Servant Mage
Servant Mage book cover

Servant Mage

Hardcover – January 18, 2022

by
Price
$17.99
Format
Hardcover
Pages
176
Publisher
Tordotcom
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-1250769053
Dimensions
5.43 x 0.78 x 8.33 inches
Weight
10.6 ounces

Description

“[This] is an absolute gem of a story, a peek into a fascinating, fully realized world that manages to explore issues of power, consent, class and destiny before turning over some of fantasy's tropes completely on their head. I loved it.” ―S. A. Chakraborty"I would follow [Fellion] anywhere... I highly recommend this. I stayed up way too late finishing it and am still thinking about it a week later." ―Mary Robinette Kowal“A rich and atmospheric lacework of worldbuilding, politics and magic―and of one woman's journey to find her place in the wake of a revolution. Mesmerising, relentless and sharp.” ―Aliette de Bodard "Elliott uses a relatable main character and a complex and intriguing setting to dive into the consequences of revolution with an eye toward class and power dynamics; readers will be left wanting more." ― Booklist Praise for Kate Elliott’s Unconquerable Sun : “Non-stop action! Space battles! Intrigue! This is the kind of space opera that I love best―but Elliott does it even better.”―Ann Leckie, New York Times bestselling author“Intricate and thrilling, Kate Elliott's Unconquerable Sun reframes history's most legendary conqueror in a brand new galaxy, lights the fuse, and blasts off on an edge-of-your-seat adventure perfect for fans of Arkady Martine and James S.A. Corey.”―Emily Skrutskie, author of Bonds of Brass “A sweeping saga of a fierce and indomitable conqueror and her companions, this is breathtaking and mindblowingly good.”―Aliette de Bodard, Nebula Award-winning author of The Tea Master and the Detective “A maelstrom of palace intrigue, interstellar back-stabbing, devious plots, treachery, blistering action, ferocious confrontations―and a heroine for the ages... Enthralling, edge-of-your-seat stuff hurtling along at warp speed. Grab!”― Kirkus Reviews , starred review“Rich with history, tongue-in-cheek humor, cultural references, and vibrant characters, this highly entertaining series launch will have readers clamoring for more.”― Publishers Weekly , starred review“Fans of Lois McMaster Bujold and N.K. Jemisin will find this a candidate for instant re-reading as soon as the last page is turned.”― Booklist , starred review Kate Elliott has been writing science fiction and fantasy for 30 years, after bursting onto the scene with Jaran . She is best known for her Crown of Stars epic fantasy series and the New York Times bestselling YA fantasy Court of Fives . Elliott's particular focus is immersive world-building & centering women in epic stories of adventure, amidst transformative cultural change. She lives in Hawaii, where she paddles outrigger canoes & spoils her Schnauzer.

Features & Highlights

  • A Locus Award Finalist!“An absolute gem of a story... I loved it.” ―S. A. Chakraborty
  • In Kate Elliott's
  • Servant Mage
  • , a lowly fire mage finds herself entangled in an empire-spanning conspiracy on her way to discovering her true power.
  • They choose their laws to secure their power.
  • Fellian is a Lamplighter, able to provide illumination through magic. A group of rebel Monarchists free her from indentured servitude and take her on a journey to rescue trapped compatriots from an underground complex of mines.Along the way they get caught up in a conspiracy to kill the latest royal child and wipe out the Monarchist movement for good.But Fellian has more than just her Lamplighting skills up her sleeve…

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
30%
(104)
★★★★
25%
(87)
★★★
15%
(52)
★★
7%
(24)
★
23%
(79)

Most Helpful Reviews

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"...more explanations as to how the world worked."

Servant Mage had the potential to be a great fantasy, but the story felt too rushed and the characters were sadly underdeveloped. I hated how little information we were given about the world we were thrown into, and the small revelations are told during info-dumping paragraphs instead of learned along the way. A good fantasy is believable despite its unbelievability, and Elliot didn't quite manage that with this one.

It also had several errors right off the bat, even for an ARC. Fellion was left a single dumpling so as not to upset her stomach (malnourished), yet the very next page she's grabbing a second one. Small inconsistencies like this don't normally bother me, but they do tend to stick out like a sore thumb. There were numerous spelling and grammatical errors as well, but hopefully those are taken care of before the book's publication.

Additionally, I wish we'd been given more explanations as to how the world worked. Fellion mentioned and alluded to having more than two parents. She called one Older Father and one Younger Father, in addition to her Mother and Grandmother. Why did she have more than one father? Was this commonplace for the people within the book, or an unusual circumstance for the main character?

I think knowing so little about the world contributed to certain sentences and statements not making sense. "Shey tipped a hand to his ear, a movement she saw as the heat of his body shifting position." Eh? What's that supposed to mean? Shey then does something weird with his hands that lets them travel a great distance in a few steps, but it's only vaguely explained, and I really need my fantastical stories to make sense within the confines of the book's world (or world's).

I also hate it when people are running for their lives but can stop to appreciate and comment on another character's looks. Really? If I'm scared to death, fleeing people who would hurt or kill me, someone's cheekbones are not going to be a priority.

I wish the author hadn't rushed this story and had taken more time to develop the world and its characters. I think Servant Mage has a unique concept, so I'm disappointed by how superficial and surface level everything felt. (★★☆☆☆)
2 people found this helpful
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Interesting read

For a short story it Covered characters well
1 people found this helpful
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A stinker.

I have read well over a thousand fantasy and sci/fy novels over the years and this is one of the worst. I noticed that the author has published over twenty novels in the past so I was expecting something good. It seems that Ms. Elliott must be resting on her laurels. To me, she is just going through the motions rushing to get to the end to set up the next book in the series. The characters and settings are not well developed. The plot is very sketchy. (A young girl with special powers is kidnaped to help rescue a baby in an ill defined revolution). Don't waste your time with this one.
1 people found this helpful
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FREEDOM COMES WITH A COST, BUT THE PAYMENT MAY BE MORE THAN CAN BE GIVEN

Things weren't much different between the reign of the Monarchists and the "freedom" of the Liberationalists. Well...except that Fellian's family were all taken away and killed...Oh, and Fellian herself was cast into perpetual indentured servitude...and Magic, in general, had become a tool of the new government.

Of course, the world has other plans for Fellian, the Lamplighter as once again, the life she has come to know is ripped away and she begins a new journey. One that will allow her to find someone that she had thought lost forever, and to finally...MAYBE...actually take control of her life.

Kate Elliott has been in the Fantasy Game for a while now. With the CROWN OF STARS, CROSSROADS, SPIRIT WALKER, and COURT OF FIVE series, she has established herself a one of the shining lights of the current fantasy genre. Her world development is wonderfully robust and thought out with places and people that pull the reader in, while her character development is first rate as she creates...and grows...her heroes and villains with real emotions and needs that drive her stories...THIS story.

This book is fairly self-contained, and its 164 pages are exactly enough to introduce FELLIAN and her world, but the journey is too brief and the potential for further adventures clear to see. Elliott ties this story up neatly, but most definitely sets up future entries whether continuing the story of Fellian or continuing on to highlight others and tell their tales.

Another excellent trip through the mind of Kate Elliott.
1 people found this helpful
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Small book was packed full of everything

This small book was packed full of everything... great characters, beautiful setting and awesome magic. The main character, Fellian, was a joy to read about and adventure with as were the other characters with her. The only complaint I would have is the magic. I don't feel like it was drawn out and detailed so I'm not quite sure I understood how it worked. Still, that didn't take away from the story too much. I hope there is more in this world. I would enjoy going further into not only Fellian's story but the other characters as well.
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Interesting fantasy world

"Servant Mage" is an epic fantasy novella. Though a stand-alone, it reads like a prequel to a series. The author certainly spent a lot of time on complex world-building if it was only a setting for this story. Among the Monarchists, your birth defines your worth, though mages are allowed full training so they can work for the monarch's benefit. The group that defeated them says virtue defines your status. Mages are largely made into indentured servants with minimal training because they lack virtue. Indentured servant Fellion is offered a decent life among the Monarchist rebels in return for her service, but she's looked down on by both sides for things she had no control over (lowly birth or fire mage ability). She's upset with how the lower class is treated by both sides, but should she accept her chance to improve her status or choose the path her parents died following?

More time was spent on developing the culture and magic system than the individual characters. Still, the main characters were interesting, and I cared about what happened to them. Fellion cared about what happened to those who were helpless or had little power to protect themselves. She valued life to the point that she was willing to risk her own to help save others. There was suspense due to danger since they were on the run and fighting against a greater force. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable fantasy novella.

I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
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Falls short

I enjoyed this story, so it hurts me that I can’t give it a higher rating simply because it is too short. This is a 176 page novella and that’s just not enough room to give the plot in the backstory the space that it needs. There are a couple of world building info dumps, but they aren’t long enough to give the proper background for this world, and this novella is simply too short to allow any info dumps at all. This novella has five main characters, plus several side characters, plus with the varied magic systems to try and explain and the history of the world as it relates to the overthrow of the monarchy and the continued rebellion... this story really needed at least 200 more pages to give it room to breathe.
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Terrific Fantasy Story

A short fantasy novel that packs a lot of punch. The protagonist is a strong, gutsy, self-reliant young woman who is also a fire mage and a slave. I really admired her determination and pluck. The plot is well paced and manages to tell a terrific story in less than two hundred pages. It examines issues of class, fate and totalitarianism, and does so very well. A great read for all fantasy lovers!

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