The Innocent Mage (Kingmaker, Kingbreaker) (edition 2007)

Oct11:

Characters: Actually pretty good despite the cliche "boy off to discover the world". The boy is unique and the characters in the kingdom are solid enough. The true villain is also sustaining.

Plot: The history of this world is rich enough to drive forward a plot. The steps it takes might be mundane, but that didn't bother me overly much.

Style: Again, very strong on the world building. Weak on the plot logic. Would read again for the characters. ( )

Fisherman's son Asher leaves his small seaside town to head to the big city to make a fortune. His arrival causes a stir he doesn't see: he's the face in a Circle prophecy about the end of the world. As he becomes friendly with the prince Gar and trusted by the royal family, the Circle wonders how it can use him for their own ends.

At first glance this story contains a huge number of stereotypes and tropes about magic, natives, prophecy, and so forth. It even has its fantasy-contrived small order of women. But a closer look reveals that none of the stereotypes are dealt with the way we'd expect. The class system in Lur between the native Olken and the invaders Doranen--the latter long since faded from warrior mages to simple high-class rulers--is painted with subtlety and yet has a huge impact on everything that happens. In fact, that's the order of the day: everything from description of the prophecy to the growing relationship between our hero Asher and the prince Gar is subtlety written, yet totally developed as the pages go on. I've seen reviews that complain that too much isn't explained or described, but actually this is what I came to respect about the book. We aren't insulted by a page and a half explaining what a harbour looks like in a small town. The author assumes we know, and in doing so lets us paint the world realistically. Or me, at least. As I say, this seems to be a common complaint: not enough hand-holding. Well, good.

I also appreciate that I couldn't guess where the story was going from one chapter to the next. The romance, what there is of one, is a surprise, and awkward enough to be real life. The scarce women hold their own as developed as any of the male characters, and the characters we don't like are given good reason for the way they are and yet don't magically becomes better, greater people just because the story demands. The whole book is a surprise this way, right up to the last page which is a cliffhanger that nearly leaves the book in the middle of a sentence. I will definitely read the next in the series.

Like The Game of Thrones, this book is heavily involved in politics, but unlike that book it happily skips the minutiae that doesn't matter (thank goodness.) I don't think everyone will like this book, because it is not very much like every other fantasy book out there, and it will take more thought and attention than the average story. But I like it a lot and I'm impressed with its skill and courage. ( )

With a title like this one and the blurb that it has, I was expecting a tad more magic to be involved. But that does not negatively affect the book's performance. There is certainly plenty of political intrigue involved, for those who enjoy it (I certainly do).

I think this book does a great deal of justice to the development of the "minor" (or shall I say, "less major") characters. I found it hard to hate some of the characters, even though everything they have done have warranted that feeling. Although, of course, there are some exceptions whom we can channel our strong feelings toward without feeling the slightest remorse.

At the end of the day, the difference between a five stars rating and a four stars rating is my own personal bias. There is one "plot mechanism" (I'm not sure what else to call it) that I really dislike, but by no means does that make the book bad.

One warning though, make sure to have the second book on hand before finishing this book, it will make you want to read more!

In short, great book! I would recommend it to people who like political intrigue and fantasy readers who like magically based worlds. ( )

Another splendid series (2 vols.) by Karen Miller.

I really liked this. Miller is a great writer and provides well-rounded characters in believable scenarios. You can't help but feel like you know them all very well. A little too long at times, but that's just what happens in epic fantasy. ( )

Asher is born the son of a fisherman but has bigger dreams about what to do with his life. He rescues the prince and becomes a friend. His life becomes complicated and involved with the politics of the kingdom. There's hidden magic involved in the plot and prophecy.

It's pretty predictable in parts but I did enjoy the story. ( )

This is one of those books that just didn’t do it for me, but I can’t quite put my finger on why. All the elements for a great story are here. The characters are well-rounded, interesting and like- or hate-able. The world is creatively developed and original. There’s plenty of set up for an interesting storyline. Yet somehow it all fell flat for me.

I think the major problem was that NOTHING REALLY HAPPENED. I don't mean exactly nothing because in 600+ pages a lot can happen, but the book never got around to the actual main plot until very far along. Secondary characters keep going on and on about some great plot that Asher is a pivotal part of, though he doesn’t know it. After finishing the book, I still have absolutely no idea what that plot involves. The poky pacing knocked what could otherwise have been a phenomenal story down to frustratingly mediocre. I kept reading because I really liked Asher and Gar and wanted to know what would happen to them. I’ll probably read the second book because it’s sitting here and I’m stubborn like that, but I really wouldn’t recommend The Innocent Mage. ( )

No way! You can’t leave me hanging!

The Innocent Mage by Karen Miller*
4 out of 5 stars

The Innocent Mage Book One in the Kingmaker, Kingbreaker Series by Karen Miller was really good, it had to be to keep me reading all 650 pages of it.

Asher promises to return to his father in a year’s time, a rich man. A man who can buy his own boat and sail into the sunset with his father. Just them, no jealous brothers. But to make his dreams come true his must get to Dorana City and find work. With no luck finding a job he starts to roam the city and ends up seeing the prince riding his horse. After a couple of fireworks accidentally go off, the horse gets scared and bucks the prince right off. Asher doesn’t understand why but he makes a grab for the bridle and gets the beast to calm done. In thanks for his help, the prince offers him a job that pays more than must men make in a lifetime. When Asher’s nature of pride and forthright remarks get him noticed even more by the Prince he inevitably becomes the perfect candidate for being Assistant Olken Administrator. Asher makes friends in the stables, tower workers, guards, and bars. Asher’s loves his friend Dathne but she is full of secrets and makes herself unreachable from Asher’s heart. In the back round enemies are growing stronger and nearer to Asher and the royal family. A secret destiny awaits the Innocent Mage Asher, but for now the Circle must wait until Prophecy reveals itself.

This book was different that others I have read. Each character had one exaggerated trait. One was full of anger, another of caring. One of pride, one of low self-esteem. In that fact I believe the characters weren’t all that realistic. People have many different emotions that show at different times, but these characters rarely left there one emotional bubble.

The plot thickened as the storyline grew longer. Everyone had secrets and the secrets were about everyone, so an air of distrust started to develop closer to the end of the book.

The last three pages left me with wide eyes and with an open mouth. The ending was unforeseen and left you hanging. You could completely tell this is only the first book in a series. I will for sure be searching for the next installment.

Date Reviewed: August 27th, 2008 ( )

One-dimensional characters. Standard fantasy plot. But, what killed me was Asher's over-the-top accent, which I'm sure is the most irritating accent ever in fantasy. ( )

The first in the Kingmaker, Kingbreaker series, The Innocent Mage is the first novel written by the latest fantasy author to arise from Australia.

Set in the kingdom of Lur, the Innocent Mage is Asher, a young fisherman from Restharven who journeys to the capital city to make his fortune and escape the torment of his older brothers. Lur is protected by a magical wall, created by the Doranen, who fled their land centuries ago after a terrible magical war. The Doranen keep Lur safe, and the King maintains the wall using his weather magic, and in return, the non-magical Olken, the original inhabitants of Lur, allowed the Doranen refuge, and do not seek to learn or use Doranen magic. Asher is one of the non-magical Olken, but on his arrival in the capital, finds himself aiding Prince Gar, after a riding accident. Gar offers Asher a job, introducing him to the world of magic and politics between the Olken and Doranen peoples. Although a tense relationship at first, a friendship forms between Gar and Asher, who grows attached to his life in the city. But the Olken have a history of their own, the secrets of which are maintained by a group known as the Circle, who believe that great darkness is coming, from which they can only be saved by the prophesied Innocent Mage.

Asher is the hero of this story, the plucky young fisherman who is thrown into a world he does not understand, but there are many interesting characters in this intricate tale. One can emphasise with Gar, the magickless Doranen prince, who is more popular with the Olken than his own people, and resigned that he can never lead his kingdom as the weather-worker, a fate left to his arrogant but naive younger sister. Other fascinating characters include the sweet and gentle Matt, the cunning and secretive Dathne, and the bitter yet loyal Darran. But it is the relationship between Gar and Asher that is most at the heart of this story, exploring the lure of family and what one man really will do for another.

I was instantly drawn to these titles and was not disappointed. I enjoyed this excellent debut so much that, even though I was on holiday in Ireland, I had to rush out and buy the sequel immediately! Not your standard fantasy novels, this story really relies on the characters of Gar and Asher, with realistic dilemmas of family, loyalty and responsibility. Miller's descriptions of the weather magic are vivid and colourful and without spoiling what happens in the second book, things do get very interesting!

Highly recommended, but make sure you have The Awakened Mage handy, because you'll need it! Definitely an author to watch. ( )

Review on my blog - MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS ( )

An interesting tale that slowly builds up the back story in small drips.
Certainly an enjoyable read once you got used to the style, however at times I felt that too much time was spent on the normal day-to-day life and I was tempted to skip parts until something interesting happened. However, the further towards the end I got the better it seemed to get.
I would recommend reading my review for the sequel though before making up your mind. ( )

On one hand it would be easy to dismiss this book - the honest yokel (fisherman rather than peasant) befriend a prince, tools of prophecy, the empathic stable-master, the ugly duckling that the yokel loves, the power-crazed Master Magician, the younger sister that hates her big brother the Prince: we've seen it all before.

But the division between the Doranen and the Olken, the two races, the very literal sacrifice of the king to the safety and happiness of the kingdom, and the way those who know about the prophecy are used by it, and miserable because of it, let alone those who DON'T know they're tools of prophecy all act to make this rather different.

By the end of this book, there still appreciable mysteries to come, although it looks like the series might be tricky to join in the middle and it's hard to imagine a much bigger cliff-hanger on which to end the book, although it is possible to imagine a bigger one. ( )

So what's more cliche? A main character with humble beginnings as a fisherman's son, or a main character with humble beginnings as a stable boy? ...Not sure? That's alright, doesn't matter anyway. THIS main character starts out a fisherman's son, and moves to the big city to make a fortune...as a well-paid stable boy. I kid you not. ^_^ And no, this is not a parody (though there are enough cliches sometimes you'd swear it must be).

As for the rest of the plot, main character Asher is part of the quaint, magicless, under-respected, under-appreciated race, and the Prince Gar and the rest of the noble family part of the noble, stuck up their asses magical race. Gar is actually a nice guy, though, and he's looking for an assistant, and wants someone from that nice put-upon race to do it so he can bridge the gap between the peoples and what have you. And of course the rough-around-the-edges Asher is the one to do it. Also, there some business about him being a 'chose one' type thing, people in court who'd like to bring them down, etc, etc.

So. My ideal fantasy novel would have, among other things, a great plot with lots of action, magic, mystery and what have you, but also great characterization, great dialog, great conversations. When I see a reviews for a book commonly mentioning both, I jump on it. However, that's rare, so you chose to look for one or the other, and since it's more commonly mentioned, I tend to go for the interesting plot (admittedly with at least some mention of good character, if not actual good dialog).

This novel got three and a half stars on Amazon. With all the crap that gets five, normally I wouldn't touch it. But all the horrible reviews seemed bothered by the absent/shaky plot, the ones that loved it love it for the conversations, and the ones in the middle, unsurprisingly, praised the dialog but admitted the plot needed work. So. I figured, really it's just one thing over the other. It's just good plot is supposed to be mandatory, while to a certain extent great characters and dialog are...not AS MUCH, to many people's eyes (hence the low score). So hey, why not give it a shot, right? It won't be perfect, but it could be considerably more intriguing than the usual stuff.

In the end, or rather, in my inability to get to the end, I'm going to have to go for a generally negative verdict on this one. My biggest problem here is not the lack of plot (which is indeed a problem, as was generally agreed), but that the supposedly most intriguing aspect of this book, the dialog, is only out of the ordinary by virtue of being more of a focus. It's clear the author had fun making the characters banter, but while it's not aimless and masturbatory as it could have turned out, it's really not that great. It's not that clever, not that subtle, not that good at showing interesting sides of the characters, not that anything at all.

Another problem here is that the characters have to be interesting to make their dialog so. The mains, Asher and Gar, are generally simplistic, predictable, good natured, easy to read. This goes for the reader, as well as the other characters in the book watching them. They aren't simple to the point of being pointless caricatures, but I feel like I'm reading characters from a children's book with somewhat more complex prose. Besides just making reading the characters less interesting, it also hurts the novel more overall because it seems to be trying it's hand as a story of court intrigue. Though I may not have read enough of these to judge well, it seems to me such a story would thrive off of the trickiness, the deceptiveness, the manipulativeness, the secrecy of man? Using psychology.... Turning what the 'opponent' doesn't know against them. The characters here are simply too un-complex and tame to hold such a story. So far what I've seen of the less-than-perfectly-good characters has also been cartoon-villain-esque in their manner.

Still. This book is by far not the worst I've read. The writing in general really is SOMETIMES more...entertaining to get through than others. It's average, maybe a little under. I've finished till the end books Ive thought worse of. But in most of those cases, I was either TOLD things picked up later, or there was some sort of plot that lead me to believe it might. Since I've heard no such thing about this book, and there's barely any plot to speak of to suggest a pick up, and it's 640 pages, I'm on 180 and don't have free time spitting out of my ears, *breath*, not to mention that even if I manage to finish it I won't get a 'conclusion' since it's a multi-part series, there's not much motivational factors at work here. There's just better things to read. ( )

The Innocent Mage, by Karen Miller, is the first in the Kingmaker, Kingbreaker.

Asher, a poor fisherman's son, decides to try to make something of himself in the city of Dorana, hoping to return in a year to help out his father. When he gets to the city, Asher soon befriends Prince Gar and gains employment working at the palace. Meanwhile, Dathne and Matt also befriend Asher, but they have ulterior motives. Dathne believes that Asher is destined to fulfill prophecy and save civilization, at the cost of his own life.

In an absorbing story about friendship, family, love, and betrayal; Miller has created an impressive fantasy. Asher is a wonderfully written character who speaks his mind and isn't easily intimidated. The secondary characters are just as vivid. Despite being so abrupt and headstrong, Asher is also honorable and loyal. His qualities are endearing, making it that much harder to know that his end may be near.

The Innocent Mage ends in a perilous cliffhanger, which concludes in the sequel The Awakened Mage. Fantasy fans of all ages will enjoy this fantastic story. ( )

An excellent from start to... "finish". It was a great lead in to the next book. I had to go out and buy it the next morning. A great fantasy that leaves you wondering what could happen next. I strongly recommend this one, and I can't wait to read the next. ( )

Fishboy secret sorcery saviour?

This is a basically competent, by the numbers even fantasy book. Mostly concerned with the doings of a noble family, who just happen to be magicians as well, except for the one prince who didn't inherit any talent.

the viewpoint character however is a fisherman's son who bails out of of town for the big city.

Throw in the threat of an Evil Undead Magician Overlord from the past who did Bad Things, and a cabal working to make him the focal point of a return to magic in a province where it is forbidden upon pain of death - something shown in the novel.

Bad tempered princesses, ailing kings, competent princes, annoying bureaucrats, and country boys whose Hearts Are In the Right Place.

Not much here for anyone looking for anything beyond that. No elves, dragons, or swordplay at all, either, for anyone wondering.

The writer's bio said she ran a bookshop, and there is a female bookseller character in the book, so there may be some self parody and autobiography contained therein.

Just a 3, perhaps.

http://notfreesf.blogspot.com/2007/12/innocent-mage-karen-miller.html ( )

At first I found the main voice of this book rather irritating. It didn't take long to adjust, however, and it was well worth the effort. Young fisherman's son Asher has gone to the big city to make his fortune and return with the money to buy a new fishing boat and show his elder bullying brothers what he's made of. He - and they, in time - get rather more than he'd bargained for, as his job in the Royal Stables is transformed into something much greater.

This first book of the pair focusses mainly on the meteoric rise to prominence of the plain-speaking and sometimes tactless fisherman and his growing friendship with magicless Price Gar, and establishing sufficient background and history that when it ends as it does, you cannot help but be aware just what disaster is waiting to happen.

The ending was, perhaps, a touch predictable - but how else was the Evil Plot ever going to become a possibility? An enjoyable read, and one I will be coming back to re-read in future. ( )

Not since I cracked open Robert Jordan’s The Eye of the World, or George R. R. Martin’s A Clash of Kings have I enjoyed a novel as much as Karen Miller’s The Innocent Mage. Rare is the book that makes me smile as I turn each page, or that drives me to stay up into the wee hours of the night reading. The Innocent Mage did that with its combination of intriguing and clever characters, juxtaposition of lightheartedness and solemnity, and fast paced story.

Continue Reading review of The Innocent Mage ( )

Fascinating, a superb debut from a new Australian author.

In an idylic land two people live together in harmony. Trouble and strife, even poor weather, are kept at bay from the Wall upheld 600 yrs ago by the sacrifice of Barl, and the King's Danoven Weatherworking magic, while the Olken fish and farm and lead simple, happy lives. Asher is a son of fisherman who journeys to the capitol to make his fortune, as all youngest sons seem destined to do. There he meets the unfortunetly magicless prince Gar, and becomes his friend and assistant, risen high in stature from his lowly beginnings. Gar is looked down upon by his kin for his magicless status, is still a worthy administrator. Yet the king is aging, and the Prince's sister Fane not yet old enough to master the complex Magic that keep the peace. However the King's advisor Drum is there to help.

Lightly written with a wonderful easy reading flowing style, Innocent mage is full of humour. Asher has an irrepresable charm, the dialect speech rendered perfectly. The world, though small, is well described and the characters leap off the page. One hopes that trouble is not brewing in paradise. First of a duology. ( )

The Doranen have ruled Lur with magic since arriving as refugees centuries ago. Theirs was a desperate flight to escape the wrath of a powerful mage who started a bitter war in their homeland. To keep Lur safe, the native Olken inhabitants agreed to abandon their own magic. Asher left his coastal village to make his fortune to help his dad. Employed in the royal stables, he soon finds himself befriended by Prince Gar and given more money and power than he'd ever dreamed possible. But the Olken have a secret; a prophecy. The Innocent Mage will save Lur from destruction and members of The Circle have dedicated themselves to preserving Olken magic until this day arrives.
This is a very good book the only downside was the ending of it which i found to be a bit of a cliche (I await the awakend mage in earnest) ( )