The Mage's Code

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Young Adult - Fantasy - Urban
238 Pages
Reviewed on 03/31/2021
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    Book Review

Reviewed by Foluso Falaye for Readers' Favorite

In The Mage's Code by Daniel Mayer, not many people are aware that magic exists, and the gifted ones sometimes use it to get away with breaking the law. But this time, "The Ghost" will not be getting away with his thefts as he is pursued by a gifted detective—John Powers. Then enters the Madam's apprentice, a college student who discovers some secrets about those she trusted and followed. John and the apprentice cross paths as they are both sent to challenge the notorious ghost-like character. What they don't know is that they are both in for surprises regarding what they will discover about the Ghost and their separate missions. John Powers must uncover all he can about the newly discovered magical world and his more powerful targets before they get to him first.

If I could give The Mage's Code 10 stars, I would! There's so much to like. Fantasy fans will be thrilled, as I was, with the immortal mages, time-slowing and mind-influencing magic, a lightning bolt ring, and other exciting magical possibilities. I can imagine the scenes in a movie and I'm sure that, if done right, it would be at least as glamorous and mind-blowing as the Now You See Me series. Daniel Mayer gets right to the action and the intriguing elements of his story and maintains its premium entertaining features throughout the book until it reaches a climactic and shocking end. I was left with my mouth open at the end as I was so surprised and pleased with the revelation I never saw coming, which connects well with the rest of the narrative. I seriously can't wait for Book 2!

Pikasho Deka

The Mage's Code is a supernatural mystery novel written by Daniel Mayer. A series of petty thefts lead Detective John Powers in pursuit of a man with seemingly unnatural abilities. Upon further investigation, John realizes that the man may not be entirely human but a mage adept with unknown motives. Meanwhile, a tenacious college student named Vivian finds herself manipulated by the charms and magical abilities of a woman named Madame Hortense. When the adept kidnaps Vivian and blackmails John for a notebook containing magical instructions, John plunges deep into solving the mystery. Seeing the turn of events, Chief Riley quickly teaches John a couple of spells to prepare him for his face-off against the mages. But John and his team soon discover that the threat at the Lewis Buiding is something more sinister.

A fast-paced tale filled with magic and mystery, The Mage's Code is an entertaining first installment in Daniel Mayer's supernatural saga. The plot is full of twists and turns that keep you absorbed with your eyes glued to the pages. I enjoyed the teamwork and chemistry between John and Vivian, and those two were my favorite characters in the story. The magic system feels unique and original, and I hope to see it explored in greater detail in the sequels. I also want to see the puppet master in action and learn more about him in future works. Overall, I enjoyed The Mage's Code and recommend it to readers who enjoy reading mystery novels with a splash of the supernatural.

Rolanda Lyles

Detective Powers has an unusual desire to delve into old unsolved cases. One day he has an encounter with a man in a bowler hat. Powers has a strange inkling about the mysterious man and decides to follow him one day, but the man makes a mysterious escape. It's almost like he disappeared, but that's impossible. Who is this strange man? Detective Powers begins to investigate prior cases and finds a trail of petty crimes that are linked to the mysterious bowler-hatted man. In his quest to apprehend the man, another situation arises at a museum with a young girl, Vivian, and Madame Hortense, along with the other magical inhabitants of the place. Powers also discovered that he has magical powers as well. Vivian's life may be in danger, but from whom? Madame Hortense or the strange bowler-hatted man? Nothing seems to be as it appears, but Detective Powers is determined to get to the bottom of it. The safety of everyone could depend on it.

Daniel Mayer's The Mage's Code is a fast-paced fantasy detective story full of action, passion, and suspense. The Mage's Code has many twists and turns. Just when you think you have the story figured out, Mayer gives you another surprise! Mayer's characters were written expertly and I found myself fully submerged in the story. The ending does leave the reader wanting more, and fortunately, Mayer has continued with the story. I look forward to reading the next part. Daniel Mayer's The Mage's Code is a fantastic book that I would recommend.

Risah Salazar

Detective John Powers, a newbie detective, learns early on that his intuition is never wrong. He didn't pay much attention to this quirk of his until he finds himself investigating a criminal who leaves no clues as he always disappears into thin air. While his crimes are not that bad, there are a lot of them, and it doesn't look like he's stopping any time soon. Vivian, a curious young woman who devotes most of her time to her Uncle Jim's museum, discovers a group of ghosts from the Victorian era living in the building. Instead of being afraid, she actually enjoys their company and trusts them completely as they teach her magic. One fateful day, the disappearing criminal unintentionally disturbs the peace of the Victorian-era ghosts, making both Detective Powers and Vivian come after him.

Daniel Mayer's The Mage's Code is a suspenseful fantasy that will leave readers craving more. The premise and turns of events are interesting and fresh. Aside from being captivating, the book also has hints of humor dropped in at the right moment, making it even more entertaining. This is the kind of story that makes the audience forget the time as it carries them away. It is spooky but exciting, and despite it being a wild ghost hunt, there are parts where it goes deeper to tackle social issues. The point of view is consistently in the first person, but the speaker changes per chapter. This approach is slightly confusing at first but becomes manageable once the reader gets the hang of it. Overall, The Mage's Code is a well-written mystery with a smart delivery.