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Spellslinger

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Spellslinger

Written by: Sebastien de Castell
Narrated by: Joe Jameson
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About this listen

A would-be mage with no magic of his own has to defeat powerful enemies with only cunning and deception in the first book of an exciting adventure fantasy series from Sebastien de Castell.

Kellen is moments away from facing his first duel and proving his worth as a spellcaster. There's just one problem: his magic is fading.

Facing exile unless he can pass the mage trials, Kellen is willing to risk everything -- even his own life -- in search of a way to restore his magic. But when the enigmatic Ferius Parfax arrives in town, she challenges him to take a different path.

One of the elusive Argosi, Ferius is a traveller who lives by her wits and the cards she carries. Daring, unpredictable, and wielding magic Kellen has never seen before, she may be his only hope.

The first novel in a compelling six-book series, bursting with tricks, humor, and a whole new way to look at magic.

Spellslinger SeriesSpellslingerShadowblackCharmcasterFor more from Sebastien de Castell, check out:
The Greatcoats QuartetTraitor's BladeSaint's BloodKnight's ShadowTyrant's Throne
Action & Adventure Coming of Age Epic Epic Fantasy Fantasy Fiction Genre Fiction Humorous Magic Comedy Classics Witty Magic Users Wizardry

What the critics say

"Told with the conviction of Ursula Le Guin and the dash of Alexandre Dumas"—New Statesman (UK)
"Spellslinger is the start of something truly special. Sebastien de Castell is a master of breakneck pacing, dagger-sharp dialogue, and twists you didn't see coming--and this series has it all."—Nicholas Eames, author of Kings of the Wyld
"A tremendously fun read full of wit and action."—James Islington, author of The Shadow of What Was Lost
"An intriguing system of magic, wry humor, and a twisting plot make for an entertaining series debut."—Kirkus
"This book is dangerously addictive. It has it all: compelling world-building, breathtaking plot-twists, a page-turning pace, and characters who soon feel like old friends. I can't wait for the next one!"—Melissa Caruso, author of The Tethered Mage
"Exotic, original and gripping from the get-go, Spellslinger is a must-read"—Jonathan Stroud, author of the Lockwood and Co series
"Hugely enjoyable - fast-paced, compassionate, wise and with terrific characters."—Amanda Craig, author of Hearts and Minds
"Written with such obvious joy and brio that it demands to be read."—RJ Barker, author of Age of Assassins
"A fun, fast-moving adventure, with surprising depth and insight."—Hugo Award winning author Jim C. Hines
"A bucket-load of tension is offset with humour, power struggles, lots of magic and some great characters. Fantasy junkies will devour with relish."—Guardian (UK)
"There's room for wit and playfulness amid the high-stakes duels and death matches, and Kellen's career is likely to run and run."—The Observer (UK)
"We can confidently say that de Castell's new series has hit the ground running."—Starburst
All stars
Most Relevant
Another win from Sebastien de Castell. SPELLSLINGER has all the imagination, energy, wit, and charm of his previous books. Add in an inventive take on magic, some banter, and action, and this book is a winner.

Kellen is seen as a failure to his people and family—of whom magic is their entire life—because his own magical skill is nonexistent. To make things more complex, Kellen meets a fast-talking woman named Ferius with sharp skills and a sharper tongue. Ferius begins to turn Kellen’s world on its head, making him question all he’s been taught and reconsider the path laid out before him.

Kellen is a realistic character. Young and heavily flawed, he wasn’t a perfect hero and needed to do a lot of growing. Yet I never disliked him and think he will grow even more in the next books. Ferius is spectacular. Funny, strong, and fierce, I want to know more about her ASAP.

The plot and stakes are clear and grow as the book moves from chapter to chapter. I was never bored and loved Kellen using his cunning and new skills to get out of scrapes.

The world has many details, but de Castell’s prose made each aspect easy to understand. This series has been on my TBR for a long time and I’m so glad to be starting it. I truly can’t wait to see where things go from here.

Another Win From de Castell

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Entertaining plot, ideas and a intresting world but has flaws in it's execution. There was too many impossible escapes, plot armor, happenstance and meta knowledge that annoyed me leaving me frustrated. A good Wild West Wizards story but could have been much better.

entertaining but frustrating

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