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caillou_kaju's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
skeleton_ashleigh's review against another edition
3.0
Very cute in some parts. Half was a very fun read. Half was a bit tough to get through. I think I'm just not the target audience.
auntiedd's review
4.0
i read this book because my middle schoolers were bullying me for not having read it yet and u know what? it rocked! this is a thrilling fantasy novel that feels more homey than most fantasy because… well i don’t want to spoil it. i read this on the floor of my childhood bedroom on a quilt from the 90s with my dog while i was avoiding spending time with my family lol and i felt like a 9 year old. good times
smateer73's review
5.0
I loved this fantasy series, young and old alike will devour this intricate tale of the fantasy creatures we know and love, and also those that haunt the dreams of children.
faeonyx's review against another edition
5.0
Fablehaven is the title of the series as well as the title of the first book. I have to admit that I first picked these up simply because of the art on the cover. Fortunately, the story actually lived up to the appeal of the art. The character on the cover is even introduced relatively early on in the book itself, which is something that not all books seem to be able to do anymore. It is, at its core, a series about a number of magical preserves around the world that take in and care for many different types of magical creatures. There are caretakers for each of these preserves and they learn from those before them as well as through their own trial and error how to best care for these creatures. One thing that seems to be stressed throughout the book is the fact that none of these creatures are harmless, even the ones that could be considered good.
It can always be difficult to draw a reader into the experience in the opening book of any series, and Fablehaven gets off to a similar sort of start. The setting of the scene begins with a road trip and fades into the flashback of a funeral where the bare bones of information is given. The enjoyable part about the way this information is presented is that the reader feels quite a bit like Kendra, wondering why he grandfather isn't really that excited to be around her or her brother. The reader is given the information that Kendra is given, sticking closely to her own mind and inner thoughts in the beginning. It is just enough to intrigue the reader without giving away too much of what's to come.
The same sort of tone is followed throughout much of the book. Instead of having a true floating narrator, the story sticks fairly close to Kendra and Seth and lets the readers experience things through their eyes. We learn what the children learn as they learn it and that really helps set the tone and helps the reader identify more with one of the main characters. Even when things aren't always going right for them, or they aren't behaving their best, I found it very easy to sympathize with both of the children. They've been thrown into a very strange world in the middle of the beginnings of what seems to be building into a war.
The story builds well from beginning to the end, introducing more characters and a threatening sense that something else is going on behind the scenes. There are mentions of The Society of the Evening Star, but as the children are young yet, there isn't much information given about that. Kendra finds a letter explaining more but it isn't quite enough to really sate the curiosity that is built by the characters that mention this society. The context is enough to let the reader know this is not a good thing, but there are still plenty of questions left to keep a reader coming back for more.
The main conflict seems to come from the fact that the caretakers of these preserves believe the creatures should be limited and protected, using the treaties of the land that are entered into voluntarily to keep the creatures safe within the walls. The Society, on the other hand, looks at this situation as a type of jailing of the creatures. They believe that even the darker creatures should be free to roam around as they please, which causes danger to humans. There's a reason these things should be locked away. It becomes apparent early on in the book that this is the main conflict of the story. Even the kidnapping of the caretakers seems to follow the same idea. The witch is free and is working on freeing the demon. She even mentions the Society.
The story boils down to the ancient struggle of good versus evil, but the magical creatures act as the grey area, seeming to comment on the fact that morality is relative to the groups involved. Though many are willing to help, especially after Kendra's plea, there are others that would rather remain uninvolved. Still, the story and the characters make for a very enjoyable reading experience and leave the action open in the end to pull the reader into the next book.
It can always be difficult to draw a reader into the experience in the opening book of any series, and Fablehaven gets off to a similar sort of start. The setting of the scene begins with a road trip and fades into the flashback of a funeral where the bare bones of information is given. The enjoyable part about the way this information is presented is that the reader feels quite a bit like Kendra, wondering why he grandfather isn't really that excited to be around her or her brother. The reader is given the information that Kendra is given, sticking closely to her own mind and inner thoughts in the beginning. It is just enough to intrigue the reader without giving away too much of what's to come.
The same sort of tone is followed throughout much of the book. Instead of having a true floating narrator, the story sticks fairly close to Kendra and Seth and lets the readers experience things through their eyes. We learn what the children learn as they learn it and that really helps set the tone and helps the reader identify more with one of the main characters. Even when things aren't always going right for them, or they aren't behaving their best, I found it very easy to sympathize with both of the children. They've been thrown into a very strange world in the middle of the beginnings of what seems to be building into a war.
The story builds well from beginning to the end, introducing more characters and a threatening sense that something else is going on behind the scenes. There are mentions of The Society of the Evening Star, but as the children are young yet, there isn't much information given about that. Kendra finds a letter explaining more but it isn't quite enough to really sate the curiosity that is built by the characters that mention this society. The context is enough to let the reader know this is not a good thing, but there are still plenty of questions left to keep a reader coming back for more.
The main conflict seems to come from the fact that the caretakers of these preserves believe the creatures should be limited and protected, using the treaties of the land that are entered into voluntarily to keep the creatures safe within the walls. The Society, on the other hand, looks at this situation as a type of jailing of the creatures. They believe that even the darker creatures should be free to roam around as they please, which causes danger to humans. There's a reason these things should be locked away. It becomes apparent early on in the book that this is the main conflict of the story. Even the kidnapping of the caretakers seems to follow the same idea. The witch is free and is working on freeing the demon. She even mentions the Society.
The story boils down to the ancient struggle of good versus evil, but the magical creatures act as the grey area, seeming to comment on the fact that morality is relative to the groups involved. Though many are willing to help, especially after Kendra's plea, there are others that would rather remain uninvolved. Still, the story and the characters make for a very enjoyable reading experience and leave the action open in the end to pull the reader into the next book.
kzahed's review
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
An old favorite series from my childhood. Certainly written for you get audiences, but the rich magical world and diverse cast of magical creatures is enough to entertain adults as well. I am enjoying my re-read. The only drawback is that the main characters are annoying, as you would expect of children written for children. Wishing I could find a book with adult themes that captures magic the way Fablehaven does!
kacieross_fantasyauthor's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This was a fun nostalgic read. The characters decisions while frustrating at times were age appropriate. It was whimsical, funny, and unexpected. I really enjoyed it.
sophie_bellpepper's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75