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The Telepath and the Sorcerer #3
The Sorcerer's Equal
Following a fierce battle, Grau's life hangs in the balance. Velsa seeks healing and refuge in the land of Laionesse, only to learn that Grau's injuries may be beyond help--unless Velsa and her friends can beg a favor from the great necromancer Dormongara, who lives alone in a castle on a mountain and is notoriously unkind to visitors. Indeed, the steep price he demands will have unexpected consequences, bringing an old nemesis back into Velsa's life along with a notorious gang of bandits. Velsa and Grau must consider how many times they will run from their fate and what tests true love can withstand in this conclusion to The Telepath and the Sorcerer trilogy.
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Published June 20, 2017
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About the author
Jaclyn Dolamore
15 books781 followersJaclyn Dolamore has a passion for history, thrift stores, vintage dresses, David Bowie, drawing, and organic food. She lives in western Maryland with her partner and plot strategist, Dade, and three weird cats. To keep abreast of new releases, sales, and extras, please join her mailing list! http://tinyurl.com/JaclynDolamore
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
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April 13, 2024This is the last book?
But, there Are so many loose ends?
But, there Are so many loose ends?
June 25, 2018
The Sorcerer's Equal was the satisfying conclusion to the Velsa's and Grau story. I confess I bumped the book ratings from 3 to 4 stars only because they get cute little dragon as a pet in this book.
While this story is completed, Jaclyn Dolamore announced that there will be more novels with different characters set in this world and I am looking forward to them.
While this story is completed, Jaclyn Dolamore announced that there will be more novels with different characters set in this world and I am looking forward to them.
January 31, 2017
*Reviewing the entire trilogy - 2.5 stars*
This is my first foray into works by Jaclyn Dolamore. It was recommended to me by the automatic system in Amazon and, yet again, I have to say that I'm not impressed. While the premise sounded good on paper, and the individual books read ok, the trilogy as a whole left me somewhat underwhelmed.
I'm finding it difficult to put my finger on the exact problem, but it was probably a combination of scattered storytelling, poor chemistry between the romantic pair, lack of character development, and too many loose ends at the end of the trilogy.
Coming from authors like Brandon Sanderson, who never waste a word, it's frustrating reading a series with so much left hanging. I understand that the author is currently writing follow-up stories that will address some of these elements, but I would have liked the series to at least be a little more contained. It touches on so many big happenings in the world, and introduces a huge array of characters, but can never seem to stick with anything long enough to let us see how it plays out. Perhaps this is simply a case of my imagination over taking the story the author was telling, but I had so many questions about this world, and was disappointed that we didn't get any answers.
In addition to this, there were a few other parts I found quite jarring. One was the language spoken between the characters - it didn't seem especially consistent, switching between your usual medieval fantasy style and something much more modern. If anything I would have liked to have seen some 40s/50s language creeping in, since it would have worked well as part of the world-building.
I also found the erotic moments decidedly unappealing. I'm not sure if this is just because dolls aren't my kink (describing how 'dry' she is and talking about chafing... yuk) but part of it was also the decidedly non-romantic conversations that they would have mid-encounter. Talk about throwing you out of the mood.
So in all, while I like the premise here and definitely found the world interesting, I can't recommend the series. I don't think I'll bother trying the follow-up books unless they receive some spectacular reviews.
This is my first foray into works by Jaclyn Dolamore. It was recommended to me by the automatic system in Amazon and, yet again, I have to say that I'm not impressed. While the premise sounded good on paper, and the individual books read ok, the trilogy as a whole left me somewhat underwhelmed.
I'm finding it difficult to put my finger on the exact problem, but it was probably a combination of scattered storytelling, poor chemistry between the romantic pair, lack of character development, and too many loose ends at the end of the trilogy.
Coming from authors like Brandon Sanderson, who never waste a word, it's frustrating reading a series with so much left hanging. I understand that the author is currently writing follow-up stories that will address some of these elements, but I would have liked the series to at least be a little more contained. It touches on so many big happenings in the world, and introduces a huge array of characters, but can never seem to stick with anything long enough to let us see how it plays out. Perhaps this is simply a case of my imagination over taking the story the author was telling, but I had so many questions about this world, and was disappointed that we didn't get any answers.
In addition to this, there were a few other parts I found quite jarring. One was the language spoken between the characters - it didn't seem especially consistent, switching between your usual medieval fantasy style and something much more modern. If anything I would have liked to have seen some 40s/50s language creeping in, since it would have worked well as part of the world-building.
I also found the erotic moments decidedly unappealing. I'm not sure if this is just because dolls aren't my kink (describing how 'dry' she is and talking about chafing... yuk) but part of it was also the decidedly non-romantic conversations that they would have mid-encounter. Talk about throwing you out of the mood.
So in all, while I like the premise here and definitely found the world interesting, I can't recommend the series. I don't think I'll bother trying the follow-up books unless they receive some spectacular reviews.
May 26, 2017
Just felt rather fast, loose and... slapdash? The characters do rather stupid impulsive things because it's in the script, the multiple introduced elements don't always make sense, and neither does anyone's motives or behaviors. In particular anything with Doromongara makes no sense at all (I have no idea why he turns around and is everyone's friend after what they do to him). It's not terrible, just sloppy, and obviously engineered to move conveniently toward a pat happy ending.
April 26, 2024
Honestly the first book was so good, then the second book was slower but they were close to the general and knew all about his ideas & plans for the war.
Then book 3 they leave just barely surviving with her husband’s life, but I was so disappointed that they never passed on all their information that could help in the resistance and war!
Instead this entire book was just about them wanting to live a peaceful life.
Her husband almost dying twice until he actually did and then he was made a doll.
Her horrible choice to try and backstab the keeper of the souls, he was very kind & fair yet they tried to take advantage of him!
Her bird friend would have made a great wife for him since he promised to help her with her shape shiftiness and she said she joined the war because she wanted an adventure.
Their fights with the bandits was frustrating but how can they be strong enough to take down a dragon together yet so weak they couldn’t fight off the bandits.
The work thing was really boring. I understand she’s trying to change the way people see & treat the dolls but I hated this part.
Then flower coming back and her part in things, I don’t know we got some closure but honestly she heard the other dolls telling flower that the husband was hurt & in the healers house yet it took her forever to realize they would hurt him! 🤦♀️
Then they save the lives if the royal family but yet again rather then giving them vital information about their enemies that could help them win the war. They just leave with their money and open a cafe to live the simple life they always wanted 🤷♀️
There was so much potential here that was wasted, this series went in a completely different direction 😭
Their “made” family is cute though.
Then book 3 they leave just barely surviving with her husband’s life, but I was so disappointed that they never passed on all their information that could help in the resistance and war!
Instead this entire book was just about them wanting to live a peaceful life.
Her husband almost dying twice until he actually did and then he was made a doll.
Her horrible choice to try and backstab the keeper of the souls, he was very kind & fair yet they tried to take advantage of him!
Her bird friend would have made a great wife for him since he promised to help her with her shape shiftiness and she said she joined the war because she wanted an adventure.
Their fights with the bandits was frustrating but how can they be strong enough to take down a dragon together yet so weak they couldn’t fight off the bandits.
The work thing was really boring. I understand she’s trying to change the way people see & treat the dolls but I hated this part.
Then flower coming back and her part in things, I don’t know we got some closure but honestly she heard the other dolls telling flower that the husband was hurt & in the healers house yet it took her forever to realize they would hurt him! 🤦♀️
Then they save the lives if the royal family but yet again rather then giving them vital information about their enemies that could help them win the war. They just leave with their money and open a cafe to live the simple life they always wanted 🤷♀️
There was so much potential here that was wasted, this series went in a completely different direction 😭
Their “made” family is cute though.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 20, 2018
It was somewhat more interesting than the first two books in the series but I ended up skimming most of it because it wasn’t engaging. The side characters were more interesting than the main characters. Also this would have been more interesting if it followed up with more of the conflicts from the previous books. They went to a new location and a whole new plot and conflict is introduced and what happened previously is practically non existent other than a few mentions and all that. I think this would have been more interesting if it wasn’t treated as a direct continuation from the other books. It’s adjacent to them but it feels like it’s too far separated.
June 29, 2021
I would say that this was a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy. I love how everything wrapped up nicely but at the same time there were losses along the way that the characters had to cope with. Overall this was a solid fantasy romance series with an interesting concept and world along with endearing characters. Velsa and Grau were beautiful together. Their love, devotion and loyalty was very heartwarming to read about.
August 9, 2017
Just wow
Thid series of 3 books is definitely 5 star worthy. The fact that doll like people (just the souls of people) and the life of one and a human male and all their adventures ...its so well written and the description of everything is done so well...never have I had a book so different yet so easily believable.
Great series and would recommend it with all my heart
Thid series of 3 books is definitely 5 star worthy. The fact that doll like people (just the souls of people) and the life of one and a human male and all their adventures ...its so well written and the description of everything is done so well...never have I had a book so different yet so easily believable.
Great series and would recommend it with all my heart
January 1, 2018
Loved the series
Very well written. Hopefully we get to see some new adventures for Gray, Velsa, and Sorla in the future. It would be nice to find out what happens to the land and Grau's family.
Very well written. Hopefully we get to see some new adventures for Gray, Velsa, and Sorla in the future. It would be nice to find out what happens to the land and Grau's family.
June 11, 2017
The best in the trilogy. The story went straight back into Fantasy genre, which I more enjoyable in my personal view. And yet I was a bit taken aback by absolute abandonment of the plot that was presented to us in book 2. I hoped Velsa and Grau will play there roles in preventing the war and liberation of fanarlem from slavery… But maybe this plot will be developed in The Heiress and the Vampire duology. But besides this the book was fun and full of exciting adventures. As usual Velsa is the star if the book. I love to see this world through her eyes. I love how far her character went from little concubine she was meant to be. And I really love how her relationship with Grau grows and becomes so solid and realistic, and very human. Again the side characters are lots of fun. The secondary background romance was so adorable, that I gave the book 5 stars, despite all the little plot flaws.
November 17, 2025
After finishing The Sorcerer’s Equal, I find myself sitting with a sense of emotional ambivalence. While there are certainly moments of charm, warmth, and imaginative worldbuilding, the novel ultimately left me with more questions than closure. Both in terms of plot and character development.
This installment, marking the conclusion of the trilogy, pivots sharply in tone and direction. Rather than expanding on the escalating conflict hinted at in earlier books, the story narrows its focus to a quieter, more domestic narrative. On one hand, I appreciated the smaller-scale storytelling: Velsa and Grau’s relationship deepens in meaningful, grounded ways, and there’s something refreshing about a couple striving for peace rather than glory. On the other hand, it’s difficult to shake the sense that this shift came at the cost of unfinished threads and world-level stakes that were never resolved.
The narrative introduces new settings, new conflicts, and even new thematic arcs, but often at the expense of those previously established. Several characters with potentially pivotal roles in the greater struggle (particularly from book two) are either sidelined or forgotten entirely. The plot surrounding Fanarlem’s liberation, the looming war, and the moral complexities of resistance are acknowledged, but never truly confronted. While it’s possible the companion duology will pick up these threads, I would have preferred a more self-contained resolution here.
That said, Velsa continues to shine as a protagonist. Her transformation across the series from a concubine constrained by her role to a woman charting her own course is one of the trilogy’s strongest elements. Her emotional maturity, particularly in how she navigates love, loss, and moral ambiguity, gives the story its heart. Grau, too, is at his best here, and their bond feels more lived-in and human than in earlier volumes.
Where the book struggles most is in coherence. Several character choices feel rushed or conveniently engineered to push the story to a neat endpoint. The Keeper of Souls subplot, in particular, veers into implausible territory. Moments that should carry emotional or narrative weight are often brushed past in favor of getting to the next scene, and several events, especially involving the dolls, the dragon, and Doromongara lack internal logic or payoff.
Tonally, the book occasionally wavers. There are stretches where the world feels immersive and vibrant, yet others where language and dialogue jar against the atmosphere the story is trying to create.
Ultimately, The Sorcerer’s Equal is a mixed conclusion to a trilogy that started with great promise. Readers who are deeply invested in Velsa and Grau’s personal journey will likely find satisfaction in their domestic arc. But for those hoping for a more cohesive resolution to the larger world conflicts introduced in previous books, this might feel like a detour that never quite gets back on track.
I’m still curious about The Heiress and the Vampire if only to see where some of the dangling threads might lead, but as an ending, this felt more like a pause than a conclusion.
This installment, marking the conclusion of the trilogy, pivots sharply in tone and direction. Rather than expanding on the escalating conflict hinted at in earlier books, the story narrows its focus to a quieter, more domestic narrative. On one hand, I appreciated the smaller-scale storytelling: Velsa and Grau’s relationship deepens in meaningful, grounded ways, and there’s something refreshing about a couple striving for peace rather than glory. On the other hand, it’s difficult to shake the sense that this shift came at the cost of unfinished threads and world-level stakes that were never resolved.
The narrative introduces new settings, new conflicts, and even new thematic arcs, but often at the expense of those previously established. Several characters with potentially pivotal roles in the greater struggle (particularly from book two) are either sidelined or forgotten entirely. The plot surrounding Fanarlem’s liberation, the looming war, and the moral complexities of resistance are acknowledged, but never truly confronted. While it’s possible the companion duology will pick up these threads, I would have preferred a more self-contained resolution here.
That said, Velsa continues to shine as a protagonist. Her transformation across the series from a concubine constrained by her role to a woman charting her own course is one of the trilogy’s strongest elements. Her emotional maturity, particularly in how she navigates love, loss, and moral ambiguity, gives the story its heart. Grau, too, is at his best here, and their bond feels more lived-in and human than in earlier volumes.
Where the book struggles most is in coherence. Several character choices feel rushed or conveniently engineered to push the story to a neat endpoint. The Keeper of Souls subplot, in particular, veers into implausible territory. Moments that should carry emotional or narrative weight are often brushed past in favor of getting to the next scene, and several events, especially involving the dolls, the dragon, and Doromongara lack internal logic or payoff.
Tonally, the book occasionally wavers. There are stretches where the world feels immersive and vibrant, yet others where language and dialogue jar against the atmosphere the story is trying to create.
Ultimately, The Sorcerer’s Equal is a mixed conclusion to a trilogy that started with great promise. Readers who are deeply invested in Velsa and Grau’s personal journey will likely find satisfaction in their domestic arc. But for those hoping for a more cohesive resolution to the larger world conflicts introduced in previous books, this might feel like a detour that never quite gets back on track.
I’m still curious about The Heiress and the Vampire if only to see where some of the dangling threads might lead, but as an ending, this felt more like a pause than a conclusion.
February 3, 2017
A very good Read! A bit slow at parts, but at the RIGHT parts, all in all a very good series.
February 4, 2017
I liked it!
This was an original and entertaining series. It gets a bit kinky, but the. Story carries the book along nicely.
This was an original and entertaining series. It gets a bit kinky, but the. Story carries the book along nicely.
January 31, 2017
A satisfying conclusion. Could probably do with another copy editing pass, but the story was everything I wanted.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews