Customer Reviews

Masters of Magic (Warhammer Novels)

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Masters of Magic is a strong first novel and an excellent addition to the Warhammer mythos. I, for one, have been waiting for a book that fleshes out the working of the College of Wizards and Chris Wraight has made a valiant foray into that shadowy world by successfully delineating the differences between the colleges and the various wizard types. I found all of his characters full bodied and well rounded. In particular, two subsidiary characters cry out for their own stories: Katarina Lautermann and Marius Joachim. If there is any problem with the novel, it is that Mr. Wraight covers too much. The novel begins with an attack against Helmgart, which reminded me of David Gemmell's excellent novel, Legend. From there he takes us to an intrigue between two colleges in Altdorf and then back to the invasion of the orks. Soon, an amber wizard appears-Joachim-that almost steals the show from the protagonist Lothar. In addition to invasions and wizardly and sexual intrigues, there are two Empire generals and their armies chewing up the landscape. He achieves his panoramic view through a multitude of points of view. In summary, Wraight has a robust prose style, a penchant for adverbs, and a thorough understanding of the Warhammer universe. He deserves another book Black Library.

I believe this is the first novel by the author. At the start of the book this certainly shows, it feels clunkily written and not well put together.
However, it did improve after about 100 pages, but there is nothing outstanding here. The Blurb tell us Chris is a long time Games Workshop fan, and this does feel like fan writing.

If you're a Warhammer Fantasy fan there are some enjoyable politics between the Magic Colleges, if you aren't a Warhammer fan this is not a good place to start.

The human Empire maintains mighty armies to protect itself from its enemies. The Imperial battle wizards are untrusted, but crucial, to these defenses. Magic stems from various sources and those able to manipulate it train for years as acolytes (apprentices) to their chosen masters. Colleges are set up, each for a different variation and source of magic. The Grey Wizards draw from shadows and mostly deal with illusions. The Gold Wizards draw from minerals, such as within the earth, and may change the forms. The Amethyst Wizards are weakest, until death begins. They draw from chaos and deal with mainly shadows, deception, and death. The Amber Wizards draw from nature, its various beasts and forests.

The orcs, once again, are invading. This time they have a shaman unlike any before. Even Master Wizards have fallen before its power. Grey wizard Lothar Auerbach is there from the beginning. Lothar is devastated when he sees his master fall. Soon others, for various reasons, join the battle. Katerina is Amethyst. Ambrosius is Gold. The infamous Marius is Amber. These powerful wizards ride to war as individual weapons from their chosen Orders. But can they control their rivalry, ambition, and greed long enough to defeat the most powerful shaman ever and the orc army?

***** It has been a long time since I have read a book with wizards being the main characters. Author Chris Wraight has done a fantastic job in showing the rivalry between the various Orders of magic, not to mention between those with magic and those without, such as soldiers and commanders. Sub plots run within the colleges and their wizard acolytes, which may continue in future stories, and hold readers' attentions as the main plot unfolds. Brilliant and desperate strategies are formed throughout the many battles. An engrossing story, set among the violent Warhammer universe. *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.