Review: Way of the Wizard by Michael Michel

Blurb:

Even gods have their beginnings.

Mine starts in the chasm between worlds. In the blink of eternity between life and death.

If you wish to follow, let this be your road.

First, join your brethren–those others who seek the Power. They are your allies and the key to your success. They will almost certainly try to kill you.

Second, slay a wizard and claim their topknot. Be smart, be quick, and never hesitate. They’re the most dangerous creatures alive. If destiny does not favor you, your bones will be added to the piles beneath their feet.

Third, acquire the hidden location of the Spirit Gardens. Secrets are worth more than kingdoms. Protect them at all costs or your enemies will win, and you will die.

But above all, never look back. Godhood is the goal.

If you have the courage and ambition to do so, read on.

Your path to power awaits.

Review:

I signed up to receive a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

Michael Michel is slowly becoming one of my favourite authors. His unique writing style coupled with his ability to really get into the character’s head and simulate the experience of what the characters are going through are just two of the reasons that make his books absolutely mind-blowing. 

Way of the Wizard is the first entry in Michel’s new series. A typical everyman-to-hero of legends narrative, Michel grounds El’s arc on a world that is as absurd as it is awe-inspiring. Maybe it’s because I’m playing Elden Ring, but reading Way of the Wizard to me felt like a compelling novelisation of a FromSoftware game, where literally everything out there is going to try to kill you.

What I liked: 

I won’t repeat myself with regard to the writing style and characterisation. They’re exactly as amazing as I had expected them to be. Just the opening sequence, where—SPOILERS—El is trying to tell his dying mother a story of legends is utterly gut-wrenching. El is faced with an obvious choice that he cannot make. He’s forced to attend a public demonstration, leaving behind his dying mother despite himself. He is weak. He is a nobody. And when he returns, his mother is missing. With the motivations established like a slap on the face, Michel dives into the narrative which explodes into a visually absurd grimdark setting of the Wildness. 

Wizards warring against wizards, cabals of Seekers looking to become wizards, everything gets bombarded onto you relentlessly, and you’re left trudging through this difficult world hoping to find some satisfaction. 

The moments of respite are scarce, with El’s character constantly faced with difficult choices, life-threatening situations, and a world that is as creatively expansive as it is imaginative and wild. The narrative is nothing short of a game where the goals are clear, but the path to achieving them is ridden with dangerous enemies that constantly throw you a few steps behind. 

El’s growth throughout the book is impressive. He climbs up the ranks and befriends unlikely individuals, all the while focused on his two goals—becoming a Wizard and saving his mother and Trin.

Way of the Wizard does a fantastic job of setting up what Michel has planned for this world and its characters.

What I didn’t like:  

Two things stood out to me in this novel which made my overall experience just a tad bit rough. The first is the writing style. 

Now, I know I already praised Michel’s writing style as unique and brilliant. But when you have a world as complex as this one, that writing style can either enhance or hamper your immersion. Unfortunately, it was the latter for me. I still stand by my praise of his writing style, but I have to admit that it overwhelmed me at times, and I had to reread some portions just to make sure I didn’t miss anything. 

The second was the cliffhanger in the end. The climax and the ending itself are really well built up and conclude on a satisfying note. However, I felt the cliffhanger could’ve been handled differently. Personally, I don’t like cliffhangers, and the way it played out left me with a feeling of incompletion. 

Final Thoughts:  

Barring the two issues I pointed out, Way of the Wizard is a fantastic start to what I’m sure is going to be an explosive series full of epic moments, Malazan-level grand visuals and an exploration of absurd worlds and bizarre characters that will make up for an absolutely wild ride of a journey. 

TL;DR:

WHAT I LIKED: Stunning, rich and visual world-building, fast-paced narrative, compelling story of growth, great set-up for the rest of the series. 

WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE: writing style can hamper immersion, cliffhanger in the end.