A Sip of Magic

Book 3

By: Guy Antibes

Narrated by: Ralph Lister

Expecting to resume his studies after a long absence, Pol Cissert is disappointed when he is drafted by the Emperor's Seeker to infiltrate into Tesna Monastery. His mission is to verify rumors of a new army being raised by the South Salvan King, a man he perceives as an enemy. Pol will face new challenges, not the least of which will be figuring out the mysterious roommate that arrived not long after he learns about Tesna's plans to take over the world.

©2016 Guy Antibes (P)2017 Podium Publishing

Wonderful combination of writing & world building

Honestly, not enough good things to say about this marvelous series. The main character is extremely compelling are so are the supporting cast, including well-drawn new ones in this third installment. Even the mostly-evil supporting cast, while not compelling, are believable and important to the plot. Speaking of which, Guy Antibes is a superb plotter, as well as world-builder. The magic system is wonderful. I love his writing style.

I was so lucky to discover these after several were published, so that I don't have to wait. Ralph Lister is extraordinarily well-suited for reading this. Highly recommended to all!

MC is now dumb and OP

This series started out great with a decent power range powerful but limited bla bla but decent.

I’m not sure if this is even the same author as the first books. First off how was the main character Paul smart and skillful in the first books but now dumb as rocks. He is in hiding and first thing he dose is talk about how good he is in magic, knives, and his one of a kind war horse. I mean it’s like okay he is sneaking around but on top of a very easy to identify and track horse. Let’s not even talk about how he is left to clean up the mess by every adult at every chance they get. At no point is anyone like why are we asking this over powered and obviously dumb kid to do spy work. Yea not sure why because he is horrible at it. First thing he is ever taught is to sense people. Spends this and a lot of the previous books being surprised by non magical and magical people alike. It’s like he’s super strong but dumb.

Next he goes to the other place as a spy and is taught how to change his appearance spends weeks practicing to be like this new person to literally never use it. Meets his unknown new room mate admits everything to her. Everyone he meets along the way admits who he is in like a few minutes.

Also the power ups make no sense. Please stop. He can no teleport, go invisible, see everyone around him but still never uses it in a battle or forgets to use it.

Also why go through all that work to creat his fake identities if he just goes around telling everybody who he is.

I mean and the fact that he trusts the queen of the enemy because she says she isn’t a spy???

Don’t even get me started on the mind control and suggestion stuff. I mean I guess it’s possible no one knows how it works and it’s new but it can’t be the first time if they taught him how to block it???? It’s like okay so they teach him how before he goes in but then get caught asleep? No good ranger or assassin would be caught asleep ignoring the talking horses warning. I mean I really just can’t with this book.

The queen would be able to tell everyone what and who the people are that worked for her husband. I mean come on what’s the point.

So Paul has the power to remove and check people for mind control but just didn’t use it. His friends come in never checks it. Cook brings in food never checks her. Same cook in the kitchen he was poisoned from. I mean he could just have stayed at the castle brought everyone in checked them first and installed the blocking bubble. Let’s just ignore the glaring hole on how his sister gets away or how an attack can take place in the castle but then after the only magician is killed Paul is like okay let’s leave????

So no follow up on why or how any of that happened. Then this just leads up to his sister dying which is fine but like not really helping the story. Also who brings untrained trackers into the woods then walks right into a enemy camp.

I mean just his invisibility skill and the teleport skill would turn him into a dodge tank or perfect assassin. He could probably take out 30 or more non magical people. I also love how so many powerful people have been killed by a knife or arrow to the back.

I mean what happed to the story arch’s and character development. Why did he learn tracking and all that time sneaking around if he just jumps out and gets caught all the time? Why give away your most valuable secrets to everyone you meet. First he is humble and didn’t care about anything then he turned into a bragging show off? Also they bring up wards but never explain them outside of the 1 time it’s used. The whole book makes no sense.

I get the spy work but at least let him learn to fight. If he can go invisible then make him deadly. Stop having him stopped by normal non magical people. Who are the bad guys???? The monks? They haven’t even fought. Paul should be able to take on 30-40 normal men or anyone with out magic at his level but is afraid of 8-9 soldiers with no magic. I mean don’t get me started with his friends or shera the new love interest. I mean she’s also super talented but can’t fight. She’s also a spy but also not really good at it.

I just don’t get why this would ever work. Also if he can confirm if some ones mind is controlled why can’t anyone else? Would they not have noticed he was not under any control? Maybe this is a skill only he has but just seems like a big hole they ignored. Also if he can just open locks freeze people and the old man can put 10 people to sleep with out touching them I just don’t understand the power levels and skills. I really hope they don’t keep redoing this same cycle.