The Sorcery Code

I found this audio book very interesting. I had not read or listened to any fantasy magic type books before. This peaked my interest and I think I will be reading more from this author. The story was really intriguing and it kept my attention through out the whole thing. I found the characters Blaise and Gala very likeable and Augusta kind of mean and revengeful. I wanted to know what happens next to Blaise and Gala. When I first started to listen I thought oh wow 7 hrs to listen to it, but then when it was over I said “Already Done?” I wanted it to continue. I really wanted to learn more about the magic and the spells. I took away the message from it that you should not judge before you know who or what a person or being is. I thought the narrator was very good, she keep the pace of the book even.

Right from the beginning, I was intrigued. The opening scene slowly forms into a very in depth plot and just continues to grow. I love the concept and the characters. Definitely a very good read!

Once again, I am thoroughly impressed with the writing of Dima Zales and Anna Zaires. The Sorcery Code had me hooked from the beginning to the end. The best part is how the rest of the story is set up in the beginning. I also like how Gala explores everything that's going on. All through the book, I couldn't wait to find out what would happen next. The narrator, Emily Durante, made the book exciting to listen to. She did an excellent job at distinguishing the different characters, and different emotions. She doesn't have a monotone voice like many narrators do, and she kept a good pace. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys fantasy. I can't wait for part two!

This book is filled with adventure and suspense. It took me a few chapters to get into it and really realize what was going on, but once I did I was hooked. The book begins with a powerful sorcerer who developed a new spell with an unexpected outcome. Once I really started to understand what was going on, I didn't want to put it down. If you like magical fantasy stories, with both adventure and suspense, then you should definitely read this book. If you are anything like me, you will be quickly hooked.

The Sorcery Code was a refreshing change of pace in my audio book collection. While most authors are only writing about vampires and werewolves, Dima Zales and Anna Zaires are bringing a whole new world to the surface for fantasy books and this unique perspective into the world of sorcerers left me wanting more! The setting reminded me of a magical ancient Rome. The different classes of people were very distinct, with the sorcerers being the noble or royal betters and their commoner subjects, which were those who possessed no magical ability at all. There is conflict and the existence of a rising rebellion against the rule of the magical people versus the common folk, which sets the scene in which Gala, the ultimate sorcerer from the spell world is born. The author speaks from all character’s points of view, which helped provide me with a full understanding of what was happening in the story. My favorite perspective was that of Gala herself. Being that she was the most powerful sorcerer the world had ever seen, if you had not seen the story from her perspective, you would probably view her quite differently. As it was, I enjoyed her character so much, because you can see that inside she is struggling with her new found powers and that deep inside she is good and protects those who are innocent. I admired her fervor to learn more and develop who she is through real life experience and her strong will to do so, whether anyone else liked it or not. I believe she is the true heroin of the story and ultimately saved them all. The only character that I didn’t especially admire was Augusta. I feel like she created more drama and conflict than was necessary because of her love for Blaze, but that she was too full of herself to admit her jealousy of what he felt for Gala. It’s unfortunate that she couldn’t overcome her selfishness enough to create a better relationship between her and Blaze. It could have ultimately changed the course of the story for the better. She was and probably will continue to be an antagonist on their relationship and most likely in terms of the rebellion against the rule of the sorcerers. I see a lot more story to come from this dynamic relationship. I especially enjoyed the idea of life captures and wished that we had something like that in the real world. To be able to not only see what others are experiencing it, but feel what they are feeling as well is a completely wild but appealing concept. There were so many inventions and magical devices discussed that were not typical of this kind of book. The author was very imaginative and creative. I believe that’s what made this story line so exciting and made it extremely hard to stop listening. Overall, I loved this story and I feel that it was the perfect addition in my audio book collection. I look forward to seeing more titles from this author in the future.

Normally, I don't like romance in the fantasy novels I choose to read. Surprisingly, this novel balances romance elements with the fantasy genre really well. Even though the protagonist, Gala, swoons over her creator a bit, it isn't overwhelming. There is enough intrigue and antagonism to keep the reader interested. I wish I could have seen more of Blaise. He is really my favorite character. I have read this novel and I have listened to Emily Durante's narration. I much prefer reading the novel. But, I could really feel Gala's innocence and wonder through Emily Durante's voice. I cannot wait for the next volume in this series.

I listened to the audiobook version, but the ebook is quite a bargain and I love reading on a reader; never thought I would. I have always liked the fantasy genre, but, it had been some time since I had read much besides non-fiction (I edit academic and business writing, mostly, for a living) or a script (I direct theater). Anyway, The Sorcery Code was a fun trip back into fantasy. The book is paced very well and there’s plenty of action and some surprising plot twists. I really liked the conceit of Blaise as a sort of socialist scientist/sorcerer! And I got very caught up in machinations of all of the characters. They were fleshed out quite well and seemed complex and three-dimensional. I would recommend this book for fantasy fans, for sure.

The Sorcery Code is the first book by Dima Zales that I have read, and I have to say that I found it the be a surprising treat! The world that you are brought into is different from any other I have encountered, which made it that much more enjoyable. The author exposes you to the politics and the people in a clear way, without being mired down in unnecessary details. Sorcery is scientific and specific, with spells needing to be created ahead of time and a sorcerer needing to know what s/he has available for a given situation. The story moves along at a good pace; fast enough to keep things interesting, without allowing the plot or character development to suffer. The characters are an interesting cast, with my current favorite being Gala. Watching her grow as she discovers what and who she is, seeing how her sorcery erupts unbidden in the most interesting ways, and just her sheer innocence is a delight. The story and characters not only draw you in, but leave you wanting more. This is an excellent read for anyone who enjoys a good fantasy saga. I can't wait for the follow-up!

Without giving away too much - it's a critique on the modern society we live in. Has elements like computer science, genetic engineering, capitalism, etc. As a reader, drawing the parallels between the "fantasy" world and the "real" world is quite interesting. 7 hours+ seems like an impossibly long amount of time, but it goes by quite quickly. I took it on my cross-country flight and it made the trip a lot more bearable.

The Sorcery Code by Dima Zales and Anna Zaires is a must read that needs to be added to your list for 2014. Emily Durante is an excellent narrator who is able to capture the right tone for the book by giving a unique inflection for each character that totally works. As a fan of fantasy and romance, the authors lured me in and kept my attention from chapter one. The characters step off the page, and lodge themselves fully in your mind as you get deeper into the book. The writing style adds to this as it keeps the reader’s attention by creating a high tension effect from alternating characters. Each chapter is from a different character’s viewpoint, which gives the book a cliffhanger feel at the end of every chapter where you want to get back to the events that were just revealed. It is the perfect way to get a reader addicted to wanting to know what is going to happen next to the characters as the story unfolds. This is a true page-turner that had me not wanting to hit pause for anything. The fantasy elements blend wonderfully with the story and do not take away from the plotline as some fantasies seem more interested in the world it is set in and lets the characters take a more secondary role. That is certainly not true for this story as you find you really connect with the characters. Each character’s purpose and reason for acting the way they do in the book are clear to see and adds to how the reader feels for them. You can feel for Augusta’s rage when she first confronts Blaise, and for Blaise’s growing feelings. Without giving away any spoilers, I’ll tell you this: I’m eagerly awaiting the next book in the series and checking out the other series by this author duo!