Fablehaven: Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary
by Brandon Mull
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Book Reviews of Fablehaven: Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary
Book Review: Fablehaven keeps getting better!
Summary: 5 Stars
The Fablehaven series just keeps getting better!
I bought #4 hoping it would be a keeper like the other three and I wasn't disappointed.
In the magical world that Kendra and Seth, brother and sister, have been thrown into, there is an evil plot. A plot to open the great demon prison and destroy the earth! Wah hahaha (evil laughter)
Kendra, Seth, their grandparents (who are caretakers of Fablehaven) and others will try and stop the evil mastermind. But who is it? And how can they stop him/her?
Two hidden artifacts have been found. Three more remain uncovered. If all artifacts end up in the hands of the bad guys, the demon prison can be opened. Kendra learns of the location of the key to one of the artifacts and it is decided to move it to another location. But there are many obstacles in the way...and betrayal!
Every character we have come to know throughout the series has grown and matured, even Seth! :) Mr. Mull has given each character their own quirks, strengths and voice. The story flowed well and the descriptions of the magical places were just right.
The magical creatures Mr. Mull introduced were all believable (I love that one has a crush on Kendra), scary and unique.
There is plenty of laughs, tension, twists to keep this story moving right up to the end and the betrayal. (Personal prideful note: I guessed the person in book 3 but was thrown off by the personality in book 4 so didn't suspect!)
And once again, I LOVE the lessons taught throughout the book! Thank you, Brandon Mull, for teaching good life lessons!
And thank you for writing a clean book that I can recommend to any parent or YA without any trepidation!
Book Review: Another winner in a first-rate fantasy series
Summary: 5 Stars
I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this series, and since then it has only gotten better and better. In "Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary" we find our heroes setting out on their most complex, dangerous quest yet. Kendra, 15, and Seth, 13, along with their Knights of the Dawn companions, must obtain a key that will give them access to an artifact that the evil Society of the Evening Star wants to use to open the prison Zzyzx and release the destructive demons confined there.
There is nonstop action from the beginning, long before we get to the titular dragon sanctuary. First, Kendra is kidnapped. Then, the first horn of a unicorn must be retrieved from a centaurs' cave guarded by a perilous maze and a troll, who fortunately is not very bright. The horn is needed to gain entry to Wyrmroost, where the key is hidden and guarded by fearsome creatures. Wyrmroost is a sanctuary not only for dragons but for other dangerous predators such as wyverns, griffins, giants, rocs, mountain trolls and phoenixes.
Kendra continues to grow in maturity and judgment, but Seth ... not so much. He is still as adventuresome and reckless as ever, but he does prove invaluable on the quest, with his newly discovered talents as a shadow charmer and shade walker. I don't want to give away too much of the story, so I'll just mention that there will be a betrayal and a shocking revelation about one of the characters. On the brighter side, you'll get to meet a lovable, friendly dragon named Raxtus. At the end, Grandpa Sorenson has some startling news for Kendra and Seth, which sets us up for the fifth, and final, adventure, which I hope won't take too long to get here.
Book Review: One crazy ride
Summary: 5 Stars
I just finished reading my PERSONALLY SIGNED COPY of the book last night. Being that it was personally signed by the author means my book was more exciting than just a regular book. Okay, maybe not. But it was plenty exciting on its own. Holy keep me up until 4 in the morning, Batman.
There are some hilarious parts, some tense parts, some sweet parts, some action parts and then some 'he totally snookered me' parts. I knew, I just knew someone was going to betray them but I picked the wrong person and was so blindsided. I loved that. Most books are fairly easy to predict and I appreciated that I couldn't see it coming. And man, was it a slam to my gut.
This book is a little darker than the previous ones. Maybe because the betrayal was so big. There is plenty of light to offset the dark though.
I continue to love the witty dialogue and the great characters. The plot always moves quickly and fluidly. I also absolutely love the morals of this story. Maybe I read too much into it, maybe I don't, but it seems that there are plenty of subtle lessons on choosing the right or what happens when you choose the wrong, about trust, courage, faith, etc. I appreciate the struggles that Seth in particular goes through and how he is trying to figure out what is right. There are so many excellent discussion points here and in the previous books.
I can't wait for the next book, but am sad in a way that it will end. The author said he'll have a new series out soon which I will be watching for.
And on a personal note, two of my sisters met Brandon Mull and said he is a very nice man.
*taken from my review at goodreads
Book Review: 4th in the Fablehaven Series
Summary: 5 Stars
Kendra and Seth are back at home, looking forward to winter break. While secretly reading Patton's journal, Kendra discovers clues to another hidden artifact. But the only key to the artifact is guarded within a deadly dragon sanctuary. But Kendra soon finds herself in more immediate danger. And Seth decides to embark on a dangerous mission of his own. The Knights of the Dawn must protect the artifacts from the power-hungry Sphinx, as he wants to use them to unlock the demon prison.
Kendra and Seth have grown a great deal over the course of the series. They started out as just two normal children thrust into unusual circumstances. But as they learn more about themselves and the world around them, both make admirable choices, growing in character and wisdom.
As so many people in their life have betrayed them, the children have become naturally less trusting. But even more allies turn out to be traitors. And as the Sphinx grows in power, circumstances become dire. But Kendra and Seth never give up hope.
This fourth installment is the most exciting yet. Danger and suspense are a constant. The Knights of the Dawn must use their brains as well as brawn to overcome the perils of the dragon sanctuary. Big surprises lead up to a climactic ending. But fans of the series will have to hold on for next year when the Fablehaven series concludes in the fifth and final book. This is an exciting series that fantasy fans of all ages should love. With a focus on family and fighting for the side of good, in my eyes, it makes Harry Potter pale in comparison.
Book Review: Awesome Installment in the Series
Summary: 5 Stars
I had a hard time putting this book down. I read all 527 pages in about 8 hours. I forced myself to go to bed even though I was not done with the book, but I was getting really tired and couldn't keep my eyes open.
OK, so let's break it down:
Characters: There were a couple new characters and surprises on existing ones. I am totally liking Seth now that he is not quite so annoying and "stupid" (in that little brother way). And I loved it when Seth was taunting the poison dragon. Too funny! Brandon is great at making likable (as well as ones we love to hate) and well-rounded characters. He is also doing even better at giving each character a unique voice.
Setting: The dragon sanctuary was cool and Brandon did a good job in narrating their passage through mazes and traps.
Conflict: The action was even more intense and scattered throughout the book on this one, which I feel was a great improvement over the previous books.
Plot: I like how Brandon makes each book feel complete, and yet we know there is more to come. In fact, one more book in the series, to be precise. Interesting twist near the end too.
Text: Brandon is becoming a great writer. I anxiously await the final book in the series.