Dragonwatch by Brandon Mull lives up to the hype

So, this is our first Brandon Mull book. I can say that it ‘lives up the hype’ because the fandom’s pressure for this book is huge. Dragonwatch is the second book in the Fablehaven series, a 5-book series whose first entry Fablehaven was a massive success. Dragonwatch is a great book that will be of interest to middle school children, as opposed to it being a book aimed at the middle school audience. That also means that adult audiences will enjoy this book as much as its potential reluctant readers in middle school.

It’s all the more remarkable that I really enjoyed this book because it comes with a massive cast of characters, mythical beasts and fantastic settings. Mull sets up the world in such a way that a first time reader can pick up Dragonwatch and understand what’s happening as soon as the characters speak. The intricacies of their personalities establish themselves in time, but the first time audience’s hooks are baited and we eagerly take a bite.

Dragonwatch is written in a way that is appropriate for upper elementary school readers and up to grasp, without making it seem like a children’s book for adults who read it. The central characters in the book are 13 year old Seth and his 15 year old sister Kendra.  They’re surrounded by so many creatures, helpers and monsters that the humans sometimes play second fiddle, despite being the main characters in the book.

If I understand things correctly, in the first book they drank some magic milk from a special cow and now they’re able to see the fairy world that exists just beyond their grandparent’s home. In Dragonwatch their cousin’s visit, which have not drank the magic milk, for a visit. Unfortunately for them, the dragons, who were previously banished to safe areas in the kingdom, are becoming restless.

Celebrant is the King of the Dragons and he’s cooking up something big that requires everyone in Wyrmroost to band together. This means that Seth and Kendra have to take a leadership role, a small hero sets up camp in Seth’s shirt a quest begins for a scepter that can help control the dragons, hopefully.

I’m not one for a full-on middle Earth type book. However, Dragonwatch really took me by surprise by how quickly the characters positively ingrained themselves with the story. That goes more to the fact that this is a really well written book that transcends the genre. It’s also a win/win that the text is great for upper elementary school students and up.