The Novice by Taran Matharu

Fletcher is a blacksmith apprentice.  He enjoys his life other then the insufferable bully that pesters him all the time.  When he befriends an old soldier at the market, he finds the man has left a book that used to belong to a battlemage.  He's even more surprised when he intones the the words written on a human like skin and summons a small demon!

Feiwel & Friends and Net Galley allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published May 5th, so check with your local bookstore then.

While Fletcher was experimenting with the chant, his enemy has tracked him down.  He has two guards with them and he intends to kill Fletcher.  Fletcher's demon takes offense at that and creates a big enough diversion that Fletcher can escape.

Fletcher has to run.  He doesn't know where he's going but he can't stay in the village anymore.  It's just as well that he goes since there's evil plans afoot that no one knows about except the perpetrators.  He gets in a bit of trouble in the next town because he shows the silver he carries.  The man who saves him tells him to go the Adept Military Academy.  He assumes he should be there because he has his own demon.

This is where Fletcher's life gets real interesting.  The Royals have airs and won't even be nice to the commoners.  There's a dwarf no one likes and an elf that is liked even less.  Fletcher doesn't get it and manages to become friends with both.  

The mix of magic, demons, orcs, elves, dwarves and humans really appeals to me.  I like to watch their interaction and how they can work together if they need to.  The orcs are everybody's enemy.  However, folks should be watching those Royals, too.

The story keeps escalating in excitement the further it goes.  The worst part is the ending; it's a cliff hanger.  I just hate those.  Close the door and say more to come in the next volume but don't have a disaster at the end and leave us hanging for a year.  I want more now!

Why don't you read it and tell me if you liked the ending?  I know we're all different.  That's what sells books.  I will be watching for the next one in this series.  Fletcher has a lot more potential in him.