Review: The Chronicles of the Virago Book II: The Apprentus by Michael Bialys

Makenna Grace Gold comes into her own as a legendary heroine in Chronicles of the Virago: The Apprentus by author Michael Bialys. With a tongue-in-cheek vein of humor running throughout, this is a powerful and endearing story of an extraordinary young woman with the fate of the world hanging in her hands.

Following his embarrassing defeat against Makenna’s awakened abilities, Malvado Seaton may be licking his wounds, but he is far from surrendering. Ms. Creante, a violent Demonesse and Seaton’s trusted killer, is desperate to regain Seaton’s trust, and is determined to exact her revenge on the young protagonist.

The powerful Virago, the guardian of her two young siblings, is fumbling her way through her newfound powers, keeping more secrets than before, and attempting to maintain the normal facade of childhood. Kicking the book off in strange style, however, is the oddly comical Grim Reaper, who delivers disturbing news to Makenna, sending this plot spiraling into action.

Told with the same puckish wit of Tom Robbins, but for a slightly younger crowd, the plot is often wacky, unpredictable, and fast-paced, which can leave certain scenes feeling undeveloped, or certain side plots somewhat unfinished. The secondary characters – the Virago’s loyal fairy guides, as well as Stephen and Fluffy – do form quite a curious fellowship, one that perpetually delivers opportunities for laughter, connection, and solid character development.

Makenna has far more agency and confidence than in the opening book of this series. While she was already a fascinating center point as the Virago, her 13-year-old wisdom and rapid maturation is inspiring to read. This book leaps around between numerous cultures and countries, and there is delicacy in the cultural descriptions and world-building that can often be lost or ignored. A good amount of research appears to have been done, as most of the book unfolds with great authenticity.

In terms of character, there isn’t the same sense of authenticity or intensity as the world-building. Some scenes delve into emotional subjects of loss and self-doubt, but generally the prose never takes itself too seriously, and to good effect. From comical accents and eccentric characters to elbow-nudging jokes and hyperbolic personality traits, there is no denying that this is an enjoyable and immersive read. Bialys has deftly crafted larger-than-life villains and a fantasy landscape that seems boundless in its magic.

On the technical side of things, the writing is notably simplistic, relying on common descriptive tropes and predictable expressions of emotion. A younger target audience can still appreciate nuance and clever descriptive tools, but most passages lack that flair. There are also some basic editorial mistakes and typos, but the most important adjustment is needed for the dialogue. Vacillating between organic and natural-sounding, to robotic and scripted, the conversations between characters lack an important degree of spontaneity.

That being said, for a fun, suspenseful, and thought-provoking story, Book 2 in The Chronicles of the Virago is a fantastic leap into dark whimsy with a wealth of originality and creativity on display.