Synopsis
Marcus Fairwind remembers every symbol he’s ever seen. Too bad that talent is useless for a merchant’s son—until he starts treating magic like a supply chain problem.
After disappointing his father one too many times, Marcus begs Millbrook’s irritable glyphwright for an apprenticeship. Erasmus reluctantly takes him on, teaching him glyphwriting—magic through written symbols.
His perfectionist rival Felix thinks Marcus doesn’t belong. The Guild fears what happens when apprentice innovations make master traditions obsolete.
When their experimental ward network actually works, the Guild decides to make an example of them. The challenge: protect the entire Harvest Festival or both apprentices and their masters lose their right to practice. Forever.
Now Marcus and his former rival must save three days of festival chaos—escaping livestock, spoiling goods, and traditions gone sideways. But when the Guild rigs the game against them, the apprentice Marcus once couldn’t stand might be the only person worth trusting.
Review
If you are looking for a cozy, fun read with an intriguing magic system, then rejoice!
This review covers the first two books out as of date:
#1 – Ink & Intent
#2 – Wards & Measures
As the synopsis says, the book follows Marcus, who is the son of a merchant with a penchant for (not just) remembering symbols, and his journey from a failed apprentice to a near OP MC. It’s a light-hearted enemies-turned-friends bromance set in world of glyphs and wards and mercantile trade. The way author has linked the world of inscription to supply-chain is intriguing in a way where the MCs use similarities in conceptual theories underlying various principles to solve problems.
For starters, this is a well-written book. In a genre that is sprinkled widely with brooding and edgy MCs, Marcus (and then Felix) are a couple of loveable characters who are easy to get behind and cheer for. The prose is crisp and the writing is immersive, and the plot moves at a fast pace, making this a page turner all through. It’s cozy, it’s a slice of life, but it has enough action to scratch that itch for more. Especially in book 2, the dungeon action scenes are gripping and packed with enough adrenaline to wake up a zombie. Book 1 is mostly a version of a school/University training arc, which sets the stage, and Book 2 elevates these real life applications in warfare and connecting the nation.
As with anything, it needs to be taken with an eyeroll and a pinch of salt as we are treated to MCs solving supposedly impossible problems by “innovative” solutions on the fly…repeatedly, and that too with sub-par materials. Still fun as long as you don’t look under the hood too much.
Overall, as I noted before, this is well written and fun and hits all the plus points for me to love a series. I am eagerly looking forward to the next book.
Recommended.
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