Series: Studies in Demonology
Volume: 2/3Publisher: DSP Publications
Genre/s: Urban Fantasy, M/M Romance
Length: 87 000 words
Read in: English
Review copy format: epub
Rate:✮✮✮✮✮✮
With Saka at his side, Angus recovers form the wound that almost killed him, while the mages teach magic to a group of young wizards, and the sacrifices provided by the underground bring beneficial rain to Demonside. On the face of it, everything seems to be great, and the alliance between people and demons against the Warlock College seems to be able to bring desired results. But when the leaders of the underground start to break the covenant rules and resort to threats to ensure full cooperation of the mages' trainees, the newly created alliance becomes a dangerous game that can turn into a war at any moment.
"Rogue in the Making" is the second truly amazing installment in the "Studies in Demonology" series written by TJ Nichols. This volume is mostly dominated by feelings, which I think is a great advantage of this novel. The more so because they don't affect only the reader and the characters, but to some extent also the events that take place here. I believe that equally important is the fact that these feelings are diverse, very well and quite broadly presented. We can find here, among others, love, desire, trust and lack of it, pain (external, internal and their perfectly depicted juxtaposition), desperation. All of this has been presented in a great way, which gives the novel depth, as well as affects the development of the characters and moves the plot forward. However, I admit that it's very hard for me to do justice to the amazing way in which TJ Nichols managed to present and use feelings in this book. That's why I encourage you to read "Rogue in the Making" and see for yourself how great it is.
I would like to write a little more about the themes of love and desire. To be honest, the way in which TJ Nichols approaches these subjects in the novel is undoubtedly original and somewhat surprising. First of all, we find here the eternal problem of love perceived as weakness or strength. What I think is interesting is that more than Angus, as we might expect, Saka is bothered by this problem, though it certainly concerns both of them. Secondly, the question "is this love or desire?" doesn't really seem to matter in "Rogue in the Making." Instead, we see a simple "I want and need" principle, which is quite enough for some characters, while the readers need to make the effort if they want to understand the relationship between Angus, Saka and Terrance. Well, as for me, at some point I restrained my curiosity, stopped thinking about it too much and I just let myself enjoy the novel and the bonds between the individual characters.
"Rogue in the Making" is a novel which plot is set in two parallel worlds, while the main character is forced to, in a way, live in between them, because he can't stay in Demonside or Humanside for good. However, it should be noted that TJ Nichols doesn't focus only on the physical "in between", but also shows this ideological and psychological one. And this fact is what I consider the greatest advantage of the novel, which perfectly illustrates the above-mentioned being in between worlds. To be honest, I think the fact that Angus is human, but to a large extent really loves Demonside is really fantastic. Nevertheless, what he does when he is forced to make a choice between people and demons, when he has to show the loyalty of one of the parties is even more amazing. To tell you the truth, TJ Nichols showed this problem in "Rogue in the Making" in a way that really made me impressed.
I think that reviewing this volume it is also worth mentioning that while the first one mainly shows us the universe and broadens our knowledge about it, "Rogue in the Making" focuses on its further building by gradually widening its horizons. First of all, the reader discovers the world and magic together with the characters, because they are not all-knowing, they experiment, gradually expand their knowledge. It is really fascinating and I think that it is thanks to such a construction of the universe and magic that we are even more interested in them. What's more, what is unknown to the characters also has a greater impact on the reader and their emotions. Therefore, in "Rogue in the Making" what holds us in suspense are not only action and feelings, but also the world building and a chance to learn more about magic. Just like in the previous volume, we are students who not only enjoy this novel but also gain knowledge.
To sum up, "Rogue in the Making" engrosses us, keeps us in suspense from the beginning to the end, fascinates us and is the reason we are even more in love with the "Studies in Demonology" series. This is a fantastic novel and a brilliant continuation of the first volume. I love it and recommend it with all my heart!
Headcanon: Angus accidentally uses magic in a way that Saka hasn't expect at all, and which, until now, seemed impossible.
Fanfiction idea: While in Demonside, Angus tries to show his demon what it means to go on dates.
AU idea: Science fiction!AU, Saka belongs to a race that Earthlings want to enslave and take over its planet. Held in captivity, he meets Angus, one of the people who disagree with the idea of expansion and want to fight it.
Here's some more about:
Dreamspinner Press is running a special price offer on the series during the Blog Tour.
Book 1 will be $1.99 - Book 2 $2.99 - Book 3 $3.99
BOOK 2
Buy Links
BOOK 1
Book Title: Warlock in Training Length: 78 000 words
Add on Goodreads
Book 1 can be read as a standalone story
Buy Links - Available on Kindle Unlimited
Book Title: Rogue in the Making
Author: TJ Nichols
Heat Rating: 3 flames
The stories need to be read in order.
Dreamspinner Press is running a special price offer on the series during the Blog Tour.
Book 1 will be $1.99 - Book 2 $2.99 - Book 3 $3.99
BOOK 2
Blurb
The blood sacrifices have brought rain to Demonside, but across the void, the Warlock College of Vinland is still storing and gathering magic, heedless of the warnings of the international magical community. The underground is full of warlocks who disagree with the college, but do they care about wizards and demons or only about snatching power?
With a foot in each world, Angus is no longer sure whom he can trust. The demons don’t trust humans, and even though he is learning more magic, he will never be one of them. He is human and only tolerated. Some demons would be happy to slit his throat. It’s only because his demon is powerful in his own right that Angus is alive.
Saka only has a year to prove that Angus’s people can change and that the magic taken will be rebalanced, but the demons want action. His affection for Angus is clouding his judgment and weakening his position in the tribe. Time is running out, and he must make a choice.
With a foot in each world, Angus is no longer sure whom he can trust. The demons don’t trust humans, and even though he is learning more magic, he will never be one of them. He is human and only tolerated. Some demons would be happy to slit his throat. It’s only because his demon is powerful in his own right that Angus is alive.
Saka only has a year to prove that Angus’s people can change and that the magic taken will be rebalanced, but the demons want action. His affection for Angus is clouding his judgment and weakening his position in the tribe. Time is running out, and he must make a choice.
Buy Links
BOOK 1
Book Title: Warlock in Training Length: 78 000 words
Add on Goodreads
Book 1 can be read as a standalone story
Blurb
Angus Donohue doesn’t want to be a warlock. He believes draining demons for magic is evil, but it’s a dangerous opinion to have—his father is a powerful and well-connected warlock, and Angus is expected to follow the family tradition.
His only way out is to fail the demon summoning class. Failure means expulsion from the Warlock College. Despite Angus’s best efforts to fumble the summoning, it works. Although not the way anyone expects.
Angus’s demon, Saka, is a powerful mage with his own need for a warlock.
Saka wants to use Angus in a ritual to rebalance the magic that is being stripped from Demonside by warlocks. If Angus survives his demon’s desires and the perils of Demonside, he’ll have to face the Warlock College and their demands.
Angus must choose: obey the College and forget about Demonside or trust Saka and try to fix the damage before it’s too late. Whatever he does, he is in the middle of a war he isn’t qualified to fight.
His only way out is to fail the demon summoning class. Failure means expulsion from the Warlock College. Despite Angus’s best efforts to fumble the summoning, it works. Although not the way anyone expects.
Angus’s demon, Saka, is a powerful mage with his own need for a warlock.
Saka wants to use Angus in a ritual to rebalance the magic that is being stripped from Demonside by warlocks. If Angus survives his demon’s desires and the perils of Demonside, he’ll have to face the Warlock College and their demands.
Angus must choose: obey the College and forget about Demonside or trust Saka and try to fix the damage before it’s too late. Whatever he does, he is in the middle of a war he isn’t qualified to fight.
Buy Links - Available on Kindle Unlimited
Blurb
Sheets of ice are spreading across the human world, ushering in an ice age as the magic drained from Demonside turns that world into a desert. Angus and reluctant warlock Terrance have defected from Vinland to the Mayan Empire—a land of dark and potent magic. But the Mayans aren’t offering sanctuary for free.
Nor is the world willing to stand back as Vinland attacks, and the backlash will affect all magic users.
Mage Saka has no tribe. He is now just another refugee fleeing the dying Demonside. He knows the conflict brewing now will be worse than the first demon war. Countries are banding together—not just against Vinland, but against all magic. Where will the powerful Mayan Empire stand?
Angus might have the power to fight Vinland and the Warlock College, but the cost will be terrible. Saka is torn between helping Angus and stopping him. And Terrance would do anything for Angus, but he’s terrified of the man Angus is becoming, even as Saka is warming to the idea of a relationship between the three of them.
No matter what choice they make, victory will be bittersweet, and when the ash settles and the snow melts, nothing will be the same.
Nor is the world willing to stand back as Vinland attacks, and the backlash will affect all magic users.
Mage Saka has no tribe. He is now just another refugee fleeing the dying Demonside. He knows the conflict brewing now will be worse than the first demon war. Countries are banding together—not just against Vinland, but against all magic. Where will the powerful Mayan Empire stand?
Angus might have the power to fight Vinland and the Warlock College, but the cost will be terrible. Saka is torn between helping Angus and stopping him. And Terrance would do anything for Angus, but he’s terrified of the man Angus is becoming, even as Saka is warming to the idea of a relationship between the three of them.
No matter what choice they make, victory will be bittersweet, and when the ash settles and the snow melts, nothing will be the same.
Excerpt from Warlock in Training
IT WASN’T that Angus Donohue couldn’t summon a demon; it was that he didn’t want to. He didn’t even want to be here. A cool breeze brushed against his skin, and the trees around him rattled like a closet full of old bones. Maybe if he didn’t put enough will into the spell the whole thing would fall apart.
If he couldn’t summon a demon, he’d fail the class and get kicked out of the exclusive Warlock College his father had forced him to attend. While there was a certain prestige in being a warlock, it wasn’t what Angus wanted to do with his life. He certainly didn’t want a demon to draw magic from. He had to fail this class. His father would be horrified, but Angus would be free from all things magical.
“Widdershins, three times,” the lecturer commanded.
All the college students of Demonology 102 started walking anti-clockwise around the circles they had carefully constructed out of will. Angus suppressed the shiver. He wasn’t afraid of demons. Okay, maybe just a little. What if his demon was something truly monstrous?
Last semester they’d been learning about the different types of demons and the theory behind drawing magic from one. This semester was about putting that knowledge into practice. Those people with magic who didn’t draw on demons were called wizards and usually sold their services cheaply in the local paper. Angus didn’t want to be a practicing wizard either. Just because he had magic didn’t mean he needed to make a career out of it, and telling his father that hadn’t been a wise move. His father had spent three hours railing about why wizards were dangerous and should be banned from practicing magic.
So here he was, trying to summon a demon that he didn’t want, to give himself more of the magic that he didn’t want either. He let his circle weaken and his attention drift. He would not summon a demon.
He’d have rather been a vet.
Maybe studied medicine.
Although the rich, these days, saw specialist warlock healers who had demons. Though his father sneered at them too. He sneered at anything that didn’t increase his power and standing. That he was on the board of the East Vinland Warlock College did not make life IT WASN’T that Angus Donohue couldn’t summon a demon; it was that he didn’t want to. He didn’t even want to be here. A cool breeze brushed against his skin, and the trees around him rattled like a closet full of old bones. Maybe if he didn’t put enough will into the spell the whole thing would fall apart.
If he couldn’t summon a demon, he’d fail the class and get kicked out of the exclusive Warlock College his father had forced him to attend. While there was a certain prestige in being a warlock, it wasn’t what Angus wanted to do with his life. He certainly didn’t want a demon to draw magic from. He had to fail this class. His father would be horrified, but Angus would be free from all things magical.
“Widdershins, three times,” the lecturer commanded.
All the college students of Demonology 102 started walking anti-clockwise around the circles they had carefully constructed out of will. Angus suppressed the shiver. He wasn’t afraid of demons. Okay, maybe just a little. What if his demon was something truly monstrous?
About the Author
TJ Nichols is the author of the Studies in Demonology and Mytho series. Having grown up reading thrillers and fantasy novels, it’s no surprise that mixing danger and magic comes so easily. Writing urban fantasy allows TJ to make sure that evil gets vanquished and the hero gets his man.
With two cats acting as supervisors, TJ has gone from designing roads to building worlds and wouldn’t have it any other way. After traveling all over the world and Australia, TJ now lives in Perth, Western Australia.
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