Review: The Water Mage by T.J. Ripley

Whimsical and contemporary, The Water Mage by T.J. Ripley is a compelling first installment of the Lord of Chaos fantasy series.

After receiving a mysterious adventure pack on his doorstep, complete with a mind-focusing ring, Eliot Johnstone, a remarkably average high school student, finds himself plunged into a high-stakes medieval world of dwarves, imps, elves, and magic. While attempting to blend into his bizarre new surroundings – two-tailed cats and all – his previously unknown skills as a wildly powerful water mage are revealed.

Trouble is brewing in the Mage Palace of the kingdom, however, as the mighty Dominus is concerned over a recent spike in rogue death magic users, and fears a shift in the balance of elemental forces. The arrival of an impossibly strong mage from Earth is yet another potent omen, but the full extent of his powers and the explanation of his origins remain a mystery. As their two destinies advance towards one another and lines of loyalty are drawn, Eliot’s fate and the future of all magic become inextricably tied.

Some readers may find themselves in familiar territory within Candar and the book’s broader fantasy realm – a land of widespread magic where the dynamics between neighboring kingdoms and varied spellcasting classes drives much of the action. A radical sect of death-oriented wizards threatens the balance of power with their shadowy ambitions of a world dominated by magic-users. Into this complex swirl of players emerges a reluctant hero from a faraway land, with untold power and a stunning destiny unfolding before him. These are not unfamiliar tropes in fantasy, but Ripley tweaks well-worn archetypes and updates the protagonist for a post-Covid generation of readers.

Richly painted with clever turns of phrase, the prose follows in the tradition of classic fantasy sagas, which places a premium on scene-building, character nuance, and lyrical world-building. There is also a childish curiosity in the narration, particularly when Eliot is the focal point, as well as some fourth-wall breaking, and jokes that seem purely for the benefit of the reader, which helps the story breeze along.

With such a sprawling and unbelievable tale, some expositional corners do get cut with internal monologuing and lucky guesses, as well as the protagonist’s rapid acceptance of his time-traveling, world-jumping adventure. On a technical level, the writing itself also has its fair share of rushed moments, as well as an overuse of some linguistic crutches – too many adverbs, and the habit of over-explaining the significance of events, rather than subtly introducing these ideas through dialogue. Leaning too hard on the omnipotence of the narrator can verge on being patronizing, as the narrative doesn’t always trust the audience.

These issues aside, the plot remains entertaining, unpredictable, and immersive throughout. Like a contemporary Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court – but with more death magic – the prose is full of amusing misunderstandings and pop culture references that keep the writing cleverly accessible. A frenetic but page-turning read, the detailed draftsmanship of the characters, cultures, and plotlines make this a solid foundation for what should be a binge-worthy series.