Dragon Mage
Rivenworld #1
by
M.L. Spencer
Guest review by Constance Lopez
What if the thing that makes you different from everyone else isnโt a weakness, but instead your greatest strength?
Aram Raythe is autisticโand that is his greatest strength. The entire magic system in this book plays to that detail. Because how Aramโs brain works is exactly why he is the championโthe only champion. He is the only one who can see the aether of the world in color, and that allows him to do magic more complex than anyone else. His fascination with knots is actually tied to his magic, because knots are how magic is made. The magic system in general is just REALLY cool, with the gifted and the sorcerers and Shields(those resistant to magic).
I loved every minute of this. Aram is a sweet, heartfelt character who never loses sight of himself. He deeply values the friendships he builds throughout the story. And those friendships are one of this storyโs greatest strengths. Spencer does an excellent job showing the connectionโand tensions, when things go awryโthat run between two people in a relationship. And Markus is the perfect balance to him. They make a fantastic team against the antagonistsโwho are really just The Worst. The good guys are bastions of goodness in this story, but the bad guys? Theyโre absolutely awful. Euwgh.
The world is rich and varied and thereโs so much room to explore and growโwhich is excellent, as Spencer is working on a sequel(YAY!). Dragon Mage is written as a standalone, but readers clamored for more, and she listened.
Thank goodness. I need more of Aram and co.
Find Dragon Mage on Goodreads
Guest Reviewer:
Constance Lopez knows magic is real. Dragons, faeriesโฆ and donโt even get her started on unicorns. She grew up having epic duels in the woods with her siblings, and nature is still one of her favorite places to be. If she isnโt out there working on her stories, sheโs dragging her children and husband on adventures (they always enjoy it once theyโre outside). Except in summer. For those months she hides inside, because Texas heat is real and it hates her.
Books have always been her haven and inspiration, and now she writes her own noblebright stories, hoping to pass those feelings along to others. Fantasy, of course. Because everything is better with magic.
Visit Constance’s website to learn more about Constance and her books.