Summoner

Origins by Taran Matharu is a prequel fantasy novel that follows Arcturus, an orphaned stable boy who unexpectedly discovers he can summon demons from another realm. Taken to Vocans Military Academy, where elite youths study summoning, spellcraft, and demonology, he becomes the first commoner to wield such power in a rigidly stratified empire. His presence at the school unsettles the noble-born students and their families, drawing him into political tension, social hostility, and dangerous rivalries. With only his demon companion Sacharissa to rely on, Arcturus must navigate a dark academic environment shaped by war, monsters, and military expectations while learning what it means to be a Summoner.

The Novice (Summoner, #1) by Taran Matharu follows Fletcher, a blacksmith apprentice who discovers he can summon demons from another world. He enrolls in the Adept Military Academy, where students are trained as battlemages to fight in the Hominum Empire’s war against orcs. Amid intense training and political intrigue involving noble families, Fletcher relies on his demon Ignatius while navigating alliances and betrayals. This fantasy novel explores themes of loyalty and power within a high-stakes conflict.

In The Inquisition, Taran Matharu continues his young adult epic fantasy with Fletcher and his demon Ignatius dragged from a year in Pelt’s dungeons to stand before the ruthless Inquisition. As political enemies manipulate the trial, long-buried truths about Fletcher’s parentage surface, reshaping his sense of loyalty and belonging. Meanwhile, he and his fellow Vocans graduates are dispatched on a military expedition into the orc-infested jungles, where failure would tip the balance of war and unleash monstrous forces against the Empire. Blending magic, demons, battlefield strategy, and school-forged friendships, this installment pushes its characters into darker territory as they confront both external enemies and unsettling revelations.

The Battlemage by Taran Matharu concludes the Summoner trilogy with a focus on war, loyalty, and the cost of power in a dark fantasy setting. Stranded in the ether, Fletcher and his companions must survive among demons and monsters while attempting a dangerous mission that could restore their world and secure a fragile peace. As tensions rise and alliances fray, Fletcher is forced into the role of military leader, guiding a small force of soldiers to defend his ancestral homeland. His campaign ultimately brings him face-to-face with Khan, the albino orc whose plans threaten everything and everyone he is trying to protect.