A Wizard’s Forge is an interesting science-fantasy with a wonderful balance of the two that makes for an interesting read, and a fascinating world. It is also quite a brutal story that delves into a lot of sensitive topics and dark themes, including psychological and sexual abuse, so it might not be for everyone. However, these themes are central to the story, never sensationalised or done to shock, and what really stood out for me, and sold me on both the book and the characters was that it was done so well and so realistically. These events had a lasting impact and weren’t brushed aside for plot, or swept under the carpet as it can sometimes feel like it is. A Wizard’s Forge was a beautiful, painful exploration of how a person is shaped by those events, how it affects their future, their thoughts and their interactions with other people and a story that was as much about survival as it was about revenge.
The characterisations were brilliant throughout, and A Wizard’s Forge felt very character-driven. The author took the time to develop both Vic and Prince Ashel, who are our main POV characters, and they both brought very different approaches to both the world, and the events around them. With Vic, it was a lot more personal and internalised, while Ashel gave us a view of the world from a privileged position which made for a striking contrast. While they played off one another beautiful, the secondary cast was by no means a second thought, and there many fascinating characters throughout the story that were vivid and well fleshed out, and is definitely a strength of this book.
The writing was fantastic throughout, it flowed from start to finish, with vivid descriptions that pulled you firmly into the world. I will say that this is a slower-paced story for the most part, particularly towards the start, but this slower pace allows for that wonderful development of the characters and the exploration of what had been done to Vic. That said, there was action as well, and I found those scenes very well written and easy to envision, and while it was a slower read, I believe it very much benefited from that. The worldbuilding was also well done, and I loved the byplay of the Sci-Fi and Fantasy elements that were woven throughout the story. I would have liked to have seen more of the history of the world, and there were certainly hints of more to come, and as this is the first in the Saga, I would say that it was a very strong foundation for the rest of the series to build on and I look forward to seeing more of this world.
A Wizard’s Forge was an engrossing read from the very beginning, and it is an incredibly powerful story that was difficult to read in places – the descriptions are so vivid and realistic. Yet, it was also impossible to stop reading, because the characters are so beautifully developed that you care about them and their survival. An incredibly thought-provoking and moving book, and I am much looking forward to seeing what will happen in the soon to be released book two.

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