I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A young man desperate to become a mage finds himself on the run after being framed for an attempted assassination in author Larry Correia’s “Academy of Outcasts.”
The Synopsis
A brand new fantasy world from Larry Correia, bestselling author of Monster Hunter International!
All Oz Carnavon ever wanted was to become a master mage.
Except, to do so requires the natural gifts or wealth necessary to secure an appointment to one of the prestigious magical academies in the Core City at the center of the seven realms. Oz had neither.
He was born without magical talent, serving in the elemental plane of fire, a nightmarish hellscape of treacherous lava and vicious monsters, where life is cheap, and escape is rare. But Carnavons never give up.
When Oz fakes his death to get out of his family’s contract and crosses the Nexus gate to sneak into the Core, everything seems to be going according to plan… Until he gets blamed for an assassination attempt on the fire realm’s ambassador.
Now, Oz must become a fugitive in a vast magical city, while trying to earn a place among the magical academies which have nothing but disdain for his kind.
And the clock is ticking, because in one week, the most dangerous wizard in the realm of fire is coming to track him down and drag him back to hell.
Experience this epic new saga from LARRY CORREIA, award-winning author of Monster Hunter International and Saga of the Forgotten Warrior. This progression fantasy epic features a D&D-inspired setting split by portals into elemental realms, slow-growth power progression, magic academies, and unforgettable characters!
The Review
This was such a robust and detailed read. The author perfectly captured the various settings of this universe, from the gritty and fiery world of Fogo to the Core and beyond. The book expertly infused elements of classism and the balance that is so hard to maintain between wanting to pursue one’s dreams without sacrificing the family and /or home that a person came from into the themes of this narrative, giving the protagonist and the band of other characters who join him on his quest the heart and depth needed to provide their goals a unique and heartfelt emotional pull.
The balance of magic and action was terrific to see come to life on the page, as was the magical system that the author explored. Yet it was the world-building that really captured this world so effortlessly. The wealth of mystical and fantasy characters — from mages and wizards to orcs, gnomes, and more — populated this universe in a way that felt natural and compelling. In contrast, the multidimensional travel and the way those dimensions represented how different classes of people were divided were both fascinating and cut to the heart of many similar issues faced in our world, keeping readers engaged in the story.
The Verdict
Thrilling, compelling, and entertaining, author Larry Correia’s “Academy of Outcasts” is a must-read fantasy novel and a great start to a brand new fantasy series. The twists and turns of the narrative, from the heartbreaking circumstances that shape the protagonist’s motivations in the beginning of the novel to the fight for survival and recognition in a universe that seems determined to leave them behind, and so much more, made this novel atmospheric and engaging. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
About the Author
Larry Correia is the New York Times bestselling author of twenty-five novels. He’s best known for his Monster Hunter International urban fantasy series, the Saga of the Forgotten Warrior epic fantasy series, the Grimnoir Chronicles alternate history trilogy, the Dead Six military thrillers, and the sci-fi Gun Runner. He’s also written over sixty pieces of shorter fiction, many of which are included in his Target Rich Environment collections, and he has edited three anthologies.. He lives in Yard Moose Mountain, Utah with his wife, children, and fearsome Krasnovian Waffle Hound.
https://monsterhunternation.com/
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/academy-of-outcasts-larry-correia/1146889384?ean=9781638493037
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