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A review by laelyn
Dark Apprentice by Val Neil
2.0
"Dark Apprentice" is a fun, quick read with interesting characters and an intriguing world. It does remind one a little of a more grown up Harry Potter, insofar that it takes place in our world with mages and "Mundanes" living right next to each other. The magic system consist of different schools of magic, of spells and spirits and skill that has to be honed over a long time. It was fun to read about, even though it did sometimes make me think of video game magic. Casting spells and using magic relies on the mana pool of the mage and magic cannot be performed if that mana pool is empty.
Both main characters, Medea and Nikolai, are interesting and complex. I personally much preferred Medea and wanted more chapters from her pov, but Nikolai is an entertaining protagonist too. I found it interesting that he's written as a psychopath, and while I can't say how realistic the portrayal is, it's definitely a kind of character I haven't seen as a protagonist so far (at least as far as I remember).
I did have some issues with the book, though. For one, there is really just... not much of a plot. I was waiting for something more to happen, for some big reveals or twists or anything, but there's just nothing. It's a novel about a guy who becomes the apprentice of the most powerful mage in the known world, and because he is who he is he constantly thinks she's out to get him. That is it, until the very end. I guess the overarching plotline might be the disappearance of magic in the world, but that's just noted by Medea a few times. I'm just not sure where this series is supposed to go, plotwise. The whole book seems to be more or less setting up the sequels, but I just can't really tell you what it's setting up exactly.
While Nikolai is an interesting character and definitely not supposed to be likeable, I just never really connected with him. He thinks himself extremely cunning and clever, but really, most of his decisions are very very stupid. And while he does realize that he has been acting and thinking in a destructive way by the end of the book, it doesn't really feel like character development, maybe because he doesn't figure it out himself (though he has ample opportunity to do so) but has to be told by another character. Most of the time, he is honestly just frustrating, though there is definitely potential to develop him into a more well-rounded character in the sequels. I had similar issues with Medea really, although I do like her a lot. She has all this knowledge and wisdom yet sometimes makes decisions that don't really make sense for someone like her. Both characters don't offer much emotional depth which makes them, in the end, a little forgettable.
There is also a lot of tell-don't-show in this novel. There are entire pages full of dialogue with nothing inbetween, just one statement after the other and the other and the other. It read a little... fanfictiony at times. Still, other than that the writing flows very nicely and is fun and entertaining at all times.
"Dark Apprentice" is an entertaining read with a lot of potential. but the lack of an actual overarching plot beyond Nikolai just being wrong about everything and the characters that felt shallow and inconcistent at times will probably keep me from picking up the sequels.
Many thanks to Living Relic Press and Netgalley for the arc!
Both main characters, Medea and Nikolai, are interesting and complex. I personally much preferred Medea and wanted more chapters from her pov, but Nikolai is an entertaining protagonist too. I found it interesting that he's written as a psychopath, and while I can't say how realistic the portrayal is, it's definitely a kind of character I haven't seen as a protagonist so far (at least as far as I remember).
I did have some issues with the book, though. For one, there is really just... not much of a plot. I was waiting for something more to happen, for some big reveals or twists or anything, but there's just nothing. It's a novel about a guy who becomes the apprentice of the most powerful mage in the known world, and because he is who he is he constantly thinks she's out to get him. That is it, until the very end. I guess the overarching plotline might be the disappearance of magic in the world, but that's just noted by Medea a few times. I'm just not sure where this series is supposed to go, plotwise. The whole book seems to be more or less setting up the sequels, but I just can't really tell you what it's setting up exactly.
While Nikolai is an interesting character and definitely not supposed to be likeable, I just never really connected with him. He thinks himself extremely cunning and clever, but really, most of his decisions are very very stupid. And while he does realize that he has been acting and thinking in a destructive way by the end of the book, it doesn't really feel like character development, maybe because he doesn't figure it out himself (though he has ample opportunity to do so) but has to be told by another character. Most of the time, he is honestly just frustrating, though there is definitely potential to develop him into a more well-rounded character in the sequels. I had similar issues with Medea really, although I do like her a lot. She has all this knowledge and wisdom yet sometimes makes decisions that don't really make sense for someone like her. Both characters don't offer much emotional depth which makes them, in the end, a little forgettable.
There is also a lot of tell-don't-show in this novel. There are entire pages full of dialogue with nothing inbetween, just one statement after the other and the other and the other. It read a little... fanfictiony at times. Still, other than that the writing flows very nicely and is fun and entertaining at all times.
"Dark Apprentice" is an entertaining read with a lot of potential. but the lack of an actual overarching plot beyond Nikolai just being wrong about everything and the characters that felt shallow and inconcistent at times will probably keep me from picking up the sequels.
Many thanks to Living Relic Press and Netgalley for the arc!