Mageborn: The God-Stone War: (Book 4) Paperback – June 30, 2013

Each arc or book of the series builds on the awesome of the previous in the series. The enjoyment of the series is the wealth of history and character interactions and development. The world building pays off in this book with the "OMG!" moments.The women aren't simply some prop to be seen and never heard. The women of this series have a life that is rarely seen in past novels. They aren't simply strong to be some sort of appeal to women, they have a mind and soul. You could write their story and it would equally be as good. Could be wrong, I simply like that women play as much as a role as the men.What I like more than the actual story are the creations of the character. I wanted a series that isn't just a rehash of the old, "OMG magic is dead and this farm boy has magic, but is weak because no one knows anything." It is a progression and in some ways improvement of the magic of old. You don't get the sense that if the magic users simply die that all of the magic would die with them or when the character bites it that magic will be lost again. You might believe it to be a tangent off the story, but I find more fun in that. The rest of the story being excellent is a bonus.The fun of the series is that it appears to take all of the best aspects of other series and combine them into one. The creations of Imager and The Name of the Wind and having the magic somewhat restricted by the rules and physics of the world. It is between the Deus Ex Machina magic and technical magic. Well, I think it has similar rules and machinations of The Name of the Wind. Different enough to be fun and entertaining.I liked the ending, it is along the same vine as other such books that don't care about your wants, only on telling a good story. It has a heart and rationalization that doesn't pull from its action. What grinds my gears is that the series will conclude after the next book. I'm sure the prequel will be equally good as well. The author sets up this majestic world and it is difficult to leave it after so short a journey.This story ties many of the threads that existed in the first three and as I said before has a sort of rush from the closure.Not much else to say about this book or the series. If you liked the first three books in the series, then you'll likely enjoy this book.

Mageborn up to this point has been a great series. The first three books were well thought out with the pace of the writing as well as the development of the characters on par with already established fantasy authors. Michael G. Manning has created a great world and a great story so I felt it only fair to emphasize that point before writing my overall review of Mageborn: The God-Stone War.First off, you're probably asking yourself if you should read this book. The answer is yes- especially if you have read the other three. If you have not read the first three books stop reading this review and go purchase the first book. Read this review when you catch up.Many reviewers have remarked at the overall slow pace of this book and while I do agree it was a tad slower, I think it had to be. Since the book is written seven years after book three you almost have to assume that things have changed. The reader has to essentially catch up with what has happened in the time between books 3 and 4. Seven years is a long time. This background helps set up the changes in the characters since we last saw them and also allowed Mr. Manning the ability to create additional characters in the children to give Mort a better 360 personality perspective. Yes he's an all-powerful Archmage- but he is also a husband, a father, a friend, etc. Mort would be singular and the reader would have less of a character to connect with if these things were not included. So while slower- still important.I guess I just felt disappointed in the end because I feel the cliffhanger is unnecessary. This book was about 150 pages shorter than the other books and I think those pages could have been used to get the story to a point that would have left people with a more realistic advancement point. We know Mort is the protagonist and he's going to be a main part of the story no matter what happens to him. The other three books had well written, well thought out conclusions to the main story line of the book, which left the reader satisfied and still anxious to know the conclusions of secondary story lines in future books. The ending of book 4 left me slightly unsatisfied which took away some of my excitement for book 5. The ending felt rushed which unfortunately takes away from the overall greatness of the story.I'm invested in this series now and I am excited about the next book so don't get the impression that I think book 4 is bad, I just think it could have been better. One of the highlights for me was actually how funny the book was. I have been reading Fantasy books for over 25 years and I think I laughed harder at some of the described situations in this book more than any other fantasy novel I've read.In the end I decided to give the book 4 stars because I like where the story is headed. I think that there is room to close some lingering story lines and still create some new ones based off of how this book abruptly concluded. Since there's supposedly 3 more books planned for this series I hope that the great writing continues and Mageborn doesn't fall into AWOT "middle-book hell" type series. I know I'd be disappointed and I'm sure others would be as well. I hope the next book is a little longer and the story picks back up in pace. I also hope the next book doesn't feel quickly put together like some of the parts of this book did. I would rather have the author really develop the story and wait a little longer than get something that feels less than done. Overall a good read and would recommend to those who enjoyed the other 3 books.

Loving the characters, as well as the story lines and each book seems to be able to almost stand alone. This book did not end with a satisfactory ending. I don't think I can read the next book believing the main character of Mordicai will die or disappear, and I suspect Dorian witl die. I don't want to make that journey of losing to of three main characters. So I am done with this particular book series. I have also enjoyed the different take on magic which seems to affedft people in different ways. kBut thank you for some amazingly enjoyable books and stories and your magic seems to be consistent. Thanks.... So I am done. The three books following each of three children sounds interesting, but I don't want tp put me through too many characters I have become to love, dying.. I have enjoyed a new, interesting take on magicand how it workds differnetly for various peopld.

Manning has done it again! Another very well written and captivating book. This is one of the best series I have read to date, Manning mixes the grittyness of Abercrombie with the epic storytelling of the likes of Robert Jordan and David Eddings and in doing so he creates a vision in the minds eye that you can truly feel, he has a way that brings emotion to the forefront that only a few fantasy authors can deliver on, hits at the heart strings and keeps the pages turning. I truly cant say enough good things about this series, keep up the great work!

The 3 first books were a breath of fresh air. I loved the characters, their ability to use sarcasms as their main way of talking, etc.This time, I've seen those same aspects I loved, but it seems the author finaly emptied his stock of smart replies, making this book seem less refreshing than the others. I keep on giving 4 stars because I enjoyed this reading anyway, but I do hope the next book will refresh the story...

Nachdem ich schon die ersten 3 Baennde gelesen habe, musste ich dieses Buch kaufen und wurde nicht enttaeuscht.Die Geschichte geht spannend weiter und hat mir haeuffig ein Laechcheln ins Gesicht gezaubert.Von Rose haette ich gern mehr gelesen. Die Geschichte um Markus hat mich ein wenig an eine daily Soapopera erinnert, wenn einer der Darsteller ploetzlich aus der Serie geschrieben werden musste. Dass das Buch mit einem Cliffhanger enden muss, finde ich auch nicht so toll.Alles im allem war das Buch aber jede Minute wert, die ich mit ihm verbracht habe. Ich werde auf jeden Fall Band 5 auch kaufen und freue mich schon jetzt auf dieses Buch.

An awesome book and series. The author showed a great deal of promise in his first book which was good (the 1st book of this series) but each book since has just got better and better both in story and writing. The writing style to me seems simple and easy to read and yet full of wit and intelligence.1) It's an original world. It's got gods, and kings, and castles, and swords and magic. But it seems fresh, it's got it's own unique history that I want to know more about. I'd read a history book about this world if there was one.2) Compelling characters. There is a lot going on in the world but the books are all about the characters which are superbly written. I defy anyone not to care about these characters even after the first book and to believe in their lives in the later ones.3) The story. It starts simply in book one but gets more and more interesting in each book. I don't want to spoil anything but the end of book 4 is both shocking and suprising, and yet one of those "I should have seen this coming" moments. It's going to be a long wait for book 5 to see what happens now!4) Magic. Many books have magic, but this is the first time i've seen it properly explored and exploited by an intellegent main character treating magic as engineering with a scientific approach to understanding it.To summarize this is the best book so far in an excellent series. If you like epic fantasy start reading the series now.

Michael G Manning, has yet again hit the mark, with Mageborn Book 4. I find it hard to turn off my iPad, and stop reading, sometimes until early morning. The characters and storyline draw you in. Job well done