Wednesday, December 31, 2014
The Wrath of Mulgarath (The Spiderwick Chronicles #5) by Holly Black and Tony Di'Terlizzi
A horde of goblins have attacked the Grace house and taken the kids' mother. Along with several of the new friends they made amongst the fae creatures they venture to the forbidden junkyard, the home of the monster Mulgarath who has also taken their prized field guide.
This book is a great conclusion to the series. There's a lot of action and danger and everything is wrapped up nicely.
My overall feeling about the series is that all five of these 'books' should just be one single book! It was a great series, well-told, aptly illustrated, but it was all one real story that should have been contained in a single book. That way there could be sequels and we could learn more about the Grace kids and the field guide. But, oh well, they split them up into this series that has a lot of potential but has suddenly ended.
Reading Level: B
Story: 4
A very good ending to this series.
Characters: 4
Some great new characters are introduced including Mulgarath, who turns out to be a right nasty villain.
Style: 4
I felt the style worked well for the story.
Cover: 4
Decent covers that fit the story.
Presentation: 5
The art work is fantastic and is a great example of story and art melding together.
Epicness: 2
It has great potential but is far too short to be epic.
Final Score: 3.83
The Ironwood Tree (The Spiderwick Chronicles #4) by Holly Black and Tony Di'Terlizzi
After a great fencing match (during which Jared gets himself into trouble), Mallory suddenly disappears from the school grounds where the match took place. Jared and Simon race off to find her and track her down to the old quarry across the street. When they get into the quarry, however, they find themselves trapped along with their sister by a large group of dwarves.
The book really picks up the adventure again. There's real danger and heroics which were lacking in the previous book.
Reading Level: B
Story: 4
I really enjoyed the adventure.
Characters: 4
Although the dwarves are quite generic in their dwarviness, I did enjoy the world that they were building underground.
Style: 4
I felt the style worked well for the story.
Cover: 4
Decent covers that fit the story.
Presentation: 5
The art work is fantastic and is a great example of story and art melding together.
Epicness: 2
It has great potential but is far too short to be epic.
Final Score: 3.83
The Seeing Stone (The Spiderwick Chronicles #2) by Holly Black and Tony Di'Terlizzi
Jared's new fairy friend Thimbletack warns him to get rid of the field guide before something terrible happens. Just then something terrible does happen when Simon is kidnapped by invisible monsters. Thimbletack helps Jared find the seeing the stone, which allows him to see all the mysterious creatures of the world, then he and Mallory set out into the woods in an attempt to rescue their brother.
I liked this book more than the first. We get to meet more of the mysterious creatures from the field guide, plus there is a lot more danger and adventure. The thing that bothers me the most though is that it just feels like a couple more chapters of the first book that I read, not a complete book on it's own.
Reading Level: B
Story: 4
I enjoyed the story a lot but I still wanted more.
Characters: 4
It was great getting to see a variety of the creatures from the field guide.
Style: 4
I felt the style worked well for the story.
Cover: 4
Decent covers that fit the story.
Presentation: 5
The art work is fantastic and is a great example of story and art melding together.
Epicness: 2
It has great potential but is far too short to be epic.
Final Score: 3.83
The Magician's Nephew (The Chronicles of Narnia #1) by CS Lewis
Digory Kirke is sent to live with his crazed aunt and uncle in London and right away he makes a new friend in his neighbor Polly Plummer. While exploring the row of houses that they live in, the two young kids stumble into Digory's uncle's room where the uncle tricks Polly into touching a ring that makes her suddenly vanish. Digory learns that his uncle had made the rings in order to send the user to a magical world (which he dared not go himself) and he convinces Digory to use the other ring to travel into the world to find Polly (as well as explore the new world).
This book is the first book chronologically in the Chronicles of Narnia, however it was the fourth book out of the five to be published. Lewis suggested that the books be read chronologically as opposed to the publishing order, so that is what I did!
In this book we discover the origin of Narnia.
Reading Level: A
Story: 5
I enjoyed the story, but it felt far too brief. At the same time, it feels that there's too much to the story for it to be a short and simple chapter book.
Characters: 4
The characters are great and feel real.
Style: 4
Lewis's style has a nice classical feel to it, it helps the plot flow well, and allows us to really visualize Narnia.
Cover: 5
I read the series from the leather bound Barnes and Nobles collection, which is a fantastic set of books. (I used the old covers in my review that I remember from the '80s though!)
Presentation: 4
The original artwork at the beginning of each chapter is nice, however, I would really love a fully illustrated version!
Epicness: 5
It has great potential but is far too short to be epic.
Final Score: 4.5
The Castle of Llyr (The Chronicles of Prydain #3)
Dallben has decided that Eilonwy must be sent away to the kingdom of her relatives to receive a proper education. Taran and Gurgi escort her on journey overseas, where they also meet Fflewddur and Gwydion. Shortly after their arrival, though, Eilonwy is kidnapped and Taran sets out on a mission to find and rescue her.
The third book of the series continues the pace that the second book set. I am truly now in love with the characters and the story itself.
Reading Level: A
Story: 5
The series is really in full stride now.
Characters: 5
Absolutely love the characters. It is a terrific ensemble.
Style: 5
Style works really well.
Cover: 3
The newer books have a decent cover, but looking back at the older covers makes me cringe.
Presentation: 3
Nothing special. The series really needs a grand hardcover version, maybe with all five books in one!
Epicness: 5
Truly epic series.
Final Score: 4.33
Taran Wanderer (The Chronicles of Prydain #4)
Now that Eilonwy is gone, Taran has decided to journey around Prydain in search of his true parents.
This book does a great job on really focusing on Taran and his personal development. He really grows as attempts to find his place in life.
Reading Level: A
Story: 5
The series is really in full stride now.
Characters: 5
Still in love with the characters.
Style: 5
Style works really well.
Cover: 3
The newer books have a decent cover, but looking back at the older covers makes me cringe.
Presentation: 3
Nothing special. The series really needs a grand hardcover version, maybe with all five books in one!
Epicness: 5
Truly epic series.
Final Score: 4.33
The High King (The Chronicles of Prydain #5)
Taran hurries back to Caer Dallben from his great journey in order to meet Eilonwy as she's returned from her schooling on the Isle of Mona. Just arriving there, the rejoice is broken when Gwydion arrives, injured from an attack by servants of Arawn, who have stolen his sword. Finally the group decides to journey out to Annuvin to defeat Arawn at last.
The final book in the series is a full-on adventure as they make their final stand against Arawn. This is a very fitting and perfect finale for the series. I have to rate this as one of the best series I've read. I honestly teared up at the end as I had fallen in love with the characters and it was tough to see them go. I definitely recommend the entire series to lovers of fantasy, it is a must read. I know I didn't rate the first book greatly, as I felt it had a rough start, but the series really paid off for me in the end.
Reading Level: A
Story: 5
A brilliant conclusion to the series.
Characters: 5
Still love the characters.
Style: 5
Style works really well.
Cover: 3
The newer books have a decent cover, but looking back at the older covers makes me cringe.
Presentation: 3
Nothing special. The series really needs a grand hardcover version, maybe with all five books in one!
Epicness: 5
Truly epic series.
Final Score: 4.33
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