The First Apprentice

A reluctant master. A gifted apprentice. A city whose fate rests on both.When Aster Shepard accepts the title of Master of Streya from his former mentor, he is flattered, intimidated and all but certain he is not ready. He certainly didn’t expect that, only days into his new role, he would find himself responsible for not just the next generation of Streyan apprentices, but the next Infinite. A light walker gifted with immense power, whose destiny is bound to the great city of Streya and all light walkers.With the fate of a civilisation resting on his narrow shoulders, Aster must find a way to teach, prepare, and protect his new apprentice from a world that expects him to become a legend. All the while navigating whispered dissent from those who believe Aster never should have been chosen at all.The First Apprentice is the opening novel of The Streyan Saga, a sweeping epic fantasy about power, identity, and the weight of responsibility. Featuring a gay male protagonist, rich world-building, and a magic system rooted in legacy and belief, this is a story for readers who love character-driven fantasy with emotional depth.Perfect for fans of The Priory of the Orange Tree, Carry On, and magical-academy epics with a darker edge.Reader’s Reviews’I loved Albert’s writing, even if you don’t like the genre I’m convinced you’d like his style. I experienced the full spectrum of human emotion, I laughed, I cried, I checked all my doors were locked because I got a bit freaked. You really feel immersed into the world of his characters and want the best for them.’ Catherine Hibbert’I’ve been a massive fan of A.P’s work since the beginning, sobbing at the end of his original trilogy and desperate for more. The First Apprentice is a departure from the cute romantasy style I fell in love with, he didn’t waste any time jumping headfirst into an epic fantasy with an incredible, vivid, and colourful world with a completely different style but the same feelings you expect from his writing. I immediately found myself rooting for Aster, obsessed with Sirius, wanting to push his classmate Astrid down the stairs, and intrigued with the mystery around Cora and what she was up to when she left Aster behind. As the story progressed, I was mind blown by the twists and turns and the grand reveals which took me back to my days reading Harry Potter as a kid and refusing to go to my taekwondo lessons.’ Jake Briggs