THE TRIALS OF UWE

In this epic-fantasy debut, a young wizard goes on a quest to prevent the return of a dark cosmic force.

Eighteen-year-old Uwe is a wizard-in-training in the realm of Hopen. Six months ago, his wizard parents, Charring and Annabelle, died while fighting the Evilore, a seemingly invincible “force of nature.” Now Uwe continues the battle alongside his great-great-great-great-grandfather, a wizard named Edam, who knows that he must sacrifice himself to defeat the Evilore. Edam indeed perishes in victory, bequeathing to Uwe the potent staff of U and his book of wisdom. Unknown to Uwe, an evil wizard named Vector has escaped from the prison where Evilore placed him 1,000 years ago. He plans to help Uwe become powerful enough to destroy the lingering remains of the Evilore’s spirit and then seize power for himself. Uwe merges the staff of U and Evilore’s staff of death to re-create the long-lost, powerful staff of Ail. Next, as Edam’s book instructs, he meets with the king of thieves to acquire the first of many magical artifacts. The king, Aramaan, agrees to help, but only if Uwe marries his daughter, Amanill, a dragon mistress. Masia mixes various elements from classic fantasy, such as dragons and elves, with his own unique creations. Uwe’s extended quest will feel very familiar to those who play role-playing and video games, as the hero travels the world of Arden, visiting shrines and collecting numerous items, including the “greaves of stamina” and the “boots of speed.” Still, Masia packs his narrative with reliably startling descriptions: “The Hypothalami resembled flying bats, only with enlarged heads that looked like pulsating brains.” The story, however, mostly tells readers what happens in expository bricks of text rather than letting the tale unfold through the characters’ actions. Sometimes the author’s imagination reveals truly strange details, as well, as when Uwe “licked his lips as if waiting to taste the magic...and his lips tasted good, like orange sherbet.” Overall, though, this hero’s quest has heart, particularly in its depiction of the love between Uwe and Amanill, but it feels conceptually tangled and top-heavy.

A fantasy that’s full of colorful ideas but needs streamlining.