I had read the Kingmaker, Kingbreaker series a few years ago so when I came across this book the name Barl tickled the back of my mind. When I realized it was a prequel about the deity in the series I had to buy it! I had the benefit of having the bare bones of Innocent and Awakened Mage in my mind, but having had years and probably hundreds of books between when I read them and now I also had a fairly fresh mind for this half-remembered world.This book did not disappoint either as a standalone novel if you've not read the Kingmaker, Kingbreaker series, or as a prequel to those who want to know about the Mysterious Barl.I did not like Barl Linden. She is arrogant, and stubborn, and immature. Her great intelligence just makes her prideful blindness less bearable. While she is obviously correct, in my opinion, in her seeking of justice, her behavior makes her unable to attain it AND makes it so that neither she or anyone else can say whether she's being held back by social injustice or her own abrasive nature... She is a very compelling character. As I said I didn't like her. I disliked her almost as if she was a real person in my life. As the story progresses she does grow as a character and we do see a softer side of her, but her growth is realistic, and if you thought to see the pride and ambition die, you would be sadly and properly disappointed.The story itself is compelling (especially if like me the kingdom of Lur is a fuzzy half-remembered dream) the magic of the Doranen is fleshed out to a fantastic degree. Part of that might be that it was more potent and pure in the Days of Barl (for reasons I won't speculate upon to avoid spoilers) though it may just be that most of this story is purely Doranen where as Kingmaker, Kingbreaker is mostly Olken (and crippled-Doranen)The writing is masterful. There are points in the story in which large chunks of time are squeezed into short spaces and they come off almost scripture-like. I'm not sure if that's what the author was going for, but I assume it was, and it was done well.I strongly recommend this book before Kingmaker, Kingbreaker if you can. If you've recently read them I think you'll enjoy it on another level. Review: The aim of this book is to explain the flight of the Doranen to the land of Lur and to set up the story for the King Maker, King Breaker series. When I originally brought this book I had no idea that it was a prequel; however this did not affect my reading experience.The book started and ended well, however there was pacing issues in the middle of the book. I could not motivate myself to read, and I went from caring about the characters and their desires to thinking that they were annoying and arrogant; its no wonder the Guild turned against them.Yet it is this arrogance which make Barl and Morgan and which pushes the story forward. Both are trapped by the strict social hierarchy of Doranen - ranked vs. unranked - with has nothing to do with the level of power each individual holds.Barl is a unranked magician with power that surpasses many of her superiors. When we first meet her is arrogant, selfish and convinced of her own superiority, her one redeeming feature is the love she feels for her brother, Remmie. Nevertheless there are times where she allows her selfishness to hurt him. However towards the end of the book when Barl realised the damage done through her arrogance she is humbled and willing to help the people of Doranen. Morgan, on the other hand, is a ranked powerful magician, who has secured a sit on the Council of Mages. He too is frustrated that his superior talents go largely unrecognised. When Barl and Morgan mean they are two kindred spirits. Love (or lust) is what brings them together but it is their ability to create new magework that binds them together. Overall this was an enjoyable book and the books succeeded in persuading me to read. Anyone who has read Miller's other work will enjoy this book.
What do You think about A Blight Of Mages (2011)?
Amazing. Can't wait to read more of Miller's work!
—elrondaragorn
Interesting prequel that completes the saga
—sjwest
