Fablehaven, by Brandon Mull, is a Y/A fantasy series. It follows a plot of fairies and demons, good and evil. It starts with the Sorensons, Kendra and Seth. They are sent to their grandparents for part of the summer. After a few days there, they discover that their grandparents’ property is home to magic. They confront their grandfather, who admits that he wanted them to discover the truth for themselves.
After a couple more days, it’s Midsummer’s Eve. A day when the boundaries of the preserve dissipate and the creatures of Fablehaven are able to roam freely as they see fit. There are exceptions, of course, but when Seth opens the window for what sounds like a crying child. That is when everything goes wrong. The whole plot of the first book will not be spoiled in this article. However, you may be asking yourself, ‘Why should I read this?’ Well, that’s what we’re going to discuss.
Why Fablehaven Is A Good Read
It’s a good read because it can be for anyone. There’s no cursing or specific language that would make it only for certain people. It can be read in an Elementary school by the teacher, or it could be read by a high-schooler or a middle-age man. It’s a universal experience.
Another reason to read it is just how creative a series it is. The amount of world-building is insane. From the singing sisters to the fairies and satyrs and centaurs. There is so much to explore on each preserve.
Now, let’s talk about the lore, cause there is a surprising amount of lore in Fablehaven, all things considered. It’s a five-book series with a sequel that’s mediocre at best. How much lore really is there? You’re about to find out.
The Lore of Fablehaven
There is so much lore in this book series; it’s honestly a little tricky to keep track of, but let’s begin with the little summary from earlier. So, that little summary was about the first twelve or so chapters of the book, minus a few things. The rest of the book follows the kids as they go to a witch to transform their grandma back from a chicken. It’s a long story; you find out more about it in the second book. Anyway, the children plus their grandmother find a troll and in exchange for an expert massage, he gives them information to save the kids’ grandfather, the preserve housekeeper, Lena, and another technical housekeeper, Dale.
The kids and their grandmother prepare weapons and go to a chapel that houses a demon named Bahumat, who is in the process of being released. A lot goes down, and Kendra ends up alone at a little sanctuary area. She ends up using a little rowboat to sail to an island in the middle of the lake, and she gets help from the fairy queen to save her family. The fairies of the preserve grow super big, Bahumat is released and subsequently recaptured, and everyone is reunited at last. Lena is carried off to the pond and is transformed into a naiad, an aquatic creature that turns human when it leaves the water.
That’s basically the entire first book, minus a few things. Already, there is so much lore that it’s hard to keep track of if you haven’t read the series repeatedly. If that doesn’t interest you, then clearly, Fablehaven isn’t a series for you.
