About the Author

Severe dyslexia kept Blake Charlton from reading fluently until he was twelve. Because of this, everyone – including Blake – believed that he would never attend college. Ten years later he graduated summa cum laude from Yale University. Blake is currently studying at Stanford Medical School. Spellwright is his first novel.

Reviews

Praise for SPELLWRIGHT: 'Blake Charlton has not only invented a fascinating world and peopled it with realistic people and wonderful, grisly monsters, but he has also created one of the few truly original magical systems we've seen in fantasy fiction… I'm fascinated to see what happens next and will be following every word with the absorption of an apprentice spellwright. You will be, too' Tad Williams 'Nicodemus Weal is a protagonist that all of us can identify with. SPELLWRIGHT features a unique system of magic and characters that are genuine inhabitants of that world. SPELLWRIGHT is a letter-perfect story: an absorbing read and recommended.' Robin Hobb ‘An enthralling tale’ Terry Brooks 'A clever conceit well executed adds a flair of originality to this wizard-in-training fantasy. A spellcaster who can't spell – in both senses of the word! Fast-paced and well-written, SPELLWRIGHT is an enjoyable read’ Kevin J. Anderson ‘SPELLWRIGHT [is] a refreshingly different fantasy novel… enjoyably well-written, with a satisfying conclusion that leaves plenty of room for the inevitable sequel’ SFX

In a world in which the casting of spells is dependent on the caster's skill with words, the wizard Nicodemus is a pariah, a cacographer who bears a curse that causes him to misspell even the smallest magical casting and whose touch inflicts cancerous growths, preventing him from even the most casual contact with others. Cast out from his school of magic, he seeks a way to defeat the demon who cursed him and to lift his curse-and cure his old teacher's deadly illness. While the land around him erupts in civil war and old friends have become his enemies, Nicodemus must risk his very soul to convince the woman he loves to trust him to do the right thing. Charlton's sequel to Spellwright conjures up a world in which words contain real power. Yet his strength lies even more with his characters-in particular, the lexicographically challenged protagonist, who resonates with conviction and integrity. VERDICT A well-written and cleverly presented fantasy with strong characters and surprising plot twists, this saga should appeal to those who enjoyed its predecessor as well as fans of Terry Brooks and L.E. Modesitt Jr. (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.