When Wizards Follow Fools

Arcane Ascension, Book 5

By: Andrew Rowe

Narrated by: Nick Podehl

Corin Cadence has been summoned to meet with the Emerald Council, a political summit including the most powerful of all attuned and their closest political allies.

His summons came with a dire warning—that war was coming to the nation of Valia. While Valia is no stranger to warfare, the circumstances of this invasion are dire.

Valia's visage, Tenjin, remains missing. Many of the nation's leaders were slain during Mizuchi's attack, and others killed or injured through Saffron's machinations. With a critical power vacuum in Valia's leadership, few can be trusted.

Surrounded by old enemies, tenuous allies, and strangers with their own agendas, Corin will need to leverage every skill he's learned to help salvage his nation's fate.

Includes a sneak peek—in both PDF and audio—of Edge of the Woods, book one of The Lost Edge series set within the Arcane Ascension universe and available now in ebook, print, and audio!

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2022 Andrew Rowe (P)2025 Podium Audio

Are The Characters Still Developing?

So the overall story is good. The series started off strong and the new story arc is fun. What I can't understand is the reasoning behind continuing to keep the group emotionally and socially fragile. Like they have not grown at all; still whiney, still can't handle low pressure situations, and yet still this group of teens for whatever reason have a voice in global governmental and religious affairs. Corin can't talk to his 6 non sexual romantic love interests of various entities, his teachers, or his friends, freezes in a fight still but then when some stuff needs to happen he's briefly batman. I'm getting whiplash.

All in all though decent story, but I do hope the characters find some strength at some point.

This series keeps getting better and better

The development of the characters and entire world is fantastic. Narration is awesome as well. Keep it up!

Love the fact that people think this good work needs skipped!

Good book gets a lot of hate for not being very progressive but it'd needed to be here if we never found out about the emerald dorks we would be confused about what's happend and people for be pissed about that (people are saying that this book needs skipped wtf) this man is pumping out real work!!!

Detailed Magic system

Big fan of the in-depth magic system in this series. Getting really invested in the story can’t wait for the next book.

worth the wait

its a wonderful book. it brings everything close to the end. i cant wait for the next one

Rowe/Podell remain the best

It was a great blend of the particular detail and big action. The clever solutions and fun wins the team gets carries on here.

fantastic

another great entry in the series! I enjoyed the recap in the beginning even though I just finished relistening to the earlier books in the series. i love seeing this world through Corin's eyes and can't wait for the next book.

I continue to appreciate and love this series!!

I read a lot of LITRPGS and his books has always remained near the top for me for a few reasons that I want to call out. People stated that Corrin and his friends haven't seen growth I completely disagree with that iteration and quiet frankly have to wonder if they comprehended what they read. I feel like Corrin had more mental growth and maturity in this book than any other combined but I have slowly seen him changing and growing in his confidence and abilities in the last couple of books. Previously he had real issues with touch, focus, etc... and throughout this book he is definitely changing not just with his friends. On several occasions this was called out. Also, unlike hundreds of other books the MC in this book feels like he is up against huge challenges and the more he engages in political intrigues, machinations, and villainy the deeper it gets which would create real anxiety for any teenager with all this on their shoulders all while feeling inadequate inside. who doesnt feel that way in life sometimes?Because he is forced to; not because he wants to, he still rises up to the challenge, but even then due to him being a real human being and not perfect he makes mistakes and has to deal with them. I especially felt that in this entry. I feel great compassion from him for the ones he cares about and loves and yes he tries to take on everyone's problems sometimes but that is because he is invested in the family he chose since his birth family has created multiple layers of trauma and abandonment issues. So when he has his own brand of personality quirks not only do I get it but understand sometimes in life we never get past those even when we are trying to grow as a human being. I seen in another review someone was saying they had whiplash about his love interests. If you had a ton of abuse and trauma I wonder how quick you would be to jump into a relationship without any repercussions, especially being a teenager or a virgin. did we all forget what that felt like? Teenage years are some of the toughest times of a persons life. They are assaulted from all directions and told how they should think or feel or act, all while trying to figure out who they want to become. I think the author is brilliant in how he has written all the characters. They aren't two dimensional and they feel like people I know in real life. When that happens that is when you can truly connect to the characters and you even root for them. Even though his mind gets in the way of trying to do the right thing sometimes he is selfless and unconditional in his love for his friends. Coming from what he went through, if that isn't complete growth I don't know what is!!! He hasn't made them over powered instead I see them being human beings with emotions that sometimes gets the better of us. I think readers have a bad habit of getting frustrated with why he did this or that. We as readers have to separate ourselves from this style of thinking. They are teenagers and they are going to be rash or gullible or naive sometimes. I know at that age I certainly was at times but that is what makes us wiser the older we get. Second point i would like to discuss is the world and magic building these books have are completely incredible, extremely fleshed out, and super intriguing. If there was games with this type of magic system I would pre-order the game just to give it a go! I truly enjoy hearing growth they receive by going into towers and how this system continues to evolve and grow. I am learning the system bit by bit as they do. It feels like I'm growing along with the characters and most books completely fail on this. Andrew knocks it out of the park with that concept. When they are discussing how something works or how to grow it, I feel like it requires a lot of forethought and effort. So when they hit that next level or win something I get that dopamine drip along with them and I am excited for them. He doesn't create an overpowered group. They make mistakes and there are real consequences for those mistakes. I appreciate that! I have purchased all these books and pre-ordered them in advance. I will auto purchase anything you write Andrew! We each have our opinions, and im not saying mine is above others that has taken time to write their thoughts out, I only ask you to read my thoughts and ask yourself about these things as well. I love to speak and debate a good book that makes you want to talk to others about it. That just means its good writing that sparks thought! How many of us have read a story where we didnt care about the mc, or they were arrogant and self absorbed? How many other books are they completely overpowered where it doesn't feel like a challenge or growth? If you are looking for a series that has real people living and growing in a world
full of mystery, intrigue, and a huge overarching story that is slowly being revealed to you and the more you read the better it gets this series is for you!

Good progression

Overall, good book, but it’s getting way too overly technical. Adding more words so I can submit my review.

Another absolute banger

I was about to leave a scathing epitaph, dripping in corrosive bile regarding how long I had been left to wait on my favorite band of misfits. But I see the next book is already in the works and will be in my sweaty hands within a reasonable amount of time. Do not tempt my wrath again, mortal.

[translation: legendary series. You will laugh, cry, and scratch your chin]