Maegics Heir: Druid Quest

Book one, Maegics Heir Series

Fiction - Fantasy - Epic
447 Pages
Reviewed on 11/15/2019
Buy on Amazon

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Author Biography

G.L.Cramb describes himself as a light hearted, somewhat weather worn, slightly brain damaged, lucky husband and proud father of three. He calls Georgia home now, but has left a large piece of his heart in Michigan! A Wolverine forever.

Likewise, though Action, Adventure, Mystery, and Crime novels have piqued his interest from time to time, Fantasy from the likes of Tolkien, Le Guin, Leiber, and their ilk have always brought him back to his favorite genre: Fantasy. That's what you'll get from him. Fantastic, captivatingly real characters in worlds of Mægic. Friendly with creatures of Mægic. Battling Dark Mægic, in great adventures, in hopes of banishing it once and for all.

Most of all, he's in it for the Readers, and the love of writing a great story that might inspire a future author. Join him.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Steven Robson for Readers' Favorite

Mægics Heir: Druid Quest is the first book in the Mægics Heir series by G. L. Cramb that follows the path of young Ariastone Côeurdrægon, known to those closest to him as Arias. The story takes the reader hand in hand on a truly wondrous journey through the land of Aeryth, on a quest his dying father entrusted to him. Tasked with seeking the counsel of a mysterious man named Eschereon, the Druid of Esper, Arias finds he is continually pressed into service in other directions as life imposes its own demands on him. These impositions will lead him to many incredible adventures and unite him with both his past and future in very unexpected ways.

G. L. Cramb’s Mægics Heir: Druid Quest is a mystical adventure at its very best. Sharing these experiences with Arias, you will very quickly be drawn into a magical world that is rich and immersive, captivated until the amazing climax unfolds. The story’s style reminds me of the Lord Of The Rings and is framed in a language that fully engages you in the foreign world of Aeryth, without being weighed down by complexity. I found, in particular, the relationships between Arias and his animal friends were most precious, with Lilit and Jilly perhaps stealing the show. Reading this book, you can’t avoid marveling at the way it weaves a complex, convoluted world into a cohesive epic whilst managing to evoke the full spectrum of emotions. This book is a must-read for anyone looking for high-quality fantasy that will bring a tear as easily as a good laugh.

Rabia Tanveer

Mægics Heir: Druid Quest is the first book in the Mægics Heir Series by G.L. Cramb. This is the story of a young man who is given a task to complete by the man who brought him up, but he soon realizes that things are far more complicated than he thought. Arias Côeurdrægon was raised by a soldier, one who taught him how to fight, how to act and loved him like a son. He was the only family Arias had, so when he gave Arias a task, the young man knew that he would have to fulfill it at any cost. He has to find a Druid and complete his task, but there is a catch. There is a part of his past that Arias doesn’t know and it will not only affect his life but the lives of every one of his people. There are powers that are against him, working just as hard to stop him from finding the Druid and taking hold of a future that is rightfully is. What is it that Arias is missing? He needs to learn about his past soon and figure out how to stay alive while still completing his mission. Can he do it?

Arias’s story was very different from what I expected. Usually, you will find a female protagonist in this situation in a Young Adult novel who will miraculously figure out everything and stake her claim on what rightfully is hers. So it was very refreshing to find Arias as the main lead, his struggles and his determination to make things right. He is an intelligent young man who knows that he is in danger and hones all of his skills and training to reach a point where he is more comfortable in his skin and more confident in his abilities. The overall atmosphere was perfect for the setting, it allowed the story to grow and became very important in the story development. I thoroughly enjoyed Mægics Heir: Druid Quest and hope that the author releases the sequel soon!

K.C. Finn

Maegics Heir: Druid Quest is a work of epic traditional fantasy fiction penned by author G. L. Cramb, and forms the first novel of the Maegics Heir series. Steeped in the rich history of traditional fantasy works of sword and sorcery, we begin our journey with Arias Couerdraegon, who has no idea of the destiny and heritage which befall him. When Arias comes of age, he is to be trained by a Druid and take up his true place as Maegics heir. But of course, there was a reason that all of this was hidden from Arias until now, for danger lurks with every step he takes out into the wider world of Aeryth.

Author G. L. Cramb has created a lavish and engrossing work of epic fantasy which will suit all ages of readers, from those who grew up with Tolkien to those trying out the fantasy genre for the very first time. Arias is a superbly well-drawn hero for the quests that befall him: both likable and relatable in his naivety to the wider world and his own role as part of it. The dialogue created by Cramb has an authentic old-world feel to it, but it is still clear and carries the plot and character development forward really well. As one would expect, the plotline itself is filled with many exciting twists and new foes to discover and defeat, which are also brilliantly well described. Overall, Maegics Heir: Druid Quest is a sensational opener to what promises to be an excellent fantasy series.

Liz Konkel

Mægics Heir: Druid Quest by GL Cramb is the first book in the Mægics Quest series. Arias was kept safe, far away from where he was raised by his Da and trained to better his abilities for the day that he journeys on the quest to face his destiny. When tragedy strikes, Arias’ life changes, thus beginning his quest to find the Druid. He rescues a young woman named Finnie who quickly becomes his closest ally and friend. As their relationship grows, the two discover a dangerous threat after they rescue children that were captured and being transported in a cage. The two set out to reunite them with their families and to give the children better futures. Arias sets out on a hero’s journey to stop the abuse of power throughout the land.

GL Cramb breathes new life into the epic tale of a hero’s journey. The story follows Arias’ life from the beginning of his path toward becoming a hero. After a loss comes a new beginning when a daring rescue brings Finnie into his life. The adventure they go on together is full of dangers around every corner but also comes with hope and love. What started out as a rescue becomes a deep and meaningful friendship that is built on respect and compassion. That’s what makes their relationship an important aspect of the story. It’s genuine and honest which marks the second person to influence his journey and is a vital part of not only his quest’s beginning but the coming of age elements about a boy growing up. He goes from a boy under his Da’s guidance to a young man that falls in love to becoming a hero who guides another and risks his life to save others.

Cramb hits all the right notes with an epic quest that has everything needed for the making of a hero. Mægics Heir is the first book in the series and has the feeling of just the beginning of Arias’ origins into becoming a hero and the quests in store for him. Animals play an important role in the story as several are key characters and allies to Arias. Lilit, Jilly, and Bane are Arias’ three closest companions and have quite the spunky personalities while also taking part in events. Mægics Heir: Druid Quest is the tale of a hero as he embarks on a quest to find his destiny while along the way he saves lives and finds a journey full of love, danger, and loss around every turn.

Maureen Dangarembizi

G. L. Cramb’s Maegics Heir is the Druid Quest series’ first installment. Ariastone Coeurdragon has lived with his Da on their little farm on the outskirts of a secluded village in the mountains of Aeryth. As the child of a retired soldier, his upbringing is a bit peculiar. He is trained in many skills, including the art of war. And by the time he reaches his mid-teens, he is a deadly fighter. Unbeknown to him, his Da, once the king’s greatest knight, committed a capital crime against the crown. And when the king's men arrive at their doorstep the day before his seventeenth birthday, Arias’ life is about to change forever. The past has come calling. Bound by a quest to find the Druid who has the answers he needs, Arias sets out on a journey filled with adventure and peril.

Maegics Heir is by far one of the best epic fantasies I’ve read this year. I really enjoyed the experience of watching Arias grow up under the tutelage of the masters his father had arranged. From the start, you can tell that Arias has a great destiny ahead of him. But in spite of all his training and also because of it, he turns out to be an honorable person. I loved the characters and the world-building done by G. L. Cramb. This book really sets the groundwork of what is sure to be an amazing story as the series continues. I can’t wait to read more and find out what it means to be Maegics heir. I also expect there will be more magic in the next book. Fans of fantasy with a special love for epic quests will enjoy this book immensely.

Tiffany Ferrell

Maegics Heir: Druid Quest begins with a fellow member of the king's guard named Ètœn Bearheart. No longer a soldier, he secretly travels to a safe area called Middenvale with a small boy who was entrusted in his care. Ariastone Côeurdrægon doesn’t remember much of his past with the exception of a few memories of his mother. It takes no time for the boy to consider Ètœn his father. As Arias (what they chose to call him) grows up, he is taught many things by his Da and his Da’s friends. Hunting, cooking and the typical lessons but also things like how to fight and a form of meditation called calming which has the ability to sync one's mind with another living creature as one. Ètœn tells his adoptive son that if he rings the bell once it’s supper time, twice means they have a guest and three times means he is to run and hide in the frost cellar. For years this strange request never meant anything until the bell rings three times during his sixteenth year...

I think G.L. Cramb has created the beginning of an amazing fantasy saga with this series. Maegics Heir: Druid Quest is very well written and has an interesting Nordic/Olde English feel to it with the dialogues and the names of the people. The characters are very likable and are what one would expect when reading a good fantasy novel. I also love the surprise factor which kept me reading onward to discover what else is hidden. The plot definitely catches the reader's attention and draws them in as well as leaving them wanting more once they finish. It’s a book I will be recommending to my fantasy-loving friends and I can’t wait to get my hands on book two!

Romuald Dzemo

Druid Quest is the first book in the Mægics Heir Series by GL Cramb, a beautifully narrated epic fantasy with a strong appeal for readers who enjoy tales set in a magical world. Arias' head is wanted on a platter and by the most powerful man in the world, the king. He has suddenly found himself at the center of a conflict that isn't of his making, but he has his personal problems, like what has happened to his mother? The only one who can provide answers is the mythical Druid. But how and where can he find the Druid when he has never traveled far from home? Follow this epic adventure as the protagonist sets out on a dangerous quest to find answers and to discover his destiny.

This book is filled with magic, and even words that are common seem to have significance and life of their own because they belong to a world where magic happens. It is a world where they don't talk of years, but suns, which makes the reader imagine a period in the distant past. GL Cramb is a master storyteller, a writer with a unique gift for character. Seventeen-year-old Arias Côeurdrægon is a character that readers will root for. His life in Aeryth has been quiet until he learns that he is heir to the ancient maegics and has legitimate claims to the throne. In looking for answers he begins to discover himself, his universe, and forms strong bonds with strange creatures as he journeys in search of the mythical Druid. The conflict is deftly written, pitting good against evil, dark magic against good, and pitting a young man's promising future against the shadows of a past he totally ignores. The prose is exquisitely good and contains a magic of its own. Druid Quest is intriguing, a hard-to-put-down story with twists that make the reader turn the pages.

Lit Amri

Ariastone 'Arias' Côeurdrægon and his adopted father, Ètœn Bard, Aeryth’s most prolific Kingsman, live a peaceful life "in the forests and foothills aside the smallest of villages." When 12 strangers bearing the sigil of the Kingsmen pay his Da a dire visit, Arias embarks on a life-changing quest to find the truth about his identity that also involves the fate of Aeryth. Accompany by a Dread wolf named Bane as well as two long-tailed furions, Lilit and Jilly, he seeks out a Druid who will become his teacher. A fantasy tale combined with action and drama, Mægics Heir is the first book of the Druid Quest series by G.L. Cramb.

It took a bit of time for me to familiarize myself with G.L. Cramb's prose style, but it suits Mægics Heir's world-building. The story starts slowly but is engaging, with the early chapters detailing the life that Arias has with Ètœn in Middenvale, blessed with having several friends who are also his teachers in different areas of expertise. While some readers might be ambivalent about the writing style and the narrative pace, the characterization-particularly with the protagonist-is deftly handled. Arias is easy to root for and his character development is solid. There are enough fighting scenes and a strong sense of adventure for fans of the genre. Dark moments also exist; Finnie, Arias’s travel companion, survived an agonizing event in her life. Overall, this is a commendable first book for the Druid Quest series as more powerful enemies await young Arias in the next tale.

Christian Sia

Druid Quest is the first mesmerizing entry in the Mægics Heir series by GL Cramb, an epic fantasy with a compelling protagonist. Aeryth is threatened by sorcerers and wizards who wield dark magic. Arias Côeurdrægon has grown up without a true knowledge of his roots, and now it is rumored that he might be the heir to the throne in Kings Court and heir to ancient mægics. Seventeen-year-old Arias has unwittingly become an enemy to powerful men, including the king, who will stop at nothing to eliminate the threat he represents. One person holds the key to questions that trouble him — the mythical Druid and keeper of mægic. But finding the Druid isn’t an easy journey as the young protagonist has to navigate an unfamiliar and sometimes hostile landscape, with creatures he’s never known before. But what awaits him at the end of the journey?

A very interesting opening for a fantasy series with a sophisticated protagonist. The narrative tone is strong and I loved how the narrator allows the worldview of the protagonist to come out through the story. Speaking about growing up with Da, Arias captures the emotions of a young boy: “Da had always been fun like that (…) he’d say secrets are a King’s goat’s whiskers, and he’d rub his chin and make a long face. I had no idea what that could mean, but it made me laugh and want to keep special secrets with him.” I loved Arias Côeurdrægon and enjoyed the fact that the character knows very little about his destiny and past. The journey he makes to find the Druid becomes a journey towards himself, for his strength unveils through his contact with the challenges on the way. Druid Quest is well-plotted, with strong characters, including creatures of magic. The pacing is good and there are many surprises to delight readers.

Susan Sez

I just discovered these books. Outstanding style, characters and flow.
When is the next one? I can't wait.