The Wyrm King

Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles #3

by Tony DiTerlizzi, Holly Black

Celebrate the 20th anniversary of the #1 New York Times bestselling Spiderwick Chronicles and get ready for the series soon to be streaming on Disney+ with this eighth and final installment in the fantastical adventures featuring updated text.

The Wyrm King was previously published under the series title Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles.

Nick and Laurie thought their worries were behind them when they drove all the giants into the sea. But now, the Grace kids have come to tell them they may have more trouble coming their way! It turns out the giants control the population of Hydra, a dragon-like creature that is creating sinkholes all over Florida. But with the mermaids refusing to return the giants to the shore, the nixies still missing and the threat of a destroyed Florida drawing closer, the kids have to take matters in their own hands.

Will Nick and Laurie be able to stop the destruction they unwittingly caused with the help of the Field Guide?

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Childrens, Fiction, Adventure, Young Adult, Magic

224 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 8, 2009

About the author

#1 New York Times bestselling author and illustrator, Tony DiTerlizzi, has been creating children’s books for twenty years. From fanciful picture books like The Broken Ornament and The Spider & The Fly (a Caldecott Honor book), to chapter books like Kenny and The Dragon and The Search for WondLa, DiTerlizzi imbues his stories with rich imagination. With Holly Black, he created the middle-grade series, The Spiderwick Chronicles, which has sold over 20 million copies, been adapted into a feature film, and translated in over thirty countries. He teamed up with Lucasfilm to retell the original Star Wars trilogy as a picture book and his collaboration with celebrated author Mo Willems created the bestseller The Story of Diva & Flea. The Norman Rockwell museum’s retrospective, “Never Abandon Imagination”, featured artwork from the beginning of DiTerlizzi’s career as a contributing artist for Dungeons & Dragons and broke attendance records. He has been featured in Time magazine, USA Today, CNN, PBS, NPR the BBC and The Today Show.

Reviews

[Miranda Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Did you just break into this house? Nick asked her.
"Nope," Mallory said, walking inside.

Nick and Laurie managed to divert the giants and prevent the oncoming apocalypse... or so they thought.

After consulting the Grace siblings, the children collectively realize that while the giants did terrorize the humans, they also served a purpose. And it was a very important one at that.

With the giants gone, that means nothing is left to keep the hydras in check. Except five children and a few fae companions.

No problem...right?

"...but suddenly Nick had a terrible feeling that she might not just have been right about faeries - she might have been right about everything."

Ahhhh...I can't believe it's over. When was the last time I read such a long series and enjoyed so gosh dang much of it.

I was so impressed throughout the first five-book series following the Grace siblings, then the three-book series following Nick and Laurie was also really freaking good.

I really didn't know how Nick and Laurie were going to solve this one - but I definitely enjoyed the ride! And I loved that we got to see some old favorites - Mallory, Jared, and Simon!

The faeries were perfect in this one - a bit creepy, kinda sweet, and definitely ready to rock the mortal world.

And (of course) I have to give kudos to the illustrations - which really just put the chef's kiss on everything.

Fantastic end for a fabulous series!

[Praise Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

A more chaotic, high-stakes finale unfolds in The Wyrm King, where Nick Vargas and Laurie Vargas deal with the consequences of driving the giants into the sea. What they thought was a solution turns into a bigger problem, as the absence of giants allows hydra-like creatures to multiply, causing dangerous sinkholes across Florida.

With help from the Grace siblings, Jared, Simon, and Mallory, the group must figure out how to restore balance while dealing with missing nixies and uncooperative mermaids. The story pulls together threads from earlier books, though the plot can feel a bit rushed and crowded. Still, it’s an action-heavy conclusion with strong themes of responsibility and family.

RATING: 4 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Faseeh Ilahi a.k.a Sunny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This whole series has been a 5 🌟 read for me. This was such an amazing conclusion to this spin-off trilogy. I loved it and adored it.

[[Name Redacted] · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was clearly not supposed to be the end. But here it is!

[Spens · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid conclusion to this spinoff series! There were parts where I didn't care for the writing style but overall I quite enjoyed this.

[Samantha wickedshizuku Tolleson · Rating 5 out of 5]

First and formost I love Holly's work. She has a wonderful imagination and writing style. I loved the last pages, and I'll share them with you.

Thus ends the tales of Spiderwick.
A balance has been struck.
This peace between the worldd should last
(with any bit of luck).

Two cycles showed us wonders that
were closer than we thought
and evils which grew bigger than
the last one that was fought.

But through it all our heroes learned
a lesson from their plot:
That friends and family form a bond
shich cuts through any knot.

It's time to close the book upon
these chronicles you've read.
But rest assured the faerie realm
is nowhere close to dead.

The world of the fantastical
has tales left still to share
of boggarts, nixies, sprites-- those who
surround us everywhere.

The Grace kids and the Vargases
are not the only six
who'll have adventures magical
(and messes then to fix).

New stories need an author and
they'll need a hero, too.
So hone your senses, stay alert--
these tasks might fall to you.

Please keep a pen with you to write,
a pad, a brush, and ink
Because your faerie tale just might...
start
SOONER
THAN YOU THINK!

Now see who wouldn't love that? That's all for now on this review, and I'll be back later to edit.
Ta-ta Pretties!

[Asami · Rating 3 out of 5]

The finale to a series of great importance in my childhood. And a beautiful reminder that fantastical creatures are out there.

Although the Grace kids weren't the main focus of this story, their adventure was thoroughly enjoyable.

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this last book in the series more for closure than anything else. It is good that this marks the last book in the Spiderwick series (well, technically "Beyond Spiderwick") as I think it has run out of energy.

The Wyrm King wraps up this follow up series of chapter books to the famous Spiderwick Chronicles. Beyond Spiderwick was an interesting way to extend the concept and the books were enjoyable but not in the "I can't wait until the next book comes out" way of some series.

This one continues to explore the familial relationships that result from remarriage and step-siblings. Nick and Laurie work out there relationship and bravely take on the threat of Hydra. For their intended audience (Ages 9-12) I am sure these are fun and adventurous chapter books but to me they seemed to have lost a little of the original magic.

[~Bellegirl91~ · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh thank goodness the audioboooks were 2 hours each AND for Libby reading speed being able to up the speed. I personally didn't like this spinoff and it felt like it was unecssary and they were too quick, the character development for this short trilogy wasn't the greatest, the execution of this story felt too bland and random. To the point I was honestly bored. But for kids books they'll be enjoyable still, but I think I'd prefer the originals to this with the Grace kids and their adventures. *shrugging shoulders*

So I guess overall I had to do my EXTREMELY RARE 1 star ratings for this spinoff trilogy, and no matter how heartbreaking it is it rate a book as a 1 star, I have to go with my gut and rate them all 1 star *crying*

[Monika · Rating 1 out of 5]

Finally the last book in this series! What a relief. Unfortunately I didn't enjoy this journey. Only some bits and pieces created from a fantasy world. Although, in general it wasn't interesting. Very boring and colorless. Not memorable.

[ripley ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75
SO!! CUTE!! I’m so glad I did this these were such lovable characters 💞

[Shawn Dewar · Rating 2 out of 5]

kind of hate these kids after this book. I like all the faeries they try kill and be jerks to much better. They could of helped the nixie's like 3 books ago. The field guide looks more interesting than the series.

[Valentina Markasović · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's alright

[Iwi · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's fiiine. I wish we had a bit more space for the relationships between the characters, but there's like seven kids and a guy all running around and it's dire!! so we gotta get to the action.

[Jodie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5 Stars

[Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid ending to the series. I enjoyed that the original characters came back to battle, and there were some “fun” moments.

[brii | brii (four months behind...) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh, the end of The Spiderwick Chronicles.

I'll tell you this, I'm sadder to be leaving this world than my 9 (9! She had a birthday) is. I think the giants were too much for her. And I think the idea of the Hydra's may have been too much for her. She wasn't really all that interested in this one, to be honest. I don't think I was either. While I like all of the kids, I really didn't like the idea of the Wyrm King. Of all of the Fey out there and all of the creatures this book could have been about, they picked a Hydra. So. That was kind of a letdown for me, I suppose.

The story itself was still fun, and I loved the inclusion of the Grace kids. So I think that's where my stars come from. When I asked K why she's rating it three stars, she shrugged at me. I can only assume she just mostly enjoyed the story and was happy to see Jared again. She connected with him and Mallory much more than she did with Nick and Laurie.

[Brit McCarthy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last book in the Spiderwick universe and the two families of faerie fighters unite forces - the Grace siblings and the Vargas kids to tackle a problem that just constantly gets further out of hand this whole book!

I have a feeling the authors don't like Florida because it gets absolutely razed in this book between giants demolishing buildings and the sinkholes everywhere. But it sure keeps things interesting for the reader (although typically shows no aftermath).

Its just such a wonderful middle grade series and this little extra trilogy was a great complement to the original series.

[Megan (inkand.imagination) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I really liked this book! It was a pretty decent conclusion to the series, and I thought it was perfect that the Grace siblings were there for the final defeat of the Wyrm King. This book was longer than the others, and unfortunately there were quite a few places where I felt like it dragged. But in general, it was a fun little read.

I’m really happy that I reread these books! And it was great fun getting to read the three Beyond Spiderwick books for the first time. I do think that those books are aimed at an older audience than the others because of some of the content.

[John Calado · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it. I thought it was a fitting end to Nick's story. I found myself enjoying the last three books mkre than i had the first five. I liked the characters more. I think the fifth book might be my favorite but this one is a close third. The second book in beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles being my second favorite. I think the climax needed a page or two more in what happened after Nick's plan worked instead of cutting directly to the hospital. But it was a fun read none the less.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

Trop longue cette dernière trilogie. Les cinq premiers tomes se suffisent à eux-mêmes. Et je fait un blocage sur les formulations choisies par la traductrice et l'éditeur (qui n'est pas la même que dans les deux précédents tomes). Pourquoi dire "roi de dragons" ou "roi de rats" et pas "roi DES dragons" et "roi DES rats" ? Je ne comprends pas...

[Nighteye · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good as usual

[Lady J · Rating 4 out of 5]

K, ngl, loved it. And I loved the character cross overs and found family!

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love magic

[Art Hyrst · Rating 3 out of 5]

Character - 4
Atmosphere - 5
Writing - 5
Plot - 5
Intrigue - 5
Logic - 5
Enjoyment - 5

Rating: 4.86 / 3 stars

[WallofText · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actual rating 4.5 stars

Re-read:

A fun finale, lots of action!

[Sarah Couture · Rating 3 out of 5]

Une belle petite conclusion à ce 𝘴𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘭 des Chroniques de Spiderwick qui passe un beau message en même temps.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a review of the series moreso than this book.

Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles is, at first glance, basically the kind of sequel you'd expect. It takes the themes and ideas of the first Spiderwick series and revisits them with a new cast of characters. So again, we have kids who discover the hidden magic all around them, by gaining the ability to see the fairies and other assorted magic creatures around them. And they also get involved in a big adventure, that involves having to save people from the creatures that - to everyone else - are essentially invisible.

But for the sequel series, the authors tried to mix things up a little. Family backgrounds were changed: instead of a family on the brink of divorce, we get a blended family - Nick Vargas and his new, fairy-obsessed sister who just got introduced to his life. The setting is different: the woodsy small town is replaced with the Florida beach. And, perhaps most controversially of all, the threat is replaced: sentient human-like goblins are replaced with giants and wyrms, who have the intelligence of a typical animal, but are threatening just the same.

One of the things I liked about the original Spiderwick series is the constant looming threat of the ogre Mulgareth and his army, and what they might do to the kids as they try to get their MacGuffin... er, book. All the threats they encountered were intelligent life forms - goblins that locked kids in cages and wanted to eat them, dwarves who captured the sister and put her in a sleeping spell, and the shapeshifting ogre who ultimately came after the entire family.

But in Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles, the primary threats are animalistic. The giants just stomp around and react to specific things, unintentionally damaging the world around them, hence they must be stopped. The wyrms have their own animal-like behavior, and they cause havoc without consciously knowing what they're doing. Basically, it's like taking a story of someone who has to evade a kidnapper, and deciding to write a sequel where the person has to survive an earthquake instead. The change is almost that drastic. Human vs. magic humanoid becomes human vs. magic nature.

But most of the classic Spiderwick elements still remain. Mermaids and boggarts still exist, and are still sentient and show human-like desires and pose their own unique threats. The characters still have to use brains rather than brawn to survive, always to me the defining element of an adventure. And the mix of adventurous storytelling with fun character interaction and real-life elements continues just as before, and done just as well as in the first series.

One thing does bother me a bit, though, and that is the enlarging of the cast. In the first Spiderwick, the kids were mostly acting on their own, though with some magical help and a brief chat with two adult mentors who, for their own reasons, cannot actively help them. Here, though, the kids gain direct help from not only the main characters of the first book series, but they even get help from the girlfriend of the older brother character, bringing in another outsider, and there's another adult mentor.

It is neat to see the Grace kids from the first book interacting with the Vargas family from this one, and I also liked seeing Nick's older brother introduce his girlfriend to the fairy world and get her help. But it's just not the same as with the first book, where Simon, Jared and Mallory Grace were on their own. Here, Nick Vargas has many supports he can call on, and does. In the end, of course, it's largely Nick's quick thinking that save the day, but it just wasn't quite the same feeling as when you have a smaller cast of main characters handling their own selves against a big threat.

However, even with these changes, I still liked the new series overall. The storytelling was of the same quality as the first, the interactions between the old and new characters were interesting and fun, and the change from "intelligent" to "natural" threat was actually handled pretty well, and proved to be just as devastating - actually, much moreso - as the threat from the first book series. In all, I'd have to say that Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles is a worthy follow-up to the original Spiderwick Chronicles, and while I'm still not a huge fan of all the changes done, I think that overall, it was handled pretty well.

[Michael Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easily the best book in the series!

[Drew Graham · Rating 1 out of 5]

*sigh* Where to begin?...

Well, this is the third and final installment of this bizarre little spin-off series, and unfortunately, the best thing that can be said about the whole affair is that at least it's a quick read. As I feared, this book made the second one entirely unnecessary. I guess a series of two books seems pretty flimsy, but to stretch the "plot" out across three books makes it even more obviously weak. A good portion of the book is spent totally undoing everything that was the entire point of the second book, and the happenings of the first one are almost forgotten. This book and series is really trying to get some kind of scope and feeling of real danger across, but it just doesn't work. The writing is bland, the characters even more so, and the story is embarrassingly puerile. So many plot elements just didn't make sense. I'm kind of amazed that certain (even promising!) characters appeared for literally about 20 pages throughout the entire series, and then just left the story without any decent explanation. Nick is still unpleasant, though there are attempts at his redemption, and his transformation as a character is still abrupt and pretty unconvincing. Laurie still comes across as a weaksauce Luna Lovegood copy with a fraction of the personality or memorability. Just because someone wears odd clothes and you say she's quirky doesn't mean she is--You have to show that she is. It seemed like they really wanted to cram a lot of stuff in here, so they finally had a LOT of action, and the whole thing is hurried and spread really thin across too many characters and too many events. Really, they should have spread the events of this one across two books and skipped almost all of what happened in book 2. I also just don't think the Grace kids needed to be involved at all, except maybe as a brief cameo, a subtle wink to fans of the first series, but I guess there's not much subtlety involved in this book.

And yes, the issues of divorce and mixed family are a little more prevalent here: Indeed, the first scene lands the family of five smack-dab in the middle of a hippie psychologist's office (located in her garage--how... charming?), where we are witness to an overlong and ineffective session of family therapy. Why is it that both the core trios of kids in the Spiderwick series come from broken families? It seems kind of like easy drama and angst, automatically built in, and therefore feels kind of like lazy writing. In the end, they basically hug and decide to, y'know, try and stuff. Personal growth was hastily thrown in at the end, and didn't really convince me.

I would give this 1 1/2 stars, if half-star ratings were allowed, since it IS a little better than the second one, and it DOES have a little bit more direction, but it's still just a sort of shameless attempt at capitalizing on the young fantasy genre. I liked a very few things about this book. Their take on giants, mermaids and dragons is pretty unique, but is unfortunately used to little effect in the end. The design is still pretty cool, but the illustrations have sadly declined in quality and interest from those in the first book. The kids look different ages every time they appear, they don't dress like kids really do, and WHY do Julian and Mallory have the same haircut?

On the back cover are splashed in large, unmistakable lettering the words: "IT'S OVER!!!" Let's hope so.