Evocator Crystallum by Tolv Walstad
When I was informed I’d be reviewing Tolv Walstad’s next book, Evocator Crystallum, I was thrilled. His previous novel, The Relic ranks among the best books I’ve reviewed while working here, and I was eager to get my next fix.
I’m happy to report that Evocator Crystallum is just as good, if not even better than his previous work. As I said in my last review, “the wait between entries in our favorite series, which can be months — even years on occasion — can be excruciating. Thankfully, we have Tolv Walstad’s new, myth-inspired novel, to quench our thirst for epic, mythology-inspired storytelling.” This statement holds up just as well as it did back then.
Evocator Crystallum, set in the fantastical realm of Arcem Regni, is a tale of good, evil and the ultimate pursuit of power. While the Ancilians, Daemons and Forsvar all vie for dominance over the land, Luke Valor and his band of fellow soldiers, including the jaded, battle-hardened General Marius and the fiery Lady Beatrix, must journey deep into lands unknown in search of long lost Lady Aurelia, Luke’s lover. Although this unlikely fellowship has seen many a battle, nothing will prepare them for the hardship to come. In a world where the heroes and villains aren’t always what they seem, Luke and his friends will find themselves up against a force unlike anything they’ve ever faced.
QUENCHES OUR THIRST FOR EPIC, MYTHOLOGY-INSPIRED STORYTELLING
My favorite aspect of this novel was the way in which Walstad iterates on the way he weaves mythology into his novels. While The Relic was very clearly inspired by Norse myth, Evocator Crystallum throws Roman and Gothic elements into the mix as well, which when all combined make for familiar yet original aesthetic and atmosphere that stokes the imagination and is immediately immersive.
Equally engaging are the action sequences. In my previous review, I remarked upon the realism and brutal logic that defined each battle. Although the book is fantasy, every movement and decision made was clearly thought out by the combatants and made sense to me as the reader. This feeling is further improved upon in Evocator Crystallum, where the unique choreography of the action pairs with the new aesthetic I mentioned earlier to create something truly special, seen as such in the following passage.
“The Daemon hissed, claws extended, leaping for Luke. He moved to the left and his right ancile blade dashed upward. Claws flashed against the shielded front of the ancile, and the sharp iron cut deep into the Daemon’s skin… he moved forward along the wall rushing past the soldiers keeping watch. He wore his leather hauberk, with leather plates lining his arms to protect him from the blades.”
MULTIFACETED CHARACTERS AND A SERPENTINE NARRATIVE
Another aspect of this novel I greatly appreciated was the complexity of it. Many fantasy authors fall into the trap of crafting stories that are much too binary in nature. While simple good versus evil can certainly make for a great story, after a while it can become predictable. Walstad deftly avoids this trope, crafting multifaceted characters and a serpentine narrative that will keep readers guessing through to the final page.
As an avid reader of fantasy, I can happily recommend this novel to not only others like me, but fans of mythology, enthusiasts of shows like Game of Thrones or the new Lord of the Rings TV series, and even readers of fiction looking for an accessible introduction to fantasy.
About Tolv Walstad:
Tolv Walstad is the author of the series: Krigere & Voktere and The Ancilian Forsvar. He enjoys his time in the creative pursuits of creating a world to share with his readers. Being a father to his children is currently his most significant achievement, and where his focuses are outside of work and writing.
