Fablehaven: Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary
by Brandon Mull
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Book Reviews of Fablehaven: Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary
Book Review: Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary
Summary: 4 Stars
Sticking with amazons rating system I have to give this book a 4 star rating because I did like it. It's better than OK, but there are definitely some issues that hinder my enjoyment. I must say that as a whole this series is unique, fun, exciting, and full of twists. For a children's book series there isn't much more you can really ask for. As an adult reader there is more that I want.
There is plenty of action in Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary, but some of it was rather boring to me. Traveling through lairs, dungeons, and across mountains doesn't have the appeal that it did in previous books. It's getting tedious instead of exciting, boring instead of thrilling, and mediocre instead of dangerous. Overall, the entire dragon sanctuary was a bit of a let down. Not to mention there is only one twist here, and a disappointing one at that. The villain is not used to his full potential, and it's annoying (think Snape in The Deathly Hallows). All of the previous novels made me want to be a part of the universe presented, this one does not. It really could have benefited from some editing. I know that I personally would have enjoyed this more if there was more intrigue and less running around. Sure there was danger, but it just never felt real. I don't understand why the author throws injuries and deaths in at all. I never felt sad when anyone got hurt, and I wasn't scared when a big dragon was breathing death in our characters' faces. I knew that Kendra and Seth would come out alive with the help of some being or object, and that really detracts from my enjoyment. "Evil" creatures turn out to be friendly, and the most complicated of tasks is solved by little effort. My favorite fantasy novels are believable, with dynamic characters, and this one does not quite cut it. As before, Seth is reckless and does not learn from his mistakes. On the other hand, his recklessness almost always leads to good things. It almost seems pointless for characters to continue pointing out his flaws, let alone trying to change him. It won't work. He is reckless. It's really hard for me to like him because he hasn't grown much from book one. Both characters act the same way that they did years ago, and that should not be. They have to face monsters and death constantly, but they are unfazed. They are always brave and always noble. Those are nice qualities for role models to have, but it doesn't make them very deep characters. I know that characters can be multifaceted in children's books, so the reading level is no excuse here. I want to see my characters grow, and with one novel left I don't think that will happen.
Of course there are good things, and this series is highly rated for a reason. It's a fun adventure with interesting creatures and strong characters. Book one made me want to visit Fablehaven. That feeling has decreased a little at this point, but it is still present. If you liked the previous books, you will like this one. There will be friendly bad guys, new creatures, puzzles that are easily solved, and difficult tasks that prove no match for our heroes. I was expecting a little more than I got from Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary, but it is still an enjoyable read and pretty entertaining.
Book Review: Highly original, one lapse--spoiler alert
Summary: 4 Stars
"Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary" continues Brandon Mull's Fablehaven mythos at an enjoyably brisk pace. In our world, a stingbulb is the part of a stinging insect that holds its venom. In Mull's, a stingbulb is a rare fruit that can flawlessly imitate human life. Herokinder Kendra and Seth Sorenson find it even harder to know whom to trust, but the oft-bickering siblings find new power together when facing down some of fiction's truly imaginative villains. Seth takes his biggest risk yet, Kendra has her heart broken in a stunning turn, and they lean on each other while facing down the awesome champions of Wyrmroost and its Dragon Temple. The way Seth befriends the giantest of giants is truly enjoyable, only to be topped by Kendra meeting Raxtus the fairy dragon.
The chief shortcoming of this story is its unrealistic handling of the faux death of Kendra. Early in the book, Kendra is tricked into pricking herself with a stingbulb. She is kidnapped with the duplicate left behind to confuse her family and Knights of the Dawn friends. Stingbulb copies live only for a few days, and Seth and his family believe Kendra has died. When Kendra manages to escape her captives, the author seemingly forgets that the first thing she normally would do is contact her parents. They are left to, invisibly to the story, mourn Kendra throughout "Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary," and the issue is hardly breached in the remaining hundreds of pages.
While reading the fast-moving adventures, one may struggle with the glaring omission. It's especially hard to swallow when it's clear Kendra knows her parents believe she is dead. Such a problem could have been addressed in short order. Clearly, it's problematic when her parents had a body to bury. Do the reuniting when everyone was better prepared to deal with the consequences--such as, how to explain the corpse? But it still might be hard to swallow any child who could live with allowing her parents to believe she was dead.
This is an unfortunate flaw in an otherwise fine series. The author Mull, as his series develops, puts less and less effort into explicating the problems of being children who can see magical creatures when the parents cannot. He apparently found it more convenient to gut the parents' character development, which is kinda hard to swallow for some of us parents.
Book Review: Another wonderful book in this series; really keeps you guessing
Summary: 5 Stars
This is the fourth book in the Fablehaven series by Brandon Mull. This book was absolutely wonderful. Mull does it again, delivering a complex and dangerous plot, with humor, and non-stop action.
Kendra and Seth are back at school. Kendra has been trying to read the secret journal that she was given to figure out where the rest of the artifacts are hidden. Unfortunately she ends up getting kidnapped by the Society of the Evening Star. The rest of the family thinks she is dead. So Seth is sent to Fablehaven for his protection. The group at Fablehaven has to do what they can to recover the remaining hidden artifacts; first they must go to the Dragon Sanctuary and hope to live long enough to get the key to the next artifact.
This was a wonderful book. All of the characters are just fabulous. In addition to all of our favorites from the last book, some new and very interesting characters are added. Mull is so creative with his writing, I am never able to guess what will happen next. The plot pulls you right through the book, the action scenes are wonderful. It was awesome to learn about Seth having his own special set of powers; I liked how they compliment Kendra's in a way. It is a rare book that can keep some many creative things coming at you and such a wonderful plot going that you can never guess what will be next.
This is also a very emotion evoking book. There is humor, at times I was cheering for the characters, at times I was almost in tears at some of the horrible betrayals that happened in this book. It was just riveting.
Needless to say I am absolutely dying to read the next book. This is definitely a keeper series. I think if you enjoyed Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Book 1) or The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1); you will really enjoy this series. I actually think everyone should read this series, it just keeps getting better and better!
Book Review: Another Fablehaven book in the W column
Summary: 5 Stars
***Spoiler-Free Review. Read with Confidence***
I'm a big fan of this semi-fantasy genre...I've enjoyed Harry Potter, the Bartimaeus Trilogy, Children of the Lamp, Peter and the Starcatchers, the Spiderwick Chronicles, Charlie Bone, Artemis Fowl, InkHeart, Pendragon Adventure, The Grey Griffins, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Dark is Rising series, and a few others. One thing all these series have in common is that they all take children from our world (or one much like it) and throw them into magical adventures.
Another thing that many of them have in common is that at least one installment in the series is absolutely terrible. I admit, I tend to take these failures a little personally. I finish the book feeling like the author betrayed my trust. That they didn't make an effort on the book because they knew that we (the fans) would buy it regardless. Recipe for success? 1) Take one good book (preferably the last one in the series). 2) Split into two. 3) Add meaningless drivel to each. 4) Sell separately 5) Profit. I'm looking at YOU 'Brisingr' and 'Sorcerer of the North'!
Like a jaded lover, I find it difficult to trust authors anymore. I keep waiting for them to fail. With the Fablehaven books, I'm still waiting. Not only has Mull avoided the curse of the crappy second-to-last book in the series, but each installment has been easily on par with the rest. Mull doesn't mess around, the action starts from the first couple of pages and doesn't stop. We had 3 other books for character development, now we get to sit back and enjoy the show. And I did. Immensely.
Brandon Mull, if you're listening, keep up the good work. You may yet teach me to love again. And if you split the final book into two crappy installments, I will personally find Muriel and give her your address.
Book Review: Best book in the series!!!!!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
PLEASE DON'T READ THIS IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE BOOK YET!!! Truthfully, I loved the book. I think it was the best book in the series (and that's saying a lot). I became very attached to a lot of the characters. Maybe to attached. I liked that Seth was able to come on the adventure to. I didn't like, though, how Mara and Trask were able to speak to the dragon and move. In the third book, I thought it was amazing that Kendra was able to talk to the dragon. But now it seems not that big of a deal. I really liked the fairy dragon. I liked how he got to shine at the end. (Literally.
Like I said before, I became really attached to the characters, including warren (always liked him) Kendra and Seth even more than before. Also, Vanessa, Tanu, and Gavin found my interest. That's why it was such a shock at the end. I was reading it at night (I stayed up late to finish it) And then they announced that he wasn't a dragon brother but a real dragon. I was in shock. I though, OK maybe Kendra will look at him differently now, but he's still that sweet innocent stutterer boy who I would like to see be her boy friend. Wrong. I was very mad when he ATE Dogan and KILLED (almost at lease) Mara. I thought it was because dragons are less forgiving in dragon form or something like that. Nope. When he started acting mean, that sweet little boy, and then announced that he was a demon prince dragon who had been in the quiet box and almost destroyed fablehaven. I cried. Really, I did it was so said.I felt Kendra's pain and shock and thoughts of betrayal.I'm Kendra's age, so I know how she feels.I was hart broken that this little boy of whom I was so fond of , was a dragon, a demon. Other than that said part the book was great. Except for how he leaves you hanging. I can't wait for the next book. I will keep reading!!