THE STONEKEEPER'S CURSE (AMULET #2) - Kazu Kibuishi

Having enjoyed the set up of young Emily and her fated role as the new stonekeeper in the first of the Amulet series, what a pleasure to find out even that highly-entertaining graphic novel was merely a prologue compared to the amped-up pacing, story, and settings of book two.  The Stonekeeper's Curse picks up where book one left off, with Emily and her brother and new friends journeying to a land where they can find a cure for the kids' mother, who is dying from a slow-acting poison.  But even more than that, Emily's role as stonekeeper - and the curse that goes with its responsibilities - is brought more to light here, as well as the heightened threat over Emily and her family as the Elf King sends his second-in-command out to destroy her.  As in the first book, the artwork here is breathtaking - putting you right into the story and its characters' heads - but its the ramping up of pacing, characters, and plot that make this one a richer, fuller read.  Can't wait for book three.  ****1/2

ARAMINTA SPOOKIE 1: MY HAUNTED HOUSE - Angie Sage

Having received an ARC of a more recent book in this series via NetGalley, I decided to start with the first in the series to at least get an idea of the characters.  Araminta Spookie lives in Spookie House with her Aunt Tabby and Uncle Drac - a huge, rambling old home that, quite frankly, Aunt Tabby is getting tired of maintaining (she hates the boiler; OMG, do not get her started on the boiler).  So while it shouldn't come as a surprise when she decides to sell the house, a startled Uncle Drac (who sleeps in a sleeping bag hung suspended in a turret of the home that houses his bats) and obstinate Araminta don't want to go ... and it's Araminta who formulates a series of plots - including spreading word that the house is haunted - in order to save her home.  Though very light on plot, this first-in-the-series has a likable young heroine as its star, and blends the right elements of spooky fun and humor without being too scary for the youngest of readers at all.  Also kudos to what could have been an entirely predictable ending that, instead, ends up being kind of funny and sweet, setting readers up for the next book, as well as some nice, gothic-style illustrations via artist Jimmy Pickering.  ***1/2

GILT BY ASSOCIATION - Karen Rose Smith

Though the third in the Caprice De Luca home staging mysteries, this was my introduction to the Kismet, Pennsylvania amateur sleuth whose obsessions include 1960's fashion, rescuing animals, and her business of staging upscale houses going up for sale.  Here the murder comes close to home when Caprice discovers the body of her latest client, Louise Downing (also her mother's best friend), shot to death in the Downing greenhouse.  A relatively private but popular society matron in town, Louise's murder, Clarice learns after a bit of digging, provides no shortage of suspects - the cheating husband, his potential mistress, a disgruntled maid who'd been fired? - but it's the discovery of an incident buried in Louise's past that may put Caprice in the murderer's sites at last.  Caprice, her family, and the residents of Kismet (both human and animal) aren't without their charms in this nicely-written cozy, and author Smith builds up genuine suspense toward the end ... which, to me, disappointed a bit as it wasn't so much about Caprice figuring things, out as it was about her showing up at the right place at the right time - and included a murderer's confession that felt right out of a B-movie from the 1940's.  But even with the slight letdown in the end, Caprice and company were worth the visit, and overall the novel packed enough suspense, humor, mystery, and just a hint (thankfully) of romantic triangle to pick up the first two - or next one - in the series, as well.  ***1/2

Note: I received a free ARC of this title via NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review. 

THE STONEKEEPER (AMULET #1) - Kazu Kibuishi

Over time I've delved into various forms of either manga or graphic novels, trying to figure out what all the passion was about, but never fully stayed with one until I came across Book One of the Amulet series.  I "discovered" author/artist Kazu Kibuishi via the documentary Stripped, and what I could see of his work intrigued me ... yet I wasn't prepared for the breathtaking work I saw in the pages of The Stonekeeper.  The story of young Emily and her brother Navin, who move with their mother back to her childhood home after the tragic death of their father only to discover their late great-grand-dad's home has some magical secrets hidden within, feels like a prelude to a bigger tale as the family is drawn into a world of talking animals, spectral demons, and terrifying monsters in which Em is put in charge of a stone that could either help them all escape - or destroy everything.  The beauty of the art if spellbinding, the story laying everything out for a rocking finale that hurtles you right into book two.  Beautifully done by a brilliant artist, thanks to whom I am now more than anxious to dive into the sequel.  ****