The Dark Beast by Dave Mazeriski

What worked:

The concept of the Dark Beast is intriguing, as a boy is overcome by embarrassment and anger to become a dangerously magical fiend. The transformation of his personality is rather abrupt and hard to believe, but the beast he becomes is ruthless. The beast is a contradiction of thoughts, as he wants to be accepted by others but punishes them for the slightest hint of criticism. His internal conflicts and growing magical power make the Dark Beast the most interesting character in the book.

The trio of heroes is a team that’s dedicated to its loyalty to the king. They persevere in their quest to locate the Dark Beast, although their roles in the group are less clear. Ravai and Raven are introduced while causing mischief in a memorial hall dedicated to knights of the past. Their playfulness doesn’t continue during the mission, so the purpose of the first chapter is confusing. Romda joins them at the start of Chapter 2 without any further information about her character before she whips out a potion to help defend the trio. How does she know about potions, and what is her relationship to the other two boys?

Minor characters along the way share stories about the Dark Beast, and they help to understand its history. The tales about the beast make it the most well-understood character in the book. It seems all of the characters have heard details from the same tales, since they’re able to pick up the story where others left off. The stories begin when the Dark Beast is a little boy and take readers through his transformation and growth into the vindictive monster currently terrorizing villagers.

What didn’t work as well:

The book doesn’t take the time to develop characters, so it’s difficult to make personal connections with them. All three main characters are flat and lack distinct, memorable personalities. The story is told in the present tense, but the narrator is not one of the characters. It sounds strange to have someone describe what’s happening at that moment when they’re not even present. It might be more effective to have the story told first-person by one of the main characters.

The Final Verdict:

Birth of a vengeful monster. The concept of a monster arising from an offended young boy creates conflict and tension, and his character is intriguing. The story can entertain readers, although it could be more engaging with additional description and detail.