I read this book as a judge for Fanfiaddict for SPFBO XI. These are my personal thoughts and do not represent the thoughts of the whole team.
Synopsis:
A Mage’s Mentor is a debut fantasy novel that is the first book in the Ucksil’s Folly series. The story follows Sinccah, an ambitious young mage in training, who ventures into the rugged province of Ucksland some time after her mother’s mysterious disappearance. Driven by grief and a desire to grow in the ability to use magic, she seeks a mentor with mysterious ties to her past. What begins as a personal journey quickly becomes a tale of strange alliances, perseverance and a journey that will change her for the better or for the worse.
Review:
The author does a great job at blending classic fantasy with good character work. Sinccah’s evolution as a character feels realistic and the author doesn’t hide her many flaws but displays them for a more impactful character arc. One of the shining elements in this story comes through a mysterious character who our main character is forced to team up with. The banter and relational dynamic between these two was a highlight in this story.
While I enjoyed this story overall, I did feel it could have benefited from some expansion and further exploration of the world this story took place in. I felt the story ended more abruptly than I would have liked.
This was a fun story with characters that I enjoyed spending time with. I recommend it it to fans of classic fantasy and character driven readers.
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