THE CURSED CLOAK OF THE WRETCHED WRAITH

Zenith Maelstrom reenters the twisted, fantastical world of GrahBhag, this time attempting to save that universe—and his sister and his best friend, who are trapped there—from the evil Wraith once and for all.

In this third and final installment of the Horrible Bag series, 11-year-old Zenith is alone in the regular world, while his sister and best friend remain in GrahBhag. He dives back into that world, only to find that two years have passed, and many things have changed. He learns that best friend Kevin, “muck covered” and “aged preternaturally,” has become part of a gargoyle family. Apogee, who’s his older sister back home, is now 6 years old and at the helm of a revolution, seeking to overthrow the evil Wraith. Zenith attempts to help put an end to the Wraith, soon embarking on a lengthy journey to Apogee and Kevin via a series of time-bending events. Readers will be satisfied with the resolution; the ending leaves the door to future adventures slightly ajar, piquing imaginations. The heart of the story is Renzetti’s immersive world, populated by otherworldly characters like the quippy Schrödinger’s Cat and Zenith’s likable, trusty, and quirky gargoyle sidekick, Kreeble. What stands out most among the fantastical elements is the fierce love between Zenith and Apogee and their deep appreciation for the many creatures in GrahBhag. The human characters are racially ambiguous.

A rewarding ending to an imaginative, wholly original series.