D. M. Fife’s LIGHT AND DARK (The Awakening of the Mageknight) involves a number of tropes common to young adult fantasy – a game turning out to be real, a school training students in magical and physical warfare, a world full of dragons, elves, dwarves, and other Tolkeinesque beings, and most importantly, a Chosen One with special powers and a heritage he is unaware of at the beginning of the novel. The other races in the book are portrayed in a fairly standard way – elegant elves with heightened senses and dignified demeanors, noble and powerful dragons, dwarves who speak with lower-class accents and make magical arms and armor – and there isn’t much new here in terms of creative takes on old designs (with the possible exception of part of Danny’s entrance exam, which may strike the well-read reader as a thoughtful response to and commentary on a similar test in Frank Herbert‘s Dune).

Still, these tropes are tropes for a reason, and while the melody is familiar, Fife hits the notes with verve, enthusiasm, and charm. Danny Firoth is a likeable protagonist, with a teenage boy’s interests and fallibility, but a good heart, fierce courage, and a strong sense of honor. He develops as the story goes on from an enthusiastic kid who realizes with delight that his favorite card game is real and he has a chance to explore a fantastic new world, to a young adult who sees more of the seriousness of the battles swirling around him, and is determined, if not entirely ready yet, to take his place at the center of the conflict as the legendary Mageknight. His friends have personalities and charm of their own, reflected for example in the weapons they choose, their reactions to training, and the advice they offer him, but they are decidedly side characters, with Danny front and center as the Hero. Sabrina Drake, as his half-draconic crush, is an intriguing character with more potential than is developed in this novel, given that she is seen almost entirely through Danny’s rose-colored haze – hopefully she’ll get a chance to shine as more than Danny’s love interest in the future books. All in all, while this book isn’t exactly a new and brilliant invention in the world of young adult fantasy, it is an entertaining read, and handles the old comforting traditions with grace and skill.

An engaging introduction to a promising fantasy series, LIGHT AND DARK (The Awakening of the Mageknight) by D. M. Fife offers an enjoyable take on several classic fantasy tropes.

~Catherine Langrehr for IndieReader