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Re: The Ages of the Battle Mages
Posted: 20 Dec 2017, 02:00
by Sarah G
I have to say I found it quite interesting. these hcaracters were forced to grow p quickly so although we look a their age as a number and compare it to our society that is not the case. They are going through traumatic experiences and I would expect more of a psychological effect on them though.
Re: The Ages of the Battle Mages
Posted: 23 Dec 2017, 15:44
by kandscreeley
I think it's okay in this instance. This is a different world from our own, and I don't think we can hold them to the same standards. It wasn't that long ago here that girls would get married at the age of 13...
Re: The Ages of the Battle Mages
Posted: 25 Dec 2017, 01:02
by psychopathycathy
I do think 13 is very young, but at the same time the idea of training children at a very young age reappears in a lot of books and movies. On a broader level though, I do think that in a way this shows how their society raises these children and forces them to grow up, which I like.
Re: The Ages of the Battle Mages
Posted: 25 Dec 2017, 10:51
by kandscreeley
It does seem to vary by society. Who are we to say what is right and wrong as far as age in a different society?
Re: The Ages of the Battle Mages
Posted: 01 Jan 2018, 02:58
by Manang Muyang
I have no issue with making kids take responsibility. But I think the author could have held off on the violence. Decapitating victims and raising their heads on stakes may be just too much.
Re: The Ages of the Battle Mages
Posted: 06 Jan 2018, 00:41
by BookHausJ
If this is real, for me Teenage children should not be trained for this kind of battle. Teenage should be learning more, reading books, learning to cook. Learning to communicate well. In fact if there is something that idea should be thought for Teenagers it must be Learning how to set up their own business. Though I watch some of the episode of Harry Potter but I don't buy this kind situation for our Teenager. Let's teach them how to do Trading or Business. The war is in "Trade War."
Re: The Ages of the Battle Mages
Posted: 06 Jan 2018, 12:18
by Kat Berg
As others have said, many books do this kind of thing, and their characters seldom seem to have to deal with the emotional fallout from death and killing, even when they are the ones doing it. And teens seems to accept that as normal. I remember the first time one of my kids was explaining the Hunger Games to me. The death and killing were not a big deal, even though many of the participants were very young, but it made me feel physically ill.
Re: The Ages of the Battle Mages
Posted: 07 Jan 2018, 09:49
by Roggyrus
I hate to imply that we tend to be pedophiles when choosing our heroes. The psychology behind this is the desirability of young heroes doing only half of what an adult could do, whereas an adult doing twice as much would not yet appear as impressive.
Re: The Ages of the Battle Mages
Posted: 13 Jan 2018, 12:58
by Mouricia Allen
I genuinely think these people had some customs that needed reform and this was one of them. I believe these kids needed a little more development before they had to worry about dying. I am very happy Brimstone was the first in years to attempt that dual, and I am even happier he survived.
Re: The Ages of the Battle Mages
Posted: 19 Jan 2018, 07:51
by juliusotinyo
Haven't read this book yet. Such a lively discussion.
Re: The Ages of the Battle Mages
Posted: 20 Jan 2018, 01:53
by KamalK
Christina Rose wrote: ↑01 Dec 2017, 19:26
The young battle mages are among our heroes in
End of the Last Great Kingdom. Even before war struck, the training these young students went through sometimes resulted in death. How do you feel about the author using such young characters for these roles, and about the things they go through even while still in school?
My feelings are a bit mixed. For example, Brimstone could have died during his trial, and I think that’s a challenge a 13 year old shouldn’t endure. However, there’s no sensible way to test the strengths of the future mages or to train them once they become mages. I also think their overall development is essential to the novel. They need to be able to grow, and adults set in their ways wouldn’t be right for the part. I’d love to hear your thoughts.
I agree. I believe that the reason most authors choose their protagonists as young people, or children is because as the story moves forward , character development becomes necessary. For adults, there can be changes, but their core nature becomes fixed and that can't really be changed.
Re: The Ages of the Battle Mages
Posted: 28 Jan 2018, 22:48
by NL Hartje
I wasn't bothered by the ages of the mages when considering the context of battle. For me, it was very in keeping with many current young adult fictions.
I was, however, put off by their ages in terms of the romance between Brimstone and Heat.
Typing this it seems finicky that I should say they are old enough to fight but not love. I suppose it's the old soul in me that turns away from the uber young romance. (Let's get them to 16 at least!)
Re: The Ages of the Battle Mages
Posted: 29 Jan 2018, 14:24
by Ljmengies
CataclysmicKnight wrote: ↑08 Dec 2017, 22:17
Even Harry Potter focused on young children who were facing crazy challenges, and while Brimstone's duel was far, far more dangerous than the things they faced in class in HP, things could still get really dangerous!
I have also noticed this in fantasy novels! Especially ones that I am re-reading at a later age. Suddenly the protagonists who were so cool and relatable are horrifyingly young. I want to protect them and tell them to let the adults handle it! But I think there's something very empowering, as a young kid, reading about people your age who are smarter than adults. Having a role model who could save the world and not be reliant on adults, as most kids are, was something I sought out in all my novels as a teen.
Re: The Ages of the Battle Mages
Posted: 29 Jan 2018, 22:18
by Christina Rose
nlhartje wrote: ↑28 Jan 2018, 22:48
I wasn't bothered by the ages of the mages when considering the context of battle. For me, it was very in keeping with many current young adult fictions.
I was, however, put off by their ages in terms of the romance between Brimstone and Heat.
Typing this it seems finicky that I should say they are old enough to fight but not love. I suppose it's the old soul in me that turns away from the uber young romance. (Let's get them to 16 at least!)
I think the mages had to grow up quickly in general, therefore falling in love at a young age kind of comes with the territory. If for no other reason, it gives the mages a stronger bond when they need it most.
Re: The Ages of the Battle Mages
Posted: 02 Feb 2018, 07:19
by eBookreviewer
My feelings are a bit mixed too but the real learning comes from the experience so this makes the book a bit more realistic.