Touchpaper offers a really fun interpretation of the tried and true trope of introducing a person who believes themselves to be nothing special, but is involuntarily sucked into a world of magic and adventure. Drew MacLeod fits the bill, leading a mundane existence until animals start acting strange around him – it all begins when he rescues a Jack Russell terrier from the streets, and the dog starts following him everywhere. The strangeness culminates when he crosses paths with Archer, a gruff daemon with a heart of gold, who has to share as much as he can about his world with Drew as fast as possible, because something dark has latched on to Drew.
Suddenly thrust in the aptly named Parallel Realm, Drew must navigate a world where the literal shadows can reach out for him and tear him apart, and angels, demons, elves, dwarves and shades are all too real. He is forced to feel the magic around and inside him and learn how to use it to protect himself, while trying to understand who is hunting him and why. The notion of magic takes the form of galdr, a lovely Old Norse word for "incantation", interpreted in the book as a force that beings sensitive to it can accumulate and channel to use, for better or for worse.
Each of the beings from legend and mythology that we have seen used in art thousands of times comes with a twist in Touchpaper, as they are cast in a different light than we are used to, and the notions of who is good and who is evil are turned on their head. Daemons are not inherently evil and actually want to protect humans, angelii are vain and overestimate their own power, and ælves...it might be a good idea to just run from them. However, the main characters are developed far more than just relying on the species they belong to or the way they use their galdr if they have it – they are complex in their interpersonal dynamics and their motivations.
Archer is a great mix of reliable and unpredictable, and underneath his grumpiness and short temper is a real magnetic presence, since he is a well-known force in the Parallel Realm, admired by some and hated by others. The headstrong and outspoken Alyssum has a kind and soothing personality, which corresponds to her healing skills. Traggheim is also a steadfast, hard-working, if a little eccentric friend, who brings fascinating gadgets and endless cups of Lapsang souchong to the table. Along with Garm, the dog who is more than a dog and has as much personality as any non-animal character, this quartet become Drew's closest friends and allies in the quest to understand his role in the Parallel Realm. The rest of the characters are just as fascinating, with their own quirks and motivations.
The story is narrated by Drew in the first person, with some shorter chapters in between from a third-person perspective that make for good breaks in between Drew's narrative, and at the same time allow us to glimpse what some other characters are up to in the background.
Edinburgh landmarks, historical figures and legends are thoughtfully interspersed throughout the story, which brings the city to life as the stunning backdrop to the ongoing battles between the inhabitants of the Parallel Realm. The intrigue and politics between the various galdr-folc are explained in a way that's very easy to follow and makes the stakes of the situation abundantly clear.
There is another worldbuilding twist where the characters explain why they don't use modern technology and rely on alternative/outdated sources of energy, which gives the story a unique steampunk charm. It also results in some really cozy settings, such as Archer's library of the occult, Alyssum's herbal remedy shop, and Traggheim's workshop.
It would have been nice to know a little bit more about Drew's former life in the beginning, besides the brief explanation he shares, but the fact that we don't know that much about him and instead watch him discover himself in the Parallel Realm still gives him a satisfying character arc.
With its fun interpretation of urban fantasy tropes, humor, coziness, real Edinburgh history, elaborate worldbuilding, formidable foes, and fleshed out characters, Touchpaper is an absolute delight full of heart, surprises, and the occasional adorable dog fart.
