Review: The Indivisible and the Void (Age of Axion Book 1) by D.M. Wozniak

Being able to wield powerful magic isn’t always enough to protect your heart, a lesson the protagonist of The Indivisible and the Void learns the hard way. Penned by author D.M. Wozniak, this novel presents a dark new fantasy world where the lines between good and evil are harder to discern, and the use of magic comes with inherent danger.

Democryos, the heartbroken Master Voider, decides to leave his proverbial ivory tower and go out into the land to find his lost love. Voidstone in hand, and a motley crew of companions joining him along the way, what begins as a grief-inspired trek becomes a poignant journey that could change the world – and the essence of magic.

Despite being a master of magic, Democryos still has much to learn, not only about the nature of Voidance, but about companionship, trust, and the long-term damage his own actions wrought upon the world. There is something almost Shakespearean about Democryos’ quest, and the writing does have epic peaks that reflect such high company. The depictions of magic in this book particularly stand out, as the entire basis of the supernatural powers is unique in the realm of fantasy.

Drawing from classic fantasy novels, The Indivisible and the Void features the troubled adventurer leaving the comforts of home, seeking answers, and meeting unique and unlikely partners that help him survive and succeed. However, the predictable elements largely stop there, as Wozniak has crafted a brilliant new angle on the use of magic, and demonstrates his power as a storyteller from the very first page. The secondary characters are creative and work as great foils for Democryos, especially Marine and Chimeline, and the pace of the writing easily holds interest.

Some of the prose does come across as simplistic, and there are moments when the book feels more directed at a younger audience, but the underlying ideas have higher stakes. The most notable critique has to be of the dialogue and character interactions, as there doesn’t seem to be much genuine connection between the disparate players; they function as foils, but not companions. Fantasy novels are often at their strongest with a bizarre cast of characters finding common ground, but there are some missed opportunities for that sort of narrative clarity and bonding. Additionally, the staccato exposition that accelerates certain scenes helps to vary the plot pace, but some scenes are not entirely essential to the story.

Building an entire world around such a innovative premise elevates the quality of the book, even if the writing does occasionally stumble. A keen editorial eye would be able to tighten up this novel by 10% or so and accentuate some of the stronger moments in the plot, but these issues are relatively minor and don’t detract from the novel’s overall impact. There are many powerful themes in the novel – love, loyalty, lost innocence, ignorance – and Wozniak does an excellent job of blending riveting action and magic with the depth of emotion more often found in literary fiction.