"Here and Thereafter" by Nicholas "Tac" Whitcomb is a three-star fantasy novel that explores the transformative journey of August, a young farmer faced with a life-altering decision when a seasoned wizard offers him the chance to apprentice. The novel delves into the challenges, doubts, and uncertainties that come with learning the mystical arts.

The premise of a young farmer transitioning into a world of magic under the guidance of a seasoned wizard holds promise. Whitcomb introduces readers to a realm of spells, lessons, and uncertainties, creating a narrative that is steeped in the fantasy genre's traditions.

August's internal struggle and doubts as he navigates his magical apprenticeship add depth to the story. The exploration of the limits of his talents and the potential consequences of his choices provide a realistic portrayal of the challenges one might face when embarking on a magical journey.

The novel's pacing is well-balanced, with a gradual unfolding of August's experiences and lessons. Whitcomb introduces a sense of mystery and danger that keeps readers engaged, wondering about August's fate and the possible outcomes of his magical training.

However, the story falls short in fully delivering on its potential. The world-building lacks the depth and richness needed to fully immerse readers in the fantasy realm. Descriptions of the magical elements, the wizarding world, and the overall setting are somewhat sparse, leaving room for a more vivid and immersive narrative.

August's character, while relatable in his uncertainties and doubts, could benefit from more development. Readers might find themselves wanting a deeper exploration of his personality, motivations, and growth throughout the story.

The novel's brevity may contribute to some missed opportunities for exploration and expansion. Certain aspects of the magical world and August's training could have been further expanded, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the story's context and stakes.

In conclusion, "Here and Thereafter" is a three-star fantasy novel that introduces readers to the journey of a young farmer transitioning into the world of magic. While the premise holds promise and the pacing is well-executed, the novel falls short in fully immersing readers in its fantasy world. With more detailed world-building and character development, this story has the potential to become a more captivating and engaging fantasy adventure.

I expected a cosy, romantic fantasy when I read the blurb for this book and saw the cover, but that certainly isn't what this story was.

This was a strange and very different fantasy story but unfortunately I'm not sure it was for me. I felt the main character August didn't have much of a personality, at least not one that I felt any emotion towards, and because of that I ended up skimming the last half of this story.

The writing was unique but I enjoyed it. Still, the lack of personality for August was enough for me to not enjoy this book.

Sooo cozy and cute! I found this book to be really engaging and I loved the premise. I'm a sucker for cozy fantasy so this story was right up my alley. I am looking forward to reading other books by the author.

this was okay, but read a little juvenile and i didn't feel connected to the characters or what happens to them at all. i can see other reader enjoying this a lot tho!

— thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the free digital ARC.

I read this book with my book club and they loved it. They loved the hints of magic and that the story had a great base line and plot.

i really really enjoyed this book a lot more than i thought i would! it was so fun and enjoyable to read. the author really hit the nail on the head with everything they talked about. it was so fascinating!!!

A light read with an eerie, dark twist.

I went into this not knowing much, but the cover and blurb felt inviting, cosy, and magical. Only the latter was true!

This wholesome story took a turn and boy, was I here for it!

I really enjoyed this story. I almost wish it was longer so we could delve further into the magic in this world, our main characters powers and life after the book.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and author for the copy!

This was a sweet little book. And i really enjoyed it. The characters were sweet, with the exception of the wizard obviously. It had me on the edge of my seat at the end, and really didnt end how i thought it would but i liked the ending.

I've been looking for a new cozy fantasy and this fit the bill in every way. I absolutely loved this book and the vibes that it gives you while you read. I cannot wait to get a physical copy of this book and annoy everyone around me into reading it.

this was the first book by Whitcomb and I really enjoyed it, it was fast and descriptive and kept me hooked, it was a real page turner I read it in one sitting

I usually read epic high fantasy books, and this one was pretty short, but packed with action. It could have been developed intona very nice epic fantasy book.
The story felt more like a moral to teach to children, yet it was dark, inventive, and had some nice plotpoints. The happy ever after was also a very different kind of happy ever after.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a free e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

3,5/5

"Here and Thereafter" is a pretty simple story about a young man named August who knows a little bit of magic and is helping his neighbours with bringing water to their fields. One day he meets an actual wizard who propose him to be his apprentice. This is something we can read in a summary but there is a little twist later on that I didn't expect but enjoyed a lot. Writing is really cosy, it feels like a fairytale. The story can really captivate you and is interesting enough to keep on reading. I had a little problem with ending though. Decision made by August is pretty weird and I felt like we just kicked off things built in the beginning. Anyway I enjoyed it and if Whitcomb decides to write something more you can count me in.

Typical “chosen”-boy-meets-a-wizard-who’s-interested-in-teaching-&privileging-him trope. Where August, our protagonist, knows how to do magic instinctively, one wizard sees him and find his skills intriguing and asks him to be his student, August leaves his house after the wizard provides his family enough money to cover their sons absence for a while.

While the premise was interesting, and the writing was amazing, it didn’t provide anything new, it was a stereotypical experience with nothing special. the story took a turn I personally didn’t appreciate, plus i feel like there’s some plot holes(?) but maybe this’ll turn into a series, or maybe I didn’t pay enough attention.
Four stars for the lovely first chapters vibes &the spectacular writing! One and half for everything happened after the wizard thing :( the ending left me unsatisfied, the whole plot-twist could’ve been better imo, i was so hyped up by the first chapters, I really thought this could be a five stars book, which I rarely give! but oh well..

please don’t let my opinion effect you, it’s completely about personal preference, maybe the events I didn’t enjoy would be amusing for you. try it out!

I would like to first thank NetGalley and BookBaby for providing me with a free eARC of this book. I greatly appreciate it!

I'm not entirely sure if this story is intended for a young audience, but this pleasant story reminds me of the literary adventures one would read as a child. It's filled with magic and wonder, but also with the darker tones of evil wizardry. I really enjoyed it, and it helped me out of reader's slump. In some ways it's cozy and endearing, and in others it's thought provoking and uplifting. I am a little sad about the ending, but I found the overall message to be very satisfying.

This was a magically beautiful fantasy book, I loved it. It's an easy read that takes you on a short a fun adventure. Thanks to netgalley and the publishers for the arc. 4/5

I will be honest I decided not to finish this book almost immediately. The writing is not very good and I couldn't get past it. The cover of the book is cute.

This was a great fantasy book, filled with magic and wonder. I loved every paragraph, every sentence and every word of it. Wizard apprentice stories are a niche love of mine, and this one is a new favorite. It's a fun adventure, and my only gripe is that I thought the ending could have been a bit more solid. But it still gets 5 stars from me.

A quick, easy read yet immersive and rich with world building and complex characters I really enjoyed this. Although its short this has an interesting twist with a fulfilling journey to read and characters to root for especially, August.

Here and Thereafter by Nicholas "Tac" Whitcomb is a thrilling and captivating fantasy novel that takes readers on a journey through the world of magic and wizardry. The story follows August, a young farmer who is given the opportunity of a lifetime when he is invited to apprentice under a seasoned wizard.

As August travels to an unfamiliar place to begin his training, he is plagued with doubts about his abilities and whether he will be able to survive the challenging lessons ahead. Despite his uncertainties, August pushes himself to learn and grow, determined to become the next great magus.

Whitcomb does an excellent job of creating a rich and immersive world of magic, filled with intriguing characters and detailed descriptions. The story is full of twists and turns, keeping readers on the edge of their seats and eagerly turning the pages to see what happens next.

The character of August is particularly well-developed, and readers will find themselves rooting for him throughout his journey. His struggles and triumphs are relatable, and his growth as a character is both satisfying and inspiring.

Overall, Here and Thereafter is an engaging and entertaining novel that will appeal to fans of fantasy and magic. Whitcomb's writing is excellent, and his storytelling skills are top-notch, making this a must-read for anyone who loves a good adventure.

Here and Thereafter starts in a quaint little village where farmers are struggling through a drought. Good thing they have August’s little “tricks” to help them — he has the odd ability to bring a bit of water to the fields, and that’s how everyone is scraping by. One day, August takes a trip into town and sees a wizard putting on a show, and when the wizard discovers that August has magic just like him, he whisks him away to become his apprentice. But things don’t really go as planned.

The writing for the book was the first thing that jumped out to me; it’s a little “fable-y” and reads sort of like a fairy tale. It surprised me but I grew to enjoy it and it even reminds me a bit of the world-building done in Studio Ghibli films.

The fairy-taleness of the writing makes for interesting but kind of aloof characters; it’s interesting to follow August’s journey and see who he meets, but the entire time it still feels a bit like we’re on the outside looking in instead of really getting inside August’s head and learning about his emotions. As a result, this is a pretty plot-driven, as opposed to character-driven, story.

The plot was enjoyable; the first half was full of new discoveries, of trying to figure out the rules of this world and August’s place in it. The second half of the book took an unexpected turn for me; it got darker but I still enjoyed it.

The ending, however, feels incomplete. It just feels like there’s more to the story and to August’s arc, and there’s even more to explore in the world-building. The book left me with a lot more questions at the end and I’m kind of sad that we didn’t get to learn more about the rules of magic and August’s use of it. The book just left me wanting more.

Overall, I still enjoyed this one and being able to imagine myself in the setting of the book, but I wish it there was another act.