Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary (Fablehaven, #4)

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Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary (Fablehaven #4)

by Brandon Mull

4.38 · rating details · 14,090 ratings · 1,823 reviews

The magical preserve Fablehaven provides refuge to numerous mystical species, but some beings are too large and powerful to be confined to regular enchanted refuges. These mightiest of creatures dwell inside the dragon sanctuaries.

Hardcover, 535 pages

Published March 24th 2009 by Shadow Mountain

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Mar 17, 2009

Eris rated it

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

like 7 likes

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Mar 29, 2009

Garrett rated it

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...more

like 12 likes

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Jun 19, 2009

Luann rated it

Shelves: 2009, young-adult, fantasy, childrens, ms-rec

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I really like the Fablehaven series as a whole, and highly recommend them. I have enjoyed some of the books more than others, but thought this one was very good. It did start out a bit slow, I thought, with only small bits of action here and there. Once the team started their mission to Wyrmroost, the Dragon Sanctuary, though, my attention was firmly caught and I enjoyed the adventure. The twist caught me completely by surprise, and now I feel like I should reread Fablehaven: Grip of the Shadow Plague ...more

like 2 likes

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Apr 18, 2009

Heather rated it

Shelves: teen-lit-and-i-love-it

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...more

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Apr 15, 2009

Seth rated it

if i weren't such a sucker for juvenile fantasy this book would get maybe 1 star. it's so much fun though. the writing is more similar to a college research paper (awkward, technical, and far from poetic). The story is really interesting if you like magic and fantasy. Don't expect ANY insights into human nature. Don't expect any of the characters to be remotely human or familiar. Don't expect any substance whatsoever and you might have a great time. Fablehaven is like playing video games....more

like 3 likes

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Aug 05, 2009

Leigh Dethman rated it

Brandon makes every character come to life, from mischievous satyrs, ambitious kids and imposing dragons. I breezed through all four books in this series in two weeks. I couldn't put them down. Book 4 releases on March 24. If you live anywhere near, make sure to come to the launch party that night. For details, check fablehaven.com for more information.

like 2 likes

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Apr 05, 2009

Barbara rated it

Shelves: read-first-in-09

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

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Apr 24, 2009

Rebecca rated it

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like 3 likes

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Sep 12, 2009

Sivonne rated it

i am truly enjoying this series, and think this is the best yet.

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Sep 19, 2009

Savanna rated it

I cant wait to read this!!

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Jul 26, 2010

Maxy rated it

Shelves: love-it-with-all-my-heart

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Wow, Brandon. You've really done it. This is amazing. Extremely twisted, cliffhanger ending. If I didn't love the book so much, I would have thrown it against my bedroom wall because I was so sad it had to end where it did.

The action starts right at the beginning. If you're like me, you won't be able to put it down. I've already read this book twice, and I still can't put it down. I've innocently picked it up many-a-time, thinking, "Oh, I don't have anything else I want to read...more

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Apr 06, 2009

Trent rated it

Oh, my. Oh, my. I think I am too into the story. I pride myself in being able to outguess authors. Somehow, I forgot to even try as I read this book. How in the world can an author stay so original for so many pages in a row? This series certainly has the capacity to overtake Harry Potter on the "Freak, that was awesome!" scale. We'll see if Mull pulls it off in the last book.

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Apr 18, 2009

Angie rated it

Wow! I loved this book! Brandon Mull's writing was, as always, superb. The plot was well done and completely surprising; great for discussions or book groups. This may be a children's book, but it is written so that it is enjoyable for any age. I am already looking forward to the next book in the series!

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Apr 06, 2009

Deanna rated it

Shelves: young-adult, fable-fantasy-myth

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

like 1 like

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Mar 31, 2009

Analee rated it

Shelves: youth-chapter-books

It was great! I honestly had a hard time putting it down. Brandon Mull didn't disappoint on this one either. Lots of good stuff. If anyone reads the stuff he has at the end, wait until you read the book before you answer any of the questions because there are spoilers.

like 1 like

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May 07, 2011

Seth rated it

Shelves: read-on-nook-epub, re-read, 5-star-books

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

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Apr 10, 2009

Russ rated it

Another fun and exciting installment from Brandon Mull, with high adventure and plot twists that make you say, "huh?"

I found this book to be very much in line with the others and a salve for my longing for a new Harry Potter book. Seth and Kendra are still very enjoyable characters, with Seth still doing stupid things that somehow turn out to be the only thing that could have been done. I was pretty happy that Seth has his own abilities to rival Kendra.

I must sa...more

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Apr 08, 2009

Heidi rated it

GREAT! I enjoyed it from the beginning to the end. No lame or boring spots. Interesting new developments in the Fablehaven "realm" also.

like 1 like

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Dec 04, 2011

Robert rated it

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

Brandon delivers again in book four of this five book series. His polish as a writer has progressed through the series. I love the progress Seth makes as a character, even if he seems a little too able for his age. We begin to see some of his special abilities as we already have for Kendra. Stan Sorenson still seems lame to me. Is he ever going to step up? What brought him to where he's at?

Fast moving, imaginative and true to characters and world, along with solid, uplifting ...more

like 1 like

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Mar 05, 2009

Trevor Davis marked it as to-read

I want to read this book because all of the other Fablehaven books are really good.

like 1 like

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Feb 06, 2012

Jamie rated it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Book 4 of the Fablehaven series was for me a little bit of a downer after the third book. It still was exciting and wonderfully written and it still had me reading to the end, wanting to know what happened, but it wasn't as much of what I loved about the Fablehaven series - the theme of what do you really do with your abilities? What choices you make really affect who you are, not the abilities (light or dark) that you're given.

In this book, Kendra and Seth must survive the dragons of...more

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Jan 29, 2012

Felita rated it

Shelves: fantasy-dragon

akhirnya terbit juga seri fablehaven keempat..seri terjemahannya maksudku...

ok.. awal cerita dimulai dari surat patton yang ditunjukkin ke . penjelasan artefak keempat di cagar naga. wow..naga..naga di sini sesuai dg perkiraanku...sombong, merasa paling tinggi dibanding mahluk lain, dan semacamnya...uniknya dari pengarang dimunculkan tokoh naga yang semenjak telur dierami dan dipelihara oleh peri..kebayang naga yang dibesarkan ama peri..tentunya si naga ini bakal berteman baik dg ken...more

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May 18, 2011

Mormonhermitmom rated it

The race is on to recover hidden artifacts that will unlock a demon prison. Who will get there first? The members of the evil Evening Star society or the Knights of the Dawn, an order of magical fighters trying to protect mankind from certain doom? The artifacts are all over the globe and one of them is guarded by a whole preserve inhabited by fierce dragons. Kendra and Seth and a group of trusted associates attempt to beat the Evening Star. On top of the obvious danger, they suspect that there ...more

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Mar 15, 2011

Jenifer rated it

Wow. This series has some fans! You have to search pretty far down the Goodreads reviews to find less than a four star review for this book. That's okay. It's fine. There's nothing wrong with books that are just "to read". Any series that can keep people interested and reading gets five stars from me.

I myself gave the first two books in this series four stars. I think my main problem with series' is that it usually becomes pretty much the same thing over and over again. Tha...more

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Jan 12, 2011

Ithlilian rated it

Shelves: young-adult

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....moreSticking 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. (less)

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Dec 30, 2010

Karissa Eckert rated it

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...more

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Oct 24, 2010

Stephanie rated it

This is probably actually a 3.5 for me.

I listened to this recently on audio book. I wasn’t particularly taken with the narrator; Seth sounded too old (and skaterish) and Kendra sounded too young and childlike (though, to be fair, some of that is probably attributable to her dialogue as it’s written). The voices for some of the characters were a little too similar to others’, at least one of the antagonists sounded like he was a mustache-twirling villain straight out of a melodrama (t...moreThis is probably actually a 3.5 for me.

I listened to this recently on audio book. I wasn’t particularly taken with the narrator; Seth sounded too old (and skaterish) and Kendra sounded too young and childlike (though, to be fair, some of that is probably attributable to her dialogue as it’s written). The voices for some of the characters were a little too similar to others’, at least one of the antagonists sounded like he was a mustache-twirling villain straight out of a melodrama (though, again, at least some of that is the dialogue), and the narrator’s standard reading voice sounded forced and wispy and irritated me.

As this fourth installment of the Fablehaven series begins, Kendra and Seth Sorenson have (at least temporarily) returned home to their parents after recovering one of the five artifacts the Sphinx needs to open the demon prison. But the Sphinx recovered a second artifact, and suddenly Kendra, Seth, and their allies are in a race to find and collect the three other artifacts before the Sphinx can. It starts with a suicidal raid on Wyrmroost, a dragon sanctuary closed to humans, to find the key to the vault where the third artifact is hidden…

This one is pretty representative of the latter part of the series. Lots of adventure, daring-do, magical creatures to deal with, and high stakes. It has many of the strengths and many of the weaknesses of the series as a whole. There are interesting obstacles, fairly cohesive plotting, important revelations regarding Seth and another major character, and a pivotal conversation with a dying demon. You’ll also find a good bit of weak characterization and sometimes painfully stilted dialogue. Mull is a fair hand with description and deft enough with plotting, but nuances of speech and personality don’t come naturally to him as a writer. Of a fairly large cast of supporting characters, I can’t think of any I know anything more than a couple of broad, impersonal details about or could identify based on speech or mannerisms or patterns of communication without the inflections of a reader. I wasn’t more than mildly interested or invested in more than a handful of the characters. Only one surprised me at all, and even then it wasn’t much of a surprise because I suspected that Mull would take that tack with the character. Kendra and Seth develop somewhat, but they still don’t quite come across as fully-realized individuals of their respective ages. Still, the Fablehaven universe is colorful and pretty creative, and the adventure does a pretty good job of carrying the story. The stakes are higher and the situations seem appropriately perilous. The characters are often quite clever in solving their problems.(less)

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Jul 20, 2010

Mary rated it

These just keep getting better and better! The promo on the back of the book talked about a shocking secret- I watched for some unusual surprise almost the whole book. When it finally came I felt like I was the one who got sucker-punched. UGH! I have read a lot this summer- trying to keep track of it now(Hah!)- mosty fiction and I am loving it but I also like to pull from what I read teaching moments- things that can give me something more that just a great escape, and I am not sure what I a...more

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Apr 24, 2010

Jennifer Wardrip rated it

· review of another edition

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

Reviewed by Joan Stradling for TeensReadToo.com

Two hidden artifacts have been recovered and the Society of the Evening Star isn't about to stop until they get their hands on all five. In order to recover one of the remaining three artifacts, the Knights of the Dawn must obtain a sacred object guarded by the uncooperative centaurs.

If the centaurs weren't bad enough, they have to take the sacred object and face certain death when they travel to Wyrmroost, the dragon sanctua...more

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Sep 02, 2009

Lilly rated it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Wow. I started reading this series when my father's co-worker sent home the first book one day, to see if I would like it. Well, I did. I have been waiting and waiting for this book to come out, and it just blew my mind. I have read a LOT of good books, and I mean A LOT!!, but I have never been more surprised at an ending (and the entire story!) than I did when I was reading this book. Even as I read the Harry Potter series, my hatred at Voldemort and the countless other characters in other book...moreWow. I started reading this series when my father's co-worker sent home the first book one day, to see if I would like it. Well, I did. I have been waiting and waiting for this book to come out, and it just blew my mind. I have read a LOT of good books, and I mean A LOT!!, but I have never been more surprised at an ending (and the entire story!) than I did when I was reading this book. Even as I read the Harry Potter series, my hatred at Voldemort and the countless other characters in other books does not exceed the Hate I now feel at Gavin, or should I say, Navarog. I would have never guessed that Gavin could have been an evil genius, but then again, if he was really smart, he would have checked behind himself more frequently and find Raxtus, before he was gobbled. I even believe that the Sphinx isn't that evil, because he didn't just kill friends without a second thought. At least Mara survived, but trapping Warren in a 3-dimensional area, was beyond evil. It was, so infuriatingly demonic, I can''t even think of bad enought words for him. NAVaroG, GAViN, how could I not have made Some kind of connection. It wasn't until Thronis mentioned that Navarog had joined the fight, that I realized who gavin really was. At first, I thought that he was just really powerful as a Dragon brother, but the largeness and eerie black color hinted at the demon inside. I HATE GAVIN/NAVAROG!!!!!>:{ I think that Kendra should continue her friendship with Raxtus. Maybe, as ANOTHER major twist, Kendra could meet a TRUSWORTHY, GENUINLEY NICE, AWESOME, guy who looked like Gavin, but better, then THEY could fall in love. Warren had better been saved. So, I gues that when gavin said that he was indeed very interested in kendra, he didn't really mean romantically, but more as if he was going to use her, which he tried to. I am glad he is dead. The twist at the end still continues to blow my mind. I keep thinking that i dreamt the entire thing, and I often have to return to the book to see if it is indeed true. (less)

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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)

Grip of the Shadow Plague (Fablehaven, #3)

Keys to the Demon Prison (Fablehaven, #5)

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