The blurb for Into the Labyrinth is hardly unique; an awkward insecure student of magic must somehow find his talent before entering a monster filled maze at the year's end. This is really the story of four students, three of which have unusual parameters to their spellcasting, and their enigmatic mentor who is determined to turn those challenges into opportunities that will make them effective battlemages. In a multiverse world where most of the population has at least some magic, and every mage's abilities are unique based upon their affinities and casting style, the characters have more in common with the average superhero than Harry Potter or other "kids studying magic" books. Also, despite what the blurb says, the Labyrinth isn't the focus of the first book, which would be better described as the adventures of a young team of superheroes as they face epic villains, traitors, and mysterious named Powers, all while trying to avoid becoming the pawns of interplanar politics.

Orphan Hugh of Emblin was living Cinderella's life until age fifteen when he developed magic and was invited to the prestigious Skyhold Academy. His dream of a better life is quickly crushed when it turns out that all of his spells go awry and he can't even figure out what his affinity might be. While the more talented students debate which mage might choose them as an apprentice, Hugh is hoping anyone chooses him even if it's just the custodial mages. To his shock he is chosen by one of Skyhold's famous Librarians Errant along with two others. It turns out that he's not the only student with unusual issues. Sebae is from a famous family of storm mages with affinities for wind, water, and lightning but she also inherited her father's healing affinity which means she can't cast spells at range leaving her useless in the family business. Talia is a daughter of Clan Castis, known for their powerful fire affinities and source of her tattoos with specialized fire enhancements, but it turns out she's not a fire mage at all. Rather, she has affinities for Dreams and Bones which are blocked by her tattoos. Luckily for these three misfits their new Master, Alustin, is determined to use these unique problems to turn them into unique battlemages.

Into the Labyrinth covers Alustin choosing Hugh, Sebae, and Talia as his apprentices. They quickly become friends with Godrick who's affinities are stone, steel, and scent. Like his father he uses his magic to craft stone armor and his steel affinity to manipulate an enormous hammer in battle. Yes, he's a tank. Talia is the big dps with a love of explosions and Sebae is the agile monk-like fighter. While Hugh is working to overcome his spellcasting issues, his main concern as a warlock is choosing a Power to bond with. Until he bonds he has no affinities, although he does show great skill with ward spells. There are many Great Powers in the world, although not all of them are willing to form warlock pacts, and not all Powers offer terms favorable to the warlock, especially demons. Hugh will do anything to save his friends when their Labyrinth trial goes horribly wrong, so in a moment of desperation, he offers a pact to the semi-sentient Index which is the magical construct that runs Skyhold's library. Thus Hugh finds himself to pacted to one of the greatest Powers in the world, the eight hundred year old founder of Skyhold - Kandaron, the Crystal Sphynx.

In Jewel of the Endless Erg, having survived their first year of magical studies, the four friends join Alustin on his mission as Librarian Errant over the summer term. Hugh is starting to train his new affinities for crystal, stellar, and planar magic, but he's primarily working with crystal spells since stellar spells can drain all of his mana and Kandaron doesn't want him to touch planar yet. As they travel over the Erg Desert on a sand-ship they face pirates and deadly sandstorms until the reach the city of Indis, a storm dragon and a Great Power. Alustin refuses to tell his students what his errand in the city is, but then he rarely explains anything outside their studies. When Indis is attacked by her Consort, Alustin and his students save most of the city, but in the chaos of the fight Indis' egg is stolen and suspicion falls on Alustin. It's up to the four friends to save the city (again) as well as their mentor.

The first book of this series isn't bad. Yes, I'm damning it with faint praise there. It's mostly an introduction to the world and magic system as well as the main characters and each book gets seems better than the one before it. This is not a civilized world and there is plenty of danger and combat or there wouldn't be a need for battlemages like Alustin. The fun of it is in the many different unique mages we meet. Alustin himself is reticent about his affinity because no one expects a paper mage to be a warrior as well as a librarian and spy. While it might be considered a YA series due to the ages of the four friends and its message of embracing your differences, there are enough subtle undercurrents to the plot to keep anyone engaged. 

Into the Labyrinth and Jewel of the Endless Erg are both available in ebook and the entire series is included in Kindle Unlimited. Both are on Audible as a single book in the Mage Errant: Publisher's Pack with Ralph Lister as the narrator, receiving 4.6 stars for his performance.