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The Awakened World #1
Source Mage
I was five when the dragons first appeared … and the lights went out for good.
Now, eighteen years after the cataclysmic appearance of the four great dragons over Mount Fuji, humanity shares a shattered Earth with the Fey—fairies, elves, and other supernatural creatures. Trust is short, magic is common, and each day is a struggle for survival in the Awakened World of 2053.
I’m Angie Ritter, a former army mage who can’t cast spells anymore.
I have some issues. I’m working on them.
Unfortunately, the army wasn’t as accommodating as I would have hoped and gave me the boot. Now, I survive day by day in Sanwa City, a walled settlement in southern California, doing menial labor and pretty much hiding from the world. Without my magic, I can’t help myself, let alone anyone else, but when my old army buddy Erin—an elite werewolf shock trooper—comes to me for help, I can’t say no. Now, I just need to pull myself together—and fast. Because someone’s hunting werewolves, and Erin is their new prey.
And if I get in their way, they’re going to carve me up too.
Thing is, I’m done with hiding.
Now, eighteen years after the cataclysmic appearance of the four great dragons over Mount Fuji, humanity shares a shattered Earth with the Fey—fairies, elves, and other supernatural creatures. Trust is short, magic is common, and each day is a struggle for survival in the Awakened World of 2053.
I’m Angie Ritter, a former army mage who can’t cast spells anymore.
I have some issues. I’m working on them.
Unfortunately, the army wasn’t as accommodating as I would have hoped and gave me the boot. Now, I survive day by day in Sanwa City, a walled settlement in southern California, doing menial labor and pretty much hiding from the world. Without my magic, I can’t help myself, let alone anyone else, but when my old army buddy Erin—an elite werewolf shock trooper—comes to me for help, I can’t say no. Now, I just need to pull myself together—and fast. Because someone’s hunting werewolves, and Erin is their new prey.
And if I get in their way, they’re going to carve me up too.
Thing is, I’m done with hiding.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 13, 2020
321 people are currently reading
133 people want to read
About the author
William Stacey
125 books92 followersA former soldier, William Stacey served his country for more than thirty years, including multiple combat tours in Bosnia and Afghanistan. William loves exercise and all things martial and is a black belt in karate.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
June 10, 2021
This is really more of a 3.5.
I enjoyed this book a surprising amount. I recieved an ad for it on Facebook amd it was free with Kindle Unlimited and decided to give it a try. Often the books that I find that way are so bad I don't even review them (Blaze Ignite most recently of anyone is curious) but this one had a lot of good things about it.
First, the bad: I really didn't like the writing, particularly in the descriptions. Normally I am not that picky about writing style, but in this case the language was so clunky it took me out of the story. These really irritating descriptions were concentrated at the beginning, and I actually almost gave up about 3 chapters in. I am glad I didn't, but reader be warned.
Associated with that issue were the descriptions of women. There are few enough male voices in Urban Fantasy that I don't want to insult a male author trying it out, but the descriptions definitely fell in the category of "the boobs bounced breastily around her bust". I wasn't sure if the heroine was supposed to be gay, considering how much attention she devoted to the figures of other women, (including her adopted mother which I found particularly wierd). Yes, I understand a succubus is supposed to be sexy, but the story is told from the main character's point of view and I doubt she would be thinking about that. Also, all the women were extremely attractive. I know it is a fantasy, and that is a common trope in the genre, but I would really appreciate if more UF books had some just normal looming characters.
Aside from those flaws, the book was really pretty good. I found the territorial borders and human politics quite interesting, and the dynamics between the fey, shades, demons, mages, and gods were very intriguing. Authors often idealized the US and keep it as a rough political unit even after an apocalypse. Stacey abandoned the concept in a way that made a lot of sense given the constraints of the world.
I quite liked Angie, the MC. At the start of the book she really is a credible every woman - she served as an an intelligence officer so she has minimal combat experience, is trained but can't always apply that training, and isn't automatically a huge badass. Don't get me wrong, I love badass characters, but sometimes it is nice to see someone absolutely freak out when they're in a situation for which they are unprepared. This changes as the story progresses, which makes sense in the context of the story structure, but in a way it was a bit of a weakness - the events of the story make sense for her character to develop, but it doesn't really show us how the events drive character growth; we see the event and then the new character attribute, not the change
The book really shone as it tied to military matters (structure, dynamics and battles). I learned at the end that the author served in the military, but it didn't surprise me at all. There was a real sense of different military functions and the experiences that they would engender. It was also clear how military capacities tied into regional dynamics and drove the plot forward. And the battle scenes seemed like battles really would be - fast and disorganized and attention grabbing. The final battle in particular was great. There was one thing which I think might be a plot hole which I will use a spoiler tag to discuss. But I definitely still enjoyed it.
One other great thing (associated with the military context) was how they moved through space. Things weren't close together, and there was no automatic fast travel - either they moved slowly or they found a way to move quickly. It added a level of groundedness to the story that I liked, and impressively it didn't drag.
Generally quite good - I look forward to reading the next installment!
I enjoyed this book a surprising amount. I recieved an ad for it on Facebook amd it was free with Kindle Unlimited and decided to give it a try. Often the books that I find that way are so bad I don't even review them (Blaze Ignite most recently of anyone is curious) but this one had a lot of good things about it.
First, the bad: I really didn't like the writing, particularly in the descriptions. Normally I am not that picky about writing style, but in this case the language was so clunky it took me out of the story. These really irritating descriptions were concentrated at the beginning, and I actually almost gave up about 3 chapters in. I am glad I didn't, but reader be warned.
Associated with that issue were the descriptions of women. There are few enough male voices in Urban Fantasy that I don't want to insult a male author trying it out, but the descriptions definitely fell in the category of "the boobs bounced breastily around her bust". I wasn't sure if the heroine was supposed to be gay, considering how much attention she devoted to the figures of other women, (including her adopted mother which I found particularly wierd). Yes, I understand a succubus is supposed to be sexy, but the story is told from the main character's point of view and I doubt she would be thinking about that. Also, all the women were extremely attractive. I know it is a fantasy, and that is a common trope in the genre, but I would really appreciate if more UF books had some just normal looming characters.
Aside from those flaws, the book was really pretty good. I found the territorial borders and human politics quite interesting, and the dynamics between the fey, shades, demons, mages, and gods were very intriguing. Authors often idealized the US and keep it as a rough political unit even after an apocalypse. Stacey abandoned the concept in a way that made a lot of sense given the constraints of the world.
I quite liked Angie, the MC. At the start of the book she really is a credible every woman - she served as an an intelligence officer so she has minimal combat experience, is trained but can't always apply that training, and isn't automatically a huge badass. Don't get me wrong, I love badass characters, but sometimes it is nice to see someone absolutely freak out when they're in a situation for which they are unprepared. This changes as the story progresses, which makes sense in the context of the story structure, but in a way it was a bit of a weakness - the events of the story make sense for her character to develop, but it doesn't really show us how the events drive character growth; we see the event and then the new character attribute, not the change
The book really shone as it tied to military matters (structure, dynamics and battles). I learned at the end that the author served in the military, but it didn't surprise me at all. There was a real sense of different military functions and the experiences that they would engender. It was also clear how military capacities tied into regional dynamics and drove the plot forward. And the battle scenes seemed like battles really would be - fast and disorganized and attention grabbing. The final battle in particular was great. There was one thing which I think might be a plot hole which I will use a spoiler tag to discuss. But I definitely still enjoyed it.
One other great thing (associated with the military context) was how they moved through space. Things weren't close together, and there was no automatic fast travel - either they moved slowly or they found a way to move quickly. It added a level of groundedness to the story that I liked, and impressively it didn't drag.
Generally quite good - I look forward to reading the next installment!
March 29, 2020
Stacey keeps delivering the goods!
In a future earth that has seen the invisible wall that separates the Fay and magic from humans, the world has changed into a wasteland with scattered walled cities. Creatures of all kind must work together with mankind or end up slaughtering each other. Some humans have the ability to gather mana from the air and use it as mages.
Angie is one such mage who has been adopted by the Grandmaster Mage, Char. As the story opens, Angie is suffering from PTSD after an attack on a Mexican assault team. When a hit team tries to capture her, she retaliates with powers she shouldn’t have. She must team up with a werewolf to figure what plot is working in the shadows.
Magic and firefights abound to give Fantasy and Military readers all the thrills they can wish for. The pages fly as the story mounts to the final battle. Biting at the bit for Book 2.
In a future earth that has seen the invisible wall that separates the Fay and magic from humans, the world has changed into a wasteland with scattered walled cities. Creatures of all kind must work together with mankind or end up slaughtering each other. Some humans have the ability to gather mana from the air and use it as mages.
Angie is one such mage who has been adopted by the Grandmaster Mage, Char. As the story opens, Angie is suffering from PTSD after an attack on a Mexican assault team. When a hit team tries to capture her, she retaliates with powers she shouldn’t have. She must team up with a werewolf to figure what plot is working in the shadows.
Magic and firefights abound to give Fantasy and Military readers all the thrills they can wish for. The pages fly as the story mounts to the final battle. Biting at the bit for Book 2.
March 29, 2020
Source Mage is an incredible fantasy adventure taking place in a dystopian future that includes mages, Fae, vampires, and werewolves along with a mostly human military. The book features a strong female protagonist who is a complex and interesting character. This is the first book in a new series, and I excited to find out what happens next.
Recommended for mature readers due to graphic sexual content and violence.
Recommended for mature readers due to graphic sexual content and violence.
May 1, 2020
Great story!
I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and the story as it unfolded. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and the story as it unfolded. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
March 30, 2020
This is one of those books that I tried to make last longer because it was so good that I didn't want the story to end; but now I must wait for the next book. One thing that I really liked about the ending is while the story will continue, there's no huge cliffhanger that makes you scream in frustration. Not to say that I'm not anxiously awaiting the next book in this new series.
Centuries ago, inept and/or careless magic users almost caused the discovery of the Fae. To stop this from happening then and to keep it from happening in the future the Fey cast a Sleep spell which hid magic from humans and made them unable to see and use magic. This hid all magical creatures from humans and as for were-creatures they were unaware of their nature and were not subject to the change during the full moon.
Eighteen years ago, dragons appeared over Mt. Fuji and shattered the spell that had been cast and some humans received the magical abilities that were inherent to them and were-animals appeared. The magic they unleashed when they appeared also destroyed all electronics; technology is non-existent; this resulted in many deaths. Many from humans died fighting one another over food and other resources; more deaths came when humans discovered the magical creatures in their midst and many were-animals were destroyed as a result.
The Fae had never trusted humans, they had nearly been discovered when they case the Sleep spell and to them despite the centuries that had passed, we were still as ignorant and violent as ever. After several years of fighting a tentative agreement, The Concord was reached and the Fey agreed to train humans who were able to wield magic. Humans must work with creatures if this world is to survive.
Angela (Angie) Harriet Ritter was five when the world awoke to the magic around them. During the ensuing chaos, she lost her parents and brother. Duncan Marshal had served with her father and took her in after the death of her family. When she began to show sign of being able to use magic, he took her to Grandmaster Mage Chararah (Char) Succubus to be trained and Char adopted her as her daughter. Nathan Case an older trainee at the school is one the most skilled mages, while Angie is considered one of the weakest.
Stacey has created an amazing post-apocalyptic, dystopian world, all the characters are well-drawn and by the end of the first book you know who the enemies are. We find Angie several years after leaving the school; she joined the Home Guard with Nathan Case but Nathan kicked her out after an incident that left her suffering with PTSD (the incident is not the reason that Nathan kicked her out, but I’ll leave the readers to discover the reasons why).
4.5/5 STARS: I would like to thank the author, William Stacey for providing an ARC; this is my unbiased, honest review.
Centuries ago, inept and/or careless magic users almost caused the discovery of the Fae. To stop this from happening then and to keep it from happening in the future the Fey cast a Sleep spell which hid magic from humans and made them unable to see and use magic. This hid all magical creatures from humans and as for were-creatures they were unaware of their nature and were not subject to the change during the full moon.
Eighteen years ago, dragons appeared over Mt. Fuji and shattered the spell that had been cast and some humans received the magical abilities that were inherent to them and were-animals appeared. The magic they unleashed when they appeared also destroyed all electronics; technology is non-existent; this resulted in many deaths. Many from humans died fighting one another over food and other resources; more deaths came when humans discovered the magical creatures in their midst and many were-animals were destroyed as a result.
The Fae had never trusted humans, they had nearly been discovered when they case the Sleep spell and to them despite the centuries that had passed, we were still as ignorant and violent as ever. After several years of fighting a tentative agreement, The Concord was reached and the Fey agreed to train humans who were able to wield magic. Humans must work with creatures if this world is to survive.
Angela (Angie) Harriet Ritter was five when the world awoke to the magic around them. During the ensuing chaos, she lost her parents and brother. Duncan Marshal had served with her father and took her in after the death of her family. When she began to show sign of being able to use magic, he took her to Grandmaster Mage Chararah (Char) Succubus to be trained and Char adopted her as her daughter. Nathan Case an older trainee at the school is one the most skilled mages, while Angie is considered one of the weakest.
Stacey has created an amazing post-apocalyptic, dystopian world, all the characters are well-drawn and by the end of the first book you know who the enemies are. We find Angie several years after leaving the school; she joined the Home Guard with Nathan Case but Nathan kicked her out after an incident that left her suffering with PTSD (the incident is not the reason that Nathan kicked her out, but I’ll leave the readers to discover the reasons why).
4.5/5 STARS: I would like to thank the author, William Stacey for providing an ARC; this is my unbiased, honest review.
May 2, 2020
Buckle Up, Big Time
I love intricate, pulse-pounding stories populated with astoundingly rich, three-dimensional characters. You know, the kind that pick you up and immerse you in their mind-numbing world so that you feel more like you’re drowning in it, rather than just letting you read about it. This novel is immersion therapy on a literary scale, and I couldn’t be happier about that. The world that Angie Ritter, the Seagrave siblings, Nathan, Cha, Tec, and the rest of this amazing cast transport us to is stark, gritty, and inherently dangerous. It’s also a page-turner that sucks the breath right out of you.
This is a story with great depth, from the intense story line to the wealth of diverse personalities that enrich this amazing read. It is not a simple tale for those who want a quick, easy read with hearts, flowers, and a pretty happily-ever-after ending for the main characters. Those days on Earth are no more. In fact, pretty things and moral absolutes are pretty much things of the past in this tale, much like Starbucks’ and shopping malls… and basics like electrical grids and police departments, too. It’s not a happy or a safe place. But it’s a fascinating one, and I can’t wait for book two!
Readers should note: this is an adult 18+ read, for sure. There’s plenty of language, violence (told ya,’ it’s a tough world), and possible triggers for certain readers as well. While this novel is a staggering read all by itself, please be aware that the entire story will not be finished by the end of this book. Yep. There’s more to come in books two and three with a bit of a cliffhanger happening here. If cliffy’s offend you, well… you’ve been warned.
I love intricate, pulse-pounding stories populated with astoundingly rich, three-dimensional characters. You know, the kind that pick you up and immerse you in their mind-numbing world so that you feel more like you’re drowning in it, rather than just letting you read about it. This novel is immersion therapy on a literary scale, and I couldn’t be happier about that. The world that Angie Ritter, the Seagrave siblings, Nathan, Cha, Tec, and the rest of this amazing cast transport us to is stark, gritty, and inherently dangerous. It’s also a page-turner that sucks the breath right out of you.
This is a story with great depth, from the intense story line to the wealth of diverse personalities that enrich this amazing read. It is not a simple tale for those who want a quick, easy read with hearts, flowers, and a pretty happily-ever-after ending for the main characters. Those days on Earth are no more. In fact, pretty things and moral absolutes are pretty much things of the past in this tale, much like Starbucks’ and shopping malls… and basics like electrical grids and police departments, too. It’s not a happy or a safe place. But it’s a fascinating one, and I can’t wait for book two!
Readers should note: this is an adult 18+ read, for sure. There’s plenty of language, violence (told ya,’ it’s a tough world), and possible triggers for certain readers as well. While this novel is a staggering read all by itself, please be aware that the entire story will not be finished by the end of this book. Yep. There’s more to come in books two and three with a bit of a cliffhanger happening here. If cliffy’s offend you, well… you’ve been warned.
April 19, 2020
Source Mage is another outstanding book by William Stacey. As with the Dark Elf Trilogy (and all of his other books) this is a superbly written novel. The story is set in a future where magic, long hidden from humans by a powerful spell, has been unveiled. The breaking of this spell caused the destruction of unprotected technology (think: no computers, no power grid, the electronics in most cars and planes rendered inoperable), leading to a breakdown of society as we know it. It also led to the appearance of magical creatures and beings from myth and legends, such as elves, dryads, elves, and vampires. Also throw in lycanthropes, such as werewolves (a kick-ass family of which figure prominently).
The story itself is gripping and intense. The mixing of military weaponry as we know it and magic is well done and very interesting. The main characters are well developed and believable. The protagonists are good, but have their own internal demons to contend with. Some of the antagonists are downright evil with a capital "E", while other characters are somewhat more difficult to figure out.
I do not want to say too much more without getting into spoilers. If you enjoyed any of Mr. Stacey's other works, you will love this one. If you are a fan of the fantasy/magic genre, or post-apocalyptic events stories, military action, or any combination thereof, give this book a read. It will be well worth it.
The story itself is gripping and intense. The mixing of military weaponry as we know it and magic is well done and very interesting. The main characters are well developed and believable. The protagonists are good, but have their own internal demons to contend with. Some of the antagonists are downright evil with a capital "E", while other characters are somewhat more difficult to figure out.
I do not want to say too much more without getting into spoilers. If you enjoyed any of Mr. Stacey's other works, you will love this one. If you are a fan of the fantasy/magic genre, or post-apocalyptic events stories, military action, or any combination thereof, give this book a read. It will be well worth it.
July 23, 2021
Raised by a Succubus, trained as a mage, Angie became part of an elite band of magical warriors entrusted with safety of mankind. Then, she got fired.
The former S-2 Intel Officers had never been the strongest mage, or the best warrior and what she witnessed, what she did to the "Brujah Nortos" What the 'Other' inside her did, still haunts her dreams.
Now, on her own, suffering from Insomnia and living in fear, she makes her way through each day working at the factory doing labor, and spending her nights either in counseling, or practicing her swords skills to the point of exhaustion. Her one hope lays with a connection of a friend, who might have access to an experimental drug that could help her recover from her PTSD if she can get her hands on it.
But when her comrades are reported dead, and another missing For Angie, the wars not over. Not yet and if she wants to survive it she will have to come to terms with who and what she is, or those arrayed against her won't let her survive.
I gave this a five despite only having given one five in the past. Honestly I think it is more of a 4.75 but hey, no need to knit pick that level. I really enjoyed this book, it could have been longer and characters could have been expanded upon, but ultimately it is a great UF novel. Well done.
The former S-2 Intel Officers had never been the strongest mage, or the best warrior and what she witnessed, what she did to the "Brujah Nortos" What the 'Other' inside her did, still haunts her dreams.
Now, on her own, suffering from Insomnia and living in fear, she makes her way through each day working at the factory doing labor, and spending her nights either in counseling, or practicing her swords skills to the point of exhaustion. Her one hope lays with a connection of a friend, who might have access to an experimental drug that could help her recover from her PTSD if she can get her hands on it.
But when her comrades are reported dead, and another missing For Angie, the wars not over. Not yet and if she wants to survive it she will have to come to terms with who and what she is, or those arrayed against her won't let her survive.
I gave this a five despite only having given one five in the past. Honestly I think it is more of a 4.75 but hey, no need to knit pick that level. I really enjoyed this book, it could have been longer and characters could have been expanded upon, but ultimately it is a great UF novel. Well done.
October 8, 2023
(FYI I tend to only review one book per series, unless I change my mind on a series, so want to change my scoring by more than 0.50 of a star. -- I tend not to read reviews until after I read a book, so I go in with an open mind.)
I'll be honest, I was worried at about the 60 page mark that the MC would be an idiot.
First time read the author's work?: Yes
Will you be reading more?: Yes
Would you recommend?: Yes
------------
How I rate Stars: 5* = I loved (must read all I can find by the author)
4* = I really enjoyed (got to read all the series and try other books by the author).
3* = I enjoyed (I will continue to read the series)
or
3* = Good book just not my thing (I realised I don't like the genre or picked up a kids book to review in error.)
All of the above scores means I would recommend them!
-
2* = it was okay (I might give the next book in the series a try, to see if that was better IMHO.)
1* = Disliked
Note: adding these basic 'reviews' after finding out that some people see the stars differently than I do - hoping this clarifies how I feel about the book. :-)
I'll be honest, I was worried at about the 60 page mark that the MC would be an idiot.
First time read the author's work?: Yes
Will you be reading more?: Yes
Would you recommend?: Yes
------------
How I rate Stars: 5* = I loved (must read all I can find by the author)
4* = I really enjoyed (got to read all the series and try other books by the author).
3* = I enjoyed (I will continue to read the series)
or
3* = Good book just not my thing (I realised I don't like the genre or picked up a kids book to review in error.)
All of the above scores means I would recommend them!
-
2* = it was okay (I might give the next book in the series a try, to see if that was better IMHO.)
1* = Disliked
Note: adding these basic 'reviews' after finding out that some people see the stars differently than I do - hoping this clarifies how I feel about the book. :-)
April 3, 2020
It's 2053, eighteen years ago four dragons appeared over Mount Fuji, and the world went dark. Angie Ritter was five years old at the time, and was adopted by a fae. She has grown up in a world where the fae, and many other supernatural creatures struggle to survive. She was an army mage, but when she lost her power she was kicked out of the only life she knew. Now she is a manual laborer in Sanwa City in Southern California, and is barely surviving. When Erin, one of an elite group of werewolf troops, comes to her for help, she can't say no. The missing men are Erin's brothers, she can't find them, so she is hoping that Angie's unique talent will help the find the them.
Absolutely amazing characters, well written, and intriguing. Wow! Exciting, and action packed read with lots of magical battles, sword fights. One human woman with powers she is terrified to accept, and supernatural creatures, will fight to save the lives of the men captured by a powerful mage.
I am voluntarily leaving an honest and non-incentivized review of this ARC.
Absolutely amazing characters, well written, and intriguing. Wow! Exciting, and action packed read with lots of magical battles, sword fights. One human woman with powers she is terrified to accept, and supernatural creatures, will fight to save the lives of the men captured by a powerful mage.
I am voluntarily leaving an honest and non-incentivized review of this ARC.
June 18, 2020
Angie, an orphan adopted by the Fae and a mage without access to magic, kicked out from the army, struggles to survive day by day. Everything turns around when Erin Seagrave, the only female in the notoriously known Seagrave clan, comes to her for help - and the great adventure might begin.
Dystopia combined with fantasy, epic battles, intriguing plot twists, and amazing characters are only a few assets worth mentioning when it comes to this book. It was a great reading experience, fast paced and carefully built, with great dialogues and lots of suspense. The Seagraves are a force, each of them so unique yet working together perfectly, as one; Angie has her own issues haunting her, what with Nathan, Tec, the evil undercover (read for yourself what I mean), and an operation gone wrong.. If this level is kept in the remaining installments of this series, it has the promise to be one hell of a reading ride.
Dystopia combined with fantasy, epic battles, intriguing plot twists, and amazing characters are only a few assets worth mentioning when it comes to this book. It was a great reading experience, fast paced and carefully built, with great dialogues and lots of suspense. The Seagraves are a force, each of them so unique yet working together perfectly, as one; Angie has her own issues haunting her, what with Nathan, Tec, the evil undercover (read for yourself what I mean), and an operation gone wrong.. If this level is kept in the remaining installments of this series, it has the promise to be one hell of a reading ride.
April 13, 2020
William Stacey is a master of military science fiction - just read the Dark Elf War series and see for yourself. Branching out into more conventional urban fantasy, with a female protagonist yet, might be a stretch. I am pleased to report that William Stacey has successfully stretched his wings and flown. He has created a couple of very believable female characters with military backgrounds and tragic personal histories who feel like some of the women I know. He has put them into unfortunately difficult political and personal situations with men on both sides of the friend-enemy-frenemy divide who are very human in their respective individual flaws and strengths. Definitely worth the read - I am adding another favourite series and author to my list.
I received an ARC from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received an ARC from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 21, 2020
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is the best beginning yet!!
The Source Mage is book #1 in a new series by William Stacey and for book #1 it is definitely the absolute best one yet. Mr. Stacey creates the most interesting worlds and characters that you’ll find half the day has gone by when you take your first break. His imagination is something like no others have. I have loved all his books but I think “Source Mage” is the best starter book of any of his series to date. He writing is so intricate, and regimented that you can’t put it down for fear you will miss something important. His writing remind me of Tom Clancy. If you like lots of details and magic and war and different weapons you’ve never heard of before then this series is for you. I loved it and can’t wait for the next one. Be sure to pick it up today.
This is the best beginning yet!!
The Source Mage is book #1 in a new series by William Stacey and for book #1 it is definitely the absolute best one yet. Mr. Stacey creates the most interesting worlds and characters that you’ll find half the day has gone by when you take your first break. His imagination is something like no others have. I have loved all his books but I think “Source Mage” is the best starter book of any of his series to date. He writing is so intricate, and regimented that you can’t put it down for fear you will miss something important. His writing remind me of Tom Clancy. If you like lots of details and magic and war and different weapons you’ve never heard of before then this series is for you. I loved it and can’t wait for the next one. Be sure to pick it up today.
April 4, 2020
As with the authors previous books, I start off reading and thinking 'Hmm... not sure about this" and by the end I'm hooked. I thought it was a bit of supernatural overload at first, with every supernatural character present you could think of, but despite all that... the author manages to make it feel like n adult novel and realistic!... which is no small feat. You're not left thinking 'Nah, just way too fantastical'. Then it got to the good bits - a special forces werewolf team, I mean what's not to like about that. Story telling written in a compelling way, believable characters, obvious knowledge of military protocols, combat etc. So at the end I am always left looking forward to the next book.
Some giants among this genre - Mike Truk and William Stacey really stand out for me.
Some giants among this genre - Mike Truk and William Stacey really stand out for me.
May 6, 2022
Stopped halfway through
The book started good. Enough information on the world to get you interested. The set up was interesting but the story quickly fell apart. The protagonist is a former military intelligence officer but I could never tell. She's pretty much helpless which can work if the character is smart. She is not smart. I could see some decisions as possibly setting up something the future but it doesn't fit in this book.
The real problem i had is from the pacing. At 50% the story hasn't progressed past the set up. I'm not invested in the story or characters. Its too boring for me.
The book started good. Enough information on the world to get you interested. The set up was interesting but the story quickly fell apart. The protagonist is a former military intelligence officer but I could never tell. She's pretty much helpless which can work if the character is smart. She is not smart. I could see some decisions as possibly setting up something the future but it doesn't fit in this book.
The real problem i had is from the pacing. At 50% the story hasn't progressed past the set up. I'm not invested in the story or characters. Its too boring for me.
July 4, 2021
A really interesting take on poat apocalyptic urban fantasy
The world is messed up. It's 2053 and nearly all the worlds technology doesn't work, only electrical equipment hidden in a secret military bunker survived the rise of magic and the return of the fey.
The world building is excellent and the action is well paced throughout the book. The main character is flawed, but relatable and the supporting cast is nicely thought out. Overall a really great start to a new series and glad I found it.
The world is messed up. It's 2053 and nearly all the worlds technology doesn't work, only electrical equipment hidden in a secret military bunker survived the rise of magic and the return of the fey.
The world building is excellent and the action is well paced throughout the book. The main character is flawed, but relatable and the supporting cast is nicely thought out. Overall a really great start to a new series and glad I found it.
August 6, 2021
It was a decent read - The first few chapters were a bit difficult to get through, I wasn't sure if I would get through it. But after a while, it picked up the pace and I found the story enjoyable. I liked that there wasn't some big love interest that steered the book.
I can't quite put my finger on what exactly is off about the dialogue between most characters, but it feels clunky alongside the actual plot.
while the story isn't about teenagers, it still feels a bit YA to me. I read the first in the series, tried the second, but DNF. Just not my bag.
I can't quite put my finger on what exactly is off about the dialogue between most characters, but it feels clunky alongside the actual plot.
while the story isn't about teenagers, it still feels a bit YA to me. I read the first in the series, tried the second, but DNF. Just not my bag.
July 28, 2022
A fairly solid story, if somewhat predictable
I liked the characters, the realism (as much as one can have with supernatural), and the fact that there were flaws the main character had. They were necessary to keep her from being too OP.
The plot was alright, though the bad guys were predictable. A lot of it was easy to figure out early on. But, that aside, it was still told well.
Editing was good, and the author didn't shy away from death. There are definite bleak parts.
Overall was very enjoyable. I'll definitely look for more from the author.
I liked the characters, the realism (as much as one can have with supernatural), and the fact that there were flaws the main character had. They were necessary to keep her from being too OP.
The plot was alright, though the bad guys were predictable. A lot of it was easy to figure out early on. But, that aside, it was still told well.
Editing was good, and the author didn't shy away from death. There are definite bleak parts.
Overall was very enjoyable. I'll definitely look for more from the author.
April 13, 2020
Gritty, fierce and dangerous
What an incredible ride! The world that Stacey has created is harsh, broken, and full of conflict. The characters are extraordinary- fully developed, unique, believable, and all with an interesting history. The action is nearly non stop. You’ll probably read this in one sitting.
What an incredible ride! The world that Stacey has created is harsh, broken, and full of conflict. The characters are extraordinary- fully developed, unique, believable, and all with an interesting history. The action is nearly non stop. You’ll probably read this in one sitting.
April 23, 2020
This was an amazing read. The world Angie is living in is fascinating to me. Obviously different from our real world and that is explained in the book. The Fey are interesting and have to live in the world with the humans, Angie is something else, and I look forward to see her grow even more in the next novel in the series.
May 1, 2020
This book is excellent. William Stacey's military history is very evident in the the way he approaches the battle scenes in the book. Just enough realism which he then perfectly balances with the fantasy aspects woven in. Neither magic nor technology is overpowering. Both are equally represented without skimping or over playing the other. Very well done.
dnf
September 15, 2020I am setting this book aside for now. DNF after 4 chapters. This story just didn't grab me. I tried to get into it, but the pace seemed slow and description too long and after 4 chapters I still had no clue in which direction the plot was going. The main character set-up was interesting enough, but not enough to really make me care about her yet. She's obviously tough, but also struggles.
September 16, 2020
Amazing read! This is not a romance as far as I can tell. This is a fighting, power filled adventure with strong female leads and awesome support charecters. Even the non human elements show an imperfection that is very human. I highly recommend for those of you who love action and adventure with that fantasy element thrown in for fun. Good reading friends ♡
May 6, 2021
Good book
I enjoyed reading the book. I enjoyed almost every aspect of it; characters, story, storytelling... A more militaristic version of magic returning to the world or urban fantasy if you prefer. A little gory or harsh but ther world is like that sometimes. Think I look for the next one in the series.
I enjoyed reading the book. I enjoyed almost every aspect of it; characters, story, storytelling... A more militaristic version of magic returning to the world or urban fantasy if you prefer. A little gory or harsh but ther world is like that sometimes. Think I look for the next one in the series.
March 30, 2020
This was such a great book to read while sheltering at home. It moved quickly, well written characters and dialog, fast paced, and thoroughly enjoyable. I can hardly wait for the next books in the series. As always, William Stacey has written a winner.
April 22, 2020
Great charactets, quick read
Lots of good military background. World building is good, well thought out. Plot is logical and compelling. I'll definitely read the next book in the series.
Lots of good military background. World building is good, well thought out. Plot is logical and compelling. I'll definitely read the next book in the series.
April 27, 2020
Wow what a great story. A world and characters of depth and breadth with a fast paced story of action, intrigue, magic and of course, good old greed. I can't wait to read the next one in this series.
September 26, 2023
Good intro to a new series
This book was a really good introduction to a new to me series. The characters were interesting, there was a lot of action and details to the story that lined things up well I suspect for future books. I recommend this book.
This book was a really good introduction to a new to me series. The characters were interesting, there was a lot of action and details to the story that lined things up well I suspect for future books. I recommend this book.
April 14, 2020
This was another great story by this author. There was a lot of adventure, suspense, romance, and magic. This will definitely take you to another world. I can't wait to see what happens next!
September 17, 2020
Fun start
Fun start to what could be a good series. I like the dystopian future/urban fantasy mix. Looking forward to see where book 2 goes.
Fun start to what could be a good series. I like the dystopian future/urban fantasy mix. Looking forward to see where book 2 goes.
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