• The Flaw in All Magic

  • Magebreakers, Book 1
  • By: Ben S. Dobson
  • Narrated by: Travis Baldree
  • Length: 6 hrs and 31 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (369 ratings)

Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts.
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
Audible Plus auto-renews for $7.95/mo after 30 days. Upgrade or cancel anytime.
The Flaw in All Magic  By  cover art

The Flaw in All Magic

By: Ben S. Dobson
Narrated by: Travis Baldree
Try for $0.00

$7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $13.75

Buy for $13.75

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

In a world of elves and dwarves and sprites and mages, Tane Carver is a human with no gift but his wits. Which, to be fair, did get him into the world's most prestigious university of magical technology.

For a while. Until his lack of magic was discovered. And then it all came crashing down.

But when a student is murdered on campus behind unbreakable wards, Tane gets a second chance. Solving an impossible crime should be easy for the man who fooled the university's best mages for years. Except he's not counting on the head constable being an old flame who isn't so fond of him anymore. Or on Kadka, the half-crazy half-orc who insists she's his partner - whether he likes it or not.

Not to mention the masked mage who keeps trying to kill him. Now, Tane's survival depends on the one truth that has never failed him. The flaw in all magic that those who have it prefer to ignore: the mage.

Outsmart the mage, and you outsmart the spell. And outsmarting mages is what Tane does best.

©2017 Ben S. Dobson (P)2018 Tantor

What listeners say about The Flaw in All Magic

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    239
  • 4 Stars
    97
  • 3 Stars
    29
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    2
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    260
  • 4 Stars
    56
  • 3 Stars
    10
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    211
  • 4 Stars
    86
  • 3 Stars
    28
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    1

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing Mystery at its Fantasy Finest!

Truly a fun adventure mystery story! It was relaxing and enjoyable to its end. Reminds me of Sherlock Holmes 🕵️‍♀️ but fantasy style. I can’t wait to get the next book after all magical mysteries are afoot! Thank you very much for your wonderful series

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fresh take on magic.

Magic plus detectives and a little MacGyver sprinkled on top.... It that doesn’t spark your interest throw in great character development and good humor and a good world foundation... Top it of with few cruse words and a great performance by Travis it is easy one of the best fantasy books this year...!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Really fun story and well read to boot!

Would you consider the audio edition of The Flaw in All Magic to be better than the print version?

I haven't read the print version but based on the audio version I'd be willing to buy it.

What did you like best about this story?

I really enjoyed the setting. A fun combination of steam punk and fantasy with a healthy dollop of noir.

What about Travis Baldree’s performance did you like?

I really enjoyed Travis' narration. I like his use of voices and pacing. This is the third or fourth book of his that I've listened to and I can safely say that I will be looking for more in the future. I follow some narrators, because their performance can make or break an audio book. Like George Guidall, Travis Baldree has a voice that is pleasant and consistently improves a story sucking you into it rather than detracting from it.

Any additional comments?

I'm looking forward to listening to the audio book of the sequel as soon as it's available.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Break From the Monotonous Genre and Listen to This


Another winning Travis Baldtree narrated audiobook. He totally brings the characters alive with emotion (or in Kadka’s case, lack of emotion but full of jokes) and their unique voices.
A non magical main character uses his knowledge of the world to solve a crime. I’m not crazy about that premise but it worked. I’m just kind of over the newbie showing up professionals.
In this case, the law enforcer, a Blue Cap, if you will (or was it Blue Hat?) is his ex girlfriend. I know. We saw that coming, too. Police being associated with Blue also seemed unimaginative. I wanted new, different, unique.
He acquires a partner. You guessed it. He wanted to work alone.
I overall enjoyed the world building. It was not an info dump.
The third person narrative was a breath of fresh air. Too many books in the genre is first person.
Our main character is level headed and NOT snarky!! Double kudos with a triple shot of espresso.
It was short and sweet. The climax was a bit lengthier than desired, but mostly because it wasn’t action packed. It flowed with the writing style of the book.

I actually adored this book enough to pick up the next in the series. Which is EXTREMELY rare.
Strongly recommended for urban fantasy lovers who want a non epic adventure with promising characters who could be your best book buddies!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent Fantasy, Steampunk, Orcs, and More!

The Flaw in All Magic
Magebreakers, Book 1
By: Ben S. Dobson
Narrated by: Travis Baldree
This is an audible book I requested and the review is voluntary.
I love streamline, fantasy, and books with orcs in a positive light, underdog heroes, characters you can really get to know, and a good plot. This book has all this and more. Our main guy doesn't do magic but is working for a University for mages due to a murder of one of his friends. He ends up with a new friend, a female half-orc that helps him. The story is so good!!! Lots of twists and turns and I love their partnership! True friendship.
The narrator is so awesome! There are lots of creatures in here and he is super at doing all of the strange voices for them, lol! He also performers the voices of women so well I forget it is a male narrator. I forget it is even being narrated! I feel like I am watching a movie in my head. Great job!.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

hilariously ridiculous fun

An interesting idea carried out to perfection. The story is hilarious the bad guy seminly obvious yet a solid mystery involving magic.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Pretty good start to the series.

Plot is interesting.
Loved the characters.
Good performance.
Hopefully, future installments will be even better.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Too late, I picked it up! Nothing happened.

I found this series via an ad on Facebook, and I'm really glad I did. Two books finished so far, and I do plan to continue listening to the rest. I enjoyed the worldbuilding and the interesting characters who are introduced throughout.... though I must admit that my favorite was the bluntly honest and loyal Kadka and her enthusiasm for adventure and new experiences. She was a lot of fun. "I have to go, or I won't see how they try to kill us next!"

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Good narrator

The characters where flat. The story was fun but simple. I liked the world building

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

nice intro to Dobson's world

I liked the magic system and I am excited to listen to the next one.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!