Magician: Apprentice by Raymond E. Feist

Title: Magician: Apprentice

Author: Raymond E. Feist

Genre: Fantasy

Series: The Riftwar Saga # 1

Publication: October 1, 1982 485 pages

Source: Libby, Audiobook

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To the forest on the shore of the Kingdom of the Isles, the orphan Pug came to study with the master magician Kulgan. But though his courage won him a place at court and the heart of a lovely Princess, he was ill at ease with the normal ways of wizardry.

Yet Pug's strange sort of magic would one day change forever the fates of two worlds. For dark beings from another world had opened a rift in the fabric of spacetime to being again the age-old battle between the forces of Order and Chaos.

MY THOUGHTS

Feist is a well-known author who has been publishing fantasy books for decades. After learning that a book company was creating special editions of The Riftwar Saga, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to finally dive into his work.

I was immediately enthralled as I was introduced to the world of Midkemia, a young orphan named Pug, and his best friend Tomas. The story begins in the Kingdom of Crydee, where the two boys live. They’re at the age where they must be chosen as apprentices for one of the available roles in the kingdom. Tomas joins the Duke's military, while Pug becomes the apprentice of the magician Kulgan, beginning his journey into the world of magic and spells.

But their daily lives are upended when alien invaders threaten their kingdom, and others, sending them on a journey across Midkemia in search of aid and alliances. Volume I spans about three years, following the boys as they grow into young men, thrust into war and the unknown.

I thought the worldbuilding was unique, though at times a bit overwhelming with the number of key players and factions to keep track of. On top of that, we meet elves, dwarves, aliens, the Brotherhood (who are closely tied to the elves), dragons, and other beasties. It was just… a lot.

I think the author did a good job developing Pug and Tomas, but many of the other characters felt underdeveloped. The adults, in particular, were stereotypical in their roles, very cookie-cutter. If you replaced one with another (say, swapped out Kulgan for a different magician), you probably wouldn’t notice much difference.

Many readers compare this series or Feist's work in general, to Tolkien’s. While I haven’t read Tolkien myself, I imagine Magician must feel a bit like The Lord of the Rings. The descriptions are often overly detailed, and some scenes drag on, becoming monotonous.

I understand this first book, Volume I is just one half of a larger story (split into two books in the U.S.), but overall, it was decent. There were some solid, enjoyable moments. I’m still looking forward to seeing how the rest of the story unfolds.

Twin Crowns by Catherine Doyle & Katherine Webber

Title: Twin Crowns

Author: Catherine Doyle & Katherine Webber

Genre: YA Fantasy

Series: Twin Crowns # 1

Publication: May 17, 2022 480 pages

Source: Libby, Audiobook

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Wren Greenrock has always known that one day she would steal her sister's place in the palace. Trained from birth to return to the place of her parents' murder and usurp the only survivor, she will do anything to rise to power and protect the community of witches she loves. Or she would, if only a certain palace guard wasn't quite so distractingly attractive, and if her reckless magic didn't have a habit of causing trouble...

Princess Rose Valhart knows that with power comes responsibility. Marriage into a brutal kingdom awaits, and she will not let a small matter like waking up in the middle of the desert in the company of an extremely impertinent (and handsome) kidnapper get in the way of her royal duty. But life outside the palace walls is wilder and more beautiful than she ever imagined, and the witches she has long feared might turn out to be the family she never knew she was missing.

Two sisters separated at birth and raised into entirely different worlds are about to get to know each other's lives a whole lot better. But as coronation day looms closer and they each strive to claim their birthright, the sinister Kingsbreath, Willem Rathborne, becomes increasingly determined that neither will succeed. Who will ultimately rise to power and wear the crown?

MY THOUGHTS

Twin Crowns has been on my TBR for years. After a string of mediocre reads, I felt a book slump coming on and needed something quick and easy to pull me out of it. Twin Crowns absolutely delivered.

I went into it with little knowledge of the story and no real expectations, and I was pleasantly surprised by what I found.

As the title and cover suggest, Twin Crowns centers on twin sisters separated at birth: one raised as royalty, the other in a small village community. Without giving away too much, the book alternates between the perspectives of the two sisters, Wren and Rose. I immediately connected with Wren, while it took me at least half the book to warm up to Rose. Naturally, I found myself more engaged in Wren’s chapters, especially her budding relationship with Rose’s betrothed’s bodyguard. I do love a good bodyguard trope.

The girls’ voices were distinct, making it easy to differentiate between them and imagine their separate journeys. While I preferred Wren and Tor’s dynamic over Rose and Shen’s, I still enjoyed watching both relationships develop.

The overall plot isn’t groundbreaking, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying it. Twin Crowns has the charm and heart of a YA fantasy from 10–15 years ago. It’s hard to describe exactly, but it has that nostalgic feel, simple, light, and immersive. So many YA books today feel like they’re written for an older audience, desperately trying to cram in every trending trope. It can feel overwhelming and forced.

But Twin Crowns was refreshing. It was exactly what I needed: fun, engaging, and unexpectedly delightful. I found myself hanging on to every page and smiling until the very end. I can’t wait to continue the series. If you haven’t read Twin Crowns yet, I highly recommend giving it a try.