{Review} The Wizard's Heir by Devri Walls

Posted by Melanie 
Release Date: November 20th, 2015
Finished Date: March 28th, 2016

Publishers: SuperStorm Productions
Genre: YA, Fantasy 
Source: For Review
Format: eBook 

Pages: 270
Buy: Amazon UK / Amazon US 

 

Tybolt’s a Deviant, a hated race immune to direct magic in a world where Wizards ensure survival. But when he loses his entire family to a spell-made storm he joins an elite group of Wizard hunters, organized beneath the new non-magic wielding king.

Now eighteen, he spends his days capturing Wizards. But the nights are his, reserved to feed the starving villagers of Eriroc under cover of dark. There’s always more people in need than he can help, and one of these days he’s going to hang for theft from the royal kitchens.

Although Tybolt and his fierce partner, Auriella, have imprisoned many Wizards, the one partially responsible for the storm that killed Tybolt’s family is still out there: Alistair. When an old informant claims to have information regarding their elusive prey, everything changes.

In a cruel twist, Tybolt realizes he isn't who he thought he was at all. How can he save himself, the people, and those he loves while keeping his secrets safe? Can he hide his true nature and allow the corrupt king to remain on the throne?

Or will he have to unveil himself and risk possible execution to save them all?

The Review: Tybolt’s a Deviant, a hated race immune to direct magic in a world where Wizards ensure survival. But when he loses his entire family to a spell-made storm he joins an elite group of Wizard hunters, organized beneath the new non-magic wielding king.
Now eighteen, he spends his days capturing Wizards. But the nights are his, reserved to feed the starving villagers of Eriroc under cover of dark. There’s always more people in need than he can help, and one of these days he’s going to hang for theft from the royal kitchens.
Although Tybolt and his fierce partner, Auriella, have imprisoned many Wizards, the one partially responsible for the storm that killed Tybolt’s family is still out there: Alistair. When an old informant claims to have information regarding their elusive prey, everything changes.
In a cruel twist, Tybolt realizes he isn't who he thought he was at all. How can he save himself, the people, and those he loves while keeping his secrets safe? Can he hide his true nature and allow the corrupt king to remain on the throne?
Or will he have to unveil himself and risk possible execution to save them all?
The review
The Wizard’s Heir is a new offering from Devri Walls – author of the amazing Solus Series – so I was expecting big things from this…….. and I was not disappointed!
I love a good fantasy read and this was definitely up there with my favourites. We have a young boy who witnesses his mother and sister dying caused by a storm that not only decimated the land but was wizard made. A strange man takes him from the only home he had and deposits him in the care of wizard hunters who train him to capture any wizard he comes across. Following the ‘fracture’ things have become bleak for the residents or Eriroc, food is scarce, poverty is rife and a now 18yr old Tybolt is thankfully more fortunate than others, he shares his fortune though, with the people who have nothing; buying some vegetables for a child caught stealing food, helping a mother with a few children…. The list goes on as he does all this selflessly.
The wizard who started the storm is in a dungeon deep beneath the city but there is one who has always eluded the hunters and Tybolt would like nothing more than to get his hands on him as one of the few he deems responsible for the death of his family. With the help of Auriella -his partner in hunting- he gains information that could lead him to Alistair. The thing is, what do you do when everything you have ever known about yourself becomes lies, when the woman you love is taken from you and instead of the hunter….you become the hunted?
So, this was really good! I love this author and she knows how to write fantasy - believe me. Tybolt is the kind of character that you feel for immediately, we witness his family falling apart and the way it was done really pulls on those heartstrings. He turns into a fine young man and someone that is very admirable to those around him. Romance comes by the way of his crush on his partner Auriella, we can see they are made for each other but as it always goes in books…. They need to realise it themselves. Auriella was a very good match for him, I love a kick ass heroine and this is what we get from her but whilst she is hard on the outside, she does show a vulnerable side also.
The storyline has it all - in my opinion – we have awesome characters, great world set up and so easy to read. I loved the hidden heritage of Tybolt, it was a major part of the story and really kept things interesting because once discovered, it turned everything on its head. I also like a story that has a thin line between the good and the bad, where a little twist here and there can change a viewpoint and give something else. I really liked how the magic was used in this, obviously everyone thinks it’s the source of all evil but it’s a matter of perspective. We get a lot of action by way of wizard hunting, bullying, kidnapping, extortion, magic, chases on horseback and all out anarchy! Which makes for a super exciting read. The pacing was perfect and I found it really hard to put down. This definitely seemed like a stand alone book because everything is sewn up really well for a very satisfying ending. 

Thank you to Devri Walls for giving me the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an honest review.