Review - The Stonekeeper's Curse

The Stonekeeper's Curse (Amulet #2)
by Kazu Kibuishi
Date: 2009
Publisher: GRAPHIX
Reading level: MG
Book type: graphic novel
Pages: 219
Format: e-book
Source: library

In this thrilling sequel to AMULET #1: THE STONEKEEPER, Emily and her brother Navin head for Kanalis, a beautiful and mysterious city of waterfalls, where they hope to find the antidote for the poison that felled their mother. That cure lies in the eggs of a giant serpent atop Demon's Head Mountain, but the kids' archenemy, Trellis, is headed for the peak, too. A battle that will engulf all of Kanalis is looming. It's up to Em to triumph over evil while controlling the amulet's power... without losing herself!

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This was definitely weaker than the first volume. More graphic, too, with some of the scariest illustrated villains I've seen in a while. However, it reads pretty young. I know it's supposed to appeal to kids, but a tween telling her mom to basically go away and let the kids handle things because it's too dangerous is way too unrealistic for my taste.

While this series is aimed at middle graders, the plots and themes are kind of simplistic and unsophisticated. The robots and Miskit (What the heck is he? A robot? An animated toy? He heals, so I'm assuming he's organic, but... I don't get it.) were one thing in the first book, but now we've got talking animals and trees, and I'm finding it all just a bit silly. I probably won't be continuing with the series.

Kids might like it, though...

Plot: 2/5
Characters: 2/5
Pace: 2/5
Writing & Editing: 3/5
Illustration: 3/5
Originality: 2/5

Enjoyment: 1/5

Overall Rating: 2 out of 5 ladybugs