I picked up this one after trying to read some other books because I knew it would be “safe”. I needed a break from sex scenes every other page that had nothing to do with the story mucking up the pages or from sex used in the book to show how evil the bad character was ad nausea, distracting from what could have otherwise been an interesting story. This one is classified as a young adult fantasy book but is highly entertaining and unique enough for adults to read and enjoy as well. This would be great to read as a family, or in a classroom. I am a great fan of reading aloud.

Seth and Kendra go to visit their grandparents, they do not know them very well and they live in another state. They stay with them while their parents go on a cruise and learn some interesting information about their grandparents during their visit. They bunk in a special room in the attic of the house, where they have a hen for a pet and slowly uncover clues to their unique surroundings. Welcome to Fablehaven…a preserve for all kinds of mythical and magical creatures both good and evil. I really want to visit so I can see the faeries, too! We meet Hugh, the golem, the witch Muriel and her mysterious rope of knots, and the silly satyrs who love watching a battery powered television. I whipped right through this one; it was an easy and enjoyable read and just what I needed after picking up a few misses. The author has done a respectable job painting a scene where you can tag along with Seth and Kendra on their adventures. Being the mischievous boy that Seth is, he sometimes has a hard time obeying the rules and this gets them into a lot of trouble as the story progresses. I actually got annoyed at Seth for being such a jerk sometimes. Kendra winds up saving the day and their adventures continue in the next book; Fablehaven- Rise of the Evening Star.
Because of the contemporary setting and writing style, young adults will be able to identify with the characters and it is a series that should keep their interest. It also has a strong female lead character, which I love in a book. ( )

awsome book to read.it is about a boy and a girl who has to go to there grandparnets house for seventeen days while there parnets are gone.then they find this secert they never knew was there. ( )

Reviewed by Me for TeensReadToo.com

It's very rare, in this day and age of Harry Potter mania (and yes, I admit I'm a very devoted victim!) to find a fantasy story that can actually hold your attention. With FABLEHAVEN, though, new author Brandon Mull manages to do just that from the very first page to the last. Not to mention, thank the fairies, that there's already another book planned in the series.

The premise is simple enough: two siblings, thirteen-year-old Kendra and her eleven-year-old brother, Seth, are relegated to spending time with their paternal grandparents, Grandma and Grandpa Sorenson, while their parents enjoy a seventeen-day Scandinavian cruise. At first glance, that might not seem so strange, but you have to understand that their family's relationship with the grandparents Sorenson is sort of an odd one. They don't visit much, they don't call; in fact, Kendra and Seth don't really know their grandparents that well at all.

This is a forced, mandatory vacation though, so the kids don't have much choice in the matter. And when they finally reach Fablehaven, where, unbeknown to them, their Grandfather is the caretaker, they're a little overwhelmed. First, there were the No Trespassing and Private Property signs that gave way to one that said Certain Death Awaits. Now, they find out that however pretty and secluded Fablehaven may be, there's no television, no radio, and a ton of rules -- not all of which make sense.

What follows is two weeks of more adventure, trouble, suspense, and magic than the kids could have ever dreamed of. When their rash actions, and disobedience to some important rules, leads to retribution from the magical world of Fablehaven, Kendra, Seth, Grandpa Sorenson, and even Grandma, who seems to be missing, are in for a ride.

FABLEHAVEN is a great fantasy novel perfect for everyone, from young adults to those young at heart. With a cast of characters ranging from witches to fairies, satyrs to imps, strange chickens and conniving trolls, there's definitely something for everyone. I plan to give my copy of FABLEHAVEN to my ten-year-old son to read next, and I'm pretty sure he'll enjoy it as much as I did (not to mention my mom, who gets it when he's done!). Kudos to Mr. Mull for such a great debut fantasy novel, and for giving me something absolutely wonderful to read during my Harry Potter-deprived winter. I can't wait for the next book in the series! ( )

This was highly enjoyable. Kids looking for an answer to life after Harry will most likely enjoy this story. A preserve to protect all the magical and mystical beings (good and bad) is at the heart of this story. The main characters are an 11 year old girl and 9 year old boy, who find out that their grandparents are the keepers of this preserve. The preserve is both full of wonder and danger and of course, adventure ensues. It's quite possible that more than a few references to storybook characters will go right over younger readers heads.

When Kendra and Seth are dropped off at their grandparents farm, they have no idea that Fabelhaven is actually a secret preserve for magical creatures of all kinds. Their grandfather gives them only two rules, both of which are not followed; stay out of the woods, and stay out of the barn. Seth, while breaking the first rule mentioned, discovers Muriel Taggert, a witch living in the woods, confined to a shack and bound by a eries of knots on a rope. His curiosity gets him into quite a lot of trouble but also helps him discover fairies, satyrs, naiads, a cliff troll and a magic cow.
Fablehaven is a fast moving, highly enjoyable fantasy, guaranteed to be loved by those who liked the care of magical creatures classes best in the Harry Potter books. It is also a great recommendation for those who enjoyed the Madelaine L'Engle series that started with A Wind in the Door, although I realize I'm dating myself here.
I will definitely be buying the sequel, which is called Rise of the Evening Star. ( )

I'm not going to recount the plot of the story to you because there are a million other reviews one can read if that is what they desire. However I will give you the skinny on the book and the skinny is…this book is better than Harry Potter. First, I will own up to the fact that I am a Harry Potter aficionado. Second, while some people think books should not be compared to others but reviewed in their own right I disagree. Harry Potter set a new standard for children's fantasy books; it is also a series, love or hate it, that is known by just about everyone, everywhere. Since the Fablehaven series is also a children's fantasy series a comparison to Harry Potter is a logical step. Now, why is Fablehaven better than Harry Potter? Fablehaven is simply more realistic and that makes it easier to relate to. Here is a list of reasons why it is a good series to dive into.

1) Fablehaven is for everyone (all ages). I am 26 years old and have no children. I was killing time at Wal-Mart, saw the book, thought it looked interesting, and the words were small not over-sized children's type so I decided to check it out. Within the first 30 pages I was hooked; I couldn't put it down. After I was done I suggested it to some of my philosophy classmates and forced it upon my 56 year old mother (who told me I was pathetic for being so enthralled by a children's series). That children's series kept her up night after night…(who's pathetic now?) There are many characters of many different ages in the series that play distinct roles. This is a FAMILY BOOK. It would be most enjoyed together, as a family, by being read out loud.

2) The children in the story, Seth and Kendra, are akin to realistic children. One thing about Harry Potter I never quite liked was the fact that he was very impulsive and irrationally dove into situations that he was only able to get out of due to good fortune, the help of others, and luck. In Fablehaven the characters make calculated decisions, sometimes they take risks based on their calculations and sometimes they don't. They are also always aware of the consequences of their decisions and there are many times in the story where the children, as well as the other characters, have to pay the piper for their choices. This series teaches a very important lesson with regards to choices, and consequences.

3) Brandon Mull, the author genius, nailed the brother/sister combo of Seth and Kendra. In the series the reader can see in their relationship sibling rivalry, the lightness of teasing, and sibling love. Kendra is rather shy, is very cautious and calculating, and slow to flame. Seth, on the other hand, is a quick fire, always jumps in head first, acts impulsively, is defiant and sneaky, and is often in trouble because of it. Mull uses these characters and their opposite traits to create humor. There is one scene where Seth does something (I don't remember what) and after he does it he says something like, "That was worth 100" and Kendra says, "Yeah, 100 idiot points." And Seth replies, "What you call idiot points I call awesome bucks." And I just busted up laughing because my 18 year old brother still makes comments like that. Mull hits that old fashioned, classic, boy vs. girl humor perfectly.

This series is worth the time, the energy, and the money. The kids will enjoy it, the parents will enjoy it, and everyone will benefit from the time spent together reading it. In the back of the books Mull provides a reading guide. The questions are priceless. While, they are for children I think they really enable parents to talk to their children and get involved in their lives. One of the questions is "Kendra has faced multiple betrayals over the course of the series. Which do you think was the worst and why? Have you ever felt betrayed by a friend? How did you handle it?" I say, "Drink the Milk and jump on board!" ( )

Finally read this one, after hearing about it from my friends. It took me a while to get into it, but once it got going, I liked it a lot. I found Seth to be a really annoying character! I got tired of the way he never seemed to learn his lesson. Looking forward to reading the next in the series and seeing what happens next. ( )

I thought Fablehaven would be a stronger book than what it was. I was expecting a little more fantasy. Fablehaven reads like Pond Scum. ( )

A visit to one’s grandparents in Connecticut may not seem to be the most auspicious plot for a hit young adult fantasy, but therein lies the mastery of Brandon Mull’s Fablehaven.

When their parents head off on a cruise, Seth and Kendra head off to spend time with the Grandparents they hardly know. They soon find themselves spending time not just with their Grandpa but with Fablehaven’s other inhabitants—naiads, trolls, ogres, fairies, witches, imps, satyrs, golems, and the like.

In Fablehaven, drinking milk is not solely for the purpose of attaining a specific daily calcium intake. Rather, Seth and Kendra must drink milk from a magical cow in order to attain sight of magical beings. Fablehaven operates according to ancient laws that preserve a tenuous order between the human caretakers and the magical creatures inside the haven. Their Grandfather hopes that by being able to see the haven’s creatures, the children will be wise enough to abide by the ancient laws and to leave the creatures alone.

Warnings can only do so much, however, and despite Grandfather’s warnings, Seth wanders into the forest (leading to a close escape from a witch), captures a fairy (leading to a retributive fairy attack after which he looks suspiciously like a walrus), and opens his window on Midsummer’s Eve (leading to the kidnapping of his grandfather, the unleashing of an evil creature, and the impending demise of Fablehaven).

Seth’s repeated disobedience advances the plot, but also makes him a somewhat disagreeable character whose intelligence readers will repeatedly question. Seth unfortunately does not heed the advice of Dale, one of Fablehaven’s caretaker’s, when Dale tells him, “Smart people learn from their mistakes. But the real smart ones learn from the mistakes of others”. Seth does not learn from the mistakes of others, nor does he seem to learn from his own firsthand mistakes.

Despite Seth’s difficult-to-identify-with character, Kendra’s behavior is more palatable as she strives to right the imbalances brought to Fablehaven by Seth’s actions. Overall, Fablehaven moves at a fast pace and includes enough exotic creatures and suspenseful episodes that it will likely acquire a cadre of loyal readers, particularly as the series progresses with the sequel Rise of the Evening Star (May 2007) and beyond. ( )

This book is very similar to Spiderwick Chronicles--except more annoying with a main character with no sense. But, then there would be no plot if somebody wasn't stirring things up. I liked it enough to read the next book. ( )

I really liked this book! It's a short yet exciting read. I liked Kendra the best. She seemed very much like me. She's obediant, gets good grades, stays out of trouble, and plays around with puzzles. I don't play around with puzzles that much, but I'd certainly like the one Grandpa gave her. I'm looking foreward to the next book.

Now to the problem at hand: I don't have another book to read on hand. Oh dear... ( )

A great start to a series, Fablehaven develops both the world and the cast of characters at no cost to the plot. Engaging and witty, Mull is destined to have fans clamoring for new tales mere days after each subsequent release, if his imagination and style persist. ( )

I absolutely loved this book. It's full of all sorts of fairy tale/fable like creatures and there's some crazy and exciting adventures that the two siblings go through. I absolutely loved the humongous, collassal sized cow. A must read... :) ( )

I found this book to be quite engaging and hard to put down. The basic storyline was not unusual, but the way in which the author tells the story is both interesing and funny. His use of humor tempers the serious nature of the subjects being covered such as death, spells, witches, evil , and demons taking over the world. The fast-paced nature of this story keeps the reader interested in the characters and how everything will be resolved. One of the more memorable moments in the story was when the kids have to milk the giant cow. They have to mount a ladder and slide down the giant udders to relieve her engorgement. Somehow the way the author described this episode made me laugh out loud! I can just imagine the milk squirting everywhere like a huge hose out of control! ha! I lalso oved that everyone had to drink the enchanted milk to really see what was going on around them! Once Grandpa, Lena and Dale disappear after Midsummers Eve, Kendra and Seth have to overcome many adult obstacles to rescue them from the witch Muriel. It is probably a good thing that Seth is so adventurous and not exactly a rule abiding young man, but Kendra has to overcome her fear and take some risks for this to happen as well. I look forward to reading the remaining books in the series to see how Brandon Mull will weave this intriguing story! Middle schoolers would really enjoy this book, but as an adult, I found this to be a fun read as well.

If you like magical books full of secrets, this is your kind of book. ( )

Two children are sent to their grandparents while their parents go on a cruise. While at the house they discover that in fact it's a refuge for mythic creatures and that there is trouble brewing.

There is an evil conspiracy to set free forces of evil and this is what the various havens were set up to stop. So the children have to get involved when the adults are disabled from saving the world.

There's a lot about consequences and dealing with panic and all sorts of fun stuff like that. The two children behave a lot like real children. There are moments where credulity is a little strained but overall I found it a satisfying read. ( )

A brother and sister are forced to spend time at their grandparent's house while their parents go on vacation. Their visit is way more interesting than they thought it would be. Harry Potter fans will be happy with this series. Great fantastical elements mixed with modern day kid issues. ( )

this is a story of two sisters who beleived they were orphans were sent to live with their grandmother who they thought was dead. shes a very odd lady, but the story is full of magic and dark secrets that need to be watched over. the family was intrusted to keep the peace with everything and make sure things stay the way they should. this was my first choice for the partner book and i was also glad i have the time to read this one as well.

This is a great book about magical creatures and a family that has been entrusted to keep the world safe from dark secrets that were long ago forgotten. If you like action and adventure in a very magical sense then you will love this book. ( )

Good, fun book. There were times when I got so involved in the story I wanted to yell at the children. Good character development including the bad ones.

An enjoyable fantasy series that takes Kenrda and her brother Seth into the worldof fairies, ogres, trolls, and other fantastical creatures. The children are sent to the grandparents that they seldom see when their psrents decide they need a vacation. And while there, they find that their grandparents are caretakers of a mystical preserve that is not only amazing but dangerous. I loved the story because the grandparents weren't evil or weird. They were people who carried a heavy burden but did not allow it to take away from the love and committment to their grandchildren. Too often, the parents or grandparents in children's stories are either crazy, neglectful or evil. I like the partnering of grandparents and kids on an adventure of this sirt. ( )

So ok in the book fable haven... it’s about these mythical creatures that are very dangerous and have thing 4 drinking a tummy kind of magic milk. On there visit they find out about these creatures, once they find out about them they "the children" become more interested in what they are and how to catch them. Once one of the children catch one of the creatures it starts to turn evil and all the fairies gather as one to get revenge. As the revenge they turn him into a messed up animal and they have to go to a witch to turn him back. Meanwhile they the children are wondering were grandma Sorenson went; by the way they don’t know who the chicken in the bedroom.
Once every year, there is this special time that every creature in that general area go bad. During this time they have to set a spell on the house so that the creatures can’t come in the house. The creatures can play mind tricks on you and change into things that you would never expect. ( )

Kendra and Seth are not happy. Sent to their reclusive grandparents house while their parents are on vacation both children are convinced that this will be their worst holiday EVER. The house is in the middle of nowhere, there are no electronic gadgets, they barely know their grandparents, their grandmother is not even there, and there are so many rules it’s a wonder they can breathe without permission. The only upside is an attic especially built for children packed with toys, a large swimming pool and a garden full of butterflies.

But not everything is as it appears and they soon learn that their grandfather is the caretaker of a sanctuary for mythical beings. When their family is put in jeopardy together Kendra and Seth must learn the secrets of Fablehaven and save both their family and Fablehaven.

This is a great fun read with well paced action and believable scenarios (well as believable as you can be with mythological beings involved) and their real consequences. There is good light and shade in the story and well fleshed out characters that have clear flaws and strengths. The story is well paced with some fantastic action scenes all mixed with a bit of humour.

I really enjoyed this book and will be looking forward to the rest of the series and Kendra & Seth’s adventures. ( )

AMAZING!!! I loved this book so much that I went out and got the second one the very next day. This is about a brother and sister who come to realize that fairytale and mythical creatures really do exist and that their grandparents are one of the few humans in charge of protecting them from going extinct. There's a lot of adventure and mystery, and you'll be cracking up the whole time=D ( )

Summary: Kendra and her younger brother Seth are not thrilled about having to stay with their Grandpa while their parents are on a cruise; he lives in a strange old house in the middle of nowhere, and while there is a pool and cool attic playroom for them, Grandpa also has a lot of strict rules about what they aren't allowed to do, and they suspect there are things he's not telling them - like where their Grandma really is. However, when Seth ventures into the forbidden woods surrounding the estate and encounters a strange old woman who might be a witch, they soon find themselves plunged into a world they'd never imagined. For Fablehaven isn't just a creepy old house, it's a sanctuary for magical creatures... and not all of them are friendly. When a mistake on Midsummer Night puts their family and friends in danger, it's up to Kendra and Seth to rescue them... but if not even their Grandpa knows all of Fablehaven's secrets, what hope do two kids have?

Review: This book is so incredibly similar, plot-wise, to The Spiderwick Chronicles, that it's been difficult to keep them separate in my head. That similarity could work to this book's benefit - kids who like one will almost certainly like the other - but because I read this one second, it wound up feeling a little bit redundant. This book does target a slightly older audience than the Spiderwick books, although not by much, and it is definitely funnier - I particularly liked the somewhat crass, shallow satyrs, and wish they had gotten more screen time. At the same time, I remember Spiderwick feeling spookier - maybe because it gets to the "family in danger" part sooner, while this one lingers a little longer on world-building. I did also really enjoy the main characters in Fablehaven - Kendra's very recognizeable as the rule-following, straight-laced older sister and her relationship with Seth reminded me a lot of my own brother. I think I'm a little past the target audience, and the Spiderwick comparisons might be keeping me from giving this book an entirely fair shake, but while I enjoyed reading it, it didn't have anything that grabbed me and made me love it. I did like it enough to go hunt down the sequels, though. 3.5 out of 5 stars

Recommendation: Overall, it's a very imaginative, fun, and absorbing middle-grade fantasy, and should appeal to young fantasy fans of both sexes. ( )