Series: The Black Magician Trilogy Book One
Author: Trudi Canavan
Genre: YA High Fantasy
Genre: YA High Fantasy
Publication Date: January 27, 2004
"We should expect this young woman to be more powerful than our average novice, possibly even more powerful than the average magician."
This year, like every other, the magicians of Imardin gather to purge the city of undesirables. Cloaked in the protection of their sorcery, they move with no fear of the vagrants and miscreants who despise them and their work-—until one enraged girl, barely more than a child, hurls a stone at the hated invaders...and effortlessly penetrates their magical shield.
What the Magicians' Guild has long dreaded has finally come to pass. There is someone outside their ranks who possesses a raw power beyond imagining, an untrained mage who must be found and schooled before she destroys herself and her city with a force she cannot yet control.
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My Thoughts
The Magician's Guild had all the aspects needed to make a great fantasy book, except pacing and action. I felt like the whole book just dragged. I could have dropped it at any moment with no qualms. It was engaging while I was reading it but it would lose my attention at times.
If I look at is being just the set up to the story I would say it did a great job in setting it up, bringing in all the players and showing what's going to be the main conflict, but making this a whole novel of over 450+ pages? Way too long.
As far as the rest goes Canavan did a great job with the characters. I liked Sonea, her determination, quick mind, and smart thinking. Such a refresher when characters can actually think for themselves you know? We also have a wide array of side characters, some more important that other but all very well developed. On a side note, is it weird I want Sonea to somehow end up with Dannyl? I don't even know how old Dannyl is but they keep referring to him as young magician so...
The world building was also superb. We don't only get the history of Kyralia but also of the other mayor regions/kingdoms that make up this world plus some of the customs that go with each one.
As for the plot it was quite simple. Finding Sonea and getting her to join the Guild if possible. That was basically it, which is why I found the whole book dragging. I wanted more magic wielding more fighting more SOMETHING, but all we get a little teases here and there. So mean.
Ultimately for my tastes it was lacking in the tension/action category but all in all a solid start to the trilogy.
So...
Would I Recommend it?
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Other books in The Black Magician Trilogy:
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I've heard a lot of good things about this series too, but I've yet to start it myself. It's a shame about the pacing, but I'm glad you were able to appreciate the world-building and characters overall. Great review!
ReplyDeleteThanks! So far the second one is also going slowly but much more interesting :)
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