Fourteen-year-old Leonardo, hero of Davide Simon Mazzoli’s young adult fantasy novel THE MAGIC LANDS OF MIDENDHIL, doesn’t think his life can get worse. He is constantly bullied, recently learned he was adopted, has a crush on his best friend Maya, and now is wracked by nightmares about creepy monsters. When a picture he drew of a monster from his nightmares comes to life and his uncle casts a spell to stop it, Leonardo learns that he has a powerful magical destiny and that most of the adults in his life—including his adoptive parents, his teacher, and the school janitor—are wizards who have been tasked with protecting him. But now, the Dark Lord is looking for Leonardo, and the lives of the people in the land of Midendhil, his natural home, are at stake if Leonardo cannot protect the small Sidhit spheres the Dark Lord seeks to steal, which are the keys to the universe’s life force.
The first several chapters of story setup feature repetitive information that feels needlessly obscured for the purposes of creating a sense of mystery; the tedious result is more frustrating than intriguing. For instance, Leonardo interrupts his adoptive parents a few times when they’re trying to tell him something important, simply because he’s annoyed by them, therefore delaying his discovery of his true identity and mission. However, the book’s slow start gives way to an exhilarating narrative once the plot gets going. An explosive, emotional battle scene leads to Leonardo bringing Maya with him through the portal to Midendhil; there, the real excitement begins. He and Maya encounter a host of magical creatures both malicious and benevolent as they adventure toward Leonardo’s destiny.
The book takes some well-worn fantasy tropes and uses them in new ways. For example, like Harry Potter’s invocation of Parseltongue, Leonardo realizes he can speak the otherworldly language of Midendhil, which indicates that he is truly the “chosen one,” and he uses it to communicate with the people there after he arrives. An encounter with a lively pair of monkey-like brothers who feed Leonardo magical chocolate has an Alice-in-Wonderland appeal. The renewable soul-force called Yuth is a compelling invention that is pivotal to the plot on more than one occasion, propelling Leonardo’s rollercoaster of a journey. Vivid imagery brings the world of Midendhil to life, from its myriad complex creatures, including goblins, wyverns, and invented monsters, to its domed architecture and its maze-like forests.
In this unique and exciting world, Leonardo grows from an angsty, insecure teen to a courageous hero. Reluctant at first, he takes charge because he has no choice, and soon his fate seems to fall under his own control. While Maya at first feels like a plot device to drive Leonardo’s wants and fears, she too grows to become a powerful protagonist in her own right. Her teasing attitude toward Leonardo brings both tension and humor to the story.
Davide Simon Mazzoli’s THE MAGICAL LANDS OF MIDENDHIL is an exhilarating coming-of-age fantasy tale which shares heartwarming messages of finding belonging, trusting your gut, and standing up for yourself as much as you stand up for others.
~Aimee Jodoin for IndieReader