Loved it! 😍
A fun and engaging fantasy story featuring intriguing characters and excellent world-building!
SYNOPSIS
Darkness stirs in a world that is ill-equipped to confront it. A prophesied king is born, but not all will benefit from his foretold conquests.
In a realm where only clerics are permitted to practice magic, Kibure, a mere slave, draws the attention of much more than just his master after wielding an unknown force in a moment of desperation. In a twist of fate, Sindri, the priestess hired to strip Kibure of his power, defies the law, revealing designs of her own. But trust is in short supply in a land ripe with deceit. This wayward pair will have to work together if they hope to evade capture at the hands of the Empire’s most potent wielders.
Halfway around the known world, Prince Aynward’s knack for discovering trouble drives him deep into conspiracies within which he does not belong. Too arrogant to accept counsel, he will have to learn the hard way that some actions have consequences that cannot be undone…
The Other Magic, by Derrick Smythe is the first book in the Passage to Dawn fantasy series. It features the story of Kibure, who is a slave, and the magical and extraordinary power he wields. Having this power does not bode well for Kibure, since in this world only clerics are allowed to use such power. Sindri, the priestess who is charged with taking his powers from him, decides instead to let him live for reasons of her own and they team up together.
Without a doubt the best part of the book, in my opinion, was the way in which the author wrote his characters. The dialogue, the characterization, the way they reacted to situations and grew as people was seriously just incredible. I could not put the book down once I fell in love with these characters because I was absolutely dying to know what was going to happen next. While the characters drew me in, the world-building kept me engaged. I never once felt confused or bored while I was reading. From the moment I started reading I was completely immersed in their world. And this is such a little thing, but I also really loved the cover art. This may sound shallow, but I really feel that cover art can really make or break a book. After all, if the cover is not appealing what is there to entice readers to pick it up in the first place? The cover for The Other Magic is what first interested me and I imagine that it will draw the eye for readers in bookstores and libraries when it is published.
The Other Magic was the winner of the Pinnacle Book Achievement Award and was the runner-up of the Independent Publisher Book Award. I wasn’t aware of those facts until after I finished the book but even so I find I am not surprised at all. I actually expect this book to receive more awards in the future. It was just that good. I would recommend this book for anyone who loves the fantasy genre and is looking for a brand-new series that is unique, fun, refreshing, and filled with great characters and world-building. If you are a fan of the writing of Brandon Sanderson, Michael Sullivan, or Terry Brooks than this is the next book you need to read! In fact, Kibure’s story made me think of Kaladin and Bridge Four from Sanderson’s Stormlight Archive series. I think it’s remarkable when great fantasy books remind you of what you loved in other books you have read. Fantasy fans will love this story! It is a must read!
REVIEWED BY
I am a librarian and a voracious reader with a never ending appetite for books! I read a variety of different genres, though my favorites are fantasy, LGBT fiction, science fiction, and YA. Last year I read over 350 books and there is nothing I love more than reading books and talking about them!
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~Morgan~
Word Mongery and Musings 
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