Manifold Mirror Mage

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

Manifold Mirror Mage: Legendary magic on a common budget. Working class student Giorgio deGloria has a lofty goal - to become one of the most powerful archmages in the Ringed City, and to explore the depths of the Crystal Ring Academy- a megalithic dungeon-turned-college at the ancient city’s heart. But to do that, he first has to survive the dangers of an endless dungeon full of magic and mystery, navigate a hellish bureaucracy authored by ignorant nobles, and figure out a way to distinguish himself as someone worthy of the attention of the spirits that make the world tick- all while maintaining a 4.0 GPA, of course. His classmates have repertoires full of rare and lavish spells, but the most powerful spell that Gio can manage to get his hands on before the first day of school is a paltry uncommon spell called [Reflect]. What to expect: -A balance of exploration, crafting, research, and intrigue elements. -Progress at a reasonable pace as the MC learns to utilize his out-of-the-box thinking and his penchant for hard work to create something extraordinary. -A rich and deep world full of magic and mystery. -less numbers, more fun. What -not- to expect: -NO harem. -NO overused genre tropes (looking at you, xianxia face-slapping) -NO forced cliffhangers.

Information

Status: Ongoing
Year: 2024
Author: Karnevale

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.5/ 5.0
Followers: 5,451
Views: 1,610,696

Chapters(106 total)

What readers say about Manifold Mirror Mage

“I am enjoying this story. A more measured look at magic academia . I like the different take on the MC magic as well. I am looking forward to which direction the author will take this story as I am particularly fond of good hearted moral characters who get…”
JohnDelvfarRoyal Road5.0 / 5
“I adore the world in this story. It is mysterious, beautiful, and intriguing, but backed by a carefully concealed foundation of logic and rules that is subtly revealed at a steady drip, ensuring learning magic has meaning, rather than "anything goes becaus…”
KastyaRoyal Road5.0 / 5

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!

Community Reviews(10)

JohnDelvfarRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I am enjoying this story. A more measured look at magic academia . I like the different take on the MC magic as well. I am looking forward to which direction the author will take this story as I am particularly fond of good hearted moral characters who get ahead through their own hard work and can avoid ugly attachment s like the fire mages family. Keep up the good work!
John delvfar
KastyaRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I adore the world in this story. It is mysterious, beautiful, and intriguing, but backed by a carefully concealed foundation of logic and rules that is subtly revealed at a steady drip, ensuring learning magic has meaning, rather than "anything goes because it's magic". I also appreciate that this story (at least so far) has a lighter tone. There are people out there who are cruel or evil, but the people with power are not inherently abusive, cruel, or self-interested at the expense of all else. It's a refreshing change from so many grim worlds where characters feel like they are fighting against a systemic oppression that leaves them nowhere to go but become the things they once hated.
My only critique of this story, and one I know the author has already received from other places and is working to implement, is the relatively large number of shifts in perspective. Many of these I don't personally mind, especially the ones that show side characters' direct responses to the ongoing plot in the world, and offer a different perspective on events that have occurred or are going to occur. Those shifts often add additional emotional stakes to events and choices other characters make. I am less fond of the shifts that take us to the perspective of characters who have yet to enter the "main story". While I have confidence they will become relevant in the future, they still feel disconnected in the reading experience.
Overall, I consider manifold mirror mage absolutely worth a read for people who love magical worlds of learning and exceptional abilities, where characters face danger and overcome those challenges together.
HisotherRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Amazing in every font. So much things to unravel and lots to find. The characters, the places, the power systems, everything is just wonderful. Amazing for it was the author's first work. Really looking forward to its growth. If u lot stumbled upon this work, read this one. The complexity of powers here was just way better.
JannyRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
A great start to the series. The characters are solid, but the world is what really sells it for me. The setting of having the school in a dungeon with the well travelled places leading into more unsafe and unstable areas reminds me a lot of the schoolomance books in the best way. I’m already loving how the magic system works with both system and more traditional mage craft magic combined. So many little hints at beings at the fringes of the world that leaving me wanting to read on. The side characters have been a little one dimensional so far but the relationships are solid and I’m excited to see them evolve as the series continues.
Charl LevinRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Excellent writing quality. I am impressed with the consistent quality of the work despite the author working, and posting nearly every day. I look forward to where this series will go! I’ve been looking for something to scratch my Elydes itch while waiting for updates, and this series gives me the same smiles. :)
AstramoRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Honestly, great story so far. A lot of unique elements. For an author's first story this is more than I expected.
One point that can be improved upon would just be the capitalization issues plaguing the earlier chapters. They really threw me off, I was thinking of dropping the story. Good thing I pushed through and read more. The issue isn't as prevalent in the later chapters, I've noticed. Though there are still minor issues.
FjoekjuiRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Really enjoying this so far. The characters are interesting and the magic system seems to have a lot of promise. I'm excited to see where the author will take this and I hope to see chapters continue to come out. The characters were fairly quick to interact with some of the top powers in the setting, but I guess that is the prerogative of the MC.
BogManRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Loving it so far, I find the power system, the different types of magic and the wide world building super intriguing. This novel is the type of novel that I wish I found a few years later when it has a few hundred chapters. Also quite like the political conflict between nobles and the dissidents, adds depth to the society of the story. The classic disdain of nobles and the traps they set for the working class fill me with expectations of what Gio Will do in the future when he's a powerful mage that can no longer be restrained by rules or nobility.
FuDawgRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Rarely does a book get me giggling with happiness but this one has managed it. A wonderful premise and spectacular characters/character development pull you in. A magic system that is fleshed out but not a lecture allows you to make guesses and study with the characters.
This book is scratching an Academy itch I have had for a while.
Please give this a read. Well worth the time but be prepared to binge!
LeviSingerRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Overall: See title! I've really been enjoying this story. The writing style is engaging, the world is fleshed out and feels very well developed and understood. In particular I avoid that, so far, most of the tropes of similar coming of age (which so far this appears to be) have been avoided. I particularly like the lack of classic "unnecessary conflict from simply being terrible at communicating"!
Style: I've really enjoyed Karnevale's writing style. He's mentioned in a few author's notes that this is his first time writing a book, but I'd say it doesn't show. He has a really deft hand as far as I've seen and does an excellent job balancing descriptiveness, character development and plot advancement. It all feels very balanced. In terms of possible ways to improve? I think playing with mood and pacing changes when switching between character POVs can do a ton to enhance the immersion even more. It might be something to think about! (That's just a thought and by no means a criticism of what he's doing so far. Just a possible way to shake things up in future works.)
Story: It's a fun story so far! I feel it's just starting to warm up and hit its stride. At this point, the characters feel established and the adventure is beginning! The only part so far I thought was a bit off about is (spoiler for chapters 18 - 25)
when Rika takes Gio and Jean to take out the big-bad enemy in the depths of the dungeon. It felt a bit jarring and out of nowhere. However, I don't think it's atrocious by any means (I'm still giving this a 5 star story score, after all). I think that, if Karnevale is interested in making changes to improve earlier chapters, it would be a good idea to provide some form of foreshadowing or hints of this coming. Up until the chapter before, and that chapter, I pretty much just thought Rika hated Jean because of past history (which is also clearly part of the reason as she mentions, but not the full story). Maybe have some hints as early as chapter 8 during her