Members with This Book
Most Helpful Reviews
see all reviews
Liked It “Similar to Robin Hobb's series, but good in its own right.” see full review » see other reviews » |
Didn’t Like It2 of 2 members found this review helpful “A fantasy story extremely light on the fantasy, a political piece extremely light on the politics, an adventure extremely light on adventure. |
Newest Reviews
see all reviews-
“Similar to Robin Hobb's series, but good in its own right.”
Sharon B wrote this review 7 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Asher loves his life as a fisherman, but there's no getting around the fact that being the youngest of seven sons doesn't give him a very big piece of the family business. Determined to earn enough money to get a boat of his own, he travels to the capital to get a job for a year, little suspecting his arrival has been foretold and his presence will herald the end of the world.
Aelvana wrote this review Wednesday, October 28 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Asher's plainspoken fisherman's ways clash immediately against everything in the city, and his inability to hold his tongue result in hysterical conversation just about every time he opens his mouth. He's a simple man, with simple dreams, and he has zero tolerance for high society---which only makes it funnier when he ends up working for the prince.
The royal family is down to earth and dysfunctional. Gar's ailment has left him in an interesting position: though he has a gentle soul, and usually does want the best for those around him, he's never been at peace with being a magical cripple. His younger sister, Fane, has spent her life training for the weather magic that is the highest privilege and duty of royalty. The story has a heavy focus on relationships: the relationship between Gar and his parents, Gar and Fane, Gar and Asher, Asher and his friends. More than any external event, it is the dynamic relationships between all the characters that sparks conflict and moves the story along.
This is the first part of a duology, and unfortunately the Prophecy running threads throughout the first book only get the more obvious pieces fulfilled. Although Asher is supposed to be the Innocent Mage, the title comes solely from Prophecy itself. Asher isn't involved in anything more magical than the Sea Harvest Festival. This book more emphasized the Innocent part of his title. It will be interesting to see where the Mage comes in.
Overall this is a remarkably quick read and stuffed full of quotes I want to pin on my wall. It ends very abruptly, leaving the aftermath to the next book; not much got tied up because the focus is so heavy on relationships and not a chain of events. However, the next book looks likely to change some of that as the Wall threatens to topple. I rate this book Recommended.”
“They call this speculative fiction, which is a stupid name. It is fantasy, and a good book of fantasy at that! A good story, a good read.”
Nick Woodall wrote this review Wednesday, October 28 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Great ending, completely leaves you hanging so that you have to read the next book.”
Holly L wrote this review Tuesday, September 1 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“The Innocent Mage is written by Australian author Karen Miller and is the first book of a two part series called Kingmaker, Kingbreaker. It seems that her novels have a clear dividing line, either you really like them or you don’t. At least according to the other reviews that I have read. This is third book I have by Ms. Miller and I am most definitely in the like camp. She has a writing style that is just so darn easy to read and the dialogue is top notch.
Matt wrote this review Friday, July 24 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
The story begins with an Olken fisherman named Asher leaving his home for the bright lights and easy money of the big city. Asher is the youngest of several siblings therefore his standing is set so low that he is considered to be an indentured servant. His plan is to sneak off to the city of Dorana for a year in which he plans to earn enough money to buy his own boat for his father and himself. Well, life does not always work as planned.
Dorana is city in which two different races of people coexist, the Doranen and the Olken. The Doranens are the rulers and are the only ones who are allowed to practice magic. They are responsible for keeping the city and the entire Kingdom of Lur safe from the evil Doranens from the North. Olkens are the common folks and had practiced magic at one time but it is now strictly forbidden to do so, punishable by death.
About 600 years ago a number of Doranens fled their homeland in desperation from an evil tyrant known as Morgan, now known as Morg. The leader of the fleeing Doranens was a legendary magician known as Barl. Barl was able to form a mutual partnership with the Olken people. In return, Barl, through his magic, was able to erect a great barrier wall that is powered by magic called Waetherworking. Only Doranen royalty are allowed to learn the secrets of Weatherworking. This has allowed the Doranen’s and Olkens to live in peace from the evil northern Doranens for the last 600 years.
Asher enters Dorana looking for a job, any job. By luck or fate, Asher is at the right place at the right when a horse throws off a rider and runs through the city. Asher is able to bring the horse under control. He then learns that the horse belongs to none other than the prince of the royal family, Gar. Asher is quickly given a job at the royal stables and friends Gar. Gar discovers that Asher is not impressed by royalty and will always say what is on his mind. So Gar hits upon an idea, he decides to promote Asher to his assistant in dealing with the Olken population. We learn that even though Gar is a Doranen, he has no magical ability, therefore, he is unable to learn Weatherworking and take his rightful place as his father’s heir. He is regulated to Olken ambassador while his younger sister, Fane, is to become the Queen and the future Weatherworker.
We also learn that Dathne, also a Olken, is a follower of the prophecy. She dreams that one day the Innocent Mage will arrive in Dorona, bring on the Final Days but save them from the Usurper. When Dathne first sees Asher she realizes that this is the person she saw in her dreams and comprehends that the prophecy of Final Days is fast upon them.
I believe that The Innocent Mage was Ms. Miller’s first novel and it somewhat shows. The pacing of the novel is very uneven but not a deal breaker. The first three-quarters of the novel is spent building the relationship between Asher and Gar. They learn to tolerate one another and eventually become as close as brothers. Some may consider these parts to be slow, I highly enjoyed the story of how these two men from the opposite sides of the tracks came to respect one another and form a tight bond.
But at the three-quarter mark the story takes a noticeable turn and picks up at a furious pace. It’s almost as if Ms. Miller decided that she running out of room and stuffed a lot of story in the last quarter of the novel. In my opinion, she could have moved certain events up earlier in the novel and allowed tension to build naturally right up to the cliffhanger ending.
This is possibly one of the easiest reads I have had in long time. Ms. Miller’s prose flows better than most writers making it trouble-free for the reader. I said before, she also writes some the best dialogue in the business. If she could have smoothed out the plotting a little bit then this would have been a great novel.
I am big Karen Miller fan and with a few quibbles aside, I really did enjoy this novel. I am looking forward to reading the second half of the story, The Awakened Mage.”
“So far it's good.
Autumn fo' Alex wrote this review Monday, August 10 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Has a couple swear words, no problem.
An extremely good book.”
“Good v evil with magic”
LynnE wrote this review Wednesday, July 1 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“In een ruk doorgelezen, top boeken.”
Rodesia W wrote this review Friday, June 19 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
