Fablehaven Rise of the Evening Star
by Brandon Mull
ISBN-10: 1590387643
When the world needs protection, and magical beings are at risk, the power of youth is called into action. In Brandon Mull’s newest book “Fablehaven: Rise of the Evening Star,” readers will be swept up in the fantastical realm of the unusual and unexpected.
Kendra is fourteen years old and her brother Seth is twelve. Their youth and energy will see them through some amazing adventures as the school year ends and summer begins. The magic won’t wait for the two to enter their grandparents’ home in Fablehaven, a refuge for magical creatures. Something lurks the school halls, and someone tricks Seth into letting loose a goblin. A phone call from Grandpa Sorenson warns of danger and explains the need for the siblings to help protect the sanctuary. An ancient artifact is hidden somewhere on Fablehaven and with the help of some of their grandparents’ companions, Kendra and Seth have to find it before the Society of the Evening Star discovers it. The safety of the world depends on this quest, and the future of magical creatures everywhere hinges on the outcome.
Kendra finds that she has some amazing, fairy gifted, abilities, like seeing in the dark and understanding different languages. Seth finds that he is braver than he ever dreamed possible, but smart enough to know when a little fright and caution is a good thing. Together, the two will uncover mysteries, make their way through Brownie tunnels, and face terrors of high proportions. Will they figure out who has infiltrated Fablehaven? Can they get to the artifact before it is too late? Do you know who to trust?
Brandon Mull has done it again. His works are an absolute escape into fantasy but with a grounded foundation in reality that makes it all the easier to fall under his trance. This stand alone book, the second in the series, is much anticipated, but it will also leave readers frantic for more. The implications of future storylines are highly enticing and promise great enjoyment. Mull has a way of drawing in even the most reluctant of readers. His characters are teeming with strengths and abilities, weaknesses and faults. The imagination is set free, all the while inspiring readers to discover their own inner selves. With a social message or two, Brandon Mull has penned another masterpiece. In the traditions of Tolkien and Rowland, but with a wonderful style that is all his own, this author is one to watch and eagerly anticipate future works from.
Showing posts with label Shadow Mountain Publishing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shadow Mountain Publishing. Show all posts
Monday, March 5, 2007
Monday, October 2, 2006
YA/Children's Fantasy Review
Leven Thumps and the Whispered Secret
by Obert Skye
ISBN-10: 1590384903
Leven Thumps returns! Obert Skye's second book, "Leven Thumps and the Whispered Secret," is a much-anticipated sequel to "Leven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo." In the first book readers learn about the existence of Foo and meet Leven, Winter, Clover and Geth among other delightful characters. In this second book, readers are able to explore Foo itself and hope that it will still be there at the end of the book.
Sabine, the darkest and most selfish being in Foo seems to have been splattered in Reality in the previous book, but his evil reach has a presence in Foo, one that Leven and his companions will have to deal with. From the very beginning of this book to the very last page, chaos is all around them as they try to restore Geth as the rightful king. Winter encounters grave dangers on her own as Leven must cross the dreaded Swollen Forest. At every turn there is an obstacle to overcome as Foo is still in turmoil from Sabine's reign of terror. Fate dislikes a plan and leads things in various directions while the four travelers hope for the best. Will Leven learn to trust in fate? He doesn't have much choice!
Foo is a fantastic place to visit and readers will experience things they've never imagined through the glowing eyes of Leven. Obert Skye has a true talent for creating the mystical and drawing readers in to his world. His seemingly laid-back style captivates and then the fast paced plot holds attention until the last page is turned. Foo exists to remind us to hope, imagine and dream; the Leven Thumps books seem to be reminding us how to do these things.
by Obert Skye
ISBN-10: 1590384903
Leven Thumps returns! Obert Skye's second book, "Leven Thumps and the Whispered Secret," is a much-anticipated sequel to "Leven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo." In the first book readers learn about the existence of Foo and meet Leven, Winter, Clover and Geth among other delightful characters. In this second book, readers are able to explore Foo itself and hope that it will still be there at the end of the book.
Sabine, the darkest and most selfish being in Foo seems to have been splattered in Reality in the previous book, but his evil reach has a presence in Foo, one that Leven and his companions will have to deal with. From the very beginning of this book to the very last page, chaos is all around them as they try to restore Geth as the rightful king. Winter encounters grave dangers on her own as Leven must cross the dreaded Swollen Forest. At every turn there is an obstacle to overcome as Foo is still in turmoil from Sabine's reign of terror. Fate dislikes a plan and leads things in various directions while the four travelers hope for the best. Will Leven learn to trust in fate? He doesn't have much choice!
Foo is a fantastic place to visit and readers will experience things they've never imagined through the glowing eyes of Leven. Obert Skye has a true talent for creating the mystical and drawing readers in to his world. His seemingly laid-back style captivates and then the fast paced plot holds attention until the last page is turned. Foo exists to remind us to hope, imagine and dream; the Leven Thumps books seem to be reminding us how to do these things.
Monday, July 17, 2006
Children's/YA Fiction Fantasy Review
Fablehaven
by Brandon Mull
ISBN-10: 1416947205
Where have all the fairies gone? To Fablehaven of course! A preserve for magical creatures awaits your visit in Brandon Mull's fantastical, wonderful book, "Fablehaven." Look out J.K. Rowling; the fantasy genre has an outstanding new author to embrace!
"None who enter will leave unchanged" as readers take a look into Fablehaven. 13-year-old Kendra and her 11-year-old brother Seth think they are in for a boring two weeks at their grandparent's home in Connecticut. Their parents are off on a cruise and the huge house comes with a lot of rules. Grandpa offers no good reason to stay out of the woods but he does promise terrible punishment - confinement to the attic playroom - if the children disobey. Naturally this leads Seth to the forest edge and beyond. What waits for him is beyond his comprehension. Kendra meanwhile, takes time to unravel a puzzle Grandpa has given her, involving three keys that go to hidden keyholes in the playroom. This unlocks more than her imagination can allow and leads her to "Drink the milk." The mystery lies in what happens after the milk is consumed...wondrous sights and sounds that previously appeared as nothing more than butterflies.
Adventure and excitement abound as the siblings delve ever deeper into the secrets of Fablehaven. Grandpa has hidden much from them until they have proven that they are the right sort of people for the experience. With wonder around every corner, and under every leaf, this book will entrance readers. "Trespassers will be turned to stone," but the magic that is revealed for those who are welcomed inside is a treasure indeed. Welcome readers, to a trip you will never forget.
The plot of "Fablehaven" is fast paced, precise and perfect. It is a truly captivating tale. The characters instantly turn into children the readers know, if not, in fact, themselves. Seeing yourself in the pages of a book as magical as this one is a precious gift. The descriptive writing will put you deep into a cave, escaping an ogress, and just as easily into a beautiful garden rich with flowers and fairies. A return visit to "Fablehaven" will be on the wish list of every reader. This is a terrific book and I see great things in store for Brandon Mull.
by Brandon Mull
ISBN-10: 1416947205
Where have all the fairies gone? To Fablehaven of course! A preserve for magical creatures awaits your visit in Brandon Mull's fantastical, wonderful book, "Fablehaven." Look out J.K. Rowling; the fantasy genre has an outstanding new author to embrace!
"None who enter will leave unchanged" as readers take a look into Fablehaven. 13-year-old Kendra and her 11-year-old brother Seth think they are in for a boring two weeks at their grandparent's home in Connecticut. Their parents are off on a cruise and the huge house comes with a lot of rules. Grandpa offers no good reason to stay out of the woods but he does promise terrible punishment - confinement to the attic playroom - if the children disobey. Naturally this leads Seth to the forest edge and beyond. What waits for him is beyond his comprehension. Kendra meanwhile, takes time to unravel a puzzle Grandpa has given her, involving three keys that go to hidden keyholes in the playroom. This unlocks more than her imagination can allow and leads her to "Drink the milk." The mystery lies in what happens after the milk is consumed...wondrous sights and sounds that previously appeared as nothing more than butterflies.
Adventure and excitement abound as the siblings delve ever deeper into the secrets of Fablehaven. Grandpa has hidden much from them until they have proven that they are the right sort of people for the experience. With wonder around every corner, and under every leaf, this book will entrance readers. "Trespassers will be turned to stone," but the magic that is revealed for those who are welcomed inside is a treasure indeed. Welcome readers, to a trip you will never forget.
The plot of "Fablehaven" is fast paced, precise and perfect. It is a truly captivating tale. The characters instantly turn into children the readers know, if not, in fact, themselves. Seeing yourself in the pages of a book as magical as this one is a precious gift. The descriptive writing will put you deep into a cave, escaping an ogress, and just as easily into a beautiful garden rich with flowers and fairies. A return visit to "Fablehaven" will be on the wish list of every reader. This is a terrific book and I see great things in store for Brandon Mull.
Wednesday, January 5, 2005
Children's Fantasy Review
Leven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo
by Obert Skye
ISBN-10: 1416928065
Review by Heather Froeschl
Have you ever felt as if you were meant to be doing something spectacular? Something more important than playing dodgeball in gym class? Leven Thumps never felt that way, but he should have because he was destined to do something so important that it would ensure that all of us would still be able to dream. Imagine that! A boy who could protect every dream in the world of Reality! But first, he has to realize who he is. In “Leven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo,” by Obert Skye, Leven will meet Winter, Geth, Clover, and himself, and be introduced to the most magical place ever.
His real mother died when he was born, and so Leven was raised by his aunt and her very lazy boyfriend. Those two never had a kind word for Leven and it was one particularly scary night on the back screened in porch (Leven’s bedroom) when the shadows were trying very hard to penetrate the screen and get at him, that Leven came to meet his sycophant, Clover. Clover had always been around, invisible, and Leven had never known it until now. The little creature is just the first of many Leven will encounter and an introduction to the imaginative world of Foo. Leven is soon met up with Winter, a girl who can freeze things with her thoughts (did I mention that Leven can make lightning strike wherever he wants?), and Geth, the altered physical being that is the exiled but rightful ruler of Foo. It is this team’s mission to make it to the gateway of Foo and to destroy it so that the evil Sabine and his dark shadows cannot escape into reality to wipe out the hope of the world.
Throughout the book readers learn of the wonders of Foo and how our dreams would not exist without it. We get to know Leven as he comes to know himself and are introduced to the wonderful characters of Winter, Geth and Clover. I can’t begin to describe them all, but suffice it to say that you have never met anyone like them. Will Leven make it to the gateway in time? Will the group even be able to find it? There are those who wish to stop them and even Leven isn’t sure about his purpose.
This wonderful book is an absolute joy. Young readers will connect with the characters and root for the cause while adults will delight in a positive reminder to believe in the magical and trust in fate. Obert Skye has written a fantastic tale that will have readers of all ages clamoring for more. His fluid style and direct narrative are so engaging as to draw in even the reluctant reader. “Leven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo,” is the beginning of a journey you will not want to end. Luckily for you, the adventure continues in “Leven Thumps and the Whispered Secret.”
by Obert Skye
ISBN-10: 1416928065
Review by Heather Froeschl
Have you ever felt as if you were meant to be doing something spectacular? Something more important than playing dodgeball in gym class? Leven Thumps never felt that way, but he should have because he was destined to do something so important that it would ensure that all of us would still be able to dream. Imagine that! A boy who could protect every dream in the world of Reality! But first, he has to realize who he is. In “Leven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo,” by Obert Skye, Leven will meet Winter, Geth, Clover, and himself, and be introduced to the most magical place ever.
His real mother died when he was born, and so Leven was raised by his aunt and her very lazy boyfriend. Those two never had a kind word for Leven and it was one particularly scary night on the back screened in porch (Leven’s bedroom) when the shadows were trying very hard to penetrate the screen and get at him, that Leven came to meet his sycophant, Clover. Clover had always been around, invisible, and Leven had never known it until now. The little creature is just the first of many Leven will encounter and an introduction to the imaginative world of Foo. Leven is soon met up with Winter, a girl who can freeze things with her thoughts (did I mention that Leven can make lightning strike wherever he wants?), and Geth, the altered physical being that is the exiled but rightful ruler of Foo. It is this team’s mission to make it to the gateway of Foo and to destroy it so that the evil Sabine and his dark shadows cannot escape into reality to wipe out the hope of the world.
Throughout the book readers learn of the wonders of Foo and how our dreams would not exist without it. We get to know Leven as he comes to know himself and are introduced to the wonderful characters of Winter, Geth and Clover. I can’t begin to describe them all, but suffice it to say that you have never met anyone like them. Will Leven make it to the gateway in time? Will the group even be able to find it? There are those who wish to stop them and even Leven isn’t sure about his purpose.
This wonderful book is an absolute joy. Young readers will connect with the characters and root for the cause while adults will delight in a positive reminder to believe in the magical and trust in fate. Obert Skye has written a fantastic tale that will have readers of all ages clamoring for more. His fluid style and direct narrative are so engaging as to draw in even the reluctant reader. “Leven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo,” is the beginning of a journey you will not want to end. Luckily for you, the adventure continues in “Leven Thumps and the Whispered Secret.”
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