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Renegades of Magic #2
Rogue Familiar
He left to save her from herself… But who will save him from her?
When Lady Seliah Phel wakes from a drugged sleep to find herself abandoned by her newly bonded wizard, she vows revenge—and to hunt him down. Tracking him through the familiar wilds of the marshlands of her home is the easy part; learning to use her nascent magical skills is something else entirely. So is facing the vast, uncaring society of the Convocation in a time of brewing war.
Jadren El-Adrel is not known for doing the right thing, but getting as far away from Seliah as possible before he drains her dry will be his one noble gesture. So what if she weeps a few tears. Better than her dying in his service—or enabling him to become the ravenous beast that crawls beneath his skin. Unfortunately, in his self-imposed exile, and without the power of his familiar, Jadren quickly runs afoul of the enemy.
As her vengeful quest for recapture becomes a rescue mission, Selly faces all she still doesn’t know about the greater world of wizards and familiars. And Jadren, once determined to walk his own path and stay far, far away from the idealistic fools of House Phel, finds himself aligning with them against the house of his birth. War is coming to the Convocation, which means a clever wizard should pick the side most likely to win.
Sadly, Jadren has never been all that clever…
When Lady Seliah Phel wakes from a drugged sleep to find herself abandoned by her newly bonded wizard, she vows revenge—and to hunt him down. Tracking him through the familiar wilds of the marshlands of her home is the easy part; learning to use her nascent magical skills is something else entirely. So is facing the vast, uncaring society of the Convocation in a time of brewing war.
Jadren El-Adrel is not known for doing the right thing, but getting as far away from Seliah as possible before he drains her dry will be his one noble gesture. So what if she weeps a few tears. Better than her dying in his service—or enabling him to become the ravenous beast that crawls beneath his skin. Unfortunately, in his self-imposed exile, and without the power of his familiar, Jadren quickly runs afoul of the enemy.
As her vengeful quest for recapture becomes a rescue mission, Selly faces all she still doesn’t know about the greater world of wizards and familiars. And Jadren, once determined to walk his own path and stay far, far away from the idealistic fools of House Phel, finds himself aligning with them against the house of his birth. War is coming to the Convocation, which means a clever wizard should pick the side most likely to win.
Sadly, Jadren has never been all that clever…
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 24, 2023
48 people are currently reading
112 people want to read
About the author
Jeffe Kennedy
101 books1,345 followers💙She/her💙 Award-winning Bestselling Author of epic fantasy romance. Taoist. Swiftie. Santa Fean. Cat lady @sfwa_inc Past-President. Rep by @seyitsme
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
November 28, 2023
This is the second book in Kennedy's Renegades of Magic series, but really it is Book 5 in her Bonds of Magic series. There is a portion of this and the previous book, Shadow Wizard that features the main protagonists and plotline from Renegades. Plus Selly and Jadren are introduced in that series. So, I recommend starting with Dark Wizard and go from there.
As far as this book is concerned, I'll just Capt' Obvious it and say, Jeffe Kennedy is good at Fantasy Romance.
As far as this book is concerned, I'll just Capt' Obvious it and say, Jeffe Kennedy is good at Fantasy Romance.
February 4, 2025
Outstanding! Loved seeing the h become the hero as she rescues the H. He is so badly injured, but so frightened for her. Epic story, can't wait for next book.
May 12, 2023
It took me until I finished reading Rogue Familiar to realize how deliberately Kennedy has titled the books in this series. The first book, Shadow Wizard, focused on the wizard Jadren and his unusual life and abilities. Rogue Familiar focuses on his familiar, Seliah—and what a great character she is!
Seliah is as unusual a familiar as Jadren is a wizard because her unchanneled magic led her into madness. While her brother and sister-in-law pulled her back from the brink, she’s still learning to navigate the world in general, much less the twisted politics of the wizard council that oversees the world in this Renegades of Magic series. Rogue Familiar also continues to build the overarching story that Kennedy started with the Bonds of Magic series as Nic, Gabriel, and many other denizens of House Phel have to deal with threats to their newly established home.
But the great thing about Seliah is that she genuinely doesn’t care what the rules of her world are. Unlike Jadren, who’s been out in the world enough to know what is and isn’t allowed, Seliah’s interactions have been limited, and that gives her a freethinking spirit that was a joy to read. And her dedication of Jadren is just what someone like him needs, as she sees value in him that he cannot.
Seliah is a perfect balance for Jadren, and I loved seeing their growing relationship and interactions. This is a middle book of a trilogy, and Kennedy follows a lot of the rules of fantasy in this romance, so while the book reaches a stopping place, Jadren and Seliah’s story isn’t done. They are still deeply threatened, and Kennedy doesn’t shirk from the dangers they have to face, both within themselves and with others. But these characters are so engaging that I can’t wait for book 3 to see how the story of these two unconventional souls works out!
Seliah is as unusual a familiar as Jadren is a wizard because her unchanneled magic led her into madness. While her brother and sister-in-law pulled her back from the brink, she’s still learning to navigate the world in general, much less the twisted politics of the wizard council that oversees the world in this Renegades of Magic series. Rogue Familiar also continues to build the overarching story that Kennedy started with the Bonds of Magic series as Nic, Gabriel, and many other denizens of House Phel have to deal with threats to their newly established home.
But the great thing about Seliah is that she genuinely doesn’t care what the rules of her world are. Unlike Jadren, who’s been out in the world enough to know what is and isn’t allowed, Seliah’s interactions have been limited, and that gives her a freethinking spirit that was a joy to read. And her dedication of Jadren is just what someone like him needs, as she sees value in him that he cannot.
Seliah is a perfect balance for Jadren, and I loved seeing their growing relationship and interactions. This is a middle book of a trilogy, and Kennedy follows a lot of the rules of fantasy in this romance, so while the book reaches a stopping place, Jadren and Seliah’s story isn’t done. They are still deeply threatened, and Kennedy doesn’t shirk from the dangers they have to face, both within themselves and with others. But these characters are so engaging that I can’t wait for book 3 to see how the story of these two unconventional souls works out!
September 9, 2023
Rogue Family opens right immediately following the conclusion of previous book. Seliah is upset that Jadren left her while her brother Gabriel lets him go. Determined to reunite with Jadren, she confronts her brother and finds an ally in Nic.
I loved being tossed right back into the thick of things, Seliah's outrage capturing my interest immediately. Nic realizes Seliah needs to learn more about being a familiar and gives her a crash course. I enjoyed seeing the growing relationship between the sisters-in-law, along with Nic’s sister Elise. They are forming strong bonds and developing trust.
While I really like this series, and I enjoy the mythology and characters, I found myself frustrated with a couple of things as I reached the midpoint of the book. I recognize that Gabriel and Nic face an uphill battle as they oppose the convocation. I understand Jadren is damaged and doesn’t feel worthy of Seliah. However, the constant rehashing of issues without hope or a solution was repetitive and annoying. It felt like nothing happened for the first half of the story, with the exception of spending time with Gabriel and Nic’s romance, and it’s not even their book!
That said, the story picks up in the second half, and I enjoyed the story more. Jarden faces his inner monster and finds Seliah by his side. The pair explore their bond and give into their mutual attraction. When they decide to fight together, they become the couple I’d hoped for. Jarden backslides some, but it doesn’t go on and on. I LOVE Seliah and how she stands up for what she wants and fights for those she loves. She’s a wonderful character.
The author has done an amazing job developing her world while allowing the characters the ability to shape magic as they explore and learn new things. It’s exciting because Gabriel brings something wholly new to the table, Jarden has unheard of abilities to regenerate, and both Nic and Seliah are powerful familiars. However, this time around, I felt that the “flexibility” of the magic goes outside the set parameters when Seliah seems to be able to use her magic to find her way, and Jarden uses his “wizard’s intuition” to unexplainably select and use a gadget to save Selly. It felt contrived and a bit Deus Ex Machina.
Narration: The story is primarily shared via the alternating third person POVs of Jarden and Seliah. There are some chapters also shared from Gabriel and Nic’s POVs. Using a British accent, Ms. Balm narrates the entire story with a deepish and slightly raspy voice. Overall, her performance is soothing and easy to listen to. Giving a partially-voiced reading, she adjusts the dialogue for most characters, albeit just enough to know different characters are speaking. She tends to be a little higher pitched for females, and softer and lower for males. She adjusts appropriately for mood and emotion.
Rogue Familiar is a transitional story. Overall, I enjoyed the journey and where the book ends. I felt the first of the book was slow and repetitive, but the second half was more enjoyable.
My Ratings:
Story: B-
Narration: A-
Review copy provided by author
Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About
I loved being tossed right back into the thick of things, Seliah's outrage capturing my interest immediately. Nic realizes Seliah needs to learn more about being a familiar and gives her a crash course. I enjoyed seeing the growing relationship between the sisters-in-law, along with Nic’s sister Elise. They are forming strong bonds and developing trust.
While I really like this series, and I enjoy the mythology and characters, I found myself frustrated with a couple of things as I reached the midpoint of the book. I recognize that Gabriel and Nic face an uphill battle as they oppose the convocation. I understand Jadren is damaged and doesn’t feel worthy of Seliah. However, the constant rehashing of issues without hope or a solution was repetitive and annoying. It felt like nothing happened for the first half of the story, with the exception of spending time with Gabriel and Nic’s romance, and it’s not even their book!
That said, the story picks up in the second half, and I enjoyed the story more. Jarden faces his inner monster and finds Seliah by his side. The pair explore their bond and give into their mutual attraction. When they decide to fight together, they become the couple I’d hoped for. Jarden backslides some, but it doesn’t go on and on. I LOVE Seliah and how she stands up for what she wants and fights for those she loves. She’s a wonderful character.
The author has done an amazing job developing her world while allowing the characters the ability to shape magic as they explore and learn new things. It’s exciting because Gabriel brings something wholly new to the table, Jarden has unheard of abilities to regenerate, and both Nic and Seliah are powerful familiars. However, this time around, I felt that the “flexibility” of the magic goes outside the set parameters when Seliah seems to be able to use her magic to find her way, and Jarden uses his “wizard’s intuition” to unexplainably select and use a gadget to save Selly. It felt contrived and a bit Deus Ex Machina.
Narration: The story is primarily shared via the alternating third person POVs of Jarden and Seliah. There are some chapters also shared from Gabriel and Nic’s POVs. Using a British accent, Ms. Balm narrates the entire story with a deepish and slightly raspy voice. Overall, her performance is soothing and easy to listen to. Giving a partially-voiced reading, she adjusts the dialogue for most characters, albeit just enough to know different characters are speaking. She tends to be a little higher pitched for females, and softer and lower for males. She adjusts appropriately for mood and emotion.
Rogue Familiar is a transitional story. Overall, I enjoyed the journey and where the book ends. I felt the first of the book was slow and repetitive, but the second half was more enjoyable.
My Ratings:
Story: B-
Narration: A-
Review copy provided by author
Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About
April 27, 2023
Rogue Familiar is technically book 2 of the Renegades of Magic Series but continues in the world of the Bonds of Magic Series that began with Dark Wizard.
I enjoyed this book so much!
Jadren El-Adrel is the perfect snarky misanthropic anti-hero who we last left off in Shadow Wizard frustratingly fleeing away from his familiar in an act of self-sacrifice. Lady Seliah is his perfect somewhat feral takes-no-shit match who really shines in this book!
I absolutely loved their banter and found myself highlighting so many exchanges between them. There was this wonderful push and pull of these two broken people who only want the best for each other but don’t always have a clear path towards that end.
The action is great. Totally agree with the other commenter who wrote that Vale is a wonder horse lol! Vale may rival Nic for being the most all-around competent and level headed member of House Phel.
This entry continues to flesh out the magical possibilities of the world. So exciting to see Jadren find his strengths! And I loved spending a bit of time in House Refoel.
The romance radiated off the pages. Those scenes in the shack were just *glorious.*
Overall I had a great time and can’t wait for more books in this fantastic series!!
I enjoyed this book so much!
Jadren El-Adrel is the perfect snarky misanthropic anti-hero who we last left off in Shadow Wizard frustratingly fleeing away from his familiar in an act of self-sacrifice. Lady Seliah is his perfect somewhat feral takes-no-shit match who really shines in this book!
I absolutely loved their banter and found myself highlighting so many exchanges between them. There was this wonderful push and pull of these two broken people who only want the best for each other but don’t always have a clear path towards that end.
The action is great. Totally agree with the other commenter who wrote that Vale is a wonder horse lol! Vale may rival Nic for being the most all-around competent and level headed member of House Phel.
This entry continues to flesh out the magical possibilities of the world. So exciting to see Jadren find his strengths! And I loved spending a bit of time in House Refoel.
The romance radiated off the pages. Those scenes in the shack were just *glorious.*
Overall I had a great time and can’t wait for more books in this fantastic series!!
April 25, 2023
So much fun
The work out into these two characters really pays off in this installment. I highly recommend looking past the heavy use of Vale, the plot-advancing wonder-horse and just have fun with where the story takes them.
The work out into these two characters really pays off in this installment. I highly recommend looking past the heavy use of Vale, the plot-advancing wonder-horse and just have fun with where the story takes them.
July 4, 2023
I have to say, at this point the romance in Jeffe Kennedy's novels is somewhat secondary to me; it's very good, and she knows how to plot a book like no one's business, but after a little while, my eyes start to blur with all the "quivering tissues" and "warm melting core"s. It's fine! That's what the genre is about!
But luckily, she has a gift for snappy dialogue, and the politicking in the Bonds of Magic and Renegades of Magic trilogies is DELICIOUS. These books are as much about the teams formed by her romantic pairings, how they shore up each other's weak points and allow both people to work to their fullest potential.
We're definitely drawing to a climax in the burgeoning war between House Phel and...well, pretty much everyone else, and Jadren and Seliah have put themselves in the center of it. I really enjoyed the ending of this book, which feels very much like Seliah reclaiming herself and finding the same kind of power in her position as familiar as Nic did in the previous series -- and there are hints that Seliah is figuring out the real purpose of being a familiar, and how that purpose was corrupted into making them the weaker party.
Jadren is still a turd, but I love him, and he does have excellent reason to be as closed-off as he is. They're almost as well-suited as Gabe and Nic, which is saying something!
Also: Jeffe Kennedy, if you read this, please give us a Wolfgang and Costa side story! I would love to see more of them, because they're adorable when they do show up.
All in all, it's a formulaic, somewhat predictable series, but Kennedy is such a confident, experienced writer that the formula just works.
But luckily, she has a gift for snappy dialogue, and the politicking in the Bonds of Magic and Renegades of Magic trilogies is DELICIOUS. These books are as much about the teams formed by her romantic pairings, how they shore up each other's weak points and allow both people to work to their fullest potential.
We're definitely drawing to a climax in the burgeoning war between House Phel and...well, pretty much everyone else, and Jadren and Seliah have put themselves in the center of it. I really enjoyed the ending of this book, which feels very much like Seliah reclaiming herself and finding the same kind of power in her position as familiar as Nic did in the previous series -- and there are hints that Seliah is figuring out the real purpose of being a familiar, and how that purpose was corrupted into making them the weaker party.
Jadren is still a turd, but I love him, and he does have excellent reason to be as closed-off as he is. They're almost as well-suited as Gabe and Nic, which is saying something!
Also: Jeffe Kennedy, if you read this, please give us a Wolfgang and Costa side story! I would love to see more of them, because they're adorable when they do show up.
All in all, it's a formulaic, somewhat predictable series, but Kennedy is such a confident, experienced writer that the formula just works.
August 8, 2023
... or: the love story between the "wild child" and the tortured wizard continues
This is book 2 of Renegades of Magic and book 5 of the Bonds of Magic series by Jeffe Kennedy and so far my favorite, although I love the whole series, especially as it succeeded in taking me out of a long book slump so that I devoured all five books out so far in the space of two days. The first three books follow Veronica (Nic) and Gabriel and I would describe them as dark fantasy romance with a dystopian feel to it. The world it’s set in is peopled by mundanes and those with magic, who in turn are divided into two groups: familiars, who generate magic but cannot use it and wizards who are able to harness magic. Wizards can use magic by themselves but are exponentially stronger if they have a familiar. Familiars are considered lesser, which has led to a class system with wizards at the top and familiars subject to them in every way. Wizards are able to bind familiars (including against their will), a bond that has been considered unbreakable for generations; this gives wizards almost unlimited powers over their familiars, especially as familiars need a wizard to periodically drain them of their accumulated magic, otherwise they will slowly go insane.
This is what happened to Seliah: having been born to non-magical parents and being a late magic bloomer like her brother Gabriel nobody recognized that she was a familiar, so the magic accumulated in her unchecked and she was slowly going made, spending the last few years in a sort of psychotic haze, whereas her environment considered her “special”, “difficult”, and “crazy”. After having been drained of her stagnant magic, she is trying to rebuild her life. That’s when she crosses paths with Jadren, who has been contracted to her brother as a “minion”, a wizard attached to his House. He is the only one who doesn’t treat her like she is made of glass. In book 1, Shadow Wizard, we finally learn of Jadren’s deep dark secret, which was only hinted at in the previous books and it’s really awful. Being born with self-healing magic he was basically tortured his whole life as his crazy mother experimented on him and tried to find out how far his abilities went. She installed him as a spy in Gabriel’s household, but when Gabriel goes to free Nic, Jadren and Seliah accompany him and then remain behind as a rearguard during the rescue. Through circumstance they end up in the court of Jadren’s mother, and although Jadren has never wanted to bind a familiar to him, he bonds Seliah to prevent having another wizard bond her. They manage to escape his mother’s clutches, but when the time comes for Jadren to fulfil his promise and finally make love to Seliah, he takes the cowardly way out and leaves, after having drugged Seliah in a noble but misguided attempt to save her from himself.
That’s where book 2 takes up the story. Seliah is in love with Jadren and she is stubborn, so she decides to go after her wizard. I really liked how this subverts the usual trope of the man pursuing the woman. Also, having lived wild and having roamed the marshes of her homeland Meresin, it’s Seliah who knows how to survive on the road and stay under the radar, whereas Jadren is rather inept and gets caught at the first opportunity, needing to be rescued. I rather loved the reversal of traditional role expectations set for men in women in romance, especially as their society is structured in quite a misogynist or rather classist way, as there are also male familiars (for instance Jadren’s father), they are treated as second class citizens with limited rights as well, just like the other familiars. One might be excused to think that his general ineptitude regarding practical matters as well as his lack of fighting abilities makes Jadren appear somewhat weak, but actually it doesn’t. Because despite the horrendous life he had so far, he was able to keep his humanity and throughout the story we see him behaving bravely and compassionately, whenever possible, sometimes to his own disadvantage. In a way he is the embodiment of the perfect anti-hero, with terrible and tortured past, not macho manly, but devious, able to turn seemingly hopeless situations to his advantage, and with a sardonic sense of humor. Yet for all his sneering, Jadren has a steely core of integrity, lines he is unwilling to cross, even if it means more torture. I prefer my (anti-)heroes flawed instead of perfect, that’s why I like him quite a bit more than Gabriel who is almost nauseatingly good and kind but is prone to thinking he always knows best.
Seliah and Jadren have both suffered terrible traumas of different kinds and they have survived, have grown even more resilient. They bring out the best in each other even though they are so different, she the wild child that has grown up free and unaware of her magic, and him the secret hidden and tortured by his mother in order to form him into a weapon. Despite that, they are perfect for each other. I can’t wait for the conclusion of Seliah and Jadren’s story and to find out if they manage to disrupt the outdated and classist structure of their society and the Convocation rules.
5+ stars from me for my favorite installment in this distinctive and extraordinary fantasy romance series.
This is book 2 of Renegades of Magic and book 5 of the Bonds of Magic series by Jeffe Kennedy and so far my favorite, although I love the whole series, especially as it succeeded in taking me out of a long book slump so that I devoured all five books out so far in the space of two days. The first three books follow Veronica (Nic) and Gabriel and I would describe them as dark fantasy romance with a dystopian feel to it. The world it’s set in is peopled by mundanes and those with magic, who in turn are divided into two groups: familiars, who generate magic but cannot use it and wizards who are able to harness magic. Wizards can use magic by themselves but are exponentially stronger if they have a familiar. Familiars are considered lesser, which has led to a class system with wizards at the top and familiars subject to them in every way. Wizards are able to bind familiars (including against their will), a bond that has been considered unbreakable for generations; this gives wizards almost unlimited powers over their familiars, especially as familiars need a wizard to periodically drain them of their accumulated magic, otherwise they will slowly go insane.
This is what happened to Seliah: having been born to non-magical parents and being a late magic bloomer like her brother Gabriel nobody recognized that she was a familiar, so the magic accumulated in her unchecked and she was slowly going made, spending the last few years in a sort of psychotic haze, whereas her environment considered her “special”, “difficult”, and “crazy”. After having been drained of her stagnant magic, she is trying to rebuild her life. That’s when she crosses paths with Jadren, who has been contracted to her brother as a “minion”, a wizard attached to his House. He is the only one who doesn’t treat her like she is made of glass. In book 1, Shadow Wizard, we finally learn of Jadren’s deep dark secret, which was only hinted at in the previous books and it’s really awful. Being born with self-healing magic he was basically tortured his whole life as his crazy mother experimented on him and tried to find out how far his abilities went. She installed him as a spy in Gabriel’s household, but when Gabriel goes to free Nic, Jadren and Seliah accompany him and then remain behind as a rearguard during the rescue. Through circumstance they end up in the court of Jadren’s mother, and although Jadren has never wanted to bind a familiar to him, he bonds Seliah to prevent having another wizard bond her. They manage to escape his mother’s clutches, but when the time comes for Jadren to fulfil his promise and finally make love to Seliah, he takes the cowardly way out and leaves, after having drugged Seliah in a noble but misguided attempt to save her from himself.
That’s where book 2 takes up the story. Seliah is in love with Jadren and she is stubborn, so she decides to go after her wizard. I really liked how this subverts the usual trope of the man pursuing the woman. Also, having lived wild and having roamed the marshes of her homeland Meresin, it’s Seliah who knows how to survive on the road and stay under the radar, whereas Jadren is rather inept and gets caught at the first opportunity, needing to be rescued. I rather loved the reversal of traditional role expectations set for men in women in romance, especially as their society is structured in quite a misogynist or rather classist way, as there are also male familiars (for instance Jadren’s father), they are treated as second class citizens with limited rights as well, just like the other familiars. One might be excused to think that his general ineptitude regarding practical matters as well as his lack of fighting abilities makes Jadren appear somewhat weak, but actually it doesn’t. Because despite the horrendous life he had so far, he was able to keep his humanity and throughout the story we see him behaving bravely and compassionately, whenever possible, sometimes to his own disadvantage. In a way he is the embodiment of the perfect anti-hero, with terrible and tortured past, not macho manly, but devious, able to turn seemingly hopeless situations to his advantage, and with a sardonic sense of humor. Yet for all his sneering, Jadren has a steely core of integrity, lines he is unwilling to cross, even if it means more torture. I prefer my (anti-)heroes flawed instead of perfect, that’s why I like him quite a bit more than Gabriel who is almost nauseatingly good and kind but is prone to thinking he always knows best.
Seliah and Jadren have both suffered terrible traumas of different kinds and they have survived, have grown even more resilient. They bring out the best in each other even though they are so different, she the wild child that has grown up free and unaware of her magic, and him the secret hidden and tortured by his mother in order to form him into a weapon. Despite that, they are perfect for each other. I can’t wait for the conclusion of Seliah and Jadren’s story and to find out if they manage to disrupt the outdated and classist structure of their society and the Convocation rules.
5+ stars from me for my favorite installment in this distinctive and extraordinary fantasy romance series.
April 25, 2023
Seliah (Phel) El-Adrel cannot help but feel betrayed by her wizard’s abandonment. She intends to find Jadren and reason with the cynically jaded man. But first, Seliah needs to arm herself with some necessary and useful familiar tricks. Her expedition quickly turns into a rescue. She and Jadren must evade new and old threats intent on capturing them. Can Seliah convince her stubborn wizard that they are stronger together than apart? And will she help Jadren learn more about his warped capabilities?
Jadren El-Adrel feels he is doing the right thing by walking away from Seliah. He wants to protect her from the voracious monster lying within himself. Jadren’s aimless journey takes a dangerous turn when he encounters a new enemy. His fears double when he learns that Seliah compromises her safety by rescuing him. Will Jadren finally accept his bond with Seliah. What new discoveries will he learn about himself? And will it be enough to protect Seliah from their enemies?
Seliah continues to impress me. She is quickly adapting and learning how to navigate in a dark world that favors only wizards, without losing her sense of self. I admire Seliah for refusing to give up on Jadren. She knows that he never once experienced acceptance nor love from his birth House. What I love the most about Seliah is how Jadren’s behaviorism is rubbing off on her. She realizes his acerbic demeanor hides a vulnerability he does not want anyone else to know about. Seliah also understands the only way to get through to Jadren is to match him with for wit.
Snarky and satirical heroes have always been my weakness. Now add in the wounded/tortured aspect… This book made me fall for Jadren all over again! I am glad that he never lost his sardonic edge in this story. Sometimes authors downplay such characters’ personalities in further books. It disappoints me when they do that. Thankfully, Jeffe Kennedy did not do this to Jadren. He is the same cynically warped and sarcastic wizard I came to love and adore! Jadren also shows some remarkable personal growth in this adventure. He is finally ready to learn more about himself and his capabilities.
ROGUE FAMILIAR is the second book in Jeffe Kennedy’s dark fantasy romance series, RENEGADES OF MAGIC, a spinoff from her BONDS OF MAGIC series. I strongly suggest starting the prior series before this one. It sets up the unique wizard/familiar world the author so cleverly created. They also show how Jadren and Seliah first met. I like how the author is continuously delving into the other High Houses in the Convocation. In this latest book, she introduces House Refoel and (briefly) House Hanneil.
Gabriel, Nic, and others still play important roles in the background. I like how the author alludes to the prior House Phel’s mysterious demise, and who the possible (yes, plural) are. I cannot wait for the next installment!
Jadren El-Adrel feels he is doing the right thing by walking away from Seliah. He wants to protect her from the voracious monster lying within himself. Jadren’s aimless journey takes a dangerous turn when he encounters a new enemy. His fears double when he learns that Seliah compromises her safety by rescuing him. Will Jadren finally accept his bond with Seliah. What new discoveries will he learn about himself? And will it be enough to protect Seliah from their enemies?
Seliah continues to impress me. She is quickly adapting and learning how to navigate in a dark world that favors only wizards, without losing her sense of self. I admire Seliah for refusing to give up on Jadren. She knows that he never once experienced acceptance nor love from his birth House. What I love the most about Seliah is how Jadren’s behaviorism is rubbing off on her. She realizes his acerbic demeanor hides a vulnerability he does not want anyone else to know about. Seliah also understands the only way to get through to Jadren is to match him with for wit.
Snarky and satirical heroes have always been my weakness. Now add in the wounded/tortured aspect… This book made me fall for Jadren all over again! I am glad that he never lost his sardonic edge in this story. Sometimes authors downplay such characters’ personalities in further books. It disappoints me when they do that. Thankfully, Jeffe Kennedy did not do this to Jadren. He is the same cynically warped and sarcastic wizard I came to love and adore! Jadren also shows some remarkable personal growth in this adventure. He is finally ready to learn more about himself and his capabilities.
ROGUE FAMILIAR is the second book in Jeffe Kennedy’s dark fantasy romance series, RENEGADES OF MAGIC, a spinoff from her BONDS OF MAGIC series. I strongly suggest starting the prior series before this one. It sets up the unique wizard/familiar world the author so cleverly created. They also show how Jadren and Seliah first met. I like how the author is continuously delving into the other High Houses in the Convocation. In this latest book, she introduces House Refoel and (briefly) House Hanneil.
Gabriel, Nic, and others still play important roles in the background. I like how the author alludes to the prior House Phel’s mysterious demise, and who the possible (yes, plural) are. I cannot wait for the next installment!
August 27, 2025
💙🖤 Rogue Familiar Review 🖤💙
Thank you so much to Jeffe Kennedy for the opportunity to read and review this book!
Rogue Familiar is a paranormal fantasy and book two in The Renegades of Magic series. As always, this will be as spoiler free as possible, so if this feels vague - that’s why. After the events at the end of Shadow Wizard, Seliah is determined to get Jadren back after he ran to keep her safe. But can she survive without her wizard in a world of political instability on the brink of war??
This was a fun continuation of this series! I really enjoyed seeing Jadren and Seliah’s growth in this book. They both are developing into strong characters and I am really enjoying their journey. This book expanded more in the world and the magic system & I enjoyed seeing the characters in their continued adventures.
Overall this was a fun five star read. I enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read more in this series! This book had some potential triggers, so please check if you’re sensitive. This book was a bit of a slow burn, but did have some spicy moments later in the book, so two flames for spice
If you’re a fan of fantasy romance with strong characters, great banter and unique magic, then absolutely pick this one up!! As this is a continuation of the story started in the first book, i absolutely recommend reading them in order.
Thank you so much to Jeffe Kennedy for the opportunity to read and review this book!
Rogue Familiar is a paranormal fantasy and book two in The Renegades of Magic series. As always, this will be as spoiler free as possible, so if this feels vague - that’s why. After the events at the end of Shadow Wizard, Seliah is determined to get Jadren back after he ran to keep her safe. But can she survive without her wizard in a world of political instability on the brink of war??
This was a fun continuation of this series! I really enjoyed seeing Jadren and Seliah’s growth in this book. They both are developing into strong characters and I am really enjoying their journey. This book expanded more in the world and the magic system & I enjoyed seeing the characters in their continued adventures.
Overall this was a fun five star read. I enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read more in this series! This book had some potential triggers, so please check if you’re sensitive. This book was a bit of a slow burn, but did have some spicy moments later in the book, so two flames for spice
If you’re a fan of fantasy romance with strong characters, great banter and unique magic, then absolutely pick this one up!! As this is a continuation of the story started in the first book, i absolutely recommend reading them in order.
May 13, 2023
Jadren's escaping, meaning to do the noble thing and leave her behind with her family.
He unfortunately doesn't think things through and gets in a very bad situation, even for someone who can't die.
Selly is determined to go after Jadren. With the help of her family (and other people in the House), she learns more about being a familiar -- things she would have learned at the Academy if she had attended. Using her instincts, her experience, and her new skills, she saves Jadren.
As they escape from THAT fix together, they find themselves captured again, this time by people they didn't quite anticipate were the bad guys.
Also, who knew that non-interference could be weaponized against you?
I love how strong and determined Selly is. She's the key to Jadren determining his power/abilities.
This book ends with Jadren and Selly together and committed, but the non-romance arc isn't finished at all....
He unfortunately doesn't think things through and gets in a very bad situation, even for someone who can't die.
Selly is determined to go after Jadren. With the help of her family (and other people in the House), she learns more about being a familiar -- things she would have learned at the Academy if she had attended. Using her instincts, her experience, and her new skills, she saves Jadren.
As they escape from THAT fix together, they find themselves captured again, this time by people they didn't quite anticipate were the bad guys.
Also, who knew that non-interference could be weaponized against you?
I love how strong and determined Selly is. She's the key to Jadren determining his power/abilities.
This book ends with Jadren and Selly together and committed, but the non-romance arc isn't finished at all....
April 28, 2023
It's been a long time since I've read any fantasy and this book was a great way to jump back into the genre.
I read this book without having read the first and had no problem figuring out what was going on (but I am reading the first one because I loved this one so much).
Anyhow, I loved Jadren and can't tell you how often I laughed out loud at either his inner monologue or the hilarious comments he made to the various characters. Excellent banter and scorching chemistry between the leads.
As usual with this author there is complex, fascinating world building and characters you really care for.
Looking forward to book 3!
BTW, the horse is a charmer and a lead character in his own right.
I read this book without having read the first and had no problem figuring out what was going on (but I am reading the first one because I loved this one so much).
Anyhow, I loved Jadren and can't tell you how often I laughed out loud at either his inner monologue or the hilarious comments he made to the various characters. Excellent banter and scorching chemistry between the leads.
As usual with this author there is complex, fascinating world building and characters you really care for.
Looking forward to book 3!
BTW, the horse is a charmer and a lead character in his own right.
July 19, 2023
2nd in (unfinished? ) series offshoot
This is an offshoot of the Dark Wizard trilogy & follows the sister of that series' hero, Seliah/Selly and the mysterious wizard Jadren. It is a fantasy romance, open door love scenes, with some magical violence. This is the second book in this spin-off series (original story plot & characters are still featured & carrying forward), but it ends with the obvious implication this is not the final book, although it did not reference a next book, so presumably it is not published yet.
This is an offshoot of the Dark Wizard trilogy & follows the sister of that series' hero, Seliah/Selly and the mysterious wizard Jadren. It is a fantasy romance, open door love scenes, with some magical violence. This is the second book in this spin-off series (original story plot & characters are still featured & carrying forward), but it ends with the obvious implication this is not the final book, although it did not reference a next book, so presumably it is not published yet.
September 14, 2023
Picks up where book 2 left off. Formulaic writing..if you read previous series with Nic and Gabriel then you know how this one plays out. Mid way in book contemplated a DNF.. got tired of Selly and Jadren constantly getting wrong deal..Chaism was a dick…guess I see him trying to poach someone else’s significant other, even when she says no..and felt that Selly should have not let him paw her like he did…lost some respect for her..
June 12, 2023
Wow. These two are so very messed up! I feel like the just keep blundering around and it's just sheer luck that they get anywhere at all. So many options available me to them and they always seem to choose the worst one. Then just when it seems like we could breathe and enjoy their story the book ends! ....Damon I hated that!
August 22, 2023
intriguing character continue to unfold
Sometimes an easy read is what you want! Great characters both sinister and light striking a taut balance! Great plot twists you don’t see coming and predict is rare in the genre. Looking forward to learning more about these two, this world, Gabriel’s role…. Great series!
Sometimes an easy read is what you want! Great characters both sinister and light striking a taut balance! Great plot twists you don’t see coming and predict is rare in the genre. Looking forward to learning more about these two, this world, Gabriel’s role…. Great series!
August 17, 2024
This didn't need to be a trilogy
The plot and the romance are being stretched to the limit in this trilogy (this is part 2) and I can't help feeling it would have been better and more pleasant to read as 1 book. Other reviewers like the banter but I'm finding it exhausting, and it slows down the plot.
The plot and the romance are being stretched to the limit in this trilogy (this is part 2) and I can't help feeling it would have been better and more pleasant to read as 1 book. Other reviewers like the banter but I'm finding it exhausting, and it slows down the plot.
May 10, 2023
The characters of Jadren and Seliah have been through a lot. I enjoy the different ways they have handled magical, familial and political obstacles.
This world is so well imagined and I am happy to keep reading about it.
This world is so well imagined and I am happy to keep reading about it.
August 4, 2023
I absolutely loved this book, the flawed and sardonic hero, the wild and straightforward heroine, very exciting story and I look forward to the next book. This has magic, romance, interesting characters and lots of action.
May 5, 2024
This is such a great series! I love to be able to follow Seliah and Jareds journey, every twist and turn, their chemistry and the spice. They are both such great characters and I thoroughly enjoy following the developments in their relationship, their battle for their and the Fell house future. It’s really well written and I love that we also get to see the continuing life and struggles of Gabriel and Lady Veronica.
April 27, 2023
Happy to return to Jadren and Seliah's story and to see Jadren make a magical breakthrough. Great balance of fantasy and romance elements.
May 23, 2023
It was good to have a look at more of the world and how the different houses interact with each other. I’m looking forward to the next books hopefully there is political intrigue and war!
March 20, 2025
As always, an excellent read! I am really enjoying this particular couples' growth.
September 21, 2023
Book two in the renegades of magic adds to this world Ms. Kennedy has created. For those who have not read the Bonds of Magic series, this series may be a bit hard to get into first. Whilst this is a spin-off, this series can be read as a standalone. I did miss the first book in this series and I was still able to get up to speed quickly.
To read the rest of my review, click on the image below to see it on my website.
* I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book.
To read the rest of my review, click on the image below to see it on my website.
* I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book.
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