SPOIL-FREE SUMMARY
When siblings Seth and Kendra are sent to spend the summer with their grandparents, they don't know what to expect. They barely even know them. It seems there is a secret, including the mystery of where there grandmother is. Told not to go into the woods, Seth can't help but disobey. Eventually the two discover the truth: the woods hold the reserve for magical creatures.
OUR CAST OF CHARACTERS
Kendra is more cautious, studious and patient then her little brother. She doesn't desire adventure, more aware of the dangers that come along with it.
Seth is adventurous, eager and a little reckless. He tends to brush off warnings from adults, thinking they are overprotective. He isn't afraid to get dirty and likes animals, taking a liking to the chicken in their room.
Grandpa Sorenson is rather secretive about the grounds, as well as the whereabouts of his wife. He is blunt, strict and used to being obeyed.
Lena cooks and takes care of the house from Grandpa Sorenson. She is a great cook and helps take care of the house. She also takes care of the garden.
Muriel is the old woman who lives in the woods. She is crafty and willing to do anything to get free from her chains.
PACING-SPOILERS
The pacing is decent. We start right off on the way to Fablehaven. And from the first chapter, there are only four chapters until we discover the secret in Chapter five. There a few hints here and there to keep you guessing, like the weird behavior of the bees, the keys that Grandpa gives Kendra, and the fact that grandma is missing and the reason given sounds flimsy. Not to mention the odd behavior of Lena.
There is really no reason to draw this part of the book out, just by the title of the series you know it's a fantasy book. Mul doesn't make that mistake. Although it is not until chapter eleven that the main problem and the rest of the plot is revealed which is halfway through a nineteen chapter book.
CREATURES OF FABLEHAVEN
One of the best aspects of the books are the creatures that reside in Fablehaven. From the naiads, the satyrs, trolls, and the golem, Hugo. We only get glimpses of many of them, making us want to learn more. And surely there are many more creatures we have not yet seen. I really liked Hugo, who seemed almost like a cute, huge pet. And the limberjack was quite creepy.
MYSTERIES OF FABLEHAVEN
There are mysteries presented throughout the plot. Such as Pattern Burgess, Warren, and the fate of Lena. All of these created interest for me to want to learn more. It was shown in a way that made you understand why this was a series. Unlike some series', that present everything new in each book. Reading the first, it was obvious that there was more to learn.
THE PROBLEM OF SETH-SPOILERS
When Seth offends the fairies by kidnapping one, you can forgive him because of his ignorance. But the result is nightmarish, one that would freak out any adult, let alone a child. I thought it was strange that no punishment is ever mentioned from what should be a serious incident. It destroyed any levity to the situation.
By the time Midsummer Eve rolled around, and after being warned about the danger and the possibility of death, Seth is just as dumb as before the fairy incident. And because of him, everyone is put at risk. His family is possibly dead, or soon will be.
If that wasn't enough, when he finally admits it is all his fault, both Kendra and grandma do their best to make him feel better, and say it's not. Or give him platitudes about learning from his mistake. He almost killed everyone. He didn't flunk a test.
SETH'S REDEMPTION
There is scene later where Seth puts his own life at risk, rather then let his grandma do it. But we are never sure about his motivation. It seems obvious it would be redeeming himself for his past sins. But this is never even mentioned, and is left to readers' imagination. This was a big mistake.
Seth desperately needed redemption. And the reader needed to witness his inner struggle, so we could celebrate with him. Instead we are kept in the dark and his character feels stunted.
MIDSUMMER EVE
I already pointed out the problem with Seth. But he was supposed to have been deceived, instead of just being reckless. But the event that occurs is so obvious a trap, that even Kendra points it out. The deception should have been somewhat convincing to make the reader think twice.
Perhaps something having to do with their parents returning. Maybe being set up with texts on their phones or something. (If the creatures could manipulate machines, that would be a twist.) It should have been an understandable mistake.
Instead a baby magically appears on the roof of the house and Seth stupidly believes it is real. It was just lazy writing, like in a horror movie, where the only way to move the story alone is to have the brain-dead protagonists rush headlong into danger while the audience screams at them to go back, simultaneously laughing at their stupidity.
EVERYTHING'S RELATIVE
Lena gives the kids a speech about how the creatures in Fablehaven are neither good or bad. Seeing how they have such a long life span in comparison to humans, that may be understandable. Like how humans would treat flies. But when he get introduced to a creature called Bahamut, suddenly the idea of the creatures being beyond good and evil seems ridiculous.
Also, the kids are also told that the creatures live by a set of rules, a pact, placed upon them by Fablehaven: they can't hurt you unless you hurt them first. But there is no mention of how they treat each other. That could be an indicator of if they are moral or immoral.
CLIMAX-SPOILERS
In the end, it's really Kendra's book. As she is the one who has to save everyone. I felt in many ways she was the opposite of Seth. She was cautious but curious, and her reaction to loss and danger was way more realistic than his. When she is the only one left, she actually breaks down and starts crying, feeling completely overwhelmed. It's what any of us would do. And I couldn't help but feel bonded to her in that scene.
There is a good mix of action and mystery. And the problem to the solution was hinted at much earlier in the book, but it's not obvious. After all, Kendra has no guarantee that what she does will work. These scenes were by far my favorite part in the book. When the limberjack came after her, the scenes reeked of desperation and fear. There was a sense of urgency that had not existed until then.
CONCLUSION
Mul creates an original world with unique creatures. The pacing is good and the problems keep coming to help the story move along. But too often the story moves along because of something stupid that Seth did. And his refusal to learn, or face any real consequences bugged me. Still, there are enough mysteries planted in this story that makes me want to read another. And Kendra's adventures to save her family was suspenseful and exciting. I give “Fablehaven” three stars.
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