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Lenna's Arc #1
Librarian
Lenna Faircloth thought she was content enough to be junior librarian at one of the grandest libraries on the Continent, so long as at the end of the day she can enjoy a glass (or two) of wine and some decent shut-eye. Reticent and unconcerned with trivial matters, Lenna is almost laughably nonplussed the day her childhood friend, Gilbert, appears at her door, asking her to help smuggle stolen goods across national borders.
LIBRARIAN is the first part of a young woman's long journey set in an alternate, sparsely-populated world. When unfortunate circumstances leave a bizarre, out-of-place artifact of immense power in the sole custody of Lenna, she is forced to question her own wants, the source of her withdrawal from others, and the curious nature of the Continent's magic -- all the while being the target of numerous political factions longing to possess the strange item bound to her by a child's promise.
LIBRARIAN is the first part of a young woman's long journey set in an alternate, sparsely-populated world. When unfortunate circumstances leave a bizarre, out-of-place artifact of immense power in the sole custody of Lenna, she is forced to question her own wants, the source of her withdrawal from others, and the curious nature of the Continent's magic -- all the while being the target of numerous political factions longing to possess the strange item bound to her by a child's promise.
ebook
First published May 16, 2013
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About the author
Brian Fence
7 books9 followersBrian grew up in the small town of Whiting, NJ, a magical realm near the sea where pine trees grow in the sand. Aside from deer, his primary company was his imagination.
He obtained his BA in East Asian Studies (Japanese) and Creative Writing from Bucknell University, and spent a great deal of time studying, living, and working in Japan before moving to the United Kingdom to pursue a Master's Degree in Sociology at the University of Oxford.
He wrote his dissertation in a pub, and proudly continues that tradition by pumping out novels at any bar with good grub and good drink. When he isn't writing, Brian hops around the world tasting wine, collecting My Little Ponies, and cooking a hell of a lot of nomtastic food.
He obtained his BA in East Asian Studies (Japanese) and Creative Writing from Bucknell University, and spent a great deal of time studying, living, and working in Japan before moving to the United Kingdom to pursue a Master's Degree in Sociology at the University of Oxford.
He wrote his dissertation in a pub, and proudly continues that tradition by pumping out novels at any bar with good grub and good drink. When he isn't writing, Brian hops around the world tasting wine, collecting My Little Ponies, and cooking a hell of a lot of nomtastic food.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
June 8, 2013
For a debut novel, Brian has done a fantastic job. For a self-publishing author the book appears to have been professionally crafted, which shows a very high level of dedication and commitment.
The artwork is also of a very high quality. It is imaginative and unique, and very eye catching. The picture doesn't really do it justice - it is very artfully done and very polished.
The prose is not of a particularly modern style, but that is not something which bothers me. The dialogue is solid, the descriptions are full and clear, and the plot is very engrossing. The whole book is very readable and each chapter ends with a cliffhanger which makes you want to keep reading. It is definitely a page turner!
As for the plot, the story is of a young woman, Lenna Faircloth, contentedly living a simple life in a small but active port town. Out of the blue a close childhood friend with whom she had made a secret pact turns up on the doorstep of her library. From that moment on, Lenna's life changes irreversibly. Lenna finds herself caught up in a world she had no idea existed, navigating her way through a morass of political intrigue, attempting to fulfill the obligations of her childhood pact, all the while trying to determine who she can and cannot trust and shaking off her malaise.
In short, the story is very engrossing. I cannot wait for the next book in the series and really recommend this to people.
The artwork is also of a very high quality. It is imaginative and unique, and very eye catching. The picture doesn't really do it justice - it is very artfully done and very polished.
The prose is not of a particularly modern style, but that is not something which bothers me. The dialogue is solid, the descriptions are full and clear, and the plot is very engrossing. The whole book is very readable and each chapter ends with a cliffhanger which makes you want to keep reading. It is definitely a page turner!
As for the plot, the story is of a young woman, Lenna Faircloth, contentedly living a simple life in a small but active port town. Out of the blue a close childhood friend with whom she had made a secret pact turns up on the doorstep of her library. From that moment on, Lenna's life changes irreversibly. Lenna finds herself caught up in a world she had no idea existed, navigating her way through a morass of political intrigue, attempting to fulfill the obligations of her childhood pact, all the while trying to determine who she can and cannot trust and shaking off her malaise.
In short, the story is very engrossing. I cannot wait for the next book in the series and really recommend this to people.
July 30, 2022
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.75 stars
Librarian is the first book in Lenna’s Arc, a series that follows Lenna Faircloth, librarian, mage-in-training, novice adventurer, and hero in the making. For all that she has lived life through her books, Lenna is a keen judge of character and has a practical way of approaching most situations. Never the sort to fall to tears in times of difficulty, she instead freezes, her mind working to find an answer — the right answer — even as chaos is exploding around her. She also feels like a cold person, not prone to strong emotions. The loss of her childhood friend barely seems to register, a betrayal only seems to tire her, and the flirtations of the men and women around her are treated like strange behaviors that she wants to study rather than respond to. It’s not that she’s repressed or frigid; she just feels cold and distant.
The writing style is dense, packed with detailed description and plot exposition. The world building takes place on the edges where it can be felt rather than explained, which I personally enjoyed. It does, however, tend to slow down a scene or a conversation when a good portion of the reader’s attention is directed to the stairs they’re walking down, the chairs they’re sitting on, or the endless simile’s Lenna’s inner dialogue tends to fall into.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
3.75 stars
Librarian is the first book in Lenna’s Arc, a series that follows Lenna Faircloth, librarian, mage-in-training, novice adventurer, and hero in the making. For all that she has lived life through her books, Lenna is a keen judge of character and has a practical way of approaching most situations. Never the sort to fall to tears in times of difficulty, she instead freezes, her mind working to find an answer — the right answer — even as chaos is exploding around her. She also feels like a cold person, not prone to strong emotions. The loss of her childhood friend barely seems to register, a betrayal only seems to tire her, and the flirtations of the men and women around her are treated like strange behaviors that she wants to study rather than respond to. It’s not that she’s repressed or frigid; she just feels cold and distant.
The writing style is dense, packed with detailed description and plot exposition. The world building takes place on the edges where it can be felt rather than explained, which I personally enjoyed. It does, however, tend to slow down a scene or a conversation when a good portion of the reader’s attention is directed to the stairs they’re walking down, the chairs they’re sitting on, or the endless simile’s Lenna’s inner dialogue tends to fall into.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
April 23, 2022
I received an advance reader copy of Librarian for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
As we are first introduced to Librarian's protagonist, Lenna Faircloth, she is spilling coffee over herself in an attempt to make it to work on time, where she must deal with her misogynistic manager. While this chapter introduces the reader to the character and her somewhat mundane life, it serves as a red herring for the greater narrative. Following this introduction, we are introduced to Lenna's childhood friend who arrives with his boyfriend, requesting her help.
It is from here that the story kicks off, with Lenna trying to see to her job while contending with these two characters. As you would expect, the adventure goes pear-shaped with unintended consequences. What started in a library grows into a search for a magical artefact, discovering the power inside her, learning about her long-deceased mother, and dealing with the mysterious Blue Crescent Brotherhood of mages. It’s a lot to pack into the book, but author Brian Fence does so with space to spare.
Upon starting this book, I was taken by author Brian Fence's attention to detail, his descriptions of the world and its characters. This is a vibrant world full of vivid detail, fully formed and written beautifully. This is not a short read, and while there is a lot happening in the story, it still feels overwritten. A more judicious round of editing could have cut its excesses, concentrating the narrative down to something that moves quicker.
This is a slow-paced book that, at points, lacks excitement. Momentum stalls, which unfortunately undercutting the adventure.
With that said, the characters in Librarian shine. Lenna, as the protagonist, shines brightest, thanks to the book being told from her perspective and focusing on her exploits. The other characters still feel fully formed, but this is a book that is light on dialogue, relying on the prose through to convey this. Yet, despite this, the characters all feel unique and interesting.
This book is packed with feminist ideals, which I appreciate. It is squarely about a woman embarking on an adventure through a misogynistic society, and the inclusion of the Freewoman people is a great example of empowered women written strongly, without the book trading on their sexuality. However, I need to draw attention to a threat of rape being made, which felt unneccessary, and a comment about mercenaries accosting townswomen, but in the mercenaries’ defence, those townswomen seemed pleased with the idea of being accosted.
If you're a fan of fantasy, you will appreciate the fantasy elements throughout this book. The fantastic elements work well, and all of this comes together well. The author also illustrates magic as a means to power, and how this corrupts those addicted to said power. Steampunk fans might be disappointed, though, as Librarian doesn't lean heavily into the genre. It works as set dressing and fleshes out the world, but doesn't utilise it any further.
As the first part of the Lenna's Arc trilogy, and this is by no means a done-in-one story. The book doesn't end on a cliffhanger, but neither does it reach a roaring conclusion. While there is obviously more story to be told, this ending left me feeling like I hadn't read a complete story.
Despite the ending and it feeling like there should have been cuts to ramp the story up, Librarian remains an enjoyable read. If you enjoy YA-styled fantasies and globetrotting adventures, you'll find a lot to enjoy, including some great characters and some beautifully written prose.
My full review will be available on my website from Monday, 25 April 2022. To read this, my thoughts about the second book Apprentice (from Wednesday, 27 April), and a host of other reviews, click here.
As we are first introduced to Librarian's protagonist, Lenna Faircloth, she is spilling coffee over herself in an attempt to make it to work on time, where she must deal with her misogynistic manager. While this chapter introduces the reader to the character and her somewhat mundane life, it serves as a red herring for the greater narrative. Following this introduction, we are introduced to Lenna's childhood friend who arrives with his boyfriend, requesting her help.
It is from here that the story kicks off, with Lenna trying to see to her job while contending with these two characters. As you would expect, the adventure goes pear-shaped with unintended consequences. What started in a library grows into a search for a magical artefact, discovering the power inside her, learning about her long-deceased mother, and dealing with the mysterious Blue Crescent Brotherhood of mages. It’s a lot to pack into the book, but author Brian Fence does so with space to spare.
Upon starting this book, I was taken by author Brian Fence's attention to detail, his descriptions of the world and its characters. This is a vibrant world full of vivid detail, fully formed and written beautifully. This is not a short read, and while there is a lot happening in the story, it still feels overwritten. A more judicious round of editing could have cut its excesses, concentrating the narrative down to something that moves quicker.
This is a slow-paced book that, at points, lacks excitement. Momentum stalls, which unfortunately undercutting the adventure.
With that said, the characters in Librarian shine. Lenna, as the protagonist, shines brightest, thanks to the book being told from her perspective and focusing on her exploits. The other characters still feel fully formed, but this is a book that is light on dialogue, relying on the prose through to convey this. Yet, despite this, the characters all feel unique and interesting.
This book is packed with feminist ideals, which I appreciate. It is squarely about a woman embarking on an adventure through a misogynistic society, and the inclusion of the Freewoman people is a great example of empowered women written strongly, without the book trading on their sexuality. However, I need to draw attention to a threat of rape being made, which felt unneccessary, and a comment about mercenaries accosting townswomen, but in the mercenaries’ defence, those townswomen seemed pleased with the idea of being accosted.
If you're a fan of fantasy, you will appreciate the fantasy elements throughout this book. The fantastic elements work well, and all of this comes together well. The author also illustrates magic as a means to power, and how this corrupts those addicted to said power. Steampunk fans might be disappointed, though, as Librarian doesn't lean heavily into the genre. It works as set dressing and fleshes out the world, but doesn't utilise it any further.
As the first part of the Lenna's Arc trilogy, and this is by no means a done-in-one story. The book doesn't end on a cliffhanger, but neither does it reach a roaring conclusion. While there is obviously more story to be told, this ending left me feeling like I hadn't read a complete story.
Despite the ending and it feeling like there should have been cuts to ramp the story up, Librarian remains an enjoyable read. If you enjoy YA-styled fantasies and globetrotting adventures, you'll find a lot to enjoy, including some great characters and some beautifully written prose.
My full review will be available on my website from Monday, 25 April 2022. To read this, my thoughts about the second book Apprentice (from Wednesday, 27 April), and a host of other reviews, click here.
January 16, 2021
The story and writing were good and deserve the rating. The binding on the book was not good, several pages just fell out when I turned them.
March 15, 2023
compelling enough to listen/read to follow up book but wouldn't go raving about it to friends. Great if you have a trip coming up you need a light read for or just can't get enough of the genre
August 28, 2013
This book was very close to getting a 4-star rating from me. Its failings had less to do with the author than with the editor, I feel. I'm not talking about copy editing, now, but in the true sense of a partner in writing who can shine a light when a story has gone astray and help the author bring things together in revision. This was the great let-down, and it's unfortunate that it should be so.
The story of Librarian is quite interesting and the cast seems engaging at first glance. I want to care for the sheltered librarian who finds herself unwillingly host to an eccentric quest with a childhood friend. I care for the friend who has struggled to do something right despite it costing him everything. The pieces in between are where the story loses focus and pacing.
When a major character turning point occurs halfway through the book, it becomes an opportunity to toss our heroine into the center of the action, not as a pawn being dragged along, but as the motivated "changer" who shapes the story forward. It was disappointingly not to be, however, as we were instead treated to a series of unnecessary travel tales with plenty of stops for good food. So little focus was on the main character's sense of loss, or her conflicting feelings of duty and safety. And this type of ill-chosen pacing was not isolated to the middle of the book.
The only other aspect of the book that left me making a "McKayla is not impressed" face was the exposition. Sure, Mr. Fence had a lighthearted time calling it out early in the book and I was obliging in my forgiveness. Sometimes you just want to give folks some backstory and you have to cut the guy a little break. But by the end of the story I'd run into so many of these little pockets I couldn't help but see them for what they were--missed opportunities. Every one of those little tidbits could have been a scene to help lend life to the landscape and provide a new setting for character to grow. Instead we had one inn or dressing after another. This again was something that should have been called out by the editor with a big highlighter.
All in all, the book was still successful. I will read the sequel when it passes my way, and that is the most important test of all. Brian Fence shows a great aptitude for storytelling despite this books flaws, and in many ways I find his potential to be much greater than I could say about Brandon Sanderson after reading Elantris. Perhaps a few more books will make Mr. Fence into a whirlwind of quality like the Mistborn series did for Sanderson.
The story of Librarian is quite interesting and the cast seems engaging at first glance. I want to care for the sheltered librarian who finds herself unwillingly host to an eccentric quest with a childhood friend. I care for the friend who has struggled to do something right despite it costing him everything. The pieces in between are where the story loses focus and pacing.
When a major character turning point occurs halfway through the book, it becomes an opportunity to toss our heroine into the center of the action, not as a pawn being dragged along, but as the motivated "changer" who shapes the story forward. It was disappointingly not to be, however, as we were instead treated to a series of unnecessary travel tales with plenty of stops for good food. So little focus was on the main character's sense of loss, or her conflicting feelings of duty and safety. And this type of ill-chosen pacing was not isolated to the middle of the book.
The only other aspect of the book that left me making a "McKayla is not impressed" face was the exposition. Sure, Mr. Fence had a lighthearted time calling it out early in the book and I was obliging in my forgiveness. Sometimes you just want to give folks some backstory and you have to cut the guy a little break. But by the end of the story I'd run into so many of these little pockets I couldn't help but see them for what they were--missed opportunities. Every one of those little tidbits could have been a scene to help lend life to the landscape and provide a new setting for character to grow. Instead we had one inn or dressing after another. This again was something that should have been called out by the editor with a big highlighter.
All in all, the book was still successful. I will read the sequel when it passes my way, and that is the most important test of all. Brian Fence shows a great aptitude for storytelling despite this books flaws, and in many ways I find his potential to be much greater than I could say about Brandon Sanderson after reading Elantris. Perhaps a few more books will make Mr. Fence into a whirlwind of quality like the Mistborn series did for Sanderson.
March 19, 2014
Thank you to the author for the review copy.
Lenna Faircloth thought she was content enough to be junior librarian at one of the grandest libraries on the Continent, so long as at the end of the day she can enjoy a glass (or two) of wine and some decent shut-eye. Reticent and unconcerned with trivial matters, Lenna is almost laughably nonplussed the day her childhood friend, Gilbert, appears at her door, asking her to help smuggle stolen goods across national borders.
LIBRARIAN is the first part of a young woman's long journey set in an alternate, sparsely-populated world.
So I'd had this one on my Amazon wishlist for a while so was very grateful to the author for sending me a copy - and it was highly enjoyable in so many ways.
First of all descriptively speaking - the world is imaginative and well formed, the fantasy elements are extremely well done and I loved the characters. Lenna was brilliant - funny and flawed and a terrific main protagonist to follow along with.
I would say its kind of a slow burner, the building blocks of a longer story to be told - but it flows along tremendously well. I can't say I've read a novel quite like it before and don't want to give too much away, but one thing I did like is the addictive nature of the read and how Mr Fence always encourages that "just one more chapter before I go to sleep" feeling.
I'm not sure how many books are planned for the series but this was a brilliant beginning and I will certainly follow it along to its conclusion. I'm very much looking forward to returning to the journey with the sequel.
Recommended for: Young and Young at Heart Adults with a love of fantasy and SteamPunk.
Happy Reading Folks!
Lenna Faircloth thought she was content enough to be junior librarian at one of the grandest libraries on the Continent, so long as at the end of the day she can enjoy a glass (or two) of wine and some decent shut-eye. Reticent and unconcerned with trivial matters, Lenna is almost laughably nonplussed the day her childhood friend, Gilbert, appears at her door, asking her to help smuggle stolen goods across national borders.
LIBRARIAN is the first part of a young woman's long journey set in an alternate, sparsely-populated world.
So I'd had this one on my Amazon wishlist for a while so was very grateful to the author for sending me a copy - and it was highly enjoyable in so many ways.
First of all descriptively speaking - the world is imaginative and well formed, the fantasy elements are extremely well done and I loved the characters. Lenna was brilliant - funny and flawed and a terrific main protagonist to follow along with.
I would say its kind of a slow burner, the building blocks of a longer story to be told - but it flows along tremendously well. I can't say I've read a novel quite like it before and don't want to give too much away, but one thing I did like is the addictive nature of the read and how Mr Fence always encourages that "just one more chapter before I go to sleep" feeling.
I'm not sure how many books are planned for the series but this was a brilliant beginning and I will certainly follow it along to its conclusion. I'm very much looking forward to returning to the journey with the sequel.
Recommended for: Young and Young at Heart Adults with a love of fantasy and SteamPunk.
Happy Reading Folks!
August 16, 2013
It wasn't bad, but this book really just wasn't my thing. The writing is solid. It's easy to both imagine the scenes and follow along with what's happening. The characters are also lots of fun and unique.
But... it's REALLY slow moving. I had a difficult time getting into it because there just wasn't a ton going on (relative to the page count). There was too much unnecessary background info for my tastes, and while the descriptions were good, I just thought they took up too much space. It seemed info-dumpy to me at times. Take Chapter 1, for instance. It's 17 pages long. Lenna takes a walk, gets hit on, and spills coffee on herself. In my opinion, there's just no reason why that should take 17 pages.
Like I said before, though. The writing is good and easy to follow. If the plot intrigues you or you don't mind having to wait a bit for the action, you should definitely check this out.
But if you're like me and prefer your descriptions and worldbuilding to be incorporated into the action, you'll probably want to skip this.
But... it's REALLY slow moving. I had a difficult time getting into it because there just wasn't a ton going on (relative to the page count). There was too much unnecessary background info for my tastes, and while the descriptions were good, I just thought they took up too much space. It seemed info-dumpy to me at times. Take Chapter 1, for instance. It's 17 pages long. Lenna takes a walk, gets hit on, and spills coffee on herself. In my opinion, there's just no reason why that should take 17 pages.
Like I said before, though. The writing is good and easy to follow. If the plot intrigues you or you don't mind having to wait a bit for the action, you should definitely check this out.
But if you're like me and prefer your descriptions and worldbuilding to be incorporated into the action, you'll probably want to skip this.
January 11, 2015
What struck me first about this book was the writing. I was afraid at first that all of the descriptions would get in the way of the story – but I was wrong. The prose itself almost becomes part of the story – helping to build almost a magical feeling in itself. This author is very good at using his words to set the mood of the storyline. It was easy to picture in my mind the characters, setting, and action of the plot.
The main character of this fantasy is Lenna, a young assistant librarian. She and her father are living a normal day to day life until someone from her past reenters her life – and starts her on an unexpected journey. She ends up being responsible for a long lost stone which has great magical powers – and could do much damage if used by the wrong people. The journey she is on ends up being a series of adventures, during which she learns much about herself and her abilities.
I won this book through the Goodreads giveaway program, and am glad that I did! I really enjoyed this story, and am looking forward to reading more about Lenna in the sequel.
The main character of this fantasy is Lenna, a young assistant librarian. She and her father are living a normal day to day life until someone from her past reenters her life – and starts her on an unexpected journey. She ends up being responsible for a long lost stone which has great magical powers – and could do much damage if used by the wrong people. The journey she is on ends up being a series of adventures, during which she learns much about herself and her abilities.
I won this book through the Goodreads giveaway program, and am glad that I did! I really enjoyed this story, and am looking forward to reading more about Lenna in the sequel.
November 2, 2013
A lightweight fantasy about a librarian caught up in smuggling a powerful Godjewel cross country to keep it out of the hands of power-hungry political factions. She meant only to help a childhood friend but ends up discovering elements of her past and magical skills she didn't know she had. Of course, I was drawn to the fact that Lenna was a librarian and loves books but that didn't factor into the plot much other than her realization that she had hidden away in her library job rather than facing the outer world or her inner capabilities. As a coming of age story, it could have been better. The story was stronger at the beginning, and I felt the plot was weakly character driven and not goal-oriented well, the goal being kind of murky. But it was still fun to read and a good book for young teens. I'll look for the sequel.
February 3, 2014
The author does a great job of setting up a very complex world with so many facets. There is a sense of impending "epicness" that will come in future installments. Lenna especially is a great protagonist, with her self-doubts coloring her determination to keep a vow made to a friend. The other characters also add to a rich world, each with a distinct personality and motivation. The story moves along at a good pace, and tiny hints of foreshadowing enhances the re-reading experience. Overall a great read that everyone should pick up, especially before the sequel comes out!
August 26, 2013
I read 'Librarian' as a Goodreads Giveaways win. I would recommend this book most highly.
This books consists of all the steampunk things I like most: steam trains, airships, cargo barges, gears, clocks, tinkering and the like, books, libraries, mages, and mythical worlds where life seems so advanced, yet they have no cars, computers or cell phones.
The plot is heavy, the wording is simple and flows with ease. I have no complaints to voice on the writing or the content of this book.
I am ready for book two. :P
This books consists of all the steampunk things I like most: steam trains, airships, cargo barges, gears, clocks, tinkering and the like, books, libraries, mages, and mythical worlds where life seems so advanced, yet they have no cars, computers or cell phones.
The plot is heavy, the wording is simple and flows with ease. I have no complaints to voice on the writing or the content of this book.
I am ready for book two. :P
July 26, 2016
“Librarian” by Brian Fence is a dystopian adventure fantasy about an assistant librarian. Lenna lives in a world of magic in an unspecified futuristic or alternate world. Her life of routine on the ‘continent’ gets disrupted when a childhood friend reappears in her life and gets her involved in the safe-guarding of an important artefact.
The setting is original, the characters likeable and the story a great set up for a promising series. Very enjoyable.
The setting is original, the characters likeable and the story a great set up for a promising series. Very enjoyable.
September 6, 2014
This book failed to engage me. I started listening to it as an audiobook but it just didn't pull me back in again to continue listening. Seeing as everybody else loved it I feel I must have missed something. Maybe I should give it another try.
December 11, 2014
I really loved this book!!! I bought it from a booksale at the Library where I work, and I am glad I did! Unfortunately the Library doesn't have the second book, Apprentice in the system yet, so I requested they buy it! I would love to read more about Lenna Faircloth!!!
April 3, 2015
The world building was incredible. I agree with most reviewers on the slow start but I think that was because of the attention to detail in the world building. I was just seriously getting enthralled with the story line when it was over for this volume.
December 2, 2013
AN ABSOLUTLEY WONDERFULL STORY LOVED THE CHARACTER LENNA CANT WAIT FOR BOOK 2 GREAT JOB THANKS TO GOODREADS FIRSTREADS FOR THE FREE BOOK
December 16, 2013
I won this book on Goodreads and really enjoyed it; looking forward to the second one!
December 24, 2013
I really enjoyed this book, and am looking forward to the second part!!
December 25, 2014
Damn good
Great characters and a good storyline. Why can't other books get this right? Looking forward to finishing the series, and starting Apprentice!
Great characters and a good storyline. Why can't other books get this right? Looking forward to finishing the series, and starting Apprentice!
June 28, 2015
Definitely an interesting read - not my usual genre of choice, but it has a good storyline with a well-developed plot and great descriptive details. I will read the follow-up novel, Apprentice. :)
October 7, 2016
DNF its too slow and not enough action
January 4, 2014
Very cute fantasy. Looking forward to the sequels.
June 5, 2017
In a more old world environment, where steam power has only recently been introduced into the area and changed the way of life slightly, comes a story of magic, power and betrayal.
Lenna is a Librarian, and he childhood friend Gilbert has left their home of Port Homish to join the Blue Brotherhood to learn to hone his magical abilities. Of course in their society only boys are trained in magic, and girls tend to lose their magic as they reach puberty, or at least that is the way Lenna has always thought it worked, but she is about to learn that a number of things she thought about life are not what she thought.
Gilbert arrives with a fellow mage, Luc, and asks Lenna for a favor of getting him out of town, which she readily agrees to because he was her best friend. On the way to her home, there is a confrontation with another of the Brotherhood, making their escape mean that Lenna is going to need to leave town with them.
As Gilbert, Luc and Lenna venture out to avoid capture, Lenna slowly learns more about what is going on, and find out that her own magic is still viable.
This is the first book in a new series, and it is well written, draws you in and creates a wonderful new world and environment that makes you want to explore and read more. I am looking forward to finishing this series and reading more of this series.
Lenna is a Librarian, and he childhood friend Gilbert has left their home of Port Homish to join the Blue Brotherhood to learn to hone his magical abilities. Of course in their society only boys are trained in magic, and girls tend to lose their magic as they reach puberty, or at least that is the way Lenna has always thought it worked, but she is about to learn that a number of things she thought about life are not what she thought.
Gilbert arrives with a fellow mage, Luc, and asks Lenna for a favor of getting him out of town, which she readily agrees to because he was her best friend. On the way to her home, there is a confrontation with another of the Brotherhood, making their escape mean that Lenna is going to need to leave town with them.
As Gilbert, Luc and Lenna venture out to avoid capture, Lenna slowly learns more about what is going on, and find out that her own magic is still viable.
This is the first book in a new series, and it is well written, draws you in and creates a wonderful new world and environment that makes you want to explore and read more. I am looking forward to finishing this series and reading more of this series.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews