Review: Stormheilm by Richard J. Blanco

Royal intrigue, long-buried magic, and a time-traveling scheme to save the human kingdoms collide in Stormheilm, the new fantasy novel by author Richard J. Blanco.

After 13 years of peace between the ancient Concord and Fehr families, rumors of war in the East prompt the king to send his son on a quest of honor, but the king’s long-buried past threatens to explode a fragile balance. Tainted by lies and deception, Prince Nathaniel sides against his father and falls in league with a dangerous clan of witches who promise to help him secure the throne – provided he kills his illegitimate half-brother.

What unfurls is a royal family drama on an epic scale, where dangerous secrets and opaque motivations abound. Armed with a map and a magic dagger, traded for a soul, Nathaniel becomes an unwilling tool in a demonic plot that has been decades in the making. Despite relying on classic fantasy tropes – long protagonist journey towards self-discovery, the discovery of nascent powers, and the threatening rise of evil in faraway lands – the plot is surprising and creative.

Nathaniel is a well-defined character, as are his resentments, but ample time is also given to Daniel, Felix, Olivia, Sha and others, which creates a complex web of desires, lies, hopes and motives. Nathaniel’s descent into darkness is compelling and troubling, while the mysterious Child of Prophecy provides underlying tension and a strong motivator for the well-paced plot.

Thematically, the book touches on the complexities of love, the expectations of leadership, the struggles of adolescent uncertainty, and the human need for acceptance and purpose. These deeper themes are ideal for a YA-targeted novel, as are some of the angsty plot points that capture the stormy emotions of a teenager. Stormheilm itself – an archetypal fantasy world with warring kingdoms – feels underdeveloped, as there is a lack of cultural differentiation, and the opportunity for expansive world-building seems missed. The mechanisms of magic in the novel are clearly described, but again rely on a common fantasy element of magic having been banned after a bloody conflict in the past.

While the characters are sharply envisioned, and the plot rolls out patiently, the technical execution of the language could use some work. Early in the book, the dialogue seems solely functional, lacking much genuine emotion that would be present in such intense early exposition. The internal thoughts and reactions of characters are often narrated awkwardly, rather than being integrated into each scene or conversation. The action sequences are often rushed, while some procedural narration is dragged out. Overly convenient encounters and plot developments can make the story feel too structured, rather than flowing naturally. The story is full of twists that are completely unexpected, but a solid round of editing could tighten and tidy the writing, making the prose even more impactful and engaging.

As a whole, Stormheilm is an ambitious and unpredictable time-traveling adventure with a classic father-son struggle at its core. Featuring inventive use of magical powers and a complicated cast of characters who defy the binary of good and evil, Blanco has delivered a rich and satisfying escape.