This is the first book in the Fablehaven series by Brandon Mull. This fantasy book for children was first released 2006 by Shadow Mountain. I listened to the audiobook, narrated by E. B. Stevens.
The plot follows two siblings Kendra and Seth as they are taken care of by their grandfather as their mother and father is gone on a cruise. Well there they encounter a missing grandmother and a grandfather who gives them all they want as long as they follow his rules, which include don’t go into the barn or the forest since it is dangerous. It doesn’t take long before Seth breaks the rules and they soon discover a world hidden by their grandfather. A world with vindictive fairies, dangerous witches and many magical rules that can lead to a certain death if they are broken. Which will be a problem when their grandfather is kidnapped by a witch wanting to release a demon, and they have to save him.
Most of the characters are flat, following tropes such as Seth being the courageous but foolish one. Constantly breaking the rules, aka Harry Potter or Ron. Kendra is the know it all, good with puzzle but selfish and a coward, aka Hermione. Both of them has some serious problem with moral. Seth deform a fairy who can never become itself again, and just went I hate fairies. Kendra is told that drinking the magical milk would kill her, so she gives it to her brother to test it out. Neither of these characters grows in the story. Kendra doesn’t become brave and Seth doesn’t become any wiser or regret his mess.
For his mess it is, Seth is pretty much the one who constantly break rules and make himself and those around him are often in danger because of it. It was frankly annoying after a while. His so-called courage was more stupidity after a while and it was just enhanced when he was turned into a mutated walrus and then get turned back, he just shrugs it off. Yeah, because that wouldn’t have caused any trauma if he hadn’t the brain with the size of a pea.
The author has used pretty much every mystical creature you could imagine, combining folklore such as fairies and goblins with Greek and roman mythology such as Naiads and Satyrs. I didn’t mind that, but there wasn’t much development of the creatures except the fairies who has a larger role in the book. So the other creatures was only there for two seconds of book before they were gone with little other purpose than to make the book feel exotic. There was no lore and no greater purpose and I noticed that some reviewers seem to be annoyed by this. I was once again not.
The book was decent, a bit shaky writing sometimes. Using to complicated words for children and shaky dialog structures. Such as using he said or the like too many times after each other, making me react a few times. There is a reason why you should mix up dialog if it goes on too long, but there was nothing to atrocious though I noticed that some seem to think that it wasn’t suited for children with scenes of milking a cow, a grandmother in a bathrobe and drinking blood. I’m a Swedish girl from a farming community saw nothing that would be inappropriate for children, as nudity and milking cow isn’t strange here. Neither would children, only adults growing up in an orthodox city would be shocked by it.
Overall, the first book was a bit lacking, since it tried to introduce a bit too much. Much of the creatures introduced aren’t needed, and are just there to take up place. The children are annoyed, but as someone reminded me, most children are. It was a bit cliché, with tropes like the courageous boy, the wise girl and the wise old man teaching them. It might become better though, the foundation has been laid for a good series, but I thought this book was a bit lacking. Interesting and the foundation is intriguing, but lacking. All in all, the book will receive a 7 out of 10, and I would recommend it for children who enjoys magic and fairies. There are some darker moments, but I did enjoy the lore that takes its root in folklore, and think that children would enjoy it. Apparently, adults as well, since many seem to like this one.
With Kind Regards
Senefer.
Read with Senefer 