The Outcast (Prequel to the Summoner Trilogy)

by Taran Matharu

Overview

The thrilling prequel to the New York Times–bestselling young adult Summoner series!

When stable boy Arcturus accidentally summons a demon and becomes Hominum's first common summoner, he becomes the key to a secret that the powerful overlords would do anything to keep hidden.

Whisked away to Vocans Academy so he can be kept watch over, Arcturus finds himself surrounded by enemies. But he has little time to settle in before his life is turned upside down once again, for Hominum Empire is in turmoil.

Rebellious intent simmers among the masses, and it will not be long before it boils over. Arcturus must choose a side . . . or watch an Empire crumble.

The Summoner Trilogy
The Novice
The Inquisition
The Battlemage

Also in the Summoner series
The Outcast (Summoner: The Prequel)
The Summoner’s Handbook
A Fine Welcome: Othello’s Journey (A Summoner Short Story)

Praise for The Outcast:

"Shines as a fantasy adventure. The book’s quick pacing and intriguing summoning system encourages readers to keep turning pages." —School Library Journal

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250308931
Publisher:	Square Fish
Publication date:	06/04/2019
Series:	Summoner Trilogy Series , #4
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	400
Sales rank:	49,178
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.20(h) x 1.20(d)
Lexile:	880L (what's this?)
Age Range:	12 - 17 Years

About the Author

Taran Matharu is the author of the New York Times–bestselling Summoner series: The Novice, The Inquisition, and The Battlemage. He lives in London.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for the New York Times-bestselling Summoner series:

The Novice (Book 1 in the Summoner series):

A New York Times Bestseller

“The appealing characters, fast-paced plot, focus on racial politics, and interesting demon varieties (demonology addendum included) make this an enjoyable read.” —School Library Journal

“Fantasy readers should enjoy this entertaining, comfortably familiar-feeling adventure featuring an earnest soldier-schoolboy and his demonic sidekick.” —Kirkus Reviews

“This plot-focused fantasy adventure will be a satisfying read for a wide age range of readers, especially fans of role-playing games and Christopher Paolini.” —VOYA

“Taran Matharu . . . racked up more than a million reads for his first novel, 'Summoner,' in only four months.” —NBCnews.com

The Inquisition (Book 2 in the Summoner series):

A New York Times Bestseller
A Publishers Weekly Bestseller

"A fast-paced, familiar tale with strong echoes of Tolkien, Pullman, and Pokémon." —Kirkus Reviews

The Battlemage (Book 3 in the Summoner series):

A USA Today Bestseller
A New York Times Bestseller

From the Publisher

05/01/2018
Gr 9 Up—In this prequel to the "Summoner" trilogy, 15-year-old Arcturus is a mistreated orphan working at a local tavern. Having had enough of beatings and hunger, he decides to steal a horse and make his escape. However, things become decidedly complicated when he reads a scroll in the horse's saddlebags and accidentally summons a noble's demon. Soon Arcturus is captured, interrogated by the king, and shipped off to Vocans, a training school for summoners. Arcturus quickly discovers that he is the first commoner known to be able to summon. While this ability makes him special, it also puts him and his dog demon Sacharissa in danger. Assassination attempts, political conspiracies, and daring escapes follow. There are moments when The Outcast shines as a fantasy adventure. The book's quick pacing and intriguing summoning system encourages readers to keep turning pages. Likewise, underdogs Arcturus and Sacha are likable and easy to cheer for. However, the plot is sometimes marred by predictable tropes and glaring similarities to other fantasy series. Also, while the writing style feels geared toward middle grades, the mature language used throughout may leave selectors hesitant to recommend it to younger audiences. VERDICT A good addition to collections that already have the trilogy, but otherwise, a limited budget would be best spent on more consistent fantasy titles.—Lara Goldstein, Orange County Public Libraries, NC

School Library Journal