The Maker of Worlds

The maelstrom appeared only three days out of the year at the equinox. After the loss of his wife, Lucas looked for an escape from the real world as a way of dealing with his sorrow. Stepping into the swirling circle of water, Lucas was transported to a new world. Never losing his belief in magic, the young widower soon learns the rules are different. His needs could be met with a thought. While exploring his new powers, Lucas meets Mia, a fellow pilgrim who is also dealing with her own loss. Soon, they realize that magic can corrupt. Others use their powers to rule. While trying to find their path, a mystical guide introduces Lucas and Mia to the healer, a powerful aging wizard. With his help, Lucas and Mia learn the rules of this new realm and the cost of breaking them.

The Maker of Worlds is a cozy fantasy novel by award-winning author David Litwack. As the title suggests, world-building is first and foremost in this novel. Unlike other stories that focus on world-building, Litwack has strict rules and boundaries governing his magical realm. Characters cannot just magic their way out of trouble. Much of the plot revolves around the characters learning those rules and developing their powers. And even though there is conflict to overcome, this is a coming-of-age story about how to deal with grief and rediscover oneself. The process is more important than the outcome. Beautifully written, this novel lets the reader explore what it would be like to create your own world. This book is a great example of “show, don’t tell”. Litwack guides the reader to imagine a world of their own making, inspiring them to consider the transformative power of world-building.

Dealing with grief is never easy. Litwack shows that escape is not the only answer but rediscovering, rebuilding while moving forward can help. As a cozy fantasy, this novel is filled with powerful imagery of a brighter side of magic. When it comes to his wizardly characters, this is a good versus evil story without a lot of gray area, Litwack does not focus on the dark and negative. Readers looking for a feel-good tale will enjoy the lighter tones Litwack sets. This is a fun novel with a fantastical, ever-evolving setting that leaves the reader warm all over at the end. The novel’s feel-good nature will leave readers feeling comforted and entertained. Explore magic and hope in the The Maker of Worlds.