Mageborn: The Blacksmith's Son

Michael G. Manning

Jan 2011 · Mageborn Book 1 · Michael Manning

About this ebook

Mordecai's simple life as the son of a blacksmith is transformed by the discovery of his magical birthright. As he journeys to understand the power within him he is drawn into a dangerous plot to destroy the Duke of Lancaster and undermine the Kingdom of Lothion. Love and treachery combine to embroil him in events he was never prepared to face. What he uncovers will change his understanding of the past, and alter the future of those around him.

Ratings and reviews

I enjoyed it. I thought it was a pretty fun read with some interesting world building and lore! It does have some grammatical errors, but nothing that makes it difficult to read. I was also not the biggest fan of the romance scenes. It just felt like it was a bit too much, especially when they are only like 16, almost 17 in Morts case. Other than that it was an enjoyable read! Will give the second book a go for sure!

The pros: The book is fast paced, entertaining, and the basic premise is excellent. The main character is likeable and easy to root for. I found the narratives at the beginning of each chapter both entertaining an enlightening, and I found myselfwanting to learn more about the history of magic in this world. The cons: There is a lack of thoroughness. The book is too short, and the largest piece missing lies in a lack of setup from the book's villain. We get his motives, we get to see how evil he is, and we get to watch his demise, but we dont actually learn anything about him while these things are happening. I found the technical aspect of the writing to be lacking at times, as well, although this seemed to improve throughout the story. As a whole, it is an enjoyable read, unless you are one to get caught up in little details. I look forward to reading book 2 with the hope that the shortcomings of this book are merely a product of a rookie author.

Not very well written, and the modern language used much of the time by the characters jars with the period in which it's set. A few factual errors too, but I did enjoy the story and the characters, the author has a good imagination and it cracks on at a fine pace. I'll very likely read the others, I just hope his style improves as this is the weakest part for me.

About the author

Michael Manning, a retired pharmacist, has been a fantasy and science-fiction reader for most of his life.  He has dabbled in software design, fantasy art, and is an avid tree climber.  He lives in Texas, with his stubborn wife, two kids, and a menagerie of fantastic creatures, including a moose-poodle, a vicious yorkie, and a giant prehistoric turtle.