Fablehaven Grip of the Shadow Plague by Brandon Mull, 477 pages

"Strange things are afoot at Fablehaven. Someone or something has released a plague that transforms beings of light into creatures of darkness. Seth discovers the problem in its infancy, but as the infectious disease spreads, it becomes clear that the preserve cannot hold out for long.

In dire need of help, the Sorensons question where to turn. The Sphinx has always given sound advice - but is he a traitor? Inside the Quiet Box, Vanessa might have information that could lead to a cure - but can she be trusted?

Meanwhile, Kendra and members of the Knights of the Dawn must journey to a distant preserve and retrieve another hidden artifact. Will the Society of the Evening Star recover it first? Will the plague eclipse all light at Fablehaven?" -Book Jacket

Someday I'll get back to reading a more diverse selection of books, but for now childrens' fantasies are providing a great escape from my stressful real life! I didn't like this one as well as the second book, but that said, I still really liked it. The thing I liked so much about the second book was that Kendra and Seth didn't know who were their friends and who were their enemies, and it had a great ending. This book declared more of the bad guys but still left you guessing about Vanessa. This book introduced a few new characters, one a dragon tamer. His relationship with Kendra will be interesting. I like how Kendra and Seth continue to learn more about their gifts and abilities. This book had me worried about a few of the main characters for awhile and I'm wishing I had already ordered the 4th one.