The first book in the historical fantasy trilogy Enchanter General. Can be read as a stand-alone.

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The first book in the historical fantasy trilogy Enchanter General. Can be read as a stand-alone.

Format: Audio

Length: 9 hours 19 minutes

Publication year: 2017

Narrated by: Tim Campbell

Normans have ruled England for a hundred years and the native Saxons are spit up, sometimes literally. Durwin is Saxon. His foot was injured in a childhood accident so he must wear an iron boot. Still, a Norman sage, Guy, notices Durwin’s skill with horses and that he’s a smart boy. Guy teaches magic at a rural school. He offers Durwin a post as a stable boy and if Durwin does his job well, he can sit in on the classes, too. Durwin leaps at the chance and his parents agree, as well.

Years later, Durwin is twenty. Because he’s a Saxon, he’s still a stable boy and the Norman students despise him. Still, he learns quickly and wants to learn as much magic as he can. His mentor Guy teaches him. Almost accidentally, Durwin prophesies from ancient rune stones that someone will be murdered.

One of the school’s sages is summoned to attend his noble brother and Guy sends Durwin with him. But also Durwin’s arch nemesis William. However, before sending them off, Guy promotes Durwin to the position of adept, almost unheard of for a Saxon. The Norman William is seething with rage and jealousy, yet Durwin and William must work together.

But at the sage’s brother’s castle, strange things are happening. Before he knows it, Durwin must solve a murder.

This was a fun, fast-paced read. The murder mystery takes quite a while to start but when it does, it’s very enjoyable. As far as I know, the historical research is correct. However, the world has working magic. Sages can heal and lock doors magically. The church thinks that using magic comes from the devil but it hasn’t been outlawed. The spells are cast singing or chanting from ancient books, usually with more than one character chanting.

Durwin is an interesting main character. His crippled leg makes him different from usual fantasy heroes. He’s determined and level-headed, usually able to keep his cool even under Norman taunting. He’s very smart because he’s able to spot and correct mistakes in the spells.

The only drawback is that there are very few female characters and they don’t have agency. This is, of course, historically accurate.