Card Mage by Benedict Patrick

Thank you to the author for providing me with this book in exchange for my honest opinion. You can back Card Mage on Kickstarter now.



Build your deck. Prepare for battle. Change the world. Born in the slums of Domstadt, City of Cards, Hick has known only poverty. The only way to make life better for himself and his family is to play the magical card game that is the lifeblood of the city; earn new cards, learn how to use them, build deeper bonds with the folkloric monsters contained within. Hick’s dreams are shattered, however, when he is targetted by the religious fanatics who run the city, and is forced to compete in the secret, high-stakes world of the underground card circuit. Hick must struggle to keep his identity secret as he builds his deck, unlocks the power of the cards, and takes his first steps toward becoming a legendary card player. (Taken from Goodreads)


I went into Card Mage , expecting an entertaining Yu-Gi-Oh! type of book, but with Magic: the Gathering kind of creatures. Instead what I read was a nuanced fantasy with a rich world, high stakes, and a complex plotline. The writing was excellent and I was hooked from the very beginning.



In a world where cards are magical and winning games against opponents is like a high-stakes poker game but with monsters charging out of cards and at the other players, having a low-powered card ensures a life of poverty. Hick lives in the slums, scraping by working at the docks and playing cards at night to make ends meet. Like a family heirloom, his father controls the only card Hick’s family has.



When he discovers a never before seen card with unknown powers, Hick abruptly finds himself in the eye of the Ecchleisarchy, the religious zealots in charge. This throws both him and all he holds dear in a dangerous place: keep playing while avoiding those who are after him, or get rid of the card and find himself without a way to feed his family.



The author described the card games the way some authors describe fight scenes. There was detail, variety, and a great deal of desperation and trying to anticipate the enemy. It was riveting. What I loved most, though, were the things happening in the background behind the scenes. I was desperate to know what had happened to Hick’s missing mother and why the priests (more like Inquisitors, actually) were so interested in him in the first place. There was a rising tension throughout the book that built to a breaking point.



The world built was gritty and dangerous. It shone in shades of gray, where desperation made criminals of almost everyone. A friend could turn around and stab you in the back and the motivation was understood, even if the action itself was unforgivable.



Survival in this world means bending or breaking rules, creating the kind of morally gray characters that I love. The cast of characters was small but integral to the story. While Hick was a great character, his friend Pep stole the show. I loved his loyalty even when that meant making decisions that sat poorly with those he cared about.



I finished Card Mage and immediately looked to see what else the author has written. Read this book if you’re looking for an original take on a magic system and characters worth cheering for.