Fantasy Book Critic: SPFBO XI Finalist Review: Of Mages and Makers by Rel Carroll

Rel Carroll is passionate about creating characters on the stage and the page. A former student of Brandon Sanderson and Orson Scott Card, she writes a blend of fantasy genres including the Mage Maker series. Between storytelling, you can usually find her in the middle of a dance floor, trying on new accents, or dreaming up more adventures—real and imagined—with her husband, son, and beloved zoo of rescue animals. Connect with the author-actress-activist @relcarroll or visit www.relcarroll.com to join her newsletter for updates and giveaways.

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CHELS

It’s been awhile since I have read anything of a steampunk variety and this was definitely a cosy read. With multiple points of view, we follow the story from Audrey and Art’s perspectives. Audrey was practical and sensible, Art was sweet underneath his deceptive exterior. The world is pretty substantial, I enjoyed exploring a variety of places instead of being in one solo location. Overall, a good, cosy read perfect for the upcoming autumn season.

JACK

This novel occupies a fun intersection of romance, cozy, and gaslamp fantasy, set against a charming (quasi-victorian?) high-society backdrop. The story bounces between two protagonists, Art and Audrey, each of whom has their own secrets. They both wind up enmeshed in intrigue after Art's sister invents a new technology which threatens to upend the entire political/cultural/economic/religious balance of the setting.

This novel was enjoyable from start to finish. The romance worked for me, and Art and Audrey make for excellent lead characters - they're relateable, witty, and consistently entertaining. However, my positive experience was mostly surface-level; I never got a sense of emotional depth from the characters or the story. There's a running theme of "the working people (or 'cogs') are downtrodden", but it doesn't feel earned, since we spend nearly the entire book in Art and Audrey's high-society world. The side characters (and especially the antagonists) feel mostly one-dimensional. Finally, although the author gives the story clear stakes in the very first chapters, those stakes gradually fade into the background until the sense of tension and gravity behind the intrigue is lost.

ŁUKASZ

Of Mages and Makers won't make you to rethink the genre, but it'll allow you to spend a few evenings with likable people in a charming world. I would describe it as a cozy-ish gaslamp fantasy with a dash of romance, a touch of mystery, some light political intrigue, and enough witty banter to keep the pages turning.

Art is a good lead. His carefully cultivated image as an utterly useless aristocrat is entertaining from the very first page, especially because everyone, including the reader, quickly realizes it's an act. Beneath the sarcasm and theatrical laziness is someone observant, intelligent, and determined to help those who can't protect themselves. He's funny without trying too hard, and his narration gives the novel much of its personality.

Audrey makes an equally enjoyable counterpart. She's curious, practical, and refreshingly proactive. Their relationship develops without relying on endless misunderstandings or unnecessary drama. I'm not usually drawn to romantic fantasy, but I found myself rooting for the two of them.

The world is another pleasant surprise. The mix of gaslamp fantasy, steampunk inventions, social etiquette, and magic feels cohesive and is nicely introduced without pages and pages of exposition. Airships, makers, mages, mechanical inventions - it all fits together naturally and creates a setting that's easy to sink into.

More than anything, though, this book is simply pleasant. It's funny, warm, well written, and consistently entertaining. I never felt bored, and I finished it remarkably quickly. Ironically, that's also where my biggest criticism lies.

The stakes never truly felt high. Whenever things went wrong, I never really doubted that everything would work out in the end. That sense of comfort is obviously intentional, and for many readers, it'll be exactly what they're looking for, but it also meant I rarely felt genuine tension. I enjoyed the journey, but I was never on the edge of my seat.

As a result, I suspect this will be one of those books I'll remember fondly without remembering many specifics a year from now. Nothing about it frustrated me, but very little stayed after I turned the final page. Still, not every fantasy needs to be dark, emotionally exhausting, or relentlessly epic. Sometimes charm is enough.

If you're looking for a light, well-written fantasy with good leads, enjoyable banter, likable heroes, and just enough romance to warm the story without overwhelming it, Of Mages and Makers is an easy recommendation. It may not be especially memorable, but it's undeniably fun while it lasts.