Spellslinger by Sebastien de Castell

Spellslinger (Spellslinger, #1)

by Sebastien de Castell

MAGIC IS A CON GAME.

Kellen is moments away from facing his first mage's duel and the start of four trials that will make him a spellcaster. There's just one problem: his magic is gone.

As his sixteenth birthday approaches, Kellen falls back on his cunning in a bid to avoid total disgrace. But when a daring stranger arrives in town, she challenges Kellen to take a different path.

Ferius Parfax is one of the mysterious Argosi - a traveller who lives by her wits and the three decks of cards she carries. She's difficult and unpredictable, but she may be Kellen's only hope...

The first in a rich and compelling fantasy series bursting with tricks, traps and a devious talking squirrel cat. Perfect for fans of THE DARK TOWER, FIREFLY, GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY, TERRY PRATCHETT, BEN AARONOVITCH and JIM BUTCHER.

Reviewed by Joséphine on

4 of 5 stars

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June 7, 2017

Full review is up on Word Revel.

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June 3, 2017

Actual rating: 4.5 stars

Initial thoughts: Spellslinger was a little quirkier than I had anticipated—it made me laugh and smirk at times, all while being invested in Kellen's plight. The magic system was well-developed, in that it had a fixed order, even if things were a bit confusing at times. I liked that good and evil weren't clearly defined, making the mysteries throughout the book much more intriguing. Then there was Ferius, who threw the balance of their society so out of whack, I couldn't help but love her. Basically, nothing in Spellslinger could be taken for granted, making it a wonderful start to the series.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 3 June, 2017: Finished reading
  • 3 June, 2017: Reviewed