The Outcast Mage cover art

The Outcast Mage

an unmissable epic fantasy debut packed with adventure, magic and dragonfire (Book One of the Shattered Lands)

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About this listen

 'Truly enchanting' Trudi Canavan

'A rich setting, an intricate magic system and incredibly appealing characters . . . A bold new entry into the epic fantasy genre' Andrea Stewart

In the glass city of Amoria, magic is everything. And Naila, student at the city's academy, is running out of time to prove she can control hers. If she fails, she'll be forced into exile . . . or consumed by her own power.

When a tragic incident threatens her place at the Academy, Naila is saved by Haelius Akana, the most powerful living mage. Haelius risks his reputation to help her to harness her abilities, but he has many enemies who desire him - and Naila - to fail. Trapped in the deadly schemes of Amoria's elite, Naila must discover the truth of her powers, or watch Amoria descend into civil war.

For there is danger brewing on the wind, and greater forces at work across the wider world. Forces who could use her powers for good . . . or destroy everything she's ever known.

The Outcast Mage is an unmissable epic fantasy debut, packed with adventure, mystery and dragonfire, where a young mage's struggle to master her magical powers could spell disaster for an entire continent

Praise for The Outcast Mage

'A spectacular debut, full of heart and magic, with complex, courageous characters and a blossoming underdog you cannot help but cheer on. Campbell is a shining new talent in fantasy' Cameron Johnston

'Disaster wizards galore, rich political intrigue, and a hint of dragonfire, The Outcast Mage reminds me why I love epic fantasy so much. If you like Trudi Canavan and Garth Nix, you're going to adore this' Georgia Summers

'With stakes as high as the glittering glass towers of Amoria, The Outcast Mage is a strong, pathos-filled start to an epic new fantasy series. Fans of political maneuvering, powerful magic and found family will find much to love' Julie Leong

'Annabel Campbell has created a rich fantasy, textured with complex politics and mysteries upon mysteries' Joma West

'A shining joy of a book. In a deft twist on epic fantasy, Campbell spins a captivating world out of glass and sand, and populates it with people who are brave and flawed and truly human' Lorraine Wilson©2025 Annabel Campbell Dragons & Mythical Creatures Epic Fantasy Magic Women's Voices Magic Users Wizardry Outcast Fiction Emotionally Gripping Heartfelt

Critic reviews

With stakes as high as the glittering glass towers of Amoria, The Outcast Mage is a strong, pathos-filled start to an epic new fantasy series. Fans of political maneuvering, powerful magic and found family will find much to love (Julie Leong)
The Outcast Mage is a spectacular debut, full of heart and magic, with complex, courageous characters and a blossoming underdog you cannot help but cheer on. Campbell is a shining new talent in fantasy (Cameron Johnston)
Annabel Campbell has created a rich fantasy, textured with complex politics and mysteries upon mysteries. The Outcast Mage opens a door into a world that has enough depth to make it feel like a real place, and I want to get to the bottom of it all (Joma West)
Truly enchanting (Trudi Canavan)
Disaster wizards galore, rich political intrigue, and a hint of dragonfire, The Outcast Mage reminds me why I love epic fantasy so much. If you like Trudi Canavan and Garth Nix, you're going to adore this
The Outcast Mage is a shining joy of a book. In a deft twist on epic fantasy, Campbell spins a captivating world out of glass and sand, and populates it with people who are brave and flawed and truly human. I cannot wait to see where she takes us next
The Outcast Mage made me fall in love with fantasy again. Tightly plotted and propulsive, full of characters as vivid, flawed, and beautiful as their world, this is a book to curl up with and get lost in (Catriona Silvey)
Campbell manages to capture the wonder of classic epic fantasy . . . it made me feel like a child reading their first fantasy book again - in awe of magic that feels as dangerous as it is powerful. There is a thoughtfulness to the world-building and a commitment to story and character rather than violence or action for its own sake that is reminiscent of Robin Hobb at her most dazzling. The Outcast Mage is pure joy (Ian Green)
A unique setting, a hard magic system, social unrest, ancient mysteries, and a cast of loveable but flawed characters doing their best in a world on the brink of great change. Naila and Haelius captured my heart from the very first page, and Campbell's vivid writing made this book a joy from start to finish. I can't wait to see where this series goes next!
The Outcast Mage is a beautifully crafted epic fantasy that is full of all the things I love - powerful magic, political intrigue and vivid world building
The Outcast Mage boasts a rich setting, an intricate magic system, and incredibly appealing characters - all of them working against their own faults and a failing political system. A bold new entry into the epic fantasy genre and a promising start to a series (Andrea Stewart)
A heartfelt adventure of a book which plays with classic fantasy tropes. Come for the glass city and magic school antics, stay for the found family and political scheming. An epic fantasy for the modern day (Eliza Chan)
All stars
Most relevant
The Outcast Mage is classic fantasy brought up to date, tropes embraced and subverted left right and centre. Reminds you of why you fell in love with fantasy as a child, but grown up so you can enjoy it as an adult.

The mix of characters shows you different aspects of the story, and the world brilliantly.

Absolutely love respectful way the middle eastern inspired culture was shown too.

Just brilliant, and the narration was spot on, really glad they chose someone who could pronounce all the Arabic inspired words.

5 stars on all counts.

Simply amazing

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Really well written fantasy book.
I couldn’t stop listening.
Book one contains incredible world building, really believable characters and opens so many options for book two that I absolutely can’t wait for!

Absolute Banger

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The Outcast Mage is fantasy at its finest, set in a world that stays with you long after reading. Beautiful writing matched with a pacy plot makes this an unputdownable tale full of political intrigue, characters you love to follow through their adventures (and misadventures) and a clever magic system that sweeps you up in a whorl of wonder. Can't wait for the second installment!

Beautiful, pacy and full of intrigue- fantasy at its finest

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thoroughly enjoyable, good pace, only a couple of cringe writing moments.
can't wait for next book.

story line

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Great read can’t wait for the next book totally hooked on the characters and the story

A new gem

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