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Minor Mage
Oliver was a very minor mage. His familiar reminded him of this several times a day.
He only knew three spells, and one of them was to control his allergy to armadillo dander. His attempts to summon elementals resulted in nosebleeds, and there is nothing more embarrassing than having your elemental leave the circle to get you a tissue, pat you comfortingly, and then disappear in a puff of magic. The armadillo had about wet himself laughing.
He was a very minor mage.
Unfortunately, he was all they had.
He only knew three spells, and one of them was to control his allergy to armadillo dander. His attempts to summon elementals resulted in nosebleeds, and there is nothing more embarrassing than having your elemental leave the circle to get you a tissue, pat you comfortingly, and then disappear in a puff of magic. The armadillo had about wet himself laughing.
He was a very minor mage.
Unfortunately, he was all they had.
176 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 30, 2019
About the author
T. Kingfisher
51 books17.5k followersT. Kingfisher is the vaguely absurd pen-name of Ursula Vernon. In another life, she writes children's books and weird comics, and has won the Hugo, Sequoyah, and Ursa Major awards, as well as a half-dozen Junior Library Guild selections.
This is the name she uses when writing things for grown-ups.
When she is not writing, she is probably out in the garden, trying to make eye contact with butterflies.
This is the name she uses when writing things for grown-ups.
When she is not writing, she is probably out in the garden, trying to make eye contact with butterflies.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,050 reviews
November 4, 2022
You didn’t need to be a wizard to realize that if the rains didn’t come, it was going to get very bad in the village. But you also definitely didn’t need to be a wizard to know that Oliver’s mom was not going to let her twelve-year-old son hare off to the distant Rainblade Mountains.
Oliver, who is twelve, and a very minor mage, along with his familiar, an armadillo, are on a mission to bring rain back to his village. They were going anyway, but the villagers ended up kind of encouraging them when Oliver's mom was away.
My friend thought this was quite satisfying, and I'd agree, although I doubt we mean in the same way. It's quite emotionally complicated for what begins as a fleshed-out folk tale. I was quite sad for Oliver in the beginning, though it was leavened with touches of humor. Then there was a suspenseful bit, then a sort-of-funny-but-gruesome bit, then adventuresome, and horrific, and sad-but-lovely... well, you get the picture. It's not the straightforward sass and magic of the Jackalope. As they say on Facebook, "it's complicated."
An interesting little fact that a number of reviews touch on is that Vernon was told this wasn't suitable as a young adult book, presumably because of the horror elements. That, I think, is suspicious; I think it was probably decided as unsuitable because Oliver ends up learning a young person's hardest lesson:
"Oliver was already on his knees, but he bowed his head, feeling complicated things he didn’t know how to deal with. When kindness came from murdered ghosts and lost pigs, and the adults that were supposed to help you were monsters that walked like men"
I was particularly fond of the armadillo (no name needed) and the clouds. Creative and just a touch melancholic.
Oliver, who is twelve, and a very minor mage, along with his familiar, an armadillo, are on a mission to bring rain back to his village. They were going anyway, but the villagers ended up kind of encouraging them when Oliver's mom was away.
My friend thought this was quite satisfying, and I'd agree, although I doubt we mean in the same way. It's quite emotionally complicated for what begins as a fleshed-out folk tale. I was quite sad for Oliver in the beginning, though it was leavened with touches of humor. Then there was a suspenseful bit, then a sort-of-funny-but-gruesome bit, then adventuresome, and horrific, and sad-but-lovely... well, you get the picture. It's not the straightforward sass and magic of the Jackalope. As they say on Facebook, "it's complicated."
An interesting little fact that a number of reviews touch on is that Vernon was told this wasn't suitable as a young adult book, presumably because of the horror elements. That, I think, is suspicious; I think it was probably decided as unsuitable because Oliver ends up learning a young person's hardest lesson:
"Oliver was already on his knees, but he bowed his head, feeling complicated things he didn’t know how to deal with. When kindness came from murdered ghosts and lost pigs, and the adults that were supposed to help you were monsters that walked like men"
I was particularly fond of the armadillo (no name needed) and the clouds. Creative and just a touch melancholic.
August 2, 2019
Enjoyed this one too. I have no idea why editors didn't think it could be published as a children's book. 12-year-old hero, check. Cute animal familiar, check. Story told in a dozen modest chapters, in a suitably lean style, check. What's not to like?
Also, miracle, the mom didn't have to die or be awful or neglectful or whatever for the kid to have an adventure, yay!
Anyway, I suspect more young readers have access to e-book readers these days, so at least the thing isn't actually cut off from its target audience. Pass the word (and the book) to your younger reading friends.
Ta, L.
Also, miracle, the mom didn't have to die or be awful or neglectful or whatever for the kid to have an adventure, yay!
Anyway, I suspect more young readers have access to e-book readers these days, so at least the thing isn't actually cut off from its target audience. Pass the word (and the book) to your younger reading friends.
Ta, L.
September 3, 2020
Well, this is a good example of how to write a children’s fantasy book well.
Writing good children’s/ middle grade books is hard. Think of all the pitfalls to avoid: the need to create the setting and the plot that is relatable and interesting yet not too simplistic; the language engaging yet not condescending; the characters relatable but believable and not just a walking bag of stereotypes and Mary-Sue-ness. It’s not rare to see critiques of children’s books being dismissed because “it’s for the younger readers”, because there are some who think it’s ok and excusable for children’s literature to be not as well-written and frankly shoddiest than the offerings for supposedly more discerning adult readers.
I’m happy to say that Minor Mage is a very well-done book, regardless which audience (more- or less-wrinkled one) chooses to read it.
Twelve-year-old Oliver is indeed a very minor mage, but the only one his village has ever since his predecessor died. His training may have been a tad lacking (the prior mage was very old and possibly a tad senile), but he is hard-working and resourceful and studious, and takes his job and responsibilities quite seriously. He is good with plants, and knows a few charms, but so far has mastered only three spells - and one of them is for tying shoelaces, so its use is a bit limited, one would think.
None of that matters when the drought worsens, and the formerly nice villages form what amounts to a mob (“There is something about a group of people that is less than the sum of its parts”) and in no uncertain terms force Oliver to go on a quest to the far-off mountains to somehow bring the rain back. In between his village and the mountains are bad lands - as we learn, there are ghouls and bandits and haunted forests and just ordinary terrible people — a bit too much for a very minor mage who is twelve and secretly misses his mother.
Good thing he is not alone! Oliver has a familiar - a very snarky armadillo>. I’m not sure what the ratio of armadillo-years to human-years is, but Armadillo does provide a much-needed adult sarcastic presence and guidance and is simply awesome.
I loved this book. I loved the characters. I loved the adventures. I loved how Oliver was so relatable and had to work for things and think and grow up a bit. I loved how even in a generally lighthearted story there were very adult undercurrents that reminded of scary and sad things that even childhood cannot insulate you from. I loved that this book had a heart, basically.
Would I hand it to a kid of mine to read? Without a doubt.
4 stars.
———————
My Hugo and Nebula Awards Reading Project 2020: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Writing good children’s/ middle grade books is hard. Think of all the pitfalls to avoid: the need to create the setting and the plot that is relatable and interesting yet not too simplistic; the language engaging yet not condescending; the characters relatable but believable and not just a walking bag of stereotypes and Mary-Sue-ness. It’s not rare to see critiques of children’s books being dismissed because “it’s for the younger readers”, because there are some who think it’s ok and excusable for children’s literature to be not as well-written and frankly shoddiest than the offerings for supposedly more discerning adult readers.
I’m happy to say that Minor Mage is a very well-done book, regardless which audience (more- or less-wrinkled one) chooses to read it.
“Oliver was a very minor mage. His familiar reminded him of this several times a day. […]
He was a very minor mage.
Unfortunately, he was all they had.”
Twelve-year-old Oliver is indeed a very minor mage, but the only one his village has ever since his predecessor died. His training may have been a tad lacking (the prior mage was very old and possibly a tad senile), but he is hard-working and resourceful and studious, and takes his job and responsibilities quite seriously. He is good with plants, and knows a few charms, but so far has mastered only three spells - and one of them is for tying shoelaces, so its use is a bit limited, one would think.
“He’d been so sure, back in the village, that he could do this. He’d been worried about bringing extra socks, as if that mattered at all in a world with man-eating monsters in it.”
None of that matters when the drought worsens, and the formerly nice villages form what amounts to a mob (“There is something about a group of people that is less than the sum of its parts”) and in no uncertain terms force Oliver to go on a quest to the far-off mountains to somehow bring the rain back. In between his village and the mountains are bad lands - as we learn, there are ghouls and bandits and haunted forests and just ordinary terrible people — a bit too much for a very minor mage who is twelve and secretly misses his mother.
“A real wizard wouldn’t be huddled in a ditch wishing for his mother.
(In this, at least, Oliver was dead wrong—many wizards over the ages, some of them very major mages indeed, have found themselves curled in ditches and wishing desperately for their mothers. But they tend not to mention these things in their memoirs.)”
Good thing he is not alone! Oliver has a familiar - a very snarky armadillo>. I’m not sure what the ratio of armadillo-years to human-years is, but Armadillo does provide a much-needed adult sarcastic presence and guidance and is simply awesome.
(I’m not the only one who immediately remembered this, right?)
“Do they have names?” Oliver asked, rather interested. Communication with another species, even a pig, was something none of his books covered, and the armadillo didn’t quite count.
“Do they have—yes, they’re called Bacon and Pork Chop.” The armadillo hopped in frustration. “Of course they don’t have names! They’re pigs!”
I loved this book. I loved the characters. I loved the adventures. I loved how Oliver was so relatable and had to work for things and think and grow up a bit. I loved how even in a generally lighthearted story there were very adult undercurrents that reminded of scary and sad things that even childhood cannot insulate you from. I loved that this book had a heart, basically.
“It didn’t matter that I was young, my village sent me anyway.” And he still resented that, but love and pity and resentment were all mixed together and he didn’t have any way to untangle them.
“Yes,” agreed the Rain Wife. “That is the price your village paid. You will never love them with your whole heart again. The shadow of what they did in their fear will lie between you forever. But they will be alive, nonetheless, and learning to bridge that shadow—or decide not to—is the work of adulthood.”
Would I hand it to a kid of mine to read? Without a doubt.
4 stars.
———————
My Hugo and Nebula Awards Reading Project 2020: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
May 8, 2020
Another great YA fantasy from T. Kingfisher, now a Hugo nominee for the Lodestar Award (for best YA book). Final review, just posted on Fantasy Literature:
Oliver is a minor mage in two senses: he’s only twelve years old, and he only has three magical spells, and the one to control his allergy against armadillo dander doesn’t count for much. The aged and increasingly absent-minded village mage wasn’t able to teach Oliver much before he died. But he’s all the magic his village has, so when a severe drought strikes, Oliver is ordered by the frightened villagers to go to the distant Rainblade Mountains to somehow “bring back rain.” No one, including Oliver, is at all clear on exactly how this is to be done, but they are clear on the concept that it’s a mage’s job. The villagers conveniently wait to gang up on Oliver until his mother, a retired mercenary, is out of town.
Oliver is frightened but willing; he was planning to do it anyway, though he resents being forced. (At least, he thinks, now his mother will be mad at the villagers and not him.) So off he goes, with only his armadillo familiar at his side, through (mostly) deserted fields with a few scattered empty farmhouses, like hollowed-out jack-o-lanterns, and then through bandit-infested forests. At least his armadillo familiar can speak, though it’s often rather snarky.
On his journey Oliver meets Trebastian, a teenage wizard with only one, singular magical talent: he is compelled to make magical harps out of the bones and hair of murder victims. The harps then shriek when their murderer is in the room. Now a murderer accused by a harp Trebastian made of the bones of two young girls, who happens to be the popular mayor of the last town Trebastian was in, is chasing after him with a posse of his friends and relatives. But since Oliver is being chased by cannibalistic ghuls (ghouls), they figure it’s even, and Trebastian falls in with Oliver and his armadillo on the journey to the Rainblade Mountains.
This is the story of their adventure. There’s magic, greedy bandits, flesh-hungry ghuls, evil humans and misguided ones. There are also some new friends and some life lessons learned.
T. Kingfisher excels in both the magical details, like gremlin-infested bread that has a tendency to explode and the gritty reality of making magical harps out of bones, and in the human ones. Oliver makes mistakes along the way, fervently wishes he could do more powerful magic, and frequently second-guesses his decisions — especially when they lead to someone’s death, though they were his enemies. His armadillo familiar Eglamarck is a delightful sidekick and a source of sound advice and love as well as sarcasm.
Kingfisher comments in her afterword that she debated with her editors over whether Minor Mage was really a children’s book. She maintains that it is, and I agree, but it might be too intense for some young or sensitive readers. Oliver’s journey is sometimes harrowing, with encounters with a remorseless murderer, brutal bandits, and ghuls that bite into people’s throats (it's kind of gory). With that warning, Minor Mage is a solid fantasy quest adventure with some introspective and thoughtful aspects to it, a treat for readers from middle grade age to adult.
I received a free copy of this ebook from the author for review. Thank you!
Oliver is a minor mage in two senses: he’s only twelve years old, and he only has three magical spells, and the one to control his allergy against armadillo dander doesn’t count for much. The aged and increasingly absent-minded village mage wasn’t able to teach Oliver much before he died. But he’s all the magic his village has, so when a severe drought strikes, Oliver is ordered by the frightened villagers to go to the distant Rainblade Mountains to somehow “bring back rain.” No one, including Oliver, is at all clear on exactly how this is to be done, but they are clear on the concept that it’s a mage’s job. The villagers conveniently wait to gang up on Oliver until his mother, a retired mercenary, is out of town.
Oliver is frightened but willing; he was planning to do it anyway, though he resents being forced. (At least, he thinks, now his mother will be mad at the villagers and not him.) So off he goes, with only his armadillo familiar at his side, through (mostly) deserted fields with a few scattered empty farmhouses, like hollowed-out jack-o-lanterns, and then through bandit-infested forests. At least his armadillo familiar can speak, though it’s often rather snarky.
On his journey Oliver meets Trebastian, a teenage wizard with only one, singular magical talent: he is compelled to make magical harps out of the bones and hair of murder victims. The harps then shriek when their murderer is in the room. Now a murderer accused by a harp Trebastian made of the bones of two young girls, who happens to be the popular mayor of the last town Trebastian was in, is chasing after him with a posse of his friends and relatives. But since Oliver is being chased by cannibalistic ghuls (ghouls), they figure it’s even, and Trebastian falls in with Oliver and his armadillo on the journey to the Rainblade Mountains.
This is the story of their adventure. There’s magic, greedy bandits, flesh-hungry ghuls, evil humans and misguided ones. There are also some new friends and some life lessons learned.
“It didn’t matter that I was young, my village sent me anyway.” And he still resented that, but love and pity and resentment were all mixed together and he didn’t have any way to untangle them.Oliver is a well-rounded, believable main character. He’s more noteworthy for his determination and honor than for his magical talent. He’s resolved to do what is right, even when it’s difficult and dangerous for him. It’s heroism in a small, resolute package.
“Yes, … That is the price your village paid. You will never love them with your whole heart again. The shadow of what they did in their fear will lie between you forever. But they will be alive, nonetheless, and learning to bridge that shadow — or decide not to — is the work of adulthood.”
T. Kingfisher excels in both the magical details, like gremlin-infested bread that has a tendency to explode and the gritty reality of making magical harps out of bones, and in the human ones. Oliver makes mistakes along the way, fervently wishes he could do more powerful magic, and frequently second-guesses his decisions — especially when they lead to someone’s death, though they were his enemies. His armadillo familiar Eglamarck is a delightful sidekick and a source of sound advice and love as well as sarcasm.
Kingfisher comments in her afterword that she debated with her editors over whether Minor Mage was really a children’s book. She maintains that it is, and I agree, but it might be too intense for some young or sensitive readers. Oliver’s journey is sometimes harrowing, with encounters with a remorseless murderer, brutal bandits, and ghuls that bite into people’s throats (it's kind of gory). With that warning, Minor Mage is a solid fantasy quest adventure with some introspective and thoughtful aspects to it, a treat for readers from middle grade age to adult.
I received a free copy of this ebook from the author for review. Thank you!
Read
August 17, 2019A delightful story about a 12yo mage plunged into a scary adventure because of adult cowardice, incompetence, and cruelty. All right, that doesn't *sound* delightful, but as ever T Kingfisher has got you. Oliver is scared and frequently completely wrong, and obsesses over things very like a 12yo, but he's also clear-sighted and kind in a way kids can be before adulthood makes everything both more complicated and simpler (by which I mean the point around the age of 40 where you go, "no, actually, screw this").
Lovely limpid writing, wonderful magic cleverly applied, a plot that handles terrible things lightly. A little slice of perfection.
Lovely limpid writing, wonderful magic cleverly applied, a plot that handles terrible things lightly. A little slice of perfection.
September 11, 2024
Oliver was a very minor mage. His familiar reminded him of this several times a day.
Unfortunately, he was all they had.
Minor Mage follows Oliver, a twelve year old very minor mage as he sets out with his armadillo familiar on a very major quest to bring rain back to their village. Why is a twelve-year-old setting out on a major quest with only an armadillo to accompany him? It's because his fellow villagers found an opportune moment when his badass soldier mother is out of town to not so subtly encourage him. Without even stopping to see that he'd already packed his bag in the first place! Yes, I was angry too.
But he does set out, and we see how he manages to complete the quest for rain in this delightful read. T. Kingfisher writes a great book for kids - with highly suitable writing, without sacrificing humour, with an entertaining story for kids, without talking down to them (I think). The interesting world-building and the narration are the book's strengths and I would look forward to more books in this world!
🌟🌟🌟🌟
The rating is rounded up to 4 stars.
[One star for the premise and the whole book; One star for the story; Half a star for the characters; 3/4 star for the writing; Half a star for the world-building - 3.75 stars in total.]
Unfortunately, he was all they had.
Minor Mage follows Oliver, a twelve year old very minor mage as he sets out with his armadillo familiar on a very major quest to bring rain back to their village. Why is a twelve-year-old setting out on a major quest with only an armadillo to accompany him? It's because his fellow villagers found an opportune moment when his badass soldier mother is out of town to not so subtly encourage him. Without even stopping to see that he'd already packed his bag in the first place! Yes, I was angry too.
But he does set out, and we see how he manages to complete the quest for rain in this delightful read. T. Kingfisher writes a great book for kids - with highly suitable writing, without sacrificing humour, with an entertaining story for kids, without talking down to them (I think). The interesting world-building and the narration are the book's strengths and I would look forward to more books in this world!
🌟🌟🌟🌟
The rating is rounded up to 4 stars.
[One star for the premise and the whole book; One star for the story; Half a star for the characters; 3/4 star for the writing; Half a star for the world-building - 3.75 stars in total.]
April 12, 2022
I want a sarcastic as fish, ever-snorting, skeptic armadillo familiar for Christmas.
Also: retired mercenary moms + hahahaha + harps made of dead people + slightly starting ghouls + potatoes that speak in tongues when you bake them + the lack of tensile strength in hair (don't ask) = I want more and stuff.
And now for the unavoidable armadillo gif:
You are quite, quite welcome and stuff.
Also: retired mercenary moms + hahahaha + harps made of dead people + slightly starting ghouls + potatoes that speak in tongues when you bake them + the lack of tensile strength in hair (don't ask) = I want more and stuff.
And now for the unavoidable armadillo gif:
You are quite, quite welcome and stuff.
February 9, 2021
This is a little treasure of a book! Maybe it is a children's book, maybe it is not.The jury is still out on that, but I know I loved it.
The star of the book is of course the armadillo. Then there is the minor mage who can work just three spells and one of those is for tying shoelaces together. It turns out to be amazing just what he can do with that.
Of course there is more to the story than that. There are adventures, there are friendships formed, there are monsters and people who behave like monsters. Oliver accepts an enormous challenge for a young boy. Will he succeed?
Read it and find out:) You will not be sorry you did.
The star of the book is of course the armadillo. Then there is the minor mage who can work just three spells and one of those is for tying shoelaces together. It turns out to be amazing just what he can do with that.
Of course there is more to the story than that. There are adventures, there are friendships formed, there are monsters and people who behave like monsters. Oliver accepts an enormous challenge for a young boy. Will he succeed?
Read it and find out:) You will not be sorry you did.
April 3, 2023
I love this to bits.
I mean, it's not really anything new in Vernon's oeuvre, but it's got bandits and monsters and snarky animal companions and surprisingly insightful psychology and skewed looks at fairy tale and folklore, all wrapped up in this breezy language that just pulls you along.
Absolutely adore it.
I mean, it's not really anything new in Vernon's oeuvre, but it's got bandits and monsters and snarky animal companions and surprisingly insightful psychology and skewed looks at fairy tale and folklore, all wrapped up in this breezy language that just pulls you along.
Absolutely adore it.
May 26, 2024
3,5
Una historia pequeñita y breve, sobre un mago de 12 años que solo sabe hacer tres hechizos y cuyo animal familiar es un armadillo. Juntos se verán envueltos en la búsqueda de la lluvia para salvar a su pueblo de la sequía.
Y ya está, aventuras, fantasmas, gouls, bandidos, juglares y armadillos sarcásticos.
Me hubiera gustado ver más de esta historia y conocer a más personajes, ¡se me hizo tan cortita! Pero también me resultó muy disfrutable, desde luego, lo mejor, esa reflexión sobre los linchamientos populares... más de moda que nunca, a día de hoy.
Una historia pequeñita y breve, sobre un mago de 12 años que solo sabe hacer tres hechizos y cuyo animal familiar es un armadillo. Juntos se verán envueltos en la búsqueda de la lluvia para salvar a su pueblo de la sequía.
Y ya está, aventuras, fantasmas, gouls, bandidos, juglares y armadillos sarcásticos.
Me hubiera gustado ver más de esta historia y conocer a más personajes, ¡se me hizo tan cortita! Pero también me resultó muy disfrutable, desde luego, lo mejor, esa reflexión sobre los linchamientos populares... más de moda que nunca, a día de hoy.
October 16, 2019
Absolutely charming!
August 18, 2020
Seems like I forgot to comment on this one. It is a feel-good, well-constructed middle grade story. Has a likable kid protag with an amazing armadillo as familiar.
PS: now can someone point me to a novel with a cute Llama?
PS: now can someone point me to a novel with a cute Llama?
November 4, 2022
Oliver is the village wizard. The village is suffering from a drought and it’s the wizard’s job to go on a dangerous journey to bring back the rain. But Oliver’s mother has never allowed him to leave the village. When his mother leaves to visit his sister, the whole village decides to pay him a visit, pretty much forcing him to leave. So he sets out on an adventurous and perilous journey. He has a rough idea of where he needs to go, but he has no idea what he needs to do when he gets there. His teacher never managed to properly train him as a wizard. And Oliver barely knows a handful of spells. Luckily, Oliver has his trusty familiar to guide him along the way. An armadillo.
Oliver and his armadillo are quite easy to relate to, and both are strong characters in their own right. It’s Oliver’s growth as a person that’s the core of the story. What stands out most is that Oliver really wants to learn the big spells, so he can use magic to stand up to the dangers he faces on his quest. And because he is unable to use those big spells, he thinks he’s just bad at magic. But as the armadillo already knows, it doesn’t really matter how powerful or big the spell is. That doesn’t define a good wizard from a bad one. It’s how you use your spells that’s important. Oliver just needs to use the spells he’s already good at, and use those little spells as effectively as possible.
In terms of plot, it’s a fairy/folk tale kind of quest, which I definitely love. It’s just unfortunate the execution of the plot can be fairly relaxed for the most part. And it just feels like the story is never able to get to the next level because of this. The world building is solid and well crafted. And yet it also feels like we’ve barely scratched the surface of what this interesting fantasy world has to offer.
Overall, a solid character-driven story with some strong themes and a satisfying ending.
Oliver and his armadillo are quite easy to relate to, and both are strong characters in their own right. It’s Oliver’s growth as a person that’s the core of the story. What stands out most is that Oliver really wants to learn the big spells, so he can use magic to stand up to the dangers he faces on his quest. And because he is unable to use those big spells, he thinks he’s just bad at magic. But as the armadillo already knows, it doesn’t really matter how powerful or big the spell is. That doesn’t define a good wizard from a bad one. It’s how you use your spells that’s important. Oliver just needs to use the spells he’s already good at, and use those little spells as effectively as possible.
In terms of plot, it’s a fairy/folk tale kind of quest, which I definitely love. It’s just unfortunate the execution of the plot can be fairly relaxed for the most part. And it just feels like the story is never able to get to the next level because of this. The world building is solid and well crafted. And yet it also feels like we’ve barely scratched the surface of what this interesting fantasy world has to offer.
Overall, a solid character-driven story with some strong themes and a satisfying ending.
March 13, 2022
This is a perfect example of middle-grade YA fantasy that doesn't step out of any bounds, doesn't devolve into a mary-sue story, and might very well appeal to any kid thrown into any task well above his or her ability.
Of course, the task must be done and that's the whole purpose of this simple journey, this simple coming of age story.
Fortunately, for how light and sweet and straightforward it is, it's also a very easy read.
This might be fine for little ones who are scared easily or adults who are scared easily or who just want to sit back and relax with something that is very much uncomplicated. We all have our go-to tales. Who knows? Maybe this one is yours.
Of course, the task must be done and that's the whole purpose of this simple journey, this simple coming of age story.
Fortunately, for how light and sweet and straightforward it is, it's also a very easy read.
This might be fine for little ones who are scared easily or adults who are scared easily or who just want to sit back and relax with something that is very much uncomplicated. We all have our go-to tales. Who knows? Maybe this one is yours.
July 6, 2020
Absolutely DELIGHTFUL. We've got snark, we've got lessons along the way, magic, monsters, mayhem and badass moms!
CONTENT WARNING:
Things to love:
-The heroes. The two boys and Armadillo are just such very good good boys. A sweet and unlikely partnership, a good look at what it means to be a friend, and a perfect tie in to the idea that our actions are what define us.
-The morals. I loved the topics Vernon chose to explore: that comparison will kill ya, that we all have something we can do to make the world better, that adults are meant to protect kids, how mobs are made... just a lot of smartly constructed but gentle lessons that I think kids would benefit from hearing repeatedly.
-Mom. She's hardly there in person, but she's always there in spirit. I love that she's alive, close with her son, a badass in her own right, and someone her son relies on and misses openly. I think we've all had dark times when we look for the grown up to make it better, and find that we're the closest we're gonna get. That's relatable, devastating, and honest in a way I feel I don't see often. Usually "wanting mommy" is a joke that's thrown out, not the actual, desperate wish it really is.
-MG for the weird kids. I thought this read like a very well done MG book...with a bit of darkness to it. If you know a kid into horror, or who loves reading Grimm's Fairy Tales, this is probably a good one for them. If your kid is squeamish or easily frightened, skip it. But also it was really cute for the weird adults, too. Just a feel good story as long as people being cannibalized is something you can feel good about lol
Things that I wanted tweaked slightly:
-Dialogue. Most of the dialogue felt like an intro to witty improv class. I know she can be wittier, and I think she should have gone for it.
-Hard to classify. It's either a sweet story for grown ups okay reading below their age group, or a dark story for kids okay reading about tough subjects they might not be ready for. I wish it'd either gone a wee bit darker or a wee bit younger so it was easier to place.
Highly recommend for all us weirdos out there.
CONTENT WARNING:
Things to love:
-The heroes. The two boys and Armadillo are just such very good good boys. A sweet and unlikely partnership, a good look at what it means to be a friend, and a perfect tie in to the idea that our actions are what define us.
-The morals. I loved the topics Vernon chose to explore: that comparison will kill ya, that we all have something we can do to make the world better, that adults are meant to protect kids, how mobs are made... just a lot of smartly constructed but gentle lessons that I think kids would benefit from hearing repeatedly.
-Mom. She's hardly there in person, but she's always there in spirit. I love that she's alive, close with her son, a badass in her own right, and someone her son relies on and misses openly. I think we've all had dark times when we look for the grown up to make it better, and find that we're the closest we're gonna get. That's relatable, devastating, and honest in a way I feel I don't see often. Usually "wanting mommy" is a joke that's thrown out, not the actual, desperate wish it really is.
-MG for the weird kids. I thought this read like a very well done MG book...with a bit of darkness to it. If you know a kid into horror, or who loves reading Grimm's Fairy Tales, this is probably a good one for them. If your kid is squeamish or easily frightened, skip it. But also it was really cute for the weird adults, too. Just a feel good story as long as people being cannibalized is something you can feel good about lol
Things that I wanted tweaked slightly:
-Dialogue. Most of the dialogue felt like an intro to witty improv class. I know she can be wittier, and I think she should have gone for it.
-Hard to classify. It's either a sweet story for grown ups okay reading below their age group, or a dark story for kids okay reading about tough subjects they might not be ready for. I wish it'd either gone a wee bit darker or a wee bit younger so it was easier to place.
Highly recommend for all us weirdos out there.
March 22, 2020
Oliver is a mage. A twelve year old who's barely trained and has an armadillo as a familiar. But he is a mage and when his village needs someone to go to the Rainblade Mountains to break the drought, he's the one that has to go. What follows is a cracking adventure with monsters and bandits and a magical harper and Oliver proving himself equal to it all.
I think I'm at the point where I would happily read Ursula Vernon's shopping list and expect great characters and humor from it. Both are evident here. In the author's note she describes this novella as her children's book, but was argued out of marketing it that way when her editor and publisher pointed out how dark it was. I think it works well either way.
I loved her perspective on the magical harper here. I'm a fan of Loreena McKennitt's the Bonny Swans, and this is an interesting perspective on that.
I think I'm at the point where I would happily read Ursula Vernon's shopping list and expect great characters and humor from it. Both are evident here. In the author's note she describes this novella as her children's book, but was argued out of marketing it that way when her editor and publisher pointed out how dark it was. I think it works well either way.
I loved her perspective on the magical harper here. I'm a fan of Loreena McKennitt's the Bonny Swans, and this is an interesting perspective on that.
June 15, 2020
Ahoy there me mateys! Novellas are floating me boat these days and this one was no exception. I have been meaning to read this author’s work for forever and was drawn into picking this up based on the armadillo on the cover. This story follows a 12 year old mage named Oliver who only knows three minor spells but is sent on a quest to save his village from a drought anyway. Oh and the armadillo is his familiar.
This was fantastic. It has the feel of an old school folktale in the beginning but quickly becomes more nuanced. It is this blend of light but fun plot and deeper truths that quickly drew me in. The writing style was fascinating. Plus the armadillo talks and is sarcastic. The humor throughout is an excellent addition.
Oliver himself is a perfect protagonist. He is a minor mage not only because he is young but also because his mentor was a 90 year old with a failing mind. Oliver didn’t get a chance to actually learn much practical magic. So when Oliver sets off he is ill prepared but determined. It is watching Oliver make mistakes and grow that caused me to fall in love with his character. He is honorable and wonderful and magical even if he doesn’t know many spells.
Apparently T. Kingfisher is a pseudonym for Ursula Vernon’s adult books. The author’s acknowledgement says that “I believed then and believe now that the Minor Mage is a children’s book. Various editors have attempted to disabuse me of this notion, but they were all adults and thus their opinion is suspect. (Of course, so is mine).” I very much believe that this be a children’s book. I suspect some grown-ups object to the unsavory things in the book. There are adults who make bad choices, monsters, bandits, suffering, death, and murderers. There is also friendship, compassion, perseverance, personal growth, and doing the right things in hard circumstances.
Seriously, I would have adored this a kid, perhaps even more than I adored it as an adult. I wish this would have existed when I was younger or that I could travel back in time and gift it to me younger self. Anyone who thinks this book is not appropriate for kids honestly hasn’t read enough traditional fairy tales where bad things happened all the time or remember what is was like to read scary things as a kid. There was (and still is) something wonderful in the chills that would run up yer spine and the subsequent fierce internal debate about whether ye were too old to sleep with the light on even though those stories weren’t real or laying in the dark waiting for the goblins to get ye and wishing that ye lived in the story, bad creatures and all.
If this is what T. Kingfisher books are like then I need to read them all. Arrrr!
Side note: I hadn’t realized it until I was writing this post but this book is one of the 2020 Hugo award nominees (well the Lodestar Award for Best Young Adult Book). I can see why this was nominated and this means I have now read four of the six. Arrr!
This was fantastic. It has the feel of an old school folktale in the beginning but quickly becomes more nuanced. It is this blend of light but fun plot and deeper truths that quickly drew me in. The writing style was fascinating. Plus the armadillo talks and is sarcastic. The humor throughout is an excellent addition.
Oliver himself is a perfect protagonist. He is a minor mage not only because he is young but also because his mentor was a 90 year old with a failing mind. Oliver didn’t get a chance to actually learn much practical magic. So when Oliver sets off he is ill prepared but determined. It is watching Oliver make mistakes and grow that caused me to fall in love with his character. He is honorable and wonderful and magical even if he doesn’t know many spells.
Apparently T. Kingfisher is a pseudonym for Ursula Vernon’s adult books. The author’s acknowledgement says that “I believed then and believe now that the Minor Mage is a children’s book. Various editors have attempted to disabuse me of this notion, but they were all adults and thus their opinion is suspect. (Of course, so is mine).” I very much believe that this be a children’s book. I suspect some grown-ups object to the unsavory things in the book. There are adults who make bad choices, monsters, bandits, suffering, death, and murderers. There is also friendship, compassion, perseverance, personal growth, and doing the right things in hard circumstances.
Seriously, I would have adored this a kid, perhaps even more than I adored it as an adult. I wish this would have existed when I was younger or that I could travel back in time and gift it to me younger self. Anyone who thinks this book is not appropriate for kids honestly hasn’t read enough traditional fairy tales where bad things happened all the time or remember what is was like to read scary things as a kid. There was (and still is) something wonderful in the chills that would run up yer spine and the subsequent fierce internal debate about whether ye were too old to sleep with the light on even though those stories weren’t real or laying in the dark waiting for the goblins to get ye and wishing that ye lived in the story, bad creatures and all.
If this is what T. Kingfisher books are like then I need to read them all. Arrrr!
Side note: I hadn’t realized it until I was writing this post but this book is one of the 2020 Hugo award nominees (well the Lodestar Award for Best Young Adult Book). I can see why this was nominated and this means I have now read four of the six. Arrr!
March 13, 2022
Meet Oliver. He is as quirky as this book's blurp suggests. You see, while he is considered a mage, he's not a very good/powerful one. Might have something to do with the fact that he's still a little young. Certainly, nobody in his village cares. As soon as his mother (a former mercenary) has left to visit her daughter, the village "demands" Oliver bring back the rains.
Yes, the farmers are suffering and yes, the village's previous mage (Oliver's old and now dead master) was sent, too, once upon a time - but he was a young man then and really, they are just big bullies with no spine.
Anyway, Oliver and his faithful familiar (a wonderfully snarky armadillo) set out ... without knowing much if anything about the world out there. What could possibly go wrong?!
The set-up was pretty simple and yes, one could see where this was going, but it was a heartfelt and endearing story of growing up in an unkind and far-from-perfect world.
While this wasn't as funny as the previous book I've read by this author, it nevertheless had nice and acute observations on the nature of fear, peer pressure and mob mentality.
Which is probably why having a young little boy with neither much talent nor much physical prowess as the opposing protagonist was so fitting.
I very much liked Oliver's dutifulness as well as the chemistry between him and his familiar.
So this was a very nice and enjoyable tale albeit nothing exceptional.
Yes, the farmers are suffering and yes, the village's previous mage (Oliver's old and now dead master) was sent, too, once upon a time - but he was a young man then and really, they are just big bullies with no spine.
Anyway, Oliver and his faithful familiar (a wonderfully snarky armadillo) set out ... without knowing much if anything about the world out there. What could possibly go wrong?!
The set-up was pretty simple and yes, one could see where this was going, but it was a heartfelt and endearing story of growing up in an unkind and far-from-perfect world.
While this wasn't as funny as the previous book I've read by this author, it nevertheless had nice and acute observations on the nature of fear, peer pressure and mob mentality.
Which is probably why having a young little boy with neither much talent nor much physical prowess as the opposing protagonist was so fitting.
I very much liked Oliver's dutifulness as well as the chemistry between him and his familiar.
So this was a very nice and enjoyable tale albeit nothing exceptional.
July 19, 2023
28 June 2023
There might very well be an "armadillo" shelf coming: I like them, little armored opossums as they seem. Or possibly it will be a Xenarthra shelf, because I am also fond of the ground sloths and glyptodons. The word sounds quite alien, means "alien joint" which would also be a good bar name.
**
This was so clearly something I was going to love that I had to wait for a good day to read it. And, now that I have finished I get to tell myself "I told you so" which was very cheering, because I did listen and follow my own advice.
Kingsolver is right, this is a book for children. Helpfully, it teaches kids how to fight metaphorical monsters in a way that is understanding, and empathetic, and helpful. Presumably those calling it a book for adults have never read the the Narnia series, the Tiffany Aching books, or an obscure favorite of mine, The Hunger Games. No one wants to consider that there are a lot of people under 18 who have found themselves in horrible situations trying to save themselves and/or others, and this book would take a weight off their minds.
A perfect hero's journey, and a hell of a lot zipper than Huck Finn. This is funny and sad and wise and I love it.
Library copy
There might very well be an "armadillo" shelf coming: I like them, little armored opossums as they seem. Or possibly it will be a Xenarthra shelf, because I am also fond of the ground sloths and glyptodons. The word sounds quite alien, means "alien joint" which would also be a good bar name.
**
This was so clearly something I was going to love that I had to wait for a good day to read it. And, now that I have finished I get to tell myself "I told you so" which was very cheering, because I did listen and follow my own advice.
Kingsolver is right, this is a book for children. Helpfully, it teaches kids how to fight metaphorical monsters in a way that is understanding, and empathetic, and helpful. Presumably those calling it a book for adults have never read the the Narnia series, the Tiffany Aching books, or an obscure favorite of mine, The Hunger Games. No one wants to consider that there are a lot of people under 18 who have found themselves in horrible situations trying to save themselves and/or others, and this book would take a weight off their minds.
A perfect hero's journey, and a hell of a lot zipper than Huck Finn. This is funny and sad and wise and I love it.
Library copy
May 1, 2023
What a great children's/YA book! I really want to know what happens next for Oliver and Armadillo.
Full review: Minor Mage follows, a minor mage named Oliver and his familiar, Armadillo. Oliver is forced to go and get his village rain (he was actually on his way to get some) from the Rainblades. Oliver doesn't know about how he will capture rain, but the village doesn't care. It hasn't rained for some time and drought threatens them all. Oliver and Armadillo then cross across a land that is hostile and unfamiliar to them both. They meet many enemies, and some allies on their way to capture rain.
I loved Oliver, he really wants to be better than a minor mage, but this story in the end shows how him being minor may be enough to save the day.
Full review: Minor Mage follows, a minor mage named Oliver and his familiar, Armadillo. Oliver is forced to go and get his village rain (he was actually on his way to get some) from the Rainblades. Oliver doesn't know about how he will capture rain, but the village doesn't care. It hasn't rained for some time and drought threatens them all. Oliver and Armadillo then cross across a land that is hostile and unfamiliar to them both. They meet many enemies, and some allies on their way to capture rain.
I loved Oliver, he really wants to be better than a minor mage, but this story in the end shows how him being minor may be enough to save the day.
July 6, 2023
It's rare that an author will appeal to former-English-major-me as well as current-mucks-around-with-plants-me, but Kingfisher often succeeds in doing just that. So in Minor Mage you'll find a reference to my very favorite ballad ("The Twa Sisters" or "Binnorie" or whatever you want to call the ballad with an accusatory harp made out of a murdered girl's bones) as well as various armadillo and plant facts. And quite a good story about a boy named Oliver, who isn't extraordinary but is sent out to do the impossible with what he has: good intentions and a handful of small spells, one of which is for preventing allergies to armadillos. (Important, when one's familiar is an armadillo.)
The drought-stricken town of Loosestrife has a mage - 12-year-old, half-trained Oliver, but he's a very minor mage who gets nosebleeds when he tries more advanced spells. Nonetheless, he finds an angry group of townspeople ("slightly less than a mob but rather more than a friendly gathering") at his door demanding that he bring back the rain. This is slightly more doable in Kingfisher's world than ours, but not by much, and it was last done so long ago that the details have been forgotten. Something about finding the Cloud Herders in the mountains far away.
It's a quest with Kingfisher's usual combination of horror, humor, and nerdy bits that fill me with admiration:
Accurate! Plants and plant people deserve your respect, if for no other reason because we know what poison oak looks like.
There's some more serious content along a theme Kingfisher has explored in previous books: why is it up to children to save the day? What on earth are the adults doing? In Oliver's case, a number of them are engaging in crowdthink and bullying, and how this happens and its impact on its victims is keenly observed.
I prefer Kingfisher's children's books to her adult ones - they're quirky and smart, don't shy away from hard topics, and contain no awkward romances. I polished Minor Mage off in an afternoon.
The drought-stricken town of Loosestrife has a mage - 12-year-old, half-trained Oliver, but he's a very minor mage who gets nosebleeds when he tries more advanced spells. Nonetheless, he finds an angry group of townspeople ("slightly less than a mob but rather more than a friendly gathering") at his door demanding that he bring back the rain. This is slightly more doable in Kingfisher's world than ours, but not by much, and it was last done so long ago that the details have been forgotten. Something about finding the Cloud Herders in the mountains far away.
It's a quest with Kingfisher's usual combination of horror, humor, and nerdy bits that fill me with admiration:
"Oh, herbs," said the bandit, in the dismissive tone used by people who don't know anything about herbs.
(This is generally not a very wise thing to say, because people who do know about herbs may take offense, and you will then find your socks stuffed full of stinging nettles and your tea full of cascara, which is no less potent a laxative for being tree bark.)
Accurate! Plants and plant people deserve your respect, if for no other reason because we know what poison oak looks like.
There's some more serious content along a theme Kingfisher has explored in previous books: why is it up to children to save the day? What on earth are the adults doing? In Oliver's case, a number of them are engaging in crowdthink and bullying, and how this happens and its impact on its victims is keenly observed.
I prefer Kingfisher's children's books to her adult ones - they're quirky and smart, don't shy away from hard topics, and contain no awkward romances. I polished Minor Mage off in an afternoon.
April 6, 2020
Charming. Utterly charming. Twelve-year old Oliver (and a very minor mage) is forced by his village to travel to where the Cloud herders are so he can bring back rain to his drought-stricken town. He and his adorable and adorably sarcastic armadillo familiar Eglamark encounter numerous problems and significant threats along the way. Using his two most frequently-used spells, humour and determination, Oliver makes a tough journey, both physically and emotionally, to accomplish his goal. The story’s both more frightening and darker than I expected but with enough light and levity to make this a terrific story. I loved this!
March 4, 2022
Liz Bourke's Tor.com review pretty much nails it: https://www.tor.com/2019/08/20/sleeps...
". . . a quintessentially T. Kingfisher involving being chased by ghouls, a teenage boy who’s afflicted with magic that compels him to make musical instruments from the bones of murder victims, a haunted forest, and Cloud Herders who tend herds of clouds almost exactly like sheep. Quirky, weird, and occasionally dark (see above re: ghouls and murder victims), Minor Mage is an engaging, compelling, and ultimately restorative little novella, and I’m really glad I read it."
I didn't like it as much as she did. Indeed, my attention kept wandering, and I would lose my place, and go do minor chores..... Not a compelling story, for me anyway. My feeling was, gee, when is she going to get to the good stuff? The tale does come on strong at the end -- and the author explains in the afterword that the story gestated for 13 years! She goes on to say that she always thought of "Minor Mage" as a children's book, though her editors disagreed. I loved the mage's armadillo familiar! Strong 3 stars, and I'm happy our library had the ebook, even with the wonky Hoopla format.
This isn't the best place to start your Ursula Vernon/T. Kingfisher experience. Head over to https://www.freesfonline.net/authors/...
-- and start with these, is my advice:
● "The Tomato Thief"
● "Jackalope Wives"
● "The Dryad’s Shoe"
● "Wooden Feathers"
-- and continue on from there. Her best work is in short form, I think. I should reread some of these myself!
". . . a quintessentially T. Kingfisher involving being chased by ghouls, a teenage boy who’s afflicted with magic that compels him to make musical instruments from the bones of murder victims, a haunted forest, and Cloud Herders who tend herds of clouds almost exactly like sheep. Quirky, weird, and occasionally dark (see above re: ghouls and murder victims), Minor Mage is an engaging, compelling, and ultimately restorative little novella, and I’m really glad I read it."
I didn't like it as much as she did. Indeed, my attention kept wandering, and I would lose my place, and go do minor chores..... Not a compelling story, for me anyway. My feeling was, gee, when is she going to get to the good stuff? The tale does come on strong at the end -- and the author explains in the afterword that the story gestated for 13 years! She goes on to say that she always thought of "Minor Mage" as a children's book, though her editors disagreed. I loved the mage's armadillo familiar! Strong 3 stars, and I'm happy our library had the ebook, even with the wonky Hoopla format.
This isn't the best place to start your Ursula Vernon/T. Kingfisher experience. Head over to https://www.freesfonline.net/authors/...
-- and start with these, is my advice:
● "The Tomato Thief"
● "Jackalope Wives"
● "The Dryad’s Shoe"
● "Wooden Feathers"
-- and continue on from there. Her best work is in short form, I think. I should reread some of these myself!
November 12, 2022
Not my favorite by Kingfisher. But it's Kingfisher so it's still great.
April 21, 2022
This is a pretty cute, good for kids kind of story. Oliver is a mage, a young, only knows a few spells kind of mage. But he and his armadillo familiar are about to go on a trip across the land to find the rain to bring to their town. Oliver was planning to go but when the townsfolk came to force him to go on this quest he is a bit resentful and who wouldn't be.
Oliver treks across the land escaping ghouls, meeting new friends, getting kidnapped and needing to escape all on his own. Well maybe not all on his own he does have a armadillo to help him along the way and assist in getting out of trouble.
This is a pretty cute story that would be fun to read with kids or teens. It is an adventure where kids learn you don't have to be the most powerful to win or achieve your goals. If you work with what you have, are smart in your choices and persevere you can do great things.
Oliver treks across the land escaping ghouls, meeting new friends, getting kidnapped and needing to escape all on his own. Well maybe not all on his own he does have a armadillo to help him along the way and assist in getting out of trouble.
This is a pretty cute story that would be fun to read with kids or teens. It is an adventure where kids learn you don't have to be the most powerful to win or achieve your goals. If you work with what you have, are smart in your choices and persevere you can do great things.
August 25, 2021
4 Stars
This is a great story, but it's not for children. I would say Young Adult and up.
This is a great story, but it's not for children. I would say Young Adult and up.
May 5, 2020
Mmmyeah, that's the stuff. All children's books should contain cannibalistic monsters, musical instruments made from the bones and hair of murder victims, and bittersweet meditations on the harms people commit against loved ones while under the influence of panic-induced mob mentalities. Plus talking armadillos!
November 15, 2020
Oliver is a very minor mage. He only knows three spells and has an armadillo for a familiar. That doesn't stop him from setting off on a quest to bring rain back to his drought-stricken village when the villagers demand Oliver's help. Oliver is the only mage they have.
I don't care what the editor thinks, this is a charming middle grade tale about believing in yourself, doing the right thing and helping your friends. The story is told in a style that reminds me of one of Grimm's Fairy Tales, including some scary moments and a couple deep themes. It's an interesting blend of lightheartedness and melancholy as Oliver travels on his quest, making some profound realizations about the world.
Oliver is 12 years old and a determined hero even though he has self doubts. This makes him highly him relatable. Who didn't have doubts when they were that age? Or your current age for that matter? I know I did and do. The armadillo is wonderfully snarky and a loyal companion for his minor mage. Oliver meets some interesting people on his journey, including a young bard named Trebastian. Vernon's creativity is amazing. I have no idea how she thought up his very odd ability of making harps. I would read a whole book based on that idea.
I don't care what the editor thinks, this is a charming middle grade tale about believing in yourself, doing the right thing and helping your friends. The story is told in a style that reminds me of one of Grimm's Fairy Tales, including some scary moments and a couple deep themes. It's an interesting blend of lightheartedness and melancholy as Oliver travels on his quest, making some profound realizations about the world.
Oliver is 12 years old and a determined hero even though he has self doubts. This makes him highly him relatable. Who didn't have doubts when they were that age? Or your current age for that matter? I know I did and do. The armadillo is wonderfully snarky and a loyal companion for his minor mage. Oliver meets some interesting people on his journey, including a young bard named Trebastian. Vernon's creativity is amazing. I have no idea how she thought up his very odd ability of making harps. I would read a whole book based on that idea.
December 30, 2022
4.25*
A wonderful tale by one of my favourite authors.
A wonderful tale by one of my favourite authors.
June 10, 2022
This was a cute little story. I mean who doesn't want an armadillo. What is particularly good is the impact of actions and idea of what exactly a sacrifice is. When Oliver is asked to go and get rain, the discussion about what certain groups gave up is apt.
There are some dark and bloody bits, but there is asl quite a bit of humor.
There are some dark and bloody bits, but there is asl quite a bit of humor.
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