Take a story's temperature by studying its tone. Is it hopeful? Cynical? Snarky? Playful?
Awe-Inspiring
It turns out that a place full of magical creatures is actually an awesome sight to behold. At least, that's what the tone of Fablehaven conveys once Kendra and Seth are able to see the magic all around them. Take, for instance, their first glimpse of fairies:
Roaming the pathways of the garden in a daze, Kendra saw that the fairy women appeared to represent all nationalities. Some looked Asian, some Indian, some African, some European. Several were less comparable to mortal women, with blue skin or emerald green hair. A few had antennae. Their wings came in all varieties, mostly patterned after butterflies, but much more elegant shaped and radiantly colored. All the fairies gleamed brilliantly, outshining the flowers of the garden like the sun outshines the moon. (5.99)
Wow. This is just… wow. Can you imagine beholding such an incredible sight? The way it's described invites us to share in Kendra's amazement and wonder.