Review: A Smuggler’s Path by I.L. Cruz

A delightfully creative adventure, A Smuggler’s Path by I.L. Cruz stands alone in a very crowded fantasy genre, boasting a youthful, energetic spirit and a wonderful new world to explore for readers of fantasy.

The Enchanted Isles are the place where magic fled when the world of men became too dangerous for mages. When the fires of the Spanish Inquisition burned, it was time for the magic-wielders to find safer shores. However, after struggles and violence arose between the three founding sisters of the isles, the freedom of this magic disappeared. It once more became a sacred thing, something to fear and hide – depending on who you were and where you lived.

Atop this backdrop Cruz creates a motley assortment of intriguing characters, including Inez, the young woman trying to find her way in what used to be a magical world. It is in her family’s blood to return the wonders of magic to all the Enchanted Isles, but the danger in doing so could cost her everything. Inez can handle the dangers of the streets, but may not be ready to handle all the secrets of her family, or the great lengths that those in power will go to in order to control the distribution and use of magic.

From hidden markets and magical cowry shells to corpses in the street and a talking dog with a head full of secrets, this YA fantasy novel swings wildly between intense drama and lighthearted storytelling, and Cruz pulls off this balance remarkably well. While the stakes feel high at certain points in the book, there is also an effortless whimsy to the writing that makes this a fast and enjoyable read. Cruz has a gift for quickly creating memorable characters, as well as threading fantastical elements and creative magic through seemingly “normal” moments of narration, making this a comprehensive and immersive reading experience.

Given the target audience for the book, the writing is understandably simple, but there are certain moments where the narration feels plain or too straightforward. The story needs to move along, but not at the expense of useful detail. Other sections are quite procedural, in the sense of “this, and then this, and then this” happens, which lacks the flair or narrative color that other scenes embody so well. In terms of technical editing, there are some mistakes and stumbles in syntax and grammar, but not enough to be a serious distraction. In short, the novel is uneven in places, which is an easy fix, but does detract from the flow of the read.

Despite these issues, there is boundless imagination flowing through these pages, and a rich cast of characters to build from for future books. The Enchanted Isles are a fascinating setting with a meticulously drawn history that can match most any fantasy universe, and with a gentle editorial nudge in the right direction, the rest of the books in this series could quickly be elevated from good to great. As it stands, A Smuggler’s Path is an entertaining read with a uniquely creative cast of characters, and a colorful world that readers will want to visit again.