The Awakened Mage

This book is the second and final and it had a lot of parts where I didn't know what was going to happen next! Wish I could've seen more of the MC being a mage but the ending was a little sad but satisfying.

I thought this was a very good ending to an enjoyable series. This was even better than the first book. I find the 3.5 star rating a little under rated for the quality of the writing. These characters were very well written in my opinion.

I think that this is one of the best books i have read it might be sad but dont let that turn you down it iss still very action-packed and over all i think it the best.

... is that I absolutely loved this book. I devoured it (and The Innocent Mage) in just a few days. I could barely put the first down, and literally could not put down the second. A solid plot, excellent character development, and a gift for dialogue are the three highlights of this book. It is not for those seeking instant gratification. If a fast paced, action packed, spoon-fed fantasy novel is what you are looking for, this is not it. However, if you want to feel a connection with the characters of a novel, to weep for them and to laugh with them, then I highly recommend the Kingmaker Kingbreaker duology.

This is the sequel to The Innocent Mage The Innocent Mage (Kingmaker, Kingbreaker) "The evil foretold has risen ... and we are all that stands between it and the end."Asher has come a long way for a fisherman's son. Together with his friend Prince Gar, he has defended their kingdom against its bitterest enemy, but at great cost. Now, the evil mage Morg is preparing for his most deadly assault. Desperate, trapped in a broken body, Morg has little time and fewer scruples. And he has a plan. As Gar and Asher unwittingly fall into a dangerous deception, Morg gets ever closer to his goal. And this victory would be particularly sweet?for who better to destroy the kingdom than the two who would give anything to save it?" Yes, as some of the other reviewers have stated, Asher's love interest (Dathne) is less that appealing -- she's whiny and bitchy at times. I guess love is blind! I wish the author had allowed us to get to know her better (and/or made her grow-up a little). And, no, there's not a lot of the battle and action that some fantasy series excel in. These two books are not ground breaking fantasy. They are extraordinarily well written, compelling stories about friendship, honor, betrayal, sacrifice, and redemption. Frankly, I wept for Asher and for Gar, especially. Noone should have to endure his soul-deep pain . I wish there had been a happily ever after ending for all of the characters, but the author's choices made sense and brought peace and closure that worked. These two books are not light, airy reading for the beach (I disagree with a reviewer who stated otherwise). The characters undergo soul-wrenching trials and not all survive. So, if you'd like an easy read with a fairy tale ending (and don't we all prefer our fantasy that way sometimes) then this isn't a good choice for you. Still, an amazing journey and well worth the read.

For the past year or so I have found myself drifting away from my once beloved fantasy genre. I kept up with my favorite series, but I didn't pick up any new series/authors in the genre. It wasn't for lack of looking, just a lack of interest in the available books. Then, three days ago someone lent me The Innocent Mage and The Awakened Mage. I had my doubts when these books were placed in my hands, but as I began to read The Innocent Mage they quickly vanished. Asher is an incredibly well drawn character, as are Gar, Matt, and Dathne. These main characters have qualities that endear themselves to readers, but they also have flaws that allow the readers to connect to see them as real people. But the author does not forget the secondary characters. They too are well drawn and well rounded. (I especially like Darran's development and interactions with Asher...hehehehe.) In the society of the novel people have to deal with subversion, superiority, prejudices, and their faith. All these things are woven into the story and are never overdone or abused. Instead they are dealt with in a manner that is true to how things are in life. There are some people who are on the extreme end of things of course, but most people (of both races) are just ordinary citizens trying to follow the path of life their faith and their society has dictated as to not disrupt their way of life. The hero of the story comes from humble origins and while this is not necessarily something new for the genre, the author does handle it well. The big developments of the story also occur over a large space of time letting the characters and plot develop at a pace that actually seems plausible. Too often big 'developments' happen one right after another, leaving me wondering 'how did that all happen in that space of time'?! I spent the weekend reading this 1400 page duology and it was time well spent. The only let down was that it ended. I would have dearly loved to read more about what happened after the novel (I won't say what exactly I would have like to read more about as to not give away the ending). Anyhow, I conclude this rather lengthy review by saying go buy these two books!