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The Gossamer Mage
From an Aurora Award-winning author comes a new fantasy epic in which one mage must stand against a Deathless Goddess who controls all magic.Only in Tananen do people worship a single the Deathless Goddess. Only in this small, forbidden realm are there those haunted by words of no language known to woman or man. The words are Her Gift, and they summon magic.Mage scribes learn to write Her words as spells to make beasts or plants, designed to any purpose. If an intention is flawed, what the mage creates is a a magical creature as wild and free as it is costly for the mage.For Her Gift comes at a steep price. Each successful intention ages a mage until they dare no more. But her magic demands to be used; the Deathless Goddess will take her fee, and mages will die.To end this terrible toll, the greatest mage in Tananen vows to find and destroy Her. He has yet to learn She is all that protects Tananen from what waits outside. And all that keeps magic alive.
416 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 6, 2019
65 people are currently reading
1795 people want to read
About the author
Julie E. Czerneda
101 books754 followersHaving written 25 novels (and counting) published by DAW Books, as well as numerous short stories, and editing several anthologies, in 2022, Julie E. Czerneda was inducted in the Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame. Her science fiction and fantasy combines her training and love of biology with a boundless curiosity and optimism, winning multiple awards. Julie's recent releases include the standalone novel To Each This World, her first collection Imaginings, and A Shift of Time, part of her Night's Edge fantasy series. For more visit czerneda.com Julie is represented by Sara Megibow of Megibow Literary Agency LLC.
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August 6, 2019This is such a sad update for me to write. This was one of my more anticipated releases of the year, and I went into it with such high hopes, I honestly couldn't have fathomed hating it. The premise is incredible — especially considering I'm a massive sucker for any story in which Death is a character, rather than simply a state of being — but it was absolutely ruined for me by the stylistic choices in writing.
On one hand, Czerneda's writing is so immensely detailed that I kept finding myself bogged down by minutiae, which is a strange complaint to have considering my other biggest complaint: everything is so incredibly vague, I felt lost from the first page and it never improved. I typically would keep going to the end in a case like this, because usually, I think it's not the author's fault if I'm confused, but looking at other reviews is telling me that this is a massive issue for nearly every Goodreads user who's written a review for this book so far, regardless of whether or not they completed the book.
Among these larger issues, a few other minor complaints I had: the names are nearly impossible to keep up with, the narrative frequently breaks into paragraphs full of sentence fragments for no reason, and despite there being so many different perspectives, each POV character's "voice" feels identical to the last.
Again, this makes me so sad, because I had such high hopes, but I don't have anything positive to say about this book beyond its most base premises, and I won't be reaching for anything else by this author any time soon.
Thank you so much to DAW Books for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
On one hand, Czerneda's writing is so immensely detailed that I kept finding myself bogged down by minutiae, which is a strange complaint to have considering my other biggest complaint: everything is so incredibly vague, I felt lost from the first page and it never improved. I typically would keep going to the end in a case like this, because usually, I think it's not the author's fault if I'm confused, but looking at other reviews is telling me that this is a massive issue for nearly every Goodreads user who's written a review for this book so far, regardless of whether or not they completed the book.
Among these larger issues, a few other minor complaints I had: the names are nearly impossible to keep up with, the narrative frequently breaks into paragraphs full of sentence fragments for no reason, and despite there being so many different perspectives, each POV character's "voice" feels identical to the last.
Again, this makes me so sad, because I had such high hopes, but I don't have anything positive to say about this book beyond its most base premises, and I won't be reaching for anything else by this author any time soon.
Thank you so much to DAW Books for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
February 21, 2020
This book has one of the most confusing writing I've ever read. I'm sorry but I had to DNF it at 10%. I didn't understand a thing. I just couldn't do it to myself. I can't spend several hours trying to understand a story with difficulty when I could easily spend these hours reading a five stars book.
(Thank you for giving me an ARC via Netgalley)
(Thank you for giving me an ARC via Netgalley)
March 31, 2019
Read. Provided a blurb. Absolutely adored this book.
June 28, 2019
Rating: 4.4/5
Review: I was not real exited to visit Czerneda’s world again based on a previous work here
that left me less than thrilled. As a fellow biologist I began this novel firmly in her corner with pompoms.
This was not only surprising but just plain amazing. The prose, while stilted, adds a characters’ off tilt perspective on events as they unfold. Really unique approach to character development. Each story line wends and interesting way across the pages, diverging, then coalescing once again to a patterned whole. This sinuosity is built upon a solid foundation of world building so that you know exactly where you are in relation to each characters experience.
The minor downs of this novel were the limited quests that would have expanded the entirety of the world (denizens, geography, history, culture etc.). The movement is more inverted with expressive inner ruminations and lengthy dialogue. Not a bad thing, just different.
The mage craft is interesting and somewhat unique. Where the pen, ink, and words are used on paper in this novel, Victor Gischler utilized ink and words on skin in the “Fire Beneath the Skin“ series 5-years ago. Although different manifestations arise from each use of these disparate magics, the similarities are too coincidental to dismiss. But like they say, there is nothing new under the Sun.
This is a long novel that seeks to entertain through a character(s) ups and downs. Get it.
Review: I was not real exited to visit Czerneda’s world again based on a previous work here
that left me less than thrilled. As a fellow biologist I began this novel firmly in her corner with pompoms.
This was not only surprising but just plain amazing. The prose, while stilted, adds a characters’ off tilt perspective on events as they unfold. Really unique approach to character development. Each story line wends and interesting way across the pages, diverging, then coalescing once again to a patterned whole. This sinuosity is built upon a solid foundation of world building so that you know exactly where you are in relation to each characters experience.
The minor downs of this novel were the limited quests that would have expanded the entirety of the world (denizens, geography, history, culture etc.). The movement is more inverted with expressive inner ruminations and lengthy dialogue. Not a bad thing, just different.
The mage craft is interesting and somewhat unique. Where the pen, ink, and words are used on paper in this novel, Victor Gischler utilized ink and words on skin in the “Fire Beneath the Skin“ series 5-years ago. Although different manifestations arise from each use of these disparate magics, the similarities are too coincidental to dismiss. But like they say, there is nothing new under the Sun.
This is a long novel that seeks to entertain through a character(s) ups and downs. Get it.
August 6, 2019
(rating: 3.5)
When I saw the synopsis of this book I was IMMEDIATELY drawn in. I mean, magic through writing in a secret language? Magic that has a cost that is literally your life force? Rebelling against the system to kill a goddess?? I mean this is basically the best premise, what more could you ask for?
After finishing the book, it’s funny that even though this book is exactly about what the premise promises, it’s still nothing like what I expected. I think I expected more of an action/adventure story, whereas this books is more of a character and world exploration, and is on a much smaller scale than I thought (though it still does deal with the fate of the world).
One thing I loved from the very beginning was the concept of magic in this universe. The mages are called “mage scribes” and use a forbidden language to write out magic. Just as important as the language, even more important perhaps, is the intent of the mage when he performs this magic. If the intent is not pure, a “gossamer” is formed. Gossamers are magical beings that are not harmful to humans, but playful and sometimes tricky. They have a life of their own. It was very interesting to have a system built so heavily on the intent/will of the person performing the magic rather than having it be some system based on just learning spells or potions or etc. It brings in such a human element to the magic, and by that I mean it naturally brings in the possibility for warped magical creations, mistakes, and consequences. It makes the magic feel more real to me.
The world and story Czerneda created are beautiful and mythical. This feeling of reading a myth of legend is helped by the interludes between sections of the book that seem to give a hint at the history of the land. I almost wish those hadn’t been so vague, because though they added to the atmosphere I felt they didn’t add much to the actual story.
I very much enjoyed the cast of characters, because we got to see so many different paths of life within this world. My two favorites are Maleonariel and Kaitealyn. Maleonariel is a mage scribe who is turned young again and is intent on destroying the Deathless Goddess so all can live free without having to pay the terrible price for magic (their own lives). Kaitealyon (Kait) is in service to the goddess as a hold daughter, who can hear the voice of the goddess and help carry out her will. It was super interesting to see how they are both given “Her Gift” (magic in some form) but practice it and serve the goddess in two very different ways. Other characters include Kait’s son, a boy with a strong gift, another mage student, a lady in charge of a major holding in the realm trying to figure out what evil is happening, and many more.
I think it’s important to note that I did actually have a very very hard time getting in to this book at the beginning. The writing style was not what I’m used to at all. There were a lot of sentence fragments that for me threw off the flow of the story. There is also this interesting contradiction in the style where there is a lot of detail in describing the minutiae of each scene but at the same time, the overall picture of the story is very vague. In addition, we are following a cast of characters, and though the stories of each of them come together in the end, in the beginning we are following them individually. This wouldn’t be a problem except for we only get a small glimpse of each point of view before it switches to the next person. These things all made it hard for me to figure out what what happening. However, as I kept reading things became more clear as the storylines merged and I got used to the writing style.
I think this book will be pretty hit or miss, based on the issues with the beginning. Some, like me, will keep going and end up loving it, and others will not get on with the style in the beginning and not enjoy it. To each their own!
Thank you SO MUCH to DAW Books for sending me an ARC to review! I am so grateful.
When I saw the synopsis of this book I was IMMEDIATELY drawn in. I mean, magic through writing in a secret language? Magic that has a cost that is literally your life force? Rebelling against the system to kill a goddess?? I mean this is basically the best premise, what more could you ask for?
After finishing the book, it’s funny that even though this book is exactly about what the premise promises, it’s still nothing like what I expected. I think I expected more of an action/adventure story, whereas this books is more of a character and world exploration, and is on a much smaller scale than I thought (though it still does deal with the fate of the world).
One thing I loved from the very beginning was the concept of magic in this universe. The mages are called “mage scribes” and use a forbidden language to write out magic. Just as important as the language, even more important perhaps, is the intent of the mage when he performs this magic. If the intent is not pure, a “gossamer” is formed. Gossamers are magical beings that are not harmful to humans, but playful and sometimes tricky. They have a life of their own. It was very interesting to have a system built so heavily on the intent/will of the person performing the magic rather than having it be some system based on just learning spells or potions or etc. It brings in such a human element to the magic, and by that I mean it naturally brings in the possibility for warped magical creations, mistakes, and consequences. It makes the magic feel more real to me.
The world and story Czerneda created are beautiful and mythical. This feeling of reading a myth of legend is helped by the interludes between sections of the book that seem to give a hint at the history of the land. I almost wish those hadn’t been so vague, because though they added to the atmosphere I felt they didn’t add much to the actual story.
I very much enjoyed the cast of characters, because we got to see so many different paths of life within this world. My two favorites are Maleonariel and Kaitealyn. Maleonariel is a mage scribe who is turned young again and is intent on destroying the Deathless Goddess so all can live free without having to pay the terrible price for magic (their own lives). Kaitealyon (Kait) is in service to the goddess as a hold daughter, who can hear the voice of the goddess and help carry out her will. It was super interesting to see how they are both given “Her Gift” (magic in some form) but practice it and serve the goddess in two very different ways. Other characters include Kait’s son, a boy with a strong gift, another mage student, a lady in charge of a major holding in the realm trying to figure out what evil is happening, and many more.
I think it’s important to note that I did actually have a very very hard time getting in to this book at the beginning. The writing style was not what I’m used to at all. There were a lot of sentence fragments that for me threw off the flow of the story. There is also this interesting contradiction in the style where there is a lot of detail in describing the minutiae of each scene but at the same time, the overall picture of the story is very vague. In addition, we are following a cast of characters, and though the stories of each of them come together in the end, in the beginning we are following them individually. This wouldn’t be a problem except for we only get a small glimpse of each point of view before it switches to the next person. These things all made it hard for me to figure out what what happening. However, as I kept reading things became more clear as the storylines merged and I got used to the writing style.
I think this book will be pretty hit or miss, based on the issues with the beginning. Some, like me, will keep going and end up loving it, and others will not get on with the style in the beginning and not enjoy it. To each their own!
Thank you SO MUCH to DAW Books for sending me an ARC to review! I am so grateful.
November 5, 2021
An idyllic magical fantasy that's delightful in places, and ponderous in some. The prose was dense, and Czernada has a knack for describing every minutae and internalising the characters thoughts, which made the novel somewhat slow. But, occasionally there are sharp poetic flashes which enhanced the wonderful vibe of reading a good story. In some aspects, this book reminded me of Ursula Le Guin's A Wizard of Earthsea with its rustic and pastoral setting.
The overall premise of the story is the cost of magic, and the conflict between magic and devouring darkness. The worldbuilding was vivid, and Czernada made the world of Tananen come alive with her meticulous attention to detail. I also loved the fact that women are portrayed as powerful figures of the society directing all political and social affairs as the voices of the deathless goddess. I absolutely adored Kait Alder. She is strong, confident, but, is also not afraid to show her vulnerability. Her sense of empathy makes Kait a memorable character in my eyes.
I loved the ending. It was poetic and simply perfect. Although, I'm not wowed away by anything in the novel, I see and feel its quiet beauty. It has a whimsical quality to it in its fanciful narrative, but, Czernada infuses it with a seriousness that gives a tension to the story. Overall, I'm glad that I read this novel.
The overall premise of the story is the cost of magic, and the conflict between magic and devouring darkness. The worldbuilding was vivid, and Czernada made the world of Tananen come alive with her meticulous attention to detail. I also loved the fact that women are portrayed as powerful figures of the society directing all political and social affairs as the voices of the deathless goddess. I absolutely adored Kait Alder. She is strong, confident, but, is also not afraid to show her vulnerability. Her sense of empathy makes Kait a memorable character in my eyes.
I loved the ending. It was poetic and simply perfect. Although, I'm not wowed away by anything in the novel, I see and feel its quiet beauty. It has a whimsical quality to it in its fanciful narrative, but, Czernada infuses it with a seriousness that gives a tension to the story. Overall, I'm glad that I read this novel.
August 6, 2019
You can also read my review here: https://devouringbooks2017.wordpress....
I wanted to read The Gossamer Mage because the cover was absolutely gorgeous and the blurb sounded fascinating. I was very excited for this book, but it didn’t really live up to my expectations. I have a lot of mixed feelings about this one. On one hand it was incredibly slow and very easy to set down, but on the other it was also beautifully magical and the ending left me feeling so satisfied. It took me 6 days to finish this book, and with the amount of time I had to read I should have finished it a lot sooner than that.
For most of the first third of the book I wanted to DNF the book. It felt as if the plot had no real direction and I kept setting it down to do anything but read. While the book was written in third person it switched to focus on so many different characters that I found myself frequently forgetting what was going on with the characters when the book finally came back to them. I kept reading because the magic system really intrigued me and I was hopeful that the book would pick up its pace and that the plot would begin to feel like it was going somewhere.
While the pacing remained very slow for the entire novel, about a third of the way in it started to feel as if the plot finally had a direction. I think that this book was so slow for me because the writing is so dense. The way it is written feels overly wordy, but it is also incredibly vivid and truly brought the world to life. The world building is exquisite and really brings home the fact that in this world magic has a price and that price is death.
Once the plot brought the characters to The Mage School I found myself absolutely loving the book. While we had heard so much about magic, up until this point we didn’t see very much of it. This part of the novel was where Julie Czerneda’s dense writing brought magic to life in beautiful and fantastical ways.I found myself fascinated with all of the different creations that the mages made and since I was so engrossed I found the book moving faster for me. But I never did find myself attached to any of the characters. I think the character development was lacking a bit and the constant change in perspective made it hard to connect to any one character.
Overall I’m pleased with the ending and left feeling satisfied, but not sure if I will return for any of Julie Czerneda’s other books. It was magical and beautiful, but far too slow paced for me. If you like dense vivid writing then you should give this book a shot.
I wanted to read The Gossamer Mage because the cover was absolutely gorgeous and the blurb sounded fascinating. I was very excited for this book, but it didn’t really live up to my expectations. I have a lot of mixed feelings about this one. On one hand it was incredibly slow and very easy to set down, but on the other it was also beautifully magical and the ending left me feeling so satisfied. It took me 6 days to finish this book, and with the amount of time I had to read I should have finished it a lot sooner than that.
For most of the first third of the book I wanted to DNF the book. It felt as if the plot had no real direction and I kept setting it down to do anything but read. While the book was written in third person it switched to focus on so many different characters that I found myself frequently forgetting what was going on with the characters when the book finally came back to them. I kept reading because the magic system really intrigued me and I was hopeful that the book would pick up its pace and that the plot would begin to feel like it was going somewhere.
While the pacing remained very slow for the entire novel, about a third of the way in it started to feel as if the plot finally had a direction. I think that this book was so slow for me because the writing is so dense. The way it is written feels overly wordy, but it is also incredibly vivid and truly brought the world to life. The world building is exquisite and really brings home the fact that in this world magic has a price and that price is death.
Once the plot brought the characters to The Mage School I found myself absolutely loving the book. While we had heard so much about magic, up until this point we didn’t see very much of it. This part of the novel was where Julie Czerneda’s dense writing brought magic to life in beautiful and fantastical ways.I found myself fascinated with all of the different creations that the mages made and since I was so engrossed I found the book moving faster for me. But I never did find myself attached to any of the characters. I think the character development was lacking a bit and the constant change in perspective made it hard to connect to any one character.
Overall I’m pleased with the ending and left feeling satisfied, but not sure if I will return for any of Julie Czerneda’s other books. It was magical and beautiful, but far too slow paced for me. If you like dense vivid writing then you should give this book a shot.
September 21, 2019
I am a huge, huge fan of Julie Czerneda. Her sci-fi stories are among the best I have ever read – the Webshifter stories of Esen in particular. Her forays into fantasy also captivate me. TURN OF LIGHT was a game-changer for me as a writer. It proved that audiences really do have a hunger for deep world-building with slowly, patiently, delicately revealed facets.
There are plenty of summaries already, so let me highlight the things about GOSSAMER MAGE that delighted me the most.
The magic is beautiful described, and has caustic limitations. Staying true to those constraints is always the sign of a masterful storyteller. There are no easy outs here; Ms. Czerneda stays true to the rules she builds.
Exceptional world-building – self-contained, deep, and wholly accessible.
The craft that goes into the writing is amazing. Every sentence is so painstakingly shaped; sometimes I found myself just re-reading passages and marveling at the turn of phrase. The author isn’t afraid of experimenting with different styles, which is why every story from her seems so fresh, in my opinion.
The final third up-ends all your expectations, and rewards close reading.
It’s epic – literally the very definition of epic. Storylines & their characters race forward, cross, split off -- each a powerful narrative voice on their own.
I loved the time I spent in Tananen, and look forward to keeping Julie Czerneda on my must-buy list of authors!
October 9, 2019
“The world was once barren.
We were once alone.
Magic, once, was lost.
Now it will never be, for magic is again part of the world and us. And the stories we’ve yet to write, together.”
In a world once full of magic, only one land remains untouched by the unspeakable evil intent on consuming the very magic of the world. Tananen, an isolated land separated from the rest of the world, is the one known place where magic still exists. The people of this land worship the Deathless Goddess, whose words form the basis of magic. Mage scribes learn the language of the goddess and are taught to give form, intent, and purpose to these words that they might summon physical manifestations of magic. However, magic comes at a terrible cost. The Deathless Goddess exacts a high toll on those who would create, for with each intention evoked mages age according to their works. The more magic one uses, the faster they die. Maleonarial, one of Tananen’s most renowned mages is intent on ending the toll on magic, actively seeking a way to destroy Her. What he comes to realize is that She is the only thing keeping magic alive and that greater forces of evil are gathering to snuff out the magic of Tananen once and for all.
This story has one of the most unique magic systems I’ve ever come across. The author does an excellent job creating a system with rules, boundaries, and consequences, all which serve to enhance the plot, character motivations, and the crafted world. All of these aspects tie together so well as the central magic system lends credence to how this world behaves when dependent on the limits of what magic can accomplish. The amount of detail spent describing the consequences of evoking magic recklessly and how perspectives change with time as mages come to better understand what magic truly costs was magical in itself.
The only thing I did not care for with The Gossamer Mage is the writing style. I’m unsure if this is Julie Czerneda’s style across all her books or if this was adopted for this particular story, but it straight up drove me nuts. The splintered sentences and short, clipped phrases didn’t seem to match the flowing tone of the story (which is really ironic given that the basis of the magic comes from writing with smooth, intended phrases). This, this story required a level of focus and attention I couldn’t muster, which really took me out of the story repeatedly. I probably would have given this book five stars if I didn’t hate the writing style so much.
We were once alone.
Magic, once, was lost.
Now it will never be, for magic is again part of the world and us. And the stories we’ve yet to write, together.”
In a world once full of magic, only one land remains untouched by the unspeakable evil intent on consuming the very magic of the world. Tananen, an isolated land separated from the rest of the world, is the one known place where magic still exists. The people of this land worship the Deathless Goddess, whose words form the basis of magic. Mage scribes learn the language of the goddess and are taught to give form, intent, and purpose to these words that they might summon physical manifestations of magic. However, magic comes at a terrible cost. The Deathless Goddess exacts a high toll on those who would create, for with each intention evoked mages age according to their works. The more magic one uses, the faster they die. Maleonarial, one of Tananen’s most renowned mages is intent on ending the toll on magic, actively seeking a way to destroy Her. What he comes to realize is that She is the only thing keeping magic alive and that greater forces of evil are gathering to snuff out the magic of Tananen once and for all.
This story has one of the most unique magic systems I’ve ever come across. The author does an excellent job creating a system with rules, boundaries, and consequences, all which serve to enhance the plot, character motivations, and the crafted world. All of these aspects tie together so well as the central magic system lends credence to how this world behaves when dependent on the limits of what magic can accomplish. The amount of detail spent describing the consequences of evoking magic recklessly and how perspectives change with time as mages come to better understand what magic truly costs was magical in itself.
The only thing I did not care for with The Gossamer Mage is the writing style. I’m unsure if this is Julie Czerneda’s style across all her books or if this was adopted for this particular story, but it straight up drove me nuts. The splintered sentences and short, clipped phrases didn’t seem to match the flowing tone of the story (which is really ironic given that the basis of the magic comes from writing with smooth, intended phrases). This, this story required a level of focus and attention I couldn’t muster, which really took me out of the story repeatedly. I probably would have given this book five stars if I didn’t hate the writing style so much.
August 6, 2019
I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.The nitty-gritty: I adored the magic system in this story, but I wasn't as excited about the plot.
I have such mixed feelings about this book, which makes me a little sad. From the moment I saw the magical cover, I knew I wanted to read The Gossamer Mage , but I have to admit I struggled to get into it, and I’ll explain why in this review. This is my first Julie E. Czerneda book, so I can’t speak for her other works of fiction, but I have heard other reviewers say that this story is much darker than some of her other books.
One of the things I struggled with was the plot, but I’ll try to give you a short recap. The story is told from two main points of view. Maleonarial is a mage scribe who interprets the sacred words of the Deathless Goddess into intentions, written spells that produce various magical creatures and objects. For every spell written, however, there is a steep cost: the Goddess takes away a mage’s life bit by bit, and the mage ages at an impossible rate, until he finally dies. Unfortunately for the mage, he doesn’t have a choice. He must write down the words of the Goddess. Maleonarial, though, has had enough. He wants his youth back, and so he sets out to destroy her.
At the same time, a hold daughter named Kaitealyon has just found out that her son Leksand has heard the voice of the Goddess and is destined to become a mage scribe himself. Devastated and knowing the horrible life in store for him, Kait is asked to accompany him on his journey to the mage school, where he will train.
But on their way, they discover something evil is trying to destroy the magic of the Goddess. Kait and Maleonarial join forces to try to stop it, even as Maleonarial is still determined to kill the Goddess.
By far, my favorite part of this story was the idea of gossamers, the “mistakes” created by mages when they write the incorrect words of a spell. Mages do not want to make gossamers, so they almost become objects of shame. But a gossamer is a wild and unpredictable construct, a creature set free from the constraints of a spell to fly away and live its own life. It’s a delightful idea, but it wasn’t as developed as I wanted it to be. Czerneda gives us examples of gossamers throughout the story, but they aren’t the main focus until the very end. Then several events come together in the last few pages and a lot of the story finally fell into place for me.
I also loved the descriptions of how the mages create spells. Czerneda has a wonderful talent for vivid description, and she’s clearly spent a lot of time designing her magic system, from the pens the mages use to write with, to the ink pots full of incredible inks that make up the spells, to the parchments. The results of spells are called “made” objects: made-horses, made-cats, etc. If a traveling party needs fresh horses for their carriage, for example, a mage scribe could write a spell for them. When made things have served their purpose, they disappear in a burst of ash.
But despite my love of the magic system, I had issues with the plot and the writing style. Czerneda’s sentence structure in this book is oddly formal but choppy, and I often came across sentences that I couldn’t make heads or tails of. This caused me to go back and reread the sentence to see what I had missed, but that ultimately pulled me out of the story. Some of the characters speak in hard to read dialects, and if you’ve ever tried to read Scottish brogue, for example, you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about.
As for the plot, I struggled in the beginning, wading through all the many characters and trying to see how they fit together. There is a fair amount of information that needs to be conveyed, but Czerneda mostly spends time giving us the details of her magic system, while the drive and focus of the characters was pushed to the side until later in the story. The main thrust of the plot is the journey to the magic school, but the author takes her time getting there, and for me, this journey seemed to drag on and on. I also kept getting the characters mixed up, especially since the mages had such similar, hard to pronounce names.
At the end of the day, I just wanted to fall into a good story, and plot wise, The Gossamer Mage just didn’t deliver in that respect. I think if I’d enjoyed the writing style more, this would have been much more enjoyable to read. However, despite my grumblings, I am very curious to read more from this author. Julie E. Czerneda has a wonderfully vivid imagination, and I do look forward to seeing what other worlds she can create.
Big thanks to the publisher for supplying a review copy.This review originally appeared on Books, Bones & Buffy
I have such mixed feelings about this book, which makes me a little sad. From the moment I saw the magical cover, I knew I wanted to read The Gossamer Mage , but I have to admit I struggled to get into it, and I’ll explain why in this review. This is my first Julie E. Czerneda book, so I can’t speak for her other works of fiction, but I have heard other reviewers say that this story is much darker than some of her other books.
One of the things I struggled with was the plot, but I’ll try to give you a short recap. The story is told from two main points of view. Maleonarial is a mage scribe who interprets the sacred words of the Deathless Goddess into intentions, written spells that produce various magical creatures and objects. For every spell written, however, there is a steep cost: the Goddess takes away a mage’s life bit by bit, and the mage ages at an impossible rate, until he finally dies. Unfortunately for the mage, he doesn’t have a choice. He must write down the words of the Goddess. Maleonarial, though, has had enough. He wants his youth back, and so he sets out to destroy her.
At the same time, a hold daughter named Kaitealyon has just found out that her son Leksand has heard the voice of the Goddess and is destined to become a mage scribe himself. Devastated and knowing the horrible life in store for him, Kait is asked to accompany him on his journey to the mage school, where he will train.
But on their way, they discover something evil is trying to destroy the magic of the Goddess. Kait and Maleonarial join forces to try to stop it, even as Maleonarial is still determined to kill the Goddess.
By far, my favorite part of this story was the idea of gossamers, the “mistakes” created by mages when they write the incorrect words of a spell. Mages do not want to make gossamers, so they almost become objects of shame. But a gossamer is a wild and unpredictable construct, a creature set free from the constraints of a spell to fly away and live its own life. It’s a delightful idea, but it wasn’t as developed as I wanted it to be. Czerneda gives us examples of gossamers throughout the story, but they aren’t the main focus until the very end. Then several events come together in the last few pages and a lot of the story finally fell into place for me.
I also loved the descriptions of how the mages create spells. Czerneda has a wonderful talent for vivid description, and she’s clearly spent a lot of time designing her magic system, from the pens the mages use to write with, to the ink pots full of incredible inks that make up the spells, to the parchments. The results of spells are called “made” objects: made-horses, made-cats, etc. If a traveling party needs fresh horses for their carriage, for example, a mage scribe could write a spell for them. When made things have served their purpose, they disappear in a burst of ash.
But despite my love of the magic system, I had issues with the plot and the writing style. Czerneda’s sentence structure in this book is oddly formal but choppy, and I often came across sentences that I couldn’t make heads or tails of. This caused me to go back and reread the sentence to see what I had missed, but that ultimately pulled me out of the story. Some of the characters speak in hard to read dialects, and if you’ve ever tried to read Scottish brogue, for example, you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about.
As for the plot, I struggled in the beginning, wading through all the many characters and trying to see how they fit together. There is a fair amount of information that needs to be conveyed, but Czerneda mostly spends time giving us the details of her magic system, while the drive and focus of the characters was pushed to the side until later in the story. The main thrust of the plot is the journey to the magic school, but the author takes her time getting there, and for me, this journey seemed to drag on and on. I also kept getting the characters mixed up, especially since the mages had such similar, hard to pronounce names.
At the end of the day, I just wanted to fall into a good story, and plot wise, The Gossamer Mage just didn’t deliver in that respect. I think if I’d enjoyed the writing style more, this would have been much more enjoyable to read. However, despite my grumblings, I am very curious to read more from this author. Julie E. Czerneda has a wonderfully vivid imagination, and I do look forward to seeing what other worlds she can create.
Big thanks to the publisher for supplying a review copy.This review originally appeared on Books, Bones & Buffy
August 1, 2019
*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Fantasy
*Rating* 3.0
*Thoughts*
The Gossamer Mage, by author Julie E. Czerneda, is a story that takes place in a fantasy land called Tananen. The world’s only remaining magic is in Tananen, where only women can speak the Deathless Goddess language, and only men can write her spells – both at a terrible cost. But now something dangerous and dark has come into Tiler’s Hold, destroying magic creations, and silencing the Goddess. Meanwhile, there is a mage on a mission to destroy said Goddess not knowing that with her death, an even larger threat may rise.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
*Genre* Fantasy
*Rating* 3.0
*Thoughts*
The Gossamer Mage, by author Julie E. Czerneda, is a story that takes place in a fantasy land called Tananen. The world’s only remaining magic is in Tananen, where only women can speak the Deathless Goddess language, and only men can write her spells – both at a terrible cost. But now something dangerous and dark has come into Tiler’s Hold, destroying magic creations, and silencing the Goddess. Meanwhile, there is a mage on a mission to destroy said Goddess not knowing that with her death, an even larger threat may rise.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
July 31, 2019
Full review on my blog, Storied Adventures !
*I received a copy from the publisher as well as an e-arc from NetGalley for an honest review.*
This was actually really hard for me to get through. I loved the plot and characters and the uniqueness of the story, BUT the writing was really hard, for me personally, to read. It was choppy and and I had to re-read sentences and paragraphs to understand what was going on. It's not a very long book but it took me almost a month to read. That never happens for me!
If you are interested in an extremely unique book that will definitely be unlike anything you've ever read, with writing that's very VERY different, then you might like this!
*I received a copy from the publisher as well as an e-arc from NetGalley for an honest review.*
This was actually really hard for me to get through. I loved the plot and characters and the uniqueness of the story, BUT the writing was really hard, for me personally, to read. It was choppy and and I had to re-read sentences and paragraphs to understand what was going on. It's not a very long book but it took me almost a month to read. That never happens for me!
If you are interested in an extremely unique book that will definitely be unlike anything you've ever read, with writing that's very VERY different, then you might like this!
August 13, 2019
Standalone fantasy is a bit of a rarity. So often, whether because of Tolkien or other influences, we end up with trilogies or epic sagas spanning four or more books. I’m a huge fan of big epic series, but it’s also nice to enjoy a self-contained story from time to time. The Gossamer Mage by Julie E. Czerneda scratches that itch perfectly. With world building that includes unique and engaging elements as well as an incredibly fascinating magic system, Czerneda’s novel is sure to please fantasy fans looking for a standalone read.
Czerneda’s story is filled with amazingly unique world building elements. The magic system in this world involves mages paying life in order to create made-creations of various sorts that perform certain tasks or otherwise do their bidding. The story doesn’t hesitate to explore the impact this has on the world. Magic is expensive because doing it shortens the life of the mage. This also results in a number of very well-off, geriatric mages. It’s rare for fantasy to explore the implications of powerful magic-users as they begin to lose their memory, their physical abilities, or their restraint. Czerneda, on the other hand, does an excellent job of fleshing out the very real negative effects of aging on the mages themselves as well as on society as a whole. The magic was outstanding because it played such a role in the lives of the characters affected by it. Incredibly well done! The religious system and mythology of the world are also interesting and there’s actually a good bit crammed into this novel, though it never felt shoehorned in or like it was dumped on the reader. Each bit was well integrated and felt important to the story and world building necessary for the story to have the impact it did. As the plot ramps up after the initial introductions the stakes quickly become epic and Czerneda does a good job of keeping the tension high. Initially this is done through a number of questions and mysteries surrounding the goals of the antagonists, but this is all handled in fresh ways that kept me engaged throughout. I can’t say that this is a fast-paced novel, but it is very well paced and an enjoyable read that kept me reading and gave me that “just one more page” feeling. Part of this was helped along by the range of emotions the novel elicits. There were moments that made me smile, moments of joy but also moments of sadness and intense emotion. This emotional range made the story shine.
In terms of criticisms, my main complaint with this novel is that the chapters are incredibly long, but in the midst of these we change perspectives back and forth between characters often. We might have a page from one character’s perspective, only to jump to a different character—in the same geographical area—for a few pages before jumping back to the first character before moving on to a character in a different location. I was never confused about which perspective I was reading, but to change perspective so often was a little jarring before I got used to it. The story also has a bit of a mythological feel to it and I never felt connected to a particular character. In the end, this didn’t end up as a huge negative. It almost felt like the characters were more legends than individuals. It’s a different writing style that perhaps isn’t as common in modern fantasy, but I think it turned out well here.
I can’t say enough about the magic, religion, and story itself. A fine standalone tale, I imagine The Gossamer Mage will be one I’ll return to often. A wonderful, hopeful fantasy, this is one you don’t want to miss.
8.5/10
4.25/5 stars.
5 – I loved this, couldn’t put it down, move it to the top of your TBR pile
4 – I really enjoyed this, add it to the TBR pile
3 – It was ok, depending on your preferences it may be worth your time
2 – I didn’t like this book, it has significant flaws and I can’t recommend it
1 – I loathe this book with a most loathsome loathing
Czerneda’s story is filled with amazingly unique world building elements. The magic system in this world involves mages paying life in order to create made-creations of various sorts that perform certain tasks or otherwise do their bidding. The story doesn’t hesitate to explore the impact this has on the world. Magic is expensive because doing it shortens the life of the mage. This also results in a number of very well-off, geriatric mages. It’s rare for fantasy to explore the implications of powerful magic-users as they begin to lose their memory, their physical abilities, or their restraint. Czerneda, on the other hand, does an excellent job of fleshing out the very real negative effects of aging on the mages themselves as well as on society as a whole. The magic was outstanding because it played such a role in the lives of the characters affected by it. Incredibly well done! The religious system and mythology of the world are also interesting and there’s actually a good bit crammed into this novel, though it never felt shoehorned in or like it was dumped on the reader. Each bit was well integrated and felt important to the story and world building necessary for the story to have the impact it did. As the plot ramps up after the initial introductions the stakes quickly become epic and Czerneda does a good job of keeping the tension high. Initially this is done through a number of questions and mysteries surrounding the goals of the antagonists, but this is all handled in fresh ways that kept me engaged throughout. I can’t say that this is a fast-paced novel, but it is very well paced and an enjoyable read that kept me reading and gave me that “just one more page” feeling. Part of this was helped along by the range of emotions the novel elicits. There were moments that made me smile, moments of joy but also moments of sadness and intense emotion. This emotional range made the story shine.
In terms of criticisms, my main complaint with this novel is that the chapters are incredibly long, but in the midst of these we change perspectives back and forth between characters often. We might have a page from one character’s perspective, only to jump to a different character—in the same geographical area—for a few pages before jumping back to the first character before moving on to a character in a different location. I was never confused about which perspective I was reading, but to change perspective so often was a little jarring before I got used to it. The story also has a bit of a mythological feel to it and I never felt connected to a particular character. In the end, this didn’t end up as a huge negative. It almost felt like the characters were more legends than individuals. It’s a different writing style that perhaps isn’t as common in modern fantasy, but I think it turned out well here.
I can’t say enough about the magic, religion, and story itself. A fine standalone tale, I imagine The Gossamer Mage will be one I’ll return to often. A wonderful, hopeful fantasy, this is one you don’t want to miss.
8.5/10
4.25/5 stars.
5 – I loved this, couldn’t put it down, move it to the top of your TBR pile
4 – I really enjoyed this, add it to the TBR pile
3 – It was ok, depending on your preferences it may be worth your time
2 – I didn’t like this book, it has significant flaws and I can’t recommend it
1 – I loathe this book with a most loathsome loathing
June 16, 2019
3 stars, Metaphorosis Reviews
Summary:
The world’s only remaining magic is in Tananen, where only women can speak the Deathless Godess’ language, and only men can write her spells – both at a terrible cost. But now something dangerous and dark has come into Tiler’s Hold, destroying magic creations, and silencing the Goddess.
Review:
Julie Czerneda’s been one of my favorite authors for years. Yet I haven’t been excited by her recent books. Have my tastes changed? Has her writing? Have her editors given her too much leeway? The Gossamer Mage doesn’t answer that question, but it also doesn’t go against the trend.
Czerneda made her name in part by writing credible SF. Writing fantasy isn’t new to her, though somehow with the press of work, etc., I haven’t actually gotten around to reading her two prior fantasy books. Czerneda has imagination and skill, and, the fantastic elements of the book work. The world is interesting, fairly original, satisfyingly magical, etc.
Where the book falls through is mostly in the mechanics. We switch from character to character, but most of them start at the same place and deal with similar issues, and I often found it hard to remember which was which. In theory, the three lead characters all have clear and distinct roles, but I found their voices very similar.
There are interludes that are mean to break up the text and give us some outside perspective and worldbuilding information, but I found them both repetitive and too vague to be useful. There just wasn’t enough context overall for me to build up a clear hypothesis about what was happening and why – often key to this kind of ‘mysterious origins’ story.
The ending exacerbates the problem. It ties things up emotionally, but it doesn’t really try to explain what’s been happening or how it all came about. There are loads of hints, but they lead to … nothing in particular. I don’t think it’s because I missed subtlety and nuance; it’s because Czerneda had a chance to explain, and simply decided not to. The result is intensely dissatisfying. This is where a more demanding editor could have come into play, which is at least the second time I’ve said that recently about a Czerneda book. It’s disappointing, not least because this could have been a satisfying book – all the pieces are there. And it should have been one.
Sometime soon, I’ll go back to actually read the Night’s Edge books, and see whether, 6 years back, those turned out better.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
The world’s only remaining magic is in Tananen, where only women can speak the Deathless Godess’ language, and only men can write her spells – both at a terrible cost. But now something dangerous and dark has come into Tiler’s Hold, destroying magic creations, and silencing the Goddess.
Review:
Julie Czerneda’s been one of my favorite authors for years. Yet I haven’t been excited by her recent books. Have my tastes changed? Has her writing? Have her editors given her too much leeway? The Gossamer Mage doesn’t answer that question, but it also doesn’t go against the trend.
Czerneda made her name in part by writing credible SF. Writing fantasy isn’t new to her, though somehow with the press of work, etc., I haven’t actually gotten around to reading her two prior fantasy books. Czerneda has imagination and skill, and, the fantastic elements of the book work. The world is interesting, fairly original, satisfyingly magical, etc.
Where the book falls through is mostly in the mechanics. We switch from character to character, but most of them start at the same place and deal with similar issues, and I often found it hard to remember which was which. In theory, the three lead characters all have clear and distinct roles, but I found their voices very similar.
There are interludes that are mean to break up the text and give us some outside perspective and worldbuilding information, but I found them both repetitive and too vague to be useful. There just wasn’t enough context overall for me to build up a clear hypothesis about what was happening and why – often key to this kind of ‘mysterious origins’ story.
The ending exacerbates the problem. It ties things up emotionally, but it doesn’t really try to explain what’s been happening or how it all came about. There are loads of hints, but they lead to … nothing in particular. I don’t think it’s because I missed subtlety and nuance; it’s because Czerneda had a chance to explain, and simply decided not to. The result is intensely dissatisfying. This is where a more demanding editor could have come into play, which is at least the second time I’ve said that recently about a Czerneda book. It’s disappointing, not least because this could have been a satisfying book – all the pieces are there. And it should have been one.
Sometime soon, I’ll go back to actually read the Night’s Edge books, and see whether, 6 years back, those turned out better.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 17, 2020
I felt so drawn in by the synopsis and the cover. I mean, everything sounded great and there were a lot of magic stuff going on that were right up my alley.
Reading the book I realised it gives everything it promised but it's so overwhelmingly confusing. It's so hard to keep focused on the story and I had to reread several parts because I was getting pretty much nothing. On the other hand, I think I expected more of this book and more on the adventure/action-packed kind of book rather than a character-development type of book.
The concept for the magic system in The Gossamer Mage is quite curious and how the use of a forbidden language and its intention behind can create "gossamers". All this system relying on will and intention makes it feel much more real and complex.
However the worldbuilding, myths and cities are rather weak. There are short interludes that give some glimpses of the general lore but they're so vague that they add almost nothing to the actual story.
I think this title will be a hit or miss situation, where the reader will either love it or hate it because of its writing style and its issue with the rythm. But I get the author has such a vivid imagination I'm curious to see what else Julie E. Czerneda can bring to the table in future books.
Reading the book I realised it gives everything it promised but it's so overwhelmingly confusing. It's so hard to keep focused on the story and I had to reread several parts because I was getting pretty much nothing. On the other hand, I think I expected more of this book and more on the adventure/action-packed kind of book rather than a character-development type of book.
The concept for the magic system in The Gossamer Mage is quite curious and how the use of a forbidden language and its intention behind can create "gossamers". All this system relying on will and intention makes it feel much more real and complex.
However the worldbuilding, myths and cities are rather weak. There are short interludes that give some glimpses of the general lore but they're so vague that they add almost nothing to the actual story.
I think this title will be a hit or miss situation, where the reader will either love it or hate it because of its writing style and its issue with the rythm. But I get the author has such a vivid imagination I'm curious to see what else Julie E. Czerneda can bring to the table in future books.
August 13, 2021
I was super excited about this book when I discovered it on audible last year. However, it was super disappointing. The names of the characters were far too similar to easily keep track of, especially when listening to the book. Also, there were multiple character perspectives within each chapter but there was no distinct break between one character and the next; I was almost always confused about who was narrating and what they were talking about. Lastly I thought that the descriptions were extremely vague and even after finishing the book I still don’t quite understand how the magic in the world works and why. I only have the slightest understanding. The only good thing is the last quarter or so of the book. The twist at the end was very good and the “battle” at the end did capture my attention. Also loved the sentient bubbles and books made by one of the old mages. That was so cute to imagine. I just wish I didn’t have to wait so long to become invested. I cannot tell you how many times I almost DNF this book.
Overall, I thought it was okay but I won’t be rereading it and I wouldn’t really recommend it. Perhaps if you read the physical book and not just the audiobook.
Overall, I thought it was okay but I won’t be rereading it and I wouldn’t really recommend it. Perhaps if you read the physical book and not just the audiobook.
Read
August 10, 2019I've now tried this book twice and just couldn't get into it. I was originally intrigued by The Gossamer Mage because I was fascinated by the premise. A Deathless God, magic fueled by your life-force, and a vague threat of total annihilation? Count me in!
Unfortunately, The Gossamer Mage hasn't grabbed me by page 100. While I've read many reviews that say it gets better if you stick it out, I need something to keep me intrigued before the grand reveal. I do think that some readers will enjoy this one, it just wasn't for me.
*Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Unfortunately, The Gossamer Mage hasn't grabbed me by page 100. While I've read many reviews that say it gets better if you stick it out, I need something to keep me intrigued before the grand reveal. I do think that some readers will enjoy this one, it just wasn't for me.
*Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
August 12, 2019
This standalone epic fantasy novel has a fantastic premise and has some lovely descriptions, but I struggled to finish it. It's overlong with too much narrative, and though likable, the characters were not compelling.
Full Review on My Website
Full Review on My Website
November 23, 2019
Julie E. Czerneda's Fantasy is a special species. She's a new voice in the genre, yet each of her books pushes Fantasy's borders a little bit further. Redefines some preconceived notions we have about the genre. Shines a new light on constructs that we thought already carved in stone with everything there is to say about them, already said. Not an easy read, but if you like Fantasy this book will be a real delight.
Read
July 5, 2020DNF at 30%
November 26, 2019
The novel is set in a region where magic is controlled by the Deathless Goddess, in which the price of writing magic is years off one’s life. If a mistake is made, a gossamer is made, a magical creature with a will of its own. Maleonarial is considered one of the most powerful of the Deathless Goddess’s Mage Scribes. He long ago sought isolation and had fallen out of favor. When she seeks him out through her accolades, however, he is drawn back into the life he tried to put behind him. Only, this time, he is determined to find a way to destroy the Deathless Goddess and break the hold she has on her people. But first, he must find out who or what is threatening Tananen. He finds an unusual ally in one of the Deathless Goddess’s accolades, Kaitealyon, a Daughter called to serve the Goddess. Kaitealyon and the other Daughters sense something is gravely wrong. The voice of the Goddess seems to have been silenced and something sinister is afoot. She is tasked with finding out what it could be and saving the Deathless Goddess. Maleonarial may be the only one who can actually stop it.
I have mixed feelings about this book. I found the first portion of the book difficult to follow. Perhaps it was the writing style or the mythical feel to it (although that isn’t something that always bothers me, depending on the book). It got better when the author focused more on the individual characters. And while Mal’s character is one I quickly became fascinated by, it was not until Kait was introduced that I truly was able to get into the story and began to enjoy the book more. Once that happened, it was harder to put the book down. She has a son she loves dearly, but had to leave behind because of her calling to be a Daughter. Her devotion to him is one I think most mothers would be able to relate to. I know I could.
The world Julie E. Czerneda created in The Gossamer Mage was interesting, and I liked that we get an opportunity to see if from the two different viewpoints, one of the Mage and the other of the Daughter, especially given their differing feelings about the Deathless Goddess. I really liked Kait's and Mal’s characters. They both have sacrificed so much and have good intentions. The author delves deep into their psyches and motivations as they journey together in search of answers. It was hard not to feel the connection with both of them.
I am glad I stuck with The Gossamer Mage despite my struggle with the first part of the book. While not a page turner, I did enjoy it once I finally got into it. I have one of the author’s Science Fiction novels on my TBR shelf, and I am curious what I will think of that when I get to it.
Review originally posted on my blog, Musings of a Bookish Kitty: https://www.literaryfeline.com/2019/1...
I have mixed feelings about this book. I found the first portion of the book difficult to follow. Perhaps it was the writing style or the mythical feel to it (although that isn’t something that always bothers me, depending on the book). It got better when the author focused more on the individual characters. And while Mal’s character is one I quickly became fascinated by, it was not until Kait was introduced that I truly was able to get into the story and began to enjoy the book more. Once that happened, it was harder to put the book down. She has a son she loves dearly, but had to leave behind because of her calling to be a Daughter. Her devotion to him is one I think most mothers would be able to relate to. I know I could.
The world Julie E. Czerneda created in The Gossamer Mage was interesting, and I liked that we get an opportunity to see if from the two different viewpoints, one of the Mage and the other of the Daughter, especially given their differing feelings about the Deathless Goddess. I really liked Kait's and Mal’s characters. They both have sacrificed so much and have good intentions. The author delves deep into their psyches and motivations as they journey together in search of answers. It was hard not to feel the connection with both of them.
I am glad I stuck with The Gossamer Mage despite my struggle with the first part of the book. While not a page turner, I did enjoy it once I finally got into it. I have one of the author’s Science Fiction novels on my TBR shelf, and I am curious what I will think of that when I get to it.
Review originally posted on my blog, Musings of a Bookish Kitty: https://www.literaryfeline.com/2019/1...
July 20, 2024
Rating: 3.5 stars
Tananen is the only place in the world where magic exists, and its mages are able to create wondrous creatures by inscribing the Lady's Words to bring them to life. But the Lady extracts a high price for this ability - part of the mage's life. Every spell inscribed makes the writer age; the more complex and lifelike the made-creature, the greater the cost.
Maleonarial is the greatest mage in living memory & committed to destroying the Lady and freeing men (more on this below) from the tyranny of Her price. Kait Alder (Kaitealyon) is a woman fated to be one of the Lady's Voices in the world who is chosen to find out what's possessed the lord of Tiler's Hold (Tananen's only contact with the nonmagical world) & what has apparently banished the Lady from that keep. Their fates intertwine as both seek their answers in Alden, the school of mages.
Julie Czerneda is one of those authors whose work I like when I read it but who I don't actively seek out. I began my relationship with the author with A Thousand Words for Stranger (The Trade Pact Universe series) and have also read her Species Imperative series. The Gossamer Mage is a good place to start with Czerneda but if you're of a more science-fictiony predeliction, you can try one of these latter two series.
Recommended.
Note: In Tananen only men can inscribe the Lady's Words but only women can interpret them & it's their duty to police the mages so that Her Words aren't misused. Unlike men, the Lady's Gift to women doesn't prematurely age them but sometimes it demands a price just as fatal. Czerneda mentions in passing the existence of nonbinary/trans people but doesn't elaborate on it so the reader is unsure how they fit into the Lady's scheme .
Tananen is the only place in the world where magic exists, and its mages are able to create wondrous creatures by inscribing the Lady's Words to bring them to life. But the Lady extracts a high price for this ability - part of the mage's life. Every spell inscribed makes the writer age; the more complex and lifelike the made-creature, the greater the cost.
Maleonarial is the greatest mage in living memory & committed to destroying the Lady and freeing men (more on this below) from the tyranny of Her price. Kait Alder (Kaitealyon) is a woman fated to be one of the Lady's Voices in the world who is chosen to find out what's possessed the lord of Tiler's Hold (Tananen's only contact with the nonmagical world) & what has apparently banished the Lady from that keep. Their fates intertwine as both seek their answers in Alden, the school of mages.
Julie Czerneda is one of those authors whose work I like when I read it but who I don't actively seek out. I began my relationship with the author with A Thousand Words for Stranger (The Trade Pact Universe series) and have also read her Species Imperative series. The Gossamer Mage is a good place to start with Czerneda but if you're of a more science-fictiony predeliction, you can try one of these latter two series.
Recommended.
Note: In Tananen only men can inscribe the Lady's Words but only women can interpret them & it's their duty to police the mages so that Her Words aren't misused. Unlike men, the Lady's Gift to women doesn't prematurely age them but sometimes it demands a price just as fatal. Czerneda mentions in passing the existence of nonbinary/trans people but doesn't elaborate on it so the reader is unsure how they fit into the Lady's scheme .
August 2, 2019
This might have been a good book, but to be quite honest, I couldn't tell. The writing style was utterly confusing that I couldn't make heads or tails of what was going on.
There is very little explanation for anything going on, we just get dumped head-first into this other world of magic and terms and places and just *STUFF* with no idea what any of it is. Which, to be clear, is FINE if we can pick up on context clues as the story goes on and figure out the world as we go. But this book also has a POV shift every 3-4 pages which means just as soon as I'm starting to follow what's going on WHOOPS BAM NOPE HERE'S SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. I just couldn't get invested in the story enough to carry on with reading it, alas. Maybe if I'd read the author's previous works and had some goodwill built up to trust it was going somewhere I'd feel differently, but this was my first Czerneda book so I'm just going to move on instead.
There is very little explanation for anything going on, we just get dumped head-first into this other world of magic and terms and places and just *STUFF* with no idea what any of it is. Which, to be clear, is FINE if we can pick up on context clues as the story goes on and figure out the world as we go. But this book also has a POV shift every 3-4 pages which means just as soon as I'm starting to follow what's going on WHOOPS BAM NOPE HERE'S SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. I just couldn't get invested in the story enough to carry on with reading it, alas. Maybe if I'd read the author's previous works and had some goodwill built up to trust it was going somewhere I'd feel differently, but this was my first Czerneda book so I'm just going to move on instead.
August 6, 2019
Gossamer Mage by Julie Czerneda has much to love for a fantasy novel. The world building is in done in extraordinary detail. The magic system is incredibly well defined. Everything is built up in a way that gives readers buy-in and plausibility.
However, for me, it was very difficult for me to really love this book. It felt very weighed down in almost too much of everything it needed. If you simplified some of that information and gave the story more room for the story to breathe? It would have gone a long way to helping the story along.
Full Review at Novellives.com
However, for me, it was very difficult for me to really love this book. It felt very weighed down in almost too much of everything it needed. If you simplified some of that information and gave the story more room for the story to breathe? It would have gone a long way to helping the story along.
Full Review at Novellives.com
March 31, 2020
I hadn't planned to read this in March, but as it happened, all of the novels I was reading at that time were post-apocalyptic. And, as it happened, I was not in the headspace to read stories about the collapse of civilization in March 2020, for reasons you can probably piece together on your own.
So a fantasy novel with no dystopic overtones seemed like just the thing.
And on one level, that worked; absolutely nothing in it reminded me of Covid whatsoever. The characters were engaging and realistic and not cliched; the story was unusual and interesting, and the system of magic was original.
But I wasn't able to concentrate on it. Maybe it was the book; maybe it was my distraction levels; maybe it was a combination of both. All I can say is that I liked it, but I didn't love it.
So a fantasy novel with no dystopic overtones seemed like just the thing.
And on one level, that worked; absolutely nothing in it reminded me of Covid whatsoever. The characters were engaging and realistic and not cliched; the story was unusual and interesting, and the system of magic was original.
But I wasn't able to concentrate on it. Maybe it was the book; maybe it was my distraction levels; maybe it was a combination of both. All I can say is that I liked it, but I didn't love it.
October 9, 2019
I'm still waiting for another "Beholder's Eye"!
July 8, 2022
I really struggled with this book. I had to restart several times as I'd get to a point and realise that I had absolutely no idea what was going on.
However, I enjoyed the story and the mechanics of it. The idea of written magic is an interesting one and I've enjoyed its execution in this book.
However, I enjoyed the story and the mechanics of it. The idea of written magic is an interesting one and I've enjoyed its execution in this book.
September 29, 2022
The Gossamer Mage
by Julie E. Czerneda
High Fantasy Myth
Scribd audio
Mages write spells, and they come to life as gossamers, animal or plant like creations but they must pay the price that the Deathless Goddess, the Goddess they worship, requires for these 'intentions'; some of the mage's life. Besides taking their lives little by little, growing old within a few years, they can't help themselves, because this power is addictive.
But one mage wants to put a stop to the Goddess, but during his quest to find the right spell/intention, he finds that there is something else that wants to end her, but if it does, it will end everything.
This was a very interesting story, but too bad the audio narrator didn't do that good of a job. She didn't give any pause between the changing of characters, and there were a lot of characters. I'd hope that in the book there would be an extra space singling a change of some sort, but the narrator did not pause, she went right into the next section and I was left trying to figure out what was going on, and what I missed, and I jumped back the audio to figure it out. Luckily I was doing the dishes at the time, but I couldn't keep doing that because most of the time I'm driving while listening, so I spent most of my time hoping I would figure out what was going on before something else changed. But there were times she would pause right in the middle of someone's dialogue, and there were weird times when I thought it had shut off, but then she starts talking again.
There were 'chapters' in the book about the 'history' of this world, but for me they weren't that telling, thus leaving me with more questions about this world, and sadly the narrator didn't change her 'tone' so it sounded like more of the story thus leaving a period of confusion of what it had to do with the character that was just talking.
Her narration style also made it hard to tell some characters apart. The 'master mages' had the same last few letters on the end of their names, and some of the names sounded way too much alike. Yes, if I'd been reading it I would've been able to sight the difference, but sadly the narrator didn't take the similar sounding names into consideration as she read, and because I listened, that is what I am rating my review on.
The story was original, and spells having to be written in order to be cast was a new idea instead of the usual storyline, plus the spells became something instead of being cast for flying or the such.
I'm thinking that if I had read this story I could've given it a higher rating, but the audio version leaves my rating as...
2 Stars
by Julie E. Czerneda
High Fantasy Myth
Scribd audio
Mages write spells, and they come to life as gossamers, animal or plant like creations but they must pay the price that the Deathless Goddess, the Goddess they worship, requires for these 'intentions'; some of the mage's life. Besides taking their lives little by little, growing old within a few years, they can't help themselves, because this power is addictive.
But one mage wants to put a stop to the Goddess, but during his quest to find the right spell/intention, he finds that there is something else that wants to end her, but if it does, it will end everything.
This was a very interesting story, but too bad the audio narrator didn't do that good of a job. She didn't give any pause between the changing of characters, and there were a lot of characters. I'd hope that in the book there would be an extra space singling a change of some sort, but the narrator did not pause, she went right into the next section and I was left trying to figure out what was going on, and what I missed, and I jumped back the audio to figure it out. Luckily I was doing the dishes at the time, but I couldn't keep doing that because most of the time I'm driving while listening, so I spent most of my time hoping I would figure out what was going on before something else changed. But there were times she would pause right in the middle of someone's dialogue, and there were weird times when I thought it had shut off, but then she starts talking again.
There were 'chapters' in the book about the 'history' of this world, but for me they weren't that telling, thus leaving me with more questions about this world, and sadly the narrator didn't change her 'tone' so it sounded like more of the story thus leaving a period of confusion of what it had to do with the character that was just talking.
Her narration style also made it hard to tell some characters apart. The 'master mages' had the same last few letters on the end of their names, and some of the names sounded way too much alike. Yes, if I'd been reading it I would've been able to sight the difference, but sadly the narrator didn't take the similar sounding names into consideration as she read, and because I listened, that is what I am rating my review on.
The story was original, and spells having to be written in order to be cast was a new idea instead of the usual storyline, plus the spells became something instead of being cast for flying or the such.
I'm thinking that if I had read this story I could've given it a higher rating, but the audio version leaves my rating as...
2 Stars
September 30, 2025
I listened to this as an audiobook, and I really think I would have benefitted from seeing the words on a page. From being unsure what people's names were to some confusing pivotal moments, reading a physical book would have made things clearer. That being said, I did enjoy the history-like aspects of the book and knowing that this is not always the way things were. I enjoyed the magic system and how things flipped on their heads the more we learned. I thought the Fell was a very interesting concept, very creepy and well done in that way. But again, I would have just really benefited from seeing the words. Would have been a more substantial experience.
November 2, 2022
I had a really hard time with this, and didn't finish.
It's the kind of ponderous, impenetrable high fantasy that sometimes gives the genre a bad name with mainstream readers.
** I received a Review Copy of this book via NetGalley **
It's the kind of ponderous, impenetrable high fantasy that sometimes gives the genre a bad name with mainstream readers.
** I received a Review Copy of this book via NetGalley **
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