Book Review, The Prodigal Mage by Karen Miller

The Prodigal Mage

by Karen Miller

     Hero's save the world. Its what they do. Then they get to live happly ever after right? Yet saveing the world changes it, and humans whether they are Olken or Doranen have trouble excepting that change. In the Kingmaker, Kingbreaker pair of books Asher saved the world from the evil of Morg and freed the Olken from the control of the Doranen gaining them the right to use the magic that they always had but were forbidden from using. The Prodigal Mage continues this story in the world that has been changed by his actions. 

     Asher's magic is different than a normal Olken's simpler earth based power, and because of the things he was forced to do with it he dislikes it greatly. His son is also in position of the same or maybe even greater amounts of power. Yet must grow up with a hero for a father, and hiding this power since it would frighten the world. But when the world starts to die and his father can't save it this time he steps up to the task. 

     Story's don't often cover the after part of things. How a hero may do his job but the great changes he tried to create... just make some things more difficult. Like what happens when a hero has children... And what happens if things go bad again and the hero's too old and worn out from saving the world 10 years earlier before anyone knew about it... This story though it takes the point of view of multiple different characters at different times is mostly about Rafel, Ashers son. The way he grew up and his taking on of the responsibility to help the world when his Father can't.  

     This book really does require you to have read the Kingmaker, Kingbreaker book's (in order The Innocent Mage is first, The Awakened Mage is second making this book three) first. I read them some time ago (1998 I think...) and it took me a few chapters to really remember the world and the way it worked. Especially because there are a lot of changes the world has faced since those books. This book also doesn't give you much of a reminder at all as to what happened (though in general I don't mind this it really didn't cover the past books at all). It jumps from character to character a little too much, and it took a bit to start realizing what family I was following.  But the two families you read about are important in there own way. 

     Rafel steps up to his place in the world. Becoming more comfortable with his magic, learning why it was so important to his father no to show his power to the world and that some things are worth taking a risk for. The story is continued in The Reluctant Mage.