Scan barcode
A review by literarypenguin
Master of One by Dani Bennett, Jaida Jones
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-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
5.0
Master of One follows Rags, a street thief arrested for his latest crime by the Queen’s law enforcers. Morien hires him, the Queen’s most trusted sorcerer, to infiltrate an ancient Fae ruin to reclaim the treasure held within. What he finds there is something no one especially himself didn’t expect that will lead him on a journey that will change his life forever. After a couple of friends recommended reading this book and enjoying it quite a bit I gave in and wanted to try it for myself. After I got done with the book I felt myself needing a sequel and wanting to know where the book was heading next. I had some pretty high expectations of this book going in and can say I wasn’t disappointed. I do still need a sequel to this book and hope that they do write a sequel soon! I loved how unique this story was and certain elements were very interesting to read about. You have an interesting plot, great characters, and relationships that are meaningful and make you feel good inside.
The writing was slow at points but it did start to pick up after the first 100 pages. It gave us several characters' points of view and was told from their perspective throughout the story. Because of the multiple points of view, it let us know what was happening at different points of the story which was to the story's benefit. The pace was slow to start but it picked up the further I got into the book and the story. It did work for the story because it set up the plot and the characters for what was going to happen. The different points of view were what I liked the most about this book because they gave us a look into what the characters were thinking and what they were doing at different points in the story.
Master of One is about Rags and his newfound rag-tag group of friends as they uncover secrets involving a lost race of people and an ancient powerful weapon that is the key to peace between two races of people. I thought the story was very good and kept me interested the whole way through! I loved how certain things happened in the story that you didn’t expect and it made you feel a certain way during it. At one point I thought that the story was going in one direction but then it would go in another direction. I think that was a part of what made the story work so well and gave it strength. You were expecting a certain thing to happen but then another thing happens that you weren’t ready for. Things happened organically and naturally though and didn’t feel forced or go against the plot.
The characters were definitely the highlight of the story and the majority of my enjoyment of this novel! Rags, the foul-mouthed, guarded, and loner street thief was by far my favorite character! The way he would disguise his emotions with humor and how he would put himself in harm's way just to make sure other people wouldn’t get hurt. At first, you think he is just some foul-mouthed hardened street urchin but you soon begin to see that he is just a soft-hearted and secretly caring person. You also learn that he has a dark and sad secret from his past that has shaped him and who he became. Shining Talon was another favorite character, A Fae warrior who was put to sleep by his people and is awoken by Rags. He is curious, honorable, and fiercely devoted to his people and the people he cares for. Rags and Talon were so cute and wonderful together! Their romance was a slow-burning but wonderful and organic romance that felt natural and worked very well in the story and the plot. The side characters were also interesting as well! You have a male character with what could be described as chronic pain, who uses a cane and a crutch, a couple of characters with PTSD, and a trans character who I hope we get to see more of in the next book because she was amazing!
The book takes place in a kingdom ruled by a queen that has ruled for many decades. She has expanded her kingdom and trusted a group of sorcerers to do her bidding. She and her sorcerers use magic known as Mirrorcraft, magic that uses glass and mirrors to control or subdue a person. I loved the world that this book took place in and the lore was very fascinating to me. Learned about Mirrorcraft and what the magic could do and the lengths that sorcerers would go to use this magic. How different parts of the kingdom were more well off than the others and how the kingdom had its dark secrets hidden beneath the surface that you learn about in the book.
This book portrays PTSD super well! The way it is explored with several characters and the different tragedies that have befallen them. How the characters have to face their trauma and overcome it throughout the story was very well done. It also explored has someone with chronic pain feels, and how he doesn’t let his disability hinder him or stop him from what he wants to achieve. He has his struggles but they don’t define him as a person or a character. These themes are portrayed very well and done in a great way that didn’t hinder the plot or affect it in a negative way.
I hope that you can give this book a try and take some positive things away from this review. I think you should read this book if you want some really great characters and a plot that will leave you wanting more. I can not wait until the sequel comes or if any word of a sequel comes out! I hope that some questions will be answered and we get to see some new adventures from this crew of misfits!
The writing was slow at points but it did start to pick up after the first 100 pages. It gave us several characters' points of view and was told from their perspective throughout the story. Because of the multiple points of view, it let us know what was happening at different points of the story which was to the story's benefit. The pace was slow to start but it picked up the further I got into the book and the story. It did work for the story because it set up the plot and the characters for what was going to happen. The different points of view were what I liked the most about this book because they gave us a look into what the characters were thinking and what they were doing at different points in the story.
Master of One is about Rags and his newfound rag-tag group of friends as they uncover secrets involving a lost race of people and an ancient powerful weapon that is the key to peace between two races of people. I thought the story was very good and kept me interested the whole way through! I loved how certain things happened in the story that you didn’t expect and it made you feel a certain way during it. At one point I thought that the story was going in one direction but then it would go in another direction. I think that was a part of what made the story work so well and gave it strength. You were expecting a certain thing to happen but then another thing happens that you weren’t ready for. Things happened organically and naturally though and didn’t feel forced or go against the plot.
The characters were definitely the highlight of the story and the majority of my enjoyment of this novel! Rags, the foul-mouthed, guarded, and loner street thief was by far my favorite character! The way he would disguise his emotions with humor and how he would put himself in harm's way just to make sure other people wouldn’t get hurt. At first, you think he is just some foul-mouthed hardened street urchin but you soon begin to see that he is just a soft-hearted and secretly caring person. You also learn that he has a dark and sad secret from his past that has shaped him and who he became. Shining Talon was another favorite character, A Fae warrior who was put to sleep by his people and is awoken by Rags. He is curious, honorable, and fiercely devoted to his people and the people he cares for. Rags and Talon were so cute and wonderful together! Their romance was a slow-burning but wonderful and organic romance that felt natural and worked very well in the story and the plot. The side characters were also interesting as well! You have a male character with what could be described as chronic pain, who uses a cane and a crutch, a couple of characters with PTSD, and a trans character who I hope we get to see more of in the next book because she was amazing!
The book takes place in a kingdom ruled by a queen that has ruled for many decades. She has expanded her kingdom and trusted a group of sorcerers to do her bidding. She and her sorcerers use magic known as Mirrorcraft, magic that uses glass and mirrors to control or subdue a person. I loved the world that this book took place in and the lore was very fascinating to me. Learned about Mirrorcraft and what the magic could do and the lengths that sorcerers would go to use this magic. How different parts of the kingdom were more well off than the others and how the kingdom had its dark secrets hidden beneath the surface that you learn about in the book.
This book portrays PTSD super well! The way it is explored with several characters and the different tragedies that have befallen them. How the characters have to face their trauma and overcome it throughout the story was very well done. It also explored has someone with chronic pain feels, and how he doesn’t let his disability hinder him or stop him from what he wants to achieve. He has his struggles but they don’t define him as a person or a character. These themes are portrayed very well and done in a great way that didn’t hinder the plot or affect it in a negative way.
I hope that you can give this book a try and take some positive things away from this review. I think you should read this book if you want some really great characters and a plot that will leave you wanting more. I can not wait until the sequel comes or if any word of a sequel comes out! I hope that some questions will be answered and we get to see some new adventures from this crew of misfits!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Ableism and Child abuse
Minor: Cursing