Grip of the Shadow Plague (Fablehaven, #3)

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Grip of the Shadow Plague (Fablehaven #3)

by Brandon Mull

4.31 · rating details · 16,689 ratings · 1,893 reviews

Danger lurks everywhere at Fablehaven, where someone has released a plague that transforms beings of light into creatures of darkness. In dire need of help, the Sorensons question where to turn, now that long trusted allies have been revealed as potential foes. Kendra embarks on a special mission that only she can attempt because of her new abilities as fairykind, while Se...more

Paperback, 480 pages

Published March 24th 2009 by Aladdin (first published April 21st 2008)

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Sep 14, 2008

Dawn rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: 2008-ya-lit

I enjoy the Fablehaven series, and this third one was very good. I like Mull's creativity and energy. I appreciate his ongoing discussion of the nature of good and evil, the power of our choices, and in this one, the consequences of choosing to believe or not. I liked the way this book expanded the characters and locations of the story. And Patton Burgess is awesome! :)

I read this book first alone, but then I reread it aloud with my husband. In reading aloud, we discovered an ...more

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Aug 18, 2008

John Conrad rated it

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Shelves: books-for-young-people

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This was a really well-written sequel that answered most of the questions from the last two. I enjoyed seeing Seth grow up a little bit, and Kendra's new relationship should be interesting for the future. I thought that death was treated pretty casually, especially the first one. I had to read back and confirm that the character had really died because it happened so quickly and without much comment. My favorite sequence has to be the Haunted Mesa with all its twists and turns, but is wrappe...more

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Jun 02, 2008

Jill rated it

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We've just really liked this series. The books are a lot of fun, exciting, creative, visual, and I feel like they bring up really great discussion topics with the kids. We get to talk about tricky things like Do bad creatures need to be destroyed, or do they play a necessary part in an environment. That can go from the reintroduction of predator species to free speech discussions. We talk about rules and when you might have to break them and consequences. We talk about strengths and weaknes...more

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Mar 05, 2011

Aaron Vincent rated it

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Shelves: favorites, 2011

Originally Posted on Guy Gone Geek

The middle part of fantasy series are always the trickiest. The world is already established in the first book(s) and information about the series-long plot are held back for the finale. Middle part books are always the one that is the most forgettable and there are cases when these books are just fodders. Such is the case in Michael Scott’s Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel and even Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson. I love both of these series but i...moreOriginally Posted on Guy Gone Geek

The middle part of fantasy series are always the trickiest. The world is already established in the first book(s) and information about the series-long plot are held back for the finale. Middle part books are always the one that is the most forgettable and there are cases when these books are just fodders. Such is the case in Michael Scott’s Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel and even Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson. I love both of these series but if you ask me what happened in The Necromancer or Battle of the Labyrinth, I will likely just give you a two-sentence long summary or worse, a blank stare. But if you ask me about the first book or the finale, I would tell you everything in detail and with vigor your ears might bleed.

It is one of the most common writing traps. Authors tends to play some of their aces in the first book to hook you in and the rest of their remaining aces in the finale to blow your mind and make a lasting impression. Now, it’s either Brandon Mull is a cheater or a magician that he has endless supply of aces or he is just skillful on distributing fair amounts of it in his books. I personally prefer the former for it is way more wicked.

Grip of the Shadow Plague starts several weeks after the events of Rise of the Evening Star with Kendra being invited to join the Knights of Dawn, a secret society which function is to protect all the magical preserves across the globe. Right after joining the society, she was assigned to retrieve another secret artifact hidden at a preserve in Arizona, The Lost Mesa. Meanwhile at Fablehaven, Seth is not missing out any actions as the creatures – even those without fallen states – are turning into creatures of darkness. Creatures known to be gentle and nurturing are transformed into wild and savage beasts. The Shadow Plague is spreading fast and they must find a way to stop it before in consumes the entire magical preserve making Fablehaven just a part of history.

Brandon Mull continues to impress me by writing the third book in this ever-imaginative series in dual narratives. The transitions were not seamless but both were engaging and very exciting. The Lost Mesa is a very interesting preserve. Creatures that inhabits this preserve are different from Fablehaven(there are zombies!), albeit much more dangerous. It also follows an entirely different set of rules and hides its own secrets. Fablehaven itself has its own deep dark secrets and a grim history that were exposed in this book. This is what makes this series truly, well, magical – the preserves are characters of its own.

Grip of the Shadow Plague, literally and figuratively, took a much darker turn compared to its predecessors. There were lives sacrificed, and the characters’ motives lies within the thin line that separates good and evil. There was also a time travel subplot that ended with a tragic and heartbreaking conclusion. Our heroes were more matured – Kendra has less doubt in herself than before and there were lesser amount of times I wanted to scream at Seth – but nothing prepared them for the dire events happened in this book. The only flaw I can complain about in this installment is how Mull kept his characters clueless about a certain conflict even if the answer was staring at their faces, or Kendra’s face at least. This isn’t enough to topple one star, though, cause this particular conflict is not really the focus of this book and there were too much going on for me to be distracted and forget about it at the most crucial points of the story. I think its part of Kendra’s characterization, anyway. She’s too trusting to suspect anyone. These things I’m sure will happen in the next book, Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary: enemies will be unmasked, hearts will be broken, Brandon Mull will continue to show off his storytelling prowess and Aaron, once again, will be left breathless.(less)

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Sep 08, 2008

Thomas rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: Young adult and up

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult

Seth is growing up and making better decisions. Brandon has fallen into a writer's trap of alternating story lines between two primary characters. And finally, the series became so-so.

All that said, Grip of the Shadow Plague was another good read from the Fablehaven series for young adult readers and should keep their interest. Both my wife and I agree that this will start to appeal more to boys with Seth's new-found "wisdom" (and I use quotes because he isn't there yet, bu...moreSeth is growing up and making better decisions. Brandon has fallen into a writer's trap of alternating story lines between two primary characters. And finally, the series became so-so.

All that said, Grip of the Shadow Plague was another good read from the Fablehaven series for young adult readers and should keep their interest. Both my wife and I agree that this will start to appeal more to boys with Seth's new-found "wisdom" (and I use quotes because he isn't there yet, but well on his way).

If I remember correctly, the first two Fablehaven books seemed to each tell their own story, all by themselves. This one, the writer came to the forefront with a technique that felt "forced." With Kendra off on assignment (yeah, that's right, but I won't tell you why or where), Seth was left back at Fablehaven with a lot of problems facing that stronghold of magic. As a result, the story alternates by chapter through a fair amount of the book between Kendra's problems and Seth's. Rather than let time and nature guide the story, giving the book a life of its own, I felt the author was pushed into a writing regimen that didn't work particularly well. Whenever this happens in a novel, the story loses its focus and that's what happened here.

The story became somewhat bland and any tension-building was lost each time the scene changed from one location to another. I've put down books because of this and I hope that it doesn't happen to the fourth of the series.

Finally, Kendra is developing powers that are not only making her a target for the bad guys, but also powers that are protecting her against those same bad guys. It puts the author into a precarious position, having to come up with something that will truly challenge our young heroine.

Seth rides to the rescue. While Kendra gets to go off for some truly disgusting stuff, which would thrill Seth, he languishes back at boring old Fablehaven. Never mind that creatures of light are turning into creatures of darkness and infecting the rest of the group. Never mind that Seth grows serious when left to his own designs and starts to realize that one really must give thought before action. Never mind that he even has to hide what he's doing because if Kendra ever found out, he'd never live it down. All of this brings to Seth a new-found maturity that leaves us pleased with his progress and smiling at the end.

Only the loss of tension through scene-switching (which didn't work well in this case) drug this down into the four-star realm. Brandon's writing stumbled only a couple of times (rare for him), but nothing grammatically horrible--just enough for me to notice and puzzle for a moment.

One particularly astute observation struck me on this book and it is worth mentioning. "Total unbelief is a powerful inhibitor."

And with that, I leave you my thoughts and review of Grip of the Shadow Plague.
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Jun 20, 2008

Garrett rated it

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I think I like this book the best so far out of the series. It felt more complete and whole somehow. I assume it is at least partly because Brandon is becoming a better writer. But I think it also has to do with an improved plot structure and more intense, realistic conflict.

Setting: Still mostly at Fablehaven, but with explorations of even more of the area. Also, Kendra does get to go to a meeting of a secret society (held in a house like a castle) and then to another preserve in Ar...more

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Aug 22, 2011

Robert rated it

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Shelves: young-adult, fiction, with-emily, with-family, twice

Brandon Mull has delivered more of the same with book three of this series, which is just what we wanted.

The plot moved along at a good clip, keeping us involved and engaged.

The characters were real and true to their previous actions. It was a lot of fun to discover along with the kids their unique talents and abilities.

Reading aloud to Emily, I had to pause and laugh quite a few times at the interplay between Seth and Kendra, and between them and the a...more

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Aug 18, 2008

Luann rated it

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Shelves: 2008, childrens, fantasy, young-adult, ms-rec

This is a book I will like more in the future as I think back on it than I do right now having just finished it. The storyline was fine, but the execution of it fell flat for me. I was never completely drawn into the story until about the last hundred pages. Most of this was due to the splitting of the storyline with Kendra on a mission at Lost Mesa in Arizona while Seth stayed at Fablehaven and had adventures there. It felt very choppy as we jumped back and forth between the two storylines. ...more

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May 15, 2008

Russ rated it

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A page turner like the second book of this series. It was very difficult for me to put this one down as you go from one adventure to the next. There seems to be no end to Brandon Mull's imagination and creativity. I love the "Lost Mesa" adventure as well as the mystery of the "Shadow Plague". Great characters, I loved getting to know the infamous Patton.

There were a few things that I wanted to be different in the book (I'm picky, I know). The way you are left with...more

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Apr 30, 2008

Christina rated it

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Shelves: young-adult, childrens-lit

YAY!!! It's finally here. Actually it came on the 22nd through the mail, but I gave it to Carl for his B-day so he didn't open it until the 27th. And so, since he is still reading the Dark Materials Trilogy. he told me I could read this before him. Really, he's mine ladies, I found him first!

Whew, just finished the book last night. Of course they were not able to wrap everything up in this one book, so now I have to wait for the next one. Well, at least it has a title already, s...more

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Jul 25, 2008

Patrick rated it

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Shelves: young-adult

Wow! This series is on a roll. I was on the waiting list for about 4 months for this one. This is one of my favorite 3 or 4 young adult series. It's right up there with Harry Potter, The Bartimaeus Trilogy, and...not much else up this high. Maybe Gregor the Overlander...

The characters are believable, there's always action but it is fresh each time, the plot twists and suspense are awesome, it's incredibly creative--I just love this series! The story slowly expands each book in a...more

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Mar 27, 2009

Bailee rated it

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This book is complete fantasy!!! I love itto death! If you like faeries, centaurs, or satyrs, you should definetly read!!!

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Jun 11, 2008

DeLaina rated it

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Shelves: ya

Ummm, I liked this book, but not as well as the second, which is by far my favorite, or the first, which is my second favorite.

Don't get me wrong, it's not that it wasn't good, it just didn't hold my attention like the first two, and it was patently predictable, following in the same formula as the first two. I think it would be hard to write a series and come up with enough different twists to keep it interesting, but not set yourself up for a pattern of predictability...like the wr...more

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Dec 05, 2008

Beth added it · review of another edition

Shelves: children-s-fiction

I just wish these Fablehaven books were a bit shorter. They are really good, it just takes too long to read them. This last one was 477 pages! Luckily the pages aren't all that big.

In this third installment of Fablehaven, Kendra and Seth are still at their grandparents' magical creature preserve. Their parents are anxiously awaiting their return to home and school but it may not be safe to return home after everything left unsolved at the end of Book #2. After Seth discovers tha...more

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Dec 04, 2011

07jonathanc rated it

Recommends it for: everybody who hasn't read it before and wants to

Recommended to 07jonathanc by: some of my friends

Grip of the Shadow Plague is the third book in the Fablehaven series. The author, Brandon Mull, has also written some other bestselling books like the Beyonders and the Candy shop War. Fablehaven is a fairly new book, being published in 2010. I like these books more and more. I never got to read these books when I was younger, so I figured I would try them this year, and I didn't regret it. The title and the setting sound a little juvenile, but since reading the actual book, I have different fee...moreGrip of the Shadow Plague is the third book in the Fablehaven series. The author, Brandon Mull, has also written some other bestselling books like the Beyonders and the Candy shop War. Fablehaven is a fairly new book, being published in 2010. I like these books more and more. I never got to read these books when I was younger, so I figured I would try them this year, and I didn't regret it. The title and the setting sound a little juvenile, but since reading the actual book, I have different feelings. Even though it is meant for kids, I think that anybody, no matter what age, would enjoy reading this fantasy book. Most of the books meant for young readers have barely 200 pages. This one surpasses that with almost 500, but is still perfect for younger ages. Even though it talks about magical creatures, it ranks as one of the top books I have read. This was one of the many books that, when called for dinner, I felt like I couldn’t put down. Though I'm not a fan of reading, this was one of the books that I willingly read and enjoyed.

This story takes place in a mystical area that houses old, magical creatures. The setting of a lonely, dark forest brings the reader into a different world, away from his or her own life. The preserve that holds all the creatures is controlled by the grandparents of the two main characters, Seth and Kendra. Even though Seth and Kendra aren't at the preserve year round, they still help out taking care of the place. The book starts out with Seth selling batteries to his friends, the satyrs, so they could watch their portable television. The satyrs don’t have any money to pay him with, so they steal some from little fairies, called nipsies. While stealing money, they notice some of the kind little creatures have turned black and are evil. Immediately, Seth reports back to his grandparents. His grandpa has also figured something is wrong, because the gentle fairies that he allows into his yard have even turned bad. They all do some studying and, at the end of the book, they all find out who started the dark plague. Meanwhile, Kendra has joined the good group, Nights of the Dawn. She then is sent immediately to an old pueblo to find an ancient artifact. It takes a while for them to find where and when the artifact will be able to be recovered. Finally, after a couple friends have died, they reach the artifact room. The next event is one of the most unexpected in any book I have ever read. I thought the story could end right there, but Mull somehow thinks of a way to join the two main characters again, both with a problem that need fixing.

This book ranks as one of the best I have read, not because I haven’t read that many books, but because at times it was intense, but at others, it was slow enough to give it the right touch. I also liked how a lot of the time it made me guess, and it never told me what was going to happen in the next chapter. At the end of almost every chapter, it left me hanging, needing to read at least the beginning of the next chapter. Unlike most other books, this one has two main characters. Though I sometimes forgot what was going on with the other character, it was nice almost having two separate stories that joined together at the very end. The one thing that was confusing was, when Kendra and her group were searching for the ancient artifact, I didn’t really know who was who. I liked how most of the story was exiting. For example, when I opened to a random page (293), a line said, “A gun shot rang out, blasting a hole in the door.” The way Mull used descriptive words helped me picture exactly what was happening, and made me feel like I was actually there, in the story.

Even though this book didn’t challenge my vocabulary and was an easy read, I still liked it. I would recommend this book to anybody who hasn’t read it before, no matter what the age. I might choose to read this book again, but pay more attention and see if I missed anything on my first time through it. I think this, along with some other series like Eragon and Harry Potter, is a “bucket list” book.
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Oct 26, 2011

04denalir rated it

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Have you ever wanted to find a secret hidden path under your house? Have you wondered what you would put in this little secret room, or who you would tell? That is one of my life long dreams! I want to find a secret passage and call it my own. I want to be able to explore it and share it with my friends! Fablehaven is a book that has just that! It has hidden wonders and secret passageways. It's a place where magic happens! It is a 477 paged book that is filled with wonders. I started reading fab...moreHave you ever wanted to find a secret hidden path under your house? Have you wondered what you would put in this little secret room, or who you would tell? That is one of my life long dreams! I want to find a secret passage and call it my own. I want to be able to explore it and share it with my friends! Fablehaven is a book that has just that! It has hidden wonders and secret passageways. It's a place where magic happens! It is a 477 paged book that is filled with wonders. I started reading fablehaven because my friends said that Brandon Mull is a great author. Yes, they were right. I love reading Fablehaven! Brandon Mull makes the books come alive. His characters that he makes up are great!
My favorite characters that he has are Seth, Kendra, and their grandparents. Seth, first of all, he's crazy. He's fun to read about in the book because of all his adventures. He gets gold, and hangs around the satyrs. He gets into trouble and does dangerouse things like wandering all alone in the forest by himself, going into the nipsies kingdoms, and trying to stop a war. Kendra, on the other hand is a very nice girl, although she does enjoy getting her brother in trouble. She is very brave, some examples of this is when she became a knight, and when she had to go as a knight to recharge the hidden artifact. Kendra is the smartest one between her and her brother. She seems to know what to do and makes smart choices. Kendra always wants to know what's going on and I can relate myself to that. Their grandparents are about the smartest ones on the preserve right now. They know what's going on and they get things done if they need to be done. They don't always know what's going on with Seth though, Kendra usually tells them or they have the others on the preserve tell them. They always know what's best for Fablehaven and for their friends and their grandchildren.
The setting of the book is mainly in Fablehaven, but it does also go to the other secret preserves like Fablehaven. Fablehaven was written for grades around 6th through 10th, but I believe anyone could read it if they really had an interest in it. I would recomend this book to all of thoes lovers of mysteries. It's a great mystery and action book. It keeps you reading it and has suspence at some points!
One quote that I really liked was "When we approached the meadow of the Seven Kingdoms, a shadowy figure fled." (Page 60) It caught my eye because it was really the first thing that had been really mysterious. That's my favorite part in a book when something catches your eye and you get interested! Another quote that I really liked was "If it means getting out of school, maybe we should lock Mom and Dad in the dungeon."(Page 282) This quote was said by Seth, it's no suprise for me that Seth would say something like that. I loved this quote because it ws a funny little one-liner, and it's fun to come across those. This book is very fun to read. I loved Fablehaven and its a very good book. I love the trials the characters have to go through and I love the way Brandon Mull wrote the book. This book has happy, sad, scary, suspense, and exciting moments!

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May 18, 2011

Mormonhermitmom rated it

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Just when Kendra and Seth thought things would settle down at Fablehaven, a strange malady spreads among the magical creatures. Once benign races start turning aggressive, dark, and dangerous. Even some of their friends are changed into shadowy beings unable to communicate. With the Evening Star society threatening to find artifacts to release a slew of demons, the plague has to be contained, or better yet, cured. Unfortunately, no one has a clue where to start.

I liked this series an...more

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Apr 03, 2011

Elisha Condie rated it

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I'm sorry - I admitted I've been reading a lot of these. They are all just on the shelf at the library! No waiting! It's such a novelty I can't help myself. Although it may be too much of a good thing. Reading 3 of these in a row is rather like eating too much cake. You enjoyed it, yes, but feel a little full afterwards and wish you'd had a carrot somewhere in the middle.

More problems at Fablehaven have arisen (of course). The grandparents are clueless as to what to do, despite y...more

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Jan 11, 2011

Ithlilian rated it

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Shelves: young-adult

As an adult reader I have to say that Fablehaven has all of the elements of a good children's book. Grip of the Shadow Plague will have you turning pages, on the edge of your seat, wondering what will happen next. There is so much mystery, so much to explore, and so many new developments that you will wish you had the rest of the series with you to read right after Grip of the Shadow Plague. My only small complaint is that Kendra and Seth have not progressed as characters. Kendra is still smart ...more

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Dec 30, 2010

Karissa Eckert rated it

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The third book in the Fablehaven series was just as wonderful as the second book. I really love this series, I cannot believe how action packed they are and how creative.

In this book Kendra is summoned to join the Knights of the Dawn; she ends up on an expedition to recover another artifact from a secret preserve. Seth is angry at being left behind, until he ends up embroiled in adventures of his own. Somehow creatures at Fablehaven are turning dark and evil, even creatures that have n...moreThe third book in the Fablehaven series was just as wonderful as the second book. I really love this series, I cannot believe how action packed they are and how creative.

In this book Kendra is summoned to join the Knights of the Dawn; she ends up on an expedition to recover another artifact from a secret preserve. Seth is angry at being left behind, until he ends up embroiled in adventures of his own. Somehow creatures at Fablehaven are turning dark and evil, even creatures that have never had an evil form. The Shadow Plague is spreading at an alarming rate and Seth needs to figure out what is going on before Fablehaven is completely destroyed.

Things are more dire and desperate than ever in this book. The new characters introduced in this book are wonderful additions (don't worry all the wonderful characters from the last book are still there too!). The addition of Gavin as a dragon tamer and a possible love interest for Kendra was wonderful; he is a great character with really interesting abilities. The plot gets even more complicated as the levels of deceit within the Knights of the Dawn are realized. There is so much at stake in this book and things get so desperate; I had a really tough time putting this book down! There were points where this book almost had me in tears I was so concerned for everyone and points where I was grinning wildly in relief. As with the previous book, Mull lightens things up occasionally with a biting sense of humor.

It was nice that Seth started to develop some special abilities of his own. Although Kendra still takes center stage for much of the book with her abilities as Fairykind. Overall I was really impressed. Mull continues to develop wonderful plot lines, intriguing characters, and gives his world greater and greater depth. Younger kids might get scared at some parts of this book, as things get very dire in this book. Still, I think most children and adults will really enjoy this series. I can't wait to see what book four brings!(less)

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May 15, 2010

Hope rated it

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Third book in the series was very good, I have to say this series just keeps getting better.
Book was action packed, there is never a dull moment.
There is a lot going on story wise, but I will not say much because it will spoil your reading.

There was a lot of character development, for both Kendra and Seth, but especially Seth.
He now thinks before he goes of and does something stupid. However Seth character has grown over the last three books a lot and he is b...more

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Apr 24, 2010

Jennifer Wardrip rated it

Shelves: trt-gold-star-award-winner, trt-posted-reviews

Reviewed by Joan Stradling for TeensReadToo.com

A horrible plague is transforming light creatures into beings of darkness at Fablehaven.

Seth discovers the source of the problem, but the Sorenson's can't find a way to stop it. With nowhere to turn, the caretakers of Fablehaven must choose between the Sphinx who might be a traitor, and Vanessa, who they've put in the quiet box because she can't be trusted.

In spite of the trouble at Fablehaven, Kendra and other Kn...more

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Jul 14, 2009

Laurie rated it

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"Grip of the Shadow Plague" is the best so far. One great new aspect - touches of humor that really lightened the overall feel of the book. It makes me wonder if Mull had these little jokes in the first two books, but for some reason, they were edited out.
I still love how Mull writes about fantastical creatures in such a way that they are believable, but never boring. He is also able to add twists to the creatures, so they're not exactly what we expect (like three sub-speci...more

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May 18, 2011

Amanda rated it

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I won't go too far into a review of this novel, as I'm too much engrossed in the series to want to sit here typing all day. I have two more books to read! But I will note that the only thing that has kept me from giving this book four stars (which is about as high as I go for a book I've only read once) is a certain amount of predictability in the plot.

Though there were surprises, there were some very key moments that I saw coming, both in this book and the previous. It doesn't ac...moreI won't go too far into a review of this novel, as I'm too much engrossed in the series to want to sit here typing all day. I have two more books to read! But I will note that the only thing that has kept me from giving this book four stars (which is about as high as I go for a book I've only read once) is a certain amount of predictability in the plot.

Though there were surprises, there were some very key moments that I saw coming, both in this book and the previous. It doesn't actually make me feel awesome to say, "I called that!" My ego doesn't require that boost. In fact, I prefer to be surprised and then have all the pieces fall into place after the fact. I won't say that Mull is telegraphing things too much . . . or maybe I will. By doing so, some of the excitement of discovery is lost. Sure, you want the reader to be "in" on things, but not so much so that they know the answers to the big questions well before the characters do. For instance, I don't want to know who's going to end up dying at the end thirty pages before it happens. Let me feel as shocked as the characters feel when it actually occurs. Let me be frantically flipping pages to find out. So I'm really hoping that what I think is going to happen in the last two books, isn't what is going to happen.

All that aside, I am completely immersed in this series and would recommend it to everyone. The one small thing that annoys me is so much easier to go on and on about than all the things that I enjoy. Because all of those things happen effortlessly. Few of us gush about how easy a trip was, how everything fell into place and the weather was beautiful and the drive was smooth and the people were polite and helpful. I suppose that's just not interesting to hear about, which is why stories are full of dire events and building conflict. But the actual reading of good book is more like that easy trip, especially when it's well-paced and tension-filled. You get done with it and have so little to complain about that it almost seems like you have nothing to say at all.

The one thing I can say is that I'm off to read the next one . . . (less)

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Jan 21, 2009

Sara rated it

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Shelves: favorite-books

This series just keeps getting better. I really enjoyed this installment of the Fablehaven series. There were more plot twists and new exciting creatures to discover. I still feel that Mull's character development needs a little work but with each new book he seems to flesh out his main characters a little better. I would have liked to see the Grandparents become less wooden and predictable - I want to know more of what they are feeling and thinking and see them surprise Kendra and Seth more ...more

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Jan 08, 2011

Jaemi rated it

Shelves: ya-fiction, fantasy, adventure, favorite-authors, favorite-series, magic

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Apr 25, 2008

Jacob rated it

· review of another edition

Who needs mundanity? Is it not the possibility of theextramundane that motivates life? As with the other books in the Fablehaven series, Grip of the Shadow Plague awakens the oft-neglected, adventure-seeking boy that is the foundation of my soul. A simple adventure can provide such a refreshing escape from the tedium of perceived reality. Fablehaven is just such a pleasant escape, albeit regrettably short-lived.

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Jan 08, 2012

Brad rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, fantasy, to-read-with-my-kids

Another great entry in the series. It started a little slow (3 star territory) but things got really good as the story continued. I remain greatly pleased by the amount of story that Mull is able to put into a single book. It is most excellent.

He has also done a great job of answering all of the questions but one from the first book (and even that one that I'd like more info on is somewhat resolved). Mull has crafted an excellent story and seems to have a great handle on unresolv...more

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May 26, 2010

Angie Carter rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, ya

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Brandon Mull once again delivers an exciting, fun adventure at Fablehaven. My only complaint for this book is that it was too long; the book dragged a bit in places. The Lost Mesa chapters could have been shorter and a few chapters probably could have been cut from the plague plot at Fablehaven. Things are starting to get a little bit repetitive too--Kendra and Seth spend their summer at the preserve and save the world yet again.

However, it was nice to be introduced to a few new cha...moreBrandon Mull once again delivers an exciting, fun adventure at Fablehaven. My only complaint for this book is that it was too long; the book dragged a bit in places. The Lost Mesa chapters could have been shorter and a few chapters probably could have been cut from the plague plot at Fablehaven. Things are starting to get a little bit repetitive too--Kendra and Seth spend their summer at the preserve and save the world yet again.

However, it was nice to be introduced to a few new characters. It was really weird reading about Gavin, knowing that he was really a bad guy. The first time through the series, Gavin's being an evil dragon seemed to come out of nowhere, but after reading through the 3rd book again, I'm surprised I didn't pick up on it sooner. Mull leaves plenty of clues regarding Gavin's true nature, but his faked innocence and youth mask the clues pretty well.

Lena's death was harder for me this time. The first time I read about her death, I was a little annoyed that Mull was only able to kill the easiest character off. Lena has already lived a full life with Patton, and to the audience she was pretty much already dead. She came back for a few pages, just like Patton did, and then she left, just like Patton did. However, I think it was a good way to remind the audience that the characters are fighting real foes. Many more people die in the 4th book. The 3rd book seems to be preparing us for the tragedies awaiting in the 4th book.

While the first two books of the series are full of light and fun, starting with the 3rd book, things start to get a little bit darker. Having adventures is no longer the highlight of the story--the characters are faced with foes bigger than they know how to handle, and as a result, sacrifices have to be made. Miracles are no longer able to save every single person. In many ways, the 3rd book is pivotal, because it is the in-between book that transitions between fun and reality (at least, the reality in the magical world).(less)

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Jul 09, 2009

Courtney rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: Children and families especially, but really anybody would benefit

I started this series a couple years ago and temporarily put it on hold when it seemed apparent I would have to fight with a dozen other library patrons to obtain copies of subsequent books in the series. Well, here I am again, waiting for Book 4 to come from interlibrary loan while I ruminate a bit on Book 3. This third book in the series shows most notably character development in the impetuous young Seth, and while this development felt a bit too intentional/contrived at times, I liked seei...more

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About Brandon Mull

"Brandon Mull resides in a happy little valley near the mouth of a canyon with his wife and three children. He spent two years living in the Atacama Desert of Northern Chile where he learned Spanish and juggling. He once won a pudding eating contest in the park behind his grandma’s house, earning a gold medal. Brandon is the author of the New York Times bestselling Fablehaven series and The C...more

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Books by Brandon Mull

Rise of the Evening Star (Fablehaven, #2)

Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary (Fablehaven, #4)

Keys to the Demon Prison (Fablehaven, #5)

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“When jumping is the sole option, you jump, and try to make it work.” — 115 people liked it

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Grip of the Shadow Plague (Fablehaven #3)

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