I wasn't really expecting much from a Mormon fantasy writer (note, I am Mormon). In general, Mormon writers tend to sacrifice a good plot in favor of everybody being the good guy...it just is a little to goody-two-shoes for me, with exceptions to certain authors or books. Brandon Mull's Fablehaven was one of those exceptions.
The first time I read Fablehaven (the first book) I actually heard it, on audio book. Can I say that whoever was the reader/actor of that book did an awful job? His acting skills took away from my enjoyment of the book...the voices of the people lacked emotion, but the actual narrative wasn't bad. But because of this audio book I really had no desire to read the other books in the series.
I started to hear more about it, outside of deseret books on more nationally acclaimed reading lists and suggestions, so I got curious. I went to get them from my library and ever single copy was checked out and on hold for at least a month. So I got myself on the list and finally, FINALLY got the books. I was astonished. The series is full of imaginative creatures, a truly wonderful villain (which, in my opinion, makes fantasy really good or really bad...) characters that develop nicely, surprise twists and cliff-hanger endings. It was thought out and well put together with no plot-gaps or "oh i just thought of this I'm going to add it" plot developments (which, by the way, readers can see through...unless you do a REALLY good job of making it part of your story).
These books revolve around 13-15 year old Kendra and her 11-13 year old brother Seth. They go to stay with their grandparents on a sort of farm in New England and discover that it holds more secrets than they could have ever imagined. I just love how the main characters become essential to the community they discover and the main focus of the bad guys. It kind of has a Frodo feel to it, from being a simple middle-school kid to some one vital to saving the world, but the development is gradual and makes sense as the story progresses. It isn't a sudden switch. I became an addict overnight, from being unsure about the books to being desperate to get my hands on them. The final book in the series comes out this spring (I think) and I can't wait to get it.
Definitely worth checking out, and whatever you do, don't get the audio book...
