My first YA novel, suitable for kids 12 to 99. It stars someone you
might remember from
Chrysogon’s Coterie, though for most readers, Wazo will be brand new...
...which is probably for the best, because Wazo… well... he sees the world sideways, and not always the same sideways twice.
He’s
the sort of person who can fall into an open pit trap and call it “a
tactical choice.” Someone who takes a mysterious, possibly malevolent artifact at its word, even as it ruins his day. A guy who argues with
reality like it owes him money.
Wazo
is messy, brilliant in short bursts, prone to enthusiasm at very bad
times, and loyal in a way that terrifies his enemies and occasionally
his friends. He is either the worst hero you could ask for, or the best
one you’ll get under the circumstances.
Speaking of which, he never planned on being a hero. Honestly, he barely plans at all. But
when the wrong spell or the wrong idea lands in his
lap, things have a way of spiralling out of control—sometimes
spectacularly. Alongside Peppermint (sharp-eyed, sharp-witted, and the
only one keeping score) and Steelgrip (a seasoned fighter with more
brains and patience than he admits), Wazo keeps stumbling headfirst into
adventure.
Inside this volume you’ll find three of his finest fiascos:- The Whispering Stone—where a relic that definitely shouldn’t talk back… does.
- The Guardian’s Grudge—where the past refuses to stay buried.
- The Map That Wasn’t There—where a treasure hunt redraws the world in very inconvenient ways.
Think
of it as Wazo’s “field notes”—a chronicle of close calls, unlikely
victories, and the kind of friendships forged under duress (with
improvisation as the main strategy). It’s fantasy with a playful twist:
mysterious artifacts, magical bureaucracy that might actually be worse
than curses, and adventures that prove curiosity can be just as powerful
as destiny.
For readers who enjoy quick wit, chaotic quests, and
heroes who succeed by asking the wrong questions at the right time,
Wazo the Wildcard: Things Go Wrong, Mostly shows that persistence,
humour, and a little wonder can turn even the messiest detour into a
story worth telling.
