his mom was, just to see it through a different lens. Hell, this book is just a lot of fun.
Also, I think I've identified a story close to tone (and genre) within YA that my book might be compared to. While I don't have magic in my book, both Chima's books and mine take place in current day, are not bogged down with fantasy or sci-fi speak, and feature character-driven plots. Ah HA.
I'm very anxious to read her next book...The Dragon Heir.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 16, 2017
A nice step up from the first installment, The Warrior Heir. To me, this was a more, surprisingly darker novel than the last book; it does have some hard to read scenes. I think Seph had some amazing character development, just like Jack had in his book.
I like how instead of your usual series where it follows just a set of characters(usually a trio: two boys, one girl most likely), INSTEAD, each book focuses on an individual character, with the other characters as cameos. Not really companion books, but in likeness.
The story itself was original and, with the structure of the aforementioned above, very refreshing. The villain that is Gregory Leicester was brilliantly constructed. The lore of the Weirs continues to fascinate me, knowing that each book explains their respective Weir and will possibly learn of the others, in more detail, in later books.
I like how instead of your usual series where it follows just a set of characters(usually a trio: two boys, one girl most likely), INSTEAD, each book focuses on an individual character, with the other characters as cameos. Not really companion books, but in likeness.
The story itself was original and, with the structure of the aforementioned above, very refreshing. The villain that is Gregory Leicester was brilliantly constructed. The lore of the Weirs continues to fascinate me, knowing that each book explains their respective Weir and will possibly learn of the others, in more detail, in later books.
February 7, 2017
Still not convinced by this series at all. The writing is good and the story interesting but somehow I feel no attachment to the characters and just I don't know something really did not work for me.
That said Seph and Jason were more interesting to me than the previous characters. I'll keep reading in the spirit of no new books until I have read the ones on my shelf but meh altogher
That said Seph and Jason were more interesting to me than the previous characters. I'll keep reading in the spirit of no new books until I have read the ones on my shelf but meh altogher
March 18, 2024
The writing was superb. Very imaginative and it was a fresh take on wizards for me but I just could not seem to connect with it or the characters. I don't know why. It took me till nearly the very end of the book to really get into it.
February 25, 2019
He was more comfortable with spoken charms, because he could better control the outcome. Seph loved the cadence of magical language. He rolled the ancient charms off his tongue, conjuring words from the ancient magi. Sometimes the words came from within, like a spring bubbling up from a deeper pool.
So in the first book, we had the talented warrior Jack Swift, who hailed from the small town of Trinity, Ohio. In this sequel, we focus on Joseph- Seph- McCauley, an incredibly powerful yet uneducated orphan wizard that’s traveled all over the world and has been to many a private school. Since he hasn’t learned how to control his powers yet in his 16 years, accidents tend to follow him like the flocks of fan people that are subconsciously drawn to his aura.
After the latest of these accidents, Seph’s lawyers send him to the Havens, a tiny boys school in the middle of nowhere, Maine. At this private school, Seph meets Headmaster Dr. Leicester, a powerful wizard that offers Seph a place in his little group of gifted students in order to help Seph control his gift. When Seph refuses, things turn pretty ugly. Leicester tortures Seph mentally with nightmares and hallucinations for months to try and force him to agree to join this army that the Doc is gathering, since it’s obvious that Seph is extremely gifted. That strong gift could be useful to Leicester, what with the result of the events that happened in The Warrior Heir (this book takes place a few months after the previous one).
Trevor Hill was worried about Seph. He knew from experience that one night of “therapy” was life changing. From what he’d seen and heard, Seph had suffered through forty or fifty of them. Yet there seemed to be something iron-hard in Seph, some stubborn instinct for survival that kept him going.
Still, he could tell that Seph was failing. He looked frail, insubstantial, like someone whose spirit is devouring his flesh. By new, he might actually be mentally ill, his brain damaged by days and nights of torture.
There is SO much torture, guys. Chima goes pretty in depth with some of the nightmares and hallucinations at times, and it’s impossible NOT to sympathize with and root for Seph in his struggle for survival. I remember the first time I read this book, I had to skim over some of the details of his time at the Havens since it was so dark and depressing. Reading it now, I really enjoyed seeing just how dark of a time it was, and how that period of time he spent at the school really shaped his character arc for the rest of the story. And boy, does it definitely change who he is as a person. The author does a really good job with Seph’s PTSD and his hardened personality/distrust of others, which is a huge difference from the “go with the flow”, cheerful guy he was at the start of the book.
The story continues and takes a lighter tone when Seph is rescued by a beloved character from the previous book. He’s taken to Trinity, which has become an official sanctuary due to the aftereffects of The Warrior Heir. There he meets Jack, Ellen, and their friends and family, who all work to help him get over the abuse he was put through and work on his powers.
The story is far from over though. Tensions are rising in the Weir world, and Seph and his new friends find themselves dragged back into the politics.
I truly enjoyed this book, even more than its predecessor. Cinda Williams Chima does an incredible job of fleshing out her characters (both new AND old) in this novel, and you find yourself forming attachments and becoming quite the cheerleader on the sidelines the longer you read about Seph’s story. Since its been so long since I last read this book, it felt like a fresh start for me, and I’m super excited to dive into the last book in the trilogy.
July 22, 2018
It feels strange to have come to the second book in the series, declare I like it better than I did the first one, give it four stars, and yet still have a lot of similar complaints regarding the pacing. Chima did better with the pacing in this than she did in The Warrior Heir, and yet there were still so many times where it felt like she didn't really take the time to flesh out scenes or explain just a little bit more about why they were so significant to begin with that they would be worth mentioning in passing.
Ah, but I'm getting ahead of myself.
So in this book, we have a new MC, Seph McCauley. (Short for "Joseph." Here I have to stifle a small snicker, because our MC's name in the first book was Jack, our MC's full first name here is Joseph, and if I don't miss my guess, our MC in the third book is Jason. Not sure if Chima did that intentionally or not, but I'm sure as heck going to call these three the J-Squad from now on.)
Seph is a young wizard who can't quite control his powers, so he gets sent to this private school in Maine with the misnomer "The Havens". As it turns out, a portion of the school are wizard Weir while the rest are simply troubled kids sent to The Havens for rehabilitation, and the headmaster is a creepy, power-hungry tyrant named Gregory Leicester, who apparently has no compunctions about torturing students in order to keep them in line and make them do what he wants. Oh, that and he likes using a questionable type of Old Magic ritual to link the Weirstones of any young wizard who passes through his school to his own Weirstone in order to add the young wizards in question to his arsenal of magical power. Did I mention he had no compunctions about torturing kids if they don't do exactly what he wants? Because he does that even to the young alumni who follow his orders loyally. And he's got his eye on Seph because apparently, somehow, everyone can tell that Seph is an extremely powerful untrained wizard.
Thankfully a regretful alumnus attempts to warn Seph, and Seph refuses to go through with the Old Magic ritual and link to Leicester for a number of reasons. Unfortunately, this leads to months of Leicester magically torturing Seph in attempts to break him and make him submit, and Seph just barely managing to overcome said treatment in order to keep resisting. There are several instances in which Leicester's personal gloating over the matter turns, uh, a bit creepy with how possessive he tends to talk about it. Guh... *shudders*
An Anaweir student Seph befriends, Trevor, attempts to help Seph and gets murdered by Leicester and the alumni for it, leading Seph down a path of revenge, a path that crosses with that of Jason Haley, a boy who's been locked up in hiding in a dungeon room for his refusal to link with Leicester but is already too aware and skilled as a young wizard for Leicester to do much with him.
Jason secretly starts assisting Seph in learning a bit more about charms and other skills he'll need as a wizard, and gives Seph an amulet (or maybe it's a talisman or a charm? I'm not sure which, I just know that its proper name seems either Welsh or Irish, and it translates to "heartstone") to use in order to avoid Leicester's torture-nightmares. When Jason later vanishes, Seph makes a daring attempt to get a message outside to the company in charge of his guardianship so he can escape.
Because guess what, nobody at The Havens is allowed contact to the outside world, save for Leicester, some of the staff, and some of the alumni. And Seph especially has been monitored to keep him from getting a letter, phone call, or email outside.
Anyway, Seph slips up and Leicester is about ready to start slowly killing him, when who should arrive to rescue but Aunt Linda from The Warrior Heir, enchanting her way through the school and just managing to get Seph out of there alive. She and Seph rendezvous with Nick Snowbeard, Ellen Stephenson, and Jack Swift in a desperate move to evade the alumni pursuing them and make it safely into the borders of small town Trinity.
And it's right around there that the summary from the back of the book kind of drops off, because the story takes quite a turn.
Seph is sequestered away in Trinity for quite some time, living with Jack and Jack's mom Becca, while Aunt Linda lingers around the place some more than usual. The alumni are still trying to break into Trinity, Seph meets a girl he falls for, and we wind up finding out that his parents are Aunt Linda and Leander Hastings. That aside, Seph and co. get wrapped up in trying to foil a scheme by Leicester and Claude d'Orsay to screw up the lives of all the other non-wizard guilds even further than they were before. (There's a tense, tentative "peace" in the wake of The Warrior Heir, trying to get the laws of guild rights changed, and naturally a lot of wizards aren't cool with it, because it means they're no longer allowed to lord over the other guilds.)
Personally, I thought that the switch in plot thread to add in the meetings regarding guild rights (which is building up to everything in the third book) was a good one. It kept me interested beyond the dramatic thread of Seph trying to survive The Havens (which began so early on and started to drag) and it was great for carrying the over-arching plot and further stressing the on-going world-building. Still, there were a lot of things I feel either could have been expanded upon or else explained or fleshed out better; so many scenes just seemed to focus on keeping the plot moving rather than necessarily giving us any insight to the emotions behind everything that was occurring.
The things I really wish we got more for revolved around Seph himself. He (and Jason) wind up murdering Leicester in order to protect people and take revenge, but he's still a child who just committed a MURDER. I wanna see long-term psychological effects from that, not to mention from the potential PTSD of being tortured for MONTHS. I especially want to know what's going to happen to him now that he has a "witch's hand".
So at one point, Leicester chops the fingertips of Seph's three middle fingers on his right hand to make them all an even length. Jason makes mention this is a "witch's hand" and is another form of Old Magic, and there's this whole ominous portent about it but then it's ignored and forgotten after Jason says anything. What's up with that? Why is it not explained? This isn't the first thing that's not explained or given more depth/detail or focus, but it is pointed out in a way that it should feel important and then is just dropped.
I do want to read the next book and I did enjoy this one, but I have to say I'm not exactly sure how I feel about Chima's writing style in these early books at all.
Ah, but I'm getting ahead of myself.
So in this book, we have a new MC, Seph McCauley. (Short for "Joseph." Here I have to stifle a small snicker, because our MC's name in the first book was Jack, our MC's full first name here is Joseph, and if I don't miss my guess, our MC in the third book is Jason. Not sure if Chima did that intentionally or not, but I'm sure as heck going to call these three the J-Squad from now on.)
Seph is a young wizard who can't quite control his powers, so he gets sent to this private school in Maine with the misnomer "The Havens". As it turns out, a portion of the school are wizard Weir while the rest are simply troubled kids sent to The Havens for rehabilitation, and the headmaster is a creepy, power-hungry tyrant named Gregory Leicester, who apparently has no compunctions about torturing students in order to keep them in line and make them do what he wants. Oh, that and he likes using a questionable type of Old Magic ritual to link the Weirstones of any young wizard who passes through his school to his own Weirstone in order to add the young wizards in question to his arsenal of magical power. Did I mention he had no compunctions about torturing kids if they don't do exactly what he wants? Because he does that even to the young alumni who follow his orders loyally. And he's got his eye on Seph because apparently, somehow, everyone can tell that Seph is an extremely powerful untrained wizard.
Thankfully a regretful alumnus attempts to warn Seph, and Seph refuses to go through with the Old Magic ritual and link to Leicester for a number of reasons. Unfortunately, this leads to months of Leicester magically torturing Seph in attempts to break him and make him submit, and Seph just barely managing to overcome said treatment in order to keep resisting. There are several instances in which Leicester's personal gloating over the matter turns, uh, a bit creepy with how possessive he tends to talk about it. Guh... *shudders*
An Anaweir student Seph befriends, Trevor, attempts to help Seph and gets murdered by Leicester and the alumni for it, leading Seph down a path of revenge, a path that crosses with that of Jason Haley, a boy who's been locked up in hiding in a dungeon room for his refusal to link with Leicester but is already too aware and skilled as a young wizard for Leicester to do much with him.
Jason secretly starts assisting Seph in learning a bit more about charms and other skills he'll need as a wizard, and gives Seph an amulet (or maybe it's a talisman or a charm? I'm not sure which, I just know that its proper name seems either Welsh or Irish, and it translates to "heartstone") to use in order to avoid Leicester's torture-nightmares. When Jason later vanishes, Seph makes a daring attempt to get a message outside to the company in charge of his guardianship so he can escape.
Because guess what, nobody at The Havens is allowed contact to the outside world, save for Leicester, some of the staff, and some of the alumni. And Seph especially has been monitored to keep him from getting a letter, phone call, or email outside.
Anyway, Seph slips up and Leicester is about ready to start slowly killing him, when who should arrive to rescue but Aunt Linda from The Warrior Heir, enchanting her way through the school and just managing to get Seph out of there alive. She and Seph rendezvous with Nick Snowbeard, Ellen Stephenson, and Jack Swift in a desperate move to evade the alumni pursuing them and make it safely into the borders of small town Trinity.
And it's right around there that the summary from the back of the book kind of drops off, because the story takes quite a turn.
Seph is sequestered away in Trinity for quite some time, living with Jack and Jack's mom Becca, while Aunt Linda lingers around the place some more than usual. The alumni are still trying to break into Trinity, Seph meets a girl he falls for, and we wind up finding out that his parents are Aunt Linda and Leander Hastings. That aside, Seph and co. get wrapped up in trying to foil a scheme by Leicester and Claude d'Orsay to screw up the lives of all the other non-wizard guilds even further than they were before. (There's a tense, tentative "peace" in the wake of The Warrior Heir, trying to get the laws of guild rights changed, and naturally a lot of wizards aren't cool with it, because it means they're no longer allowed to lord over the other guilds.)
Personally, I thought that the switch in plot thread to add in the meetings regarding guild rights (which is building up to everything in the third book) was a good one. It kept me interested beyond the dramatic thread of Seph trying to survive The Havens (which began so early on and started to drag) and it was great for carrying the over-arching plot and further stressing the on-going world-building. Still, there were a lot of things I feel either could have been expanded upon or else explained or fleshed out better; so many scenes just seemed to focus on keeping the plot moving rather than necessarily giving us any insight to the emotions behind everything that was occurring.
The things I really wish we got more for revolved around Seph himself. He (and Jason) wind up murdering Leicester in order to protect people and take revenge, but he's still a child who just committed a MURDER. I wanna see long-term psychological effects from that, not to mention from the potential PTSD of being tortured for MONTHS. I especially want to know what's going to happen to him now that he has a "witch's hand".
So at one point, Leicester chops the fingertips of Seph's three middle fingers on his right hand to make them all an even length. Jason makes mention this is a "witch's hand" and is another form of Old Magic, and there's this whole ominous portent about it but then it's ignored and forgotten after Jason says anything. What's up with that? Why is it not explained? This isn't the first thing that's not explained or given more depth/detail or focus, but it is pointed out in a way that it should feel important and then is just dropped.
I do want to read the next book and I did enjoy this one, but I have to say I'm not exactly sure how I feel about Chima's writing style in these early books at all.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 6, 2022
I read the first book in this series back in 2019, so I'm not entirely sure why, in the year 2022, I was so determined to continue with a series I knew I enjoyed, but couldn't remember much about - but I'm so glad I did.
This book, quite simply, was a lot of fun. I enjoyed the writing style, as it advances the plot at a fast enough pace and allows you to grow attached to the characters, without being too descriptive or difficult to read. I also love the world this story is set in - the magic system is easy to understand and is a solid foundation to build this story upon. Considering that I remembered almost nothing about the first book - I barely remembered the protagonist's name, which was okay because this book actually focuses on a different character, who is new to the Weir world and needed the same explanations that I did - it was quite easy to be re-immersed into this world without being too confused.
My main criticisms of this book are that that the ending fell a little flat in my opinion, and the book doesn't feature a very diverse cast. I wanted a more dramatic final battle but I am willing to concede this because it isn't the final book, and I'm sure the fight sequences in the sequel will be better. As for the characters, most of them are straight white males - especially in the first half of the book, there were simply no female characters. This book was published over a decade ago, which does explain this, but it's something to keep in mind anyway.
Overall, I had a great time reading this, and I will not be waiting another 3 years to read the next book.
This book, quite simply, was a lot of fun. I enjoyed the writing style, as it advances the plot at a fast enough pace and allows you to grow attached to the characters, without being too descriptive or difficult to read. I also love the world this story is set in - the magic system is easy to understand and is a solid foundation to build this story upon. Considering that I remembered almost nothing about the first book - I barely remembered the protagonist's name, which was okay because this book actually focuses on a different character, who is new to the Weir world and needed the same explanations that I did - it was quite easy to be re-immersed into this world without being too confused.
My main criticisms of this book are that that the ending fell a little flat in my opinion, and the book doesn't feature a very diverse cast. I wanted a more dramatic final battle but I am willing to concede this because it isn't the final book, and I'm sure the fight sequences in the sequel will be better. As for the characters, most of them are straight white males - especially in the first half of the book, there were simply no female characters. This book was published over a decade ago, which does explain this, but it's something to keep in mind anyway.
Overall, I had a great time reading this, and I will not be waiting another 3 years to read the next book.
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