The Accidental Sorcerer: Rogue Agent, Book 1 | |||||
K.E. Mills | |||||
Narrated by Stephen Hoye | |||||
Tantor Media, 16 hours | |||||
A review by Amy Timco
Mills' alternate universe is reminiscent of J.K. Rowling's world of bureaucratic wizardry, with its Ministry of
Magic and internal politics. The characters are quirky and well written. Gerald reminds me a little of
Terry Pratchett's Rincewind character, the inept magician who can't seem to stay out of trouble. I especially
liked Reg, Gerald's good friend who just happens to be a princess turned into a bird. Reg can talk, and her
comments are hilarious. The Princess Melisande is another great character, as the dowdy sister of King Lional
who also serves as his prime minister. Monk Markham is fun and likable, and Lional is a deliciously evil villain
with his perfect looks and sinister heart.
It is refreshing to read a book in which religion and its adherents are portrayed in a fairly positive light. The
Kallarapi ruler and his holy man aren't perfect by any means, but their belief system is never a basis for
ridicule or villainy. They actually end up looking pretty good next to the opportunistic and ruthless Lional,
who wants to use the Kallarapi religion for his own ends.
The Accidental Sorcerer was published in 2009 and read for Tantor Media by Stephen Hoye. Hoye's reading
is engaging and greatly enhanced my experience of the book. His character voices are quite fun, especially that
of Reg. Mills' prose sounds like fun to read aloud. The descriptions are generally fresh and unexpected, and the
story is peppered with witty dialogue. I did find the profanity somewhat off-putting; perhaps it is more noticeable
in an audiobook than in print. On a technical note, the last few seconds of every track fade out as the next track
starts playing over it.
It's true that the lighthearted fun and games of the first half of the book do not prepare the reader for the heavier
subjects that are introduced later. Some reviewers have gone so far as to say the book has a split
personality. I noticed the shift, but did not find it problematic. On the contrary, I appreciate Mills' decision
to tackle darker themes like torture and death. They give the book some weight. It's a fun read, definitely,
but there's more to it than just that. Overall, I enjoyed this story very much and would recommend it to anyone
who enjoys the fantasy worlds of Rowling or Pratchett.
Amy Timco is a voracious reader, avid reviewer, incorrigible booksale bum, and happy wife. In addition to these absorbing pursuits, she also manages to be a freelance editor. (Yes, she is the grammar snob about whom your mother warned you!) You may visit her website at wisewordsediting.com. |
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