rikkis_reading_room's review against another edition
3.0
The series is going a little down. Seems rushed
monetlilypads's review against another edition
4.0
Warnings
Drugs: no
Sex: no
Language: no
Violence: no
Other: little more spooky for younger kids I think, with the undead realm and stuff. Nothing gorey and it's not much different than the previous book (I personally didn't have an issue with any of it) but there is a lot more time around the undead, just in case your kiddo is sensitive
Drugs: no
Sex: no
Language: no
Violence: no
Other: little more spooky for younger kids I think, with the undead realm and stuff. Nothing gorey and it's not much different than the previous book (I personally didn't have an issue with any of it) but there is a lot more time around the undead, just in case your kiddo is sensitive
dedellia's review
5.0
Still in love with this series ! I was on edge the whole wondering if things would get solved. I just want to read the next book right now.
yapha's review against another edition
4.0
Excellent continuation of the series!! I highly recommend you read it in order, starting with Fablehaven. For grades 4 & up.
eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss
eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss
kennedibmth's review against another edition
5.0
so good! slow in the beginning but really gets cool. so excited for the next one
hstep20's review against another edition
3.0
Pros:
- Absolute standard of a good comfy book
- Some interesting dynamics that Id like to see explored further (but know they won't be because its a middle grade series)
- Some dives into deeper topics than I remember from the first series.
- Great handling of the 'split pov' telling two more independent stories, instead of the same story from two different sides of the coin.
Cons:
- Still not fond of the B-side protagonists, even after 3 books
- Possible pacing issues that make it feel like fetch quests, but its quick enough that its never a drag
- Absolute standard of a good comfy book
- Some interesting dynamics that Id like to see explored further (but know they won't be because its a middle grade series)
- Some dives into deeper topics than I remember from the first series.
- Great handling of the 'split pov' telling two more independent stories, instead of the same story from two different sides of the coin.
Cons:
- Still not fond of the B-side protagonists, even after 3 books
- Possible pacing issues that make it feel like fetch quests, but its quick enough that its never a drag
nvciel's review against another edition
5.0
This book was a slow read until chapter 29 then it was extremely exciting. Seth continues to be my favorite character. The plot twist in this story is his greatest obstacle yet. The author’s acknowledgement at the end of the book was very nice and informative.
joanthesiren's review against another edition
4.0
I don't even know, when I finished this book. Warren is finally back <3. And for the first time in this series, Seth plot was more interesting for my than Kendra. I don't know why, maybe bc here characters are a little more mature, but somehow enjoy "Dragonwatch" more, than "Fablehaven"
kashvm's review against another edition
4.0
okay so, I've been having mixed feelings about the Dragonwatch series overall, because read the Fablehaven series more times than I can count, and the story is very dear to my heart - so OF COURSE I wanted to read Dragonwatch.
However, the first two books (both of which take place over the course of a week!??) i found quite disjointed and all over the place. Kendra and Seth both had some epic moments, but overall, everything felt quite rushed, there were so many new characters, and Kirby Heyborne replaced E.B Stevens as audible narrator, so there was a whole new set of voices to adjust to.
That being said, I was pleasantly surprised by Master of the Phantom Isle. Right from chapter 8 (I think) where Seth finishes eating bread and seafood and starts talking to the wraiths, up until the end, everything started to feel like old Fablehaven. Seth was back to being his rule-breaking self (despite this memory loss), Kendra was back to asking the Fairy Queen for help, and MOST IMPORTANTLY - VANESSA AND WARREN RETURNED. It seriously makes so much of a difference to have Warren especially, back with Kendra, because I have dearly missed seeing him constantly in a state of injury / recovery since book two ( i tease <3) , and Vanessa, Warren, and Tanu together feel like Kendra and Seth's O.G trio of slightly-older-but-still-cool magical adults who help them deal with the things they shouldn't have to be dealing with - you feel me?
but on another note, Vanessa is 100% hands down my favourite character in this series, which is why you'll have to forgive me but "would you still love me if I was ugly and over 20 feet tall / probably from a distance ;)" IS THE BEST LINE IN THIS BOOK. I'm so happy Vanessa and Warren are together after that whole beach showdown between Vanessa and Bracken in Fablehaven #5.
Some of my other favourite moments include:
- Seth trying to weasel information out of wraiths "Where would we be if we were on the surface / on the surface / no I know but like where in the WORLD would we be / the isle / okay but WHERE IS THE ISLE" lmao
- Seth's whole conversation with The Sage - the wood sprite sounded SO CUTE
- Seth making his own decisions and fulfilling his promises even after Ronodin and The Sphinx try to convince him otherwise (freeing that phantom, strengthening his shadow charming skills)
- THE UNICORN BATTLE BETWEEN BRACKEN AND RONODIN HOLY MOLY WAS THAT NOT THE COOLEST THING (We never did learn how and why Bracken's third horn stopped being used for the font of immortality, because the font is tied to the eternals, and the Sphinx is now an eternal so HOW IS HE ALIVE)
- KNOX SAVING THE DAY?!! I'll admit, I was not looking forward to seeing two newcomers having to learn all about the magical world but Knox and Tess are growing on me. Tess was adorable throughout this book "I wanna go swimming! / These waters are infested with sea serpents /...I don't wanna go swimming anymore" and Knox using the bag of gales and the unicorn horn to shred an evil octopus was pretty damn cool.
- Kendra being a boss-ass-bitch storming into the underworld and being like "I didn't come here to ask favours, I'm here to TELL you that I'm TAKING BACK what doesn't belong to you, whether you LIKE IT OR NOT" <3 <3 <3 she's come so far and every time she tells off another evil leader / destroys another evil malice, I am reminded of how girls are literally gonna change the world (Malala, Greta Thunberg, Little Miss Flint)
Some of the more disappointing moments however, were:
- Finding out that the Sphinx is EVIL AGAIN? :( I suppose I understand why he is - he is known for having shady morals / being a shifty character, but it's so frustrating to see all the work that went into the end of book five slowly being unravelled during Dragonwatch. I was like "we gotta deal with his meddling AGAIN!?"
(More to come x)
However, the first two books (both of which take place over the course of a week!??) i found quite disjointed and all over the place. Kendra and Seth both had some epic moments, but overall, everything felt quite rushed, there were so many new characters, and Kirby Heyborne replaced E.B Stevens as audible narrator, so there was a whole new set of voices to adjust to.
That being said, I was pleasantly surprised by Master of the Phantom Isle. Right from chapter 8 (I think) where Seth finishes eating bread and seafood and starts talking to the wraiths, up until the end, everything started to feel like old Fablehaven. Seth was back to being his rule-breaking self (despite this memory loss), Kendra was back to asking the Fairy Queen for help, and MOST IMPORTANTLY - VANESSA AND WARREN RETURNED. It seriously makes so much of a difference to have Warren especially, back with Kendra, because I have dearly missed seeing him constantly in a state of injury / recovery since book two ( i tease <3) , and Vanessa, Warren, and Tanu together feel like Kendra and Seth's O.G trio of slightly-older-but-still-cool magical adults who help them deal with the things they shouldn't have to be dealing with - you feel me?
but on another note, Vanessa is 100% hands down my favourite character in this series, which is why you'll have to forgive me but "would you still love me if I was ugly and over 20 feet tall / probably from a distance ;)" IS THE BEST LINE IN THIS BOOK. I'm so happy Vanessa and Warren are together after that whole beach showdown between Vanessa and Bracken in Fablehaven #5.
Some of my other favourite moments include:
- Seth trying to weasel information out of wraiths "Where would we be if we were on the surface / on the surface / no I know but like where in the WORLD would we be / the isle / okay but WHERE IS THE ISLE" lmao
- Seth's whole conversation with The Sage - the wood sprite sounded SO CUTE
- Seth making his own decisions and fulfilling his promises even after Ronodin and The Sphinx try to convince him otherwise (freeing that phantom, strengthening his shadow charming skills)
- THE UNICORN BATTLE BETWEEN BRACKEN AND RONODIN HOLY MOLY WAS THAT NOT THE COOLEST THING (We never did learn how and why Bracken's third horn stopped being used for the font of immortality, because the font is tied to the eternals, and the Sphinx is now an eternal so HOW IS HE ALIVE)
- KNOX SAVING THE DAY?!! I'll admit, I was not looking forward to seeing two newcomers having to learn all about the magical world but Knox and Tess are growing on me. Tess was adorable throughout this book "I wanna go swimming! / These waters are infested with sea serpents /...I don't wanna go swimming anymore" and Knox using the bag of gales and the unicorn horn to shred an evil octopus was pretty damn cool.
- Kendra being a boss-ass-bitch storming into the underworld and being like "I didn't come here to ask favours, I'm here to TELL you that I'm TAKING BACK what doesn't belong to you, whether you LIKE IT OR NOT" <3 <3 <3 she's come so far and every time she tells off another evil leader / destroys another evil malice, I am reminded of how girls are literally gonna change the world (Malala, Greta Thunberg, Little Miss Flint)
Some of the more disappointing moments however, were:
- Finding out that the Sphinx is EVIL AGAIN? :( I suppose I understand why he is - he is known for having shady morals / being a shifty character, but it's so frustrating to see all the work that went into the end of book five slowly being unravelled during Dragonwatch. I was like "we gotta deal with his meddling AGAIN!?"
(More to come x)