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rainbyrd's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book introduced me to high fantasy. I have fond memories reading this as a teenager. I think about coming back to this book frequently.
casall64's review against another edition
5.0
One of the best reads of the year in my opion. Brandon Mull really has great storys and is a one of my favorite authors i cant wait for the 2nd one!!!!!!
jgintrovertedreader's review against another edition
4.0
Jason Walker is going about his job at the local zoo when he hears music. Following the music, he is led to the hippo tank. It sounds like the music is coming from inside the hippo--but that's not possible, is it? Leaning over to figure out what he's hearing, Jason falls straight into the hippo's mouth and comes out in another world.
He finds out that he is a "Beyonder" in this other world, and he eventually meets Rachel, another Beyonder. Jason accidentally stumbles on a quest to set right all that is wrong. To do that, he must defeat the evil wizard Maldor.
I haven't read Fablehaven yet, so I can't compare this book to that series. I can say that I enjoyed this high fantasy novel written for middle graders.
Jason is pretty much just an average guy. He's got a crush on one of the girls in his class; he loves animals; he wants to be a vet when he grows up, but his family is pressuring him to be a dentist; and he's an amazing baseball player. He's also the youngest in the family by a lot of years. No one really has a lot of time for him.
He proves that there doesn't necessarily have to be anything special about heroes. A hero is someone who does his or her best in the face of danger or against impossible odds.
Rachel is the smart girl who keeps Jason straight and helps him out on his quest. I liked her a lot too.
This world is a lot of fun. I want to know more about what's going on with The Blind King. I'm curious about the Displacers. (Displacers were created by wizards and can pop body parts off at will but still control the parts with their minds. Very creepy but very cool.)
I was not happy with the ending at all. There is very little closure to anything.
Middle grade readers, both girls and boys, are sure to enjoy the start of this new fantasy series.
He finds out that he is a "Beyonder" in this other world, and he eventually meets Rachel, another Beyonder. Jason accidentally stumbles on a quest to set right all that is wrong. To do that, he must defeat the evil wizard Maldor.
I haven't read Fablehaven yet, so I can't compare this book to that series. I can say that I enjoyed this high fantasy novel written for middle graders.
Jason is pretty much just an average guy. He's got a crush on one of the girls in his class; he loves animals; he wants to be a vet when he grows up, but his family is pressuring him to be a dentist; and he's an amazing baseball player. He's also the youngest in the family by a lot of years. No one really has a lot of time for him.
He proves that there doesn't necessarily have to be anything special about heroes. A hero is someone who does his or her best in the face of danger or against impossible odds.
Rachel is the smart girl who keeps Jason straight and helps him out on his quest. I liked her a lot too.
This world is a lot of fun. I want to know more about what's going on with The Blind King. I'm curious about the Displacers. (Displacers were created by wizards and can pop body parts off at will but still control the parts with their minds. Very creepy but very cool.)
I was not happy with the ending at all. There is very little closure to anything.
Middle grade readers, both girls and boys, are sure to enjoy the start of this new fantasy series.
grawdonkessenich's review against another edition
5.0
Well done. Even a college graduate can enjoy the adventure, the subtle adult undertones, and the strong characters. This novel helped me escape wedding planning madness.
alyshadeshae's review against another edition
5.0
I've been putting this series off for a while and I really don't know why because I already knew the author was amazing. This series start off amazing, too!
rgjpointer's review against another edition
3.0
It was a very fun read and I can't wait for the next book. It took me a while to read it and that messed with the flow but overall it was good. The beginning was not all that great for me but the middle and end we're great and chapter 22 made me laugh pretty hard (but that is my type of humor and it may not be yours)
ryanjamesburt's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this book. Had a new twist on magic for me. If you can add one item like that to your story it makes it all the better. I liked the world creation. Had some new type of people which made the story all that much more interesting. Very good read I would recommend it.
boytrouts's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
This series was by far one of the most influential I read in high school. It still means so much to me and is so fun to read at age 25.