Heroism isn't easy as a boy battles deadly beasts—inside and out.

Cameron might have saved the world last summer, but as another year rolls by, he hits summer camp with more anxiety than before. The hero's welcome is huge, but the Beast inside of him is sure it's not deserved and he'll only disappoint everyone...especially when evil shows its face again. Shadow-wraiths are threatening them all, and everyone is looking toward him to lead the fight. Everyone but a bully from his past. Faced against monsters from every direction, Cameron has no idea how he'll save anyone this time.

This is an imaginative tale packed with adventure, dangerous situations, and magic. From a secret society to monsters from another realm, Cameron finds himself wrapped up in more than most kids his age could ever dream of handling. The sticky situations pop up, one after the other, keeping the tension, at those moments, high and making it hard to guess what Cameron and his friends will face next. The stakes soar, the danger is deadly, and in order to reach the solution, Cameron is going to have to step beyond what he believes he's capable of...and that is exactly what rolls into one of the main themes, since Cameron's biggest problem is self-doubt.

It's interesting (and probably more realistic) to see a hero, who saved the world and knows it, return to normal life, where no one knows what happened, and have to face the same daily problems as before. His insecurities weren't blown away over night, but rather, have gained an extra edge due to the expectations others now have of him. So, that was a nice twist, especially when a bully from earlier in his childhood adds a constant reminder to Cameron's insecurities. Not that Cameron needs the reminder. His inner-banter constantly holds this insecurity up like a flashing red light, which end up getting more than a little repetitive. There are wise words from his therapist to help cope, but even these feel like they're on repeat. A little less would have been more. The tale, though, is exciting enough to smooth these over and keep the book interesting.

This is the second book in the series but can be read without visiting book one, and that even though the story builds from the previous adventure. The first chapters add a lot of backstory, which slowed the flow (especially for anyone who read book one) but made sure everything was covered to keep plot holes away as the adventure continues. Tossed in file entries from a secret society create a extra level of mystery and fun...although I'm not sure if these were in book one or not. Also, Cameron's friends sink into a bit of elemental magic, which adds a new twist on several ends.

While very message driven, this read holds more than a little excitement and adventure. I received a complimentary copy, am giving this 3.5 stars and rounding up. ( )