Four centures ago, the world changed. A devastating war swept the lands, and the MageLords, who had long ruled by virtue of their spell powers, were driven to a distant place, separated from those they had ruled by a magical Barrier. With magic banished from the rest of the world, the MageLords became mere legend and people turned to science to improve their lives. But if one man has his way, all that is about to change...
Magebane
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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Magebane, by Lee Arthur Chane, is a stand-alone fantasy novel that. Wait. I'm going to stop there and let you read that sentence again. Yes, you read correctly--a "stand-alone fantasy novel." Magebane is not part of a duology, quartet, or trilogy-to-eventually-be-expanded-into-a-number-to-be-named-later. So good for him. I almost want to just leave it at that--praise for the simple concept that an entire story can be told in the scope of a few hundred (well, OK, 500) pages. But that wouldn't be much of a review. So onward and upward (mostly).
Nearly a thousand years ago, the MageLords fled a Commoner revolution by transporting themselves to the kingdom of Evrenfels, cut off from the outside world (and those pesky common non-magic folk save those they brought along as handy servants or craftsman or the like) by the Great Barrier, impregnable to magic and to outside interference. And for all that time, they have ruled Evrenfels with the same nonchalant cruelty and arrogance that brought about that first revolution. But the times they are a-changing. Lord Falk--Minister of Public Safety--wants to break down the Barrier and lead the Magelords out to conquer once more. Tagaza, First Mage, also wants the Barrier down, though for reasons of his own. And there is a third, more mysterious figure who desires the same goal, again, for reasons of their own, reasons far different from those of the other two. As those three conspire, the Commoners stuck inside the barrier and treated as slaves or animals by the MageLords are beginning to get restless, as an underground group seems determined to foster resentment and possibly even another revolution.
Meanwhile, beyond the Barrier, the MageLords have dwindled into distant myths and fairy tales as the world has been transformed by democracy and technology. Those two revolutionary concepts will soon breach the unbreachable Barrier in the person of Anton, a young boy who with his Professor mentor flies over the Barrier in the Professor's newly invented airship.
Anton, together with Evrenfell's Prince Karl and Lord Falk's own war--a young woman named Brenna--become catalysts in events that threaten to spiral well out of Lord Falk's tight-fisted control. And matters aren't helped by the seeming appearance of another Magebane--a mythical figure who a millennia ago was able to lead the first Commoner revolution due to its unique power: a Magebane is not only immune to magic, but reflects it back upon its wielders.
Magebane certainly had its flaws and works through some of the usual suspects of character type and plotting, some of which I'll detail later, but overall I enjoyed this read. It was a mostly fluid ride through an interesting set of situations with either likable good characters or interesting not-so-good characters. It didn't wow me; I wish parts of it had been executed a bit more fully or sharply, but it kept me going straight through to a pretty strong ending.
The situations throughout the novel, beginning with its premise, were cleverly constructed and shifty enough to maintain constant interest. I liked the idea of a group of powerful magic-users walled off from the world continuing on in their same old same old culture while the world outside spun on in its own more typical way (I actually wish a bit more had been done with that outside world or the contact between them, but oh well). It's pretty common in fantasy that we're presented with a world about to change, but usually we get it from the "uh oh the Dark Lord is rising against us" side of things and the world is changing because oops, they forgot about the last time the Dark Lord rose and got all complacent or short-tempered with each other and now they've got to put together a spunky outnumbered band of mismatched heroes. Here, though, we get the Dark Lord (kind of) side of things; we get to see him planning the rise and break out. Even better, the Dark Lord has to sneak around and even kill a few fellow Dark Lords to do so. I also like how rather than get a fellowship, err, band together to go on a quest and defeat the DL or destroy an artifact (or get a needed artifact), one of the opponents just literally accidentally drops in. And that's as far as I'll take the Dark Lord because really, Falk and the other MageLords are more like small-minded nasty manor lords who can do magic than Big Evil Floating Eye or Satan-Like Dark Lords.
So anyway, I like the opening premise and the somewhat unusual perspective we get on the world's about to change and who's doing the change and who's going to stop the change. Chane does a nice job as well of shifting this underlying premise around or giving us different slants on it as Falk, Tagaza, and the other person who wants the Barrier down work together but also at odds, each trying to gain an advantage on the other as their goal is the same but not their reasons for their goal or what they want to happen after they achieve their goal. It makes for a richer stew of conspiracy as well as for some unpredictable moments. There's also a very strong and darkly complex thread of "when do the ends justify the means" that runs throughout the book, lending it more substance/depth than some fantasies.
The characters sometimes fall into types: the befuddled young man, the sheltered young girl, the prince who wants to be more than he is and sometimes the plot does as well--the thrown-together-for-a short-time-so-we-must-be-in-love storyline gets its due not once but twice. But for the most part the individuals stand out as individuals. Falk is a great character in his cold analytic nature and single-mindedness. The mysterious ally of his is another complex character, one of those great characters that discomfits the reader. The younger characters: Anton, Brenna, Karl aren't quite as complex or compelling as the adult characters, but all are well-drawn and interesting in their growth, if a bit predictable in that growth.
As stated, there are some flaws, such as the aforementioned character types or plot types. There are a few too many scenes where characters need to act a bit less intelligent than they usually appear in order to progress the plot. The prose is serviceable, but I can't say there are any lines that make you want to stop and reread for their richness or precision or stylistic creativity. To be honest, these were all noticeable enough that I did, um, note them as I read, but they never really detracted over much (save for a few of those acting-too-dumb-then-they-are scenes) from the reading experience. I never dropped out of enjoying the book even while I noted some weaknesses, and the end wrapped up strongly and conclusively. So despite its relatively minor issues, I happily recommend Magebane and I'll certainly give Chane's next one a try based on this one.
Nearly a thousand years ago, the MageLords fled a Commoner revolution by transporting themselves to the kingdom of Evrenfels, cut off from the outside world (and those pesky common non-magic folk save those they brought along as handy servants or craftsman or the like) by the Great Barrier, impregnable to magic and to outside interference. And for all that time, they have ruled Evrenfels with the same nonchalant cruelty and arrogance that brought about that first revolution. But the times they are a-changing. Lord Falk--Minister of Public Safety--wants to break down the Barrier and lead the Magelords out to conquer once more. Tagaza, First Mage, also wants the Barrier down, though for reasons of his own. And there is a third, more mysterious figure who desires the same goal, again, for reasons of their own, reasons far different from those of the other two. As those three conspire, the Commoners stuck inside the barrier and treated as slaves or animals by the MageLords are beginning to get restless, as an underground group seems determined to foster resentment and possibly even another revolution.
Meanwhile, beyond the Barrier, the MageLords have dwindled into distant myths and fairy tales as the world has been transformed by democracy and technology. Those two revolutionary concepts will soon breach the unbreachable Barrier in the person of Anton, a young boy who with his Professor mentor flies over the Barrier in the Professor's newly invented airship.
Anton, together with Evrenfell's Prince Karl and Lord Falk's own war--a young woman named Brenna--become catalysts in events that threaten to spiral well out of Lord Falk's tight-fisted control. And matters aren't helped by the seeming appearance of another Magebane--a mythical figure who a millennia ago was able to lead the first Commoner revolution due to its unique power: a Magebane is not only immune to magic, but reflects it back upon its wielders.
Magebane certainly had its flaws and works through some of the usual suspects of character type and plotting, some of which I'll detail later, but overall I enjoyed this read. It was a mostly fluid ride through an interesting set of situations with either likable good characters or interesting not-so-good characters. It didn't wow me; I wish parts of it had been executed a bit more fully or sharply, but it kept me going straight through to a pretty strong ending.
The situations throughout the novel, beginning with its premise, were cleverly constructed and shifty enough to maintain constant interest. I liked the idea of a group of powerful magic-users walled off from the world continuing on in their same old same old culture while the world outside spun on in its own more typical way (I actually wish a bit more had been done with that outside world or the contact between them, but oh well). It's pretty common in fantasy that we're presented with a world about to change, but usually we get it from the "uh oh the Dark Lord is rising against us" side of things and the world is changing because oops, they forgot about the last time the Dark Lord rose and got all complacent or short-tempered with each other and now they've got to put together a spunky outnumbered band of mismatched heroes. Here, though, we get the Dark Lord (kind of) side of things; we get to see him planning the rise and break out. Even better, the Dark Lord has to sneak around and even kill a few fellow Dark Lords to do so. I also like how rather than get a fellowship, err, band together to go on a quest and defeat the DL or destroy an artifact (or get a needed artifact), one of the opponents just literally accidentally drops in. And that's as far as I'll take the Dark Lord because really, Falk and the other MageLords are more like small-minded nasty manor lords who can do magic than Big Evil Floating Eye or Satan-Like Dark Lords.
So anyway, I like the opening premise and the somewhat unusual perspective we get on the world's about to change and who's doing the change and who's going to stop the change. Chane does a nice job as well of shifting this underlying premise around or giving us different slants on it as Falk, Tagaza, and the other person who wants the Barrier down work together but also at odds, each trying to gain an advantage on the other as their goal is the same but not their reasons for their goal or what they want to happen after they achieve their goal. It makes for a richer stew of conspiracy as well as for some unpredictable moments. There's also a very strong and darkly complex thread of "when do the ends justify the means" that runs throughout the book, lending it more substance/depth than some fantasies.
The characters sometimes fall into types: the befuddled young man, the sheltered young girl, the prince who wants to be more than he is and sometimes the plot does as well--the thrown-together-for-a short-time-so-we-must-be-in-love storyline gets its due not once but twice. But for the most part the individuals stand out as individuals. Falk is a great character in his cold analytic nature and single-mindedness. The mysterious ally of his is another complex character, one of those great characters that discomfits the reader. The younger characters: Anton, Brenna, Karl aren't quite as complex or compelling as the adult characters, but all are well-drawn and interesting in their growth, if a bit predictable in that growth.
As stated, there are some flaws, such as the aforementioned character types or plot types. There are a few too many scenes where characters need to act a bit less intelligent than they usually appear in order to progress the plot. The prose is serviceable, but I can't say there are any lines that make you want to stop and reread for their richness or precision or stylistic creativity. To be honest, these were all noticeable enough that I did, um, note them as I read, but they never really detracted over much (save for a few of those acting-too-dumb-then-they-are scenes) from the reading experience. I never dropped out of enjoying the book even while I noted some weaknesses, and the end wrapped up strongly and conclusively. So despite its relatively minor issues, I happily recommend Magebane and I'll certainly give Chane's next one a try based on this one.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
I found the book quite appealing because it pitted science against magic, and couldn't help being drawn in by the detailed descriptions of this alternate magical reality - it's spells, it's inventions and it's different life. Commoners have achieved through science which the MageLords do via Magic. Against this backdrop Chane has created well-fleshed out characters. He gives the reader a look-see into their minds, which was quite interesting. The story has many twists and turns and is quite unpredictable so it keeps one engaged and reading.
All that said, this book does lack finesse. While it was an engrossing book, it's power was diluted by Chane's propensity to "tell" us how it is, rather than have his characters act out the story. The characters, while varied and distinctly fleshed out, were simply too many, and it got a little complex keeping track of all of them. Each character had an obscure reason to do what he did, and it was hard to keep up with each one's desires and motivations. A simpler, stronger set of characters might have worked better to strengthen the narrative. All the threads do tie up in the end (quite a task in itself) but they don't tie up with as much spit and polish as I'd like. I'm hoping though that if Chane, as talented as he appears to be, comes up with other books after this one, I will have no cause to complain.
All that said, this book does lack finesse. While it was an engrossing book, it's power was diluted by Chane's propensity to "tell" us how it is, rather than have his characters act out the story. The characters, while varied and distinctly fleshed out, were simply too many, and it got a little complex keeping track of all of them. Each character had an obscure reason to do what he did, and it was hard to keep up with each one's desires and motivations. A simpler, stronger set of characters might have worked better to strengthen the narrative. All the threads do tie up in the end (quite a task in itself) but they don't tie up with as much spit and polish as I'd like. I'm hoping though that if Chane, as talented as he appears to be, comes up with other books after this one, I will have no cause to complain.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
This is apparently a first novel and its shows several of the defects of inexperience. The basic world building and plot idea are good and Chane is able to sustain a coherent narrative in a fairly lengthy and clearly written book. Defects include somewhat thin characters, an excessively complex plot, and a tendency to tell the reader what is going as opposed to showing the reader how events unfold. There are also some missed opportunities. There are, for example, suggestions that Chane has a more complex idea of how magic works in this fantasy than he lets on and this could have been a more interesting aspect of the book. There is also the opportunity to contrast his magic based kingdom with an outside world of emerging republics using Victorian level technology that is not really utilized. Next book may well be considerably better.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Magebane is a rich fantasy tale
Review score 91%
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`The Professor crouched beside Anton's bed.
"And now I find myself in the same position to help someone else, someone much like I was. Read more
.
`The Professor crouched beside Anton's bed.
"And now I find myself in the same position to help someone else, someone much like I was. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Mr. T. E. J. Johnson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Steampunk + magic = cool
I've been wanting to read this book ever since Ed Willett posted the first sentence on Facebook. (Like a chick in its egg, Jenna lay curled within a bubble of ice half-buried in... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Nicole Luiken
5.0 out of 5 stars
Delightful blend of fantasy and steampunk
Lee Arthur Chane's Magebane is an original and delightful tale of epic fantasy and magic, steampunk science, adventure, tragedy, and love. Read more
Published 18 months ago by H. Grove
4.0 out of 5 stars
Conspiracies and wizards and guns, oh my!
Evil wizards, multi-level conspiracies, magic, hidden kingdoms, cruel tyrants, usurpers, and a hint of steam punk. Read more
Published 18 months ago by A.M Donovan
5.0 out of 5 stars
excellent epic fantasy
It is Year 776 since the Great Barrier ended the revolt by the masses against the ruthless ruling MageLords. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Harriet Klausner
