Art of the Adept

The Choice of Magic (Art of the Adept, #1) by Michael G. Manning explores a world where ancient wizardry once enlightened humanity but has since been reduced to a tool of elitism. The story follows the last surviving wizard of the old tradition, who resists taking on an apprentice until a determined youth challenges his solitude. As new knowledge resurfaces, dormant powers awaken, setting the stage for significant change. The novel examines themes of power, knowledge, and societal transformation within a fantasy setting.

Secrets and Spellcraft by Michael G. Manning continues Will’s education at the wizarding college of Wurthaven, where he discovers that traditional wizardry has been reduced to a cautious, secondary art. In a kingdom where ruthless sorcerers dominate and magic is rooted in a hidden, ancient corruption, Will’s unconventional training from his grandfather marks him as an anomaly in a rigid hierarchy. As he challenges expectations and refuses to submit to the established order, he attracts dangerous attention from powerful enemies who prefer obedience to innovation. Blending epic and high fantasy with elements of progression fantasy and war-torn medieval politics, this installment follows a young mage struggling to survive intrigue, isolation, and increasingly lethal opposition.

Scholar of Magic by Michael G. Manning continues Will’s education at the magical university of Wurthaven just as a new crisis overshadows the fading threat of war with Darrow. Selene’s unexplained disappearance turns the king against his son-in-law, even as citizens vanish from Cerria and a mysterious predator targets Will’s sister, Laina. Forced to defend a royal family that never fully accepted him and a city whose ruler may prefer him dead, Will must stretch his growing powers to their limit. As the fae offer dangerous aid at a cost and evil hunts the royal bloodline, this epic fantasy focuses on difficult loyalties, political tension, and the burden of power in a medieval-inspired, high-magic setting.

Disciple of War by Michael G. Manning continues a high fantasy saga where looming conflict forces difficult choices on both rulers and mages. As war threatens two medieval kingdoms, Will struggles to secure Selene’s magical training despite her late start, knowing that her success may determine their survival. Pressured into negotiating with a king whose help comes at a steep cost, he must navigate shifting alliances, hidden traitors, and the arrival of a devastating new power in Darrow. The novel blends epic and progression fantasy elements with political tension, battlefield stakes, and the moral weight of deciding who can be trusted—and who may be sacrificed.

The Wizard's Crown by Michael G. Manning follows Will as he nears the end of his progression from inexperienced apprentice to one of the most formidable wizards in a medieval-inspired world. His victories in the war with Darrow have made him a political threat, drawing the king’s lethal attention and forcing Will into uneasy alliances with an ancient lich, a calculating fae queen, a wary lord of Hell, and a terrifying primordial creature. As rival powers maneuver for dominance, Will must navigate shifting loyalties, dark magic, and looming war to confront a monarch prepared to unleash a devastating secret. This epic and high fantasy adventure centers on power, responsibility, and the cost of survival when only one figure can ultimately claim the Wizard’s Crown.