A review by spootilious
Master of the Phantom Isle by Brandon Mull

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I struggled with this one. Master of the Phantom Isle definitely suffers from middle book syndrome. That of course doesn’t mean it was bad! I enjoyed it quite immensely, in fact. I suppose my biggest issue was that there was no real ups and downs. It read at a meanderingly even pace, even during actions scenes. It just chugged slowly along. Of course, there is nothing wrong with that; though it does make for a lengthy read despite its lower page numbers.

The book introduces a number of new creatures and characters, along with new settings and challenges. In that aspect I really enjoyed seeing more of the Fablehaven world. And of course, Mull is all ways creative when it comes to magical mechanics and restrictions. Many of them so unique that I just might have to add them to my next D&D campaign.

Overall, Master of the Phantom Isle felt like a stepping stone to the next installment of the Dragonwatch series.