Spellslinger
-
-
4.2 • 47 Ratings
-
-
- $6.99
Publisher Description
A would-be mage with no magic of his own has to defeat powerful enemies with only cunning and deception in the first book of an exciting adventure fantasy series from Sebastien de Castell.
Kellen is moments away from facing his first duel and proving his worth as a spellcaster. There's just one problem: his magic is fading.
Facing exile unless he can pass the mage trials, Kellen is willing to risk everything -- even his own life -- in search of a way to restore his magic. But when the enigmatic Ferius Parfax arrives in town, she challenges him to take a different path.
One of the elusive Argosi, Ferius is a traveller who lives by her wits and the cards she carries. Daring, unpredictable, and wielding magic Kellen has never seen before, she may be his only hope.
The first novel in a compelling six-book series, bursting with tricks, humor, and a whole new way to look at magic.
Spellslinger SeriesSpellslingerShadowblackCharmcaster
For more from Sebastien de Castell, check out:
The Greatcoats QuartetTraitor's BladeSaint's BloodKnight's ShadowTyrant's Throne
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
De Castell (the Greatcoats series) makes some variations on a familiar fantasy theme a young person's struggles to master magical arts in this pleasant, if not innovative, kickoff to a planned six-book series. 15-year-old Kellen of the House of Ken is introduced as he's about to fight his first mage's duel, hampered by his inability to actually perform magic. Kellen's clever con to make his adversary defeat himself is undercut by his younger sister, Shalla, who exposes his trick and almost kills him in the process. His life is saved by Ferrius Parfax, an eccentric stranger from another clan, but Kellen must still deal with political intrigue; the death of his clan's prince triggers an electoral campaign whose results will shape his family's future. Against that tense backdrop, Kellen must also try to find out what is causing other young initiates to lose their ability to cast spells. Though de Castell writes well, the plot and tone have a young adult vibe, especially after Kellen ends up allied with an intelligent non-human creature. Longtime readers of epic fantasy may find this too shallow for their tastes.
