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Rogue Mage #2
Seraphs
From the author of Bloodring comes its thrilling follow-up, set a century after the apocalypse and portraying a world in the throes of an ice age - and a never-ending battle among seraphs, demons, and humans....
Living among humans in a postapocalyptic ice age, neomage Thorn St. Croix has learned to count on her friends, but she's lost count of her enemies. She is a source of both fear and fascination for the people of Mineral City. Her powers can save them from the forces of evil, but can also attract demon spawn and succubae. And fighting on her own turf nearly gets Thorn and those she holds dear killed.
But Thorn's ultimate test awaits deep under the snow-covered mountains beyond the village, where an imprisoned fallen seraph desperately needs her help. There, hidden in the hellhole, the armies of Darkness assemble to ensure that this subterranean rescue will be Thorn's final descent....
Living among humans in a postapocalyptic ice age, neomage Thorn St. Croix has learned to count on her friends, but she's lost count of her enemies. She is a source of both fear and fascination for the people of Mineral City. Her powers can save them from the forces of evil, but can also attract demon spawn and succubae. And fighting on her own turf nearly gets Thorn and those she holds dear killed.
But Thorn's ultimate test awaits deep under the snow-covered mountains beyond the village, where an imprisoned fallen seraph desperately needs her help. There, hidden in the hellhole, the armies of Darkness assemble to ensure that this subterranean rescue will be Thorn's final descent....
356 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2007
165 people are currently reading
1706 people want to read
About the author
Faith Hunter
93 books5,722 followersFaith Hunter's Junkyard Cats novella series is available in Audible, eBook, and "ridiculously expensive" (her words) trade paperback books at this time.
Faith's Jane Yellowrock series is a dark urban fantasy. Jane is a full blooded Cherokee skinwalker and hunter of rogue-vampires in a world of weres, witches, vampires, and other supernats. 15 books and several compilations of shorts
The Soulwood series is a dark-urban fantasy / paranormal police procedural /para-thriller series featuring Nell Nicholson Ingram, an earth magic user and Special gent of PsyLED. 6 books
Her Rogue Mage novels—Bloodring, Seraphs, Host, and the RPG Rogue Mage—feature Thorn St. Croix, a stone mage in a post-apocalyptic alternate reality.
Faith is a full time writer who finally hired a housekeeper when the dust bunnies multiplied, She bakes homemade bread and loves to cook.
Faith researches in great detail, and tries most everything her characters do. Research led to her life’s passions – jewelry making, orchids, Japanese maples, bones, travel, white-water kayaking, and writing.
Faith loves orchids. Her favorite time of year is when several are blooming. Pictures can be seen at her FaceBook page. And yes, she collects bones and skulls. She has a fox, cat, dog, cow skull, goat, a boar skull, a deer skull, (that is, unfortunately, falling apart) and the jawbone of an ass. Her prize skull is a mountain lion (legally purchased from a US tannery) hit by a car in the wild.
Her latest love is Japanese maples, and she has managed to collect over thirty.
She and her husband RV, traveling to whitewater rivers to kayak all over the Southeast. Whitewater Kayaking is her very favorite sport, discovered when she was researching her (Gwen Hunter) mystery book, Rapid Descent. She took a lesson and—after a bout of panic attacks from fear of being upside down trapped in a boat—discovered she loved the sport.
Under other pen names, notably, Gwen Hunter, she writes action adventure, mysteries, and thrillers. As Gwen, she is a winner of the WH Smith Literary Award for Fresh Talent in 1995 in the UK, and won a Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award in 2008. As Faith, her books have been on the New York Times and USA Today Bestseller lists, been nominated for various awards and won an Audie Award with Khristine Hvam, among other awards. Under all her pen names, she has more than 40 books, anthologies, and complications in print in 30 countries.
For more, including a list of her books, see www.faithhunter.net , www.gwenhunter.com . To keep up with her daily, join her fan pages at Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/official.fait... and see her website blog at
www.faithhunter.net
Faith's Jane Yellowrock series is a dark urban fantasy. Jane is a full blooded Cherokee skinwalker and hunter of rogue-vampires in a world of weres, witches, vampires, and other supernats. 15 books and several compilations of shorts
The Soulwood series is a dark-urban fantasy / paranormal police procedural /para-thriller series featuring Nell Nicholson Ingram, an earth magic user and Special gent of PsyLED. 6 books
Her Rogue Mage novels—Bloodring, Seraphs, Host, and the RPG Rogue Mage—feature Thorn St. Croix, a stone mage in a post-apocalyptic alternate reality.
Faith is a full time writer who finally hired a housekeeper when the dust bunnies multiplied, She bakes homemade bread and loves to cook.
Faith researches in great detail, and tries most everything her characters do. Research led to her life’s passions – jewelry making, orchids, Japanese maples, bones, travel, white-water kayaking, and writing.
Faith loves orchids. Her favorite time of year is when several are blooming. Pictures can be seen at her FaceBook page. And yes, she collects bones and skulls. She has a fox, cat, dog, cow skull, goat, a boar skull, a deer skull, (that is, unfortunately, falling apart) and the jawbone of an ass. Her prize skull is a mountain lion (legally purchased from a US tannery) hit by a car in the wild.
Her latest love is Japanese maples, and she has managed to collect over thirty.
She and her husband RV, traveling to whitewater rivers to kayak all over the Southeast. Whitewater Kayaking is her very favorite sport, discovered when she was researching her (Gwen Hunter) mystery book, Rapid Descent. She took a lesson and—after a bout of panic attacks from fear of being upside down trapped in a boat—discovered she loved the sport.
Under other pen names, notably, Gwen Hunter, she writes action adventure, mysteries, and thrillers. As Gwen, she is a winner of the WH Smith Literary Award for Fresh Talent in 1995 in the UK, and won a Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award in 2008. As Faith, her books have been on the New York Times and USA Today Bestseller lists, been nominated for various awards and won an Audie Award with Khristine Hvam, among other awards. Under all her pen names, she has more than 40 books, anthologies, and complications in print in 30 countries.
For more, including a list of her books, see www.faithhunter.net , www.gwenhunter.com . To keep up with her daily, join her fan pages at Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/official.fait... and see her website blog at
www.faithhunter.net
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 141 reviews
March 3, 2017
Second in the Rogue Mage apocalyptic, alternative history, science fiction series and revolving around Thorn St. Croix, a battle mage in hiding in Mineral City, Carolina.
I know…it's a busy story, lol, and totally fantastic. Enough so that I've already bought the series…and hope Hunter will continue!!
We see from Thorn's perspective using first-person point-of-view, and that part of it is an easy read. Hunter certainly keeps the tension and drama up, enough so that I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Part of what slowed me down, however, is how confusing this world of hers is.
It's taken several times through the story to figure out everything to do with Holy Amethyst, how Malashe-el fits in with the good and the bad, and understanding how/who the seraphs and cherub are who are imprisoned. And obviously this confusion hasn't kept me from buying the books *grin*.
Hunter has blended parts of today's world with this world of demanding angels (these angels are much more dictatorial than those in Nalini Singh's Guild Hunter) and their Puritanical ideas of sin. Not to say that all of their views on sin are bad, but some of them take me back in history to times I'd never want to revisit! And it's weird to hear of rock and roll being reinstated, using the Internet and yet living an Old West lifestyle a'horseback with wagons and limited electricity
The conflicts Hunter provides are mostly clashes of morals and values from greed to hypocrisy to prejudice. One of the problems, conflicts I guess I should say, is the sexual attraction angels have to mages and vice versa. Neither side wants the attraction, especially Thorn as it can out her, a death sentence for a mage in hiding.
The main theme is the prejudice humans have against mages…with a side order of greed and fear. It goes along with its the winners who write the history, leaving humans with no concept of the mages' side. Nor do many of the townspeople think! I mean…I get that the average person is terrified of those "perverse" mages, but Thorn has been blessed by a seraph. Doesn't that count for something? Wouldn't that make the bigoted stop and think?
I love how Hunter pulls in the shop, their art, and the raw materials that play such a huge part in every aspect of their varied lives and interests.
Hunter encourages you to root for Thorn and her friends and to despise those who cannot think beyond their own fears. It's a pip!
The Story
Since being outed, Thorn is beset by those who hate and fear her, and she's learned who her friends are. It matters not that Thorn's powers have saved them and their town, all they can see are the demon spawn and succubae that attack. And the truth of her being one of the feared mages.
That fear and prejudice force Thorn to face a trial despite her sigil of acceptance.
But her real test is in the Trine, the mountains beyond Mineral City, where imprisoned seraphs are desperate for her help and hers and the lineage of others threaten their world.
Despite her fears of going beneath, Thorn must descend deep into those snow-covered mountains and battle the armies of Darkness.
The Characters
Thorn's Gems is…
…a jewelry and lapidary shop owned by three best friends, including Thorn St. Croix Stanhope, a battle neomage working in stone who is no longer in hiding and with the permission of the High Host to be outside an enclave. Lemuel Hastings had been Thorn's foster father and brother to Gramma Stanhope. Rose is the twin Thorn thinks was killed.
Rupert Stanhope is one of the partners and Lucas' brother. Audric is a half-breed mule and a famous dead-miner with a claim on the town of Sugar Grove. He's also in a relationship with Rupert. And, regrettably, bound to Raziel after events in Bloodring , 1. Both men declare themselves Thorn's champards, her champions in battle.
Jacey is the third partner and married to Big Zed. Zeddy is his oldest; Cissy is both of theirs.
Thaddeus Bartholomew is a state police cop, Rupert's cousin, and a kylen attracted to Thorn. Durbarge is an Administration of the ArchSeraph Investigator, an assey, who is supposed to protect a mage in the human population.
Mineral City is…
…located in the Appalachian Mountains and known for its quartz and feldspar. Esmeralda "Miz Essie" Boyles and her son, Eli Walker, a part-time miner and tracker who prefers cowboy gear and Sennabel Schwartz, the local librarian, and her husband are some of Thorn's supporters.
Townspeople also include Old Lady Vestis who makes the sign of evil when she passes the shop; Howard; Ephraim; Earl; Widow-woman Henderson; Louis; Richard; Joseph (he is thought to own a still in the hills); Florence Watkins who is firm orthodox; Mrs. Abernathy who gossips; Hannah Zelmack; Mack who is up for cursing, lewd speech, and propagandizing for supporting the EIH; Amos and Mabel Ramps who were bought witnesses; Ken Schmidt who is a miner; Eugene who is a fiddler; and, Derek Culpepper and his father who are two of those who hate Thorn, partly because she screwed up a business deal for him. Sarah Schubert and her husband own Blue Tick Hound Guns.
Lucas Stanhope is Thorn's catting-about ex-husband, currently married to Jane Hilton. He's changed since he was taken prisoner and fed manna. Ciana is his eight-year-old daughter (who prefers Thorn's company) with his first wife, the nasty Marla. Their grandfather, Mole Man, a.k.a., Benaiah Stanhope, is revered by the seraphs and the local humans. His wife, Gramma Stanhope, had been Adain Hastings' daughter.
The Council of the Town Fathers include…
…the kirk elders. Elder Jasper, a Cherokee, had been Thorn's friend, as was his wife, Polly. Elders Culpepper and Perkins are definitely not her friends. Elder Shamus Waldroup, a baker, is the senior judge over all civil and criminal disputes; Do'rise is his wife. Tobitt is a bailiff.
The High Host of the Seraphim are…
…the ruling council of seraphs, angels of punishment who descended upon Earth and destroyed its populations. Now humanity answers to them. Raziel is a warrior angel who bound Audric and is second to Michael. Michael is the ArchSeraph. Uriel, Raphael, and Gabriel are also high-order seraphs, princes. Adonal is the Angel of Punishment, a.k.a., a "terrible angel", who had judged Thorn in Bloodring . Cheriour answers the mage-in-dire cry, a two-edged sword, as it usually ends with the Sword of Punishment that can rebound back on all humans in the area. Garshanal.
Watchers are Fallen but repentant angels, who had lived on earth and taught new skills to humans. For this they were stripped of many powers and exiled to earth. Minor Flames are creatures of spirit and energy, warriors who look like fire.
Holy Amethyst is a cherubim whose Wheels were freed in Bloodring , but she is still trapped. She claims Malashe-el as hers by day. Zadkiel, her winged-warrior mate and Right Hand of the ArchSeraph Michael, is also trapped.
Baraqyal "Barak" is a Watcher imprisoned by the Dark. He might also be Baraqijal who taught astrology. Daria is a neomage with whom Barak mated, the first seraph to take a mage lover.
The EIH is…
…a.k.a., Earth Invasion Heretics who believe the angels are aliens here to enslave the earth. Joseph Barefoot invites Thorn to join the EIH. Tomas and Rickie are EIH operatives.
The Enclaves are…
…reservations for mages. Lolo is the priestess of the New Orleans Enclave and is as a grandmother to Thorn. Mages have specific powers that use creation energies: stone, metal, earth, sun, moon, sea, weather, and water.
Oliver Winston and Romona Benson are reporters with Satellite News Network.
Powers of Darkness are…
…demons, who are immortal spirits with two physical forms, and the Fallen who taught skills to man. Malashe-el is a daywalker, mortal, and a Minor Darkness in thrall to the Master of the Trine (the mountain) by night. Azazel is one of Satan's. Ephrahu is one of the human guards.
Forcas is now a Major Power, promoted after Bloodring , after Lucas.
Dead-miners scavenge abandoned homesteads and towns for the household goods left behind. Kylen are half-mage, half-angel who may only breed with humans with all offspring taken to a Realm of Light. Mages, the first unforeseen, aren't fertile with humans but they are with seraphs. Mules are the second unforeseen, sterile, incompletely developed, and half-human, half-seraph. An omega mage can command seraphs in battle. Federal crimes include forbidden sexual practices and black magic.
Back History
General Bascomb, a parent of one of the original neomages, ordered a nuclear bomb dropped on these teens. Enoch was a human man who had pled for the Watchers before the Most High.
The Cover and Title
The cover has dark borders with an explosion of gold in the middle with a background of industrial abandonment. It's the red-haired Thorn in the middle of it all in her black leather battlesuit, swords in hand and one on her back with a flourish of what seems to be the misty red flame lining of a black cape. The title is in a shadowed white across the center with the author's name in white at the bottom.
The title reflects our closer introduction to the Seraphs.
"…no display of my scars to remind them of the battle I had fought … kept them safe … nothing like demonstrating that people were beholden to you to make them hate you."My Take
I know…it's a busy story, lol, and totally fantastic. Enough so that I've already bought the series…and hope Hunter will continue!!
We see from Thorn's perspective using first-person point-of-view, and that part of it is an easy read. Hunter certainly keeps the tension and drama up, enough so that I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Part of what slowed me down, however, is how confusing this world of hers is.
It's taken several times through the story to figure out everything to do with Holy Amethyst, how Malashe-el fits in with the good and the bad, and understanding how/who the seraphs and cherub are who are imprisoned. And obviously this confusion hasn't kept me from buying the books *grin*.
Hunter has blended parts of today's world with this world of demanding angels (these angels are much more dictatorial than those in Nalini Singh's Guild Hunter) and their Puritanical ideas of sin. Not to say that all of their views on sin are bad, but some of them take me back in history to times I'd never want to revisit! And it's weird to hear of rock and roll being reinstated, using the Internet and yet living an Old West lifestyle a'horseback with wagons and limited electricity
The conflicts Hunter provides are mostly clashes of morals and values from greed to hypocrisy to prejudice. One of the problems, conflicts I guess I should say, is the sexual attraction angels have to mages and vice versa. Neither side wants the attraction, especially Thorn as it can out her, a death sentence for a mage in hiding.
The main theme is the prejudice humans have against mages…with a side order of greed and fear. It goes along with its the winners who write the history, leaving humans with no concept of the mages' side. Nor do many of the townspeople think! I mean…I get that the average person is terrified of those "perverse" mages, but Thorn has been blessed by a seraph. Doesn't that count for something? Wouldn't that make the bigoted stop and think?
I love how Hunter pulls in the shop, their art, and the raw materials that play such a huge part in every aspect of their varied lives and interests.
Hunter encourages you to root for Thorn and her friends and to despise those who cannot think beyond their own fears. It's a pip!
The Story
Since being outed, Thorn is beset by those who hate and fear her, and she's learned who her friends are. It matters not that Thorn's powers have saved them and their town, all they can see are the demon spawn and succubae that attack. And the truth of her being one of the feared mages.
That fear and prejudice force Thorn to face a trial despite her sigil of acceptance.
But her real test is in the Trine, the mountains beyond Mineral City, where imprisoned seraphs are desperate for her help and hers and the lineage of others threaten their world.
Despite her fears of going beneath, Thorn must descend deep into those snow-covered mountains and battle the armies of Darkness.
The Characters
Thorn's Gems is…
…a jewelry and lapidary shop owned by three best friends, including Thorn St. Croix Stanhope, a battle neomage working in stone who is no longer in hiding and with the permission of the High Host to be outside an enclave. Lemuel Hastings had been Thorn's foster father and brother to Gramma Stanhope. Rose is the twin Thorn thinks was killed.
Rupert Stanhope is one of the partners and Lucas' brother. Audric is a half-breed mule and a famous dead-miner with a claim on the town of Sugar Grove. He's also in a relationship with Rupert. And, regrettably, bound to Raziel after events in Bloodring , 1. Both men declare themselves Thorn's champards, her champions in battle.
Jacey is the third partner and married to Big Zed. Zeddy is his oldest; Cissy is both of theirs.
Thaddeus Bartholomew is a state police cop, Rupert's cousin, and a kylen attracted to Thorn. Durbarge is an Administration of the ArchSeraph Investigator, an assey, who is supposed to protect a mage in the human population.
Mineral City is…
…located in the Appalachian Mountains and known for its quartz and feldspar. Esmeralda "Miz Essie" Boyles and her son, Eli Walker, a part-time miner and tracker who prefers cowboy gear and Sennabel Schwartz, the local librarian, and her husband are some of Thorn's supporters.
Townspeople also include Old Lady Vestis who makes the sign of evil when she passes the shop; Howard; Ephraim; Earl; Widow-woman Henderson; Louis; Richard; Joseph (he is thought to own a still in the hills); Florence Watkins who is firm orthodox; Mrs. Abernathy who gossips; Hannah Zelmack; Mack who is up for cursing, lewd speech, and propagandizing for supporting the EIH; Amos and Mabel Ramps who were bought witnesses; Ken Schmidt who is a miner; Eugene who is a fiddler; and, Derek Culpepper and his father who are two of those who hate Thorn, partly because she screwed up a business deal for him. Sarah Schubert and her husband own Blue Tick Hound Guns.
Lucas Stanhope is Thorn's catting-about ex-husband, currently married to Jane Hilton. He's changed since he was taken prisoner and fed manna. Ciana is his eight-year-old daughter (who prefers Thorn's company) with his first wife, the nasty Marla. Their grandfather, Mole Man, a.k.a., Benaiah Stanhope, is revered by the seraphs and the local humans. His wife, Gramma Stanhope, had been Adain Hastings' daughter.
The Council of the Town Fathers include…
…the kirk elders. Elder Jasper, a Cherokee, had been Thorn's friend, as was his wife, Polly. Elders Culpepper and Perkins are definitely not her friends. Elder Shamus Waldroup, a baker, is the senior judge over all civil and criminal disputes; Do'rise is his wife. Tobitt is a bailiff.
The High Host of the Seraphim are…
…the ruling council of seraphs, angels of punishment who descended upon Earth and destroyed its populations. Now humanity answers to them. Raziel is a warrior angel who bound Audric and is second to Michael. Michael is the ArchSeraph. Uriel, Raphael, and Gabriel are also high-order seraphs, princes. Adonal is the Angel of Punishment, a.k.a., a "terrible angel", who had judged Thorn in Bloodring . Cheriour answers the mage-in-dire cry, a two-edged sword, as it usually ends with the Sword of Punishment that can rebound back on all humans in the area. Garshanal.
Watchers are Fallen but repentant angels, who had lived on earth and taught new skills to humans. For this they were stripped of many powers and exiled to earth. Minor Flames are creatures of spirit and energy, warriors who look like fire.
Holy Amethyst is a cherubim whose Wheels were freed in Bloodring , but she is still trapped. She claims Malashe-el as hers by day. Zadkiel, her winged-warrior mate and Right Hand of the ArchSeraph Michael, is also trapped.
Baraqyal "Barak" is a Watcher imprisoned by the Dark. He might also be Baraqijal who taught astrology. Daria is a neomage with whom Barak mated, the first seraph to take a mage lover.
The EIH is…
…a.k.a., Earth Invasion Heretics who believe the angels are aliens here to enslave the earth. Joseph Barefoot invites Thorn to join the EIH. Tomas and Rickie are EIH operatives.
The Enclaves are…
…reservations for mages. Lolo is the priestess of the New Orleans Enclave and is as a grandmother to Thorn. Mages have specific powers that use creation energies: stone, metal, earth, sun, moon, sea, weather, and water.
Oliver Winston and Romona Benson are reporters with Satellite News Network.
Powers of Darkness are…
…demons, who are immortal spirits with two physical forms, and the Fallen who taught skills to man. Malashe-el is a daywalker, mortal, and a Minor Darkness in thrall to the Master of the Trine (the mountain) by night. Azazel is one of Satan's. Ephrahu is one of the human guards.
Forcas is now a Major Power, promoted after Bloodring , after Lucas.
Dead-miners scavenge abandoned homesteads and towns for the household goods left behind. Kylen are half-mage, half-angel who may only breed with humans with all offspring taken to a Realm of Light. Mages, the first unforeseen, aren't fertile with humans but they are with seraphs. Mules are the second unforeseen, sterile, incompletely developed, and half-human, half-seraph. An omega mage can command seraphs in battle. Federal crimes include forbidden sexual practices and black magic.
Back History
General Bascomb, a parent of one of the original neomages, ordered a nuclear bomb dropped on these teens. Enoch was a human man who had pled for the Watchers before the Most High.
The Cover and Title
The cover has dark borders with an explosion of gold in the middle with a background of industrial abandonment. It's the red-haired Thorn in the middle of it all in her black leather battlesuit, swords in hand and one on her back with a flourish of what seems to be the misty red flame lining of a black cape. The title is in a shadowed white across the center with the author's name in white at the bottom.
The title reflects our closer introduction to the Seraphs.
April 18, 2011
Really not sure what I think about this series nevermind this book. There was more action of both the angelic and the sexual kind but i still feel like a lot of this book was filler and could've been fleshed out a lot more.
The premise of this book is very interesting and has soo much potential. What if the world didn't end like it had been predicted for several millenia and people and culture still existed but in such a modified form that while it's similar to ours it's extremely different? Cursing, color and extreme shows of opinion are frowned upon. There is magic, demons, angels and biblical creatures/references abound in this book.
So why were certain passages almost directly lifted from descriptions in her previous book? Why has Thorn not progressed in her training and her understanding? Why has Lolo not made more of an appearance?
I felt there was a lot of circular plot without any real conclusion and a lot of things were explained in such a way that it left me a bit confused but not interested enough to go back and try to understand.
It gets three stars because although the plot is a little undefined and circuitous, the characters are interesting enough to keep me reading.
It may not be enough to keep going onto the third, but we'll see.
The premise of this book is very interesting and has soo much potential. What if the world didn't end like it had been predicted for several millenia and people and culture still existed but in such a modified form that while it's similar to ours it's extremely different? Cursing, color and extreme shows of opinion are frowned upon. There is magic, demons, angels and biblical creatures/references abound in this book.
So why were certain passages almost directly lifted from descriptions in her previous book? Why has Thorn not progressed in her training and her understanding? Why has Lolo not made more of an appearance?
I felt there was a lot of circular plot without any real conclusion and a lot of things were explained in such a way that it left me a bit confused but not interested enough to go back and try to understand.
It gets three stars because although the plot is a little undefined and circuitous, the characters are interesting enough to keep me reading.
It may not be enough to keep going onto the third, but we'll see.
October 28, 2010
Huh.
Honestly, I just don't even know what to say here. For starters, I'm not sure how to even classify the Rogue Mage series. Post-apocalyptic fantasy/mythology? Dunno. Actually, now that I think about it, that's sort of been a theme for me as I've been reading the first two novels of the series. What's going on? Dunno. What's up with the thwarted, useless mage-heat all the time? Dunno. What's the deal with the Amethyst lady's freakin' wheels? Dunno. What are the freakin' wheels? Dunno. And so on. To put things plainly, I find that I don't really understand and absolutely cannot visualize half of what's going on with all the neomage/seraph/darkness mumbo-jumbo. Lots of times I end up skimming those parts.
Yet at the end of the day, there's definitely something that keeps me reading. For starters, I find the characters weirdly compelling. (Although maybe I'm just waiting to find out who Thorn finally decides to shack up with.) Also, I find that I quite enjoy the battle scenes (of which there are many) - even if I don't really get the neomage hocus-pocus half of the time. Anyway, I can't really put my finger on it, but in the end, I have enjoyed the books, and I'll definitely be picking up the next one.
Honestly, I just don't even know what to say here. For starters, I'm not sure how to even classify the Rogue Mage series. Post-apocalyptic fantasy/mythology? Dunno. Actually, now that I think about it, that's sort of been a theme for me as I've been reading the first two novels of the series. What's going on? Dunno. What's up with the thwarted, useless mage-heat all the time? Dunno. What's the deal with the Amethyst lady's freakin' wheels? Dunno. What are the freakin' wheels? Dunno. And so on. To put things plainly, I find that I don't really understand and absolutely cannot visualize half of what's going on with all the neomage/seraph/darkness mumbo-jumbo. Lots of times I end up skimming those parts.
Yet at the end of the day, there's definitely something that keeps me reading. For starters, I find the characters weirdly compelling. (Although maybe I'm just waiting to find out who Thorn finally decides to shack up with.) Also, I find that I quite enjoy the battle scenes (of which there are many) - even if I don't really get the neomage hocus-pocus half of the time. Anyway, I can't really put my finger on it, but in the end, I have enjoyed the books, and I'll definitely be picking up the next one.
October 29, 2017
Thorn is backed by some very close friends, a fiercely loyal family. But as a newly revealed Neo-Mage in an aggressively hostile small town she’s on thin ice. Even when her powers may be the very thing keeping them safe from the monsters underground
But are those powers also responsible for drawing them?
She had sworn she wouldn’t return to face the darkness under the mountain… but it’s waiting and gathering its forces and it certainly hasn’t forgotten Thorn
This huge, complicated world contains so many wonderful conflicts. A post-apocalypse world, nearly wiped out by angelic and divine wrath, nearly consumed by demonic rage, living in equal terror of both angel from on high and demon from beneath. A deeply religious society, desperately and faithfully following proper sacred rules - but without any clear indication of what those sacred rules actually are, which religion is right and in a world where one certainty they actually have is that religious conflict will get you killed.
And these are just the stories the Seraphs tell… what is the real truth?
And into that complex world we have Thorn continuing her story - only this time revealed to be a Neomage, much to the hatred and prejudice of her neighbours. There’s so many wonderful levels to this whole conflict: there’s Thorn gloriously owning who she is, wearing it like a cape and waving it like a flag. There’s her closest friends and loved ones standing shoulder to shoulder with her ready to cut anyone who looks at her twice. There’s the good people who are pushing for honesty and fairness (and the Jewish and Cherokee communities arming and stepping up in the face of clear religious oppression was a nice, though in need of development, moment). The outright bigots willing to do anything to bring Thorn down. The hypocrites who want Thorn’s magic - but not in public, not where people could see, oh no! And, of course, Thorn makes a convenient scapegoat whenever things go wrong.
Throw in a lot of intrigue about her past and her mentor, lots of questions about whether the whole narrative that is being sold about the Seraphs arrival is actually true and a neat little romance sub plot with some nice twists in that it’s not happily ever after, by any stretch.
I like the people around Thorn, they’re not flawless: the fact that Audric, a Black man is in a subservient position because of his species, the fact that he and Rupert, as gay men, are similarly rendered sexless are both questionable to say the least and Rupert has a bad case of Gay Shark going on with heavily laden stereotypes. All are fiercely loyal to Thorn and along with Jessie make an excellent team around her. She has strong, good relationships.
The town itself is also very racially diverse, though not with major characters, Many important characters - like the chief elder of the town - are POC
Read More
But are those powers also responsible for drawing them?
She had sworn she wouldn’t return to face the darkness under the mountain… but it’s waiting and gathering its forces and it certainly hasn’t forgotten Thorn
This huge, complicated world contains so many wonderful conflicts. A post-apocalypse world, nearly wiped out by angelic and divine wrath, nearly consumed by demonic rage, living in equal terror of both angel from on high and demon from beneath. A deeply religious society, desperately and faithfully following proper sacred rules - but without any clear indication of what those sacred rules actually are, which religion is right and in a world where one certainty they actually have is that religious conflict will get you killed.
And these are just the stories the Seraphs tell… what is the real truth?
And into that complex world we have Thorn continuing her story - only this time revealed to be a Neomage, much to the hatred and prejudice of her neighbours. There’s so many wonderful levels to this whole conflict: there’s Thorn gloriously owning who she is, wearing it like a cape and waving it like a flag. There’s her closest friends and loved ones standing shoulder to shoulder with her ready to cut anyone who looks at her twice. There’s the good people who are pushing for honesty and fairness (and the Jewish and Cherokee communities arming and stepping up in the face of clear religious oppression was a nice, though in need of development, moment). The outright bigots willing to do anything to bring Thorn down. The hypocrites who want Thorn’s magic - but not in public, not where people could see, oh no! And, of course, Thorn makes a convenient scapegoat whenever things go wrong.
Throw in a lot of intrigue about her past and her mentor, lots of questions about whether the whole narrative that is being sold about the Seraphs arrival is actually true and a neat little romance sub plot with some nice twists in that it’s not happily ever after, by any stretch.
I like the people around Thorn, they’re not flawless: the fact that Audric, a Black man is in a subservient position because of his species, the fact that he and Rupert, as gay men, are similarly rendered sexless are both questionable to say the least and Rupert has a bad case of Gay Shark going on with heavily laden stereotypes. All are fiercely loyal to Thorn and along with Jessie make an excellent team around her. She has strong, good relationships.
The town itself is also very racially diverse, though not with major characters, Many important characters - like the chief elder of the town - are POC
Read More
July 26, 2010
After the events of Bloodring, Thorn can no longer hide who she is. She has a few very loyal allies, but as for the rest of the town most are wary of, if not outright against her. Most fear her, and a few would love nothing more than to prosecute and execute her. Although their fears are mostly based on prejudice, some of them are warranted. The dark forces on the Trine are drawn to Thorn as they want Thorn and her powers, bringing the fight to the town. In the end, to save the ones she loves she must do something she vowed never to do again, go underground into the Darkness' lair to rescue a fallen Seraph that is vital to the looming war.
This book was much less confusing than the last one, and while we still do not know the entire truth of Thorn's past, things are starting to become a little more clear. Considering how frustrating it is to me to not know what she truly is, I cannot imagine what it would be like for Thorn. The poor mage has had so many things thrown at her, and everyone seems to know much more about her than she does, its a wonder she can even begin to handle it all. Throughout this book Thorn continues to prove her inner "goodness" regardless of what the townspeople may say, nor the fact that she is supposed to be soulless as all mages are. She never hesitates to risk and sacrifice her safety to protect others and that it a very admirable trait. The mage heat is still an issue for me as you would expect something to come of it, but nothing ever does. While Thorn is so strong willed that she can mostly avoid the temptation, a normal person would not be able to. Since mage heat affects the person it is directed at as well, it would make sense that one of these times something would have happened. Putting that aside Thorn is an amazing character and her selflessness is amazing. I hope in the next book she get some recovery time and a little peace as a reward for all she has done and sacrificed.
This book was much less confusing than the last one, and while we still do not know the entire truth of Thorn's past, things are starting to become a little more clear. Considering how frustrating it is to me to not know what she truly is, I cannot imagine what it would be like for Thorn. The poor mage has had so many things thrown at her, and everyone seems to know much more about her than she does, its a wonder she can even begin to handle it all. Throughout this book Thorn continues to prove her inner "goodness" regardless of what the townspeople may say, nor the fact that she is supposed to be soulless as all mages are. She never hesitates to risk and sacrifice her safety to protect others and that it a very admirable trait. The mage heat is still an issue for me as you would expect something to come of it, but nothing ever does. While Thorn is so strong willed that she can mostly avoid the temptation, a normal person would not be able to. Since mage heat affects the person it is directed at as well, it would make sense that one of these times something would have happened. Putting that aside Thorn is an amazing character and her selflessness is amazing. I hope in the next book she get some recovery time and a little peace as a reward for all she has done and sacrificed.
November 24, 2007
2nd book in the series.
Why is it that if your female character is female, they accumulate massive amounts of power rapidly, and have to have an interesting love life? Am I just missing this for the few cases where the lead character is a male (ie, Harry Dresden)? The concept is still interesting - the big A Apocalypse has come, most of humanity died, Good (big G) fought Evil (big E), and it ended in....not quite a draw, but not really a victory either. And then there are the unforseen - children of humans that survived the first three plagues, can work with the energy left over from creation, and are (according to the Seraphs (angels)) apparently soulless.
The main character in the series is one of those soulless ones - a stone neomage. I like the geological references; this may be the first time I've ever seen kyanite used as an adjective, and well, really, it is probably the first time I've seen the word kyanite in a work of fiction at all. On the other hand, the ending bugged me - I see a Laura K Hamilton moment coming up, where the author is going to have to decide if the main character is the character in a series being moved by the forces around her, or a major force that is directing everyone else around her...and probably getting so wrapped up in the sex that the plot gets lost. As I said in the review of the first one - nothing wrong with a sex scene in a book, but, I read these series for their plots. If the story is lost, I've lost my interest.
I'm going to read the 3rd one, probably sooner rather than later since its been published, unlike books in another 15 series that I'm reading, and I think the branch of the library I go to has it, unlike 7 other series. And on a side note, how am I managing to read 31 different series that are all largely in the same sub-genre of scifi and fantasy? Shouldn't I be overwhelmed by grad school?
Why is it that if your female character is female, they accumulate massive amounts of power rapidly, and have to have an interesting love life? Am I just missing this for the few cases where the lead character is a male (ie, Harry Dresden)? The concept is still interesting - the big A Apocalypse has come, most of humanity died, Good (big G) fought Evil (big E), and it ended in....not quite a draw, but not really a victory either. And then there are the unforseen - children of humans that survived the first three plagues, can work with the energy left over from creation, and are (according to the Seraphs (angels)) apparently soulless.
The main character in the series is one of those soulless ones - a stone neomage. I like the geological references; this may be the first time I've ever seen kyanite used as an adjective, and well, really, it is probably the first time I've seen the word kyanite in a work of fiction at all. On the other hand, the ending bugged me - I see a Laura K Hamilton moment coming up, where the author is going to have to decide if the main character is the character in a series being moved by the forces around her, or a major force that is directing everyone else around her...and probably getting so wrapped up in the sex that the plot gets lost. As I said in the review of the first one - nothing wrong with a sex scene in a book, but, I read these series for their plots. If the story is lost, I've lost my interest.
I'm going to read the 3rd one, probably sooner rather than later since its been published, unlike books in another 15 series that I'm reading, and I think the branch of the library I go to has it, unlike 7 other series. And on a side note, how am I managing to read 31 different series that are all largely in the same sub-genre of scifi and fantasy? Shouldn't I be overwhelmed by grad school?
July 4, 2011
I can't give it one star, because I didn't hate it and I still somehow read the next one, but many many times I wanted to throw this book against a wall. It was extraordinarily frustrating and confusing, and the writing, like it was throughout the trilogy, was messy and convoluted.
September 19, 2016
Surprisingly, I enjoyed it! I found Bloodring confusing but Seraphs answered many of my questions! It's still a dark world, a dark story but the battle scenes made up for it! Now to find out what an omega mage is!
February 28, 2012
I find this series a bit difficult to follow sometimes.
June 1, 2015
The previous book exposed Thorn as a neomage to her own townspeople, someone to be feared and to blame for everything bad. Some want to see her dead and others stand up for her. Religion is important after the apocalypse, when Seraphs showed up and killed most of humanity with plagues and other punishments for their sins. But the Most Holy, The Host, has not yet shown himself, leaving the religious leaders in turmoil. A few new religions have developed, some very strict ones, and they want to banish all joy and fun and sin from life. But the majority of people just want to survive this new ice age and make a decent living for themselves.
But the Darkness does not rest. Spawn is around at night, trying to find people to kill, to eat, to abduct and of course, to sway to the Darkness. At first Seraphs where a daily occurence, fighting the Darkness, but now they are rare, and neomages are kept in enclaves, hidden from normal humans. Only allowed outside by special permission and on special missions. But when Thorn came into her powers at puberty, she suddenly could hear all the other neomages in her head and it almost drove her insane. So her Elder smuggled her outside of the Enclave, and to mineral city, where she grew up as a normal child, always hiding her heritage.
Thorn is a stone mage, with an affinity for jewellery and stones. And when she finds out that a real Seraph and a Cherub are kept imprisoned nearby, she has no choice but to try to rescue them with only a few friends and allies as back up. Will they survive the mission?
It is a very intriguing series. And there is the question if it are really Angels and Demons fighting the ancient war of good versus evil, Seraphs against Darkness, or are these really aliens come to Earth to continue their own war? Yes, it has religion, but not really as I know it. And not of the stuff-it-down-your-throat kind of religion. Thorn doesn’t think she is religious, even if she goes to church (well, you really have to or you are in big trouble with the Church Elders, especially as a woman). As a neomage, she is supposed not to have a soul. After all, her “race” was not foreseen in the Bible. Nor that of the children of neomages and Seraphs, the second unforeseen.
I am truly fascinated by this storytelling. I like Thorn and how she struggles to make sense of what is happening, fighting the mage heat and doing the right thing. She has some great friends. So, post apocalypse, something I don’t really like, religion, which I also don’t really like in my books, and still I truly like this series. It is well written, fast paced, and just plain attention grabbing.
8 stars.
But the Darkness does not rest. Spawn is around at night, trying to find people to kill, to eat, to abduct and of course, to sway to the Darkness. At first Seraphs where a daily occurence, fighting the Darkness, but now they are rare, and neomages are kept in enclaves, hidden from normal humans. Only allowed outside by special permission and on special missions. But when Thorn came into her powers at puberty, she suddenly could hear all the other neomages in her head and it almost drove her insane. So her Elder smuggled her outside of the Enclave, and to mineral city, where she grew up as a normal child, always hiding her heritage.
Thorn is a stone mage, with an affinity for jewellery and stones. And when she finds out that a real Seraph and a Cherub are kept imprisoned nearby, she has no choice but to try to rescue them with only a few friends and allies as back up. Will they survive the mission?
It is a very intriguing series. And there is the question if it are really Angels and Demons fighting the ancient war of good versus evil, Seraphs against Darkness, or are these really aliens come to Earth to continue their own war? Yes, it has religion, but not really as I know it. And not of the stuff-it-down-your-throat kind of religion. Thorn doesn’t think she is religious, even if she goes to church (well, you really have to or you are in big trouble with the Church Elders, especially as a woman). As a neomage, she is supposed not to have a soul. After all, her “race” was not foreseen in the Bible. Nor that of the children of neomages and Seraphs, the second unforeseen.
I am truly fascinated by this storytelling. I like Thorn and how she struggles to make sense of what is happening, fighting the mage heat and doing the right thing. She has some great friends. So, post apocalypse, something I don’t really like, religion, which I also don’t really like in my books, and still I truly like this series. It is well written, fast paced, and just plain attention grabbing.
8 stars.
July 12, 2023
REREAD 2023
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REREAD 2020
3.5/5 stars. Rounded up
So, my current thoughts on the book?
As mentioned below. The characters were a little better and the story seemed to actually move forward.
I have to agree with some other reviewers that there seemed to be a bit more fluff in this book, what with the whole Lucas-story arc. I am really glad for the trial, thought, as it gives us a lot of information about the world and the differences in their view on things.
And honestly, I didn't realize how relevant this story could actually be to this current climate when I read it last - at least I don't remember thinking that.
I mean, a woman is brought before trial for being different, and they use the fact that she wears pants as proof to have her condemned!
Hunter was way ahead of the times here, both in this, and the fact that she had a gay character. You can hardly find a book these days without one, but back when this series was published? It wasn't the same.
The only real downside I'm seeing now, is that the author seems to re-use a lot of things from this series in her Jane Yellowrock-series, and that's kind of a bummer. Book 1 in this series was, in that sense, more original than this one, as I didn't recognice more than a name.
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2018
Ok, I'm really frustrated that my original review doesn't get saved when I add the book to ''currently reading''. It used to not change, but apparently Goodreads is doing what it can to be an ass this year.
What I remember from the original review was that I thought the characters were more fleshed out and the story actually moved forward and we got a real plot instead of just ''good vs bad''.
EDIT:
I found the original review:
It's fun to see how the author has grown between the first book in this series and this book.
I felt the characters were more alive in this book than in book one. I could actually relate to them a little here.
The writing was also better. It seemed to have gotten a flow I missed in book one.
The thing that really did it, though, was the story. While I felt the story in book one was OK, but a bit mixed with info the author really wanted to share, this one didn't have that problem.
I think I only once almost fell out because of the info, but the info was needed for the story to move forward.
Looking forward to reading book 3!
3/5
---------------------------------
REREAD 2020
3.5/5 stars. Rounded up
So, my current thoughts on the book?
As mentioned below. The characters were a little better and the story seemed to actually move forward.
I have to agree with some other reviewers that there seemed to be a bit more fluff in this book, what with the whole Lucas-story arc. I am really glad for the trial, thought, as it gives us a lot of information about the world and the differences in their view on things.
And honestly, I didn't realize how relevant this story could actually be to this current climate when I read it last - at least I don't remember thinking that.
I mean, a woman is brought before trial for being different, and they use the fact that she wears pants as proof to have her condemned!
Hunter was way ahead of the times here, both in this, and the fact that she had a gay character. You can hardly find a book these days without one, but back when this series was published? It wasn't the same.
The only real downside I'm seeing now, is that the author seems to re-use a lot of things from this series in her Jane Yellowrock-series, and that's kind of a bummer. Book 1 in this series was, in that sense, more original than this one, as I didn't recognice more than a name.
------------------------------------
2018
Ok, I'm really frustrated that my original review doesn't get saved when I add the book to ''currently reading''. It used to not change, but apparently Goodreads is doing what it can to be an ass this year.
What I remember from the original review was that I thought the characters were more fleshed out and the story actually moved forward and we got a real plot instead of just ''good vs bad''.
EDIT:
I found the original review:
It's fun to see how the author has grown between the first book in this series and this book.
I felt the characters were more alive in this book than in book one. I could actually relate to them a little here.
The writing was also better. It seemed to have gotten a flow I missed in book one.
The thing that really did it, though, was the story. While I felt the story in book one was OK, but a bit mixed with info the author really wanted to share, this one didn't have that problem.
I think I only once almost fell out because of the info, but the info was needed for the story to move forward.
Looking forward to reading book 3!
3/5
November 27, 2014
The story progresses nicely here.
Besides that, my opinion of the book is pretty consistent with my review of the first book. The story drags with belabored details of here mage and artisan practices eg. she walks us threw jewelry making and her musings about how her spell is(n't) going. The trilogy does keep you going though, with it's cool premise and questions asked and answered.
Already on the next one.
Spoilers, if you want to know what happens...
Besides that, my opinion of the book is pretty consistent with my review of the first book. The story drags with belabored details of here mage and artisan practices eg. she walks us threw jewelry making and her musings about how her spell is(n't) going. The trilogy does keep you going though, with it's cool premise and questions asked and answered.
Already on the next one.
Spoilers, if you want to know what happens...
September 8, 2010
Not really sure how I feel about this series. I like Thorn and LoLo seems to be becoming more important in her role. After the battle on the trine, Thorn is revealed as a neomage. Despite the fact that she has lived in Mineral City for 10 years a lot of people aren't happy with having her as a neighbor now. All of her friends, and several unexpected people show up to support her when the town elders try to bring phony charges against her. Her ex husband is a loser, and I wish she could give Thadd a chance. Quite a few cliffhangers at the end of Seraphs so hopefully the third book can pick up the pace!
September 7, 2007
2nd book in the series, I simply loved this book. First of all, after all these guys after her, the main character finally ends up well... involved... with one of them. Can't tell you which. I can't wait for the third one to come out and it will be interesting to see if the Seraphs really are angels after all (besides the obvious fact they have feathers).
October 2, 2016
3.5 stars. Actually liked this less on the second read, but that may be because this time I read it immediately after book 1 and it's just not as tight in comparison.
November 3, 2011
Same as the first, I like the world and the characters, but the story line moves so slowly it's hard to stay interested.
February 22, 2015
Interesting premise
The mix of biblical and fantasy made this book for me. Also heroine that kicks butt. Fascinating. Ill be reading the next book.
The mix of biblical and fantasy made this book for me. Also heroine that kicks butt. Fascinating. Ill be reading the next book.
February 1, 2014
I actually liked this series even better than the Jane Yellowrock one.
Read
December 8, 2020After the major battle with the Darkness under the mountain in Bloodring, and getting permission to remain out of the enclaves by the seraphs, Thorn faces a crisis in obtaining the approval of the townsfolk when a council meeting is called. She shows up with her champions, and ends up with the support of at least part of the town, disproving some of the false allegations about her.
Unfortunately, shortly after that, the town is attacked by a whole flock of succubi, who entice the townsfolk into public indecency, and all of the succubi look just like Thorn! The Darkness used some of her blood, taken when she was captive, to breed them. This threatens to throw her precarious position in town into doubt.
This aventure of the neomage includes one rather torrid and ill-advised sexual encounter between Thorn and her ex-husband, Lucas. But Lucas hasn't changed his philandering ways at all, though he professes to love her, and after some serious soul searching (tough for her since she doesn't have one), she throws him out of her house and bed once more.
Tension builds as Thorn slowly realizes she's going to have to return to the underground lair of the Darkness and fight to free a seraph, a cherub and one of the Fallen that are being held captive there, being used to breed more spawn that will soon invade the town.
Our heroine's powers are growing, and her realization that she must rely on her friends and allies to help her is growing, though reluctantly.
Unfortunately, shortly after that, the town is attacked by a whole flock of succubi, who entice the townsfolk into public indecency, and all of the succubi look just like Thorn! The Darkness used some of her blood, taken when she was captive, to breed them. This threatens to throw her precarious position in town into doubt.
This aventure of the neomage includes one rather torrid and ill-advised sexual encounter between Thorn and her ex-husband, Lucas. But Lucas hasn't changed his philandering ways at all, though he professes to love her, and after some serious soul searching (tough for her since she doesn't have one), she throws him out of her house and bed once more.
Tension builds as Thorn slowly realizes she's going to have to return to the underground lair of the Darkness and fight to free a seraph, a cherub and one of the Fallen that are being held captive there, being used to breed more spawn that will soon invade the town.
Our heroine's powers are growing, and her realization that she must rely on her friends and allies to help her is growing, though reluctantly.
February 20, 2021
Simply amazing!
I love Thorn! She is awesome, inspiring and so totally flying by the seat of her pants! Her family of her heart fight for her when she doesn’t fight for herself. She’s willing to sacrifice everything including herself to save everyone even those that would hurt her. I really really wish there were a couple thousand more pages to each book! You want to cry when it ends every time wanting more! Definitely a sign that this author is a Goddess of her craft! I look forward to reading many more books and series by her! Lastly my humble thanks for sharing your gift with us, your fans!
I love Thorn! She is awesome, inspiring and so totally flying by the seat of her pants! Her family of her heart fight for her when she doesn’t fight for herself. She’s willing to sacrifice everything including herself to save everyone even those that would hurt her. I really really wish there were a couple thousand more pages to each book! You want to cry when it ends every time wanting more! Definitely a sign that this author is a Goddess of her craft! I look forward to reading many more books and series by her! Lastly my humble thanks for sharing your gift with us, your fans!
December 11, 2019
Since I have to wait for the next new Faith Hunter book, I went back to the Rogue Mage series. I did not enjoy the firs one and I dd not enjoy this one--but strangely, I could not not finish it. I suppose that is the sign of a great writer--that the reader can't put down a book that she doesn't enjoy. I remain enchanted by Nell and Jane, but Thorn and her Post apocalypse world are just not for me.
October 20, 2017
We're getting more answers and explanations but so much doesn't add up. I am not sure if that is the point since I just found out that the author is planning on making this world into an RPG Tabletop Game...but still. Very unsatisfying for the reader. Going to finish the series and hope there is some feeling of resolution.
December 28, 2017
I never really know what is going on. After two books I still don't understand the societal structure. The relationships between the different species is confusing and ambiguous. That said, I have still enjoyed the parts of the story I can follow, I'm just a little disappointed in the world development.
February 18, 2018
Faith Hunter is amazing!!
Faith Hunter is always a great choice, and this series is one of my favorites! From the first, you know this isn't just an ordinary post apocalyptic type book. Hunter blends a Biblical perspective in with amazing imagination, giving the reader an amazing ride!
Faith Hunter is always a great choice, and this series is one of my favorites! From the first, you know this isn't just an ordinary post apocalyptic type book. Hunter blends a Biblical perspective in with amazing imagination, giving the reader an amazing ride!
April 25, 2019
A bit tedious & slow paced. Allot of information & descriptions, that are constantly being repeated. Plus it was ridiculous how the MC powers grow unexpectedly at very convenient times, when she doesn't know why or how. Again heavy on biblical quotes & references, but little romance unfortunately. Also I got tired of all the "woe is me" martyrdom of the female MC.
April 14, 2018
I found this book relatively interesting but not even close to riveting. There were many parts that were so oddly described and jumpy I found myself reading them again thinking I had missed something or they were a dream sequence. I am not entirely sold on reading the next book.
September 27, 2018
A very interesting post-apocalyptic setting, but the fact that Thorn other neo-mages are not in control of their own bodies and can be literally sent into heat by the presence of a seraph or kylen is referenced over and over and over, and gets really uncomfortable in places.
November 11, 2018
I couldn't put it down
I loved this story. The characters were engaging and interesting. The storyline was captivating and enthralling. This is a series I want to read more of. The twists and turns in the storyline was fantastic. Faith Hunter has written a fantastic book.
I loved this story. The characters were engaging and interesting. The storyline was captivating and enthralling. This is a series I want to read more of. The twists and turns in the storyline was fantastic. Faith Hunter has written a fantastic book.
December 28, 2018
Middle muddle
Trying to draw all the strands of a story together isn't easy and this tale falls just shy. I'm always wary of characters who's intuition seems infallible. Good read, non the less.
Trying to draw all the strands of a story together isn't easy and this tale falls just shy. I'm always wary of characters who's intuition seems infallible. Good read, non the less.
March 24, 2019
Entertaining from page one
Accelerates the plot from ROGUE MAGE and ramps up the action. Character development for core characters and some new ones expands the worldview. Riveting.
Accelerates the plot from ROGUE MAGE and ramps up the action. Character development for core characters and some new ones expands the worldview. Riveting.
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