The ''Rogue Mage'' series of

fantasy Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction that involves supernatural or Magic (supernatural), magical elements, often including Fictional universe, imaginary places and Legendary creature, creatures. The genre's roots lie in oral traditions, ...

novels were written by American author

Faith Hunter Gwendolyn Faith Hunter is an American author and blogger, writing in the fantasy and thriller genres. She writes as Faith Hunter in the fantasy genre, and as Gwen Hunter in the thriller genre.

about races of beings inhabiting a post-apocalyptic Earth of the not-too distant future. Some of them possess magical powers. The

series Series may refer to: People with the name * Caroline Series (born 1951), English mathematician, daughter of George Series * George Series (1920–1995), English physicist Arts, entertainment, and media Music * Series, the ordered sets used i ...

is set in the remains of the United States about a century after an

apocalypse Apocalypse () is a literary genre originating in Judaism in the centuries following the Babylonian exile (597–587 BCE) but persisting in Christianity and Islam. In apocalypse, a supernatural being reveals cosmic mysteries or the future to a ...

similar to the one predicted in the

Book of Revelation The Book of Revelation, also known as the Book of the Apocalypse or the Apocalypse of John, is the final book of the New Testament, and therefore the final book of the Bible#Christian Bible, Christian Bible. Written in Greek language, Greek, ...

, but with no God appearing.

''Bloodring''

''Bloodring'' () is the first fantasy novel by Hunter and the first installment of the series. It was published by Roc Trade on 2006 November 7. It was given a three-star review by ''

Romantic Times ''Romantic Times'' was an American magazine, genre magazine specializing in romance novels. It was founded as a newsletter in 1981 by Kathryn Falk. The initial publication took nine months to create and was distributed to 3,000 subscribers. In ...

''.

Plot summary

The story take place about a century after an apocalypse. It includes " neomages", a new race of beings that arose during the time of the apocalypse. They live in an area known as the Enclave, which is both a

prison A prison, also known as a jail, gaol, penitentiary, detention center, correction center, correctional facility, or remand center, is a facility where Prisoner, people are Imprisonment, imprisoned under the authority of the State (polity), state ...

and

sanctuary A sanctuary, in its original meaning, is a sacred space, sacred place, such as a shrine, protected by ecclesiastical immunity. By the use of such places as a haven, by extension the term has come to be used for any place of safety. This seconda ...

, and are able to work with "leftover creation energy". Thorn St. Croix is a neomage in exile from the Enclave. Thorn (unlike most mages) is

telepathic Telepathy () is the purported vicarious transmission of information from one person's mind to another's without using any known human sensory channels or physical interaction. The term was first coined in 1882 by the classical scholar Frederic ...

, and she constantly hears the thoughts of the other mages in the Enclave. This threatened to drive her insane when it began during her adolescence and forced her to live amongst humans whose thoughts she does not hear. Because mages without a special license are not allowed amongst the human population, Thorn must hide her true nature lest she be killed, either by the humans - who would torture her first - or by the

seraph A seraph ( ; pl.: ) is a celestial or heavenly being originating in Ancient Judaism. The term plays a role in subsequent Judaism, Islam and Christianity. Tradition places seraphim in the highest rank in Christian angelology and in the fif ...

s who have ruled the earth since the apocalypse began. Thorn is a "stone mage", and channels her talents with stone into

lapidary Lapidary () is the practice of shaping rock (geology), stone, minerals, or gemstones into decorative items such as cabochons, engraved gems (including cameo (carving), cameos), and faceted designs. A person who practices lapidary techniques of ...

work and jewelry-making, running the store, Thorn's Gems, with her partners, Rupert and Jaycee, in the small town of Mineral City, Carolina, where they all live. Thorn's life is suddenly disrupted when police officer Thaddeus Bartholomew comes to her door and announces that her ex-husband Lucas, (who is also Rupert's brother) has been kidnapped. She is a suspect. Thadd, it turns out, is a kylen, progeny of a seraph and a mix of human and mage. Thorn realizes this when he "kindles" her mage-heat. Amazingly, Thadd appears not to know he is anything but pure human, and were he to discover her secret, he would immediately arrest her for being an unlicensed mage outside of Enclave. She must risk death in order to save the father of her former stepdaughter, Ciana - the child of her heart.

''Seraphs''

''Seraphs'' is the second novel of the series. It was given a four-star review by ''Romantic Times''.

''Host''

''Host'' is the third novel of the series. It was given a four-and-one-half-star review by ''Romantic Times''.RT Book Reviews - Review of ''Host'' by Faith Hunter
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''Triumphant''

''Triumphant'' (Rogue Mage Anthology Omnibus) () is a short story anthology set in the Rogue Mage universe, edited by Spike Y Jones and

. It was published by Lore Seekers Press on 2017 May 12. The book was also published as two e-books, ''Trials'' and ''Tribulations'' in late 2016. It features 3 new stories and vignettes by Hunter, 14 new stories by 10 other authors, and 21 stories and vignettes by Hunter that had previously appeared in the ''Rogue Mage Roleplaying Game''.

New Stories

#"Finding The Way", by

Misty Massey Misty Massey (born 1970) is an American fantasy author. Her first novel, ''Mad Kestrel'' (), was published in 2008 by Tor Books. It was given a three-star rating by ''Romantic Times''. Massey has also published short stories in magazines. Masse ...

#"TNT", by Faith Hunter #"Epena's Epiphany", by Lou J Berger #"The Price of Power", by Ken Schrader #"Monster", by Spike Y Jones #"Ashes And Dust", by Diana Pharaoh Francis #"Defiance", by Christina Stiles #"The Stars Were Right", by Spike Y Jones #"Alone", by Faith Hunter #"Mettilwynd", by Tamsin L. Silver #"Requiem Of The Sea", by Melissa McArthur #"River Bones", by

Jean Rabe Jean Rabe is an American journalist, editor, gamer and writer of fantasy and mystery. After a career as a newspaper reporter, she was employed by TSR, Inc. for several years as head of the Role Playing Game Association and editor of the ''Polyhe ...

#"A Start", by Spike Y Jones #"Two Mules For Brother Hope", by Christina Stiles #"Our Lady Of The Stones", by Spike Y Jones #"Rolling Stone", by Lucienne Diver #"Kraken Conquered", by Faith Hunter

Reprinted Stories

all by

#"Stone Walls A Prison Make" #"The Honeymoon Is Over" #"Set In Stone" #"Wind Blown" #"Day One" #"Wheels In Motion" #"Bait" #"Storm Songs" #"Sons" #"The Best-Laid Plans" #"Unbidden Bonds" #"Bones" #"A Wing And A Prayer" #"The Magnificent Seven" #"Girl Loves To Shop" #"Beauty And The Beasts" #"Trading Debts" #"Wings On Site" #"Tears Of Taharial" #"Lions And Tigers And Monkey's, Oh My!" #"Pan-Elemental"

Role-playing game

Hunter collaborated with Christina Stiles and Raven Blackwell to create a

role-playing game A role-playing game (sometimes spelled roleplaying game, or abbreviated as RPG) is a game in which players assume the roles of player character, characters in a fictional Setting (narrative), setting. Players take responsibility for acting out ...

based on the ''Rogue Mage'' series. It is published by Bella Rosa Books and

Misfit Studios Misfit Studios Publishing is a Canadian small press business located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Founded in 2003 by Steven Trustrum, the company publishes a number of role-playing game products under limited and open license terms. History Mis ...

as two volumes, the ''Rogue Mage Roleplaying Game Player's Handbook'' and the ''Rogue Mage Roleplaying Game Game Master's Guide.''Faith IN THE DARK
Herald

References

{{reflist

External links

Faith Hunter's homepage

"The Enclave" - Faith Hunter's official Yahoo! Group
2006 American novels American post-apocalyptic novels American fantasy novel series 2007 American novels