WRATH OF MULGARATH, TONY DITERLIZZI

The Grace children have clashed with goblins, elves and dwarves -- not to mention random other fey creatures -- but this is when they finally clash with the cruel ogre Mulgarath, who has been wrecking everything in their lives. "The Wrath of Mulgarath" tidily wraps up this little series with the right combination of action, magic and bittersweetness -- and, of course, battling the evil ogre.Simon, Jared and Mallory return home... only to find that their home has been trashed and their mother kidnapped. Even worse, Mulgarath now has dragons working for him. Desperate to figure out how to defeat the ogre, they rush to the elves and ask to speak to Arthur Spiderwick (who has been with them for all this time), but they must pay a price for the privilege.So the three children (plus Hogsqueal and Thimbletack) set out toward Mulgarath's stronghold, the Palace of Trash. But even if they are able to defeat the ever-disgusting goblins, the fire salamanders and the dragon and somehow fight their way in, they have little idea of the trap that has been set for them. Can they finally defeat Mulgarath?"The Wrath of Mulgarath" is a pretty solid ending to this little fantasy series -- no big dramatic changes, just the Grace kids struggling to return things to the status quo, which doesn't seem so bad after you've been battling goblins. All the story arcs are neatly wrapped up, in a way that satisfies but also leaves you wishing there were a little bit more to their tale.Holly Black's vivid writing is as lovely as ever, even when she's describing unsavory stuff like a cow suckling fire salamanders, or the palace (the roof is "black with tar and covered in overlapping layers of glass and tin that looked like fish scales"). Perhaps the only scene that's a problem is the rather anticlimactic way Mulgarath is dealt with, but the scene that follows -- a bittersweet moment involving Arthur Spiderwick -- makes up for it.The book also neatly wraps up the character arcs that have been going on through the series -- the kids no longer bicker and criticize each other, and are much quicker to try to save each other. Additionally, Jared seems to finally work through the last of his post-divorce issues, which is a nice touch, but it doesn't feel too pat or abrupt."The Wrath of Mulgarath" is a solid, dark-edged finale for the Spiderwick Chronicles, wrapping up all the plot threads while leaving the door open for more stories.

For fantasy books, it is difficult to put border who shall see the "fantasy" in the reality of the books. First it was only the Grace children, then they found their great aunt Lucy can see fairy. Then it is their mother. This book wraps up the battle against Mulgarath and the encounter of long lost relative Arthur Spiderwick himself. The series do not let you down.

Great book, in wonderful shape. Exactly what we were looking for.

Tolles Buch hat mein Sohn verschlungen

Me and my boys (age 6 and 8) have been loving reading these together. Good stories, short and easy for a chapter a night reading.My 8 year old would enjoy reading them by himself but my 6 year old struggles with some of the words when reading independently (his reading ability is very average compared with his age-group friends).I was worried they were a bit scary at first for my two, but it takes you just to the edge but brings you back so nothing gets too frightening!