Seeing Stone (Spiderwick Chronicles, #2)

by Tony Diterlizzi and Holly Black

[Amber (The Literary Phoenix)]

I'm not sure what I think about the Spiderwick Chronicles. On one hand, they're interesting little stories with the potential of this great big fascinating world that we can't see! But, on the other hand, the choice of adventures the children are having within this world aren't my favorite.

Take this one, for example. Simon gets kidnapped by goblins. Along the way, there are no *nice* faeries to help them, just a grumpy troll with whom the children discuss not getting eaten. When they reach the goblin camp, the goblins have killed a house cat and have it roasting on a spit. The helpful hobgoblin gives them spit to rub on their eyes. It just... not pleasant?

Plus, I'm never down for killing cats as a sidetone to a story. I've said it once and I'll say it again - authors NEVER casually kill someone's pet dog because that would be unthinkably horrible. It is JUST AS UNTHINKABLY HORRIBLE to kill someone's pet cat. Ruins books for me.

These are so short, I'll probably give book three a go - because seriously, I read this one while baking a cake - but I am not down with this cat killing and am generally... unimpressed by some of the choices? I dunno. I think I really want to like this because the world is interesting, but I don't like it. There's nothing wrong with the writing, just personal taste.