One of the most frequently used characterisations in fantasy is that of the outcast or outsider. In fact, I would say that for many fantasy readers this idea of not belonging is one of the genre's key attractions. How many readers do you know that have been seen as outsiders for just wanting to read, for example? Such differences create division, and many fantasy novels use this idea to great effect.

I was reminded of this when reading The Outcast Mage, a debut novel that uses the divisions created by those seen as outsiders and outcasts for plot purposes. As the title suggests, this is a story about outcasts and magic, and the people affected by it - those with, and those without it.

The book is filled with elements that are divided in some way or another. To emphasise the fantasy element, he city of Amoria is a crystal city set under a glass dome held up by magic.  Whilst magicians live a pretty well-off life in Amoria, in a type of gated community for the elite rich, with the most of the poorer, un-magic-ed populace outside.

Even within the city there is division - within the city those enhanced with magic have a tiered social system, with Lieno at the top of the pile, and Mita (trainee mages) at the bottom. The magicless people in Amoria are of even lower standing, often derisorily called ‘hollow’.

Into this situation we are introduced to a variety of different viewpoints. The main focus is on Naila, a trainee mage. Taken from her family after being tested for magic at a young age, she finds herself at wizard training university (The Academy of Amoria) and is doing badly. Unlike her counterpoint classmates, most of whom are younger than her, she does not seem to be able to perform magic.

By contrast, Larinne Tallace is an Lieno Senator, one of the middle-rank of magic users. Her role in the book is mainly to show the political aspect of the world, but the situation is complicated by the fact that  she has a close relationship with Haelins Akana, who is widely regarded as the greatest magician of their age, despite being ‘hollow-born’.

It is also for that reason that Haelins feels a responsibility to mentor Naila.

There are other relatively minor characters that will no doubt become more important later. For example, Entonin is a priest from the neighbouring country of Ellathia. He is secretly visiting Amoria, which is unusual as the two places have been at war for decades. With Karameth, his mercenary and taciturn sidekick, Entonin gives the reader an alternative, more objective observation of what is going on in Amoria, because as a priest of Ardulath, he has been brought up to despise the use of magic.

The key note of concern is that there is not only the ongoing and rising unrest between Amoria and Ellathia. The main focus of this unrest is Oriven, a magician who is stirring up unrest between the different factions in the city, whilst denying all responsibility. I thought of him perhaps deliberately as a Trump or Farage figure, charming and engaging with the masses, but who is covertly manoeuvring a power-grab by becoming the Allyn (High Consul) of the Senate and Council. He begins the book by creating a riot at a mass rally and uses this to enforce the use of his Justice police force.  Dailem, Larinne’s sister, becomes a Justice, causing division in her family group, particularly between her, Larinne and her daughter, Naila’s friend, Ko’ani (Ko.)

As you can see from this, Annabel manages to spin a lot of plates at once here. As the first book in a series, there’s a lot of setting up to do here - places, characters, settings are all brought to the table before being put in peril. The book also touches on the now-contemporary themes of race, refugees and religion that seem to underpin many of our current global unrest.

Although there is inevitably a lot of information-dumping as the world and its characters are introduced, I did not find it too taxing. The characters are easily identifiable, so that even though the book has different chapters from different points of view, I found them easy enough to follow. The characterisation is one of the strengths of this novel, as the characters are engaging enough to keep you reading.

Whilst there are admittedly moments that seem a little familiar – there are touches of Hogwarts whilst in the Academy and possibly even Dune, with its Middle Eastern desert scenes, in terms of setting, for example, the situations are unusual enough and the characters are engaging enough to win the reader over.

I did feel that the book was a nod back to more classic fantasy. Trudi Canavan has been quoted in the publicity and I can see why. The Outcast Mage has the feel of an older-style fantasy novel, whilst also adding contemporary elements to its charm - slow-burn romances, with the often-used tropes of ‘found family’ and ‘friends to enemies’, all give a sense of familiarity to the novel that readers will appreciate.

Although there is some pay-off by the end of the novel, the ending is rather open, obviously leading to the idea that the next book will lead to bigger things. Whilst The Outcast Mage is clearly just the first part of a lengthier story, I was not disappointed by the end. In similar situations, if the book leaves you wanting to know what happens next, I count that as a success. This one does.

In summary, The Outcast Mage is a great start to a new fantasy series that was very readable and quite engaging.

The Outcast Mage is a spectacular debut that promises to be the start of an unforgettable epic fantasy series. Set in the enchanting glass city of Amoria, magic is both a privilege and a dangerous force. Naila, a young mage, struggles to control her volatile powers, and if she fails, the consequences are dire: exile or a terrifying fate at the mercy of her own magic. As the tension between Naila’s magical potential and the deadly politics of the city heightens, she finds herself embroiled in a deadly scheme that could shatter the fragile balance of power in Amoria.

The heart of The Outcast Mage lies in its strong, multifaceted characters. Naila is a compelling protagonist, a relatable underdog whose self-doubt and courage make her journey feel both personal and epic. The mentorship she receives from Haelius Akana, the most powerful mage alive, adds layers to her growth while highlighting the frailty of even the mightiest figures. Campbell’s exploration of mentorship, political intrigue, and personal sacrifice creates a rich, engaging narrative that keeps the reader hooked from page one.

The city of Amoria, with its shimmering glass towers and hidden dangers, feels like a character in itself, and Campbell’s world-building is a triumph. The magic system is intricate and well-crafted, with a tantalizing sense of mystery surrounding Naila’s powers. The stakes are high, and the reader is never far from the looming shadow of disaster—whether from within the academy, the power-hungry elite, or the larger forces at work beyond the city’s walls.

The Outcast Mage is a tale of magic, politics, and survival in a world where nothing is as it seems. It’s a perfect read for fans of authors like Trudi Canavan and Garth Nix, with a cast of complex characters, intricate political maneuvering, and a touch of dragonfire. Annabel Campbell has crafted a debut that will leave readers eagerly anticipating the next installment in the Shattered Lands series.

The Outcast Mage by Annabel Campbell is a masterpiece! I rated it 5 stars because I couldn't give it more stars. So so good. This author is a genious!

Naila is a student at the Amoria mage Academy and has never passed a basic class, despite being old enough to graduate. The wizards agree she has magic inside her - she is able to sense the magic of the world around her, and the anima in all living things, but she has never been able to produce any magic. Wizard Haelius Akana, on the other hand, is the most powerful mage in the entire city. Amidst political instability, the fracturing of grace between mages and non-mages, Naila’s inability to learn control risks her place at the Academy and she faces the (supposed) magic within her being burnt away, until Haelius steps in to bet his career that he can teach her to use magic. Fortunately or unfortunately for Naila, Haelius’ meddling in the political unrest leads to her discovering a magical artefact that unleashes her very unique power, and thrusts her into the spotlight of the warring factions.

I put off reading this ARC for a long time… I shouldn’t have. It is a wonderful read. I have far too many notes I’ve taken about this book and I’m struggling to condense them into a simple and coherent review (future Joanna note - I did not, this is basically an essay).

The story begins with Naila’s time at the academy, including a very obvious and tropey collision of bodies with books scattering on the floor, leading to a mix up of belongings between two people. I was worried that this was going to be yet another book about a magical girl at a school, clumsy and silly yet somehow ending up saving the world. I was wrong, it is so much more. Note for anyone curious - if you’re looking for a magical school story, turn the other way, because barely any time is spent inside the walls of the academy (both in plot time and page count), which is a net positive to me. The beginning of the book is very slow, and a little confusing with so many characters who are referred to by multiple names/titles, but keep going, it’s worth it. From about 30% onwards I was entirely consumed and could not put the book down except for a break to sleep.

The shining stars of this book are the characters, and the depth of their emotions. I’m entirely obsessed with Haelius. He’s an insanely talented, powerful, smart man, who is inside simmering with fury and self-hatred. He’s born of contradictions, son of a leader of the non-magical assembly, yet somehow the most powerful of all the mages. He is headstrong and single-minded, but keeps either fumbling or getting set up at every turn. Every moment with Haelius is full of such intense emotion that it’s hard not to feel every grief that he does.

Naila really shines when she’s with her friend, Ko’ani, or working with Haelius. She is such a lost girl, and so lonely, but she’s also very determined. Her bond with Haelius is beautiful. Their similarities and contradictions leave them with an inescapable pull, an attraction in their magics and their stories. I’ll be honest, it reads more like a romance to me than Haelius’ actual romance ever did, so it did surprise me every time they referred to being like family, or like father and daughter.

Entonin, on the opposite end of the magical spectrum, is a priest from a nation who hates mages, sent to try to arrange a peace with them, accompanied only by his Dahrani bodyguard, Karameth. I can’t even go into their story, it has to be experienced for itself. The only POV character I didn’t care for was Larinne. She has no distinct personality traits except for seemingly wanting to chastise Haelius at any given moment. I really wanted to feel more of their bond from their younger days, and I really wanted to root for their romance, but it was just boring and surface level. I adored the complexity of her sister, Dailem, much more. Perhaps Larinne is set up for some character development later in the series.

In terms of worldbuilding, the political plot wasn’t particularly deep, but it didn’t need to be as it felt very close to home (“us vs them”, politicians stoking unrest for their own gain), and the introduction of Lieno Oriven in the first chapter had a shiver running down my spine. Similarly, the magic system isn’t detailed in any depth, but has an interesting mystery running through the book (and further) that is exciting to follow.

This book is for people who love epic fantasy, with its politics, religion, and wide overarching magical mysteries that will (presumably) take an entire series to resolve. It’s not a quick book to jump into and out of - it’s not particularly complex, but there are definitely a lot of hints and intrigue that can be missed if you’re not paying attention. Also, let me be clear as I’ve somehow not mentioned yet in this review, here be dragons!

Logically, this should be 3 or 4 stars - there’s definitely some room for improvement. Unfortunately for any coherence in my rating system, I just loved it. I was absolutely along for the ride, and my heart hurt so utterly for Haelius at every moment that I cannot give it anything less than 5 stars. I cried real life tears at a particular parting around the 60% mark. I am a sucker for a desert-based fantasy story, and I’m a sucker for some LGBTQ+ representation. I also really, really need to know what happens next, so Annabel Campbell please get writing!

DNF AT 60%

Sadly, this is my first DNF of the year, and it was mostly because this was the wrong book at the wrong time. It's not that this book is bad bad, mind me, but I wasn't in the right mood for all the unfairness and the dumb politics going on.
I think that this was my main problem, I just wasn't really into this part, and it's pretty heavy on politics (and on the one hand, it is a tad too close to home for comfort, in this period; while, on the other hand, the things here are collapsing, and it is baffling how the decisions of the people who are taking the power are just dumb, and yes, I know, again too close to home).
And the characters weren't really working for me, either. I really liked Wizard Akana. He is a good character but all the others weren't as good, I didn't really care for them, and they all go around doing things and screaming and complaining and doing the worst things possible between their possible choices for things to do, but they don't seriously talk to each other. So yeah, I wasn't really a fan of that either.

I am really sorry to let this one go, in part because I was excited for it, in part because it is an ARC and it's always a tad harder to don't finish one of those, and in part because I was already after the halfway mark but every time I put it down I wasn't so keen on picking it up again, so I just decided to let it go and be done with it.

En una de las últimas entrevistas que hice para Tryperion, concretamente a Ian Green, nos recomendó encarecidamente la lectura de The Outcast Mage, la primera novela de Annabel Campbell. Así que, ni corta ni perezosa me puse a leerla en cuanto tuve oportunidad.


Lo primero que te encuentras cuando empiezas a leer es que no hay explicaciones (es cierto que el libro trae un glosario al final pero… ¿quién se lee el glosario ANTES que el libro?) y en el que cuesta un poquito aterrizar, pues tiene varios puntos de vista variados. Soslayando este escollo que puede descolocar un poco, nos encontramos con una fantasía bastante tradicional, con una de las protagonistas siguiendo el camino del héroe campbelliano (pero el de Joseph), otro siendo el mago más poderoso de su generación pero sumido en dudas sobre el uso de su poder, un monje enviado desde un reino lejano que no comulga con la cultura del lugar y en general, personajes bastante arquetípicos. ¿Qué se puede destacar entonces del libro? Pues que lo que hace, lo hace bastante bien.

Hay un corriente subyacente de racismo en la ciudad de Amoria, el único lugar donde conviven magos y no magos en un equilibrio bastante tenso, que amenaza con quebrarse desde el interior y esta tensión interna está reflejada de una manera clara y concisa. Si bien es cierto que las intrigas políticas no son de lo más sutil que nos hayamos podido encontrar en la fantasía, no es menos verdad que hay unos cuantos giros en la trama muy bien traídos y el sistema mágico que en principio parece bastante nebuloso se empieza a aclarar conforme avanza la lectura, sin llegar a ser perceptiblemente nítidamente porque algo habrá que guardarse para los siguientes volúmenes, digo yo.

Es bastante original que la propia ciudad de Amoria esté totalmente cubierta por cristal. Es un detalle que puede parecer que no tiene relevancia, pero se especula bastante sobre los orígenes mágicos de la propia urbe y es una manera indirecta de indicarnos que se ha perdido mucho conocimiento sobre la magia antigua, lo cual da pie a Annabel Campbell para introducir poco a poco los conceptos de la magia y el ánima, inextricablemente unidos.

No se trata de un libro corto y no le hubiera venido mal algo de tijera en la parte de dark academy del principio, que me parece bastante circunstancial y que no aporta demasiado a la obra, pero es cierto que en el último tercio del libro, cuando se acelera la narración, es difícil dejar de leer, pues empiezan las revelaciones, las batallas y la magia corre a raudales. Me parece un muy buen libro para ser una primera novela y un gran comienzo de trilogía, saga o lo que sea menester. Le seguiré los pasos a Annabel Campbell.

Thank you to netgalley for this arc

EPIIIIIIIC!!! This is huge this is amazing this series is going to be everything!!!! The characters! The political drama! The world and magic!!!!! I was there I was living in it!!!! Such good solid fantasy I actually need the next one immediately or something horrible might happen to me!!! I spent so much of the time I was reading going no…. this can’t be…. no way…. BRO…. and variations on those themes! YOU’VE GOTTA GET IN THERE

This follows Naila who is unable to wield magic and is studying among those who can.
The academy wants rid of her as factions against "hollows" (non magical) is growing.
Naila is totally alone she is an orphan and is bullied by her class mates because she is different in looks and abilities from them.
I found myself rooting for Naila wanting her to be confident and find her ability.
This is a well written enjoyable book and I really enjoyed it and look forward to reading more from this author.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher.

The Outcast Mage follows the journey of Naila, a young mage whose inability to harness her magic sets off a chain of events that propels the story into an intriguing start.

From the very beginning, both the world-building and the magic system captured my attention. The book introduces several mysteries that begin to unfold as the story progresses, though a few still remain by the end, leaving me eager to dive into the next instalment. While I would have liked a bit more depth on the magic system, particularly regarding the mechanics of spellcasting, there's enough here to keep me interested and invested.

The cast of characters is varied, and at first, I found myself struggling to keep track of who was who and which allegiances they held. However, once I had a better grasp on their relationships and motivations, I became more engaged with the unfolding events. I especially enjoyed learning about the characters' pasts, as it provided valuable insight into their actions, personalities, and the dynamics between them.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed The Outcast Mage and can’t wait to see where the story goes in book two. The world and characters are full of potential, and I’m excited to explore more of both!

Thank you to Orbit and Netgalley for this copy to review.

A Mage bereft of her powers must find out if she is destined to save the world or destroy it.
Naila is a Hollow Mage. She can feel other people's magic but can't wield her own. Wizard Akana - the most powerful living Mage - sees her potential and helps her unleash/control her power.
This is a high fantasy full of magic and political intrigue. Told in a multi POV. The characters are great with all too-human flaws.
I really enjoyed this and will definitely read the next book.
Thank you, NetGalley and publishers, for the ARC.

Thank you so much to Orbit Books for sending me an ARC of The Outcast Mage for review. This is the first book in a new fantasy series, releasing in January 2025!

In a lot of fantasy stories, those with magic are the ones persecuted. That was the case in the past history of this world, in another location, but in the city of Amoria, magic is a big part of life. In fact, it is those without magic who are called “hollow”.

Naila is an academy student, and she tested as a mage, yet she has never been able to produce any magic. Because of this, she is called “the hollow mage”. She needs to figure out what to do before she is kicked out, especially as tensions between those with magic and those without rise. Wizard Akana decides to help her, but he has enemies of his own…

I was sympathetic to Naila from the beginning. Despite having no authority or power, she has a good heart and wants to protect others. I have a feeling that she will really come into her own as her life continues to change.

I thought the magic system was really cool. The mages learn phonemes, which are kind of like words or spells which can direct the use of magic. In contrast to this, there are some mysterious instances of magic unable to be explained.

I really liked the building hints and references to the world outside Amoria. The atmosphere is very insulated at the beginning of the novel, as none of those living in Amoria ever leave. It was really interesting to see what people from other places thought, and I would have liked even more historical context to flesh out the world building a bit more.

This book has a lot of different perspectives. I appreciate that it allowed the reader to get to know characters in a variety of positions and situations. However, some of them were too brief and I would have preferred less perspectives or more depth. I found the middle section of the book a bit slow, and I was feeling ambivalent towards some of the characters, but it definitely picked up towards the end.

I do understand that establishment of the world is always hardest in the first book, so I don’t think this will be a problem in the future books. As I kept reading, I had less trouble following everything. If there is more detailed world building in the next book, then I’ll be happy.

Thank you again to the publisher for the review copy. The book wasn’t perfect and a few things could have been tightened, but the story included some intriguing points. I’m looking forward to the release so I can see what more people think, and I’ll be continuing with the series.

3.5 stars

THIS is a debut! I am awestruck with how Campbell really immersed me into the story here and each page was as interesting as the last.

The Outcast Mage was an intriguing start to a new high fantasy series, filled with fierce characters, a unique magic system and intricate world building. It may have taken me a minute to find my bearings, but I quickly found myself lost in the story.

Naila is unique, a mage with seemingly no power, a Hollow Mage as she is called by her fellow classmates. No one quite knows what to do with her, that is until the Wizard Haelius Akana takes her under his wing, promising to help her reach her gift. She's incredibly resilient, growing up not knowing who or where she came from, living in a place that doesn't want her, desperate to simply fit in. But it quickly comes to light that Naila's powers aren't quite like everyone's else, and there are people out there who would like to snuff them out before she learns to control them. If you love a good coming of age style story then Naila is your girl, she goes on such an emotional and dangerous journey through this book and, although she isn't the only POV, she's certainly the heart of the story.

Larinne is a member of the Senate, the ruling body of Amoria, her job means she works closely with both mages and 'hollows' those born without any powers. But there is danger in the air, Lieno Oriven, a fellow mage and Senate member is trying his best to turn the mages and non-mages against each other, creating a vacuum of power that he longs to fill. Haelis is the most powerful Wizard of his generation, but that doesn't stop him from rubbing plenty of people the wrong way. He understands Naila in a way no one else can, coming from a family of hollows, he has grown into his power despite his fellow mages looking down on him for his heritage. Haelis knows the danger in Lieno Oriven getting power, see's how he is splitting the city, even families in two, and will do all he can to keep the peace and everybody in Amoria safe. Larinne & Haelis have the slowest burn friends to something more through this book and I just loved every single one of their interactions. You can tell they both have deep feelings for one another, but neither have admitted anything through their own fears.

Entonin is a Ellathian priest, a people who have ruthlessly hunted and killed mages over the centuries, believing their powers to be against god. But now he finds himself among the very people he has been taught to hate, seemingly there on a trade mission, but his true job is to spy on the mages, see their strengths, weaknesses and report back. He had no idea just how interwoven he would get with the mage's themselves and just how his life would change because of it. Our final POV is one I wont mention too much except to say they have such an important role in the story, and you should absolutely pay attention to them for clues.

Campbell does a fantastic job at building an intricate world and magic system whilst still making this accessible to readers new to the genre. It took me a minute to get myself into the world, a lot of the characters have titles as well as names, and I had to slow down and get my bearings so I knew who the story was actually following, but once it all clicked, I really struggled to put this one down. The writing style had an ease to it that just allows you to fly through the pages, there was little prose or flowerly language, Campbell tells it how it is, and I found that quite refreshing.

At a time when the question 'are books political' is being asked (they absolutely are BTW) this book really hits the political nail on the head. Not simply in the basic way of mages against non-mages, but also the subtle classicism and bigotry that lives within the mages themselves. Almost as if to be a true mage, you have to come from a family of mage's, and those born from outside are seen as lesser, even if they have a higher power. It's political in a way you can really dig your teeth into, never too on the nose or preachy, it feels realistic to the story, to the characters and world and even though it made me incredibly angry in parts, I really enjoyed the insights we get into the political system and the senators.

There's a lot going on in this book, not just on the political side, but also on the magical. But the biggest question for me was that of Naila's power. This story line was a true slow burner, with a few twists thrown in for good measure. We don't really get any light bulb moments until the last few moments of the book, something that could annoy, but I think the journey she goes on to get there, both as a young woman putting herself out there in the world, developing friendships and other relationships, as with her power, just makes you so invested that you don't mind the wait. In fact the end of this book was full of twists, some I absolutely didn't see coming and now I'm so desperate to get my hands on the next installment.

If you're looking for a new fantasy series to sink into, I would definitely recommend giving this a go. The political sphere, as well as the magic and interpersonal relationships Campbell focuses on really propel this story along, and I can't wait to see where it goes next.

A firm 3.5⭐. Thank you NetGalley & Little, Brown Book Group UK for the ARC.

The thing about The Outcast Mage is I'm very, VERY intrigued to find out more about this world and its magical lore. I felt this book overall wasn't a satisfying experience, because I was frustrated with too many character choices from its protagonist Naila and her mentor, the wizard Haelius. Both made careless decisions that unintentionally fucked people over, though Naila at least has the excuse of being young and inexperienced. And with that ending, there were a lot of huge questions unanswered. There's still SO MUCH I don't know about this world. But the plot is interesting enough that it's a good tactic to get me to want to pick up the sequel. I figure my frustrations with Naila and Haelius will be significantly less next time now that both have gone through their much needed character development.

Even with these gripes, I was still invested in the characters' respective journeys. I actually do like Naila and Haelius as people, flaws and all, especially their mentor-mentee dynamic that grew into an pseudo-familial one. I also grew fond of the other main supporting characters: Senator Larinne (a queen!!), Priest Entonin and his bodyguard Karameth. The romances in here were well done, aptly slowburned, and did not detract from the main plot that is essentially a magical political conspiracy. I had no issues with the multi-POV format, though at times I didn't care for the interlude chapters of Mysterious Character Investigating Something in the Background.

Given how breezy it is to get through the book, I can see this as a gateway adult fantasy novel. The magic system was not the most unique nor fascinating, but it did a decent job. Author Annabel Campbell doesn't shy away from harshly presenting the politics behind the marginalization of non-mages from mages. You can't read this and not feel righteous anger at the injustices committed. That said, Haelius' almost centrist position at times made me bristle: violence against oppressors is not the same as the violence perpetuated by said oppressors. There are also multiple MENA and Islamic influences sprinkled throughout the worldbuilding ... though I raised my brows at the in-book explanation of what Zuhr is. It feels appropriative to strip away the Islamic meaning of that term; it's a prayer offered at midday, and not just "the name for noon hours when locals sought shade and rest". Just say noon.

The final 10% is a whirlwind. The appearance of dragons felt rather shoehorned because there wasn't enough build up to it. I do however look forward to seeing Naila grow more into her abilities, and of course a reunion!

This was a very enjoyable read, really interesting fantasy concept and a plot that slowly draws you in. The wide range of characters and dynamics was delightful and engaging. The magic system was explained well.

However, I felt like the beginning was missing some clarity, I didn't get a good sense of the setting at first. Additionally, in the first 10% the multiple POVs made it feel a bit disconnected. After we got a better understanding of the characters, it made more sense and it was interesting to learn how all the POVs contribute to the plot.

So much mixed feeling about The Outcast Mage that I don't know where to start.
I loved the plot idea and how it highlighted the similarities between Naila and Haelius and, like he said to her—no matter if she somehow succeeds using her magic, she will still be treated the same and power doesn't change that. Different sides of one coin—he is the most powerful mage, and she is a mage that can't use her power at all.
The magic system was interesting with the conception of anima and that everything around us has it and is the essence of life.
And here my struggles begins.
The story was mostly plot oriented, and everything that you learn about the world building and the characters is taken in stride. But unfortunately, in my opinion, the information was like crumbs thrown in between and was too little. The characters lacked depth and enough background so you can understand them better and their connections, so it felt like the characters were used as a means only to drive the story forward.
I also had the feeling like they were all stuck in their own groundhog day:
- Naila was running off in the most selfish way multiple times without thinking about the danger and the risk she put the people around her that tried to help her.
— Larinne was running from “fire” to “fire” and panics for her country while doing nothing AND every time blaming Haelius for trying to do something in his own misguided way.
— Entonin was like stuck in a limbo for the most part of the book, waiting and doing nothing essential. I would've loved more information and backstory about him and his order because after I finished the book you mostly don't know anything about him.
— and Haelius is rushing and doing reckless things one after another, getting caught.
Moreover, it was strange that it is so heavily leaned that he is the most powerful mage in a long time and yet, everyone around him appears to be more powerful than him.
—Naila is more powerful than him, wielding anima.
— it was said that he is the only mage that can use only gestures for casting and teleport yet Ko'ani managed to do both in her first tries.
Furthermore, after the end of the book, you feel like you almost didn't get any answers and only were introduced to new things—like the dragons, the order of Entonin,the mysterious people Oriven was dealing with and so on… I know it will be a series, but as I said, it felt like you got only crumbs.
Writing this, I feel sad because the book had a great potential to be an excellent fantasy book.

This is reminiscent of classic fantasy, in a really good way!

The magic system was fairly defined, though a big part of the plot is to try to figure out the magic of Naila, the main character and titular outcast mage. The choice of POVs helped to show off different sides of the magic system, between Naila as well as Haelius, her mentor and a notably powerful mage, Larinne, a council mage and an inside look into the politics of Amoria, and Entonin, a mysterious priest who is an outsider to the city and very much not a mage - or supportive of mages. I also loved the interlude chapters, which showed a totally different side of magic and hinted strongly toward the world's overall lore.

As mentioned, the different POVs all gave interesting perspectives and added to the story. Naila is full of grit, but she's also naive, so the choice of having these particular POVs helped to round out the story in a natural way.

A highlight for me was the bit of found family vibe underlying both halves of the story. Naila, Ko, Haelius, Malek - what a group of stars together. All of the relationships between the characters were standouts, honestly.

It can be tough, launching a new epic fantasy series with multiple characters and an entirely new world and magic system, so I have to give kudos for the plot of this. We spent some good time getting to know and understand the tensions in Amoria and understand how the characters played a role in that regard, and then diverged - this wasn't a book that spent its entire time with Naila learning from Haelius, or even much time on any point of the plot, as it built quite a bit in scope across the course of the story. (And went a little bit batshit - like, I would not have predicted where and how a lot of characters ended up where they did, but it all made sense!)

A couple of things that didn't quite hit the mark for me were the world building and the characters' personalities. These seem like major things, so perhaps that's a testament to how much fun this was to read that these barely dampened my enjoyment. You get thrown right into the world, which I'm cool with, and I didn't have an issue understanding the class structures and the politics, but I do wish more time was spent on that sort of thing, since it seemed almost perfunctory, like giving just enough information so that you could move forward with the plot. However, if the last bit of the book is any indication, I'm pretty confident this series is going to delve into a lot more of the world and its history over time.

I'm equally confident that my quibble with characterizations will also fade with future books. I liked all of the characters, but, as someone who likes multi-POVs, I didn't feel like any of them had a strong narrative voice nor did I feel like I got to know their actual personalities. Obviously they were all distinct in their general shapes and plotlines, but I felt their personalities weren't super defined and that I don't really know them on any kind of deeper level. But I did like what I did get to know, I just want to know them better and fall in love with them.

A super enjoyable book, and a series from which I'm eager to read more.

Thank you to the publisher, Orbit, and to NetGalley for the ARC.

Naila is a magic student but without magic (maybe). She lives in Amoria where magic is everything, and there are people who wouldn't wish anything more than to get rid of her. However, archmage Haelius, the most powerful wizard, is on her side and he starts to teach her magic. What they both didn't expect was for Naila to be something different than a normal mage. 'What is she?' is the question. They both don't know but there are forces hunting her and her powers, so she needs to leave the city to find the answers she's do desperately looking for.

It took me a while to get into the story itself. Each chapter is from a different POV, and there are quite a few people who have their own. The story entwines the lives of multiple people, not just Naila and Haelius but their friends and family as well... there are also a few chapters from the enemies as well. The book ends with a cliffhanger, and this series would interest anyone who likes reading about magic and dragons.

This book is the first part of a major fantasy trilogy, the Shattered Lands. In general this focuses on Naila who is a student mage in Amoria's Academy. In Amoria magic is everything - the city is even covered with a magic glass dome. People who have no magic are looked down on and known as "hollows". While it seems Naila has magic no one has managed to get her to use or develop so far and she is in danger of being thrown out and exiled. For now she is saved by the interest of Haelius, who is the city's most powerful magician. He believes that he can teach her and stakes his reputation on that.

Within Amoria there are definite political dimension. Oriven (a mage) is the leader and seeks to increase his power. Hollows are also trying to make a real power base. The city has also attracted people from outside Amoria whose interests are unclear. This book follows what goes on in Amoria and the area more generally.

There is little real world building in this book. It's one of those that you work things out as it progresses. Personally I have no issues with that - I like the journey involved in finding out and too much explanation can make the read tedious. I enjoyed the feel of Amoria and the gradual discovery of what is important in this. There are quite a few characters in this and some of them came through well. Naila was someone I liked and the visiting priest (& his companion) turned out to be good characters. Haelius was also very good however there are quite a few other characters who felt rather thin.

My real issue with this book is pace. Frankly much of the first half was pretty slow. There is a sense that this comes sharply in to focus in the last third when the pace is fairly breakneck. I really enjoyed this latter part of this book and became far more interested in what was going on. By the end I felt that there will be some interesting parts of the next book with what I imagine may be revealed. However I can't honestly say that I am likely to read it based on the earlier parts of this book. Not a bad read but not really gripping enough for me.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. Short Version: You should read this book. Every so often a book comes along that just ticks every single box for me and this is one such book. The characters, their relationships and conflicting interests were all written wonderfully, especially Naila who is such a compelling heroine. I am a sucker for a good teacher/student relationship and I really enjoyed this aspect as well. The worldbuilding was also great and allowed a really immersive reading experience. The story itself is really well paced and gripped me to the very end (which was very surprising!!) One of the best epic fantasies I've read this year, especially for a debut author! I am really looking forward to continuing this series