I'm not sure why I don't love Kate Elliott's books. The prose is competent (to a degree that's rare in my experience) and the protagonists are typically determined, capable young women, my favourite kind of protagonist. But there's something in the feel of them that's darker than I prefer, and that isn't offset by a deft hand with theme, or overt insight into the human condition in general, or immersion in the viewpoint and emotions of the protagonist in particular. The tone of them feels somehow a bit chilly, and when that's set against political struggles between ruthless and cruel antagonists that, in this case, goes all the way up to dystopian (a genre I try to avoid)... I just don't love it.

I don't absolutely hate it either. I considered abandoning the book, but I cared enough to finish. I don't think I care enough to read the next one, though. Somehow, I never became that invested in the protagonist's struggle, even when, right at the end, she made a principled decision that provided another option besides the two unappealing ones she was presented with.

She did protagonize, though for a lot of the book she was being dragged along in the wake of someone else's plan, going along with it because either the alternative was worse or she thought the goal of saving a life or lives a worthy one. She took action that made a difference, and made decisions that were important and carried weight. But it did feel like I was stuck not very far into the viewpoint of one member of an ensemble cast, and not the most effectual one.

I think it's the dominance of politics that is responsible for a lot of my lukewarmness. I feel like the focus is set too wide for my taste, that the personal story of the protagonist gets skimped because of the wide sweep of events. I feel the same about other authors that I ought, on paper, to enjoy, like C.J. Cherryh or Trudi Canavan.

It's well done, if you like that sort of thing. But personally, I just don't enjoy it that much.

2.5 stars. It was OK. A novella, rather than a novel. I loved the Crossroads trilogy and Jaran, but Servant Mage didn't have the same draw. Is it a kind of prequel to a new series? If so, perhaps the next one will engage me more than this one did.

In Servant Mage, Kate Elliott gives readers an all-too brief look at a world torn apart by political and magical intrigue from the viewpoint of Fellion, a servant mage who has seen a lot of the worst that the world has to offer and is given a chance to work with some people who are trying to restore it to what it once was like before. But is that what Fellion wants, or could there be another way forward?

The major issue I had with this title is that as a novella it tries to do a ton of heavy lifting very quickly, and while it handles it well for the amount of material that the reader needs to understand and become invested in the characters and plot, I felt that there was just not enough space to really let this story breathe.

This is a very short fun read! It almost comes across as a prequel for a new series the author may be coming out with later on. With that said, I think it's important to keep that in mind and consider the things that may or may not always come with reading a shorter novel.

Sometimes shorter novels skimp on the character development, but I didn't really get that vibe with this story or the characters. The main character - Fellion and a light mage of sorts - is very fleshed out and complex. She knows what she wants and stays true to herself until the end of the story. Many of the side characters are also ones I think people may love and find interesting, especially Shey and Invi. The magic system builds up, so if you don't understand it at first, give it a few chapters. It basically centers around 5 types of elemental magic (fire, water, earth, air, and aether), but the story gradually tells you how all of this is connected - including magical cows! And I didn't mind one bit. I actually think I preferred it to the info. dumps authors sometimes put at the beginning of their books. In this one, it happens gradually as does the world-building and political aspects. The important thing is that most of the questions I had are answered closer towards the end. To some, it may make the ending feel rushed, but again, keep in mind it is a shorter novel to begin with.

Overall this was a very fun story that I was able to read in one sitting. I highly recommend this book for people looking for a quick fantasy read. Thank you to Macmillan-Tor/Forge for sending me an e-arc via Net Galley in exchange for my honest review.

With a unique magic system and a bracing critique of the colonial power structures inherent across governmental systems, Kate Elliott has packed this little novella full of food for thought. Who can you trust when those on both sides have committed atrocities? To what extent to the ends justify the means? Elliott cleverly pokes holes in our assumptions as a reader, emphasizing that regardless of who is in charge the ones at the top will largely stay in power and the ones at the bottom will largely not. I liked Fellian as a protagonist, with her guarded nature serving as the perfect vehicle for the reader to understand the complexities of the situation. My one complaint is that the characters felt less like real people and more like actors in a parable, with the thematic elements of the novella taking precedence over character dimension (beyond Fellian at least).

I was also intrigued by the magic system, with its notion of magic being a result of demons living in people's bodies. Our characters brief entrance into the demon realm was especially enlightening, though I would have liked to devle a little deeper into some of the concepts, such as the difference between dragons and demons and how different types of demons manifest different types of magic. I really hope that Kate Elliott someday returns to this world.

I saw praise from S. A. Chakraborty and I couldn't click request fast enough.

I think the concept is unique and the characters are definitely intriguing, but it all only feels surface level. I don't think the short length and it being a standalone did the story any favours. It feels a tad too underdeveloped, a bit too incomplete, a little too rushed.

The thing is, there is so much content in terms of plot and characters that this could easily be expanded, either by making the standalone longer or by making this the first part in a series. So I have no idea why the author chose to make this a novella instead.

Overall, cool idea but the execution just didn't quite work for me. I wanted more, which is both a positive and a negative.

Kate Elliott is brilliant, and her skill and wit are showcased in "Servant Mage". I was delighted to discover that the cast of this novella is interesting and fleshed out. Shorter books sometimes contain two-dimensional characters, since there is not as much page time dedicated to developing their personalities. Luckily, this issue was not present here. Fellion is such a badass protagonist and I quickly grew attached to her. The political intrigue is engaging, and I appreciate the messy, morally grey nature of the characters and world. The book features great pacing, and I was on the edge of my seat as the plot progressed. The ending really works, even though it is somewhat abrupt.

My only gripe with "Servant Mage" is its length; I wish it were a little bit longer. This is a compliment, of course; I loved it so much and I selfishly want to read more about this world & its characters. I was so enthralled by this complex, tangled web of a story that I cycled through the five stages of grief when I found out it was a standalone.

Finished this in one sitting, didn’t want to put it down!
This is a fantasy novel about mages, who have magical powers. There are five types: fire, water, air, earth and aether.
In the past the mages were held in high esteem, but after a revolution (which overthrew the monarchy) all that changed.
The characters are interesting, I could definitely “see” the world it is set in and there is a lot of action.
The novel definitely starts off strong, near the end I think I wanted a bit “more”?
So I’m hoping this will be the start of a series. Because I’d love to read more about these characters, the magic and see where the story can take me!

Due to the takeover by the Liberationists, Fellion has become an indentured servant mage with little prospect of another life until she is freed by a group of Monarchists. They need her fire skills and there's a possibility of a real future. Along the way, their priority shifts so they are saving a very special baby from being killed before moving on to the original mission.

I must point out this is a novella rather than a full-length novel. I found this to be a super-easy and engaging read, finishing it in under three hours. The world-building is quite good and there are some really interesting characters along the way. I was really invested in the story. I was happily reading along and then towards the end, there's a bit of an information dump where it feels like there are openings for quite a bit of development in the story. However, it ends almost abruptly, leaving me quite unsatisfied with the overall story. It just didn't quite fulfill its promise in the end.

I'm giving this 3.5 stars because I enjoyed most of the read. I would like to thank Netgalley and MacMillan-Tor/Forge for providing this advanced reader copy for free. I have provided this review voluntarily.

Fantastic world building and characters, Servant Mage has left me wanting more in this world. A society needing change but Fellion, a servant working as Lamplighter, is wondering if looking to history the best place to find a more equitable society?

I'm a little disappointed with this one, although it was still enjoyable.

I usually love books by Kate Elliott. However, I didn't realise this one was a novella. Not that there's anything wrong with a novella, but this felt very unfinished and only partially complete.

The story was good, but I don't feel that it was fleshed out enough. It just seemed to be lacking so much. Everything seemed to be rushing, lacking the richness that I've come to expect from a Kate Elliott book.

I would love to see this novella turned into a full length book, delving more into the world building and character development.

The first 3/4 of this novella is very strong--well motivated and interesting characters, plenty of action, terrific world building, memorable prose. The last part of the book reads like it was written by a different person as there is lots of data dumping--who is related to whom, political structure, history, etc., rounding out the earlier world building by adding the boring stuff. The main story goal is tacked on the end as sort of an afterthought, and while the final pages wrap things up nicely, the book really should have stopped while it was ahead. I expect this is the beginning of a series, and I will certainly try the next episode.