This review will be for the 3 book series as a whole because each book was just as good as the last. I listened to this audiobook with my husband and 11 year old daughter each night before bed and here I'll report what each family member's opinion was.

My 11yo: "I really liked this series. I loved that everyone had their own personalities, making it easy to tell who was who. The cliffhangers were a little anticlimactic. I also didn't like how Jasmine was made out to look like a rude, selfish, brat when she was actually really nice. I enjoyed the writing, it was so good that the author was able to make me hate certain characters with all my heart... that's talent. I wanted more time with the creatures individually. The mythical members of the story deserved more page time especially when they were interacting with Logan who also was an awesome creature whisperer."
Overall:
"It's no Harry Potter (though who besides the original can be?) but it was a decent book series.
All in all I rate it a 4 out of 5 stars."

My 38 year old Husband: "this was a cute series. I personally wouldn't have picked it to read on my own but it held my interest even when it was a touch trite. The mythical creatures were the best part of the book.
Overall: it was interesting enough and everyone in the family enjoyed it. I rate it 3.5 stars."

Me: this Middle Grade book was a fun way to spend some time, listening, with the family! I won't recap the synopsis but I will say that I loved how vivid it was while still staying within the parameters of a Middle Grade read. The writing was solid and, apart from trying to figure out who was causing all the ruckus and why, I really enjoyed meeting the bevy of mythical creatures! There were the usual suspects... mermaids... gryphons... dragons... a basilisk... a kraken... a variety of were-creatures and more. The vast array of characters were introduced in a succinct/seamless manor. We, the reader/listener, were never bogged down and burried underneath a huge cast where it feels like homework trying to keep everyone straight. The characters were strong and well rounded yet they all brought something unique to the group. I adored the way the protagonists slowly learned to rely on one another and work together in a cohesive group in order to achieve success in whatever the current problem was. The pace was never stagnant (in any of the books) and it kept us guessing (almost) straight through. The ending tied things up neatly with a tidy wrapping and a pretty were-bow on top... not normally how I like my endings BUT in this Middle Grade book it worked out well.
Overall:
The Menagerie was a well written Middle Grade read with a bunch of mysteries to solve and great characters created to achieve that goal. The magic was entertaining and the backdrop just as good but the characters and fantastical creatures were the stars of this show. This is good, clean fun for the whole family and I give it a solid 4 stars. ( )

Logan and Zoe were hoping for some peace and quiet at the Menagerie after they exonerated Scratch for murder but no such luck. Someone releases the deadly basilisk from the reptile house. The mermaids go on strike, refusing to do their chores. And the Sterlings seem to know all about the Menagerie and are planning on exploiting the mythical creatures for financial gain.

Logan, Zoe, and Blue have two big mysteries to solve. Who is the saboteur behind all the disasters at the Menagerie? Is it Logan's dad? And what happened to Logan's mom when she disappeared on her way to the Menagerie with a Chinese dragon six months ago? ( )

This is the third and final book in the Menagerie series. This book was an excellent conclusion to this middle grade contemporary fantasy. I actually enjoy this series a lot more than Tui Sutherland’s Wings of Fire series. You definitely need to read the previous books in this series to understand what’s going on in this one.

For the whole series someone has been sabotaging the Menagerie. It is up to Logan and Zoe to unravel the mystery of who this someone is. Things get worse when someone lets out the Basilisk and the mermaids (fearing for their safety and being generally difficult) decide go on strike. Logan fears the worst when they see his dad sneaking around the Menagerie at night.

I really love the unique magical creatures featured throughout. In this book we get to meet the Kraken, a Chinese Dragon, and a few other very intriguing creatures.

I also really enjoyed the solid friendships the characters develop; in this book we meet Matthew’s potential girlfriend and Zoe and Jasmine start to mend their broken friendship. Additionally I love the wonderful relationships the kids have with their families. The kids and the parents work together to solve problems, the parents are supportive and understanding the majority of the time. I love seeing a great story with functional families in it.

This story is mostly a mystery where are characters have to solve the puzzle of who is sabotaging the Menagerie. I have really enjoyed this series a lot and would love to see a spin-off series about Logan and Zoe on future adventures with these crazy magical creatures.

Overall this was an incredibly fun read. I highly recommend this whole series to fans of middle grade fantasy. I think it’s a book both middle grade readers and adults can enjoy. I would also recommend Brandon Mull's Fablehaven series. ( )