Book review: Knightmare Arcanist (Frith Chronicles #1) by Shami Stovall
Harry Potter meets Codex Alera
After trying out Shami Stovall’s not-Dresden Files universe (the Chronos Warlock series, starring Adair Finch), I thought I would try her not-Codex Alera series.
It’s fun.
The Story
Like every Young Adult protagonist and Disney princess, Volke Savan wants … more!
Volke wants to be a hero, a magical swashbuckler. To do this, Volke needs to be bonded with a mythical creature, and gain magic through the bond, becoming an arcanist.
And no, you cannot “collect them all.”
Through various and sundry circumstances, Volke finds himself bonded to a Knightmare, which looks like a suit of armor, but is made of shadows and fear.
Armed with his this new companion, Luthair, Volke needs to be trained. At a magic academy for archanists, Volke has to deal with student drama, a drunk mentor, pirates, and plague that mutates magical creatures, and an evil mastermind behind it all.
Unfortunately, Luthair the knightmare lost his last human, and has sworn revenge, and has made Volke’s aid in that revenge part of the deal.
When the knightmare fingers the most legendary magic wielder in the land as the killer he seeks, Volke finds himself dealing with a murder mystery as well. If Luthair is wrong, all well and good, but if it’s correct, things are going to get ugly.
This was a fun little book. There is definitely some overlap with Codex Alera, but then again, that was explicitly stated as part lost legion and part Pokemon, so there’s no real complaint here. It definitely felt more “young adult” than Codex Alera ever did. Heck, I don’t think Alera slowed down enough for some of the drama involved in this book. But overall, it was fun. I don’t think I enjoyed it as much as the Chronos Warlock series, but I’ll try the next book in the series for certain (as of now, there are eight entries. Oy.)
The Characters
Volke is a good kid. He’s not as whiny as most YA protagonists. He’s an adult by most standards, even if he’s still technically a teenager. He’s largely sensible and knows enough when to be scared, and still runs in anyway.
I think my only real quibble with Volke is that he grows more knowledgeable throughout the book, but doesn’t really have character growth. But then again, this is book one of eight, he has time. And who has time for character development in less than a month? (If it was longer than that, I’d be surprised.)
The Luthair is interesting as a counterpart. He’s an adult Knightmare, and almost feels like a father figure to Volke. Luthair is steady and secure in what it knows and how the world should work, with Volke being neither. It’s a dynamic that works well.
The World
The world didn’t get much in the way of building. There’s some history, and glimpses of other countries, but not much. Most of the world built was around Volke’s original island, which came off as a small province. It leaves room for more world building later on. Don’t expect this to go full Middle Earth in book one … I expect it to develop over time.
Basically, the only world building that happens is directly important to the story.
Politics
None. This is a pure fantasy world with no relation to ours. Come to think of it, I’m not even sure how this world is governed.
Content Warning
Think of everything that can go wrong with magic plagues… no, it does not go full The Hot Zone, but there are moments.
Honestly, I think I could give this to a young teenager or a smart child. (Keep in mind, I’m strange. I read Jurassic Park when I was ten, so your milage of “smart child” may vary)
Who is it for?
This is for fans of Harry Potter or Codex Alera.
Funny thing is, I have that in my notes, and found several reviews matching that exact description on the Amazon page, so I’m clearly not the only one who saw the similarities.
Why buy it?
If you want to get into a new epic fantasy series that appropriate for all ages, but doesn’t talk down to the readers, this will be for you.