Spellbound

Starred review from May 23, 2016
Charlton’s magnificent epic fantasy novel concludes his Spellwright trilogy (after Spellbound) but also works as a standalone story. Leandra Weal is one of three Wardens, charged with quelling neodemons who arise from malevolent thoughts and the magic energies of the world. A spell induces a vision that warns her she must either kill someone she loves or die herself—very soon—in order to prevent widespread destruction. The other Wardens—her father, Nicodemus Weal, and her mother, Francesca DeVega—have discovered evidence of incursions by spellwrights from a foreign empire and the presence of an ancient demon, which may signal a significant supernatural assault against the human kingdoms. Charlton inserts backstory naturally, and readers will effortlessly pick up on the history and mythology underlying the tale’s present. His worldbuilding is impressive, with each culture having a distinct flavor. His magic is based on spells that can turn words into physical forms, and readers will be awed by the divinity complexes, which are powerful constructs of multiple deities and humans. There is significant emotional depth to the story, and ponderings on fate, love, and the purpose of human society give the novel some gravitas. Intricate plotting, strong characters, and a wonderfully imagined world make this a winner. Agent: Matt Bialer, Sanford J. Greenburger Associates.

September 15, 2011

Two magicians seeking escape from a demonic plot fall in love in the second volume of an epic fantasy trilogy.

Ten years after the events of Spellwright (2010), the physician Francesca DeVega discovers that her city of Avel is now secretly controlled by the demon Typhon, in preparation for the Disjunction, a prophesied demonic invasion. She is apparently key to Typhon's plot to recruit Nicodemus Weal, the outlaw spellwright destined to play a (as yet undefined) role in the Disjunction and whose cacography causes him to misspell most magical texts and prevents him from touching other living beings. Tensions rise as the city becomes overrun by various political, religious and magical factions who have their own beliefs about the looming Disjunction. To make matters worse, the Savanna Walker, Typhon's half-draconic creation, roams the streets, causing blindness and aphasia; a second threatened dragon remains hidden. As Francesca (at first reluctantly) joins Nicodemus in his quest to thwart Typhon, find the second dragon and recover the emerald that will cure his cacography, she learns one more devastating truth—about herself. Middle volumes are always tricky, but Charlton succeeds brilliantly here; this is no mere setup for the final installment. By shifting locales from the first book, he widens the reader's view of the author's richly detailed world, characters, and magical systems, all of which are informed by his experiences as a medical student and a severe dyslexic.

Absolutely not to be missed.

(COPYRIGHT (2011) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

Starred review from August 1, 2011

In a world in which the casting of spells is dependent on the caster's skill with words, the wizard Nicodemus is a pariah, a cacographer who bears a curse that causes him to misspell even the smallest magical casting and whose touch inflicts cancerous growths, preventing him from even the most casual contact with others. Cast out from his school of magic, he seeks a way to defeat the demon who cursed him and to lift his curse--and cure his old teacher's deadly illness. While the land around him erupts in civil war and old friends have become his enemies, Nicodemus must risk his very soul to convince the woman he loves to trust him to do the right thing. Charlton's sequel to Spellwright conjures up a world in which words contain real power. Yet his strength lies even more with his characters--in particular, the lexicographically challenged protagonist, who resonates with conviction and integrity. VERDICT A well-written and cleverly presented fantasy with strong characters and surprising plot twists, this saga should appeal to those who enjoyed its predecessor as well as fans of Terry Brooks and L.E. Modesitt Jr.

Copyright 2011 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2011
The sequel to Spellwright (2010) continues to follow the wizard apprentice Nicodemus on his quest to stop the coming Disjunction. He has his comrades in arms, the kobolds, to help him on his way as he sets out with a plan to retrieve the gemstone that will help him overcome his cacography, allowing him to become the savior from the coming apocalypse. The cast of characters in this book is varied and complex, with a female doctor who is not what or who she appears to be. She is supposed to help Nico on his way, at least according to the corrupted avatar Deirdre. Two dragons, a very powerful demon, a few gods, and a pair of political factions serve to round out this rather complex and convoluted tale. Towns, countryside, and people are portrayed in a realistic fashion, reminiscent of a somewhat medieval age. For those readers who enjoyed the first book in this series, this tale will add to the already complex story line, finishing off certain threads while illuminating new ones that will surely come to the fore in forthcoming titles.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)