The Awakened Mage

Interesting and well-written, but with almost zero action throughout the entire book. I like my fantasy done with swords and war. This was all about political circles.

Really disappointed by the end of book one.

Held my interest to finish the first in the series but found myself shrugging by the end.
Very misleading title and cover art too!

Perhaps things pick up in the second book but I can't see myself continuing with the series based on the strength of the first.
Simply put not enough happens!
I found the initial premise interesting but I suspect this was originally one book stretched out into two and it certainly shows in the pacing and cliffhanger ending.

In a nutshell:
- Characters and writing I generally liked.
- magic was boring, mundane and boiler plate. I don't mind it not being technical, rule based and complex but it's an especially vague affair here.
- lead character doesn't really do anything. For an innocent mage - - he does zero magic. He even spends the climax of this book doing admin which you might not expect given the cloaked figure on the cover looking all mystical.
You can absolutely imagine the marketing meeting that went on prior to publication:
“So the hero doesn't kill anyone, fight anyone or cast even a single spell?”
“oh god no, the magic is mainly admin and plumbing based. It's not really the point of the story.”
“mmhmm mhmm, I see. Let's call it the Innocent Mage and throw a wizard-ninja on the cover.”

This book was very slow, appreciate some of the turns that the story took, however, it simply took too long for anything to happen. I'd have liked the story to embrace the magic of this world much more. I am curious how Miller intends to finish this arc within The Awakened Mage (Sequel) and address some of the plotlines set in this novel.

Book 2 of this duology, like the first, is a great read - but for different reasons. The second book picks up where the first ended in a cliffhanger. As I read it, I saw the effects of the first book. The first book provided really good characterisation, pulling you into the world and its fully-fleshed out characters, drawing you in. When things start to go wrong in this book, you just get pulled in deeper.

The story itself is nothing spectacularly creative or unique, in fact, some would call it typical fantasy fare - reluctant hero, oh-i'm-so-powerful-and-evil nemesis, doomsday prophecy, etc. But what I believe is brilliant is the way it's told. The pacing starts slow, like the first book, then like a storm, it picks up speed and charges towards the finale.

The ending actually sets itself up to be an expanded canvas of storytelling - and sure enough, another duology is out. I'm definitely going to read them.