A review by bumblebee
The Choice of Magic by Michael G. Manning

adventurous medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

This is a spoiler-free review of this whole series.

These books are a guilty pleasure kind of read for me. The writing isn't very good (I daresay it gets worse as the series goes on, the first book or two are pretty decent but after that it goes downhill fast) and there are basic editing mistakes like the main character discovering something "for the first time" twice in two different scenes, which don't exactly call for a ringing endorsement. 

Then again, if you're in the market for a turn-off-your-brain-and-be-entertained power fantasy story, these will do a solid job at keeping you occupied for a week or two. It kind of reads like a harem-style fantasy anime in that way: the main character is quite stupid but also the most powerful wizard of his time, and basically every woman immediately falls in love with him (but he remains faithful to his one true love). He has plot armour up to the gills and despite being gravely injured rather frequently, is practically immortal due to various magics. 

It's a rather predictable and trashy series, but I can't help but be entertained by it, so I read it twice. Except the last book, which I procrastinated for two years. Make of that what you will.