Saturday, December 30, 2017

Saturday #Review - The Battlemage by Taran Matharu #YALit #Fantasy

Series: The Summoner Trilogy # 3

Format: Hardcover, 384 pages
Release Date: May 2, 2017
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Source: Library
Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy / Epic

The third book of the YA Summoner quartet, which has been compared to Tolkien, Rowling, and Pullman.

Fletcher and his classmates from Vocans Academy—including the elf Sylva and the dwarf Othello— time-travel through the ether, pursued by Wyvern Riders and the albino orc, Khan. In a race against time to survive the ether's poison, they find clues about traitors in their midst, and Fletcher's demon, Ignatius, changes in ways neither anticipate.

With plenty of duels, double-crosses, and even some romance, the team of Summoners faces their biggest challenge yet. Can they rebuild their world and broker peace?

Harry Potter meets Pokemon meets The Lord of the Rings in Taran Matharu's Summoner quartet. Fans will eagerly anticipate this action-packed installment.



The Battlemage, by author Taran Matharu, is the third installment in the Summoner trilogy. *Note* The author has another story planned for this series, but it features an entirely different character. Thus, one could say that this is the end of the road for Fletcher. As the story picks up right where The Inquisition left off, I shall do my best not to spoil anything for readers who haven't yet read the first two books in this trilogy.

This is a series that is set against the backdrop of the fantastical world of the Hominum Empire which is facing an all out war with the Orcs. (Lord of the Rings anyone?) The series follows the adventures of one Fletcher Raleigh, who was abandoned as a baby, and later learned that he could summon demons from the ether among other secrets. He has since learned a whole lot more about himself and his family roots and has had more than his fair share of enemies standing in his way. 

Fletcher attends the prestigious Vocan Military Academy where noble children are taught the art of summoning. He has been put thru the ringer ever since this series started. If you don't believe me, please read The Novice and The Summoner. He is training to become one of the elite battlemages to help protect the Hominum Empire from the Orc's. This is a world that is filled with Elves, Dwarfs, Goblins, Gremlins, Orcs, and all sorts of various demons that can be summoned. 

One of the strengths of this series is the authors world building, as well as the diverse cast that he has created. The author never stays in one place for an entire story. This is an action packed story right from the onset when we meet a curious character named Sheldon upon arriving in the Ether after escaping the villainous Orc named Khan who wants to rule the world. Sheldon just happens to be a rather large turtle who gets more than his fair share of story time which is ultimately a really good thing. 

The Ether is a story in itself with its poisonous environment to everything except demons who call it home. From there, it's all about running from place to place fighting for their lives, and then facing the battle of a lifetime in order to save innocents from being Orc meals. While were at it, you should definitely get to know Fletcher's friends. Othello is Fletcher's best friend. He is also a dwarf along with Cress. Sylva is an elf who has put her trust and friendship on Fletcher's shoulders. She is also rather important to the Elves. But, there are other characters as well. 

Alice, who was kidnapped by Orc's 17 years ago, and finally rescued by Fletcher and his allies. Arcturus, and Captain Lovett who are key members of the Vocan Academy and have Fletcher's back against those who would cheer if Fletcher fell by the wayside. Fletcher has grown leaps and bounds since we first met him in The Novice. He is able to control two demons at once; Athena, a Grphowl, and Ignatius, a Salamander who literally breaks out into something totally freaking amazing. He is now the true leader of his group, and later he takes his place as a novice noble who is expected to put together a coalition in a place that he was taken from as a baby. But, I would have preferred a bit of a different ending to this story. There are some emotional moments in this story and I will once again tell you to please pick up this series and read it. You won't be sorry. 





No comments:

Post a Comment