“Fablehaven: Rise of the Evening Star,” by Brandon Mull, is the second book in the young-adult fantasy series, and if there was any question before that Mull deserves to inherit the soon-to-be-available Harry Potter audience, this should settle it. It’s even more inventive, more whimsically outrageous, and more fun than the first book.

It’s the ongoing saga of a young brother and sister whose grandparents are caretakers of a magical preserve, and the overarching story has an evil group attempting to collect a series of magic artifacts that will unleash havoc upon the world. Like the Harry Potter books, “Fablehaven” has an unseen magical world existing side-by-side with the regular world, and there are lessons to be taught as the young heroes learn more and more about Fablehaven and its inhabitants.

In “Rise of the Evening Star,” Mull continues to write funny, realistic dialogue for the siblings, and raises the stakes by introducing all manner of death and injury (though not graphically described, don’t worry). His imagination continues to be the most impressive thing about his work, though. This installment incorporates shrinking potions, ax-wielding monkeys, demon poop, and a phantom whose weapon is fear itself, to name just a few. It all makes for a fast-paced, exciting story, one that will have readers breathlessly anticipating Volume 3 — and I don’t usually even read fantasy novels.

If you find yourself near Provo, Utah, tonight, do not despair! There is still a reason to live. That reason is the Thrillionaires Improv Theatre, performing at 8:15 p.m. tonight at the Velour Live Music Gallery, 135 N. University Ave. Admission is $5 at the door.

The theme this time is “French Foreign Film,” which causes one to wonder what other kinds of French films there are besides foreign ones. The Thrillionaires’ usual plan is to do a 45-minute improvised play in the chosen style, take a break, then do a 30-minute improvised musical in the same style. I’ve seen the group twice and have been delighted by their skill for merrymaking. And I’ve seen most of the individual actors perform dozens of times in other venues, and they usually make me laugh until I cry great teardrops of laugh-tears. So I heartily recommend tonight’s Thrillionaires show, is what I’m saying.