Summary: Spellslinger is a fun adventure that works well for young adults and adults alike. The protagonist is likeable, and while the antagonists are fairly one note, it works for the plot.
- Anyone who likes action, magic and characters that get by with guile rather than great strength or talent will enjoy this book.
- Not recommend for those looking for powerful prose or a deep and complex story.
- Recommend for fans of Andrew Rowe, Will Wight and Brandon Sanderson’s lighter work
The Jan-Tep must prove they are strong in magic by the time they are sixteen, or else they are counter-banded and forced to live the rest of their lives as Sha-Tep, slaves who cannot bear children due to fear of weakness in the bloodlines. Kellen, eldest child of two powerful mages is nearing his sixteenth birthday with almost no magic left, and seems doomed to life as a Sha-Tep, at least, until a crafty stranger appears in town and saves his life. That stranger is Ferius Parfax, a self professed gambler and trickster who challenges Kellen’s beliefs. And with the crown prince dead and trouble brewing, Kellen needs all the tricks he can muster to survive and figure out the man he wants to be.
Spellslinger starts with killer opening (almost literally). Our protagonist, Kellen, is about to magically duel his ruthless rival in an attempt to pass the first of four mage trials. The catch? Kellen has pretty much no magic left to speak of (it has been fading all his life) and his opponent has no qualms with taking his life, which in this rather harsh world is sort of expected, even between children. How Kellen doesn’t instantly die speaks to the simple but effectively executed limitations of the magic – casting magic requires calm, and to oppose someone’s spell, you must create an opposite effect to their action.
The Jan-Tep rely on their magic, and their obsession with it above anything else gives an opponent an edge that they can exploit. This forms a major part of the plot, both Kellen’s character growth, the influence of his sort of mentor Ferius Parfax, and certain secrets and plots that get revealed as the book goes along.
And how it does go along. Perhaps predictably for a book marketed to young adults, the plot breezes along nicely, and I was rarely happy to put it down. Towards the end of the book, as certain revelations were coming fast and hard, I would have preferred a little bit more time to breathe, but otherwise the pacing suited the plot well.
Kellen is our only viewpoint character, and I was happy to stay in his head. He rarely lets a situation pull him into its wake – he acts and he acts hard. Fans of Lindon in cradle might find a kindred spirit in Kellen. Kellen is crafty and driven, as not against resorting to dirty tactics if it’s for a good cause.
The other characters are a mixed bag. Kellen’s family are nuanced in their motivations, as is Ferius, and plenty of the characters don’t fit the usual tropes. The primary antagonists however are pretty one note evil, and for a book that wants us to empathise with the Sha-Tep, we really don’t see much of them.
The worldbuilding is strong, if not overly complex. What the magic can do isn’t covered in a significant amount of depth, even if other aspects are, which makes the final sections of the book a little less impactful, since at times we have no idea what certain characters are capable of doing with their magic. There’s clearly more development in a certain area being left for the sequels.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the talking flying squirrel. If you like murderously sassy animal companions, you’ll love Reichis. I found him a little grating, but overall a fun addition to be story.
I’d heartily recommend Spellslinger to anyone who is intrigued by it from this review, fans of characters who win by being crafty, and those who like a fun action adventure story.
Rating: 8/10
Writings of a Doomscribe 