Title:  Raven, Romda and Ravai: The Missing (Vol.3)

Author: David Maruszewski

Genre: Middle-Grade Fantasy

 

In this third outing, the three popular Knights are dispatched to the quirky village of Ashton in the northeastern corner of the kingdom to investigate reports that townspeople appear to be vanishing.

The intrepid trio soon discovers that nearly half of the villagers have disappeared without any clues to their whereabouts. Raven, Romda, and Ravai desperately need to find the culprits before any more people are taken, but who can they trust in this strange town?

The Missing can be read as a standalone novel, apart from a few references to previous stories. It is a self-contained, easily digestible tale. However, a glossary would be beneficial to give readers context on Raven, Romda, and Ravai, and the setting for these novels. Maruszewski lends the impression of a medieval, fairytale-like village with his depiction of Ashton, but it is not entirely obvious if this is correct.

However, he provides a short explanatory note explaining that his primary motivation in penning these novels is to give a fun, easy read for middle-grade readers who might find traditional literature overly-involved or stuffy.

The Missing certainly fulfills this well-intentioned objective. It breezes along with a cheery briskness and a simple, accessible prose, a straightforward but gently intriguing plot.

Regardless, the opening impresses with a nicely old-fashioned feel redolent of the Norton Juster novels for young readers. There is a folksy, rustic charm to the characters and narrative, the latter gently sprinkled with a hint of the supernatural that provides an instant hook.

Chapters are short and Maruszewski does not prevaricate, dropping the reader together with the three Knights straight into the town of Ashton for their missing persons’ mission during chapter two.

The warm dynamic between Raven, Romda, and Ravai is nicely presented.  Maruszewski is careful to ensure there is a playful sense of humor injected in their exchanges while they begin to explore the town and investigate.

However, it is occasionally difficult to differentiate between them, especially given the similarity of their names, although the “3Rs” reference is a smart touch. Nonetheless, as the story progresses and each has different roles in the investigation, their personalities become more distinct.

The narrative is fast-moving. Maruszewski maintains a buoyant pace and uses the present tense to enhance its immediacy. It does make the young reader feel as if they exist within and are being carried along by the story.

As befits the somewhat peculiar olde-worlde little town, Maruszewski has peopled it with a curious collection of colorful, eccentric characters who all seem to possess a slightly sinister or downright odd streak.

It effectively renders them all suspects, and for some chapters, Maruszewski toys with the reader and the “3Rs” as the villagers’ reliability and trustworthiness pendulum back and forth.

Rick is one such example together with the whimsical, slightly theatrical Rollie. However, the most intriguing characters are the Mayor and Stephen the antique dealer. Maruszewski throws the reader several red herrings while the solution to the missing townspeople is hiding in plain sight.

The final reveal opens quite a malevolent can of worms, but the jaunty spirit that fizzes through The Missing continues, even when events turn dark and the story veers into science fiction territory. Toward the conclusion, Maruszewski’s prose takes on a screen-writerly tone, which adds an interesting flavor.

The Missing is a fast, light, and readable addition to Maruszewski’s middle-grade fantasy series. Written with enthusiasm and driven by an engaging cast, the novel delivers on the author’s promise to provide action, humor, and amusing characters.

 

 

This Editorial Review was written by the Book Review Directory staff. To receive a similarly honest, professional review for one of your own books, click here.