The March of Magnus

Spark City Cycle #2

by Robert J. Power

He's lethal with a sword. She's deadly with her bow. But will it be enough in the coming war?

Erroh must return to Spark City to warn of the approaching army. Growing ever stronger, the reluctant warrior and his fierce companion must elude bandits and soldiers in a mad dash against time.

Across the map his father, Magnus, rallies his troops to march for the first time in two decades as he seeks to avenge his son, presumed dead.

But with unrest and injustice exploding within Spark City, and their foes marching towards its gates, they may already be too late.

The Spark City Cycle continues with The March of Magnus; the eagerly awaited sequel to #1 bestselling Spark City, from top fantasy author Robert J Power.

Genres: Fantasy, High Fantasy, Fiction

794 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 22, 2020

About the author

Robert J Power is the fantasy author of the Amazon bestselling series, The Spark City Cycle and The Dellerin Tales. When not locked in a dark room with only the daunting laptop screen as a source of light, he fronts an Irish rock band despite their many attempts to fire him.

Robert lives in Wexford, Ireland with his wife Jan, 3 rescue dogs and a cat that detests his very existence. Before he found a career in writing, he enjoyed various occupations such as a terrible pizza chef, a video store manager (ask your grandparents), and an irresponsible camp counselor. Thankfully, none of them stuck.

If you wish to learn of Robert’s latest releases, his feelings on The Fallout Series, or just how many coffees he consumes a day before the palpitations kick in, visit his website at www.RobertJPower.com where you can join his group The Outcasts. You might even receive some free goodies, hopefully some writing updates, and probably a few nonsensical ramblings.

www.facebook.com/authorrobertjpower
www.RobertJPower.com
@RobertJPower

Reviews

[Beth Chandler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This gruesome, bloody, fantasy series put me through the wringer in so many ways, and I’m only halfway through. It’s not for the faint of heart, but the writing is done so well in a way that it makes you totally understand the characters’ motives, whether justified or not.

“The seeds of any outcome can always be traced back to some earlier moment… the tiniest action might be said to have been the origin of any great event.”

[ShannaBanana✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was soooo long. It was good but I think it could have been shorter. I love Erroh and Lea so much. They are perfect for each other. I like Wynn but I’m not a fan of Lillium. Magnus is amazing. He’s such a badass. My biggest complaint is that Nomi is alive 😩 I don’t like love triangles and I know Erroh doesn’t live Nomi like he does Lea but I just know this is going to create a huge relationship issue. I’m really annoyed by this turn of events.

[Doug Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome read! I read Spark City earlier this year and thought it was great. So I jumped at the opportunity to read March of Magnus before it was released in return for my honest review. Let me tell you, this book did not disappoint. If Spark City is fantasy, March of Magnus is epic fantasy. The world in Magnus expands exponentially from Spark City. My favorite thing about this book is the way the author writes makes you feel each character's emotions. I found myself laughing, on the verge of tears, pulling at my hair, and sitting on the edge of my chair, turning each page as fast as possible to find out what was going to happen next. I can't recommend this book enough and can't wait until the next installment!

[Nikhil Sharma · Rating 5 out of 5]

The March of Magnus picked up from Spark city. I read Spark City last year and was awaiting the next book in the series and The March of Magnus didn't disappoint. It is really an epic fantasy of high level. The characters of Erroh and Leah mature and they are poised to take mantel from Magnus and Elise in the next book. Can't wait for the next one. Kudos to Robert J. Power.

[Alan Bradshaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Epic

I have to say that I felt as if I had to wait forever for this second book to come out, but it sure was worth the wait. There were moments to laugh and to cry and a few when I wanted to throw my damn tablet. I guess that is a sign that the author really brought the characters and world to life. All I can say is, don't take so FUKEN long for the next book.

[Tonya Boling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series!!

All I can is AMAZING! Action packed from the beginning of book 2. So worth the wait. I just can’t express how much I love Robert J Powers books.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received an ARC of The March of Magnus, book 2 of The Spark City Cycle. I was turned on to Spark City as a 2019 SPFBO Finalist, of which it was one of my favourite entries. The March of Magnus picks up from its predecessors cliffhanger ending. An fun, fierce, unrelenting pace ensues. Great characters and interesting storylines converge. Love, struggle, honour, and betrayal are prominent themes exemplified throughout this grim tale. I would say the writing and storytelling have matured and improved in this entry. If you liked Spark City, this is a must read!

[Matthew Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let’s keep it moving. Kinda unnecessary final injuries that added nothing in the last lines though. We all know they weren’t fatal lol.

[Tony Brady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Picked up right where Spark City left off and did not disappoint.

[Bart Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cant wait for the next

Excellent,it makes you feel like you are there. Cant wait for the next.i hope its not too far away.
Thanks

[ben conlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great sequel in a great series!

After reading the original Spark City with its cliffhanger ending, I was waiting for the sequel eagerly. I can definitely say that it did not disappoint! Finally getting to find out what happened to our main characters as well as interesting new ones including the much anticipated Magnus himself was a joy. I find it a crying shame that this series is never mentioned with the big epic fantasy series as it should certainly be!

The writing has the right amount of humour and serious tones, the world building has been greatly expanded and the action is again top class. A bit over the top at times but in a charming way that I have come to love Robert J Power for. Keep up the good work Robert and well done on this latest book!

[Jamie Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Randomly read the first book and liked it so much I got the 2nd. Fantastic books. A long time ago there was an apocalypse, that caused a loss in not all, but most technology, and wiped out a big chunk of the population. It's not an apocalypse book though. It's a way way after the Apocalypse happened, non-apocalypse book LOL. This series is the rebuilding of society once towns and villages start creating a new society, hierarchy, and laws. It's also about tribal war, for land and resources and possibly how to properly use foul language, I'm not 100% sure on that part. I loved it though. Now I will impatiently, yet excitedly wait for the third book. I love finding a new series but there's a downside to new book series though, most likely they aren't all written yet. Sometimes I wish I could find a -complete- series that's new but I know that's impractical. I'm the instant gratification type. I'm not the greatest at doing reviews but this book is definitely worth it if you read the first. If you have not read the first what the f*** are you doing here? Go read the first one and then come here. It's worth it. There is great character building, along with great characters. I find myself laughing out loud as I read. The characters have real struggles and real relationships that might be slightly exaggerated but fits with the idea theme and time that this is all happening. The series is fun and very much worth reading.

[MIKE Watkins Jr. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Similar Pros/Cons with the last book. Too long, overly slow pace, overly descriptive in boring moments, and a lack of balance between romance and action.


However, there are a few characteristics of this book that make it better than the last one. I like how this book emphasized the other characters more, providing the reader with a shift in perspective. I also feel like this shift enabled me personally to better relate to and understand the actions taken by other characters in the first book.

Lastly, the last like 100 pages or so, was perfect. I'm hoping and expecting that the 3rd book provides this balance for the entire book based on how this ended....so I will stick with this series even though it's been decent at best.

[Cypselos · Rating 2 out of 5]

Far, far too long and too full of the incel fantasy that plagued the first book in the series. World building is weak, and way too many things just are, with no attempt to explain how or why, or for them indeed to have meaningfull consequences. The Big Bad in particular seems to have no reason or motive, except probably to set up a big Vader style 'I'm your father moment'. I persevered to about half way, but that was enough, when I could have summarised the number of meaningful plot points in about a minute.

[James Hogan · Rating 4 out of 5]

After Caisson gave me book 1 in this series for Christmas and I enjoyed it so much I decided I needed the rest of the series, this one finally arrived in the mail! Such a big book (going on 800 pages!) and so it took me a little while to read it. But it did not disappoint. I continue to be both amazed and amused how much this book focuses on characters and relationships. The plot is good enough, if slightly predictable at times, but the characterizations are just superb. Such a large cast of characters the author is developing and they all feel unique and vibrant and worn, not plastic and fake. I am reading the rest of this series purely to see what happens with the characters, not really to find out what happens with the plot! Speaking of plot. I suppose this book falls into the dreaded "middle book" category, where all the bad things happen. This book is rough. I was very much caught off guard with a pivotal moment about halfway through the book and everything went downhill from there. I started getting depressed reading it, so dark was the night. How will the author redeem this story and his characters? I know not, but I am interested to start that journey (later on this evening!) Loved being introduced to Magnus and Elise - suitably great characters to match their legend! And of course our old favourites are still around. Lea and Erroh continue to be a joy to spend time with, even though I felt their development took a bit of a backseat in this book in service of all the newer characters. And they had such a great arc in the first book, they didn't need too much growth in this one. They still have good moments though. But for Emir and Roja and Lillium and Wynn and Wrek and oh so many others...lots of good development more fully colouring in this world and letting us see it from different perspectives. Roja in particular was extremely fascinating and I felt sad we didn't get more of her. Some of the plot points seem a bit unrealistic (or really, I just felt certain people in positions of authority were...not making good decisions), but I will let it pass - leaders in the real world are very often imperfect as well, making mistakes that cause dire consequences. This review is getting out of hand. I enjoyed this book. Possibly not quite as much as the first one, as it was darker and it didn't have Lea and Erroh in it as much. But there are some truly wonderful scenes and I much enjoyed spending more time with these characters I'm getting to know so well.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very glad I found this author

A few years ago I decided I was going to try and read everything in this genre. Obviously not the easiest goal to achieve. That said, it should give context to my review.

I never used to read fantasy so it’s been quite the journey and I’ve found some truly brilliant authors. Some who move the story along at such speed and consistency you find yourself reading all night. Some who build worlds so colourful and imaginative that you have to read the series of books in a week. Others who bring out characters beautifully so you genuinely care about their story.

I should say too, there are some truly shocking authors in this genre, who, for whatever reason seem to be doing well. Better marketing?

Ultimately though, there are only a few that bring the buy in, the character development, the speed and the imagination together to create truly brilliant fantasy. I can think of 10 at a push, with four or five set apart as clear leaders.

Robert Power, for me, is already in that top ten and as his writing improves over time, I’m sure he’ll end up at the top. His style is slightly unusual, the emphasis on character development is far deeper than anything else I’ve read. I found it refreshing and I found myself genuinely caring about the characters. The speed was good and you always wanted more. After this book, the series looks like it will at least be another two books (a trilogy is too short and would feel very rushed).

For anyone who enjoys fantasy, I’d recommend this book without a second thought as a must read.

I only have one criticism. The idea that the world is set in the future, with modern times (ie now) being a past age did drive me a little crazy. I’m guessing this is only because it reminds me of the Prince of Thorns which I thought was pretty average. Still, that could just be me.

[John Christensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This sequel pleased me.

I'll start by saying that The March of Magnus is far longer than the first book. This story focuses much more on other povs as well, and the overall scope is bigger.

The biggest problem I had with this was that the two protagonists from the first book are somewhat put on the sidelines as a result. Some people might prefer the focus on other characters but I thought it was a shame that the protagonists from the first book are missing for a significant portion of the sequel.

I also think that the story moved a bit too slowly, especially during a large portion in the middle, and I found myself just wishing for certain scenes to finish so I could find out what happens next. I guess this isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I think the pacing could've been handled a bit better. With the bigger focus on other povs comes a much slower buildup to whatever's happening next.

And this story does seem to largely be a buildup for the next book in the series, but the prose was good, the characters were interesting, and the ending was definitely worth it. I just wanted a bit more. And I need more of Erroh!

[Fifi Shepherd · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's so rare for a book to be told from multiple points of view and I'll genuinely enjoy looking through the eyes of the different characters. It no longer feels like Erroh and Lea are the main characters, all the side characters are so fleshed out and real that I feel invested in their survival all the more!

There were a few bits that because we were seeing the event from seemingly every character's point of view the event seemed to drag on for a long time. This isn't a true criticism because it was like poetry, when the characters felt like they'd been stuck in a situation for several days so did I!

With Nomi's return at the end I was kinda annoyed. If we have a love triangle in the next book that threatens the fab relationship between Erroh and Lea...I will be pissed off!

When did Emir become my favourite character?

I was so eager to meet Magnus and I was not disappointed by what we got.

I am hooked on this series and I'm going to have to show restraint reading the next one as who knows how long book 4 will be!

[Lisa Cassidy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the sequel to Rob Power's SPFBO finalist book, Spark City, and my overall comment is - it's even better than the first!! The story is a bit tighter, the characters have grown and developed, and the pacing is fast. It's quite long, too, so make sure you're ready to bunker down for a good, long, read. Erroh and Lea become more and more likable as their characters learn from their experiences and do a lot of growing up - Power does character development really well - and we get introduced to a whole new cast of fun, distinct, and interesting characters. I have to say, I was pretty invested in Emir and Roja, and Magnus was a great addition to the story, a nicely nuanced powerful hero. If you enjoyed Spark, I have no doubts you'll love this!!

[Eoin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, Robert has done it again. Nail biting stuff from page one till the bittersweet end.
The development of the characters from the first book has been such an enjoyable part of this series.
I've since re-read 'Spark City' and it is incredible how the characters have developed through both books. Its hard to believe Eroh at the end of 'March of Magnus' is the same character we saw aimlessly wandering the wastes, and a broken man after The Cull in 'Spark'.
The new locations and characters have added to the incredible world building while not overwhelming this reader. Can't wait to see how this story progresses through the remaining books.

[Kerry Alexander-Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

A grand story

I have enjoyed the tale of Erroh. The characters are intetesting. The plots weave with a wonderful symmetry. What i found annoying however, were 2 issues. The overuse of the one swear word. At certain moments it is used wisely, most other times it is spewed out with no real relevance. The other fact was the added fluff before a battle. Just get on with the battle please.The battle scenes are great and Iam looking forward to book 3. So please let me give that one a 5, you do deserve it. Your writing syntax is superb, very few dialogue tags. Just tighten some areas up. Thank you for sharing your story.

[Tristen Kozinski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still a good read, but struggles beneath significantly more bloat than the first book. There's a new pair of romances in the book but their opening beats feel almost identical to Erroh's and Lea's from the first book and take a while to diverge in meaningful ways.
The story had very little to do with Magnus marching, which is a shame because I was really excited for that prospect, and instead focuses more on politicking and turmoil in Spark. Most of the turmoil progresses in the background of other scenes and it just takes a long time to resolve into anything.
Character work remains enjoyable, it's just not as hyper focused as it was on Spark City.

[ShooF · Rating 4 out of 5]

OK 4* is a bit harsh but 5 would have been too much. When they talk about a game of 2 halves this is a game of thirds & the middle third is heavy going! A lot of this is down to expanding the cast,for some reason characters that barely got a mention in the first book are front and centre & for that middle third Erroh is hardly mentioned. When our main protagonist returns he stumbles from one disaster to another! The twist in the big battle scene is so obvious, stevie wonder could have seen it coming but for some reason the greatest warrior ever doesn't? Once it gets going it is really good but you can't help feeling that the author was trying overly hard to keep a lot of balls in the air.

[James Casserly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved Spark City, and came to The March Of Magnus with great hope. It started well, but honestly became a plod in the middle. I've lost count of the amount of chapters devoted to one single party. And there is a romance between two characters that goes on and on, without any bearing to the story and plot. It could easily be removed, without making any impact on the book. There's a chunk in the middle really needs excising and a good editor to streamline the novel. I have to admit, I nearly gave up on this novel. Such a shame as the first book was close to perfect.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars

I very seldom give a five star rating, this one is definitely deserving of it. I don't like starting a series and finding out that it's not finished. I very much enjoyed the world building it puts you in mind of an old world. The city of Spark obviously was there before a world apocalypse of some type. Being the only place that had electric lights and even they didn't seem to know how they worked. There was a special race of the Alpha's and they did their best to keep the bloodlines pure no matter what

[Alicia Scarborough · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes! Glorious Battle

Power writes engaging battle scenes that have you sitting in the edge of your seat biting your fingernails waiting for the victorious end. He adds little twists here and there that make turn of events not predictable… which by the way is rather refreshing.

The build was sensational and tied well with all the side stories making you wonder what other treachery awaited our hero and his friends.

Great continuation and I look forward to seeing how it ends in the next book.

[Jed · Rating 3 out of 5]

What kind of story do I want to tell. Is this a romance novel, or a fantasy. So much of this book is about couples and their relationships: Wynn and Lillian, Magnus and Elise, Roja and Emir, and of course Erroh and Leah/Naomi. The relationships felt like they were written from the understanding of a high school freshman. There were some really good parts of the book and that's why I didn't give just one star. There was some good fighting, some good betrayal, some good politics. Better than the first book. I would have liked to see more of that. Not sure if I will read book 3.

[Gotbadger · Rating 3 out of 5]

After the first book in the series I was on the fence a bit and I wanted to stick with it and see if it improved. It did a bit but not enough.

The story and setting a good the action is great but the sheer level of melodrama eventually just became too much. Another problem is the pacing and how parts of the story are way too detailed for something that in the end isn’t much of anything. I think the biggest issue for me is the characters just doing things that don’t make any sense for them to do to further the plot. That said it was enjoyable at times but I think this is where I’m gonna stop for now at least.

[Tomek · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somehow I like this book.
Not as much as the first installment though. The March of Magnus is longer than the first book but it seems that there is less going on. Maybe too many main characters in this one too. The very end of the book was very captivating, with Erroh's crazed battle frenzy. But apart from that, a very lukeworm story. Luckily, the original writing style of Power is still enough to make me want to read the next one. I am a little afraid as it is even longer than this part.
Well, we'll see...

[M.S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another awesome book in the series and I already can’t wait for The Outcasts. I had to read Spark City again before I started on The March of Magnus. It was well worth it and March of Magnus is even better so decent job...jk amazing job Rob! I would definitely recommend this book. I ended up reading my pre-release copy in one seating. I hope Rob is already working on The Outcasts but he does deserve a break too. Five stars all around!