The Magician's Apprentice by Trudi Canavan: Book Review

My Review

My Rating: 5/5

SPOILER FREE

The Magician’s Apprentice is essentially an explanation for how the world came to be in The Black Magician trilogy. Trudi Canavan has created an epic fantasy world with a rich history and vibrant characters.

The magic system might not be particularly complex, like something we might see from Brandon Sanderson, but there are costs and a method for wielding it.

Tessia is one of my favourite main characters Canavan has created

She begins life in a typical rural setting but is soon thrust into the larger world. It was fascinating – on several levels – exploring this new world with her.

Knowing a little of this world from reading The Black Magician trilogy, seeing it before its destruction was wonderful. It adds so much to the history and cultures explored in the main trilogy.

The plot itself is a typical Trudi Canavan plot

in The Magician’s Apprentice, our main character works her way from the bottom of the food chain to a main cog in the progression of the larger events that take place. The plot isn’t complex but it’s compelling and thoroughly enjoyable.

I can’t say any more due to possible spoilers, but I would like to finish this review by saying that this prequel does what many prequels struggle to do well – it adds valuable characters, worldbuilding, and history to the story it is coming before.

If you loved The Black Magician trilogy, then you will love this.