The Mage's Devotion: A Sword and Sorcery Novel Audiobook By Rich OToole cover art

The Mage's Devotion: A Sword and Sorcery Novel

The Orzare Chronicles, Book 1

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The Mage's Devotion: A Sword and Sorcery Novel

By: Rich OToole
Narrated by: Kyle Snyder
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The Northern Alliance and the nations to the south seem to be in a never-ending cycle of war and destruction.

Flynn Matthews, a typical farm boy, unfortunately finds himself at a geographical disadvantage during these war times when he experiences a terrible childhood tragedy which flings him into a world of chaos and magic. After suffering his loss, he is taken in by a local temple to apprentice in the magical arts. When his apprenticeship ends, he is tasked to a secret assignment which is riddled with supernatural complications.

Author's Note: I wrote this series for my love of both fantasy and video games. While this story doesn't exactly fit into the category of a LitRPG, it does include basic gaming foundations such as tanks, healers, and damager dealers. That being said, when I wrote this, I didn't want it to focus too much on stats or being transported to a different world. Instead, I wanted it to be a world all its own, more like an epic fantasy tale. I suppose it can best be described as a gameLit secondary world or progression fantasy. Mostly though, it's just supposed to be magical and fun. I hope you enjoy this as much as I have during its production.

©2021 Richard O'Toole (P)2022 Richard O'Toole Epic Fantasy Magical Realism Science Fiction & Fantasy
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So where to start? Overall this book was decent. it has Somme good ideas, but...

Some of the characters, ok, many, seem rather flat in their interactions and the way they react to circumstances is very dry and lacking in emotion. this is my biggest gripe with this book. Granted, this could be due to the narrator.

Narrator did an ok job, but seemed new and could have played into the characters more to spice up the dry reactions.

Story was very abrupt and could have used a ton more detail. This is an example of SHOW don't TELL. Book almost seems like a long prologe.

With that said, I do think there are good ideas and I like the magic system. I think it can easily be fleshed out in later books. I'll listen to the next in hopes that it fixes some of the issues in this first chapter.

Decent overall with some good ideas.

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This book really isn't anything super special or something super bad, that said it's a normal book. Everything I expected out of this book I got out of it. So now here's the cons. This book has way to many chapters and way to many povs that said its bearable. Other then that I have no complaints, you could say that the character progression of the book is left lacking.


Now let's do the pros. The elements of this book remind me of a "last Airbender" "Avatar" feel. The Mc isn't overpowered hes unique. The narrator is good. I could say I want more world building but it isn't that bad. The fighting is very detailed which I really like. The Mc isn't hard to like, the side characters aren't hard to like. The conversations aren't basic, each character has there own unique personality. It also adds some Christianity through the story. The story progression isn't bad. If you're looking at this book and expecting an litrpg dungeon type story this not the book for you.

All this being said this book is a steal for the price and I 100 percent recommend for someone who wants a lighthearted listen.

Solid 1st book.

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the mage's devotion is a fun fantasy gamelit story that involves the felling of sitting around a table with friends and playing an epic table top campaign.
while it doesn't have stats like a litrpg story that also means it won't fall into the trap of substituting character development and plot progression for making numbers bigger.
only real negative I can say is that was a bit on the short side, and could have been a bit longer.
but if the only real complaint about a book is that want to read it more then the author is doing something right.

a well written first entry for a new series

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This book has something foe everyone. Wonderfully performed. Lots of interesting characters, twists and turns. Wonderful entertainment.

Great book

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Not sure how many books the author has under their belt, but I am very interested to see how they progress as a writer. A few issues with pace and could stand to have a few more hours devoted to detail, but overall a good story and I will finish the series when available.

Nice addition to the genre

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Overall really liked the book and its unique magic and "classes" especially since the MC took and different than the norm path and we see his struggles with it. The only issue I had with the book was early on theres 2 POV's with 1 being the MC. It seems like the 2 POV's run parallel but when the MC has a time skip, the other doesn't. Maybe I just didnt follow along as well there? Either way and amazing book.

Looking forward to Book 2

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Listener received this title free

Overall I really liked the story. I am enjoying how the characters are developing, but am hoping to learn a little more about the magic system. I don't know what the differences are between the magic orders other than the nebulous word "power". Are they able to increase power/capacity or just their control over their spells/elements? I still like the story despite not knowing these answers.

My biggest point of confusion is how time flowed. their are a couple different POV's that are followed. The MC's POV would have large jumps forward in time, but the other POV was constant. there was no explanation to this and could have been easy to miss if you were even a little distracted during the narration.

Neither of these concerns were enough to stop me from immediately going to the next book in the series though. I enjoyed the story.

P.S. I got mad at the prince to the point I put the book down for a few minutes to calm myself. I feel it's a good thing when you can connect with the characters in such a way. I hope he gets his comeuppance.

immediately went to book 2

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Listener received this title free

This was a fun start to the series. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and the details of the magic system with its element system and classes.

A war is creeping across the lands and destruction and slavery are the results left in its wake. Our main character Flynn is forced to leave his home and life changes for him very quickly. There are a few time skips involved in Flynn's story as he progresses and studies as a mage.
One thing of note: I think this is the first fantasy series I've come across that uses more traditionally Christian religious themes mixed in with the fantasy. For example The Creator (God), Lucifer, Angels, and Demons and Hell are mentioned. For me this didn't add or take away anything from the story, it just was a different take on fantasy religion.

The narrator did a great job with the different character voices and I could easily tell apart the characters with very little effort.

Looking forward to book 2!

Fun start to a series

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Listener received this title free


In a world ablaze with enchantment and wonder, I have embarked upon an auditory journey that has left me utterly spellbound. "The Mage's Devotion: A Sword and Sorcery Novel," the first tome of The Orzare Chronicles, has proven to be a luminous gem in the vast tapestry of fantasy literature.

Oh, what delight it is to traverse the realms of magic and valor, to be ensnared by a tale of sorcery and steel spun as skillfully as the finest elven silk. The mellifluous words of the narrator dance upon the ears like a symphony of ancient ballads, transporting the listener to a world of yore where courage and wisdom hold sway.

The characters, akin to the Fellowship of old, are a party of heart and soul, a kinship that beckons us to join their ranks in spirit. The mage, with his enigmatic aura, conjures spells that shimmer like stars in the night sky. The valiant knight, a sentinel of honor, wields his blade with the elegance of a minstrel's melody. And amidst this splendid tapestry, a grand epic unfolds, painting a portrait of friendship, loyalty, and a devotion that burns brighter than the very sun.

Through the verdant meadows and misty mountains, the listener is transported to a realm where magic is not merely a spectacle, but a force intertwined with the very fabric of existence. As the characters unravel ancient mysteries and battle malevolent forces, one cannot help but marvel at the intricate world-building that mirrors the craftsmanship of the finest elven artisans.

Tolkien himself would surely nod approvingly at the author's skill in crafting languages that roll off the tongue like ancient hymns, imbuing the narrative with an authenticity that is both immersive and enchanting. Each line is like a stroke of an artist's brush, painting the canvas of imagination with vibrant hues of magic and mystique.

Oh, dear reader, if you possess a heart that beats for the fantastical, if you long for the days of wandering through the Shire or riding with the Rohirrim, then "The Mage's Devotion" shall be a feast for your soul. Let not the shadows of Mordor dampen your spirits, for in the pages of this audiobook, a luminous tale of bravery and wonder awaits, a tale that would surely make even Gandalf himself offer a hearty chuckle of approval.

Swords clang and spells bang!!

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