Should I read a dark mages fantasy duology?

I started reading it once and dropped it halfway through the first book - way too much description of magic, not enough interesting plot! But that's totally subjective, because plenty of people love that kind of narrative style. If you enjoy diving into detailed descriptions of magical systems and you're willing to put up with a slow start for the sake of character development, then yeah, it's worth a try. But if you prefer fast-paced action with a quick pace - it's probably not for you!

It depends on what you like in fantasy in general. If you're looking for a fast-paced plot with minimal worldbuilding, this duology might disappoint you - there really is a lot of time spent explaining magical systems. But if you're drawn to detailed descriptions of magic and its logic, it's worth giving it another shot: sometimes the middle of the first book is the slowest part, and then things really heat up.