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The Painter Mage #1
Shifted Agony
My name is Oliver Morris and I’m a painter. I can use color and shapes and patterns to infuse them with power. In that, I’m more like a wizard than anything, except I don’t have any spells or incantations. Sometimes I wished I did; it might be easier than working the magic I command.
After my father's disappearance - not dead, though I'm the only one to believe he's not - I was exiled from Arcanus, the only place to learn painter magic and discover what happened to him. Or so I thought.
For the last ten years, I was forced to learn the dangerous arcane patterns, patterns forbidden in Arcanus. And now I've finally returned home, determined to find out what happened to my father.
Only, it turns out my father was hiding more secrets than I realized. When another painter from Arcanus shows up, she unleashes a deadly threat that our world hasn't seen in centuries.
Somehow, I'm the only one able to stop it.
Shifted Agony is the first book in The Painter Mage urban fantasy series.
After my father's disappearance - not dead, though I'm the only one to believe he's not - I was exiled from Arcanus, the only place to learn painter magic and discover what happened to him. Or so I thought.
For the last ten years, I was forced to learn the dangerous arcane patterns, patterns forbidden in Arcanus. And now I've finally returned home, determined to find out what happened to my father.
Only, it turns out my father was hiding more secrets than I realized. When another painter from Arcanus shows up, she unleashes a deadly threat that our world hasn't seen in centuries.
Somehow, I'm the only one able to stop it.
Shifted Agony is the first book in The Painter Mage urban fantasy series.
246 pages, ebook
First published April 28, 2015
182 people are currently reading
277 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
April 16, 2016
Was not sure what to expect but loved the whole idea of a magic based on color, shape, patterns and drawing. Oliver is the son of the Elder an extraordinary painter that wielded power and respect from his amazing accomplishments, while Oliver is a Tagger of no great ability, or so he thinks. Devan is a Fae from across the Threshold where Oliver was for last 10 years serving the Erlking and learning Arcane patterns. When Devan and Oliver escape back to our side of the Threshold, Oliver comes home to Conlin to learn more about his dad and maybe protect him and Devan from ever having to go back. A master Painter Mage shows up named Taylor and l kinds of bad goes down. There are doors to the Threshold that are guarded by Shifters in Conlin because if they are opened something bad come through. Great begging can not wait for next book.
July 10, 2017
The feel of this book reminds me of the Dresden Files, except with magic based on inks, drawings, and, emphasized regularly, patterns. I'm a pattern guy myself: I learn best by understanding the processes and underlying principles instead of memorizing facts, so the use of these in the book resonated with me. It was also nice that the main character doesn't start out as a teenager who has to find his way to becoming a powerful hero, the standard fantasy trope.
Throughout the book, I recognized the author's attempts at deeper character development, but in the end, the characters still come off a bit... flat to me (pun intended). The writing is nonetheless one of the few mature (that is, not obviously a young adult) pieces of fantasy I've come across. The series has lots of potential and I am hopeful that it improves further along. 3.5 stars rounded down to 3 stars.
Throughout the book, I recognized the author's attempts at deeper character development, but in the end, the characters still come off a bit... flat to me (pun intended). The writing is nonetheless one of the few mature (that is, not obviously a young adult) pieces of fantasy I've come across. The series has lots of potential and I am hopeful that it improves further along. 3.5 stars rounded down to 3 stars.
January 7, 2020
This is the first book in The Painter Mage Book
This was a good start to a new supernatural/paranormal/Urban Fantasy Series I really enjoyed this book the characters are likable and relatable not to mention interesting . This story revolves around a young Tagger who's father is a powerful and prominent painter mage who went missing ten years previously . After Ollie's father goes missing Ollie becomes obsessed with finding his father but by trying to prove that his father is still alive Ollie gets banished and sent back to his mother's world earth realm where he has to survive outside the protection of his father's realm .
This was a good start to a new supernatural/paranormal/Urban Fantasy Series I really enjoyed this book the characters are likable and relatable not to mention interesting . This story revolves around a young Tagger who's father is a powerful and prominent painter mage who went missing ten years previously . After Ollie's father goes missing Ollie becomes obsessed with finding his father but by trying to prove that his father is still alive Ollie gets banished and sent back to his mother's world earth realm where he has to survive outside the protection of his father's realm .
June 9, 2018
I downloaded Shifted Agony, book 1 of the Painter Mage series, as a free ebook from Amazon. The concept of painter mages (and taggers, the lesser-talented mages) is totally unique and the ideas behind how they use their magic is well-developed. The story line had places where the reader could be confused due to unclear background (which may be withheld for later reveal, but bringing it up now only makes some of the plot unclear). I received the next two books and can't wait to see where the author goes with this imaginative and fresh world.
May 16, 2017
Action-packed and very magical, this was...okay. I had a difficult time following the writing; it seemed, at times, as though I was reading an unedited version. The explanations of how the paint and patterns worked were a little hard to understand, as it was never fully explained — I still don't know what I should about it.
The characters are all right, but nothing too special. On the plus side, this is a short, easy read.
The characters are all right, but nothing too special. On the plus side, this is a short, easy read.
May 31, 2024
1.5 Ok, nope, this was just a bad read.
Maybe it's karma, I've been having amazing luck with books recently, so this was bound to happen.
I just didn't like anything here. The characters were annoying, the plot was weird, the world was strange. I didn't get any other feelings except annoyance while reading this.
I gave it 2 stars not 1 only because there's something that made me read it, so maybe the writing style? Not sure.
Doesn't deserve 1 star, but it can't get more than 2 either from me.
Maybe it's karma, I've been having amazing luck with books recently, so this was bound to happen.
I just didn't like anything here. The characters were annoying, the plot was weird, the world was strange. I didn't get any other feelings except annoyance while reading this.
I gave it 2 stars not 1 only because there's something that made me read it, so maybe the writing style? Not sure.
Doesn't deserve 1 star, but it can't get more than 2 either from me.
December 1, 2019
I’m willing to give this author another chance because chased by fire seems interesting, but this particular book was just an absolute mess from start to finish. Cool concept, really poor execution.
October 19, 2018
now i am hooked. This was such a great, easy and creative book. i was hooked after the first page.
The characters were easy to fall in love with and follow, along with the story. the author made the mental visions so easy and vivid of the surroundings and the characters actions felt so real.
i would highly recommend this author and this book.
The characters were easy to fall in love with and follow, along with the story. the author made the mental visions so easy and vivid of the surroundings and the characters actions felt so real.
i would highly recommend this author and this book.
February 11, 2017
I was really interested in this book but as I started reading it, I just couldn't get into it. Didn't have enough details about the back story and took too long to get into exciting stuff.
February 7, 2017
I had problems reading this book... mostly in the first half with the fact that it felt like it should have been a 2nd book in a series because in the middle of fast-paced action there were many references to past events that were not detailed enough to give me a good idea what world we were in and what rules applied. Despite this, by about halfway through I finally managed to get a clearer picture of what was going on. Also it took till almost the end of the book to get me to care if any of the characters lived or died. I will go on to read the next 2 books as I can see potential in the story & hope the next book will be better. One thing I very much liked was the concept of magic being created through the use of symbols made with ink or paint. It was a refreshing approach to magic in fantasy.
September 6, 2016
Like others this book took a bit for me to get into but after I did I quite liked it. It does take a bit to get going.
It seems to take place in a world like our own (or nowadays) that has various types of magic and are linked to various other worlds/areas. In this world there are painters who can use patterns and ink to make magic. It is fairly complicated but the author explains the painters quite well.
I liked the internal dialog that the Oliver (the main character) has with himself. The relationship he has with Devan is nice. They are best friends but maybe a bit something else ends up happening later on?
As normal I don't want to give away spoilers so I will stop now. I received this book for free from the authors newsletter.
It seems to take place in a world like our own (or nowadays) that has various types of magic and are linked to various other worlds/areas. In this world there are painters who can use patterns and ink to make magic. It is fairly complicated but the author explains the painters quite well.
I liked the internal dialog that the Oliver (the main character) has with himself. The relationship he has with Devan is nice. They are best friends but maybe a bit something else ends up happening later on?
As normal I don't want to give away spoilers so I will stop now. I received this book for free from the authors newsletter.
July 21, 2015
Very unusual premise.
While this book started slowly and had a learning curve (terminology mostly ), it finally picks up the pace and begins to tell a good story. The characters are slow to develop but soon they emerge into the light. Since this is a trilogy the story is unfinished. The unique world created using Painters infused with magic and patterns made with ink or paint takes some getting used to. However, the author does a pretty good job of explaining all of this. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to explore something different. I was gifted this book for an honest review and I have given it.
While this book started slowly and had a learning curve (terminology mostly ), it finally picks up the pace and begins to tell a good story. The characters are slow to develop but soon they emerge into the light. Since this is a trilogy the story is unfinished. The unique world created using Painters infused with magic and patterns made with ink or paint takes some getting used to. However, the author does a pretty good job of explaining all of this. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to explore something different. I was gifted this book for an honest review and I have given it.
August 22, 2016
I really like this author. I think they have a lot of creative ideas, and the writing style works for me. But I think the story pacing needs some work, and perhaps a more attentive editor would benefit them. Because I felt like this was half a story, I voted down a little bit, but I think it's worth a read.
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July 20, 2015Painting magic
I received this book free in exchange for my honest review. A quick read that shows you a glimpse into a magical scary world . A great start to the series it laid a nice foundation for what's to come.
I received this book free in exchange for my honest review. A quick read that shows you a glimpse into a magical scary world . A great start to the series it laid a nice foundation for what's to come.
May 13, 2016
Takes a bit
Good book took a bit to get going but once it does it gets interesting. A little confusing with all the different types of things there are but an enjoyable book.
Good book took a bit to get going but once it does it gets interesting. A little confusing with all the different types of things there are but an enjoyable book.
February 7, 2016
OK but a bit unsatisfying.
April 29, 2017
This was a short and enjoyable read. I liked the world Holmberg constructed, though we only saw a very small part of it. The pacing was generally good, and the writing was easy to read. There weren't many characters, but I liked the characters we did meet, and I'm looking forward to reading more of the series. Overall, it was a solid read. Nothing spectacular, but I enjoyed it.
Rating: 7.5/10
Rating: 7.5/10
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews