Before this book, I hadn't read any of this series. Now, I have read the next book and books 2-3 are on order.

It was very well done! I don't know if I would have liked this book as much if I had read the others already, but I have students who love the series and will love this one too.

I’ve never heard of this series before and after reading this prequel I just have to know what happened afterwards!

I love that the Author didn’t use excessive profanity, and there didn’t seem to be any romance or major focus on it. The “demons” in this book were really just Pokemons in that they’re used in fights and as companions. I found all the characters (except the bullies of course) likeable, my favorites have to be Elaine, Harold, Edmund, and of course Sacharian.

The plot was very entertaining and chock full of mysteries. This book was well written and fast paced. I couldn’t bring myself to put it down and I loved the fight scenes. I’ll definitely have to check out the rest of the series!
FTC DISCLAIMER: I RECEIVED THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW

I’ve been curious about this series for a while, so when the chance came up to read an arc of the prequel novel for this tour I had to take it. I tried not to have expectations going in because I hadn’t heard much about the series. I don’t recall any specific TW/CWs needed so let’s just jump right into the review, shall we?

The characters were all really well-developed. I really felt like I could have had a conversation with any of them, though I would have avoided talking with quite a few. I really enjoyed reading from Arcturus’s point of view of the whole thing. It made a few of the plot twists harder to spot coming. I also really like Sacha and she is the best demon companion ever. However, she also has her moments where I need her to just sit still and not endanger Arcturus.

The. World. Building. Is. Gorgeous. From the very first sentence, I was able to drop myself into the world Taran Matharu has created. There are still a couple questions I have about it, but I kinda feel like they’ll likely be answered by the other novels? I feel like this is a common thing that happens when a prequel is written after the series, but I’m so here for this world that I’m willing to overlook the holes and judge after I’ve read the other three books.

The story itself flows really well. It doesn’t ever sit still or grow stagnant even a little, but goes back and forth nicely between “I wonder what happens next” and “I can’t put this down!” I also like how Arcturus’s perspective changes the story from what it would have been if it was just the nobles involved in the adventure. His perspective as someone who was raised as a commoner really shifted the story for the better.

If this novel is an example of what I should expect from Taran Matharu’s writing, I definitely need to read more of his books! Thankfully, there’s a trilogy all set up and ready for me to pick up. 😉 I really enjoyed this one and I hope I’ll be able to dig into the rest of the series soon.

Summoner: The Outcast is a prequel to Matharu’s Summoner series. It follows Arcturus, a commoner working as a stablehand at a tavern. One night Arcturus decides to investigate a rude noble boy’s pack, planning to rob him and flee for better living conditions. Finding a roll of leather with odd writing on it, Arcturus reads the seeming gibberish aloud. And summons a wolf demon. He then promptly gets knocked out by the noble who had been returning to collect something.
When it is revealed that it was actually Arcturus who summoned the demon, something supposedly impossible for a commoner, he is whisked away to Vocans, the seat of Summoner training. Here, Arcturus learns the truth of his heritage, and here he begins to make friends and gain confidence. And here is where he nearly dies, as elements unhappy with a commoner among the Summoner ranks decide to effect their own change.

That's not all, either. The countryside is brewing with discontent over the King’s greed, and rebellion is in the air. When a trip to one of his noble friend’s country estates for a brief vacation ends with the group split, and trapped in the jungles the neighboring orc tribes call home, Arcturus and his friends must do every they can to reach Vocans again, and hope it's still standing once they arrive. Can they manage to thwart the rebellion before it's too late?

Confession time- I have all the Summoner books and haven't read them yet. They've been patiently waiting their turn on my massive TBR mountain. So, I decided to start with the prequel, and I loved it! This definitely has a feel similar to Stroud's Bartimaeus books, or Pullman's His Dark Materials series. Demons here are more like the daemons of Pullman, though initially summoned and bound in a fashion akin to Stroud's works. The demons are animal-like and clearly intelligent. Summoners can 'infuse’ their demons, taking the demon essence within their own body.

I really liked Arcturus as a main character. He has a good moral compass, and a good head on his shoulders. You can definitely see him grow and evolve from start to finish. Elaine, the youngest noble at Vocans, was too cute with her tiny Mite demon. I think my favourite characters were the soldiers they end up with, though. First Caulder, and Rotheram, and later Percival. These were people Arcturus understood better than the nobles, and I felt they had well-drawn personalities.

Themes of classism and racism make the backbone of the story, with several of the nobles irate over the inclusion of Arcturus at Vocans. They see it as defiling something only the nobility can do, though after the explainer we get towards how the summoner’s gift is passed along, it seems like someone else would have long ago suspected people like Arcturus exist.

The race elements are literal, with humans looking down on dwarves. This is only increased when Ulfr thinks Harold used and betrayed him. There's a lesson of how difficult change actually is. Even though Harold thought he'd won, and resolved things well, he learns it's all been a sham. I'd love to see more of this story, with these characters. And I definitely hope to read the other Summoner books soon!!

***Many thanks to Netgalley and MacMillan/Feiwel & Friends for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

It’s been a long time since I’ve read The Summoner Series and I actually bought Battlemage but didn’t get a chance to read it. Reading The Outcast reminded me how much I really enjoy this series and that I want to go back and reread the whole thing now that I have a little different insight.

So even though The Outcast is the fourth book in the series it’s actually a prequell. It reads like a standalone but leaves you enough at the end that makes you want to go back and start from the beginning. It’s actually a perfect way to get a feel for the world and series before diving into Fletcher’s story. (I love Fletcher by the way so go back and read!)

We find ourselves with Arcturus in this story. He is a simple commoner. Someone who has been abused and looked past his entire life. He has never had a sense of belonging or the feeling of being loved. When Arcturus discovers he can summon, this is at a time when Nobles are able to do so. Throwing himself into a world that he once again is an Outcast. Not only that but the commoners are becoming restless with the cruel King and Arcturus could just be the key to overthrowing them. Arcturus walks that line however where he doesn’t really belong on either side.

I love watching Arcturus develop. You can tell that he is hesitant at first, not just with trusting people but with his confidence as well. As the story goes on we see him grow into this person that he is meant to be. Strong and loyal and finding friends but also family. The strongest with his bond with his demon Sancha.

The plot is great and interesting. We don’t spend the whole time at Vocans. Which is the school for summoners, we actually get to explore different parts of the country. Even get a little up close and personal time with the Orcs. It kind of reminded me a little bit of World of Warcraft, which if I can find a video game comparison a series has sold me. Ha ha. I don’t want to give anything away because it’s an adventure story of sorts. PIcking up people as they go along.

I love how the magic of Summoners works. Since they do start at the school, you get a great introduction to some of the simpler spells and how summoning works. As well as different demon types and even a brief introduction to the Ether.

I also really love that this is a series that I think my son would enjoy as well. I’m always happy to find one that I think will appeal to him. Especially when he gets a ittle older.

I really enjoyed The Outcast. I think if you haven’t read the series it’s a great introduction and will make you want to read Fletcher’s story as well. If you have read the series, I think it’s a great addition to the World.

this story was filled with adventure and danger even though Arcturus ended so many chapters unconscious that I worried he'd suffer from brain damage. I liked Arcturus's new relationship with his demon Sacharissa. I liked his growing friendship with some of the upper class kids on the run with him. I thought the world building was interesting and the demons interesting paranormal creatures.

I enjoyed most of this book. I hated the last two chapters of this story. It almost felt like someone told the author to wrap it up and it doesn't have to make sense. I felt like everything Arcturus and his new friends went through was just a waste of time except for the body count

review on Romantic Times Book Reviews website https://www.rtbookreviews.com/book-review/outcast-3