Fablehaven by Brandon Mull ★★★☆☆

A refreshing take on fantasy.

Fiction – Juvenile/YA – Urban Fantasy

351 pages

Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

Publication Date:  2006 

Fablehaven #1

During a rare visit to their grandparents Kendra and Seth learn that the strange estate, Fablehaven, their grandparents’ manage is more than an old house and carefully tended grounds.  Fablehaven is actually one of the last refuges for magical creatures in the world.  When the carefully laid out laws of Fablehaven are broken and an old evil is released only Kendra can save the day if she has courage.

 

The beginning kind of threw me and I would have to say the grittiness of the story does make me question whether the intended reading ages were appropriate.  So as a parent think on your child’s maturity before letting them read it. Though, I really appreciate the loving care Mr. Mull put into creating this book world.  He used beautiful imagery and such a variety of creatures and mythology that it seems like it could really exist. The pacing was great and I just loved watching Kendra and Seth discover the keys and solve the mystery of Fablehaven (definitely a Secret Garden kind of thrill).  I would say this is a fairly gender neutral book, great for anyone interested in fantasy and adventure.  As an adult I liked the newness of the world and Mr. Mull’s fresh take, it never felt stale or over used.  While I wasn’t exactly blown away by the writing or the book as a whole, I liked it enough that I read the rest of the series in quick succession and am considering adding it to my Chosen Ones List.  Also as a side note a teacher friend of mine says it was great to read out loud to her class.

13 Treasures by Michelle Harrison ★★★★☆

Awesome debut!

Fiction – Juvenile – Urban Fantasy/Mystery

Grades 5–8

368 pages

Publication Date:  2009

Literary Awards:  Waterstone's Children's Book Prize (2009)

Thirteen Treasures #1

Sent away to live at Elvesden Manor with her Grandmother  by her exasperated mother, Tanya knows even in the country she cannot escape the weird and scary stuff happening to her.  Tanya can see what should not be seen and the fairies do not take kindly to trespassers; they have their own way of dealing with intruders.  Is Tanya doomed to repeat history and disappear like a girl fifty years before under mysterious circumstances or can she finally solve the mystery that has haunted her family for generations.

This book was decidedly darker and more ominous than the typical juvenile book, but I really like the depth it added.  This story uses the older, more visceral form of fairies and their interactions with human, not the Disneyfied version.  The original Grimm fairy tales come to mind.  Something that helped fend off some of the darkness was even though you see the fairies powers over humans, the book never gives the sense that humans are completely powerless.  The writing is clean and the action starts quickly and sweeps you up in it.  This is one of those stories I found so absorbing that I had a hard time tearing myself away from it to deal with actual real life things.  The mythology is effortlessly woven through out with book references, stories and discovery; well-formed plot and great backstories with a variety of character types.  And frankly who doesn’t love the Secret Garden type of story where the main character is sent into a new world of discovery. 

For Ms. Harrison’s debut it is pretty awesome.

The Last Guardian by Eoin Colfer★★★★☆

Go Big or Go Home!

Fiction –YA-Fantasy/Sci-Fi

Reading Level: Age 10 and up

328 pages

Publication Date: July 10, 2012

Artemis Fowl Book 8

Literary awards:  Odyssey Award for Excellence in Audiobook Production Honor (2013)

Opal Koboi is back and Artemis Fowl and his allies must once again come together to fight off of the largest threat facing them yet.  Opal Koboi’s latest plot plunges the Lower Elements and the Human World into chaos, but that is only the beginning.  With the resurrected spirits of fairy warriors protecting her Opal has one night to unlock a key with the power to wipe out all humans on the surface of the earth.  Artemis must pair his cunning with Butler and Holly’s skill to stop Opal or die trying.  If they should lose the loss will be too great to imagine, but if they win at what sacrifice will it come from.

My first observation while reading this book were the chunks of time I lost, because I was so caught up in the story; always a good sign.  Second, was that the story launches right into the heart of things from the very beginning without a lot of needless build up ( this is not the book to read if you haven’t already invested in the series).  To the very end Colfer creates another imaginative plot line, saving his biggest story for the last.  He managed once again to expertly weave an action packed story that is easy to follow, with well-developed characters and humor.  Always attentive to details Colfer even invests in his secondary cast of characters taking them beyond the typical one dimensional characters you usually see in other books. I also love his use of the narrator and really enjoy all the extra info and tidbits the narrator provides. 

Colfer brings Artemis’ quest for change to a nice final resolution.  It was really interesting to see Artemis develop over the course of the books.  Usually main characters in series do not change much (i.e. Stephanie Plum Series) and that is what keeps the story moving forward.  But in this case Colfer allows Artemis to take full ownership of his humanity, moving him from selfish master criminal to someone willing to sacrifice for the good of others,  while not losing the characteristics that come together to make him Artemis Fowl; the intelligence, confidence, cool detachment and ability to keep his eye on the goal.

If I had to nitpick for something I didn’t like about the book it would be Foaly’s and the fairy situation underground.  I feel like I had a decent amount of investment into that situation without much of a payout. 

Over all I am a happy girl.  While this book wasn’t my favorite in the series (that honor goes to the Eternity Code) this book was still pretty great and a worthy ending to the series. 

P.S. With the wind up of this series I have decided to add them to my Chosen One’s List.

ISBN  1423161610 (ISBN13: 9781423161615)