The Accidental Sorcerer (Rogue Agent, 1)

by K.E. Mills

Book Overview

Gerald Dunwoody is a wizard. Just not a particularly good one. He's blown up a factory, lost his job, and there's a chance that he's not really a Third Grade wizard after all. So it's off to New... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0316035424
• Release Date: January 2009
• Publisher: Orbit
• Length: 560 Pages
• Weight: 0.57 lbs.
• Dimensions: 7.1" x 1.3" x 4.3"

Customer Reviews

Good book

At first I had a bit of trouble getting into this book, just because of some of the wording. To me it reads very British. Nothing wrong with that, just not used to reading it. Right away I liked Gerald and Reg. They are quite a pair. I love the feel of the wizardry in the modern world, sort of. The kingdoms and camel trains threw my picture of the modern world off but yet they had telephones. Regardless, it's a great world. I had no trouble, once I got used to the writing, getting into this book. I enjoyed every bit of it. There's plenty of drama, a bit of adventure, a evil bad guy, the squeaky clean good buy, and humor. It's all blended together nicely. It didn't keep me on the edge of my seat but it didn't bore me either. I look forward to more books in this series and suggest you read this great book.

Great book, exactly what I needed!

I have already reviewed the second book in this series. I liked this one too. Having read Karen Miller's other books, I expected even darker and more sinister plots. I was surprised but delighted, she has a fun, exciting and almost light beginning to this story. It starts to become a bit darker, more choices being made by people who should know better. But, when it comes down to it, it made sense. When backed into a corner, or given what amounts to No choice, what do you do? Her creations are more believable than most, not perfect heroes and not totally evil villains. You can relate to both, and hate it or love it when you do. It is worth a read, if you are looking for a fun filled Pratchett book, this is not for you, if you are looking for a deep complex Karen Miller book, this is not for you. But it is a nice in between kind of book for those of us that would like a break from both kinds.

A great modern day fantasy

I love science fiction and fantasy stories and this reminded me of how I felt when first began reading the Harry Potter series -- I could not put the book down, and when I was finished, I simply wanted to read the next book in the series! The story is fresh and very well written.

Can Gerald get into any more trouble?

As a compliance officer (on probation) for the Department of Thaumaturgy, Gerald Dunwoody heads to Stuttley's Superior Staff factory for a snap inspection. Seems that the safety statements, that are supposed to be witnessed and signed, haven't been sent in for the last two months, which is a breach of regulations. But while there, an accident occurs, and Gerald is being blamed. Fired, he slips a little into a depression, sure that he won't find another, not for a while at least, until the factory debackle has died down. But his friend, Monk, spots what could potentially be a job for him. Seems the king of New Ottosland is looking for a court wizard. At this point, Gerald would be happy to get anything. And off he goes. But things aren't what they seem. In any aspect. Something happened to Gerald in that factory, and now he can do things that even most First Grade wizards can't. And by doing something he didn't think he could do, he unwittingly put himself in a position that he'll only be able to get out of by the skin of his teeth. Princess Melissandre is smarter than most give her credit for. She's deliberately made herself look frumpy; she refuses to end up anything like the long list of Princess Melissandres before her. But as the sister of the king, she's blind to that Lional is truly up to. Seems Prince Rupert is also hiding behind a mask. Acting like the dim-witted little brother obsessed with butterflies, he knows a lot more than anyone would think. But to reveal what he knows could put him in harms way. And King Lional... he wants to take New Ottosland to heigher heights than the previous kings before him. He has `visions' of New Ottosland being a land to be reckoned with. He wants to take New Ottosland out of their relaxed and out-dated traditions and rise to the top. And the way he's going about it is all wrong. See, King Lional has gone mad. He wanted so much to be a wizard since he was a kid, and has become obsessed with what he wants. No one truly understand at what lengths he'll go to, and Gerald learns it quickly - the hard way. But will Gerald be strong enough to stop him? I enjoyed this story. At first, I thought the story would be a fun, light read, something to breeze through on the way to the next novel. How wrong was I! Deep-seated feelings, thoughts, plot twists, things you never saw coming. Characters who aren't what they appear to be. Action, drama, mystery, the dialogue isn't simple, thoughts aren't simple, actions aren't simple. A few things bugged me a little, though. For instance, King Lional. Seemed like a typical king as I've read before. Demanding, superior, arrogant, just like a lot of kings are, but you get a sense right away that something isn't right, and it bugged me a little that no one could see it. A brother and sister blind to it, okay, I get that. Staff and servants stay way from it, I get that too. Gerald spots something's off, and yet no one has a clue? All those missing wizards and not one thing

wonderful coming of age (though he has a long way to go) fantasy

Twenty-three-year-old Gerald Dunwoody was a Grade Three Wizard at Ottosland's Department of Thaumaturgy. His rank means he is at the bottom of the food chain and soon learns a lesson about pyramidal hierarchies as sh*t rolls down hill. Someone has to take the fall for the PR and budgetary nightmare of blowing up a factory so though he followed orders and since he accidentally did the deed, his superiors claim they are clean and blame the moronic rogue at total fault for the accident. He loses his good government job, the lowest form of public debasement known to the people. Although he is depressed as he assumes he stinks at being a wizard since no one breathing loses a bureaucratic job, his companion, Reg the magical raven believes otherwise. Reg thinks Gerald is a super mage lacking proper training. Meanwhile Gerald obtains a second government job as the court wizard in the remote isolated kingdom of New Ottosland. It is ruled by King Lional, who has big plans to expand his kingdom assisted by his new mage. Gerald just wants his employer to be the usual royal egomaniac, who rules over nothing while his loyal subjects play make believe that his domain is a country. Instead his regal ambitious boss demands his new employee turn into a lethal sorcerer. With Reg as his mentor advisor, Gerald begins his new job knowing there is the threat of being fired again with no other exile placement available. Somewhat tongue in cheek, THE ACCIDENTAL SORCERER, the first book of the Rogue Agent saga, is a fabulous fantasy starring an individual who seems so inept that he has to take a position in as remote a land as one will find in the Mills universe. Only his friend Reg believes otherwise as even Gerald assumes he stinks at wizardry 101; his new employer may have grandiose schemes but figures Gerald is an idiot or he would not be in the end of the world. Fans will relish Gerald's escapades as K.E. Mills provides a strong opening act with this wonderful coming of age (though he admittedly has a long way to go) fantasy tale. Harriet Klausner