Magic University (Masters & Renegades) [Kindle Edition]

Chantal Boudreau (Author), TW Brown (Editor)

Book Description

Nine candidates with nine very different backgrounds and reasons for participating - each of them are vying for one of the elite apprentice seats at Magic University, but only three will succeed. In the next several hours, they will have to prove themselves worthy in the twelve strenuous admission trials that the university has prepared for them. Will those who have something to hide be hampered by their secrets or the personal demons they happen to be carrying with them? Will youth and vigor outperform age and experience or vice versa? Will dark inter-dimensional magic reign supreme?

Their fates will soon be decided, and none of the candidates will walk away unchanged…

Product Details

• File Size: 1166 KB
• Print Length: 348 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 193673009X
• Publisher: May December Publications LLC (September 14, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B005NC0MUS
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #632,810 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Creative Author January 25, 2012

By SeaWitch

Format:Kindle Edition

This is the first book in the Masters & Renegades series by Chantal Boudreau. I was excited to read this, as I love fantasy books - especially when there is magic involved. I can thank J.K. Rowling for that! LOL! The author has a great talent for description. I loved the detail she put into the different environments and the magic that was used in the book. Her imagination has no limit. I also love the idea of the story: it all takes place in one day, and centers around nine contestants who want to become apprentices at the Magic University. There are only three seats available; the trials they must go through in the competition are difficult and dangerous.

Boudreau did a fantastic job in choosing her characters. They are all very different in backgrounds, appearances, and beliefs. However, throughout the competition, they learn that differences do not matter and none of them are perfect. It is a classic story of how people can change and prejudices can be stripped away if we give each other a chance.

My one problem with this story is that I couldn't really connect with the characters. By the end of the book, I did not have any strong feelings or ties to any of them. I think the author should have spent more time developing the characters and maybe giving more background on them. I'm not saying that the characters weren't creative; I think they just needed more substance. However, this is the first book in the series, so we may learn more about them in later books.

All in all, this isn't a bad book. I liked it, but I wish that the author could have put more into the characters. It would have been nice to have one or two that I could have rooted for to win the competition. I do plan on reading in the next in the series. :)

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Gamers' Delight!! December 2, 2011

By Ursula K. Raphael TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Kindle Edition

Magic University (Masters & Renegades) is not to be confused with the Magic University erotica series, nor is it to be compared with Harry Potter. The first thing that stands out about this novel is the timeline: the events happen in less than a day. This allows the author, Chantal Boudreau, to write in great detail without bogging down the reader. The second thing I thought about this book was, "Gamers are going to freakin' LOVE this!" With several characters, complete with their own back stories, anyone into RPG will appreciate the way this book is set up.

Throughout the story, the characters experience their own personal journeys in a world that is not the usual whimsical settings presented by many mainstream fantasy novels. And, just like her young adult novel Fervor, Masters & Renegades also blends the best elements of several genres. Chantal continues to be such a great storyteller; it's easy to imagine her sitting by a fireside and reading this tale to you from some ancient tome.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Chantal makes the non-Fantasy Fan love Fantasy June 13, 2012

By Mallory Anne-Marie Haws TOP 1000 REVIEWER

Format:Kindle Edition

Fantasy is not my forte, in general. This is not to state that I run from fantasy, but rather that given my druthers, I'll reach for horror, Supernatural, or mystery every time. There are, however, certain authors of fantasy whom I am compelled to read. Among these are C. J. Cherryh, Mercedes Lackey, Terry Goodkind, Tad Williams-and recently, Ms. Chantal Boudreau, to whom I have been happily introduced via the venue of May-December Publications. Ms. Boudreau does not limit herself to fantasy-she offers horror, mystery, and other genres as well; but here in her "Masters and Renegades" Series, of which "Magic University" is Book One, she proffers not only fantasy, but mystery, thrills, deep characterisations, suspense, chills, romantic interests, authority figures, secrets and revelations-and makes the reader absolutely adore it!

Starting from the premise of a group of individuals aspiring to train at the elitist Magic University, undergoing first a public explication of their secrets (via the Magic Mirror), and subsequently numerous divergent trials, Ms. Boudreau weaves a story line that will keep readers edging from their seats, heart in mouth, waiting for the next event, the next denouement, the next cliffhanger. Luckily Book Two is just about to appear, so readers need not wait much longer to continue this exciting story.

Just remember; you don't have to be a fantasy fan to find this book appealing-and more than appealing, captivating.