Book Review: Journey to Torcia by Jared Woodcox

If you’re a fan of unique magic systems and a gripping coming of age story, the Journey to Torcia might be for you. This fast paced first entry into the Shadow Casters series is a unique journey that many readers will enjoy. Jared Woodcox is a skilled author and storyteller who takes you on this fun adventure.

In this world recovering from a generations-long purge of the Shadow Casters that once filled the land, the world struggles to find a balance to move forward. During this tense time, Kaito, Sumi, and Nigel are ready to take their first test to become Shadow Caster Officers by passing an extremely difficult series of events called the Daylight Trials. As they train and struggle to pass their test, the world around them teeters on a knife’s edge without them knowing.

If you enjoy unique magic systems, this series is likely for you. In this world, people who are sensitive to magic use light and gestures to create shadow symbols that summon weapons and monsters that are linked to their soul. These gestures can create anything from a simple slug to a massive shadow dinosaur. 

This magic system leads to a fast paced story filled with three young people discovering who they are and what they’re capable of. Crushes and rivalries mix with the stresses of students preparing to take their final exams and going on a journey that is far more than what they originally thought it was. You see several intricate combat scenes and moments that tug on your heart strings.

Personally, I’m not a huge fan of head hopping in fantasy stories and this story does bounce perspectives quite frequently. I know this is purely a personal thing and I know several people who don’t mind this, but it did slow me down a little. It would be good to be aware of this when you give the story a try. Beyond this, I didn’t have anything else that slowed me or pushed me out of the story.

I found Jared at DragonSteel Nexus during a break from my booth and I was sold by his pitch. This was a great find along with several others that I’ll be reviewing for the next few months. If you’re looking for a new story to take you on a great new journey, give Journey to Torcia a try.