Review: Legacy of Dolyn: Volume 1 by Amelia Guillem

Told in the format of blog posts, Legacy of Dolyn: Volume 1 is an entertaining modern fantasy, replete with pop culture references and nods to anime.

Glendolyn Villem works as a secretary in a police station, with everyday problems that are easily relatable, like searching desperately for guy on an app called “Mingle.” Then, to her great dismay, she is ordained with magical powers and joined by a cat confusingly called Gwen, who, whether Glen likes or not, will be her mentor.

Glen must deal with the burden of being a sorceress and the complexities of her powers in a world that is reluctant to accept her. What’s worse, the fate of the world rests in her hands, as her powers mean she will have to defeat the God of Darkness.

While Glen is 22, her voice reads a lot younger than her actions, pushing the novel into the young adult category, as her mood swings and the way she sees the world read more like a teenager. Issues with voice aside, the novel has an engaging premise from the start, as watching Glen struggle through her new powers is a fun escape where readers can put themselves in her shoes.

Guillem has taken a big risk in the issues that she tackles throughout the novel. One that stands out the most is the cousin to cousin relationship, which is handled deftly for a young adult audience. At first, it feels potentially done for shock value, but when seen from a higher perspective it is clear what Guillem is trying to do: subject Glendolyn, an ordinary girl, to the most extraordinary of circumstances, which are a reflection of the more fantastical issues she faces.

Within this fantasy, there are mythological undertones throughout the novel that are cleverly woven together with real world concerns. With the God of Darkness as a manifestation of evil and her magical powers a metaphor for chaos, it takes a young woman – innocent and naive – to wield something out of her understanding to eventually save the world. It’s an interesting, female twist on stories such as King Arthur and Excalibur, yet done on a more personal level.

The weakest component of the novel is the diary format, which is inconsistently realized. There are times that the voice seems to slip and the narrative isn’t held within the constraints of the form. A particular issue is the amount of dialogue, which would be difficult to report verbatim. Of course, fantasy takes some suspension of disbelief, but this seems more a problem with form than an issue with storytelling, especially as the novel mixes real world concerns with the fantasy, and so many references to modern life.

Overall, the story is an appealing blend of the everyday and magic – much like “Sabrina The Teenage Witch,” as the book mostly has a lighter flair. There are plenty of twists and unveiled secrets to keep the pages turning, so on balance Legacy of Dolyn is a solid entry into the world of YA fantasy.