Trial by Sorcery - Book Review


Trial by Sorcery
by Richard Fierce

Sometimes a child idolizes a hero so much that he wants to be like the person he looks up to someday. And, that’s exactly what Eldwin does in Trial by Sorcery. He wants to be like a Dragon Guard like his father.

However, having a mangled hand does not stop Eldwin from pursuing his dream. He wants to be a dragoon like his father was before his death. With his parents dead and their lands dying, Eldwin decides to leave his place to pursue his dream in the city. And so, the young boy travels downhill to the city of Autumnwick. He enlists as an apprentice in Citadel, a school that trains dragon riders. He arrives at the school wearing his father’s sword.

Unlike other enrollees, Eldwin is not of royal blood. But, he’s a noble by deed through his father. On the day of the enrolment, he meets Maren, a fellow student. They become friends and they support one another throughout their journey as apprentices.

The Training

All students need to abide by the strict rules in Citadel. For them to be admitted and become full-pledged dragon riders, they need to pass the three tests. Each test, except for the third one, is taken individually. Students are not allowed to share their experiences with one another. Besides, each experience varies from one student to another.

The first test is Compassion, and the second is Magical Aptitude. In the second test, Eldwin encounters a bizarre beast. It’s an unexpected occurrence that even the Master of the school and the curates are surprised at its appearance. Meanwhile, the third test consists of armed combat.

How does Eldwin deal with all his tests? With his mangled hand, does he master the use of weapons? Follow his adventures and be there as he takes the tests in Trial by Sorcery.

Trial by Sorcery: The Book and the Author

Trial by Sorcery is a riveting story of adventure. The author brings its readers through a maze of mystery, surprises, and challenges. Although the book reminds me of a Harry Potter story, I’m impressed at Richard Fierce’s creativity and imagination. He weaves the story so vividly like it’s real. His writing style is simple and yet he captivates the reader’s attention right from the beginning. Trial by Sorcery is also fast-paced and full of excitement, leaving no dull moment until the end.

What I like the most in the book is the conversation between Eldwin and Master Pevus at the end part. It leaves the reader thinking of what happens next. And, it’s a clever idea of the author to keep it that way to make the reader want to read more.

On the technical side, however, I noticed a handful of grammatical and typographical errors that appear intermittently in the book. Although these errors are negligible and don’t ruin the story in general. 

Overall, I give Trial by Sorcery a rating of 5 out of 5 stars, and I recommend it to readers 8 – 12 years old.

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