Forging Divinity (The War of Broken Mirrors Book 1)

Edit: I'm changing my rating to 3 stars, as I feel a 2 star rating for writing of this caliber is uncharitable. My personal enjoyment of the material is more on a 2 star level, however. Where to start? Positives, I suppose. - The writing is tight. No overlong exposition or unnecessary detail, prose is average or slightly better. Editing is quite a large step up from most self-pubs. - Characters are well drawn and very distinct, though virtually zero development occurs (more on that later). Many self-pub writers have difficulty writing easily distinguishable characters. Not so, in this case. - There was an air of mystery about the primary characters. The book is written from three distinct POVs, and each time we get a little bit of info on their reactions and motivations, but it’s only enough to give a glimpse of who they really are (I thought – more on this later). There are hints of rich backstory to flesh out each character. - The opening really grabbed me – legendary sword of unknown power and its mysterious wielder pairing up with a powerful undercover sorceress, Unfortunately, after the first 30-40% of the book, none of the promise that seemed so rich early in was delivered upon. The cons started to pile up, and never really stopped mounting for me: - The magic system is neat, but execution is flawed; there’s very little consistency. Some characters need auditory cues to “cast”, some don’t, some need gestures, some don’t. Each person is supposed to be bounded by affinity for a limited number of “dominions” (e.g. dreams, knowledge, metal, fire, etc), but the author plays extremely fast and loose with what can be done with each of these. It really seems that he made the system up, then just allowed the various characters to do whatever they tried to do with the only limit being how powerful they were within their domain. - The characters are extremely flat and uninteresting. There was only the barest hint of character development. It took a while to find out that they really don’t have much depth. In the end, they’re pretty much caricatures more than they are characters. Taelien is kind, gregarious, chivalrous and dumb. He acts like a complete child and this never changes. Other characters view him this way, and it fits because that’s pretty much exactly what he is. A very powerful child, but a child nonetheless. He takes his cues from Lydia throughout the book, and is pretty much powerless to act with any autonomy whatsoever. Lydia is an overbearing, condescending, arrogant bully who feels it’s her right to impose her will on others wherever she goes. The character of Moiraine in WoT fits her pretty much like a glove…except when you realize that that’s completely ridiculous because she’s about 20, and Moiraine is supposed to be over 70 or something. She thinks of (and actually refers to) Taelien as a child and mothers him the entire way through the book. She acts in a similar manner to pretty much anyone else. Some of this can be explained away when she needs to be in her frosty court sorceress persona, but early in the book she reflects on the great disparity between her undercover “ice queen” persona, and her natural, more friendly and compassionate self. Unfortunately this is just fluff, because we see only the tiniest bit of evidence that she might not actually be the former through and through. She’s calculating and thoughtful, but mostly to no real effect. She’s often afflicted with analysis paralysis, and progress pretty much just falls into her lap. Jonan was full of potential. Many reviewers called him the rogue. The funny, fun-loving sidekick. Somewhat appropriate, but his character is very similar to Lydia (intelligent and calculating, distrustful) excepting the fact that he pretty much acts like a doormat. - Characters go through the story helping others and doing things for completely inexplicable reasons. Taelien gets thrown in prison in the beginning for some reason completely unknown to him. Lydia helps break him out, and for some reason he continues to follow her like a puppy at her vague agreement to help him with his quest to find out more about himself. Now, if I had a clear goal, like find some guy (who I’ve been told can help me figure out my lineage and birthright), unless somebody or something is going to imminently help me get at this goal, I’m going to part ways from it. Instead, he gets distracted *constantly* with what I refer to as “side quests”. He’s helping a cause that he doesn’t even appear to have a strong moral reason to support. Jonan does much the same. For some reason Jonan bands together with these two people (Lydia and Taelien) that assaulted him, took him prisoner, and interrogated him, despite the fact that their ideologies are ostensibly at ends with one another. What? Later, another character attacks him by breaking into his home and smashing valuable belongings critical to his magic, and he just shrugs it off and offers to assist her for some reason. Again, what? This kind of behavior is everywhere too. - The pace of the book is worse than glacial. I read hundreds of pages of idle talk or inner monologue with no meaningful activity whatsoever. The vast bulk of the book covers discussions that occur in a matter of moments, much of it being an inner monologue from the current POV character. Eventually it just feels like a lot of churn for no reason. - The world building seemed flat. It surprised me that so many reviewers felt that this was a strong point of the novel. Then again, I categorize magic system as just that, and not related necessarily to world building. World building - to me - tells the story of the people, their cultures, their philosophy, their politics, their technological maturity, their regions and regional disputes, their resources, and so forth. I feel this novel did almost none of that. The only sense I got that the nations were different at all was the fact that they worshiped different gods. I couldn’t get a sense that there was any differentiation of ethnicities within the races (if there even were), and even the races were only described in the broadest terms. Overall, the book just felt dull and uninteresting, and I didn't identify with the characters one bit. I was very disappointed since it got rather good reviews and the beginning really grabbed me. I won’t be reading the second.

"Certainty in the face of variables is a sign of insanity." I loved this as much as I didn’t, which is why it fell into my LIKED vs. my LOVED rating. I felt like a pendulum trying to decide, but in the end there were a few more negatives than positives. But it didn’t get close to my INDIFFERENT rating, so that should say how much I liked it. I couldn’t really summarize this as the story revolves around three characters all on their own mission that ended up overlapping one other. I’m afraid if I tried I’d accidentally give something away. So the book blurb is going to have to do. The world was nicely developed, in my opinion. I never felt cheated. Matter of fact, in the beginning there’s a lot thrown at you. And I never felt like it let up. Not in a cool way, but in a let’s-get-all-this-out-now way. Normally I can go along with info dumps when it’s worked into a dialog. That happened in a lot of places, but it was sooooo long that I ended up skipping, hoping I’d understand later. I did, so yay me and yay to Rowe for keeping it clear. The world, however, never came close to the amount we learned about the magic system. Some people are going to love it. For me—and keep in mind that I love love love magic—it was too much. Much like the world building, it felt long-winded and overcomplicated. I skimmed, and I fear I payed a price for that. I think if i would have been patient, some of it could have been more entertaining. I liked the writing for the most part. Action scenes were incredible. I had a clear picture of what was happening. Those scenes were the reason this didn’t get a lower rating. They were really nifty, particularly those with Taelien. There were some typos, enough that I noticed by not enough to ruin the book for me. Now, the reason I was enjoying this so much was the characters. Taelien was a badass, and his magic was by far my favorite. Manipulating metal might sound boring, but Rowe made it fun. Super fun! Taelien's got a lot to find out about himself, and he truly wants to be a good person. He’s an easy character to root for, especially with his adventurous personality and slightly blind bravery. Our heroine, Lydia, was nicely gifted, but her magical ability of gaining knowledge about stuff just wasn’t as enthralling as magic used in a fight. Even so, she was a tough gal, collected, curious, and strong in her own right. Never a damsel in distress. Our other protagonist, Jonan, used sight magic—making himself invisible, looking through mirrors, and so forth. I never got as good of a feel for him as I did the other two. I could never quite peg his intentions. Overall, I’d recommend this to those that like a traditional upbeat fantasy. It’s short and fun. Because of Taelien I’ll be picking up the second book. I’m curious about his story and where he’ll end up.

I'll admit this one took a while to get into, since the opening chapters were very dialogue-heavy. The book also gives a lot of insight into what is happening in the characters heads, which took a bit of getting used to. However, once the book got going, I found myself really appreciating the detailed thoughts, since the characters are very logical and I love the "rationalist" genre. After the first few chapters, I was hooked (~30% on my kindle). The magic system is pretty great. I'm a fan of hard magic systems, and there are detailed rules, limitations, and costs to the magic in this book. I really appreciated the diversity of the magic, as well. As much as I love Sanderson's magic systems, sometimes they are fairly limited. Forging Divinity has magic of all types: physical, elemental, healing, knowledge, illusion, etc. The worldbuilding is also great. Godhood can be sold to the highest bidder? Awesome. Multiple conspiracies, a looming war, original races that are tied into the magic system? Even better. The characters are good as well, though not as strong as the worldbuilding. Each of the three main characters has access to different magic types, has their own hidden agendas that you slowly learn about, and distinct personalities. One is overly analytical about everything, one is a hotheaded warrior, and one is a secretive spy who relies on illusions instead of direct magics. Overall, the book was a slow start but a great read. I've bought the second and am looking forward to reading it in the near future. I might have to put the sequel off for a bit, because once I hit the 30% mark of this one I pretty much couldn't put it down (so much for being productive this week).

The system of magic in Forging Divinity is clever, compelling, and enticingly deep from the first pages. It was always a treat when it showed up again, and it was interesting to watch how it built itself into the plot of the novel with new and interesting complexities. Conversely, the book can get a bit wordy at times, with overlong explanations of how the world is built that are not integrated into the happenings in the plot itself, making it a slow read in many places. It would have been nice to seen those elements shown and not told more often, however, if you enjoy reading about systems of magic, I don't think you will be disappointed! The combat and action scenes were amazing, and they are still easy to imagine even now, weeks after finishing the book; every fight is vividly described, painting a clear picture in the reader's mind and really holding engagement. These are the parts where the book truly shines, each scene unique and memorable.

Interesting concept and magic system but not terribly well executed. The story got off to a strong start and then seemed to get lost. Lots of seemingly unmotivated character action with people charging off into stupidly dangerous situations for no readily apparent reason other than the story required them to do so so we could get to the next incredibly dangerous scene. There was a mystery subplot and a palace intrigue subplot along with some espionage-like elements and a couple of vaguely romantic elements but they just seemed to muddle the story. More work was needed to create rapport with characters so that I actually cared about what was going on with them.

Forging Divinity is the first installment in what promises to be an entertaining and complex new series. This debut novel follows three primary POV characters, two of which are spies for rival organizations. Caught in the middle of this unlikely pair is Taelien, a young swordsman wielding a supposed sword of legend, about which he knows very little. All three leads are well written (though I'm rather partial to the half-blind Jonan), and clearly have their own agendas and eccentricities. There's something to be said for a male author who is capable of writing from a female perspective, and Lydia is definitely a successful example of this often rare skill. Rowe also does a good job of exploring many of the gray areas produced by political intrigue and a "for the greater good" mentality. Where Rowe really shines is his world building, presenting the reader with a well-developed and intricate magic system, further augmented by a diverse political and religious landscape. It's certainly a unique spin on the typical fantasy genre. The plot itself also presents the reader with some unexpected twists and turns, and the novel features perhaps one of the best fight scenes I've encountered to date. All and all, this debut piece is an entertaining introduction to a world and cast that will likely become even more engrossing as the series progresses.

There is plenty to like about this book. There was a good dynamic between the main characters. The author's angle on magic was gernally interesting. At points the discriptions of magic read more like an RPG rule book then a novel. The plot was bit clumsy. There were times when some of the "adventures" were just a too convenient. This begin to get out of hand as the author was wrapping up the story. If you're a made role player then this book will probably be your thing.

An interesting story, although not really breaking any new ground. The world building was interesting, the magic works but at a physical cost to the user. No casting spells without a sapping of your strength and health. Its a world where some gods walk among their worshippers, and some humans are striving to gain enough magic power to ascend to godhood themselves. There is political intrigue, spies, and of course, the mysterious stranger with a powerful magic sword that wanders into the midst of all this, trying to learn who he is and who is parents are and why he has a sword that is an ancient artifact he can only partially control. He is the best fighter around, too. This book is the start of at least a trilogy, the first 2 books are already published, but the third is not due out until 2017. So if you like the series, you will have to wait a while for the 3rd installment.

Starts off with a bang. I got a little concerned when it veered a bit into politics and religion, but it worked through it nicely and the plot moved along well. Great sword and sorcery book with an interesting system of magic. I've already purchased the sequels.

This was a great read. I’ve been a huge fan of the series as well as the arcane ascension books. The world is incredibly interesting and manages to keep you invested no matter how much it grows. In fact the more you learn the more you want to know. If you’re into fun sword and sorcery with charct

Edit: I'm changing my rating to 3 stars, as I feel a 2 star rating for writing of this caliber is uncharitable. My personal enjoyment of the material is more on a 2 star level, however. Where to start? Positives, I suppose. - The writing is tight. No overlong exposition or unnecessary detail, prose is average or slightly better. Editing is quite a large step up from most self-pubs. - Characters are well drawn and very distinct, though virtually zero development occurs (more on that later). Many self-pub writers have difficulty writing easily distinguishable characters. Not so, in this case. - There was an air of mystery about the primary characters. The book is written from three distinct POVs, and each time we get a little bit of info on their reactions and motivations, but it’s only enough to give a glimpse of who they really are (I thought – more on this later). There are hints of rich backstory to flesh out each character. - The opening really grabbed me – legendary sword of unknown power and its mysterious wielder pairing up with a powerful undercover sorceress, Unfortunately, after the first 30-40% of the book, none of the promise that seemed so rich early in was delivered upon. The cons started to pile up, and never really stopped mounting for me: - The magic system is neat, but execution is flawed; there’s very little consistency. Some characters need auditory cues to “cast”, some don’t, some need gestures, some don’t. Each person is supposed to be bounded by affinity for a limited number of “dominions” (e.g. dreams, knowledge, metal, fire, etc), but the author plays extremely fast and loose with what can be done with each of these. It really seems that he made the system up, then just allowed the various characters to do whatever they tried to do with the only limit being how powerful they were within their domain. - The characters are extremely flat and uninteresting. There was only the barest hint of character development. It took a while to find out that they really don’t have much depth. In the end, they’re pretty much caricatures more than they are characters. Taelien is kind, gregarious, chivalrous and dumb. He acts like a complete child and this never changes. Other characters view him this way, and it fits because that’s pretty much exactly what he is. A very powerful child, but a child nonetheless. He takes his cues from Lydia throughout the book, and is pretty much powerless to act with any autonomy whatsoever. Lydia is an overbearing, condescending, arrogant bully who feels it’s her right to impose her will on others wherever she goes. The character of Moiraine in WoT fits her pretty much like a glove…except when you realize that that’s completely ridiculous because she’s about 20, and Moiraine is supposed to be over 70 or something. She thinks of (and actually refers to) Taelien as a child and mothers him the entire way through the book. She acts in a similar manner to pretty much anyone else. Some of this can be explained away when she needs to be in her frosty court sorceress persona, but early in the book she reflects on the great disparity between her undercover “ice queen” persona, and her natural, more friendly and compassionate self. Unfortunately this is just fluff, because we see only the tiniest bit of evidence that she might not actually be the former through and through. She’s calculating and thoughtful, but mostly to no real effect. She’s often afflicted with analysis paralysis, and progress pretty much just falls into her lap. Jonan was full of potential. Many reviewers called him the rogue. The funny, fun-loving sidekick. Somewhat appropriate, but his character is very similar to Lydia (intelligent and calculating, distrustful) excepting the fact that he pretty much acts like a doormat. - Characters go through the story helping others and doing things for completely inexplicable reasons. Taelien gets thrown in prison in the beginning for some reason completely unknown to him. Lydia helps break him out, and for some reason he continues to follow her like a puppy at her vague agreement to help him with his quest to find out more about himself. Now, if I had a clear goal, like find some guy (who I’ve been told can help me figure out my lineage and birthright), unless somebody or something is going to imminently help me get at this goal, I’m going to part ways from it. Instead, he gets distracted *constantly* with what I refer to as “side quests”. He’s helping a cause that he doesn’t even appear to have a strong moral reason to support. Jonan does much the same. For some reason Jonan bands together with these two people (Lydia and Taelien) that assaulted him, took him prisoner, and interrogated him, despite the fact that their ideologies are ostensibly at ends with one another. What? Later, another character attacks him by breaking into his home and smashing valuable belongings critical to his magic, and he just shrugs it off and offers to assist her for some reason. Again, what? This kind of behavior is everywhere too. - The pace of the book is worse than glacial. I read hundreds of pages of idle talk or inner monologue with no meaningful activity whatsoever. The vast bulk of the book covers discussions that occur in a matter of moments, much of it being an inner monologue from the current POV character. Eventually it just feels like a lot of churn for no reason. - The world building seemed flat. It surprised me that so many reviewers felt that this was a strong point of the novel. Then again, I categorize magic system as just that, and not related necessarily to world building. World building - to me - tells the story of the people, their cultures, their philosophy, their politics, their technological maturity, their regions and regional disputes, their resources, and so forth. I feel this novel did almost none of that. The only sense I got that the nations were different at all was the fact that they worshiped different gods. I couldn’t get a sense that there was any differentiation of ethnicities within the races (if there even were), and even the races were only described in the broadest terms. Overall, the book just felt dull and uninteresting, and I didn't identify with the characters one bit. I was very disappointed since it got rather good reviews and the beginning really grabbed me. I won’t be reading the second.

"Certainty in the face of variables is a sign of insanity." I loved this as much as I didn’t, which is why it fell into my LIKED vs. my LOVED rating. I felt like a pendulum trying to decide, but in the end there were a few more negatives than positives. But it didn’t get close to my INDIFFERENT rating, so that should say how much I liked it. I couldn’t really summarize this as the story revolves around three characters all on their own mission that ended up overlapping one other. I’m afraid if I tried I’d accidentally give something away. So the book blurb is going to have to do. The world was nicely developed, in my opinion. I never felt cheated. Matter of fact, in the beginning there’s a lot thrown at you. And I never felt like it let up. Not in a cool way, but in a let’s-get-all-this-out-now way. Normally I can go along with info dumps when it’s worked into a dialog. That happened in a lot of places, but it was sooooo long that I ended up skipping, hoping I’d understand later. I did, so yay me and yay to Rowe for keeping it clear. The world, however, never came close to the amount we learned about the magic system. Some people are going to love it. For me—and keep in mind that I love love love magic—it was too much. Much like the world building, it felt long-winded and overcomplicated. I skimmed, and I fear I payed a price for that. I think if i would have been patient, some of it could have been more entertaining. I liked the writing for the most part. Action scenes were incredible. I had a clear picture of what was happening. Those scenes were the reason this didn’t get a lower rating. They were really nifty, particularly those with Taelien. There were some typos, enough that I noticed by not enough to ruin the book for me. Now, the reason I was enjoying this so much was the characters. Taelien was a badass, and his magic was by far my favorite. Manipulating metal might sound boring, but Rowe made it fun. Super fun! Taelien's got a lot to find out about himself, and he truly wants to be a good person. He’s an easy character to root for, especially with his adventurous personality and slightly blind bravery. Our heroine, Lydia, was nicely gifted, but her magical ability of gaining knowledge about stuff just wasn’t as enthralling as magic used in a fight. Even so, she was a tough gal, collected, curious, and strong in her own right. Never a damsel in distress. Our other protagonist, Jonan, used sight magic—making himself invisible, looking through mirrors, and so forth. I never got as good of a feel for him as I did the other two. I could never quite peg his intentions. Overall, I’d recommend this to those that like a traditional upbeat fantasy. It’s short and fun. Because of Taelien I’ll be picking up the second book. I’m curious about his story and where he’ll end up.

I'll admit this one took a while to get into, since the opening chapters were very dialogue-heavy. The book also gives a lot of insight into what is happening in the characters heads, which took a bit of getting used to. However, once the book got going, I found myself really appreciating the detailed thoughts, since the characters are very logical and I love the "rationalist" genre. After the first few chapters, I was hooked (~30% on my kindle). The magic system is pretty great. I'm a fan of hard magic systems, and there are detailed rules, limitations, and costs to the magic in this book. I really appreciated the diversity of the magic, as well. As much as I love Sanderson's magic systems, sometimes they are fairly limited. Forging Divinity has magic of all types: physical, elemental, healing, knowledge, illusion, etc. The worldbuilding is also great. Godhood can be sold to the highest bidder? Awesome. Multiple conspiracies, a looming war, original races that are tied into the magic system? Even better. The characters are good as well, though not as strong as the worldbuilding. Each of the three main characters has access to different magic types, has their own hidden agendas that you slowly learn about, and distinct personalities. One is overly analytical about everything, one is a hotheaded warrior, and one is a secretive spy who relies on illusions instead of direct magics. Overall, the book was a slow start but a great read. I've bought the second and am looking forward to reading it in the near future. I might have to put the sequel off for a bit, because once I hit the 30% mark of this one I pretty much couldn't put it down (so much for being productive this week).

The system of magic in Forging Divinity is clever, compelling, and enticingly deep from the first pages. It was always a treat when it showed up again, and it was interesting to watch how it built itself into the plot of the novel with new and interesting complexities. Conversely, the book can get a bit wordy at times, with overlong explanations of how the world is built that are not integrated into the happenings in the plot itself, making it a slow read in many places. It would have been nice to seen those elements shown and not told more often, however, if you enjoy reading about systems of magic, I don't think you will be disappointed! The combat and action scenes were amazing, and they are still easy to imagine even now, weeks after finishing the book; every fight is vividly described, painting a clear picture in the reader's mind and really holding engagement. These are the parts where the book truly shines, each scene unique and memorable.

Interesting concept and magic system but not terribly well executed. The story got off to a strong start and then seemed to get lost. Lots of seemingly unmotivated character action with people charging off into stupidly dangerous situations for no readily apparent reason other than the story required them to do so so we could get to the next incredibly dangerous scene. There was a mystery subplot and a palace intrigue subplot along with some espionage-like elements and a couple of vaguely romantic elements but they just seemed to muddle the story. More work was needed to create rapport with characters so that I actually cared about what was going on with them.

Forging Divinity is the first installment in what promises to be an entertaining and complex new series. This debut novel follows three primary POV characters, two of which are spies for rival organizations. Caught in the middle of this unlikely pair is Taelien, a young swordsman wielding a supposed sword of legend, about which he knows very little. All three leads are well written (though I'm rather partial to the half-blind Jonan), and clearly have their own agendas and eccentricities. There's something to be said for a male author who is capable of writing from a female perspective, and Lydia is definitely a successful example of this often rare skill. Rowe also does a good job of exploring many of the gray areas produced by political intrigue and a "for the greater good" mentality. Where Rowe really shines is his world building, presenting the reader with a well-developed and intricate magic system, further augmented by a diverse political and religious landscape. It's certainly a unique spin on the typical fantasy genre. The plot itself also presents the reader with some unexpected twists and turns, and the novel features perhaps one of the best fight scenes I've encountered to date. All and all, this debut piece is an entertaining introduction to a world and cast that will likely become even more engrossing as the series progresses.

There is plenty to like about this book. There was a good dynamic between the main characters. The author's angle on magic was gernally interesting. At points the discriptions of magic read more like an RPG rule book then a novel. The plot was bit clumsy. There were times when some of the "adventures" were just a too convenient. This begin to get out of hand as the author was wrapping up the story. If you're a made role player then this book will probably be your thing.

An interesting story, although not really breaking any new ground. The world building was interesting, the magic works but at a physical cost to the user. No casting spells without a sapping of your strength and health. Its a world where some gods walk among their worshippers, and some humans are striving to gain enough magic power to ascend to godhood themselves. There is political intrigue, spies, and of course, the mysterious stranger with a powerful magic sword that wanders into the midst of all this, trying to learn who he is and who is parents are and why he has a sword that is an ancient artifact he can only partially control. He is the best fighter around, too. This book is the start of at least a trilogy, the first 2 books are already published, but the third is not due out until 2017. So if you like the series, you will have to wait a while for the 3rd installment.

Starts off with a bang. I got a little concerned when it veered a bit into politics and religion, but it worked through it nicely and the plot moved along well. Great sword and sorcery book with an interesting system of magic. I've already purchased the sequels.

This was a great read. I’ve been a huge fan of the series as well as the arcane ascension books. The world is incredibly interesting and manages to keep you invested no matter how much it grows. In fact the more you learn the more you want to know. If you’re into fun sword and sorcery with charct

Great writing style, world, magic system, etc. The characters seem pretty amazing as well. My only problem with this book, is the MCs not really sharing any intimate moments. There's a line or two making it seem like the female about it, but it never manifested into more than a fleeting thought. It just seemed like something should have happened, but never did. Then there's the fact that I was expecting the author to follow through on having T and L leave the city and not trusting in an invisible guy and staying at his house instead... It still turned out to be a great book!

If you enjoy Rowe's writing style as much as I do, this is like finding it for the first time again. A very different type of story with much more humor and suspense than his other series. I gave this four stars because I couldn't relate to these characters near as much as I did with arcane's. Also, despite the setup and scene necessary for it the battles and entire point of everything doesn't feel as heavy as arcane's. Maybe it will come out as being a small part of a bigger fight in the next book, which I will absolutely be continuing onto immediately.

This is one of those fantasy worlds where everything is thought out and realized. The way magic is handled makes it feel like you could pick up a textbook from any of the various practicing groups and read in-depth documentation on the way it is used, the history of use, and ways it can kill you if you're stupid. (Always a good thing to find in a novel.) I'd expect a source-book of everything that's talked about could be put together if Rowe wanted (Disclosure: I actually do own some of the fantasy RPG sourcebooks he's worked on for other intellectual properties through his gaming industry jobs.) The humor feels natural, and the dialog between the characters flows smoothly even when discussing lofty concepts like gods in the flesh and different schools/domains of magic. It'll be interesting to see how it goes from here!

I knew the author worked in the videogame business, and it showed from reading this novel. The magic system was ridiculously complex, and I could practically see the talent trees of each respective character. While at times it became a bit of a two-edged sword, overall the experience lent positive force to this book. With interesting characters and glimpse into a vast world, fans of authors like Brandon Sanderson and Brent Weeks will want to keep this one on their radar.

This doesn’t have the grip that arcane ascension has for me, but it’s an enjoyable story. While this won’t challenge you much, it has some fun moments and some shallow but satisfying characters. Worth a read if you enjoyed Rowe’s other books.

The world-building and magic system were pretty interesting. Two of the main characters seem a little too much alike and the third character is a little underdeveloped. There are a few blatant logic gaps and way too many typos. I nearly stopped reading halfway through because there were two or three typos per page. It got distracting and just made the book unprofessional. I kept reading because I enjoyed the story line and the magic system. At the end, I was pleasantly surprised to find I enjoyed it enough to take a look at the next book.

This was a good first novel. I have two minor criticisms. One, there was too much explanation of the world, the magic and not enough action, moving the story forward. I get that the author thinks he needs to help us understand most everything, but really, we can do without some of the detail...you can layer that into Book 2 and 3 as well. It bogged down the story at times. The second minor criticism is that I'd like to see a little more romance. Just my deal...not everyone's I realize.

Forging Divinity is a well fleshed out new world to explore, with a surprising amount of logic and depth put into the mechanics of it's magic system that is not commonly seen in Fantasy books. The story is based around Religious/Political intrigue that keeps you wondering with every new revelation and introduction. The characters are distinct and I can't wait to see what their stories develop into in the sequel.

The story starts very mysterious. Gradually the reader discovers the main issues. The story focuses on a group of people. Each trying to solve the same mystery from a different angle.

While not a masterpiece, Rowe does an outstanding job of world building and creating interesting characters and plots. Character development could have been better, but the book is much better than most in the genre and we'll worth reading. I'll be buying the sequels

This is the 3rd book I've read by Andrew Rowe, I started with his other series and liked it enough to get his other works. I'll continue to buy whatever he writes. Good action scenes, likable characters and interesting magic system. Give him a try!

This was a very clever concept - gods (?) Who reward their followers with elevation to deity. Some are skeptical but who wants to go against a God? Of course these are very hands-on gods, suspicious right there. The politics are deliciously complicated . Plus Rowe has created a truly original and ,even rarer, an internally consistent system of magic. Delightful.

A good read with an excellent and engaging story with a unique magic system used by the characters; I found the book hard to put down and look forward to the next book in the series. The only issue I had with the book is the editing, I often found words missing or added as if the author was in the middle of writing a sentence, changed what they wanted to write, but didn't correct the entire sentence. I was still able to understand the intent of the sentence but I hope for better editing with any following novels.

I don't usually review books, but I really enjoyed this last summer. The power balance among characters was nice-- especially the power drawbacks--, and although the plot was a bit lack luster to me and non-gaming people might not appreciate the flavor of the book, just the overall tone and experience was nice. This goes on my top favorites list.

Self contained sword and sorcery. Superficially similar to Brandon Sanderson's warbreaker. Begging for a sequel so no spoilers. A swordsman searching for his identity with a sword that's a holy artefact, a nerdy paladin, a rogue. Trying to solve how people become gods. Need the next one fast.

In a genre overrun by stories that have all be done a thousand times, I found this book to be an interesting and original story. It is well written and the characters are all very interesting. I also enjoy that all the characters are very competent and skilled unlike most other fantasy novels where you have to watch the main characters be rather clueless for several books until they finally figure out what they are doing just in time for the series to end.

Memorable characters and lots of action characterize this fantasy set in a magical world that follows definite laws. Suspense keeps you reading until the conclusion rolls around. Good news - there is a sequel too.

Great author and great book. I love the world's that this author creates. I look forward to reading more. Would really like to know more about keras

This book took me places I did not expect based on the back, but that's a good thing. I dislike when the blurb gives away too much. Fast paced plot, interesting characters, a glimpse into court (or in this case city) intrigue, and some interesting and unexpected turns of events in the last third of the book. The magic system was interesting, and the appendix at the end helped fill in some questions I had about it while reading. Can't wait for the next installment!

An excellent read with an engaging story. This book had a memorable cast of characters, all of whom felt familiar as though I had known them for years already. As well as a deep and complex system of magic that retains its mystical feel, while still coming off as logical and easy to understand. Can't wait for the next book in the series.

A great debut novel from Rowe. The setting, plot, and magic system were all great. The prose and character development (except Jonan, I love him) need some work, but overall definitely worth the read. I've already bought the next book and will start it tomorrow. Here's to another adventure!

I'm always willing to try a new author and I wasn't disappointed by this one. The book kept me interested from the very beginning. Downloaded the next book in the series as well as others from this author. Keep writing them, and I'll keep buying. Thanks for being a great writer and for the entertainment.

This book is captivating and it extremely easy to lose track of time and space while reading.

It's interesting to follow different characters trying to find ways to use magic. The analyse of using magic is something new, I liked it. And also the fact that using a power uses the person. Makes the world more real somehow. The people are sensitive and real. Grown up, without the usua love making.

This is a great series, and everything by this author is gold!

Loved the story not the ending and but sounds and reads brilliantly and gives off a different feel to normal books atleast in my opinion

This was a decent first novel from an emerging writer. The plot and characters were well rounded and memorable. The magic method was intriguing. Will read the second book.

This book kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. The flow of how Andrew wrote it made it an easy read with many questions left at the end that I cannot wait for the second in the series. Highly recommended to everyone!!!!!

Just as good as his other series. I’m excited to see how they connect on a larger scale world. 10/10

It was a ok read

Likable characters with personality. Plot is interesting and well presented with out overwhelming you with back story. Excellent world building with a really interesting magic system. All in all a fun read.

Forging Divinity is a good book, I really enjoyed reading it. The story has its moments and it made a very long train ride feel a lot shorter. If I am to point out what I liked most about it, it would have to be the way magic works. It is a very interesting system based on strengths and consequences. No branch of magic can be abused without lasting side-effects.

This book is a romp the whole way through.

I have to say that this was a really good book. Characters were solid, good story, good pace. I don't review very often but on occasion when i see a new author on amazon that is worth a positive review i toss one in. IF your still not sure then check out the sample its what got me hooked!

This was an enjoyable book from beginning to end with an engaging story and an imaginative magic system. I finished it and couldn't wait to dive right into the sequel.

I was waiting for a while for a review then Monday was off and I had free time to kill so I bought it. Normally I only review fanfiction so bear with me. Some spoilers for the first 3 chapters. World building seems solid, the book hits the ground running so history and current events are mixed together and dropped in a believable manner. 3 main point of view characters are Taelien, metalbender fresh of the farm/forest hero looking answers to his mysterious past and his mysterious sword of the gods. His storybook hero is only missing a kindly old mentor to set him on the path and then be swiftly killed and some grand evil to face. A pawn that knows he is a pawn which causes some hilarious interactions with 2 players of the game. Lydia, chessmaster planner schemer, rpg tank, investigator, scientist, spy for one of the 2 major religions in the country/planet? She worships the gods that made Taelien’s sword. Personality tends towards straight laced, harsh but fair. Jonan, chessmaster planner schemer, rpg Crowd Control, surface persona is a loveable rogue, innards seem to be tired player of the game. Spy for the other major religion on the planet. So yeah 2 players and only 1 pawn between them. A highlight for me was Lydia and Jonan’s first interaction as the verbally jockey for position to steer the hero down the path most beneficial to their position. Plot is good though I felt the summery was misleading. I thought I was going into some variant of Sanderson’s Warbreaker. Lydia shows up in some corrupt city to save some splintered shard of her god that the locals are harvesting for power. That’s not what happened and the author didn’t even mention Jonan. I think a better summary could be made in a similar style to Sanderson’s Elantris. So in the end this is a solid first entrance into the series, or at least it had better be a series since the main arc of 2 of the 3 main characters, the whole what is Taelien’s greater purpose, and why does he have Lydia’s god sword doesn’t go further than speculation and initial investigation, your answers are in another city. That said the local arc is great, there’s a huge who done it( placing the city into the precarious position of fighting a holy war against Lydia’s religion) in the manor of ch 86 of HPMOR(harry potter and the methods of rationality), but stronger since we don’t already know who is behind the current events.

The world view is interesting but that and the magic system were a little confusing to me. Anytime the author feels the need for an appendix to clarify the magic, the system is often a convoluted mess that delights the author who has spent 5 years in the construct. For me spending 4 hours wasn't enough time to master the system. I liked the story but question the need to start chapter 2 with "12 hours earlier". Glad that I didn't stop reading at that point, but it seemed it could have been handled with the character in the present remembering what led her to her present action. I don't feel that I got to know the characters. Each seemingly playing a game of the prisoners dilemma with each other and the reader on information disclosure.

This is an excellent outing. It's a little sandersonian for my tastes but I guess that's a style now. A very good example of the type.

Really enjoyed this book's taken on the concept of "divinity", as well as the (as other reviewers have noted) somewhat Sanderson-esque magical system. I appreciate that the author has written a fairly satisfying conclusion to the story, while still leaving enough open to make you want the sequel.

LOOKING FORWARD TO MORE

I would highly recommend this interesting adventure book to all my LARP and Fantasy friends. Unique plot and convincing characters.

The author has a very interesting approach to magic, his characters are interesting as well. While a better job could be done to explain the world in which we find ourselves, overall it was a pleasant read and I will likely read the second book as well.

Good book I loved it. I can't wait to read the next one. This is a good start to a great new series.

Excelent book by a great author. Can't wait for more! Probably one of the nicest guys I had had the pleasure to talk with (Wich prompted me to buy the book)

Solid book. There is enough mystery surrounding the gods and magic users of old to keep you really interested in uncovering bits of lore here and there.

Good story rolling religion, magic and myths into one story. I love the play on human gods.

Andrew Rowe has created a rich fantasy world that clearly goes far deeper than the contents of this first book. He's set the scene for the series by introducing us to the main factions and important persons, but there's clearly much more to explore. The world itself is fascinating: men who have found ways to ascend to godhood, or at least convince people they have. Powerful magical artifacts and a detailed magical system. I like how Rowe explores grey areas. One of his main characters works for an organization that seems particularly shady, though this character is one of the good guys. The world is rich with different beliefs, opinions, and even ways to practice magic and fight. It's really very interesting and in depth and I'm excited to see where he goes with it. The story is fun and fast paced. He does a good job of setting up the situation and introducing us to the world and characters. The action was interesting and Rowe has a good sense of humor. The relationships between the characters were just starting to develop, so I look forward to seeing where Rowe takes them.

This is the kind of series I love to buy for my mystery loving family and get the kids started on.

Awesome story and awesome voice actor!

One of the best books I have read in a while. Good story, well written, great characters.

Great adventure a little drawn out but a great climax to the finish

It was a decent read. The editing could use some work as the amount of errors was a little distracting. Overall I'd give it four stars and recommend it to others.

Love this universe

I enjoyed the magic system and the detail the author took time to describe. Looking forward to reading the next one.

Entertaining, good character stories.

very exciting

The story was interesting, but this book could use another round of proofreading (or 2).

This book was very entertaining. There were a few minor problems, such as words missing from a sentence. But nothing major. I don't know if that was an error by the author or something else. I do look forward to reading the next book.

I liked the main characters; how the story developed and plenty of action.

Four stars it was ok characters seem like robots. Sufficiently advanced magic (same author was much better. The magic system was interesting

I was really impressed by the world building in this book. I really appreciated the thoughtful descriptions of abilities, how users interacted with that magic in unique ways. Unfortunately, I often felt so far removed from the characters I was indifferent when they were in danger. Their motives were mostly made clear, but their arcs were cold, flat, and logical, making it difficult to feel any empathy at all. When the three main characters meet, it's as if they all want to use each other for some personal gain, instantly disqualifying any affection I had began to feel for anyone. I think if I had a favorite character, it would have to be Vorain. Though minor, her story seemed interesting, as she displays the widest emotional range. Otherwise, the world is really diverse, and I look forward to learning more about it.

I initially clicked on this book because I saw that he worked for Obsidian. But the blurb is just fantastic, so I decided to try it.I read the first paragraph of this book and I wasn't really sold. It starts with someone in a nice jail cell. I thought, well this is going to be boring and full of cliches. I stuck with it for 5 more paragraphs and I was sold. In the first chapter you get an interesting magic system, a confident/mad prisoner and a spy. From there on out it just gets better. The book has a clever plot, great characters and I think this series will be one of the big ones for the coming years. Then Andrew Rowe bribed me to write a review. Of course, the bribe only worked because the book was so good that I really wanted to read the next one (I got a preview chapter for book 2. Spoilers: It looks just as good, even if you can't really tell all that much form a first chapter).

I enjoyed reading this book.

Very enjoyable. It's becoming increasingly rare for me to pick up a book by an author whom I've never heard off and get immediately hooked yet that happened here! I went through this one in a day and bought the 2nd book of the series, finished that and can't wait until the 3rd book comes out. Just riveting. The magic system is on par with any of Brandon Sanderson's and there's still so many mysteries waiting to unfold. The added hints of how the world is constructed are well done and, IMO, this author does a great job of toeing the line betwixt giving you enough to keep your interest in the world and the characters and their context in said world's history without extreme info dumping.

I bought Forging Divinity a while ago on Kindle and I loved it. The characters are really well done. They're very logical and rational, they consider every single aspect/detail and really use their heads. That's their strongest point imo. The magic system is very cool, refreshing and does make sense. Things don't happen just because its magic, there's a reason behind it. Spells are deconstructed and you can really understand the fundamentals of it. Gods and godesses do take a active role in worldbuilding, but you can't never really know how much of a god is that person claiming to be. However, it isn't the most fast-paced book out there, but when there's action, it's really immersive. I REALLY enjoyed this book. Definitely gonna read the sequel.

This was a story that didn't seem to know if it was a supernatural thriller, a spy novel or some kind of fantasy action tale with just a hint of magic. In the end it felt like it was none of these and all of them at the same time and that left it a bit flat. Andrew actually has a very good idea for a tale and its clear that he plans at least one if not several future books as there are several plot threads that were not resolved by the end. In fact the main tale doesn't appear to have anything to do with the title and is barely hinted at by the description. Instead as the first mystery starts to unfold a deeper mystery is found woven into the tale. Sadly, I couldn't get into the tale. The fact that Andrew is trying so hard to keep secrets and only hint at future character development ended up stripping much of the real character development from the tale. I felt like that part of the tale was greatly diminished by the thrust of the tale and the characters ended up feeling far to one-dimensional despite Andrew's clear attempt to give them complex motivations and back stories. It's a well-written book, as the grammar and editing are solid, but its not a great tale by itself. Perhaps if the main mystery was fleshed out a bit more rather than just hinted at I would have found the tale more engaging, as it was, I can only give this 3 stars.

Good read.

The dialogue was wooden. This is especially bad since there would be pages upon pages of pure dialogue between two characters. No description, nothing but dialogue, and not very good dialogue at that. There were long explanations of character's thought processes, I am not sure if it was to show that the characters are clever, or if the author thinks people's internal monologues are actually like that. I wanted to like this book, I just couldn't.

This is a story about a mystery man with a sword of yet another mystery. He meets two others who posses magical powers similar to himself and together they try to solve a mystery. While this story keeps you reading it also makes you want to skip pages due to being boring. I think it was boring to me because there was little action and the entire story is placed in one small city. Can't help get bored when there is not many new surroundings that can help create more build up. Now that I think about it, there really is little build up. I never felt that excitement or feeling of either dread or happiness for any of the characters or story. Now to the grammar. I try not to judge too harsh in this area due to the many errors that can occur when transferring from one program to this kindle edition. Though you will see many spelling and punctuation errors through out the book. You will also see duplication of words one after the other (ex: the the). With all that said I would still recommend this book for the price asked. I myself struggle to find books to read even remotely as good as this book. Most books are so pathetically bad that I can't help get mad at these 5 star rankings people give. If you want good reads try all of Brandon sanderson's books, Ryan Anthony's and Patric ruthufuss. If your into assassins try robin Hobbs, prince of thorns series, David dalgish, Brent weeks. If you want a very long series with lots of fight, magic and love try sword of truth series. Though take warning there is a creeper in the first book but it ends great and in the rest of the series talk of rape does pop up.

Sometimes I had to stretch my suspension of disbelief a little farther than I normally do. Some aspects didn't make as much sense to me as I would like. I'd read the next book.

Based on the kindle sample of this book, I was really expecting to like it. I didn’t. It wasn’t awful; I still finished it, and there were aspects of it that I thought were really well done. It had a lot of potential, the plot was captivating, the magic system and world building were interesting, and… the characters were just so poorly developed that it was hard to appreciate the rest of it. I hope that it won’t spoil anything to say that in this book, as in most books of this nature, there are points when the wellbeing of one or more characters is in jeopardy, and I think these parts of the book were nicely handled from a plot perspective, but they just served to underline in my mind how little I cared about any of the characters. I didn’t dislike them; I just didn’t care one way or the other. When they were in danger, I realized that if they all dropped dead I would not be the slightest bit bothered. There is one exception to this which I will discuss in a comment since I don’t know how to say what I want to say about that without spoiling anything. But basically I found it hard to care about the plot when I wasn’t attached to any of the people. On the other hand, I don’t regret buying this book. It served its purpose, which was to keep me somewhat entertained for the length of time it took to read it. And I believe it’s possible, based on reading some of the other reviews, that other people won’t have the same problems with the characters that I did. So I’m not necessarily recommending not buying the book, and in fact, if what you’re looking for is fun plot twists and well thought out magic, I would recommend buying it. I would like to disagree with some of the other reviewers on how similar this book is to Sanderson’s work. I would not come here looking for something Sanderson-esque. The only similarity that I can see is in the sort of magic system, but the writing styles feel very different to me, and I have never been disappointed in Sanderson’s characters. And of course, some of the other reviewers have pointed out the presence of grammatical errors/typos in this book. I would agree that they are there, but I did not find them jarring or particularly pronounced in comparison with a lot of the other kindle stuff in this price range.

I like it. You'll like it too if you read it. Taelin reminds me of myself, except I'm not quite as much of a badass as he is. With that said... When is the next one coming out??

It's unfortunate that I read this after his latest work, sufficiently advanced magic. It has similar ideas and magic systems, but the writing is better and the plot is more interesting. This feels like the warm-up to that work.

Overall it was a great book. It seemed slow in some areas. There were a lot of instances of the characters acting unnaturally that damaged my suspension of disbelief.

If you like the prose I think this is probably a great book. It didn't suit me, so I didn't enjoy it much. Check out a sample and if you like the writing, I recommend it.

The only positive I can say about it is that's an interesting magic system. The alternating persons you follow during the story are quite shallow and there's a few awkward tries at personal interaction. You will never really feel for any of the characters.

I liked the story...a lot. But the editing was horrendous. On numerous occasions I had to reread passages to understand what was going on. I look forward to the sequel, as I am sure there will be one. I would suggest hiring a new editor...

Forging Divinity was a fairly light read. Aside from the grammatical errors throughout the book (words just missing from sentences or what appear to be two sentences merged together) the book was entertaining, but it felt a little flat. From the start to the end, it never really felt like there was any buildup leading to the climax and denouement. Just a slow, steady story told from several different character's points of view.

Great read

There are some good ideas, but the writing was only adequate. The flow of the story was somewhat erratic.

Sometimes it seems as if every possible approach to fantasy has already been done a thousand times. So it’s lovely to find a new author capable of putting an original slant on the genre, whilst also having a lot of fun. In some ways this is a conventional story - young man with powers and a special sword, a monarchy under threat, active gods and goddesses - but it constantly took me by surprise, and combined some glorious punch-the-air moments with laugh-out-loud humour. Even the opening, which seems to be heading in one direction, veers straight off in a different one almost immediately. I love a book which surprises me, so this was a very good start. Here’s the premise: a young man wanders into town carrying a particularly striking sword, a religious artifact. He immediately becomes the focus for various factions who want to protect him or relieve him of the sword or execute him or embroil him in their own plots. The story follows his attempts to pursue his own agenda (finding someone to tell him about the sword he carries), while avoiding the manipulations of his enemies and his apparent friends. And this is one of the striking features of the story: it’s truly hard to work out who is on which side, or even how many different sides there are. And, rather amusingly, the characters have the same problem. So they inch tentatively around each other, set tests and traps for each other, and occasionally end up fighting each other. The three main characters are very nicely drawn. Taelien is the sword-carrying visitor who would give a life-assurance salesman palpitations. Whenever a particularly difficult challenge is presented, with almost zero chance of surviving, never mind winning, Taelien goes into “Hell, yes! Bring it on!” mode. Being the world’s most risk-averse person imaginable myself, this gave me palpitations at first, but by the end of the book, I was going “Hell, yes!” too. Taelien is a great character, especially in combat. Lydia is the “Let’s think this through” person, a high-ranking sorceress at court, who endlessly rationalises everything. When presented with a new kind of magic that she doesn’t fully understand, she devises ways to find out more about it and adapt it into her own magic. Smart lady. Jonan falls neatly into the plucky sidekick role, and is also the useful guy whose magical bag of tricks gets the others out of a lot of messes. Although, to be fair, he also gets them into some of those messes. One problem I had with the three of them was their youth. They all seem to be abnormally experienced and mature for their supposed ages, and Lydia in particular was problematic. I found it hard to believe that someone of barely twenty could hold such an important and trusted position at court, especially as she was an outsider. I have to mention the magic system. I’m sure people will compare it with Brandon Sanderson, and to say it’s detailed and clever and well thought-out really doesn’t do it justice. I didn’t get many of the nuances, because I’m too lazy to make the effort to understand these things, but even so, it always made sense to me. There were a few moments where a particularly tricky situation was resolved with an unexpected magical twist, which nevertheless made logical sense: very, very satisfying. The other highlight in the excellent world-building was the role of gods and goddesses, who appear to take an active part in the lives of mortals. Or do they? This is another area where it’s impossible to tell exactly what’s going on, and what is real and what isn’t. Then there’s the interesting question of what precisely a god is: if a being has godlike powers, does that make him a god? This question isn’t fully resolved, but I like this much better than having everything spelled out. The writing style is very wordy, and there were places where I would have liked a little less introspection and analysis from the characters, and a little more trusting the reader to get it. In the early chapters, in particular, where the three main characters are tiptoeing round each other, I could have done with a lot less “If this… but then if that…” from them. However, it’s an easy read, with more than enough action to keep me turning the pages. The climax is nicely dramatic and very enjoyable, with enough twists and turns and revelations to satisfy the most demanding palate. The wind-down at the end, however, felt a bit rushed, and there were one or two things airbrushed over without much explanation (Vorain’s escape, for instance). However, these things might be explained in the next book. An original and entertaining book. Four stars.

I recommend FORGING DIVINITY overall as a solid first novel. It's an entertaining romp that kept me flicking through the pages, has an interesting and detailed magic system, and can stand alone while leaving open the possibility of further adventures. Rowe does a good job with both male and female characters, IMO. His dialogue, particularly the banter between his leads, never feels forced. Lydia, the paladin undercover as a court sorcerer, is far more interesting a character than Taelien, even though it seems the action focuses more on the latter. He even manages to show them bonding through their shared struggle while maintaining only a hint of possible romantic tension. If Forging Divinity has a weakness, it's that we never see the villain's side of the story through his own viewpoint. Since Rowe doesn't give us much information about his motives beyond a speech during the climax, his antagonist feels lacking compared to the protagonists. However, this is a minor quibble from a reader who loves well-written, complex villains. I'm just grateful that the villain in Forging Divinity isn't just a Dark Lord, or evil for evil's sake. The book also includes an appendix explaining the magic system in greater detail, though the formatting gets a bit weird on a smartphone display. It's probably fine on larger displays, and doesn't detract from the story.

I was already familiar with Andrew Rowe's work from the Arcane Ascension series, and though I see the seeds of it here, Forging Divinity is not quite on par with his later work. That said, it's still not a bad book by any means. The magic system is deep and complex, with plentiful restrictions and painful costs. The world-building is mostly limited to a single nation, but we see enough hints of the larger world that I have faith that Rowe knows more than he has so far let on. The biggest let down was character development, as the main trio remain largely static throughout the book. Then again, they are largely a mystery in the opening chapters, and much of the book is spent learning who they are. Now that they are unmasked, I hope to see some larger character development in subsequent books.

Reading this book reminded me of being a teenager again and reading Dragonlance on the bus; but with a wholly different sensibility. Just like I did back then, I got completely absorbed in the character and narrative, losing track of time because I *had* to find out what happened next! I love books with complex, competent female protagonists - and the character of Lydia certainly delivers! Her motives, fears and secrets intertwine beautifully with the other main character, Taelien. What I also love about this book, especially for a first entry into a series, is how the book hints at a very well-developed mythology. I can't wait to watch the series progress and watch the author unlock more secrets about his world's setting!

I really enjoy this book! There are quite a lot of errors, some of them are quite distracting.. But I'm not a grammar snob so it didn't detract any points from me. If you like to read 100% polished books then you will probably be annoyed. There are errors on almost every kindle page at some points...mostly it's just words that were chopped out of the sentence. I can't think of one off the top of my head, so this example isn't in the book, but it's like this: Lydia went the palace. Missing "to". So you get the idea of it, but the structure and sentence isn't fully finished. Normally the sentence would just fix itself in my head and hardly distract me, but I know a lot of people would be bothered by stuff like that. But I really love this book. It's been awhile since I've been able to get into a fantasy book, since none have been unique or interesting enough to catch my interest. This book drew me right in. It's so interesting and I love the magic system. It's so complex and detailed and proves that a lot of thought went into creating it. I especially love the characters. The suspicious and nontrusting spies... All the sorcerers... Gods... The world building was really great and made for a lively world that I was concerned for. I did not want the war to happen and was hoping every step of the way that Lydia and her friends could prevent it. The beginning confused me quite a bit but I stuck through it and started understanding more and more about this world, it's religions/customs, people, and laws and I really got into it. There is a lot of depth and great concepts and ideas in this book. Everything in this story felt fleshed out to me. I liked how we had three main characters with different story lines that all connect. They are off doing their own thing many times throughout the book but always wind up back together with information that can help each other. I particularly liked this method of storytelling when there was pivotal information that one character needed that the other one had but was away doing their own thing and couldn't tell him or her! It added a bit of suspense and allowed you to put the pieces together yourself before it came to fruition, if that makes sense. The fast action paced plot kept me reading and enjoying until the very end. So, with all that said, I do recommend this book! At the very least you should give it a try if you have kindle unlimited

I enjoyed this book. It was a nice change from most of the books about magic I have read. The magic powers had limitations and drained the user, unlike other stories where magic is just thrown around at random. I will admit, the first chapter was exciting and reeled me in. But then the action slowed down a little and I lost a little interest. It eventually picks back up about half way through and I am glad that I stuck around. I think my biggest problem is that I felt a little lost through most of the book. There is a lot of information thrown into this book, which makes sense as it is the first in a series. It was a little harder to follow with so many different and unique names, and trying to grasp who was who and who did what. With that being said, I still rather enjoyed the novel and I will for sure be anxiously awaiting the next book. The book ended with some questions left unanswered, but it felt like a complete story and it didn’t make me mad when it came to an end. If you like magic, battles, talks of gods and goddess, and a plot to over throw a queen, I think you will enjoy this book. Should you try it and find that a few chapters lose you, just keep trucking through. In the end you will understand things and it’s a good story. Also, it’s very well edited and that is saying a lot with the growing numbers of self-published authors. You can tell that the author put a lot of work into this novel and it is worth the time to read it.

I was searching for a new book to read and found this title. When I read the authors description of what he expected his readers to get out of his story he made some very big claims and thought him somewhat arrogant. And I thought "game on!" "Challenge excepted" Let's see if Mr Andrew Rowe can put his money where us mouth is! I mean I love forgotten realms and dragonlance! Sic'em Tasselhoff Burrfoot! Now I am dying for the next book. So I say to you Mr. Andrew Rowe "fair enough" :-)

Forging Divinity is an excellent read overall. The story is engaging and unexpected, the characters are well rounded, autonomous, and competent, with each individual character distinct in their impression of the situation and their surroundings than the next, and the setting is uniquely intricate and well thought out. There are a number of aspects that set the book apart from others like it in the genre, not the least of which being the complex (but not complicated) system of magic that the author has instituted, but also for the presence of living gods and established cityscapes. I look forward to the next installation!

Forging Divinity is an engaging romp through a brand new world with its own factions and magic. A hapless (though not helpless) young man wanders into a city in search of answers about his birth parents and the troublesome sword they left him. He shortly finds himself arrested by one faction, freed by the agent another, then helped by yet a third. All the primary characters have their own backstory and motivations, some of which are disclosed by the end of the story and some of which are left mysterious. The story moves quickly, the magic makes sense (temporary enhancement or use of one ability leads to a related weakness), and the characters are believable. Were it possible I would deduct half a star for the occasional missed word and the fact that this felt more like a prologue than a full story, however I had enough fun reading it that I'll round it up instead of down. Some readers may feel let down by the fact that the characters are still a bit remote at the end, however I personally liked that I am left speculating. I certainly wish another book existed already and will be picking up the next book in the series when it is available. While I checked out the book through Kindle Unlimited I would not regret spending a few dollars on it and may yet pick it up more permanently if the series lives up to its initial promise.

Was getting into this book until the big confrontation, which too-neatly resolved in a way that undermined some of the previous story development. And the author or editor went out of his way to emphasise some details that were dropped almost immediately. The writing is decently constructed, although it seemed like the authors was in a bet for how often he could use the word "quirked." Practically every third page had a character quirking a brow, or occasionally lips for seasoning. I'd consider the sequel if priced right, but to me it's not a must-read.

I’m rating two stars only because I gave up after two hours, if I had finished, I may not have been as generous. I won’t listen to the rest and give it a chance, I’ve tried a couple times to listen. The characters have no foundation, it jumps right into the story and tries to backfill and it feels almost like the author is scrambling. There’s also excessive inner monologue, I’m not sure if the author actually thinks in full paragraphs in his head, but each character ‘speaks’ at length and calls out the most obvious things. It may be great for a casual reader/listener, but it’s just not my cup of tea.

Ugh I just wasting time until the next book of the arcane ascension series comes out or one maybe the six sacred swords books but the war of the broken mirrors is CRAZY BORING. I hardly ever leave review but I feel I have to now because I want to warn you all. Do not even waste your time reading this book.

When I first showed the cover of Forging Divinity to our in-house artist she commented that while it was a quality piece of work, it looked like a video game cover. This can be entirely forgiven in the case of Andrew Rowe because he is in fact involved in the video game industry, as of the date of writing this he was part of the brilliant Obsidian Entertainment. While Andrew isn't directly involved in the writing process behind Obsidian's brilliant narrative-driven games, it's apparent in this work that should he ever be called on in that capacity he won't disappoint. Forging Divinity is a clever title, as it's a play on the fact that forging can refer to the creation of something or the creation of a fake for the purposes of deceit. The Divinity part of the title soon becomes apparent, as in Rowe's world the gods quite literally walk amongst the people, full of power and beauty and grace. The lingering question remains throughout the work: are these beings actually gods? Or did they find a way to make themselves godhead figures? Unlike many fantasy epics with many points of view, the tale of Forging Divinity revolves around three main characters. Taelien is our clean cut, daring, risk-taking hero protagonist. He is in possession of a sacred sword and nobody knows why. He just turns up in the city with it one day and promptly gets arrested. His reason for coming to the city? So that he could find someone to teach him about the sword. Lydia is a court sorceress, a much more deliberating character than that of the impulsive Taelien. She's the brains of the operation, with her own agenda and secrets behind her motivations. All of which eventually come to light given enough time. As previously stated by the excellent Pauline Ross from Fantasy Review Barn, Jonan has the plucky sidekick role. He gets into any number of scrapes and issues and he isn't some all-powerful sorcerer, instead relying on his own deceptive brand of magic to help him through his problems. The main crux of the plot is simple: what happens when these characters run afoul of the most powerful god in the city? The prose is solid but unremarkable, workmanlike but more than effective enough to carry a solid plot in a world well-constructed. Said world boasts an excellent and detailed magical system which is expanded upon with its own appendices at the end of the text. The biggest problem that Andrew Rowe will face are the inevitable comparisons to one Brandon Sanderson. The style of writing is the same, as are the intriguing magic systems, the witty banter, the lack of edge and the action sequences. Some may see this as a cheap attempt to cash in on Brandon's popularity by writing a clone. The fact of the matter is that if Andrew Rowe's name was replaced with Brandon's, this book would sell shedloads and nobody would be any the wiser. That's a compliment to Mr. Rowe's ability as a writer rather than a critique of how many similarities it shares with Brandon's Cosmere. The book doesn't explain everything, there are some loose ends that aren't exactly tied up. I'm okay with that, as I suspect they'll be expanded upon in a sequel further down the line. Typos are few and far between, and don't disrupt the flow of the text. Altogether it's a very professional presentation for an independent author. Fans of Sanderson and other such lighter modern fantasies will find a lot to enjoy in these pages, and I look forward to purchasing whatever comes next from Mr. Rowe's intriguing mind.

No complaints. I thought a story including more than one pantheon would get too muddled, but it doesn't. The world feels real and that's the most important thing with this kind of story. There aren't many fight scenes but that's not a bad thing. The few fight scenes there are, however, are not the best. Not bad, but not particularly notable either. If this was a fighting story I'd give it less stars but it's not.

A unique magic system, the author has come up with something I haven't seen before and it's fascinating. Now the story, an intriguing mix. I docked it a star because I feel things were "well yeah the villain did that" a bit too often, too many elements, not enough to tie together. And the dynamic between the characters was not quite fully realized. While the author kept them from just going "yay team!" I felt they were a bit too pushed together. But overall it kept me engaged and I'm looking forward to the next book.

this book is the first in i hope a ungoing series i almost skipped it when i saw it had no reviews i`m glad that i gave it a chance this a very good book. the story follows three main characters with conflicting interests and goals. there is also a bit of mystery concerning taliens identity. i also found the world building to be well done. i also found the appendix at the end to be nice giving facts about the magic system. if i had to compare this series its like the godslayer series the beings worshipped are not all powerful and at times all to human.

A good first novel. Some places it could be sped up and some places that could be explained further. I felt the world building was solid, a few names sounded 'fantasy' forced but I imagine it's hard to not do that these days, even Sanderson succumbs to that occasionally. Considering the length of the book, I wanted more development of Taelien's background and abilities, but maybe that will come in the next chapter. I appreciated the constant enemy-turned-ally question over every character's head, you never quite knew what would motivate someone to move for or against Taelien. I do wish there were more development of the prince and the Queen, I feel like their involvement was always on the outer edges considering how important they were to the story. Looking forward to the next book (and whatever Mr Rowe is working on over at Obsidian).

Very deep complex world was developed here. The conceptual part of gods a bit confusing but character development and the varied points of view throughout is very good. I have read both books and still not sure where it will go which is good and very rare. Complexity of magic is very deep sometimes drags down speed but helps develop and keep the stories complexity.

A welcome change from the group of heroes traveling to distant lands to battle their enemies. This is a clever mystery story set mostly within one city. This does not mean Andrew Rowe skimped on the worldbuilding. The setting is as richly detailed as any epic fantasy setting, and the considerable effort of building the history, geography, and politics show through in the story. The three protagonists are well-developed and diverse. Managing three POV characters is difficult but their personalities are distinct enough that you don't lose track of the narration.

Overall a fun read with some good fights and an interesting magic system. I wish that the swordsman character wasn't so naive. It just seems like it's out of place in world full of spies and deceitful "god's". In the end it didn't take away from the book but if it continues to be a factor in subsequent books it could get real annoying.

I would gladly give this 4 stars if it weren't for the typos. Words are simply missing, often. Its a bit weird that there are so many of these errors; they are hard to miss. There are also a few grammatical mistakes common to writers with poor language education, or almost anyone under the age of 50, for that matter. However, this is a fun story that offers surprises and fresh takes on old ideas. It reads easily and only slows down a few times. This is certainly worth reading.

This was a good first effort but suffered from some slight, yet annoying problems. My first impression when I started reading was that this was a story of a young, untried warrior who was trying to find out who he was and why he had this cool sword. He seems inept but engaging, with some limited magical ability. Boy was I wrong! It turns out he can defeat Gods and elite warriors of a realm all by himself. I am ok with either version of this character: the neophyte or the badass but there needs to be some foundation built into the story for either version. It felt like the author didn't have a true grasp either. Another quibble is the use of modern day vernacular. Although not as egregious as other books, it still messed up the immersion into the plot. Lastly, I am not a fan of authors thrusting their "cool,unique magic system" into the readers face within two pages of the story starting. I get it. You play role-playing games and video games and those games are designed to break down mechanics for gameplay purposes. I fully believe that some of the "magic" of magic has been lost in this newest generation of fantasy novels. I see some hope in the variety of magic presented in this book. Just don't spend pages explaining it to me.

The whole narrative is told like a spy story instead of the usual hero stories, this makes the novel a fresh entrant to the fantasy genre. While the magic is comprehensively elaborated, the action scene is sparse and rather bland. The novel is filled more with banters of wit and expositions than clashes of blades and magic, but it was a pleasant read

I put this book down a couple times when I first started reading it. It was the characters that brought me back. The story was quite slow. However, after I got about half way finished with the book it picked up quite a bit and ended up being a decent story. I haven’t decided if I’ll read book two or not.

Forging Divinity is an excellent blend of mystery, fantasy, and technicality. An obvious amount of thought went into both the world of the story and the magic that was a primary theme. The plot is complex, and character development, though arguably lacking, is present. Telling the story from three perspectives was a bold choice, one that worked out well for the book. There were several errors I noticed that might have been caught with more thorough editing. That aside, though, the story as a whole was well structured and well paced, ending in a satisfying finish with just a hint of room for more.

This definitely deserves a five star. I've been on the look out for books where I feel like I can connect to the people in it instead of just another dry bland character and I found exactly that in this book! Can't wait to read the next books in the series!

Dear Andrew, interesting and entertaining story. I enjoyed reading your story and look forward to reading the next book in the series. I didn't give 5 stars because some of your story got bogged with foo much detail at times making reading the story somewhat tedious. I highly recommend reading this book to anyone interested in reading a good story.

Standard fantasy set up, excellent storytelling. Few bits that were repeated unnecessarily but it didn't hamper the flow over much. For being standard set up, I'm pretty concerned with what happens to our main characters and am eagerly looking forward to book 2. :) Highly recommend

This book was super boring. The characters weren't that great. Things were over described and it just wasn't interesting. I finished it but damn was it hard to get thru. Avoid if possible

*Note: this review overlooks editing mistakes in the book* I thoroughly enjoyed this first novel in the series. Andrew demonstrates a keen attention to detail, and the action sequences are exhilarating as well as being well choreographed. I genuinely cared for the characters, and I love the exploration of the question "what does it mean to be a god?" Fantasy fans are missing out if they don't pick up Forging Divinity.

If you enjoy deep magic systems, this is a book for you. It's fast paced, surprising and a good match for its name "Forging Divinity". Can you forge divinity by using your magic to cleverly craft magical artefacts? Is it even possible? Are the gods real? Are they just? What do you do, if you think they aren't? The main characters of this book don't know, but they are doing their best to figure it out. The continuation of the book "Stealing Sorcery" is at least as good as the first book, so if you enjoy this one, you can continue the series right away.

A smooth read a little vague in a couple areas but picks back up ans smoothes out after you will loke this story

Kept me guessing. At times I would be rewarded by foreshadowing and at others not. There is plenty here to build on and I do want to know what,comes next. Who really are these characters and what really are their motives. No deep emotional connections are made...yet.

There are plenty of good concepts and fine action writing in this book, but the awkward language is so distracting! It unfortunately really detracts from my "suspension of disbelief" required to get into a piece of fiction. "She steepled her fingers in thought" is okay once, I don't want to see it 4 or 5 times. Please, just find a good editor.

I was immediately impressed with the author's writing style and was quickly pulled into the book. Andrew Rowe has created an immersive world filled with compelling characters. In Forging divinity, powers tied to ‘dominions’ which are in turn associated with other planes, are wielded by sorcerers who use them in diverse and intelligent ways. These are further associated with different pantheons of gods, devotion to whom shapes the ways in which these powers are used. As more was revealed about these gods and the motivations of the characters and the nations who serve them, it became clear that there was a real depth to the worlds that serve as the backdrop for this story. Each character was distinct and kept me interested. I enjoyed Forging Divinity and would recommend it to you if you are looking for an entertaining mixture of swordplay, sorcery, intrigue, and well thought out character interactions.

The story moved quickly, and had a fun and engrossing magic system that you discovered more about as you read. In that way it reminded me of a Sanderson novel. The main characters were all fun, and the action scene was enjoyable.

Didn’t think I’d enjoy the book but within a few chapters the characters grew on me and roped me in. Good book.

I mean, I did, but knew I'd love it and there are only two of this series available. We're not even half way through 2016 and book 3 doesn't come out till 2017!!! Amazing work Mr. Rowe.. please write faster!!

This story of a guy who goes to a city that has living gods is a entertaining fast paced read.

I enjoyed this story because it has some normal plots and twists,but the ending is unexpected. Great story writing with excellent flow that keeps a reader interested to the very end.

I found this to be quite an interesting and unique world. Good character progression within a plausible storyline. Highly recommended!

This world is filled with rich characters and great stories. The story takes you up and around twists and turns you didn't see coming and had me gripping my chair wanting more. Its a spectacular book that takes a new twist on fantasy. Great characters, cool magic, and intrigue!

A little too convoluted for my taste. Maybe if I had read other books in the series first. . .

I found the characters mostly likeable. The banter between Lydia and Jonan was pretty entertaining. The story seemed a bit rushed towards the end though. Would've liked some more spacing I think.

Hi so I am writing a book and this one is epic. (shuddup critics) and this book was good. read suffitiently advanced magic. Nice do read

Jumps right into the action — which I always like. Good story and interesting magic systems

Good book, but not very in depth on certain aspects. Maybe followed up on in future book.

Great story, can't wait for the next book in series

This book was well worth the read. Rowe has a great concept and I can't wait to read book two.

While i am not well spoken. I enjoyed the book, and its characters. All had a great dynamic and was very entertaining for me. Also loved the use and descriptions of the different types of magic in the world

The story line is entertaining with just enough variation to keep your interest. There can be tedious sections where you just have to plow through details that you really don't need to get to the continuing story line, but the book ends and you immediately want to read the next in the series.

I could NOT put this book down... I enjoyed the author's style and sense of humor. The story was engaging and the characters were unique and VERY 3 dimensional.

Honestly this might be the worst written book I've ever sludged all the way through. The author send to be only enamored with his own voice dive every character speaks with the same one. The language is hipster modern though it's a fantasy setting, the plot has truck size holes, the characters are so flat it shows contempt for the reader. I listened to most of this on audible. The narrator was fair but flippant. If I hadn't been driving for 18 hours, and I was reading a hard copy, it would have been tossed in the trash

The book is very well written. The story pulled me into its universe with it's characters and how it's magic work. The plot moved right along and I'm eagerly awaiting for the sequel.

Excellent character development and compelling world building. I loved reading it and look forward to book two. I would highly recommend it.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Couldn't wait to buy the next book inn the series.

Loved it, though it did have some details that were hard to understand without going back and highlighting key details. But other than that great book, would recommend it to anyone that likes a Elder scrolls or a magical based fiction style book.

I really enjoyed the quick move through the plots and subplots. It was a quick and easy read that was entertaining and fun.

This book started off with action and intrigue and did not stop. The unveiling of this story and the characters is fast paced and enjoyable. Really liked the book..

Good read! Will read book 2 soon.

Is absolutely fantastic! I plan on finishing this series very quickly, I mean book 3 is already almost out in audible!

I enjoyed this book.

It took me a bit to get into it but once it got rolling i was right there with it

Not the type of story I usually like to read. But it was a good read and the characters are interesting.

This book is great!

Loved it, got recommended off Reddit and very happy I did. Couldn't put it down only sad book 3 isn't out until spring 2017

I’d recommend it. Good book and easy read. Flows well. Main character has unknown intrigue surrounding him. Will read book two to see how it goes.

I found the " Dominions "of sorcery a new outlook and the concept thought provoking. The story was easy to drop into and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the characters.

Amazing book i will continue this series with great excitement. The length seems to be just enough to get you hooked but hopefully the future books are longer.

A few editing mishaps, words missing or incorrectly used, etc. Otherwise, a fast paced story with interesting characters. Too many unanswered questions though.

Good story line

Twenty more words required to review this book so here they are. Can't wait for the third book. Need to stop reading unfinished series

Writing was a little rough at places, and the romantic angle seemed both forced and rushed. Aside from that, though, I absolutely loved it. The world is rich and the mechanics were fantastic. In line with the author's stated interest in internal consistency, the magic felt like a real thing with an actual set of mechanics behind it. I also greatly enjoyed the story as a whole.

Great book can't wait to read the next one!!

Pretty good book. I enjoyed it enough to read it in one sitting.

A great take on the fantasy genre. Some mystery and refreshing use of high magic in action reminiscent of Gandalf's fighting style from LOTR.

This book is great if you expect all the heroes to survive and you like generic characters. Taelien is a Gary Stu; Jonan is a pretty poor description of a rogue with blinding magic. Lydia could have been better written as a warrior. She totes with magic and a sword but she does literally nothing with them. The story was okay. Kind of a cluster with no actual prose. Giving it three stars because it doesn't drag on and a very quick read. Also: The combat scenes are extremely well written. Everything else is meh.

it was slow the start be picked up around 30% but when it did pick up it was a really good book and i couldn't put it down

Good read. Looking forward to more work from this author.

Will read the next one for sure to see if the series is worth staying with. The colosseum fight scene was pretty awesome, wish there were more great scenes like that.

while the concept was new to me, the grammar was bad throughout the story. It skipped around a lot when a character was thinking. Sometimes when there was a group dialogue, the author would have someone start thinking and at times you couldn't be sure who was doing the thinking. If the author polished the story a bit more, it would have been easier to read.

Great book. Love the use of hard magic. Reminds me of Sanderson.

Everything I wanted from a heroic fantasy.

Start was exciting liked it very much

Great story that kept me interested the whole time. It had a couple contemporary memes thrown in, but nothing overly distracting. I'd like to know more about Lydia's history!

Awesome!!!

I couldn't put it down!

waste of time

dont bother

Andrew Rowe's Arcane Ascention series is one of my all-time favourites, so I came into this book with fairly high expectations. This book is quite different, particularly in the setting (even though it's the same world, there's nothing video-gamey about this novel) and tone (largely due to his incredibly different the main protagonists are between both series.) This book is great, and just goes to show that Andrew Rowe is the real deal; an author capable of writing in different styles to suit the narrative, setting, and individual characters. As a first book in the series, Forging Divinity does a good job of establishing the world and characters. I'm looking forward to jumping right into book two to see how this develops!