Oh, re: the death of the magical pet - I think the two reasons that didn't bother me in this series are (a) I imprinted on these books as a child, when ironically I was far less sensitive to tragic animal deaths (I read Where the Red Fern Grows over and over as a child and LOVED it) and (b) the theme of the ENTIRE SERIES is coming to terms with death, both on an individual and societal level. So in that context it makes sense.

That said, I don't blame anyone for noping out of sad animal deaths! I usually do too.