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sophie_xx's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
melissa_bookworm's review against another edition
4.0
Pretty enjoyable fantasy book. Fletcher is an orphan, an apprentice blacksmith in a small town but his life is turned upside down when a summoner's book comes into his possession and he summons a demon. (Think more pokemon than satanic beasts, although some demons are based on mythological creature and are pretty intimidating.) He is forced to flee his home as a higher born boy tries to kill him, and ends up in Vocans Academy, where the few people who can summon are taught to hone their skills for battle.
This would be a great read for a reluctant reader (I'm thinking teen boys, but definitely accessible to all), it has action and intrigue and political plotting. It finishes on a cliffhanger though so have book 2 ready!
This would be a great read for a reluctant reader (I'm thinking teen boys, but definitely accessible to all), it has action and intrigue and political plotting. It finishes on a cliffhanger though so have book 2 ready!
thebookedpath's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this. It definitely gave me dark Harry Potter vibes mixed with a touch of Pokemon. I loved that the author seems to be setting up base plotlines for an explosion of activity in the following books. Looking forward to continuing the series.
zane_acrbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
alexcaddel's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
sibley's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
majabwds's review against another edition
2.0
Sort of like Harry Potter set in the World of Warcraft universe with Pokemon-like creatures. But lamer. The whole time I was reading this I felt like I was being talked down to. The main character has world experience of a girl trapped in a tower. So when he goes to this school to learn how to be a battlemage he sees the injustice of the world i.e. the humans treating everybody non-human like they are trash. He's reactions are so cliched. Oh how horrible!! That can't be!! The whole book is so cliched and the moral of it is as subtle as a rock to the head. It feels like it was written for 9 year-olds. I think the only reason the story ended on a cliff-hanger was so that we would read the sequel. Which I will not. Because if I have to read one more super cliched bad guy line like "I am amazing. Everybody is beneath me. The dwarfs are trash! The Elfs are trash! Sub-humans!!! Fake nobles!! Look father!! A bastard!! How dare you speak to me?!?! I am so much better than you!" UGH!!!!
queenoferebor's review against another edition
4.0
When Harry Potter meets Pokémon and Dragon Age.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. So much that I'm already half-way through the second part. It is a bit on the younger side of the young-adult bracket, but it has a very interesting worldbuilding, and the magic system is particular enough to keep you engaged.
My only issue with this series (because the second book seems to be going down the same road) is that the characters are flat. They're either good or bad. Black or white, and there is no middle-ground. Don't get me wrong, it is refreshing to read a main character who is "special" without being pretentious, and who is genuinely a good person, but the antagonists...Oh, God. One of my biggest pet peeves are villains who are not fleshed-out, who do not seem to have any motivation behind ther villanousness except, well, being the bad guys. And in this book THEY ARE EVERYWHERE, right from the very beggining.
In a way, they highlight how wrong it is to be racist and a bigot. And they further serve as a criticism for how social classes work (hint: bad, very bad). However, they are superpainful to read because they are the archetypical bad guys, they are almost caricatures. You want to punch them in the face everytime they appear on the page.
Other than that, I recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy and Pókemon, especially to those of younger age.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. So much that I'm already half-way through the second part. It is a bit on the younger side of the young-adult bracket, but it has a very interesting worldbuilding, and the magic system is particular enough to keep you engaged.
My only issue with this series (because the second book seems to be going down the same road) is that the characters are flat. They're either good or bad. Black or white, and there is no middle-ground. Don't get me wrong, it is refreshing to read a main character who is "special" without being pretentious, and who is genuinely a good person, but the antagonists...Oh, God. One of my biggest pet peeves are villains who are not fleshed-out, who do not seem to have any motivation behind ther villanousness except, well, being the bad guys. And in this book THEY ARE EVERYWHERE, right from the very beggining.
In a way, they highlight how wrong it is to be racist and a bigot. And they further serve as a criticism for how social classes work (hint: bad, very bad). However, they are superpainful to read because they are the archetypical bad guys, they are almost caricatures. You want to punch them in the face everytime they appear on the page.
Other than that, I recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy and Pókemon, especially to those of younger age.