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Mages of New York #1
Mage's Apprentice
Vampires. Shifters. Fae. Mages. This ain’t the New York City you know…
Aspen is a Norm. A non-magic. A human. And in the magically hidden boroughs of New York City, that’s a quick way to wind up dead. Or worse. So instead of magic, Aspen relies on her skills as a thief to stay alive.
She didn’t plan on getting caught stealing from Lucien Dunadine, one of the strongest members on the Council of Mages.
She really didn’t plan on him blackmailing her into being his apprentice.
But with the Council demanding Lucien present a candidate for a competition to become their newest Mage, neither one of them has much choice.
Now something sinister is going down in the magical boroughs. Supernaturals are winding up dead and mysteriously, impossibly, drained of magic. If Isak, Aspen’s handsome, aggravating opponent in the competition, doesn’t kill her first, the two of them just might be able to figure out who’s behind the murders before an ancient evil is unleashed.
Welcome to the boroughs. Let the magic begin.
Prepare for a gripping, action-packed, immersive young adult urban fantasy read in Mage’s Apprentice, the first book in the thrilling Mage’s of New York Trilogy full of mystery, breathtaking twists, and a slow-burn romance!
This is book one of the Mages of New York Trilogy
Book One: Mage’s Apprentice
Book Two: Mage’s Trial
Book Three: Mage’s End
340 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 4, 2019
379 people are currently reading
583 people want to read
About the author
Sean Fletcher
36 books382 followersSean Fletcher was born in the broiling, arid state some people lovingly refer to as Texas. He is the Amazon bestselling author of YA fantasy, in addition to other forthcoming books whose characters will not give him a moment's peace until they get their turn in the spotlight. When not making things up and putting them on paper, he can be found hiking, biking, or traveling, sometimes all at the same time.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
February 21, 2019
Mage's Apprentice - a review by Rosemary Kenny
Set in Ember's Landing a borough of New York, the prologue introduces MC Aspen Rivest, whose parents are killed in an arson attack [that Aspen barely survives], by a murderous Mage who steals their magic powers.. A decade later Aspen has relocated to Manhattan to work for Hugo, a Djinn, who sends her on a secret mission to burgle a (Mage's) house and retrieve a specific artefact...with dramatic, almost deadly results.
I like the interaction between Aspen (now Mage Lucien's apprentice and Isak (another Mage,Xavier's, apprentice); he's as snarky as Aspen's sassy and is her main opponent in the Apprentice'Trials'. Lucien's role seemed more ambiguous in the early part of the tale, as it wasn't clear if he were a force for good or evil - until he told Nina (another Mage), what Aspen actually was - a Null, or enhanced human, who can absorb powers used against them and use them to protect themself by returning the spell to its originator.
The action flows very smoothly and in an exciting manner that connects the fully-developed characters and their relationships and interactions. There was a good balance in the number of characters - both good and evil - so that each was easy to connect with and remember who was who, throughout the novel, which was well-edited and narrated. The only slight negative is the cliffhanger ending that is used to promote the next in the series.
A wonderful addition to Sean Fletcher's brilliant fantasy-thriller arc, Mage's Apprentice is definitely one to grab for your fantasy adventure bookshelves - get it now!
Set in Ember's Landing a borough of New York, the prologue introduces MC Aspen Rivest, whose parents are killed in an arson attack [that Aspen barely survives], by a murderous Mage who steals their magic powers.. A decade later Aspen has relocated to Manhattan to work for Hugo, a Djinn, who sends her on a secret mission to burgle a (Mage's) house and retrieve a specific artefact...with dramatic, almost deadly results.
I like the interaction between Aspen (now Mage Lucien's apprentice and Isak (another Mage,Xavier's, apprentice); he's as snarky as Aspen's sassy and is her main opponent in the Apprentice'Trials'. Lucien's role seemed more ambiguous in the early part of the tale, as it wasn't clear if he were a force for good or evil - until he told Nina (another Mage), what Aspen actually was - a Null, or enhanced human, who can absorb powers used against them and use them to protect themself by returning the spell to its originator.
The action flows very smoothly and in an exciting manner that connects the fully-developed characters and their relationships and interactions. There was a good balance in the number of characters - both good and evil - so that each was easy to connect with and remember who was who, throughout the novel, which was well-edited and narrated. The only slight negative is the cliffhanger ending that is used to promote the next in the series.
A wonderful addition to Sean Fletcher's brilliant fantasy-thriller arc, Mage's Apprentice is definitely one to grab for your fantasy adventure bookshelves - get it now!
February 20, 2024
Aspen is a Norm, a human born into a magical family. Some of us think of them as... dare I say it... a squib. She is blackmailed into becoming a Mages apprentice to Lucien. I mean that makes since, put the magic-less human in a Mage competition. Supernaturals suddenly start dieing around New York and then we fall into one of my least liked troups, being blamed for crimes because... plot.
I didn't really enjoy this one and nearly DNFd it several times.
I didn't really enjoy this one and nearly DNFd it several times.
July 23, 2021
Aspen has always lived in the magical boroughs of New York City even though she is a normal non-magical person. And because of that, the magical community has always looked upon her like a roach or a plague, even before the murder of her parents when she was just a kid. But it has just made her tougher and more stubborn to live there. So, over the years she has become a thief-for-hire armed with an arsenal of weaponry, gadgets, and magical tricks. But one night, she tries to rob from the wrong person. And finds herself caught in a deal with High Council mage Lucien to compete in the contest for the open council seat as his apprentice, even though she doesn’t have any magic herself.
Even though the contest is a major plot point, not much time is actually spent on it. But then, the contest didn’t seem like all that much of a challenge anyway. The heart of this book was mainly fleshing out the magical world of New York City and all the main players inside it, from the flashy mages, to the criminal underbelly (reminded me a lot of Chicago in the Harry Dresden books). It is a fascinating world and all of the characters were interesting. The least interesting character though was Aspen herself. She had an interesting background and things to discover about her, and she excelled at action scenes (which there were plenty of), but she was rather focused on the one guy who screwed her (even though she really didn’t have any evidence that pointed to him, and she knew another certain character was bad, which didn’t seem to make a whole lot of sense). But with being a cliché tough chick in black leather (I gripe about those regularly since they all seem to be clones of Black Widow), she considers showing emotion as a weakness. And because of her being emotionally distant, I’m not feeling emotionally attached to the story. Lucien reminded me mostly of Doctor Strange from the Marvel movies, complete with the cape that could move on its own and Chinese training facilities (okay, so the one in this book was Japanese, but you get my point). He was also a lot like Harry Dresden. He had the same scorn, cavalier regard for, and itch to screw with the High Council that Harry had, and the same reputation as a loose-cannon (come to think of it, the High Council itself felt very borrowed as well from the Harry Dresden books or even the Star Wars prequels). He also used a lot of the same rune powered rings and shield bracelets. Isak was interesting that I couldn’t pick out who his character was borrowed from and he had a lot of depth to him and loyalty, even though he was hiding behind the same emotionally distant wall that Aspen was hiding behind and I liked that they had similar backgrounds and were able to bond over it. I was a bit annoyed that the elven borough was named Rivendell, without even bothering to acknowledge that it was borrowed from Tolkien. I did like Aspen and Lucien’s relationship, the little I saw of it. And also like the Harry Dresden books, this world also has plenty of diverse supernatural/paranormal creatures residing within the city (from mages, and druids, to necromancers, and ghouls, and ghosts, and vampires, and fairies and elves, giants, and even primordial gods). Fans of Jim Butcher’s Harry Dresden books might find this an action-filled read with their vein of fantasy.
Even though the contest is a major plot point, not much time is actually spent on it. But then, the contest didn’t seem like all that much of a challenge anyway. The heart of this book was mainly fleshing out the magical world of New York City and all the main players inside it, from the flashy mages, to the criminal underbelly (reminded me a lot of Chicago in the Harry Dresden books). It is a fascinating world and all of the characters were interesting. The least interesting character though was Aspen herself. She had an interesting background and things to discover about her, and she excelled at action scenes (which there were plenty of), but she was rather focused on the one guy who screwed her (even though she really didn’t have any evidence that pointed to him, and she knew another certain character was bad, which didn’t seem to make a whole lot of sense). But with being a cliché tough chick in black leather (I gripe about those regularly since they all seem to be clones of Black Widow), she considers showing emotion as a weakness. And because of her being emotionally distant, I’m not feeling emotionally attached to the story. Lucien reminded me mostly of Doctor Strange from the Marvel movies, complete with the cape that could move on its own and Chinese training facilities (okay, so the one in this book was Japanese, but you get my point). He was also a lot like Harry Dresden. He had the same scorn, cavalier regard for, and itch to screw with the High Council that Harry had, and the same reputation as a loose-cannon (come to think of it, the High Council itself felt very borrowed as well from the Harry Dresden books or even the Star Wars prequels). He also used a lot of the same rune powered rings and shield bracelets. Isak was interesting that I couldn’t pick out who his character was borrowed from and he had a lot of depth to him and loyalty, even though he was hiding behind the same emotionally distant wall that Aspen was hiding behind and I liked that they had similar backgrounds and were able to bond over it. I was a bit annoyed that the elven borough was named Rivendell, without even bothering to acknowledge that it was borrowed from Tolkien. I did like Aspen and Lucien’s relationship, the little I saw of it. And also like the Harry Dresden books, this world also has plenty of diverse supernatural/paranormal creatures residing within the city (from mages, and druids, to necromancers, and ghouls, and ghosts, and vampires, and fairies and elves, giants, and even primordial gods). Fans of Jim Butcher’s Harry Dresden books might find this an action-filled read with their vein of fantasy.
May 13, 2020
A woman with no magic lives in New York among the creatures with magic. She is made an apprentice and must compete to become part of the mage's council. Drama ensues but I couldn't root for the the mage's apprentice.
February 15, 2019
I received this book as an ARC and am voluntarily reviewing it.
My litmus test for a book is how quickly I read it and my ability to put it down...or if I have to put it down (to go to work for example), then do I think about getting back to it. This book passed my litmus test. Aspen's story was quick paced and I was literally pulled through it. At first I was becoming very disenchanted by the seemingly omnipresent chip on her shoulder, but this author was smart and softened that chip so organically that it seemed to fade before my eyes.
This is the introduction to a trilogy, the next book of which I now want to read. Aspen lives in a New York City full of magic and magical beings. She is not a magical being...or so she has always believed. Her parents died tragically when she was 7 years old and since that time, she has been in the care of a half giant named Brune. Both being outcasts in the prejudiced and strictly stratified society of magical New York, they bond almost as parent and child even though the reality is probably more complicated than that. Brune runs a shop which deals in magical this and that and Aspen supplements their income by thievery. Years on the streets have made her very resourceful and her layman's knowledge of the magical world around has served her well.
Desperate for cash after a paying job goes south, Aspen makes the error of trying to rob a mage...the top dog in the heirarchy. The mage, Lucien, sees in her the solution to his problem of not having an apprentice. he manipulates the situation and gets her to agree to be his apprentice. The mage council immediately takes a dislike to her and she is thrust into a competition with Isak, the apprentice of the mage Xavier. Isak is a more than worthy opponent. If she loses the competition, she dies. If she wins, she will become a mage and will be able to go forward with some plans she has.
This is where it all goes south. Enemies become allies and allies, enemies. The competition is almost forgotten in the midst of the discovery of a threat that, unless contained, will lead to the end of the world as they know it. The writing propels the reader through this tale. There is lots of action and lots of questions. The questions kept me reading because I really wanted answers. This is the mark of good writing: I wanted to know what was happening and why so I had to keep going. Fortunately it was an eventful read so every moment I had to spare, I had my nose in my kindle reading.
I highly recommend this book for lovers of YA and fantasy. Like I said, it's a 4.5. Just read it!
My litmus test for a book is how quickly I read it and my ability to put it down...or if I have to put it down (to go to work for example), then do I think about getting back to it. This book passed my litmus test. Aspen's story was quick paced and I was literally pulled through it. At first I was becoming very disenchanted by the seemingly omnipresent chip on her shoulder, but this author was smart and softened that chip so organically that it seemed to fade before my eyes.
This is the introduction to a trilogy, the next book of which I now want to read. Aspen lives in a New York City full of magic and magical beings. She is not a magical being...or so she has always believed. Her parents died tragically when she was 7 years old and since that time, she has been in the care of a half giant named Brune. Both being outcasts in the prejudiced and strictly stratified society of magical New York, they bond almost as parent and child even though the reality is probably more complicated than that. Brune runs a shop which deals in magical this and that and Aspen supplements their income by thievery. Years on the streets have made her very resourceful and her layman's knowledge of the magical world around has served her well.
Desperate for cash after a paying job goes south, Aspen makes the error of trying to rob a mage...the top dog in the heirarchy. The mage, Lucien, sees in her the solution to his problem of not having an apprentice. he manipulates the situation and gets her to agree to be his apprentice. The mage council immediately takes a dislike to her and she is thrust into a competition with Isak, the apprentice of the mage Xavier. Isak is a more than worthy opponent. If she loses the competition, she dies. If she wins, she will become a mage and will be able to go forward with some plans she has.
This is where it all goes south. Enemies become allies and allies, enemies. The competition is almost forgotten in the midst of the discovery of a threat that, unless contained, will lead to the end of the world as they know it. The writing propels the reader through this tale. There is lots of action and lots of questions. The questions kept me reading because I really wanted answers. This is the mark of good writing: I wanted to know what was happening and why so I had to keep going. Fortunately it was an eventful read so every moment I had to spare, I had my nose in my kindle reading.
I highly recommend this book for lovers of YA and fantasy. Like I said, it's a 4.5. Just read it!
February 18, 2019
This is book one in the Mages of New York series. The main character is a young girl called Aspen, who was brought up in the magical world of New York city. When her parents are killed when she is seven, she is left in the care of her only companion, a half giant Brune, who has always looked out for her. Being a ‘norm’ as the other kids tease her, is not easy on the streets where she now lives. To make ends meet, she starts to work as a thief and even joins a small gang.
She is hired for a job and everything goes wrong. She does her part of the job, which was all she had to do, but the boss for the job stiffs her and leaves her penniless. She walks about picking pockets as she goes and makes the mistake of picking the pocket of a Mage – Lucien. He grabs her and takes her to his home and persuades her to become his apprentice in a silly competition held by the Mage Council. He wants her to lose, so since she has no magic, that won’t be difficult.
She is paired in the competition with another Mage’s apprentice, Isak, who she recalls from events in her past. His Mage is Xavier, someone she holds responsible for the way her life turned out – you’ll have to read the story to find out why! Instead of the competition simply being to see who has the better apprentice, suddenly it is to the death. Enemies and allies are interlinked and confusion is abundant. Nothing is as it seems and someone has a much larger plan going on than anyone realises.
There is loads of action in the story and a firm background built up around the main characters, which helps the story to flow. You have Aspen keeping up a pretence of magic, with gadgets, whilst doing her thieving work and her continuation into a possible world of power as a Mage, if she can succeed in the competition. To learn about magic from an expert and use that to further her own future plans. The Mages and the Mage Council bring in some interesting interactions, with Lucien being a very unwilling participant.
A great read and first book in the series, which whets your appetite for more. Everything just flows and you have to keep reading to find out answers to each characters actions. This was one I kept on reading right through to the end, as it kept my interest throughout! If this is the first book in the series, I can’t wait to see what comes next. Highly recommend! I received an ARC copy of this book from the author and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
She is hired for a job and everything goes wrong. She does her part of the job, which was all she had to do, but the boss for the job stiffs her and leaves her penniless. She walks about picking pockets as she goes and makes the mistake of picking the pocket of a Mage – Lucien. He grabs her and takes her to his home and persuades her to become his apprentice in a silly competition held by the Mage Council. He wants her to lose, so since she has no magic, that won’t be difficult.
She is paired in the competition with another Mage’s apprentice, Isak, who she recalls from events in her past. His Mage is Xavier, someone she holds responsible for the way her life turned out – you’ll have to read the story to find out why! Instead of the competition simply being to see who has the better apprentice, suddenly it is to the death. Enemies and allies are interlinked and confusion is abundant. Nothing is as it seems and someone has a much larger plan going on than anyone realises.
There is loads of action in the story and a firm background built up around the main characters, which helps the story to flow. You have Aspen keeping up a pretence of magic, with gadgets, whilst doing her thieving work and her continuation into a possible world of power as a Mage, if she can succeed in the competition. To learn about magic from an expert and use that to further her own future plans. The Mages and the Mage Council bring in some interesting interactions, with Lucien being a very unwilling participant.
A great read and first book in the series, which whets your appetite for more. Everything just flows and you have to keep reading to find out answers to each characters actions. This was one I kept on reading right through to the end, as it kept my interest throughout! If this is the first book in the series, I can’t wait to see what comes next. Highly recommend! I received an ARC copy of this book from the author and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
May 21, 2019
Aspen lives in New York City where the Mage's council oversee the well being of the people in it. As a Norm, Aspen is on the bottom of their "to care about" list. Without her parents, she must take on odd jobs or steal to survive. While stealing from a man, Aspen is shocked to discover he's a mage. During their fight, Aspen loses consciousness and wakes up at the mage's house.
Here, she discovers that he is no ordinary mage. His name is Lucien and he's one of the most powerful mage's on the Mage's Council. Lucien needs an apprentice to compete against his fellow mage Xavior's. The council will not let him back out of it, so Aspen is the answer to all his problems. Except she's a norm. She doesn't have magic, but she quickly learns that there's more to her than she could've anticipated.
Her competition is Isak who is good-looking and cocky. He tries to talk Aspen out of the competition and she can't help but notice the sincerity in his voice. But there are bigger things going on than a competition. Someone is stealing the magic from beings and they fear it's to take the protective wards down from around the city. Isak and Aspen must put their differences aside in order to solve the mystery of who's behind the deaths that are scattered around New York.
MAGE'S APPRENTICE is a fast-paced, action-packed YA fantasy that holds your attention throughout the whole story. Aspen is a strong female lead, but after her parents death, she doesn't want to develop relationships with anyone. She has to learn to open up and trust others or it could cost her her life. Lucien quickly becomes my favorite character with his witty remarks and carefree attitude. I like the back and forth snarks Aspen has for both Lucien and Isak. After the ending, I'm curious to see what the next installment contains.
Final Verdict: I would recommend this to fans of fantasy, supernatural beings, magic, mages, action, and subtle romances.
This review can also be found on YABC: http://www.yabookscentral.com/yaindie...
Here, she discovers that he is no ordinary mage. His name is Lucien and he's one of the most powerful mage's on the Mage's Council. Lucien needs an apprentice to compete against his fellow mage Xavior's. The council will not let him back out of it, so Aspen is the answer to all his problems. Except she's a norm. She doesn't have magic, but she quickly learns that there's more to her than she could've anticipated.
Her competition is Isak who is good-looking and cocky. He tries to talk Aspen out of the competition and she can't help but notice the sincerity in his voice. But there are bigger things going on than a competition. Someone is stealing the magic from beings and they fear it's to take the protective wards down from around the city. Isak and Aspen must put their differences aside in order to solve the mystery of who's behind the deaths that are scattered around New York.
MAGE'S APPRENTICE is a fast-paced, action-packed YA fantasy that holds your attention throughout the whole story. Aspen is a strong female lead, but after her parents death, she doesn't want to develop relationships with anyone. She has to learn to open up and trust others or it could cost her her life. Lucien quickly becomes my favorite character with his witty remarks and carefree attitude. I like the back and forth snarks Aspen has for both Lucien and Isak. After the ending, I'm curious to see what the next installment contains.
Final Verdict: I would recommend this to fans of fantasy, supernatural beings, magic, mages, action, and subtle romances.
This review can also be found on YABC: http://www.yabookscentral.com/yaindie...
February 9, 2019
This the first book in the series Mages of New York obviously takes place in the magical city, where we find both those who possess magic and the non-magicals living side by side however, the city is divided into seven boroughs each headed by a mage who is meant to look out for the magical creatures living in their borough and who in turn is a representative on the council of mages. The council is supposed to protect the city by safeguarding the magical wards so that no evil enters the city. Many norms, as non-magicals where referred to, were unaware who they were sharing their city with, however some like Aspen and her family were go-betweens and allowed to live in the borough of Ember’s Landing. Until the cursed day when Aspen, a seven year old child, saw her parents killed right before her eyes, by a magical creature whose face was forever imprinted in her mind. She was left orphaned, and got looked after by a family friend, a half-giant called Brune but though she grew into a young woman she was forever haunted by her memories and by her need for vengeance on the face she could never forget. She survived by becoming the best thief in the city, and it was these same skills which got her embroiled into the chaos of the magical world and its many creatures, each vying for power. A brilliant adventure, full of action, magic and lots of magical creatures including a djinn, the elusive fae, half-breeds, mages, ghouls, vampees and so much more. The main characters are very likeable and I find myself really looking forward to Aspen’s next adventure, which I am sure book 2 will be taking us on, and which will surely be as exciting as this book was!
September 26, 2019
I never thought I'd DNF a book I considered 3-3.5 stars.
There is nothing really wrong with this book. The writing is decent, the characters are likable or relatable, I enjoy the budding relationship blooming between Aspen and Isak. But the story just doesn't hold me enough. There's paranormal stuff, mystery, plenty of action, and a big "who dun it?" thing. So I honestly don't know why this book and I didn't click. I debated with myself for the past week, back and forth, if I should continue this or simply put it down. I read a few more chapters, now 40% in, and I have to put it down. It just doesn't hold my interest.
There is nothing really wrong with this book. The writing is decent, the characters are likable or relatable, I enjoy the budding relationship blooming between Aspen and Isak. But the story just doesn't hold me enough. There's paranormal stuff, mystery, plenty of action, and a big "who dun it?" thing. So I honestly don't know why this book and I didn't click. I debated with myself for the past week, back and forth, if I should continue this or simply put it down. I read a few more chapters, now 40% in, and I have to put it down. It just doesn't hold my interest.
October 24, 2019
After reading this book, I wanted to write and post this review to share my honest experiences toward the story.
Are you a fan of magic realism? Urban fantasy? An action packed thriller, with a little bit of romance? If you answered yes to the above, then this is definitely a book for you to add to your TBR pile!
Aspen is a norm – a non-magic user – and also a thief. When she gets caught stealing from a mage, Lucien, he doesn’t turn her in, instead, he offers her an apprenticeship with him. The council of mages has been pressuring him to provide a candidate for a competition to become their newest mage, and neither of them are too thrilled with the idea, especially since it is well-known she has no magical ability. But things aren’t always what they seem.
A great start to the series with amazing characters and an intricate, intriguing plot. The magic system isn’t too complicated and easy to follow. I loved Aspen and Lucien’s characters, their banter and their attitudes toward each other make for a bit of lighthearted humour in the midst of the dark plot.
And at the end, things take a turn that your opinion of the characters may change. It certainly changes what Aspen has believed all this time. It was a shocking development for myself as a reader, and is definitely going to make things…different in the next book. I can’t wait to see how things continue!
Are you a fan of magic realism? Urban fantasy? An action packed thriller, with a little bit of romance? If you answered yes to the above, then this is definitely a book for you to add to your TBR pile!
Aspen is a norm – a non-magic user – and also a thief. When she gets caught stealing from a mage, Lucien, he doesn’t turn her in, instead, he offers her an apprenticeship with him. The council of mages has been pressuring him to provide a candidate for a competition to become their newest mage, and neither of them are too thrilled with the idea, especially since it is well-known she has no magical ability. But things aren’t always what they seem.
A great start to the series with amazing characters and an intricate, intriguing plot. The magic system isn’t too complicated and easy to follow. I loved Aspen and Lucien’s characters, their banter and their attitudes toward each other make for a bit of lighthearted humour in the midst of the dark plot.
And at the end, things take a turn that your opinion of the characters may change. It certainly changes what Aspen has believed all this time. It was a shocking development for myself as a reader, and is definitely going to make things…different in the next book. I can’t wait to see how things continue!
May 24, 2019
I received an ARC of this book
Aspen is a Norm, a human with no magical abilities and is not a supernatural. Norms are ostracized by supernaturals. Her parents died in a house fire and she is raised by Brune, however she saw the person who killed her parents. Her parents' death was not natural; they were murdered.
She meets Lucien, a mage on the Council, and he offers her the position of being his apprentice. She declines at first but Lucien abducts her and brings her to his home. Furious and angry at first of being abducted she slowly becomes acquainted and develops a bond with Lucien, a bond like father and daughter. She also meets Tana, a Vampee half vampire and half human. Lucien took in Tana and gave her a home to stay. She also meets Isak, Xavier (one of the mages on the Council's apprentice) and develops feelings towards him. At first she they hate each other but the hatred turns to attraction towards the end
There’s been murder happening throughout where supes (supernaturals) have been drained of magic. Aspen suspects her former boss, Hugo but the real enemy is much sinister and evil. Her, Lucien, Tana and Isaac team up to find out the suspect before it is too late.
I loved reading this book. It was fairly easy to read and the story kept me vested till the end. Sean is a good writer. There is action and romance. I really like Lucien and have a bit of a crush on him. I will be reading book 2 to see how the team defeats this evil that is unleashed. I also hope Isak can forgive Aspen
Aspen is a Norm, a human with no magical abilities and is not a supernatural. Norms are ostracized by supernaturals. Her parents died in a house fire and she is raised by Brune, however she saw the person who killed her parents. Her parents' death was not natural; they were murdered.
She meets Lucien, a mage on the Council, and he offers her the position of being his apprentice. She declines at first but Lucien abducts her and brings her to his home. Furious and angry at first of being abducted she slowly becomes acquainted and develops a bond with Lucien, a bond like father and daughter. She also meets Tana, a Vampee half vampire and half human. Lucien took in Tana and gave her a home to stay. She also meets Isak, Xavier (one of the mages on the Council's apprentice) and develops feelings towards him. At first she they hate each other but the hatred turns to attraction towards the end
There’s been murder happening throughout where supes (supernaturals) have been drained of magic. Aspen suspects her former boss, Hugo but the real enemy is much sinister and evil. Her, Lucien, Tana and Isaac team up to find out the suspect before it is too late.
I loved reading this book. It was fairly easy to read and the story kept me vested till the end. Sean is a good writer. There is action and romance. I really like Lucien and have a bit of a crush on him. I will be reading book 2 to see how the team defeats this evil that is unleashed. I also hope Isak can forgive Aspen
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 6, 2019
ONE THRILLING EXPERIENCE!!!
Man, Talk about fireworks, this bad boy is hotter than an erupting volcano. Step back, take a breather and jump right in. You won't know what hit you until your head snapps forward once again. This little jewel is definitely one riveting read. Sean draws us into her imagination and weaves a world around us so tight and consuming until everything else ceases to exist. A whirlwind of emotions and events really pulls those heartstrings and make for one incredible experience. All twists and turns, ups and downs, along with a few glitches and bumps here and there pull you deeper into this raging storyline and hard hitting plot. Throw in all the drama, intrigue, uncertainty, fear, danger and suspense and you have one intense, page turning bombshell that grabs your attention and holds it from start to finish. The characters are complex, believable and realistic with such depth it demands respect. The scenes are so graphically detailed and descriptive it's easy to picture each scenario as they play off one another perfectly. Sean did a remarkable job bringing this read to life brilliantly. Remarkable job Sean, thanks for sharing this bad boy with us.
Man, Talk about fireworks, this bad boy is hotter than an erupting volcano. Step back, take a breather and jump right in. You won't know what hit you until your head snapps forward once again. This little jewel is definitely one riveting read. Sean draws us into her imagination and weaves a world around us so tight and consuming until everything else ceases to exist. A whirlwind of emotions and events really pulls those heartstrings and make for one incredible experience. All twists and turns, ups and downs, along with a few glitches and bumps here and there pull you deeper into this raging storyline and hard hitting plot. Throw in all the drama, intrigue, uncertainty, fear, danger and suspense and you have one intense, page turning bombshell that grabs your attention and holds it from start to finish. The characters are complex, believable and realistic with such depth it demands respect. The scenes are so graphically detailed and descriptive it's easy to picture each scenario as they play off one another perfectly. Sean did a remarkable job bringing this read to life brilliantly. Remarkable job Sean, thanks for sharing this bad boy with us.
February 10, 2019
Fast paced urban fantasy. The MC is a teen who's grown up surrounded by magic, but she's just an ordinary human who can't use it herself. That just means that she's taught herself to fight stronger, faster, and better to survive.
There's a plenty of interesting magic and great world building - lots of hidden magical parts of NYC. The characters were OK, but I felt they could've been developed a bit more. I actually ended up liking the too helpful mage best. He was just the perfect blend of good heartedness, powerful, arrogant, and pitiful. I wish he'd been the romantic focus. He's so much more interesting than the other guy.
There is a start of a relationship, but other then the male being good looking and nice, I didn't see much of a basis for a relationship. I was happy when the plot pushed it off rail, but I'm sure they'll work it out in the next book.
I think the best parts of this book were in the fast paced plot and action. There's a lot of fighting and magic. It was very easy to get absorbed in the book and hard to pull away from. I rate it at about 3.7 stars.
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
There's a plenty of interesting magic and great world building - lots of hidden magical parts of NYC. The characters were OK, but I felt they could've been developed a bit more. I actually ended up liking the too helpful mage best. He was just the perfect blend of good heartedness, powerful, arrogant, and pitiful. I wish he'd been the romantic focus. He's so much more interesting than the other guy.
There is a start of a relationship, but other then the male being good looking and nice, I didn't see much of a basis for a relationship. I was happy when the plot pushed it off rail, but I'm sure they'll work it out in the next book.
I think the best parts of this book were in the fast paced plot and action. There's a lot of fighting and magic. It was very easy to get absorbed in the book and hard to pull away from. I rate it at about 3.7 stars.
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 12, 2019
Mage's Apprentice is the first book in a new YA series by Sean Fletcher, and it's a thrilling, fast-paced adventure that promises not to let go for a while.
In it, we follow the story of Aspen, a character who's been through so much and has had a really tough upbringing, yet she doesn't want your pity (I'm pretty sure she'd punch you if you dared). Rather, she knows how to take care of herself, and you'll find yourself rooting for her while she goes through all the quests and then some. Does this mean that she makes all the right decisions? Far from it. But despite that, you'll be hooked by all the action from the first chapter, and you'll want to follow her journey to see how this all plays out.
I'd definitely recommend this new to me YA author who packs this story with a punch, but delivers it with a healthy dose of sass and sarcasm, a witty plus tough-as-nails heroine, side characters who you'll either love or love to hate, and a light sprinkle of sweet romance (just enough to satisfy the fans who like it in a book, but not overly done so as to make others sick with it). 4.5 stars
PS: I honestly can't wait for more Lucien, Isak, Tana, and Brune. Is Mage's Trial out yet?
In it, we follow the story of Aspen, a character who's been through so much and has had a really tough upbringing, yet she doesn't want your pity (I'm pretty sure she'd punch you if you dared). Rather, she knows how to take care of herself, and you'll find yourself rooting for her while she goes through all the quests and then some. Does this mean that she makes all the right decisions? Far from it. But despite that, you'll be hooked by all the action from the first chapter, and you'll want to follow her journey to see how this all plays out.
I'd definitely recommend this new to me YA author who packs this story with a punch, but delivers it with a healthy dose of sass and sarcasm, a witty plus tough-as-nails heroine, side characters who you'll either love or love to hate, and a light sprinkle of sweet romance (just enough to satisfy the fans who like it in a book, but not overly done so as to make others sick with it). 4.5 stars
PS: I honestly can't wait for more Lucien, Isak, Tana, and Brune. Is Mage's Trial out yet?
February 25, 2019
Mage's Apprentice is book 1 in The Mages of New York series. This is one of the best books I've read in awhile. It has it all -- great world building, unique story line, and well developed interesting characters. Sean Fletcher has the unique ability of writing a story that draws you into it at the beginning and keeps you turning pages to the end as you find yourself needing to know what's coming next. You will love both the good and bad characters. Aspen is an orphan who has become a thief and inventor in order to survive as a NORM in a magical world. Lucien is one of the 7 ruling mages who Aspen tries to steal from but is caught and blackmailed into being his apprentice. These are just two of the wonderfully developed characters. This story is action packed, has plenty of twists & turns, flows at a fast pace, has a little romance, and a lot of magical creatures. I am anxiously waiting for the next book in this series. If you want to truly experience a great book, I highly recommend this one. You will be happy you did. I received a copy and this is my voluntary and honest review.
June 7, 2019
It wasn’t totally my thing, but if you like action then it’ll probably be your thing
I’m gonna have to be honest. I thought I would LOVE this book, I thought it would be right up my alley, but I misjudged it. I never fully connected with Aspen, the main character. I felt there was too much action and I needed some softness, some breathing space in between all that action to balance it out, but that wasn’t there. Overall I can only give it an okay score.
On the plus side: There was never a boring moment. Action-filled! Action - attack - defend - action - more action!
On the minus side: It was all too tough, too hard, too serious. I missed some relief. Aspen is only tough, hardened, and while that’s understandable given the circumstances, I want some level of softness. She is loyal to Brune and I could appreciate that. She is skilled and I could admire those skills.
All in all, it turned out that this just wasn’t totally my thing. I guess I’m a bit overly sensitive. I’m telling you that, so you can see for yourself if this’d be your thing or not. Because I sincerely believe this will speak to readers who like action-filled stories. Who like their main characters to be tough.
I’m gonna have to be honest. I thought I would LOVE this book, I thought it would be right up my alley, but I misjudged it. I never fully connected with Aspen, the main character. I felt there was too much action and I needed some softness, some breathing space in between all that action to balance it out, but that wasn’t there. Overall I can only give it an okay score.
On the plus side: There was never a boring moment. Action-filled! Action - attack - defend - action - more action!
On the minus side: It was all too tough, too hard, too serious. I missed some relief. Aspen is only tough, hardened, and while that’s understandable given the circumstances, I want some level of softness. She is loyal to Brune and I could appreciate that. She is skilled and I could admire those skills.
All in all, it turned out that this just wasn’t totally my thing. I guess I’m a bit overly sensitive. I’m telling you that, so you can see for yourself if this’d be your thing or not. Because I sincerely believe this will speak to readers who like action-filled stories. Who like their main characters to be tough.
September 5, 2019
She is a norm, how can she compete to be a mage?
Love this book and the main character is written in such a way I had to love her.
Aspen has grown up in a magical borough in NYC. Most supernatural and magical creatures live in boroughs that hide them from normal people. Aspen is considered a norm, her parents are basically ambassadors for the magical communities and the norm world, helping to bring in products from the norm world.
This adventure really gets under way about 10 years after her parents were killed in a fire and she is working hard to kept herself and the only one who was willing to take her in with a place to live even if it means stealing. When she tries to steal from a mage he makes her an offer to be his apprentice or to be charged for assault. She unwillingly takes the aprenticeship and is immediately put in a competition, with a boy she remembers from 10 years ago, to take a spot on the counsel of the mages.
This is a must read to find out how Aspen interacts with the people around her and to find out why she trusts no one and if she can learn to trust.
I can't wait to read the next book.
Love this book and the main character is written in such a way I had to love her.
Aspen has grown up in a magical borough in NYC. Most supernatural and magical creatures live in boroughs that hide them from normal people. Aspen is considered a norm, her parents are basically ambassadors for the magical communities and the norm world, helping to bring in products from the norm world.
This adventure really gets under way about 10 years after her parents were killed in a fire and she is working hard to kept herself and the only one who was willing to take her in with a place to live even if it means stealing. When she tries to steal from a mage he makes her an offer to be his apprentice or to be charged for assault. She unwillingly takes the aprenticeship and is immediately put in a competition, with a boy she remembers from 10 years ago, to take a spot on the counsel of the mages.
This is a must read to find out how Aspen interacts with the people around her and to find out why she trusts no one and if she can learn to trust.
I can't wait to read the next book.
June 1, 2019
I'd give this book a 3,5/5, but I chose 4 after all.
For me this book is not bad nor good. When I'm looking or searching for a book I need action, drama, romance and much more.
In this book we got some of it, but only slightly.
At first I didn't enjoy the book, but I was giving it a chance. There was nothing to hold me reading it...the characters weren't as good as I wanted them to be and mostly I was really missing some action. I thought that since the book is about mages and supernatural that it will be packed.
I gave this book a chance, because I did it before with another book and it wouldn't be fair.
After the first half of the book...I got some action and drama even heartbreak, so I continued reading it.
The ending of the book got me a bit confused at first until I figured what the author is writing is about.
After all I liked the book, I don't think that this book is worth for me to reread, but might be for someone else! I would recommend if you love stories that have more of a story telling that fighting kind of.
For me this book is not bad nor good. When I'm looking or searching for a book I need action, drama, romance and much more.
In this book we got some of it, but only slightly.
At first I didn't enjoy the book, but I was giving it a chance. There was nothing to hold me reading it...the characters weren't as good as I wanted them to be and mostly I was really missing some action. I thought that since the book is about mages and supernatural that it will be packed.
I gave this book a chance, because I did it before with another book and it wouldn't be fair.
After the first half of the book...I got some action and drama even heartbreak, so I continued reading it.
The ending of the book got me a bit confused at first until I figured what the author is writing is about.
After all I liked the book, I don't think that this book is worth for me to reread, but might be for someone else! I would recommend if you love stories that have more of a story telling that fighting kind of.
October 6, 2021
The concept of this book was cool.
I could write a novel on how much I detest the FMC, Aspen. She is stupid, impulsive, immature, petulant, and absolutely undeserving of respect but expects it from everyone while denying it to them at once. She grew up in a magical borough of NY, but failed spectacularly at learning a single thing about any of them. She wants so badly to wield magic, but when offered an apprenticeship, she does everything to fucking ruin it and make everyone around her annoyed and upset. The one person, a half-giant, who took her in as a kid... she treats like shit and lies to constantly. Her heartbeat races around a kid who stood up for her as a child, so she tries to kill him everytime she sees him and fails horribly because she literally sucks at almost everything but is too prideful to learn from anyone who offers. She is fucking awful and I can't believe the alpha readers for this didn't shout loudly that she's so fucking awful nobody, NOBODY should like her.
I could write a novel on how much I detest the FMC, Aspen. She is stupid, impulsive, immature, petulant, and absolutely undeserving of respect but expects it from everyone while denying it to them at once. She grew up in a magical borough of NY, but failed spectacularly at learning a single thing about any of them. She wants so badly to wield magic, but when offered an apprenticeship, she does everything to fucking ruin it and make everyone around her annoyed and upset. The one person, a half-giant, who took her in as a kid... she treats like shit and lies to constantly. Her heartbeat races around a kid who stood up for her as a child, so she tries to kill him everytime she sees him and fails horribly because she literally sucks at almost everything but is too prideful to learn from anyone who offers. She is fucking awful and I can't believe the alpha readers for this didn't shout loudly that she's so fucking awful nobody, NOBODY should like her.
February 12, 2019
This is the first book in a new YA urban fantasy series set in the same world as the Heir of Dragons series.
This time, we get to know all sorts of supernatural and magical races, and we learn that there is generally no love lost between "supes" and "Norms". Enter Aspen, our Norm protagonist living in one of the magic boroughs of today's New York.
While some aspects of the story might seem overly familiar (orphan whose parents got murdered by a powerful wizard, half-giant best friend, ...), and there are many nods to other authors' works (hello, Charlotte!), Sean Fletcher provides his own spin on common tropes and delivers an entertaining tale.
As always, I enjoy his blend of action and humor, and not to forget a hefty dose of teenage shenanigans, nicely summed up by Lucien (one of my favorite characters, by the way):
“Spoken like a true teenager. No understanding of the weight of your consequences.”
This time, we get to know all sorts of supernatural and magical races, and we learn that there is generally no love lost between "supes" and "Norms". Enter Aspen, our Norm protagonist living in one of the magic boroughs of today's New York.
While some aspects of the story might seem overly familiar (orphan whose parents got murdered by a powerful wizard, half-giant best friend, ...), and there are many nods to other authors' works (hello, Charlotte!), Sean Fletcher provides his own spin on common tropes and delivers an entertaining tale.
As always, I enjoy his blend of action and humor, and not to forget a hefty dose of teenage shenanigans, nicely summed up by Lucien (one of my favorite characters, by the way):
“Spoken like a true teenager. No understanding of the weight of your consequences.”
February 14, 2019
A “norm” (nonmagical) thief turned mage’s apprentice? A deadly competition? Impossible actions by an ancient evil? All this plus action, adventure, mystery, twists and turns and a great slow-burn romance to top things off. Sean Fletcher’s Mage's Apprentice is a fantastic first book start for his Mages of New York series. Great world building, superbly crafted characters from Aspen, Isak and Lucien on down m, and a really well written plot that looks to be the start of s great story arc. Yup, definitely checks all the right boxes. But for the fact that I’m literally dictating this review to my husband from my hospital bed I could go on and on with praises. The book definitely deserves it. Since I can’t do that I will simply note that the book is most definitely one to read, and it is easy to highly recommend. I’m definitely looking forward to the next book in this series.
January 3, 2020
I had high hopes for this book, but they were dashed by about the 5th chapter. Maybe I would have enjoyed more if I read it but I listened to it and narrator was not my favorite. For the main character, Aspen, being 19 she sure was a kind of whiney young adult. All the other characters where just...there. I really didn't find the characters interesting.
I will tell you that there was a twist that I was not anticipating so that was a shocker.
This book just dragged and didn't hold my attention very well or at all in some places. I just wasn't loving this book and have no desire to read the rest of this series. Which is completely weird for me. I normally have some attachment for at least one character that I have to see how their story ends; but with this book no such attachment for any of them.
I will tell you that there was a twist that I was not anticipating so that was a shocker.
This book just dragged and didn't hold my attention very well or at all in some places. I just wasn't loving this book and have no desire to read the rest of this series. Which is completely weird for me. I normally have some attachment for at least one character that I have to see how their story ends; but with this book no such attachment for any of them.
July 9, 2025
I loved the concept of this book. A normal human, Aspen, in a world a magical creates is great. The idea that some fear her is a the mystery. I enjoy the side creatures like her half-giant guardian, a soft-hearted creature, a mob-like genie, various mages and a monster from her childhood. The scarring from being in a fire where her parents died and she barely survives colours who she is and is key to understanding who she became. The others, who come into later, a sarcastic mage at odds with the others, an ally in the form of a vampee and a handsome and, according to Aspen, annoying, fellow apprentice, are her one chance to survive in this world.
It was action-packed, with a hint of mystery and worth the 5 stars.
It was action-packed, with a hint of mystery and worth the 5 stars.
February 21, 2019
OMG, This book kept you reading. I feel this book would be loved by teens to adults. WE have all kinds of magic people and norms that the Mage are to take care of. Aspen is a Norm that lives in the magic world, even thou they want them out and dead. Her parents die in a fire and now she has to rely on herself to survive. Lucien is a Mage and he catches her, now he is blackmailing her. She is over her head, and something evil and mysterious is going on. Can Aspen survive? Will the person that killed her parents kill her? Will she be able to make the Mage see what's going on? Can she ever keep her mouth shut? I received a free copy for my honest review.
March 2, 2019
Mage's Apprentice is the first book in a new series. For me it started very slowly and I had trouble getting into the story. Once Aspen had met Lucian the book quickly picked up pace and I really started to enjoy it. Aspen is a complex character with a troubled past who evolves into a much better and nicer character as the story progresses. The other characters are interesting and add depth and colour. I recommend this book to all Urban Fantasy fans and am looking forward to finding out what happens next .. the epilogue paves the way for the next book in the series.
I received an advanced copy of this book and this is my honest and voluntary review.
I received an advanced copy of this book and this is my honest and voluntary review.
February 14, 2019
This is a wonderfully crafted urban fantasy. Aspen is a normal person living in a hidden magical world in New York- is suddenly uprooted with her parents' murder. Working as a thief, the decision to pickpocket off a Mage charges her life. Taking on the challenge for a seat on the Mages' council, sets off an interesting quest all throughout the city. Complicated by by a strange murders, a budding romance and intense adventure; filled with a wild cast of funny characters you won't forget- this book is worth the read and time.
May 2, 2019
This is my first book by this author and it won't be my last. This is the first book in the new series 'Mages of New York'. I never wanted to put it down. The characters are well developed and the storyline is interesting.
The main character is a young girl called Aspen, who was brought up in the magical world of New York city. Aspen is a human with no magic. She survives by her thieving until she gets caught.
I highly recommend this book for lovers of YA and fantasy. I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
The main character is a young girl called Aspen, who was brought up in the magical world of New York city. Aspen is a human with no magic. She survives by her thieving until she gets caught.
I highly recommend this book for lovers of YA and fantasy. I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 30, 2019
Good
I thought this story was good. I really enjoyed it until about 70% of the way through the book. After that it just seemed to get a little tedious. I really liked how the characters were developed, and I really liked Lucien. Aspen’s character developed throughout the story. I liked how she was determined to get revenge for her parents, but then slowly came to realize that there were bigger problems around her and that her hard headed approach to investigation was hurting more than helping. I liked seeing that growth. The Mages’ counsel drove me nuts.
I thought this story was good. I really enjoyed it until about 70% of the way through the book. After that it just seemed to get a little tedious. I really liked how the characters were developed, and I really liked Lucien. Aspen’s character developed throughout the story. I liked how she was determined to get revenge for her parents, but then slowly came to realize that there were bigger problems around her and that her hard headed approach to investigation was hurting more than helping. I liked seeing that growth. The Mages’ counsel drove me nuts.
August 1, 2020
Initially I was having the thought “I’ve read this book before, multiple times, but each with a different author and title.” In other words, a summary of the setup could have been written that would match at least 2 books I’ve read in the last year or so. It quickly differentiated it, and I was hooked. Pretty much did the whole book in a day - not something I do very often. It’s probably not going to win literature awards, but it’s an enjoyable read. I’ll look for the rest of the series, and I’d likely read this again.
September 10, 2020
This book was enjoyable. Growing up and dealing with crushes and broken illusions about friends or family is hard enough for anyone but for a non-magical person in a magical society? I enjoyed the trials and tribulations our heroine had to deal with; she deals with them with the same spirit, emotional angst and impulsiveness that Harry Potter demonstrated in his first and second year at Hogworts. This is the first of Sean Fletcher's books I have read - it definitely will not be the last.
I received an ARC through Hidden Gem Books and voluntarily reviewed it.
I received an ARC through Hidden Gem Books and voluntarily reviewed it.
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