Escala's Wish (Tales of Valla Book 1)

5 Star Review

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Editorial Book Review:

By Sam BC

Some fantasy novels build worlds. Escala’s Wish builds a pulse. In this opening installment of the Tales of Valla series, David James delivers a romantasy that feels alive with mischief, danger, and heart. What sets this book apart is not only its lush fae mythology, but the emotional immediacy that runs through every choice Escala makes. The story does not simply unfold. It surges.

Reading this novel feels immersive in the truest sense. You are thrown into a world where curiosity has consequences and love is both soft and unstable. Escala is not a far-off hero from a story. Even though she is a fae, she is impulsive, brave, flawed, and very human. The story is driven by that tension. The emotional stakes keep going up, which keeps people turning pages with a mix of wonder and fear. There is humor threaded through darker moments, which gives the journey texture rather than a single tone.

The book is mostly about freedom, being away from home, loyalty, and the cost of wanting something. Escala's exile is more than just a plot point. It becomes a way to think about who you are and where you fit in. The themes are based on real-life situations, so they make sense in the real world. Taking risks to meet new people, questioning authority, and learning from your mistakes. These are universal tensions that are dressed up in magic and moonlight.

James writes in a way that is very clear. His worldbuilding is deep but not too much, so readers can learn about Valla naturally through dialogue and action. The pacing strikes a good balance between quiet, personal moments and big adventures. Certain scenes linger because of their vivid imagery and emotional charge. The interplay between lighthearted banter and looming threat keeps the narrative dynamic.

This is a story that invites you to feel deeply while traveling through enchanted forests and shadowed courts. Readers who crave fantasy with emotional weight and romantic spark will find Escala’s Wish a compelling beginning to what promises to be an expansive saga.

About the Author 

David James

David James (DJ) is an attorney and lives in Northborough, Massachusetts, with his wife, Tonya, who has somehow endured thirty years of his endless parade of ridiculous character voices echoing through the house. Together they’ve raised three wonderful children, now off conquering the world through college, law school, and Boston courtrooms.

When he’s not writing fantasy novels, designing campaigns, or crafting multi-page backstories, DJ records and publishes Christian hip-hop under the stage name “DJ the Not So Ordinary.” His music is available on all major streaming platforms.

DJ is the creator of his homebrew fantasy world Valla™.

He is already hard at work on his second novel set in Valla, because, apparently, sleep is optional when your imagination won’t shut up.