Shami Stovall

Gravedigger Volke Savan, desperate to leave his tiny home island and impress the most beautiful girl he's ever known, breaks every tradition of the bonding ceremony just to become an arcanist. But when he's tasked with killing a hero, he's uncertain.

Knightmare Arcanist

dead line

Ok, obviously this is meant for teens.... but still.

Too cliché for me.

Leelynn Brady

Full review on my Blog  Sometimes Leelynn Reads

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to The Write Reads and Capital Station Books for this free copy. All quotes in this review are taken from the Advanced Reader Copy and may change in final publication.

I thought this was a pretty good first book to the series, and although I feel like there was so much of a plot twist already that was explained in the synopsis – but also felt like it could have been more explored in later books – but I think it can work out. There’s a bigger plot that is briefly mentioned in the beginning of the book, and kind of leads Volke and Illia to find their creatures in the first place, so I guess that is the one that is going to span the rest of the series. I guess I just felt like having Volke find out that his childhood hero is not what he thought he was could be a little intense for a first book? That could just be me honestly. It wasn’t a bad plot at all, but I guess for me it was too big of a plot? Maybe I’m just talking nonsense.

I’m curious to see what others think about this novel and the rest of the series. When I saw that there are four books, I was interested to see if there was going to be more. I feel like the fourth book doesn’t seem like it’s an actual ending? But we will see!

Kerri McDonald

“You cannot see the whole tapestry if you stare at a single thread.”

Thank you to Dave @ The Write Reads, Capital Station Books, and the author for sending me a free book in exchange for an honest review!

We all know that I’m a huge fantasy nerd. I mean, just take a look at this blog, eh? Fantasy everywhere! So when Dave sent the call out for a tour featuring an epic fantasy, I was instantly intrigued. Then, when I read the synopsis and there was mention of a bevy of magical creatures, you know I had to sign up!

In this novel, we’re following a young man named Volke Savan. He is apprenticed to the town gravedigger, but Volke dreams of becoming more. He dreams of becoming an arcanist: a powerful magic user who is bonded with one of the many mystical creatures populating this world. He grew up on stories of Gregory Ruma, one of the greatest arcanists that has ever lived and he wants to be just like him. When Volke comes upon the chance to bond with a knightmare, a mystical creature made of shadow and terror, he leaps at the chance to finally start on the journey to achieve his dreams! But things are not as they seem and soon Volke is wrapped up in a mystery that could get him killed.

Let me tell y’all something. I was a little worried about getting this post up in time because ya girl has been busy and didn’t pick this book up until yesterday. I’m a slow reader compared to some and it typically takes me at least a couple of days to get through a 300+ page novel.

I read this book in one day.

Once I cracked this book open and landed into Volke’s story I could not. stop. reading! This book is the definition of un-putdownable! Which is super not a word but my statement stands! Shami Stovall’s writing is incredible, bringing you into the story with a force akin to gravity. You can’t deny it, you just have to go with it until you turn the last page and the book frees you from it’s pull. The descriptions are beautifully wrought, the plot is perfectly paced, and the journey, though your typical hero arc, is fresh enough to keep you wanting more.

Speaking of the hero arc, let’s talk about the characters. Volke is your classic down-on-his-luck young man who is trying to become more. Though he falls into your basic fantasy hero trope, I found myself completely enamored with his character. I think the credit has to go to Shami Stovall’s writing. She made him relatable and interesting. I also liked the fact that nothing came easily to Volke. He didn’t bond with the knightmare and instantly become this epic magician. He struggles and the struggles made him more real, even in this fantastical setting. Most of the secondary characters were similarly well-crafted, with unique voices and personalities. I will say that the villain of this story felt a little flat to me, but I did like the concept of his fall from grace. Overall, though, I thought the author did an amazing job writing these characters.

My favorite thing about this book, however, has to be the magic and the variety of mystical creatures. I loved how the magic of the arcanists worked! I loved how each creature grants their arcanist different powers, I loved the bond between creature and arcanist, and I loved learning about the magic alongside Volke. If I lived in this world, I would 100% be an arcane zoologist! Just like Adelgis, one of Volke’s companions, I would want to know anything and everything about all the different mystical creatures. Stovall did a beautiful job of creating a fairly unique and interesting magic system that took this book from good to great!

Final thoughts: This is your classic hero story filled with wonder and magic. Shami Stovall’s writing yanks you into the world and wraps you up in the story so securely, it takes you a couple of seconds to come back to the real world once you’ve finished. The world-building is excellent, the characters are intriguing, and the magic system is fantastically interesting! If you’re looking for an epic fantasy series to begin that will completely capture your imagination, Knightmare Arcanist is a book you should definitely pick up!

Knightmare Arcanist

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