The Black Magician Trilogy · right after The Magicians' Guild

The Novice

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Sonea starts magic school as the only poor student and becomes a target for the rich kids, while the High Lord's secret creeps closer

Pages480 pagesWhere to buyAmazonIn your readingnot read yet

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Do you need to read it?

Yes. It's in the Main story, the list of only what moves the plot forward to the end of the saga.

Where it falls in the order

Main story2 of 3
Chronological3 of 7
Everything2 of 7

BeforeThe Magicians' Guild

AfterThe High Lord

Spoilers for this title

Quick recap

Sonea starts school as the only novice from the slums, and her class, led by Regin, fills her days with rumors and ambushes. Akkarin finds out that Sonea, Rothen, and Lorlen know his secret and takes over her guardianship, holding her hostage to the other two's silence. Meanwhile, Dannyl becomes the Guild's ambassador to Elyne and, at Lorlen's request, secretly picks up Akkarin's old research into lost magic, with help from the scholar Tayend. In the end, Sonea challenges Regin to a formal Arena bout and wins. And Akkarin shows her why he uses black magic: Sachaka is watching the Guild.

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3 trivia

Trivia

Behind the scenesAurealis finalist
The Novice was shortlisted for the 2002 Aurealis Award for Best Fantasy Novel, Australia's top genre prize.
source ↗
Behind the scenesNot medieval Europe
Canavan says Kyralia sits somewhere between late medieval and Victorian, with Japanese influences in its architecture, food, and furniture.
source ↗
SetupAn abandoned project
Lorlen secretly sends Dannyl to pick up research into ancient magic that Akkarin himself dropped years ago. Pay attention to what he finds.
source ↗

No spoilersThe easter eggs give away parts of the title. They open once you mark it as seen.

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