The Magician's Apprentice

By: Trudi Canavan

Narrated by: Rosamund Pike

Set hundreds of years before the events of The Magicians' Guild, THE MAGICIAN'S APPRENTICE is the new novel set in the world of Trudi Canavan's Black Magician Trilogy.

In the remote village of Mandryn, Tessia serves as assistant to her father, the village Healer. Her mother would rather she found a husband. But her life is about to take a very unexpected turn.

When the advances of a visiting Sachakan mage get violent, Tessia unconsciously taps unknown reserves of magic to defend herself. Lord Dakon, the local magician, takes Tessia under his wing as an apprentice.

The long hours of study and self-discipline also offer more opportunities than she had ever hoped for, and an exciting new world opens up to her. There are fine clothes and servants - and, to Tessia's delight - regular trips to the great city of Imardin.

But along with the excitement and privilege, Tessia is about to discover that her magical gifts bring with them a great deal of responsibility. For great danger looms on the horizon for Tessia and her world.

OK but underdeveloped

I chose this because I enjoy Rosamund Pike. She's wonderful as always. The story is ok but seems underdeveloped. Since this is a prequel, the world-building may rely on the other books in the series which I had not yet read.

Love Rosamund Pike

I chose this book specifically because I had heard another book read by Rosamund pike and enjoyed her reading thoroughly. I was not disappointed. She is a fantastic reader and I look forward to finding more books performed by her. I like this type of book so I enjoyed the story I was not pleased with the abridgment thinking that maybe there were some details that were missing as it seemed as though they were storylines that were clipped certainly I expect that some of the information I feel I missing will be revealed in future books.

Wonderful reader!

i am just starting on audio books i love to read and found i am running out of time in the day so i started adding audio books to keep up with my favorite authors! The reader is wonderful, great speed and feeling, not to mention accents! This story was ok, if you have read Trudi Canavan's other trilogies then you know what to expect she really hasn't moved from the same path, i expected more from the story, however it does leave a lot for a second and/or third book!

Tropes, awkward and abrupt end. Not recommended.

Spoilers alert:

Predictable plot. Overall, the women fell into the common trope of the suppressed/marginalized and felt like token characters, although this book passes the low bar of the Bechdel-Wallace test. Ending was bizarrely awkward and abrupt and, of course, the two young characters introduced at the beginning end up falling in love, maturing BBC and expecting a baby. Props for having one gay character & one advocate for that character (still under-represented in my opinion). Props for some women who don’t “need” men. Overall, like with most fantasy, the majority of the main and supporting characters are male, women are objects, property, subservient or need rescuing, the goal for them is marriage/love. The character development felt weak and the story arc too broad to contain within the length of the story. Some sticky things wrapped themselves up a bit too neatly at the end. It felt like the author needed to finish and so they just tidied things up to close out the story. Unsatisfying. Won’t recommend.

I enjoyed the narrator although her transitions between scenes were a little hard to follow. Overall, her voice was very easy to listen to. Will try another book narrated by her.

Perfect narration.

Would you listen to The Magician's Apprentice again? Why?

Rosamund Pike is not only stunning, but she has mastered the art of storytelling.

What did you like best about this story?

I enjoyed the female lead being the stronger of the characters.

Which character – as performed by Rosamund Pike – was your favorite?

Tough to say, she was great at all of them.