Escala's Wish: An action-adventure, unusual romantasy filled with banter, light humor, and real-life emotion (Tales of Valla) - Book Review

In Escala's Wish, the debut novel of David James' Tales of Valla series, readers are swept into a world where the whims of a curious pixie can tip the scales of existence. Guiding us through this richly imagined realm is Wigfrith Foreverbloom, a charismatic gnome bard whose voice gives the tale warmth, wit, and a sense of wonder. What unfolds is a masterfully woven tapestry of adventure, one that reminds us that the heaviest boulders we must move are often the ones buried within our own hearts. Blending high-stakes magic with a surprisingly grounded look at the human—and fey—heart, this epic journey is as moving as it is enchanting.

The story centers on Escala Winter, a pixie princess from the Court of Dreams whose curiosity about the mortal realm leads to catastrophe. In this imagined world, a faerie’s kiss is far from innocent; it is a magical brand that binds a mortal’s heart forever, ensuring no other woman can satisfy them—a theft of an "ordinary life" that violates the sacred Oath. When Escala’s forbidden kiss results in the death of a human and her best friend, Rihanna, she faces the Wane. The Wane is the ultimate fey deterrent: a total "unmaking" where an individual is unraveled from the magical fabric of the realm and, most terrifyingly, erased from the memory of everyone who ever knew them. Somehow she must escape the wane, but how.

Banished to the material plane of Valla, she is given the task of "removing boulders from the True Cycle"—initially, it seems like a simple task of good deeds, but it evolves into a cosmic necessity. Unique world-building details shine here, such as the fey's peculiar measurement system (Escala is "two apples and a grape" tall) and the concept of the True Cycle, a divine rhythm of life and death that fey exist outside of until they return to raw magic upon death.

What stands out most is the thematic evolution of love. Escala begins the novel believing love is a "fleeting spark" or a "magical thrill," but through her companions—the stoic ranger Roedyn, the fire-starting sorceress Harper, and the frog archdruid Sticky—she learns that love is, in fact, a sacrificial choice. Whether it is Sticky protecting "nature family" members that bite, or her mother Teresa's heart-wrenching choice to leave so Escala could belong, the book argues that love is "the one magic worth dying for".

In its structure, Escala's Wish calls to mind Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time, sharing that same love of intricate magic and ever-shifting alliances. David James himself points to a more unexpected pair of influences: Game of Thrones and Mean Girls. Together, these shape the sharp, cutthroat politics of the fey elite, where every alliance carries a hidden cost and every favor comes with strings attached.

The result is a story that speaks directly to two kinds of readers. Fans of epic fantasy will feel right at home among its sprawling stakes and rich world-building. Tabletop RPG enthusiasts will find something familiar, too, and for good reason. Escala first came to life through years of roleplaying in Dungeons & Dragons and Pathfinder campaigns, and that history gives her a depth and authenticity that longtime players will instantly recognize.

Escala's Wish is a dazzling debut that balances whimsy and weight, delivering characters and stakes that linger long after the last page. . David James has built a world that lingers long after the last page—one that promises even greater wonders in future tales of Valla.  He has crafted a tale that enchants as much as it moves—highly recommended.