Legend of the Dragon Slayer: The Origin Story of Dragonwatch (Dragonwatch) by Brandon Mull, Brandon Dorman (Illustrations)

 

In ancient times, dragons posed the ultimate threat to the rest of the magical world. During the Dragon War, a group of specially trained Dragon Slayers banded together to stand against the onslaught. They called themselves Dragonwatch, and they succeeded in confining the majority of dragons to sanctuaries. Legend of the Dragon Slayer is the illustrated story of the very first Dragon Slayer who took to battle.

As the legend tells it, powerful monsters terrorized the kingdom of Selona on all sides. An unlikely hero named Konrad, the cobbler's son, accepts the king's challenge to defeat the monsters: fierce yeti, a merciless vampire, a dangerous gorgon, and a deadly phoenix. But Selona's biggest threat will come from the Dragon, and it will take every ounce of wit and experience that Konrad has acquired to stand a chance against such a formidable foe.

Legend of the Dragon Slayer features a never-before-published catalog of Dragon Slayers, a detailed map of the kingdom of Selona, and lavish full-color illustrations. Fantasy fans will love this stand-alone tale of valor, destiny, and magic.

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What a fun book!  This is a collection of stories all about Konrad and how he grew into a dragon slayer in the kingdom of Selona.  His adventures helped the kingdom expand by defeating the monsters that surrounded it.  

Konrad really stepped up to the plate when nobody else would.  He was a good defender (an even better storyteller) and a great hero to root for.  His legacy established the Fair Folk of Fablehaven and that's how it all ties together.  If you haven't read the Fablehaven/Dragonwatch series, you really should.  It is fantasy at it's best and suitable for all ages and the perfect series to read aloud to younger children.  This book has such beautiful illustrations!  It is fun to see the story spring to life through the vibrant pictures.  I wish I could show you the pictures!

I first obtained this book as an ebook for review and it was okay but I was so excited when I was offered a physical book for review as well.  The book is beautiful from front to back cover and I loved being able to hold it in my hands.  It's one of those kind of books and definitely one you want to add to your collection- especially if you own this series!

Content:  mild peril

About the author/illustrator:

 

Brandon Mull has worked as a comedian, a filing clerk, a patio installer, a movie promoter, a copywriter, and briefly as a chicken stacker. For a couple of years, he lived in the Atacama Desert of Northern Chile, where he learned Spanish and juggling. He and his wife Erlyn and their large family and a dog named Buffy the Vampire Slayer live in a Fablehaven-style house with an attic filled with peculiar artifacts. Brandon is the #1 New York Times best-selling author of the Dragonwatch, Fablehaven, Beyonders, and Five Kingdoms series.

Brandon Dorman grew up near Tacoma, WA and is the dad of three boys and one girl. He is best known for his book cover art on popular series like Fablehaven, Goosebumps, and The Land of Stories. He is an accomplished visual storyteller who has illustrated 21 picture books.

Champion of the Titan Games (Dragonwatch #4) by Brandon Mull

 

Who will win the battle between Dragons and Giants?

As the war with the dragons intensifies, all eyes are turning to Titan Valley for help. A dragon sanctuary unlike any of the others, this one is home to enslaved dragons ruled by the powerful Giant Queen, one of the five monarchs of the magical world. In addition, it houses the arena for the Titan Games, a series of gladiator-style battles presided over by none other than Humbuggle, the demon who stole Seth’s memories!

Seth is seeking for his memories. Kendra is seeking for Seth. And everyone is seeking to stop the dragons from taking over the world—everyone but Ronodin, the dark unicorn, who has his own devious agenda. In the monstrous battle between giants and dragons, who wins? In the race to retrieve a magical talisman that could help win the war, can Kendra trust Seth? Will they find the answers they desperately need in a realm of trolls and titans? Or are more betrayals imminent?

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There are some full on fans of this series out there and my husband is one of them.  He's loved this series since the very beginning of Fablehaven.  I am not the biggest fantasy fan so this isn't a series I'm naturally drawn to but I've bought them (or agreed to review them) all because, well, husband.  😊  So, now that you know that you know this little tidbit, the following is my husband's review of this book.  

The world of Fablehaven is always so much fun. A new book release in the world of Fablehaven is something I anticipate with eagerness. Brandon Mull does a good job writing the stories to include both Kendra and Seth. That being said, the previous story, Master of the Phantom Isle felt more like it focused on Kendra. For me, Champion of the Titan Games seems more a story for Seth. Seth’s hunt for his memories takes him to exciting places with fun twists.  Can he look at things a certain way?  How should he respond to an unseen presence? 

The arena games are exciting with mysterious participants and secrets to be uncovered. With angry dragons, a looming giant threat, and the Wizenstone at stake, there most assuredly will be a fight. A flying ending with some special challenges provides the icing on the cake! Fans will love this book!   

This book is part of a series that should be read in order.  This book and series is perfect for all ages.  It has a 5-6th grade reading level but younger kids would love hearing this book read aloud.  And, as I stated above adults love this series as well.  😉

Content:  peril, mild violence

- I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are my own. 

 

Smarter Than a Monster: A Survival Guide by Brandon Mull, Mike Walton (Illustrations)

Page Count: 32
Juvenile Fiction / Social Themes / Manners & Etiquette
Ages 4 to 8, Grades 1 to 3
Cover Illustration by Mike Walton
Book Design: © Shadow Mountain

No monster wants you to read this book. The more you know about monsters, the more you will know how to defeat them.

Little kids have big fears, which they often imagine to be scary creatures, like monsters. But this book helps explain how knowing "Monster Facts" can help kids outwit them.

Want to avoid monsters?

Fact: Monsters love dirt and grime, so when faced with two kids, the monster will choose the dirty one every time.

And if toys and clothes are all over the floor, you may get ambushed by a mess-loving monster.

Survival Tip: Take baths and keep your room clean.

Smarter Than a Monster will arm young readers with practical advice in this innovative and imaginative parenting tool that teaches common sense and positive and healthy habits.

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This book is the cutest!  I absolutely adore it.  Of course, as a parent, this book encourages kids to do everything you want them to do- brush their teeth, clean their rooms, sleep in their own beds, take a bath, etc..  I can really get behind a book like that!   Yes, this book is filled with monsters, but they are more cute than frightening (as you can tell from the cover of this book).  The illustrations are bright, engaging and fun.  Youngsters will love looking at them.  I love looking at them!  The best kind of book is one that adults and children can enjoy reading together.  This book is perfect because adults will be just as entertained as the children.  I was laughing out loud in a couple places.  I really, really love this book!

-I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are my own.

About the Author:

Brandon Mull is the #1 New York Times best-selling author of the Fablehaven, Beyonders, and Five Kingdoms series. A kinetic thinker, Brandon enjoys bouncy balls, squeezable stress toys, and popping bubble wrap. He lives in Utah in a happy little valley near the mouth of a canyon with his four children and a dog named Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Brandon loves meeting his readers and hearing about their experiences with his books.
www.brandonmull.com
Follow the author on Instagram @writerbrandon and Facebook @authorbrandonmull

About the Illustrator:

Mike Walton has been a professional illustrator for more than twenty years. He earned his B.A. in Illustration from art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA. He’s worked in animation, comic books, web comics, trading cards, and all manner of media throughout his career. Smarter Than a Monster is his debut children’s book. He currently resides in Southern California and considers himself a nerd who loves visiting Disneyland attending the San Diego Comic Con.  

 

Master of the Phantom Isle (Dragonwatch #3) by Brandon Mull

 

Cursed by the Key of Forgetting, Seth has lost all memory of his past—his relationships, his experiences, and who he really is. For now he will align with his new mentor, Ronodin, the dark unicorn, who takes him to the Phantom Isle, the secret gateway to the Under Realm. Though Seth is not formally a prisoner, Ronodin wants to use him and his shadow charmer powers for his own dark ends.

Kendra is frantic to find her missing brother, but the quest will take her and her companions, including Warren, Tanu, and Vanessa, far from Wyrmroost to Crescent Lagoon—a recently fallen dragon sanctuary made up of many islands and underwater domains. Its caretaker has regained a foothold on one of the islands. If Kendra and her friends can save that sanctuary, they might uncover the answers they need to rescue Seth.

With each sanctuary the dragons overthrow, Celebrant, the Dragon King, comes closer to the dawn of a new Age of Dragons. With the forces of darkness on the march, can Kendra and her allies gather enough power to win the epic dragon war?

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Dragonwatch, Master of the Phantom Isle doesn’t miss a beat, picking up right where the last book left off.  The dragons are still at it, seeking domination, and it’s hard to imagine a greater threat.  Though in this adventure a greater threat does reveals itself.  Can Kendra stand against this dark threat without the help of Seth?

For Seth, life is hard when dealing with memory loss and the choices one makes under those circumstances gets to the heart of the character.  It is fun exploring Seth’s character more in depth when past choices can no longer influence the present ones.  The true desires of Seth’s heart manifest themselves.

The book takes the reader to tropical places with beaches and palm trees but it’s certainly no vacation with peril everywhere ranging from plants that want to eat you, to the undead and a raging triclops.  Yet in the midst of all the trials Kendra is still willing to give her all for her brother.

From underwater adventures, to deep and dark places from your worst nightmares, this book provides another fun read from Brandon Mull.  There are even a few surprise twists! This is a great series and adds another prized addition to the Fablehaven / Dragonwatch series.  I look forward to reading the series again; Master of the Phantom Isle gets an A+.

This is a series you must read in order as each book builds on the previous book.

Content:  peril, mild violence

- I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are my own.  

About the Author:

Brandon Mull is the #1 New York Times best-selling author of the Fablehaven, Beyonders, and Five Kingdoms series. A kinetic thinker, Brandon enjoys bouncy balls, squeezable stress toys, and popping bubble wrap. He lives in Utah in a happy little valley near the mouth of a canyon with his four children and a dog named Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Brandon loves meeting his readers and hearing about their experiences with his books.

www.brandonmull.com  Follow the author on Instagram @writerbrandon and Facebook @authorbrandonmull  

Wrath of the Dragon King (Dragonwatch #2) by Brandon Mull

 

War has come to the dragon sanctuaries of the world and nowhere is the danger more intense than at Wyrmroost. After a humiliating defeat at the hands of Kendra and Seth, Celebrant, King of Dragons, prepares to unleash his fury and take control of his native preserve. Armed with information from a new ally Ronodin, the dark unicorn Celebrant seeks a legendary talisman the dominion stone.

However, the powerful stone is protected by a cursed castle. Upon entering the castle fortress, an unyielding power strips all magical beings of their power and forces Celebrant to take his human avatar form. Kendra and Seth must enter the cursed castle as well. The race is on. Will the two young caretakers rally enough support from the creatures of Wyrmroost against the greatest threat the magical community has faced in ages? Can they foil Celebrant's plan and beat him to the mighty dominion stone? Or will all hope be shattered by the wrath of the Dragon King?

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 Review by Brandon (my husband):

 Many people have a place they love to go where imagination runs wild and reality is forgotten, the Fablehaven universe is that place for me, I’m so glad Dragowatch continues the adventure.  This is a middle grade fantasy adventure series.

Seth is back along with his humor; his interactions with other characters are pure entertainment. Kendra helps balance Seth with her thoughtful nature and if I had a journey through the Bewilderness I’d pick Kendra every time. Thank goodness for the somber knight and his trusty ride! Teamwork is on full display as a group of friends work together to solve mysteries and win a contest with the world at stake.

At this point I feel like I’m part of the family. As with the other Fablehaven adventures, Wrath of the Dragon King is well written and even though I’m not a “young” reader I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend it to anyone that can read… lots of fun. 

 - I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are my own. 

From Aimee:  This reviewing gig is becoming a family affair!  I recently added my daughter, Jaalah, into my reviewing schedule and now I've added my husband, Brandon too.  He loves this series and when I was asked if I wanted to read and review this book, I had to say no because I am just completely booked up for reviews.  Brandon was not happy with me.  At all.  So, he offered to review it and the publisher agreed (after laughing a bit at our proposal).  This is his first review and I have to say that I'm pretty proud of him!  It only took him two tries to get enough in there to satisfy me.  haha

Dragonwatch (Fablehaven Adventure #1) by Brandon Mull

In the long-awaited sequel to Fablehaven, the dragons who have been kept at the dragon sanctuaries no longer consider them safe havens, but prisons and they want their freedom. The dragons are no longer our allies....

In the hidden dragon sanctuary of Wyrmroost, Celebrant the Just, King of the Dragons, plots his revenge. He has long seen the sanctuaries as prisons, and he wants nothing more than to overthrow his captors and return the world to the Age of Dragons, when he and his kind ruled and reigned without borders. The time has come to break free and reclaim his power.

No one person is capable of stopping Celebrant and his dragon horde. It will take the ancient order of Dragonwatch to gather again if there is any chance of saving the world from destruction. In ancient times, Dragonwatch was a group of wizards, enchantresses, dragon slayers, and others who originally confined the majority of dragons into sanctuaries. But nearly all of the original Dragonwatch members are gone, and so the wizard Agad reaches out to Grandpa Sorenson for help.

As Kendra and Seth confront this new danger, they must draw upon all their skills, talents, and knowledge as only they have the ability to function together as a powerful dragon tamer. Together they must battle against forces with superior supernatural powers and breathtaking magical abilities.

How will the epic dragon showdown end? Will dragons overthrow humans and change the world as we know it?

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It's finally here!!  The long awaited sequel series to Fablehaven is FINALLY here.  Fablehaven fans rejoice!!  :)  ha.  That would be my family.  When I told them this book was coming out and I had been offered a chance to review it they were so excited.  I told them I wasn't sure I would review and they almost lynched me.  I was just teasing, of course, because why would I pass up a chance to get my hands on Dragonwatch?!  One of the best things about this series is that it appeals to all audiences- young and old.  It's a fabulous series to read aloud with your kids or grandkids, and it's great for younger readers and adults alike.  I love that.

If you haven't read the Fablehaven series, I would highly recommend you start there.  BUT, I don't think you HAVE to.  It would just help so, so much.  You will have a better understanding of the characters, the past events that have led up to this book, and why things are happening.

This book picks up just as the last book left off.  All your old favorite characters are here with Kendra and Seth leading the way.  You get to meet some new friends as well.  This book is a fantasy adventure so there are so many creatures with special abilities, magical lands and lots of amusing and dangerous situations.  (I would sure love to have a nipsie pledging allegiance to me!)

And while some things are resolved with this new conflict with the dragons, there are plenty of things left wide open for the next book.  And so the wait begins again. . . 

Content:  some mild peril

- I received a copy of this book from the publisher.  A positive review was not required and all opinions expressed are my own.

The Caretaker's Guide to Fablehaven by Brandon Mull, Illustrated by Brandon Dorman

This guidebook to the Fablehaven magical preserve is filled with everything a new Caretaker might need to know in order to survive. There are entries detailing important information about artifacts large and small, a complete bestiary of creatures (from fairies to trolls to satyrs), a guide to identifying demons, dragons, and wizards as well as valuable insights into the other magical preserves.

Immerse yourself into the secret knowledge that has been handed down through the generations by reading the updates and notes written in the margins by the former Caretakers of Fablehaven, including Grandpa Sorenson, Kendra, and Seth. Fully-illustrated, this unique encyclopedia has gathered the world of Fablehaven into one volume.

Scattered throughout the book are colorful fairies that also mark some of the characters, artifacts, and creatures that will be featured in the upcoming sequel series, Dragonwatch.

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If you are a Fablehaven fan, this book is a must for your collection.  This book is filled with illustrations and explanations about all things Fablehaven.  From spells, potions, artifacts, and tools to fairies, giants, imps, griffins, dragons, wizards and demons.  Some illustrations are done in black and white, and some are in full color.  Every page is a fun new discovery of creatures, places and things.

Not only did I love the illustrations and explanations, but I loved the extra bits written in along the way.  You get little notes from the characters and words of wisdom as well.  There is humor sprinkled in which is always a plus in my opinion.

The pictures really help bring the book to life.  My kids wish they had this book while reading the Fablehaven series but maybe this is a good time to go back and re-read while finding the pictures in this book!  

If you haven't read Fablehaven, you should.  It's a fantastic series to read aloud to younger children and is fit for any age of readers.  My husband finished this series not too long ago and enjoyed it as well.  Everyone loved this Caretaker's Guide.  It is a wonderful addition to this series.