The Flaw in All Magic (Magebreakers Book 1)

Pretty good adventure-mystery. However.....most of the major female characters were not normal. These females all had super characteristics--
much admired by this NORMAL male. And the only major normal female was the powerful head of the country whose guards could not protect her in a crises and ended being tied up, unable to protect herself. I probably will read more of this author because this book did not have too many of the callous attitudes found in so much of today's entertainment.

Good idea, well paced and written. The plot is predictable, but still enjoyable due to the setting and the characters. Main problem is that the book is extremely short, and should probably be classed as a novella.

I am not normally a fantasy reader, more hard core Sci Fi. However, premise of non-magical character in a magical world intrigued me enough to buy book. Loved the characters and can't wait for more nagebreaker books. Typical detective stores line but made so much more interesting as he solves and uses magic items to keep up chase.....

Dobson's book is oddly light and humorous, despite the gruesome murder and genocidal conspiracy.
Like any decent mystery, the tale is twisted but littered with clues. And like any good mystery, there are enough clues to solve it.
Unfortunately, I had it worked out by the third mark; the story was good enough to keep me going, with solid characters drawn from classic archetypes, and the world building I have come to expect from a part of The Gamers production team.

A solid fantasy mystery adventure. Worth your time.

Not many fantasy fiction books have that profound of a message. Especially in this day and age with what is going on the plot of acceptance for thing different is thought provoking. If I had read it 10 years ago I would look at it differently but it is perfect timing for a story like this. Please keep that aspect going forward.

Absolutely great read. I enjoyed every minute. Glad to see there is a book two to jump right into. I cannot wait to see what awaits Carver a human who does not practice magic but is an expert on the subject and Kadka a troll who has left the boredom of a male dominated clan, next. They are off to help again to help a gnome named Telna find where her husband has disappeared to. I am glad they did not go back to the university. Makes for a more interesting job for them I think. If this is your genre do not hesitate Mr Dobson has a very head for writing.

This is a murder mystery set in a world of magic where the main investigator is someone who can't use magic. The premise is rather unique, and the plot moves fairly well to resolution. There is a nice relationship between Tane and his helper, and a few friendships, but ultimately I felt like most of the characters didn't have much depth or backstory, and it could use some more world building. But overall the story was entertaining and it was fun following Tane on his adventure of discovery. Looking forward to seeing where this series goes.

NOTE: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

Nice setup with a nonmagical expert in magic living in a country that only values magic. Tanic investigates when an old friend of his university days is killed in a place where it is impossible for outsiders to get in. The world with different magical peoples is interesting. The problem is the main character lacks common sense and is a bit of a loose cannon. Keeps secrets when he shouldn't. Acts carelessly when he should be careful. The core of his character is his logical understanding of the flaws in magic yet he is totally a person of emotion. Just doesn't compute. Can't connect with him at all.

An excellent action story, well crafted and edited. The main characters are not just engaging, they’re a pair you’d enjoy having a drink with, even if you paid for the round. The magic system is new (which is great to see) and thoughtfully designed (which makes it even better). The action is nonstop and the world creation and history are real gems. The plot might be ever so slightly thin, but as a medium to introduce the characters and world it does a very good job indeed. All in all a great first book with characters I’d love to see more of. Well done. Recommended.

Fantasy/mystery/thriller, the underdog being the main character. Most of the characters are barely sketched, but this allows the story to move at a breakneck pace. No spelling or grammar problems. As soon as I'm done with this review, I'll buy another book from this author.

I just finished The Flaw In All Magic, hurray, it had a unique plotline,story which Wasn't a typical "coming of age fantasy magjc novel!" Interesting flawed characters who were well thought out and depicted reasonably . They were not only interesting but humorous in their interactions. The author has created a believable steampunk world where magic exists but is not the only thing important in the world. I'd enjoy reading more about these characters and their world. A trilogy would've welcomed!

I have been reading a lot of these digital books from Kindle Unlimited. This one stands out noticeably for the rest in all the areas that can make, limit or break your enjoyment.

First of all, and of course most importantly, it a great yarn. The characters are developed well and organically with the story, not shoehorned into the authors preconceived mold. You actually get a chance to know and like them.

I have read a number of others that are good stories but are dragged down by spelling and grammatical errors and sloppy editing. Nothing can kill my enjoyment of a story like having to edit it while reading. I frequently find errors in tense and other grammar that that leaves me trying to guess at what the author intended.

One other pet peeve that Mr. Dobson adroitly avoided was lapses in continuity. He sounds like he actually worked on his story. Thank you’ Mr. Dobson

Good plot, generally a mystery/action. Good characterizations, including secondaries. Much different than the usual. Interesting world, hopefully we will see more of it in the future. Held my interest throughout.

As other reviewers have said, interesting twist on magic. Only a passing wave at "steampunk" but still a lot better science than they usually provide. About as much romance as one typically sees at a bus stop, but possibilities. Certainly recommended.

Funny main characters. Interesting magical - human world. Some politics. Snotty university types. Steam-punk machines. Good dialogue. Action-driven plot. A lot to enjoy. Wish there were a book 2 already. Thanks, Ben Dobson, for sharing your imagination with us. You might enjoy this author If you like Jim Butcher (The Dresden Files), Kevin Hearne (The Iron Druid Chronicles), Lois McMaster Bujold (Vorkosigan Saga), or Gail Carriger (The Parasol Protectorate).

A new wrinkle for a plot- the hero is an anti-mage detective.Out to prove the flaws in mage spells because of his past, this doesn't make him real popular with the magic population. But he persists, and after one of his friends is killed it's up to him and his half orc partner to solve the crime. Good writing with a solid story line, will be in line to read the sequel.

I love this author, once I found him I read everything he has written. Love his characters (their flaws are quite obvious) but the story lines are amazing. Each book is different but so engrossing, to quote the obvious "I laughed, I cried, etc ". All I can say is thanks, you gave me hours of enjoyment and gave me a break from reality I needed. Thanks so much. And, more please.

Honestly this book is not too bad, but not so great either. Tane is somewhat likable and so is Kadka. Story flow is pretty good. Not much to complain about. However, the meat of this book is rather lacking but I applaud the author for trying. A few cliches here and there but nothing too cheesy. By indie standards book isn't bad, just don't expect to be wow.

Definitely a 5 star book. If you like Jim Butcher's "Dresden Files", I can guarantee you'll love this book. Very good character development and back stories with a believable world build without getting too much into details. Excellent plot with a few good twists and a minor cliff hanger at the end that just begs for more story.

The only down side is that, as of this review, the next book isn't out yet!

It is a plot worthy of agatha Christie with a magical twist. Could not put the book down.
Most fantasy deal with supernatural protagonists: wizard witch werewolf ... The humans are so much sci fi fodder and cheering gallery. Here is or which has a lovely twist.

This reads as a quality detective novel written in a world with magic. With the advent of self-published books, I’ve seen that the quality of what you find in any book is often lacking in some way, but with this tale I was not left wanting. The characters are true to themselves, and each other. The physics are reasonably sound, the plot fits together as a puzzle with no pieces forced into place, and the writing itself suffered no obvious flaws, though I admit I miss more typos than I spot.

What a blast. This was a totally unexpected treat. I’m. It even sure how I came across this book but I’m glad I did. What a great Tory. Love the characters. I laughed I growled and I cheered. Loved it. I hope the author just makes this series go on forever.

It is very hard to create new stories with fresh ideas! This book uses age old fantasy characters in a new light. Written in an entertaining way that held me spellbound to the end......and looking for more.

Many of the books I have bothered to date have 4 or more stars. That is because I very much enjoyed. I say that not to insult this book but to set a proper scale. The writing was serviceable, the characters were fun, the pacing was good. It was a good book, plan and simple.

A good read, with some unusual plot lines and very interesting characters. Especially the half-Orc Kadka. Found her especially interesting, and really enjoyed the whole book. Happy to recommend to anyone. Looking forward to more books in this series.

While it was fairly typical fantasy noir, it was a fun read that traveled well throughout several airports. I would have liked to see more character development, but it had well-choreographed actions sequences that made the novel a page turner.

What a great premise. A magic troubleshooter/detective who has no magic of his own. Well written, interesting characters. And the story is complete, not a cliff hanger. Can't wait to read other stories in the series.

This is the first book in a long time that completely enthralled me. I enjoyed the plot, the twists, the characters, and the world. I cannot wait to read the next one and anything else by this author.

All creative dealings is
No one wants to be a one hit wonder.
Four stars because he hit all the high notes.
His country makes sense, his characters make sense, he leaves school behind and live with the decisions he made. His anger is so simple yet so shattering, you can't believe no one listened.

The opening murder grips you you feel the tragedy but you move alongtrying to solve the problems. This book drags you into the tale. Its easy to follow and you want to smack Tane upside the head for the problems he causes trying to save folks. The story grips you to the end. Suspend reality and enjoy this read. There will be more . . .

The main character has no magic in a world with mages. Most of the story even revolves around magical problems. The author does a really good job of showing how the magicless interact with magic. It's a unique perspective that works out really well with the plot. I'm hoping for a sequel.

crisp writing, great plot and terrific lead characters.

spoiler alert....

the premise is that magic is precise, and powerful, while (human) mages are arrogant and sloppy. only a person without magic can think clearly about the weakness in a spell.

Thoroughly enjoyable read. The worlbuilding is very well done and if you like well-explained, logical magic systems you're in for a treat.

The characters are fun and interesting, the plot moves quickly, and the twists are surprising but stay believable. Will definitely check out the next book.

This story kept me on my toes the whole time. There where a few slow parts where everything was being explained. It felt very much like Sherlock Holems, in a magical universe. I would definitely recommend it to my friends.

The characters were well created, and the magic had a new way of being created. There is definitely a flaw in magic. You will understand when you hear the flaw. I laughed my head off, but it is definitely a true premise.

Classic gumshoe moxie meets sword and sorcery genre with a fun twist on the female co-lead. (I'll leave that to your own reading.) The characters are fun and flawed in all the right ways. So take a break and embark on an enjoyable escape to the Protectorate.