Reviewed by Charles Remington for Readers' Favorite
Grant Moy is a science student on the planet Nephus. One morning he is summoned by his father with the surprising news that a dying wizard, who is the custodian of a fabled library, has requested his help. Grant has no idea why he has been selected in this way; he does not believe in wizards or magic and had thought that the library in question was a myth. But the request has arrived via an old and trusted friend of his father, and the possibility of the library being real, and the knowledge that it might contain is an irresistible lure.
The Counsel of Wizards by Alistair Potter chronicles Grant’s amazing adventure which will take him not only to the fabled library (which exceeds his wildest expectations), but involves him in developing his unexpected and unimaginable magical powers. He will travel to another planet to try to find and petition the Counsel of Wizards, accompanied on his journey by Bort, a hulking Trollid, and Lineth, a capable warrior and expert with a sword. Together with Calem Brindle, an aspiring alchemist, and Lofti, a Dunnit Sprite who they meet and enroll in their quest on the planet Parhal, they will battle pirates and bandits, and traverse mountains and deserts in an urgent and increasingly desperate search for the Counsel.
The Counsel of Wizards is book 2 of The Sunset of Magic Series, but although reading book 1 (which is excellent by the way), would enhance the novel, book 2 is perfectly capable of standing alone. Like book 1, it is well-written, and set in beautifully imagined worlds sporting a cast of colourful characters. Alistair Potter is a skillful author whose clear, unhurried prose and well constructed plots will leave you with a pleasant, lasting memory of his work. Highly recommended - I am looking forward to reading the next adventure in this series.