The Magician's Apprentice
Ratings12
Average rating3.8
15
Ratings12
Average rating3.8
Set hundreds of years before the events of The Magicians' Guild, THE MAGICIAN'S APPRENTICE is the new novel set in the world of Trudi Canavan's Black Magician Trilogy.In the remote village of Mandryn , Tessia serves as assistant to her father, the village Healer. Her mother would rather she found a husband. But her life is about to take a very unexpected turn.When the advances of a visiting Sachakan mage get violent, Tessia unconsciously taps unknown reserves of magic to defend herself. Lord Dakon, the local magician, takes Tessia under his wing as an apprentice. The long hours of study and self-discipline also offer more opportunities than she had ever hoped for, and an exciting new world opens up to her. There are fine clothes and servants - and, to Tessia's delight - regular trips to the great city of Imardin .But along with the excitement and privilege, Tessia is about to discover that her magical gifts bring with them a great deal of responsibility. For great danger looms on the horizon for Tessia and her world.
Series
3 primary books5 released booksThe Black Magician Trilogy is a 4-book series with 3 primary works first released in 2001 with contributions by Trudi Canavan.
Series
6 primary books7 released booksKyralia Universe is a 7-book series with 6 primary works first released in 2001 with contributions by Trudi Canavan.
Reviews with the most likes.
I mostly enjoyed this book. Having read the Black Mage trilogy a few years back, I enjoyed stepping back into the world, and seeing how some of the details in that trilogy were originally instituted. The story was satisfactorily concluded.
That said, there was one area that greatly disappointed me. And here begin some significant spoilers! In the last third of the book, a minor character is revealed to be homosexual. Kachiro is handled in a compassionate way despite living in a culture that is very hostile to homosexuality. Though married to a more prominent female character, he has a younger male lover who the wife knows about and accepts. Then the story veers directly into the distasteful “bury your gays” trope when the young lover is murdered with absolutely no reason or perpetrator revealed. It's tragic for no purpose and does nothing for the story. Worse, in his moment of ultimate grief, his loving wife chooses that moment to lead a group of women to safety from the war that had arrived in the city. And then he is not seen again. It left me feeling disturbingly cold after warming to the revelation that queer folk actually exist in this fantasy world. And it makes me hesitant to read later works by Ms. Canavan.
