A World Without Heroes (Beyonders, #1)

Jul 02, 2012 Kathryn rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-in-a-serie, books-i-own, read-2012, five-star-rating, multiple-narratives

There are so many disappointing YA books lately, since the genre has grown rapidly within a very short period of time, it almost seems like authors are writing books with only a stroke of a pencil. Not thinking hard enough. The plots are forgettable, unintelligent and always comes with an uncomfortable threesome.

Which is why I have turned my back to them for now and concentrating on "novel" and "Middle Grade lit".

This book had one of the most imaginative and amazing first chapter I have read i...more

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Feb 04, 2012 Anne Toronto1 rated it 2 of 5 stars

"A World Without Heroes" (Beyonders 1) by Brandon Mull is Lyria. One wizard remains, a tyrant ruler vulnerable to a secret magic word who discourages opposition. A few skilled adults in turn aid two foretold saviors, American children (13 is barely teen) uncommonly skilled in knife and bow, but not paddling (unlikely in Canada). Circumstances propel them more than courage. I feel danger to the pair more than Lyrians met once. Author imagination is creative; reader (my) involvement superficial. M...more "A World Without Heroes" (Beyonders 1) by Brandon Mull is Lyria. One wizard remains, a tyrant ruler vulnerable to a secret magic word who discourages opposition. A few skilled adults in turn aid two foretold saviors, American children (13 is barely teen) uncommonly skilled in knife and bow, but not paddling (unlikely in Canada). Circumstances propel them more than courage. I feel danger to the pair more than Lyrians met once. Author imagination is creative; reader (my) involvement superficial. Major plot twist caught me up again, but I do not like cliff-hangers; I quit and consider cliff shelf for series pushers. The strongest lesson of this episode is the human need for hope (heroes).
Initial agonizing torture Prologue fades to boring rich teen discomfort. In the dungeon, blinded silent suffering prince tries word of power on tormenting sorcerer Emporer Maldor. In small-town Vista Colorado central US, near 6' Jason 13 reluctantly following father as dentist, battles baseball machine, pals and girl crush watching. He's tall, strong, rich, loved, male, peak of health, American, world of choices - so far, I identify more with the prince.
Jason hears music from a hippo, slides down the animal's throat into medieval monster world, stumbles onto the first syllable of six that will conquer Maldor. The secluded librarian sends him on to the Blind King, guess who? Rachel, pretty only child from Seattle, west coast US, joins him, along with adult helpers in turn.
No Table of Contents, I searched all pages to find who was Drake, mentioned at Whitelake c16 p275, returns in Escape c22 p301, and re-read to find why we can trust him. Very large cast.

Spoilers:
Knife fights, displacers who survive separation of body parts, neck-seeds that reincarnate men (women?) of that race to the age of their First Death, quicksand-like lake, giant frogs, edible insect-repellent, memory-restoring mushrooms, hinder and help at each step of the quest. Mundanes Jason and Rachel decide on the hard road of resistance to justify innocents killed for their contact, save more from evil already in pursuit, and get home. Despite the clever inventions of displacers and neck-seeds, I do not care enough to continue for an unspecified number of sequels.
Typo: p437 dosing should be dozing
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Dec 17, 2012 Raechella rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, book-series, reviewed

To be honest, I haven’t read anything from Brandon Mull yet, notwithstanding his well-known children’s series Fablehaven (which I certainly would like to check out some time), not until Beyonders: A World Without Heroes. I’ve been seeing this on GR for a while now, so imagine my exhilaration as soon as I found this on Booksale’s crammed shelves; thus, I momentarily purchased it without any second thoughts.

The story kicks off when a 13-year old middle-grader, Jason, heard an unusual sound coming...more To be honest, I haven’t read anything from Brandon Mull yet, notwithstanding his well-known children’s series Fablehaven (which I certainly would like to check out some time), not until Beyonders: A World Without Heroes. I’ve been seeing this on GR for a while now, so imagine my exhilaration as soon as I found this on Booksale’s crammed shelves; thus, I momentarily purchased it without any second thoughts.

The story kicks off when a 13-year old middle-grader, Jason, heard an unusual sound coming from a hippo tank. He eventually realized that the strange sound was taking place inside the hippo’s mouth. And as curiosity killed the cat, Jason probed the tank and accidentally plunged straight into the hippo’s mouth, finding himself in a peculiar world very different from our own. Not a very appealing magical portal, eh? In this foreign world, which native folks call Lyrian, he also met a Beyonder named Rachel. Together, with the aid of helpful friends and allies, these Beyonders embarked on a perilous quest to recover the syllables for the solitary word that could defeat the evil emperor Maldor.

The hippo thingy as an enchanted aperture from our world to Lyrian is quite an ingenious device of fascinating readers—if not disgusting to some extent. Haha. Brandon Mull certainly established an interesting introduction to the world of Lyrian that greeted readers with a widening awe. Add to that the imaginative fabrication of characters that will amazingly capture every reader’s curiosity such as the displacers who can detach their body parts to function single-handedly then mend themselves back again, the Amar Kabal or People of the Seed who can live numerous of lives by replanting their seeds on the ground, carnivorous toads, constriptors, a blood-thirsty crab, and a whole lot more. Mull isn’t likewise afraid of killing off a few characters that had slightly impinged upon every reader’s heart and unpredictable character twists that I didn’t really see coming; or perhaps I’m just seriously slow-witted. LOL. Every chapter is chock-full of action and unnecessarily repetitive to the previous chapters; hence, readers get to taste a manifold of page-turning scenes without getting any familiarity.

I do not have a problem with the length whatsoever but some scenes just dragged on too long—I think the story would’ve been polished more without them. In the case of middle-graders, to whom this book was really intended for, I believe the length would be a challenge to them but think of the fulfillment you’ll earn otherwise; that would be quite worthwhile.

Gory scenes weren’t spared in here which would not be very welcoming for kids but they weren’t graphic enough to be that horribly gruesome. But still, recommended to older ones.

And because Rick Riordan gave a review on this book, I cannot refrain myself from comparing this to his Percy Jackson books. I don’t know why, but seeing his name on the cover gave me an idea. Haha. The main protagonists in here reminds me of the two main protagonists in the PJ books—Percy and Annabeth. Both Percy and Jason were geek kids who suddenly turned out to be heroes, while Annabeth and Rachel encompass the all-knowing female characters. There is also an oracle here and the quest reminded me much of Percy’s quests. Coincidences or not, my mind is certainly tainted with much PJ stuff.

I’ve seen a lot of lucky chances that befell on the protagonists all throughout the book. At times, it was considerably fine but a myriad of these can be quite irritating, too. They were totally doomed in a moment, but then a new character emerges and rescues them. And what with all of the things that they had encountered and lost already, Rachel still has her camera? Ugh.

My worst complain so far is the anti-climactic denouement. I’ve been placidly bearing to finally finish this 450-page book and then I get that? Screw you. (I didn’t really mean that last part.)

Overall, it was still a nice read despite some of my horrible remarks. If you’re a fantasy buff, you might as well try this one.
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Oct 02, 2012 Fredrik rated it 5 of 5 stars

Di luar dugaan...
buku ini ternyata LEBIH BAGUS daripada ekspektasiku (yang memang sudah menduga kalau ini akan bagus)! xD

Untuk standar sebuah novel bagi middle grade and children, buku pertama Beyonders ini layak dapat 5 bintang. Top.
Ceritanya, twist-nya, humornya, pesannya... Hai(n)yaaa~ <3

Juga yang menarik adalah karena cara bercerita di buku ini, apalagi dialognya, justru mengingatkanku pada game-game adventure di PC, khususnya serial Monkey Island (which is one of my favorite games ever!)...more

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Mar 27, 2012 Natalie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, fantasy-magic, 2012

I read this book for the second time because I needed a refresher before I read Book #2. It was a good thing too, because I realized that I had forgotten so much. I didn't even really remember the biggest point of the story - the climax - until I was nearly done.

Second time through was still fun. I was a little impatient, though, because I was anxious to start the second book. Therefore, I didn't find it as fascinating as the first time, but still enjoyable. Still leaving it with a four star ra...more

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Oct 06, 2011 Lady Danielle aka The Book Huntress rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Younger readers and adults who appreciate young people fantasy

Shelves: fantasy, middle-grade-juvenile, alternate-dimension-or-world, wizard-warlock-sorcerer, library-checkout, audiobook, fish-out-of-water, quest, 2011-reading

A World Without Heroes is a 'grew on me' book. Initially, I was not sure I liked the tone at all. At first, I thought it would read more like a Disney film than a weighty young adult fantasy novel with potential. As I listened, my feelings started to change. The idea is not new, but the in- between steps of the journey proved interesting. While I am not extensively well read, not in the least, in epic fantasy, I appreciate the quest as a foundation for a story. Fairy tales (which I am very well-...more A World Without Heroes is a 'grew on me' book. Initially, I was not sure I liked the tone at all. At first, I thought it would read more like a Disney film than a weighty young adult fantasy novel with potential. As I listened, my feelings started to change. The idea is not new, but the in- between steps of the journey proved interesting. While I am not extensively well read, not in the least, in epic fantasy, I appreciate the quest as a foundation for a story. Fairy tales (which I am very well-read in) have a long, extensive history of putting your average, everyday (even if they are just a down on their luck prince or princess) hero in a situation where they have to survive by their wits and a little help, and achieve a certain objective. Quest stories usually make for good reading.

That's what Jason faces. He ends up entering a magical world in the strangest of ways, and I won't say how. Believe me, it's very strange. Initially, he just wants to get home, and he struggles to make sense of this bizarre land he's entered. The thing about this book that makes it worthwhile is the characterization. Without having a main character that drew interest and loyalty, this book wouldn't have worked for me. It might have come off as trite. Although I have to say that Mr. Mull is an inventive fellow, the major pull of this story was hearing about Jason's reactions to the many misfortunes and difficult situations he faces in this novel. I like that Jason is a normal kid. He's not overly brilliant (although he is quite intelligent), athletic (although he does play baseball), perceptive, or magical in the least. But he is determined and brave, and resourceful. And his sense of humor, often verging on ironic and sarcastic, really appealed. More than anything, Jason made this book appealing to me.

The secondary characters are good too. You see a mix of folks. Some of them have very weird characteristics, such as the ability to detach their body parts at will. Others have the gift of immortality due to a cyst-like seed on the back of their necks that can be planted in soil in the event of their demise to allow them to be reborn as adults. Of course, there are plain old humans, all with distinct quirks. There is a tortured, deposed King who reminded me very strongly of King Arthur (post-Camlan). I liked him a lot. There is also an evil wizard to beat the band, truly not a nice man at all. And there is also a fellow Beyonder (from Earth). A young girl--Rachel--who also entered this strange world, and who makes a very helpful companion to Jason. She has her own list of skills and a different personality than Jason that complements him as a character. Admittedly, some of these characters show more depth than others, as most of this book is spent passing through various places and on to the next adventure. Some act as allies and friends to the two Beyonders, and some as formidable foes that the two kids must outwit to achieve their goals.

Earlier I mentioned the strange tone. This book is full of weirdness. To me that's not a bad thing. It elevated this book from being okay to being interesting and one I wanted to keep listening to. The narrator's choice of different vocal stylings for various characters added to the strange flavor in a good way.

I've had the discussion with others about how contentious some readers can be towards young adult/juvenile fiction and downright dismissive of its writers. In my opinion, it takes a lot of work to craft a book for younger readers. It takes some restraint and creativity to write a story that will attract their attention without going over the line into unsuitability. I can see that Mr. Mull faced that challenge here. I'm uncertain as to where I would place this book as far as rating it for young readers. The tone seems a bit adult, with some subject matter that is quite violent and intense in parts. On the other hand, some elements are approached on the surface level so as to appeal to a younger reader; this might turn off an older, more exacting reader. This story deals with the themes of tyranny, corrupt leadership and governmental organization. The people of this magical land face an emperor who is wholly evil, one whose evil has tainted the whole land, having destroyed, seduced, or attenuated all of his enemies. Like any country with corrupt leadership, the whole society seems on the brink of ruin in many ways, with injustice fairly rampant. Mr. Mull touches on these aspects in a way that I feel is accessible to a younger reader. An older reader who appreciates young adult/children's literature will likely see this story in a slightly deeper way and still find some resonance. Mull has a character make a statement that a man comes of age at twelve in this world, and I kept reminding myself of that fact as Jason seems to be put into situations that seemed much too mature, and he is expected for the most part to comport himself as a man. And I can say that as a young adventure-loving girl many years ago, I had that wish that I would be called upon to embark on a great quest and find myself in situations that demanded great heroism and fortitude from me (as an adult I now wish I was still a carefree kid with that life that seemed too normal and boring somedays). So I imagine this book would resonate with a pre-teen or a young teen who has those sort of ideals.

As an adult, I found the use of vocabulary impressive. I think this one is good for kids in the sense that it would encourage them to look up a lot of words. I think kids would also like the creepy, crawly, icky parts, and the adventure aspects. Kids will also appreciate the humor and the snark of Jason and Rachel and some of the other characters as they interact with them, particularly the quirky ones; and how they see the world as regular kids from our own world. Kids should be able to easily put themselves in both Jason and Rachel's shoes, and appreciate this story from the standpoint of all the strange situations, often uncomfortable and frightening, that these two Beyonders face. It probably would make for an exciting read for them. Some adult readers, especially those who don't care for literature for younger readers, probably won't find much of interest here. Especially if they consider themselves exacting when it comes to fantasy literature. For myself, I try to take each book as its own entity and appreciate the unique elements therein. In this case, I did like this book, and I found it worthwhile reading, although not spectacular. It has some interesting, funny, and strange bits that worked for me.

This is the first book in a series, and I will need to seek out the next story. I want to see what Jason and Rachel will face in the next installment. And what Mull can come up with to further this story.

Overall rating: 3.5/5.0 stars.(less)

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Mar 07, 2011 Brenda rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult, family-reading

Jason is a middle school student who is great at baseball and works at a zoo (I don't know how someone in middle school gets a job at a zoo, but we move past that very quickly). One day while working he is transported through the hippo cage to another world called Lyrian where an evil wizard emperor holds all the power. There he meets Rachel, who was also transported from Earth to Lyrian. With the help of scattered rebels, they must fine a secret word that can be used to destroy the emperor.

One...more Jason is a middle school student who is great at baseball and works at a zoo (I don't know how someone in middle school gets a job at a zoo, but we move past that very quickly). One day while working he is transported through the hippo cage to another world called Lyrian where an evil wizard emperor holds all the power. There he meets Rachel, who was also transported from Earth to Lyrian. With the help of scattered rebels, they must fine a secret word that can be used to destroy the emperor.

One thing Brandon Mull does well is write characters to engage his readers. Jason and Rachel are likable characters that will draw in young boy and girl readers. At times I felt that Jason seemed to be quite older than his thirteen years, but maybe it's because I underestimate what young teens can do. Rachel is a little more secondary as a character, so we don't find out what she's thinking as much as with Jason.

Lyrian is a very interesting world with a lot of different settings. The world building was very creative, and very much a part of the story as Jason and Rachel search for the secret word. They travel to many different places, but I don't want to go into too much detail because I think part of the fun of reading is discovering the world with the characcters.

A Sample of the Writing:
" My people are right. Indulgence is emptiness. I have probed the limits with food and frivolity. There is no real fulfillment in meaningless rushes of pleasure. You try to conceal the emptiness with more extravagance, only to find the thrills becoming less satisfying and more fleeting. Most pleasures are best as a seasoning, not the main course."

If you enjoyed Fablehaven, you'll definitely want to give this one a read as well. This book is aimed at ages 8-12, and I think those ages will definitely enjoy it, but older readers will like it as well.

A World Without Heroes is a very fun, creative fantasy and I'm very much looking forward to the next book in the series. There were a few slow spots, but overall it's quite an engaging story that the reader will have a hard time putting down. This is definitely one to watch for.
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Oct 23, 2012 Millerbl rated it 5 of 5 stars

Book: Beyonders SPOILER ALERT!!
Author: Brandon Mull
Book Type:Fiction
Theme: advanture

Sumirization:This book is about two teenagers neamed Rachel and Jason, Who were transported by axident into a distant world that they have no buisness being in, and they end up at the blind kings castle. Where they end up on a crazy quest to destroy the evil emporor maldor. But the only way to destroy him is with a sqecific word that when said directly to him will obliterate him and end his evil rain.
This book is...more

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May 16, 2013 08nickb rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book is about a teenager named Jason that is in the eighth grade. He likes to play baseball and he has a job at the zoo. One day he goes to the zoo and he hears music playing but he doesn't know where its coming from. He finds that the music is coming from a hippo cage and he leans over the bar to make sure. He ends up leaning to far and he plunges into the water right as the hippo devours him. Jason thinks he is dead but he finds himself sitting in a tree. He had traveled to the beyond an...more

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Apr 27, 2013 Brennan Sarich rated it 3 of 5 stars

Good book, but started out a little stilted.

There are times when Mull really hits his stride, and then there are other times where you really feel like the writing is getting in the way.

The one thing this book does well is the setting. The world is very, very interesting, and the quest is interesting, even if it is formulaic. Sadly, the main characters aren't very interesting. They try, but it's train wreck. The best characters (Jasher and Ferrin) are only there as plot devices, which is too bad...more

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Feb 01, 2013 Despair Speaking rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, hilarious-to-no-end, hope-will-never-forget, nonstop-action-call-in-james-bond

I'm actually glad I decided to get my own copy of Beyonders just a few months ago. Because if I got this earlier, I probably would've gone insane wondering what will happen next. Since I'm a late fan, that means the last book will come out quite soon. Otherwise... I don't even want to think about it.

The main character, Jason, is a volunteer in a zoo and happened to be hanging around the hippo tank when he heard this strange music. Wondering if someone dumped a music player inside the tank, he ch...more I'm actually glad I decided to get my own copy of Beyonders just a few months ago. Because if I got this earlier, I probably would've gone insane wondering what will happen next. Since I'm a late fan, that means the last book will come out quite soon. Otherwise... I don't even want to think about it.

The main character, Jason, is a volunteer in a zoo and happened to be hanging around the hippo tank when he heard this strange music. Wondering if someone dumped a music player inside the tank, he checks it out only to be swallowed by the hippo... and thrown straight into Lyrian. After some catastrophic events involving the musicians whose music brought him there in the first place, he comes across the Repository of Learning where he learns two things: going back to the Beyond (what they call our world) may be either or impossible, and Lyrian is under the rule of Maldor, an evil wizard. As he tries to look for any clue on a way home, he opens a book that immediately an enemy of Maldor. Apparently, he had read the first syllable of a Word that can undo Maldor and free Lyrian from his oppression. Now he's on the run and the only way for him to survive is to complete the Word and kill Maldor.

He's not alone of course. He is accompanied by Rachel, a fellow Beyonder, and befriends a lot of people - like the Blind King, a wise "old" man, Ferrin, a displacer (a member of a race that can still have full control of their limbs even if they're detached as long as they're not destroyed), Tark, one of the musicians that summoned Jason, Jasher, a seedman (a member of another race that can live over and over again through the seed in the back of their necks; once they die, their seed can be planted and they'll grow back again), and Drake, another seedman.

I don't know how Beyonders pulled me in the way it did (and still does). The author managed to meld everything so well. The world was fascinating. The different races were cool. The way Edomic (which is the equivalent to magic in Lyrian) worked was well-explained. The story kept jumping from one adventure to another without losing itself, which I think is wonderful. I wasn't bored, not for a second. Jason and Rachel were good leads. They were realistic, although a little too mature. I sometimes forget they were thirteen! They seemed fifteen or sixteen. It's my only problem with the book. In any case, I had to reread the book for three to four times before I could get over it. And that was before I bought the second book. You can guess the state of my copy of Beyonders by now. The edges of Book One are frayed and Book Two is on its way on becoming like Book One. I love you, Brandon Mull. The bonus chapter was a brilliant touch. It added depth to Drake. The bonus chapter is about what Drake thought about Jason. My fingers are crossed for the hope that Mr. Mull would make a book all about the side characters.

Recommended for readers into the fantasy, adventure, and action genre and doesn't mind reading over 400 pages of words and no pictures.(less)

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Jan 18, 2013 05RyanH rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Beyonders is a book about a baseball player named Jason Walker. While he and his friends were at the batting cages, Jason had to leave early to go to his job, at the zoo. While working by the Hippo Exibit, he hears a strange sound coming from the water. He leans over the railing to listen better, when he fell in and the Hippo swallowed him! Instead of being eaten, he was transported to a world called Lyrian.

He pops out of a tree in the middle of the forest. He can hear the same music coming...more

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Jan 18, 2013 Martin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Beyonders Book Review

Beyonders was a good book that had a good story line to back
everything up. It's about two individuals who come into
contact with each other when they are whisked away by portals to another world.
When these two individuals find themselves lost in this
magical world, they eventually find each other. They find out that
they were destined to come there. They find that there is one evil wizard
who is controlling the whole world. It is up to these two to help save
this poor wor

...more

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Jan 09, 2013 06brittonR rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: book-review

This is a fairly longer read. Its about this boy name Jason and he is in eighth grade. He is a baseball player and works at a zoo.
So one day he goes over to the zoo and hears music playing. He follows the music and it seems to be coming from a hippos cage. Jason then leans over to see if it really was coming from the hippo and he made a huge mistake. He leaned to far over and fell into the cage, the hippo then swallowed him but instead of dyeing he found him self up in a tree. He starts to wan...more This is a fairly longer read. Its about this boy name Jason and he is in eighth grade. He is a baseball player and works at a zoo.
So one day he goes over to the zoo and hears music playing. He follows the music and it seems to be coming from a hippos cage. Jason then leans over to see if it really was coming from the hippo and he made a huge mistake. He leaned to far over and fell into the cage, the hippo then swallowed him but instead of dyeing he found him self up in a tree. He starts to wander and finds a little boy that takes him to a water fall where a music band is riding off the falls. Jason thinks it is suicide so he takes a bow to save them and misfires and hits a musician. he then scrambles away from the scene to find a tall marble building. the lore master lives there and that's where the book is.
As he is there he is tempted to go to the forbidden part of the library. He finds his way but there is a lock with pegs on it so he has to go figure out the pattern of the pegs and he finally does it.
he finds the book, it is covered with the skin of a human. He begins to read it and it warns him that if he goes any further into the book his life will change. Of course he does and now he learns there is a word that will defeat the emperor madrol. the first of the letter is "a" he then goes to the blind king to try and figure out the next part of it. there is where he meets Rachel. she is a beyonder just like him and they both want to get home.
In order to return to their normal world they have to defeat the emperor because he is a wizard and watches their every move. so they team up and set off on an adventure to defeat the emperor. You will have to read the rest to find out what happens next because i do not want to spoil it.
My favorite quote is probably "mortal, I know not who you are, but you must be the greatest fool on all this world of fools." there are other good quotes like "I pretend nothing! I am supreme! IN my native realm i was the universe!" and so on. this is a great book i liked it a lot. (less)

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Jan 07, 2013 02DallenM rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: book-reviews

Setting- this story could not take place in any other setting especially because the setting is the reason for the story

Main Characters- Jason, Rachel, The blind king, and a displacer that acts to be their friend but ends up to be bad, and Maldor the emperor and his minions.

Summary- starts out with a describing the life of a boy named Jason he works at a zoo. Later he falls in the mouth of a hippo and is transported to another world called lyrain he stumbles into a forest finding a huge library...more

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Jan 03, 2013 Kate rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 4-fantasy

Beyonders: A World Without Heroes is my favorite book by Brandon Mull to date. I'm not as captivated by his Fablehaven series as I would like to be, and while The Candy Shop War was fun, it felt too similar to Fablehaven for me (generic bad guys, for starters).

While different from his other works, Beyonders does remind me of other stories, such as CS Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia as the book starts out with two children from our world crossing over to a different world. Also similarly, this other...more

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Wendy Mull's "endless imagination" is what impresses me most about his work. His dialog is often stiff, and sometimes I wonder what his editors were thinkin...more
Jan 04, 2013 08:19pm

Kate First of all, I have to say thank you to you for all the book recommendations that you gave me back in July for our third grader. He's read most of yo...more First of all, I have to say thank you to you for all the book recommendations that you gave me back in July for our third grader. He's read most of your recommendations - the Larklight series, the Arthurian books, A Wrinkle in Time, the Alcatraz vs the Evil Librarian series (have you read Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn series? I started it and really enjoyed the first book), the first book in the Magic Thief series (we need to ask our library to get the other two), and the first book in the Origami Yoda series (on hold for the other two at the library). We have the first couple of books in the Septimus Heap series on hold at our library as well.

With Beyonders, I really have enjoyed this series the most out of what I've ready of Mull's books. I guess I'm one of those that isn't bothered by his dialogue as much - though I've read many reviews that point out the same issue with it that you have. I think that my biggest issue is that his characters can tend to get a little cookie-cutter, speaking the same way across different series, including the kind of dry humor. That's not always a bad thing - I like Mull's sense of humor - but sometimes I'd like a little more character development. I feel like we get a little more of that in Beyonders. Some of his characters in this cast - though not all - seem a little more well-rounded, like I feel like I kind of know them, where even after reading through book 3 of Fablehaven, I feel like I really don't know the characters as well as I should. It's hard to explain, but I guess I feel like characterization is a bit flat at times in Mull's writing.

Beyonders is a bit more dark, a bit more violent...I read it first to see if my third grader could read it. It's certainly not above him, but because of the heavier content, I think I'm going to hold him off for another year. I might be a little too protective, but this book gave me a bad dream, so if it could do that to me, I know it could for my son whose active imagination never sleeps. :) I am midway through the second book in this series, and I am still continuing to enjoy it quite a bit. The only regret I have is that after this, I have to go back and read the rest of Fablehaven, and I just don't feel like it. We're borrowing the books from friends, so I need to read them sooner than later...BUT, I might read the next book in Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn series first (which series is for adults, not kids, though very clean and very interesting world that he's created).

If you have more recommendations, I'd love it! A friend recommended Redwall to me for my son. Have you read it before? Any thoughts on that one?(less)
Jan 05, 2013 07:59am

Jan 02, 2013 Daniel Shellenbarger rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Daniel by: Becky B

I picked up World Without Heroes (first book in Brandon Mull's Beyonders series) after a hearty endorsement from my librarian sister, who compared it favorably to Rick Riordan's writing (see Becky B's review for more on her thoughts). For me, I was strangely reminded of Angie Sage's Magyk books (for the wizardy bits) and Elizabeth Kay's Divide books (Earth connected to fantasy "Other world") and 1984 (for the Machiavellian villain and dystopian fantasy world), though thankfully without Sage's re...more I picked up World Without Heroes (first book in Brandon Mull's Beyonders series) after a hearty endorsement from my librarian sister, who compared it favorably to Rick Riordan's writing (see Becky B's review for more on her thoughts). For me, I was strangely reminded of Angie Sage's Magyk books (for the wizardy bits) and Elizabeth Kay's Divide books (Earth connected to fantasy "Other world") and 1984 (for the Machiavellian villain and dystopian fantasy world), though thankfully without Sage's regrettable passive voice or Kay's frustrating characters.

A World Without Heroes is the story of Jason and to a lesser extent Rachel, two regular American kids (well, Jason is regular, Rachel is homeschooled (as someone who was homeschooled, its nice to see a likeable non-insane portrayal of a homeschooler)) who get sucked into another world seemingly by accident; a magical world known as Lyria. Lyria's a nice enough place if it weren't for the wizards. Most of them are dead but the last one standing (Maldor) has used his considerable intelligence and ruthless cunning to build an empire that is slowly but surely conquering the entire world. He allows no one who stands openly against him to stand and has made a policy of either converting or breaking his staunchest opponents rather than killing them (hence the title). Unfortunately, while trying to find a way to get home, Jason stumbles onto forbidden information that could reveal Maldor's one weakness, and due to the nature of the information, just uncovering its existence is enough to put him at the top of Maldor's enemy list. What follows is a Tolkien-esque quest by Jason and Rachel to find and employ that weakness before they are caught by the long arms of the Empire, meeting a number of strange friends and enemies along the way.

What set A World Without Heroes apart for me was (oddly enough) the villain. Although he is a dark wizard and an evil emperor, Maldor doesn't give off shades of Voldemort, Sauron, or Palpatine; rather he comes across as a very intelligent but utterly inhuman in his outlook, seeing his efforts to subjugate the world as experiments in governance. He is strangely and dispassionately without malice towards our heroes, even applauding their efforts to oppose him though at the same time he is utterly merciless in his attempts to destroy them. This makes him chillingly efficient and more repellant (as a thing that seems human but doesn't act human) than actually despicable. Beyond Maldor, Mull does some excellent world-development. Lyria is a world of defeated people, confronted by a power that they can't begin to fight, certain of their eventual fate and have come to terms with it by shutting their eyes or collaborating. Kindness and openness are (as often as not) masks for treachery and if not, they are repaid with slaughter or worse. Although this may seem unremittingly dark, Mull manages to create spots of hope and resistance in the strangest of places.

I also liked the main characters and they are what reminded me most of Riordan's work as Jason's cool under fire, chivalrous tendencies, inspirational speeches, and sheer chutzpah in the face of ridiculous danger could've come straight from Percy Jackson. On the other hand, you may notice I keep mentioning the other main character (Rachel) in a kind of off-hand way, and this is one of the weaknesses of the book. Although likeable, her character is only tangentially developed, she's essentially a supporting character who occasionally gets chapters from her perspective (I'd say around 1 in 10). Her background (including her arrival in Lyria) is mostly told 2nd hand and most of the key events center on Jason, often with her whisked off somewhere else. My guess is that the author wanted to focus more on her for the second book, but I haven't read that far yet. Another small issue is that the book's message (a good one) about true heroism has Jason and Rachel faced with whether they should focus on getting home to Earth or working to save Lyria, and I just never felt that Mull put enough effort into depicting any sort of mental/moral struggle over this choice so that their eventual decision seems like a (cheap) foregone conclusion.

In sum, Brandon Mull has put together the solid start to what could be a classic fantasy series with this book and I am eager to see where it goes next.
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Dec 04, 2012 Robin rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Lovers of Captivating Fantasy

Shelves: december-2012-tbr

A very good book that took a while to get into but once you were in it was nearly impossible to get out.
I am going to add a new part to this review, ,in which I will explain in my own words what this book is about. I have seen this done in other reviews and enjoy it, so I have decided to give it a try.

Synopsis: Jason Walker has often wished his life could be a bit less predictable--until a routine day at the zoo ends with Jason suddenly transporting from the hippo tank to a place unlike anything...more A very good book that took a while to get into but once you were in it was nearly impossible to get out.
I am going to add a new part to this review, ,in which I will explain in my own words what this book is about. I have seen this done in other reviews and enjoy it, so I have decided to give it a try.

Synopsis: Jason Walker has often wished his life could be a bit less predictable--until a routine day at the zoo ends with Jason suddenly transporting from the hippo tank to a place unlike anything he's ever seen. In the past, the people of Lyrian welcomed visitors from the Beyond, but attitudes have changed since the wizard emperor Maldor rose to power. The brave resistors who opposed the emperor have been bought off or broken, leaving a realm where fear and suspicion prevail.
In his search for a way home, Jason meets Rachel, who was also mysteriously drawn to Lyrian from our world. With the help of a few scattered rebels, Jason and Rachel become entangled in a quest to piece together the word of power that can destroy the emperor, and learn that their best hope to find a way home will be to save this world without heroes.

Personal Understanding: This is a book about overcoming your fears, finding yourself, and understanding that everyone has their own hero within them. Jason accidentally falls into an alternate world. He had always hoped that his life would become more interesting, but not in a way as extreme as lay ahead of him. He is forced to go on a journey to find the syllables of a magical world that could destroy the tyrant that rules the world that he has fallen into, called Lyrian. Jason and his new-found friend Rachel have to overcome many obstacles to find the Word and eventually get home to Earth!

Plot- The plot-line of this book was quite interesting. It had a medium pace, but kept you interested. There wasn't anything extremely interesting that stood out and separated this book from other good books that I have read, but it was still quite good. I give the plot of this book 3.5/5 BookStars!

Characters- The characters in this book were quite interesting. The human characters from earth, Jason and Rachel, were quite average characters with nothing too special about them, but I believe that was the goal of the author. Some of the fantastical characters in the book, I felt could have used more development, whilst other were near perfect. For example, the Displacers were greatly developed and intriguing. I give the characters of this book 4/5 BookStars!

Content-The content of this book was quite enthralling. My favourite points were probably the amazing descriptions of the settings and landscapes. Everything was so fantastical that, it made you want to step into this world,just to enjoy its uniqueness. There were other points in which the description made you shiver with the fear of Maldor. I give the content of Beyonders, a 5/5 BookStars!

This book had a lot to live up to for me, as the Fablehaven series is one of my favourites, and I think it did a very good job. I give the overall book Beyonders, A World Without Heroes, 4/5 BookStars!(less)

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Nov 18, 2012 Doc Opp rated it 2 of 5 stars

Perhaps if I were an adolescent I would really like this book; that's clearly the intended audience. But unlike many other books in the genre (like the Harry Potter series) the allure simply doesn't generalize. The writing is really, really bad. Awkward, and stilted to the extent that it knocks you out of suspension of disbelief. The main protagonists are so generic that they are utterly forgettable. Their motivations and goals are artificial feeling, and anything involving relationships is expl...more

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Oct 30, 2012 Elizabeth Ku rated it 2 of 5 stars

The author has a very strange, kind of morbid imagination. The result is some really creative races who populate the book, drive the plot and make the story interesting. However, the book is poorly written - descriptions are canned and dialogue is invariably introduced with "said" or "replied". As some other reviewers have mentioned, the character development is weak and the primary motivation for the hero is not courage but instead the belief that if he can just manage to get through all this,...more The author has a very strange, kind of morbid imagination. The result is some really creative races who populate the book, drive the plot and make the story interesting. However, the book is poorly written - descriptions are canned and dialogue is invariably introduced with "said" or "replied". As some other reviewers have mentioned, the character development is weak and the primary motivation for the hero is not courage but instead the belief that if he can just manage to get through all this, he can finally go back home.

I had trouble swallowing the idea that he is introduced to the fantasy world by hearing music coming out of a hippo, leaning forward to hear it better, falling in the pool and sliding down the hippo's throat to end up in a hollow tree in this other world. He does it twice, and the second time is no more convincing than the first. His adventure is kicked off when he wanders into a secret library and tenaciously cracks the code to access a forbidden part of the library - not for any good reason, but simply because he is told not to do it. He is then launched into the quest very much against his will. He is simply forced to run because he is being hunted - and he is only playing along so that he can find a way to sneak out of the bizarre storyline and go home. His companion, Rachel, is also a sketchily drawn character. The bickering and homeschool banter between them gets annoying.

Another reviewer also mentioned a large cast of characters, some of whom are rather obscure. Who is Drake? Why do we suddenly trust him when he was described as a hedonist killing himself over and over just a few pages ago. Where did Ned come from and why is he suddenly so cool and equipped with so many indispensable, self-sacrificial skills? The best character has to be Galloran but for some inexplicable reason, despite his unmatched skill with the sword and his indomitable spirit, he is described repeatedly as lacking in hygiene, dressed in soiled clothes, a dirty rag tied over his blind eyes. I wanted to feel better about this book than I do, but some aspects are so distracting, they take away from the good elements in the book.(less)

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Laia I just want to point out for others that are considering whether or not to read this book based on your review, that I got a very different understand...more I just want to point out for others that are considering whether or not to read this book based on your review, that I got a very different understanding on many of the criticisms you put forward. You are right that the main character's motivation for a portion of the book, at the beginning, is not courage, but just a desire to hopefully get back home...but that quite clearly changes along the way. I don't want to put in spoilers, but if you need to see what I mean re-read the ending for one giant example. He and Rachel even talk about this change of heart at one point in the book, and it is highlighted again and again. It is this learning and change that is the crux of the story. We get to observe his thoughts and inner struggles as he is faced with incredibly hard decisions, as well as other characters, making this a major theme in the book...the author making a compelling contrast with his story & characters about the difference between choosing the right thing only when it will work out for what you want, and choosing the right thing no matter the consequences.

The author has a distinct sense of humor, which reminds me a bit of Rick Riordan's...and the whole hippo thing is part of it. Some people will smile or get a chuckle, some will roll their eyes, depending on if they like this style of humor. But it most certainly was NOT meant to be plausible sounding...it was meant to be ridiculous (and thus humorous to some.) Most of the banter between Rachel and Jason was laced with good-willed wit, that if you missed would also come across as just annoying bickering. It also served as a light hearted exploration of many of the sorts of misconceptions that can come up for some public vs. homeschooled kids. Those types of slightly antagonistic, competitive assumptions that occur between those two worlds are something that rang very realistic and that more and more kids are now dealing with...it was nice to see an author take them on in this way.
Galloran was dressed in rags for good reasons, explained in the story, that were completely consistent with his character, and complicated history.
Of course we wonder if Drake & Ned can truly be trusted...their intentions and transformations could be faked, in this world of betrayal and intrigue, which adds good tension to the story. You can also see that it is expedient in Jason's situation to trust them. Drake and Ned both serve as examples of "it's never too late to decide to start doing the right things, even if you've messed up in the past." Drake and Ned both are developed enough as characters to give explanations of who they are and how they got to where they are (except maybe Ned's awesome skills), including their failures, that you can see the potential desire to do good in them. Jason's courage, and invitation to join him in doing the right thing, inspires them. Of course we wonder if they will prove trustworthy in the long run. Anyone can break, and they have broken in the past. But if you were in Jason's shoes, you didn't have much luxury for refusing offered help unless you KNEW they were insincere. You could even say that Rachel and Jason's willingness to give people the benefit of the doubt (like Farrin, and many others), at least until proven otherwise, was a virtue, that while putting them at risk, also opened them up to being able to inspire others and forge important friendships. I guess I saw a lot more depth to the characters and themes, and felt like I should bring up this other perspective to be fair to the book.(less)
Feb 27, 2013 08:31pm

Elizabeth Ku Laia:

I applaud you for being a thoughtful and patient reader. I think that you have described the book the way Brandon Mull intended to execute it. Ou...more
Mar 01, 2013 06:08pm

Oct 27, 2012 Marilyn W Lathrop rated it 3 of 5 stars

I rate this book 3 1/2 stars. The concept of a doorway into a different world is not new. Mull does come up with some fascinating characters, such as the Displacers who can remove body parts or have body parts taken away from them and still live--provided a body part critical to life isn't destroyed. One Displacer's head and one hand lives in a cave while the rest of his body lies at the bottom of a sea. His hand gathers food and water and brings it to his head and he manages to survive.

Another...more

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Sep 23, 2012 Jessica Harrison rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed, middle-reader

read full review and author interview at Cracking the Cover
Written by the same author of the Fablehaven series and geared toward the same age group, “A World Without Heroes” feels more mature on a number of levels. I think that comes from having characters that are a little older to begin with. The characters, especially Jason, seem to have more weight to them, as if they were further developed in the author’s mind before putting pen to paper.

Brandon Mull’s writing has also grown. With a five-bo...more

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Sep 20, 2012 Abbe added it · review of another edition

Shelves: in-library

Amazon.com Review

A World Without Heroes is an addictive blend of fantasy, humor, and heroic quest. Jason is an ordinary 13-year-old involuntarily transported to Lyrian, a world ruled by the evil wizard Maldor. Jason stumbles across a book bound with human skin and learns of a secret word with the power to unmake Maldor--knowledge that puts Jason in grave danger. Galloran, a blind king who once searched for the word himself, introduces Jason to Rachel, another Beyonder (as people from Earth are

...more

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Aug 19, 2012 Nico F rated it 4 of 5 stars

Beyonders is a story about how an ordinary boy's life changed instantly. This boy, Jason always liked baseball but his dad kept insisting him to be a dentist like the rest of the family. One day after school Jason was at the bating cages with his friends when a baseball hit him right in the temple while he wasn't paying attention. Soon he woke up with all of his friends surrounding him and asking him if he was alright. He didn't feel his best but he said that he was ok. He had a job at the zoo...more

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Aug 15, 2012 Jamie rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: fans of fable haven

*sigh* I don't really want to write this review, mostly because I'm kind of indifferent to the book. I mean, I liked it, and it was super interesting. I mean, the plot and the whole story were so original. (Like the Amar people? And those puckerlies, or something like that? And the pies that kill you? And, good lord, the displacers? I found myself often wondering what psycho came up with this stuff... No offense.) But it wasn't one of those books where I'm glued to it, can't put it down, don't-b...more *sigh* I don't really want to write this review, mostly because I'm kind of indifferent to the book. I mean, I liked it, and it was super interesting. I mean, the plot and the whole story were so original. (Like the Amar people? And those puckerlies, or something like that? And the pies that kill you? And, good lord, the displacers? I found myself often wondering what psycho came up with this stuff... No offense.) But it wasn't one of those books where I'm glued to it, can't put it down, don't-bother-me-I'm-reading books, you know? I wanted really badly to like it. And I guess I did like it. I just didn't love it.

Anyways, first I will bring up the main characters. *Groans involuntarily* Sorry. But, guess what! I have major news! It's Kendra! I swear to goodness, it is! The irritating, perfect, stupid girl is back again! But, this time, she seems to have been reincarnated into a 13 year old boy names Jason!

Okay, so, for the first half of the book, Kendra--excuse me, I mean Jason--was utterly boring. Oh, he likes baseball? Guess who gives a fudge? Not me. Oh, he's super perfect and brave and smart? Not a single fudge was given that day. *Rolls eyes*

But for the second half, he decided he was gonna be awesome. I don't know why he chose then to do it, but he did, and thank God! He just suddenly started saying and thinking hilarious things, having snarky comebacks, and being, well, awesome.

And then there's Rachel. Obviously, she's pretty. No such thing as a female heroine who isn't. She is, however, slightly less boring than Kendra--why do I keep doing that? I mean Jason. JASON!--, yet still kinda irritating. She was more fun, just 'cause she actually has a personality. With flaws. You know, the whole "annoying" part. She wasn't just Ms. Perfect. Well, she kinda was, but less so than Jason.

The plot, I really loved. I thought it was so extremely original and interesting and wonderful. Except for the end. (view spoiler)

Now, I'm not gonna be all "ohmigod you HAVE to read this book". But I'm not gonna be like "this book sucks, save your money." Because it wasn't amazing, but it wasn't horrible. I mean, I would encourage people to read it. Yeah, I'd recommend it. I guess. I'm hoping the second will be better (and yes, I do plan to read the sequel).

Okay, well I don't have a lot to say about this book, and I'm getting bored and distracted by my sister's video games. And I know this review is short and kinda sucky, but deal with it. So I'm gonna go now, and I might add more later. Maybe. Sorry! (less)

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May 15, 2012 04kaitlynr rated it 5 of 5 stars

Beyonders is a book of adventure with a touch of fantasy. It starts out with an ordinary boy, named Jason, who plays baseball and works at zoo. Little does he know that he will be transported to a world called Lyrian; a place like the Middle Ages at Earth with wizards and all kinds of different people. Jason will be forced on a Quest to find “the word” that will destroy the evil wizard emperor Maldor.

Jason is an ordinary teenager who ends up going to a place called Lyrian; a world ruled by Maldo...more Beyonders is a book of adventure with a touch of fantasy. It starts out with an ordinary boy, named Jason, who plays baseball and works at zoo. Little does he know that he will be transported to a world called Lyrian; a place like the Middle Ages at Earth with wizards and all kinds of different people. Jason will be forced on a Quest to find “the word” that will destroy the evil wizard emperor Maldor.

Jason is an ordinary teenager who ends up going to a place called Lyrian; a world ruled by Maldor, an evil emperor who rules in fear. Jason gets to Lyrian through a hippo. Yes, a hippo. He was cleaning the hippo tank when he heard, what sounded like music, from the hippo. He leaned closer to get a good look and fell into the hippo’s mouth. He finds himself in Lyrian watching a raft of musicians flow down a river to fall over a waterfall with a bunch of people watching, not doing anything to help them. He takes a crossbow from some men and tries to save the musicians, but accidentally shoots one of them in the shoulder instead. He is chased into the woods by the men he stole the crossbow from.

After running for a long time, Jason decides to rest. In the morning he finds the Repository of Learning (sort of like a library) and finds out that he is a Beyonder (someone from Earth that somehow gets to Lyrian through a portal). The Loremaster (the librarian) kindly lets Jason stay for as long as he needs. Unfortunately, but luckily, he figures out about “the book” that contains the first syllable of “the word” to destroy Maldor. The Loremaster abruptly sends him away on his quest for the word.

While Jason follows the trail the Loremaster told him to follow, he meets a woman who gives him more provisions and tells him to find the Blind King. He follows her instruction and finds the Blind King. The Blind King introduces him, to another Beyonder that had also recently entered Lyrian, named Rachel. The Blind King gives them more provisions and tells them where to head for the next syllable.

For a good portion of the story Jason and Rachel are being chased by Maldor’s minions while they are searching for the syllables. They go to a sea cave on the side of a steep cliff to get a syllable from the man that lives there, and run from a giant man-eating crab that has razor sharp claws. Rachel runs across a gooey white lake that will suck you up if you don’t bounce on it, to get a syllable from a displacer (a human made by wizards that can pull parts off his body) with only his arm and his head left. They go through many trials to defeat Maldor and to possibly get home, all for nothing.

Jason and Rachel find all of the syllables and head toward the prison of Felrook, where Maldor is living. They have some friends go with them to make a diversion for Jason to ring a gong for a conference with Maldor. He is taken to Maldor. He says the word in front of Maldor and . . .
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Apr 16, 2012 Petit-lips rated it 4 of 5 stars

- Après la saga « Fablehaven » que j'ai adorée, Brandon Mull réussi une nouvelle fois à m'émerveiller avec son nouveau roman « Beyonders ».

- Jason, jeune adolescent de 13 ans, se retrouve accidentellement projeté dans le monde de Lyrian. La peur laisse vite place à la découverte et à la soif d'en savoir plus, afin de pouvoir espérer trouver un moyen de rentrer chez lui. Le problème est qu'il va s'attirer les foudres de Maldor, le sorcier tyrannique et cruel qui règne sur ce monde inconnu. Jason,...more - Après la saga « Fablehaven » que j'ai adorée, Brandon Mull réussi une nouvelle fois à m'émerveiller avec son nouveau roman « Beyonders ».

- Jason, jeune adolescent de 13 ans, se retrouve accidentellement projeté dans le monde de Lyrian. La peur laisse vite place à la découverte et à la soif d'en savoir plus, afin de pouvoir espérer trouver un moyen de rentrer chez lui. Le problème est qu'il va s'attirer les foudres de Maldor, le sorcier tyrannique et cruel qui règne sur ce monde inconnu. Jason, accompagné de Rachel (une autre Beyonder, entendez par là une terrienne comme lui), devra braver de nombreux d'obstacles afin de réunir un mot secret, permettant la destruction de Maldor.

- L'intrigue est très prenante ! Les aventures et rebondissements s'enchaînent à un très bon rythme. Amitié, aventures, trahison, complots... tous les ingrédients sont réunis pour passer un excellent moment.
On fait connaissance avec des espèces et créatures inédites, que je n'ai jamais vues dans aucun livre : des hommes « détachables », des « hommes graines »... pour ne citer qu'eux. Brandon Mull nous fait également voyager dans beaucoup d'endroits passionnants : le Reposoir du Savoir, des tavernes bizarres, un Lac Blanc aux propriétés très particulières, une visite dans des marais dangereux... L'imagination fertile de l'auteur nous emmène toujours plus loin dans la magie de son monde et dans les mystères qu'il renferme.

- J'ai bien aimé les personnages de ce roman, que ce soit les protagonistes principaux ou secondaires.
Jason est très mature pour son âge. C'est un jeune homme plein de courage et qui gère avec brio le fait d'être catapulté dans ce monde étrange. Il n'hésite pas à relever les défis qui se présentent à lui et pourtant, il n'a pas vraiment conscience d'être un héros.
Rachel a le même âge que Jason et se retrouve elle aussi mêlée à toute cette histoire. Je l'ai bien aimée, en revanche je l'ai trouvée très effacée par moment, un peu trop lisse.
Concernant les personnages secondaires, j'ai été séduite par beaucoup d'entre eux ! Je pense à Jasher l'homme graine, Ferrin le détachable, le Roi Aveugle et la fille de la Pythonisse. On s'attache facilement à eux et on s'émerveille de leurs particularités.

- Pour conclure, c'est une toute nouvelle trilogie jeunesse que je vous recommande. C'est un roman qui a beaucoup de qualités et qui saura ainsi ravir également les adultes : des personnages matures et attachants, un monde bien travaillé, une intrigue prenante, une fin superbe...

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Mar 06, 2012 IndyPL Kids Book Blog rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, adventure, favorites

From the author of the Fablehaven series comes another highly imaginative world full of unique characters and interesting plot twists. I like it when characters are smart - even the bad guys. I like it when things I can’t predict happen and they make perfect sense.

This books starts with a prologue that is a very gripping description of a warrior in a dungeon chained to a wall, suffering both physically and mentally. He is determined not to break and tell his captor what he wants to know.

The prin...more

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Feb 13, 2012 Barb Middleton rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

Don’t lean too far into a cage enclosure at a zoo or you might end up like thirteen-year-old Jason who fell into the hippo tank and got sucked down its mouth into an alternate world called, Lyrian. Jason finds himself in a series of adventures beginning with attempting to rescue a group of musicians plunging over some falls on a raft. He later ends up at a remote library where he reads a forbidden book that is made of human skin and forces him on a quest to find the syllables of a word that will...more Don’t lean too far into a cage enclosure at a zoo or you might end up like thirteen-year-old Jason who fell into the hippo tank and got sucked down its mouth into an alternate world called, Lyrian. Jason finds himself in a series of adventures beginning with attempting to rescue a group of musicians plunging over some falls on a raft. He later ends up at a remote library where he reads a forbidden book that is made of human skin and forces him on a quest to find the syllables of a word that will dethrone the ruling tyrant, Maldor.

All Jason wants is to go back home to Colorado and he thinks the quest will help him. The librarian sends him to the Blind King who knows a place Jason can start looking for the rest of the syllables. It is with the Blind King that Jason meets Rachel, a Beyonder like himself, and together they attempt the dangerous quest in the hope that they can somehow go home again.

The book is entertaining and there is plenty of action and violence but the character development is not particularly well-rounded. Jason seems too old for his age and he doesn’t change much from the beginning to the end. He does contemplate what makes a hero and that he can be too stubborn which leads Rachel to not trust him at first. Some readers might get annoyed that Rachel gets left out of most of the action because she’s a girl. There’s no witty rapport between them. Ironically, the only part I really laughed the most was when Jason was being tortured and under the influence of a drug that made his responses to the person torturing him funny.

The violence begins on page one with a prince being tortured. Next a group of musicians are willingly navigating a raft over some falls. I found the violence more disturbing in the beginning and not as much as later on as characters emerge who can remove their limbs and put them back on or a magician who can take away sight and give it back. Other violent acts are: a character is torn to bits by dogs, a dog is split in two by a giant crab’s claw, men and women eat so much food they die, men are blown apart (although one has a seed in his head and can be replanted and reborn), and the main character is tortured although I thought the author made it funny. I felt more removed from the violence when it involved characters that weren’t human. The main characters are very brave and earnest as they work together to try to save a world from evil. This is the first book in a series.
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Feb 01, 2012 Erik This Kid Reviews Books rated it 5 of 5 stars

Thirteen year old Jason had a very unexciting life. He was just like any other teenager. He went to school and worked part-time at a zoo after school. One day, Jason thought he heard music coming from the hippo’s mouth (yes you read it right, music from a hippo’s mouth). When he leaned over the railing to investigate he thought the music was coming from INSIDE the hippo. He leaned too much and fell into the hippo’s mouth which wasn’t really any hippo’s mouth but a doorway to the world of Lyrian....more

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topics	posts	views	last activity
Shout Out to LOTR?	10	15	May 01, 2013 06:50pm
"Warm Voice" in the Prologue	4	15	Apr 25, 2013 12:14pm
What do you think about Ferrin?	54	61	Apr 18, 2013 11:35am
Fablehaven readers-How did you like Beyonders?	21	86	Apr 12, 2013 08:54pm
Movie?	6	26	Apr 08, 2013 12:19pm

title link	preview: A World Without Heroes
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