TL;DR Review – Pokemon meets Dances with Wolves. A youthful and engaging “light” progression fantasy.
Synopsis:
Kellen Lars may be the most unremarkable person on Earth. In the mana-enchanted land of Oras, he could become a champion.
After his little sister vanishes before his eyes, Kellen awakens in another realm inhabited by mythical creatures and people who shape the very forces of nature. These are the Beastcallers, wielders of elemental magics who ascend alongside their beast companions.
In search of his sister, Kellen explores a savage new world full of magical storms, animal demi-gods and warring tribes. Just surviving isn’t an option. If he ever wants to see home again, Kellen must wield his budding powers and train his newly bonded Mana Beast. Even if he succeeds, nothing will ever be the same again.
A young man from Earth. A Mana Beast. Together, they’ll progress into legend.
Full Review:
Kellen was just a farmer—until he woke up in the world of Oras and found himself face to face with a talking, bouncing fox.
And his life has only just begun to get weird!
Beast Mage is a fun, adventure-packed progression fantasy that’s light on the progression and rich on the fantasy. It’s set in a landscape that feels delightfully reminiscent of the Great Plains of North America, home to wandering tribes that lightly evoke Native American culture and personalities.
The simplicity of the landscape is contrasted sharply by the complexity of the magic (mana) system. Every beastcaller gifted the ability to wield mana bonds with an animal of some sort—in this book, we see magical foxes, coyotes, and crow-looking monsters—but there are also wild beasts, from giant rhino-bears to fire bison to thunderbirds.
Kellen’s fox companion, Vex, is a whole lot of fun. He’s an endless source of quips and comments, and his naivete and innocence makes him a riot to read. His personality contrasts Kellen’s more serious nature, but he’s also a great source of Kellen’s drive to succeed and develop his magical abilities.
Another impetus behind Kellen’s story is his search for his sister, Allison, who was brought to Oras through the same magical portal that brought him. Only when he arrives, she’s nowhere in sight, but was captured by a rival beastcaller who is collecting slaves to sell for power and profit.
Allison’s story is by far the darker of the two, with a great deal of suffering, pain, loss, and sorrow. And because of that, we’re eager for Kellen to push harder and travel faster to catch up to her and rescue her.
The pacing was smooth and steady, the progression was easy to follow without being excessively complex, and the colorful world made for a really enjoyable read. It evoked Pokemon or Digimon in the animal companion/training/powering up aspects, but its Native American-esque flavor made it something unique in the progression fantasy world.
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