The Innocent Mage and The Awakened Mage - Karen Miller

Rating: 4

The two books in the Kingmaker, Kingbreaker series, I have reviewed these books together, as you could not possibly read one without the other! The Innocent Mage and The Awakened Mage are the first novels by the latest fantasy author to arise from Australia.

Set in the kingdom of Lur, the Innocent Mage is Asher, a young fisherman from Restharven who journeys to the capital city to make his fortune and escape the torment of his older brothers. Lur is protected by a magical wall, created by the Doranen, who fled their land centuries ago after a terrible magical war. The Doranen keep Lur safe, and the King maintains the wall using his weather magic, and in return, the non-magical Olken, the original inhabitants of Lur, allowed the Doranen refuge, and do not seek to learn or use Doranen magic. Asher is one of the non-magical Olken, but on his arrival in the capital, finds himself aiding Prince Gar, after a riding accident. Gar offers Asher a job, introducing him to the world of magic and politics between the Olken and Doranen peoples. Although a tense relationship at first, a friendship forms between Gar and Asher, who grows attached to his life in the city. But the Olken have a history of their own, the secrets of which are maintained by a group known as the Circle, who believe that great darkness is coming, from which they can only be saved by the prophesied Innocent Mage.

Asher is the hero of this story, the plucky young fisherman who is thrown into a world he does not understand, but there are many interesting characters in this intricate tale. One can emphasise with Gar, the magickless Doranen prince, who is more popular with the Olken than his own people, and resigned that he can never lead his kingdom as the weather-worker, a fate left to his arrogant but naive younger sister. Other fascinating characters include the sweet and gentle Matt, the cunning and secretive Dathne, and the bitter yet loyal Darran. But it is the relationship between Gar and Asher that is most at the heart of this story, exploring the lure of family and what one man really will do for another.

Although I tend to stick to Young Adult fantasy, rather than grown-up stuff (!), I was instantly drawn to these titles and was not disappointed. I enjoyed this excellent debut so much that, even though I was on holiday in Ireland, I had to rush out and buy the sequel immediately! Not your standard fantasy novels, this story really relies on the characters of Gar and Asher, with realistic dilemmas of family, loyalty and responsibility. Miller's descriptions of the weather magic are vivid and colourful and without spoiling what happens in the second book, things do get very interesting!

Highly recommended, but make sure you have The Awakened Mage handy, because you'll need it! Definitely an author to watch.