REVIEWED by Jay V.

TITLE: The Mage on the Hill

SERIES: The Web of Arcana #1

AUTHOR: Angel Martinez

PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press

LENGTH: 194 pages

RELEASE DATE: May 7, 2019

BLURB:

A young magic user who wants desperately to live. A jaded recluse who has forgotten what living means. They’re each other’s only chance.

Toby’s wild magic is killing him. The mage guilds have given up on him, and it’s only a matter of time before he dies in a spectacular, catastrophic bang. His only hope is an exiled wizard who lives in seclusion—and is rumored to have lost his mind.

The years alone on his hilltop estate have not been good for Darius Valstad. After the magical accident that disfigured him and nearly drowned Pittsburgh, he drifts through his days, a wraith trapped in memories and depression. Until a stricken young man collapses on his driveway, one who claims Darius is his last chance. For the first time in fifteen years, Darius must make a choice—leave this wild mage to his fate or take him in and try to teach him, which may kill them both. The old Darius, brash and commanding, wouldn’t have hesitated. Darius the exile isn’t sure he can find the energy to try.

REVIEW:

Toby is at the end of possible solutions to help him keep the control over his magic. Everyone has been trying to help him, but they’ve all given up. Overhearing a mention of a rouge magician who might offer a solution sends Toby on a desperate search for the reclusive man.  Can this be his savior?  Will Darius be able to reach out to the world long enough to help Toby? They are on an adventure to change the way the world thinks of magic.

Angel Martinez has laid the groundwork for some wonderful world-building in this book. Jumping off as a point where magic is part of daily life, the world is controlled by mage guilds that are the norm. She then thrusts these characters in to action who are on the peripherally of this world. Both men are trapped – one in their out of control magic, the other trying to recover from a terrible accident that leaves him a hermit. They need each other, but don’t realize it. They must figure out how to stop the wild magic and in the process they might save each other.

The characters are well thought out, not perfect, and span a large age group, which is refreshing. Spinning them in this world leads to some interesting adventures and outcomes. Martinez writing is top-notch, making for a very pleasant read. What could have been a confined story line expands as they must venture to a myriad of friends in magical areas to figure out the solutions. And time is not on their side, as Toby is being hunted since he is considered a danger to the world. This mix of psychological and adventure leads to a story outside of type and makes for an intriguing first book in the series. The book does not end on a strong cliffhanger, but where it will lead for the continuing series will be fascinating. The outlining characters all need help in some kind of way and Martinez is likely to pick up their threads in this fantastical world built on magic, but grounded in reality.

RATING:  

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