Level: Middle
Recommended Age: All ages
Genres: Adventure, Fantasy
Tags: Magic
Mature Content:

  - Mild violence: physical attacks

Dragonwatch opens the sequel series to Fablehaven, picking up right where Fablehaven left off. Kendra and Seth are called to work with the dragons, using their combined powers to withstand the danger. But the dragons are restless, and even their friends can’t help them when the dragon king goes toe to toe with the Sorenson siblings.

Kendra and Seth are the new caretakers of the dragon sanctuary, but the dragon unrest is growing as the dragons demand freedom to roam the human world. The Sorensons can’t let the dragons wreak havoc on their home. They have to rely on the whole family, even the cousins that have no idea what Fablehaven truly is.

Review:

Despite not technically being a part of Fablehaven, this book is just like the previous ones. Seth is just as crazy and entertaining as ever, but you can’t help but admire his courage and laugh at his humor. He continues with his schemes and antics, but he’s not just a reckless little kid anymore. He’s had enough experience by now that he knows exactly what he’s getting himself into. He does risk a lot, but he also has a lot to gain. He seems to understand that more and more. I don’t think he’ll grow out of his crazy schemes, it’s just who he is.

As the siblings step up and accept this heavy responsibility, Kendra matures even more. Seth reacts to stress with brash action and scrappy bravado, while Kendra processes situations while holding still and puzzling through each strategy very systematically. Because of their personalities, Seth is always going to be more engaging. Kendra sort of slows things down to a normal thinking pace, and the two balance each other out so there’s a good rhythm in the plot. This difference is perfectly summed up at the end of the book when Seth has been running around while Kendra has been biding her time, until she steps forward and just takes care of business.

Dragonwatch is linked to Fablehaven with the same world and characters, but more mature and with new challenges. These characters go through so much at such a young age, and they really grow with each book. I love the modern twist on fantasy, and the way the human and magical worlds blend to create a sort of in-between space. It’s like an actual world of imagination brought to life and living alongside reality. These children’s books are great for all ages, as are the best stories of magic.