Mark of the Fool: A Progression Fantasy Epic

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Grubsong and Thorns of Agony turn any hit into an advantage (SOUL and damage output, respectively), and it is likely to get hit a lot during this intense, drawn-out battle. On his eighteenth birthday, he is Marked by prophecy as one of his kingdom’s five Heroes, chosen to fight the Ravener, his land’s great enemy. But his brand is 'The Fool'. Worst of the marks. Alex flew up, hovering over his golem. ‘Claygon,’ he called through their link. ‘Prepare a blast of fire.’ Oh, and don’t try that again. Stupid or not, bribery of a guard’ll get you ten lashes. Understand?” This was a really fun final fight to write, and it interesting combining several of Alex's spells, his companions' power and several tactics he's developed.

Mark of the Fool Series by J.M. Clarke - Goodreads

One of the things I liked the most was that this wasn't a solo adventure where the MC embarks on a journey, goes to magic school and make friends. No he already had friends, he's taking his 10 year old little sister along, his best friend (which he has romantic feelings for) and her three-headed dog that doesn't like him. The feelings are hinted at, and isn't a very big part of the first book but might be in the future. It's also hinted at that it's reciprocated, but the MC has just turned 18 and they grew up together. It's a very classical tale of "young love being too embarrassed to say anything that'd change the status quo". The minotaur’s image shattered, as the bolt drove through the pazuzite’s skull. Ripp slipped from limp hands, and the air elementals were there, catching him on cushions of wind. Despite her story happening parallel to the game's events, Ellina never meets or runs into the Knight in person during her exploration of Hallownest. The closest instance Ellina comes to encountering the Knight underground is only through noticing the painting of the Knight by Nailmaster Sheo.While it didn't rev my engine fully, I never wanted to pause reading. There're a lot of decent aspects to this fantasy. While the world-building is a little derivative, (elves, dwarfs, etc.), enough new creatures and magics have been introduced to make it interesting.

Mark of the Fool 5: A Progression Fantasy Epic Kindle Edition Mark of the Fool 5: A Progression Fantasy Epic Kindle Edition

Alex could hardly contain his excitement as the guards made their way toward McHarris’ shop, though he made sure to hide his smile when Paul turned around. I mean not for today, obviously, but there was yesterday and Firstday so that’s two silver pieces—” I'll give you a hint on how to get through the first part of this book. Drink two of Alex's Haste Potions, and speed read through it as fast as you can. It was really bad writing. I didn't give it a 5 star rating be ause the characters are poorly developed. They're all just super good at everything and everything just sort of works out despite minor danger. Actually, the more I think about it, the more this seems like a fantasy-themed slice of life than high fantasy adventure.

No!” Alex shouted, shooting toward Ripp, waving his staff and conjuring another cluster of air elementals below the plummeting swiftling.

Mark of the Fool: A Progression Fantasy Epic Kindle Edition

Maybe my favorite installation in this series so far. The fool Is becoming not only powerful in body but also in mind. His process is paced properly and as a reader I’m enjoying watching the growth. The young wizard’s heart thundered in his chest: Kaz-Mowang’s life draining magic was hitting him hard, fatigue was building, threatening to force him from the fight. His lungs burned. All in all it's a good story, but bear in mind you are going to learn a lot about student life and jump from feel good slice of life chapters to plot changing ones with no warning. The premise is an interesting one: A hero from long ago defeated a demon lord of sorts, but evil cannot truly die, it can only be sealed. For about 100 years to be exact. The hero left behind a prophecy/set of powers that chooses five random people who turn 18 on a given day every 100 years. Each of them is given powers representative of D&D archetypes: The champion (fighter), saint (cleric), sage (wizard), chosen (all-rounder multiclass), and the fool (an NPC who tags along, tends the horses, and probably dies tragically to incite the party to greater heights). The fool can't excel at anything combat, magic, or healing related, but has an ability that allows them to learn things at an extraordinary speed. This allows them to be the perfect support for the hero party. Ellina is an expanded universe character who appears only within the Hollow Knight Wanderer's Journal- acting as the fictional author of the book. Her book details her experiences within the kingdom of Hallownest and acts as an outside source providing some unique reflections, accounts, and opinions on her findings. Ellina's character beyond her time spent in Hallownest is not explored and is unknown.He didn’t catch the slight itching on his right shoulder, nor the way the bulging eyes of The Fool seemed to watch him walk away. Because you have sense.” Kaz-Mowang casually raised the trident, golden lightning playing along its prongs. His other hand was levelled at the Thameish wizard, and barbs were already springing up from his palm. “Of course I would prioritise my life over my servants’, what emperor wouldn’t? But you’re competent enough not to need to worry about that, no? I’m sure you wouldn’t have let yourself be caught by hellfire so easily. You’re so…dodgy, after all! Case in point!” So far it's a decent series though the male MC is being portrayed (yet again) as a blundering incompetent fool, and the female he likes is strong, intelligent, and confident (never wrong about anything). Maybe he grows out of it in the second book, but in the first book he repeatedly screams in terror at things the the female MC shrugs off (in fact, everyone but him reacts better), and it's hard to relate to someone so cowardly. The expedition is underway---and between setting up a base in Thameland and clearing out the monsters and dungeons in their way, Alex has one more hurdle. The Heroes have come to help. Well, all but the Saint, who can't enter the grounds thanks to the prohibitions on priests. Who are these people who were Marked like he was, yet unhindered, who have been clearing out dungeons ever since he left? And how much should he help them?