Dragonwatch: Master of the Phantom Isles by Brandon Mull -- blog tour

Dragonwatch: Master of the Phantom Isle

Author: Brandon Mull

Publisher: Shadow Mountain

Published: October 1st, 2019

ISBN13: 9781629726168

Hardcover: 496 pages

FTC FYI: I received a copy from the publisher. All views and opinions expressed are my own.

Goodreads Summary

Cursed by the Key of Forgetting, Seth has lost all memory of his past—his relationships, his experiences, and who he really is. For now he will align with his new mentor, Ronodin, the dark unicorn, who takes him to the Phantom Isle, the secret gateway to the Under Realm. Though Seth is not formally a prisoner, Ronodin wants to use him and his shadow charmer powers for his own dark ends.

Kendra is frantic to find her missing brother, but the quest will take her and her companions, including Warren, Tanu, and Vanessa, far from Wyrmroost to Crescent Lagoon—a recently fallen dragon sanctuary made up of many islands and underwater domains. Its caretaker has regained a foothold on one of the islands. If Kendra and her friends can save that sanctuary, they might uncover the answers they need to rescue Seth.

With each sanctuary the dragons overthrow, Celebrant, the Dragon King, comes closer to the dawn of a new Age of Dragons. With the forces of darkness on the march, can Kendra and her allies gather enough power to win the epic dragon war? 

My review

Master of the Phantom Isles is another wild ride by one of my favorite authors. With the turn of every page, I was waiting to see what could possibly happen next! I was always at the edge of my seat in anticipation. Those pesky dragons, wow! And poor Seth. Beloved characters in peril, new and old characters causing trouble, reliable characters with their usual fun and witty comic relief. This book was awesome, and I haven't missed a book from this author. 

5 out of 5 stars.

Purchase links

Amazon hardcover / Amazon Kindle / Deseret Book

Author links

Amazon author page / Goodreads / Website

Smarter Than a Monster by Brandon Mull -- spotlight

Smarter Than A Monster

Author: Brandon Mull

Publisher: Shadow Mountain

Published: October 1st, 2019

Hardcover picture book: 32 pages

ISBN13: 9781629726106

Summary

No monster wants you to read this book. The more you know about monsters, the more you will know how to defeat them.

Little kids have big fears, which they often imagine to be scary creatures, like monsters. But this book helps explain how knowing "Monster Facts" can help kids outwit them.

Want to avoid monsters?

Fact: Monsters love dirt and grime, so when faced with two kids, the monster will choose the dirty one every time.

And if toys and clothes are all over the floor, you may get ambushed by a mess-loving monster.

Survival Tip: Take baths and keep your room clean.

Smarter Than a Monster will arm young readers with practical advice in this innovative and imaginative parenting tool that teaches common sense and positive and healthy habits.

Purchase links

Amazon / Deseret Book

About the Author:
Brandon Mull is the #1 New York Times best-selling author of the Fablehaven, Beyonders, and Five Kingdoms series. A kinetic thinker, Brandon enjoys bouncy balls, squeezable stress toys, and popping bubble wrap. He lives in Utah in a happy little valley near the mouth of a canyon with his four children and a dog named Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Brandon loves meeting his readers and hearing about their experiences with his books.

Author links

Website / Amazon author page / Goodreads

About the Illustrator:
Mike Walton has been a professional illustrator for more than twenty years. He earned his B.A. in Illustration from art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA. He’s worked in animation, comic books, web comics, trading cards, and all manner of media throughout his career. Smarter Than a Monster is his debut children’s book. He currently resides in Southern California and considers himself a nerd who loves visiting Disneyland attending the San Diego Comic Con.

Dragonwatch: Wrath of the Dragon King by Brandon Mull -- blog tour

Dragonwatch: Wrath of the Dragon King

Author: Brandon Mull

Publisher: Shadow Mountain

Published: October 23, 2018

e-book/Hardback: 416 pages

ISBN13: 9781629724867

FTC FYI: I received a copy from the publisher. All views and opinions expressed are my own.

Goodreads Summary

War has come to the dragon sanctuaries of the world and nowhere is the danger more intense than at Wyrmroost. After a humiliating defeat at the hands of Kendra and Seth, Celebrant, King of Dragons, prepares to unleash his fury and take control of his native preserve. Armed with information from a new ally Ronodin, the dark unicorn Celebrant seeks a legendary talisman the dominion stone.

However, the powerful stone is protected by a cursed castle. Upon entering the castle fortress, an unyielding power strips all magical beings of their power and forces Celebrant to take his human avatar form. Kendra and Seth must enter the cursed castle as well. The race is on. Will the two young caretakers rally enough support from the creatures of Wyrmroost against the greatest threat the magical community has faced in ages? Can they foil Celebrant's plan and beat him to the mighty dominion stone? Or will all hope be shattered by the wrath of the Dragon King? 

My review

Wow! What a ride. Wrath of the Dragons is another heart pounding adventure in the Fablehaven world. I knew I would love it and I did., immensely. Fablehaven is one of my all-time favorite series, and this book is a wonderful addition. The author does a fantastic job of planting little plot hints throughout and seriously, what an amazing ending! There are many entertaining new characters. One in particular was mysterious, sinister, and extremely important. I love the Kendra and Seth brother and sister duo and their adventures. They work together well and even Seth has grown up a lot. 

5 out of 5 stars. 

Purchase links

Amazon Kindle / Amazon Hardcover / Barnes and Noble / Deseret Book

Author links

Goodreads / Website / Twitter

Dragonwatch by Brandon Mull -- Blog Tour

Dragonwatch

Author: Brandon Mull

Publisher: Shadow Mountain

Published: March 14, 2017

Hardcover: 384 pages

ISBN13: 9781629722566

FTC FYI: Received an ARC from the publisher, all views and opinions expressed are my own.

Goodreads Summary

In the long-awaited sequel to Fablehaven, the dragons who have been kept at the dragon sanctuaries no longer consider them safe havens, but prisons and they want their freedom. The dragons are no longer our allies....

In the hidden dragon sanctuary of Wyrmroost, Celebrant the Just, King of the Dragons, plots his revenge. He has long seen the sanctuaries as prisons, and he wants nothing more than to overthrow his captors and return the world to the Age of Dragons, when he and his kind ruled and reigned without borders. The time has come to break free and reclaim his power.

No one person is capable of stopping Celebrant and his dragon horde. It will take the ancient order of Dragonwatch to gather again if there is any chance of saving the world from destruction. In ancient times, Dragonwatch was a group of wizards, enchantresses, dragon slayers, and others who originally confined the majority of dragons into sanctuaries. But nearly all of the original Dragonwatch members are gone, and so the wizard Agad reaches out to Grandpa Sorenson for help.

As Kendra and Seth confront this new danger, they must draw upon all their skills, talents, and knowledge as only they have the ability to function together as a powerful dragon tamer. Together they must battle against forces with superior supernatural powers and breathtaking magical abilities.

How will the epic dragon showdown end? Will dragons overthrow humans and change the world as we know it?

My Review

I have been waiting for a sequel to Fablehaven for years.  Fablehaven is one of my favorite series and Dragonwatch did not disappoint.  I loved it.  It had everything that I would except from a Fablehaven book and more.  The author does a good job of catching the reader up on events that took place in the other books, but I would still highly recommend reading the other books in the series before reading Dragonwatch.  There is bravery, humor and non-stop action for Kendra and Seth.  I loved the connection they share as dragon tamers, and their skills are put to the test.  I also enjoyed how they would function without the other and it made them even stronger.

5 out of 5 stars.  

Author Links

Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook

Purchase Links

Amazon / Barnes and Noble / Deseret Book

Fablehaven Book of Imagination by Brandon Mull

Fablehaven Book of Imagination

Author: Brandon Mull

Publisher: Shadow Mountain

Published: October 2016

ISBN13: 9781629722412

Paperback: 160 pages

FTC FYI: Received a complimentary copy from the publisher, all views and opinions expressed are my own.

Goodreads Summary

Fablehaven has sold more than 3.5 million copies and readers made The Caretaker's Guide to Fablehaven, the first visual discovery and definitive guide to all the mythical creatures of Brandon Mull's wildly brilliant imagination, a bestseller in Fall 15. Now it's the READER'S turn to tap into your imagination in the very first interactive guide to Fablehaven!

Tuck this journal into your backpack, tote it along and use it as a fun activity book for all things Fablehaven and to reflect on the mythical creature metaphors found in the series.
Examples:
If you owned your own invisibility glove like Seth, how would you use it today?
Learn how to draw a dragon’s head with step-by-step instructions.
You have found the legendary Totem Wall. Choose a face to speak with. What question would you ask?
Within the pages of this book are secret codes what will help the reader discover a secret message from Brandon Mull about Dragonwatch, the sequel to Fablehaven.
Dragons can create paralyzing fear. Imagine your hands and arms were literally paralyzed from encountering a dragon, but you still needed to write a message. Use your feet or mouth to write a note on the page.
Create your own art: draw your own magical preserve. Include your home, landmarks, trees, trails, areas to avoid. Where is it located? What is it called?
Draw your family pet as if it were a guardian to a hidden, ancient artifact. What special power does your pet have to protect the treasure it is guarding?
Fans will also find coloring book pages, mazes, scavenger hunts, and instructions for origami creatues of Fablehaven characters like Raxtus!

My Review

This book is so fun!  I guess, it's more of an activity book than an actual book, but very enjoyable nonetheless.  Imagination is definitely a perfect way to describe this book.  What a great way for kids to use their imaginations while doing the crafts and activities.  There are fun crafts, coloring pages, activity pages, and thoughtful quotes throughout.  I'm excited for my daughter to dive in to all the fun on our way to Grandma's for Thanksgiving.  

Here is a fun video of Brandon Mull's daughter making the green slime from the book.

More videos will be posted as the week progresses.  Find them all on Shadow Mountain YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCex-JMU7bMUV5SbXkyrVNlQ) or on the Shadow Mountain Publishing Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/ShadowMountainPublishing).

Author Links

Goodreads / Website / Twitter 

Purchase Links

Amazon / Barnes and Noble / Deseret Book

The Caretakers Guide to Fablehaven by Brandon Mull - Blog Tour

Blog Tour Schedule

The Caretaker’s Guide to Fablehaven by Brandon Mull

This guidebook to the Fablehaven magical preserve is filled with everything a new Caretaker might need to know in order to survive. There are entries detailing important information about artifacts large and small, a complete bestiary of creatures (from fairies to trolls to satyrs), a guide to identifying demons, dragons, and wizards as well as valuable insights into the other magical preserves.

Immerse yourself into the secret knowledge that has been handed down through the generations by reading the updates and notes written in the margins by the former Caretakers of Fablehaven, including Grandpa Sorenson, Kendra, and Seth. Fully-illustrated, this unique encyclopedia has gathered the world of Fablehaven into one volume.

My Review

This book is so much fun.  I enjoyed the trip down Fablehaven memory lane.  Brandon Dorman's illustrations were perfect and Brandon's writings were fun and creative, just like this amazing series.  I loved the "handwritten" notes from Seth and Kendra, and other characters, even Newell contributed his advice.  Reading the pages I was taken back to when I first discovered this series, and was reminded how much I loved it.  I need to read the books again, and very soon.  Fablehaven is a long-time favorite series of mine and always will be. 

FTC FYI: I received a PDF copy in exchange for an honest review.  

Amazon

Excerpt from Introduction

If you are in possession of this book you are assumed to be the caretaker or an apprentice caretaker of Fablehaven. By now you’ve been introduced to the world of mythical and magical creatures. However, there is still much to learn. Previous caretakers of Fablehaven thought it would be helpful to create aCaretaker’s Guide specifically for those tasked with the job of nurturing, protecting, and surviving this preserve and its inhabitants. Do not be fooled. Fablehaven is an unpredictable and dangerous place. However, the collective knowledge gathered within the pages of this bestiary will give you the knowledge and wisdom needed to not only survive but to thrive. The creatures of Fablehaven are either light or dark, not necessarily good or evil. In order to be good, one must recognize the difference between right and wrong and strive to choose the right. To be truly evil one must do the contrary. Being good or evil is a choice. This is not so with the creatures of Fablehaven. What they are largely governs how they act. Some are inherently builders, some are nurturers, some are playful. Some are inherently destroyers, some are deceivers, some crave power. Some love light, some love darkness. But change their nature, and without much resistance, their identities follow. Like a fairy becoming an imp, or an imp regaining her fairyhood. Much counsel and advice has been passed down through generations and given to the new caretakers of this preserve. Perhaps the most invaluable piece of advice that has ever been given is this: Those who are careful to cause no mischief, work no magic, and inflict no harm are protected by the foundational treaty of Fablehaven. This truth alone may be your strongest ally and your only defense. One final note. The signs leading up to the front gate were not always there. In the late eighteenth century, before the guest register that controls access to Fablehaven was created, two poachers entered the property in search of big game. Needless to say, they found it. Or it found them. Many days later, the resident caretaker found them as well. Or at least he found their bodies of petrified stone. And thus the first signs outside the gates of Fablehaven were posted. As caretaker you have accepted a most noble assignment. Keep your eyes open. Obey with exactness. Take risks only as the last resort and you will have a better chance at seeing another sunrise. Welcome to Fablehaven.

Author Brandon Mull

Brandon Mull is the author of the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling Beyonders and Fablehaven series. Brandon resides in a happy little valley near the mouth of a canyon with his wife and four children. He spent two years living in the Atacama Desert of Northern Chile where he learned Spanish and juggling. He once won a pudding eating contest in the park behind his grandma’s house, earning a gold medal.

Website * Facebook * Twitter

Cleaning off my Shelf -- Giveaway

Happy New Year!

I cleaned my book shelves over the weekend and found I have an extra hard back copy of 

Beyonders: A World Without Heroes by Brandon Mull.

All you need to do is fill out the easy Rafflecopter form below.  Contest ends Thursday night (January 10th), so don't delay! US ONLY. 

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Pingo and the Playground Bully by Brandon Mull -- Giveaway

Pingo and the Playground Bully

Author: Brandon Mull

Publisher: Shadow Mountain

Published: October 9th, 2012

ISBN13: 978-1-609-07-178-3

Hardcover: 32 pages

FTC FYI: Received a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Cover Summary

Who has the best imaginary friend? Is it Gary, who protects the galaxy with Sparky the robot? Or Tiffany, who helps save the day with Awesome Girl? Or Dustin, who can hide Mr. Bob in his pocket? During recess, Chad and Pingo are invited to participate in the contest to see which imaginary friend is the smartest or the strongest or the sneakiest. But when Jeremy, the schoolyard bully, and his imaginary friend, Grunt, barge into the contest, demanding to be included, no one expects what happens next--or how Pingo saves the day.

Pingo and the Playground Bully is a delightful, full-color picture book about the power of kindness and the importance of including others.

My Review

Pingo and the Playground Bully is another sweet story of Chad and his imaginary friend Pingo.  Together with Gary, Tiffany, and Dustin they try to see who has the smartest, strongest, and sneakiest imaginary friend. Until Jeremy the bully comes along with his imaginary friend, Grunt.  I loved how this sweet story is told, and the lesson it teaches.  The illustrations are amazing. Full of fun details, and  the pictures are beautiful to look at.

5 out of 5 stars.  Just an all around sweet story with a great message of learning how to help with a bully.  I have a copy of Pingo and the Playground Bully to giveaway! Fill out the Rafflecopter form below and you're entered.

Pingo and the Playground Bully was chosen to be a featured title by CBC (the Children's Book Council) for the next two weeks, on their homepage.  You can visit the Seasonal Showcase, which is currently showcasing books about bullying and education. www.cbcbooks.org

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