The Wrath of Mulgarath (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 5) [Deckle Edge] [Hardcover]

Holly Black (Author), Tony DiTerlizzi (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles

Three ordinary kids, Jared, Simon, and Wallory Grace, have entered another world -- without leaving this one! Two remarkable talents, New York Times best-sellers Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black, have risked everything to bring this remarkable account to light. Five books -- one thrilling adventure -- the Spiderwick Chronicles!

Their world is closer than you think.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi pull off an impressive five for five with Wrath of Mulgarath, the satisfyingly dramatic conclusion to their series, The Spiderwick Chronicles. After the gory conclusion of the The Ironwood Tree, we don't get even a moment's reprieve before the action picks up again, in a starting chapter entitled, fittingly, "IN WHICH the World Is Turned Upside Down." Thirteen-year-old Mallory and nine-year-old twins Jared and Simon return to the Spiderwick Estate only to find their home in shambles, with trash and broken furniture scattered across the lawn and Simon's griffin chasing a "goblin" across the roof. The faerie world that the Grace kids have so slowly probed in this series has finally come home to roost. Black and DiTerlizzi pack a lot into the finale of this beautifully produced series, with dragons and goblins and elves--and even a magical cameo by Arthur Spiderwick (the long-lost author of the disappearing-reappearing Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You). We get a dramatic rescue, a clever end to a fearsome foe (with some thanks to Hogsqueal from book two), and a long denouement that leads to a final cryptic note from the author and illustrator: "Are there more ogres / and dragons to slay? / Is there more mayhem, / perhaps, on the way? / Ask Tony and Holly. / They'll swear that it's true. / But you still won't believe / what's coming for you!" (Ages 6 to 10) --Paul Hughes

Review

"With their evocative gothic-style pencil drawings and color illustrations, rhyming riddles, supernatural lore, and well-drawn characters, these books read like old-fashioned ripping yarns."

-- New York Times Book Review

"The books wallow in their dusty Olde Worlde charm: Faeries! Dumbwaiters! Attics! But then, reading has an old-fashioned charm too."

-- Time magazine

"Appealing characters, well-measured suspense and an inviting package will lure readers...Youngsters may well find themselves glancing over their shoulders."

-- Publishers Weekly, starred review

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers; 1st edition (September 7, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689859406
• ISBN-13: 978-0689859403
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 6.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #172,436 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Final Installment of the Spiderwick Chronicles, August 29, 2004

By 

Cory D. Shaw "Lover of Many Artistic Facets" (Redlands, Ca USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Wrath of Mulgarath (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 5) (Hardcover)

Another excellent series for children! Join Jared, Simon, and Mallory Grace as they come to the end (or is it? at least for this series) of their adventures into the faerie world. Guided by their mysterious uncle's sketch book the heroes and heroine of these stories will finally come face to face with the biggest, baddest, and meannest of the faeries, The Ogre Mulgarath! The first 4 in this series of five openned my eyes to a wonderful world of enchantment and I can't wait to see how it comes to an end.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Thrilling Conclusion to The Spiderwick Chronicles, October 5, 2004

By 

Erika Sorocco (Southern California, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Wrath of Mulgarath (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 5) (Hardcover)

The Grace children - Mallory, Jared, and Simon are back, but this time they are trying to save their beloved Mother who has been captured by the evil Mulgarath. With the help of Uncle Arthur's Guidebook to the Faerie World, as well as elves, and Hogsqueal, a sneaky hobgoblin, the three siblings set out to defeat Mulgarath for the last time. However, the children know that they have only a short time to save their Mother, before Mulgarath harms her, so they set their minds to do just that.

Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black have created a remarkable conclusion to THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES with THE WRATH OF MULGARATH. The three Grace children - Mallory, Jared, and Simon are braver than ever. While the adventure that they embark on is outlined in an extremely vivid and descriptive way. Filled with wonderful twists and turns on every page, as well as gorgeous black and white sketches, this is sure to be loved by all.

Erika Sorocco
Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars In which a series ends in a surprising fashion, September 19, 2004

By 

Jonathan Appleseed - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Wrath of Mulgarath (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 5) (Hardcover)

Once again artist and author team up and deliver a rewarding story. The three children are given their most frightful and challenging test yet, as when they return home they find that the house has been ransacked and much out of place - including the Field Guide *and* their mother. Her loss devastates the children, as they have no idea how to find or free her. Then they happen upon Hogsqueal (or, rather, Byron happens upon him) and learn that he can lead them to Mulgarath's Palace where they hope to find and free their mother.

Along the way they are met with gruesome sights, and perform tasks they never could have imagined themselves doing in a hundred years, and their mettle is tested severely. None more so than that of Jared. But Jared has studied the Field Guide, and even though it is no longer in his possession, his memory serves him well. So does Arthur Spiderwick, who makes a brief appearance and offers most useful advice.

The ending began to seem typical, with Mulgarath in control and speaking of the how's and why's of his desire for domination. Even though his desire to speak has been explained earlier, it is a little tedious for too many "bad guys", i.e., Dark Lords and whatnot, do exactly this. However, the denouement is unique, original, and it made me laugh.

This was truly a delightful book, from beginning to end. The writing is top notch, and I can't say enough about the art. The book dips into darkness, rises into light, dips back into darkness and offers truly ghastly portraits that should keep kids on the edge of their seats and wishing their nightlights burned brighter. Also, I loved the character of Thimbletack, both how he was written and how he spoke. The rhyming was charming and delightful.

And the rhyme at the end of the book was most entertaining. I am looking forward to its fulfillment.