Fablehaven (Fablehaven #1) by Brandon Mull - Starting February 1st 2020

[Justin]

Courtney and Justin are reading this February 2020

[Courtney]

For centuries mystical creatures of all description were gathered into a hidden refuge called Fablehaven to prevent their extinction. The sanctuary survives today as one of the last strongholds of true magic. Enchanting? Absolutely. Exciting? You bet. Safe? Well, actually, quite the opposite.

Kendra and her brother, Seth, have no idea that their grandfather is the current caretaker of Fablehaven. Inside the gated woods, ancient laws keep relative order among greedy trolls, mischievous satyrs, plotting witches, spiteful imps, and jealous fairies. However, when the rules get broken -- Seth is a bit too curious and reckless for his own good -- powerful forces of evil are unleashed, and Kendra and her brother face the greatest challenge of their lives. To save their family, Fablehaven, and perhaps even the world, Kendra and Seth must find the courage to do what they fear most.

[Justin]

Chapter 1-Chapter 6
I love Seth's comedy. I think it makes him my favorite character. "Why didn't you tell us Grandpa Sorenson lived in India?" I love how realistic it makes the book seem.

In fact, the first chapter believably establishes the world in multiple ways. When Mull describes the feeling of the gravel as Kendra stepped out of the car, it reminded me of the feel and smell of gravel when I would step out of the car on a camping vacation. The visceral reaction I had to the description made it seem real.

(view spoiler)[ I also like how well-built the book is. Since I've read the book before, I know more about the chicken and I know about Patton Burgess. Having them built into the very beginning of the story demonstrates how artfully Mull built the book and built the series. I once met Brandon Mull and asked him about the future of his series. He said he was running out of ideas. His ideas have been plentiful; the world he created is so rich and detailed that he can make a new addition to the story out of what he has already built, and it would still seem like he had planned it all along. (hide spoiler)]

[Justin]

Chapter 7- Chapter 12
(view spoiler)[ Looking back at my previous update, I wonder how long I could stand for Seth to be my favorite character. He acts so dumb sometimes. I know he's just a kid, but in this book he makes the same mistake over and over--I suppose, just like a kid.

He feels remorseful for having meddled with magic by trapping the fairy and turning her to an imp. Then later, while everybody and their Golem are telling Seth not to be so curious about Midsummer Eve and not to mess with the rules on Midsummer Eve, he goes and gets off the bed, then looks out the window; then he opens the window after he had just been told that the monsters' biggest tricks were illusions. Kendra might not blame him, but this kid needs to learn from his mistakes. He does need and deserve part of the blame. He knew the rules and disregards them over and over.

However, Stan is culpable, too. He should have tied Seth to the bed, in my opinion. The potential consequences for being a kid and just opening a window were too severe to be even allowed as an option for someone so young. Kendra had enough sense that she could have been left free, but Seth should have been hand-cuffed or something. Give Kendra the key.

On another note, the world of Fablehaven, from a reader's perspective, is starting to feel unbalanced, not only story-wise, but as a setting. Since the reader has so little understanding of the structure and composition of Fablehaven outside of the yard, I think that the reader needs more help understanding what the location looks like when Seth and Kendra are searching for Stan. Something as simple as the type of forest they are going through would have been helpful. I was surprised when Seth mentioned a pine cone falling, because I had been mentally walking through a deciduous forest. After that, I realized I knew very little about what their surroundings were like, and I started feeling lost as a reader. In summary, I think the readers needed a little more world-building by this point in the story. I know Seth and Kendra needed to feel lost and isolated, but I think that even small details like the types of trees and bushes or the temperature and humidity would have helped create the atmosphere better for the reader, more like the details of the trashed house. Mull could have enforced the alien-ness of the forest by having Kendra pause to observe the strangeness of the forest while Seth was searching for the tracks, and she could mentally describe it for us. (hide spoiler)]

[Justin]

Finished Review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Courtney]

Starting now :)

[Courtney]

Chapter 1 (view spoiler)[ Oh I have missed this world so much! Its so easy to get lost into this series. However, Grandpa Sorenson definitely seems awkward at first. (hide spoiler)]

[Justin]

Courtney wrote: "Chapter 1 [spoilers removed]"
I agree. (view spoiler)[ I wonder how much of that was on purpose, though. Like, when he said they would be staying in the attic, that was so awkward for a moment, until he explained that it wasn't all cobwebs and rafters and was actually a real kids' room. For a second there, it sounded creepy, and I think it was supposed to. I don't imagine that awkward moment had been an accident on Mull's part. Maybe it was out of character for Grandpa Sorenson, though, like Mull was trying a little too hard to force the mysterious vibe. Was that your feeling? (hide spoiler)]

[Courtney]

Justin wrote: "Courtney wrote: "Chapter 1 [spoilers removed]"
I agree. [spoilers removed]"

I know that was why he was so awkward. He just didnt play it to well.

[Courtney]

Chapter 6 (view spoiler)[ I forgot about Maddox. He is such an underrated character, but he does have a sense of humor. (hide spoiler)]

[Courtney]

Chapter 7 (view spoiler)[ I forgot Seth can be stupid sometimes. I feel bad for that fairy. (hide spoiler)]

[Courtney]

Chapter 10 (view spoiler)[ Oh Seth! Why do you have to be so stupid sometimes! Geez. (hide spoiler)]

[Courtney]

Justin wrote: "Chapter 7- Chapter 12
(view spoiler)[ Looking back at my previous update, I wonder how long I could stand for Seth to be my favorite character. He acts so dumb sometimes. I know he's just a kid, but in this book ..." (hide spoiler)]

Seth definitely seems to have problems with learning from his mistakes. Lol

[Courtney]

Chapter 14 (view spoiler)[ Nero seemed creepy the first time around, but not so much this time. (hide spoiler)]

[Courtney]

Finished and I loved it just as much as the first time.

[Dannii]

I'm late but will start this tomorrow :)

[Dannii]

Scrap that! It seems super fun so I'm going to start right now :)

[Dannii]

First quarter - (view spoiler)[This initially showed Kendra and Seth moving temporarily into their grandparents' home. It is a beginning I have seen much in younger fantasies and yet I'm still not bored of it.

The siblings constant bickering grated on me. I guess it felt authentic but I wanted it to stop and for the plot to move on a bit more quickly, at first. (hide spoiler)]

[Courtney]

Dannii wrote: "First quarter - (view spoiler)[ This initially showed Kendra and Seth moving temporarily into their grandparents' home. It is a beginning I have seen much in younger fantasies and yet I'm still not bored of it.

T..." (hide spoiler)]


Yeah the bickering can get annoying at times.

[Dannii]

Justin wrote: "Chapter 1-Chapter 6
I love Seth's comedy. I think it makes him my favorite character. "Why didn't you tell us Grandpa Sorenson lived in India?" I love how realistic it makes the book seem.

In fac..."

This is my first time reading this series but I completely agree with you. I could taste, smell, and touch the world he had created. I couldn't always visualise it, though.

[Dannii]

Courtney wrote: "Dannii wrote: "First quarter - This initially showed Kendra and Seth moving temporarily into their grandparents' home. It is a beginning I have seen much in younger fantasies and yet I'm still not..."

Luckily it didn't impact my enjoyment for toooo long.

[Dannii]

Second quarter - (view spoiler)[Seth! AKA the bane of existence! That's all I have to say about him!

I was pretty much captivated since Kendra and the reader came across the animals drinking the milk. It seemed such a dainty and pure image. I can't really explain what captured my attention so much but, from that point, I flew through this! (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Third quarter - (view spoiler)[I understand this is tagged as both YA and MG but it definitely feels on the lower end of the spectrum, for me. I still really enjoyed how convoluted the story-line was, but some of the characters actions made me question a lot and some resolutions felt a little too convenient. I can imagine my younger self entirely borne along on the magic of the story, though. Anything with fairies in was a win from me! (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Fourth quarter - (view spoiler)[I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. It was fun light fantasy escapism. The ending was bittersweet with Lena's leaving but concluded nicely. And I'd totally drink the milk, just saying! (hide spoiler)]

[Courtney]

Dannii wrote: "Third quarter - [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ Seth is a big issue for me in this series. (hide spoiler)]

[Courtney]

Dannii wrote: "Fourth quarter - [spoilers removed]"

I would drink it too. Lol

[Lily]

Dannii wrote: "First quarter - This initially showed Kendra and Seth moving temporarily into their grandparents' home. It is a beginning I have seen much in younger fantasies and yet I'm still not bored of it.

T..."

I was fine with this the first time but the plot seemed to move slower the second time.

[Lily]

Courtney wrote: "Dannii wrote: "Third quarter - [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

He’s so bratty and immature throughout the whole book. You would think he would have SOME character development towards the end.

[Lily]

Dannii wrote: "Fourth quarter - [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I hate how Lena has to leave and how she is still a naiad in later books. (hide spoiler)]

[Lily]

Courtney wrote: "Dannii wrote: "Fourth quarter - [spoilers removed]"

I would drink it too. Lol"

I hope I would drink it. I feel like I would be far too suspicious but at the same time, I’m bad at messing with stuff I shouldn’t.

[Lily]

One of the big downsides for me was the solution to every problem. A book, in my opinion, should have some problems that just can’t be solved in any way, but there was none of that. It could be due to the book targeting a middle school audience.

[Courtney]

Lily wrote: "Dannii wrote: "Fourth quarter - [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

One of the saddest things about this series is she never really comes back.

[Courtney]

Lily wrote: "Courtney wrote: "Dannii wrote: "Fourth quarter - [spoilers removed]"

I would drink it too. Lol"

I hope I would drink it. I feel like I would be far too suspicious but at the same time, I’m bad at..."


Im a bit chicken so I would drink it and then probably pull a Kendra and stay in bed haha

[Dannii]

Lily wrote: "Courtney wrote: "Dannii wrote: "Fourth quarter - [spoilers removed]"

I would drink it too. Lol"

I hope I would drink it. I feel like I would be far too suspicious but at the same time, I’m bad at..."

Same! I'd totally be Alice drinking the potions in Wonderland or sipping at the milk here lol.

[Justin]

Dannii wrote: "First quarter - This initially showed Kendra and Seth moving temporarily into their grandparents' home. It is a beginning I have seen much in younger fantasies and yet I'm still not bored of it.

T..."

I understand, but I also think the bickering is really funny sometimes. Maybe I'm immature though.

[Justin]

Dannii wrote: "Justin wrote: "Chapter 1-Chapter 6
I love Seth's comedy. I think it makes him my favorite character. "Why didn't you tell us Grandpa Sorenson lived in India?" I love how realistic it makes the book..."

I agree! My finished review of this book includes that there was some improved world-building needed by the end of the book. It was off to a great start, though.

[Dannii]

Justin wrote: "Dannii wrote: "First quarter - This initially showed Kendra and Seth moving temporarily into their grandparents' home. It is a beginning I have seen much in younger fantasies and yet I'm still not ..."

Definitely not immature! I struggle with humour in books, for some reason. I cry often but have never read one that really makes me laugh out loud. I am definitely the exception here, not you :)