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Mapmaking Magicians #3
Copper Throne
Fate has dealt all its cards and now it’s time to see how they can be played.
Avelynne, Eleksander, Hale, and Sabina are on their way back to Cavarra. They’re bringing home extraordinary experiences, found friends, new information, and bushels of grief and guilt. Not to mention their mysterious golden magic. However, foremost in their minds are the king’s lethal lies and secrets, which will have to be faced now as everything comes to a head.
Sadly, the revolution, the plague of the silver beasts, the unknown creature in the lake, and the enigmatic spell that suffocates Cavarra aren’t the four mapmaking magicians only issues. They must face who they are and what they wish to do with their futures. Not to mention their increasingly complex love lives. Do these four choose the paths set out for them? Or do they throw away conventions and forge new roads? All options come with a cost, but some costs will always be worth paying. As long as death doesn’t take away their opportunity to choose.
Avelynne, Eleksander, Hale, and Sabina are on their way back to Cavarra. They’re bringing home extraordinary experiences, found friends, new information, and bushels of grief and guilt. Not to mention their mysterious golden magic. However, foremost in their minds are the king’s lethal lies and secrets, which will have to be faced now as everything comes to a head.
Sadly, the revolution, the plague of the silver beasts, the unknown creature in the lake, and the enigmatic spell that suffocates Cavarra aren’t the four mapmaking magicians only issues. They must face who they are and what they wish to do with their futures. Not to mention their increasingly complex love lives. Do these four choose the paths set out for them? Or do they throw away conventions and forge new roads? All options come with a cost, but some costs will always be worth paying. As long as death doesn’t take away their opportunity to choose.
371 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 5, 2022
4 people are currently reading
26 people want to read
About the author
Emma Sterner-Radley
28 books170 followersEmma Sterner-Radley spent far too much time hopping from subject to subject at university, back in her native country of Sweden. One day, she finally emerged with a degree in Library and Information Science. She thought libraries was her thing, because she wanted to work with books, and being an author was just an impossible dream, right? Wrong. She's now a writer and a publisher. (But still a librarian at heart, too.)
She lives with her wife and two cats in England. There is no point in saying which city, as they move about once a year. She spends her free time writing, reading, daydreaming, working out, and watching whichever television show has the most lesbian subtext at the time.
Her tastes in most things usually lean towards the quirky and she loves genres like urban fantasy, magic realism, and steampunk.
Emma is also a hopeless sap for any small chubby creature with tiny legs, and can often be found making heart-eyes at things like guinea pigs, wombats, marmots, and human toddlers.
She lives with her wife and two cats in England. There is no point in saying which city, as they move about once a year. She spends her free time writing, reading, daydreaming, working out, and watching whichever television show has the most lesbian subtext at the time.
Her tastes in most things usually lean towards the quirky and she loves genres like urban fantasy, magic realism, and steampunk.
Emma is also a hopeless sap for any small chubby creature with tiny legs, and can often be found making heart-eyes at things like guinea pigs, wombats, marmots, and human toddlers.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 6, 2022
This book also picks up from where the last one ended, with the four friends heading back home. They are traveling with their new friends which might erk their king, the one who had forced them to follow out his evil wishes, as the foreigners might turn out to be a threat to him. The multiple POVs is definitely my favorite part as I love getting inside the heads of the characters. Just like characters belonging to the LGBTQIA+ community, polyamory is also well represented. The relationships between the four are as complicated as ever as they navigate their feelings towards each other and the consequences of the same.
There are more challenges to be faced once they are back in the kingdom but the four friends are brave and courageous. The character arc is beautiful - what the four mapmaking magicians are by the end of the trilogy is a better version of what they started as. What a fitting conclusion to the story. It will give you all the feels. Definitely recommended.
There are more challenges to be faced once they are back in the kingdom but the four friends are brave and courageous. The character arc is beautiful - what the four mapmaking magicians are by the end of the trilogy is a better version of what they started as. What a fitting conclusion to the story. It will give you all the feels. Definitely recommended.
July 27, 2022
Amazing!
The mapmakers are heading home with all they have learned and experienced on their adventure, but what awaits them are further challenges and unknown forces. Not only facing their own issues, and dealing with complicated relationships, they have difficult decisions to make about their futures and what they must do as part of their destiny.
Very excited to be back in another adventure with Avelynne, Eleksander, Hale, and Sabina! They have brought with them new friends, and their experiences faced in the first two books in the series has prepared them for what awaits back home, but as prepared as they are, the unknown is always there to challenge and throw them off course. There was once again more magical beings we’d not encountered before, characters that we got to know better, and new exciting things happening.
I have adored every book in this series so far, and Copper Throne has been a brilliant adventure that I was completely immersed in. Everything about Cavarra and the mapmaking magicians is wonderful! So creative and imaginative, Emma really brings them and their world alive with fantastic imagery, descriptions, and the completely wonderful creatures, powers, and characters that make the story. Each of the characters is so brave, and with each bit of the story we’ve got to know them more intimately, been there experiencing all the decisions they’ve had to make, and watched them grow into powerful people and a force to be reckoned with. They all have such depth and their compassion for one another and others is just wonderful.
Was on the edge of my seat wondering and waiting for what would unfold now they were back, and I was not disappointed. There was excitement, adventure, and most importantly the meaningful moments of contemplation and connection with each of the characters. Such depth and intricacy has been woven into the story that there is lots to enjoy and real feel a part of.
Really hoping there will be more from these wonderful characters in future! There adventure has only really just begun and an exciting future promises to await.
The mapmakers are heading home with all they have learned and experienced on their adventure, but what awaits them are further challenges and unknown forces. Not only facing their own issues, and dealing with complicated relationships, they have difficult decisions to make about their futures and what they must do as part of their destiny.
Very excited to be back in another adventure with Avelynne, Eleksander, Hale, and Sabina! They have brought with them new friends, and their experiences faced in the first two books in the series has prepared them for what awaits back home, but as prepared as they are, the unknown is always there to challenge and throw them off course. There was once again more magical beings we’d not encountered before, characters that we got to know better, and new exciting things happening.
I have adored every book in this series so far, and Copper Throne has been a brilliant adventure that I was completely immersed in. Everything about Cavarra and the mapmaking magicians is wonderful! So creative and imaginative, Emma really brings them and their world alive with fantastic imagery, descriptions, and the completely wonderful creatures, powers, and characters that make the story. Each of the characters is so brave, and with each bit of the story we’ve got to know them more intimately, been there experiencing all the decisions they’ve had to make, and watched them grow into powerful people and a force to be reckoned with. They all have such depth and their compassion for one another and others is just wonderful.
Was on the edge of my seat wondering and waiting for what would unfold now they were back, and I was not disappointed. There was excitement, adventure, and most importantly the meaningful moments of contemplation and connection with each of the characters. Such depth and intricacy has been woven into the story that there is lots to enjoy and real feel a part of.
Really hoping there will be more from these wonderful characters in future! There adventure has only really just begun and an exciting future promises to await.
June 15, 2022
This entire series has been an absolutely beautiful journey from start to finish.
Where Silver Beasts started with getting to know the four main characters, Golden Sea introduced us to the cruelties and beauty of the world around them and Copper Throne ends it all right back where it started; at home.
There's so many things I want to mention and zero spoilers I want to give, so forgive me if this is all over the place.
First of all; Emma's writing? Brilliant. Her creation of the world is something I will never not be amazed by. I genuinely don't understand how one can invent an entire world and then everything still makes sense. I'm glad she has that ability, though, because she uses it extraordinarily well. Reading her books have always felt like watching a movie for me and Copper Throne is no different.
The moment Avelynne, Sabina, Eleksander and Hale set foot back on Cavarra, was the moment my anxiety spiked. It all feels so real. Again this is so hard to write without giving spoilers! That moment when they're 'greeted' by the king and you realize that everything is about to change? Brilliant.
Emma conveys the characters emotions so well, she actively had me cheering them on and urging them to take action (I have no patience) only for the eventual pay off to be so much better than whatever my impulse would have been.
ALSO, if LGBTQIA+ representation means anything to you, there's so much of it in this book. Along with several 'unconventional' relationships. By that I mean poly. There's polyamorous representation in this book. And it's great because for me personally it held up a mirror to me and said, 'look, when it's like this, it's healthy'.
Want to know the most surprising thing of all? As a gay woman I usually am all about the women in a book. And I was with this series too. But then Hale happened. And Hale in book one annoyed me so much, but then he grew up. And in Copper Throne? Gosh. He's become a wise man and the things he does for ... And I love him and I would die for him.
I rate it 5/5 because I truly believe it deserves every star. One star for each character and the journey they've been through. Now, I can hear you think. Four main characters and five stars? How does that work?
My fifth star: AUREA.
And if you want to know who that is.... Buy the book. :)
Where Silver Beasts started with getting to know the four main characters, Golden Sea introduced us to the cruelties and beauty of the world around them and Copper Throne ends it all right back where it started; at home.
There's so many things I want to mention and zero spoilers I want to give, so forgive me if this is all over the place.
First of all; Emma's writing? Brilliant. Her creation of the world is something I will never not be amazed by. I genuinely don't understand how one can invent an entire world and then everything still makes sense. I'm glad she has that ability, though, because she uses it extraordinarily well. Reading her books have always felt like watching a movie for me and Copper Throne is no different.
The moment Avelynne, Sabina, Eleksander and Hale set foot back on Cavarra, was the moment my anxiety spiked. It all feels so real. Again this is so hard to write without giving spoilers! That moment when they're 'greeted' by the king and you realize that everything is about to change? Brilliant.
Emma conveys the characters emotions so well, she actively had me cheering them on and urging them to take action (I have no patience) only for the eventual pay off to be so much better than whatever my impulse would have been.
ALSO, if LGBTQIA+ representation means anything to you, there's so much of it in this book. Along with several 'unconventional' relationships. By that I mean poly. There's polyamorous representation in this book. And it's great because for me personally it held up a mirror to me and said, 'look, when it's like this, it's healthy'.
Want to know the most surprising thing of all? As a gay woman I usually am all about the women in a book. And I was with this series too. But then Hale happened. And Hale in book one annoyed me so much, but then he grew up. And in Copper Throne? Gosh. He's become a wise man and the things he does for ... And I love him and I would die for him.
I rate it 5/5 because I truly believe it deserves every star. One star for each character and the journey they've been through. Now, I can hear you think. Four main characters and five stars? How does that work?
My fifth star: AUREA.
And if you want to know who that is.... Buy the book. :)
June 26, 2022
I've been waiting for the third book in this series with longing. I was curious to see what happened after the difficult situations in book two. (Did you notice how I didn't give anything away?)
Book three is a triumph, and was well worth the wait, sadly I've now got to wait and see if there will be a book 4 :) There are a number of real positives to this book. The world building as always is excellent and Sterner-Radley has always impressed me by her knowledge about how to give enough details, but not too many. I know when I read about the world she's created, it's an important fact or object.
The characters continue to develop and change as they grow in maturity and responsibility. I especially loved that not all emotions are black and white as you grow up, and things can be confusing. I liked the sense that Avelynne made of her thoughts and how she dealt with them. It would have been easy to allow the excellent story to run free, but each of the characters makes changes to that story and it's way forward. Nice. Finally the introduction of Vattendal was a brilliant stroke and his storyline was excellent.
Another great episode in a standout series.
Book three is a triumph, and was well worth the wait, sadly I've now got to wait and see if there will be a book 4 :) There are a number of real positives to this book. The world building as always is excellent and Sterner-Radley has always impressed me by her knowledge about how to give enough details, but not too many. I know when I read about the world she's created, it's an important fact or object.
The characters continue to develop and change as they grow in maturity and responsibility. I especially loved that not all emotions are black and white as you grow up, and things can be confusing. I liked the sense that Avelynne made of her thoughts and how she dealt with them. It would have been easy to allow the excellent story to run free, but each of the characters makes changes to that story and it's way forward. Nice. Finally the introduction of Vattendal was a brilliant stroke and his storyline was excellent.
Another great episode in a standout series.
February 25, 2023
The third (and possibly final) book of the Mapmaking Magician series. This story picks up where the last one left of, our main characters sailing back to Cavarra to confront all the lies and enemies awaiting them. With the first book from Avelynne and Hale's POV and the second book from Eleksander and Sabina POVs, this book had all 4 of our heroes POVs, which felt perfect.
I love the four main characters. Each one was special in their own way and had their moments to shine, which can be tricky to do, but Sterner-Radley did really well. Sabina was still a breakout for me but once again Aurea, the second in command of the Heraclius, was a favorite.
I highly recommend this for fans of the first 2 books and you must read them in order, otherwise you will be very confused. I hope there are more books in this series because I am not ready to say goodbye to these characters, but it ended in a really great spot.
I love the four main characters. Each one was special in their own way and had their moments to shine, which can be tricky to do, but Sterner-Radley did really well. Sabina was still a breakout for me but once again Aurea, the second in command of the Heraclius, was a favorite.
I highly recommend this for fans of the first 2 books and you must read them in order, otherwise you will be very confused. I hope there are more books in this series because I am not ready to say goodbye to these characters, but it ended in a really great spot.
September 21, 2022
An amazing story
I really loved this book, a perfect conclusion to the trilogy. The characters, their relationships and interactions, the lore, etc, everything is top notch. I highly recommend it to everyone.
I really loved this book, a perfect conclusion to the trilogy. The characters, their relationships and interactions, the lore, etc, everything is top notch. I highly recommend it to everyone.
November 16, 2022
Nice Wrap Up
There wasn't as much action as the previous two books, but that was okay. All the loose ends were wrapped up and a few new stories were started. I found it well written and flowed smoothly.
There wasn't as much action as the previous two books, but that was okay. All the loose ends were wrapped up and a few new stories were started. I found it well written and flowed smoothly.
August 5, 2022
Loved this book and am a bit sad that it's the last in the series. I'll miss my friends.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews