jbronderbookreviews

Author: Susana Imaginário

Narrator: Sarah Kempton

Length: 11 hours 36 minutes

Series: Timelessness, Book 1

Publisher: Susana Imaginário

Released: Apr. 30, 2020

Genre: Fantasy

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The Bookminder (Book 1)

Istria, 1679 A.D.

Sired by magick and violence, sixteen-year-old Liara is found guilty of witchcraft and banished from her tiny village by the very priest who raised, then betrayed her. However, a mysterious mage steps forward to assume custody of her: Nagarath, the Wizard of Parentino, whose secret spellwork has long protected both Liara and Dvigrad from the ravages of war.

Despite Liara’s best hopes, Nagarath refuses to apprentice her to his craft but tasks her instead with the restoration of his neglected library. Liara gleans magickal knowledge on the sly, but her stolen spells renew an evil wizard’s interest in the people of the Limska Draga valley.

Only by tapping Liara’s inherent magick and joining it with his own can Nagarath protect Parentino from suffering a horrible fate. However, her discovery of his secrets destroys their fragile trust and ignites the darker tendencies of her gift. Now, he must rescue her from the influence of his mortal enemy before their powerful new alliance destroys them all.

Purchase Links

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My Review

3 stars

Liara was born of magic and has been treated horribly for most of her life by the people of the village of Dvigrad. She has been living at the church until it is discovered that she has been stealing from people and using magic. She is banished but saved by the mage Nagarath but Nagarath makes it clear that he is not going to teach her magic.

They live at the crumbling castle Parentino which has its own secrets. Nagarath comes to care for Liara and starts teaching her a little magic. But someone is determined to find both of them, a powerful mage that is determined to use Liara’s power for his own good.

Liara has been looked down on her most of her sixteen years of her life. Because of this she tends to be aloof and on her own but is driven to learn magic for revenge. It’s a little hard to like Liara because of her constant whining and her focus. She constantly complains and at some parts I was about done with her.

Nagarath has his own secrets but is eaten by guilt over something that happened in the past. I commend him for taking on Liara when he wasn’t really planning on it. He has more patience than I do. But I was getting frustrated when he is trying to protect both of them but refusing to explain.

This is a rough start to the series, but I do see the potential in it. I am excited to start The Kithseeker. I think having Liara and Nagarath work together is going to be the glue to the loose ends.

The Kithseeker (Book 2)

France, 1680 A.D.

Liara’s defense of the Wizard Nagarath has rendered Anisthe incantate—bereft of all magick—but even this has failed to guarantee Liara’s safety. The death of the war mage would seal Liara’s own fate, and so the wizard and his bookminder must keep him in their sites and yet as far away from themselves as possible.

With nothing but a storybook and a hunch, Anisthe has set off on a journey across Europe, aided by his half-fey manservant, in search of a legendary mirror that contains the most powerful magick ever known. Although the stuff of fairytales, the merest possibility of its truth embarks Nagarath and Liara on a race to discover the mirror before it falls into the hands of Nagarath’s lifelong foe. Both know should he lay claim to that power, Liara would be at the mercy of her father-in-magick and his lust for power, and not even Nagarath could save her.

Thus, the pair find themselves at the court of the Sun King, a world hostile to magick users, hopelessly surrounded by agents whose sole purpose is destroy them. Uncertain whom is friend or foe, with Anisthe nipping at their heels, they must unearth the mirror before its evil is released, or worse, lays claim to Liara’s magick as well and brings doom upon them all.

Purchase Links

Amazon UK     Amazon US     Audible     Barnes and Noble     Goodreads

My Review

4 stars

After his battle with Nagarath and Liara, Anisthe has decided to travel to France. It seems he is in possession of a magical mirror that is supposed to hold the magic of famed wizard Khariton. When Nagarath and Liara learn of this it becomes a race to get to the mirror first.

Along the way we also meet the third student that Nagarth and Anisthe trained with, Amsalla. She has a habit of being in the middle of everything and is the king’s wizard. She meets up with Nagarath and Liara and it’s clear that she wants to start some trouble between the two. She is also watching Anisthe but doesn’t realize that his assistant, Domagoj has got her in his sights too.

Everyone is trying to get to the mirror first and no one can be trusted. It feels like everyone is out to get each other and poor Liara doesn’t understand the fight she finds herself in. I feel bad for her but at the same time I understand how far she has come since her life in Dvigrad.

I liked this story better than the Bookminder because we started meeting more people and exploring the country. Amsalla just irritated me and there were times that I wanted to slap Nagarath upside the head for his actions/thoughts.

I’m curious to see how things are going to transpire in The Fatewreaker. Thank goodness I have everything ready to hop into it.

The Fatewreaker (Book 3)

England, 1680 A. D.

Liara and Nagarath’s enemy has unexpectedly come to their aid, surrendering to the magick-suppressing forces of the king of France so as to buy time for their escape. But that doesn’t necessarily mean Anisthe is on their side. Vrsar’s war mage, Liara’s father-in-magick, has never been a man do to things for others. And he has always has plans within plans.

In fleeing to England with his apprentice, the Wizard Nagarath realizes that Liara’s power is no longer her own to command. With the shattering of Khariton’s magick mirror in the Palace of Versailles, the young woman has become trapped in an alliance with the ancient and evil mage. What is more, at eighteen-years-old, her life remains tied to Anisthe’s for another two years per the Laws of Magick. Anisthe, who is now imprisoned for having helped them evade the king’s spellpiercers.

Forced to revisit his own past, Nagarath is finally learning that there are some histories you cannot outrun. As for Liara, the darkness within her heart is greater than she ever could have imagined. This after Dvigrad’s orphaned magpie having finally learned to love. For, in the words of Khariton himself, “In magick you can never have friends. Only rivals.”

Purchase Links

Amazon UK     Amazon US     Audible     Barnes and Noble     Goodreads

My Review

4 stars

Liara has freed Khariton from his mirror and is now his vessel. He is intent on using her power to destroy the world. She is heartbroken because she was trying to help him and doesn’t want the war he is going to cause. Nagarath decides to take her to his home in England to try to help her. But learns that the possession is worse than he feared.

At the same time, we find Kresimir who was sent to Merlin by Nagarath. Merlin may have been cursed but is still alive and is trying to fulfill a prophecy about Nagarath and Liara. But when Liara shows up on his doorstop for help he realizes that he might not be a match for Khariton anymore and might not be able to help.

I love how Liara and Nagarath have finally realized their feelings for each other, but Liara can’t have that with how fast Khariton is taking control. Nagarath has taken just to try to help Liara and it looks like he might not recover from his actions. But I hoped that he could break Liara’s spell in time or at the very least save her.

I like how this wrapped everything together and I loved the ending. This has been a good read and recommend this series. I think the reader will enjoy the journey. I will be keeping my eyes open for other books from M.K. Wiseman.

Author Bio

M. K. Wiseman has degrees in Interarts & Technology and Library & Information Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her office, therefore, is a curious mix of storyboards and reference materials. Both help immensely in the writing of historical novels. She currently resides in Cedarburg, Wisconsin.

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I would like to thank Rachel’s Random Resources for the opportunity to read and share this series.

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