TRAVIS DAVENTHORPE GETS A LIFE!

Travis Daventhorpe, Juniper Reyes, and Derek Devers return to face the fearsome foe Nol Invictus at their middle school dance.

In this zippily paced third installment, following Travis Daventhorpe Powers Up! (2024), 12-year-old Travis and his friend Juniper have come clean to their families about their adventures in Solusterra and the existence of the multiverse. After a violent confrontation with a muscled mercenary named Throk the Devastator—who was dispatched by Nol Invictus to seize Travis’ sword—Travis and the gang are preparing for not only the Valentine’s dance but a fight. Meanwhile, Travis’ mentor, Bela, faces his own issues; he was exiled from the magical sect the Order of Bright Mages over his faith in the Creatrix. As the action culminates in the ultimate boss battle, will Travis be able to save the multiverse and defeat Nol Invictus once and for all? Molebash’s latest volume stays jauntily in step with its predecessors, with its colorfully rendered illustrations and page-turning action smartly balancing the palpable angst of middle school with the pressure to save the world. Clever easter eggs and running gags pop up throughout this homage to all things gaming that features a multiracial cast. For those unacquainted with the series, this installment may be a difficult jumping-in point, but new readers will appreciate the opportunity to journey through past adventures in Solusterra and the kids’ home village of Hopeton.

Graphic gamer magic.