Review: Melee Mage (Fledgling God #2) by Michael Taggert

Rating: 4.25🌈

That fun, fantastical, and magical Fledgling God series ride is back in its second book, Melee Mage! Yes, Jason and his found family have a huge battle coming and it’s time to learn to do a rumble the magical way! Or is it?

Michael Taggert expounds on the limitations of magic or the concept of relying on just one type of “sense” to protect yourself and the ones you care about.

As usual, it’s the approach that’s… un hem… novel.

Jason has had several life threatening beatings, and magic hasn’t been always the answer in the end. Tyler puts forth the idea that they, Jason and Annabeth, need martial arts training using Wing Chun. This immediately sent me using Google fu… and found an entire ancient discipline devoted to a defensive martial arts. ….*calling now*

Anyway, this turns into one incredible section of Melee Mage, with the House getting involved in their training, a Mr Sparkles…lots of humor and interesting ways to move the characters forward in their physical journey and closeness.

Meanwhile, other elements are still factoring in, new magic, characters, theories about souls, and more fears from outside mages needing power.

Every gain in stability and growth, either of new power or personal levels of awareness, is balanced by an increase in danger and numbers coming for them. A very scary and fragile situation.

This story ends a bit abruptly that leaves us wanting to reach for that next installment that isn’t available as yet. Not exactly a cliffhanger but close.

It leaves one major plot thread unresolved while happily tying up a couple of other ones. However, as a series should, the arc questions float nicely above and around the situations here, keeping us very aware there’s some wild potential angles a coming!

I’m looking forward to seeing how our happily reunited and focused found family will handle what’s ahead.

Fledgling God series:

Misfit Mage #1

Melee Mage #2

https://www.goodreads.com › showMelee Mage (Fledgling God #2) by Michael Taggart – Goodreads

Synopsis:

After getting punched in the face by a golem, Jason discovers he desperately needs two things: a much better offense and a much better defense.

To a hammer, everything looks like a nail, and to a mage, everything is solved with magic. That is, unless your magic is small and restricted like Jason’s. Since he can’t use charms, create shields or throw fireballs, he needs to find a different way to win battles.

Fortunately, Tyler is back, and as a Natural, he is ready to teach Jason the Way of the Fist. Among other things. (Nudge nudge, wink wink)

And he’ll need all the help he can get, because with Isobel gone, the Louisville Mages are in disarray. That should have been the end of the threat to Jason, his friends, and the House. But she left behind a terrible legacy, and now there is a battle royale for power.

As the last person standing, Jason must find a way to defend the House and get his friends back on their feet. If he can’t do it with magic, then he’ll have to do it as a fighter. He will have to become the Melee Mage.

Characters:

Housemates /found family

Jason Cole

Annabeth Sarah Matz- hears magic through music

John. Aka Lain Rankin MacRae Part Mountain Troll

Sandy Felton Head of House

Tyler, good incubus – bit of a enigma

Bermuda. The Kitten!