CANDLEWOOD: A Wizard’s Heritage opens in classic fantasy-epic fashion, with a callow young man eager to escape his mundane existence and seek a life of heroism and adventure. Gaylen, an ordinary, un-magical farmboy, lives on the edges of mysterious Candlewood Forest, rumored to be the home of dragons, elves, ogres, and other fantastical creatures. One day, Gaylen encounters an old man (known by locals, appropriately enough, as “Ol’man”), who reveals himself to be a wizard. It isn’t long before Gaylen—who soon discovers his own magical potential—is drawn into the forest’s otherworldly secrets, and embarks upon a perilous quest to save his family and fulfill his true destiny.
Fans of fantasy and fairy tales will recognize bits and pieces of their favorite works throughout CANDLEWOOD, from the “seemingly unremarkable hero who discovers he’s a wizard” premise to the hero’s journey that pits Gaylen against implacable evil—a wicked wizardess named Murchesla Crona—and introduces him to a world full of colorful, mystical beings. Author Carol Louise Standley brings a lifetime of passion for epic fantasy to CANDLEWOOD, her debut novel, which shines with obvious affection and deep knowledge of the genre. Readers will appreciate the richness and breadth of Standley’s world-building (the novel’s various factions, including elves, dwarves, and goblins, have their own distinct personalities and traditions) and an eye for detail that breathes life and naturalism to this mythical setting.
Standley’s fondness for fantasy literature may also be her book’s chief weakness; much of the story feels cobbled together from other works, from the Harry Potter series to The Lord of the Rings, as well as Piers Anthony’s Xanth tales. Very little about Gaylen’s quest feels surprising or unexpected, and while the writing is polished and competent, the novel too often lapses into long, overcrowded passages that read more like plot summary than vibrant storytelling. While uneven in execution, however, CANDLEWOOD offers much to appreciate, from its energetic pacing and vivid characterizations to Standley’s charming addition of children’s fairy tale elements to a genre that tends toward stony self-seriousness.
Crafted with warmth and evident fondness for the genre, Carol Louise Standley’s CANDLEWOOD: A Wizard’s Heritage promises old-fashioned fun for readers hungry for traditional epic fantasy with a playful twist.
~Edward Sung for IndieReader