#39 Spellmonger series by Terry Mancour

This is another in the books I picked up just to be a relaxing. I had finished a few other books by John Lee on Audible. That made me want to find other books that he had done, and ran accross this series. So I dove in.

A warning upfront. Terry Mancour is a study of the mideval society. So be prepared when you go in. Most women of this area are treated as objects and are subject to their husbands and society. This is a not a book where the word is running as we run now. There are also some scenes in the series that have haunted me and I skip when rereading them. Plus a few others scenes that are sexual in nature. So fair warning if you dive into them.

The main characters was from a bakers family and a member of the bakers guild. So not peasants, but they are nowhere near noble. Upon finding out he has magical ability, he is sent to school. Then did a mandatory military service to overthrow a mad mage that had found a piece of He saw enough that he found a small village in the mountains that is far from society to set up shop. He hangs up his mage blade, and war wands, takes an apprentice and went to spend his life doing small magics for the village of Boval Vale.

Jumping back in time, centuries earlier, magicians ruled the continent. Sometimes wisely sometimes not. A series of magical disasters happened and the irianite wichstones that amplify magic were gathered and tossed in the sea. Penalty for possessing it is the sentence of death. So most magicians had only the smallest amount of magic. Killing someone with magic would be almost unheard of. This is the society in which the spellmonger lives

While there, the semi-peaceful goblins attack, with a shaman at their lead. After defeating him he investigates and finds the shaman had a witchstone. Then more shamans appear, and more witchstones. He sends a call for help, and he and another local magician and their apprentices gather in the castle for an extended siege begins. Now the five are the most power magicians in the five duchies.

As the series progresses, he finds himself in many perils, and starts to build back the power of the magicians. The five duchies cannot fight without magic, and the wichstones are the key. Many are not happy with real magicians again. Political intrigue runs rampant. It is well written and well thought out.

I read another book recently where magic build a castle. They decided they wanted it, and the dwarves show up and in a week its done. Too much seemed to unbelievable. In this one they point out the advantages magic can have, but it takes time. In the series there is a grand castle to be built, yet even with magic and craftsman, they plan on a decade or two.

I just felt this is well written. Also unlike other series I have read, I feel like there is growth and a progression. He makes mistakes, he causes problems, and he pays for those as time goes on, and is rewarded for succeeding. Anger a noble, and have him and his sworn vassals fighting you or causing problems. It just seemed well done.