Editorial Review: “Escala’s Wish” by David James

Escala’s Wish is an epic fantasy novel penned by David James. It follows Escala, the faerie princess of the Court of Dreams, as she embarks on an adventure of a lifetime. 

Review

What is love? This question has haunted all of us at one point or another. Understanding true love is no simple feat. Love cannot be easily defined. 

In David James’ Escala’s Wish, a young faerie princess of the Court of Dreams, Escala Winter, has been curious about love ever since childhood. Her parents’ epic love has made her long for a romance of her own. However, their love confused her as well. Despite their strong love, her mother left them, and her father married Morvena. Behind Morvena’s smiles, her thinly veiled insults shaped Escala’s childhood. Her stepsister, Audrey, made things all the more tough. It was Rihanna, Escala’s best friend, who made life worth living for her. Escala and Rihanna often crossed over to the mortal world in secret. During one such crossing, Escala decided to kiss a boy to see whether she would fall in love with just a kiss like her parents. Little did she know that her pursuit of love would change her life forever. One thing led to another, and Escala found herself being tried in the Court of Dreams of disrupting the True Cycle. Banished from the Court of Dreams, Escala is sent on a quest to remove the boulders from the True Cycle. Now in elf form, Escala is sent to the very place where she made her impulsive decision and lost everything. Determined to fulfill her quest and regain her place in the Court of Dreams, she sets out on an adventure of a lifetime. She is joined by Harper, Rodeyn, Sticky, and Wigfrith. 

What are the boulders in the True Cycle? Will Escala be able to fulfill her quest and return home to the Court of Dreams? Most importantly, will she understand the meaning of love? 

Escala’s Wish is an epic fantasy adventure novel penned by David James. If I did not know any better, I would never guess that this is James’ debut book. David James is a master of his craft. He created a well-defined world and completely enmeshed me in the lives of his characters. 

I felt like I was there with Escala every step of her journey. Just like Escala, I learned a lot about life and love. Sticky, the druid frog, especially, taught me a lot of important life lessons. He drove home the fact that loving one’s family is unconditional. Wigfrith, the bard, has my heart. The way he narrated Escala’s story to the patrons of the Stag and Hound was praiseworthy. His storytelling prowess reflects that of James. Wigfrith was a great friend to Escala as well. I loved how his music had healing powers. Behind Harper’s snarky comments was her tender heart. She was a true friend who was always there for Escala. I hope James tells us more about her connection  to Golden chamber pots in the next books. Rodeyn was steadfast. He never left Escala’s side. I love how his bond grew with her. I found their slow-burn romance sizzling. Rowan and Teresa’s love story made me cry. It was so beautiful yet tragic at the same time. Even the antagonists were well-made. Victor was not an ordinary villain. James took the time and effort to develop his character arc. There was a strong reason why he was the way he was. At times, I even empathize with him. It is indeed a credit to James. Morvena and Audrey had their own motivations as well. 

The pacing of Escala’s Wish is perfect. The narrative beautifully blends action, adventure, and romance. Though the novel is on the lengthier side, I never lost my interest for even a moment. I was hooked till the very end. 

David James is indeed a master storyteller. He weaves a tale of fantasy, romance, love, betrayal, vengeance, and life in his Escala’s Wish. I will definitely read the next book in the Tales of Valla series. I highly recommend David James’ Escala’s Wish to fans of fantasy novels with a dash of romance and a whole lot of adventure. 

Book Details

• Title: Escala’s Wish
• Author: David James
• Genre: Fantasy
• Theme: Romance, Magic, Betrayal, Vengeance, Family, Friendship, Action, Adventure
• Publication Date: December 13, 2025
• ISBN or ASIN: B0G1XRP6DW
• Number of Pages: 663
• Minimum Audience Age: 14+

About the Author

David James lives in Northborough, Massachusetts, with his wife, Tonya. They have three children pursuing college, law, and court careers in Boston. He writes fantasy novels, records Christian hip-hop as DJ the Not So Ordinary, created and runs the Valla homebrew world, and is developing a second Valla novel.

Book Themes

(Note: 0=none, 1=a few, 2=considerable, 3=pronounced, 4=excessive)

• Sexual themes: 1
• Religious themes: 0
• Violence, self-harm, etc.: 3
• Crude language, expletives, swearing, etc.: 1
• Other adult themes: 1

Rating

• Content: 5 stars
• Writing Style: 5 stars
• Appeal to Target Audience: 5 stars
• Uniqueness: 5 stars
• Editing: 4 stars
• Other factors: 5 stars
• Overall: 4.83 out of 5

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