i am not thinking about productive things. instead, I am slowly rotating a long line of lame, sad little fictional guys like a personal feast of rotisserie chickens in a really big microwave.

I'm rereading Spellslinger after reading the first two Argosi books and I just... I loved Ferius before. She's basically one of my favorite characters in any book I've ever read. But I just somehow have way more respect for than I even did before. I mean, this woman has so many reasons to hate the Jan'Tep (though, let's be real, they're the worst anyway), and assuming the massive hints in the Argosi books aren't super misleading, Kellen's family in particular. But literally the first thing she does when she shows up is save Kellen's life, and then even when she knows who he is, she KEEPS HELPING HIM. Like. Talk about overcoming adversity and being the bigger person.

Ferius Parfax may not be a lady, but she is a queen among women.

October TBR--

It’s finally spooky season and I’m so ready for it. I have quite a few spooky/mysterious books to read this month. I’m planning a couple rereads, a few new to me authors, and a NetGalley read.

1. Spellslinger by Sebastien De Castell-- This one I’m picking up on recommendation from Jade from JadeyRaeReads on Booktube. It’s a YA Fantasy novel about a magical clan called the Jan’Tep. Kellen is moments away from starting the four trials that will make him a spellcaster. The problem? His magic is gone. He’ll have to fall back on his cunning to avoid total disgrace or learn from a mysterious Argosi named Ferius Parfax about a different path forward.

2. None Shall Sleep by Ellie Marney-- This one was pitched on Tumblr as Criminal Minds meets The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes which had my attention immediately. GoodReads says it’s: “a psychological thriller about two teenagers teaming up with the FBI to track down juvenile serial killers.” Say less. You have me.

3. The Hollow Places by T. Kingfisher-- Kingfisher is an author who is getting all of the attention right now so I decided to dive into the hype. This is the one that I think I would enjoy the most out of everything they’ve written. Kara is freshly divorced and living back at home when she accidentally discovers portals to countless alternate realities. But they’re haunted by creatures that seem to hear thoughts and the more you fear them, the stronger they become. Shut the front door, right now! This sounds so good. And it’s not too long. 

4. Escaping Eleven by Jerri Chisholm-- This is the first reread I need to do in October. The final book in this series comes out in December. It’s not the best dystopian series I’ve ever read, it’s actually pretty derivative, but it has such a nostalgic feel for me because I love the dystopian genre so much. This one is about a girl who is forced to fight for the entertainment of those above her station. But when she’s forced to face off with someone from the upper floors she realizes there’s more than fighting to survive. She wants to fight for her freedom and this boy may be what she’s been waiting for.

5. The Vanishing Stair by Maureen Johnson-- The second reread I need to get to in October. I’m rereading the whole series before the fifth book comes out in December. This is a mystery series about a boarding school on a mountainside in Vermont, a nearly 100 year old missing person’s case, and a new murder. I think that’s vague enough since this is the second book in the series.

6. Pucked by Helena Hunting (Kindle)-- This one is mostly a joke, but hockey season DOES start up this month. (FINALLY!) I found Helena Hunting through her Spark House series and decided to grab this one when I saw a hockey romance in her backlist. I don’t expect to enjoy it as much as I’ve enjoyed the Spark House series so far, but I think it’ll be a fun and quick read.

7. Missing Clarissa by Ripley Jones (NetGalley)-- In August of 1999, a popular girl goes missing in Washington state. Thanks to Clarissa’s beauty, the mystery captures the attention of the nation. But the case soon grows cold. Over 20 years later, two high school juniors start a true crime podcast, determine to get to the bottom of this mystery. But, in their sleuthing, are two teenage girls about to destroy the life of an innocent man? And help the true killer walk free?

8. Order of the Phoenix Illustrated (New Release).

Spellslinger Review

Spellslinger by Sebastien de Castel is a 369 page Young Adult Fantasy novel. The first in the Spellslinger series and is followed by Shadowblack (#2), Charmcaster (#3), Soulbinder (#4), Queenslayer (#5), and Crownbreaker (#6) with a load of smaller stories between them.

There are three things that earn you a man’s name among the Jan’Tep. The first is to demonstrate the strength to defend your family. The second is to prove you can perform the high magic that defines our people. The third is simply to reach the age of sixteen. I was a few weeks shy of my birthday when I learned that I wouldn’t be doing any of those things.

Magic is a con game. Kellen is moments away from facing his first mage's duel and the start of four trials that will make him a spellcaster. There's just one problem: his magic is gone. As his sixteenth birthday approaches, Kellen falls back on his cunning in a bid to avoid total disgrace. But when a daring stranger arrives in town, she challenges Kellen to take a different path. Ferius Parfax is one of the mysterious Argosi - a traveller who lives by her wits and the three decks of cards she carries. She's difficult and unpredictable, but she may be Kellen's only hope...

I rate this book 3.5/5 stars.

I thought this book was very entertaining, but I kept wishing for something more to happen. Even when writing this, at least a month after reading it, I still feel like it was missing something. Perhaps it’s the fact that I keep thinking it’s and adult book, instead of YA and it just didn’t go to the places I wanted it to.

To me the characters are a bit forgettable, but I did really like Ferius as a character.

This book is the prime example of the advice ‘end every chapter on a cliffhanger to keep readers to continue reading’. To me an amazing book should make me want to continue without a cliffhanger to push me forward, but of course the occasional reveal is a good thing.

Will I continue this massive series? Yes, when the others books in this series cross my path of a good price.

Do you have any questions? Or maybe some recommendations? Send me an ask here on Tumblr or tweet me. If you wish to support me, you can buy me a coffee! Or even buy my debut fantasy novel, The Mending Road.

Spellslinger by Sebastien de Castell Review

Spellslinger follows mage Kellen who, unlike his powerful family, has barely any magic. Instead branded as a slaveKellen tries to con his way through The Mage Trials to earn his mage name. Along the way he meets Ferius Parafax, a travelling Argosi, who teaches him tricks to help him.

I loved this book. Kellen was such a great main character, very funny and sarcastic. While his peers bully him, he comes out with the best come backs which left me laughing out loud. Ferius Parafax was also great. She was like a frontier cowboy, but very mysterious. Her and Kellen’s teacher student relationship was enjoyable to read, and Ferius’ mystery lines gives Kellen to show off more of his humour.

This book was a fun read. You knew which characters to love and which to hate. The relationships between each individual characters are amazingly written, so much so that the banter doesn’t feel forced.

I would recommend if you enjoy fantasy and action books with a western/cowboy setting.

My Rating: 5 stars

Started Reading: 06/04/2022

Finished Reading: 10/04/2022

K E L L E N   A R G O S

Somewhere in that long night of song, of laughter, of tears, I somehow found myself. My name is Kellen Argos. I am the Path of Endless Stars. (Shadowblack)

Absulutely mad furious the Spellslinger series isn't getting any attention. It is a MASTERPIECE and the world building is so amazing and breathtaking and intricate and it's such a wonderful series. But it's getting NO ATTENTION AT ALL WHATSOEVER for some reason and it deserves so much better and I just really love it, okay? GO READ SPELLSLINGER!!! by Sebastian De Castell.

im a spellslinger blog now. i just finished the fall of the argosi and ive successfully completed the entire series

I WAS RIGHT I WAS RIGHT I WAS RIGHT IM SURE OF IT I CANT FIND NAYTHING ONLINE CONFIRMING IT BUT? SHADOW FALCON? WIFE? YOUNG SON? COME ONNNN ITS GOTTA BE THAT

Spellslinger memes!! Part 1 by thepathofjoyfultears.

Ppl on Pinterest are interested by wierd name the only thing I got interested by was the ARGOSY UNIVERSITY I hoped so much this was some Spellslinger joke 😢

The way of the Argosi is the way of Water.

Water never seeks to block another's path, nor does it permit impediments to its own. It moves freely, slipping past those who would capture it, taking nothing that belongs to others. To forget this is to stray from the path, for despite the rumours one sometimes hears, an Argosi never, ever steals.

That's the result of me, being completely unmotivated to study. It's Kellen from the Spellslinger series btw.

15 for the book asks pls (u can review/rec however many u feel like!!) I've missed all the times you've talked about what you're reading and I'm curious -chinhands-

GASP!!! YOU WANT ME TO REVIEW AND REC BOOKS??? delightful <3 <3 <3

15. recommend and review a book

The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch

Let's start with the book that highkey kicked me back into reading a few months ago. This fantasy book should be considered a classic even if it is certainly not for everyone: Locke Lamora is a cursing, sneaky bastard man, who truly is not as clever as he thinks he is. I love him. I love his best friend Jean. I love the city of Camorr which appears to be the Florida of this fantasy world. There are sharks. There are many interludes telling you the history of the gods, or why a game of handball ended with a 30 year old blood feud. Or why the prostitutes of Camorr are so frightening even the lord of the thieves wont mess with them.

No one is pretty and I didn't know I needed this in a book until I read the Gentlemen Bastards books.

There are some things it doesn't have: a lot of female characters (especially in the first book - but we do get super hot pirate queens in the second book so there is that) and a PG rating. There is cursing, blood, death, and a lot of foul language (also some torture).

The Spellslinger Saga by Sebastien de Castell

This YA fantasy series is a very fun read if you enjoy outcast stories about idiot boys and their amazing lesbian mentors. No, but for real, I loved much of the underlying world building in this series: the obvious narrative bias our main character embodies (and slowly learns to grow out off) because of his upbringing, the conceptualization of the Argosi lifestyle and the way they see the world, the absolute bonkers religious/magical conflict that everything is built on... it makes for a fun read. And Kellen is truly unlike many male protagonists in YA fantasy: after every skirmish or fight or disagreement, the first thing Kellen does is cry, because his emotions are just a bit too much. (i love him, your honor - i also love his absolutely amazing mentor Ferius who could top me any day)

Some other things to point out: the fifth book really takes a step back in quality but it is worth it for the sixth book (which is my absolute favorite), there is a storyline between an abuser and the abused kid and while I love the conclusion for much of this storyline the kid is an absolutely unreliable narrator and that can make it hard to read

Gallant by V.E. Schwab

While I still think V.E. Schwab writes her best works when she writes Fantasy alla Our Dark Duet and Shades of Magic, I did enjoy this little foray into gothic horror quite a bit. How much? It made me cry, and I think that is always a great sign. With a protagonist with a physical disability I was afraid the narrative would focus on her regaining her voice, but truly that was not the case - instead it was much more focused on the definition of home... and how inescapable fate is, and yet wholly dependent on our own choices.

It wasn't a perfect book - the middle dragged a bit - but I did greatly enjoy it and it reminded me a lot of Crimson Peak. It does very much feel like a gothic horror set in a bleak 1950s England and if that is your thing... congrats (also there is no romance in this book and that is a good thing in my book).

(ask me one of these book asks)

1 and 3 for the bookish questions? 🥰👀

hayley i have literally no idea when you sent me this sorry but THANK YOU SM!!

1. What is your favourite book and/or book series of all time? 

Okay I have two (2) favourites series and I could literally talk abt them all day so like. Sorry in advance.

They’re both by the same author, Sebastien de Castell (who’s releasing the first book in a new series... soon? July, I think!), who I clearly owe my entire life to!

The first is the Greatcoats series, which was his first, and has four books - essentially, the Greatcoats were once travelling magistrates who enforced the King’s Law in the nation of Tristia, until a bunch of assholes (the Dukes) rise up against the King, overthrow and execute him, and leave the Greatcoats a) unemployed and b) hated and reviled throughout the country. They’re narrated by Falcio val Mond, First Cantor of the Greatcoats, and also the world’s stupidest man, who somehow manages to be both incredibly endearing and supremely irritating, and for whom I would absolutely give my life if he wasn’t so keen to die all the time. Before his execution, the King (whom Falcio absolutely adored) gave each of the Greatcoats a special order (there were 144 of them, so I’m not sure how he had time, but whatever) - Falcio’s is to find one of the King’s charoites. Unfortunately, he has no idea what the fuck that is, he’s broke, his best friends Kest and Brasti aren’t even sure why they stick with him anymore (actually, that’s unfair to Kest, Kest is extremely loyal to Falcio above all else for the whole series), and THAT is where the first book, Traitor’s Blade, begins! (SPOILERS from here onwards!) Falcio finds his charoite about halfway through the first book in the form of a 13-year-old girl called Aline - the same name as Falcio’s wife, who was brutally raped and murdered by a local Duke when they were 20. At the end of the book Falcio realises Aline is in fact the King’s daughter (although, to be fair, Brasti realised it first) and the rest of the series is essentially Falcio trying to protect Aline (major spoiler: this does not work and she dies halfway through the last book and I cried SO HARD) and fighting back against various groups that threaten Tristia and the Laws he worked so hard to uphold back in the day. Along the way, he gets a girlfriend (who becomes Saint of Mercy in the third book and was, somehow, once possessed by the memory of his dead wife Aline), reunites with various former Greatcoats who hate his ass to varying degrees (but like, lovingly, for the most part), has extremely cute emotional bonding moments with Kest and Brasti (like the time Falcio was poisoned and was paralysed for longer and longer every time he woke up and Brasti decided to put a coffin over him one morning for funsies! I love him very much), and collects, by my count, at least 4 children (or at least people he cares for in a Very Paternal Manner).

The second series is called Spellslinger, and it has six books because life is good and SdC writes fast (side eyes @ Scott Lynch). The premise is this: Kellen comes from a people called the Jan’Tep, whose entire society essentially is built around the magic they wield. When Jan’Tep children turn 16, they must take their trials to become mages - if they fail, they are sent away from their family to become a part of the Sha’Tep, who are pretty much the Jan’Tep’s slaves. Kellen’s problem is this: he’s, like, two days away from turning 16, and he has pretty much no magic. All Jan’Tep have six “bands”, representing the different elements of magic: iron, silk, sand, breath, blood, and ember - there’s a seventh element too, shadow, but Jan’Tep children are not banded in shadow, as it’s considered evil. Sparking a band basically means you’re able to wield the element of that band - to pass your mage’s trials, you need to have sparked two. At the start of the first book, Kellen still hasn’t sparked any. His father is a powerful clan leader, his mother is a talented mage, and his younger sister Shalla is a prodigy with unheard-of talent, and yet Kellen, despite everything his parents have tried, has little to no magic, and seems destined for a life among the Sha’Tep. The book opens with Kellen’s first trial, his duel, which he’s just about managing to bluff his way through until Shalla (fucking Shalla) realises he’s cheating, and, in some wild attempt to make him find some power or something, literally stops his heart. He’s saved by a mysterious red-haired woman called Ferius Parfax, who speaks with the equivalent of a Southern drawl and is just kind of wildly competent at pretty much everything. I’m now at risk of literally just rewriting the entire first book here so: Kellen spends more time with Ferius, although it’s discouraged, continues to fail his mage’s trials, uncovers a Sha’Tep rebellion conspiracy fuelled by a rival Jan’Tep clan leader, and, crucially is counterbanded by his parents - that is, his parents fill his bands with molten metal and magic sigils which mean he’ll never be able to spark them. This is a horribly painful process, emotionally and physically, to which Kellen never agreed, and he’s literally strapped down to a table for days - he discovers that his grandmother banded him in shadow, a strictly forbidden practice, and that he has the shadowblack, considered a terrible affliction which probably hints at some terrible inner darkness, although throughout the first book the main effect for Kellen is just some dark markings around his left eye. With the help of a violent squirrel cat, with whom Kellen can somehow communicate and whom he freed from a Jan’Tep cage several days ago, he manages to escape before his parents counterband his breath band, and he sparks it - it turns out that he was actually as powerful as Shalla, but the things his parents made him take to “cure” his weakness were in fact suppressing his power. Long story short, the counterbanding and the shadowblack kind of... end his hopes of a normal life in Jan’Tep society, and so he runs away with Reichis (the squirrel cat) and Ferius (who, as it turns out, is Argosi - a traveller who kind of... not quite predicts things, but notes the likely course of events in the world around her) to become an outlaw - specifically, a spellslinger, an outlaw mage who has a little magic, a few tricks, and their hopefully sharp wits to live by.

Tragically, Kellen’s wits are not very sharp, and he spends the next five books being kind of terrible at being an outlaw, crying after every single fight he’s in (verbatim, “I always cry after a fight”), developing a very sweet mentor-student/parent-child relationship with Ferius, reuniting with his childhood crush Nephenia (who had to leave the Jan’Tep for... reasons), becoming best friends with the squirrel cat, getting separated from Ferius for two books, and tearfully reuniting with her in the final book, after which she prompty nearly dies.

So. Uh. I’m super sorry, I was UNAWARE of exactly how much happened in Spellslinger (like, the first book, which is also titled Spellslinger) in particular, and I just really love talking about them! I’m an absolute sucker for found family dynamics and characters learning to appreciate both themselves and the people around them, and both series are absolutely full of that!

3. What is the oldest book you have ever read? (Based on its written date) 

I’m currently reading the Odyssey for my school’s epic reading group (as in, a group for reading epic literature, not just... it’s really cool), so I suppose it’s that!

Kellen, It's morning here on the Gitabrian boarder. Been sitting here a while now, waiting for the sun to rise up over those hills. Waiting for the girl to stop crying. Funny how tough she is on the outside, how soft on the inside. Gotta teach her how to switch that around. Person's got to be weak in the skin and strong in the bone. Like you. Bet you're shaking your head right now, telling yourself how bad you are at everything, how scared you are of everyone. That's okay. It's your way, I guess. I've been Argosi a long time now, and we learn not to mess with another's ways. Still, though, there's one more trick I reckon I should've taught you. One lesson I can still give that maybe won't pull you off your path. It goes like this: Since the moment I watched you leave (you didn't think you really snuck out on old Ferius, did you?), I've been waiting for your absence to hit me. You and me, we've travelled a long while together (by Argosi standards anyway), and, well, I ain't shy to say it, I love you, kid. Don't know when it happened. You ain't my kin and there ain't nothing about us that's alike. Somewhere on those long road we rode together, you became something I never had and probably never will have again. Don't rightly know what the word is for it, but it's something special all right. So how come I ain't missing you yet? How come I ain't shedding tears like rainwater the way the girl keeps doing? Hopping up and down about how you could be in trouble, and maybe we could catch up to you, and maybe there's some nonsense Jan'Tep tracking spell that'll let us find you? How come I don't feel that knife of loneliness – that feeling I didn't even have a word for until I got used to you being around – slipping through my ribs? Maybe it's because I'm still hearing your voice in my head. Complaining. Questioning. Arguing. I take out a smoking reed from my waistcoat and I can feel your eyes on it, wondering if I smoke too much but not saying it. I watch that sun rising and I feel that hope you always get that maybe today we won't have to fight our way out of another mess. You know what's funny? The Argosi don't have hope. First thing we learn is to get rid of hoe, same as we rid ourselves of grief. An Argosi has to be sharp. See things true, not the way we want them to be or the way we fear they might become. Gotta stay clear. Well, I guess I can't be that way no more. Got you in my head. It's early hours yet, maybe you'll fade away, but somehow I don't think so. I think maybe you're a part of me now, and maybe I'm a part of you. Maybe you're out there, looking for some nonsense cure for those marks around your eye, and you've run into a little trouble (nothing you can't handle, of course), and you'll feel me there with you, reminding you to dance, not fight. Play music instead of talking. Listen with your eyes instead of staring. Maybe, if I keep hearing you talk to me, it means you're hearing me talk to you too, giving you what advice I have to give, but maybe more often just reminding you of what you already know in that great big messed-up heart of yours. That's the lesson, Kellen. Those who know love, even for a little while, are never really alone. That's the thought I'll be holding on to. Like I said, the Argosi don't waste time on hope. But I sure hope to see you again some day, kid. Ferius Parfax Three parts gambler, two parts Argosi, and one part Kellen of the House of Ke

Soulbinder by Sebastien de Castell