A Blight of Mages

Hundreds of years before the great Mage War, a land lies, unknowing, on the edge of catastrophe. . .

Barl is young and impulsive, but she has a power within that calls to her. In her city, however, only those of noble blood and with the right connections learn the ways of the arcane. Barl is desperate to learn-but her eagerness to use her power leads her astray and she is banned from ever learning the mystic arts.

Morgan holds the key to her education. A member of the Council of Mages, he lives to maintain the status quo, preserve the mage bloodlines, and pursue his scholarly experiments. But Barl's power intrigues him-in spite of her low status.

Together, he realizes they can create extraordinary new incantations. Morgan's ambition and Barl's power make a potent combination. What she does not see is the darkness in him that won't be denied.

A Blight of Mages is the new novel set in the world of Karen Miller's bestselling debut The Innocent Mage.

entertaining listening that breaks down

I really enjoyed the first half of the book. Ms Miller does a great job of setting the story plot regarding two people who have been misunderstood and fighting to overcome odds. The narrator is great. They meet, fall in love, all that. Where the story turns completely is when the man, goes crazy and now we enter the realm of the "Mad Scientist" who chases everyone including his lover to extinction. It becomes more of a B movie horror flick. The man changes people into giant armored plated vicious bugs. Then it abruptly ends. He of course is doomed. It looks like the girl is probably doomed as well as her interesting altruistic brother who gets it at the end. It reminds me of a soap opera where they kill off characters you grew an attachment with and now you are wondering if the author will let them go or bring them back. In the sequel we are waiting on someone new to rescue the world. I'll buy the next and hope it gets better.

I like the other books better

This book probably should have been several books. The story felt rushed towards the end.

Great prequel

Definitely a slow start, but it's a fitting story of the origins of the Wall and Weather magic

Almost gave up with the narrator’s phrasing

I have enjoyed every Karen Miller book. They are unique enough to be captivating. The narrator for this book wasn't a great pick. In her attempt to make unique male voices she fell flat and her phrase pacing was problematic.

agood start to an epic adventure.

a little slow at times and argumentative character s. can be upsetting. But there is a good story in there.