DAVID MASSEY AND THE HIDDEN UNDERWORLD, by Andrew M. Nehring, is a taut YA sci-fi adventure that once again finds the boy genius trapped in an interstellar nightmare. Fresh on the heels of saving the world, David Massey wants nothing more than to return to school and finish the eight grade. Unraveling the Quantum Flux was fun and all, but David has more than had his fill of temporal hijinxs. Besides, school is the one place where David gets to see the girl of his dreams, Rory. And with high school on the horizon, he has every intention of making up for lost time. Unfortunately, David barely has a chance to settle in before a Time Cop named CP shows up. While his former partner in time is a welcome sight, David soon learns that CP needs his help. The Time Police are all dead, save for CP, at the hands of a mysterious warrior. Once again, David and CP are off on a race against time with the fate of the universe hanging in the balance.
DAVID MASSEY AND THE HIDDEN UNDERWORLD is a shining example of how to craft a compelling sequel. The inherent challenge to any second installment is satisfying the expectations of a returning audience and newcomers alike. Striking a proper balance between the two is no small feat, but Nehring is more than up to the challenge. While DAVID MASSEY AND THE HIDDEN UNDERWORLD builds squarely upon the events of its predecessor (David Massey and the Quantum Flux), the book also works well as a standalone story. In fact, the only major gripe fans may have is the inherent formulaic nature that accompanies the ‘fate of the world’ premise. That said, Nehring successfully (at least in this instance) presents stakes that feel authentic.
At less than a hundred pages, Nehring has opted for a ‘soft’ sci-fi approach, glossing over the finer details of time-travel and technology in favor of plot points and spirited banter. This inadvertently leads to a string of MacGuffins and a plot that occasionally feels too linear for its own good. Even David, billed as a ‘genius’ from the start, rarely gets the opportunity to show off his ingenuity. While this is all somewhat excusable given the intended audience, a heavier dose of exposition may have been warranted given the ambition of the time-travel premise. As it stands, it’s the endearing relationship between David and CP, and the simmering romantic tension with Rory that fuels this story. Despite the nearly non-stop action and the myriad of otherworldly characters, the chemistry between all three characters works on multiple levels. Add to that an ending that perfectly sets up the next installment and you have a sophomore release that effectively sidesteps any hint of a slump.
Featuring an ever-resourceful eighth grader, a temporal warrior who’s the last of his kind, and a healthy dose of time travel, Andrew M. Nehring’s DAVID MASSEY AND THE HIDDEN UNDERWORLD is a fun, action-packed adventure ready-made for a new generation of YA readers.
~James Weiskittel for IndieReader