Going into this book I had been expecting Adult Fantasy as I hadn’t done any research into what subgenre this fit into. The book premise was intriguing and that was all that I cared about. However, I do want to start this review off by saying this is definitely a Young Adult Fantasy. In fact, if it wasn’t for some darker moments during the story, I may have even called it Middle Grade Fantasy.

Once I realized this and adjusted my expectations accordingly I really enjoyed this coming of age story. We follow Volke throughout the book. Volke, because of his parents being criminals, has been given the lowest job of any on the island of Ruma that he calls home, a gravedigger. Along with his best friend Illia and their caretaker William, they see to the graves of those who have passed. Unfortunately in their culture that makes them outcasts.

It was easy to root for Volke from the start. Volke has wanted to be an arcanist for his entire life. To bond with a mystical creature, to wield magic, and do mighty deeds like Gregory Ruma, the arcanist legend that he looks up to, has been his one goal. I really enjoyed Volke’s drive and the way he never let anything get in the way of pursuing his dream. I was also really impressed by the restraint and grace that Volke showed when confronted with bullies and the lies they told about him and those close to him.

Illia, Volke’s best friend, was also interesting as I grew to know her. Illia has a tragic past that has left her one eyed and scarred. She was placed with the gravediggers for her appearance and her “attitude” upon being washed up onshore of the Island of Ruma. I liked how Illia was more than just Volke’s best friend. She is sensitive yet blunt, insecure yet confident and bold. She made for a compelling character to follow.

The different mystical creatures were really cool and had very different and often surprising personalities. Luthair is a stoic knightmare. He is made of shadow armor and carries a sword like a knight. Nicholin is a Rizzell, a ferret like creature. Nicholin was my favorite as he always had a funny quip at the most innopportune times. He kept the story light hearted and fun. There were also phoenixes, a hydra, a leviathan, a stag, and many other creatures that the humans would bond to in order to acquire the power of an arcanist. The magic was also really cool because the type of magic you could do depended on what type of creature you bonded to. For example, a leviathan gives an arcanist power over water and air. Phoenix arcanists can control fire. Rizzel arcanists can teleport themselves and other things/people. I found really interesting to see all the different ways that each could wield magic and the strategy that went behind picking the right creature to bond with.

The plot was pretty straightforward and simple, which is the biggest reason I would call this YA bordering on Middle Grade fantasy. That’s not a knock at all on the story for me. Shami Stovall writes this story very well including showing the complex relationships that the 6 apprentices that this story focuses on have with one another. It was also just a really fun ride as there always seemed to be something going on, some new thing about the magic system to learn, or some mystery to solve.

I enjoyed my time reading this book and will be picking up the 2nd book in the series for sure. The whole series is on Kindle Unlimited and I actually purchased KU so I could read the rest of the series. Happy Reading!

I feel like this book could have been cut in half size-wise. Most of it was filler and repeats of things we'd already heard before.
The heroes were basic and the villains were cartoonish. Main character? Well it seems like the author couldn't quite decide on a personality for him, so she tried out a new personality at every chapter.
World building? There would be info-dumps... but they wouldn't reveal enough about the world to be justified.
Overall I'm just disappointed. This had a great premise but the author just wasn't able to follow through.

I was provided a e-arc from netgalley to read and review.

Book one of the “Frith Chronicles”
a must read young adult fantasy

Consisting of deliberately intricate world-building, our MC's immediately set up the plot-line for a promising fantasy novel. A promising addition to the genre, that leaves enough to the imagination to matter.

Gave this one 3 out of 5 stars. It was an interesting world to dive into, and I'm ready to see where the next book takes the story. The characters created a fun adventure and drove the plot all the way to the end!

The story seemed to drag on and didn’t seem to be very interesting. I liked that the Phoenix’s were part of the story and could talk. The tests that the participants had to take to be bonded to a Phoenix seemed dull to me. The first test was about climbing up stairs and picking fruit to give as an offering. It didn’t seem like much of a trial even though it was 112 steps. I couldn’t picture any of the characters well or relate to them. The main character seemed boring and I didn’t care about his situation with his dad being a convicted criminal and him working as a gravedigger.

Knightmare Arcanist has a fantastic premise that I was so excited to delve into however I did not quite find it to my liking. I am usually enamored by magic and terror when it is together however I found that the pacing of this book was not up to par. I thought it too slow/too fast at times which is not something I really enjoy. I like to read a book that has a nice pace that is consistent throughout maybe with some little bursts of energy here and there—not the hectic plotline that I found here.

The characters were predictable and two dimensional—it was easy to know what they were going to do and how they would do it when it was described. The world they were in was nicely done however it was filled with words and phrases that did not quite belong within the story that it was providing. The dialogue was almost too modern for the world that was built around it and having that happen sent me out of the story and back into the main world.

Overall I would recommend this book for my younger students who may need something that interests them within this genre—especially since it has a male protagonist—but I would not necessarily recommend it for my older students as they often need something that can catch their attention a little bit more.

I feel like they would get a few chapters in and be bored with how the book progresses.

** I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and it did not influence my review in any way**

Knightmare Arcanist, was a quick and fun read. I liked all the character interactions, however a few times a couple of the POVs where a bit annoying, and made it somewhat challenging to continue following the story.

Rating 3

Gravedigger Volke Savan has one dream: to become an arcanist, a magic wielder. Facing untold terror, he bonds with a creature of shadow, a Knightmare. Apprenticing with master arcanist Gregory Ruma, trouble brews as strange deaths occur, and Volke begins to fear the worst and suspect his master as the perpetrator. As Volke begins to uncover the truth, he begins to see more of the magical world he always longed for.

In Knightmare Arcanist, different creatures offer different magical powers, keeping things interesting as the characters pursue their goals. There is plenty of humor to be found, and each character is distinct. I found this to be a fun read with some interesting ideas, and I look forward to another entry in the Frith Chronicles.

I loved this book. The story jumps right in, but doesn't either make it too confusing or spoon-feed you. You are introduced to the main character, who you are straight away rooting for, and continue to do so the entire way. Their are some surprising twists along the way, and some you may have seen coming, but the type that do make you doubt your own assumptions. I can not wait for the next book!

*4.5 Stars*

This book was wonderful and combined a lot of world-building in a short book without making it feel like Stovall is just throwing facts at the audience. "Knightmare Arcanist" has everything I like in a fantasy book: mythical creatures, quests, sass while also being more than *just* a fantasy book.

Very early on in the novel the idea of privilege is woven into the narrative. The main character Volke wants to go from being a gravedigger's apprentice to being an arcanist (someone who bonds with a mythical creature and shares its power). He mutters to himself that "I had never been cheered for anything, yet all [Zaxis] did was show up. Life wasn’t fair sometimes" and later that "but even if I was noble of spirit, Atty and Zaxis studied and trained eight hours a day under the care of Schoolmaster Tyms. Everyone else, myself included, had work and chores" (see pages 15-16). Unlike many lead characters who can be a bit needlessly whiny and trying to prove they are the 'chosen' one, Volke is articulating the systemic disadvantages for him and for those like him. "Knightmare Arcanist" does a brilliant job of showing how even when competitions or positions seem fair, there is a lot more to it (this entire book seems like a metaphor for the treatment of Black people and other marginalised groups especially in the US but I'm not sure if this is intentional).

Another great message in this book (especially in light of the #metoo movement) is that just because people in power have done impressive things, does not mean that they care about people at all and that one should not mistake success for kindness.

I was so glued to this book I had to force myself to step away and make dinner. I realise this review is mostly not about the plot, but the plot and the world building was so fun. After the end of the book it implied there will be more in this series but I haven't seen any announcements yet-- I will be keeping my eyes peeled for future installments!

• Title: Knightmare Arcanist
• Author: Shami Stovall
• Series: Frith Chronicles Book 1
• Pages: 338
• Genre: Fantasy YA/Middle-grade
• Rating Out of 5 Stars: 4


My Thoughts:
A fun new fantasy world full of magic, mayhem, betrayal and hope. If you enjoy the tales of Percy Jackson, Harry Potter, How to Train Your Dragon with the sass and whimsy of Studio Ghibli and Terry Pratchett’s Discworld then put this title on your radar.
We start in an island city with a young man by the name of Volke. Condemned to life as a grave digger because his parents were criminals, he’s not let it stop him from going for his dreams of becoming more then life has set him up for. He has one shot to get out and that’s to become an Arcanist. Those select few who can bond with a magical creature and learn to use their abilities. The Phoenix Bonding Ceremony is only a short time away and there are two Phoenixes up for grabs. There’s only one small problem. He’s not allowed to try out because criminal blood runs in his veins. Volke decides he’s going to crash the party anyway.
When it seems like things might actually work out in his favor, it all comes crashing down and he’s back to his life as a gravedigger. Low and behold fate smiles on him again. Word has come to him that there are three more creatures that have been seen in the dangerous marshes just outside of where he lives. Volke, along with two others go after them. Upon finding them, things aren’t what they seem. There is something very very wrong with one of the creatures.
This was such a refreshing read. The writing of the story itself was good but the dialogue felt very simplistic in places giving the story more of a middle grade feel. That’s the only complaint I can give this book. It was still a smooth and quick read.
The symbiotic relationship between the Archanists and their creatures was rather unique as was the over all magic system. The cast comes from a wide variety of cultures, backgrounds, and locations. I hope we get to see more world building in future installments. Just the little bits that we do get to see (giant floating turtle island as an example) make for fantastic imagery. There is so much potential for this series. I can’t wait to see what the next book will bring.

**E-Copy kindly provided by the author, Xpresso Book Tours and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A solid 3.5, but I couldn’t quite give it a 4. It was a fun & quick story to read. For readers who are not huge fans of fantasy and just want an action-packed book, this is a great choice. In order for me to give it a 4 or 5, I needed more depth and complexity to the story and a better writing style. She struggled with ends of chapters & the overall ending seeming too abrupt. The story was easy to follow, but I kept hoping for more surprises or twists.

I was hooked from page 1 and I’m sitting at the edge of my seat waiting for book 2.

The pacing of the book is probably one of the biggest selling points for me, as I was never bored or tempted to skip a few pages (a bad habit I picked up from my mother when books get boring).

The smooth flow of the plot couples with fantastic characters gives this book a big yes from me.

I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

While not a book that hooked me in immediately, it continued to build and by mid-book I didn't want to put it down.

Volke is a relatable character, not supremely and unnaturally talented, but determined and hard-working. It is so common to have a main character with a "rival" that takes any opportunities to take jabs and exact petty revenge upon them that it was refreshing to see Volke not do so despite provocation and perhaps some small inclination.

While there was not necessarily any plot twists or major surprises, tension was high and Shami managed to continue to ratchet it up throughout the story. I found myself awake late at night towards the end to discover how everything would be resolved. I would certainly be interested in reading future installments.

The Knightmare Arcanist, the first in the Frith Chronicles, introduces us to Volke, an orphaned gravedigger apprentice who wants to be a hero, just like in the stories he reads about the famous arcanist Gregory Ruma. Disadvantaged and reviled because of his parentage, he and his 'sister' apprentice Illia, take an unconventional approach to making sure they can become arcanists and are given the chance to train with the masters. On the way, they meet their heroes and unlikely heroes as well as deal with the struggles of becoming an adult.

Stovall has created a charming world with a very intriguing magical system. The idea of arcanists bonding magical animals in order to channel their magic is not new, but the references to the symbiotic relationship between both arcanist and eldrin (bonded animal) makes the system much more intriguing, as well as giving diversity and limitations to the abilities of individuals.

The relationships between the characters are well developed, considering this is a first-in-the-series novel, including Volke and Illia having to deal with their changing relationship in the wider world. There are hints of where the relationships between all characters may develop, which does encourage wanting to read further into the series. The adventures the apprentices embark on are a little predictable at times, and there is little foreshadowing what may come next. It is very self-contained, and the somewhat predictable path of the adventure is excused by the charm of the apprentices and their magical creatures.

I received a free copy from Netgalley for an honest review.

This is the first in a new series, and I’m wondering if we will continue with the same focus as main character, or if it will jump to be of the others in the ensemble. This is one of those books where the cast of characters are all fairly dimensional and ones you want to know more about. I thought it was a little slow between 30-50%, but it picked up fairly quickly after. Overall, this was a fun, well written read, and the challenges that he overcame were not the traditional ones we see - he knew what he was facing, and accepted being the second to bond, where that usually leads to insanity and pain. But with the choice of possibly never finding another to bond, it seemed the likely outcome. I also really liked the villain’s backstory and reasoning-a twist on the norm, but not outlandish and make me stop reading.
I liked where this novel left the main character at the end, and oddly enough, I think I’d be happier with him letting Illia’s story be next and coming back to him as a support like she was for him.

The story has an interesting plot. I like the idea of the Arcanist and how the process is different throughtout the locations. The story being from the main character's perspective also made for an interesting view, especially when it came to rivals and misconceptions.
However, the story did overall feel rushed. I would have liked to have seen more of the development of the students and their bonds, as well as more time with Zefree and Ruma to build on the tension and conflict. Currently, there is not much to make me believe there was any doubt when Luthair recognized Ruma's voice, nor was there enough time with the main character and Luthair to really make me believe he had gained his trust. If this book takes it a little slower and lets the readers immerse in this world and the lives of the apprentices, it would make for a much more intriguing read.

Very similar to the Summoner series by Taran Matharu. Which is not a bad thing, i enjoyed both books. I do hope the next one is a bit longer. Maybe explore more of the abilities the MC can do.

YA fantasy with a fresh premise - at least, fresh to me: people bond to any of a wide variety of mystical creatures and become arcanists, their powers differing based on the creature they are bonded to. Also, there's a magical plague which drives the creatures mad and corrupts the humans who are bonded to them, and pirates are deliberately spreading it as a terror tactic (and because it can make their creatures' magic more powerful).

It's a premise that's well thought through and well sustained. There's a contained cast - six young people, newly bonded, coming to an arcanists' guild as apprentices, all of whom were easy to tell apart, and most of whom played clear and necessary roles; and no more than four more senior guildspeople, of whom two featured heavily.

There's also a positive adoptive father-figure, who isn't on stage much but is very much present in recollection for the main character. That character is motivated to prove to everyone that he isn't a criminal like his parents, but a noble and good person like his adoptive father, and it's a strong motivation, well handled. He wants to do right, but because of everyone's expectations about him and the way the situation is set up, often ends up breaking the rules in order to do what he thinks ought to be done.

The kids' conflicts are believable and not just cliches, and their characters at least begin to flesh out during the story, in ways that make sense. While there are hints of early attraction that will no doubt cause trouble between them in the future, nothing becomes overt in this book as far as romance between the cast is concerned.

There is the usual hard-to-swallow YA trope of inexperienced apprentices being able to do anything whatsoever against a more powerful and mature foe (and I did spot the roles of "unexpected" villain and unlikely ally coming several miles off), but I think the author pulls it off in the end.

The worldbuilding is fairly light, and mostly centred on the magical creatures (who have their own personalities, particularly the ferretlike rizzel, who's consistently amusing). There are two or three familiar names from the real world, mixed with a lot of made-up names, which was a touch odd; I thought "at least the author doesn't make the common mistake of using biblical names in a setting where Christianity doesn't exist," but then late in the piece there was a cathedral, so perhaps Christianity, or something like it, does exist.

I had a pre-release copy from Netgalley, and the very common issue of missing past perfect tense when referring to earlier events in past tense narration was frequent; it may be reduced (but, given how frequent it is, probably won't be eliminated) by thorough copy editing before publication.

Overall, with those few caveats, this is a sound and entertaining piece of storytelling, and I would happily read more in the series.