Warriors of the Black Shroud
Slapping together an assortment of well-worn devices and character types from the fantasist&#x2019;s toolkit, Howe transports a bookish 11-year-old lad from this world to save the glowing land of Nebula, which is surrounded and threatened by the evil Black Count and his Diabolonian army. Repeatedly accosted by Eddie, an insistent emissary sporting a fedora, a Red Sox jacket, and a magic sword, Walker reluctantly comes to accept that the star-shaped birthmark on his cheek means that he has been designated as a Chosen One destined to be king. Walker hardly has time for a quick tour of Nebula, though, before he and his aggressively extroverted new friend, Frankie, are swept into a desperate mission to search sunless, desolate Diabolonia for allies and then call on the local unicorns, dragons, and other animals to do battle with the blind but powerful invaders. Genre fans will be unsurprised to discover that all ends well&#x2014;or at least well enough for an opening episode; the Black Count&#x2019;s escape paves the way for sequels. Grades 4-7. --John Peters