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Journals of Evander Tailor #1
The Enchanter
Evan never thought he was going to be special. As the adopted son of a tailor, he had always expected to manage the shop after his father passed. But when his Aura awakens, he finds himself entering Yesgol Academy of Magic, a place filled with the children of elite mages and nobles, all of whom have had magical education from the time they could walk. Among such prestigious company, Evan will have to learn fast or be left in the dust and in debt.
At Yesgol, he studies the arts of enchanting and divination, but all is not as it seems. As Evan pushes forwards his skills as a mage to catch up with his peers, he finds himself entangled with a secret society for the reformation of magic, deals with the occasional extraplanar horror appearing in the shadows of the school, and catches the eye of a charming young noble who's been excommunicated from his family.
At Yesgol, he studies the arts of enchanting and divination, but all is not as it seems. As Evan pushes forwards his skills as a mage to catch up with his peers, he finds himself entangled with a secret society for the reformation of magic, deals with the occasional extraplanar horror appearing in the shadows of the school, and catches the eye of a charming young noble who's been excommunicated from his family.
459 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 14, 2022
391 people are currently reading
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
April 23, 2024
The Enchanter is the first progression fantasy that I've read (maybe some others I've read could fall into this genre), and I loved it. I had such a good time with this world and its characters.
We follow Evan as he goes to attend Yesgol Academy of Magic after his Aura recently awakens. Evan is a waif, an adopted son of a tailor, so he's already at a disadvantage in the academy surrounded by nobles and people who have years of experience on him. But he's determined not to fail out; to learn and advance his power.
He makes friends along the way, growing close to Osheen in particular. Osheen is powerful, coming from a noble family, that he's on the outs with. Evan is wary around new people but Osheen is able to bypass his barrier and they become friends and eventually a romance begins between them. The romance here is a very small part but was really well done; Evan and Osheen are perfect together!
Throughout his time at Yesgol, there's otherworldly danger lurking behind the scenes.
Going to dive right into the sequel The Diviner, and the third book was just recently released so I have loads of content to binge!!
We follow Evan as he goes to attend Yesgol Academy of Magic after his Aura recently awakens. Evan is a waif, an adopted son of a tailor, so he's already at a disadvantage in the academy surrounded by nobles and people who have years of experience on him. But he's determined not to fail out; to learn and advance his power.
He makes friends along the way, growing close to Osheen in particular. Osheen is powerful, coming from a noble family, that he's on the outs with. Evan is wary around new people but Osheen is able to bypass his barrier and they become friends and eventually a romance begins between them. The romance here is a very small part but was really well done; Evan and Osheen are perfect together!
Throughout his time at Yesgol, there's otherworldly danger lurking behind the scenes.
Going to dive right into the sequel The Diviner, and the third book was just recently released so I have loads of content to binge!!
March 17, 2022
Oh, a classic book of what could have been. So much potential!
(+) It's a magic school story. The world building is excellent. It certainly was a strange read. The potential kept me turning the pages despite lackadaisical pacing.
(-) Lack of plot. The books start with a plot premise but that never progresses till last 3% of the book. All the middle is about the school life of the MC having events that rarely matter in big picture, obligatory duel and tournament notwithstanding.
The worldbuilding is still great, but then without a plot to progress, it feels a bit standalone that reduced the impact. Even at the end the entirely flimsy and hasty plot resolution lacked the requisite buildup and failed to garner any oomph deserving of a finale.
Somehow I still can't say I disliked this. More like ambivalent.
The author has lots of potential, that I'll keep an eye out for in future.
(+) It's a magic school story. The world building is excellent. It certainly was a strange read. The potential kept me turning the pages despite lackadaisical pacing.
(-) Lack of plot. The books start with a plot premise but that never progresses till last 3% of the book. All the middle is about the school life of the MC having events that rarely matter in big picture, obligatory duel and tournament notwithstanding.
The worldbuilding is still great, but then without a plot to progress, it feels a bit standalone that reduced the impact. Even at the end the entirely flimsy and hasty plot resolution lacked the requisite buildup and failed to garner any oomph deserving of a finale.
Somehow I still can't say I disliked this. More like ambivalent.
The author has lots of potential, that I'll keep an eye out for in future.
March 30, 2022
I had a really good time with this one! The Enchanter is a strong debut, brimming with fun, excitement, and intrigue.
This is a magical academy novel, so it follows some of those familiar tropes but with a few fresh spins on it that kept things interesting and helped cement this world as distinctly different from those in other series. One of those things being that the school is based around a gigantic tree, which I thought was a lot of fun.
The main one, however, was the book's focus on enchanting items (as if you couldn't guess by the title). While we learn a bit about all of the different branches of magic in this world, we obviously spend the most amount of time learning about enchanting and the various types of enchanted items (like foci, artifacts, imbued items, etc.). Throughout the book, it was always fascinating learning a new layer to this process, coming to understand more and more the rules of what has turned out to be our hero Evander Tailor's primary area of study. Most of the time, progression fantasy has a big focus on training the characters' combat abilities, whether that be physical or magical power; while enchanted items do indeed have a benefit in battle (as we see in multiple fight scenes), Begley's approach was a breath of fresh air to me. I really enjoyed seeing how Evan chose the items he wanted to use, and how he could alter them with his magic to aid him. I also loved the section where we learned about components, and I hope we get to dive deeper into that in future books.
I also appreciated how well being an enchanter ties into his past as a tailor's apprentice, which I can only assume will come into play in a more major way as the series goes on, as in this book the only real tailoring we got was Evan preparing himself and his date outfits for a festival.
Which, speaking of that date, the romance in this book was my other favorite part. Which is good, because it was a pretty big aspect of the story. That being said, I wouldn't necessarily call this book a "romance," but it was an important part of Evan's character development. I thought Begley did a great job of crafting a young romance that felt believable and developed at a natural pace. There was no love at first sight, no attraction-despite-never-actually-spending-time-with-each-other, etc. We got to see these two guys hang out together a lot and let their chemistry grow before either of them actually makes a move on the other. Their relationship was very sweet, and I enjoyed watching it blossom as the book went on.
While the scope of this book remained firmly in the school, the stakes grew pretty big by the end of it, setting up some interesting conflicts for the future of the series. I'm looking forward to seeing where Evan and the others go from here, as well as getting a better look at this vast, intriguing world that Begley has created.
This is a magical academy novel, so it follows some of those familiar tropes but with a few fresh spins on it that kept things interesting and helped cement this world as distinctly different from those in other series. One of those things being that the school is based around a gigantic tree, which I thought was a lot of fun.
The main one, however, was the book's focus on enchanting items (as if you couldn't guess by the title). While we learn a bit about all of the different branches of magic in this world, we obviously spend the most amount of time learning about enchanting and the various types of enchanted items (like foci, artifacts, imbued items, etc.). Throughout the book, it was always fascinating learning a new layer to this process, coming to understand more and more the rules of what has turned out to be our hero Evander Tailor's primary area of study. Most of the time, progression fantasy has a big focus on training the characters' combat abilities, whether that be physical or magical power; while enchanted items do indeed have a benefit in battle (as we see in multiple fight scenes), Begley's approach was a breath of fresh air to me. I really enjoyed seeing how Evan chose the items he wanted to use, and how he could alter them with his magic to aid him. I also loved the section where we learned about components, and I hope we get to dive deeper into that in future books.
I also appreciated how well being an enchanter ties into his past as a tailor's apprentice, which I can only assume will come into play in a more major way as the series goes on, as in this book the only real tailoring we got was Evan preparing himself and his date outfits for a festival.
Which, speaking of that date, the romance in this book was my other favorite part. Which is good, because it was a pretty big aspect of the story. That being said, I wouldn't necessarily call this book a "romance," but it was an important part of Evan's character development. I thought Begley did a great job of crafting a young romance that felt believable and developed at a natural pace. There was no love at first sight, no attraction-despite-never-actually-spending-time-with-each-other, etc. We got to see these two guys hang out together a lot and let their chemistry grow before either of them actually makes a move on the other. Their relationship was very sweet, and I enjoyed watching it blossom as the book went on.
While the scope of this book remained firmly in the school, the stakes grew pretty big by the end of it, setting up some interesting conflicts for the future of the series. I'm looking forward to seeing where Evan and the others go from here, as well as getting a better look at this vast, intriguing world that Begley has created.
February 15, 2023
From the very first chapter the writing and motives sound and feel extremely childish. It’s like one of those game inspired novels: how much money will I get if I do this, how many levels, what time frame do I have. It makes the story seem mechanical and repetitive, but without any depth or introspection. Seriously, how does it make any sense to have pages and pages of him telling us how many hours it will take to prepare a spell? How would he even know that for a spell he never saw before? 45 hours, and this one 2 days and this one 4. Please, it sounds like an episode of dragon ball with all their talks about levels. If the book was aimed at people under 15 do put up a warning.
The protagonist too was rather flat. He sound like a petulant, dysfunctional, egotistical and annoying adolescent. He thinks being an assassin is “cool”. He has a hero complex but no charm or appeal. In a way I guess his portrayal is rather realistic for what the average 14 years old is like. I would also have liked more attention to the concept of suspense… because it was completely absent. This story is more a slice of life kind of thing, like reading the diary of a teenager. The most ridiculous example was when they get in the vault to select a treasure. That wad literally the perfect moment for having him find some kind of hidden and lost artifact, maybe with the the help of his familiar. Instead he ends up with a stupid ass saber.
The prose is really really really slow, we are told so many inconsequential details (him going back to the library to leave the book he had borrowed). The amount of info dumping was egregious and the book would have greatly benefited from an editor (or at least a better editor if one was used) because you could definitely shelve 1/4 of the words and still preserve the main story. And I would also note that the cover doesn’t match at all with the story. He is described as this shy, kind, little boy…. I’m sure the author will get better at writing as they progress in their career but as of now it is painfully obvious this is their first book and I would wager they are in their early twenties if not teens.
1.5
The protagonist too was rather flat. He sound like a petulant, dysfunctional, egotistical and annoying adolescent. He thinks being an assassin is “cool”. He has a hero complex but no charm or appeal. In a way I guess his portrayal is rather realistic for what the average 14 years old is like. I would also have liked more attention to the concept of suspense… because it was completely absent. This story is more a slice of life kind of thing, like reading the diary of a teenager. The most ridiculous example was when they get in the vault to select a treasure. That wad literally the perfect moment for having him find some kind of hidden and lost artifact, maybe with the the help of his familiar. Instead he ends up with a stupid ass saber.
The prose is really really really slow, we are told so many inconsequential details (him going back to the library to leave the book he had borrowed). The amount of info dumping was egregious and the book would have greatly benefited from an editor (or at least a better editor if one was used) because you could definitely shelve 1/4 of the words and still preserve the main story. And I would also note that the cover doesn’t match at all with the story. He is described as this shy, kind, little boy…. I’m sure the author will get better at writing as they progress in their career but as of now it is painfully obvious this is their first book and I would wager they are in their early twenties if not teens.
1.5
June 26, 2022
I started writing a review of this and it basically starts like this:
"There are three sides to me while reading a book: me, the reader, me, the author, and me, the editor. This time the editor in me was working at a full blast."
With this, I'd like to mention that I will be reading the sequel to this when it comes out and I am also interested in the two series set in the same universe the author mentioned in his afterword.
RTC
"There are three sides to me while reading a book: me, the reader, me, the author, and me, the editor. This time the editor in me was working at a full blast."
With this, I'd like to mention that I will be reading the sequel to this when it comes out and I am also interested in the two series set in the same universe the author mentioned in his afterword.
RTC
June 23, 2022
This book has everything I enjoy:
- characters I love
- a huge focus on the main character's interests such that we get to learn with them and really get a feel for how things work
- mental illness rep (the main character has anxiety)
- queer rep (the main character is gay)
- magic
- crafting
Evan, the main character, actually reminded me a bit of Lindon from the Cradle series, which I also love. Both start out disadvantaged, they both have a huge desire to become stronger, and they both have a one track mind in regards to becoming strong.
While there is some action near the end and an overarching plot regarding monsters popping up without anyone knowing who is behind it, I'd more categorize this as slice of life, as it largely focuses on Evan figuring out the intricacies of magic, witchcraft, and crafting. Oh, and seeing Evan navigate relationships and friendships. Which is awesome, because I love slice of life. This book felt cozy and safe and I loved every bit of it.
I can't wait to see how Evan progresses, and how/if politics start to come into play in the next book. I have a feeling that whatever comes next will expand the scope of the world, and I'm here for it!
- characters I love
- a huge focus on the main character's interests such that we get to learn with them and really get a feel for how things work
- mental illness rep (the main character has anxiety)
- queer rep (the main character is gay)
- magic
- crafting
Evan, the main character, actually reminded me a bit of Lindon from the Cradle series, which I also love. Both start out disadvantaged, they both have a huge desire to become stronger, and they both have a one track mind in regards to becoming strong.
While there is some action near the end and an overarching plot regarding monsters popping up without anyone knowing who is behind it, I'd more categorize this as slice of life, as it largely focuses on Evan figuring out the intricacies of magic, witchcraft, and crafting. Oh, and seeing Evan navigate relationships and friendships. Which is awesome, because I love slice of life. This book felt cozy and safe and I loved every bit of it.
I can't wait to see how Evan progresses, and how/if politics start to come into play in the next book. I have a feeling that whatever comes next will expand the scope of the world, and I'm here for it!
March 17, 2022
cute story of magical crafting
19 year old gay tailor finds out he has magic and learns how to make magical items and gets into magical fights.
I enjoyed it and thought it was entertaining and wholesome.
no sex
no graphic sex or violence
no harem
yes crafting
yes fighting
yes romance
19 year old gay tailor finds out he has magic and learns how to make magical items and gets into magical fights.
I enjoyed it and thought it was entertaining and wholesome.
no sex
no graphic sex or violence
no harem
yes crafting
yes fighting
yes romance
March 19, 2022
I bought this on a whim as it was recommended by an author that i like and I was pleasantly surprised. This book was such a welcome read for me.
The basic plot is a guy goes to magic school and makes friends and learns sorcery. The execution is magical.
For a while now i have felt that the progression fantasy has been stuck in a rut of the same tropes. Its an early genre and i enjoy it but theres so much focus on fighting and it seems to have a lot of straight bland office workers named jake or roy turning into the saviour of the world.
This book was a step into a direction in a direction that i can only describe as more in line with traditional fantasy novels as opposed to online serials (even though it started out that way).
It is long enough that it has time to delve into the characters and doesn't feel like you are constantly going from one action sequence to the next. Instead we get time to see these characters on their down time just hanging out but never feels like its meandering.
Another thing that has been missing from prog fantasy is diversity. I have wished a lot for some of the stories i have read to feature both more women and lgbt characters and this book delivers.
The Main character is great example of how to write a gay character without it feeling like a gimmick. One thing that i enjoyed about this representation was that there are some parts of the world that are not entirely on board with differing sexualities but most of society is. It never gets depressing but it does hint at a more life like complexity instead of it feeling entirely sanitised.
I also should mention the mc's character. He suffers from slight agoraphobia and social anxiety BUT is not overwhelming to the point that it seems like a caricature. He is quiet, thoughtful and considered. Its such a different experience to read a character who shows an alternative sort of masculinity]. One that I could relate to more than many others in the genre.
All in all this book is a great read. Colorful and light in tone and very comforting. I found myself sitting in the sun and drinking lots of tea while reading it.
You should absolutely read it and i cannot wait for the next one. (less)
The basic plot is a guy goes to magic school and makes friends and learns sorcery. The execution is magical.
For a while now i have felt that the progression fantasy has been stuck in a rut of the same tropes. Its an early genre and i enjoy it but theres so much focus on fighting and it seems to have a lot of straight bland office workers named jake or roy turning into the saviour of the world.
This book was a step into a direction in a direction that i can only describe as more in line with traditional fantasy novels as opposed to online serials (even though it started out that way).
It is long enough that it has time to delve into the characters and doesn't feel like you are constantly going from one action sequence to the next. Instead we get time to see these characters on their down time just hanging out but never feels like its meandering.
Another thing that has been missing from prog fantasy is diversity. I have wished a lot for some of the stories i have read to feature both more women and lgbt characters and this book delivers.
The Main character is great example of how to write a gay character without it feeling like a gimmick. One thing that i enjoyed about this representation was that there are some parts of the world that are not entirely on board with differing sexualities but most of society is. It never gets depressing but it does hint at a more life like complexity instead of it feeling entirely sanitised.
I also should mention the mc's character. He suffers from slight agoraphobia and social anxiety BUT is not overwhelming to the point that it seems like a caricature. He is quiet, thoughtful and considered. Its such a different experience to read a character who shows an alternative sort of masculinity]. One that I could relate to more than many others in the genre.
All in all this book is a great read. Colorful and light in tone and very comforting. I found myself sitting in the sun and drinking lots of tea while reading it.
You should absolutely read it and i cannot wait for the next one. (less)
January 17, 2023
The adopted human son of an elvish tailor, Evander "Evan" was looking forward to a nice life as a tailor, taking over his father's shop once he passes. That was his plan, that is, until he suddenly discovers he has a magical aura. Now, his plan includes attending Yesgol Academy of Magic and avoiding failing out so he doesn't end up conscripted into the military.
Though Evan adjusts well to this change in his life plans, he quickly finds himself involved in a secret society trying to bring reform to the current magic system, dealing with horrific beings summoned from another land that are incredibly dangerous, or catching the eye and interest of a noble-born young man who has been excommunicated from his family.
With all of that going on, Evan has his work cut out for him.
First, I have read several academy novels, and I have found that my interest level tends to vary based on how unique the story is. I can safely say that, while there are some similarities between this book and the Mage Errant series - especially in the personalities of the protagonists - there is enough differences that this book stands out, much like the Mage Errant series. This is only the first book in the series, and I am glad the author is continuing the series, because I definitely want to know what happens to Evan and Osheen.
As opposed to many of the romantic relationships that we tend to see in these types of novels, the romance here was very much a slow-burn, with the romance developing throughout the book as the two characters spend time together. As a result, it felt much more real to me. I also liked the amount of time the author devoted to the interpersonal relationships among all the characters; it really helped bring the other characters to life. At the same time, the author spends a great deal of time on worldbuilding, but instead of feeling like a series of infodumps that just overwhelm the reader, the information was provided at times that made it relevant to the reader.
The only real complaint that I have is with the way part of the plot was resolved at the end. For an aspect that was used to induce quite a bit of tension throughout the novel, it felt a bit too easy for me. That said, there are still plenty of ways that could come back up in a later book, and there is still the overarching plot of magic reform to continue in later books to deal with. At the same time, the way the plot was resolved wasn't unrealistic; it was just... it's almost like it was too easy, and now I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop. Who knows? Maybe it will in the next book. Aside from that, though, I absolutely loved this book, and I cannot wait for the next book.
Also, I had the opportunity to listen to the audiobook, which was narrated by Emily Ellet. At first, it was a little odd listening to a female narrator for a male protagonist. That didn't last long though. Ellet did a wonderful job with the narration, and I absolutely loved her performance of the different characters and the voices she used to bring them to life. I do hope that she will narrate any sequels published so I can listen to her narrate those as well.
Though Evan adjusts well to this change in his life plans, he quickly finds himself involved in a secret society trying to bring reform to the current magic system, dealing with horrific beings summoned from another land that are incredibly dangerous, or catching the eye and interest of a noble-born young man who has been excommunicated from his family.
With all of that going on, Evan has his work cut out for him.
First, I have read several academy novels, and I have found that my interest level tends to vary based on how unique the story is. I can safely say that, while there are some similarities between this book and the Mage Errant series - especially in the personalities of the protagonists - there is enough differences that this book stands out, much like the Mage Errant series. This is only the first book in the series, and I am glad the author is continuing the series, because I definitely want to know what happens to Evan and Osheen.
As opposed to many of the romantic relationships that we tend to see in these types of novels, the romance here was very much a slow-burn, with the romance developing throughout the book as the two characters spend time together. As a result, it felt much more real to me. I also liked the amount of time the author devoted to the interpersonal relationships among all the characters; it really helped bring the other characters to life. At the same time, the author spends a great deal of time on worldbuilding, but instead of feeling like a series of infodumps that just overwhelm the reader, the information was provided at times that made it relevant to the reader.
The only real complaint that I have is with the way part of the plot was resolved at the end. For an aspect that was used to induce quite a bit of tension throughout the novel, it felt a bit too easy for me. That said, there are still plenty of ways that could come back up in a later book, and there is still the overarching plot of magic reform to continue in later books to deal with. At the same time, the way the plot was resolved wasn't unrealistic; it was just... it's almost like it was too easy, and now I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop. Who knows? Maybe it will in the next book. Aside from that, though, I absolutely loved this book, and I cannot wait for the next book.
Also, I had the opportunity to listen to the audiobook, which was narrated by Emily Ellet. At first, it was a little odd listening to a female narrator for a male protagonist. That didn't last long though. Ellet did a wonderful job with the narration, and I absolutely loved her performance of the different characters and the voices she used to bring them to life. I do hope that she will narrate any sequels published so I can listen to her narrate those as well.
May 9, 2022
Not great not terrible just a bit slow
So it was an interesting premise. I am a big fan of crafting and I thought And enchanted might do a lot of that. Which did sort of happen but it wasn't super detailed. The magic system is still slightly nebulous it's not very definitive. Like an out of focus picture a little blurry on the edges hard to understand the detailed new once. But certainly enough to prove rest the story. There was a lot of learning and grinding which is the story. After all the main character is in school and a beginner. I just found the lack of action or progression in the timely manner to be a little off putting. It was a fairly long book so Grind/enjoyable take your pick. The romance in the book is alternative. If that bothers you You may have some trouble in the book however there is no sex scenes or anything like that. Just minor romance flirting et cetera..... Doesn't really distract from the story So can be easily ignored it that's a problem. My main concern is I want some epic items. Big toys scalable unique Et cetera. I like my MC to have something that other people Don't. I like my Fantasy characters To be special not average Joe so to speak. There's skills in abilities don't have to be epic just something leverageable. Certainly didn't see that here however there's still a lot of unknowns since he was adopted. There could be some heritage that he is yet to fulfill.
So it was an interesting premise. I am a big fan of crafting and I thought And enchanted might do a lot of that. Which did sort of happen but it wasn't super detailed. The magic system is still slightly nebulous it's not very definitive. Like an out of focus picture a little blurry on the edges hard to understand the detailed new once. But certainly enough to prove rest the story. There was a lot of learning and grinding which is the story. After all the main character is in school and a beginner. I just found the lack of action or progression in the timely manner to be a little off putting. It was a fairly long book so Grind/enjoyable take your pick. The romance in the book is alternative. If that bothers you You may have some trouble in the book however there is no sex scenes or anything like that. Just minor romance flirting et cetera..... Doesn't really distract from the story So can be easily ignored it that's a problem. My main concern is I want some epic items. Big toys scalable unique Et cetera. I like my MC to have something that other people Don't. I like my Fantasy characters To be special not average Joe so to speak. There's skills in abilities don't have to be epic just something leverageable. Certainly didn't see that here however there's still a lot of unknowns since he was adopted. There could be some heritage that he is yet to fulfill.
April 21, 2022
Really really enjoyed this story! I'm a sucker for any book that takes place in a magic academy and this was no exception. The setting was really fun, the magic system was easy to daydream about and I wasn't bombarded with constant world building. An MC that focuses mainly on creating magic items? I absolutely loved that and the author managed to keep those processes interesting the whole book. My only critique is about some of the dialogue and side characters. I felt that a lot of scenes ended way too quickly once Evan got what he needed, then it was on to the next chapter immediately. Mostly I think I wanted more time and development with other characters. Besides that and some editing issues, this was really good stuff and will most certainly be reading the next whenever it comes!
March 24, 2022
This was sooo good!! I've been looking for this type of series but while there are some Light Novels line this I haven't had success finding a good western book that has this pacing. I can sometimes find high fantasy Slice of Life (like this year Legends and Lattes!) but not books that have a "cozy" immersive feel and still have a central adventure conflict that I miss. I've really loved this world and can't wait to be in it again!
April 2, 2022
Loved It
Binged this one in a day. Really fun characters, all of them distinct.
The MC is very methodical and driven. Who doesn’t love a driven character who starts off as an underdog and quickly distinguished himself? And to get strong (especially in the beginning), the MC mostly relies on repetition / memorization / book smarts. He recognizes his own weaknesses, such as the fact that as a commoner, he hasn’t been trained with a blade since childhood. But at the same time, he continues to develop goals throughout the novel that necessitate violence, and he doesn’t shy away from what he needs to learn and what he needs to do. Weak to strong done effectively and believably, also excellent character growth along the way. In the beginning, the MC would never have the confidence to do the kinds of things he does by the end of the book.
The relationship between the MC and his partner, Osheen, was very well developed. Begley effectively captured the awkwardness and uncertainties / insecurities that accompany first forays into romance.
Finally, I have to put in a special mention for the ending… it was a complete blast to read. Very bombastic and tied up the mystery plot points strewn throughout the pages. Very epic final battle kind of stuff. Definitely a chance for our MC to shine as a badass. Also, no cliff hanger, though I certainly want to read more immediately.
Binged this one in a day. Really fun characters, all of them distinct.
The MC is very methodical and driven. Who doesn’t love a driven character who starts off as an underdog and quickly distinguished himself? And to get strong (especially in the beginning), the MC mostly relies on repetition / memorization / book smarts. He recognizes his own weaknesses, such as the fact that as a commoner, he hasn’t been trained with a blade since childhood. But at the same time, he continues to develop goals throughout the novel that necessitate violence, and he doesn’t shy away from what he needs to learn and what he needs to do. Weak to strong done effectively and believably, also excellent character growth along the way. In the beginning, the MC would never have the confidence to do the kinds of things he does by the end of the book.
The relationship between the MC and his partner, Osheen, was very well developed. Begley effectively captured the awkwardness and uncertainties / insecurities that accompany first forays into romance.
Finally, I have to put in a special mention for the ending… it was a complete blast to read. Very bombastic and tied up the mystery plot points strewn throughout the pages. Very epic final battle kind of stuff. Definitely a chance for our MC to shine as a badass. Also, no cliff hanger, though I certainly want to read more immediately.
March 26, 2022
Dnf 43%
The idea was good, but the storyline… It was too boring. Reading this felt like doing homework and i just didnt care anymore about what happened.
The idea was good, but the storyline… It was too boring. Reading this felt like doing homework and i just didnt care anymore about what happened.
September 21, 2022
I was torn between giving three or four stars, but light of this being Begley's first book, I've decided to lean towards the four stars for the potential alone.
I'll try to keep this vague as I can, but I'll put it under "spoilers" regardless.
I liked Evander as a protagonist. His social anxieties and problems in crowds of people were a nice touch without making him too much of a lone wolf. He has friends, but also ones that will chastise him when he steps out of line. His faults are adressed and treated as such, his strengths are highlighted and rewarded but also come at a personal cost at times. He did gain a lot of early power very quickly, as protagonists often do, but that is balanced a bit by the social hirachry inbedded in the world.
Speaking of which: the world building is detailed. I mean this neutrally. Kind of.
On the one hand, you could say that there is too much focus on minute details. When the magic system was described to both Evander and the readers, it- at times- felt like I was reading a magic textbook. It was dense. Complicated- maybe even overly so. There were times where my eyes would glaze over and I would skipp entire paragraphs on the detailed spellwork.
On the other hand, that is also a strength: the book explains how magic works in this world. Why certain things work and why they don't. Where the limits are. It makes you feel like you could understand it and practice it. The world is set up with magic as a "tool" and a force of nature instead of something unknown and wonderous. The setting also adresses social inequalities between different magic branches and nobility & commoners.
The detailed world can also hurt the pacing a bit. There is a lot of setup. Magic system. Society. Characters. Class selection. In fact, homework, school life and rivalries make up a vast majority of this first book, with a few plot hooks for later storylines sprinkled in sporadically that don't have resolutions yet. This makes it hard to judge the book on it's own. The middle part drag a lot at times and the last fith or so of the book feel incredibily rushed. HOWEVER, this could lead to the following books gaining speed quickly, since a lot has been set up already and is ready to be paid off. So until I see where this all leads, I can't tell if this was needlessly drawn out or very elaborate groudwork.
All in all, though, I had a good time with this book and I will pick up the second, just to see where all the moving pieces on the board land. Your enjoyment of this book may be highly dependant on how much you like "slice of life" stories.
I'll try to keep this vague as I can, but I'll put it under "spoilers" regardless.
I liked Evander as a protagonist. His social anxieties and problems in crowds of people were a nice touch without making him too much of a lone wolf. He has friends, but also ones that will chastise him when he steps out of line. His faults are adressed and treated as such, his strengths are highlighted and rewarded but also come at a personal cost at times. He did gain a lot of early power very quickly, as protagonists often do, but that is balanced a bit by the social hirachry inbedded in the world.
Speaking of which: the world building is detailed. I mean this neutrally. Kind of.
On the one hand, you could say that there is too much focus on minute details. When the magic system was described to both Evander and the readers, it- at times- felt like I was reading a magic textbook. It was dense. Complicated- maybe even overly so. There were times where my eyes would glaze over and I would skipp entire paragraphs on the detailed spellwork.
On the other hand, that is also a strength: the book explains how magic works in this world. Why certain things work and why they don't. Where the limits are. It makes you feel like you could understand it and practice it. The world is set up with magic as a "tool" and a force of nature instead of something unknown and wonderous. The setting also adresses social inequalities between different magic branches and nobility & commoners.
The detailed world can also hurt the pacing a bit. There is a lot of setup. Magic system. Society. Characters. Class selection. In fact, homework, school life and rivalries make up a vast majority of this first book, with a few plot hooks for later storylines sprinkled in sporadically that don't have resolutions yet. This makes it hard to judge the book on it's own. The middle part drag a lot at times and the last fith or so of the book feel incredibily rushed. HOWEVER, this could lead to the following books gaining speed quickly, since a lot has been set up already and is ready to be paid off. So until I see where this all leads, I can't tell if this was needlessly drawn out or very elaborate groudwork.
All in all, though, I had a good time with this book and I will pick up the second, just to see where all the moving pieces on the board land. Your enjoyment of this book may be highly dependant on how much you like "slice of life" stories.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2024
For fans of progression fantasy books, The Enchanter (and its sequel The Diviner) are a strong new voice to the genre that highlights some of the best parts of progression fantasy without getting bogged down in some of the pitfalls. There’s a lot of familiar ground. A magic school, a commoner with magic, snotty nobles, and a socially awkward main character more interested in preparation and crafting than traditional battle magic. There’s clear parallels to both Mage Errant and Arcane Ascension, though I think the book manages to balance its worldbuilding better than Arcane Ascension, and offers a quieter story than the action-focused Mage Errant.
There were a lot of fun moments throughout in how the author builds the world and magic. While things get off to a bit of a slow start, I appreciated the focus on witchcraft, with rituals, luck manipulation, and divination being the main kit of the main character. The cast of characters is small enough to be familiar, but not so small to be stifling, with an extremely well depicticted couple (there’s a hair of romance in book one, but once they get established its just positive relationship vibes), which is refreshing for the amount of casualness that a gay couple being able to exist without it needing to be a focus. The author has also managed to nail the progression of the series from book to book. Each one deftly resolves plot lines while proactively foreshadowing new ones and laying the groundwork for the next book without it simply being ‘now you face an even stronger foe!’ that the genre sometimes falls into.
I binged the first two, am sad there aren’t more yet, and am chomping at the book for the third installment to release.
There were a lot of fun moments throughout in how the author builds the world and magic. While things get off to a bit of a slow start, I appreciated the focus on witchcraft, with rituals, luck manipulation, and divination being the main kit of the main character. The cast of characters is small enough to be familiar, but not so small to be stifling, with an extremely well depicticted couple (there’s a hair of romance in book one, but once they get established its just positive relationship vibes), which is refreshing for the amount of casualness that a gay couple being able to exist without it needing to be a focus. The author has also managed to nail the progression of the series from book to book. Each one deftly resolves plot lines while proactively foreshadowing new ones and laying the groundwork for the next book without it simply being ‘now you face an even stronger foe!’ that the genre sometimes falls into.
I binged the first two, am sad there aren’t more yet, and am chomping at the book for the third installment to release.
October 2, 2025
There were times during my read when I had to force myself forward. I personally thought the romance element was awkward, but that's probably true to the character's age groups. Regardless, I just wanted to move past these clunky interpersonal moments.
The system of nobility was clearly unjust but was also moving toward a more just system. What we never saw was the people or mechanism that was pushing for egalitarianism. It seemed that the author understood the natural progression of society but not the movements that create those changes.
As to the academy aspect — it suffered from many of the same weaknesses plaguing fantasy since Harry Potter. Uncaring professors, stupidly dangerous lessons/development, arbitrary advancement metrics, unchecked bullying. I particularly hated the final battle filter. If you divide the students into two random halves and then have those teams fight, failing the losing half... you are guaranteed to be tossing about 25% of students that would objectively be in the top half of performers. That's not a metric-based filter, it's a random culling.
My final complaint is the climactic fight at the book's end. It came out of nowhere. We knew nothing about the bad-guys (and thus didn't care about their fate), and it required two Deus ex machina for the hero to survive. This was clearly a set piece that the author had blocked out from the beginning, but which was insufficiently integrated into the main story.
On the surface this book has all of the elements a fantasy academy novel should have. They just didn't feel organic. It was better than fan-fic level, but Begley has a way to go to match most published authors in this genre.
The system of nobility was clearly unjust but was also moving toward a more just system. What we never saw was the people or mechanism that was pushing for egalitarianism. It seemed that the author understood the natural progression of society but not the movements that create those changes.
As to the academy aspect — it suffered from many of the same weaknesses plaguing fantasy since Harry Potter. Uncaring professors, stupidly dangerous lessons/development, arbitrary advancement metrics, unchecked bullying. I particularly hated the final battle filter. If you divide the students into two random halves and then have those teams fight, failing the losing half... you are guaranteed to be tossing about 25% of students that would objectively be in the top half of performers. That's not a metric-based filter, it's a random culling.
My final complaint is the climactic fight at the book's end. It came out of nowhere. We knew nothing about the bad-guys (and thus didn't care about their fate), and it required two Deus ex machina for the hero to survive. This was clearly a set piece that the author had blocked out from the beginning, but which was insufficiently integrated into the main story.
On the surface this book has all of the elements a fantasy academy novel should have. They just didn't feel organic. It was better than fan-fic level, but Begley has a way to go to match most published authors in this genre.
April 6, 2022
This was an engaging read right from the first chapter. I love magical academy books and progression fantasy is one of my favorite subgenres. This book combined both in a satisfying way for me, and the afterword promised more exciting works to come.
The first half was mostly slice-of-life — introducing characters, world building, start of a new academic year and so on. I enjoy this sort of set up at the beginning of a series, and it was well done here. The technology level seemed to be 19th century with steam powered trains, use of pistols, etc (doesn't play a big role in this book though).
The story is told from Evander's POV. I think more perspectives (or interludes) would've enhanced the experience here. The stakes increased a lot in the second half — magical experiments, end of year competitions, extraplanar horrors, etc.
Evander suffers from agoraphobia, social anxiety and crowded areas. I felt like the author did a good job of showing how it affects everyday living. There were other characters as well with their own quirks and issues.
The magic system was interesting and had a lot of flexibility in terms of application and gaining power. I think it is more apt to say the author combined several different magic systems — witchcraft, bonding with familiars, runes, etc (all powered by aura).
Overall, I would say it was a good debut and recommend the book for those who enjoy academy settings.
The first half was mostly slice-of-life — introducing characters, world building, start of a new academic year and so on. I enjoy this sort of set up at the beginning of a series, and it was well done here. The technology level seemed to be 19th century with steam powered trains, use of pistols, etc (doesn't play a big role in this book though).
The story is told from Evander's POV. I think more perspectives (or interludes) would've enhanced the experience here. The stakes increased a lot in the second half — magical experiments, end of year competitions, extraplanar horrors, etc.
Evander suffers from agoraphobia, social anxiety and crowded areas. I felt like the author did a good job of showing how it affects everyday living. There were other characters as well with their own quirks and issues.
The magic system was interesting and had a lot of flexibility in terms of application and gaining power. I think it is more apt to say the author combined several different magic systems — witchcraft, bonding with familiars, runes, etc (all powered by aura).
Overall, I would say it was a good debut and recommend the book for those who enjoy academy settings.
August 9, 2022
The Enchanter was a breath of fresh air after reading the latest Cradle and Mage Errant books, both long standing series whose shortcomings are becoming more apparent. I enjoyed the different writing style well enough. But the book has glaring flaws.
One of the worst parts of the book was it's ending. It was full of contrivance, convenience and powerful characters acting like idiots. It also made it clear what a Mary Sue the MC is, and I don't say that lightly. Even tough he is supposed to have crippling social anxiety, nothing really fazes him in the moments that matter. His "flaw" isn't actually holding him back. There can't really be any serious character development if he can already handle everything.
The romance was simple but enjoyable, it's just a shame that it didn't really play much of a role in the second term of the semester. The "mandatory" bully plotline was flimsy and there were also multiple plot-relevant problems with the world building.
While the Enchanter was an enjoyable read on it's own I don't think that the characters and the world can carry a whole series. That's especially unfortunate for a progression fantasy series.
One of the worst parts of the book was it's ending. It was full of contrivance, convenience and powerful characters acting like idiots. It also made it clear what a Mary Sue the MC is, and I don't say that lightly. Even tough he is supposed to have crippling social anxiety, nothing really fazes him in the moments that matter. His "flaw" isn't actually holding him back. There can't really be any serious character development if he can already handle everything.
The romance was simple but enjoyable, it's just a shame that it didn't really play much of a role in the second term of the semester. The "mandatory" bully plotline was flimsy and there were also multiple plot-relevant problems with the world building.
While the Enchanter was an enjoyable read on it's own I don't think that the characters and the world can carry a whole series. That's especially unfortunate for a progression fantasy series.
October 16, 2022
I can't say I enjoyed this book.
The magic system was unnecessarily complicated and hard to grasp. The author went into it in excruciating detail, so for those readers like me who decided to skim through, there was a lot to skip. The protagonist wasn't particularly endearing in any way, so this is one of the few books in which I found myself indifferent to his fate. Moreover, the progression of his character from simple to ambitious bordered on the unbelievable. It felt like I was reading a character sketch - background, sexual orientation, phobia, weakness, strength. It felt like the author was working hard throughout the book to assure everyone that this is not a book about 'the one'; a character who has some special ability that sets him or her apart from the rest and eventually becomes a savior of some sort. But it was taken so far that the protagonist came across as a weakling with a slight inferiority complex. None of the other characters grasped my attention either.
Overall, I think this book should have been re-written and fine tuned a few times so that it could have fulfilled its potential.
The magic system was unnecessarily complicated and hard to grasp. The author went into it in excruciating detail, so for those readers like me who decided to skim through, there was a lot to skip. The protagonist wasn't particularly endearing in any way, so this is one of the few books in which I found myself indifferent to his fate. Moreover, the progression of his character from simple to ambitious bordered on the unbelievable. It felt like I was reading a character sketch - background, sexual orientation, phobia, weakness, strength. It felt like the author was working hard throughout the book to assure everyone that this is not a book about 'the one'; a character who has some special ability that sets him or her apart from the rest and eventually becomes a savior of some sort. But it was taken so far that the protagonist came across as a weakling with a slight inferiority complex. None of the other characters grasped my attention either.
Overall, I think this book should have been re-written and fine tuned a few times so that it could have fulfilled its potential.
July 26, 2025
LOVE THIS BOOK
The setting and the protagonist’s life feels very slice-of-life, but I really liked that vibe and enjoyed learning about this new world.
While I was reading, I had to adapt my own thoughts and personality to his, because he has social anxiety, he’s quieter, more patient, more dedicated and detail-oriented—completely different from me. And that made me understand him better and experience the book through his personality and steps.
I loved how he opens up to magic, how he learns (he’s very dedicated), and how he slowly opens himself to love and friendship (without even wanting to fall in love or make friends—stonks!). Also, his boyfriend is really cool — I loved the fire powers he had!
I SEE POTENTIAL.
The plot toward the end could have used a few more clues early on—just small details that, if you read carefully, might hint at what’s coming. I’m sure we’ll discover more secrets in future books, so for me, this was a magnificent opening to the world and the magic system. It’s very complex, but I like the tricks!
The setting and the protagonist’s life feels very slice-of-life, but I really liked that vibe and enjoyed learning about this new world.
While I was reading, I had to adapt my own thoughts and personality to his, because he has social anxiety, he’s quieter, more patient, more dedicated and detail-oriented—completely different from me. And that made me understand him better and experience the book through his personality and steps.
I loved how he opens up to magic, how he learns (he’s very dedicated), and how he slowly opens himself to love and friendship (without even wanting to fall in love or make friends—stonks!). Also, his boyfriend is really cool — I loved the fire powers he had!
I SEE POTENTIAL.
The plot toward the end could have used a few more clues early on—just small details that, if you read carefully, might hint at what’s coming. I’m sure we’ll discover more secrets in future books, so for me, this was a magnificent opening to the world and the magic system. It’s very complex, but I like the tricks!
May 20, 2022
Really enjoyed this story. Trope-y premise of a magical school following a commoner amongst mostly nobility, but the story and magic is so interesting (plus I love both magic school and enchanters/artificers).
All said, an amazingly solid first entry into a new progression fantasy series. As debuts go, I'd say it's ever bit as strong as Arcane Ascension, Mage Errant and even Cradle (as Unsouled was a slloooowwww burn)
All said, an amazingly solid first entry into a new progression fantasy series. As debuts go, I'd say it's ever bit as strong as Arcane Ascension, Mage Errant and even Cradle (as Unsouled was a slloooowwww burn)
June 13, 2022
Was OK, progression fantasy with a gay romance is rare, so a plus for me there. It was not super well developed though, just fell into place without much friction. (And then those supposedly 20yo guys just chastely kiss each other on the cheek? Oh well, I guess the generic homophobic progression fantasy reader will already freak out with that little MM body contact.)
I liked the enchanting magic focus, the steampunk-like society with an eye on class conflict. The plot was a bit thin though and I was not a fan of the ending at all. The endboss fight felt very deus ex machina rushed and was not satisfying at all since he didn't achieve it of his own power.
All in all an above average read for the genre.
I liked the enchanting magic focus, the steampunk-like society with an eye on class conflict. The plot was a bit thin though and I was not a fan of the ending at all. The endboss fight felt very deus ex machina rushed and was not satisfying at all since he didn't achieve it of his own power.
All in all an above average read for the genre.
January 16, 2023
2.5
I'm glad for the author that I'm in the minority, but I found the book terribly boring, so I skimmed a lot. The magical system was ok, but too detailed, with lots of different categories, all of them dutifully explained in long accounts or dialogues. Some facts and words were unnecessarily repeated (how often Sarai's grin is defined as shark like?), a sequel of everyday vignettes with lots of tell-don't-show, not hat much of a plot and a rushed ending. On the plus side: no sex! I don't think that it is very believable , but I'm getting tired of m/m books with too much sex ;-).
I won't be reading the sequel.
I'm glad for the author that I'm in the minority, but I found the book terribly boring, so I skimmed a lot. The magical system was ok, but too detailed, with lots of different categories, all of them dutifully explained in long accounts or dialogues. Some facts and words were unnecessarily repeated (how often Sarai's grin is defined as shark like?), a sequel of everyday vignettes with lots of tell-don't-show, not hat much of a plot and a rushed ending. On the plus side: no sex! I don't think that it is very believable , but I'm getting tired of m/m books with too much sex ;-).
I won't be reading the sequel.
April 28, 2022
This is mostly notable for me because of the unique magic system, which is shared in detail though honestly I still couldn't wrap my head around the logistics of some of it and I'm not sure if that was me or if there was some handwavery going on.
I will forever love immersing myself in magic schools and this one really took you there, although it was very focused on the protagonist to the exclusion of some actual classroom setting, and his social anxiety kept interactions at a minimum (which was interesting but also seemed at times to be a writerly crutch, especially in the case of one class that he literally did not go to ever).
I'm looking forward to continuing on in this world
I will forever love immersing myself in magic schools and this one really took you there, although it was very focused on the protagonist to the exclusion of some actual classroom setting, and his social anxiety kept interactions at a minimum (which was interesting but also seemed at times to be a writerly crutch, especially in the case of one class that he literally did not go to ever).
I'm looking forward to continuing on in this world
June 7, 2022
Loved it
I always like the beginning of a new fantasy series. The only thing I found lacking was the romance aspect of it all, I know their relationship has progressed I think to the point where they are sleeping together but the connection doesn't even seem important. I think things would've been the same if they just remained very good friends unless the trust that they have in each other is only because of the affection they feel for one another. I love how Evander thinks and how he's been pushing himself to do better and to do more but I wish we knew why he has problems with crowds and other people is he perhaps neurodivergent?
I always like the beginning of a new fantasy series. The only thing I found lacking was the romance aspect of it all, I know their relationship has progressed I think to the point where they are sleeping together but the connection doesn't even seem important. I think things would've been the same if they just remained very good friends unless the trust that they have in each other is only because of the affection they feel for one another. I love how Evander thinks and how he's been pushing himself to do better and to do more but I wish we knew why he has problems with crowds and other people is he perhaps neurodivergent?
October 22, 2022
Cute and enjoyable
Cute socially awkward kid goes to wizard school and makes friends with fellow misfits. Super charming and inclusive book. There is the obligatory bully, but it's not too intrusive, mostly the characters in the book just accept each other and I'm here for it. The main character is clever, makes mistakes but in logical ways. More "awww kiddo, it's okay, you will learn" than anything else. He is also waaay too trusting and open in my opinion, but that's not really in a mistake in the book, and I like that too. Altogether just a smart, cute, and enjoyable book.
Cute socially awkward kid goes to wizard school and makes friends with fellow misfits. Super charming and inclusive book. There is the obligatory bully, but it's not too intrusive, mostly the characters in the book just accept each other and I'm here for it. The main character is clever, makes mistakes but in logical ways. More "awww kiddo, it's okay, you will learn" than anything else. He is also waaay too trusting and open in my opinion, but that's not really in a mistake in the book, and I like that too. Altogether just a smart, cute, and enjoyable book.
April 13, 2022
Good stuff here. If you're into magic school/progression fantasy with a lot of those good tropes but done a little differently, consider checking this one out.
Flawed but likeable protag, good depiction of living with moderate mental illness, good support cast, solid mystery plot & a little bit gay. Don't let the overly melodramatic prologue put you off, or the genuinely eccentric choice to have the in-world term for queer people be "alternative lifestyles" (what is this, a personals section from 1991?!), it's worth persisting with and, those two bumps aside, cleanly written and enjoyable.
Flawed but likeable protag, good depiction of living with moderate mental illness, good support cast, solid mystery plot & a little bit gay. Don't let the overly melodramatic prologue put you off, or the genuinely eccentric choice to have the in-world term for queer people be "alternative lifestyles" (what is this, a personals section from 1991?!), it's worth persisting with and, those two bumps aside, cleanly written and enjoyable.
May 20, 2022
Pretty good
Solid book, read through in just a few (3) sittings so that's quite something. A few parts didn't have me as engaged as I could've been and a setting guide with what's all there would've been nice (looking at you random minotaur student and apparently birdfolk of some sort I either didn't notice or randomly appeared later on.) but all in all, good story, decent power system, interesting relationships that didn't get too much focus but also weren't glossed over, 8.5/10, 9 with rice.
Solid book, read through in just a few (3) sittings so that's quite something. A few parts didn't have me as engaged as I could've been and a setting guide with what's all there would've been nice (looking at you random minotaur student and apparently birdfolk of some sort I either didn't notice or randomly appeared later on.) but all in all, good story, decent power system, interesting relationships that didn't get too much focus but also weren't glossed over, 8.5/10, 9 with rice.
June 29, 2022
This was a great surprise for me. It was fast paced enough to keep my attention throughout but not too fast that i felt like i missed out on things that needed to happen. I really liked Evan and Osheen and Sarai were pretty great too. I am definitely interested to see where the story goes from here and how Evan is going to get stronger going forward. I will say that the relationship in this book was very much off page and that was disapointing but other then that and Lin being around in general i have no complaints about this book. 9/10
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