The choice of magic is a deeply personal and powerful decision. It is a choice that shapes not only a mage's abilities but also their entire worldview and approach to life. Some may debate whether the choice is truly a choice at all, given that magical aptitude seems to be an innate part of a person's being. However, even within the realm of magic, there are countless paths to explore and different types of magic to master. For many, the choice of magic comes naturally, guided by their interests, talents, and natural affinities. Some may find themselves drawn to elemental magic, harnessing the power of fire, water, earth, or air.
The book had me enamored from the very beginning. Even more so once Will went to live with Arrogan. Though the actual magic training was slow, the dialogue between Will and his grand dad was priceless.
Will ends up in the army in the latter half of the book but because I didn t have a lot of background on why the two factions were at war I had a hard time engaging. I like how they delve into the different types of mages and I like Wills learning how to use his Turyn is what will set him apart from other mages even if he doesn t know as many spells as everyone else.
Some may find themselves drawn to elemental magic, harnessing the power of fire, water, earth, or air. Others may feel an intrinsic connection to the natural world and choose to become druids or shapeshifters. The more intellectual types may gravitate towards arcane magic, delving into the mysteries of the universe and manipulating the very fabric of reality.
The Choice of Magic by Michael G Manning
I’ve been in a bad reading slump this year, this was the fifth book I finished, and I’m nine books behind my goal according to Goodreads. I picked this one specifically because of the narrator, I knew nothing about this book except for the fact it was narrated by Tim Gerard Reynolds.
I finally fixed my reading slump! After I finished with this one I immediately bought two more in the series. That in an of itself is rare, I almost exclusively read first in a series and move onto the next series.
This will appeal to people who like a lot of magic, magic training, master apprentice relationships, and military training/war.
At the beginning, William lived with his mother in a small backwater village and had a fairly simple life. His mother is a healer and midwife who sells herbs and such, and although they aren’t wealthy, they get by. At the start, he doesn’t know who his father is, or why he was never around, but it doesn’t bother him much. He has an uncle and cousins who lived near by and they filled that void for him.
One thing lead to another, and Will ends up being trained by a hermit who lives nearby the village but never actually comes into town. He shows him that magic is real and will has potential… but in order to start training for magic… he’s got to learn the basics. Like how to read. Magic in this world is restricted, not necessarily forbidden. If you’re registered and the King knows about your powers it’s okay, but you’re basically the King’s lackey. If you’re off the grid and doing magic on your own the best you can hope for is prison. The mentor doesn’t want to teach Will real magic, just enough to keep him hidden and out of trouble. Once you know how to do true magic things can get complicated. Although there are Sorcerers still left in the world, his mentor is the last known Wizard. There are different types of magic users that focus on different talents and different ways to harvest and use magic. Sorcerers enslave elementals, Warlocks make pacts with supernatural beings, and Wizards harvest the latent magic present in the world.
I would say the storytelling style is straight forward without a lot of flowery language or simile/metaphors. It makes the book go by super quick despite the fact it’s nearly 700 pages long. I finished this in two days on audiobook put at 1.5x. The dialogue was a highlight of the book, the mentor is absolutely relentless with his insults… which is shitty thing to do to Will, but it’s also really funny at times. I would say it’s kind of like Dr. Cox and JD from Scrubs but with actual cursing. There were definitely a bunch of info dumps about how magic worked, the different types of magic users and things of that nature. However, the delivery was usually from Will’s mentor and the way it was explained was highly entertaining for me so I didn’t mind.
Will is an okay character, he’s pretty par for the course for a younger character who also happens to be headstrong and stubborn. He makes a lot of risky and stupid decisions where I was like “DON’T DO THAT”. He does grow throughout the book, both literally and figuratively, at the start he’s 12 and by the end he’s 17, and he does mature a bit which makes him more palatable. My favorite character was his begrudging mentor with a foul mouth, and my second favorite is a guy he meets up with in the army, Tiny. Tiny is actually huge, and most people consider him a dolt, but he’s not. I enjoyed the fact that the big guy in the army isn’t just brawn but he has some depth to his character.
The pacing was pretty good, but there was a part that I had a hard time connecting with. Will ends up in the army in the latter half of the book… but because I didn’t have a lot of background on why the two factions were at war I had a hard time engaging. The battle scenes were gripping, but afterwards I kept thinking, “why are they doing this?” There was a brief explanation given for the war, but I just found it too weak and without enough information for me to emotionally invest.
One of the things I most enjoyed was the constant flow of teasers, mysteries, and subplots that were introduced and then explained at an even pace throughout the book. An example of that was The God Damn Cat. The wizard lives in this cottage in the woods with a Cat that he talks to. The cat doesn’t talk back, or make any human like movements… but it does appear to understand. Also, Will learns later on that the Fae are genuinely scared of The God Damn Cat and won’t go near the cottage because of it… immortal beings… scared of a cat. But why? Things like that kept me interested in reading more and figuring out the mysteries of this world. Not all of them were solved in this book, and because I enjoyed it so much I picked up the next one.
Ratings:
- Plot: 13/15
- Characters: 12.5/15
- World Building: 13.5/15
- Writing: 12/15
- Pacing: 10/15
- Originality: 11/15
- Personal Enjoyment: 8.5/10
Final Score: 80.5/100 or 4/5 stars on GR
Of course, the choice of magic is not always straightforward. Some individuals may possess a general aptitude for magic but struggle to find their true calling. These individuals may spend years experimenting with different types of magic before finding the one that resonates with them. In some cases, they may even combine different types of magic to create their own unique blend. The choice of magic also has cultural and societal implications. In some societies, certain types of magic may be highly regarded and respected, while others may be looked down upon or even outright ostracized. This can lead to a conflicting and internal struggle for mages as they navigate their place in society while following their magical path. Ultimately, the choice of magic is personal and subjective. There is no right or wrong path to choose, and each individual must follow their own instincts and passions. The world of magic is vast and diverse, offering endless possibilities for exploration and growth. It is up to each mage to embrace their ability and make the choice that feels truest to themselves..
Reviews for "The Dark Arts Unraveled: Debunking Myths and Exploring the Realities of Dark Magic"
1. Mary - 2/5 stars - I had high hopes for "The Choice of Magix" based on the hype surrounding it, but I was sorely disappointed. The plot felt misguided and the characters lacked depth. The writing style seemed rushed and I struggled to connect with the story. Overall, I found the book to be unengaging and uninspiring.
2. John - 3/5 stars - "The Choice of Magix" had its moments, but it ultimately fell short for me. While the concept was intriguing, the execution left much to be desired. The pacing felt off, with certain scenes dragging on while others were rushed. Additionally, the dialogue was often cliché and predictable. I was left wanting more from this book and was ultimately underwhelmed.
3. Sarah - 2/5 stars - I found "The Choice of Magix" to be a tedious read. The plot was convoluted and confusing, making it difficult to stay invested in the story. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it hard to form any emotional attachment. Overall, I regretted spending time on this book and would not recommend it to others.
4. Tom - 1/5 stars - "The Choice of Magix" was an absolute disappointment. The writing was choppy and lacked finesse. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it difficult to immerse myself in the story. Additionally, the pacing was all over the place, making it hard to follow what was happening. I would not recommend wasting your time on this book.