The Magician’s Apprentice (Prequel) Dragon Mage Chronicles
fantasy, m/m romance, paranormal
9/1/19
Kindle
10 hours 47 minutes
Amazon
Amazon Link: amazon
Jander Teregnan has never wanted anything more than to become a mage—to serve his king and defend his country as he explores his natural talent at commanding the strange force known as magic. Of course every apprentice needs a master, which comes with its own set of challenges...especially when the master he's chosen for himself is none other than Andrei Teresh, personal advisor to the king and master mage of the city of Vallerin. Andrei, however, has more pressing problems on his mind than dealing with the unsolicited advances of one untrained mage-apprentice. A fierce and merciless army of unknown intent is sweeping across the land, threatening the security of the kingdom he has sworn to protect. Even worse, dragons—long thought to have withdrawn from the world of mankind—are emerging once again and spreading chaos in their wake. Somehow, Jander must find a way to help; not only to prove that he can be of use in the defense of his kingdom and become a mage, but also to secure his place at the side of the man he hopes to claim as master both of his magic and his heart. -Prequel to the Dragon Mage Chronicles-
Review By Ulysses Dietz
Member of the Paranormal Romance Guild Review Team
Amazon Link: amazon
Dan Calley, with his slightly husky British accent, brings to vivid life the highly imaginative fantasy of young would-be mage Jander Teregnan and his hoped-for mentor Andrei Teresh, mage to the king.
I have to say, I’m a sucker for dragons—especially intelligent dragons. Written as the prequel to an extant series, it is the origin story of Jander, who has fled an abusive small-town life to follow the pull of his magic. What Jander doesn’t quite understand is that he is no ordinary potential mage. The big clue, of course, is the adorable golden kitling, Gabrielle, who is his pet and sidekick (and, to be honest, his familiar). Gabrielle is a delicious little star in this story, a tiny dragon-like creature who adores Jander and eventually becomes a more important player in this saga than her cat-like size would suggest.
What I also liked in this story is Bowen, the beautiful blond whore (that’s the word used throughout the book), a popular denizen of the city’s sex-work community, and a favorite of the king’s court. He doesn’t get a large role in this book, but his presence is a constant reminder to Jander of those who are vulnerable and powerless in the fact of great magic. Bowen becomes a kind of reflection of Jander’s personality.
Jander is a wide-eyed innocent who nonetheless knows that he’s got something worth developing with his nascent magic. Having been told he’s worthless by his father for all of his life, Jander is sure he’s not. It’s that combination of innocence and confidence that signals that his true nature is just waiting to be discovered by whomever decides to care for him.
There’s a fairytale quality to the story, but with a contemporary, adult sexuality that suits the author’s plot and enriches the characters’ complexity.
I look forward to reading the other books in the series.