In the second book of the Mageborn series, The Line of Illeniel, the story picks up roughly a year after the events of the initial story. However, instead of going into excruciating details about the intervening events, Michael G. Manning gives us a high-level overview of what’s happened after Mordecai and Penny prevented the disaster from happening in Lancaster. If you’re interested in learning more, dive into the first novel in the series. I highly recommend it. But let’s get back to the crux of the second installment. As with both installments, one of Mordecai’s most intrinsic personality traits is his curiosity.
With each page, I found someone after my own heart. It became crystal clear that he’s never met a question he didn’t like, especially considering his education in the ways of magic. Since both of his parents died when he was a baby (this occurs in the first book’s prologue so it’s not a spoiler), he doesn’t have anyone to teach him how to become a wizard. Since he’s having to teach himself, he’s free from the conventional limitations, something he mentions early on. It’s an interesting way to empower your character. But it’s highly effective. Consider this: an author mentions something about his character, and in the same breath introduces knowledge that would prevent him from achieving it under normal conditions.
One of the more interesting aspects introduced inside the original story was the concept of the Anath’Meridum. It just so happened that Mordecai’s mother was one of these, but the concept was never explored in that tale. Fortunately, it doesn’t take long for the author to dive into the concept and teach us the complexities of what we were exposed to previously. In fact, the dynamic between Mordecai and his Anath’Meridum, Penny, who happens to be his love interest, is the vehicle used to explore the depth of the conflict between mages like him and the gods and his king.
The rapid escalation of danger thrust upon the young lord mirrors the quick pace of Mordecai’s abilities. It seems as if each new chapter introduces some new threat, be it trivial or massive, which vies for the young man’s attention. The constant churn did wonders at keeping my focus on the narrative. It also kept me guessing, in a good way, about what was coming next. Yet the action doesn’t overpower the narrative’s other threads used to explore the more grounded concepts and ideas that shape all our lives, specifically loss.
Aside from the characters introduced previously, we’re also introduced to Cyhan, the man who trained Mordecai’s mother as an Anath’Meridum. Upon his introduction, we’re introduced to an emotionless man, willing to do whatever it takes to achieve his goal. While there is character growth throughout the story, his goal is never far from his mind, nor does it impact his choices. Having finished the second story in the series, I’m once again gifted with a novel to recommend.