A magical ruler novel is a subgenre of fantasy literature that revolves around the central theme of a ruler possessing magical abilities. This type of novel often combines elements of fantasy, adventure, and political intrigue to create a captivating story. In a magical ruler novel, the protagonist is typically a monarch or a ruler who possesses extraordinary powers. These powers can include the ability to control natural elements, cast spells, manipulate minds, or even shape-shift. The ruler's magical abilities often play a crucial role in shaping the fate of their kingdom and its inhabitants. The plot of a magical ruler novel usually involves a struggle for power and the challenges that come with ruling a kingdom.
The plot of a magical ruler novel usually involves a struggle for power and the challenges that come with ruling a kingdom. The ruler must face external threats from rival kingdoms or supernatural forces, as well as internal conflicts such as political scheming and rebellion. The magical abilities of the ruler often serve as a double-edged sword, as they can be both a source of strength and a vulnerability that others seek to exploit.
The Red-Haired Monkey
The Dragon Prince introduces a rich, nuanced world to the audience, so its only natural that its main magical system–Primal Magic–is similarly complex. But because of that, it gets frequently misunderstood, and many of the rules for how it works remain a mystery.
Dark Magic, from what we’ve seen, is a pretty familiar brand of magic, especially to Western audiences. With incantations, sacrificing creatures, and mystical spells, Dark Magic appears to be reminiscent of many of the tropes seen in witchcraft, alchemy, potions, and Harry Potter-esqe Dark Arts.
But Primal Magic is a different story. Primal Magic is influenced by both Western styles of magic–runes and “draconic” (which is primarily latin)–as well as Eastern styles of magic, primarily with concepts such as Qi.
Qi (or Ki/Chi) is a metaphysical “life force” energy, and is a fundamental component for Daoist medicine and martial arts. While Primal Magic isn’t exactly like Qi, I think understanding this concept gives us a great framework for understanding Primal Magic.
To begin, even though Qi means “vital energy,” it literally translates into “air” or “breath.” Not too different from how aspiro translates to “I breathe wind,” or how Callum only truly learns the Sky Arcanum after understanding that:
Sarai: “Sometimes things can get so complicated, that our minds can’t quite sort them out alone. But when you slow down and let yourself breathe, your spirit and your body can catch up with your mind, and help out.”
While Qi is something inherent to every living creature, it works in tandem with “heaven” Qi (rain, sun, and sky) and “earth” Qi (plants, soil, and land). In truth, one’s own Qi is contained within and flows from “heaven” and earth,” as it cannot survive without them.
Again, not unlike how Callum realizes that:
Callum: “Rayla, the whole world is like a giant primal stone, and we’re inside it. I’m inside Sky Magic, but it’s also in me, with every breath I take.”
Indeed, in the Dragon Prince, magic is everywhere. Both Rayla and Lujanne have talked about Primal Energy as existing in all parts of the world, even if some Primal Sources may be stronger or weaker in certain places and times. Much like how with Daoism, one can begin to master Qi by understanding how it surrounds and subsumes them, a mage can begin to master Primal Magic with the realization that this energy is everwhere, around and within them.
This knowledge is best described as:
Sarai: “To know something truly and deeply, you must know it with your head, hand, and heart. Mind, body, and spirit.”
But of course, there’s more to it than that. Qi has several practices. Three that are most relevant here are Qigong, Li, and Neijing.
Qigong (or “life-energy culvivation”) is a series of practices for cultivating and balancing one’s Qi. It includes practices such as mediation.
Coordinated and rhythmic breathing.
Slow, deliberate, and stylized movements.
But above all, Qigong involves having a mindful state, awareness, and a visualization of guiding one’s Qi. Using Sarai’s statement that true and deep knowledge requires “Mind, Body, and Spirit,” Qigong most resembles Mind.
Next, we have Li and Neijing, two interelated forces used in Daoist martial arts, which are best discussed together. Li refers to using tangible, physical force, such as that produced by muscles, strength of bones, speed, and timing. This can be cultivated the way most people would guess–weight lifting, exercise, and so on. Li most resembles Body.
Neijing, on the other hand, refers to the extend that one can exercise one’s internal will to harness and direct their Qi. Over time, according to Daoism, one can learn to manipulate the flow of their life energy. With Li, you can improve your physical condition, but sooner or later you will pass the age of your prime, and this force will likewise diminish over time. Neijing, on the other hand, can be cultivated and contiunally grown for as long as you live. For this reason, Neijing most represents Spirit.
And again, we see these concepts in the Dragon Prince through the elven mages the trio meet.
First, they meet Lujanne, and eldery (sorry, “cool grandma age”) Moonshadow mage. She’s quite spry, and seems to be physically active (just ask Callum how hard it is to keep up with her). Yet, it’s clear she’s not as young as she used to be, so for the most part, she remains close to the Moon Nexus, away from the action.
However, because of her age, she’s had many years to cultivate her Primal connection, and as a result, her magic is powerful even if her body is not. Lujanne is able to cast illusions even without needing to cast spells. She can reshape the entire Caldera to appear to be monster-infested, or create a powerful spell on Ava’s fourth limb that persists for years.
Next, the trio meet Ibis, who is on the other side of the spectrum. He’s much younger, and even though he’s a powerful mage, we don’t see him perform the same level of nonverbal magical feats that Lujanne did.
However, it’s clear he’s not lacking in the physical department…
Ibis, unlike Lujanne, is more likely to rely more on his physical prowess; he conjures mage wings and takes flight, something that clearly takes a great deal of physical strength.
Lujanne, however, has a strong enough connection to her Primal that she doesn’t even need to draw runes to channel magic. Even so, both of their magic requires a combination of physical action/motion and willpower to perform. So, Ibis and Lujanne together help show how necessary both the Body and the Spirit, as well as the Mind, are for mages to perform magic.
Primal Magic is dependant on the physical ability of the user; when Callum casts an aspiro, he may need to draw a rune and say the trigger word, but the spell also depends on Callum’s ability to continuously blow air to work properly. On a more fundamental level, magic requires motion in order to be performed–mages draw runes with their hands and arms, Moon rituals are done through dancing, and mage wings require the mage to apply their back, shoulders, and chest to generate thrust to actually fly.
And this may all explain why it is that, as many other have pointed out, spellcasting for Primal Magic seems to resemble martial arts. And that’s because on some level it is martial arts.
Just like how Qi is a fundamental component for Chinese kung fu, mastering Primal Magic parlays well into hand-to-hand combat. Well enough that, when Rayla has fun in making up neat Sky spells, they frequently sound like martial art moves (”tornado punch”; “lightning lash”).
We’re definitely only scratching the surface when it comes to Primal Magic. We will continue too learn more about it, particularly through Callum’s journey as a mage. But I think Primal Magic’s Daoist influences, which are often overlooked, help explain what we’ve seen so far. They may even help show where Callum’s magical pursuits may take him.
[Credit to @mikemcgeeart for the colorized image of Ibis]
Dark Magic, from what we’ve seen, is a pretty familiar brand of magic, especially to Western audiences. With incantations, sacrificing creatures, and mystical spells, Dark Magic appears to be reminiscent of many of the tropes seen in witchcraft, alchemy, potions, and Harry Potter-esqe Dark Arts.
The magical ruler is often portrayed as a complex character, torn between their responsibilities as a ruler and their desire to use their powers for personal gain. They must make difficult decisions that can have far-reaching consequences for their kingdom and its people. Additionally, their magical abilities may also come with a price, requiring them to sacrifice their own well-being for the greater good. Magical ruler novels often contain themes of power, responsibility, morality, and the nature of leadership. These themes provide an opportunity for the author to explore deeper philosophical questions about the role of rulers in society and the impact they have on the world around them. Examples of popular magical ruler novels include George R.R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" series, which features multiple rulers with different magical abilities vying for power, and Brandon Sanderson's "Mistborn" trilogy, where the protagonist possesses the ability to control metals. In conclusion, a magical ruler novel is a captivating subgenre of fantasy literature that focuses on the exploits and challenges faced by a ruler with magical abilities. These novels combine elements of fantasy, adventure, and political intrigue to create compelling stories that explore themes of power, responsibility, and the nature of leadership..
Reviews for "Magical Ruler Novels: A Tale of Power, Destiny, and Transformation"
1. Emma - 2/5 - I really wanted to love "Magical Ruler Novel" because I am a fan of fantasy novels, but I just couldn't get into it. The plot felt disjointed and the characters lacked depth. It was difficult to connect with any of them, and I found myself getting bored halfway through the book. The writing style was also a bit lackluster, with repetitive descriptions and predictable dialogue. Overall, I was disappointed with "Magical Ruler Novel" and would not recommend it to others.
2. David - 1/5 - I found "Magical Ruler Novel" to be incredibly boring and unoriginal. The story seemed to lack any real depth or substance, and the characters were poorly developed. The author failed to create any sense of tension or excitement, leaving me uninterested in what would happen next. The writing itself was also quite mediocre, with awkward sentence structures and a lackluster prose. I had high hopes for this book, but it fell flat for me.
3. Sarah - 2.5/5 - While "Magical Ruler Novel" had some interesting ideas, the execution fell short for me. The pacing was all over the place, and the plot twists felt forced and contrived. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked any real depth or growth. Additionally, there were numerous grammatical errors and inconsistencies throughout the book, which made it difficult to fully immerse myself in the story. While I appreciate the effort put into "Magical Ruler Novel," I ultimately found it to be a disappointing read.
4. Michael - 1.5/5 - I struggled to finish "Magical Ruler Novel" because the writing style was just not engaging. The author relied too heavily on cliches and overused tropes, making the story predictable and unoriginal. The dialogue felt forced, and the characters lacked any real personality or development. Additionally, the world-building was underwhelming and lacked detail. Overall, I was underwhelmed by "Magical Ruler Novel" and would not recommend it to fans of the fantasy genre.