Book Review: Dragonwatch by Brandon Mull

Published in 2017. This is the first book of a series but it doesn’t say so until the end. It also continues a previous series by the author called “Fablehaven.” I didn’t know that until I read the last few pages of the book in the author’s note to readers. I picked up this book based on the title. I really liked it.

But the book starts out slowly. Kendra, age 15, and Seth, age 13, live in Fablehaven, a protected sanctuary, with their grandparents. Seth must complete delivery of a wraith and a sword to some witches, a carryover from the previous series. Kendra remains at home, recovering from her encounter with the Demon King, also from the previous series. This book doesn’t really get started until chapter ten when Kendra and Seth are chosen to be the caretakers of Wyrmwood, a dragon sanctuary. They must share the position with the Dragon King, Celebrant, who wants the dragons freed. However, he can’t break the barriers of the sanctuary without dire consequences until the young caretakers are eliminated. But he underestimates the young teenagers.

I’d almost put this book down by the time the action got started. The beginning didn’t really add much to this story with one exception, cousin Knox. He comes into play at the end and unwittingly helps Seth and Kendra succeed. Once the story got going, it was more interesting and I enjoyed finding out how these two teenagers take over the dragon sanctuary.