This is one of those series that has been sitting in the TBR pile for years but there was always something else to be read first. I regret that now as I immediately purchase the rest of the series after finishing this instalment at 3am. I was a fool. This is one of those series that once you start, you don't want to stop.

The books have become a wee bit formulaic but the characters, magic system, relationships, banter and ever expanding world building more than makes up for it. I love the Karate Kid meets spaghetti western vibe. The content and themes are getting progressively darker as Kellen is having to grow up fast after his expulsion from his pampered childhood. Am definitely on the edge of my seat in trying to think what the end game will be.

Recommended for fans of Harry Potter, Artemis Fowl, Percy Jackson, His Dark Materials, A Darker Shade of Magic, Rivers of London, The Red Knight

Thank you to Netgalley and Bonnier Books UK for the copy.

I've enjoyed the first two novels in Sebastien de Castell's Spellslinger series, so I was excited to read Charmcaster and continue on with the story. I was not disappointed. Like the other two novels, this was a great adventure - and I really enjoyed seeing the world be expanded. This might be one of my favourites so far, with the 1st taking second place. These are just adventurous, funny, and well written.

I have loved this series since I read Spellslinger, and just find the books go from strength to strength with each instalment.

I love the pacing of these books, they just flow so well, and there are no slow sections, you are pulled along in the narrative at a steady pace.

I enjoyed the introduction of Nephenia back into the story, and even though we are not following the events back home, things are still happening there that are affecting Kellen, Ferius, and Reichis.

With this series, it is so hard to choose a favourite character, as these characters are just brilliant. They all bring something to the story, that just has you hooked. I will admit I do have a soft spot for Reichis, every time he says something it has me laughing out loud.

I found the ending such a surprise, I did not expect what happened and I really need to start Soulbinder ASAP to see what happens next.

Excellent addition to the series. Well written and flawlessly planned to continue the ongoing story.
Can’t wait for more.

The moment I finished Shadowblack I had to immediately dive into this one.
I can't really say too much because this is the third book in a series. The continues to follow Kellen and Reichis and Feris as they make bad decisions and get into trouble.
This series continues to make me laugh and fill me with dread and tension.

My favourite thing about this entire series is the relationships between the characters. They always feel so real and raw and I can't get enough of them to be honest.
This series keeps going strong and drawing you in with the action.

This book ends on a cliffhanger that honestly I saw coming from book one, but I wasn't upset about it. I think it was done well and I'm desperate for book 4!

4/5 Stars

Charmcaster is the third book in the Spellslinger series and thus series just keeps getting better!

So much is packed into these books and. There were a few twists in this one that I did not see coming!

Reichis is still my favourite character and I can't wait to see what happens in Soulbinder!

So in this instalment of Kellens journey he’s found him self travelling to a city of dreams and inventions but it’s never that easy is it be prepared for new faces and old secrets , twists turns and every thing in between that gose with a amazingly fast paced world building story . We yet again are giving the enjoyment of watching these characters slowly grow and develop along the way and get to watch them overcome every thing that is thrown at them as they continue there journey and maby find a few old faces along the way.
I love that with these story’s you never know what’s going to happen and each one just gets better at every instalment i have yet again been left counting down the days till the next one comes along

This is clearly going to be quite a long series!

I enjoy the main characters of Kellen, Ferius and especially Reichis, and I enjoyed the ending of the book. But, it felt like it took a long time to get there, and there are so many twists and turns, and betrayals that it was beginning to feel a little bit like Mission: Impossible, only without as much action.

An enjoyable jaunt.

Only a quick review from me today because I feel that if I go into any more detail I risk spoiling a lot of the story, and as you know I try to avoid that at all costs.

Continuing a few months after Shadowblack, Charmcaster throws you straight back into the deep end. With Kellen meeting new Argosi and being warned he needs to leave Ferius behind, Nephenia appearing out of nowhere with a familiar in tow, Reichis being Reichis and the life of his friends at stake, Kellen adapts, learning new things, still being super whiny, but growing all the same. I really enjoyed this book and I’m looking forward to reading more from Sebastien De Castell. I like the style of his writing, although at times it can feel a little childish. The plot was so good, and leads right up to the next book in the series. As always Reichis is easily the best character in the book, but it’s nice to see him interact with another familiar.

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

"Let the meanderings of other lives pass you by, kid"

* * * 
3 / 5

Charmcaster is the third book in the Spellslinger series. I thought it was an improvement on Shadowblack, but not as good as Spellslinger. Like Shadowblack, Charmcaster has an episodic feel to it which was fun, and I loved the slow development of Kellen's character and the introduction of more Argosi.

"words only let you describe the details of things, but not the deeper truths behind them"

Kellen, Reichis, and Ferius Parfax are traversing the desert to Gitabria. Kellen has been tracking down those infected by the onyx worms and practicing his mage skills. This comes in handy when things inevitably go wrong for their little group. They're injured, they're being hunted by religious fanatics and those seeking a reward for Kellen's murder, and there's a new discordance card in the mix. At an Argosi resting house, Ferius is given a card with a small silver mechanical bird on it.

This card leads our little group, joined by a surprising figure from Kellen's homeland, Nephenia, to the heart of Gitabria. We encounter a new country, a new city, and a new culture alongside new characters, extra wit, and a complicated intricate stand alone plot that weaves into Kellen's hunt for victims of the worms. 

"That's right: I was turning into Ferius Parfax"

As in Spellslinger, I loved Ferius Parfax most of all. She's witty, she's strong, she's dynamic, and her character always has little surprises. Ferius is also the focus point for most of the moral dilemmas in the book: how should we interact with people who live differently to us? What is our duty? Where should we go and who should we serve? What does it mean to be Argosi? These questions are all spinning in Kellen's head as he tries to figure out his journey: he's young and naive, but he's also growing older and more experienced and it's delightful to read.

Charmcaster has humour, moral complexity, and plot twists. It's definitely a stronger novel than Shadowblack, but I didn't find it quite as engaging as Spellslinger as there isn't much going on in terms of overarching plot. Reichis is definitely still a strong point!

My thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book.

Sebastien de Castell writes books jam-packed with adventure & wit and Spellslinger 3 s no exception! The magic system feels fresh & unique, the characters walk right off the page, and this series has earned a well-deserved spot on my favourites shelf! Perfect for fans of ADSOM!!

Book 3 in the Spellslinger series is - like its predecessors - a riot from start to finish. Sebastien de Castell continues building out his world, adding more politics and more plot twists than ever.

One of the things I really like about this series is that it allows its hero to be a teenage boy - and does a great job of showing him growing up. He still has his moments of self-pity and the odd tantrum, but the books give him space to both be at the mercy of his hormones and to learn from his mistakes. And he'll always throw the boat out for his friends.

But the real joy for me in Charmcaster is that it delves deeper into Ferius. We find out more about who she was, what she's been through - and, crucially, who she has become. We get to see her vulnerable for once, which is heart-breaking, as well as revelling in her usual line in winging it and being indomitable. Along the way, it's ALL THE FEELINGS, because her attachment to Kellen is as strong as it may be ill-advised and this book puts it to the test: because Kellen becomes aware just how much it's costing her.

It makes for quite the rollercoaster - although I'll admit to thinking that there's almost too much plot going on in the final act. Nonetheless - it's a fun YA romp that has plenty to offer to older readers - and I remain keen to see what our wayward would-be Argosi gets up to next...

The third book in the Spellslinger series does not disappoint. I really love these books, the characters are fantastic, the locations/settings brought to life and of course, Reichis...... what more do I need to say! I would love to see these books as a TV mini series.

I love this series. I enjoy De Castell's writing. It's so energetic. Characters are very interesting, engaging. The story is not so simple, but fun to read.
Each book has been fun, and I look forward to the next one.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for granting a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Kellen, Reichis and Ferius Parfax are on the move again. They're supposed to be getting rid of the obsidian worms which a mysterious group have implanted into the eyes of a great many people but as usual they've been sidetracked into rescuing a charmcaster and her familiar. Only the charmcaster is an old friend of Kellen's and a discordance in the cards says they need to sort out a problem and do it now. The trouble is, they don't know what the problem is or how to fix it. As usual, they're going to need to find out pretty quickly...

I really enjoy the Spellslinger books and, since I thought it was a trilogy, I am even happier to see there are 6 books in the series. The books are easy reading; the characters are funny and the scrapes they get themselves into are exciting and fast paced. I wouldn't say they really make you think, but they're certainly a great deal of fun and full of action whilst having enough about them to make the characters come to life and be interesting in their own right.

This is the third in the series that I have read and I will most definitely be reading the last three too. Highly recommended!

I was luckily enough to receive the e-arc of this from netgalley (hence the binge read of the entire series) so thank you to them and the publishers for this opportunity. I’m amazed and ‘charmed’ to be back in this world. Kellen’s journey continues through out this book bringing the nitty gritty into it. Reichis as always is adorable and funny and very sarcastic. Reminds me of Mr Kindly (Nevernight Chronicles) in that way. Charmcaster definitely jumps straight into the action. Like no pause for breath type action. The plot as always with Sebastien de Castell’s writing is breathtaking (I’m really sticking to this metaphor here) and is full of twists and turns. Can’t wait for the next installment though still only gets a 3 out of 5 stars from me.

This is the third in de Castell's Spellslinger series, following the adventures of runaway mage Kellen. If you haven't read the earlier books yet you definitely should - read on to see why! (I've tried to avoid spoilers here for the earlier books).

Kellen is a credible and engaging protagonist. He's had to flee his home and leave his family (albeit after they treated him appallingly). He is struggling with what he believes to be a full blown curse. He's not all-powerful, he has been wounded and limited in his earlier encounters with his fellow Jan'Tep. Yet still he tries to make his way - essentially, he brags his way through dangerous situations using the skills taught his by the wandering Argosi, Ferius. There's an air of tension in any encounter with more powerful mages or warriors, albeit one frequently offset by the humour of Kellen's bickering with his squirrel cat 'business partner', Reichis - the relationship between the two often becoming quite touching. And Ferius is a great support, although she seems to be repeatedly getting into danger in defence of Kellen...

In this book, the three are joined by another renegade Jan'Tep, who has also been damaged by that community, and the group is beginning to shape up into an interesting crew, quite different from the typical fantasy band of arrogant adventurers. The language and atmosphere of continues, at the start, to echo that of a Western, focussed on the idea of escape into an unknown frontier - albeit, as this book makes clear, it isn't really, it's already occupied by other people - but that changes somewhat when the group arrive at a city.

Gitabria is renowned far and wide for its cunning inventions. There, the friends find themselves caught between angry mages, visionary 'contraptioneers' - inventors - and a rather nasty Secret Police. There's a messy, many-sided power struggle going on and Kellen has to dig deep into his reserves of courage and also of trust. When family, clan and friends fall - like Ferius's cards - into such strange patterns, how will you know who to rely on?

There is a danger with drawn out series that the pace will flag, the clarity of the original vision be lost, as the author explores a wider and wider world. Nothing like that is going on here. I felt that Charmcaster is, rather, more sharp and focussed than Spellslinger or Shadowblack with some juicy moral dilemmas and with an awful choice (well, actually, several) confronting Kellen. In a sense, he's growing up and needs to decide where his life is going, conscious that he's bringing danger to those around him.

It's also a book that is more ensemble than the earlier volumes - with one new character in particular (well, not actually new, but, at the same time, new) who is another complex, conflicted and wounded person and easily a match for Kellen.

It is all, really, getting darker and messier. Just how I like things.

With the fourth volume, Soulbinder, due this Autumn, you've got time to catch up - so get reading!

Another fantastic instalment to this series. First of all, the characters are so well written and I loved their development in this book. I thought the plot was just as entertaining and enjoyable as the last two books and I really liked the twists and turns. The author continues to build on what we know of the world and I really enjoyed finding out more about it. The writing is also great. I loved every second of reading this and I cannot wait to continue on with this series.

The Spellslinger series has been a really fun set so far and this third instalment follows the trend very nicely. It tells the continuing story of Kellen as he travels around with his squirrel cat business partner, Reichis and his Argosi mentor, Ferrius. The narrative is well paced, which for me has been a staple of the series and the plot is straightforward without being too simplistic or rote. There are some fantastic new additions to the magic system that continue to flesh out the world and allow for characters to develop and progress in interesting and unexpected ways. I loved the idea of the eight bridges and the way in which they each had a different mercantile purpose. Reichis was as wonderfully vicious as fans of the series would want him to be and it was really good to see Kellen using his intellect to work his way through problems without being so heavily reliant on Ferrius to tell him what to do. Given the way this one ended, I am intrigued to see where the series will go in the next instalment and would recommend this to anyone who likes interesting uses of magic and who wants something a little bit lighter in tone.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I could easily read a million of books in this series without tiring of them. There's always something more to explore, something new that Kellen and the others have to face and more secrets to reveal. I love all the characters and how various people pop up on Kellen's path who he's met or knew before. This book brings back a few names we thought we'd never see again in completely unexpected ways.

The future however seems to be heating up for Kellen. While I'm looking forward to the next book in the series, I do feel that it might be nearing a conclusion. All good things come to an end and all that. I'm sad to think of never hearing from Kellen and Ferius and Reichis again, but then there is so much more to explore in the world, so maybe there'll be stories from the other people living in his world.

That is possibly the only letdown in this series is that because of the nature of Kellen's path, we never stay in one country or city long enough to really explore it or the culture. It's a shame but it's the nature of the books.

I can't wait to see what happens next for Kellen and the gang.