The Mortal Blade

Magelands Eternal Siege Series, Book 1

By: Christopher Mitchell

Narrated by: Shaun Grindell

Length: 13 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's Summary

A city ruled by Gods, a mortal champion, a misfit girl, and a disobedient dragon....

Stolen from his home, Corthie Holdfast has arrived in the City of the Eternal Siege as a new champion.

He must fight alongside the Blades, whose lives are dedicated to the defense of the city against the hordes of monstrous Greenhides; or die at the hands of the Gods who rule.

Maddie Jackdaw, a young Blade, faces her last chance. Thrown out of every unit defending the city, either she takes on a new role, or she will be sent to the Rats, a company of misfits given the perilous tasks beyond the Great Walls.

Her new role, if she takes it, will bring her face to face with her deepest fears, for beneath the walls, in a secret and hidden lair, lies a dragon, imprisoned and waiting....

©2020 Christopher Mitchell (P)2021 Tantor

Not worth the time

In my opinion, this book never finds its foothold. It is slow to get going, and while that’s not a bad thing. I think it does not take the listener on a journey worth going. Unfortunately, I can’t recommend this book.

Amazing story!

I really enjoyed this book and I can’t wait to listen to the second one!!

Dragons. Demigods, fighters. Oh My!

I really enjoyed this book. Have started & am half day thru the Second. The “reader is decent with. I had to slow down my pace with him. Once I got in his groove I was able to pick up the pace. The. Ppl itself. I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It’s action packed. HS a good premise to it! The. Character development take a bit to get into , it however, it’s is a very great read/listen! I recommend it to anyone who loves fantasy books. The characters are all very intriguing, with several story arcs that fall together like dominos.

Unreasonably stupid characters.

The premise, world building, and general delivery of the story are quite good. The narrator is also very good.

The only problem I have with the story is that every character we get as a PoV is makes obviously objectively bad decisions in pretty much every scene they are in. The story is mostly propelled by the blundering of the main characters which I find infuriating

Truly Epic!

Mortal Blade an ‘epic’ epic fantasy novel, the first book in the Magelands series.

Mitchell has created an amazing world, full of deep, dark secrets and immortal gods and demi gods who rule the people with iron fists, keeping them cowed and destitute.

Mortal Blade is a rich and detailed book, the world evolves as more details are revealed through the lives of the four main characters. It is not fast paced or constant action but thoughtful character development. As if a painting is gradually coming into focus as each layer is added.

We follow four main characters as their paths slowly converge. Aila, a demi-god who is trying to help the people where she can. Maddie, a mortal who can’t keep her mouth shut and eventually gets demoted to dragon sitting. Daniel Aurelian, a reluctant suitor (and soldier) destined to marry a child to sustain his family line and Corthie Holdfast, sold as a slave to defend the city as a champion with battlevision.

Mitchell weaves a wonderful story, developing interesting characters who engage your interest and keep you reading (or listening!) I listened to this book on Audible and I thoroughly enjoyed the narration by Shaun Grindell.

I am so excited this is the first of many books in the series. I am definitely hooked and can’t wait to see where it goes. Beautifully written book, witty dialogue and well developed characters. They each have that element of intrigue that keeps you reading.