Review of Magi Apprentice
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Josephe-Anne
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Review of Magi Apprentice
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Magi Apprentice" by Dan E. Hendrickson.]
Most of us have heard the Nativity story, but have you ever wondered about the Wise Men who brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh? Who were they and where exactly did they come from? Magi Apprentice by Dan E. Hendrickson is a work of historical fiction that gives a hypothetical yet realistic account of the legendary magi who travelled through the hostile territory of King Herod the Great to pay homage to the Savior of mankind. From the royal court of the Parthian Empire to the Astronomical Temple in Babylon, this is a tale of drama and political intrigue, filled with scheming, betrayal, and bitter battles for power. Rassan, a soldier turned astronomy apprentice, stands out as one of the few good men in a maze of manipulators. Rassan desires to serve the Creator by studying the signs in the stars, but many seek to hinder his efforts for their own gain.
On the cover, there is a beautiful illustration of two Wise Men analyzing a scroll. One of them is pointing at the sky above, which is filled with stars and constellations. The outline of the animal shapes of the zodiac signs can be seen in the heavens. I like the way the white title font arches over the top of the image. The text is separated into twenty-two chapters. The author also included a useful bibliography, which references the sources he drew information from. The themes of this novel include history, astronomy, politics, romance, friendship, and religion. As expected, Christianity is the main religion that is discussed in this book, but Judaism and Zoroastrianism are also mentioned. I found one instance where borderline profanity was used in the text. There is a bit of violence, and there are a few suggestive scenes.
A complex tapestry of people drives the plot forward. Among them, Rassan is the main character. With a heart of gold and the confidence to match it, he grew up very close to the Parthian emperor’s household, but he finds his true calling with the magi astronomers. One of his best friends, Phraates V, is the emperor’s son and chosen heir to the throne. Phraates is a realist, and he is wary of the many saboteurs who seek to influence him and seize control of the empire. The devious Headmaster Dvandas is one such individual. As Emperor Phraates IV’s chief advisor and leader of the Magician Sect of Magi, he always seems to have a scheme up his sleeve. The beautiful Varaz is Rassan’s love interest, but she will have to atone for her sinful past before she can earn Rassan’s trust. Each character is distinct and has an in-depth backstory.
I enjoyed Mr. Hendrickson’s detailed descriptions of the characters, as evidenced by this quote from the book: “His features have always reminded Rassan of a dark raven... He has a pointed chin and nose accentuated by hawkish, dark eyes and thick eyebrows that contrast with his graying facial hair.” I also appreciated the fact that the author included real historical figures and events in the novel. This added to the realism of the story. The footnotes and Scriptures were also a nice touch. Among the historical information, I learned that the biblical prophet Daniel was also known as “Belteshazzar,” a name given to him by the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar.
However, I found the relationship dynamics between Rassan and Varaz to be rather odd. Given the sort of work Varaz did before, it seemed pointless to uphold the strict traditions involving chastity. It was also rather awkward, considering her carnal activities with Rassan’s associates. Even though she redeemed herself for her morally reprehensible actions, I felt that Rassan deserved a more virtuous partner. Additionally, there was a recurring error; the author kept confusing the words “Calvary” and “cavalry.” Unfortunately, I found more than ten errors in total.
Nevertheless, this was still a thoroughly entertaining and dramatic read! Therefore, I have decided to give Magi Apprentice by Dan E. Hendrickson a rating of four out of five stars. The number of errors was the main reason why I deducted a star. I highly recommend this book to fans of historical fiction and political intrigue. Christians will also be interested in this tale because of its biblical content. I look forward to reading more publications from this author.
******
Magi Apprentice
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Most of us have heard the Nativity story, but have you ever wondered about the Wise Men who brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh? Who were they and where exactly did they come from? Magi Apprentice by Dan E. Hendrickson is a work of historical fiction that gives a hypothetical yet realistic account of the legendary magi who travelled through the hostile territory of King Herod the Great to pay homage to the Savior of mankind. From the royal court of the Parthian Empire to the Astronomical Temple in Babylon, this is a tale of drama and political intrigue, filled with scheming, betrayal, and bitter battles for power. Rassan, a soldier turned astronomy apprentice, stands out as one of the few good men in a maze of manipulators. Rassan desires to serve the Creator by studying the signs in the stars, but many seek to hinder his efforts for their own gain.
On the cover, there is a beautiful illustration of two Wise Men analyzing a scroll. One of them is pointing at the sky above, which is filled with stars and constellations. The outline of the animal shapes of the zodiac signs can be seen in the heavens. I like the way the white title font arches over the top of the image. The text is separated into twenty-two chapters. The author also included a useful bibliography, which references the sources he drew information from. The themes of this novel include history, astronomy, politics, romance, friendship, and religion. As expected, Christianity is the main religion that is discussed in this book, but Judaism and Zoroastrianism are also mentioned. I found one instance where borderline profanity was used in the text. There is a bit of violence, and there are a few suggestive scenes.
A complex tapestry of people drives the plot forward. Among them, Rassan is the main character. With a heart of gold and the confidence to match it, he grew up very close to the Parthian emperor’s household, but he finds his true calling with the magi astronomers. One of his best friends, Phraates V, is the emperor’s son and chosen heir to the throne. Phraates is a realist, and he is wary of the many saboteurs who seek to influence him and seize control of the empire. The devious Headmaster Dvandas is one such individual. As Emperor Phraates IV’s chief advisor and leader of the Magician Sect of Magi, he always seems to have a scheme up his sleeve. The beautiful Varaz is Rassan’s love interest, but she will have to atone for her sinful past before she can earn Rassan’s trust. Each character is distinct and has an in-depth backstory.
I enjoyed Mr. Hendrickson’s detailed descriptions of the characters, as evidenced by this quote from the book: “His features have always reminded Rassan of a dark raven... He has a pointed chin and nose accentuated by hawkish, dark eyes and thick eyebrows that contrast with his graying facial hair.” I also appreciated the fact that the author included real historical figures and events in the novel. This added to the realism of the story. The footnotes and Scriptures were also a nice touch. Among the historical information, I learned that the biblical prophet Daniel was also known as “Belteshazzar,” a name given to him by the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar.
However, I found the relationship dynamics between Rassan and Varaz to be rather odd. Given the sort of work Varaz did before, it seemed pointless to uphold the strict traditions involving chastity. It was also rather awkward, considering her carnal activities with Rassan’s associates. Even though she redeemed herself for her morally reprehensible actions, I felt that Rassan deserved a more virtuous partner. Additionally, there was a recurring error; the author kept confusing the words “Calvary” and “cavalry.” Unfortunately, I found more than ten errors in total.
Nevertheless, this was still a thoroughly entertaining and dramatic read! Therefore, I have decided to give Magi Apprentice by Dan E. Hendrickson a rating of four out of five stars. The number of errors was the main reason why I deducted a star. I highly recommend this book to fans of historical fiction and political intrigue. Christians will also be interested in this tale because of its biblical content. I look forward to reading more publications from this author.
******
Magi Apprentice
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
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― Horace Mann
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Mark M Maxwell
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Magi Apprentice takes readers on an enthralling journey through ancient lands, offering a fresh perspective on the legendary Wise Men. The blend of historical accuracy and fictional narrative creates a captivating tale of intrigue and faith.
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