Late last night I finished another fantastic book series written for children and young adults. Fablehaven is both the series and first book title and Brandon Mull authors them. Mull has one other stand alone (for the time being) book, The Candy Shop Wars, as well as a new series called Beyonders, both having rave reviews and if Fablehaven is any indication, I will be added these to my ever growing summer reading list as well.
Fablehaven for those unfamiliar with it, reads a bit like Spiderwick Chronicles meet The Immortal Secrets of Nicholas Flamel. If you didn’t care for other of those two series, though, do not let this dissuade you from reading Mull’s books. I say it’s like these other series simply as a frame of reference for what it covers topically. I could also see some similarities to Artemis Fowl, though except for dealing with the same types of magical creatures, it really has little in common with a rich spoiled brat who’s decided to join forces with a rule-breaking fairy in an attempt to “save the world.”
What Fablehaven that the other series do not is engaging character development and more positive “light” moments. Flamel’s character’s drive me crazy in their predictability and oftentimes their whininess and Spiderwick just had a dreary, dull feel that failed to fully engage me as a reader. While the main two characters of Fablehaven are the somewhat recently predictable brother and sister pairing, their growth and development take some interesting turns and their rivalry is very realistic without making readers want to slap either one of them. New characters are introduced as the five book series develops, but readers are given time to watch these characters grow and develop as well and they never feel “thrown” in there. If you stick to the series for all five books, each and every significant character is given a chance to shine. Of course, not all characters are as fully dynamic, but the static characters serve their purposes well.
I really wasn’t sure I’d be able to get into another magical/supernatural series. Surely Fablehaven would prove to be yet another rip off of whatever else is currently crowding the shelves of the local bookstore’s independent reader section. I can honestly say, that while I did pick up on many allusions to myth and older literature, nothing screamed out at me as being a “knock-off” or a better original. I’d have to go with Aristotle on this one in that most art is somewhat imitative, but that’s not always a bad thing.
I purposely gave no plot points away because it truly is better to read and see for yourself what it’s all about. Take a peek, it’s worth it!
I keep seeing these in Chris's shop and have frequently thought about picking them up, but, like you had mentioned, I was afraid they were a rip off of everything else.
ReplyDeleteI've now requested Chris bring them home to me :]
Never read Spiderwick, but a "guidebook" on fairies came into the library once and I was intrigued. Her "Good Neighbors" graphic novels were interesting, but, like you said, dark, and very little character development. I tried Nicholas Flemel, and I don't want to read any more until I make sure the series is completed as I hate starting something without the next pieces readily available--I'm just too impatient. I loved learning about the different mythologies and mythological/historical figures in Flemel, but I've heard it gets old and predictable quickly.
Yay for summer reading!