Title: Black Menace: Scourge of an Apocalyptic World
Author: Kenneth J Sousa
Publisher: Readers Magnet LLC
ISBN: 978-1959165644
Pages: 212
Genre: Mystery / Thriller & Suspense / Teen & Young Adult Books
Reviewed by: Alyssa Avina
Pacific Book Review
When it comes to growing up, one of the most difficult things a teen can do is to go out on their own for the first time and establish an identify all their own. To find out what their purpose is, or to see how they survive in the world without the support system they have known all their lives, is the cornerstone of any young person’s ascent into adulthood. The mark of tragedy early in life can also be a catalyst for this type of emergence, as loss and grief can force us to grow up much faster than we could have anticipated.
In author Kenneth J Sousa’s Black Menace: Scourge of an Apocalyptic World, the author shares the story of a young moorhen named Mik is forced to set out into the world on his own after the tragic loss of his entire family to a ruthless predator. Forced to survive, he must battle deadly predators on the lake of the wilderness before he comes across the Greybeard, an evil great blue heron who is controlled by the Black Menace. Upon meeting a mentor and subsequently his mate Bek, the moorhen must raise an army to face this great threat once and for all.
The author does a remarkable job of crafting the story in a way which feels both grounded in reality and yet fantastically outside of the world we know. The collective world the author builds within this wilderness setting is perfectly paired with the rich and dynamic characters of the story itself, and the mythos around how these animals interact with one another, and how their society works was well established by the author. The powerful imagery and heavy atmosphere is underscored by the shocking events that shape Mik’s story arc, and the diverse setting and cast of characters really help shine a light on our world’s ecosystem as a whole.
This is the perfect read for those who enjoy YA reads, especially those that employ some thriller and mystery elements into the story and have a unique cast of characters such as these wildlife animals. The heart of the story seemed to rest in the strong themes of loss, love, and identity the author sewed into the narrative. The way Mik is transformed and forced to grow in order to survive in a world without his family, as well as the feelings of self-doubt and fear which force him to overcompensate to the world around him, his own confidence, and the heartfelt connection he develops with Bek, make this a remarkable world to get lost in.
Thoughtful, entertaining, and hopeful in its approach to theme and storytelling, author Kenneth J Sousa’s Black Menace: Scourge of an Apocalyptic World is a must-read YA Mystery and Suspense Thriller and a brilliant world-altering narrative that hones in on iconic storytelling themes. The twists and turns the story takes, as well as the fast-pace of the narrative and the dynamic characters, will keep readers invested as the story progresses.
