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The Saga of the Nothing Mage #1
The Nothing Mage
Beware, oh friend, the Nothing Mage,
The man himself a blight,
With magic cursed and spells unseen,
That none can stand and fight.
Beware, oh King, the Nothing Mage,
A force that pierces all,
The tolling bell that sings of death,
‘Till lords and empires fall.
Beware, oh love, the Nothing Mage,
A vengeful man is he,
So if you dare to draw his wrath,
Then nothing ye shall be.
"There’s nothing there." The words may as well have been a death sentence to young Declan. Without mana, there could be no studying at the sky-piercing Pinnacle Towers, there could be no great monster hunts, and there could be no following in his father’s legendary footsteps.
He’d be a cripple.
But when a terrible accident forces him to flee, Declan learns the true nature of his mana. Just because it doesn’t resonate at any known frequency, doesn’t mean it isn’t magic. Just because he can’t cast the same spells as everyone else doesn’t mean he isn’t a mage. And just because you can’t see something, doesn’t mean it isn’t there.
The man himself a blight,
With magic cursed and spells unseen,
That none can stand and fight.
Beware, oh King, the Nothing Mage,
A force that pierces all,
The tolling bell that sings of death,
‘Till lords and empires fall.
Beware, oh love, the Nothing Mage,
A vengeful man is he,
So if you dare to draw his wrath,
Then nothing ye shall be.
"There’s nothing there." The words may as well have been a death sentence to young Declan. Without mana, there could be no studying at the sky-piercing Pinnacle Towers, there could be no great monster hunts, and there could be no following in his father’s legendary footsteps.
He’d be a cripple.
But when a terrible accident forces him to flee, Declan learns the true nature of his mana. Just because it doesn’t resonate at any known frequency, doesn’t mean it isn’t magic. Just because he can’t cast the same spells as everyone else doesn’t mean he isn’t a mage. And just because you can’t see something, doesn’t mean it isn’t there.
351 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 15, 2020
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644 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
November 11, 2020
This was the first book I picked up as part of the Inn’s participation in this year’s Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off, and I’m thrilled to say that I enjoyed it!
The Nothing Mage is a story about a young mage named Declan. When Declan grows to the age that he can be tested for mana, he is shocked to find that there is seemingly nothing there. His father, a famous fire mage, is perhaps even more shocked, as it turns out Declan is the product of an affair.
Within the first few chapters of the book, we learn that Declan has been cast out of his family home and made to work as a weeder for the property gardener. Declan resents being a “nuller” — a derogatory term for those without magic — especially as he has dedicated so much of his childhood to learning magical theory. Luckily for him, he soon learns that he does have magic… It’s just not the kind that can show up in any testing. Those around him are perhaps not so lucky. Declan’s magic is dangerous.
After an unfortunate confrontation, Declan manages to find his way into an underfunded, overlooked magic school. The majority of the story focuses on his magical education.
The magic in this book is roughly based on the electromagnetic spectrum. Different people have mana that oscillates at different frequencies, and the wavelength of that mana determines which “type” of magic they can do — water, fire, lightning, life, etc. It’s a slight spoiler, but Declan soon finds that his mana oscillates at a much, much higher frequency that everyone else’s. For a rough comparison, while everybody else’s magic effectively functions in the visible light range of the spectrum, Declan’s magic is more in the range of Gamma radiation.
The thing that struck me most about The Nothing Mage was how readable it was. The prose is clear and accessible with very few flourishes, but it has a bingeable quality to it that keeps you reaching for one more chapter. This kind of style seemed vaguely familiar to me, and so I wasn’t surprised to find out that The Nothing Mage was initially a web serial that has been converted into a trilogy of novels.
Now, if you’ve never read a web serial before, the one thing that you need to know is that they live and die by how suited they are to binge-reading. Successful serials like Worm, The Wandering Inn, and The Martian got their readers by hooking them such that they came back every week for new chapters. Web serial chapters are often written the week of publication, with authors sometimes writing 2-3 chapters per week, and so typos and the odd grammatical error are inevitable. As a result, there are quite a few of those dotted throughout The Nothing Mage ebook. I didn’t find these too egregious, personally, but I mention it in case this is a major turn-off for anyone reading this review.
In terms of character, though, The Nothing Mage fell a little flat for me. Declan has his struggles and internal conflicts, but the cast of side-characters too often felt like they were in service to his story rather than actual individuals. There are a few fun relationships, but these are rarely explored deeper than surface level. On several occasions, Declan veers too close to being the archetypical “chosen one” type character who can do everything he sets his mind to. But then, this isn’t exactly uncommon for progression fantasy stories such as this one. The book also plays a little with reader expectations in this regard, hinting heavily throughout that Declan may be more likely to become a villain than a hero.
The plot mostly focuses on Declan and his teachers playing around with his magic, figuring out how it works, and how to limit the danger Declan poses to those around him. The story has a “personal journey” feel to it, which makes for a surprisingly fun and relaxing read. The setting is pretty intriguing, too, with numerous mysterious, multi-storied towers scattered around the world that act as magic schools. There are also plenty of magical creatures (some inside the towers themselves), which mages may hunt in order to increase their mana.
To sum up my feelings on this one, The Nothing Mage can often feel simplistic, but I also found it very enjoyable. It seems quite inconsistent in terms of target audience — many sections feel very “young” (especially the opening), whereas others feel more adult. There also wasn’t any defined “ending”. This makes sense given that this is just the first few chapters chopped off of a much longer web serial, but will potentially harm its chances in SPFBO given that books will be judged on their merit as novels.
The Nothing Mage did have a few flaws in my eyes, but it was still a very fun (and very addictive) read. For those who love books that unabashedly geek out in their exploration of their magic systems, I would definitely recommend you check this one out.
The Nothing Mage is a story about a young mage named Declan. When Declan grows to the age that he can be tested for mana, he is shocked to find that there is seemingly nothing there. His father, a famous fire mage, is perhaps even more shocked, as it turns out Declan is the product of an affair.
Within the first few chapters of the book, we learn that Declan has been cast out of his family home and made to work as a weeder for the property gardener. Declan resents being a “nuller” — a derogatory term for those without magic — especially as he has dedicated so much of his childhood to learning magical theory. Luckily for him, he soon learns that he does have magic… It’s just not the kind that can show up in any testing. Those around him are perhaps not so lucky. Declan’s magic is dangerous.
After an unfortunate confrontation, Declan manages to find his way into an underfunded, overlooked magic school. The majority of the story focuses on his magical education.
The magic in this book is roughly based on the electromagnetic spectrum. Different people have mana that oscillates at different frequencies, and the wavelength of that mana determines which “type” of magic they can do — water, fire, lightning, life, etc. It’s a slight spoiler, but Declan soon finds that his mana oscillates at a much, much higher frequency that everyone else’s. For a rough comparison, while everybody else’s magic effectively functions in the visible light range of the spectrum, Declan’s magic is more in the range of Gamma radiation.
The thing that struck me most about The Nothing Mage was how readable it was. The prose is clear and accessible with very few flourishes, but it has a bingeable quality to it that keeps you reaching for one more chapter. This kind of style seemed vaguely familiar to me, and so I wasn’t surprised to find out that The Nothing Mage was initially a web serial that has been converted into a trilogy of novels.
Now, if you’ve never read a web serial before, the one thing that you need to know is that they live and die by how suited they are to binge-reading. Successful serials like Worm, The Wandering Inn, and The Martian got their readers by hooking them such that they came back every week for new chapters. Web serial chapters are often written the week of publication, with authors sometimes writing 2-3 chapters per week, and so typos and the odd grammatical error are inevitable. As a result, there are quite a few of those dotted throughout The Nothing Mage ebook. I didn’t find these too egregious, personally, but I mention it in case this is a major turn-off for anyone reading this review.
In terms of character, though, The Nothing Mage fell a little flat for me. Declan has his struggles and internal conflicts, but the cast of side-characters too often felt like they were in service to his story rather than actual individuals. There are a few fun relationships, but these are rarely explored deeper than surface level. On several occasions, Declan veers too close to being the archetypical “chosen one” type character who can do everything he sets his mind to. But then, this isn’t exactly uncommon for progression fantasy stories such as this one. The book also plays a little with reader expectations in this regard, hinting heavily throughout that Declan may be more likely to become a villain than a hero.
The plot mostly focuses on Declan and his teachers playing around with his magic, figuring out how it works, and how to limit the danger Declan poses to those around him. The story has a “personal journey” feel to it, which makes for a surprisingly fun and relaxing read. The setting is pretty intriguing, too, with numerous mysterious, multi-storied towers scattered around the world that act as magic schools. There are also plenty of magical creatures (some inside the towers themselves), which mages may hunt in order to increase their mana.
To sum up my feelings on this one, The Nothing Mage can often feel simplistic, but I also found it very enjoyable. It seems quite inconsistent in terms of target audience — many sections feel very “young” (especially the opening), whereas others feel more adult. There also wasn’t any defined “ending”. This makes sense given that this is just the first few chapters chopped off of a much longer web serial, but will potentially harm its chances in SPFBO given that books will be judged on their merit as novels.
The Nothing Mage did have a few flaws in my eyes, but it was still a very fun (and very addictive) read. For those who love books that unabashedly geek out in their exploration of their magic systems, I would definitely recommend you check this one out.
December 18, 2021
Note: I listened to an audiobook but as that edition is not currently listed on Goodreads.com I am placing my review here.
I enjoyed this book right up until it ended with zero story resolution. Big picture all that happens is MC discovers he has a unique type of magic, gets sent to special school so MC can be simultaneously studied and educated. War breaks out and MC & co. flee to neutral third country because of politics.
The sad part is this is totally unnecessary. If the author had resolved the conflict between MC and his parents (or at least his mother as author sets up a conflict that will likely have father and MC trying to kill each other in the future) then this book would have been at least a little more than just an introduction to what comes next. Also, the setup for the conflict between father and MC comes out of nowhere and is unnecessary. The author has apparently populated the MC’s home country with about a dozen people: MC, mother, father, king, king’s brother and handful of townspeople. Another character could have easily done what the father did to be the villain. Note that I'm being vague to avoid a spoiler here (although not much of one since it has zero foreshadowing). To be at least a little bit clear: I’m not referring to the father disowning the MC, something that the author handles well.
Also a tertiary but important character just disappears in a story line that could have waited for the next book. Basically all the author does here is announce a future major story line without developing it at all.
Bottom line: The author does very well with what is written but lacks any concept of story resolution. AT THE VERY LEAST READERS SHOULD WAIT FOR BOOK 2 TO COME OUT BEFORE WASTING TIME ON BOOK 1.
I enjoyed this book right up until it ended with zero story resolution. Big picture all that happens is MC discovers he has a unique type of magic, gets sent to special school so MC can be simultaneously studied and educated. War breaks out and MC & co. flee to neutral third country because of politics.
The sad part is this is totally unnecessary. If the author had resolved the conflict between MC and his parents (or at least his mother as author sets up a conflict that will likely have father and MC trying to kill each other in the future) then this book would have been at least a little more than just an introduction to what comes next. Also, the setup for the conflict between father and MC comes out of nowhere and is unnecessary. The author has apparently populated the MC’s home country with about a dozen people: MC, mother, father, king, king’s brother and handful of townspeople. Another character could have easily done what the father did to be the villain. Note that I'm being vague to avoid a spoiler here (although not much of one since it has zero foreshadowing). To be at least a little bit clear: I’m not referring to the father disowning the MC, something that the author handles well.
Also a tertiary but important character just disappears in a story line that could have waited for the next book. Basically all the author does here is announce a future major story line without developing it at all.
Bottom line: The author does very well with what is written but lacks any concept of story resolution. AT THE VERY LEAST READERS SHOULD WAIT FOR BOOK 2 TO COME OUT BEFORE WASTING TIME ON BOOK 1.
July 9, 2020
2.5 stars. Eh. OK. (At best.) Was recommended as being on par with two webserials I’ve read that were excellent (Worm, finished, and The Wandering Inn, ongoing), but not at all on par with either of them. Far too many tropes (protagonist is different - initially thought lacking, but then of course turns out he’s different special (strong in the ways of the Force, he is), plus there’s the family drama bit (disowned by the man he thought was his father, who of course is a great general), prophecies, scary dreams, etc. etc.) and characters generally very cardboard and NPCish.
December 11, 2020
Rather slow start, both plot wise and style wise. Entertaining and definitely good, but nothing special.
Some people put this under M M Romance, and while there are some minor elements, this is ultimately no romance novel. I definitely wouldn't categorise it as such.
Some people put this under M M Romance, and while there are some minor elements, this is ultimately no romance novel. I definitely wouldn't categorise it as such.
August 24, 2020
This is an excellent book. The premise is interesting and the story has a good pace. It has a mix of great and not so great characters. The feminine presence is strong without being too much, the guys' power balances them out nicely. It is a bit difficult to follow all the measures and scientific procedures at the beginning, but after a while, you get used to the jargon. I really hope it is a saga, as the audiobook announces (presented as Book 1). Although here it appears to be a stand-alone. The story is not finished by the end of this book, beware.
September 23, 2020
Randomly making out with a guy
It just came out of the blue the main charachter just goes for it....... not what I signed up for
It just came out of the blue the main charachter just goes for it....... not what I signed up for
May 21, 2021
Main character is gay
The main character is gay other than that unpleasantness the story is okay but I stopped reading most of the way through the book when he first kissed the guy
The main character is gay other than that unpleasantness the story is okay but I stopped reading most of the way through the book when he first kissed the guy
December 25, 2020
More than just an interesting premise
This book definitely met and exceeded any expectations I had when I picked it up. The premise was interesting, so I gave it a try, and I absolutely loved the story. The plot and the characters leave me eager to read the next book. You won’t regret reading this.
This book definitely met and exceeded any expectations I had when I picked it up. The premise was interesting, so I gave it a try, and I absolutely loved the story. The plot and the characters leave me eager to read the next book. You won’t regret reading this.
August 28, 2020
DNF
The whole book felt like the MC was 12 when in fact he was 17. Just the way the protagonist thinks and processes things is similar to a child. Everyone is a very good person other than his childhood friend who mocks him for being powerless. At 17 years old, the protagonist is kind of useless. I mean his magic is exceptionally high but he rarely uses it other than to straight kill things. We learn all about how the MC learns cantrips and spells but I'm on chapter 28 and hes used one to hydrate himself after he has a hangover. I was really interested in the concept of the story but I kept reverting to seeing the MC as a preteen. This was a little jarring for the most part, because even the bullies act like children.
The whole book felt like the MC was 12 when in fact he was 17. Just the way the protagonist thinks and processes things is similar to a child. Everyone is a very good person other than his childhood friend who mocks him for being powerless. At 17 years old, the protagonist is kind of useless. I mean his magic is exceptionally high but he rarely uses it other than to straight kill things. We learn all about how the MC learns cantrips and spells but I'm on chapter 28 and hes used one to hydrate himself after he has a hangover. I was really interested in the concept of the story but I kept reverting to seeing the MC as a preteen. This was a little jarring for the most part, because even the bullies act like children.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 30, 2020
Overtones
Well the story was good until the MC kisses a man !! Sorry but I'm not politically correct I don't like reading about gay people
Well the story was good until the MC kisses a man !! Sorry but I'm not politically correct I don't like reading about gay people
March 26, 2024
I enjoyed this, but I'm taking off an entire star for the author's refusal to just use the characters' names. Why pick the names if you're never going to use them? I found "try to guess what new bonkers descriptor would be used in lieu of the character's name" was a fun little game, but playing it very much distracted me from the story.
February 17, 2022
Good read
Interesting take on magic, though the book sometimes bogs down on the math and science behind the theory and becomes a bit more dry textbook than dark fantasy.
A lot of interesting characters. Timeline seems a bit weird. It often reads like years have (or should have) gone by, but instead only weeks or a few months have actually passed.
Interesting take on magic, though the book sometimes bogs down on the math and science behind the theory and becomes a bit more dry textbook than dark fantasy.
A lot of interesting characters. Timeline seems a bit weird. It often reads like years have (or should have) gone by, but instead only weeks or a few months have actually passed.
August 11, 2020
Science Meet Fantasy MEETS ME LOVING IT
This book is awesome, it’s high fantasy with a well fleshed out magic system (inspired and underlined with real science) LOVED IT.
This book is awesome, it’s high fantasy with a well fleshed out magic system (inspired and underlined with real science) LOVED IT.
May 18, 2020
I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of the Nothing Mage via Booksprout in exchange for a review:
J P Valentine has written an excellent story with detailed world-building, intricate magic system, and complex conspiracies where Declan comes of age with an unusual magical condition which simultaneously makes him a potential Sage in the making, but curses him with the ever-present ability to poison everyone around him.
Reading about his struggles to decide what he should do with his powers forms a counterpoint to the joy Declan finds in learning how to master his strange magic and to push the boundaries of magic. I loved how Declan enjoys and hates his magic at the same time, and how he learns to trust in and rely on his friends as they rely on him, despite his fears. While studying, developing, and using magic is a focus, there is more of a emphasis on Declan learning to handle the ramifications of his powers and the ongoing struggle against the kings, fairies, and magicians who want to control him.
J P Valentine has written an excellent story with detailed world-building, intricate magic system, and complex conspiracies where Declan comes of age with an unusual magical condition which simultaneously makes him a potential Sage in the making, but curses him with the ever-present ability to poison everyone around him.
Reading about his struggles to decide what he should do with his powers forms a counterpoint to the joy Declan finds in learning how to master his strange magic and to push the boundaries of magic. I loved how Declan enjoys and hates his magic at the same time, and how he learns to trust in and rely on his friends as they rely on him, despite his fears. While studying, developing, and using magic is a focus, there is more of a emphasis on Declan learning to handle the ramifications of his powers and the ongoing struggle against the kings, fairies, and magicians who want to control him.
March 21, 2022
Good concept, bad writing, and BASIC romance.
Review covers the whole trilogy, without spoilers:
The premise here was EXCELLENT, with the majority of events throughout the series consisting of experiments and learning within the wavelengths-of-light inspired magic system the author created. I’m practically the target audience for that sort of thing, I can’t get enough of it. But… the compliments end there.
The problem is that there’s *nothing* else about the writing that can keep the novels standing. The dialogue is simple, at times immature or cookie-cutter, surrounded by simplistic imagery that lacks thought or metaphorical weight compared to better books in the genre that take the proper time and energy to paint pictures.
The series expects you to take so much for granted about the world and its appearance without even describing it, like typical Light Novel / LitRPG fare— and the handwaveable story ends up so much less interesting for it. The entire trek feels like an overly railroaded tabletop campaign in the DM’s custom-built setting, the DM-author intent on showing off every corner of the world they’ve built… but they didn’t even put as much thought into the setting as the average DND module, outside the magic system. So much happens just to HAPPEN, without advancing anything, not even a shallow theme. Whole CHAPTERS are spent preparing for things that never happen, and I kept through the series to see any of those intricately-explained preparations USED only to see them… not. More spellbook-clutter for the characters’ repertoires that the author never bothered writing any actual purpose for.
And if you were lured in by the promise of gay romance like I was due to the categories it was in? Sorry. It’s barely serviceable, and not gay enough besides! I could have sworn there was more screentime together with the STRAIGHT love interest than the gay one!
Please give this series a pass. If you start it, you’ll think it’s actually GOING somewhere, and will need to finish it, like I did— and I’ll bet you’ll be disappointed.
Review covers the whole trilogy, without spoilers:
The premise here was EXCELLENT, with the majority of events throughout the series consisting of experiments and learning within the wavelengths-of-light inspired magic system the author created. I’m practically the target audience for that sort of thing, I can’t get enough of it. But… the compliments end there.
The problem is that there’s *nothing* else about the writing that can keep the novels standing. The dialogue is simple, at times immature or cookie-cutter, surrounded by simplistic imagery that lacks thought or metaphorical weight compared to better books in the genre that take the proper time and energy to paint pictures.
The series expects you to take so much for granted about the world and its appearance without even describing it, like typical Light Novel / LitRPG fare— and the handwaveable story ends up so much less interesting for it. The entire trek feels like an overly railroaded tabletop campaign in the DM’s custom-built setting, the DM-author intent on showing off every corner of the world they’ve built… but they didn’t even put as much thought into the setting as the average DND module, outside the magic system. So much happens just to HAPPEN, without advancing anything, not even a shallow theme. Whole CHAPTERS are spent preparing for things that never happen, and I kept through the series to see any of those intricately-explained preparations USED only to see them… not. More spellbook-clutter for the characters’ repertoires that the author never bothered writing any actual purpose for.
And if you were lured in by the promise of gay romance like I was due to the categories it was in? Sorry. It’s barely serviceable, and not gay enough besides! I could have sworn there was more screentime together with the STRAIGHT love interest than the gay one!
Please give this series a pass. If you start it, you’ll think it’s actually GOING somewhere, and will need to finish it, like I did— and I’ll bet you’ll be disappointed.
September 26, 2020
Great book series
Main character is Bi, there, apparently that matters. He kisses both A (1) guy and A (1) girl throughout the entire series, gets jealous when girl has a new bf, and longs for his bf. Bisexual, which is pretty great tbh, dont really see male bi representation,
BUT HERES WHERE IT GETS REAL
That is the legit smallest part of this story, like in 3 books, he has talked about romance for maybe 80 pages, and alot of that is "god i hate travelling with a couple." The mc is a student of magic first, a son second, a friend third, and bisexual somewhere around 4-10. If him kissing a guy 2 times in 3 books bugs you, me thinks the lady doth protest too much.
Main character is Bi, there, apparently that matters. He kisses both A (1) guy and A (1) girl throughout the entire series, gets jealous when girl has a new bf, and longs for his bf. Bisexual, which is pretty great tbh, dont really see male bi representation,
BUT HERES WHERE IT GETS REAL
That is the legit smallest part of this story, like in 3 books, he has talked about romance for maybe 80 pages, and alot of that is "god i hate travelling with a couple." The mc is a student of magic first, a son second, a friend third, and bisexual somewhere around 4-10. If him kissing a guy 2 times in 3 books bugs you, me thinks the lady doth protest too much.
May 8, 2022
Readable and held my attention. Unique system of magic. Far too many people die in this trilogy, including a lot of named characters.
March 17, 2022
Fantasy novel? Science fiction? Why not both?
This book is weird. Not in a bad way, but it is just completely different from anything I read before… We follow a mage with a bizarre mana in a world where the type of mana is related to the spectrum of color it resonates with. If your mana is purple well congrats, you are a knowledge and information mage, you got red mana, oh oh look out from the fire mage. But that's not all, the frequency of your mana affects your abilities as a mage as well, and there is (kind of) a radioactive mana leakage when our hero does not control his mana that gives you cancer! So of course our hero goes to Mage College to study his weird mana, and a high professor and his assistant go gaga with all the research possibilities! Woo hoo! Sounds very fantasy-like, I know.
So yeah, this is the most science fiction fantasy novel I have ever seen. It reminded me of my days at master degree studies, which was nice. But as for the book itself, aside from a really established magic system we see very little world building. We know there are towers, which are magic, some are short, some are ridiculously tall, no one knows where they came from and why. Mages gain power by killing magical creatures and absorbing their mana. And what am I forgetting, oh yeah, there are nobles and lower classes. And once was a "wolf war". The characters are very one dimensional and don’t really grow, the smart Hermiony type is smart and loves books, the silly clumsy weird guy is silly and you guessed it, clumsy and the cool badass girl is cool and badass. And the hero? Well he has dangerous powers and without the help of the rest of the group would probably kill everyone he sees by accident. And even that does not change, he just learns new tricks.
Having said all that, besides tuning out a bit in the parts they use sensors to understand his mana frequency it was a nice slice of life kind of book. I'm sure that's not what the author meant to write because he keeps hinting on big events in the future but that's what he made and that's what made me like it.
3.5/5 recommended as a light read to clear the mind.
This book is weird. Not in a bad way, but it is just completely different from anything I read before… We follow a mage with a bizarre mana in a world where the type of mana is related to the spectrum of color it resonates with. If your mana is purple well congrats, you are a knowledge and information mage, you got red mana, oh oh look out from the fire mage. But that's not all, the frequency of your mana affects your abilities as a mage as well, and there is (kind of) a radioactive mana leakage when our hero does not control his mana that gives you cancer! So of course our hero goes to Mage College to study his weird mana, and a high professor and his assistant go gaga with all the research possibilities! Woo hoo! Sounds very fantasy-like, I know.
So yeah, this is the most science fiction fantasy novel I have ever seen. It reminded me of my days at master degree studies, which was nice. But as for the book itself, aside from a really established magic system we see very little world building. We know there are towers, which are magic, some are short, some are ridiculously tall, no one knows where they came from and why. Mages gain power by killing magical creatures and absorbing their mana. And what am I forgetting, oh yeah, there are nobles and lower classes. And once was a "wolf war". The characters are very one dimensional and don’t really grow, the smart Hermiony type is smart and loves books, the silly clumsy weird guy is silly and you guessed it, clumsy and the cool badass girl is cool and badass. And the hero? Well he has dangerous powers and without the help of the rest of the group would probably kill everyone he sees by accident. And even that does not change, he just learns new tricks.
Having said all that, besides tuning out a bit in the parts they use sensors to understand his mana frequency it was a nice slice of life kind of book. I'm sure that's not what the author meant to write because he keeps hinting on big events in the future but that's what he made and that's what made me like it.
3.5/5 recommended as a light read to clear the mind.
September 21, 2020
Very slow and
I stopped and returned the book after reading to 78%. I have nothing against people who are gay or bisexual but it's not for me. At 78% the MC Declan kisses Eric and I feel it came out of nowhere with no hints whatsoever as earlier in the book he had a one night stand with Sarah. I think the author should make it clear in the description of the book so people who don't want to read that doesn't read so much of a book just to put it down and considering the other reviews I think that's a decent amount of people. Now as much as it isn't for me this does NOT impact my rating of the book.
The book is nearly done and basically nothing has happened so far. All the time has been spent trying to learn how to make spells that he can actually cast because his magic frequency is so far above anything anyone (known) has ever had and it basically makes him unable to cast any of the existing spells. Add to that how dangerous his mana is to others (his mana reminds me of intense radiation) and there isn't much magic and spellcasting going on. There is no overall goal so far other than just to not become a "plague on legs" and accidentally kill everything and everyone around him. There aren't even any real enemies or big bad guy to defeat. The story hasn't been bad but there hasn't been any highlights, intense moments or anything else to break up the slow crawl of study and learn magic without actually doing that much magic.
The writing itself is fine but you will notice weird sentence structures and wrong words here and there (report all of the I noticed) such as using me instead of be.
All in all not a terrible story. The writing is fine but it's slow going and there is no real goal in sight. A pretty solid 3 stars.
I stopped and returned the book after reading to 78%. I have nothing against people who are gay or bisexual but it's not for me. At 78% the MC Declan kisses Eric and I feel it came out of nowhere with no hints whatsoever as earlier in the book he had a one night stand with Sarah. I think the author should make it clear in the description of the book so people who don't want to read that doesn't read so much of a book just to put it down and considering the other reviews I think that's a decent amount of people. Now as much as it isn't for me this does NOT impact my rating of the book.
The book is nearly done and basically nothing has happened so far. All the time has been spent trying to learn how to make spells that he can actually cast because his magic frequency is so far above anything anyone (known) has ever had and it basically makes him unable to cast any of the existing spells. Add to that how dangerous his mana is to others (his mana reminds me of intense radiation) and there isn't much magic and spellcasting going on. There is no overall goal so far other than just to not become a "plague on legs" and accidentally kill everything and everyone around him. There aren't even any real enemies or big bad guy to defeat. The story hasn't been bad but there hasn't been any highlights, intense moments or anything else to break up the slow crawl of study and learn magic without actually doing that much magic.
The writing itself is fine but you will notice weird sentence structures and wrong words here and there (report all of the I noticed) such as using me instead of be.
All in all not a terrible story. The writing is fine but it's slow going and there is no real goal in sight. A pretty solid 3 stars.
January 27, 2024
Features a relatable and likable male protagonist named Declan, whose authentic response to trauma adds depth to the narrative. The story places a strong emphasis on the personal journey, with a sizable cast of characters making recurring appearances later in the plot.
While the premise initially seems standard, the incorporation of a unique magical element surprises and engages readers. The magic system, centered around frequencies and measurements of power, adds an intriguing layer to the narrative. The protagonist's enrollment in a tower, reminiscent of the wizard school trope, cleverly serves as an organic means to convey intricate details about the magic system.
The overall world-building is compelling, with subtle hints at deeper secrets that enrich the protagonist's experience. Travel components contribute to the adventurous atmosphere, expanding the scope of the world.
The novel exudes a YA fantasy vibe and maintains a deliberately slower pace, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the unfolding story. Inclusion of flashbacks and excerpts from in-universe books enhances the narrative, providing additional layers to the storytelling.
I found the story highly enjoyable, prompting me to dive right into the sequel. This book is likely to appeal to readers who appreciate narratives centered around self-empowerment, intriguing magic systems, and are comfortable with a leisurely introduction to a new world.
TW: Animal Death
While the premise initially seems standard, the incorporation of a unique magical element surprises and engages readers. The magic system, centered around frequencies and measurements of power, adds an intriguing layer to the narrative. The protagonist's enrollment in a tower, reminiscent of the wizard school trope, cleverly serves as an organic means to convey intricate details about the magic system.
The overall world-building is compelling, with subtle hints at deeper secrets that enrich the protagonist's experience. Travel components contribute to the adventurous atmosphere, expanding the scope of the world.
The novel exudes a YA fantasy vibe and maintains a deliberately slower pace, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the unfolding story. Inclusion of flashbacks and excerpts from in-universe books enhances the narrative, providing additional layers to the storytelling.
I found the story highly enjoyable, prompting me to dive right into the sequel. This book is likely to appeal to readers who appreciate narratives centered around self-empowerment, intriguing magic systems, and are comfortable with a leisurely introduction to a new world.
TW: Animal Death
May 18, 2020
As a disclaimer, I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. I am also going to be as honest an un-biased as I can in reviewing.
When you read enough recent fantasy, a lot of them start to blend together and patterns become pretty apparent. There are some common tropes that get replayed over and over again, until it feels like a new book you pick up is just a cookie-cutter replica of the last one.
But while The Nothing Mage definitely hits some of the common themes, it's by no means a copy of the same tropes thrown together. It was incredibly refreshing to read something so well written that the usually obvious cliches didn't stand out or detract from the story. This book definitely stands on its own as a unique, well crafted tale.
The only reason I can't give it a full 5 stars is because the themes and plot almost felt too simplistic for the writing at times. Maybe its just because this feels like it was meant to be a young adult novel and I'm not exactly young anymore, so I might be a bit over-critical here. But to me, it felt like the author could have easily been more intricate with the plot and still have written a book that will hold the reader's attention throughout. On the other hand, this is just book one. I can't speak for how in-depth the overall plot gets when it's really only just begun!
When you read enough recent fantasy, a lot of them start to blend together and patterns become pretty apparent. There are some common tropes that get replayed over and over again, until it feels like a new book you pick up is just a cookie-cutter replica of the last one.
But while The Nothing Mage definitely hits some of the common themes, it's by no means a copy of the same tropes thrown together. It was incredibly refreshing to read something so well written that the usually obvious cliches didn't stand out or detract from the story. This book definitely stands on its own as a unique, well crafted tale.
The only reason I can't give it a full 5 stars is because the themes and plot almost felt too simplistic for the writing at times. Maybe its just because this feels like it was meant to be a young adult novel and I'm not exactly young anymore, so I might be a bit over-critical here. But to me, it felt like the author could have easily been more intricate with the plot and still have written a book that will hold the reader's attention throughout. On the other hand, this is just book one. I can't speak for how in-depth the overall plot gets when it's really only just begun!
May 28, 2024
I liked The Nothing Mage! It is not what I was expecting at all, and I wish it was faster paced. However, there is much to be said for the rich world-building and lore. I find it extremely fascinating how much thought was clearly put into the scientific and mathematical explanation behind how magic works in this universe. I think it is definitely something special, and I wish more fantasy genres explored concepts this way. It almost makes the story feel more real and immersive, despite being medieval fantasy.
I really liked Declan. He's a horribly awkward academically-minded nerd who relies a lot on social scripting to get by. I really enjoyed how he slowly changes in some ways over the course of the book, and I like very much that it becomes a double-edged sword for him. His development with emotional control works both to his benefit and detriment at times. I love when characteristics are explored as both virtues and flaws.
I wish more actually happened in this book. I'm hoping the other two in the trilogy are a bit more action packed, but this book focused largely on world building and exposition rather than any major plot events.
I really liked Declan. He's a horribly awkward academically-minded nerd who relies a lot on social scripting to get by. I really enjoyed how he slowly changes in some ways over the course of the book, and I like very much that it becomes a double-edged sword for him. His development with emotional control works both to his benefit and detriment at times. I love when characteristics are explored as both virtues and flaws.
I wish more actually happened in this book. I'm hoping the other two in the trilogy are a bit more action packed, but this book focused largely on world building and exposition rather than any major plot events.
June 7, 2021
*This review is written after having read the entire series and is a reflection on all three novels, not just the first. That being said, no major plot points are discussed or mentioned.
This series takes a novel approach to world-building, especially how the author conceives of magic. Making the study of magic so mathematical and scientific was a great way to bridge the magic/science gap and show how, in a world where both exist, it seems to be a distinction without a difference. Also, kudos to the author for putting in touches of social critique on privilege and the hoarding of resources/knowledge by the ruling class.
Declan is a generally likable character who makes plenty of (albeit understandable) mistakes. The incomparable power Declan wields, however, means these mistakes carry terrible consequences for himself and those around him. His tale is one of a fall from privilege and a subsequent mission to rebuild his life and understand his unique magic.
This book was recommended to me as an example of queer fantasy, and while that genre is absolutely applicable, I think it’s important to note that the story is most definitely fantasy and contains little ‘romance’. Declan is presumably bisexual (he has a one night stand with a female classmate and shares a kiss or two with a male tutor/friend) but the nature of his quest/life leaves little room for those kinds of relationships. This is fine and understandable, but just don’t go into this series expecting the usual romance/fantasy mix one often finds in this genre (more of a 90/10 split compared to the usual 60/40 or 70/30).
The author has a tendency to build tension over the whole book but almost zip through the climax, making it feel like there is always a bigger, more dramatic conflict yet to come. This conflict never really happens, though. There are definite ‘peaks’ in the narrative structure, but I always felt a bit let down after them.
Overall, a good read with well-developed and relatable characters. Well worth sticking with the trilogy.
This series takes a novel approach to world-building, especially how the author conceives of magic. Making the study of magic so mathematical and scientific was a great way to bridge the magic/science gap and show how, in a world where both exist, it seems to be a distinction without a difference. Also, kudos to the author for putting in touches of social critique on privilege and the hoarding of resources/knowledge by the ruling class.
Declan is a generally likable character who makes plenty of (albeit understandable) mistakes. The incomparable power Declan wields, however, means these mistakes carry terrible consequences for himself and those around him. His tale is one of a fall from privilege and a subsequent mission to rebuild his life and understand his unique magic.
This book was recommended to me as an example of queer fantasy, and while that genre is absolutely applicable, I think it’s important to note that the story is most definitely fantasy and contains little ‘romance’. Declan is presumably bisexual (he has a one night stand with a female classmate and shares a kiss or two with a male tutor/friend) but the nature of his quest/life leaves little room for those kinds of relationships. This is fine and understandable, but just don’t go into this series expecting the usual romance/fantasy mix one often finds in this genre (more of a 90/10 split compared to the usual 60/40 or 70/30).
The author has a tendency to build tension over the whole book but almost zip through the climax, making it feel like there is always a bigger, more dramatic conflict yet to come. This conflict never really happens, though. There are definite ‘peaks’ in the narrative structure, but I always felt a bit let down after them.
Overall, a good read with well-developed and relatable characters. Well worth sticking with the trilogy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 22, 2020
Nothing special (ha!) but a decent coming-of-age/riches-to-rags-to-uber powerful wizard story. What is unique and interesting (thus lifting this from a 3 to a 4) is the idea of frequencies for mana.
Declan's magic as far as I can tell is concentrated gamma rays (book units if Hz equivalent are a couple of orders of magnitude low, but whatevs) and his victims all have the classic signs of severe radiation poisoning. I didn't check the author's bio, but I have to assume a background in high-energy physics and/or the nuclear energy industry, as there are discussion of frequency, wavelength and amplitude, and even dosimeters (not by that name of course) in the story. That or a lot of very specific research for the story.
A bit more angst in it than I'd really like, but it's on the adult end of YA so that's to be expected. MC isn't a snivelling wimp and can KTF when necessary, so I find it readable. For your consideration as always, no warranties expressed or implied.
Declan's magic as far as I can tell is concentrated gamma rays (book units if Hz equivalent are a couple of orders of magnitude low, but whatevs) and his victims all have the classic signs of severe radiation poisoning. I didn't check the author's bio, but I have to assume a background in high-energy physics and/or the nuclear energy industry, as there are discussion of frequency, wavelength and amplitude, and even dosimeters (not by that name of course) in the story. That or a lot of very specific research for the story.
A bit more angst in it than I'd really like, but it's on the adult end of YA so that's to be expected. MC isn't a snivelling wimp and can KTF when necessary, so I find it readable. For your consideration as always, no warranties expressed or implied.
May 16, 2020
I don't see any information that this is a series so I'm assuming that it's only one book but the story just ends without the resolution and there's many story arcs yet to be concluded. If the Nothing Mage is supposed to be this epic, fantasy series then this is a good start. It has good world building, very detailed to minutiae about the mages' power and the structure of their society. Up to 60% of the book detailed Declan's power. So it was a slow start. It was like reading a science book. I love how equal women and men are in this world and how strong women are and not the typical lady-in-distressed. So I'm hoping there's more to this because now I need to know about the pending war and how Declan and his friends turn out.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 3, 2021
This is an interesting story that was hampered by an uneven tone. The writer's style is inconsistent and often at odds with the content of the story. The precise and pedantic descriptions make it feel aimed toward a young audience but the gratuitous and heavy-handed swearing is at odds with this theory. (None of this was helped by the narrator, Spencer Dillehay, being unable to pronounce most of the less-common words.)
The magic system shows promise. It seems to be half made up of electromagnetic theory, (Visible light, X-Rays, electricity, etc), and half traditional magic, (water, fire, earth & wind). It was particularly clever to create a meta-magic... emulating incompatible spells via a completely different order of magic programming.
Overall, I'm not sure if I will continue. There are signs that the writing style is smoothing out, so it might be worth the risk.
The magic system shows promise. It seems to be half made up of electromagnetic theory, (Visible light, X-Rays, electricity, etc), and half traditional magic, (water, fire, earth & wind). It was particularly clever to create a meta-magic... emulating incompatible spells via a completely different order of magic programming.
Overall, I'm not sure if I will continue. There are signs that the writing style is smoothing out, so it might be worth the risk.
January 14, 2023
3.5 ***
This book, at times, reads like a textbook, a physics textbook nonetheless... That was the part I hated, even if it was necessary and I understood why it was there.
I am not invested with the characters as I would love to be, especially the main one. Still deciding if Declan is a protagonist or an antagonist in this whole series. I wanna care about him a d his relationships, but as a character he can be off putting, which is kind of the point. He's meek and overly cautious because he has to be. But I want him to unhinge, because in the rare moments that he does, the book becomes more interesting to me.
The book certainly doesn't lack imagination and storytelling. It is a whole new world. A world you could get lost in. I will read the rest of the series but I might need a break from this story, we'll see.
All in all, a solid book.
This book, at times, reads like a textbook, a physics textbook nonetheless... That was the part I hated, even if it was necessary and I understood why it was there.
I am not invested with the characters as I would love to be, especially the main one. Still deciding if Declan is a protagonist or an antagonist in this whole series. I wanna care about him a d his relationships, but as a character he can be off putting, which is kind of the point. He's meek and overly cautious because he has to be. But I want him to unhinge, because in the rare moments that he does, the book becomes more interesting to me.
The book certainly doesn't lack imagination and storytelling. It is a whole new world. A world you could get lost in. I will read the rest of the series but I might need a break from this story, we'll see.
All in all, a solid book.
June 10, 2023
Baited in with words so gay
I do believe i was led astray
read the nothing mage they said
yet in that way it did not head
with a lyre the mc strums a dirge
and unwelcome emotions they do surge
Okay, I'll stop being silly now, but I enjoyed the book I suppose. But I think it lacked tension in places and yet as the story progresses (though this may be more true of later parts of the series) it gets pretty depressing fast.
I went in anticipating maybe a little romance or something along those lines, there's one kiss that feels frankly out of nowhere, this is somewhat addressed in the story. To be frank and perhaps a little uncharitable? It had the emotional resonance of a kiss in a tv advert.
All of that being said, I didn't hate it or anything. Cool magical concept behind it and an interesting enough read. probs 3.5 stars?
I do believe i was led astray
read the nothing mage they said
yet in that way it did not head
with a lyre the mc strums a dirge
and unwelcome emotions they do surge
Okay, I'll stop being silly now, but I enjoyed the book I suppose. But I think it lacked tension in places and yet as the story progresses (though this may be more true of later parts of the series) it gets pretty depressing fast.
I went in anticipating maybe a little romance or something along those lines, there's one kiss that feels frankly out of nowhere, this is somewhat addressed in the story. To be frank and perhaps a little uncharitable? It had the emotional resonance of a kiss in a tv advert.
All of that being said, I didn't hate it or anything. Cool magical concept behind it and an interesting enough read. probs 3.5 stars?
October 10, 2020
Pretty Good
The only thing I'd say was a little off is the ending seemed to come out of nowhere. Not like it didn't make sense or anything, but more of a "wait, it's ending here?" kind of way.
I think the narrative structure got a little out of whack and the climax of the story happened a little after halfway through. It feels like we're just starting a new adventure when the book ends.
In my opinion this story should have ended with Declan and his fellow misfits fleeing the city, and their adventure traveling to Lethis could have been the first act of the second book.
That's pretty much my only complaint. It's otherwise well written, has interesting characters, and the magic system is inquire and interesting b
The only thing I'd say was a little off is the ending seemed to come out of nowhere. Not like it didn't make sense or anything, but more of a "wait, it's ending here?" kind of way.
I think the narrative structure got a little out of whack and the climax of the story happened a little after halfway through. It feels like we're just starting a new adventure when the book ends.
In my opinion this story should have ended with Declan and his fellow misfits fleeing the city, and their adventure traveling to Lethis could have been the first act of the second book.
That's pretty much my only complaint. It's otherwise well written, has interesting characters, and the magic system is inquire and interesting b
September 10, 2022
This is not a bad book, but I didn't love. it was kind of my fault though, so I didn't take it out on the rating.
The thing is, I wanted a funny, light book, the kind that fills your heart, since I'd read the "this trilogy is broken" series by this autor, which is AMAZING, I thought this book would be similar.
Well... it is not, this is the classic weak becomes strong MC, after going through hell, it's angsty and not funny or light at all, so... not really my cup of tea
BUT, and this is an important but, it's still a good book, the magic system is interesting, the relationships and everything are nice... it will probably be loved by many, just not anyone who wants humor with their fantasy
The thing is, I wanted a funny, light book, the kind that fills your heart, since I'd read the "this trilogy is broken" series by this autor, which is AMAZING, I thought this book would be similar.
Well... it is not, this is the classic weak becomes strong MC, after going through hell, it's angsty and not funny or light at all, so... not really my cup of tea
BUT, and this is an important but, it's still a good book, the magic system is interesting, the relationships and everything are nice... it will probably be loved by many, just not anyone who wants humor with their fantasy
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