I didn’t particularly want to continue reading this series out loud to C, especially since the second and third books weren’t all that thrilling. But, she desperately wants to read on (spurred by tantalizing hints from M, who’s read the series), and me, being the loving mother that I am, checked the fourth book out from the library. And amazingly enough, enjoyed it.

There was less exposition in the book, but (aside from the fact that you might wonder how Puck ended up desperately wounded) you could probably pick up the series here and not miss a thing. In fact, I’d probably recommend it. This one is easily the best of the bunch (that I’ve read so far).

Because of Puck’s injury, the Grimm sisters (along with Granny Relda, Mr. Canis, and Mr. Hamstead) need to leave Ferryport Landing and take Puck back to his fairy family in New York City. In a brilliant turn of events, King Oberon gets killed and the Fairytale Detectives are asked to find the killer. Of course there are hilarious characters along the way (love Scrooge and Tiny Tim), some fun twists, and some interesting revelations. They aren’t any closer, really, to knowing why their parents were kidnapped and are asleep, or how to wake them up, but they do know who did it by the end of the book. It had tighter writing, some pretty good action scenes, and you realize by the end of the book that while Puck’s annoying, he does add some good comic balance and relief to Sabrina’s annoying personality. (Man, she gets on my nerves.)

And we’re on to the next book. Hopefully, it’ll continue to be good. (I am harboring the secret belief — secret from my girls — that this series is going on a bit too long…. when’s it going to end??)