The Novice (Summoner #1) by Taran Matharu

© Stephanie Tiner

​Fletcher lives in a small village where he works as a blacksmith’s apprentice. When he accidentally discovers that he has a rare ability to summon demons from the ether, his whole world turns upside down. After fleeing his village for a crime he did not commit, he finds his way to the school for young summoners where he hopes to learn the art of summoning.
The king and the school are becoming more desperate for battlemages. This desperation has led to the school allowing first years to participate in the tournament that allows them to demonstrate their skills in order to obtain a favorable position in the king’s army. With his fellow students, both commoners and nobles, Fletcher endures grueling lessons that help to prepare them for the tournament. But prejudices and rivalries will test his new friendships and his limits. Will Fletcher survive the tournament or will the sinister forces working against him prevail?
A compelling read where Harry Potter meets Lord of the Rings to create a whole new hero. I have read both good and bad reviews of this novel and was unsure what my own opinion would be.
The character of Fletcher is a happy combination of poor, skilled country boy and quick, inquisitive, natural learner. His survival skills, learned from growing up in a small village near the wilderness, enable him to see and learn things differently than the other students. However, at the same time, they are not obtrusive when it comes to his ability to form friends. In fact, they help.
The plot line is somewhat slow, with little action and more character interactions and building. That said, there are moments of action, some intense. As I stated in my synopsis summary, a large portion of this novel has the main character in school. Therefore, this was not unexpected.
I would give this book four out of five stars and would recommend this novel to fans of Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, and Lord of the Rings.
I bought my copy of this novel from bookoutlet.com and am currently seeking permission from the publishers to use an image of the cover artwork above. 

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