• The Rogue Mage

  • Age of Oracles, Book 1
  • By: Ben Hale
  • Narrated by: Kate Reading
  • Length: 12 hrs and 45 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (369 ratings)

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The Rogue Mage  By  cover art

The Rogue Mage

By: Ben Hale
Narrated by: Kate Reading
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Publisher's summary

With all of magic at her command, Alydian is born to power. She and the other oracles serve the people, guiding kings and commoners with their ability to know the future. Yet despite Alydian's power she cannot foresee the coming betrayal, for a rogue mage lurks in their midst, and plots an alliance with the mighty guild of Verinai. Under the guise of benevolence the Verinai offer their magic to all, while their expanding reach is noticed by none.

Except the Soldier.

Branded a traitor, wanted for murder, the mysterious man is no ordinary bandit. For six years he has hidden behind a mask, hunting Verinai with his band of Defiant. But now his war is about to escalate, for he has targeted Alydian to send a message, that even an oracle can be killed. Beset by foes, Alydian will require more than magic to survive, for if she cannot change her future...she will fall to her fate.

©2017 Ben Hale (P)2017 Podium Publishing

What listeners say about The Rogue Mage

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Late Reading never fails, and while nothing earth shattering, Ben Hale is FUN

We measure against Tolkien, Jordan, Donaldson, RR Martin, etc... and that’s not quite fair. Hale is unique — appealing with a story that moves at pace in a world I want to be in. I want to be an Oracle (wrong gender be damned...) and while the moral dilemma is obvious and the plot fairly predictable, damnit if it’s not just damn fun to listen to. I thought the same of the white mage trilogy, and didn’t hesitate for a second to drop a credit on this and the pre-order of the following. It’s simply enjoyable. It’s good to not have to spend just as much time as listening to unravel the quixotic prose and muddled motives. Every now and then I just want someone to root for and a plot ushered forward by a legendary narrator.

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26 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great Story, great narrator.

This book started slowly, but quickly heated. I really like the characters and the magic.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Flowing listen...logic flaws abound

First, it is a pleasant listen if you suspend logic. Decision processes are broken....even if the writer used the impulse over decision process. (Note, that was interesting at the beginning...but as you think of it, and the power of the oracles....it begins to weaken.)

Second, its not an awful book....its just a weak book. The concept of anti-magic is not fleshed out. It is used to drive convenient plot lines. While the MC is "young" for an oracle, she is almost 100....and yet she is written as a spoiled teenager., Note, she is written as a strong female character, which is rare lately...so thats a plus in its favor.

Third, the ending of the book feels eh. Not much resolved.

Would I recommend a credit...it is a good listen....it is probably worth a credit....but its a weak recommendation.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The awesome power of the Oracle.

This is a story about the powers of an Oracle. In the world that Ben Hale creates, there are many kinds of mages but the Oracles are all the different types of power put together. There are only a few alive while there are a very many mages around. Alydian is one of the youngest Oracles and is still learning how to use her powers when the rest of the Oracles go against her mother and herself.They want to basicly enslave the rest of the world and place themselves ruling all humanity. I enjoyed the way the Ben Hale explained how the magic works and how Alydian has so much power over others. I received this Audio book for free from Audiobook Boom in exchange for an unbiased review. I really enjoyed listening to this audio book and intend to listen to the rest of the series. Thank!

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Sorry but I want Derek Perkins back!

Sorry was ok but it hard to get into it with the voice change. Her energy levels seemed a little off I preferred Derrick Perkins voice and control.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A Fantastic Story

If you love stories of magic and characters over coming their personal barriers, then you'll be addicted to this story of high Oracles and their faults.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Cliffhanger ending! Ugh.

For a "reader" new to this world there isn't really good explanations about the groups of people or types of magic referenced. I understood enough of this that it was okay.

Two names in the book are very similar. The author does this on purpose. I'm sure it would be fine if I was actually looking at the words but listening to these magical/elvish names that are only a little different ... I couldn't tell them apart.

The cliffhanger ending is really the reason I'm writing the review. There are follow up books and the author is definitely entitled to leave some things hanging but this was a particularly awful cliffhanger. While I want to find out how it is resolved I'm so annoyed about it I won't be getting any follow up books.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

another great series

ben hale does a great job creating a world I love to dive into! this Oracle series seems to be another great story in the world of luminiea that I just know I will love!!

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

loved it

As always Ben Hale has knocked out of the park. he had become my favorite writer.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

I would have chosen a different voice actor.

The story is pretty good and basically the same quality as the rest of the Ben Hale books. While they all do have a very similar general tone to them...there's enough of a difference and the history of how Lumineia came to be to keep them interesting. Sometimes the naivety of the characters, particularly the main, is almost unbearable and borders on absurdity, but thankfully it's not non-stop.

For the performance... I am not fond of Kate Reading (or her husband Michael Kramer). Their voices sound far too old for the characters they read (I really don't understand why people like these two narrators... I stopped listening to The Wheel of Time series because I couldn't get over a raspy, grating voice being used for teenage boys).

Reba Buhr in The Augmented series was far better. Mel Hudson also would have been a better choice (The Children of Time series). Freya Mavor or Clare Corbett from The Darkwater Bride.

Some of Kate's intonation and inflection just sounds completely off or overly exaggerated, like when a child tries to imitate someone (particularly when she's doing Jester's or Red's voice). It reminds me of when I was an ESL teacher and students would speak English but with the tones they had in their native tongue.

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1 person found this helpful