The Consumption of Magic: Tales From Verania, Book 3

TJ Klune has long hinted that we would be mad at him by the end of this book. There is a lot that happens to build off where we've been in The Lightning-Struck Heartand A Destiny of Dragons and, because it's the penultimate in Sam's trilogy (quadrilogy?), it brings the reader much closer to what seems to be building toward the inevitable ending.“How did you think this was going to end?” Randall asked, as if he had all the time in the world. “What did you think you were going to accomplish here?”I've promised no spoilers. Which is so hard - you don't even know. BUT SO NECESSARY. I mean it, I went into this only knowing the hints TJ's been giving over the last few months as I've (stalked) followed his blog and Facebook page, and I wouldn't have had it any other way. I wouldn't have wanted someone to warn more about what happens in The Consumption of Magic, because, even though it darn near killed me, it fits so brilliantly into this story.So what can I tell you? Well, I can give you hints TJ himself has let slip -It's funny and action-packed and sad and ridiculous and things will happen that you won't see coming, things that will change Verania forever.☆ I can tell you Prince Justin is back with the group in a major way and he's redeemed a lot (in my opinion)...☆ I can tell you that Consumption has some of the biggest action scenes from the series...☆ I can tell you the mated Northern Dragons are everything you could hope they'll be and more...Dragons sucked. I couldn’t believe I used to be so enchanted by them.F*** them. F*** them all.☆ I can tell you it has the longest sex scene TJ's ever written...☆ I can tell you it has some twists that you won't see coming.☆ And I can tell you by the time you finish you will have run through an entire gamut of emotions: You will laugh, gasp, hope, and suffer from Wookiee Cry Face.This was my initial reaction after reading -I'm having a hard time processing my feelings for this. I'm absolutely heartbroken. I know they are just characters, but I have read and listened to the stories in this series so often I could recite whole chapters verbatim. And I love these characters, okay? I love them. And this...I thought I could see it coming. I thought I knew what was going to happen. I didn't. Not at all. And my heart. is. broken.5 devastated starsA warning. All of you will not survive until the end. There will be loss, Sam. And it will burn like nothing has ever burned before. You must remember to keep in the light, even when the dark begins to curl around your feet.This is NOT a standalone. Get the others. Read this. READ THIS.RECOMMENDED

The Consumption of Magic is the third book in The Tales Of Verania series by TJ Klune. It is the sequel to Destiny of Dragons and cannot be read as a stand-alone. This series is a beautifully written fantasy-saga that is one of the best, if not the best, I’ve had the pleasure of reading. If you haven’t yet read the previous books in the series, I highly recommend you do.Sam of Wilds is a twenty-one year old apprentice magician to the King of Verania’s wizard, Morgan of Shadows. Having been discovered in the slums at the age of eleven, accidentally performing an extraordinary feat of magic, he and his parents move to the King’s palace where he can begin his apprenticeship. Over the course of the next few years it becomes apparent that Sam is no ordinary wizard, in fact he may be the most powerful wizard in history.In the years Sam has been under Morgan’s tutelage he has gathered an extraordinarily group of friends who become pivotal to his and the Kingdom’s future survival. Given Sam’s unfortunate habit of attracting disaster whenever he ventures forth from the castle, it’s a good thing he has managed to gather such an spectacular group of magical and non-magical companions. There’s Gary, “the gay, hornless unicorn”, master of sass, inappropriate behaviour and commentary; Tiggy the sweet-souled, loyal and tenacious half giant; and Kevin, an adorably sex obsessed, gay dragon, and Gary’s partner in love/lust.Ryan Foxheart is “the dreamiest dreamboat that ever existed.” He is Knight Commander of the King’s guard and the man who holds Sam’s heart. The fact that he is also Sam’s cornerstone - the person who grounds a wizard’s magic and helps him build his skill - makes him a perfect soulmate and invaluable addition to Sam’s band of brothers.Prince Justin is heir to Verania’s throne and when he becomes the King, Sam will be his ‘King’s Wizard’. They have had a somewhat shaky beginning, what with the small matter of the Prince being left at the altar when Ryan, his betrothed, declared his love for Sam and called off the wedding. Sam is irresistible, however, with his sass and verbal diarrhoea, and all around fabulosity, and Justin is reluctantly beginning to accept the fact that they’ll become (as Sam tells him multiple times a day), “best friends 5eva”- it’s inevitable.Just a ‘typical’ group of sidekicks really.....As Sam’s destiny unfolds, the future of Verania is in dire peril, and “his merry band of misfits” must work together to fight the extraordinarily powerful dark wizard, Myrin, to save the realm.There is also the ‘slight’ challenge of earning the trust and loyalty of all five dragons of Verania in order to fulfil the Star Dragon’s Prophesy. He already has Kevin, but with one teenage emo dragon, two sassy lesbian partners, and the snarky Great White (who’s older than time, and has the temperament to match) it’s going to take all of Sam’s abilities and careful planning (like that’s ever going to happen!) to pull this off. Dragons inherently hate humans, and wizards in particular, so what could possibly go wrong?Well it’s Sam of Wilds, so literally everything really.The Consumption of Magic is a hysterically funny, heartbreakingly sad, utterly riveting, beautifully written, masterpiece. It is a breathtaking story of love and loyalty, brotherhood and friendship, honour and selflessness; contrasted against the worst kind of betrayal and evil imaginable. It will make you laugh so hard you’ll have to put the book down to breathe and minutes later you’ll be devastated, and/or sob crying. It also has the hottest, most erotic chapter of any TJ Klune book I’ve read! You’ll know when you get to it because it has The Best Chapter Heading Ever (capitalised, so it must be true.....)In short, The Consumption of Magic is everything a reader could wish for from such a gifted storyteller. I would give this book more than five stars if I could and, in case you haven’t already guessed, I can’t recommend it highly enough.

“You must do what is necessary, even if your heart is breaking.”F everyone and everything!!My eyes!!My heart!!!!!*sobs*I cried so godsdamned hard YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW.Then laughed while crying.Then cried harder.I'm surprised my Kindle is in one piece.I don't think I can adequately explain how this series has crawled right into my soul.Man, I feel so lucky to be able to connect with books like that. To feel them. For them to feel so real, for them to be SO REAL. For them to freaking latch onto my very being.Kevin would totally make that a thing right now. Pervert.I'm hurting now and so damn mad and feeling all the things but feeling numb too but damn, I'm so lucky to be able to experience books like that. I've said it before but these books will be my favorites forever and ever. Always.“Dude,” I said. “You being all protective like that with a beard is my new sexuality. Just so you know.”Feeling all the sadness now but these books are my happy place.But Also, F YOU IN YOUR FACE TJ KLUNE.I had Sooo many notes taken down to expand on but I can't even do that right now.Sooo many highlights, seriously, close to 600 highlights. I love that sh..But I'm going to try with some of it.Ryan and Sam's love is everything. Talk about being swoony, mothercrackers. Also, they are adorably kinky. They're ridiculous but in the best way possible. But filthyyy too. THAT scene though. Daaaang. But being real, their love has matured beautifully and it cannot be denied, even when they mess up, the love and the respect, fierceness and loyalty to the bone they have for one another gives me life.Sacrifices and love letters. Flirting and shameless filth in front of others. A love so damn romantic and beyond the stars.“My heart has only ever belonged to one person, and it will stay that way for the rest of my days.”This book is hilarious like the others before. So much funny. But so smart too. I dig that. Won't be for everyone but I'm all over it. I laughed so freaking hard. New characters bring new humor but it feels like home.I really loved seeing relationships and characters maturing and us readers just getting to know them more.Justin is one of those, I don't love him yet but I'm on my way there, I'm looking forward to his role in the next book.“We’re best friends.”“Are you.”“5eva. And before you ask, yes, he knows this, because I tell him all the time.”“Is that right.”“And as such, I assume he told you how awesome I was and that everything that happened went exactly as I planned and I looked amazing while doing said plans.”“That… isn’t quite how it came out.”I sighed. “He gushed and used more superlatives? Gosh, that’s so like him when he talks about me. I’m not a god, King. I’m just a man, no matter what Justin says.”Every single character surprised me in all ways. This book is not just one thing. It's so many things.Not sure it's been said before and I'm surprised I'm labelling these books this; but they are edgy and kind of dark. There's so many layers and yes this series over all is light hearted, funny and good things but TJ Klune is a really talented, smart, incredible writer. The closer you look, the more you pay attention to the things these characters have been through, the things that are coming to the surface, there really is an edge and darkness to them. It's not front and center. Not obvious. But it's there.IMO, two big things happened at the end (a lot happens but these two specifically), for me, and I genuinely don't know which hurts more. I'm just gonna be crying randomly throughout the day, weeks, months.Forever.Fyou very much, Mr. Klune.But thank you so much for bringing this world into mine with these crazy characters with their love and loyalty for one another that will be in my heart forever.I will never be ready to let go of this series.March is too far away but not far enough.P.S. After getting to around 30%, I had a theory, something I was SO sure was going to happen. It didn't. Still hurt as much though.

I Love This Series.There it is capitalised and therefore it is true.There's something about the combination of pure comedy, epic fantasy quest and drama that speaks to me.I guess what I love the most about the series is how the author takes the rule book on How To Write An Epic Fantasy and throws it down the drain: his characters as at the same time proper fantasy archetypes (the Wizard, The Hero, The Villain, the Sidekick etc) and a scathing, hilarious commentary on them. Their dialogue is relentless and constantly engaging: comedy in its purest form, coupled with drama and tragedy and still quietly absurd at the weirdest of times.This part of Sam of Wilds adventure is rather dramatic in scope with sacrifice and growth and Big Decisions.The story is hectic as is the pacing and the narrative is flawlessly carried by all characters. The dynamics of all types of love around Sam are still enchanting from friendship to romance to family and king and country.I highly recommend this series and is it March already because motherf*ckin cliffhanger*!(*well not exactly but bloody hell, what?)PS: #haveheartforevermothercrackers

This book is a must read. It’s third in the series, if you haven’t read the other two Lightening Struck Heart and Destiny of Dragons you must read them before this book. This book is a coming of age for Sam from young carefree magician to feeling the full impact of the Destiny being thrust upon him. The whole gang are back, doing what they do best, sassing, loving, laughing and not really having a clue but going ahead regardless. Justin is a more well rounded character and surprisingly likeable. The plot thickens and betrayal comes out of the blue, definitely didn’t see that coming. By the end I had laughed and had my heart broken, cried buckets and left with a serious book hangover. I can’t believe I have to wait until March to find out what happens. I highly recommend this book and series, so Awesome.

Knowing how to describe this series is difficult. I'm no artist when it comes to painting pictures with words. But with this book, T. J. Klune has crafted something special. The comedy, heavily based on character interactions, has made me laugh out loud on many occasions. The characters and story are full of heart, each new character so full of personality, so full of life.But beyond the comedy, beyond Sam's witty remarks, Gary's sass and Kevin's graphic descriptions of his lewd fantasies is a story. A story that tugs at my heartstrings, has made me cry both from joy and from sadness. This series is more than a comedy, and it speaks to my heart in a way no book ever has before.There may not be a book series I could recommend more.

TJ Klune is a must buy for me. Once again, he did not disappoint. I laughed and cried on this rollercoaster of a book. Sometimes I actually had to put it down and do something else for a bit after a particularly hard punch to the feels! Do yourself a favour and get this series.