Review: A Coming of Age Fantasy that will make you wish for reading more of the same
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 08 12, 2013
Do you know how you read a book and don't really want for it to end? Well, I had that feeling while coming to the last pages of "The Sartious Mage."Jek Trayden is a titular Sartious Mage. Despite being only seventeen years of age, he is the most powerful mage in the Kingdom of Goldram among those who can manipulate the Sartious energy. The book starts with Jek performing a kidnapping. He, among some other freelancers, kidnaps Harwin, a young Prince of Zav, a territory that is threatening the war to Goldram. Methods aside, the goal is noble--to avoid the war, and bring the kingdoms to a negotiating table.The only reason Jek gets involved in such an enterprise is because of the reward. King of Goldram, Danveil Takary, promises him a cure for the "Darkness," a condition Jek developed after becoming able to manipulate Sartious energy, and inexplicably related to this magic. Even if the cure takes the magic away from him, he will do anything to get it.Well, the King has different ideas. Jek, backed into the corner, on the advice of Micah Vail, the King's adviser, goes from one royal kidnapping right into the other. While escaping from the castle, Jek kidnaps Princess Lisanda Takay. On her wedding day, of all times.This is not a stereotypical "a guy steals a princess" story. Jek, by everyone's account, and as we can see from reading the book, is actually a very nice young man with a soft heart. The spoiled, demanding princess turns out to be a pretty reasonable and bright young woman, who is strong enough to keep the promises she makes. The circumstances in which the two find themselves, are not exactly conductive to build some sort of connection between them. But the adventures await and who knows what will happen...This is the second book I've read by B.T. Narro, the first being (The Rhythm of Rivalry.) "The Sartious Mage" is a marked departure in style from the first novel. This one is written in a first person POV, with Jek being the viewpoint character, while "Bastial Energy" had multiple characters and multiple points of view. The first person approach is more intimate for developing the main character but is more challenging for fleshing out relationships and advancing the story in general. However, and I think that most people who read this book will agree, the character development and the gradual building of relationships between the personages is this author's strong point. The storyline builds up gradually in intensity, without hanging in the middle, even when the only people on the scene are Jek and Lisanda. Secondary characters are well fleshed out and add to the ambiance and plot development, with Exo and Micah Vail standing out when they make an appearance.In conclusion: I am experiencing slight withdrawals after finishing this book; but I'll have to wait for the next installment to be published. Well, darn it. Give yourself a chance to get into reading "The Sartious Mage," you won't be disappointed. Recommended.Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book for the purposes of a review.