Jack Zulu and the Waylander’s Key

5 min read

“Did we go back in time? Jack asked, straining to comprehend what had happened. What was happening. “Or is this another world?”
Mr. Wheeler laughed, blowing out a relieved breath. “You are in a place between worlds, boys,” he said, gesturing to the town and its surrounding countryside edged with the thickest band of fog imaginable. “Welcome to the Wayland.”

Jack Zulu and the Waylander’s Key by S.D. Smith and J.C. Smith begins a brand-new series for all ages. Written by the author of The Green Ember series and his son, this book isn’t one of my favorites, but I most certainly recommend it to both middle-grade and YA readers. Keep reading to find out why.

Plot

Jack Zulu and the Waylander’s Key is an enchanting adventure in the tradition of Tolkien and Lewis, as well as Spielberg and Lucas. But this fantastical journey launches in rural West Virginia in the eighties, with a half-Appalachian, half-African kid trying to escape the town he sees defining his small, sad life. Jack discovers a gate hiding a city between twelve realms, and finds out where he truly belongs in a surprising, satisfying adventure.

from Amazon

The early parts of the book drag. After Jack and Benny initially discover the world they’ll spend much of the story in—the Wayland—a long tour commences in which little conflict occurs. However, things speed up after that.

The authors included some clever foreshadowing as well. Of course, to discuss it would reveal spoilers, but suffice it to say it set up certain parts of the climax excellently.

That being said, a couple of elements seemed underused. Just two or three extra scenes might have rounded this book out.

Characters

All in all, the characters are solid, but not amazing. I doubt any of them will be sticking in my mind—except for one.

Benny, the confused fellow on the cover, has an amusing personality. He’s always joking around, and even when he’s not, he still comes across as funny. It’s a dry sarcasm that I very much enjoy.

Benny aside, everyone else felt like typical characters that would be in such an adventure. An old mentor with a magic sword. A love interest that makes the hero trip over himself every time she’s nearby. A bitter resident of the Wayland who opposes Jack and Benny’s every move. They’re well-written, just not unique.

Theme & Content Warnings

Jack sees his small-town home as a prison. It’s the only thing standing between him and his full potential. So when he discovers the Wayland, it’s his dream come true. He can get out of the dead-end town and save his dying mother.

Little does our hero know, he already has everything he needs. This truth gets reinforced with every turn he takes, no matter what world he’s in. By the end, he—and the reader—learn God has already equipped you for life, and that sometimes the best adventures at the ones nearby

While God is only scarcely mentioned, the theme is strongly Christian. His mother speaks of Someone who is always in control and reassures Jack that death is not the end for her. Bible verses work their way into her words often.

Another mentor, who doesn’t seem to be Christian, speaks in proverbs that ring of biblical truth. Characters often mention prayer. Jack and Benny both go to church, one Baptist and one Catholic, respectively.

Magic shows up often. For one, the cover shows off a glowing sword, which is a sword that can cut through nearly anything. Key-like objects open the gates between worlds and activate upon speaking certain words.

However, in contrast to these fairy tale-type magical objects, certain villains practice witchcraft. Pentagrams identify some of the main villain’s followers, and two characters specifically are said to practice dark magic. It’s always portrayed as evil, as taking power when it’s not given.

Naturally, violence is a content warning. A monster’s forearm is cut off, but with no description. One character causes the same monster’s heart to explode. Again, there’s barely a mention of blood, and the death is passed over quickly.

Overall

All things considered, I’d describe Jack Zulu and the Waylander’s Key as “pretty good.” I most enjoyed the worldbuilding, which gave me many ideas for a project of my own. It’s different enough from other portal fantasy stories to stand out.

The characters, with one or two exceptions, are good, but not particularly memorable. The plot is hit-and-miss, with a couple of parts dragging, and other scenes immersing me in thrilling battles.

For me, the theme pushes it over the edge from okay to recommendable. Not only is it true, but it’s based (however vaguely) on the Bible. It pushed me to make better use of the things I already have, rather than wishing for more.

This hits all the right buttons for fantasy fans, so if you enjoy stories with sword fights, discovery, great evil, and greater good, you’ll like Jack Zulu and the Waylander’s Key.