Review – Charmcaster

Title: Charmcaster

Author: Sebastian de Castell

Series: Spellslinger

Pages: 416

5 Stars

From Goodreads:

The third book in the page-turning SPELLSLINGER fantasy series. Kellen, Reichis and Ferius are on their way to Gitabria, a city where amazing inventions are dreamed up and sold across the land of the Seven Sands. But when the three of them stumble across a tiny mechanical bird, magically brought to life, they quickly realise all is not as it appears. Meanwhile two strange Argosi appear, carrying secrets from Ferius’ past, together with an unlikely Jan’Tep ally. And as time ticks on, all the cards in Ferius’ deck point to the emerging tides of war . . .

My Thoughts:

I honestly cannot express how fun, exciting and fast paced this series is. I am smitten and de Castell has skyrocketed himself into my autobuy list.

The action does not stop in this book, we are treated to multiple new magic systems, more Argosi and Argosi lore as well as learning so much more about the different races and countries that make up this world. It’s so jam packed that the pages just flow and before you know it you are lost in Kellen’s story. I love the relaxed tone to Kellen’s narration. This makes this book and like the entire series a fun, lively and engaging read.

This books takes us to Gitabria, a city of bridges and Trading hub that prides itself on invention and innovation. The world building here is wonderful. It is so rich and vibrant, it just captures the imagination. I would happily spend hours learning about each of Gitabria’s bridges, that form its different districts each with their own trade associations. We also encounter more ways of the Argosi including how they communicate with their cards. To me they are fascinating and very intricate and as we are peeling away the layers they are getting more and more interesting.

Of course Kellen is still accompanied by Ferius, the Argosi and Reichis, the squirrel cat. The dynamic relationship between the three of them is just as fun as ever. De Castell runs his readers through the full gauntlet of emotions on this one from roaring with laughter to crying your eyes out. In fact at points I was willing to go full Squirrel cat on de Castell if he kept hurting my babies like that!

I am very excited about the rest of the series with the next book Soulbinder due on the 4th of October.

Update: I have been approved for the eARC for Soulbinder so check back for my review on the 26th of September.