The Prodigal Mage

By Karen Miller
Orbit, $24.99, 512 pages

The Prodigal Mage is the first of a new series by Australian writer Karen Miller. This is her first hardcover release, and a worthwhile addition to her oeuvre. Mage takes place after the events in her Kingmaker, Kingbreaker duology, and while reading them isn’t absolutely necessary to get into The Prodigal Mage it will ease understanding the characters and settings.

This story takes place ten years after the great Mage War from Kingmaker, Kingbreaker. Mage Asher is working on holding his country together with the racial differences between the Olken and Doranen, and try to raise a family in as normal a fashion as possible. But as his children start developing their own powers, Asher also has to deal with the failing weather magic that has helped keep his country of Lur safe. His failed attempt to fix the weather map that maintained the land ends in his near death, and it becomes up to his son Rafel to find the solution to Lur’s need.

Miller has an excellent grasp of language and dialogue, and is able to keep the story moving without the need for constant action. That may be one of the only drawbacks to this volume as this is a character-driven story without many scenes of traditional high adventure. Fans of military action or quest style fantasy may be disappointed by the often slow pace, but that shouldn’t keep you from enjoying one of the best new writers of the last couple of years. Those that enjoyed Kingmaker, Kingbreaker will enjoy returning to the world of Lur, and look forward to next year’s continuation of the story.