The Cub cover art

The Cub

Bear Clan Series, Book 1

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The Cub

Written by: Vasily Mahanenko, Jared Firth - translator
Narrated by: Matt Godfrey
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About this listen

Death had only ever been a small misunderstanding for the high mage. After his seventh reincarnation, he'd begun thinking of it differently, viewing it as nothing more than a slight hiccup in his plans.

But he'd forgotten one thing: When those plans get in the way of those higher up the ladder, punishment is soon to follow. And one more death brought faint consolation.

Sent to another world, he found himself in a stranger's body, though the worst part was that he was left with only the memories he'd built since his previous reincarnation. All the mage had learned before that point was gone. Finding himself in that challenging situation, his dilemma was between carving out his place in the sun and throwing up his hands in despair.

But giving in wasn't an option for Leg Ondo. The Brown Bear clan brooked no cowards. If fighting was the way to go, it was a fight to the death, to the last drop of blood. Most importantly, the new world needed to be explored and understood, the local iteration of magic in particular. Let nobody ever say that the youngest of the Bears was unworthy!

©2021 V. Mahanenko; English translation copyright 2021 by Jared Firth (P)2021 Tantor Fiction Science Fiction & Fantasy Magic Fantasy Magic Users Wizardry

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All stars
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This Vasily Mahanenko story doesn't fit into his usual LitRPG wheelhouse (a hard-luck human inserted into a Game-structured Fantasy reality and learning how to advance himself). This one rather finds a respawned non-human High Mage thrust into a novel steampunk-ish world structured around Animal-themed Barbarian Clans. Mahanenko explores an interesting Force Line/Mana Storage Magic System by enrolling 15-year-old 'Leg Ondo' into an Imperial Academy developed for elites.. and plays with a clever political-cultural power dynamic among the Totem-empowered Nations and their teenage children.
The unapologetically YA book is perhaps a bit overcerebral.. but that could easily be Translator Jared Firth failing to interpret the author's Russian-penned intentions reliably. Regardless, I enjoyed the book.. but it didn't blow me away.

As to presentation: Reader Matt Godfrey does a better-than-average job delivering the tale. I may be a bit biased (his narration of David Delaney's 'Paragon Society' books is genuinely outstanding) - but Godfrey's diction, cadence, and tone are all exemplary. Despite an occasionally irritating near-adolescent natural reading timbre, this is an excellent narration demonstration.

Altogether, 'The Cub' rates 5.5 stars out of 10. I am pleased to have found it in the 'Plus' catalog.. but I recommend spending your Credit on better options when they ask for one.

[Note: Extensive discussions regarding Inter-/Intra-Clan Political Maneuvering & Mithril Mining Consortia are well-reasoned, but also make it forgivable if your eyes go blurry with disinterest at times]

Not Bad Magical School Story

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