SPOIL-FREE SUMMARY
When the Grace children discover who the hostage of Mulgarath is, they know they must mount a rescue mission. They must finally find Arthur Spiderwick, and get some answers. And they must go to where the hostage is being kept, a castle among a massive junkyard. But there is more than Mulgarath and goblins to deal with, but dragons as well.
RETURNING CHARACTERS
Jared resolves his issues his his father by the end of the book. I thought for a main character, it made sense why all of the character development was focused on him.
Simon actually gets another opportunity to be a crucial part of the story. He has to do something very difficult for him, in particular. It's obvious when this happens.
Mallory plays the part she usually plays, the girl with the sword. She is useful, and she protects her brothers while harming a dragon. I appreciate how she is important to the story, but I still thought we never got to learn about her that much.
NEW CHARACTERS
Mulgarath is a massive ogre, almost resembling a tree. He is rather two dimensional. I can understand why he would hate humans because they rule the world and are much weaker. And the magical creatures must hide. But when he explains why he killed the dwarves, it doesn't make much sense. Perhaps if the story had been longer, we would have learned more about him.
Arthur Spiderwick finally makes his appearance. We know he cannot simply step and solve all of Jared's problems. He merely offers advice and shares some information about Mulgarath that later comes in handy. I appreciate that he wasn't built up, and then knocked down. Instead he was simply portrayed as an innocent man with an interest in faeries.
PACING
The pacing is good. Just as fast as the previous two rescue books from the series.
MEETING ARTHUR-SPOILERS
Jared goes to Arthur with mixed feelings. He previously wanted to hate him for abandoning his daughter, but now he needs him. Suddenly Arthur has risen much higher in his opinion. So to see it all come crashing down is sad, but not surprising. When Jared shows his desperation, we know that he must go on his own. He must face his fears.
Perhaps it would have been nice for Arthur to become a mentor character, but it was just too late in the story for that.
FAMILY TIES-SPOILERS
I appreciate that their mother was brought into the story in the last book. Most fantasy books I read have the parents completely in the dark about the activities of their children. Their interaction with their kids is minimum at most. I appreciate that Black realized that since the kids were going through a lot already, with the divorce and relocation, that there needed to be healing and closure in the family before the story ended.
THEME-SPOILERS
One theme that reoccurs is letting go of anger and moving on. For the entire book, Jared has held onto his anger to his father. Something happens in the climax in which Jared is forced to admit the truth: his dad is not going to change, realize he has been selfish and destroyed his family, and come home. And Jared has to recognize that and try to move on. It's terrible that a nine year old has to do that. I do wish that forgiveness would have been emphasized a little more. But it seems implied: when He see's how Lucinda treats her father, not with anger and a desire for revenge, but forgiveness and love.
CLIMAX
The location of the climax is a blend of a medieval castle and a junkyard. And instead of a long, drawn out battle with a beast that the kids probably wouldn't stand a chance against, we finally get to see Byron the Griffon in action. And Jared and Thimbletack have to think of a way to outsmart the giant ogre. Although the use of the sword does come into play.
CONCLUSION
Mulgarath was kind of a generic villain, but I appreciate the resolving of family issues, as well as including their mother in the story. I give “Mulgarath's Wrath” three and half stars.
What do you think? Have you read this book? Agree or disagree with any of my points? Please let me know!
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